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How to Reinvent Your Small Business Brand – #SmallBizChat Q&A

by Melinda Emerson, #SmallBizChat on February 9, 2012 in Branding & Marketing, Q & A Interviews, SmallBizChat, Your Small Business

Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wednesday on Twitter from 8-9pm ET. This is excerpted from my recent interview with Branding Strategist @DeborahShane. Deborah is the Author of Career Transition-make the shift and a nationally published writer and speaker. She hosts a weekly Blog, business radio show, and writes for several national blogs and websites including smallbiztrends.com, careerealism.com, American Express Open, Personalbrandingblog.com and Blogher.com. Deborah delivers smart ideas and solutions, which make her a popular go-to resource for clients and the national media. She has been featured on CBS, Fox, CNNMoney.com, HLNTV.com. Connect with her on the web at DeborahShane.com

Smallbizlady: Why are we talking SO much about personal branding?

Deborah Shane: It’s just not enough today to be in business or have a job. To be successful people have to develop a defining, distinctive personal brand that clearly communicates ‘who they are, what they do and what they stand for’ to make an impression and get noticed. The emergence of “personal branding” has been an outgrowth of the social media revolution. People getting more personal in their communications through the social medias is an amazing way to build brand awareness and credibility. For business, people want to know who is behind a brand now. The authenticity and transparency has become much more important to consumers. For entrepreneurs is vital to come out in front of your brand to let people know who you are and give people a glimpse of you.

Smallbizlady: We use brand and branding so interchangeably. Is there a difference and why is that important?

Deborah Shane: The brand is you: what you do, stand for and believe in. The branding is you in action: everything you do to market yourself online and in person. These work together and are mutually interdependent. Creating your brand first (the who/what/package), all the visual imaging, logo, colors, messaging about who you are and what you do has to come first. The branding (packaging/presentation), or all the marketing tools, and platforms you use to market and present yourself can only happen when you have the brand package.

Smallbizlady: What are the 3 things stand out brands have in common?

Deborah Shane: They know exactly who they, what they do and whom they serve. An example of this is: “I am a baker that makes mini gourmet cupcakes”, or “I am nature watercolor artist who paints wildlife and birds. Knowing your target audience and the psychographics of your customer is key for marketing to them.

Smallbizlady: What are the steps one should take to reinvent an existing brand?

Deborah Shane: The first step is to review and update the Messaging about what you do, your value proposition. Make sure it is still relevant and targeting your key niche and customer. These should be kept very current with what it is NOW not 2 years ago.
The second step is to review and update your Visual Presentation. The formats, styles, presentation of your logo, websites, cards, marketing copy, user experience should all be what you want people to see and what are the best practices of businesses NOW.
The third step is to use an Integrated Marketing approach for the ‘branding of your brand”. Review all the things you are doing to put yourself out there and make sure they are the best activities to reach your customer. Are they where your customer engages? Use these branding activities in tandem, together: social, email marketing, blogging, video, networking.

Smallbizlady: What kind of help does a small business need to reinvent their brand and how much should that cost?

Deborah Shane:
The DIY choice can work very well, as long as it is not taking too much time away from the other important things we need to do. Get a referral from people you know for marketing consulting, a graphic designer, website management and social media management. It is an investment you make in yourself and your business to look great and have a unified message. The prices can vary from the Elance.com type of site to a sold referral from your network. I highly recommend getting a referral, unless it is a very easy type of project.

Smallbizlady: Why is knowing your target customer and niche so important in small business branding?

Deborah Shane: By knowing this you can target the right media, messages and sales approach that is best for your target audience. Demographics plus psychographics gives you the best profile of your customer’s age, gender, background, and values.

Smallbizlady: How does someone build brand authenticity and credibility?

Deborah Shane: Demonstrate your brand’s core values as much as possible,. Have a defined, clear value statement and promise of who you are, what you do and whom you serve. Build your legacy and leadership by being consistent, authentic and telling your story, Strive to serving others. Reinvent and redefine yourself as things change, but be true to your core values. Don’t be afraid to fail, fall, show your vulnerability and celebrate perseverance and hope. Celebrate your sense of humor!

Smallbizlady: What social media platforms are best for building a personal brand?

Deborah Shane: Blogging is the best way to demonstrate your build brand and position you as an authority in your field. Email marketing can grow your personal relationships with your permission based list. Video can show your personality and allow people to connect with you more personally.
Facebook used more professionally on fan pages can get your people to engage, interact, rant, rave, discuss, ask questions all at the same time! It is an amazing engagement and branding tool.

Smallbizlady: How can you use multiple social media platforms together to build reach?

Deborah Shane: I have been combining my monthly themed email marketing newsletter with video, tele-calls, and articles on my blog. I also use my blog and email newsletter to promote my weekly business radio show, by highlighting upcoming and past shows and guests. I created a feature called “You’re in The Spotlight”, which combines all my digital assets: blog, radio show, email marketing, social media to highlight feature businesses and experts.

Smallbizlady: Why do some small business brands fail?

Deborah Shane: There are many ways that small business owners damage their brands including using multiple brands messages and/or images, inconsistent maintenance of blogs, and having no social media footrprint. You must have a professional brand image and logo that is on all of your web and hard copy materials. You must be able to commit to blogging two to three times a week, otherwise you shouldn’t bother. You must have a helpful website that tells people how you can help them within 7 seconds of them clicking on your page.

Smallbizlady: You talk about ‘accessorizing’ your brand like you do an outfit or your home décor, explain this?

Deborah Shane: In the fashion and design worlds, it’s that splash of color, pattern or grouping that catches the eye and grabs the emotion. So, why not apply this idea to ways you can accessorize your brand? Using stories, images, info-graphics, testimonials, color, video, etc to accessorize your brand and make your business more relatable to your target customer.

