A huge thanks goes to Scott Blitstein @scoblitz for handling things when our Queen Bee had a family emergency last week. Pam wrote a post about the significance of the SBBuzz community coming together over on the BatchBlue blog if you’re interested in the details.
We’re lucky to have a community full of worker bees. Thanks everyone!
- We’re on every Tuesday from 8-10 pm EST. The next chat will be held on November 3rd, 2009!
- You can read the instructions on how to participate here: http://sbbuzz.biz/instructions
- Invite others to join in, help them get started. We started this chat to facilitate conversation between small biz owners.
Here’s the summary from last week:
- wvpmc: Hi bees- Wendy Van Parys Marketing Communications from CT – looking forward to tonight’s open mike buzz #sbbuzz
- BlakeGroup: Amy here: I do creative services including graphic design, writing, saying hello to everyone at #sbbuzz
- nrohrbach: Twitter searches not working too great for me while at a Twitter conference. Irony. Sorry #sbbuzz, consider this a postcard from Hollywood.
- jonedm: Hi all. David here. We’re a small biz that makea and marketa hands-on educational products. #sbbuzz
- wvpmc: @jonedm for what target age group(s)? #sbbuzz
- selahsynergy: Susan here from Selah Synergy looking forward to the chat, learning everyone’s small business expertise. #sbbuzz
- jonedm: science products, not typing products!
#sbbuzz - scoblitz: Scott from eSeMBe here. Go-to-guy and blogger at myesembe.com. Have we seen our leader bee? #sbbuzz
- jonedm: @wvpmc First product is geared to the 7-13 age range. #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @jonedm lol – classic! #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @scoblitz Hmm, did someone swat the bee? #sbbuzz
- garyasanchez: I’m Gary. I help businesses innovate to identify marketing opps (strategy) then help to implement marketing programs (tactics). #sbbuzz
scoblitz: OK – I guess open mike means improv – so let’s go with it. Who wants to jump up here first and take some questions? #sbbuzz
- merylevans: Open mic, eh? Why do I feel a karaoke coming on? #sbbuzz
- selahsynergy: @scoblitz Hmmm, are we all dressed up with no place to go tonight? Is that what open mic means? #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @selahsynergy sure – we’ll wing it… anyone read any good books lately? #sbbuzz
- shipwire: @scoblitz highly recommend “Three Cups of Tea” really moving story of a true entrepreneur working in HARSH environment. #sbbuzz
- BlakeGroup: Anyone have thoughts about bartering/trading prof services (like design for PR)? #sbbuzz
- merylevans: @shipwire That sounds great. Thanks for the heads up. Looking it up. #sbbuzz
- mattharrell: I’ve started The Four Steps to The Epiphany. A must read for anyone considering a startup; especially software http://bit.ly/WZbEu #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: Books: reading Crush It right now, by @garyvee – interesting look at branding your way to success. #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @BlakeGroup Bartering can work, when both parties have a real need. But you can’t make a living on it. #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: I’m a big fan of the Unclutterer blog so am thinking of putting this on order http://bit.ly/238zpO – Unclutter your life in one week #sbbuzz
- shipwire: @blakegroup I’ve never been a big one to trade services; but, it could work if you know the other’s work well and track time. #sbbuzz
scoblitz: @BlakeGroup Great Question – anyone have thoughts on bartering services? #sbbuzz
- BlakeGroup: @bradfordshimp @shipwire I do some trading for services I don’t do myself. But doesn’t take the place of a real client! #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: I think instead of straight up bartering, you might be better off offering discounts to each other. #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @bradfordshimp great point – the need really has to be there on both sides. #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @BlakeGroup If the trading is of equal (cost) services, it makes a lot of sense. #sbbuzz
- BlakeGroup: @bradfordshimp @scoblitz Way for small biz to access prof services (ex: logo design for legal servs, which I’ve done) #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @mattharrell thanks Matt – looks interesting. I always finish these chats with 30 open tabs of people and things to look at later. #sbbuzz
- selahsynergy: @scoblitz I have bartered only with very close friends or associates. I knew their work, visa-versa and no need for contract #sbbuzz
- shipwire: @blakegroup remember all those dotcom barter services that crashed? Bartertrust, etc. big exchanges failed; 1to1 better…<3 cash #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @BlakeGroup I’ve bartered for haircuts, plumbing, and even my sister-in-law gives me lunch when I do work for her. #sbbuzz
