Startup BizCast - The Small Business Advice Podcast

Startup BizCast #86 - How Social Media Changed PR (Steve Mullen)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:40:42 +0000

There has been quite a gap between episodes 85 and 86. The reasons for that are plentiful, but one of the biggest is that I’ve been doing a lot of speaking engagements that have taken away the time I would normally have spent on this podcast. For this episode, I wanted to make available the audio from one of those presentations. Over the past several months I’ve presented at several of the monthly New Media Seminars, organized by Madison + Main, a new media and advertising firm. My portion of the half-day workshop centered on how social media and social networking have changed everything about PR.

I did have a slideshow presentation during this presentation. I believe the audio can stand alone, but if you want to follow along with the slides, you can do so below, where I’ve embedded them using SlideShare.

Don’t forget to become a “fan” of EndGame Public Relations on Facebook!

Startup BizCast #85 - New Tech for “Old” Jobs (David Marks)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:01:41 +0000

Between hardware like mobile phones and new social media tools, there’s so much new technology coming out every day that it can be hard to keep track. If you’re able to harness some of these tools, however, it can make your work more profitable and sometimes even easier. The topic of this episode is “new tech for ‘old’ jobs”, or using technology to make it easier to do jobs that have been around for a while. We talk a little bit about a handful of examples, and then bring in our guest, David Marks from PreQuence, a company that helps Realtors harness cell phone texting technology.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Info about Steve Mullen’s presentation at the SBA workshop in Charlottesville
Spartx (spartx.com)
PreQuence (prequence.com)

And, don’t forget to join our new Startup BizCast Facebook Page!

Also, become a “fan” of EndGame Public Relations on Facebook!

small business advice

Startup BizCast #84 - Small Biz Social Media Review (Steve Mullen)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:00:01 +0000

The social media landscape changes so quickly … almost every day! The pace of change is so fast, in fact that it’s sometimes hard for professionals to keep up, let alone small business owners who have other things to worry about. For that reason, in Startup BizCast #84 I decided to revisit the social media landscape to review what’s out there and how you can use it. Included in this episode are tips on blog placement, podcasts and web videos, Facebook, Twitter, and Ning.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Facebook (www.facebook.com)
Twitter (www.twitter.com)
Ning (www.ning.com)
Podcast and web video production from EndGame PR (www.endgamepr.com/podcasts/)

Please join the Startup BizCast Facebook Group!

Become a “fan” of EndGame Public Relations on Facebook!

Tags: small business advice, small business news, taxes

small business advice, social media

Startup BizCast #83 - Tax Time in the U.S. (Ryan Thompson)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:00:36 +0000

It’s no April Fools … tax day in the U.S. is rapidly approaching. That means you’d better be getting to work on your tax returns. If you’re not, you may need to think about filing for an extension. Our guest on this episode of Startup BizCast is Ryan Thompson from FileLater, an online service set up to help you file that extension.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
FileLater (www.filelater.com)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

small business advice, small business news, taxes

Startup BizCast #82 - The Pulse of Entrepreneurship (Chris Benjamin)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:45:17 +0000

After a bit of a long hiatus, Startup BizCast is back with episode 82! In this show, we take the pulse of entrepreneurship. How are things going out there? Our guest is Chris Benjamin from Rogue CFO. He’s a contract CFO, working with companies that need someone in that position, but perhaps not full time or long term. In this position, he talks with many different startups and small businesses from many different industries … making him uniquely qualified to discuss entrepreneurship in this weak economy.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Rogue CFO (www.roguecfo.com)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

small business advice, small businesses, startups

Startup BizCast #81 - Hiring in a Weak Economy (Brad Smart)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:30:06 +0000

It’s tough to hire new employees these days. It may seem like a strange statement, and it’s not top on the list of concerns of most people, but it’s something to consider. If you’re one of the small businesses that’s actually thriving in this weak economy, and you put an ad in the newspaper that announces an opening at your company, it’s very likely that you’ll get 100, 200, or even 500 resumes in response. How do you sift through that kind of volume? This week’s guest on Startup BizCast is Brad Smart from Topgrading, a firm that helps companies find and hire the best employees. He has outstanding advice for not only sifting through the resumes, but also how to make sure you only get the top performers as applicants in the first place.

This episode is a good bit longer than most, but be sure to stick around to the end … not only for the great advice, but for information on a free e-book that has even more tips on this topic!

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Topgrading (www.smarttopgrading.com)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

hiring, recruiting, small business advice

Startup BizCast #80 - Small Business Venture Funding (Robert Ochtel)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:45:43 +0000

Back in the 1990s, all you needed to do if you wanted funding for your business was show up with an interesting company name and slogan … and you’d get all you wanted. These days … not so much. With the economy withering, so is the amount of funding available. To gain venture or angel funding these days, you need a solid business plan. This week’s guest on Startup BizCast is Robert Ochtel, who has written a book entitled Business Plans, Business Planning and Venture Funding. He has tips on how to put your plan together.

Links from this week’s episode:
Buy Robert’s book here (www.carlsbadpublishing.com)
Also available at Amazon.com
Robert Ochtel’s Entrepreneur Blog (http://rochtel.wordpress.com/)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

small business advice, venture funding

Startup BizCast #79 - Twitter for Small Business Owners (Dave Saunders)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:45:04 +0000

After missing a week of the show … I’m back! This week we have our promised episode on how small business owners can use Twitter. I’m a member of the micro-blogging site and use it quite a bit, but I decided to bring in a guest who is even more immersed in the Twitterverse. Dave Saunders from Madison & Main Advertising and New Media will give us some tips on getting started with Twitter!

Links mentioned on this week’s episode:
Steve Mullen’s Twitter Page (http://twitter.com/stevemullen)
Dave Saunders’ Twitter Page (http://twitter.com/madmain)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

small business advice, small business news, social media, social networking, twitter

Startup BizCast #78 - Small Biz Tech from CES 2009 (Ken Colburn)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:45:10 +0000

This week we welcome back one of our favorite guests. Ken Colburn from Data Doctors joins us to talk about this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Ken was at the show in Las Vegas, covering it not only for his own newsletter but also for CNN! He gives us the rundown on a couple of the hottest products from the big trade show - the new Palm Pre and the variety of netbooks that are hitting the market.

Links mentioned during this episode:
Data Doctors (www.datadoctors.com)
Data Doctors Free Weekly Newsletter (www.datadoctors.com/help/quikreg.cfm)
Ken Colburn at CES with CNN (www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2009/01/10/data.doctor.lapin.ces.cnn)
Palm Pre (www.palm.com/us/products/phones/pre/index.html)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

consumer electronics, small business advice, small business news

Startup BizCast #77 - Small Biz New Year’s Resolutions for 2009 (Steve Mullen)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:45:50 +0000

Happy New Year everyone! Startup BizCast is back from the Christmas and New Year’s break, and ready for action!

In this episode, I give a few suggestions for resolutions for this year for small business owners. More importantly, however, I’d like YOUR input. What do you think small business owners should resolve to do this year? Call (206) 350-7905 and leave me a voicemail with your suggestion (feel free to plug your business if you like) and I’ll use it in an upcoming episode!

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Facebook (www.facebook.com)
Startup BizCast Group on Facebook
Twitter (www.twitter.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

new years resolutions, small business advice

Startup BizCast #76 - Small Business Public Speaking (Rich Hopkins)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:45:28 +0000

There’s a large portion of the population that would probably rather take a bath in a tub full of those newly-discovered cyanide spitting pink millipedes than speak in front of a room full of people. Public speaking is one of the top fears out there, but when you’re asked to talk about yourself and your business in front of potential customers, you simply should not turn it down. This week’s guest is public speaker, author, and public speaking coach Rich Hopkins. He has some great advice on how to nail that speaking opportunity.