Smallbizlady: What are your top 3 tips for personal branding for 2012?

Deborah Shane: Reinvent and Leverage your talents and accomplishments. Use more video, testimonials, recommendations to create better results in your business.
Reimagine what success looks like and means to you today. Be realistic and put things in perspective for today, not 10 years ago.
Reinvigorate your visual brand and branding activities. Update your websites, logos, copy, messaging and business skills and make sure they are current and fresh. Network, network, network in person and online, and change up your routine.

Smallbizlady: You have 25 Free and Low Cost Ways to Market Yourself NOW! How can people get the complimentary copy of them?

Deborah Shane: Go to DeborahShane.com and sign up in the Join Our Community box and we will send them to you. That also get’s you in for our informative monthly letter and complimentary monthly tele-call.

If you found this interview helpful, join us on Wednesdays 8-9pm ET follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter. Here’s how to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/S797e

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

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also bestseller author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.

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How To Be A Pregnant Entrepreneur – #Smallbizchat QA with Darla DeMorrow

by Melinda Emerson, #SmallBizChat on January 19, 2012 in Mompreneurs, Q & A Interviews, SmallBizChat, Women in Business

Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wednesday on Twitter from 8-9pm ET. This is excerpted from my recent interview with professional organizer Darla DeMorrow @DarlaDeMorrow Darla helps people find their desktops, keys, time, money, and sanity as a certified professional organizer, but her kids still leave toys on the floor. She was a pregnant entrepreneur twice and wrote the book The Pregnant Entrepreneur. Website: www.PregnantEntrepreneur.com

Smallbizlady: Once I realize that I’m pregnant , who should I tell and when?

Darla DeMorrow: Disclosure of your news requires a plan. Start with your spouse, then family when the time is right. Tell employees, then clients. Then figure that everyone else will already have heard the news, but still be prepared to tell people. Don’t let people wonder too long, especially employees and key clients. You want to assure them that there is a plan for business continuation. Unfortunately, there is still a stereotype that most women decide to stay home after having children, even if that isn’t reality. It’s unbelievable, but you may be discriminated against for being pregnant, and you may not even know it. But it’s almost never worth pursuing, other than to perform your best, just as you always have.

Smallbizlady: What kinds of things should I spend my time on while pregnant, getting ready for change?

Darla DeMorrow: In your first trimester, start any new projects that can better sustain the business, especially passive income streams that you might want to develop. In your second trimester, wrap up any major projects and secure any agreements with colleagues or suppliers. In your third trimester, spend time on building relationships, scheduling business for your return from maternity leave, and putting finishing touches on any new passive revenue streams.

Smallbizlady: How long will I be able to work while pregnant?

Darla DeMorrow: Every pregnancy is different, but with good health, most women will work right up until delivery. Physical changes do start almost immediately, though, so the golden rule is to listen to your body and don’t do something if it stresses your body. Although I was able to do much of my normal workload right up until my ninth month, I did find that I was accomplishing work much more slowly. So if you work alone much of the time, consider bringing in an assistant to help speed things up, even if you are otherwise healthy.

Smallbizlady: How long of a maternity leave can I take?

Darla DeMorrow: The good news: you decide how long you can take. Your bank account determines how long you can afford to take. Do a review of your bank account to see how long your business savings will allow you to run the business and still pay the bills. Decide how to increase revenues or cut expenses if you want to take a longer leave. If you aren’t good with numbers, use the Maternity Planning Guide I developed to help figure it out. The guide is in The Pregnant Entrepreneur and downloadable free at www.PregnantEntrepreneur.com . If you have the opportunity to establish any passive income streams now, like books, virtual consulting, tele-training and paid subscription programs, they may be able to add income even while you are not working.

Smallbizlady: Will I be able to run my business, even with a pregnancy and with a child?

Darla DeMorrow: Yes, if you want to. The keys will be organization, focus, and support. Talk to other business owners. Read what you can. Write down your plans for the business. Do it now. Most women will tell you that flexibility is the most important factor as their family grows, and you probably already have high flexibility as a business owner, so you are ahead of the game.

Smallbizlady: Will anyone else help pay for maternity leave?

Darla DeMorrow: Sadly, no. Unemployment and health insurance don’t cover maternity leave for the self-employed. If you aren’t yet pregnant, you might be able to buy a disability policy to cover time off, but do the math to see if it will pay enough to cover your loss of income. Start with your insurance carrier or a local benefits and insurance broker to research this, but do it before you
get pregnant.

Who else can help me run the business, even if I am a sole proprietor? Get a team together. Think like a big company and list out who your key suppliers and subcontractors are. Figure out if any of them might be able to service clients while you are out. Forge relationships with competitors to enable new clients to get serviced and old clients to get help. Consider earning referral fees if you are willing to refer clients out to Consider hiring help.

Smallbizlady: What if I don’t want to continue to run the business? When should I not continue?

Darla DeMorrow: Being an entrepreneur is great, but only if you are profitable. If your review of the business shows a deficit, and you can’t or don’t want to make changes to the business for profitability, then close the business without regret. According to the SBA, 50% of small businesses close after just five years in business. That doesn’t signal failure, but keeping an unprofitable business running while you could spend time on a new business or with your precious newborn is not a smart choice. This time will never come again. Having the option to devote time to your family is a luxury, and can be cherished.

Smallbizlady: I had a very difficult pregnancy and was on bed rest for nearly 6 months. What advice do you have for entrepreneurs who run into complications?

