Posted by Michael Hartzell on Thu, Sep 02, 2010
There are four types of people.
- In the way.
- Holding you back.
- Out of the way.
- Helping you out.
This is true regardless of whether they love. hate you, respect you, have you on a pedestal, are related, part of the staff or a boss. (Human Resources is about "helping" but then why do so many believe HR is more "in the way"?)
One minute the person you have a relationship with is trying to help but actually "in the way" and a few minutes later trying to stay "out of the way" but do not realize they have the keys and so "hold you back."
With this being true for business or personal lives, the day can be an obstacle course to avoid (or fight) those who are holding you back or in the way.
If you were to avoid the "feelings" and make an evaluation as to whether someone cared about you based on the four types of people, would this change how you go about your day? Would it change who you connect with and the relationships you have?
For an entrepreneur, it feels as if there is high resistance with each connection and there are not so many who are helping out but instead have their hand out. After all, the entrepreneur is the decision maker, the boss, the big kahuna and most important the entrepreneur is the check writer.
On the other hand, an over-enthusiastic entrepreneur who is trying to be helpful might actually be "in the way" of those very people they are trying to help.
Are you helpful? How do you know?
Are you hanging with those who are helpful? If not, then why not?
The reason you are stuck may have nothing to do with your skill or will. The solution may be as close as increasing the time you spend with those who help or stay out of the way.
Someone shows admiration, love and respect probably believe they are "helping". Time for you to find a way to break it to them and save the relationship.
Homework: Make a list of those on your staff, vendors, coaches, and those you work for. What type of person are they to you?
If those on your list are not helpful and "staying out of the way" then I ask you; why would they want to get in your way or hold you back?
It's time for a chat to either clear the air or thank the people who are supportive.
PS
You might feel that you are helping by being dominate and bossy as that ensures success. Or is the consequence of your leadership style simply one that trains people how to be a soldier and do what they are told? Is that helpful?
Was this interesting or helpful? Would you consider sharing it?
Posted by Michael Hartzell on Wed, Aug 25, 2010
According to the Nielsen, searches on the Internet were down 16% from the previous year.
Article:
The number of searches conducted in the U.S. over the last year has decreased by 16% from 10.5 billion in July 2009 to 8.8 billion in July 2010. MSN/Windows Live/Bing was the only one of the top three engines to have experienced an increase in search volume – a 28% increase from 0.9 billion to 1.2 billion.
For more: Contact The Nielsen Company or read about their global consumer & media expertise.
Read the rest of the article...
Can we take a walk for a moment in virtual land? What is the actual process?
A person with a need or want sits down for a moment and types in a search term. In the old days they would pick up a phone book or watch the advertisements. Now they search in the search engine box.
The results are shown on the page. They typically have no photos though there are exceptions. Videos are available at times but really, videos are not what people are looking for. Those who search want an answer, not to spend more time looking for an answer.
There are hundreds of thousands of results for any item that is searched and even if nothing comes up related to the search term, there are always suggestions.
To find what they are looking for is an obstacle course--pure and simple.
Bring on the IMANUT crowd. (Internet Marketers Are Not Usually Trustworthy). They are attempting to create web pages and search terms to be at the top of the search. It matters little that they have no guarantee, no phone number or address. It matters even less that in 6 months they will have moved on and leave the purchasers with marginal products.
Twitter and Facebook are on the scene. Both have recommendations. Online businesses are beginning to wise up and understand how to create banners and advertising which pops up for those who have already visited.
Since technology is beginning to "label" each browser with history, each email address according to interests, and credit card statements shows purchases, there is an easier method to get the attention of the consumer BEFORE they even know their own need.
Search engine software gives results which are filled with non-relevent information. You can download an APP for every category or interest. Advertising technology is now anticipating the needs while online with targeted advertising. Therefore we could say that the game is afoot for online service.
