Archive for November, 2009

What is a Twitterchat?  Anyone can use Twitter, but you really are not part of the online community until you have spent some time on a Twitterchat.  This post will explain the fundamentals of a Twitterchat.

A Twitterchat is simply an organized group chat that takes place using the Twitter platform.  Twitterchats are organized events that occur at a set time.  Example: #smallbizchat occurs on Wednesday evenings from 8 to 9 PM Eastern.  To participate, you just need to be using Twitter at the assigned time.

What is a Hashtag?  A hashtag “#” also known as the “pound sign” always starts with the symbol and then your special word or topic. Mine is # smallbizchat. Hashtags allow you to isolate a conversations using Twitter.  The use of a hashtag is how other participants follow the discussion.  Participants use an assigned hashtag (say, #smallbizchat) at the end their tweets during the discussion.  

People typically use TweetChat.com and Tweegrid.com to participate in #smallbizchat. 

You can use regular Twitter to participate in a chat.  All you need to do is answer the questions and be sure to use the #hashtag at the end of each answer.  I would not advise doing it this way however, the point of participating in a Twitterchat is to interact with the other participants.

What is the format of a Twitterchat?  Here are some common formats for chats that I’ve seen:

• freeform discussion- there’s a general topic and everyonejumps in and starts chatting
• structuredagenda- the host asks questionsand gives participantsa set period oftime to answer
• featured guest - guestoffers advice oranswers questionsposed bythe host and the audience can chime in too. (#smallbizchat uses this format)

How do Twitterchats operate?  Often the chat organizer or host will set ground rules at the beginning.  Typical ground rules might include:

• The first 10 minutes are for introductions and announcements
• No pitching your business until the last 5 minutes
• Never hijack the chat– take irrelevant discussionsoffline

How do I find out what Twitterchats are taking place? There are more than 60 Twitterchats on twitter each week.  There are also some that meet less frequently.  Some of the most popular chats include #journchat (for journalists and PR folks on Monday nights) #gno (girls night out on Tuesday nights) #brandchat (for branding tips on Wed mornings) #smallbizchat (for small business info on Wednesday nights) #blogchat (all about blogging on Sunday nights).

There are two major calendars that track twitterchats:

• Twitter Party Guide
• For a good calendar andschedule of weekly twitterchats check out this Google link: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhisaMy5TGiwcnVhejNHWnZlT3NvWFVPT3Q4NkIzQVE&hl=en

How to participate in a Twitterchat?  You must have a twitter account.  Use the calendars to select a chat you want to participate in.

Each week I release a custom tweetgrid link through my @smallbizlady account on Twitter with the topic to make it easy for my followers to join #smallbizchat. 

If someone goes on Tweetgrid.com directly they need to select party mode and manually put in the hashtag for the twitterchat they wish to follow.  The great thing about tweetgrid is that it has three columns which allow you to see everything going on real-time.

Tweetchat.com is much simpler to use.  You login with your Twitter information and just put in the #hashtag and you will immediately start to see the conversation in that #hashtag.

Check out this link for more information on: How to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/S797e

Tell me about your favorite Twitterchat or if you have ever participated in #smallbizchat tell me what you like about my weekly Twitterchat.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?  You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Melinda Emerson “SmallBizLady” is a Veteran Entrepreneur, Small Business Expert and Social Media Coach who hosts #SmallBizChat on Twitter.  #SmallBizChat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.  Melinda’s first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 months! A Month-by-Month Guide to Start a Business that Works! is scheduled to be released by Adams Media in Feb 2010.

Reading is brain food for your business. To keep your thinking sharp it is always good to read about the latest techniques for running a successful small business. One of my favorite things to do is read books about business strategy, social media and leadership. 

Here’s Part II of a list of best books that I think will have a major impact on your business strategy heading into 2010.  (Part I was posted earlier this week.)

Plan As You Go Business Plan by Tim Berry (Entrepreneur Press, 2008)  Business owners struggle everyday because they don’t have a plan. I also see folks who create a business plan and then never use it. Without an up-to-date business plan, you put your business at a great disadvantage. Tim Berry lays out an easy to use system to get your business plan done. The value from having a written plan comes from going through the process and updating it on a regular basis to evaluate how your business is doing and making adjustments as needed. Tim has organized the book to support his “plan as you go” approach. It is designed so you can jump around and use the section of the book that you need at any given time. Don’t start 2010 without an updated business plan.

When Growth Stalls: How it Happens, Why You’re Stuck & What to Do About It by Steve McKee (Jossey-Bass, 2009)  One of the biggest challenges any business owner faces is generating consistent, profitable growth. “When Growth Stalls” is all about keeping the momentum going in your business.  It is a practical, hands-on guide for business owners who are struggling with stalled growth and for those who hope to prevent it in the first place.   When your entire financial future is on the line – it’s not just business, it’s personal.   This book is based on research that illustrates that 54.9% of companies’ growth is currently stalled. Growth can slow down for a variety of reasons including: marketing inconsistency, increased competition, lack of focus at the top, or a loss of nerve. Steve gives you the blue print to focus inward and turn things around in your business.

Book Yourself Solid: The Fastest, Easiest, and Most Reliable System for Getting More Clients Than You Can Handle Even if You Hate Marketing and Selling by Michael Port (J. Wiley & Sons, 2006)  Michael Port makes you think about your clients and work in a different way.  He suggests attracting clients with a no-cost-of-entry offer that leads to a low-cost-of-entry offer that leads the client deeper into your solutions and offerings. He also teaches that, if you have clients who sap you of energy because they are not “your” kind of clients, you cannot do as good a job for them, and you lack integrity. This is what I believe as well.  You may restructure your marketing plans based on the lessons taught in the book. This book is especially helpful for service businesses.

From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money with books, E-Books and Information Products by Stephanie Chandler (J. Wiley & Sons 2007)  In this business age, it’s all about what you know that you can sell.  Stephanie Chandler does a great job of breaking down all the different ways to generate content and information products. She also illustrates how you can repurpose your content to build your expertise and brand. She profiles the biggest names in the infoproducts at the end of every chapter including my favorite self-publishing guru Dan Poynter.  She also has an extremely thorough chapter towards the end of the book about how to promote a book.  From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur is worth reading a few times. 

ONO: Options not Obligations, Family First Entrepreneur by Marc Warnke (Morgan James Publishing 2009)  Most entrepreneurs struggle with work/life balance issues. Marc Warnke challenges readers to enrich their personal lives by rethinking their financial lives. ONO teaches a wealth creation lifestyle that focuses on making a difference first and creating profit second.  Family first entrepreneurs make business choices based on the potential impact they will have on their families first, and on business profitability second. I bought this book after reading an incredible review by a blogger online.  This is a great philosophy to live and run your business.  Try it!

Do you know a book that should be added to the list?  Let me know, I love the feedback.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?  You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Melinda Emerson “SmallBizLady” is a Veteran Entrepreneur, Small Business Expert and Social Media Coach who hosts #SmallBizChat on Twitter.  #Smallbizchat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.  Melinda’s first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months: A Month-by-Month Guide to Start a Business that Works! is scheduled to be released by Adams Media in Feb 2010.