Archive for the ‘Resources’ Category
Choosing the Right Social Media Tools
Twitter? YouTube? LinkedIn? Are they right for you? Are they right for you now? If you’re like the vast majority of successful entrepreneurs, you’re still grappling with these questions. At the same time, you’re trying to determine when, how and if social media is worth the effort — given your day-to-day challenges and your short- and long-term business goals.
That’s why Robert and I are constantly speaking with leaders in social media. And, in BusinessCast episode #130, we posed the questions that are on the minds of every entrepreneur to one of Canada’s most recognized and respected social media gurus: Michael Seaton.
Michael succinctly answers critical questions, including:
- Which social media tools have the greatest return on investment?
- What are the biggest myths about social media?
- What should entrepreneurs know (and do) before making any investment in social media?
Earlier this year, in BusinessCast #101, we also interviewed Charlene Li — co-author of what’s largely accepted as the shrewd business person’s handbook to successful social media planning and implementation, Forrester Research’s Groundswell.
Listen to these two BusinessCast episodes and you’ll be much better equipped to assess how best to use these technologies to enhance your business.
Privacy for Business Success
Privacy is such a fundamental part of business success, that it often goes overlooked. And that can be a serious problem given the negative repercussions of not properly meeting your obligations — and customers’ unspoken expectations — about how their private information is to be managed.
That’s why for BusinessCast episode #129, Robert and I sat down with Dr. Ann Cavoukian, the Ontario Privacy Commissioner along with the two co-authors of an exciting new privacy toolkit — aimed squarely at helping entrepreneurs.
Listen to BusinessCast episode #129 and you’ll get a quick grasp of the privacy issues that are relevant to you and get a sneak peak into a practical tool that will help you transform privacy practices into good business.
**Also check out the ThinData-authored Marketer’s PIPEDA Checklist which instantly provides you with three easy-to-use tools to ensure that you comply with Canada’s Federal privacy laws when marketing online.**
Business Success: It’s About Time!
One of the many things that all successful entrepreneurs have in common is an insatiable need to bring their innovations (i.e products, services and/or processes) to the market. But, a key question that often gets trampled in the midst of entrepreneurs’ enthusiasm is “When is the right time?”
Because short- and long-term success depends so much on timing, for BusinessCast episode #128 Robert and I sat down with Steve Taylor, President of Resolver Inc. to gather his insights about evaluating the right time to launch/grow a successful business.
Listen to BusinessCast episode #128 to get a clear sense of some of the key timing considerations and how you can ensure your success by increasing your state of business readiness.
Finding, Hiring and Motivating the Right People
Whenever Robert and I sit down and talk with entrepreneurs about their historic, current and future successes, one theme constantly emerges: entrepreneurs need strong teams. And that means they are always looking for ways to optimize how they find, hire and motivate staff.
That’s why for BusinessCast episode #127, we sat down with an entrepreneur renowned for effectively recruiting and retaining exceptional employees — in an industry where people are highly skilled, in great demand and highly mobile.
Chris Carder, President of ThinData, A Transcontinental Company, shares with us his approach to, and practical tips for, finding, hiring and motivating high performing professionals — people who will help you grow your business.
Also download a one-pager that describes how Chris and his team of executives retain and engage enthusiastic employees — drawn from ThinData’s years of growing to be one of Canada’s leading marketing companies.
Starting and Growing Your Business: Success Now and in the Future
All successful entrepreneurs are forward-looking. So much so that even when entrepreneurs are in the very early stages of starting their business, they are typically actively searching for future ways to improve it, grow it and expand it.
One of the greatest examples of successfully applying this approach is the disciplined and innovative mind behind Verity – Canada’s premiere Women’s networking club. The club’s founder Mary Aitken began Verity as a stand-alone business where women could meet, network, relax and have fun.
But, Mary, who is a very successful entrepreneur, thoughtfully researc
hed the targeted market and soon found the need to expand Verity to include a world-leading restaurant (George), an enviable spa (Sweetgrass) and most recently, a luxurious hotel (The Ivey).
For BusinessCast #125 — Starting and Growing Your Business, Mary sits down with Robert and me and shares her compelling and exciting story. She also highlights some key lessons relevant for all entrepreneurs. Whether you are starting, honing or expanding your business, Mary provides some practical tips as well as inspires you to keep looking forward — and thereby ensure your success.