Writing great content sometimes requires a bit of legwork. Sure, you know what you know, but you can make a stronger case for it if you back it up with some solid data. The web is great for that, but it can become overwhelming sorting through hundreds of pages just to find that one reputable site. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a better option? There is! It’s another great product brought to you by Google. Here’s where to find it. Read More
Forge3 was founded in 2004 – almost nine years ago. Has it always been smooth sailing? Heck no! Not even close. If you own a small business, you know exactly what I mean. There are days that you’re on top of the world. There are also days when it feels like the world is against you and nothing you do is working out. We fall down a lot. We get bruised and battered. That’s not important. What IS important is that we get back up – just like my little girl who’s learning to take her first steps. Read More
Terri wrote in with this question: “I am starting a blog using our new website. What is the best way to get people interested? Asking a question? Posting something related to the season? Just curious how you started yours and how well it took off.” Great question, Terri. Here are a few tips you can incorporate right away. Read More
This past week, syndicated talk show host John Aberle invited me on his Life Unedited show. We spent an hour talking about work, life, the challenges of being an entrepreneur and how social media played a critical role in the Boston Marathon bombings. If you listen to just ONE thing from me this year, THIS should be it. I’d love to know what you think. Read More
LinkedIn is a powerful, but sometimes underutilized, business tool. It’s powerful because nearly half of LinkedIn members are decision makers. It’s underutilized because most people treat it like an online job board where they store their resumé and nothing more. Here’s how you can get more connections on LinkedIn with one simple change in your approach. Read More
I’ve always wanted to try this. Does having a personalized license plate help with exposure? Do people see the plate and use their smartphones to see what it’s all about? There’s only one way to find out. Read More
Bill wrote in with this question: “I’ve got some serious concerns about who’s ‘friending’ our Facebook page. For example, what are the potential motives of us being linked to an element that appears to have nothing to do with our business? Can they hijack our brand? Should we de-activate our Facebook page?” Great question, Bill. Here are some of our thoughts. Read More
Needle in a haystack? Are you making it easy for people to find you or do they have to search like a 5-year-old searching for Waldo? If it’s the latter, you’re losing out. Spending just a few minutes making sure you’re visible can be the difference between being found and being a nobody online. Here are a few quick tips that will get you moving in the right direction. Read More
Email marketing statistics can vary by industry and by audience. If you’re a B2B company marketing to senior level executives, your open and click rates for an email sent on Monday at 8am may be very different than if you’re a B2C company marketing to new parents. There are so many factors to consider, making it hard to pinpoint that perfect time to send an email. Read More
I was behind a tractor trailer the other day with the tagline of “Our people make the difference” painted on the back of it. Wow. That’s original. Honestly, that means absolutely nothing. Any business can (and does) say that. How many times have you heard, seen or said “Our people make the difference?” I’m not doubting that your people are great, and who knows, maybe they DO make the difference, but that’s not the message. HOW or WHY your people make a difference would be a better place to start. Read More
LinkedIn is a great platform for professional networking. But what about LinkedIn etiquette? Are there certain rules you should follow? We think so. Here are 16 LinkedIn dos and don’ts to help you get the most out of the time you spend on LinkedIn. Read More
ABC. Always Be Closing. Coined in the movie Glengarry Glen Ross, this hard-nosed sales philosophy may have worked a little in 1992, but it doesn’t today – especially with social media and the rise of relationship-first marketing. Here’s why. Read More
40.3 million people tuned in to watch the Oscars on Sunday night – Hollywood’s biggest night of the year. Although the show’s ratings have been questionable in recent years, the Oscars usually always deliver one thing – great people watching! The who’s who of Hollywood come decked out in their best (and sometimes worst) and the next day we all want to know how to nab those same looks for less. That’s fine, but let’s apply this copycat approach to business for a second. Here’s what we mean. Read More
Years ago, most people using the Internet wanted to remain anonymous. But, with the popularity of social media, being anonymous online is a thing of the past. These days, showing your face is a good thing. It helps build relationships. Here’s how to do it using a free service called Gravatar. Read More
“Slow down you’re doing fine
You can’t be everything you want to be
Before your time”
~ Billy Joel, Vienna Read More
