We all have systems for managing our business communications, contacts and workflow. This week’s @sbbuzz chat focused on technology and how small businesses use it to manage things a little better or easier.
Happy Holidays everyone from the @sbbuzz team!
- We’re on every Tuesday from 8-9 pm EST. The next chat will be held on December 22h, 2009!
- You can read the instructions on how to participate here: http://sbbuzz.biz/instructions
- Invite others to join in, help them get started. We started this chat to facilitate conversation between small biz owners.
| sbbuzz: | Welcome to #sbbuzz, a Tweetchat for the next hour of small biz talking technology on Twitter. Join us! http://sbbuzz.biz/instructions |
| sbbuzz: | Rules: 1)NO pitching till end 2)Be nice 3)Stay ON TOPIC! 4)Send ?s for group to me w/o hashtag 5)Use #sbbuzz in all messages 6)Have fun! |
| sbbuzz: | Start off w/an INTRO: 1 message about you and your business and whatever else we need to know. #sbbuzz |
| bradfordshimp: | Hi everyone, Bradford here from AllBizAnswers.com. #sbbuzz |
| shanemacsays: | I play music, a lot of weddings, and I am co-founder of web dev/media company, @m2volt. #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @sbbuzz Hi all, Scott from eSeMBe. I’m ready to talk tech tonight! #sbbuzz |
| ginabee: | Good evening, all! Gina with WriteyTidy.com writing services/content creation. Glad to be back. #sbbuzz |
| pmohara: | Pamela here from @batchblue and the moderator (as the #sbbuzz bee) for the chat. Don’t laugh if I start repeating myself.  |
| sbbuzz: | @scoblitz I thought we’d get you jazzed with this topic. Hope you’ve got some nimble fingers! #sbbuzz |
| sbbuzz: | Tonight we’re talking about ways of connecting your different small business technologies to make them more useful #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @sbbuzz I’m ready! #sbbuzz |
| sbbuzz: | Q1 What are you doing on your blog/website to connect to other systems (social media, e-mail marketing, etc.) & how? #sbbuzz |
| shashib: | Hi everyone participating in #sbbuzz hope your week is going well |
| bradfordshimp: | Q1 – Plugins like Tweetmeme and services like Feedburner help connect my blog with other services. #sbbuzz |
| helpbusinesses: | Q1: We’re about to switch out site to connect to all the social network out there. Redesign it to fit our new marketing for 2010 #sbbuzz |
| Squashberry: | #sbbuzz |
| shashib: | I am the Social Media Swami of Network Solutions @netsolcares #sbbuzz |
| BizIncubation: | Also going on tonight, “ways of connecting your different small business technologies to make them more useful” #sbbuzz #sbbuzz |
| shashib: | #sbbuzz Q1 What are you doing on your blog/website to connect to other systems ? |
| Squashberry: | #sbbuzz, I am a cofunder in an advertising company |
| scoblitz: | @sbbuzz Q1) I link to my twitter profile and capture email addresses for a newsletter. On my personal blog I have a twitter page. #sbbuzz |
| shanemacsays: | There are so many “To-Dos” but in my mind “To-Dont’s” are as critical to keeping readers. No autotweet, no auto responders, etc. #sbbuzz |
| IACEZ: | Q1 We have FB, Twitter, Youtube, Flickr & Slideshare in the sidebar of our blog & our blog posts automatically post 2 Twitter & FB. #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | I help business owners become empowered through technology #sbbuzz |
| Laurimufson: | #sbbuzz /via @sbbuzz Is it always good idea to connect with your Twitter acct on your website? |
| adriarichards: | Q1 Streamling my lead process using Highrise and Google Apps, centralizing images on Flickr, videos on YouTube and blip.tv #sbbuzz |
| DeeMcCrorey: | Greetings! I am the Chief Risk Guru of Risktaking for Success #sbbuzz |
| shanemacsays: | I agree with @bradfordshimp for the useful ones, Tweetmeme and feedburner. Don’t Forget Email Newsletter/Tips like @mailchimp #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @shanemacsays I agree, I don’t do any auto-tweets. If I post it, it comes direct from me. #sbbuzz |
| pmohara: | My favorite WordPress plugin is the Flickr display. I think the pictures add a lot of life to the blog/ #sbbuzz |
| bradfordshimp: | I push my blog to Twitter, but don’t include my Twitter feed on my blog. #sbbuzz |
| BizIncubation: | A1: blog/website has our social media links/twitter feed. allows ppl to share our website content on social media networks #sbbuzz |
