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<title>bizSugar / JohnH / Hot Topics</title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com</link>
<description>bizSugar RSS feed</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:56:15 -0500</pubDate>
<language>en</language>
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<title><![CDATA[Five most important lessons Guy Kawasaki has learned as an entrepreneur]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Management/Five_most_important_lessons_Guy_Kawasaki_has_learned_as_an_entrepreneur/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Management/Five_most_important_lessons_Guy_Kawasaki_has_learned_as_an_entrepreneur/</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:55:52 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Management</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Management/Five_most_important_lessons_Guy_Kawasaki_has_learned_as_an_entrepreneur/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Popular entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and blogger, Guy Kawasaki understands business. Guy is a managing director of Garage Technology Ventures, columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine, and author of eight books on innovative business.Here he shares with us a list of the five most important lessons he's learned as an entrepreneur.<br/><br/>12 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[5 ways to get the most out of bizSugar]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/ProductsandServices/5_ways_to_get_the_most_out_of_bizSugar/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/ProductsandServices/5_ways_to_get_the_most_out_of_bizSugar/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:40:14 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Products and Services</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/ProductsandServices/5_ways_to_get_the_most_out_of_bizSugar/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Small Business Trends posted bizSugar 5 tips so that entrepreneurs and business owners can highlight and share their best content.<br/><br/>11 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Avoid These Common Pitfalls When Starting A Business]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/TheStartup/Avoid_These_Common_Pitfalls_When_Starting_A_Business/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/TheStartup/Avoid_These_Common_Pitfalls_When_Starting_A_Business/</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:50:58 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>The Startup</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/TheStartup/Avoid_These_Common_Pitfalls_When_Starting_A_Business/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Yours truly, Founder of BizSugar, is the featured guest in this Episode of The Small Business Trends Radio. I share a few lessons I've learned from over 17 years of helping small business owners and from starting my own business ventures, and I identify common mistakes that even experienced business owners make and offer tips to help put your business back on track.<br/><br/>10 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Google Keyword Tool Now Offers Search Volume]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Google_Keyword_Tool_Now_Offers_Search_Volume/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Google_Keyword_Tool_Now_Offers_Search_Volume/</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:20:11 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Google_Keyword_Tool_Now_Offers_Search_Volume/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Google recently enhanced their keyword suggestion tool and added search volume and some measure of competitiveness. The reason the PPC engines offer tools like this is to help people get better at bidding on search terms and offer suggestions for more terms to bid on. Serious PPC folks use this tool to help determine bid amounts and bid on thousands of search terms.<br/><br/>11 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Eight ways to get exactly what you want]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Sales/Eight_ways_to_get_exactly_what_you_want/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Sales/Eight_ways_to_get_exactly_what_you_want/</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:35:27 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Sales</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Sales/Eight_ways_to_get_exactly_what_you_want/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Cajole your boss into giving you a raise, win someone round to your point of view, or persuade your partner it's their turn to put out the trash - getting people to do what you want can be very handy. Persuasion is a key element of all human interaction, from politics to marketing to everyday dealings with friends, family and colleagues. Unfortunately persuasion is both notoriously difficult to pull off and almost impossible to resist when done well. Psychologists have long been fascinated by persuasion - why some people are more persuasive than others and why some strategies work where others fail. Over the next six pages we bring together some recent insights into the science of persuasion.For those who don't want to be persuaded, there are lessons here too. Knowing the strategies charmers and advertisers adopt can help you resist their guile.