HeatherStone commented on the following stories on BizSugar
Social Media in Regulated Industries: Practices Apply to All
"Hi Rachel, Due to some of the challenges involved in regulated industries(the insurance industry is another one that comes to mind) has it been your experience these business are less inclined to outsource their social media tasks as opposed to having someone inside the industry handle it who may be more aware of the rules? "Top 10 Biggest Benefits of Building a Thriving Business as an Enlightened Entrepreneur
"Hi Olivia, Thanks for contributing to the BizSugar community. Regarding point number two, wouldn't you say entrepreneurs and all people are already responsible for what they do anyway? It seems the most important aspect here is to realize your responsibility. Also, regarding your question, would you say that contemplating the change or impact in the world you can make would be a good exercise when searching for the right business opportunity in the first place? "Passion In Business Won’t Pay the Bills. Or Will It?
"Hi Lyz, Starting a business you are passionate about but, at the same time, one with sufficient potential to be sustainable is a goal of many entrepreneurs I think. Or it should be. But my question is what criteria are you using to evaluate possible ideas for a business model? How are you judging whether a potential idea has viability? And thanks for contributing to the BizSugar community."A Food Franchise Question About McDonald's Big Macs
"Hi Joel, That's a lot of Big Macs! Are there places where these sales figures are just unrealistic? You can see McDonald's franchises just about everywhere, but are there locations where reaching the sales level necessary to pay off this investment even over time just isn't possible? "How eBay Deals With Counterfeit Products - Create For Cash
"Hi Julie, Thanks so much for sharing your post with the BizSugar community. Arguably, small businesses that have created a product face the greatest challenge in this area since they often lack the financial resources of a much larger corporation when it comes to protecting the products they have created. At the same time, as small businesses building a brand, they can also suffer financially disproportionate damages with fewer overall sales and a potentially weaker association with their product among consumers. What would be your top advice to a creator operating on a shoestring budget when attempting to launch a new product? "5 Dirty Secrets about Advertising
"Hi Kevyn, Quite an interesting list here and sure to spark some debate. I would qualify point number five by stating that the best product or service is its own advertising. By that I mean that its quality makes it something that people want to share and tell others about. That said, most products or services must be marketed in some way in order to start the process -- even if that marketing involves nothing more than getting the product or service into the hands of potential customers. I'd also argue that advertising can only really push a bad product so far. Thanks for your comment and for contributing to the BizSugar community."My love/hate relationship with social media
"Hi Bambi, Thanks for contributing the great post. Don't you think it's also maybe a question of the kind of business we're talking about too? I would think, for example, that promoting an ebook would be much different than promoting a brick and mortar business. While one might require mostly online marketing, the other would certainly require a mix, with much more local advertising and local promotion out in the real world. What's your take? How does the kind of business you're promoting enter in? "Quit Being a Victim of Busyness
"Hi Rachel! What an inspiring post! It's always so nice to have you contribute here in the BizSugar community! In truth, I think what we're talking about here can also be a matter of efficiency and of learning the difference between working hard and working smart. But, of course, it's also true that it can be very difficult when starting a business to differentiate between real opportunities and those who simply want to pick your brain. I've heard many, many people over the years make the argument that it's simply a bad idea to let other people take up your time without adequate compensation. Are there exceptions? Certainly! But it's always best if you are the one who determines them. There's nothing wrong with considering your own best interests when deciding whether your time is being well spent. Those wasting your time are certainly considering their interests when attempting to get it for free."5 Tips for Picking the Perfect Partner
"Hi Cate, Thanks for sharing this post. I'd definitely agree with the last point on trust. But, to play devil's advocate, I wonder if issues like work habits (and even vision) aren't dependent upon the kind of business and the specific contributions each partner brings to the table. After all, if you handle the financials and your partner the creation of the product or service, it's easy to imagine very different work habits. The key really is that both partners are contributing in the areas for which they are responsible. And, of course, it's been well documented that the visions of the two Steve's who launched Apple could not have been more different. Yet, together they helped create one of the most successful technology brands the world has ever known. "Subscribe
3 Tips For Increasing The Conversion Rate Of Your Squeeze Page
"Hi Liudas, As far as keeping the page simple, could you share with our community, in detail, how to go about conceptualizing simple pages that convert? I think this is a pretty important aspect of creating any online business."