It used to be so very impressive that a search engine could scour the world and find 15 million results for a search phrase. "For me?" a person would say to themselves. "You went and found that many for me?" No longer is it impressive.
Think back 15 years ago to the original eBay days. To find something of interest required long hard hours of searching by trial and error. The systems have improved. They now have a much more streamlined method for searching and results are narrowed down. With better monitoring systems, eBay even has methods in place to tell a seller: "Do better" and a grading system where sellers won't last long if they are not excellent.
Watch the results for August. Will searches be down from last year again? If you can anticipate and understand why, you will stay ahead of the game.
Someone is searching for your business product or service every day. How they do this is quickly changing and their patience is wearing thin.
What can you the entrepreneur do? Get laser focused. This is not new. The advice and counsel has already been given.
You have a service or product that people need or want. Be the master of it and have an online presence to share that expertise. The more an entrepreneur decides to be an online mall, the more difficult it will become. An entrepreneur is not Walmart, Target, eBay or Amazon. These companies will operate online differently than an entrepreneur.
What are you the master of? What do you love? It is time to choose.
Was this interesting or helpful? Would you consider sharing it?
Posted by Michael Hartzell on Tue, Aug 24, 2010
Ban the brand. Start small.
Small business owners who have a survival instinct think first and foremost of survival and progress vs. the "big picture". They need to know how to start the fire and keep it lit vs. knowing the science of physics.
If an entrepreneur decides to follow their passion but is distracted with the definition of "brand", confusion and hesitation can be the result.
If that same entrepreneur has a vision for how he will change his community (or the world) and connects with others to pursue their passions and does so with character, the brand is formed.
Do you have a belief so deep that no one (except maybe your spouse or God) can convince you to stop?
For instance, like the story of Noah who built an ark because he believed in a mission? There are examples daily where people are identified by what they BELIEVE which is then reflected in what they say and in their ACTIONS.
Do you believe in the mission so deeply that you are willing to sacrifice your current "identity" because the path is clear?
Example: When Gary Vaynerchuk spoke at a Biznik event, he answered questions about how he changed from "the elite" to "the regular guy". His mission was simple. Remove the mystique about wine so that anyone can participate in the excellence. Gary commented on how there was a time he found himself at a fork in the road. His future self was to connect with the guy in the street while the past self was connected to those with money. His mission became bigger than his fears of "offending" his past customers and Gary's passion was the fuel to "Crush It" education. He used video as the means to share the information.
Thus emerged his brand.
Who are your top 10 friends? Would you go to battle and risk yourself for them? Would you risk your money, reputation and well being? These types of friends are hard to come by. By having a top ten friend list you would go to battle for, you have created a "brand" or identity.
A brand can be established by having a mission and a top 10 friends list. Spend each day pursuing the mission and supporting those friends. Invite others to support your mission and friends each step of the way. That becomes your brand.
As an entrepreneur, instead of grabbing a piece of paper or The Personal Brain to write down what your brand should be, write down your mission and top ten friends and their missions.
The old saying: "You are who your friends are" just may give you some indication as to your "brand".
For a small business owner, maybe the brand is a symptom of "belief", "associations", "actions" and "message". If this is the case, then "branding" is happening now.
Great Video:
Guy Kawaski: Don't write a mission statement, write a mantra
Does a mission statement for business seem over complicated? Guy shares thought about business success based on a mantra vs. a mission statement. I personally recommend this.
Was this interesting or helpful? Would you consider sharing it?