Here’s a piece of bonus advice that Rich says he forgot to mention during the interview:
“Remember that the audience doesn’t know what you are going to say. Don’t get caught up in being ‘perfect’ - its the easiest way to throw yourself off track, and lose credibility as a speaker. Speak about what you know, and you will be able to go from Point A to Point B, without the audience knowing you skipped to Point C in between! ”

Also in this week’s episode, listener-submitted advice from Frances Jones of Cole Media Management on how to record your voice mail greeting properly!

A word from our sponsor:
Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/techpodcasts!

Links mentioned during this week’s episode:
Rich Hopkins (www.richhopkinsspeaks.com/coaching.htm)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

public speaking, small business advice, small business news

Startup BizCast #75 - Internet Freebies for your Small Business (Ken Colburn)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:45:28 +0000

Free is good … free is great! With times as rough as they are for small businesses, we need to save money wherever and whenever possible. This week on Startup BizCast Ken Colburn from Data Doctors and I run down some of the best FREE resources on the `net for your small business!

Also, in BizCast Brief, the top five and bottom five small business-friendly states in the U.S.

A word from our sponsor:
Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/techpodcasts!

Here’s the list of links mentioned in this week’s episode, along with a great tip from Data Doctors that will speed up your Firefox browser. I tried it and it works great!

Google Alerts:
http://www.google.com/alerts

Google Docs:
http://docs.google.com

Google’s Gmail:
http://www.gmail.com

Google’s Translate:
http://translate.google.com/

Business Advice:
http://www.allbusiness.com/
http://www.askjim.biz

Search Engine Education
http://searchenginewatch.com/

Free Anti-Virus / Anti-Spyware:
http://free.avg.com/

Free Alternative to Microsoft Office:
http://www.openoffice.org/

Data Doctors Free Weekly Newsletter:
http://www.datadoctors.com/help/quikreg.cfm

Data Doctors Weekly CNN.com video advice:
http://search.cnn.com/search?type=video&sortBy=date&intl=false&query=colburn&x=0&y=0

Firefox web browser:
http://www.mozilla.com

Small Business Advice Podcast
http://www.startupbizcast.com

The Data Doctors Tip for making Firefox even faster (for high-speed Internet users):

1. Type “about:config” into the address bar and hit return. Scroll down and look for the following entries:

network.http.pipelining
network.http.proxy.pipelining
network.http.pipelining.maxrequests

Normally the browser will make one request to a web page at a time. When you enable pipelining it will make several at once, which really speeds up page loading.

2. Alter the entries as follows:

Set “network.http.pipelining” to “true”

Set “network.http.proxy.pipelining” to “true”

Set “network.http.pipelining.maxrequests” to some number like 30. This means it will make 30 requests at once.

3. Lastly right-click anywhere and select New-> Integer. Name it “nglayout.initialpaint.delay” and set its value to “0″. This value is the amount of time the browser waits before it acts on information it receives.

If you’re using a broadband connection you’ll load pages MUCH faster now!”

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

small business advice, small business news

Startup BizCast #74 - Your Small Business Website (Steve Mullen)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:35:54 +0000

This week we tackle small business websites, and what they need. I go solo to discuss three different types of small biz sites, and the integral parts of each. Included are the online business card, the online store, and the social media hub. This is a shorter episode, as I’m slammed trying to catch up after the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. This is generally going to be a tough month for me, as I’m potentially starting several new projects. I’m going to do my best to keep the show coming out on a regular basis!

A word from our sponsor:
Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/techpodcasts!

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
15 Key Elements All Top Web Sites Should Have (http://freelancefolder.com/15-top-site-elements/)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

small business advice, small business news, web design

Startup BizCast #73 - Five Tips from ABC (Jim Tracy)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:35:28 +0000

Note: I’m publishing a day earlier than usual this week, partly because there was no episode last week and partly because of the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.

This week we have not one piece of advice … but five! The guest for Startup BizCast’s small business advice segment is Jim Tracy, founder and president of America’s Best Companies. ABC is a small business organization with a great website and print magazine chocked with wonderful information. Jim joins us to talk about five tips to help any entrepreneur.

Also this week … I address a listener question on building a community on your website.

A word from our sponsor:
Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/techpodcasts!

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
America’s Best Companies (www.americasbestcompanies.com)
Snow and Trail (www.snowandtrail.com)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

small business advice, small business news, small business podcast

Startup BizCast #72 - How and Why of Business Blogging (Steve Mullen)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:45:45 +0000

A few weeks back I was one of the presenters in two different webinars from PRWeb. Each of the presentations was about small business marketing, and during each I talked about business blogging. And … after each I received a number of emails from people who were confused about how to do it. Since this seems to be at least a somewhat universal confusion, I decided to do an episode on the “how” and “why” of business blogging, even though I’ve covered the information here and there during this series.

Note: There will be NO episode next week. I’ll be out of town speaking at a conference on Monday and Tuesday, and I just won’t have time to produce a show.

A word from our sponsor:
Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/techpodcasts!

Links mentioned in this episode:
WordPress (www.wordpress.org)
EndGame PR Blog (www.endgamepr.com/blog)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

corporate blogging, small business advice

Startup BizCast #71 - Small Business Government Contracts (Gloria Berthold Larkin)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:45:07 +0000

Local, state, and federal U.S. government contracts are NOT easy to get. However, they tend to bring in good money, particularly for small business owners who aren’t used to multi-thousand or million dollar deals. And, it’s unlikely our government is going to go out of business any time soon — a major consideration in this economy! This week’s guest on Startup BizCast is Gloria Berthold Larkin, president of TargetGov, a business that helps entrepreneurs through the government contract maze.

Also this week — an announcement about a brand new podcast series from BizPodz Productions!

A word from our sponsor:
Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/techpodcasts!

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
TargetGov (www.targetgov.com)
Central Contractor Registration (www.ccr.gov)
Federal Business Opportunities (www.fedbizopps.gov)
Women Impacting Public Policy (www.wipp.org)
Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

small business advice, small business news

Startup BizCast #70 - News Release SEO (Jiyan Wei)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:45:22 +0000

This week, I welcome a good friend and guest from the first handful of Startup BizCast episodes. The topic of the week is SEO for press releases. More and more people are catching on to the fact that news releases can be used for SEO purposes, but many people don’t know how to maximize the work put into writing the releases and posting them. Jiyan Wei is a product manager at online news release presswire PRWeb. He was my guest back in episode #7, and now he joins me for #70. Kind of symmetrical, don’t you think?

One more note about Jiyan — for any new listeners who found this show after hearing my presentation at the PRWeb webinar … yes, this is the same Jiyan that was the moderator

Also this week, I have listener advice submitted via the “Submit YOUR Advice” form, and business news in the BizCast Brief.

Links mentioned during this week’s episode:
ROI of Online Press Releases Executive Summary (pdf)
PRWeb (www.prweb.com)
New Influencer - Jiyan’s Personal Blog (http://www.newinfluencer.com)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #69 - Marketing for Franchisees (Sherri Fishman)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:45:40 +0000

Despite having a bigtime name behind them, businesses like McDonalds, Hair Cuttery, and Century 21 are all small businesses. They’re franchises, and most of the time they’re owned by someone in your area. There are challenges inherant to marketing a franchise small business, however, not the least of which is that people don’t often view them as being home grown. This week’s guest on Startup BizCast is Sherri Fishman from Fishman PR, a public relations firm that specializes in marketing franchisees and franchisers. She’ll have some tips on how you can work to get publicity for your franchise small business.