<br/><br/>9 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[8 Surprise-Attack Reference Questions to Amp Up Your Hiring Intelligence]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/HumanResources/8_Surprise-Attack_Reference_Questions_to_Amp_Up_Your_Hiring_Intelligence/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/HumanResources/8_Surprise-Attack_Reference_Questions_to_Amp_Up_Your_Hiring_Intelligence/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:14:33 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Human Resources</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/HumanResources/8_Surprise-Attack_Reference_Questions_to_Amp_Up_Your_Hiring_Intelligence/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Standard reference check questions have become so rote that I can rattle them off half-asleep. How long did the candidate work with you? What were the candidate's strengths and weaknesses? Was he a team player?Try these 8 questions and see what kinds of answers you get:<br/><br/>11 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Social Responsibility and the Small Business]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/PublicRelations/Social_Responsibility_and_the_Small_Business/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/PublicRelations/Social_Responsibility_and_the_Small_Business/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:59:46 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Public Relations</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/PublicRelations/Social_Responsibility_and_the_Small_Business/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In the profit-centered business, customer happiness is merely a means to an end: maximizing profits. In the customer-centered business, customer happiness is an end in itself, and will be pursued with greater interest, passion, and empathy than the profit-centered business is capable of.<br/><br/>12 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[China: A Ripe Market or Fast Track to Bankruptcy?]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/InternationalTrade/China_A_Ripe_Market_or_Fast_Track_to_Bankruptcy/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/InternationalTrade/China_A_Ripe_Market_or_Fast_Track_to_Bankruptcy/</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:51:35 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>International Trade</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/InternationalTrade/China_A_Ripe_Market_or_Fast_Track_to_Bankruptcy/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[China may still have a Communist political system, but its economy is transitioning to capitalism. It has a growing middle class hungry to buy Western goods.Enterprising U.S. companies are investigating and some are capitalizing on the opportunities China presents. Just don't forget to do your homework before you expand.<br/><br/>8 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[High Price CAN be a Competitive Advantage!]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/High_Price_CAN_be_a_Competitive_Advantage-1/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/High_Price_CAN_be_a_Competitive_Advantage-1/</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:34:04 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/High_Price_CAN_be_a_Competitive_Advantage-1/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[How to justify steep prices and set your company apart from the competition.From the article: &quot;Selling Value&quot; consists of adding intangibles that convince the customer to pay a higher price than if those intangibles were absent. It does not consist of adding tangibles (i.e. things that cost your company something) to make a deal more attractive and therefore more &quot;worth the money.&quot; That's called discounting, and it's the exact opposite of selling value.<br/><br/>12 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The Definitive Guide to Business-to-Business Marketing in a Recession]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/The_Definitive_Guide_to_Business-to-Business_Marketing_in_a_Recession/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/The_Definitive_Guide_to_Business-to-Business_Marketing_in_a_Recession/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:51:39 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/The_Definitive_Guide_to_Business-to-Business_Marketing_in_a_Recession/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Does an economic slowdown necessarily mean that business-to-business marketers have to find even more ways to do more with less? Or can a downturn create opportunity for smart marketers to grow and thrive? In this guide to B2B marketing during a recession, Jon Miller answers these questions and share specific strategies you can use to shine when times are dark.<br/><br/>12 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[You couldn't do better than using this Web site as a model]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/You_couldnt_do_better_than_using_this_Web_site_as_a_model/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/You_couldnt_do_better_than_using_this_Web_site_as_a_model/</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:57:43 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/You_couldnt_do_better_than_using_this_Web_site_as_a_model/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[If someone says B2B sites can't be compelling and absorbing, show them MillerWelds. It could shame the best consumer site. This site keeps prospects clicking and reading these ways:<br/><br/>13 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Building Global Bonds One Customer at a Time]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/InternationalTrade/Building_Global_Bonds_One_Customer_at_a_Time/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/InternationalTrade/Building_Global_Bonds_One_Customer_at_a_Time/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:53:35 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>International Trade</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/InternationalTrade/Building_Global_Bonds_One_Customer_at_a_Time/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The relationship between you and your overseas customer shouldn't end when a sale is made.If anything, it requires more attention.Once you've completed the initial export transaction, you must expect to provide a broad spectrum of &quot;complimentary&quot; services in order to encourage repeat business. In this article we'll talk about the kind of follow-up &quot;care and feeding&quot; of customers that will keep them coming back.