Start-Up Sundays

Just started a new blog and a matching google group called Start-Up Sundays: A Beginner's Guide to Business and Marketing.

The blog will follow the entire classes process and progress.

It will be a delight to guide 30 students along the path of independence.

The students come from many diverse backgrounds.

One of the neat things about this venture is that tuition for the class will be driven by a fundraiser. Since, many of the students do not have the budget to learn what is vital for their dreams to succeed, yet have the ambition to bring them to fruition.

Come visit my new blog at: http://startupsundays.blogspot.com/

Making Twitter a Useful Business Tool

There has been much ado about Twitter as of late so I thought I would try to stop “micro-blogging” my posts through my http://www.Twitter/acoupleofchicks home for Chicks on Twitter and actually write a post of suggestions for Tweeting for business.

Here is my list of Twitter Tips:

1. Your Website: Before you start tweeting, make sure your company’s website is up to date, optimized for search engines and has a call to action to close the sale. You will also need to install a web monitoring program like Google Analytics; a free program that monitors traffic on your website. This way you will be able to benchmark your success once you have started tweeting. (You can look for Twitter as one of your traffic referrals once it is up and running and you want to determine if Tweeting is worth your time).

2. Put a name on it: When creating a twitter page for your company or brand, make sure you are using a real name in the bio for transparency. Your twitter page should feel like a conversation and followers need to feel as if they are talking to a real person. Using first person in your tweets or the collective ‘we’ also makes your company seem more credible and engaging to potential customers. Ex: “We’re dropping prices tomorrow!”

3. Follow, follow: Following is one of the most important aspects of twitter. A fast and easy way to find potential customers is to visit a competitor’s twitter page and follow their followers. You should also search your company’s name in a “twitter search” to see who’s talking about you and then add them. Other people you should follow include: other employees, people in related companies and industries, related brands, journalists and competitors. Following people related to your company helps get the best followers for your twitter page - and gives you some relevant content to read!

4. Tweet Content: Make sure your tweets are not entirely sales or company related. If you are constantly talking about a sale or a new product that just arrived, people will not see the value in following your company. Talk about things happening in the media, post links to interesting stories related to your industry and upload twitpics. This way, when you talk about the odd sale or new product and post links to your site, your followers will actually be interested.
The points above are the very basic elements to consider when looking at Twitter as a marketing vehicle. I would suggest that more than a marketing vehicle, Twitter is an excellent PR/Communications tool and many successful brand Tweeters are using it as a means to have a “conversation” with their customers.

With this post a renewed commitment to continue Blogging more than 140 characters at a time - this was therapeutic!

Received this post from: Oliver Dombey

http://www.hoteltravel.com/
http://twitter.com/OlivierDombey
http://www.youtube.com/OlivierDombey
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dombey

Money In is Always a Good Thing.

My first campaign with Twittad has just ended.

I must say I enjoyed it.

The concept is rather simple.

One - Get a free Twitter account : http://www.twitter.com/

Two - Find people you like and follow them

Three - Have people follow you back

Four - When you have followers sell your demographic to an advertiser.

http://www.twittad.com/ sells your Twitter page background to an advertiser.

The advertiser rents your page like a billboard. They can rent on a short to long term lease depending on their budget and the length of time you are willing to lease.

The advertiser also releases tweets from your account to your followers. You get to choose what these tweets look like when you OK the campaign. The amount of tweets the advertiser releases depends on their budget.

The more tweeps they contact - a.k.a. your followers, and the more releases the send - equals the amount of advertising income you receive.

You will need a PayPal account to receive payment. (Which is free to set up.)

There are more Twittad user than there are advertisers. So, make your Twittad profile appealing to the advertiser. Tell them about yourself and your followers. Then they will be able to see if your demographic, followers, are right for them to advertise to.

Here's to successful use of Twittad!

Every Little Bit Counts

Found a site that rocks.


http://bit.ly/

They take those long URLs and shorten them up.