NOTE: There was a bit of audio difficulty in this week’s episode. We had trouble with the interview phone line, which led to a ticking sound while Ms. Fishman talks. I attempted to filter it out, but it only made things worse. My apologies for the lapse in quality!

Also this week, in the BizCast Brief … help for UK small businesses, the best places in Canada to have a small business, and things aren’t as bad as they seem economically!

A word from our sponsor:
Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/techpodcasts!

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Fishman PR (www.fishmanpr.com)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #68 - Small Business Expense Management (Toffer Grant)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:45:10 +0000

This week, we’re talking about how to manage the flow of money going out the door, while the poor economy worldwide may be limiting the amount of money that’s coming in the door. My guest is Toffer Grant, founder and CEO of PEXCard, a company that offers prepaid VISA cards for use by businesses in expense management. His company has also launched a blog on corporate finances. He has tips on how you can manage the expenses of your employees.

Also this week, in the BizCast Brief - news of Barack Obama’s small business plan, Wall Street Journal’s top 15 small business workplaces, and small business week in Canada.

A word from our sponsor:
Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/techpodcasts!

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
PEXCard (www.pexcard.com)
Corporate Finance Blog (www.pexcard.com/blog)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

small business advice, small business news, small business podcasts

Startup BizCast #67 - Online News Release Distribution Services Updated (Steve Mullen)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:45:09 +0000

Almost a year and a half ago, in episode five of Startup BizCast, I reviewed a list of online news release distribution services. These sites will post and distribute your news release across the web, bringing benefits like SEO and potential media coverage. Since it’s been so long since that episode, and a number of these sites have changed their services, I decided to revisit the subject with this update and re-review!

Also, in BizCast Brief, small business owners upset with the Feds, the SBA ups its disaster loan rates, and Colorado targets CEOs.

A word from our sponsor:
Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/techpodcasts!

Links to sites mentioned in this podcast:
PR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com)
PR Web (www.prweb.com)
PR Log (www.prlog.org)
PR Leap (www.prleap.com)
24-7 Press Release (www.24-7pressrelease.com)
I-Newswire (www.i-newswire.com)
Wikio (www.wikio.com)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

news release distribution, public relations, small business advice, small business news

Startup BizCast #66 - Small Business Video (Benjamin Wayne)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:45:13 +0000

A recent study from ABI Research indicates that the number of people watching videos online has doubled in the past year. It’s obvious that people are becoming more comfortable using this technology. What that means, is that you should be using it for your business! My guest this week is Benjamin Wayne from Fliqz, an online video site that works primarily with businesses. He has tips on how you can use web video to your benefit.

Also in this episode … news about the economy and an Australian maternity leave proposal … in the BizCast Brief!

Links mentioned on this week’s episode:
Fliqz (www.fliqz.com)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, online video, small business advice, small business news

Startup BizCast #65 - Small Business Computer Security (Ken Colburn)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:45:41 +0000

Are the worst enemies to your small office computer network banging on the gates, or walking around inside the castle? Truly, there are plenty of people out there trying to harm your business, either by writing viruses or actively trying to gain access to your data. You need to protect yourself from those threats. However, another threat is just as much of a problem — your own employees inadvertently damaging your network. This week’s guest on Startup BizCast is Ken Colburn from Data Doctors. He has advice on how to secure your network from all threats, whether they’re from within or without.

In this week’s BizCast Brief — surveys covering the economy and traveling.

Links mentioned in this week’s episide:
Data Doctors (www.datadoctors.com)

Also — don’t forget to join the Startup BizCast Group on Facebook!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business computers, small business news, small business tips

Startup BizCast #64 - Fall Tax Update (Glen Weilandt)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:45:52 +0000

Fall isn’t a time when you normally think much about taxes … unless, that is, you filed for an extension back in April. If you did, that means your taxes are due next month. Additionally, the more thinking you do NOW, the higher the chances you’ll lower your tax burden when you file next year. Joining me this week is Glen Weilandt with Roni Deutch Tax Centers. We’ll discuss a variety of tax issues relevant to small business owners.

Also in this episode — an announcement about the new Startup BizCast voice mail hotline, a reminder about the Startup BizCast Facebook Group, and small business news in BizCast Brief.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Roni Deutch Tax Center (www.rdtc.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

small business advice, small business news, small business taxes

New Startup BizCast Voicemail Number

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:37:47 +0000

Hey folks. I had to register a new voicemail phone number today. My apologies to anyone who tried to call the old one, but ended up getting one of those “fast busy” signals. I subscribe to a service that gives you a free voicemail and emails any received messages to your inbox. It’s awesome for podcasting, but unfortunately if it’s not used for a month, your number disappears. I’ve gone through a period where I haven’t gotten any voicemails for a little while, and I forgot to call it myself to keep it active. So … I lost my old number.

Here is the new Startup BizCast voicemail hotline number: 206-350-7905

If you’ve tried to call recently but weren’t able to get through, PLEASE try again!

site news

Startup BizCast #63 - Phoning in your Small Business (Mark Asnes)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:45:25 +0000

These days, if you only use your cell phone to talk to other people, you’re considered behind the times. Today’s cell phones email, text, surf the web, and much more. My guest this week is Mark Asnes from Wireless Zone. He has tips for how you can use your cell phone to make your small business life easier.

Also in this episode, an announcement about the new Startup BizCast group on Facebook! If you haven’t joined the group, head on over and do so!

In this week’s BizCast Brief, more hurricane preparedness tips, the SBA helping Florida nonprofits, and managing telecommuting workers.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Wireless Zone (www.wirelesszone.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business news, small business podcasts, startups

Startup BizCast #62 - Small Business Viral Marketing (Dave Saunders)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:45:09 +0000

I love it when someone emails a friend about my business. How would you like it if thousands of people were emailing friends about something you created? When something on the Internet gains that kind of traction and gets spread around from friend to friend, it’s said that it’s “gone viral”. In this episode of Startup BizCast, I visit the office of Dave Saunders, president of advertising and new media firm Madison + Main, to talk about how you can use viral marketing to benefit your small business.

In BizCast Brief: How to prepare for a disaster such as a hurricane, and problems with small business insurance subsidies in Maryland.

Also … a big thanks!

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Steps to Protect your Assets if a Hurricane Aproaches
SBA Disaster Services (http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/index.html)
Madison + Main (http://www.madisonmain.com/)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, hurricane preparedness, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #61 - Small Business Webinars (Rich Baker)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:45:28 +0000

It feels good to get back into the studio chair after taking a couple of weeks off this month — one due to workload and one due to vacation. This week we’re talking about another new media tool that you can use to promote and brand your small business. Rich Baker, CEO of Glance Networks, joins me in Startup BizCast 61 to talk about webinars, and how you can use them to your benefit.

In this week’s BizCast Brief: Stories about improving small business owner confidence and missing planks in the U.S. Democratic Party platform.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Glance (www.glance.net)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups, webinars

Startup BizCast #60 - What to Shred and How to Shred It (Joe Roberto)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:45:14 +0000

This is a packed show!

In this week’s interview segment: What if one of your customers became the victim of identity theft … and you were the cause? Needless to say, it wouldn’t be good for your business. This week we’re talking about protecting the personal information of your customers. As someone who recently had his business credit card number stolen (don’t know HOW it happened) I’m particularly sensitive these days about making sure that anything that contains my personal information is shredded properly. My guest is Joe Roberto from Shred-Tech, a company that produces shredding and recycling systems. He provides advice on what to shred, and how to shred it.

Also in this episode: I answer a listener question about how to blog effectively for a gas station!