Darla DeMorrow: Complications that put you out of work are relatively rare, although they do happen. Plan for the worst, from how you will handle clients or employees to the reserves that you’ll need to close operations for a while, should you run into trouble. If you do get a bed rest prescription, talk with your doctor about how much work you should be doing, even with the help of today’s technology. Really, as a business owner, you should have a plan B anyway. Anyone can run into events that would disrupt a business, from a death in the family to a car accident. We don’t want to think about it, but successful business owners do.

Smallbizlady: Should I still try run my business with a small child?

Darla DeMorrow: Yes! If you are passionate about what you do, then your business will continue to be fun and rewarding, and possibly even a welcome break from all the pregnancy and baby craziness. If you are profitable, even a little bit, the flexibility that you gain from owning your own business will be worth so much more when you have to work around another small person. If you are passionate, you have a better chance of being successful than established businesses in your field.

Smallbizlady: What do I need to know about those first few weeks with my newborn?

Darla DeMorrow: Turn off the technology. Everything changes, so plan but be flexible. Give yourself a chance to unplug. Six weeks is absolutely not enough time to get used to the new normal and handle a full work load. Have a backup plan in place if you need to take a little longer getting your bearings. You may want to keep in touch with key contacts, but don’t immediately jump back into the fray if you don’t have to.

Smallbizlady: What is the one thing you must do as a pregnant entrepreneur?

Darla DeMorrow: If you don’t already do this, pay yourself. Mark your paydays on the calendar. Pay yourself when you sit down to pay your bills, once or twice a month. Write yourself a check or get to the bank and withdraw cash. If you haven’t started taking a salary from your business, start now, even if it is only $25 per week. You’ve probably been pouring all of your profits back into the business, but you deserve a paycheck, too. This becomes super important since you will probably need more income now, whether for necessities or just cute little baby outfits. But if you are going to stay in business for the years to come, it has to be worth it, and working for free isn’t fun for long. Make it pay for you and your family.

If you found this interview helpful, join us on Wednesdays 8-9pm ET follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter. Here’s how to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/S797e

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

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Ready to dream big in 2012?

by Melinda Emerson on January 4, 2012 in Business Inspiration, My Recommendations, Your Small Business

Which road do you choose?

Are you ready to dream big in 2012? This is the perfect time to get a clear sense of what you need to do better in your business. Setting annual sales goals is fine, but you know me. I am all about the 30-day sales goal. As in, how much money do you need to make this week? It becomes a lot more real when you focus on your revenues it this way. Another great trick I use at the beginning of every year, I make a target list of people I want to meet and or do business with. Then twice a week, I reach out to some of the folks on my list via phone call, personal note, linkedin or email.

At the end of last month, I pulled the SmallBizLady team together for a retreat. During our three days together, we did an annual review of the good, the bad and what we better never do again in my business. I held the retreat at my home, at my home at the beginning of December to make it half fun / half work. Once we did the review, we planned for 2012. Too often we run our businesses in a reactionary mode. We swing from tree to tree and go from fire to fire. That is draining and exhausting and great way to get yourself on the fast track to burn out. We you take the time to set goals, you can stay focused.
Think about what you want to have happen in your business in 2011. Now, create a strategy that will drive your desired results for 2012. This will quickly help you figure out what you need to stop doing right now.

Here are some clarifying questions to consider:

· Do you need to add to your team? (You can only be an army of 1 for so long)
· Are you set up operationally for a huge sale or major media exposure?
· What are you doing to engage your online community?
· How are you going to attract new clients?
· Are you charging enough?
· What are your highest revenue generating activities?
· Is there a new niche market that you want to pursue in 2012?
· What are the best lessons you learned in 2011?

Once of the biggest lessons I learned in 2011, is that I needed to say No more often. Here’s my five best techniques for saying no to projects, employees, and potential clients that you know deep in the back of your head are going to be more trouble than they are worth. Try these when someone comes at you with foolishness.

No! It is a complete sentence.
I couldn’t possibly do that!
Nope, can’t do it! It’s not in the budget.
What?? Are you crazy? NO!!
Absolutely, NOT going to happen!

Do you have any more ideas for how to get your 2012 started off right? I want to learn your techniques.

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

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small businessfailure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine recently named her the #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the author of the national bestseller Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. (Adams Media 2010)

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SmallBizLady 2011 Year in Review

by Melinda Emerson on December 21, 2011 in Business Inspiration, Your Small Business

Wow, it has been an amazing year. The SmallBizLady Team has worked hard providing information to end small business failure. I feel so blessed to have had an opportunity to travel the country and talk directly with small business owners about how to start and stay in business. There are so many big things to highlight from 2011. I travelled to 14 states this year on official SmallBizLady business (and I’m silver and gold preferred on an airline and with a hotel chain to prove it.) I was pushed and pulled in many unexpected ways this year. I learned so much and updated my skills.

The year started off in January with a bang. I landed on the front page of the Washington Post Business section as my book Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months http://succeedasyourownboss.com/products/purchase-the-book/

was named the Color of Money book club pick of the month by personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/15/AR2011011502644.html This article was syndicated in over 100 newspapers across the country and it pushed my book into a second printing.

In February, I got on a war path about branding. It is my desire to help small business owners understand that their web presence and social media footprint were a critical element in small business success. I led my revolution with my column on www.SecondAct.com Are You Googleable? http://www.secondact.com/2011/02/are-you-google-able/

In March, the Philadelphia Business Journal named me as host of #Smallbizchat a Social Media Star in the Greater Philadelphia Region. http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/print-edition/2011/03/25/melinda-emerson-smallbizchat.html We also kicked off BYOB2011 Conference National Tour.