<br/><br/>9 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[3 Search Engine Optimization Tools You Need]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/3_Search_Engine_Optimization_Tools_You_Need/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/3_Search_Engine_Optimization_Tools_You_Need/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:48:01 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/3_Search_Engine_Optimization_Tools_You_Need/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Looking for some powerful (and free) SEO tools? Anita Campbell at Small Business Trends offers a few of her favorites.<br/><br/>20 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[How to Ruin Your Search Engine Optimization]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/How_to_Ruin_Your_Search_Engine_Optimization/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/How_to_Ruin_Your_Search_Engine_Optimization/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:06:05 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/How_to_Ruin_Your_Search_Engine_Optimization/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Taken from article: You must be wondering, why would anyone want to ruin their SEO? Trust me, I ask myself the same question whenever clients or prospective clients explain the things they've done to get themselves in trouble with the search engines. While there are abundant &quot;how to&quot; resources on SEO online, at conferences in books, newsletters and blogs, knowing what not to do is equally important. Here are four tips on what to avoid in a SEO campaign:<br/><br/>12 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[12 Ways to Target Inactive E-mail Subscribers]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/12_Ways_to_Target_Inactive_E-mail_Subscribers/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/12_Ways_to_Target_Inactive_E-mail_Subscribers/</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:41:22 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/12_Ways_to_Target_Inactive_E-mail_Subscribers/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Oftentimes, people opt in to e-mail lists-whether it be for newsletters, promotions or information-and then just ignore everything that's sent to them. Those individuals signed up for your e-mails for a reason, even if their actions don't show it. For one reason or another, they've become inactive subscribers. It's your job to figure out a way to get them active again.Here are 12 ways to reel these inactive subscribers back in.<br/><br/>9 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Futurist Paul Saffo on How to Do Well in a Recession]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Strategy/Futurist_Paul_Saffo_on_How_to_Do_Well_in_a_Recession/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Strategy/Futurist_Paul_Saffo_on_How_to_Do_Well_in_a_Recession/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:56:09 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Strategy</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Strategy/Futurist_Paul_Saffo_on_How_to_Do_Well_in_a_Recession/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[We recently spoke with Paul Saffo, the technology forecaster best known for his associations with the The Institute for the Future (which he left earlier this year) and The Long Now Foundation, whose mission is to replace society's &quot;faster/cheaper mindset&quot; with &quot;slower/better thinking.&quot; Saffo also teaches a course on the future of engineering at Stanford, where he requires students to envision their projects - 30 years from now.Saffo says a startup must take a long view of its place in the world - even imagine its legacy - if it is to succeed, especially in a recession. And what, in his view, is the best way to achieve this? &quot;Focus on doing good, in addition to doing well.&quot;<br/><br/>12 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[One Page Marketing Plan Template That Anyone Can Use]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/One_Page_Marketing_Plan_Template_That_Anyone_Can_Use/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/One_Page_Marketing_Plan_Template_That_Anyone_Can_Use/</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:18:32 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/One_Page_Marketing_Plan_Template_That_Anyone_Can_Use/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Developing a Marketing Plan is nothing more than setting goals and making a to-do list that will get you there. It's really not much different than planning a party.You're basically creating a plan for inviting more people you love to give you money and then tell other people why they should give you their money too. Sounds like a party to me. How about you?That's why Ivana Taylor has been working to develop really simple, one-page templates that can be used to develop marketing plans. They're designed to get you thinking and planning and making money, not writing lengthy documents.<br/><br/>10 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[What You Can Learn From Stew Leonard's]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/SuccessStories/What_You_Can_Learn_From_Stew_Leonards/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/SuccessStories/What_You_Can_Learn_From_Stew_Leonards/</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:30:00 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Success Stories</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/SuccessStories/What_You_Can_Learn_From_Stew_Leonards/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Featured on the cover of this month's New York Enterprise Report, Leonard has grown his father's Norwalk, Conn.-based dairy farm into a four-chain supermarket that redefines the shopping experience.Too bad you have to live in the Northeast to enjoy Stew Leonard's. What makes this place so unique is aside from its high-quality, uber-fresh food, &quot;Stew Leonard's is the kind of grocery store where KIDS want to go -- and if you aren't a kid, it's likely to make you one again,&quot; writes CNN/Travel.While reading the interview with Leonard, a bunch of points jumped out at me as ones our small businesses should embrace.