Posted by Michael Hartzell on Fri, Aug 20, 2010
|
 About Patricia:
Patricia Weber is an internationally recognized expert on radio and in print as a Business Coach for Introverts. She is a Coachville graduate, a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner and a two-time award winner of Peninsula Women’s Networker of the Year (only the second member in its 28 years to receive this award twice.) Featured in numerous publications such as Entrepreneur, Training, and HR MyTime, Patricia knows what it takes to be successful and happy being authentic to an introvert style. Serving clients around the world since 1990, her expertise and experiences with an introvert “I” are in Sales, Marketing, Leadership, Presentations and in particular Networking. She combines 30 years of practical and successful sales and management experience to deliver coaching, teleclasses, eBooks, and training to help clients achieve results. Subscribe to her blog at www.patricia-weber.com
|
A bout Monique:
Monique MacKinnon is a globally recognized creativity expert, speaker, and e-book and article author. Her specialty is teaching open-minded entrepreneurs and professionals worldwide how to meaningfully and profitably ground their inspirations and create a far-reaching impact in people’s lives. Monique’s work is grounded in both practical and esoteric principles and includes expertise in hand analysis (via www.handanalysis.net) and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP via www.wel-systems.com). Monique has 21 years’ experience in marketing, management, training, consulting and coaching. She was also featured in Time magazine for her inspiring workplace fitness leadership role and contributions at Fitness & Amateur Sport Canada, three short years after receiving an honours degree and Bilingual and Brilliant award from the University of Ottawa. Receive a free newsletter subscription at www.energeticevolution.com
|
"Chef’s Table for Entrepreneurs:
Entrepreneurial VIP Experience of the New Decade"
Here is the line up of speakers:
Andrew Winig, Delegate so Work Gets Done | Elevator Pitch Workshops Are there too many chefs in your kitchen? Ready, Set, Delegate
Andrew Winig, President of ImprovAndy, empowers business professionals to Delegate so Work Gets Done (www.ReadySetDelegate.com). He created the Collective Engineering™ Leadership Model based on his 20 years’ experience developing high-performing teams as an entrepreneur, software engineering manager, franchisee, and community leader. Presently, he shares his unique and effective approach to teamwork through email newsletters, webinars, one-on-one coaching, and keynote speeches.
Andrew owns two Arlington, MA-based businesses, is past President of the Arlington Rotary Club and Co-Directs a yearly leadership weekend for 100 high school juniors. Plus, he holds a BSCS degree from Yale University, where he was awarded a magna cum laude and elected to the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society. Andrew has also been honored as the winner of the Sutton Inspiration Award and Paul Harris Service Award. He is also a 3-time nominee for Franchisee of the Year and a finalist for Small Business of the Year.
Bob Burg, Owner, Burg Communications, Author of The Go-Giver, and Internationally Acclaimed Speaker, How do you add the giving ingredient so your clients feel kneaded? Go Givers SELL more
Bob regularly addresses audiences ranging in size from 50 to 16,000 – sharing the platform with notables including today’s top thought leaders, broadcast personalities Olympic athletes and political leaders.
One of his best-known books is “Endless Referrals: Network Your Everyday Contacts Into Sales” - selling over 175,000 copies and still going strong. His previous book (coauthored with John David Mann), is entitled, The Go-Giver. This business parable, touching hearts and building bigger bank accounts, shot to number 6 on the Wall Street Journal Business Bestsellers list just three weeks after its release.
His newest book, Go-Givers Sell More, just recently released, is also coauthored with John David Mann. This book applies the Five Laws of The Go-Giver directly to the selling process.
Bob is an advocate, supporter and defender of the Free Enterprise system, and believes the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve.
Chalene Johnson, CEO of Powder Blue Productions, Lifestyle and Fitness Expert, Motivational Speaker and Celebrity Fitness Trainer Does your personal fitness flatter your business enough to help it rise? How fitness improves productivity
Chalene is an entrepreneur, TV fitness personality, clothing designer, author, motivational speaker, choreographer, wife, mother of 2 and relatable girl next door. Chalene has appeared on countless talk and news programs including E!, ABC, NBC and Fox.
