Biz Talk - Business Blog Roanoke and Beyond

Stuart Mease asked me to participate in this meme, a way to share information from blogger to blogger to increase traffic and exposure of a site and give a more personal touch to a blog.

So, here it goes with a little different spin…

I am going to provide you with some facts about me but you will need to check out my profiles in Linked-In, Facebook or MySpace to find the answers.

1. I have lived in the Roanoke area all my life.  What high school did I go to?
2. I made a career move after spending 28 years with what company?
3. I have a pet that loves to socialize more than me.  What is his name?

I'm sure you didn't have any problem finding the answers from my social profiles.  OK, so now I'm going to tag Josh Perrington and Robyn Tippins with this meme.  You can thank Stuart Mease for this.

Today, October 15, is Blog Action Day, where bloggers around the web have united to put a single important issue on everyone's mind.  That issue is the environment.  

To help increase awareness through the Roanoke business community I have chosen to write about how businesses can help the environment in three easy steps.  If every local company would commit to these three simple steps we can conserve energy, preserve our natural resources and help fight the issues of global warming.

1. Replace 2 regular light bulbs with an energy saving model. If every business in Roanoke replaced one regular light bulb with an energy-saving model, we could reduce global warming pollution by more than 90 billion pounds over the life of the bulbs; the same as taking 6.3 million cars off the road. So, replace your incandescent bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescents, which now come in all shapes and sizes.
2. Pull the plug on electronic devices when not in use. To make sure you aren’t wasting energy put all of your electronics and chargers on a power strip (or a smart power strip). This way you can simply flip the power strip off when your electronics are not in use.
3. Set computers to energy-saving settings.  For most businesses our computers are the central tool for work. Optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices can be more than a modest energy saver.  Printers and scanners that are only used occasionally can be unplugged until they’re needed.
4. Charge your mobile devices through your computer's USB port.  Cell phones and PDA's can charge using your computer’s USB port.  You never have to worry about leaving your AC adapter plugged in.
5. Buy recycled paper for copiers and fax machines.  The benefits of recycled paper include fewer trees cut down, less water and energy consumption and less pollution generated. Using recycled paper reduces waste and preserves natural resources.
6. Encourage employees to recycle by adding recycle bins.  Add bins near copier machines for paper and in lunch rooms for cans and bottles.
7. Have lunch delivered to your office once a week.  Plan a day in advance so employees can order lunch together and dine together.  It saves gas and cuts down on pollution. It also makes a great way to reward your team. Also remember to ask for paper instead of styrofoam containers.
8. Turn climate control systems off when they aren't needed.  Adjusting the thermostat a few degrees warmer or cooler can also benefit. You may be surprised by how much energy and dollars this saves.

Check out TreeHugger.com for more information on ways to green your workplace

Most people don't understand the power of social media.  They don't understand how blogging and other forms of social media can impact the business environment.  Viral Marketing is a marketing phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a marketing message voluntarily.  Let me show you direct proof of how an ongoing internet conversation can effect a topic or situation.  Imagine if this were your business and why you have to be cognizant of the affects, good or bad, it can have on your business.

I found this article in the Washington Post regarding the rage over the new drivers fee's invoked by the Virginia Legislators.  Marc Fisher reported…

Since when do ordinary people take up the cause of offenders such as the 5 percent of drivers who are eligible for abuser fees because of their bad records? Since when do Virginia's supposedly hard-core anti-tax voters slam their lawmakers for avoiding a general tax increase by slipping in fees aimed at some small group?
Well, since the Internet changed the speed and power flow in politics, says Del. David Albo, the Fairfax Republican who finds himself the target of much of the popular rage.

Fisher added..

In the wild world of Virginia political blogs, that made Albo Public Enemy No. 1 — accused of concocting a dishonest way to raise money for transportation projects, making it extra unfair by exempting out-of-state drivers from the fees and topping it off by working in a field in which he stood to profit from an increase in court battles over these fees.

