ShawnHessinger commented on the following stories on BizSugar
Small Businesses See Success on Cyber Monday Too
"It's not surprising that many of the same businesses find success on Small Business Saturday and increased sales on Cyber Monday too. Offering products online gives small businesses a huge advantage over much large competitors allowing them to offer unique products and services regionally and even sometimes globally while at the same time saving on overhead and labor costs."When Networking is a Waste of Time - The Small Business Playbook
"Gary This goes to your second to last point and what I see as a lot of the real problem with social networking. If your network consists only of your peers, people who do what you do, not people who might buy from you, then how can it help your business? This isn't just a problem with networking but with marketing and sales too. If you are a social marketer and every member of your network is a social marketer, then you're all after the same customers. Who would buy your services, and, more importantly, who would refer your work when the rest of your network will be pursuing the same clients themselves?"Revamp Your Online Marketing in 2013 with These Savvy Strategies
"Thanks, Spencer. And thanks to Adam for publishing this post. I think increasingly niche social networks aimed at specific communities (like BizSugar aimed specifically at small business owners and operators) are really a great alternative to the bigger social networks. But one thing to remember even with huge sites like Facebook and Twitter is that you are not really competing against everyone. Done right, you should be focusing on and growing a very specific community. This comes from engaging rather than broadcasting and building relationships rather than just making connections. "Chris Brogan Interviews David Siteman Garland on Entrepreneurship
"The thing that has always impressed me about David is his approachability. Once, while connecting with him via social media when I was serving as community manager for BizSugar.com, we wound up on the phone together talking about each others' businesses. I don't know whether he remembers the conversation or not, but the fact is that Dave is a naturally friendly and social guy. I think that's what makes him a great entrepreneur and a fit teacher to share what he knows with others. Thanks for the interview, Chris. It was a real treat!"How to Dominate Social Media with HootSuite [VIDEO]
"Mike, Great presentation. I love your focus on listening first. It's great that HootSuite focuses on this because It's really become the most important aspect of social media. While content creation and curation are also a huge part of a successful social media presence, listening is the starting point, a road map that helps you figure out where you're going."Tips on Invoicing Systems for Your Small Business
"Hi Melody, Thanks for the valuable post on a subject I think many entrepreneurs find intimidating. Automating billing technology is an important step for businesses today not only because of the efficiency it provides you in terms of day to day operations but also because of the transparency it can provide for your clients. It's really cool to find stuff like this shared on the BizSugar community and I was pleased to see it on the front page there today. "Are you curious?
"Hi Catarina, I've always put a great deal of stock in both creativity and curiosity...and, as Blank says, I've always believed the most creative and innovative people have a curiosity ranging far beyond their own fields. Steve Jobs' oft publicized interest in typography, for example, gave us personal computers with beautiful fonts and a totally different publishing model. Who would have expected this from a computer, often thought of before the Apple as a glorified calculator or a giant file cabinet for storing and retrieving data? There are many other examples from inside and outside entrepreneurship, but one basic principle is this: Little innovation comes from those who lack the ability to ask "what if...?" and who stay within the confines of what is standard practice for their industry or field."3 Powerful Content Marketing Lessons from Louis C.K.
"Kasey, You wrote: "Standup comedians are a type of small business owner. They are brands. They are often entrepreneurs and innovators. They’ve been doing content marketing long before it became a buzz-worthy concept." First, what a unique way to look at standup comedy and not necessarily the conventional thinking. Second, this is a great reminder that it is their content and brand that entrepreneurs really need to own! "Building a Blueprint for Sales and Marketing Success
"I really feel like having a solid plan for your marketing and sales campaign is something most businesses miss. Many companies seem to evolve a kind of general approach to doing marketing and sales but often it cannot be defined as planned out or thought out strategy. Too bad because when a strategy can be planned out and then milestones measured, the chances of sustainable success seem far better and it becomes easier to integrate newer team members into your process and to explain why you do what you do and why it will lead to success."Subscribe
Zig Ziglar on Setting Goals & Favorite Zig Quotes.
"What a great inspiration! Some Ziglarisms have become a part of culture and are so often repeated their meaning can sometimes be lost. Reading these famous quotes, many with direct implications to the business leader and entrepreneur, is an inspiration. So are the videos. Thanks for sharing! "