Now a world-renowned fitness expert with over 18 years of experience, Chalene is the CEO of Powder Blue Productions, a fitness company she started in a spare bedroom. Chalene has created some of the Nation's most popular exercise formats including Turbo Kick® www.turbokick.com/index.php?content=what_is_tk , and Turbo Jam™ www.turbokick.com/index.php?content=TurboJam to name a couple. To date, in excess of 35,000 fitness instructors have trained through Chalene's programs with millions of American’s participating in Turbo Kick® workouts at health clubs across the globe. The popularity of her unique workouts also helped create her own brand of fitness apparel, Turbo Wear™ www.turbokick.com/store/home.php?mode=home_custom . Despite her success, Chalene teaches group fitness classes in her home town 6 days a week and is there for her children at the end of the school day.
Davette Harvey, Business Strategist, Entrepreneur Educator, Trainer, Coach and Host of the Entrepreneur Zone BlogTalk Radio Show Promote yourself to head chef and experience more business success: Entrepreneurial Leadership
Davette, Founder and CEO of Davette Harvey Companies, is committed to being a force within the entrepreneur development industry. She has been training, educating, and coaching entrepreneurs for 11+ years. She is the private holder of three strategic businesses:
1. The Global Institute of Enterprise Development: An online entrepreneurship distant and continuing education provider for the serious entrepreneur!
2. The Entrepreneur Zone: Features industry thought leaders that share insights into all of the dynamics and facets of entrepreneurial success.
3. Amenique Community Relations: A coaching practice that develops entrepreneurial leaders and strategic plans for business success.
Davette holds a B.S. from Ferris State University, M.A. from Michigan State University in Advertising, and an NxLevel Certification from the Global Business Institute. Presently, she is enrolled in Doctoral studies at Argosy University, in Higher Education Instructional Leadership, and is Co-Chair of Northern California University’s Accreditation Committee.
Denise Kirk-Murray, MBA, owner, EntrepreneurTraining.com, Finance professional with expertise in business credit, entrepreneur training and business coaching, How you can fool proof your oven to turn those cookies into cash: Money Mystery: Unlock the Key to Financing Your Business in Tough Economic Times
Denise, founder of EntrepreneurTraining.com, has over 20 years experience as a business owner, finance professional, consultant and business coach, instructor and public speaker. Denise worked in the banking industry on small business issues and was Director of Finance for an economic development corporation, managing small business loan funds.
Denise developed the EntrepreneurTraining.com small business management course, U SMALL BIZ, - a 15 module training program with critical steps to start a successful business. As an instructor at St. John's University, she taught business courses including "How to Run a Successful Homebased Business."
Her articles have been featured in numerous publications and she frequently speaks on small business and banking issues.
Denise has a BS and MBA in Finance from St. John's University and is a graduate of Coach U. She created and hosts the Coach U Business Coaching Special Interest Group (SIG), an international forum for business coaches worldwide.
L. Drew Gerber, Owner & CEO of Blue Kangaroo, Inc. and Wasabi Publicity, Inc. Creator of PitchRate.com and PressKit247.com How more than a sprinkle or dash of media coverage can rise your business to the top: Catapult Your Business with Media Coverage Slide Show
Drew is CEO of Wasabi Publicity, Inc. (www.PublicityResults.com www.publicityresults.com) and creator of www.PitchRate.com www.pitchrate.com, a free media tool that connects journalists, publicists, and experts.
Gerber's business practices and staffing innovations have been revered by PR Week, Good Morning America and the Christian Science Monitor. His companies handle international PR campaigns and his staff develops online press kits for authors, speakers and companies with Online PressKit 24/7, a technology he developed.
Jon W. Hansen, Host at PI Window on Business Show, a Featured Show across the Blog Talk Radio Do you know how to use these internet ingredients for a lasting brand that will satisfy any hungry entrepreneur's customers? Leveraging Internet radio and Podcasting to Establish a Sustainable Brand.
Jon is a highly acclaimed international speaker, whose Procurement Insights Social Media Network reaches 1.2 million syndicated subscribers each month worldwide. He has written more than 700 articles and papers on subjects ranging from supply chain optimization to the evolution of sustainable purchasing practices.