| shanemacsays: | @Laurimufson I find if you speak directly in your tweets and not autofeed from rss usually higher CTR. #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @pmohara I always wanted to do that but I never take any pictures of anything. #sbbuzz |
| bradfordshimp: | @scoblitz I do send some auto-tweets. When I share something on Google Reader, it goes to FriendFeed and Twitter. #sbbuzz |
| AmyDesmarais: | @IACEZ how do u like slideshare? Havent played with it but read an article about it’s biz utility today #sbbuzz |
| shanemacsays: | @bradfordshimp @scoblitz There is value is auto sharing useful articles but when automated its easy to forget and over share #sbbuzz |
| pmohara: | @scoblitz I bet if you publish them you’ll take more. I think a frequently updated Flickr stream reveals a lot about a business #sbbuzz |
| BizIncubation: | @AmyDesmarais I love slideshare.. think its one of the most awesome tool out there! #sbbuzz |
| IACEZ: | @AmyDesmarais Love it! We use it to make tutorials of common processes our clients may need help with in our application. #sbbuzz |
| sbbuzz: | Q2 What are you doing w/e-mail to connect to other systems (social media, CRM, etc.) & how? #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | The most useful tool on my blog? Contact form is an embedded Google form so all inquiries go right into an online spreadsheet #sbbuzz |
| ImagineGraphics: | A1: Labor intensive personalized cross pollination is my strategy. Automatic cross posting loses the authentic ‘voice’ & annoys. #sbbuzz |
| bradfordshimp: | Q2 – Using Mailchimp which connects to Twitter and Batchbook (also Highrise). Contacts move through easily. #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @pmohara For WordPress Tweet Blender lets you filter @replies from what you display on your blog. Very nice. #sbbuzz |
| bradfordshimp: | Collect on CRM, send to email list, publish to Twitter. #sbbuzz |
| ImagineGraphics: | A2: email newsletter with frequent links to FB pg and blog. And BTW, I love MyEmma e-mailing provider. #sbbuzz |
| BizIncubation: | Q2 always include links to social media in email signature-use wise stamp or a similar product #sbbuzz |
| pmohara: | I use Gmail & have it synced to my CRM (BatchBook, of course) and my Blackberry #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @sbbuzz I use email to populate both CRM and To-Do list. I love being able to convert emails to other formats easily. #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | Q2 plan workflow on paper, define functionality, identify tools to save time or centralize data, test it #sbbuzz |
| helpbusinesses: | Q2: @BizIncubation I find many ppl follow or view my social network link in my email signature. #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | Q2 Rememberthemilk can turn starred email onto tasks #sbbuzz |
| BizIncubation: | @helpbusinesses A lot of times ppl don’t realize that you are on the social media sites. its a nice gentle reminder. #sbbuzz |
| ImagineGraphics: | Not sure how many people follow us on multiple platforms but I try to post content in slightly different ways to not bore. #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @sbbuzz Q2: I also connect Twitter to other apps – I can add to-dos, appointments and set timers all through Twitter. #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | Q2 I forward or bcc lead emails to @37signals Highrise app #sbbuzz |
| BizIncubation: | @pmohara I haven’t had any issues with wise stamp yet.. unfortunately it doesn’t work in google chrome only with firefox #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | Q2 I manage support requests with @zendesk via email #sbbuzz |
| leoraw: | Coming in late…installed Sexy Bookmarks WP plugin and it’s great for easily sharing a post. #sbbuzz |
| DeeMcCrorey: | A1: #sbbuzz Use FB, Twitter (blog/vlog/website), YouTube, Flickr. Figuring out how to add our new virtual learning site to the mix. |
| shanemacsays: | @adriarichards Heard about @zendesk a while back… Might check out again. thanks. #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | Q2 I manage projects on @activeCollab and Basecamp via email #sbbuzz |