In April, my co-host Tai Goodwin and I celebrated the two year anniversary of #Smallbizchat with two special guests. Real Estate Mogul Barbara Corcoran from ABC’s Shark Tank joined us for an audio interview http://www.blogtalkradio.com/smallbizradio/2011/04/27/small-biz-lady-melinda-emerson-interviews-barbara-corcoran and Alan Weiss, Author of Million Dollar Consulting. http://succeedasyourownboss.com/04/2011/smallbizchats-100th-show-small-business-legend-alan-weiss/ These two business legends are people whom I have always admired. It was my honor to share their powerful advice.

May was National Small Business Month. I travelled the country teaching people how to become their own boss, build a social media brand, keep the sales going in a small business. I lectured for the MIT Sloan Sales Conference, Virginia Tech Women’s Leadership and Philanthropy Conference, Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Summit, Delaware County Community College, and my own BYOB2011 Conference in Washington, D.C.

In June, I kicked off the national campaign for the Pitney Bowes Small Business Makeover Contest and started writing for www.pbsmallessentials.com

In July 2011, I started doing monthly appearances on NBC10 in Philadelphia’s 10! Show on small business tips. http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/shows/10-show/Build_Your_Own_Business_At_Home_Philadelphia-127247128.html

I headed to Boston, MA to speak at the National Urban League conference. I had an unexpected death in my family that took me back to Alabama to honor my dad’s baby brother too. It was a sad occasion, but it was great to see all my relatives. I also got a chance to hang out with one of my small biz owners for some quality one-on-one time.

In August, Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months was the book of the month by Verizon Small Business http://forums.verizon.com/t5/Verizon-Small-Biz-Blog/bg-p/SMBBlog/label-name/melinda%20emerson and I was a guest expert on a live Tweetchat. I also had a major honor as I lectured at my father’s alma mater Alabama A&M in Huntsville, AL. I also swung through Houston, TX for the National Sales Network and my BYOB2011 Conference. Later, I hit the road with the team from Pitney Bowes to visit the five grand prize winners who won the Pitney Bowes Small Business Makeover contest. Fellow small business experts Jane Applegate, Matt Mansfield, and Phil Simon went on the road with me to Fairfield, CT, Huntington Beach, CA, Knoxville, TN, Leesburg, FL and Melbourne, FL. I really loved spending time with the contest winners. They were all special, and I am confident that the advice we gave them will grow their businesses. Shel Israel also wrote a profile piece for American Express Open Forum http://www.openforum.com/articles/how-melinda-emerson-became-the-online-pal-for-small-business

In September, I packed up the family and headed West to Wyoming and Yelllowstone National Park. I keynoted the annual Wyoming girls conference hosted by NorthEast College in Powell, Wyoming. It was the first time I have travelled to Wyoming. It was a delight to speak to 9^th and 10^th girls. (I was nervous, but it was awesome.) This was a great trip because my mother and son were with me. Family is so important to me. It was great to share that experience with them.

October, my birthday month, took me to Portland, Oregon for the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship Conference, NAACE conference where I lectured on a few difference subjects, but I was most excited to talk with the entrepreneurship professors about how to use my book and workbook Are You Ready to Become Your Own Boss http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0979983916/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_alp_tQ8Nnb1NCK52Y to teach small businesses on the college level. Fedex Office, hosted a live tweetchat with me on ow to recession proof your business and I was a featured speaker for the Pennsylvania Conference For Women which was right in Philadelphia in my backyard for a change. The SmallBizLady Team also conducted the final BYOB2011 Conference for the year.

In November, the team had three big opportunities. I lectured at Brand Camp University in Detroit, MI and then I went to NYC, The New York Expo to lecture to a standing room only crowd on How to Niche to Get Rich. (One of my favorite subjects) And the Wall Street Journal thrilled me by quoting me as article about whether realty stars could be legitimate small business owners. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204449804577068600801965064.html

In December, has been a whirlwind of activity. I started the month in NYC appearing on MSNBC’s Your Business http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2KEuthazEI and I moderated a panel for Inc Magazine’s 1^st annual Women’s Summit. I pulled The SmallBizLady Team back together in Philadelphia for a retreat at my home to plan the strategy for 2012. The Philadelphia Inquirer made my Christmas bright with a profile story by Diane Mastrull titled SmallBizLady: Using social media to spread small-business advice

http://articles.philly.com/2011-12-19/business/30534422_1_social-media-small-business-twitter-fans and a Yahoo small business quoted me in an article on 7 Tips to start a business in 2012 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/7-tips-for-becoming-your-own-boss-in-2012.html

With a 2011 like this, I can’t wait to see what is in store for 2012.

What was your biggest accomplishment this year?

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

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading smallbusinessexperts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small businessfailure. As CEO of MFE Consulting LLC, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine recently named her the #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the author of the national bestseller Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. (Adams Media 2010)

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5 Tips to Create a Successful 2012 Marketing Budget

by Melinda Emerson on December 6, 2011 in Branding & Marketing, Grow Your Business, Women in Business, Your Small Business

It isn’t 2012 just yet. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be planning for it. For any business to be successful, it’s necessary to have a marketing budget. And while next year seems like a far off notion today, there is no better time to start establishing how you’ll invest your marketing dollars. Below are five tips to create an effective marketing budget (whether budgeting is your thing or not).