<br/><br/>8 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Tips and Resources to Hire the Best]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/HumanResources/Tips_and_Resources_to_Hire_the_Best/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/HumanResources/Tips_and_Resources_to_Hire_the_Best/</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:19:33 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Human Resources</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/HumanResources/Tips_and_Resources_to_Hire_the_Best/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The risk/reward ratio is higher with new hires at small companies. The cost of a mis-hire is considered to be, on average, 3-4 times their annual salary. The cost of mis-hire at a small company can exceed that and quickly reach a4 the entire company.On the other hand, the reward from a great new hire at a small company can bea4the entire company, again. A doubling of revenues or customers or cutting costs in half is the impact a good hire can bring quickly to a small company.What resources are available to insure you, small business leaders, hire the best? (I'll talk recruiting candidates and keeping your best employees on another post.)Let's assume you and your employees have gathered 3-4 top candidates to interview. I'm going to share with you the steps and resources I used with 100% success as CEO: 3 great hires and 1 bad hire avoided.<br/><br/>10 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The 14 best questions to ask a sales prospect]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Sales/The_14_best_questions_to_ask_a_sales_prospect/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Sales/The_14_best_questions_to_ask_a_sales_prospect/</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:47:37 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Sales</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Sales/The_14_best_questions_to_ask_a_sales_prospect/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Here are the fourteen absolutely indispensable power tools that should be in every sales rep's bag of tricks:<br/><br/>11 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Beware The Lure Of Google Services]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Technology/Beware_The_Lure_Of_Google_Services/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Technology/Beware_The_Lure_Of_Google_Services/</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:58:41 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Technology/Beware_The_Lure_Of_Google_Services/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One blogger thinks small businesses should be wary of having too much Google in their operations. Google Apps and AdSense as poor choices for small businesses? It's a surprising opinion to have, as Google made these services partially to address the SMB marketplace.Yet Matt McGee suggested small businesses avoid those and a couple of other free Google services. He doesn't like Apps' lack of functionality, and finds its tradeoff of privacy for convenience uncomfortable.His AdSense opinion holds a simple premise: why advertise your competitors on your site?<br/><br/>12 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Marketers Slow to Respond to Problem of Blocked Email Images]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Marketers_Slow_to_Respond_to_Problem_of_Blocked_Email_Images/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Marketers_Slow_to_Respond_to_Problem_of_Blocked_Email_Images/</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:07:20 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Marketers_Slow_to_Respond_to_Problem_of_Blocked_Email_Images/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[More than 50% of images in promotional emails are routinely blocked by email and webmail programs, but many marketers are still sending image-based emails that do not render well as text-only.Most retail email marketers (57%) send largely image-based emails, even though they have higher spam scores (and so are more likely to be blocked by spam filters) and have lower open and response rates.<br/><br/>8 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Steer clear of these 10 illegal job interview questions]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/HumanResources/Steer_clear_of_these_10_illegal_job_interview_questions/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/HumanResources/Steer_clear_of_these_10_illegal_job_interview_questions/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:25:04 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Human Resources</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/HumanResources/Steer_clear_of_these_10_illegal_job_interview_questions/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Although HR departments should be aware of questions that are illegal to ask prospective employees, some hiring managers aren't so savvy.  Many illegal questions are easy for just about anyone with elementary social graces to avoid, but others might surprise you.<br/><br/>10 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[9 1/2 ways to keep your customers from leaving]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/CustomerService/9_12_ways_to_keep_your_customers_from_leaving/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/CustomerService/9_12_ways_to_keep_your_customers_from_leaving/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:40:39 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Customer Service</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/CustomerService/9_12_ways_to_keep_your_customers_from_leaving/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A growing business lives and dies by repeat customers or clients, especially in uncertain economic times like these. The problem is that most customer retention strategies are ineffective. To make matters worse, the average business hears from only 4% of dissatisfied customers -- the rest just bolt.Here are 9 1/2 ways how to get your customers to stick around.