Startup BizCast

I need listener help! I’m working on an episode about saving money on gas, and I need your most novel advice. I’m not talking about things like keeping your car tuned and keeping the proper amount of air in your tires. I want unusual or even off the wall advice! I figure with all of the people who listen to this show, there must be some great advice to be found. Those who participate will, of course, get mentions on the show for themselves and their businesses. They’ll also get a link on the blog.

To help out, either email me via the contact form, comment in this blog post, or use the “Submit Your Advice” form. You can also leave an audio comment (which I will use on the show) by calling (206) 339-4366.  I’ll produce the show once I have enough advice to fill an episode!

Thanks in advance!

 Startup BizCast Episode 54 [9:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Imagine the worst happens with your business — perhaps one of your employees is caught trafficking goods from your warehouse, or one of your products is tainted and makes a whole flock of people sick. What would you do to handle the crisis? Having a crisis plan in advance can help. In this episode of Startup BizCast, I go solo to discuss how to develop your crisis plan and give tips on how to talk with the media if a crisis hits.

In BizCast Brief — older businesses drive the economy, and Visa teams with Facebook to help small businesses.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Visa Business Network (http://apps.facebook.com/visabusiness/sign_up)

Startup BizCast’s theme music is “Entranced” by Blake Emrys. The full version of the song, along with other music by the same artist, can be downloaded at Podsafe Music Network.

Startup BizCast is produced by BizPodz, the corporate podcast production service from EndGame Public Relations, LLC. For more information on how your business can take advantage of the social media revolution, please visit www.endgamepr.com/podcasts.

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

Here’s this week’s recommended reading!

Small, Older Firms Are Biggest Economic Drivers
Washington Post

Visa Joins Facebook
FaceReviews

Small Talk: Too much skin? Create a dress code
Salt Lake Tribune

Before You Buy That Small Business
MSNBC.com

To Increase Website Traffic and Sales, Answer Customer Questions
Ayo’s Website Design

 Startup BizCast Episode 53 [13:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sorry for the tardiness of this episode. I have one correction right off the top: There is no Recommended Reading feature on the blog this week. Sadly, I lost my list of links and simply don’t have time to look them up! Apologies!

And now … on with the show!

Between insane fuel prices and an increasing desire to preserve resources, everyone is talking about going green. On this week’s Startup BizCast, we meet Tish Kashani from Co-op America, a membership group of individuals and businesses that are not only going green themselves, but are also working in a larger sense to save our planet’s resources.

Also on this week’s Startup BizCast…

I have listener feedback, and of course this week’s review of small business news in BizCast Brief!

Links mentioned on this week’s episode:
Golden Bee Tours (www.goldenbeetours.com)
Co-op America (www.coopamerica.com)

Startup BizCast’s theme music is “Entranced” by Blake Emrys. The full version of the song, along with other music by the same artist, can be downloaded at Podsafe Music Network.

Startup BizCast is produced by BizPodz, the corporate podcast production service from EndGame Public Relations, LLC. For more information on how your business can take advantage of the social media revolution, please visit www.endgamepr.com/podcasts.

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

For those of you who were looking forward to the next Startup BizCast, there will be a bit of a delay.  I’m leaving town for a few days tomorrow and have to wrap up some client work before I have a chance to finish production of episode 53.  Currently it’s about half produced.  It will be published before the end of the day, though.  Here’s a preview — the topic is “Greening Your Small Business”.  I have a great interview with some great tips on how to make your small business more ecologically friendly.  I also have a listener comment on the “favorite Startup BizCast” discussion and the BizCast Brief.  Don’t miss it!

 Startup BizCast #52 [12:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Thus far on Startup BizCast, we’ve talked about marketing, advertising, PR and even logo production. In this episode, we’re going to talk about techniques that use all of the above and more. Branding strategies use an across-the-board approach to create a feeling in the customer (or potential customer) about your business. Our guest is Dave Martin from Martin Branding Worldwide, a firm that works with medium and Fortune 500 companies. Dave explains branding to us, and gives some tips on how it can be used by small business owners.

In BizCast Brief, we have stories about small business owner pessimism about the economy, even while they’re planning to expand … and the US presidential candidates spar over their small business plans.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:
Martin Branding Worldwide (www.martinbranding.com)

Startup BizCast’s theme music is “Entranced” by Blake Emrys. The full version of the song, along with other music by the same artist, can be downloaded at Podsafe Music Network.

Startup BizCast is produced by BizPodz, the corporate podcast production service from EndGame Public Relations, LLC. For more information on how your business can take advantage of the social media revolution, please visit www.endgamepr.com/podcasts.

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

Here’s this week’s recommended reading from Startup BizCast!

Small business optimism index hits 28-year low
Reuters

Small Business Owners Are Stirred, Not Shaken, by Economic Conditions
MarketWire (press release)

McCain says Obama policies are bad for business
Associated Press

Who is “Small Business Owners?”
Small Business Trends

5 Ways to Start Your Business With No Money!
Bankaholic

 Startup BizCast Episode 51 [11:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I’ve talked a lot on this podcast about how to make your business blog work for you, but what about using other people’s blogs to promote your business? That’s this week’s topic on Startup BizCast. I go solo to talk about what a successful blogger relations campaign can do for you, and give some tips on how to properly contact bloggers to try to get them to write a blog post about your company.

In BizCast Brief this week: Canadians rejecting a carbon tax, small business employees more likely to endanger company computers, and eBay auction businesses may be in danger.

Websites mentioned in this week’s episode:
E-business Ideas (http://web-ebiz.blogspot.com)
Fight SMA (www.fightsma.org)
Perez Hilton’s post about Fight SMA (http://perezhilton.com/2008-05-26-a-worthwhile-cause-67)
Media Relations and SEO PR Blog (http://www.endgamepr.com/blog)
Google Blog Search (http://blogsearch.google.com)
Technorati (http://www.technorati.com)

Don’t forget to email me YOUR advice. I’ll talk about submitted advice in a future episode!

Startup BizCast’s theme music is “Entranced” by Blake Emrys. The full version of the song, along with other music by the same artist, can be downloaded at Podsafe Music Network.

Startup BizCast is produced by BizPodz, the corporate podcast production service from EndGame Public Relations, LLC. For more information on how your business can take advantage of the social media revolution, please visit www.endgamepr.com/podcasts.

Get each episode as it’s published: RSS - iTunes - Blubrry - Podcast Alley

Here’s this week’s recommended reading from Startup BizCast!

Canada small business group rejects carbon tax
Reuters UK

SME workers pose top security risk
vnunet.com

Auctions on eBay: A Dying Breed
BusinessWeek

Top 5 Small Business Ideas For 2008
Gather

Press Releases Are Not Just for Press Anymore
new influencer

Why Macs still aren’t right for most businesses
Fortune Small Business (via CNNMoney.com)

Small Talk: Some small businesses forced to move back home
The Salt Lake Tribune