Ideas To Deals

Weekend Long Run May 9, 2013

by Michael Bowers

Time to build your base with a weekend business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. So what do you have this weekend? I know I am not running very long distances right now but I so feel that I need to put in some miles. Running is my "decompress" button. Of course after a good weekend run I enjoy reading these posts to improve my business.

Do Me a Personal Favor...Sell Me at Ideas To Deals, this week's Ideas To Deals post of the week ~ Are you asking for the sale? If not you are not really helping me get what I need.

Link Building Techniques That STILL WORK! at 312 Digital ~ SEO...Confused? This should help.

How to Protect Your Business Idea Without a Patent at Entrepreneur ~ A patent isn't right for everything. You need an Intellectual Property Strategy which employs a variety of protections. Here are some recommendations.

The Secret Leadership Key at EL Circle ~ Are committing enough time to leadership with your team? Probably not. Check out this video by Jim Canterucci on how to better lead your team.

Startups Should be Wary of Disruptive Technologies at Forbes ~ Having a disruptive technology sounds good in an investor pitch but it can be tough to build a business around.

A Must for Dealing with Price Objections at Karr Associates ~ Price objections...It's not you it's them.

Persuasion and Manipulation in Sales at Selling for Introverts ~ Are you conveying the value of your product for your customer or for you?

Leadership Growth in 2 Days at MidWest TechBiz ~ Going to a business conference? Here are some tips to help you maximize your learning and actually make a positive change quickly.

Five Steps to Create Compelling Content at Spin Sucks ~ Don't forget the basics of what makes a good story. Oh you already forgot, here is a reminder.

Top 32 Quotes Every Entrepreneur Should Live By at Forbes ~ Need a little boost? Here are 32 quotes to help you get you motivation on.

Be sure to get out and put in your mileage this weekend so you are ready for your business. marathon.

Weekend Long Run May 3, 2013

by Michael Bowers

Time to build your base with a weekend business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. So what do you have this weekend? It's Cap City Half Marathon weekend here in Columbus. I originally signed up for the half marathon but dropped to the quarter marathon. Still not sure I'm ready to run the race this weekend so I may pass. Even if I don't run the race I'll continue my comeback with some miles this weekend then read these posts to improve my business.

Hate Sales...Why? at Ideas To Deals, this week's Ideas To Deals post of the week ~ Let's face it, not al of us are born with the gift of gab but that doesn't mea we can't sell.

Please Don't: A Great Tactic For Successful Strategy at thoughtLeaders ~ Are your words and strategy saying the same thing?

How the Productivity Myth is Killing Your Startup at Medium ~ Don't let your desire to get more and more done keep you from getting anything done right and on-time.

Flip the “sales funnel” on its head at TeraGentile ~ What if you flipped your sales funnel and started by understanding the wants and needs of your optimal customer? Might help you find more just like them that need your help.

Four Creative Ways to Use Twitter to Generate Leads at Under30CEO ~ Four pretty basic things you need to be doing if you are using Twitter for your business.

How to Maximize Your Blogging Productivity Workflow at Time Management Ninja ~ Don't have time to blog? You might if you try these tips.

Start Being Honest With Yourself at The Sales Blog ~ Be honest with yourself regarding the reason you succeed and the reasons you fail.

7 Customer Loyalty Lessons from Lady Gaga at Convince and Convert ~ I'm not a huge fan GaGa's music but I do like how she does her business.

Every Tweet Tells a Story at Inkling Media ~ Watch your tweets to make sure they are a good reflection of what you believe.

How to Handle the Things that Bug You Most by at Momentum ~ Learning to control your "triggers" can help you better deal with stressful situations.

Be sure to get out and put in your mileage this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.

Weekend Long Run April 19, 2013

by Michael Bowers

Time to build your base with a weekend business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. So what do you have this weekend? Actually a pretty good week of running for me. This weekend I'll look to stretch my run out a little bit then read these posts to improve my business.

Pitching For Money at Ideas To Deals, this week's Ideas To Deals post of the week ~ Here is an excerpt from my report "The Art of Pitching for Money" where I discuss a couple of differences between how banks work and how investors work.

4 Tips for Getting Large Retailers to Stock Your Products at SBA.Gov ~ Looking to get your products on to retailer's store shelves? Here are some tips.

Top 10 Content Marketing Tips For small business at Business 2 Community ~ Content marketing can work for your small business just as it does for the big boys.

8 Tips for (Successfully) Pitching to Bloggers at PRNewser ~ Tips to help you pitch bloggers that may help you sell your product.

8 Blogs For Your Business Development Reading List from Previous OGS Keynote Speakers at Ohio Growth Summit ~ Looking for some great blogs to follow? Look no further than the blogs of previous Ohio Growth Summit keynotes.