Social Media is changing the landscape of our politics as well as how we do business.  This is what we call viral marketing.  Several months back Roanoke Biz2Biz hosted a social media workshop where I explained about the Power Of Blogs. (see my white paper Blogs - Your Power Marketing Tool) 

You can accept it or not, but this is a part of your future.  Five years ago, few took a serious look at a Google search as a marketing tool.  Look at them now!  If you don't have a top ranking in Google you can bet your competitor does!  

Blogging has grown into a powerful venue for businesses to gain valuable exposure.  Companies now use various forms of social media marketing to introduce new products and services, announce events and generate leads for their business.

It's YOUR choice, you can be pro-active and an innovator in incorporating social media into your marketing strategies or you can lag behind as your competitors evolve.

Last week I was asked to provide a letter of recommendation for a service I had received.  I immediately responded that I would be happy to write a testimonial because I was very pleased with the service.  A week has now passed and I still have not written the testimonial I promised. Why am I procrastinating?  …because it takes my valuable time and that is unfair to the this service provider. 

Many businesses use testimonials as part of their marketing strategy.  But that being said, getting a written testimonial can be a tedious and exhausting task.  Is there an easier way to get a recommendation? 

LinkedIn is a fast growing social networking platform that provides online networking for business professionals.  If you are not already a part of LinkedIn, you have probably been exposed or received invitations to join a colleagues LinkedIn network.  Success Magazine says if you're not already linkedin "Chances are your competition is".

LinkedIn members have an opportunity to recommend service providers, colleagues, and business partners.  You can make a personal recommendation for a contact that can be viewed in their profile.  You can actually request a recommendation from your network of connections.  The more recommendations you have the higher placement your profile will have in the search results. In other words, in my earlier post about your online identity, when you are googled you will be a stud not a dud.

Here are some other ways to use LinkedIn.

This is a continuation from our recent post about the Biz2Biz Leader's Forum Creating a Regional Presence.   Attendees learned of the challenges and opportunities facing business owners desiring to expand their business throughout Virginia and North Carolina. 

During the second segment of the forum, speakers shared marketing strategies and tools available for expanding to a new marketplace. 

Ira Kaufman, President Roanoke Biz2Biz and Online Advantage, talked about creating a regional brand where he emphasized 8 Steps to a Branding Strategy.

Tom Markiewicz, President of EvolvePoint, spoke on Accessing Social Media to Develop a Regional Presence.  Tom focused on using blogs, feeds and other social networks to market and brand a business for expansion. 

Fred Burke with Patterson Partners in Greensboro spoke on Public Relations and opportunities for growth in North Carolina and Kaithe Clark, Sound Ad-Vice Advertising, shared how traditional media can be used when expanding to a new region or marketplace.

How many times a day do you Google?  Yes, I mean Google not giggle.  With today's technology when you are inquiring about someone or something you are most likely to Google them to find out everything you can.  You want to identify their online identity. 

Just how important is an online identity?  An employer may research a job applicant using a Google search.  He may find his Facebook or MySpace identity or find him on the blogosphere.   Wall Street Journal reporter Sarah Needleman recently wrote How Blogging Can Help You Get a New Job.  Needleman shared how corporate recruiters are "surfing blogs to unearth job candidates, expanding their talent pool and gaining insights they say they can't get from résumés and interviews."

What about your company's online identity?  When someone Googles your business name do they see a stud or a dud?  How are you branding your online identity?  Your webiste can reflect your brand as well as a corporate blog.  Debbie Weil, author of The Corporate Blogging Book, and quoted in the above Wall Street Journal article writes in her blog "No matter how big your brand, you have a better chance of controlling the online conversation around it by hosting your own blog."

Here's a challenge!  Google your company's name and evaluate the search results.  This is your Online Identity or Brand.  If you are not satisfied, here are 8 Steps to a Branding Strategy.

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