Archive for July, 2009

Okay Austin, Texas.  It's time to get serious about The 3/50 Project.  A few weeks ago, I wrote about the grassroots project that aims to "save your local economy, three stores at a time," as the project's founder, Cinda Baxter, puts it. 

The concept is quite simple. Pick three independently-owned businesses and spend $50 a month at them. That's it.  (Not $50 at each store.  Just $50 altogether.  You're probably already spending that somewhere.)

According to Cinda's web site, "if just half the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month in independently owned businesses, their purchases would generate $42.6 billion in revenue." 

To nudge you off of your computer and into action, the folks at Palo Alto Software, the makers of Marketing Plan Pro Software, have partnered with me to create a contest — a B2B challenge to business owners to help other businesses here in Austin.   It's as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Name 3 local, independent businesses in the Austin, Texas area and tell me a story about why you like them, and why others should buy from them too. I'll post your comments on this blog.
2. Pledge to do business with those three companies.
3. You'll be automatically entered in a drawing to win FREE Marketing Plan Pro software and I'll throw in a FREE 30-day Moxie Quick Start Coaching Program to get you started.  That's a $680 value – free.  We'll be giving three packages away — one each month from August through October, 2009.

Click here to make the pledge and enter.

Will this really make a difference? Yes. According to Cinda's research "for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home."

Why give all this away?  I want to help small business succeed.  And right now, here in the dog days of summer, they need our support more now than ever.  So fill out this form and make a pledge today.  What have you got to lose, except another locally owned, independent business — you know, businesses like yours that help "Keep Austin Weird."  What have you got to win?  A free Marketing Plan for your small business that works!

Twitter's all the rage these days in marketing circles. But what does it mean for small business? Small Business Marketing Trends editor Anita Baker asked her readers to send in their twitter tips. The results were interesting and informative. She asked six questions:

1. How would you suggest other small businesses get started on Twitter?
2. What’s the right way (or wrong way) to promote your business on Twitter?
3. What is your #1 Twitter etiquette tip for small business owners?
4. What is your best tip for getting retweeted
5. How do you manage your time on Twitter?
6. What is your best-kept secret (something not widely known) for using Twitter in
7. business?

She got some great submissions. And (pause for shameless self-promotion) she selected one of mine! I'm honored because there are a lot of good ideas here. Here was my response to question 2:

“Like all marketing tactics, be sure you think about your strategy before jumping in the deep end of the Twitter pond. Twitter can become a black hole if it does not advance your marketing strategy, which is why I think so many people drop off of Twitter after a short time, according to studies. Who is your audience? What do you want them to do? How will your twitter content help them solve a problem or meet a need? Once you have a plan, develop content thoughtfully, not just in high volume. Whatever your strategy is, don’t be boring!”

Get the report here.  

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