Carnival of Entrepreneurs 14 at A Mogul To Be

The Carnival of Entrepreneurs is open for business as it visits Robert McIntosh's business and entrepreneurial blog known as A Mogul To Be. The Carnival is in its fourteenth edition with this latest entry into the business blog carnival cavalcade.

The entries include posts from leading business bloggers on topics relating to entrepreneurship and operating your own independent business.



I have an entry in this edition of Carnival of Entrepreneurs as well.

My post is titled "Marketing strategy: Doing the two step - Part 2" where I discuss how employing a two part marketing strategy may often require a radical departure in thinking for many business people. Having prospects self select themselves as customers is just too appealing to pass up, however, even for the most traditional marketer.



The preferred participation option is to simply enter your best entrepreneurship post at Blog Carnival.

As always, don't forget to link to the hosted edition. It's not only common courtesy, but helps to increase visitor traffic for all entrants. It also shows your appreciation of the hard work done by the host in preparing the post. Everyone shares in the benefits of the expanded Carnival readership.

Next week's edition of Carnival of Entrepreneurs returns to at Ben Yoskovitz's carnival home blog Startup Spark.

In the meantime, head on over to the A Mogul To Be hosting of Carnival of Entrepreneurs and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting indeprendent business and entrepreneurial blogs.

Tags: Carnival of Entrepreneurs, blogging, carnivals, promotions.

Mike Sansone: Blogs & Social Media for Business - Blog Business Success Radio

Blogging expert Mike Sansone of ConverStations, and host of Converstation Workshop, and co-host with me of Nut's and BlogBolts both on Blog Talk Radio shares ideas for using social media beyond blogging, including the use of video, audio, and other social networking tools , as my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.

The show airs live on Thursday, March 15, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Mike Sansone discusses the various social media available to business people today, including blogs, video, audio, and social networking sites. You will learn:

* How the use of audio and video can enhance your blog's reach and scope

* How the various social networking sites can multiply your business contacts

* How social media and blogging will build your business

* The importance of building relationships with customers and clients



Mike Sansone (photo left) is an independent business consultant specializing in business blogs and conversational copywriting. His experience in public speaking, sales and marketing, writing, and real-time online communication are strengths Mike relies upon in his role as a Conversation Conductor.

Prior to starting his own business, Mike helped to build thriving online communities with America Online, Real Fans Sports Network, Ignite Sports Media and HeyMax. He also has coordinated the growth of offline communities as a property manager, volunteer, and minister.

Mike is a blog coach, whose passion is building community online and offline. Mike is host of Converstation Workshop, and he is the co-host with me of Nut's and BlogBolts. Both of the shows are heard here on Blog Talk Radio.

Mike and his wife Cindy live in a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.

Let's talk with Mike Sansone, and learn how to employ the many and varied social media tools to help build your business to the next level of success, on Blog Business Success Radio.





ConverStation Workshops

For even more business and blogging information from Mike Sansone as a Blog Talk Radio host, be sure to check out Mike's business blog seminar show ConverStation Workshops every Thursday morning at 7:30 am Eastern Time.

Tags: Mike Sansone, social media, social networking, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Carnival of the Capitalists at Small Business Trends

This week sees a small business approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists arrives at Anita Campbell's award winning small and medium business blog known as Small Business Trends.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists highlights some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today, as well as some of the best and most popular entries ever to the Carnival.

Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, market trading, internet commerce, marketing, the national economy and personal finance.



As you would expect from Anita Campbell (photo left) and her Small Business Trends, there are many discussions of economics, marketing, business, and small business.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality blogs out there in the blogosphere.

We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones; as well as some long time contributors.




I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.

My post is titled "Marketing strategy: Doing the two step - Part 1" where I discuss how ads stating that their business service is the best, their people superior, and their products unmatched is almost required by law for ads of this type. All too often, these traditional style ads provide results that are very disappointing. The owner is left in head scratching mode, and at a loss to explain the ineffectiveness of the expensive marketing program. There has to be a better way to market your products and services.

If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:

bizosphere -at- gmail -dot- com

You can always use the handy entry form at Gongol.com where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Talk about making it easy to be included!



If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.

Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.

The extra visitors sent to your blog won't hurt either!

The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. Each hosting, brings a fresh assortment of new readers, to the various blogs involved.

The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.

Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.

Many people are introduced to some tremendous blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists will be at an as yet undetermined blog.

In the meantime, click your mouse over to the Small Business Trends hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists.

If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, or the possibility of finding some brand new blogs to read doesn't do it, then visit Carnival of the Capitalists and get into business for yourself.