Start planning now. Waiting until the start of next year to do a 2012 marketing budget is a great way to have a disorganized budget that leads to mishaps. You need time to walk away from your initial budgeting ideas so you can come back to them with a clear head. And when the numbers don’t add up (and often they don’t) you need time to develop a solution.
Assess this year’s budget. One way to get started with next year’s budget is to have a grasp of what was hot and what was not during 2011. Were there areas you went well over budget? Were there categories in which you never spent a dime? Although this year’s activity isn’t an exact prediction of next year’s results, looking at your current expenses let’s you know where to make adjustments.
Include an income column. Not all marketing is an expense. When you host a webinar or luncheon and charge people to attend, you are not only marketing your business but also deriving income from that activity. Knowing what efforts bring in money is a great way to assess their impact on your business. It also shows what is worth continuing and what needs to be scrapped. If none of your marketing activities include income, it’s time to strategize a few income-producing endeavors.
Expect the unexpected. Keep in mind your marketing budget has many of the same characteristics as your personal budget. No matter how well you plan for every eventuality, something will come up without notice. Leaving a little wiggle room in your marketing budget for unexpected expenses lets you make sound decisions. Label a special column for emergencies so the wiggle money doesn’t get needlessly spent on something frivolous for the office.
Know the difference between a sound marketing strategy and a fad. You may have your heart set on a marketing tactic, but if it doesn’t support your overall business or the numbers just aren’t showing, it’s time to let go. If it seems that this tactic is being used by everyone else, keep in mind your business is different. What works for one business might not work so well for another. Know what your business needs so you can develop a unique, hard-to-copy marketing approach.

Creating a marketing budget (or any kind of budget, for that matter) is often NOT at the top of someone’s “favorites” to-do list. But with persistence and a willingness to get started early, the process can help you build a solid foundation for the upcoming year.

By day Morgan Leu Parkhurst helps individuals put the pieces of their marketing puzzles together. By night she teaches marketing to entrepreneurs. Morgan is also producer of the Magnetic Biz-Building Online Summit. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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6 Business Lessons for Under 30 Entrepreneurs

by Melinda Emerson on July 5, 2011 in Become Your Own Boss Tips, Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, Your Small Business

I recently had the opportunity to do a live Q & A call with a group called Under30CEO.com. They were a terrific bunch of young people many of whom were still college students. I wanted to share with all of you the advice I shared with them, because I think it could be useful for some of us over 30 entrepreneurs. Here are the 6 business lessons I shared with the Under 30 entrepreneurs, most of which can be found in my book Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months.

Go work for the competition: Find a company like the one you want to start and work for them to learn the ropes first. You will learn the industry, the best vendors, business processes, and you might even learn what not to do. Get yourself a mentor business to model your business after.

People skills are critical. Being a people person is one of the most important skills any entrepreneur can have in business. You must be willing and able to sell yourself and your product or service to anyone. You should be building a network 12-24 months before launching your business.

Live frugally. Save 20-40% of every paycheck. Your ability to save has everything to do with your ability to start a business. You will be able to fund whatever you want later in life if you protect your money when you are young. When you have debt driving your business you don’t make the best business decisions.

BYOB Be Your Own Bank. Only 3% of small businesses ever get funded. Don’t waste your time chasing venture capital unless you truly will have a million eyeballs on your business quickly. Start your business by funding it from within.

Constantly be learning. While you are still in college, take some business courses or if you can do a double major in business. Once you launch your business, attend leadership and business courses, conferences and workshops every year to stay on top of things and reinventing your skills.

Timing is everything. A wise woman once told me, “A good idea is still a good idea three weeks from now.” Don’t be in such a rush to launch your business. Do your homework! Know your customer. Know your secret sauce and how you will stand out in the marketplace. And know your competition and how you plan to deal with them. All of this preparation will enable you to be really confident when you strike out in business.

Do you have any other suggestions for under 30 entrepreneurs?

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Ask @SmallBizLady: How can I get my kids to “buy in” to my business?

by Melinda Emerson on June 10, 2011 in Ask Smallbizlady, Business Inspiration, Mompreneurs, Your Small Business

Here’s the answer:

Every Friday, I answer your small business questions in a video blog segment called Ask Small Biz Lady.

This week, we are taking on the question: How can I get my kids to “buy in” to my business?

If you want to get your family to support your business follow these steps:

Communicate with them and teach them what you do.
Don’t be afraid to put even the little ones to work; Get them a job in the business
Share your ideas and ask for their feedback
Everyone loves to be asked for advice, so you can’t go wrong there.

If you have a question for Melinda Emerson, Small Biz Lady, leave a comment on this blog using the contact us page or send me a note on Twitter @smallbizlady, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/smallbizlady or you can hit me up on www.linkedin.com/in/melindaemerson

I’m always here as a resource.

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The Minority Entrepreneur Accelerator Program Could Be Your Answer

by Melinda Emerson on June 8, 2011 in Become Your Own Boss Tips, Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, BYOB2011, Cash Flow & Finance, Customer Service, featured, Grow Your Business, My Recommendations, Social Media, Technology, Your Small Business

Comcast Interactive Capital, the venture capital affiliate of Comcast Corporation, one of the world’s leading media, entertainment and communications companies, today announced that is has partnered with DreamIt Ventures (“DreamIt”), the leading technology accelerator for entrepreneurs, to provide seed funding, training, mentoring and other benefits to five minority-led startups through DreamIt’s accelerator program. The partnership with DreamIt, entitled the Minority Entrepreneur Accelerator Program (MEAP), is Comcast Interactive Capital’s first investment initiative from the $20 million fund created by Comcast as part of the NBCUniversal transaction that is committed to expanding opportunities for minority entrepreneurs.

Comcast Interactive Capital and DreamIt are now accepting applications and will select five minority-led startups to participate in DreamIt’s three-month accelerator program taking place in Philadelphia this fall. The deadline for applications is July 8^th and the program will commence on September 9^th.