ALSO in this episode: The BizCast Brief, with information on the Fortune 100 fastest growing small businesses, and predicted growth in the amount of tech spending by small businesses.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Shred-Tech (www.shred-tech.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, identity theft, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #59 - Tech Gadgets for Small Business Owners (Derek Meister)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:45:52 +0000

This week we’re joined by an honest-to-goodness double agent. It’s true. Double Agent Derek Meister is with the Geek Squad, a service that provides technology solutions for consumers through Best Buy’s retail stores. He joins us to talk about must-have technology for different types of small business owners. If you’re anything like me, there are certain gadgets that you just can’t do without.

No BizCast Brief this week. Not much going on, and this week’s interview was a rather long one, so there wasn’t time to include it.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Geek Squad (www.geeksquad.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, small business technology, startups

Startup BizCast #58 - Warming Your Cold Calls (Sam Richter)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:45:29 +0000

I’m back! After a one week hiatus, Startup BizCast returns for episode 58. This show ran a touch long, due to having listener feedback and a longish interview. Both were so good, however, that I just couldn’t chop any more out. So … the show is 15 seconds longer than my self-imposed limit of 15 minutes. I think we’ll all survive

Here’s this week’s advice topic: Cold Calling

Those are some scary words aren’t they? As small business owners, most of us at one point or another are going to need to pick up the phone, call someone we don’t know, and ask them for their business. It’s just a fact of life. My guest is Sam Richter, who has written a book called Take the Cold Out of Cold Calling. He has some outstanding tips to make sure you know about your cold calling target, so you can be relevant and know what he or she wants.

In BizCast Brief this week: Blackwater under investigation for posing as a small business … a jump in the U.S. minimum wage … and small business owner optimism could be looking up.

Also … a Listener Voicemail!

Links mentioned on this week’s episode:
Take the Cold Out of Cold Calling (www.takethecold.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

cold calling, entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups

No New Episode This Week

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:13:05 +0000

Hi all…

There will be no new episode of Startup BizCast this week. Between summer guest scheduling issues, my busy work and family schedule, and a variety of other things, I made the executive decision to not produce a show this week. I expect to be back next week with a new show, complete with BizCast Brief and listener feedback. Stay subscribed so you don’t miss it! In the meantime, if you haven’t heard any of the 57 episodes I’ve published, go back and listen … they’ll be new to you!

Steve

site news

Startup BizCast #57 - Small Business Moms (Pat Cobe)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:45:11 +0000

On this week’s episode, we’re talking about small business owners who also happen to be stay-at-home moms. My guest and her partner call them “Mompreneurs”. These moms are running service or product businesses as a source of secondary or even primary income for their household, and they’re balancing it with taking care of the kids. Pat Cobe is the co-author of two books on the subject, and is co-founder of Mompreneursonline.com, an education and community website that provides assistance for small business moms. She joins us on this episode to provide some tips for Mompreneurs.

In this week’s BizCast Brief — the U.S. Senate votes for more money for small business programs, business owners don’t believe in the U.S. federal government, and new small business laptops from Lenovo.

One thing I didn’t mention during the show is a CONTEST for Mompreneurs. Whirlpool, the company you know as making dishwashers and such, recently announced the fourth annual Mother of Invention Grant Program. The program provides seed money and guidance to moms to turn their invention, business or service ideas into full-fledged businesses. For prize details and an entry form, go to the Whirlpool contest page.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Mompreneursonline.com (www.mompreneursonline.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, mompreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #56 - Avoiding Email Blunders (Steve Mullen)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:45:22 +0000

I didn’t really know what to call this abbreviated episode, but it came to me as I was reading a story about the White House needing to apologize to the Premier of Italy after they released a less-than-flattering biography about him. I decided to talk about tips to help you avoid mistakes with email like sending a comment to the wrong person, or sending the wrong document to the wrong person. These can be simple errors, but can also be disastrous.

Also in this episode, listener feedback on SB #47, which featured advice from Casey Quinlan on business storytelling.

Links mentioned in this episode:
Tech Talk for Families (www.techtalkforfamilies.com)
White House apologizes for insult to Italian premier (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/08/bush.berlusconi.ap/index.html)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #55 - Office Space for your Small Business (Chris Desloge)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:45:47 +0000

I can’t help but laugh when I hear the words “Office Space”, because I love the classic movie of that name. But, this week’s episode has nothing to do with that great flick. This week we’re talking about how to find office space for your small business. Whether you’re leasing space for the first time, or the second, third, or fourth … it’s a perplexing process. Our guest this week has some advice on the subject. Chris Desloge is with Tenant Rep Agency, LLC, a company in St. Louis that works with business owners who are hoping to find office space. His company last fall launched OfficeTenant.com, a site chocked full of advice for potential office tenants.

In BizCast Brief this week, a “duh” survey about small business owner concern, potential changes to the tax laws concerning home-based businesses, and Microsoft passes a big milestone. Also this week — listener feedback!

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
South Coast Marketing Events (www.southcoastme.com)
Tenant Rep Agency, LLC (www.tenantrepagency.com)
OfficeTenant.com (www.officetenant.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #54 - Crisis Planning and Communication (Steve Mullen)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:45:17 +0000

Imagine the worst happens with your business — perhaps one of your employees is caught trafficking goods from your warehouse, or one of your products is tainted and makes a whole flock of people sick. What would you do to handle the crisis? Having a crisis plan in advance can help. In this episode of Startup BizCast, I go solo to discuss how to develop your crisis plan and give tips on how to talk with the media if a crisis hits.

In BizCast Brief — older businesses drive the economy, and Visa teams with Facebook to help small businesses.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Visa Business Network (http://apps.facebook.com/visabusiness/sign_up)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

crisis planning, media relations, small business advice, small business news

Startup BizCast #53 - Greening Your Small Business (Tish Kashani)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:42:59 +0000

Sorry for the tardiness of this episode. I have one correction right off the top: There is no Recommended Reading feature on the blog this week. Sadly, I lost my list of links and simply don’t have time to look them up! Apologies!

And now … on with the show!

Between insane fuel prices and an increasing desire to preserve resources, everyone is talking about going green. On this week’s Startup BizCast, we meet Tish Kashani from Co-op America, a membership group of individuals and businesses that are not only going green themselves, but are also working in a larger sense to save our planet’s resources.

Also on this week’s Startup BizCast…

I have listener feedback, and of course this week’s review of small business news in BizCast Brief!

Links mentioned on this week’s episode:
Golden Bee Tours (www.goldenbeetours.com)
Co-op America (www.coopamerica.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

green businesses, small business advice, small business news

Startup BizCast #52 - Branding your Small Business (Dave Martin)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:45:21 +0000

Thus far on Startup BizCast, we’ve talked about marketing, advertising, PR and even logo production. In this episode, we’re going to talk about techniques that use all of the above and more. Branding strategies use an across-the-board approach to create a feeling in the customer (or potential customer) about your business. Our guest is Dave Martin from Martin Branding Worldwide, a firm that works with medium and Fortune 500 companies. Dave explains branding to us, and gives some tips on how it can be used by small business owners.

In BizCast Brief, we have stories about small business owner pessimism about the economy, even while they’re planning to expand … and the US presidential candidates spar over their small business plans.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Martin Branding Worldwide (www.martinbranding.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

branding, entrepreneurs, marketing, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #51 - Blogger Relations (Steve Mullen)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:45:19 +0000

I’ve talked a lot on this podcast about how to make your business blog work for you, but what about using other people’s blogs to promote your business? That’s this week’s topic on Startup BizCast. I go solo to talk about what a successful blogger relations campaign can do for you, and give some tips on how to properly contact bloggers to try to get them to write a blog post about your company.