Tags: carnivals, capitalism, business, marketing.

Recession management: Contrarian thinking

Talk of possible economic recession is appearing in the mainstream media. Recessions are part of a modern economy. They appear from time to time as a correction on previous excesses. As a result of an economic downturn, the economy can reset itself with much of the fat removed from the system. The issue for any entrepreneur, however, is how to make certain their own company survives the recession in one piece.

In a recesssion, the first priority of an entrepreneur is to keep the business afloat. As a result, many painful decisions may have to be made to ensure the company's survival. That's the bad news. The good news is there are many cutbacks, that can be made, that are not painful for anyone in the organization. At the same time, the recession unexpectedly opens up many business opportunities that didn't exist during boom times.

It's said that the same Chinese word is used for both crisis and opportunity. In any case, the wise entrepreneur should constantly seek those opportunities that will arise during an economic crsis. The key to discovering those new revenue streams is keeping an open mind and applying heavy doses of creativity to the organization. In fact, a closed mind and a lack of creative thinking will more than likely make your company another statistic of companies who failed during the recession.



Business failure might make for a morbidly intriguing news item, but it's not so good for you and your family. It's also a disaster for your employees and their families, and anyone else who depends upon your company's products and services. Instead of becoming another statistic, it's time to think in terms of survival and success. Don't let bad economic news discourage you. Take charge of the situation, and empower everyone in your organization to think in the same manner.

It's time to get creative. It's also time to get contrarian in your thinking. Whatever you do, following the crowd won't help you, unless you are very lucky. If you are like me, you will prefer thinking creatively to trusting to the vagaries of luck anytime.



The first impulse of most business people is to cut back on staff. That is the usual, and non-creative solution. Since massive layoffs are the usual technique employed by most other organizations, it should spark that contrarian streak in the back of your mind. If everyone is doing it, then opportunities arise where the markets are being abandoned. Your competitors are handing you their market share. Literally.

Instead of removing most of the employees from your payroll, make a careful examination of your staffing requirements. There may be one or two people who are not needed in their current role. The first impulse will be to lay them off. That should only be a last resort when all other options have been considered and exhausted. After all, you did see some talent and skills in the person when they were hired. The recessionary economy could have opened up exciting new ways to employ those skills. Always avoid knee jerk responses to problems. They are the techniques used by less resourceful companies than yours.

Along with maintaining and reorganizing your current staff, an unexpected opportunity will present itself. There will be many great employees made available by other companies. You may even know the people personally, and be well aware of their abilities. It could be the right time to add their talents to your organization. Keep in mind that while other companies are cutting back, you are seeking ways to grow and expand your business.



Let your staff help find solutions to problems with your cash flow, and with finding new markets. Hold brainstorming sessions to uncover unexpected cost savings. You may be surprised at the large amounts of waste take place in your company every day. Reward employees who find ways to save. Give them a bonus. You can even offer shirts or posters or some similar tangible item for the waste busters in your organization.

Seek fresh idea input from everyone from top to bottom. Leave no employees out of the discovery process. The best ideas often come from the least likely sources. Let your staff members take their plans and run with them. Their committment to the success of their own creations will astound you.

Keep an open mind, and encourage creative thinking throughout the company. Zig when everyone else is zagging.

Instead of cutting back during a recession, your company could expand as never before.

Tags: recession management, staffing, creativity, contrarian thinking.

Business ideas: Understanding wisdom

“When a person is ready, the information appears.”

That's an old saying about how when a person is ready to truly hear wisdom, it will arrive right on schedule. The ideas are also very likely to be heard, and best understood just as they are needed most. Of course, that wisdom was always readily available. The person simply wasn't always prepared to listen.

A major problem facing many people, whether in business or their personal lives, is keeping a open mind to new ideas. Many people will swear on several stacks of sacred texts that they keep an open mind to new ideas. The fact is that most people are not receptive to any ideas that contradict their current world view. The only way for those people to move even a tiny bit from their comfort zone is through a major shock.



In business, that major shock may be an economic downturn, a natural disaster, or near bankruptcy of the company. In personal life, shock can range from financial problems to family breakdown. Faced with the abyss, even the most stubborn individual will thrash around for solutions. All too often, the solutions chosen are the wrong ones for the situation. Once these non-answers are discarded as unsuited to the disaster being faced, is the person ready for true wisdom. Indeed, there may be no other option.