Kerry Rupp, Managing Director of DreamIt, said, “We are thrilled to have Comcast Interactive Capital as a partner and are looking forward to working with them. DreamIt is proud to provide assistance and opportunities to help entrepreneurs grow, and we know that Comcast will provide invaluable expertise and partnership to this process.”

MEAP will provide minority entrepreneurs with the opportunity to engage in an intensive, company-building experience. Applicants who are accepted into MEAP will be a part of DreamIt’s broader Fall 2011 initiative in Philadelphia and will be offered the opportunity to learn from, and be mentored by, recognized experts in marketing, brand building, business development, financial modeling, business plans, distribution and customer acquisitions. In addition, they will be provided with office space, working alongside the other startups selected and be provided with donated legal, accounting and administrative help. At the end of the three-month period, the startups will have the opportunity to pitch to venture capital and angel investors at a demo day in Philadelphia to secure further funding to create a sustainable business.

For details on how to submit an application for the Comcast Minority Entrepreneur Accelerator Program, please visit the DreamIt website atwww.dreamitventures.com/about/Comcast-MEAP.php.

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

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of MFE Consulting LLC, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine recently named her one of the Top 20 women for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the author of the national bestseller Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. (Adams Media 2010)

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Are you Google-able?

by Melinda Emerson on June 6, 2011 in Ask Smallbizlady, Become Your Own Boss Tips, Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, featured, Grow Your Business, How to Start, Social Media, Technology, Uncategorized, Your Small Business

google logo

If you’re ready for a midcareer makeover, you can get new clothes and a new haircut. But even more important, you must make yourself what I call “Google-able.” That means you need to create a smart social media footprint.

By day I work as a small-business coach, and I keep coming across amazing professionals with extraordinary credentials who want to build a consulting practice or establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry.

But here’s the problem: When I put their names in Google, I come up with nothing. No website, no social networking profile — not even a guest blog post. These people may have advanced degrees and impressive titles on their resumes, but there is no electronic evidence of their expertise and accomplishments. Since this has happened several times over the last few weeks, it dawned on me that I needed to help fellow midcareer folks understand this new paradigm.

Gone are the days of calling around to get the 411 on a potential business partner or new hire. These days, people do an internet search before you ever get a call about a new opportunity. Recruiters and corporate executives routinely conduct internet searches when looking for talent and don’t always advertise open positions. Many believe you don’t even exist if you don’t have a social media footprint.

Here are five essential steps to get started online.

1. Smile and click.

One of the key things you need prior to establishing yourself online is to get a professional headshot. Go ahead and spend money to get a good photo. It should be a smiling shot that is friendly. Even though you are communicating over the internet, people still want to see who they are talking to.

If you haven’t established an online presence yet, keep this in mind: You are using the skills you already know — how to communicate with people. Creating an online presence simply helps people find you. Think of it as your virtual business card, which is far more useful in 2011 than the paper variety.

2. Sign up at LinkedIn.

The first step to building your brand online is to stake your territory: One of the best moves you can make is to set up a profile on LinkedIn. Yes, you’ll also want to establish a Google profile and sign up for a Facebook or Twitter account, too. But LinkedIn is the most important.

“If you are looking to do anything in the professional world, LinkedIn is where you need to be. LinkedIn is the ultimate buyers’ market,” says Patrice Rutledge, author of Using LinkedIn.

Here are her top tips to make your profile shine on LinkedIn:

Add your profile and be sure to fill it out 100 percent. Your profile should use the appropriate keywords that your target audience would use to search for your expertise (including job title and certifications).
Use applications to enhance your profile (SlideShare presentations, Google presentations, portfolio display or box.net to add a resume).
A detailed company profile is important for a business owner. Be sure to link it to your personal LinkedIn profile.

3. Create a website.

The next thing you can do is register your name or your business name as a website domain and create a simple one- to five-page website. If you are interested in establishing yourself as a thought leader in your industry, adding a blog to your new website is a great idea.

I realize that this might sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. You can register your own domain name and then hire a virtual assistant who specializes in social media to help you set it up. (By the way, a virtual assistant is an entrepreneur who assists business owners and busy people with time-consuming tasks, allowing them more time to focus on profit-generating activities.) With a few basic lessons, and time with tutorials, you can get going in no time.

4. Sign up for a Facebook account.

Cathy Larkin, founder of Web Savvy PR, conducts hands-on workshops to teach baby boomers how to use Facebook. Her clients often want to know what to talk about on their Facebook Fan Pages and how to create a good profile.

“I show people how to use Facebook rather than telling them how to do it,” Larkin says. “It’s all about figuring out what your intended audience wants to hear, learn or know about.”

She offers the example of a real estate agent who posted information about how to clear two feet of snow from your roof, which is much more creative — and useful — information than simply listing houses for sale.

Here are Larkin’s three tips for using Facebook Fan Pages:

Consider your keywords. Your domain name for your Facebook Fan Page should include keywords that people will use to search for you online.
Set your Info page as your default page. If someone visits you on Facebook, they will quickly get a sense of who you are and what you do (and hopefully fan your page).
Upload photos and online videos. It’s a great way to promote your products or services and add rich content to your Facebook Page.

5. Don’t forget Twitter.

Thomas MacEntee, the 48-year-old founder of High-Definition Genealogy, says its best to think of social media as a garden you have to tend.

Laid off from his tech job in Chicago in late 2008, MacEntee reinvented himself as a family historian — helping people investigate their family trees — and utilizes social media to connect with clients. It took MacEntee about a year to build his business.

He’s been so successful mastering the intricacies of Twitter — the free service that allows users to share information in 140 characters or less — that he now teaches a social media class for baby boomers called “Twitter: It’s not just what I had for breakfast anymore.”

