Small Business Finances – #smbiz Chat Recap

July 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

financesFollowing is a recap of the #smbiz Twitter chat on small business finances with expert panelists @yourowncfo @qbguy:

@smbiz Q1 How much time should a small business spend focused on finance bookkeeping? #smbiz

@stephaniethum Q1 Perhaps the answer depends on the size of the #smbiz. I am small but I do something in that realm every day to keep up.

@yourowncfo Time spent will vary based on transaction volume #smbiz

@yourowncfo There is a difference between bookkeeping and fin’l management! #smbiz

@BizCoachDeb Q1 prob 40 hours, between moving stuff over, customizing forms. once done though, easy to use. #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q1 Small biz owner should have skilled in-house or outsourced bookkeeper to provide accurate financial statements #smbiz

@qbguy @smbiz Q1 Outsource payroll unless you have a payroll expert on staff #smbiz

@smbiz Q2 What are some hidden tips to squeezing every ounce of profit out of your business? #smbiz

@stephaniethum Q2 Minimize travel expenses. Use teleconferencing in lieu of IRL when appropriate. #smbiz

@stephaniethum Q2 My FIL ran a restaurant 4 30 yrs. Bought some supplies at auction. #smbiz

@merylevans Q2 Set up a process, find repeatable tasks and turn them into macros or templates, keep docs for re-use (in quoting, etc.) #smbiz

@qbguy @smbiz Q2 Say no to automatic price increases from vendors each year #smbiz

@BizCoachDeb outsource what is not a core competency skill, JV, offer webinars for training clients #smbiz

@smbiz Q3 What are some great policies/tips for collections and accounts receivable? #smbiz

@qbguy @smbiz Q3 Build a very, very solid A/R system to track each dollar owed. QuickBooks does this well #smbiz

@yourowncfo Q3 Bill ASAP and make sure you have a direct contact #smbiz

@qbguy @smbiz Q3 Don’t send out statements – waste of time – http://bit.ly/141KZT #smbiz

@yourowncfo Q3 Make sure you get weekly A/R reports so nothing gets behind #smbiz

@qbguy Q3 In most cases, finance charges are a waste too. Who pays them compared to admin time on them? #smbiz

@stephaniethum Q3 Looking forward to these tips. Always a little touchy! #smbiz

@merylevans Q3 Offer discounts for early payments, penalties for late ones, offer more payment options. If gets bad, try selling accounts recv. #smbiz

@qbguy Q3 Watch Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) – http://www.investopedia.com… #smbiz

@dslatter Q3 ask your clients for very clear instructions on how/when/where to send in your invoices #smbiz

@BizCoachDeb Q3-have contracts, bill immediately, use Renton’s collection stickers for soft collections, have a collect.law firm just in case #smbiz

@smbiz Q4 What are some great accounts payable tips for managing biz operations effectively? #smbiz

@yourowncfo Q4 make sure you take advantage of discounts. #smbiz

@BizCoachDeb Q4 – online payment – huge time saver, goes right into format for loading into QB and statements #smbiz

@yourowncfo Q4, Schedule online payments not a day too soon #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q4 – Automate this process – i.e. www.bill.com #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q4 Take cash discounts from those vendors who offer them! #smbiz

@yourowncfo Q4 Pay bills on corp cc & it will stretch your cash #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q4 Pay bills online where possible – reduces time on reconciling and no costs of paper checks #smbiz

@smbiz Q5 How do you know if you’re with the right bank for your small business finances? What shld U look for? #smbiz

@yourowncfo Q5 Does your banker know your name? #smbiz

@qbguy @smbiz Q5 Do you know the name of your branch manager or loan officer? #smbiz

@qbguy @smbiz Q5 Have they come to you in the last year with ideas on how to lower your banking costs – http://bit.ly/pd5J5 #smbiz

@DrFernKazlow @yourowncfo Q5 My banker (& assistants) know us by name & call if there is something out of ordinary in our acct #Smbiz

@BizCoachDeb Q5-the perks they give you for free, quickness for correcting an issue – I like my banker to know me by name and likewise #smbiz

@smbiz Q6 What are some great ways to minimize the cost of your inventory? #smbiz