Accepting a new idea out of desperation means it may not be valued for the wisdom contained within its concepts. That is a problem for the recipient, as the person isn't being open to wisdom, but is only seeking a quick fix. Instead of treating the information as words to live by, the thoughts are simply a life preserver to be discarded once on dry land again. That is not open minded acceptence of wisdom. True acceptence of wisdom is all about understanding and internalizing the truths contained in the ideas. Sometimes, those truths can provide an uncomfortable wake up call.



As the old adage goes, the information appears when the recipient is ready to listen. That preparedness includes discarding long held beliefs that are false, or at least no longer valid. For most people, the admission that everything or even anything they know is wrong, is unsettling at the very least. Many people are unable to take that leap at all. They are simply unable to accept that they may be wrong about anything. As a result, they often face crises, and will seek any way out of the disaster. Very often, the solutions grasped are less than helpful, because of the failure to let go of long held beliefs.

True wisdom can only be accepted when you let go of long held, but no longer valid beliefs. You have to be prepared to listen with an open mind to the concepts offered to you. Only then will the best information present itself. In other words, you must be ready for it.

When you are ready for wisdom, precisely the information you require will appear.

Tags: accepting ideas, wisdom, open mind, crisis management.

Carnival of the Vanities 233 at Silflay Hraka

The 233^rd edition of the longest running internet blog carnival, the well known Carnival of the Vanities continues at Kehaar's Silflay Hraka.

The carnival, and indeed the entire blog carnival idea, was born over four years ago at Bigwig's Silflay Hraka blog. It is now back home to Silflay Hraka, as Bigwig's brother Kehaar has assumed the reins with great results.

Carnival of the Vanities is the original collection of blog postings, assembling some of the best and wide ranging bloggers on the internet.

This week's Carnival of the Vanities entries include politics, literature, religion, humour, and business.



I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Vanities as well.

My post is titled "Blog evangelism: Overcoming objections" where I discuss how bloggers are always recommending the value of blogs to everyone who will listen. They even preach the gospel of blogging to those who resist conversion. Blog evangelism is expected from the true believers, but overcoming resistence to the idea demands more than blogging fervour. Patience and understanding, of the other person's needs and desires, are essential for spreading the faith.



The host says the preferred participation option is to simply enter at Blog Carnival.

As I suggest elsewhere, hosting and contributing to the various internet blog carnivals is a great promotional idea for your blog.

When you send an entry to Carnival of the Vanities, or any of the many internet blog Carnivals, don't forget to link to the hosted edition. It's not only common courtesy, but helps to increase visitor traffic for all entrants. It also shows your appreciation of the hard work done by the host in preparing the post. Everyone shares in the benefits of the expanded Carnival readership.

Show the Carnival some linky love.

Next week's edition of Carnival of the Vanities appears once again at Kehaar's Silflay Hraka.

In the meantime, head on over to the Silflay Hraka hosting of Carnival of the Vanities and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting blogs.

Tags: Carnival of the Vanities, blogging, carnivals, promotions.

Carnival of Entrepreneurs 13 at Startup Spark

The Carnival of Entrepreneurs is open for business as it returns to its home base at Ben Yoskovitz's carnival home blog Startup Spark. The Carnival is in its thirteenth edition with this latest entry into the business blog carnival cavalcade.

The entries include posts from leading business bloggers on topics relating to entrepreneurship and operating your own independent business.



The preferred participation option is to simply enter your best entrepreneurship post at Blog Carnival.

As always, don't forget to link to the hosted edition. It's not only common courtesy, but helps to increase visitor traffic for all entrants. It also shows your appreciation of the hard work done by the host in preparing the post. Everyone shares in the benefits of the expanded Carnival readership.

Next week's edition of Carnival of Entrepreneurs visits Robert McIntosh's business and entrepreneurial blog known as A Mogul To Be.

In the meantime, head on over to the Startup Spark hosting of Carnival of Entrepreneurs and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting entrepreneurial blogs.

Tags: Carnival of Entrepreneurs, blogging, carnivals, promotions.

Marketing Strategy: Doing the two step - Part 2

A two step approach to marketing may be much more successful than the one step marketing strategy currently used my most companies. Employing a two part marketing strategy may often require a radical departure in thinking for many business people. Having prospects self select themselves as customers is just too appealing to pass up, however, even for the most traditional marketer.

An entrepreneur often must be convinced to try a two step marketing program. The two or more step system will very often run counter to the instincts of many business people. Two step marketing is based on giving something away for free, with the hope of getting something back in return. For many business owners and managers, the idea of giving away freebies with no guarantees of returning revenue, runs counter to their nature. There will almsost certainly be objections to this innovative relationship marketing plan.

