Help Your Chosen Charity By Doing Something You Already Do...Internet Searches!

October 02, 2007

My sister just alerted me to a fantastic service called GoodSearch.

It's a yahoo powered search engine that lets you do your searches as you normally would WITH A TWIST...every time you do a search, money flows to your favourite charity!!

In my case, my niece has a rare conditon called "Russell-Silver Syndrome" and the charity

I encourage everyone to try out this search engine with a social conscience and do some good in the world....do it TODAY!

Turn Trade Show Leads Into Gold

January 01, 2008

Many companies use tradeshows to generate customer and distributor leads. However, more than 95% of companies exhibiting are missing a huge opportunity to supercharge their leads.

Tradeshows can be expensive. By the time you add up the costs for the booth space, the booth display itself, transportation, having employees out of commission during the show, food and so on, it can be thousands of dollars to display at a tradeshow.

Read more: Turn Trade Show Leads Into Gold

Is Economics Killing off Small Business?

July 24, 2007

I've been noticing a disturbing trend in CRM that could have a major impact on small business...the move to eliminate single license versions of products.

Case in point: FrontRange has officially dropped their GoldMine standard product. The option available to new users is to buy their GoldMine Corporate product which comes with a 5 license minimum.

And FrontRange isn't alone.

Read more: Is Economics Killing off Small Business?

Find a Profitable Need to Fill

January 15, 2008

To find a need to fill is the single most important decision you’ll make in your entire business, and that decision will impact everything you do in your business.

Finding the right need to fill is the difference between struggling day after day to make a go of your business and having a business that takes on a life of its own.

Read more: Find a Profitable Need to Fill

60% Of Small Business Owners At Risk Of Losing Their Domain Name...

March 10, 2008

There can be some nasty business hiding beneath offers of "free domain name included" or "comes with a free domain name". In fact, I've had a few clients (and some very high profile ones) lose their domain name and have to start over with a brand new web address.

Your domain name (your web address, e.g. www.piggybanktechnology.com) is an important business asset. Imagine what would happen if you lost control of that web address and someone else legally put up a site with less than desireable content? That would cause significant harm to your business. Not to mention the lost business from visitors trying to go to a lost domain.

Read more: 60% Of Small Business Owners At Risk Of Losing Their Domain Name...

Brand Your Business Email Address

March 15, 2008

I remember back when having a fax number on a business card was the "cool thing" to have. Now, fax numbers are disappearing and in their place, everyone has to have an Email address.

In fact, Email has become the primary way business communications happen, displacing even the telephone. However, if you're using an Email address that's intended for personal use, instead of looking "cool", you look "amateurish".

The answer is to have a Business Email address such as This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Read more: Brand Your Business Email Address

Listen to "Harness the Power of Gravity"

March 26, 2008

Tomorrow evening, I'm showing entrepreneurs how they can move their business beyond the "doing, doing, doing" and take their business to the Next Level. I'm speaking on "Harness the Power of Gravity For Your Business" at the "Let's Get Connected" business tradeshow.

I encourage you to come check it out!

What: "Let's Get Connected" Business Tradeshow
When: Tomorrow (Thursday March 27) from 4:00 to 7:00
Where: Barrie's Southshore Community Centre
How Much: FREE  

Click here for a Google Map.

This is a great opportunity to network with other business owners, check out dozens of other local businesses and hear a couple of great talks. Bring your brochures, cards and flyers and put them on the free networking table.

Mr Bob's "Let's Get Connected" Event

March 28, 2008

Anyone who knows Mr. Bob knows that he's big on creating Raving Fans and they sure showed up at the Let's Get Connected event last night. By my count, there were well over 100 show up, including several friends/customers who travelled to listen to my "Gravity" speech.

Scott Giving his Gravity Speech

The turn-out for the day was quite good and I had a great response from the audience afterwards...In fact, I was surprised at the number of people who asked me for a copy of the PowerPoint presentation I put together. For those of you who want it, you can click here to download them.

Proud Dad with Daugher Kelly - Both had booths

 I was delighted to have my daugher Kelly (age 11) with her booth beside mine. She runs a Piggybank Website called "KidGiggles - Guilt free ways to keep grandkids busy".

Take Your Business to the Next Level With Strategic Planning

January 04, 2008

Strategic Planning isn't something reserved for just big companies. In fact, even Solopreneurs working from home need the benefits that come from holding regular strategic sessions.

Every month, Jennifer and I schedule at least one ½ day strategic planning session. This is a time when we leave our home office and go "off-site" (usually to a coffee shop!) and work ON our business.

Read more: Take Your Business to the Next Level With Strategic Planning

Internet Marketing Presentation for East Gwillimbury Chamber of Commerce

April 07, 2008

I had the pleasure of doing a 1-hour keynote presentation for the East Gwillimbury Chamber of Commerce last Thursday night.

We covered "How to Build A Piggybank Website" and I was delighted at how enthusiastically received it was. There were many questions and a lot of excitement in the room as people jotted down notes about how they can improve their websites to deliver marketing results.

Michael Woodbeck of The Summit Group had this to say:

This workshop provides superb techniques on how to create a "strategic" website which will improve your branding, attract more traffic and increase your bottom line!