In BizCast Brief this week: Canadians rejecting a carbon tax, small business employees more likely to endanger company computers, and eBay auction businesses may be in danger.

Websites mentioned in this week’s episode:
E-business Ideas (http://web-ebiz.blogspot.com)
Fight SMA (www.fightsma.org)
Perez Hilton’s post about Fight SMA (http://perezhilton.com/2008-05-26-a-worthwhile-cause-67)
Media Relations and SEO PR Blog (http://www.endgamepr.com/blog)
Google Blog Search (http://blogsearch.google.com)
Technorati (http://www.technorati.com)

Don’t forget to email me YOUR advice. I’ll talk about submitted advice in a future episode!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

Startup BizCast #50 - The Best of the First Year

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:45:36 +0000

I’m celebrating! Startup BizCast is not only celebrating its 50th episode this week, it’s also turning one year old! The premier of the small business advice podcast was on May 30, 2007. To mark this dual occasion, I’m doing the following:

1) I’m introducing the new Startup BizCast theme music and produced open. The music comes from Blake Emrys. The song is called “Entranced”, and the full version can be found on Blake’s website or on the Podsafe Music Network. I also splurged, and hired a professional voice to do the open for me. I neglected to get into details about this in the show because it was running long already. I’ll talk more about it next week, but please let me know if you like it!

2) I’m devoting this episode to the best advice from the first 50 episodes of the show. I picked out a handful (with some help from Ben from San Diego on one) and pieced them together to make a “clip show”. It turned out nicely, if I may say so myself … and I just did. If you like one of the clips and want to listen to the entire episode, you can find every Startup BizCast ever recorded in the episode archive section of this website.

If YOU have a favorite show that I didn’t include, please let me know! I’ll talk about any suggestions in the next episode!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business advice, startups

Startup BizCast #49 - Facebook for Small Businesses (John Blown)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:45:55 +0000

The idea of using social networking to promote your small business has come up a number of times on this podcast, and in this episode we’ll get some specific tips on using one of the most popular sites for business — Facebook. John Blown of 6s Marketing, an Internet marketing firm, is this week’s guest on Startup BizCast. He’ll talk about how to use Facebook and why you would want to. He also discusses social networking sites MySpace and LinkedIn, and how they can be used.

In this week’s BizCast Brief, we have stories about an increase in Microsoft Small Business Server prices, a tax fight in Texas, and small business owners taking their vacations.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
6s Marketing (www.6smarketing.com)
6s Marketing Blog (www.6smarketing.com/blog)
Facebook (www.facebook.com)
MySpace (www.myspace.com)
LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

Startup BizCast #48 - Great Depression Millionaires (Laura Posey)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:45:31 +0000

During the Great Depression of the 1930s a large portion of the world’s population suffered as inflation ran wild and unemployment reached epidemic proportions. But, there was a group of people and companies that actually flourished during the depression, thanks to smart and innovative thinking. With the weak economy nowadays, we can learn a great deal from these Great Depression Millionaires. This week’s guest on Startup BizCast is Laura Posey from sales training firm Dancing Elephants Achievement Group. She’s holding teleseminars on this topic and has agreed to talk with us and give us the high points.

If you’re interested in learning more on this topic, Dancing Elephants is making a great offer to Startup BizCast listeners. Laura says she will waive the $47 registration fee, allowing you to participate at no charge! To reserve your spot, email your contact information to Laura@DancingElephants.net and put “Steve” in the subject line.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Dancing Elephants Achievement Group (www.dancingelephants.net)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, history, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #47 - Business Storytelling (Casey Quinlan)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:45:48 +0000

I was racking my about the topic of this week’s Startup BizCast, when Casey Quinlan came along. She suggested talking about business storytelling … and I think it’s a great idea. My guest this week is Casey, who is the owner of Mighty Casey Media. She says if I have to put her “in a box” she’ll answer to the title of communications consultant. She prefers to be called a business storyteller, however. In this week’s Startup BizCast interview, she gives us advice on how to leave the pie charts behind in your presentations, and start telling memorable stories.

I pre-empted this week’s BizCast Brief due to lack of solid news out there, but please check out this week’s Small Business Recommended Reading.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Mighty Casey Media (www.mightycasey.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, small business opinions, startups

Startup BizCast #46 - Attracting Customers (Jimmy Vee and Travis Miller)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:45:36 +0000

I’ve had a lot of “firsts” on this show recently. Just a couple of weeks back I had a co-host for the first time. This week, in episode 46, I have two guests at the same time! Jimmy Vee and Travis Miller are co-authors of the book “Gravitational Marketing: The Science of Attracting Customers”. They bring us some advice on advice on how to pull customers toward your business … without spending a lot of money.

I do have one correction from this interview. I referenced episodes of Startup BizCast that talk about online news release distribution. Those episodes are #5 and #7 … not #7 and #10 as I said. Those episodes can be found by scrolling back through the blog to summer 2007 … or by going to the 2007 archive. One cool bonus if you listen to those shows — you’ll get to hear the catchy old Startup BizCast theme music!

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Gravitational Marketing (www.gravitationalmarketing.com)

Feedback Hotline: (206) 339-4366

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #45 - Small Business Contest Winner (Grant Mucha)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:45:30 +0000

It’s time to hear from the winner! This week I interview Grant Mucha, the lucky winner of the Startup BizCast Small Business Week Contest. He was selected next week and wins about $2,000 worth of prizes. In episode 45, I talk with him about his business, Degrama, and how he became a small business owner. Just so you don’t think I’ve switched formats, he lays some small business advice on us!

In this week’s BizCast Brief, Bush on SMB, UK bosses want pregnancy details, and social networking for SMB in Baltimore.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Degrama (www.degrama.com)

Feedback Hotline: (206) 339-4366

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneur, small business advice, small business news, startup

Startup BizCast #44 - Contest Winner Announcement and Listener Advice (with co-host)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:45:24 +0000

This is a very special episode of Startup BizCast. Not only is it finally time to announce the winners of the Startup BizCast Small Business Week Contest, I brought in a co-host to help me with it. Plus, we get to talk about advice from our listeners!

In this episode I team up with my wife and fellow public relations practitioner, Jennifer! We conduct the drawing for the contest, and announce the grand prize winner as well as the second and third place winners. We also discussed the best advice given by you, the listeners, in your contest entries. It’s a fun episode that’s unlike any Startup BizCast before it!

In this week’s BizCast Brief, I have stories about video from Small Business Week festivities, Dell revamps the Vostro, and a new place to match business buyers and sellers.

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, listener advice, small business advice, small business contest, small business week 2008, startups

Startup BizCast #43 - Corporate Philanthropy (Ami Kassar)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:45:16 +0000

Corporate Philanthropy is simply “good works” on a slightly larger scale. Instead of an individual volunteering time or money to a local nonprofit or helping a neighbor, it’s the weight of an entire company moving toward the goal of helping the community. This week’s guest on Startup BizCast is Ami Kassar of credit card company Advanta. He’s the company’s Chief Innovation Officer and also developed the KivaB4B program, which launches on April 15. It allows Advanta customers to donate money to entrepreneurs overseas who have a great idea, but not a great deal of money.

In BizCast Brief, historic pessimism among small business owners, concern about a lack of legal immigrant workers, and small business owners calling on spouses for help.

