September 25th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

Using Twitter to brand your company is an art form, but it’s becoming easier every day to replicate results. There are a number of key components to any Twitter branding campaign:

1. Tweet regularly, but don’t overuse it.
2. Twitter is an informal tool, so don’t make every post a link with a stuffy title.
3. Remember that Twitter is a conversation – just like a real life conversation, there are unspoken rules:
a. Don’t be the only one talking
b. Converse – but remember that everyone in the “room” can hear you, so don’t get into long, drawn-out conversations with one or two other people
c. Don’t only talk about yourself
d. Know your audience.
4. Monitor, monitor, monitor. If you’re not monitoring what people are saying about your brand on Twitter, you’re missing about 75% of the point.
5. Use positive feedback as a chance to build brand, and negative feedback as a chance to make things right.
6. Make time to tweet, but don’t get caught up in it. You can easily lose four hours a day on Twitter.
7. Don’t get caught up in your follower count. Talk to people, help them solve their problems, and your count will grow.
8. Remember to identify yourself and your brand – otherwise, people won’t know where to go if they want to use your services.

I hope these tips help you grow your business using just another weapon in the marketing arsenal.

April 22nd, 2009 by Joshua Bob

Want to start your venture? You’ll need funding.
Want funding? You’ll need to know how to pitch.

Check out this presentation from Nivi over at VentureHacks. Great points!

April 20th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

If my business was based in New York, I’d definitely love to have the endorsement of NY Mets shortstop Jose Reyes and pitcher Johan Santana, but I think I’d be daunted by the cost.

One beverage firm found a way around that price by offering each a 1% stake in the company in exchange for a photo session and the right to use the players’ names as endorsers.

Think about what this could mean for your business. Think your brand is too small to get a celebrity endorsement? Think again.

April 20th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

Think you want to pay for publicity? Think again – get some press, and you’ll get more “eyeballs” at a far lower cost!

Check out TPE’s 54 Best PR Tips for Entrepreneurs. You’ll find some fantastic, creative ideas – many of which you’ve probably never thought of – as well as some refinements on concepts that you probably already knew.

April 19th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

Scott Gerber of YoungEntrepreneur.com takes us through five tips to make your brand look bigger and more valuable – even if you’re not.

I’d add #6: Good customer service. Even if you can’t have an office front or a top-notch business card, making sure you always respond to your customers will win you enough points to compensate and keep them coming back.

April 18th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

There’s team building, and then there’s team building. I’m pretty sure this article describes the latter.

One addition: sports. Depending on which one you choose and how it’s played, sports can be a fantastic team-building activity — you just need to foster an air of encouragement instead of one of competition. Try kickball.

April 18th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

Toilet Paper Entrepreneur has a great article about How to Hire Someone in the Recession. It includes five points, each of which stresses attitude as much as aptitude.

I would add a sixth point: Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Hiring only makes sense for your company if you need someone, so make sure the position meets that criterion before you leap into the hiring process.

April 18th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

Check out the article: 10 Do’s and Don’ts for Naming.

Some smart stuff. I’d add #11: Make sure your URL is available, or at least an alternative is. You don’t want to have a spectacular name that ends up with a .ru domain name because everything down to the .us was taken.

April 9th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

Here are some start-up marketing tips “from the trenches.”

I’m especially fond of #12: Find at least three competitors. This can be crucial in deciding what you do and don’t want for your business.

April 6th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

Every entrepreneur needs an Elevator Pitch. Heck, if you ask Dan Schawbel, every person needs an Elevator Pitch!

Here are some tips on How to Write Your Elevator Pitch. Learn them; love them; live by them!