One objection, as expected, will be that the current marketing program is working very well already. While the current system may be capturing customers, it is very likely not a targeted approach. When you ask the one step marketer who are their customers, they will usually respond that everyone is a prospect. Of course, this is easily proven incorrect. For example, people who don't own homes are not prospects for home improvements or lawn care. A targeted approach will not only bring in more customers and clients, but may also be cheaper to operate as well.



The next objection will be one based on cost. The concern will state that if a business offers free booklets of information, e-books, courses, guides, and samples of products or services, the company's out of pocket expenses will rise. While the initial cost may appear to be higher, very often the overall expenditure will remain the same. Advertising and marketing costs can be transferred from previously unproductive areas to the newer systems. At the same time, many of the items offered as giveaways may have no cash costs involved in delivery.

A third objection will regard the time delay between the giving of the item and the receiving of any business. Of course, the person requesting the information may not be in the market for your product or service immediately. The value of the two step system regarding time is how business prospects are developed over time, creating future customers and clients. While some customers may not appear for a year or more, there will always be some arriving almost immediately. Once the first time lag is past, there will be a steady stream of customers and clients at your company's doorstep.



Another objection arises as to why anyone would believe a two step system would ever work at all in the real world. When a person requests your free booklet on travel safety advice for women, for example, you are providing real value to people. You are also building a relationship built on trust.

The free information recipient will now trust you as a source of knowledge and valuable information. At the same time, the woman needing safe travel tips is very likely to be in the market for travel in the near future. Instead of contacting any of a myriad of travel services, your business will be the first one considered by the female traveler. You have already demonstrated that you have her individual needs and concerns in mind.

It's time to put a two step marketing system in place for your company. Give a little and the rewards will be great for both you and your company's customers.

It's a win-win relationship marketing plan where everyone benefits in the end.

Tags: two step marketing, finding prospects, relationship marketing, building trust.

Ray Miller: Save My License - Blog Business Success Radio

Ray Miller, President and CEO of Save My License shares ideas for meeting the challenges and risks faced by business and professional people, who require licensing as part of their business practice, as my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.

The show airs live on Thursday, March 8, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Ray Miller describes the importance of maintaining your business or professional license, and discusses some steps to protect it from possible loss or reputation damage. You will learn:

* The importance of maintaining your business or professional license

* Potential dangers from lawsuits that threaten your licensed status

* How and why your license is likely to be challenged at least once in your career

* How to avoid issues that can result in possible regulatory board action

* How to use Power of Attorney to protect your required license



Ray Miller is President and CEO of Save My License, an organization that assists licensed business and professional people ranging from electricians and truck drivers, to teachers, realtors, and dental hygienists, to members of the legal and medical communities, who once could not afford to fight a license dispute because of high lawyer fees. They can now have the power of attorney too. Through a program called Save My License, for less than $50.00 per year, these professionals can receive an attorney to represent them to fight a dispute, that otherwise may have resulted in the revocation of his or her license.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.

Let's talk with Ray Miller, and learn how to ensure that your business and professional licensing is protected, so you can take your practice to the next level of success, on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Ray Miller, Save My License, professional licensing protection, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Carnival of the Capitalists at Carnival of the Capitalists

This week sees a return approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists arrives for an encore at the new relaunched site of Carnival of the Capitalists.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists highlights some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today, as well as some of the best and most popular entries ever to the Carnival.

Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, market trading, internet commerce, marketing, the national economy and personal finance.

As you would expect from Carnival of the Capitalists, there are many discussions of economics, marketing, business, and personal finance.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality blogs out there in the blogosphere.

We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones; as well as some long time contributors.




I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.

My post is titled "Recession marketing: Winning market share" where I discuss how with all of the current mainstream media discussion of housing market bubbles, lower housing and stock market values, and possible recession in the economy, it's always a good idea to be prepared. Should there be an economic downturn, the prudent course of action is to see an opportunity where everyone else sees a crisis. One of those expansion opportunities is through increased market share.

If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:

bizosphere -at- gmail -dot- com

You can always use the handy entry form at Gongol.com where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Talk about making it easy to be included!



If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.

Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.

The extra visitors sent to your blog won't hurt either!

The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. Each hosting, brings a fresh assortment of new readers, to the various blogs involved.

The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.

Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.

Many people are introduced to some tremendous blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists will be at Anita Campbell's award winning small and medium business blog known as Small Business Trends.

In the meantime, click your mouse over to the Carnival of the Capitalists hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists.

If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, or the possibility of finding some brand new blogs to read doesn't do it, then visit Carnival of the Capitalists and get your carnival on.

Tags: carnivals, capitalism, business, marketing.