@yourowncfo Q6 drop ship if you can #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q6 Excellent article – http://bit.ly/2mdffV #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q6 Don’t carry it – i.e. Dell model: order it once the customer orders from you #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q7 Monthly fees keep a steady revenue stream coming in! #smbiz

@wiseleo Q7 @SternalPR Depends on the product. My twitter application is sold as subscription. My packaged product has a one-time price. #smbiz

@yourowncfo Q7 For new clients, upfront fee tends to separate men from boys #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q7 – Don’t be afraid to charge monthly fee to a credit card on file. Saves a lot of hassles #smbiz

@smbiz Q8 How do you develop a great cash flow analysis for ur small biz? What do U do? #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q8 Must have accurate info on A/R $ coming in and when and A/P $ going out #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q8 I use QuickBooks Cash Flow Projector – Company > Planning & Budgeting > Cash Flow Projector #smbiz

@yourowncfo Q8 your budget is your map…as long as you don’t mind some direction :) #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q8 – Keep this process as simple as possible – don’t get too fancy with it #smbiz

@smbiz Q9 How much money do you set aside for expansion, emergency and “opportunity investments?” #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q9 No easy answer – depends on the goals of the business and credit availability #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q9 – Always good to have a line of credit in place for any of these situations #smbiz

@yourowncfo Q9 In this economy, at least a 6 month emergency fund #smbiz

@Smbiz Q10 What shld U keep in mind when offering a credit line to customers? #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q10 – “Friends and family” can be the worst offenders when it comes to paying on time #smbiz

@yourowncfo Q10 Payment history, length of time in biz, biz owners #smbiz

@qbguy@SternalPR Q10 Don’t be bashful about asking for payment – it’s YOUR $$ after all that are on the A/R report #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q10 – Start them off small and let them earn larger credit limits #smbiz

@smbiz Q11 What do I do with extra cash? Pay myself, re-invest, etc? What’s the best move? #smbiz

@qbguy @SternalPR Q11 – Be sure your financial reports are solid to make these types of decisions #smbiz

Filed Under: #smbiz Tagged With: , , , , ,

Local Small Business On Twitter

July 15, 2009 By 3 Comments

twitterSmall businesses in Lee County, Florida (Fort Myers), are all a twitter over engaging with locals above and beyond the traditional means. As discussed in this News-Press story, small businesses are using Twitter to promote lunch specials, entertainment information, weekly activities and even Tweetups, which merge the online world with the offline world. There are even groups offering free “how-to” seminars to help other local small businesses get their Twitter on.

Facebook, Myspace and LinkedIn are other social media tools also being used by many of these local small businesses because of their ability to interact with people and customers.

Twitter has been taking small business by storm this year mirroring its overall explosion in popularity. Simply put, Twitter isn’t just for social media enthusiasts. Plenty of “old-school” small businesses are flocking to it as well. A fresh-food eatery offering daily specials and whose chef tweets about nutrition; a fresh fruit market whose owners use Twitter to share their love of food; and a gourmet coffee shop which fosters a sense of community are all examples of small business that use Twitter to grow their following – online and offline.

New Twitter applications to help the small business owner with productivity and business operations sprout up almost daily. Tweetdeck, Hootsuite and Tweetlater are a few favorites but there are always new opportunities to leverage the power of Twitter for small business – at least that’s what a little birdie told me. And it’s even becoming easier to track the success of your Tweets, which is always an important exercise for any small business person. Here are five ultra-hip Twitter applications for small business:

Track This: Track your FedEx, DHL, UPS or other parcel shipments via Twitter.

BubbleTweet: Use this application to make a video bubble tweet to your followers.

Twitxr: Need to upload product photos on the run? This application lets you easily do a professional job and save time.

Twtqpon: This application is a must-have for any small business looking to offer coupons to customers via Twitter.

CoTweet: You want to encourage your employees to get involved with your Tweeting without handing ultimate control over to them. This application allows employees access to also join in the fray and Tweet on behalf of the company.

Also, be sure to follow this list of the Top 20 Twitterers for Small Business, according to America’s Best Companies.

I don’t want to ruffle any feathers. So go ahead, what are you waiting for? Jump into some of these hot Twitter applications and help your small business take off. Do you have any experience in using Twitter applications? Tell us all about it.

