Looking at the website for a local fitness center, I noticed that they had 2 portions of their site devoted to news. One was a banner across the top of the site, posting information about changes to their schedule. The other was a Twitter feed. The banner seemed to contain fairly current information – it [...]
Trying to trace down the origin of the saying “Social Media is not a strategy” was more difficult than I expected, though I have been able to confirm that it’s been around since at least 2004. Some businesses get this – social media is a tool, just like radio is a tool, and sandwich-board men [...]
When a recent posting on Facebook directed me to a page screaming free and asking for an email address, I immediately questioned the author of the post’s integrity in suggesting the link to their associates on Facebook. The page read like a marketing scam aimed solely at getting email addresses, with no indication as to [...]
I recently purchased a new computer from a certain manufacturer with whom I’ve done business many times before. I was purchasing a laptop they had advertised in a catalog, and the price I ultimately paid was $50 less than I had expected based on the price advertised, and included a [nice] carrying case. I immediately [...]
I just helped another business get started. No, I wasn’t involved in the product or service being run by the business, but rather, in setting up the business in the world of mass communication and interaction. My wife registered as a Fitness Instructor, and is running a few classes in the area. As she just [...]
Various people have written about how Twitter can benefit a business, myself included. As small business owners, we hear about reaching out to prospective clients, listening to feedback, and in general being aware of conversations about our business. What worse than no policy on how Twitter can integrate with your business, though, is having a [...]
A week ago was my birthday, and in the days and weeks leading up to it, I starting noticing other birthdays of friends and acquaintances on Facebook, and the number of people who would drop a line on the celebrant’s wall wishing them “Happy Birthday”. It made me think about the new definition of social, [...]
There are two general attitudes toward sales, one which has its roots in the history of the industry, the other which was developed as a result of changes in technology. Unfortunately, despite the knowledge available that the old system is fundamentally flawed, there are still many people who will tout its merits. The Old System [...]
Elie Kochman is the author of Advice for Small Business Owners and the founder of Optimal Upgrade Consulting. Using his experience working in the corporate world along with his exposure to the world of small businesses, he writes these articles to assist others avoiding common pitfalls of growing a business. His experience in the corporate world, building his own business, and working directly with other growing businesses has given him some perspective on the trials and pains of running a business.