<br/><br/>14 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Web Sites Offer Access to Mentors]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Resources/Web_Sites_Offer_Access_to_Mentors/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Resources/Web_Sites_Offer_Access_to_Mentors/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:24:41 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Resources</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Resources/Web_Sites_Offer_Access_to_Mentors/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[MicroMentor, which has made nearly 700 mentor matches since it started in 2001, is one of a growing number of Web sites that allow prospective mentors and protgs to easily find each other. Usually, each party creates a profile detailing his or her mentoring needs or expertise that can be viewed by others. Once a match is made, the mentoring can take place through email, instant messaging, Web conferencing or over the phone.This approach allows small-business owners to tap the expertise of people they might not otherwise meet, especially those who live hundreds or thousands of miles away. Online mentoring also can save time by allowing people to quickly get to the point. Emailing questions and answers, for instance, forces them to lay out their issues in a concise and clear fashion.Still, some experts caution that online mentoring isn't always an ideal substitute for a face-to-face relationship. That is because it doesn't as easily allow people to build trust and exchange body-language cues and other nuances that only meeting in person allows. Also, miscommunications can happen via email or instant messaging that disrupt the relationship. And some people worry that it isn't necessarily safe to reveal information about business plans to someone you have never met.<br/><br/>12 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[How to pick up a Venture Capitalist]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/RaisingCapital/How_to_pick_up_a_Venture_Capitalist/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/RaisingCapital/How_to_pick_up_a_Venture_Capitalist/</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 31 May 2008 08:46:39 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Raising Capital</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/RaisingCapital/How_to_pick_up_a_Venture_Capitalist/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Many entrepreneurs ask Guy Kawasaki what is the best way to open a pitch to potential investors. Here he answers that question, but also tells you the ten worst opening lines that you can use.<br/><br/>15 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Social Networking and a Small Town Business - Why bother?]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/Social_Networking_and_a_Small_Town_Business/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/Social_Networking_and_a_Small_Town_Business/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 May 2008 20:42:33 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/Social_Networking_and_a_Small_Town_Business/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Small town business is an interesting challenge. You either target people in your local area and hope that's enough, or you reach outside for customers and work to get enough attention. If you're targeting outside your local area, there is no question. Social networking is a top way to reach beyond your geographic boundaries. If you're looking for local people as customers, you might be tempted to think that social networking is not going to work for you. WRONG! More of your potential customers are online than you realize. More importantly, marketing is only one reason for using social networking tools. I can think of four other big reasons to invest the time and effort.<br/><br/>9 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Sales Tips for the Brick and Mortars]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Sales/Sales_Tips_for_the_Brick_and_Mortars/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Sales/Sales_Tips_for_the_Brick_and_Mortars/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 May 2008 12:56:02 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Sales</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Sales/Sales_Tips_for_the_Brick_and_Mortars/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[There is such a thing as your sales team working too hard. What I mean by this is that they might be pushing the customers too hard to get them to buy. iEntry director of sales and overall wise person Susan Coppersmith says, &quot;If you act hungry, you will starve.&quot; If your sales team is acting too desperate for a sale, the customer is likely to get turned off and not buy. Twisting arms generally doesn't work. It is possible that this &quot;arm-twisting&quot; could produce a sale, but then there is a good chance you are looking at buyers' remorse. This means that if the customer was talked into buying something that they were on the fence about, they might just get home and realize that they really didn't need or want that product after all, and then you have a return and that sale is canceled out anyway.<br/><br/>10 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Seth Godin explains why word of mouth doesn't happen]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/Seth_Godin_explains_why_word_of_mouth_doesnt_happen/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/Seth_Godin_explains_why_word_of_mouth_doesnt_happen/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 May 2008 14:48:36 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/Seth_Godin_explains_why_word_of_mouth_doesnt_happen/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sometimes, what you do is done as well as it can be done. It's a service that people truly love, or a product they can't live without. You're doing everything right, but it's not remarkable, at least not in the sense of &quot;worth making a remark about.