- BlakeGroup: @shipwire I think barter works better as pers relationship than as big biz. SM could help link people. #sbbuzz
- merylevans: @shipwire Oh yes! I remember hearing about “Three Cups of Tea” — good to hear about it again. #sbbuzz
- shipwire: @scoblitz unclutterer! thank you for that blog recommendation #sbbuzz
- BlakeGroup: Another question: interns? I find they take too much time for me. Any luck, anyone? #sbbuzz
- merylevans: Most of my barters are with people I know well. #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @selahsynergy that can work well, but I’ve found you need to check in regularly and make sure everyone feels it is still working. #sbbuzz
- merylevans: @scoblitz I agree — still important to do check-ins. #sbbuzz
- selahsynergy: @scoblitz No doubt about it. Accountability and tracking systems are still critical. #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @BlakeGroup my wife just wrote about a company that has had great success with interns http://bit.ly/4b7l1G #sbbuzz
- selahsynergy: @merylevans I tend to barter/share ideas and expertise more than services, via mastermind team and other associations #sbbuzz
bradfordshimp: Q: What kind of professional consulting, training, or other education is worth paying for? #sbbuzz
- nrohrbach: I’ve bartered for high performance truck parts, people ask me how much my mods cost. “2 websites and some t-shirts” #sbbuzz
- merylevans: @bradfordshimp Good question. I’m actually taking an online class from a writer with more experience than me. Short & not too $. #sbbuzz
- shipwire: @blakegroup I used to hire interns at a past company. Mark Cuban’s blog just paned how feds tax interns http://bit.ly/3XsOv2 #sbbuzz
- selahsynergy: @BlakeGroup I have clients who have mixed results with interns, seem harder to manage if your biz is micro, easier in 5+person offic #sbbuzz
- wvpmc: @scoblitz wondered what your wife does – checked blog link – About Us is the Latin gibberish placeholder – her to-do list? #sbbuzz
- BlakeGroup: @bradfordshrimp We pay big % of revenue for good tax prep. Had been audited 3 times–not since current acct! #sbbuzz
- BlakeGroup: @shipwire Mark Cuban’s blog just panned how feds tax interns http://bit.ly/3XsOv2 Absurd!! #sbbuzz
- shipwire: @bradfordshimp I can’t stand the day long $1000 seminars for SEO, etc. I’ll take personalized and targeted anyday #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @wvpmc not really a real blog, more of a storing house for content to be syndicated. We’re launching her new web site this week! #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @shipwire I think a personal consult from someone who knows what they are doing can make a big difference. #sbbuzz
- shipwire: @blakegroup absurd blog post or the tax handling? Less of a risk for an SMB; but, I’m sure enterprise have to consider. #sbbuzz
- merylevans: @shipwire I prefer online classes as I can’t miss anything (unless they use webconferencing). Hard to sit in 20+ min/keynote talks #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @bradfordshimp I look at it on case by case. What skills do I need to fill in gaps or prepare for desired project? #sbbuzz
- shipwire: @merylevans @bradfordshrimp I agree. personalized or online. I’ve even gotten nice tidbits from vendor webinars that are targeted #sbbuzz
- BlakeGroup: @shipwire Tax liability is absurd for unpaid interns : ) I know so many people who got great jobs b/c they did an internship. #sbbuzz
- selahsynergy: @BlakeGroup thanks for the info. my son was looking for internships, many are unpaid but we didn’t realize it was illegal #sbbuzz
- merylevans: As a writer, reading books and online articles can only go so far. Sometimes you need formal class & live teacher to go next level. #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @bradfordshimp I get tremendous benefit from time spent with a thoughtful marketing person — every few months if I can. #sbbuzz
- BlakeGroup: @selahsynergy Blog is via @shipwire — and is excellent info for all biz! #sbbuzz
wvpmc: @scoblitz what are the chief benefits you get from that sitdown? #sbbuzz
- shipwire: @merylevans I totally agree that sometimes you need a class and of course the school of hard knocks #sbbuzz
- merylevans: Maybe government’s concerned with unpaid employment abuse as more folks do it. But I did an internship in college that made big diff #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: Anyone have any questions on sales or marketing? #sbbuzz
- shipwire: @scoblitz does your personalized marketing consultation cost a flat fee or hourly or ??? #sbbuzz