And … one last reminder: Don’t forget about the Startup BizCast Small Business Week Contest! The contest ends on April 12 … which is just a few days away. At stake is an estimated $2,000 in prizes! The grand prize winner will receive free services from online press release newswire PRWeb, search engine and Internet marketing firm NetSearch Direct, and online data backup company Carbonite. The grand prize winner will also be interviewed on Startup BizCast, and will have plenty of opportunities to plug his/her business during the episode! There are also second and third place prizes. For full details, please go to www.startupbizcast.com/contest.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
KivaB4B (www.kivab4b.org)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

corporate philanthropy, entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #42 - National Small Business Week Preview (Jack Bienko)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:45:47 +0000

I’ve been talking a lot about U.S. Small Business Week lately, in relation to the Startup BizCast Small Business Week Contest. This week my guest will give us some details on when Small Business Week got started, why it’s important, and what will be going on that week to celebrate entrepreneurship. My guest is Jack Bienko from the U.S. Small Business Administration, who is the National Small Business Week Sponsorship Co-Chair.

In this week’s BizCast Brief segment, I have stories about a drop in small business owner economic confidence, the U.S. is cheap cheap cheap, and the best towns in which to start a business.

Speaking of the Startup BizCast Small Business Week Contest … don’t forget to enter before it’s too late! The deadline for entries is April 12. The grand prize winner will receive free services from online press release newswire PRWeb, search engine and Internet marketing firm NetSearch Direct, and online data backup company Carbonite. The grand prize winner will also be interviewed on Startup BizCast, and will have plenty of opportunities to plug his/her business during the episode! There are also second and third place prizes. In all, Startup BizCast is giving away an estimated $2,000 in this contest! For more information, please go to www.startupbizcast.com/contest.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
National Small Business Week homepage (www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneur, small business administration, small business advice, small business contest, small business news

Startup BizCast #41 - Article Distribution for SEO (Jim Baldwin)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:00:02 +0000

In this week’s Startup BizCast, we’re talking once again about how to get your small business website to rank higher on the search rankings. We’ve talked about news release distribution, and this week the topic is article distribution. The two have some similarities. Mainly, the goal is the same — building incoming links to your website. My guest this week, Jim Baldwin from Search Engine and Internet Marketing Firm NetSearch Direct, tells us why it’s a good tactic, and has tips on how to do it.

Also in this episode — a reminder that Startup BizCast is running a contest to celebrate Small Business Week in the U.S., which is April 21-25. At stake in the contest is approximately $2,000 in prizes. For more information on the prizes and how to enter, please visit www.startupbizcast.com/contest.

As if that wasn’t enough, BizCast Brief returns this week with stories about the small business credit crunch and two well known companies expanding their small business VOIP offerings.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
NetSearch Direct (www.netsearchdirect.com)

Article distribution site examples:
Article Trader (www.articletrader.com)
Articles Base (www.articlesbase.com)
Article99 (www.article99.com)
Article Post Robot - automated article posting software (www.articlepostrobot.com)

Article example:
Simple Steps for SEO and Social Media Beginners

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

article distribution, entrepreneurs, search engine optimization, seo, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #40 - Work the System (Sam Carpenter) and Contest Details

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:45:18 +0000

Ever feel like you run around all day putting out business-related fires? Feel like you’re chasing your tail? Feel like you’re in a game of whack-a-mole? See where I’m going? Sam Carpenter, CEO of telephone answering service Centratel says all of those statements applied to him. He was working 100 hours a week and not getting anywhere. Then, he says, he found a system to perfect his life, his relationships, and his business. Now, he says he’s working a couple of hours a week and making more money than ever. He’s written a book called Work the System, that tells us how he did it. In this week’s Startup BizCast interview, I talk to Sam about his book and his system.

ALSO in this week’s Startup BizCast, details about the Startup BizCast Small Business Week Contest! I’m so excited about this contest, I can hardly contain myself. The contest has three prize levels, with the total prize pool worth nearly $2,000! Details on prizes plus instructions on how to enter are available in this episode and on the contest page.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Work the System (www.workthesystem.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneur, freelancing, small business advice, small business contest, small business management, startups

NEW Feedback Hotline Number

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:01:46 +0000

I just checked my feedback hotline number, and found that it was no longer working! The service I use for the number deletes your account if it’s not used for a month. Unfortunately, I haven’t been getting any feedback (hop to it, people!), and thus it was deleted.

So, I created a new number. The Startup BizCast Feedback Hotline Number is now (206) 339-4366. This is also the number that will be used for the Startup BizCast Small Business Week Contest, so I’m glad I checked it!

Startup BizCast #39 - Advice for the Weak Economy from the SBA (Jody Keenan)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:45:20 +0000

Just about everyone has stopped denying it. The U.S. economy is at the very least souring, and could already be in a recession. As small business owners, we need to be particularly sensitive to changes in the economy because, generally speaking, our businesses are rather fragile. This week’s guest on Startup BizCast is Jody Keenan, the Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Virginia Small Business Development Center. She has some great advice on what you should be doing to help your business weather the storm.

In this week’s BizCast Brief, leap year trouble for Microsoft’s Small Business Server, small business owners are conflicted over presidential candidates, and information about National Small Business Week in the U.S.

Also this week — an exciting announcement about the upcoming Startup BizCast Small Business Week Contest! You can hear more in this week’s episode, or read more here.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
U.S. Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov)
SBA’s SBDC Locator Map

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

recession, small business, small business advice, small business contest, small business week 2008

Startup BizCast #38 - Pricing Your Small Business Products and Services (Per Sjofors)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:45:51 +0000

There’s not much that’s more important in small business management than figuring out how much to charge for the products and services you offer. According to this week’s guest, however, there needs to be a system involved in setting those prices, and the best price for a small business owner is not always the lowest one. This week I interview Per Sjofors from Atenga, a strategic pricing consulting firm. He gives us some tips on figuring out your pricing the right way.

To receive a copy of the article “Ten Common Mistakes Companies Make in Pricing their Products or Services” that was mentioned during the interview, visit Atenga’s website and register. They promise not to sell your name or email address.

In this week’s BizCast Brief, I have stories about women small business owners worrying more than men, and a contest to help your small business.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Atenga (www.atenga.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, pricing strategy, small business news, small business opinions, startups

Startup BizCast #37 - IT for your Small Business (Eric Johnson)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:45:11 +0000

Most small businesses, with the exception of highly funded dot-coms, start their lives with the owner doing everything. That “everything” includes taking care of the computers. But, as the business grows, that job may become too big, particularly when you consider all of the other things a small business owner has to deal with. That’s where IT consultants come in. My guest this week is Eric Johnson. He’s the owner of Consortio Services, an IT consulting firm that specializes in small businesses. Eric is also the co-host of CS Techcast, which is a great podcast aimed at IT professionals. Eric tells us how outsourcing your IT needs is something that small business owners can’t afford not to do.

On BizCast Brief, I have news on a rise in small business owner confidence in the economy, and small business organizations jumping into the political fray.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Consortio Services (www.consortioservices.com)
CS Techcast (www.cstechcast.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneur, information technology, outsourcing, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #36 - Small Business Taxes Pt. 2 (June Walker)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:45:07 +0000

It’s less than two months from the due date for your 2007 tax forms. Does that panic you? It shouldn’t really, but your 2007 taxes should be something that’s on your mind. Last week we spoke with tax and financial advisor June Walker about deductions and how to find a tax professional. In this week’s episode, part two of my two-parter on small business taxes, June will give us advice on business structure and how it affects your tax liability.

As I did last week, I’ve devoted the entire episode to my conversation with June, preempting BizCast Brief. The small business news segment will return next week!