Filed Under: Marketing & PR Strategies, Social Networking Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Small Business Newsletters – #smbiz Chat Recap

July 13, 2009 By 1 Comment

writingFollowing is the #smbiz Twitter chat recap on newsletter development for small business. Expert panelists were @margot_lester, @kodiakcreative and @emaildirect.

@smbiz Q1 Why should small businesses do a newsletter? #smbiz

@margot_lester Q1: related to what @docorlando70 said, Know your audience. Who are they and what do they need to know? #smbiz

@kodiakcreative Q1 It’s a great way to maintain loyalty among ur customers and attract new biz. #smbiz

@emaildirect Q1_ Newsletters keep their business in front of the most important audience: their own customers! #smbiz

@emaildirect Q1_Email newsletters are inexpensive, easy to distribute and generate huge ROI’s. #smbiz

@kodiakcreative Q1 the more communication the better, just keep it concise #smbiz

@emaildirectQ1_According to an Oct08 study conducted by the DMA, email generated $45.06 in revenue for every $1 spent! #smbiz

@emaildirect Q1_Newsletters specific to email are quick to distribute and generate instant results. 80% of response comes in first 24 hours. #smbiz

@emaildirect Q1_newsletters drive traffic to websites, foot traffic for brick & mortars & phone calls for sales #smbiz

@smbiz Q2 What should a small business keep in mind before they create a newsletter? #smbiz

@emaildirect Q2_2 Rule–A newsletter is not a standalone promotion. If you lack time to develop content promote it as email program..not newsletter #smbiz

@kodiakcreative Q2 Audience. Focus. Budget. #smbiz

@emaildirect Q2_3 Rule–Brand it! Make it fun! Be interactive! Include Trivia, tips. Create excitement & your program will be much more successful #smbiz

@smbiz Q3 What are some tools (free & otherwise) available to help #smbiz create print and e-newsletters? #smbiz

@emaildirect Q3_For email, free tools are not a good option. Emails will end up in Spam folders, if delivered at all. #smbiz

@kodiakcreative Q3 E-newsletter: Microsoft Outlook $; Print: InDesign $$$ #smbiz

@margot_lester Q3 Re: branding: we have a framework we help clients think abt msging: http://bit.ly/5gyVH #smbiz

@kodiakcreative Q3 if sending via email your newsletter should be branded to keep interest #smbiz

@emaildirect Q3_Blind CC’ing a group from Outlook is also a bad choice..again, hard work will be rewarded with very poor delivery. #smbiz

@margot_lester Q3: good point @DocOrlando70 re free/inexp tools for design. Looks count! #smbiz

@emaildirect Q3_For very inexpensive tools sets I would look towards iContact.com who achieve better, but not great, delivery. #smbiz

@smbiz Q4 What are some design and layout strategies a small business should keep in mind for a newsletter? #smbiz

@margot_lester Q4: simple, clean, easy to read (seems obvious, yet so few are). #smbiz

@kodiakcreative Q4 Ensure that ur content applies to ur audience. Answer the 5w’s and h. Design should be clean & easy to follow #smbiz

@emaildirect Q4_For email, try to create a mini-website. Replicate your websites Navigational bar at the top of the newsletter. #smbiz

@margot_lester Q4: also should match your corp. personality. I like Marquita Farms’ eNL. Just text, but they’re low-tech folks. #smbiz

@emaildirect Q4_Keep the top nav bar/logo small…less than 150pixels in height, so your content shows in preview panes. #smbiz

@margot_lester Q4: amen on the white space, y’all! #smbiz

@emaildirect Q4_Don’t use a general template, make sure the emails are well designed…it leads to higher readership. #smbiz

@emaildirect Q4_Draw attention to copy using images…remember people are busy so you have to grab their attention so they read your content. #smbiz

@smbiz Q5 What kind of content and/or stories should you do for a newsletter? #smbiz

@margot_lester Q5: Content should drive your operational goals and inform customers. That said, ppl also enjoy profiles on staff members #smbiz

@kodiakcreative Q5 Answer these ?s: What’s new at ur biz? New employees? New products, services, website functionality or Events? #smbiz

@emaildirect Q5_Relevancy is key here. Promote products or services, but also provide topical information. #smbiz

