Blogging for Small Businesses

Many people wonder if a blog will help them or their business. I say that a blog provides the same type of personal connection between you and your customers, or potential customers, that you feel toward TV personalities. After listening and watching them, you feel like you have a personal connection. Your customers can feel that way about you through your blog.

But don’t just take my word for it, take an assessment test to see if a blog is a good fit for you. My friend Denise Wakeman and her partner Patsi Krakoff have a free assessment test on their site, Build A Better Blog. Take the test, get their result, and watch their free video. After that, you should have confirmation that a blog will, or will not, work for you.

Could be that a blog won’t help your cause or your business, but don’t just assume that. Could be that a blog will help your cause, but you need to understand more about the details before jumping in. Either way, the better idea you have of how a blog works and the work involved, the better your decision.

If you want to know more about Denise, watch this interview I did with her last year.

Rob Boyd from Cisco TechWise TV

Rob Boyd, co-host and managing editor for Cisco’s TechWise TV series on the Web, explains how they choose topics and prepare for shows. Rob also details changes in TechWise TV and BizWise TV for the next year

More PR Advice for Small and Growing Companies

The second interview with PR expert practitioner Cheryl Snapp Conner, a follow up to the first interview here, dives into how to choose a PR person or firm, and ways to leverage your PR dollar for the most impact.

PodTech:AFCOM CEO Speaks

Jill Eckhaus, CEO, explains what AFCOM does, who belongs, and services the group provides. This interview happened at the Data Center World Conference in September 2007 in Dallas, one of their major member benefits.

PodTech:Brand Marketing to Cell Phones

Russell Morgan, chief operating officer of GroupieTunes, explains how the company uses cell phones to reach out to customers and increase the awareness for customers. Their “Mobile Community Network Enabler” platform allows, for instance, music fans to get messages and alerts from favorite groups anytime and anywhere.

PodTech:Resonate With Customers

During my keynote speeches for the spring ITEC conferences, I explained to people from small and medium businesses how to use new marketing tools, like blogs, to better connect with customers. Since only about 10 percent of attendees admitted having their own company blogs, I focused less on blog technology and more on blog philosophy and value building a bond with customers.

PodTech:A Webcast Producer Talks

Josh Camire, producer of the Wells Fargo Small Business Webcast series, talks about the process used by Wells Fargo to present their Webcasts. Josh also explains how companies with limited budgets can create interesting video content.

PodTech:Denise Wakeman, BlogSquad Cofounder

Denise Wakeman, half of The BlogSquad, explains how she helps companies make better blogs, and what makes a good blog. She received more viewer questions during the Wells Fargo Small Business Webcast than anyone, another indication, if needed, of continued interest in all things blog. Her advice site, Build A Better Blog, offers a wealth of blogging resource material.

Small Biz Podcasts Galore

Kudos to Anita Campbell and her Great Big List of 100 Small Business Podcasts. Most are marketing and sales related, but those groups like to talk and therefore adopted podcasts early on. Take a look, and a listen, and subscribe to the ones you like.

Google Gouges Customers

Here’s a cautionary tale for both sides of the disagreement. In case you haven’t heard, Google decided to stop their Download To Own / Download To Rent (DTO/DTR) video site. That’s OK, because companies stop selling products and close divisions all the time.

The pain point comes when you compare the name of the service, Download To Own, with the reality: you can only watch downloaded videos through the special Google Player. When the service stops next week, the player goes away. A good overview can be read in The Register.