Jon is also the host of the highly acclaimed PI Window on Business Show on Blog Talk Radio (BTR). He has welcomed leaders and bestselling authors from the world of business discussing both timely and thought provoking topics.
He is the author of the critically acclaimed book, “Your Show Will Go Live in 5 Seconds (Confessions of a Blog Talk Radio Host) www.amazon.com/Your-Show-Seconds-Confessions-Radio/ a comprehensive guide to how both individuals and organizations can leverage Internet Radio and PODcasting to establish a sustainable brand in social media. His second book "What Are You Waiting For? So Act Already! (The Unsociable Business of Social Networks And Why The So Act Social Network Will Change The World) www.lulu.com/content/e-book/what-are-you-waiting-for ," is currently available in eBook format, and hard copy.
Michael Hartzell, Inbound Marketing Professor / Management Consulting, Recipient of 8 Sales Growth Awards, 25 years’ experience in the restaurant industry, Author of “You? Own a Restaurant? How Ready Are You?” Is your business recipe for success producing rave reviews? Five Essentials to Business Success AKA Use Edutainment to Make Them SMink
Michael is an Inbound Marketing Certified Professional, writer, speaker, marketing coach and recipient of multiple sales awards. With 30 years of restaurant experience as a district leader, owner and consultant, hospitality is always top of mind for him. More recently, Michael co-authored: “The Reality of ROI & Social Media Marketing” and is the creator of www.PushButtonTechTools.com. Michael is also a member of the American Marketing Association and blogs at www.michaelhartzell.com.
Richard Francis Right People, Right Businesses, Right Reasons, Owner at Boardroom Breakthrough You don't need three years in catering college to cook good food: Learn about IQ, EQ, SQ and other key ingredients for business success.
Richard has spent over two decades selling, marketing, building channels and relationships with people to forge significant and sustainable results. He uses this knowledge to help others find their breakthrough formulas to success.
Richard is a lifelong devotee of crafting and refining knowledge and is always looking for useful connections that allow better application of learning into action. He has worked for and with many companies, including Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Sony. He has also managed a small but complex overseas property business. So, he has empathy with entrepreneurs at all levels of business – and not just in boardrooms but also at all levels right down to the shop floor.
Richard likes to see the right people in the right businesses for the right reasons. This generally tends to make for better results and happier people driving them.
Sally Shields, author of Daughter-in-Law Rules and other Rules books, speaker, radio personality, award-winning pianist and composer Is your marketing appetizing enough to make your clients salivate? Publicity Secrets Revealed
Sally is an award-winning pianist, composer, speaker, author and radio personality. Co-host of the exciting new BlogTalkRadio show, “Blurb!” Shields is a frequent contributor to various magazines, and has been featured in Star Magazine, Obvious, My Day, Girlfriendz, For the Bride and many others.
Endorsed by Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Martha Stewart, she has appeared on Fox and Friends, Rachel Ray, and is a repeat guest on the nationally syndicated The Daily Buzz with her Wedding Showers #1 Amazon.com bestseller, THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW RULES!
While not traveling and speaking, she lives at home in New York City with her husband and two children.
Snowden McFall, Stress and Motivation Expert, Owner, Fired Up! and Brightwork Advertising, and author Fired Up and new book on stress Is an overwhelming menu causing client indecision? Stress Express for Entrepreneurs: 15 Instant Stress Relievers™
Snowden, professional speaker, trainer and author, is the owner of 27- year old Brightwork Advertising and Training and 14-year old Fired Up. She has written 5 books, including Fired Up!, which has sold 63,000+ copies, and Stress Express! 15 Instant Stress Relievers. She has been speaking for 20 years about motivation, marketing, stress management, teambuilding and communication, and has appeared on 300 radio shows, CNN Financial News, The Home Shopping Network, Bloomberg Television, Investors Business Daily, and foxnews.com.