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
June Walker’s website (http://www.junewalkeronline.com)
June’s Blog, where she’ll answer your questions
June’s book - Self-Employed Tax Solutions

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business financial advice, small business taxes, startups

Startup BizCast #35 - Small Business Taxes Pt. 1 (June Walker)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:13:57 +0000

Tax season is quickly creeping up on us. Personally, I haven’t done anything about getting my tax information in order, but I am at least THINKING about it! Because it’s that season, I wanted to make sure you all get a heavy dose of advice about taxes for your small business. So, I’ve decided produce Startup BizCast’s first two part episode. My guest for the next two programs is June Walker, a tax and financial advisor, and author of the book Self-Employed Tax Solutions. June has been advising independent professionals for 25 years. Her clients are the owners of unincorporated small businesses, including sole proprietors, freelancers, subcontractors, free agents, and 1099 workers.

In this episode, June and I spend a good bit of time talking about how to choose a tax professional to work with you this year. We also discuss the all-important deductions that will help save you money. In the second part of our conversation, which will be available on Wednesday, February 20, we’ll talk about how to structure your business to save you money on taxes.

I’ve devoted the entire episode to talking with June, and thus there is no BizCast Brief this week. The segment will return in the future, but in the meantime please check out my Small Business Recommended Reading post for this week.

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business financial advice, small business taxes, startup

Changes to the Startup BizCast RSS Feed

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:19:35 +0000

I made some changes to the RSS feed for this podcast that you should know about.

I noticed that only the most recent 10 episodes were showing up in the feed, and thus on iTunes and in podcast directories. I fixed that so that henceforth all episodes will show up on the RSS feed. Podcast directories like Podcast Alley, Blubrry, and Podcast Pickle ~~should update eventually~~ have updated to reflect the change. However, if you’re subscribed through iTunes and would like easy access to some of the early episodes of Startup BizCast, you’ll need to delete your subscription and then re-subscribe. If you’re happy just getting all of the newest shows every week, you don’t need to do a thing!

Oh, and if you enjoy this program and have a moment while you’re logged into iTunes, please leave a comment!

Thanks for listening!

Startup BizCast #34 - The Year of the Corporate Blog (Debbie Weil)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:33:43 +0000

In this episode, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Corporate and CEO Blogging and Social Media Consultant Debbie Weil, who was not only a wealth of knowledge, but was also nice enough to be patient while I recovered from a coughing fit during the interview! Debbie talked about her claim that 2008 is the year of the corporate blog, and also gave tips on how to make the most of a business blog.

In BizCast Brief this week: The 2009 budget doesn’t have much money for small businesses, a push for a “Super SBA”, and John Kerry wins during THIS election year.

Links mentioned during this week’s episode:
Debbie Weil (www.debbieweil.com)
The Corporate Blogging Book (via Amazon.com)

Technical Note: This is the first podcast recorded with my new and upgraded equipment. I’m now recording through a Samson mixer onto a Zoom H2 digital recorder. The result, I think, is a more rich and full sound. Let me know what you think!

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Pickle

corporate blogging, entrepreneur, small business advice, startup

Startup BizCast #33 - What is News? (Steve Mullen)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:35:53 +0000

Ever wonder how news outlets decide what to report and what not to report on? In this episode of Startup BizCast I go solo, and try to give you an explanation, as well as some tips to beef up the newsworthiness of your news release or story idea. I didn’t mention this in the episode, but let’s make sure this is clear — I’m talking about traditional media. Things like new media and social media … well, that’s another episode.

In this week’s BizCast Brief: Health insurance a problem for small business owners, Wal*Mart in the SEO business, and help for your 2008 business plan.

Mentioned in this week’s episode:
VaHigherEd.com
New Year’s Resolution Checkups

Startup BizCast is produced by EndGame PR Podcast Production. For more information on how your business can take advantage of the social media revolution, visit the podcast production page on the EndGame PR website.

Startup BizCast’s theme music is “Dangerous Toys” by George Fletcher’s Bourbon Renewal. The full version of the song, along with other music by the same artist, can be downloaded at Podsafe Music Network.

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Pickle

entrepreneurs, media relations, news media, small business advice, small business news, small businesses, startups

Startup BizCast #32 - Marketing During a Recession (Shama Hyder)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:15:46 +0000

Most experts agree the United States is in an economic downturn, mostly as the result of the subprime lending fiasco. Whether you think we’re about to go into a recession, are already in a recession, or will never reach recession status, it’s safe to say that small businesses will have to change their tactics. My guest this week has some advice. Shama Hyder, co-founder of After the Launch, a marketing firm in Dallas, TX, has five tips for marketing your business in a recession.

In the BizCast Brief: Sleepworking, blogs and journalists, and BusinessWeek bashes technology.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
After the Launch (www.afterthelaunch.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Pickle

entrepreneur, marketing, recession, small business advice, small business news, startup

Startup Bizcast #31 - Women in Small Business (Susan Wilson Solovic)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:30:09 +0000

There’s little doubt that women are succeeding in the world of small business. Women-owned startups are popping up at twice the rate of those owned by men. And, nine out of ten female entrepreneurs plan to expand their business. My guest this week is Susan Wilson Solovic, co-founder, CEO, and chairman of the first video news and information site for America’s small businesses, SBTV.com. She also recently authored a book called The Girl’s Guide to Building a Million-Dollar Business. She discusses why women are successful entrepreneurs, and provides tips for women who want to build their own business “empire”.

In this week’s BizCast Brief, I have stories about business trouble at the SBA, AllBusiness.com’s “State of the Union” for small businesses, and US News & World Report’s “diss” of small business ownership as a career.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
The Girl’s Guide to Building a Million-Dollar Business on Amazon.com
SBTV.com

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Pickle

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups, women in small business

Startup BizCast #30 - When Business Partnerships Go Bad (Joy Butler)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:48:22 +0000

Partnerships are a big part of small business ownership, mainly because we can’t do everything ourselves. And, whether those partnerships are alliances between supplier and retailer, or two people who agree to run a business together, it’s critical to make sure you have a solid agreement in place. The reason for this is that without that agreement, when things go south it can get quite messy. My guest this week is corporate attorney Joy Butler, who has tips on how to form partnerships and what to do when they go bad.

In this week’s BizCast Brief, I have news on President Bush’s recent comments about small businesses and taxes, a new survey about disaster preparedness among small business owners, and a survey that tells us very little about the relationship between birth order and entrepreneurship.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Joy Butler (www.joybutler.com)
Joy’s Business Transactions Blog (www.businesstransactionsblog.com)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

business partnerships, business transactions, entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #29 - New Year’s Resolutions (Steve Mullen)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:01:03 +0000

Happy 2008 everyone! Individuals have New Year’s resolutions, and your business should too! In this episode, I run through a few suggestions and ask for your help!

If you have suggestions for Small Business New Year’s Resolutions, please shoot me a voicemail at 206-984-0860 or send me an email at info@startupbizcast.com. I’ll play the audio and read emails in a future episode! For added incentive, feel free to give a short plug for your business (name, website URL, etc.). If you have a good suggestion, I’ll make sure your business gets a plug.

Note: There is no “BizCast Brief” segment in this week’s episode, due to the lack of news during the holiday weeks. The segment will return next week!

Links mentioned in this episode:
Fighting Back Podcast (www.fightsma.org)

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, new years resolutions, small business advice, startups

Startup BizCast #28 - Virtual Assistants for Your Small Business (Tracey Lawton)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:53:05 +0000

Have you ever been so ridiculously busy dealing with the smaller details of your business (scheduling, record keeping, etc.) that you have no idea how you’re going to get it all done? Surely it’s happened to us all. But, does it seem to happen to you frequently? If so, you may be a perfect candidate for a virtual assistant. While it sounds like something out of Star Trek, it’s actually an assistant that works from a remote location. My guest this week is Tracey Lawton, who is a virtual business manager and virtual assistant. She runs down her duties and talks about how virtual assistants can be of assistance to your small business.

