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Small Business Ideas

Things I Learned Today Because of Social Media

by admin on March 24, 2010

It has been a great day.  I’ve read and learned many things.  I sold a couple of insurance policies.  I renewed a policy.  I made connections with a couple of my networking partners (phone connections–conversations!!! Yes, they are still important.)  Sitting in my office and laughing at an old picture posted on Facebook by one of my friends, I really appreciated more than ever the power of social networking. 

One of the applications I use, however, TweetDeck is almost too much for me.  I get Tweet updates on everyone I am following.  I also get updates on LinkedIn profile changes, connections, etc. etc.  This can really be too much for one person to handle.  So, I do not utilize TweetDeck as much as I used to.  Here’s a few things I learned today because of Social Networking:

  • Gary Smith and Trinity Signs “just took over signwork for the John Bowles Company! We are currently working several projects at once.”
  • Harold Smith of Cornerstone Mortgage just got a bit of advice from one of his clients:  “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” (Einstein) – via my smart client
  • Since noon today, about 50 of my connections on LinkedIn have made a new connection and expanded their (and my) network.
  • “My Customers don’t give a damn about me”.  from @JohnnyBTruant 
  • I now know some of the things I should have in my emergency supply kit (water, essential medicines, can opener, radio, etc.)
  • Honolulu has the second highest housing rents (I’m not completely sure what that means.)
  • Host Families are needed for Russian Oprhans in Dallas

Many of these things are trivial.  But, much more trivial things are not included in this post.  I actually viewed a lot of relevant content and links to social media, insurance, small business advice, etc., too.  The content I consumed today was great.  The trivial as well as the information significant to my business.

The reason I enjoy social media so much is because I can turn it off and on whenever I want to, but it is still running around the clock and waiting for me when I return.  This is the same reason that your customers and potential customers enjoy social media.  They want to be able to turn to the information when they need it . . . when it is convenient for them.  If you own a business, you want to be there when people decide to return.  That is the significance of social media.  Being there when people return. 

collinharbour.com


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A Place To Get Work Done

by admin on March 4, 2010

I have an office.  It is for my insurance business.  Many of our customers want to know they are dealing with a bricks and mortar operation, even though it is not absolutely necessary to have a location in the insurance business.  From time to time, I need to get away from the office to do my work.  This might seem counter intuitive, but it is true.  I have found that getting out of the office to get work done is an effective method of managing my time.  The key is finding the right location.

Working from home is not an option for me.  If I need to get to the office quickly to take care of insurance business, my home is not an ideal location since it is about 20 minutes from the office.  Additionally, if my family is at home, there will be too many other distractions to get the to work done.  Starbucks would be a nice option, but they charge for their wireless. 

That’s why I have chosen Panera Bread as my office away from the office.  Wireless is FREE!! (thanks Panera Bread).  There is quite a bit of traffic in the two Panera Bread’s.  That’s okay.  For some reason it is easier to lock out this noise than it would be at the office location.

Many small business owners don’t have time to get away, or don’t think they have time to get away.  I advise carving out a few hours a week to get away from your business.  Find a free wireless connection and get to work.  Complete letters, faxes, and emails that need to be finalized.  Review documents that need to be reviewed.  You can even spend a few minutes on competitive analysis by doing web research. 

If you work from a home office, it might be easier to get out and find a location to complete your work.  Again, the home distractions are too much to overcome in many cases.  Get away from the distractions and lock out the noise.

collinharbour.com

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Creating Value in a Commoditized World

March 1, 2010

Much has been said of creating value for clients. I trained at a company that focused on values based selling. This company does not monopolize the idea that focusing on value is a key differentiator in winning the deal. Competition is fierce and will only get more fierce moving forward. With the economy tightening daily, it is important for businesses to determine the value they bring to their clients and devolop sound methods for articulating this value. Displaying value is not enough as clients also expect you to deliver on that value proposition.

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Being at the Right Place at the Right Time

February 23, 2010

I know people who always seem to have good things happen to them.  They always seem to be in the right place at the right time.  I was watching an old re-run of Seinfeld last night and saw a perfect example of this (watch the first minute and a half for the illustration and the whole thing if [...]

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Social Media as a Small Business Strategy

February 18, 2010

Social Media is a big deal. If you don’t believe it, you are living in a dream world. Millions of people flock to social media sites each day. As a small business owner, you need to develop a small business strategy that fits your business, your time and your needs. As a definition of small business, I will focus on companies with 10 or fewer employees here, though I know that small business encompasses a much broader range.

Social Media/Networking is growing exponentially at this time. You’ve heard of Facebook and Twitter and you’ve probably heard of LinkedIn. But have you heard of Plaxo, Ning, Fast Pitch, Merchant Circle or Biznik? I have, and I have spent a vast amount of time in each of these networks. Social Media is a way for you to participate in the conversation related to your interests and industry. It is a way for you to network with others and advertise your business. I have read many places where “social media is free.” Let me dispel that notion immediately. This is not the case as some social media sites require a premium for some of their services. Even so, the dollar cost of social media is essentially nothing for the basic services.

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Wasting Time And Getting Sidetracked

February 10, 2010

As a small business owner, you are probably thinking, “Harbour, I don’t get sidetracked and I definitely don’t waste time. I’m busy all day every day and focusing on business growth.” I hear you. I think the same thing all of the time. I am too busy to be bored. However, there is some free time in your day. If you logged each 15 minute interval of your day, it is probable that you will find some wasted time. The focus of this bit is to determine what to do with that time.

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