As co- founder of “Success for Women Entrepreneurs” in New Hampshire, Snowden's work has garnered national media attention. She was named National Women in Business Advocate of the Year by the Small Business Administration and honored at a White House ceremony and Congressional luncheon. She was chosen as finalist for “New England Entrepreneur of the Year” by Inc. Magazine, and voted Small Business Leader of the Year by the Professional Women’s Council.
Tina Forsyth, CEO at OnlineBusinessManager.com and Creator of The Stop Settling Manifesto - Taking a Stand on Creating the Best Virtual Support Team for You and Your Business Shhh, keep this secret recipe in the family: The 7 Keys to Hiring a Virtual Support Team that Boosts your Income (and doesn't just drain your bank account)
Tina is a leading authority on building virtual teams to help your business thrive. As author of Becoming an Online Business Manager and founder of the International Association of Online Business Managers, she specializes in training and coaching business owners and virtual teams on revenue streams, operations management and team development to create a strong business foundation.
Since 1999, she has helped to build and manage many 6 and 7 figure businesses and knows firsthand how to implement a strong business foundation and the team to support it. Her latest project is the THRIVE Hiring System, where she helps entrepreneurs get clear on who they need to hire, where to find them, and how to work together to get the right support to help your business thrive.
Her mission is to train top-notch high-level virtual support professionals and connect them with the business owners who desperately need their help.
These names should have you looking forward to more. Click here to learn more about Chef's Table for Entrepreneurs.
Was this interesting or helpful? Would you consider sharing it?
Posted by Michael Hartzell on Thu, Aug 19, 2010
Google maintains search lead; Ask.com gains New York—Google accounted for 71.43% of all U.S. searches conducted in July, virtually unchanged from the previous month, according to Experian Hitwise. READ more about search data ...
Eye tracking is fascinating to think about in and of itself. Interestingly enough, Shari Thurow ...
Eye tracking is fascinating to think about in and of itself. Interestingly enough, Shari Thurow of Omni Marketing Interactive spoke with WebProNews about eye tracking research. According to her, the research endorses universal search.
As she explains, marketers need to ask themselves if their videos, images, and graphs are doing their jobs on pages. These elements should be reinforcing the brand and pointing people in the right direction. If not, she advises marketers to conduct keyword research to determine if the users even want the universal elements. Read more about eye tracking ...
By Chris Anderson and Michael Wolff
August 17, 2010 | 9:00 am | Wired September 2010
Two decades after its birth, the World Wide Web is in decline, as simpler, sleeker services — think apps — are less about the searching and more about the getting. Chris Anderson explains how this new paradigm reflects the inevitable course of capitalism. And Michael Wolff explains why the new breed of media titan is forsaking the Web for more promising (and profitable) pastures. Read more about the Internet ...
Facebook has taken the world by storm - both for business and pleasure. Still not signed up? Getting started with Facebook is easy and fast and completely free. Here's how to create an account and start setting up your Facebook profile...Read more
|
|
|
Wish you could add imagery to your blog post without having to leave the blog platform to get it? Well now you can. Thanks to a new plugin by iStock member gutewolke, Wordpress users now have millions of low-cost, high-quality iStockphoto images at their fingertips.
The plugin even pulls the tags from the actual blog post into iStock’s powerful search engine, which it uses to suggest appropriate images. The entire transaction can be completed in a matter of seconds.
Deliver the strong visual impact you need without a lot of extra effort, and you’ll have more time to start thinking about what you want to write next. The plugin, co-developed by Lee Torrens and Amos Struck, is available in the Wordpress Plugin Directory. Get the Plugin
|
Read more. Don't read Sales Stuff from someone doing a pitch. Google alerts are easy to set up and then the news comes to you. Never say: "I am stuck" for what to write about when it can drop from they virtual sky automatically.