&quot;What's up with that?<br/><br/>14 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Scampering for Innovation]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Strategy/Scampering_for_Innovation/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Strategy/Scampering_for_Innovation/</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2008 12:20:00 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Strategy</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Strategy/Scampering_for_Innovation/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[&quot;Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.&quot; The quote is attributed to the Nobel prize winning physician Albert Szent-Gyrgyi.How do you look at something different? One method I'd recommend is to &quot;scamper.&quot; Yes,hopping around like a small animal or child *is* fun, that's not what scampering is in this context. Scamper is an acronym for a set of techniques that help you see things different.<br/><br/>12 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[How 3 Lines of Code Can Improve Your Rankings]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/How_3_Lines_of_Code_Can_Improve_Your_Rankings/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/How_3_Lines_of_Code_Can_Improve_Your_Rankings/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 06 May 2008 17:11:31 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/How_3_Lines_of_Code_Can_Improve_Your_Rankings/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Many website owners have a small technical issue with their site(s) that they don't even realize, and when left uncorrected, can severely hurt search engine rankings. This situation occurs when the one or more pages can be accessed via several different URL's.<br/><br/>16 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The art of multiple offers in a negotiation]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Sales/The_art_of_multiple_offers_in_a_negotiation-1/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Sales/The_art_of_multiple_offers_in_a_negotiation-1/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 06 May 2008 08:52:17 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Sales</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Sales/The_art_of_multiple_offers_in_a_negotiation-1/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I thought this was a great video on the importance have providing more than one offer when selling and negotiating.<br/><br/>14 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Whata4s the Point of Having Content About Your Product If You Dona4t Let People Read It?]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/Whatrsquos_the_Point_of_Having_Content_About_Your_Product_If_You_Donrsquot_Let_People_Read_It/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/Whatrsquos_the_Point_of_Having_Content_About_Your_Product_If_You_Donrsquot_Let_People_Read_It/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2008 21:45:04 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/Whatrsquos_the_Point_of_Having_Content_About_Your_Product_If_You_Donrsquot_Let_People_Read_It/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By forcing me to contact the company in order to get more information about the product, the company is creating a new touchpoint in their marketing process. Great; so now the company can contact all of their leads, people who figure that the additional information regarding the product line is worth the time taken to contact the firm. The problem is that there is overwhelming evidence against it.<br/><br/>12 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Harnessing the wisdom of busy execs to find the best stuff online]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/SuccessStories/Harnessing_the_wisdom_of_busy_execs_to_find_the_best_stuff_online/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/SuccessStories/Harnessing_the_wisdom_of_busy_execs_to_find_the_best_stuff_online/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2008 20:09:46 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Success Stories</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/SuccessStories/Harnessing_the_wisdom_of_busy_execs_to_find_the_best_stuff_online/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[From the interview: Taken a look at BizSugar? It's a place for business owners, managers and entrepreneurs in small and midsized businesses to discover, share and vote for the best business tips, trends, news and strategies on the Web.The idea: If you find a business story, tip or video that you like, give 'em a little sugar! I liked it immediately because it squares with our philosophy: Give busy execs info that's easy to read, easy to understand and easily accessible.<br/><br/>11 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[bizSugar now provides forum feeds from EvanCarmichael.com]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/NewsandPolitics/bizSugar_now_provides_forum_feeds_from_EvanCarmichael-com/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/NewsandPolitics/bizSugar_now_provides_forum_feeds_from_EvanCarmichael-com/</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 03 May 2008 19:41:31 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>News and Politics</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/NewsandPolitics/bizSugar_now_provides_forum_feeds_from_EvanCarmichael-com/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[You may have noticed that at the bottom of each of bizSugar's story pages, we now have a &quot;Related Forum Posts&quot; area. Based on keywords from each article, those links will take you to related forum posts from EvanCarmichael.com.