10 of the Best Social Media Tools for Entrepreneurs

October 26th, 2009 | by Barb Dybwad http://mashable.com/2009/10/26/socia-media-entrepreneurs/

Whether your company is just starting out, just starting to turn a profit or already on the verge of an acquisition, as an entrepreneur you’ll be constantly evaluating the tools that will help get your business to the next stage.

Even if the ink on the business plan isn’t dry yet, you want to be armed with the social media tools that will play an important role in company communication, product and brand promotions, and business development for your startup. Some of the tools in this list will be familiar, but it’s worth taking a moment to reframe how they might become power tools in a business context.

10. Monitter
9. YouTube
8. UserVoice
7. MailChimp
6. Get Satisfaction
5. Twitter
4. Facebook
3. Basecamp
2. LinkedIn
1. Google Apps for Domains

What Does "Missional" Even Mean?

What Does "Missional" Even Mean?

Demos of Internet Users - Pew Research

Pew Research Data share

Posted using ShareThis

Four Essential Tweaks to Your Appeals in a Recession

By Katya Andresen: Oct 29, 2009

The Chronicle of Philanthropy this week said the nation's biggest charities are forecasting a nine percent decline in giving this year - the biggest drop since the publication started tracking private donations in the early 90s. In an interview with the radio program Marketplace, publisher Stacy Palmer said it's affecting how nonprofits ask for money:

"One of the things most nonprofits are very aware of is that some people don't have jobs and they can't appeal to them, so they're focusing on the people who are affluent still and who still have money to give. They're very careful to not make a pitch to somebody who can't afford to give."

That might not be the case for most nonprofits - or if it is, it applies only to major donors, which is one circumstance in which a nonprofit may have intimate knowledge of a donor's circumstances. Most nonprofits are unlikely to know who among their supporters has a job.

In fact, the Chronicle on its website suggests as much. Apparently most of fundraising is as aggressive as ever:

"The push to be more aggressive in seeking donations continues. The biggest charities are stepping up their efforts to solicit individuals, trying to explain more clearly why they need money, focusing on donors who have stopped giving, experimenting with new methods of online fund raising, and putting more time and effort into securing planned gifts. Charities are also reorganizing their fund-raising departments, sometimes because they have been forced to lay off employees. They are encouraging fund raisers to share responsibilities and work more closely with people in different departments."

You cannot possibly know the economic circumstances of all your individual donors - though hopefully you're aware of the status of your biggest donors. And you can't stop asking for money entirely.

So what are you supposed to do?

Ask, but with four things in mind:

1. Empathy is appropriate. Acknowledge times are hard - for everyone - right now. If a donor can't give, they'll appreciate you understand this.
   
   
2. Show you are tightening your belt. Describe every step your organization has taken to tighten your belt and operate as efficiently as possible this year.
   
   
3. Demonstrate that all donations count. Because you're stretching every dollar, make the point that every donation helps more than ever this year - whatever the size of the donation.
   
   
4. Show impact. Thank your donors profusely for their past help and explain in tangible, vivid terms how their donations have made a big difference. And then do it again and again and again. Donors usually don't stop giving because they don't have money. They usually stop giving because of a surfeit of appeals and a shortage of thanks. Show donors that they are making good things happen - and give them credit for every piece of good news you have about your programs.
   
   

A last point: If you have to reorganize your fundraising department or merge departments because of downsizing - something the Chronicle suggests is prevalent - look at this as an opportunity. It's a chance to show you're focused on efficiency and it's also a great way to get rid of silos where they should not have existed (ie, between marketing and development). Tough times can hold good lessons. Let them make you a better fundraiser.

Source: Nonprofitmarketingblog.com

Joseph discovered the secret to life - Pastor Paul - www.hopechurch.me

When Joseph was a teenage boy, God inspired him with some amazing dreams. In his first dream he saw all of his brothers bow down to him like sheaves of grain. And the second, he was the center of a galaxy of stars. As he shared these dreams with his brothers they grew angry and threw him into a well. And his life went down hill from there. He became a slave, was unjustly thrown in prison for doing the right thing, and was forgotten for years.