Was this interesting or helpful? Would you consider sharing it?
Posted by Michael Hartzell on Thu, Aug 19, 2010
Online marketing is in constant flux. It is a reality any business owner must face.
Did your business spend money on Facebook Fan Pages? Did you have your presence online feeling good because of Facebook?
Don't look now, Facebook is making a change on Monday August 23rd.
Removal of Boxes
"Boxes. Facebook will notify users via messaging in profile boxes and in the Help Center that the "Boxes" tab, boxes on profiles and Pages, and application info sections will be going away."
Custom Tabs Narrowed from 755 pixesl to 520 Pixels
"Application Tabs. Next week, Facebook will give Page admins the ability to preview their custom tabs in the new 520 pixel width so they can modify their layouts as needed. All profile and Page tabs will be resized automatically beginning the week of August 23."
Facebook Future as a Tool for Business
This is not really news since Facebook first announced the changes back in October of 2009 on their developer blog. They say updates are designed to "simplify navigation for users, reduce complexity for developers, and enable [Facebook] to build the next generation of tools for growing your business with Facebook," according to Facebook.
It's pretty obvious Facebook is fashioning itself to be more of a business tool and changes will be necessary to reach the goal. Ready or not, they happen in less than a week.
(NOTE: In order stay up to date, subscribe to the Facebook developer blog.)
If you want to know more about social media marketing, pick up "The Reality of ROI & Social Media Marketing"
Was this interesting or helpful? Would you consider sharing it?
Posted by Michael Hartzell on Wed, Aug 18, 2010
Yesterday, for the first time, we saw a standard Google web search results page, without any standard web search results. That is, a search for “car rental nyc” returned a Universal Results page showing a map alongside results from paid, local, and books categories (see screen shot below). Not one standard organic result appeared on the first page of results.
(click image to enlarge)
As it expands its Universal Results strategy, Google is testing lots of changes to their main search results page. Most of the significant changes occur in searches that contain a localized search term (such as a city).
Read the rest of the article by Chris Boudreaux here:
The evolution of every software program I have owned since 1980 has been both a blessing and a curse. Software online vs. on floppy disks is still software and I expect change, how about you?
Will their ever be a day when we sit around the campfire wishing for the good old days ... when the phone book was the simple solution? I remember when you could call 411 for free and have someone find what you were looking for.
Be sure to give Converseon a shout out and thank you. (Don't be too hard on Google, they only handle a gabillion searches a day after all.)
Yahoo and Bing will join forces in a couple of weeks in regards to search.
No sudden decisions yet but my money is on SEO experts leaning to local services, pay per click and more innovative ways to get found.
Fortunately, I have Hubspot software and the team working diligently on the crystal ball.
Was this interesting or helpful? Would you consider sharing it?
Posted by Michael Hartzell on Wed, Aug 18, 2010
Social Media for marketing is not top of mind for businesses. Hot off the press from eMarketer:
Social media has increased its importance around the world, and while social network advertising continues to grow quickly in the US, spending in other markets is set to rise even faster. But brand marketers still don’t feel social media is the most effective way to reach their international audiences
Read full article
This causes a dilemna. To follow the beat of your own drummer and maximize the opportunity others fail to see? Or is it more important to pay close attention to this chart and follow the crowd with a local website, TV and print?
My guerrilla marketing instincts say to do both and create a synergy between the many resources. My guerrilla marketing gut says there is no "magic bullet" and combining the tools to connect with potential clients means that social media is another piece to the puzzle. What do you say?
You can pick up the new ebook "The Reality of ROI and Social Media Marketing" to push you into the 21st Century. It is a fast and easy read.
Was this interesting or helpful? Would you consider sharing it?
Posted by Michael Hartzell on Tue, Aug 17, 2010
If Compete shows your traffic increased by 33% in one month, would you say that it was a business success?
Interesting news from Compete shows a list of movers and shakers.