@margot_lester Q5: the key is to serve your reader in a way that serves your operational goals. Again, with the purpose! #smbiz

@emaildirect Q5_Contests, employee profiles, recipes, how-to tips, customer testimonials, jokes/riddles.these element keep your readers interested #smbiz

@margot_lester Q5: I encourage clients to write like a reader. What do *you* like to see in NLs? That’s a good place to start. #smbiz

@emaildirect Q5_Ex:Website selling Sporting equipment could include content on new items in stock, MLB scorecard, coaches corner w/hitting tips #smbiz

@smbiz Q6 How does design/content differ depending on if ur audience is B2B or B2C? #smbiz

@emaildirect Q6_Regardless, success is rooted in relevant content. The sporting example wouldn’t work for a B2B marketer but the idea is the same. #smbiz

@margot_lester Q6 Content: Tone/voice will differ with the audience and should always support sales/rev/ops goals #smbiz

@kodiakcreative Q6 B2C content should answer: What’s in it for me? #smbiz

@emaildirect Q6_Ex. A Dietary Supplement Supplier might include content on how to promote the supplements their vendors sell. #smbiz

@margot_lester Q6: re ads: just remember that the NL is designed to sell YOU, not others. Partners, maybe. #smbiz

@emaildirect Q6_EX Dietary Supp cont…how to cross promote different items for up sell, or how to execute lifecycle marketing campaigns #smbiz

@smbiz Q7 Can you offer some tips to distribute a print newsletter on a shoestring budget? #smbiz

@kodiakcreative Q7 Keep page count short and content focused and concise. #smbiz

@margot_lester Q7 Get to know your local copy shop owner – maybe run a trade-out ad #smbiz

@margot_lester Q7 Make a deal on discontinued paper that has a similar stock once that’s gone, and investigate bulk mail options #smbiz

@kodiakcreative Q7 Talk to ur printer about less $$ alternatives for paper. Dist less frequently. #smbiz

@margot_lester Q7: but some people still really like paper and getting US mail. Again, good to know your audience. #smbiz

@smbiz Q8 Now how about a few tips on distributing an e-newsletter on a tight budget? #smbiz

@emaildirect Q8_Lots of providers offer email marketing services at very low prices, starting at $10/mth.The tips here relate to how to choose one #smbiz

@margot_lester Q8: Whether e or not, building a good list is part art, part science, part sweat. But a good one is gold! #smbiz

@emaildirect Q8_If you have over 40,000 email addresses the low end providers aren’t going to be a good fit. #smbiz

@emaildirect Q8_Don’t rely on the low end providers Spam Checker tool to determine delivery outcome. These tools are out of date & misleading. #smbiz

@emaildirect Q8_Ask about IP structure, sharing vs. pooled, how its determined & where you’ll be placed. This GREATLY effects inbox delivery. #smbiz

@smbiz Q9 How can you use a newsletter as a sales tool? #smbiz

@emaildirect Q9_A newsletter is arguably the most valuable sales tool in the toolbox! #smbiz

@margot_lester Q9: The key is managing your sales funnel so you don’t kill off clients who have a long sales cycle. #smbiz

@margot_lester Q9: I hate to sound like a broken record, but knowing your audience and their buying habits is critical. Best way to find out: ASK. #smbiz

Filed Under: #smbiz Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Women In Business Continues Growth

July 11, 2009 By 4 Comments

hispanic_female_execWomen entrepreneurs are increasingly growing their ranks in the world of small business. Today women business owners are a significant part of the small business world. And now more than ever, women entrepreneurs aren’t just starting a business, they’re doing a great job staying in business.

Today there are more than 10 million privately-held women-owned businesses which generated roughly $2 trillion in annual sales and approximately 13 million people employed nationwide.

But there’s so much more work to be done to help women business owners succeed. The #smbiz Twitter chat (8-9 pm EDT on July 14) is dedicated to women in business issues. Join the hour-long chat to network with other women, get great advice and discuss issues important to female entrepreneurs and small business executives. Our guest experts will be @connectingwomen (host of the Connecting Women radio show on Blog Talk Radio) and @avasiare (owner of a successful cosmetics company).