14 Steps to Generating Leads on Twitter at Entrepreneur ~  Still looking to get a handle on how to build business with Twitter? Check these tips.

10 smart ways to motivate your unproductive employees at AmEx Open Forum ~ Some ways to get your employees engaged and fired up

How to Think About Pricing and Value at The Sales Blog ~ Your value really needs to be more than the price

How Your Big Goal Can Mess You Up at Momentum ~ Competing with others that are bigger and stronger may be a recipe for disaster. Focus on yourself and what you can accomplish and you will succeed.

5 ways taking venture capital could hurt you at VentureBeat ~ Taking money from investors isn't always all it is cracked up to be. Is VC right for you?

Be sure to get out and put in your mileage this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.

p.s...My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those whose lives were changed by the bombing at the Boston Marathon on Monday. It is a terrible and senseless tragedy. If we all stand together we will overcome. "Never Forget"

Weekend Long Run April 5, 2013

by Michael Bowers

Time to build your base with a weekend business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. So what do you have this weekend? I am slowly getting back into shape and all indications are the the temperatures are improving. Great recipe for a run. This weekend I'll coach two baseball team's practices, get in a few miles then read these posts to improve my business.

Entrepreneurship Road To Readiness  at Ideas To Deals, this week's Ideas To Deals post of the week ~ Here is how to prep yourself before you are ready to launch out on your own.

Needing Help Isn’t a Weakness at A Life Less Bullshit ~ Why go it alone when there are people out there that can help you? Is it ego?

3 Simple Ways to Boost Productivity Right Now at KateFinley.com ~ I do none of these things but I should and so should you.

Ten Things I Wish I'd Have Known Before I Started Selling at The Sales Blog ~ You own a business? You need sales? Read this.

What To Do...When Your Employees Don't Care at EntMast ~ Are you making is easy for employees to be engaged and care?

5 Tips for Breaking Through The Noise at KeithSpeers.com ~ There is so much going on all around us and it is critical to create silence it all and focus.

Checkout the podcast featuring Heather Whaling at the Work Talk Show ~  Great podcast featuring Heather Whaling, Founder and CEO of Geben Communication discussing organization and work life balance.

Most People, Most Of The Time at Seth's Blog ~ Don't discount the value of the crowd. Even if most fail some will succeed if give the chance.

How to Succeed With Limited Resources at RonKarr.com ~ No cash? You can still do it you know.

4 Ways to Get Customers to Open Your Emails at Entrepreneur ~ People aren't going to open your emails just becasue you send them. You need to give them a reason. Here are four.

Be sure to get out and put in your mileage this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.

Weekend Long Run March 29, 2013

by Michael Bowers

Time to build your base with a weekend business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. So what do you have this weekend? Let me give you some advice ~ Once you start running and build a base don't stop. I have to admit this running comeback has been horribly difficult. More aches and pains than you can imagine. However, I am keeping at it. This weekend I am looking to do few miles, ice down my knees then read these posts to improve my business.

Don't Let Bozosity Grind You Down at Ideas To Deals, this week's Ideas To Deals post of the week ~ There are so many bozos out there disguised as "experts" that are all willing to tell you how what you are doing won't work. That is when you can't give up. 

How to Be an Assertive Leader at Peter Anthony ~ Assertiveness enables you to be clear and productive. Are you assertive?

How to Get Testimonials Using Twitter for Social Proof at Kikolani ~ Leverage tweets and social mentions as testimonials for your business.

How To Rock Social Media In Just 30 Minutes A Day [INFOGRAPHIC] at All Twitter ~ Nice inforgraphic to lead you through 30 minutes of social media that will improve your business.

Guest Blogging: Seven Tips for Success at Spin Sucks ~ Consider writing for high authority sites that can help with your own search engine optimization, new audiences, and even sales.

Creating Urgency to Close the Deal at Karr and Associates ~ By understanding your customer and their needs you to create urgency in the sales discussion and move to quicker closes.

7 Simple Ways You Can Improve Your Website Today at Blue Kite Marketing ~ Here are quick tips that can make your site better without doing a redesign.

7 Proven Steps for Increasing Sales at ThoughtLeaders ~ Nothing happens in your business until you sell something. 

10 Questions to Ask When Creating Your Company's YouTube Channel at Entrepreneur ~ Thinking about video for your business? Be sure you cover these questions

Why You Need an Editorial Calendar at leaderswest  ~ An editorial calender allows you to position your blog activity for maximum effectiveness.

Be sure to get out and put in your mileage this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.

Weekend Long Run March 22, 2013

by Michael Bowers

Time to build your base with a weekend business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. So what do you have this weekend? I hate to keep complaining but it is spring so it can warm up already, OK, enough complaining. This weekend I am looking a few below "average temperature" miles (stopping talking about the temp starting now) then reading these posts to improve my business.

