Not Every Shoe Fits
Once upon a time, a prince went searching for his true love. His only clue was that the girl of his dreams would be able to wear a very special glass slipper. While he met many fair maidens along the way, there was only one perfect fit for him. So he searched far and wide till he found Cinderella. Small business owners need to be as discerning as the prince when considering where to spend their precious time on social media. While there are many attractive networks, there is a perfect fit. Not every shoe fits every business. So how do you find your perfect fit? There are two questions you...
read moreWhen a Customer Complains
Over the last few years, we have seen an explosion of small business social media activity. The affordable and easy-to-use platforms make it easier than ever for small business owners to present their company to prospects, stay in touch with clients, conduct market research and resolve customer service issues. Unfortunately, while customers have been quick to embrace social platforms to complain and share feedback, many business owners have been slow to respond to their cries for help. This is surprising when you think about how much you spend to get a new customer. In our 2012 Small...
read moreOnce More, With Visuals: Part One
There is simply no substitute for eye-catching visuals if you want to grow your business on the Internet. That is why you need a visual content strategy. I’m here to help you find the pictures to power that strategy But what is a visual content strategy and how do you start? For answers, check out this post by Allison. She lays out a convincing argument for the importance of pictures on your website and social profiles. Good visuals lead to increased search performance and greater results for your social media efforts. And it’s as easy as snapping photos with your...
read moreThat’s a Wrap: Week Ending April 20
Do you ever step back and think about how much you’ve accomplished in the past seven days? Although I often think of Roundpeg as an oasis in the storm of my life at home with a husband, three teenagers and two big dogs, sometimes I am amazed at the craziness that ensues at Roundpeg in a “normal” week. Regardless, blogging is always a priority for us, so if you too have had a crazy week, this is your chance to catch up on our words of wisdom. Saturday – I’m A Business Owner Lorraine’s idea of the difference between being self employed and owning a...
read moreOnline Tennis
Four years ago, I wrote a blog post about networking. In it, I compared a networking conversation to a tennis match. In tennis, the goal is to make contact with the ball and knock it back over the net. Let the ball linger on your side of the net too long and you risk watching it dribble off to the side, allowing your opponent to score the point. The same is true in a business conversation. When you are talking, it is the equivalent of keeping the ball on your side of the court. The longer you talk the more likely your listener will become bored. And just as the ball will roll off...
read moreSocial Media and the Contracting Industry
I spent more than a decade in the HVAC industry, so I still get invitations to talk to groups of contractors. I still do presentations about marketing strategy and web design, but this year, almost every presentation is about social media. I just got back from a three day tour through Iowa, and was surprised by how receptive the contractors in Mason City, Iowa were. Even in this fairly rural community, these business owners have realized, that to survive they are going to need to do things differently. While I don’t think they need to invest time establishing a huge...
read more317.569.1396
