Biz Talk - Business Blog Roanoke and Beyond

I was telling some members at RoanokeBiz2Biz about our blogging workshop. Some typical comments - Blogs are not relevant in this market or my business. Everyone has one, but do they work?   I don’t have the time.

Then, they ask me –what do you think about blogs?  My response - They are an essential marketing tool of the future. They need to make the time and gain the expertise to get on board!  I have written a white paper on this topic for small businesses.

I have found that small businesses do not take the time to understand the power and cost- effectiveness of marketing in general and more specifically blogging.

In working with small and mid size business for the past five years, I have noted ten common threads in relation to their marketing efforts.

The 10 small business marketing realities are:

1. Most owners have background in finance or chemistry…. or the arts or inherited business- They do not have a clue about marketing, as distinguished from selling.
2. Most have invested some $ in marketing beyond the yellow pages and have no idea of what, if any, affect it had.  They often think the investment is water down the drain but need to spend something. So they buy some TV advertising or print ads for exposure. Often they are not relevant to their market or too expensive for the results.  
3. They do not what their Brand is—what they are really selling.
4. They do not delineate their competitive advantages.
5. Often  they can list their target markets but do not have a strategy for accessing them.
6. Often they get a talented student, friend or employee to build their website.  They get no results and say the internet doesn’t work for them. When did the same owner, ask a staff member or student to operate on their cancer or prepare their taxes!
7.  They do not analyze or track their marketing efforts
8. They do not know how to utilize their company’s resources (expertise, contacts etc)
9.  They do not follow up leads/contacts in a timely fashion
10. Most do not have the time/expertise to market their companies.  They hesitate to outsource the marketing function- procrastinating and plodding along, doing business as usual.

The courageous or desperate companies break out of this false reality and consider a step by step approach to marketing their company.   If you would like more information please email me.

Need something to do this weekend?  The City of Roanoke is celebrating it's 125th anniversary this year.  The kick-off will begin Saturday, March 31, at the Roanoke Civic Center from noon until 4:00PM.  The event will include a procession from Hotel Roanoke to the Roanoke Civic Center, an opening ceremony in the coliseum, exhibits in the new exhibit hall and family fun activities in the old exhibit hall.

For more information, visit http://www.roanokecelebrates.com/.  

The best part about this is it is FREE entertainment!  There will also be free shuttle service to and from the Elmwood Parking Garage on Williamson Road.

Recently we saw an opportunity to include video technology into Online Advantage marketing and branding services.  We researched thoroughly and realized the impact video will have on marketing and branding strategies.  We have learned that the company whose platform we use will be in Lynchburg on April 4, at the James River Conference Center hosting a gathering where you can learn more about video technology and where it is going in the marketplace.  Call or email Patsy at 540-563-2249 to find out more about this event.

On-demand video is a very powerful and affordable multimedia web based platform.  We offer a product called VideoLinked.  You can view examples of how this technology has been used throughout various kinds of businesses.  Video email is very powerful as well as adding video streaming to your current website.  This allows you to use this technology to communicate directly with your clients in a active face to face venue.  Another example of how video is a powerful medium is through a Live Web Broadcast.  You can stream live video with the clarity of a TV station via the internet. How exciting is that?

For information on the Video Technology Meeting in Lynchburg call or email Patsy at 540-563-2249.

The City of Roanoke and the Virginia Department of Business Assistance are hosting a FREE Entrepreneurship Expo sponsored by WACHOVIA and LECLAIR RYAN on Wednesday, April 4 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center Exhibit Hall. You must register by March 29 and spaces are limited due to a successful response.

Many folks have been to a job fair, but when was the last time you went to an entrepreneurship fair? If you have ever thought about starting a business, then this free one-day workshop is for you.

Roanoke native and 12-time serial entrepreneur, Cameron Johnson, will be speaking on his entrepreneurial success at the age of 22. He will also be highlighting his new book - "You Call the Shots".

For more info, contact Sandy at sandy.ratliff@dba.virginia.gov.

I was invited by the Carolinas Chapter of Institute of Management Consultants to introduce WEB2.0 technologies. There were 25 experienced business consultants from North Carolina and SW VA. In polling the audience I learned that only one person had blogged and two had sent a video email.  I introduced them to Blog- A Power Marketing Tool and how blogs are changing the landscape of business.  Business blogs are projected to be less than 5% of the blogs read. There is a real opportunity for businesses and consultants to brand themselves and educate their target market.

On-demand video was the other technology I introduced.  I shared a very powerful and affordable multimedia web based platform called videolinked.com.  The consultants experienced live demonstrations of video email and they realized how they could use this technology to communicate directly with clients in a active face to face venue.  We provided a Live Web Broadcast which allowed them to stream live (with the clarity of a TV station) via the internet. The audience could be anyone who is online or they could target the broadcast for selected clients like a webinar at a fraction of the cost. 