But the day came when the Pharaoh - the most powerful person in the world—asked Joseph to interpret Pharaoh's dreams.  At this point, Joseph said, “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”  Genesis 41:16

From a teenage boy, thinking he was the center of the universe and operating by his own power to years later trusting fully in God’s power, through his troubles, Joseph discovered the secret to life - I can’t but God can!

Maybe your dream is dying. Maybe you feel discouraged by what is not happening in your career, your family, your finances, or your life of faith.  I believe that God allows each of us to get to the point where we say...
          I can’t do this!
          Only God can make this happen!

In your family, work, or this family of faith, God wants to bring you to that point of saying, “I can’t do this. I need God’s help. I need to learn.”  When you are aware that you can’t do it, then you open the door for God to show His power. Then God can do something even greater in your life!

By grace,

Pastor Paul

pauls@hopechurch.me

Think Big or Go Home by Mark Mathis @ MV&E

Think Big I

October 23, 2009 by iowaadguy

Another diner opened near me.  Nothing special.  No big menu item.  No strong logo.  No theme.  I would say, no future.   They were thinking small.

Now, Schwartz’s Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen (http://www.schwartzsdeli.com/index2.html ) thinks big about its small menu and small restaurant.   Sure the menu is small, but the food is huge.  Huge smoked meat sandwiches.  Lines out the door.

It is easy in a recession to think small about everything.  But I’m not just thinking about how much you spend on marketing, but how you focus your money, effort and thinking for the greatest results.

Donald Trump said, “If you are going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.”  It takes no more calories to think large and shoot for impact.   I found this street art in Chicago.  Grant Wood is big in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but he is enormous in Chicago.   And the promotion power is unmatched.

Big may be one of the most important ways for people to remember your brand.   There are a hundreds of souvenir shops along the Florida coast, but there is only one Souvenir City.  You know you are there because of the huge shark mouth.  You can buy hermit crabs anywhere, but you can only have your sun-burned body photographed by the big shark head at one souvenir shop. 

Big thinking differentiates you.

So the next time you do an event, plan a meeting, or open a deli, think big and see what happens.  And if you go to Schwartz’s in Montreal, try the Large Plate Smoked Meat. Your eyes may be bigger than your stomach — and you’ll love every pound.

Very Interesting - Why Christians Should Use Twitter

Why Christians Should Use Twitter

TONE HOEFT - Originally posted Monday, October 12, 2009 

In order to understand the reasons why Christians should use Twitter, one must examine why Twitter has become so popular. Part of Twitter’s popularity is that it provides a way to stay constantly connected with the world around you. What makes Twitter unique is the fact that these people don’t have to live anywhere near you—they don’t have to be next-door neighbors. You can have a close-knit community of people from all across the world. It’s part of (pardon my use of buzz words) building the global village.

In a sense, Twitter means you never have to be alone. If you are following a moderate amount of people (who actually update their “tweets”), then you can always be aware of what others are doing. Not only that, but you can instantly comment on these activities or thoughts and get an instant response. So what separates Twitter from a chat room? With a chat room, you have to be logged into the service. With Twitter, you don’t have to always be logged in. You get to tap into this feed of conversation whenever you want at your own convenience. This is why people love it. It’s the feeling of community, but only when you so desire.

Don’t believe me? I’ll let the stats speak for themselves. According to recent statistics, Twitter is showing 600 million unique visitors a month. Let’s put this into perspective. The population of the United States is 306 million people, meaning that roughly two United States make up the population of Twitter. That’s a lot. This is of course, looking at the data optimistically.

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Now if you put all of this together, you will see how the implications of what this means for Christians are huge.

I’ve always thought that the best and most effective form of ministry is one that allows you to live life alongside other people. When you allow someone else into your life, you allow them to see who you truly are. This means they see all your ups and your downs.

If Christ is affecting your life, people will see a difference in your life as compared to the others around you. If Twitter is a gateway to instant community all the time, then Twitter becomes a way to live intentionally different lifestyles with people all across the world. No longer does incarnational ministry mean that you have to be in physical proximity to each other. Incarnation ministry and authentic communities can now happen halfway across the world.

Of course you can make an attempt to make your “tweets” holy and righteous, but let’s face it, no one is holy all the time. We all have faults and we all make mistakes. This means that when you post on Twitter an angry outburst, people will see that—when you post something less than righteous, someone will read it. But it also means they will see genuine moments of impact and change in your life as well. By allowing others to see your life as you truly live it, we become a true living witness to Christ.