Women entrepreneurs are also great at supporting each other since they know what it’s like to build a company in today’s business climate. Their support network is amazing and they are the first ones to pool together for advice and help. Female entrepreneurs also take a large interest in supporting future women business leaders by providing resources, forums, seminars and mentoring programs, especially through social media and social networking.

Although this blog is mainly for small business, it’s interesting to note that women are making powerful strides in Corporate America, too. Companies now believe (and some have evidence) that enterprises with more women in senior management positions are more successful and make more money. There are even organizations set up like buddy systems to help accomplished female executives reach boardroom status.

All over the Internet are examples of successful female entrepreneurs who’ve made their mark on the business community. Many of these women have leveraged the power of the Internet to learn from each other to become stronger business leaders.

Here are some great resources for any women entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their business:

The PR Toolkit – helps female entrepreneurs get media attention for their business

The Boss of You: Everything A Woman Needs to Know to Start, Run, and Maintain Her Own Business

Leading From the Front : No-Excuse Leadership Tactics for Women

Secrets of Six-Figure Women

Are you a female entrepreneur? Share your comments here and tell us about some tips to help women business owners grow their business.

Filed Under: #smbiz Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Small Business Internships

July 8, 2009 By 3 Comments

young_professionalMost small businesses are always in need of extra help for lots of tasks around the company. Entrepreneurs have a tendency to run their business with a “do it yourself” mentality, which is great for cost-cutting but also bad for productivity reasons. If you’re the head of the company, it can be difficult to “let go” of certain tasks and focus more on the big picture of driving your company’s growth.

At the same time, it’s always good to believe in giving back to your community. One way you can benefit from a little give and take this summer is by bringing on one or two interns for the summer (can be either full or part-time). Marketing and PR are fields that are filled with college students in every part of the country since they’re two very popular fields of study right now. You can give back to your community by allowing a college student to get some valuable experience outside the classroom working at your company, and in return they’ll provide you with an extra set of hands with quality work.

As I blogged about, PR is a great area where interns can be extremely valuable. College PR students are eager to take the skills they learn in the classroom and apply in a real world setting. They can be great at identifying story ideas, writing press releases and coordinating stories for you in the local media. Share your PR Toolkit with them so you can both secure additional media exposure for your company.

On the marketing side, students are well versed in all things social media. They can offer their time in helping you set up company accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Flickr, to name a few. Interns can also provide you with some great tips on how to use each one effectively and brainstorm fun and compelling summer promotions to win over new customers.

But don’t wait too long because summer is already half over (unless you want to take the time to find the right student for an internship in the fall). Call your local college today or put out an ad on your local Craigslist classified offering exciting internship opportunities.

Are you currently employing interns this summer for your small business? Share your thoughts here.

Filed Under: Marketing & PR Strategies Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Search Engine Optimization – #smbiz Chat Recap

July 7, 2009 By 9 Comments

Glossy Robot with Magnifying GlassThe following is a recap of the #smbiz Twitter chat on Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Robert Brady and Victoria Edwards were the expert panelists for the SEO chat. Robert Brady (@LotusJumpSEO on Twitter) is the director at Vizad, Inc., focused on SEO, Pay Per Click (PPC) and social media. Victoria Edwards (@TallChickVic on Twitter) is a specialist in SEO and online marketing at LinkShare.

Here is the chat recap:

@smbiz Ok let’s jump into the fun. Q1 Can you give a basic explanation of what SEO is and why it’s important? #smbiz

@ScottBradley @smbiz SEO is creating content that is “friendly” for the search engines to find it easier based on certain keywords typed into goog #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q1 SEO involves creating great content and helping search engines find and understand it #smbiz

@TallChickVic @smbiz Q1: SEO are things done on & off ur site to get noticed by search engines #smbiz

@ScottBradley @SternalPR Q1 the reason it is important is because you get free traffic for keywords in your niche to your content/store #smbiz

@TallChickVic @SternalPR You want to do SEO so you are seen in Google and other search engines #smbiz

@TallChickVic SEO done right you will appear on Google& ur result is basically your ad so it needs to be optimized properly #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q1 SEO is critical because people are going to the internet to find products/services and you want to be found #smbiz