ColumBEST Blogger...Amy Schmittauer at Ideas To Deals, this week's I2D post of the week ~ Head over to 614 Magazine to vote for Columbus' Best Blogger Amy Schmittauer, Why? Read the post.

Online Marketing Trends for 2013 at Entrepreneur ~ Things are changing fast. Keep up with these trends.

How to Inoculate Yourself Against Errors at The Sales Blog ~ Making a mistake is no fun but if you learn from the mistake it may be worthwhile.

How to Get Facebook Fans: 10 Killer Ways the Bond Way a Slideshare presentation by Ana Hoffman ~ I think this is the greatest presentation of all time....Bond, James Bond

Is Personal Branding The Future Of Marketing? at B2B Marketing Insider ~ Interesting interview on Personal Branding.

How To Shorten The Sales Cycle at the ASBDC Biz Blog ~ Need to get money in the door faster? Shorten the sales cycle.

Sh*t you should never say to a VC in a pitch at Venture Beat ~ If these 10 things are part of your pitch, change your pitch.

Is Your Business Blog Focusing on the Wrong Things? at Open Forum ~ Remember customers want to read about themselves more than they want ot read about you.

How Can I Get My First Few Clients? at Entrepreneur ~ Get a business jump start with these tips to find your first customers,

26 Creative Ideas for Restarting Your Creativity at Brainzooming ~ Use these 26 tips and you have no excuse for not being an innovative thinker

Be sure to get out and put in your mileage this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.

Weekend Long Run March 15, 2013

by Michael Bowers

Time to build your base with a weekend business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. So what do you have this weekend? It is the start of baseball season as we select our teams for the upcoming season. It will be a busy weekend but I will get some miles in then read these posts to improve my business.

What It Takes To Succeed  (video) at Ideas To Deals, this week's I2D post of the week ~ Why do you do what you do? Is it for the money, for someone else, what? Kevin Spacey sums it all up her in one minute and 52 seconds. Give it a listen.

Habit #7 at Seth's Blog ~ Habits are learned and habits can be re-learned. In life nothing, beyond birth and death, is set in stone in life. What changes do you want to take?

Meet Anthony Iannarino: OGS13 Opening Keynote (video) at Ohio Growth Summit ~ S. Anthony Iannarino, the lead author of The Sales Blog, will be the opening keynote of this year's Ohio Growth Summit on June 6. Why do you care? Listen to this video and find out.

Goal Setting – Keeping My Eye on the Ball at KeithSpears.com ~ It about more than money. 

 5 Easy Tips for Improving Your Blog and Website Traffic at JeffBullas.com ~ I am all about writing for the art of writing but it does help if it reaches someone. Here are four quick tips that can help increase your traffic.

How to Master the ASK on a Sales Call at EnMast ~ Your confidence in yourself and your product will impact your sales results.

How Power, Authority, and Obligation Impact Your Leadership Abilities at ThoughtLeaders ~ Regardless of your position and power you need to build loyalty within your employees because without them you will have a huge problem.

Avoiding The Comfortable Curse Of Just Being Ordinary at danwaldschmidt.com ~ You know my thoughts on this. Being good is OK if you want to be bad but if you want to stand out you need to be great (I hope that makes sense).

Why Your Marketing Campaign Sucks at TechCrunch ~ Get beyond describing product features and do thing then that has a point of view that will engage your reader, customer and the press.

Is Personal Branding The Future Of Marketing? at B2B Marketing Insider ~ You need to standout if you expect anyone to notice your gifts and talents. 

Be sure to get out and put in your mileage this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.

Weekend Long Run March 8, 2013

by Michael Bowers

Time to build your base with a weekend business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. So what do you have this weekend?  Looks like the weather is breaking even if we did have 8 inches of snow on Tuesday. It should be a much warmer weekend and I WILL get some miles in. So this weekend I am  going to get my run on, soak up some sun then read these posts to improve my business.

Rules For Revolutionaries  at Ideas To Deals, this week's I2D post of the week ~ Are you a revolutionary? I think you are.

Call For Speakers..Ohio Growth Summit 2013 at Ohio Growth Summit ~ A little self-promotion here but for the first time we are holding an open call for speakers for the Ohio Growth Summit. If you are interested in sharing your knowledge with small business owners you should apply.

No Traffic Jams at Engage Your Audience ~ Don't do the minimum. Step up an wow them.

A Tale Of Two Bloggers at Parlay Communications ~ Where do you fall? SEO or Storyteller?

Business Formation: Crafting a Partnership Agreement at Big Business Ideas Blog ~ Forming a partnership? You really need an agreement.

5 Ways to Make Your Blog the Centerpiece of Your Content Marketing Strategy at ZERYS ~ Great tips to improve your content marketing activities.