<br/><br/>12 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Stay True to Your Brand for Long-Term Viability]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Strategy/Stay_True_to_Your_Brand_for_Long-Term_Viability-1/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Strategy/Stay_True_to_Your_Brand_for_Long-Term_Viability-1/</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 03 May 2008 19:40:46 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Strategy</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Strategy/Stay_True_to_Your_Brand_for_Long-Term_Viability-1/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Great brands operate at a higher level.  They don't change the essence of who they are as the business changes. That's backward and that's why companies fail.  Instead, they make sure that they direct how the business changes so that it fits with the brand, from the new lines they bring in, to the employees they hire, to the competing company that they purchase, every move has to fit through the brand filter.<br/><br/>13 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Love that glove: A b2b viral marketing campaign that delivered]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Love_that_glove_A_b2b_viral_marketing_campaign_that_delivered/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Love_that_glove_A_b2b_viral_marketing_campaign_that_delivered/</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 23:24:09 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Love_that_glove_A_b2b_viral_marketing_campaign_that_delivered/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Can a viral video contest generate results for a business to business company when the pool of prospects is much, much smaller than for a consumer campaign?<br/><br/>9 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[How to Write a Bio That Sells You and Your Company]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/How_to_Write_a_Bio_That_Sells_You_and_Your_Company/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/How_to_Write_a_Bio_That_Sells_You_and_Your_Company/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:15:13 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/How_to_Write_a_Bio_That_Sells_You_and_Your_Company/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Your bio is often the first impression your personal brand makes on a potential client. And we all know how lasting first impressions are. Most of the bios I come across are not branding documents. They are not marketing pieces for someone or their business.Most bios are a laundry list of skills and jobs with no focus or message. Most are boring, a high percentage are downright terrible. They are full of jargon and clichs, and look downright ugly or forbidding in terms of layout and display of the content.The good news is, a bio can a powerful way to position and sell yourself and create a powerful personal brand identity. So how do you do it? You begin by adopting a self brand mindset. You begin as a marketer of any product would, by looking at yourself as a brand looking for a buyer or market, a brand that is a solution to a problem.<br/><br/>11 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Print Newspaper Ads Drive Online Research, In-Store Purchases]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Advertising/Print_Newspaper_Ads_Drive_Online_Research_In-Store_Purchases/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Advertising/Print_Newspaper_Ads_Drive_Online_Research_In-Store_Purchases/</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:54:54 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Advertising</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Advertising/Print_Newspaper_Ads_Drive_Online_Research_In-Store_Purchases/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Print newspapers ads reach people at all stages of the buying cycle - inspiring web research at the beginning and prompting in-store/web purchase at the end, said the Newspaper Association of America (NAA), citing a Google study. Among the findings of the study:Over half (56%) of internet-using newspaper readers researched or purchased at least one product they saw advertised in the newspaper in the last month, with a 30% overlap between the two groups. 44% of respondents researched at least one product. Of this group: - 67% researched online, and 70% of this group made a subsequent purchase. - 48% visited, and 23% called, a store. - 23% asked a friend. - 42% of respondents purchased at least one product.<br/><br/>8 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[SerebraConnect: A viable outsourcing option for small business owners]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Management/SerebraConnect_A_viable_outsourcing_option_for_small_business_owners/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Management/SerebraConnect_A_viable_outsourcing_option_for_small_business_owners/</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:54:50 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>JohnH</dc:creator>
<category>Management</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Management/SerebraConnect_A_viable_outsourcing_option_for_small_business_owners/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Small-business owners have an incredible amount to juggle, but typically don't have the budget to hire even temporary help. SerebraConnect is a service that helps individuals, corporations and governments outsource tasks to skilled workers in developing nations. That's where we come in. We post our business need on SerebraConnect, then workers bid on the business. Those people don't have to be from developing nations -- they don't have to complete Serebra courses, either -- but you'll likely get the most for your money by going that route. People bidding for your business complete profiles that detail their know-how, experience and related training, plus an eBay-like rating system lets you know how well they did on other projects.<br/><br/>8 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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