HeatherStone commented on the following stories on BizSugar
When Networking is a Waste of Time - The Small Business Playbook
"Gary, I think a lot of people are probably cringing when reading this, recognizing themselves in at least a few of the points. It seems like networking has been stressed a lot lately because at one time business people took so little interest in it, preferring to plunge right into business. These days, people are more sales resistant than ever leading to greater need for relationship building as part of the process. But, of course, it's easy to go too far the other way and never ask for that sale."7 Tips - How To Leverage Pinterest for Blog Promotion - Write On Track
"Hi Lorna, Thanks for the overview. I've signed up for Pinterest but haven't done much with my account yet. Some of the tips you've suggested aren't so different from those one might give for using any other social media site. The main difference, I think, lies in Pinterest's huge emphasis on visuals though other networking sites do seem to be heading in that direction too. "Does Your Marketing Tell A Story?
"Hi Drew, You hear a lot about story telling in marketing these days. However, it often feels like more of an ideal than a reality to me. I'm sure we've all seen those fantastic stories from time to time. Some big brands like Apple and Starbucks come to mind. But telling your company's story, and more particularly the right story, can be a huge challenge. Thanks for the post!"eCommerce Will See a 14 Percent Increase This Holiday
"I don't think the continued increase in eCommerce spending surprises anyone. What's important to consider is how many businesses, from bloggers with eCommerce affiliate links to operators of full-fledged online stores, can get a piece of this pie. Writers of print on demand or ebooks and designers of online merchandise for sites like CafePress and Zazzle should consider it too. The time has come to make the most of the online buying trend. "Best Apps for E-commerce Websites
"Hi Tara and Jim, These are some great apps and I'm definitely going to try some of them. I often work on my Android smartphone, but I still can't get used to the tiny screen. Apps to make the work flow better usually help a little, but I'm still waiting for a pligg version so I can moderate BizSugar more easily from a distance. Thanks for the post, and I'll let you know how some of these work out. As always, I appreciate your posting to the BizSugar community!"Facebook users may no longer have their say on privacy policies
"Hi Cendrine, Well, some of the changes are as always, ominous, mainly because you never quite know how the changes will fully affect you until after they are made. I'm still nervous about some of my privacy settings and when I use certain apps, but my theory is to never put anything on facebook that is truly private. Thinking about it, perhaps it's a good idea to phase out these votes...after all, well thought out comments should have more weight than quick, superficial responses. Anyway, I'll have to wait and see what happens, and I hope to hear more about it from you in the future!"Yoga: Breathe Your Way to a Better Work Day
"Holly, believe me, I'm desperate to take a nice big break and do some yoga or exercise in the middle of the day...but what usually happens is I don't get it in until too late...then I have this huge surge of energy at night and I'm up all night. I don't know how people do it in the mornings either, with the rush to get kids out the door, deadlines, etc. Do you yourself actually do this yoga? I'm interested in knowing how long it took to become a healthy work habit. It took me about 3 months of going to the gym, 3 times a week, to get used to it and to get that energy boost...but sheesh! I'd work out for about 2 hours, from like 4-6, and then be up like all night! I would like to hear more about health and productivity improving habits for the work at home small biz person. Thanks for this post, and look forward to any further insights."Enhancing Creativity for Business Success
"Hi Simon and Kelli, First off, great post! As someone who works around the clock at home, I can tell you I get really burned out on the home location. I find that I do much better when working at my college student union building, a shared workspace across town, a coffee shop, or even from Whole Foods. There's something about a place with a bit of hustle and bustle and a bit of white noise in the background that for some reason keeps me working, productive, and actually creative. What about you folks? Got any special place to work that helps spur your creativity?"Subscribe
The Customer Revolution - Make Them Your Most Trusted Partners
"Kasey, Looking at customers as your partners in business gives you a whole new way to look at your market, and, I'd argue, creates more opportunities than problems. Your community can save you time and guess work by letting you know how to serve them better. And when you get it right, they can make you famous by telling the world. "