- merylevans: @bradfordshimp I’m struggling with finding good recent articles on mktg vs sales communication and cooperation. #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @wvpmc It helps validate my good ideas and reconsider the others. Keeps me thinking about business focus. #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @merylevans As in marketing and sales working together?? #sbbuzz
- shipwire: @bradfordshimp do you market to attract SMB customers? If so where have you gotten good response/conversion? #sbbuzz
- merylevans: @bradfordshimp Yes. I have to seek three articles per month on that topic. It’s unbelievably hard. #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @shipwire it depends – usually it’s hourly but sometimes it’s done in a block or a program. Varies by person and their specialty. #sbbuzz
- BlakeGroup: Must sign off–thanks for great chat + RTs! @bradfordshrimp @shipwire @selahsymergy @scoblitz (will read blog later!) #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @BlakeGroup thanks for joining us! #sbbuzz
- wvpmc: @scoblitz how many consultants are you using? diff one each time? all face2face? #sbbuzz
- selahsynergy: @BlakeGroup good night, thanks for the links and tips! #sbbuzz
- merylevans: @bradfordshimp Titles like The Neglected art of internal communication and Focusing on Customers starts from the inside #sbbuzz
- shipwire: Need to signoff & will check back in a bit. Thx @bradfordshrimp @blakegroup @selahsymergy @scoblitz @merylevans Cheers #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @merylevans Its a shame that there is such a separation between the two. They should go hand in hand. #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @wvpmc length varies – some for a long time and others for specific needs. Usually virtual / phone. #sbbuzz
- shipwire: If anybody ever wants fulfillment, shipping, logistics, #ecommerce advice please feel free to reach out over twitter #sbbuzz
- merylevans: @bradfordshimp Exactly. The publisher wants to point to article on them working together. #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @merylevans Salespeople should become good at marketing, and vice versa. #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @merylevans Hmm, will have to write something on this. Talk about it a bit in my new Sales Tactics newsletter. #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @shipwire thanks for checking in and sharing your thoughts. #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @merylevans There should be no disconnect between sales and marketing, should work together to tell one story. #sbbuzz
- wvpmc: @merylevans big problem I see is ppl think mktg=sales, or mktg=promotion (lose product, price, distribution channel functions) #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: I think officially we were only on for an hour this week – are we in for more or should we start to wrap it up? #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: Well, both my batteries are running low (laptop and body). #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @bradfordshimp ok – we’ll do quick pitches and reconvene again next week. #sbbuzz
- selahsynergy: Great informal chat with everyone this week. Thx for taking the lead @scoblitz & 4 the insight & tips from all. ‘night #sbbuzz
- jonedm: Any good tweetchats coming up toomorrow night for small businesses? #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: Ok – I provide small businesses with advice and services through http://allbizanswers.com and http://broadrivercreative.com #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: @selahsynergy I’m sure our bee will be buzzing again next week to get us back on track – but this was fun! #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @jonedm I’m the guest at #smallbizchat tomorrow at 8pm, talking sales alt. to cold calling. #sbbuzz
- merylevans: @bradfordshimp We agree with that — we just need to point to articles every month to keep readers informed on the topic. #sbbuzz
- jonedm: @ bradfordshimp sounds like a chat we won’t want to miss. #sbbuzz
- merylevans: @jonedm @bradfordshrimp is right — #smallbizchat by @smallbizlady is a great one every Weds. #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @merylevans Right, wish I could point you to some specifics, nothing comes to mind, even from my blog. #sbbuzz
- brandingexpert: @jonedm #brandchat is at 8AM Pacific…. #sbbuzz
- scoblitz: Ok – thanks everyone for our attending our informal open mic, spontaneous free-form jazz version of sbbuzz. See you all next week! #sbbuzz
- bradfordshimp: @scoblitz See you maestro! #sbbuzz
- wvpmc: thanks everyone – and thanks @scoblitz for filling in for the bee – hopefully she’s ok #sbbuzz
- shipwire: @bradfordshrimp is that 8pm tweetchat manana EST or PST? #sbbuzz