Thoughts about the list:
Groupon has success because it is "forced viral" to get the deal. If someone finds a deal they like, they must find others interested who will commit. The consumer wins with better deals but has to do a little work along the way by sharing the page.
Bloomberg is all about news with tools for Personal Finance such as Calculators and a Portfolio Tracker. Financials, newspapers, TV, radio and the website can tie together well. The content and news is easy to navigate and worth sharing.
Discovery offers education and this website offers videos, news and education to break the brain. The content is amazing, unique and worth sharing.
Allrecipes has a deep inventory of all things recipes. Free recipes, exchanges, contests and news just to get you started. Sharing a recipe or finding a recipe to meet specific dietary needs is easy.
Vimeo is a quality video sharing site. (One I recommend.) Since video continues to be an online marketing tool, it is no surprise Vimeo is a mover and shaker. Sharing is easy and fun.
Match.com brings people together. Dating and relationship. Did you know there are over 11 million visitors in a month? They are on TV, radio, print and everywhere on the Internet. Those participating probably feel that the content is absolutely perfect: "Their Happiness."
Moviefone is all things movies. Trailers, movie listings, news, videos and more. With the ability to go mobile, Moviefone is an on the go website and with a few clicks, videos shared.
Godaddy is an aggressive marketing online service business. With an affiliate system in place where people are rewarded for sending business and a system where people can both buy AND sell their websites, this site is a top contender for being passed on.
Righthealth is a site about the well being and health of you and your family. Videos, news, health studies and the list goes on. Very valuable content and inbound links, bookmarking and sharing will be constantly on the rise.
Metacafe is one more video sharing site. Like Vimeo or YouTube, it has the easy sharing options but with a bit less restrictions for content.
The entrepreneur can't compete with the likes of these big names. If you have a tool such as Compete, you can stay in tune to the trends and patterns.
If you are creating videos and hosting them on Vimeo or Metacafe, then feel pleased. If your videos are about matchmaking / dating, health, finance or recipes, you are in an area where there is high interest.
What is common among these businesses to put them in the mover and shaker list?
Was this interesting or helpful? Would you consider sharing it?
Posted by Michael Hartzell on Sun, Aug 15, 2010
The author of a brand new book: "The Web Traffic Book" is a person serious about his vision. Add creativity, perseverance, deep thoughts and technical talent and you will find Ross Goldberg. Ross is an entrepreneur in the truest sense of the word as he watches the trends and is diligent to understand the needs of his "ideal customer".
Just as I grabbed the camera during a lightning storm and captured the image you see in the header above, so Ross Goldberg seizes the opportunity to help others and take care of his family along the way.
With such a full schedule, I am unable to follow Ross as closely as I would like but even so there are products and services in my arsenal I would not have known of otherwise if it not for Ross. (Along with meeting new friends via his events along the way.)
This is a "Happy Birthday Ross" moment. August 16th is his birthday. (Tomorrow)
This is how you can help yourself AND wish him a happy birthday:
Follow Ross Goldberg and wish him a happy birthday on Twitter: twitter.com/rossgoldberg
Buy his new book: The Web Traffic Book
I am sure he will be the first to tell you: He does not pull punches, he will tell you what he thinks (sorry if you are sensitive) and he will get VERY enthusiastic about what he believes.
You are a click away from reading Ross. (Since the new book is also on the Kindle and availabe for immediate download.)
Don't have a Kindle? No worries, you can buy a Kindle OR simply download the free software and read it on your computer.
Yes, I have ordered a copy. It will be the next book on my reading list. It is the least I can do as a "Happy Birthday Ross". Ok, maybe not the least, here is a fun video too:
That is not enough for you? How about one more Happy Birthday?
Your turn:
Affiliate Disclosure Policy
BONUS: PART 1 of The Web Traffic Book here:
Was this interesting or helpful? Would you consider sharing it?