Now I’m no expert at living like this. Most of my tweets are far from profound and spiritual, but it has allowed other people who are not Christians to be able to see that not all Christians are judgmental and closed-minded. While I still think that living life with others (in real life) is the best way to reach out to people, Twitter gives us a new way to do this in a world that is slowly turning more digital by the second.

I’m not asking you to sign up for a Twitter account, but I am asking you to consider how we can use new media in a way to reach out to others. I know there are pastors out there who consider media and technology as a waste of time, but how relevant can you be if you ignore the very place where people are spending their time? 600 million people. Think of the impact.

Tone Hoeft is pursuing his Master’s degree in Communications from Eastern Washington University. To learn more about him and read more of his thoughts, visit www.inproximity.org. You can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/thoeft.

Are You Committing These Ten Marketing Crimes?

Are You Committing These Ten Marketing Crimes?

Scott Ginsberg (www.nametagtv.com)

Oct 16, 2009 -

1. A. Worst letter in the alphabet. It suggests you’re one of many, not one of a kind. Instead, you need to strive for “thee.” As in THEE premiere dentist in your city. THEE best dry cleaners around. THEE website for unemployed professionals. Are you “thee” or “a”?
   
2. Adjectives. Utterly useless. And sadly, most websites and marketing materials are nothing but adjectives. Just sitting on the page; saying how awesome you are. Whoopee. Look: You need testimonials. Proof that you actually help people solve problems. Proof that you’re the answer to something. Is your message peppered with proof or just a bunch of adjectives?
   
3. Anonymity. In an attention economy, anonymity isn’t just the enemy – it’s bankruptcy. That’s why you’re going out of business. Because nobody knows you, nobody’s heard of you and nobody’s talking about you. Are you invisible?
   
4. Arrow. If you’re still operating on the old school model, you’re probably shooting a LOT of arrows. “Target Marketing,” as you call it. Ha! What a waste. What an antiquated approach. Especially now, in our My Culture, in which customers are going to get WHAT they want, WHEN and HOW they want it. Your challenge is to reverse your marketing and become the bull’s-eye.  A big, beautiful, juicy target. And the best part is, you don’t have to waste your money AND self-qualified customers come out of nowhere. Cool. Are you aiming or being aimed at?
5. Average. That’s just not going to cut it anymore. And here’s why: Competence is assumed. Competence is the price of entry. And when there are a gazillion other instant choices out there, people have no motivation to pick anything other than the best. Lesson learned: Be amazing or be out of business. Are you a C?
6. Boring. Just another word for bankrupt. Especially in commoditized industries where service is the key differentiator. Which means your challenge is to make the mundane memorable in every possible touchpoint. Are you a snoozer?
7.  Branding. We’re done with that word. Instead, focus your efforts on expressing your identity fully and freely. Concentrate on transferring your passion to others. Make what you sell a natural extension of your personality. It won’t feel or look like branding, and as such, people will buy it. When was the last time you updated your brand identity?
8.   Clever. If someone uses this word to describe you, your website or your business, it’s NOT a compliment. You don’t want to be clever. Clever is short-lived, annoying and easy. You want to be smart. Or cool. Or simple. Much more enduring, attractive and, yes, hard to pull off. What is the one word you want people to use when describing your marketing?
9.  Comma. You never want one of these anywhere near you. In the words of my pal Robert Bradford, founder of the Center for Simple Strategic Planning, “Every time you add a comma to the description of what you do, you decline a little bit more.” Periods. Periods. Periods. Commas are for unfocused hacks. Pick a lane. Which punctuation mark does your offering have?
10. Customers. Customers are overrated, clients are useless and prospects are for amateurs. You need FANS. Like a rock star. Or a ballplayer. Or a red-carpet actor. Fans. The people who are fully engaged. The people who love your stuff. The people who are insistent upon using you. And I mean this in the most non-stalker way possible. How many fans do you have?

Scott Ginsberg, aka "The Nametag Guy," is the author of eight books, a professional speaker, an award-winning blogger and the creator of NametagTV.com. For more info or for his list of “24 Ways to Out BRAND Your Competitors, e-mail scott@hellomynameisscott.com.