@ScottBradley @SternalPR Did you see this article talking about google vs. facebook? http://tinyurl.com/mgb4qb #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q1 “Tail” terms can rank 1st page in as short as 6 weeks. “Head” terms take months #smbiz

@TallChickVic SEO is keyword, customer, competitor research. Once your site is optimized, track results and start all over again #smbiz

@smbiz Q2 How long does SEO take? #smbiz

@TallChickVic Q2: It is a long term strategy! It never ends, but done right offers great results #smbiz

@SternalPR @lotusjumpseo Whats the difference between a tail term and a head term? #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q2 Consistency is critical since algorithms change so frequently #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO @SternalPR Tail terms have lower search volume. Usually are longer phrases. Head terms have more volume and are shorter #smbiz

@merylkevans Q2 SEO takes regular commitment just like exercising. Stop doing it for a while, and you’ll fall out of shape. #smbiz

@merylkevans Your name may be unique, but are people going to look for your business using your name? Does everyone know you before they search? #smbiz

@smbiz Q3 What are the important elements of SEO? #smbiz

@ScottBradley @smbiz Q3 I think it is a 2 part process…part 1: doing the research of the market part 2: figuring out where you want to place #smbiz

@ScottBradley @smbiz Once you know where you want to be placed…you create content that “fits” into your goals for SEO then let it fly #smbiz

@SternalPR @ScottBradley I suppose theres also something to be said for a 3rd step – evaluating and adjusting strategy, no? #smbiz

@ScottBradley @SternalPR Yes that too…testing and re-evaluating I think is really important as well #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q3 On-page optimization (title tags, meta tags, alt text, headlines, etc.) for content is a great start #smbiz

@tmcconnon Q3 1) keyword research 2) on-page optimization 3) accessible, quality content 4) linkbuilding 5) social engagement #smbiz

@marcbitanga Q3: 3 Pillars of SEO = Code/Structure, Content & Links. #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q3 After on-page you go off-page to get links, increase authority, etc. #smbiz

@TallChickVic Linkbuilding IS relationship building and linkbuilding done right will help your SEO efforts #smbiz

@marcbitanga Q3: If you have a poor product or a website that isn’t up-to-date, any amount of SEO won’t help your sales #smbiz

@pincock Q3 quick on-page tip: create a sub-page that centers around the primary keyword you want to target http://bit.ly/14SyC8 #smbiz

@smbiz Q4 Once you have identified a handful of keywords, how do you know which ones to use first? #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q4 One way is to look at ROI. Find terms that get the best prospects. Also consider search volume & competition #smbiz

@TallChickVic @SternalPR Q4: I look at the site 1st and see what keywords they can rank for. #smbiz

@johnreddish @getresults Q4 – Check key word searches. Ones w lots of action go 2 front of line. Also, highly targeted key words 4 hi tix items. #smbiz

@stephaniethum @TallChickVic The Am Mktg Assoc recently did a webcast featuring @TheRobRose re: content. Archived webcast is available, I believe. #smbiz

@TallChickVic Q4; If a site is new, I would build out a longtail keyword strategy #smbiz

@TallChickVic @smbiz If the store has specific products like ‘shoes’ the build around that #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO @SternalPR PPC is also a great source of keywords and it will tell you how well they convert too #smbiz

@tmcconnon Q4 Pick a 2/3 ratio of tail terms to head terms. Tail terms can be a quick win while you tackle more difficult head terms #smbiz

@TallChickVic @ScottBradley put your url in websitegrader.com it will give you insight and outline on how to improve #smbiz

@swirleigh Q4 I would pick okeywords that are popular, below 10 mil google competitive results… and target location + Keyword. #smbiz

@smbiz Q5 How can you find out WHERE you rank for certain keywords? #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q5 Tools like WebCEO or AuthorityLabs track for you. The RankChecker Firefox plugin or just manual searches work #smbiz

@swirleigh Q5 Fnd out where sites rank for certain keywords by doing manual searches… and using tools like Advance Web Ranking #smbiz

@TallChickVic Q5: HubSpot’s service lets you see where you rank and how much $ you save with your SEO efforts #smbiz

@smbiz Q6 What are the best SEO tools to use and how/when do you use them? #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q6 LotusJump (self-promotional I know) will help you find relevant linkbuilding opps. in less time #smbiz