Sign up is free. They will post your links directly to Twitter.

The bonus is that they track the link usage. You can actually tell that your links are being followed.

I use it for every link I now send.

Affiliates, Movies, Freebies, Music, Pass alongs to my friend's sites and more.


What a great little site with fabulous follow up.


Check it out for yourself. you will be glad that you did.

Tweet Success

So very excited about my new adventures in the world of business opportunities.

This morning I sent out my first affiliate powered tweet.

Used http://bit.ly/ for the first time.

Am helping a local event coordinator and friend, Michael Frisini, promote his business. Helping local business people network and connect.

Some may think it's the Hokey Pokey, however, I think helping each other out is 'what it's all about'.

Here's the actual Tweet:

Afterhours Networking - Tues, June 23,09 from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM (CT) D.O.C. Wine Bar 326 Yorktown Ctr. Lombard, IL 60148 http://bit.ly/ghnxg

Things are moving as fast as a Tweet. Now I wish there were at least a dozen of me.

Have to get back to it.

Self-employment rocks to say the least!

Marian Enstrom Professional Services

Have been self-employed and freelancing for over a decade. Let me guide you through the self-employment maze.

In the 1920's over eighty percent of the U.S. population was self-employed. Over the past nine decades these numbers have drastically changed. The U.S. now has over eighty percent of the population employed by companies and corporations.

Finding a job through a resume becomes more difficult every day. Creating your own streams of income may be the only solid foundation you can depend on.

Self-employment and freelancing is not as difficult as it may seem. You can work on creating your own dreams; and be able to maintain them.


Let's work on Your goals together.

We can help you:

Define your goals

Create an outline to reach your goals

Define and build a business plan

With filing business papers

Create a web presence through - blogging, SEO, and SMO

Create a local presence

Find an insurance package to fit you, your family, your business

Find a competent licensed accountant

And, we'll cheer you on!

If you would like our services send an email at chachingmagnet@gmail.com detailing the type of assistance needed, and your budget.

The number of clients we take is limited.

Guidance is provided in person at our Chicago office, or online.

Online services are available via: Live Messenger, Yahoo Live Chat, and Skype.

Here at Marian Enstrom Professional Services we encourage self-employment and independence.

Starting Your Business - By: Todd Capper

Small business is a vital part of the overall economy. In these difficult economic circumstances, it is more important than ever for small businesses stay afloat. This can be quite a challenge considering the current state of things. When starting up a business or maintaining one that is already established, it is key to learn how to write a business plan. This plan is the guiding force behind your entire operation. You will need to have a solid plan if you want to achieve success in this market. That is why a business plan template can be so valuable.

Experts agree that a business plan template is crucial if you want to develop a quality strategy for your company. The size and niche of your operation does not matter. You need to learn how to write a business plan regardless. Small business contributes a lot to the economy. The valuable services and products they provide cannot be replaced by massive corporations. You can succeed with a small business, but you need a plan that lets you test your ideas and make major decisions for your company. People who take the time to invest in a solid plan have a far greater chance of success than those who do not plan appropriately.

There are a variety of business plan template options for a small business. You can get resources for a start up plan, an online plan, a home based plan, or an existing business expansion plan. Whatever you need, there is a template out there that will help guide your towards your ultimate goals. Figuring out the viability of your business on paper is the most important step you will take. Often times, a small business owner has a vision for his enterprise, but he does not have the training or knowledge to properly plan the execution of this vision. A business plan template allows you to insert all relevant information into a custom plan. As you go through the material, your customized business plan takes form.

Different service providers have various templates. You do not want a business plan template that is long and tedious. You want to avoid templates that go into too much detail and that are not immediately relevant to your business needs. As a small business owner, you need a template that condenses all the fundamental information into a usable plan that is easy to understand. Look for the perfect template for your new business plan today.

Todd Capper
Living and working for over ten years in the private small business sector in Japan.

http://www.abusinessplantemplate.com