Many of the consultants were actively looking for more effcetive tools to market themselves and offer new options for their clients.  They were hungry for this information.  Blogs and video are new to Roanoke and the New River Valleys but there is a growing interest.  The early adopters of these technologies will gain a significant competitive advantage.  With VISTA and Internet 7 offering blog readers, small and mid size business will begin to actively use blogs. Video email is already a popular corporate marketing tool.  Both will come of age in the next two years in our region.  Are you ready for the Challenge?

Many thanks to the speakers of the Roanoke Biz2Biz Blog Workshop!  About fifty people gathered at WDBJ7 today to learn about blogging as a marketing tool for business.  About half of those attending were current bloggers eager to meet other bloggers and the other 50 percent were enthusiastic to learn about blogging. 

Stuart Mease moderated the event.  Ira Kaufman introduced the Power of Blogs as a Marketing Tool.  Sean Pecor, Pat Matthews, Tom Markiewicz and Andrew Cohill demystified blogs as they shared how they use blogs in their business and the impact blogging has made.  Keith Clinton, whose blog was noted as one of the most read blogs in Roanoke, provided substantial information as well as entertainment to those attending.  Jean Jadhon, WDBJ news anchor, explained how she enjoys sharing personal experiences in her blog.

Thanks again to all of these successful and talented speakers and a special thank you to WDBJ7 for providing the wonderful facilities for our Blogging Workshop.

From a government perspective of connecting communities to the creative class of workers, a couple of sites quickly come to mind as useful tools in capturing best practices from other region.

First, Richard Florida author of the Rise of Creative Class and the Flight of the Creative Class has a great blog on the topics relating to his two books. A person of his stature, he and his staff are quite accessbile and update the blog several times a day. You will find very provocative material at CreativeClass.org.

Second, CEOS for Cities is another interesting blog. This organization was instrumental in contracting with Joe Cortright to produce the Young and The Restless in the Knowledge Economy piece that has garnered a ton of exposure over the last 24 months. It is a consortium of larger cities tackling greater problems they all trying to overcome.

Third, Suzanne Morse puts out a nice blog post daily about some current topic. Her credentials are spectacular based on her wonderful book - Smart Communities.

There are many others, but these are good reads to get you going.

Roanoke Biz2Biz serves as a marketing arm for small to medium sized businesses providing tools to help them generate results and revenue. As I consult with business owners I have found that many want to use technology to increase revenue but most have no idea how. In December we sponsored a forum titled Unravel the Internet, where one hundred business owners and decision makers gathered to learn more about the Internet and how it can help them. As we gathered the evaluation forms from the event it was obvious that they wanted to learn more. Thus, the need to educate them on technology available to grow their business. In January we held a workshop on video technology. This month we will continue the process with a workshop on Blogs.

RoanokeBiz2Biz will sponsor a marketing workshop for businesspeople in Roanoke, Salem, Bedford and New River Valley to learn how blogs can be used as an affordable marketing tool for their business. Stuart Mease will help facilitate the event. There will be blogging experts from around the valley sharing their expertise. Speakers include Tom Markiewicz, CEO EvolvePoint, Pat Matthews, CEO WEBMAIL.us, Andrew Cohill, CEO Design Nine, Sean Pecor, President Digital Spinner, and Keith Clinton. There will be wireless connection to provide hands on experience including live demos with local bloggers. Guests are encouraged to bring a laptop.

Thursday, March 15 12:00- 2:00
WDBJ7 Community Room (directions)
$10 includes Lunch

Space in limited so you must register.

patsy@roanokebiz2biz.com 540-563- 2249

Many families in Roanoke are doing without the nuriousment and protien from a favorite food. Local grocerys removed peanut better from their shelves after ConAgra Foods recalled all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter made at its Sylvester, Ga., plant after federal health officials linked the product to a salmonella outbreak.

The FDA issued a warning for consumers.

My family had 2 jars of the recalled peanut butter. We returned it to Food Lion for a full refund. During our weekly grocery shopping this weekend we found the shelves at a local WalMart were emply and our craving for peanut butter intensified knowing that we couldn’t get any.

Hopefully we will see peanut butter back on the shelves soon!

The City of Roanoke has introduced a new site for consumer to ‘WISH’ a new store or restaurantMyRetailRoanoke.com to locate in the Valley. The site allows users to voice their opinion on which retailers they would like to see in the region. This unique concept provides consumer-generated content to assist with the business recruitment process. The goal is to have 10,000 register voters. Complete a profile and voice your opinion.

If you have any questions about MyRetailRoanoke.com, contact Lisa Soltis by e-mail or at 853-1694.