Referral Based Selling
http://www.thejfblogit.co.uk/2010/02/04/some-interesting-facts-about-referral-based-selling/
Jonathon Farrington
Jonathon Farrington’s Blog
February 10, 2010
I first heard the term “Referral Based Selling” and some statistics related to it from Jim McDermott back in 2002 when he was part of the founding team of Spoke Software. Before there was Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn and social media was in it’s infancy, Spoke’s mission was to connect business people and turn every cold-call into a referral, which dramatically reduces selling and closing times and costs. This blog-post from Farrington provides some updated statistics on the value of referrals and gives a good overview of why this type of selling works. We are obviously believers. Insight Press Release.
BigCommerce Turns To Facebook To Socialize Online Storefronts
http://techcrunch.com/2010/03/24/bigcommerce-turns-to-facebook-to-socialize-online-storefronts/
Leena Rao
TechCrunch.com
March 24, 2010
It is getting easier and easier to sell your wares online and to share your business happenings with your friends and colleagues. Our Blogsite is tied to our Website and to our Facebook page via an automated stream. Now you can connect your online store directly to a page within Facebook, as well. The lines are blurring…
Size doesn’t matter – Profits do
http://www.gazelles.com/fsb/SizeDoesntMatter.pdf
Ellen Spragins and Verne Harnish
Fortune Small Business
March,2004
One of the authors of this article, Verne Harnish, wrote an article in this month’s Fortune magazine which I will post as soon as it becomes available online. But his commentary was valuable enough that I sought out other pieces that he has written, coming across this one from 2004. I think small business owners intuitively understand that profits are better than revenues, but Spragins and Harnish point to some very obvious reasons why small businesses should have a larger focus on the bottom line and stop worrying about “growth at all costs.”
Making Referrals As a Job Creation Engine
http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2010/02/25/making-referrals-as-a-job-creation-engine/
John Jantsch
Duct Tape Marketing
February 25, 2010
Our friends as at Duct Tape Marketing are issuing a challenge to see if we can log 1,000 referrals to small businesses the week of March 8th. Great timing for the challenge, as Insight is just releasing the details of its Referral Partner Program and invites all of its Facebook fans to check it out and get signed up. We want to share our financial success with the people that help to get us there!
Financially Preparing Small Business Owners for 2010
http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/money/article/financially-preparing-small-business-owners-for-2010-susan-l-reid
Susan L Reid
American Express OPEN Forum
January 27, 2010
Although signs are pointing to a recovery from a year that most people would love to forget, there remain short-term issues to deal with and small business owners could use a hand navigating these waters. Reid advocates three things for 2010: Hire a business coach, focus on what will generate near-term revenue and look for ways to reinvent your business. 2009 might have eliminated your major competitors or opened up a gaping hole in the marketplace that simply was not there in previous year, and you might just be the one to take advantage if you act now.
Catching up to Mobile
http://www.clickz.com/3636125?utm_source=feedburner
Adam Cahill
ClickZ
January 14, 2010
Adam points to a recent study by Morgan Stanley that predicts that within 5 years, more people will be accessing web content via mobile devices than through computers. Another article that points to why our partner, Ash Boodel, was dead-on with is blog post and the mobile web work that he is doing for clients in Washington.
Engagement rule No. 1: Thou shalt make it easy
http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/2010/01/15/engagement-rule-no-1-thou-shalt-make-it-easy/
Jesse Stanchak
SmartBlogs on Social Media
January 15, 2010
The easier you make it to contribute to/help/join a cause, the more likely it is that you will get the help you are looking for. The Red Cross raised $8 million for Haiti, just by making it really easy to text a number to donate $10.
Making web sites easier to use for people on the run
http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/12/mobile-friendly-website.html
By Lisa Barone
Small Business Trends
December 30, 2009
One of the latest trends for 2010, as confirmed by our partner Ash Boodel in his blogpost, is the creation of mobile-friendly versions of your website, particularly if you cater to a consumer base that is likely to be looking for information about your company while in transit. If this sounds like your business, you should consider a low-cost, mobile-friendly version of your website. Foursquare did just that – read a recent article about them here.
Foursquare offers 7 smart solutions for small businesses
http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2010/01/04/7-reasons-why-small-businesses-should-take-a-look-at-foursquare/
by John Jantsch
Duct Tape Marketing
January 4, 2010
John always has his pulse on the latest technologies, not just for use by individuals, but specifically how they can be used by Small Businesses. In this case, Foursquare is a company that uses games and social media connectivity to encourage users to let their friends know where they are. From a business standpoint, by letting customers “check in”, you can provide real-time discounts and promotions (and get the word out that people are at your establishment). Cool stuff, we’ll have to check this out.
Why Public Speaking Is Good for Your Brand & How to Get Started
Public speaking, while one of man’s greatest fears, can be an exhilarating experience. It can also boost your reputation and your business.
http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/managing/article/why-public-speaking-is-good-for-your-brand-how-to-get-started-tony-bacigalupo
by Tony Bacigalupo
OPEN Forum
December 1, 2009
I think everyone has a little bit of fear of speaking. But the more you know about the topic, the more confident you will be. Go out there and prove to people why you are great at what you do!