On this week’s BizCast Brief — Assistance for businesses damaged in the recent California wildfires, the US small business of the year, and gift suggestions for your small business.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Tracey Lawton (www.traceylawton.com)

Listener feedback hotline: (206) 984-0860

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

small business advice, small business news, time management, virtual assistants

Startup BizCast #27 - How to Form an LLC (John Meyer)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:30:11 +0000

What’s going to happen to your business if a customer sues and wins? If your business is a simple sole proprietorship, they could take everything … including your house, car, and personal bank account. Scary? For sure. That’s why separating your personal assets from your business assets is so important. Forming a corporation helps solve the problem, and that’s this week’s small business advice on Startup BizCast. My guest is John Meyer from The Company Corporation, a firm that helps businesses form entities such as limited liability corporations (LLC). He gives tips on why it’s important to incorporate, and how to get it done.

In this week’s BizCast Brief, I have news on small business optimism continuing to plummet, telecommuting small business owners, and small business owner dyslexia.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
The Company Corporation (www.corporate.com)

Listener feedback hotline: (206) 984-0860

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

entrepreneurs, limited liability company, limited liability corporation, llc, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #26 - Local Marketing Mistakes (Nathaniel Stevens)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:42:24 +0000

Everyone makes mistakes. But, what if you could be given a “heads up” about those mistakes before they happen? While I can’t stand in your office and hold up a sign warning of impending doom, I do have some help this week. My guest in this episode is Nathaniel Stevens, President and Founder of online local lead generator Yodle. His company has compiled what it says are the top five local marketing mistakes that small businesses make. He runs through them one by one for us.

In this week’s BizCast Brief, I have stories about fraud accusations against the SBA, the cost of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and help during the holiday rush.

Also this week … listener feedback!

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Yodle (www.yodle.com)
Top Five Local Marketing Mistakes, from Yodle (PDF)

Listener feedback hotline: (206) 984-0860

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

local marketing, small business advice, small business news

Startup BizCast #25 - Small Business Podcasts (Steve Mullen)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:01:28 +0000

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

SHOW NOTES:

Podcasting, blogging, and social networks are just a few of many new ways to promote your small business that just a few years ago didn’t exist. This week on Startup BizCast I go without a net and without an interview, to discuss small business podcasting. Creating a podcast can be a great way to promote yourself as an expert in your field, and potentially generate links back to your website … one of the main goals of search engine optimization.

In this week’s BizCast Brief, I have stories about a four month drop in small business confidence, Yahoo drops the ball on Cyber Monday, and Intuit expanding its small business offerings.

Don’t forget, I want to hear how YOU are motivating your workers during this time of year when, let’s face it, we’d all rather be spending time with our families or doing our holiday shopping. Leave me a voice mail and I’ll use it in a December episode! The listener feedback hotline number is (206) 984-0860.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Audacity Audio Editing Software (http://audacity.sourceforge.net)
EndGame PR Podcast Production (http://www.endgamepr.com/podcasts)

Thanks for listening!

Startup BizCast’s theme music is “Dangerous Toys” by George Fletcher’s Bourbon Renewal. The full version, along with other music by the same artist, can be downloaded at Podsafe Music Network.

entrepreneurs, podcast production, podcasts, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #24 - A Business Plan for your Small Business (Gary Harpst)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:56:40 +0000

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Pickle

SHOW NOTES:

Small business owners, myself included, have a bad habit of getting so busy doing the actual work that pays the bills, that we don’t plan for the future. Having a clear business plan is a definite plus for anyone because it gives you a sense of what you’re working toward. My guest this week is Gary Harpst. Gary is the CEO of a business called Six Disciplines, which works with companies to help them develop good fundamental business practices. He’s also written a book called “Six Disciplines for Excellence: Building Small Businesses that Learn, Lead, and Last.” One of those six disciplines is planning, and we’ll talk with him in episode 24 about how to develop a great business plan for your small business.

In BizCast Brief, I have stories about the Fed’s lack of concern about small business loans, the best state for small businesses, and what companies are doing to keep their employees focused during the holidays.

Speaking of that keeping employees focused during the holidays — as I mention in the podcast, I want to hear how YOU are motivating your workers during this time of year when, let’s face it, we’d all rather be spending time with our families or doing our holiday shopping. Leave me a voice mail and I’ll use it in a December episode! The listener feedback hotline number is (206) 984-0860.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Six Disciplines (www.sixdisciplines.com)
Amazon.com link for Gary’s book (http://www.amazon.com/Six-Disciplines-Excellence-Gary-Harpst/dp/0974858706)

Startup BizCast’s theme music is “Dangerous Toys” by George Fletcher’s Bourbon Renewal. The full version, along with other

business plans, entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #23 - Backing Up Your Small Business Data (David Friend)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:48:09 +0000

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Pickle

SHOW NOTES:

What’s going to happen to your small business if all of your computer files go “POOF”? With computer storing nearly all of our information these days, it’s more important than ever to have a way to back up your data. On this week’s Startup BizCast, the small business advice podcast that’s shorter than your coffee break, I interview David Friend from Carbonite, a company that provides online data backup solutions. David and I talk about what makes a good backup plan.

On BizCast Brief, I have stories about the NFIB lobbying for healthcare reform, the impact of the Hollywood writer’s strike on small businesses, and new small business offerings from Wachovia.

Links mentioned during this week’s episode:
Carbonite (www.carbonite.com)

Listener feedback hotline: (206) 984-0860

data backup, entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business news, startups

Startup BizCast #22 - Voice over IP for your Small Business (Bruce Chatterley)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:38:20 +0000

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

SHOW NOTES:

There are a dizzying array of telephone options for small business owners these days, particularly compared to just a few years ago. From traditional phone service, to individual cell phones, to Skype and Voice over IP, it can get confusing. This week on Startup BizCast, the small business advice podcast that’s shorter than your coffee break, we talk about Voice over IP, or VoIP. My guest is Bruce Chatterley, CEO of Speakeasy, a company that’s offering VoIP services for small businesses.

In this week’s BizCast Brief, I have stories about the top home based businesses, concern among small business owners about fraud, and tax help from the IRS for small business owners.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Speakeasy, Inc. (www.speakeasy.net)
Voice over IP Explained (from www.voipnow.org)

Listener feedback hotline: (206) 984-0860

entrepreneurs, small business advice, small business podcasts, startups, voice over IP, voip

Startup BizCast #21 - Alternative Advertising (Mike Brown)

info@startupbizcast.com (Steve Mullen) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:15:01 +0000

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

SHOW NOTES:

First off … Happy Halloween!!!

As you formulate plans to promote your small business, you may consider advertising. Unfortunately the advertising landscape is overcrowded and, sometimes, too expensive. If you’re coming to these conclusions, you might look into alternative forms of advertising. My guest this week is Mike Brown. He founded Handvertising USA, a company with an extremely novel way of advertising. He’s found a way to get people to voluntarily have advertisements stamped on their bodies! Mike and I talk about his company, as well as other forms of alternative advertising and why they are an important consideration for your small business.

In this week’s BizCast Brief, I have stories about the impact of the San Diego wildfires on small businesses, a survey for Britain’s Small Business Week, and a small business guide from Black Enterprise Magazine.

Links mentioned during this week’s episode:
Handvertising USA (www.handvertisingusa.com)
Fighting Back Podcast (www.fightsma.org)

advertising, entrepreneurs, small business advice, startups