He says the key to Twitter is giving as much as you get, and listening as much as you speak. He says some boomers have a problem with these concepts. “They think they are giving away their work for free, but it’s part of building yourself as a brand and an expert,” says MacEntee.

Here are some action steps to get you started building your online brand.

Decide what you wish to accomplish before using social media. Are you looking for a new work opportunity or simply want to connect with others who share a special interest or expertise?
Figure out who your audience is and where these folks hang out online. (You want to be as specific as possible in targeting your efforts.)
Create your LinkedIn account immediately. Add a great photo, import your contact database from your e-mail and join one group.
Expand to your own website, Facebook and/or Twitter.
Start developing a list of potentials blog topics. It’s a good idea to developed an archive of blog posts at least three months prior to launching your blog.
Remember that social media marketing is a marathon, not a sprint. You will get out of it what you invest in it.

If you follow all of these tips, when someone types your name into the world’s most famous search engine, they will immediately have your virtual business card — and so much more — right at their fingertips.

Melinda F. Emerson, known as the SmallBizLady, is an entrepreneur, professional speaker, small business coach and the author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months. In 2010, Forbes magazine named her as one of the Top 20 Women for Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter.

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6 Things Oprah Winfrey Taught Us About Business

by Melinda Emerson on June 5, 2011 in Become Your Own Boss Tips, Before You Start, Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, Customer Service, Grow Your Business, How to Start, Women in Business, Your Small Business

Oprah Winfrey is my hero. I never thought about being an entrepreneur until she got on my radar when I was in college in the early 90’s. It was around that time that she opened Harpo Studios in Chicago, making her the third woman in the American entertainment industry (after Mary Pickford and Lucille Ball) to own her own studio. She immediately went from being just a daytime talk show host to becoming a media mogul. And it was awesome to watch. The biggest thing she did for me was show me that I could do it too. I have studied her every move in business. I had an Oprah file for a year before starting my production company in 1999. Any article I could get my hands on about her business I would devour, print and keep. What I love about her most is that she has never been about goals. Oprah Winfrey has always been about growth. She has constantly evolved. That and her business acumen will leave a lasting legacy to all business owners to come. Here are 6 Things Oprah Winfrey taught us about business. 1. Find your calling. Oprah said in her final show that every day she walked on stage she felt that she was exactly where she was supposed to be. If you have no life plan, you are most likely following someone else’s agenda for your life. Live on purpose! Don’t be one of these entrepreneurs with an endless to do list, exhausted at the end of day– getting nowhere fast and not making any money. Oprah urged us to follow our own truth. God speaks to us though visions and dreams. Pay attention to what he is showing you about your destiny and build a business around that. 2. People show you who they are the first time. If a prospective customer approaches you, acting like an impossible nightmare, that is exactly who they are and how they will behave if you move forward in business. Do not allow your need for money or a contract force you to tolerate someone who does not value your professional expertise. You will never be paid enough money to make it worth it. 3. Oprah owned a broad niche. Oprah targeted a demographic that was women of all ages and income levels. She developed shows that would appeal to career women, working moms, stay-at-home mothers, grandmothers, retirees, high school and college students. And her audience was loyal because she helped them be better, live better, and find a correct fitting bra. 4. OWN your mistakes. In the wake of disappointing ratings at OWN, The Oprah Winfrey Network, Oprah’s latest venture in partnership with Discovery Networks, Oprah made a change at the top. Network head Christina Norman, abruptly left the 4-month-old cable channel at the beginning of May. How many of us wait until it’s too late to make changes in our businesses? Evaluate what is going on in your business and do not be afraid to change course if you need to. 5. Know that you are worthy of success. Often times we know what we deserve, but the thing that keeps us from truly capturing it is internalizing that we are worthy of all God has for us in our lives and businesses. 6. Be willing to do what it takes. Oprah never missed a day of taping on her show in 25 years. She knew that showing up was the most important element in her success equation. Are you willing to do all that it takes to make your business a success? I have begun to reach major success in my business, but I started being your SmallBizLady in 2007. There is no such thing as overnight success. What lessons have you learned from Oprah in your small business? For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of MFE Consulting LLC, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine recently named her one of the Top 20 women for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the author of the national bestseller Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. (Adams Media 2010)

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Blogging, & Handling Corporate Inquires & Monetizing your Online Brand.

by Melinda Emerson on June 3, 2011 in Ask Smallbizlady, Become Your Own Boss Tips, Business Inspiration, BYOB2011, Customer Service, featured, Grow Your Business, My Recommendations, Social Media, Technology, Women in Business, Your Small Business

Check out this quick video from the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference. Fellow blogger Jewel Figueras of http://www.JewelsFabLife.com was interviewed by LaShanda Henry creator of SistaSense blogs for entrepreneurs and the Black Business Women Online Social Network.

http://www.sistasense.tv/smallbizlady-and-jewelsfablife-talk-blogging-and-working-with-brands-part1/

We discussed blogging, handling corporate inquires and monetizing your online brand. Enjoy!

I’m always here as a resource.
If you have a question for Melinda Emerson, SmallBizLady, leave a comment on this blog using thecontact us page or send me a note on Twitter @smallbizlady, on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/smallbizlady or you can hit me up on www.linkedin.com/in/melindaemerson

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Do you need a Small Business Makeover?

by Melinda Emerson on June 1, 2011 in Ask Smallbizlady, Become Your Own Boss Tips, Branding & Marketing, Customer Service, featured, Grow Your Business, Mompreneurs, My Recommendations, Social Media, Technology, Your Small Business

Pitney Bowes wants to give your business a communications makeover worth up to $10,000. If you could use some help with your email, direct mail and social media communications, you can win a free year of using Pitney Bowes’ full suite of business tools. The grand prize winners will also receive in person one-on-one coaching from me @Smallbizlady and my colleagues marketing expert Jane Applegate and technology expert Phil Simon.

