Brick and Click

Social Media for Business Workshop

I'll be conducting a private social media for business workshop - special emphasis on Facebook - for a Winchester BNI Group on Wednesday,  May 25th, from 9am to 12pm, at Alcova Mortgage in Winchester.  I'm attending my first BNI meeting this morning with this group in Winchester, VA, and am always excited to discover new ways to network with business owners and professionals.  Taking part in regular business focused networking meet-ups are one of the best things I or anyone can do.  Being immersed in the Social Web each day is great ... but it's imperative to get out and 'hit the bricks', shake hands, pass out biz cards, and meet people face to face.  Of course I'll be doing what I advise all of my clients to do this morning:  making sure everyone knows how to easily find and follow/connect with me on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and this blog. It's those simple things like converting a 'brick' experience into 'click' connections that can add tremendous punch to your high value community building.  Those you meet face to face, those you help or interact with on a more personal level online via Twitter, Facebook, etc ... are much more likely to be interested in communicating, referring, sharing and networking in the future. Looking forward to hosting workshops again!  I'm available for private ones like this one, can come on site to do training for any business (local or anywhere), and will be posting 'open' workshops in various locations, mainly NoVA and the DC metro region.

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UPDATE:  Workshop has been pushed to Wed May 25, same time, same place (originally said May 17th in post)

Twin Tech Party 2 in Washington DC This Thursday

I"m excited about this Thursday's Twin Tech Party (2) in Washington DC, hosted by iStrategy Labs and the Northern VA Technology Council.  Click on the iStrategy and NVTC links for a recap of the first Twin Tech Party back in June (a smash success, more than 600 attended), and details on this week's event, which may be twice the size as its predecessor.   My Qik interview of author/tech reporter Sarah Lacy at the first party is here.   I plan on having my Nokia N95 ready and streaming for this Thursday's event.  If you follow my Twitter stream, I'll be sending out automatic alerts whenever streaming live, along with BrightKite (location based social network) pictures and updates.

The first Twin Tech Party was covered by numerous media entities, including the Washington Post.  The goal of these gatherings is to bring together 'old guard' tech folks and the 'new social media' crowd.  It's a great opportunity to press the flesh with bright minded entrepreneurs, business types of all stripes, and uber geeks ... who need to get out and socialize.  There are plenty of people spending hours a day on social networks.  But nothing compares to brick and click networking and socializing.  And events like this - it's free - are some of the best ways to make new business contacts.   If you're interested, check out the invitation page, and I hope to see you there.

Business Opportunities in Your Town

Sometimes it's not about a brilliant new business idea.   Sometimes it's recognizing an opening ... a void ... a trend ... and moving like greased lightening to fill it.  This is not an extensive or exhaustive list, just some trends and opportunities I see.  Is there an opening for one of them in your town? 

• Organic Fast Food (check out Washington Post article, Business section, June 3, called Fast Food Goes Organic, about the "growing appetite for quick, health eateries) 
• A Fabulous Ice Cream Joint - a local landmark. I'm talking long lines and crazy devotion, with heaping helpings of frozen custard like Ted Drewes in St. Louis, or Carl's in Fredericksburgh, Virginia (can't locate a website for Carl's ... talk to me Carl!).  Carl's offers only three flavors:  Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry, and people die for the stuff.
• Green Center - a place for all things Green: solar panels, battery powered equipment, etc.  Please tell me someone will soon launch a product line of heavy-duty, battery powered lawn equipment (John Deere???).  If they do, and you want to make a killing in the lawn business, be the quietest, non-smelliest, lowest emission lawn care outfit around.   Charge more for it.  You'd find plenty of takers.
• Modern (with retro touches) Barber Shop -  The barber shops in my town still operate like it's 1955.  How quaint, open 9a-5:30pm, which works great for barbers, but lousy for the modern commuter who leaves for work at 5am and returns home at 7:30p.  If I owned a Barber Shop, I'd open from 6am - 10pm, I'd promote the heck out of my extended hours, and I'd have my barbers work staggered shifts.   I'd have flat panel TVs, satellite radio, and here's the big money maker ... offer straight razor shaves.  Read this Wash Post article, For Men, Luxury Regains its Edge.  Looking for a perfect Father's Day gift? Give dad the equivalent of a manly spa treatment (hot towel/razor shave/haircut).   And do what all small businesses should do, and have a WEBSITE.   Imagine a web savvy barber shop promoting a "groomsman package" (straight razor shave, etc) to wedding parties.  Cha-CHING $$$.

Sometimes the best business plan is to take a stale, set-in-its-old ways business ... and add some modern touches.  It's not rocket science.  But it certainly could make your profits take off like a rocket.