How To Make Your Product More Social (video) at Savvy Sexy Social ~ Yes Amy must be a closet Kardashian fan. Having said that she has good points about making your product more social. 

Three Keys to Successfully Outsourcing Your Social Media at SpeechbubblePR ~ If you are going to outsource your social media activity here are some things you need to know.

How to Deal with Difficult Idea Pitch Panelists at ThoughtLeaders ~ Here are some things to try before you tell them to F-off.

Are You Practicing Excellence? at The Sales Blog ~  You know my thought...Good isn't good enough anymore.

Be sure to get out and put in your mileage this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.

Weekend Long Run March 1, 2013

by Michael Bowers

Time to build your base with a weekend business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. So what do you have this weekend?  Ta Da...It's March. I remember when I went to college in Alabama and it was typically already warm by now ~ Like That. The weather is still kind of iffy here in Ohio but there is light at the end of the tunnel. So this weekend I am still going back and forth between hockey and baseball which won't leave much running time but I will get in a few miles then read these posts to improve my business.

Building Your Unique Business Message  at Ideas To Deals, this week's I2D post of the week ~ Having a unique message is critical for success in sales because it allows you to to clearly articulate your value proposition to your prospect.

My Favorite Calendar Apps to Stay Organized at Savvy Sexy Social (Video) ~ Clearly you can never have to many calender apps on your device.

How to Find the Keywords that Work for Your Content Marketing Goals at Copyblogger ~ Do you want people to find your business on the web? You need to find the right keywords.

Surprise! 5 Startup Costs You Might Not Have Thought About at Hawkeye Management ~  Don't get caught flat footed and miss these start-up costs.

What's a better call to action than a coupon? at AdAge ~ Let your website do it's job by creating a strong call to action.

5 Social Networks That Local Businesses Shouldn’t Ignore at Social Media Today ~ Get beyond Facebook and try these platforms for promoting your local business.

"MatchUp" by About Our Work Brings a Recommendation Engine to the Small Business Community, Automating B2B Introductions at PRweb ~ Check out About Our Work to get your business a simple searchable web presence (Plus I am quoted in the article)

Why You Should Develop & Give Away Premium Content at Blue Kite Marketing ~ Want to build followers and encourage engagement? Give them something they want, for free.

Want to really engage your audience? Hang Out With Your Audience at Engage Your Audience ~ Go beyond the usual and really get to know your audience.

Online Resources You Shouldn't Live Without at the Columbus Chamber ~ Great post by Skip Stringfield, Founder and President, Coalesce Software (not just because Ideas To Deals is mentioned in it) on go to sites to help you sort through the clutter and find the info you are looking for.

Be sure to get out and put in your mileage this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.

Weekend Long Run February 22, 2013

by Michael Bowers

Time to build your base with a weekend business long run. Remember these are articles that I have come across this week that would be good to look at to improve your business. So what do you have this weekend?  Running is such a mystery. One day your run sucks and the next day it can be great. The key is to just keep at it. So this weekend I am looking at just a few miles because of lack of time but I will for sure be reading these posts to improve my business.

Marketing Is Not Sales  at Ideas To Deals, this week's I2D post of the week ~ Don't be confused, Marketing is not Sales. Only one makes you money, do you know which one?

3 Types Of Meeting You Can't Miss at ENMast ~ Don't waste your time with meetings (except for these 3 types of meetings).

One Question Can Revolutionize The One-On-One Meeting at EL Circle ~ Take this one question and add it to the previous post about meetings to really impact performance.

10 Ways to Cut Costs for Your Small Business at  American Express OPEN Forum ~ We all think about increasing the top line but in many cases reducing expenses will help you make more profit.

What Tool Makes Email Marketing Easier For Small Business Owners? at AWeber ~ A tip from AWeber on how to use their Blog Broadcast tools to spread your content.

Early Blogging Stages: How I Stayed Motivated at Savvy Sexy Social (Video) ~ Blogging can be a big benefit to your business but it can be tough keeping at it while you are building audience. Here are some tips to keep you motivated.

INFOGRAPHIC: Mobile Video - The Next Social Trend at uberflip ~ Great infographic on what will be the next big trend in social marketing.

6 Things To Consider Before Joining A Startup Incubator at Killer Startups ~ This is the new big thing communities are counting on to build businesses in their area. Here are 6 things to look for as you consider the incubator option.

7 Simple Ideas to Make Your Content More Visual at Blue Kite Marketing ~ Here are 7 ways to make your text post visually exciting and draw eyeballs to your site.

Why People Treat You The Way They Do at Sparkspace ~ Why do people threat you like they do? It's not about them, it's you.

Be sure to get out and put in your mileage this weekend so you are ready for your business marathon.