You have until July 19th to tell us how you’d improve your business communications. The earlier you enter the better as you will need to get a social media pals to vote for you in order to become a finalist. To enter write a 300 word essay on your biggest communications challenge or send in a one minute video. Click here to enter the Pitney Bowes Small Business Makeover Contest http://www.pbsmartessentials.com/makeover/

Disclosure: I am a paid consultant to Pitney Bowes to participate as a judge and business coach in this makeover contest!

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

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of MFE Consulting LLC, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine recently named her one of the Top 20 women for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the author of the national bestseller Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. (Adams Media 2010)

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4 Things All Entrepreneurs Should Do On LinkedIn

by Melinda Emerson on May 31, 2011 in Ask Smallbizlady, Become Your Own Boss Tips, Before You Start, Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, featured, Grow Your Business, Social Media, Solopreneurs, Women in Business, Your Small Business

Linked in Logo

LinkedIn is important! 75% of all professionals in the US have a LinkedIn profile, which means if you want to do business you must have one too. LinkedIn is powerful tool that you can use to promote yourself if you are an individual consultant or a company with 2 or more employees. Here are my four tips that all entrepreneurs should do on LinkedIn.

Make sure your profile is 100%: If you do not have a headshot, please add a profession one. Typically, business owners who are not 100% lack recommendations. Look at your connections and ask at least three people to write why they love doing business with you. To make it easy, write the recommendation for them. This might be rough, but go ahead and do it. Actually, you should get in habit of asking anyone you interact with to give to a recommendation. I have over 47 recommendations and counting, you can never have too many.

Know Your Keywords: Your keywords should be spread across your profile. First your description of who you are should include keywords that your target customer would use to find you on the internet. Your summary and skills should also be peppered with keywords. This will also help you appear higher in Linkedin searches for experts.

Join LinkedIn Groups: You can join up to 50 groups on LinkedIn. You should join at least 10 groups that have your target customer in the group. You should have a strategy for how you will engage and attract members of the group to connect with you. Many groups allow fellow members to connect even though you do not know each other.
Answer Questions: One of best ways to standout in LinkedIn is to answer questions. It should become a part of your social media routine. Try to answer two to three questions a week and see how many new connections you will make for your business.

LinkedIn is a powerful tool and a great way to connect with decision makers. Make sure you are in the best position to promote yourself and your business online. Do you have any other LinkedIn secrets to promote a small business? For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of MFE Consulting LLC, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine recently named her one of the Top 20 women for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the author of the national bestseller Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. (Adams Media 2010)

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4 Tips for Listening to Your Audience Online

by sss4success on May 24, 2011 in Grow Your Business, Social Media, Your Small Business

One of the first pieces of advice you’ll find about using social media for your small business is to “listen to your audience“. By creating a listening strategy you’ll find out what conversations are happening among your customers (or potential customers), before you dive in and try to become part of the conversation and ultimately sell your wares.

A good Social Media Marketing Strategy starts with an active monitoring and listening plan that helps you learn what’s going on in your industry, as well as what people have to say about your brand. It allows you to plan exactly how you’ll enter the conversation and what valuable content you’ll use to make yourself a valued asset and not just another person shouting about their brand in the already overcrowded social media space.

The following 4 tips will help you formulate a listening strategy to hear what your audience is saying and find out what you can bring to the conversation:

1. Use Google Alerts: Google Alerts lets you get email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on the topics of your choice, where you can choose your topic and have the results delivered via email or RSS feed at the time you specify. The great thing about Google Alerts is that you can set up multiple alerts for your name, company name, competitors’ names, and relevant keywords or search terms for your industry to keep up with the information that you need. This intelligence will be delivered to you regularly, instead of heading to a search engine and running queries yourself.

2. Try Social Mention: Social Mention is a social media search engine that searches user-generated content such as blogs, comments, bookmarks, events, news, videos, and microblogging services. It’s like Google Alerts, but for social media platforms. It works similar to Google Alerts, where you can set it up and monitor your brand and competition in the social media space.

3. Search Twitter: With over 200,000,000 million users, tweeting 155,000,000 tweets a day, Twitter has become a real-time information network that connects you to the latest information about topics you’re interested in. Searching Twitter is a great way to find out what people are talking about NOW, and using a Saved Twitter Search is the best way to monitor topics relevant to your brand and industry.

4. Create Surveys: Regularly polling your customers and prospects is a great way to find out what topics are of interest to them, and what kinds of products and services will meet their needs. Services like Survey Monkey make it easy to gather information from your customers first hand by asking them what you want to know. For the cash-strapped entrepreneur, Survey Monkey offers a basic plan that lets you have up to 100 responses on a 10-question survey, thus providing an excellent tool to learn more about your stakeholders.

Have you tried any other listening strategies that have brought you success in the online realm?

Kindra C. Cotton, Serial Entrepreneur, Technology & Social Media Specialist, and Jill of All Trades (and a Master of Two), channels her energies into her small business consulting enterprises specializing in brand marketing, market research, and strategic information consultancy. A transplanted Nashvillian with years of expertise with the Internet and web-based technologies, she channels her passion for entrepreneurship, information technology, and social media into being an excellent resource for online marketers and people looking to promote their brand on the web as Examiner.com’s National Online Marketing Examiner. Her flagship brand “SSS for Success (Small Business Survival Specialists)” specializes in preparing small and medium-sized organizations to take advantage of the free and low-cost marketing avenues that exist in the online arena.