@TallChickVic @smbiz Google Analytics, Omniture, HubSpot, Raven SEO (cool stuff), SEO Moz #smbiz

@swirleigh Q6 One tool I use often to check how a server responds to a URL request is a Header Checker http://bit.ly/BntGg #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q6 Some type of analytics are a must. Google Analytics is the best bang for your buck #smbiz

@marcbitanga Q6: SEOMoz & SEOBook have great toolsets. But working with a professional who knows how to use them is key #smbiz

@ScottBradley @smbiz How do you choose a SEO professional when so many people claim they know what they are doing? #smbiz

@pincock Q6 Google has great tools for small biz to help with SEO: Analytics, Alerts, External Keyword Tool are three I highly recommend. #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO @ScottBradley Ask for references of companies they’ve worked for. Look at rankings. Can’t argue with success #smbiz

@smbiz Q7 Ho do you research what your competition is ranking for? How do you find this out? #smbiz

@TallChickVic @smbiz Q7: look at their meta, google their meta and see what happens. Also add their urls into websitegrader to get an overview #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q7 Look at their site. Check their title tags, meta tags, headlines. Look for phrases they are targeting. Use Q5 advice #smbiz

@marcbitanga Q7: SpyFu, KeywordSpy, Compete.com + reverse analysis. #smbiz

@TallChickVic @ScottBradley..also does this SEO co. rank at all for terms THEY want to rank for #smbiz

@ScottBradley @TallChickVic Makes sense…question for you…how to you adjust with the eb and flow of google changing how they rank pages? #smbiz

@smbiz Q8 Should you use the same keywords your competition is using? #smbiz

@marcbitanga Q8: Helpful for research. But use what makes sense for your biz #smbiz

@TallChickVic @smbiz Q8: Depends if your site CAN rank for them, If they are too competitive, plan a longtail KW strategy and build ur way up #smbiz

@tmcconnon Q8 Depends on your ambition ;) Maybe play ball with a few, but do try 2 own some unique ones that have a fair amount of search volume #smbiz

@smbiz Q9 SEO is a daily task. What are your daily action items to make sure you are optimized? #smbiz

@merylkevans Q9 Keep adding new content somewhere online… your site, social media or elsewhere. Every bit helps. #smbiz

@TallChickVic @smbiz use social media outreach to get content out. Look at analytics. I also do alot of industry research daily #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Linkbuilding and content gen. should be daily. Mining analytics and on-pages changes less frequently #smbiz

@tmcconnon Q9 be involved in the conversation surrounding your keywords and brand…build relationships, build links, build awareness #smbiz

@jazzcat Q9 I’d also keep up on major SEO blogs, keep an eye out for emerging trends that you can ride ahead of your competition. #smbiz

@swirleigh Q9 Daily SEO tasks include checking analytics, pushing new optimized content, checking blogs + twitter for any news or tips to use #smbiz

@smbiz Q10 How can a small biz start doing link building? #smbiz

@tmcconnon Q10 Lo-tus-jump! Lo-tus-jump! Guess who’s team I’m on? ;) #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q10 Use LotusJump (http://www.lotusjump.com) #smbiz

@marcbitanga Q10: Easiest links= Suppliers, vendors, partners, associations & charities u donate to. #smbiz

@jazzcat Q10 Use the link:{competitor website} search in Google to see competitor’s backlinks. Try to get links there as well. Usually fertile #smbiz

@smbiz Q11 How do you identify which sites you want to link to you & how do u ask them to link to you? #smbiz

@TallChickVic @smbiz Q11: Edu. sites. Gov sites….look for permalinks! Sites that have a strong PR and good content #smbiz

@merylkevans Q11 Don’t do the link exchange — smells like spam and 99% of the time, the other site is not a fit. #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q11 Read prominent blogs in your industry. See who they cite. Offer to write a guest post #smbiz

@tmcconnon Q11 do competitive research! see where your competitors are getting links from with Yahoo’s Site Explorer tool #smbiz

@LotusJumpSEO Q11 Sometimes you only have to ask! #smbiz

@jazzcat If you’re interested in learning more about ranking factors, SEOMoz posted this the other day – http://bit.ly/y81a6 #smbiz

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