| pmohara: | @BizIncubation other problem is I have several identities – @pmohara @batchblue@sbbuzz so I just point to URLs (dont pull feeds) #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @adriarichards I love Zendesk, especially now that I can view ticket history in my CRM #sbbuzz |
| sbbuzz: | Q3 What are you doing w/your mobile phone to connect to other systems and how?#sbbuzz |
| leoraw: | @ImagineGraphics also post differently on varied platforms. Audiences + expectations vary. Easier to discuss on FB but fewer ppl #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | @shanemacsays They’re releasing new features all the time. @Twitter uses @Zendesk athttp://help.twitter.com #sbbuzz |
| jescarter: | Q3: Sending emails, docs and clips to @evernote; a great way to keep track of miscellaneous stuff. #sbbuzz |
| ChrisKrysinski: | Q2 Use my phone to post to Posterous and then auto post that to other outlets #sbbuzz |
| AmyDesmarais: | @BizIncubation in additions to creating presentations – do u find slideshare drives traffic #sbbuzz |
| BizIncubation: | Q3 I have sm apps on my mytouch.. it’s the best thing I could have done.. i take a pic, put it on facebook, twit pic+flickr #sbbuzz |
| pmohara: | Q3 – I sync BlackBerry w/gmail. I also use Tiny Twitter to access Twitter. I need to find more BBerry apps, but who has time? #sbbuzz |
| ImagineGraphics: | A3 hard to post content when I’m away from the office, so I just use mobile phone to listen to others (FB & Twitter) periodically. #sbbuzz |
| BizIncubation: | Q3 if i go to a conference, i blog about it there and then and tweet all via my phone! #sbbuzz |
| BizIncubation: | @AmyDesmarais absolutely.. it helps me explain my expertise, share my knowledge. I do get hits from slideshare back to my website #sbbuzz |
| DeeMcCrorey: | Q2 #sbbuzz I use Google docs and wikis for collaboration / managing projects with dispersed teams. |
| scoblitz: | @sbbuzz Q3: Goosync keeps my Gcal and Google contacts up to date with my mobile. #sbbuzz |
| shanemacsays: | Mobile is so broad and so many apps for everything. Im going to just say, iPhone. Works great. #sbbuzz |
| lindadessau: | Q3 Arrived late & catching up. I don’t have a smartphone yet but I’m saving for an iPhone – I do have TweetDeck on my iPod, though. #sbbuzz |
| pmohara: | I also have my CRM system as a contact in BBerry, so I can copy all messages into it. #sbbuzz |
| mercutiom: | Q3 – I upload photos to Flickr tagged with my URL, tweet a ton, and check-in with Foursquare and connect to others #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | Q3 Google Apps for domain email on your iPhone, Blackberry, Android a must have #sbbuzz http://google.com/a |
| AmyDesmarais: | Q3 I’m on tweet deck mobile right now! En route to a soccer game (don’t worry not driving) mobile is key when rushing around #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @pmohara I love Tiny Twitter – I do post pics from my phone with it to Twitpic. #sbbuzz |
| mercutiom: | Q3 – cont’d, I also have email and GCal synced to keep me on task throughout the day. #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @sbbuzz I think it’s so cool that our data is so transportable – can use almost anywhere and keep in sync. #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | I track my billable time on the iPhone with @harvest #sbbuzz http://getharvest.com |
| pmohara: | @scoblitz @adarowski once told me to learn to do that (instead of e-mailing him pics to post on our site). One day I will… #sbbuzz |
| IACEZ: | Q4 Contractors are naturally self-driven people- that’s why they’re contractors. #sbbuzz |
| DeeMcCrorey: | A3 #sbbuzz: I blog and tweet using phone…great for event coverage. But interested in other tools folks are using (lots of gr8 ideas here!) |
| adriarichards: | There is an iPhone app for Highrise CRM called Top floor #sbbuzz |
| pmohara: | Q4 What else are you duct taping together? Browser plugins, Google gadgets, what makes your life easier? #sbbuzz |
| sbbuzz: | Q4 What else are you duct taping together? Browser plugins, Google gadgets, what makes your life easier? #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | I use @getclicky to monitor blog traffic in real time and there’s a great mobolie interface #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | Twitter DM’s go to iPhone with “push” technology #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | Skype mobile for phones #sbbuzz |
| BizIncubation: | Q4 browser plugins like wise stamp, website analytics like google analytics, word press plugins like twitter feed… #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | Calendar for iPhone syncscwithbGoogle calendar #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @sbbuzz Q4 I’m hooked on browser bookmarklets that let me capture, file, and blog what I find online really quickly and easily. #sbbuzz |
| shanemacsays: | Using twitter to communicate more and more I use Tweetie 2 for iphone all the time. #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | Use @Timebridge to schedule appointments with folks. iPhone app also available #sbbuzz |
| lindadessau: | Q4 I use @TimeDriver for scheduling, and it links with my Google Calendar to see when I’m busy and free. #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | Use Flickit to post photos directly to Flickr #sbbuzz |
| leoraw: | A4 A fan of Google Alerts – plug something in, and then read news on that topic later. Currently have “Small Biz” as alert #sbbuzz |
| pmohara: | Q4 We’ve (and by that I mean the tech team) have set up greasemonkey add-ons for firefox to grab/link data in dif sites #sbbuzz |
| adriarichards: | If you use Tweetmeme on your blog or website, it will auto generate short urls for mobile folks #sbbuzz |
| pmohara: | I have anything with an RSS feed (BatchBook feeds, blogs, forums) go to Google Reader for quicker reads. #sbbuzz |
| sbbuzz: | And now it is what we affectionately call Pitch Time. Please tell us a little about your business. #sbbuzz |
| merylevans: | I prefer to get my reads in email or in Twitter. I never look at Google reader or anything like that anymore. #sbbuzz |
| IACEZ: | @AmyDesmarais You can find a couple here: http://www.slideshare.net/iacez #sbbuzz |
| shanemacsays: | We build websites and work to tell people about it! Some call it Social Media, we call it communication. http://www.m2volt.com #sbbuzz |
| merylevans: | Aw, a little late for conversation. #sbbuzz |
| lindadessau: | That went fast (b/c I was late)! Pitch: Create free advertising that brands you as an expert in your niche http://snipr.com/t1pw5 #sbbuzz |
| bradfordshimp: | Pimping out my blog in 2010. Giving away some free ads to build momentum. Check it out at http://bit.ly/7quy7d. #sbbuzz |
| sbbuzz: | Don’t forget #sbbuzz! If you’d like a once-a-week e-mail reminder of #sbbuzz chats sign up at http://sbbuzz.net #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @sbbuzz Pitch: eSeMBe helps you make sense of and use all the neat techie stuff that got discussed tonight! http://esembe.com #sbbuzz |
| bradfordshimp: | I provide advice for small business owners on All Biz Answers and am co-building a collaborative biz community at Idea Anglers #sbbuzz |
| leoraw: | If any of you are Facebook users, would love to have you join my FB page for Websites for Small Biz http://bit.ly/5L9vS5 #sbbuzz |
| pmohara: | Pamela here from @batchblue small business CRM. We stir up great #sbbuzz conversations and organize the new connections in BatchBook. |
| sbbuzz: | Thanks to everyone for another great discussion! We’ll get the #sbbuzz summary posted on the site soon at http://sbbuzz.biz |
| BizIncubation: | Pitch: Co founder of a new media consulting firm-work with businesses & nonprofits to help them realize the power of social media. #sbbuzz |
| scoblitz: | @sbbuzz Pitch: I also run a music / photo blog at http://sensorydispensary.com – I’m currently reviewing my albums in haiku. #sbbuzz |
| shashib: | #sbbuzz great conversation favorited tips Pitch : enter this fun #nsbiztip contesthttp://bit.ly/5ktq3Z by giving your own tip |
| shanemacsays: | I’m also a wedding singer/entertainer playing shows all over the country. http://www.mac-live.com/weddings #sbbuzz |
| merylevans: | Will there be a chat next week or holiday break? #sbbuzz |
| ginabee: | Pitch: WriteyTidy turns out tidy text! Words I can do…Thank goodness I’ve got a tech guy!http://writeytidy.com #sbbuzz |
| lindadessau: | Thanks everyone – I’m traveling next week so happy holidays and I’ll see you in two weeks! #sbbuzz |
| bigcloudmedia: | @sbbuzz. Big Cloud Media provides web services that increase ROI. Web design, development, seo, etc. http://www.bigcloudmedia.com #sbbuzz |
| IACEZ: | Thx for a great chat everyone! Pitch: IAC-EZ is an easy-to-use online accounting SaaS app for small businesses. http://bit.ly/1Thru8 #sbbuzz |
