CoTweet – What it is and Why You Need It

You have a Twitter account, right? Of course you do. And you’ve read a lot of blog posts and articles on our site and everywhere else about optimizing your Twitter efforts for business. But you might still be struggling to efficiently, effectively connect with your customers and prospects using Twitter. Well, fret no more. If you haven’t heard about CoTweet, you’re in for a treat. If you’ve been looking for the best way to manage multiple Twitter accounts or want to maximize your marketing through Twitter, CoTweet just might be the app for you.

What it does

As they describe themselves, “CoTweet is a platform that helps companies reach and engage customers using Twitter.” The tools it gives you to accomplish that are like nothing else out there. Sure, there are tons of tools available for Twitter, but few are truly focused on the needs of business users, and none offer everything CoTweet does all in one place. CoTweet is specifically designed for businesses using Twitter. Not only does it let you manage multiple accounts and assign multiple users, but much like Google Alerts, it also lets you track trends as well as tracking when people are tweeting about you, your business, and/or your industry. If that weren’t enough, the application also allows you to schedule tweets, track clicks for posted URLs, and even assign on-call duty to different users so DM and other alerts go to specific people at different times.

How it works

The core of CoTweet is a lot like an email client. You have your folders, like Inbox, Sent, and Scheduled, on the left, your messages in the center pain, and some administrative functions on the right side. There is also a search box on the left, and you can set up saved searches for terms you want to track on a regular basis. Once you set up your accounts, your feeds begin flowing in, and it allows you to see your feed, your @replies, hash tag tracking, etc. at a glance. With a couple of clicks, you can compose and schedule tweets, check click stats, and respond to DMs or @replies. The interface is very polished and fairly intuitive, and users have reported few bugs and glitches. Overall, it’s incredibly easy to get used to and begin using, which, considering its considerable functionality is pretty impressive.

To signup for CoTweet, you enter your basic information, put in your Twitter account details, and you’re up and running in no time. The cost is zero at the moment, while they are in beta phase, but that will change soon enough. Still, the company promises “We’ll give you plenty of notice before we start charging for the service, and the cost will be reasonable.” Their announcement yesterday that they have been acquired by ExactTarget, a leader in email marketing, might or might not change that, but they insist the vision remains the same.

Who’s using it

Some of the largest, most prominent companies around are using CoTweet to manage their Twitter activities. These include:

• Coca Cola
• Ford
• Southwest Airlines
• McDonald’s
• Dell
• Starbucks
• Pepsi
• Microsoft
• And, yes, Twitter

Is it right for you?

Obviously the above is a list of huge companies, and it’s true that much of the platform is designed for corporate users who might have multiple editors posting and responding to tweets on multiple Twitter accounts. That doesn’t mean small businesses can’t benefit from the application though. Even if you never used the multiple-users feature, there is still plenty of value there. If nothing else, it’s nice to have all the functionality in one place. While it’s free, give it a try. You might just find it will be worth whatever they decide to charge after the beta.

The Socially Responsible Entrepreneur – Are You One?

As recent as ten years ago, terms like, “renewable,” “fair trade,” and “sustainability” were considered the vocabulary of the fringe. These words were uttered mostly by those some referred to as “tree huggers” and “granolas,” and “real” entrepreneurs were more concerned with making some cold hard cash than with making a difference. That’s not to say business was completely self-centered. The largest percentage of charitable donations always came from business, and for years many companies have included as part of their mission to make a difference in the world. Still, the emphasis on making the world a better place for all to live, while we build our businesses, has only recently shifted.

These days, you’re as likely to catch a CEO talking about corporate or social responsibility as the bottom line. No one can pinpoint for sure why this shift has taken place, but it might have something to do with so many young idealists starting companies that have become huge corporations. Not long ago the most prominent companies were all run by 60-somethings who prided themselves in doing business the old fashioned way. Now, even though the Fortune 500 hasn’t changed much, the companies getting the largest chunk of the media attention (at least positive media attention) were started by people in their 20s and 30s.

What is socially responsible entrepreneurialism?

Whatever the reason, social responsibility in business is here now, and it’s growing. But what exactly does it mean to be a socially responsible entrepreneur? The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship defines social entrepreneurs as “Those who drive social innovation and transformation in various fields including education, health, environment, and enterprise development.” In other words, a social entrepreneur is someone who takes actions to make the world a better place while building their business. Does that mean your business has to be about green energy or saving endangered species? No, socially responsible entrepreneurs don’t necessarily devote their business to causes. Being a socially responsible entrepreneur is about doing what your business does best, and considering other factors, such as the environment, poverty, or social equality when making business decisions.

3 Steps You Can Take to be a Social Entrepreneur

1. Green it up. Even if you’re a home-based CEO, there are simple steps you can take to help the environment. The easiest and most obvious is recycling. Nearly every city has some sort of recycling program for your paper, cardboard, glass, and metal waste, but you can go a step further. Rather than throwing that draft print job in the recycling bin, why not use it as scratch paper, and then toss it to the recyclers once it’s really used up? Also, consider switching to more energy efficient light bulbs, and buying recycled paper. For more tips for a green home office, click here. Any change you make will help to make a difference, and those changes that save energy or reuse materials will save you some money as well.

2. Give it away. Time to replace that old printer, copier, or PC? Don’t just throw it out. If it still works or just needs some TLC, there are definitely organizations in your community that can use it. Check out the National Christina Foundation or TechSoup Stock to find out how to donate your electronics to a good cause. If you have a company with several employees, consider holding a food or clothing drive a couple of times a year. It’s not just during the holidays when people are in need. Local charities are always happy to take your donations.

3. Pick a cause. As an entrepreneur, you know it’s important to focus on what you’re most passionate about. The same is true when it comes to doing good. Pick a topic within the realm of social responsibility that appeals to you, and concentrate your efforts on making a difference in that area. Of course if the area you choose is saving the rainforest, you’ll still recycle, but your primary focus will be on rainforest conservation efforts and the charities that support that. If it’s the environment, that might mean reducing your carbon footprint by 30% and going paperless within 12 months. If your heart is pulled toward undernourished children, it might mean donating 5% of your profits to a charity of that kind and sponsoring a city-wide food drive for them every year. When you choose a single cause and do a good job of supporting it, your company becomes linked to that cause, and your customers and potential customers see that. So it’s good for business, as well as good for the soul.

While we all like to make money, finding meaning and fulfillment in our lives is a universal need, and one many entrepreneurs hope to satisfy through starting a business. Becoming a socially responsible entrepreneur helps us to do both. When we’re doing what we love, making money, and helping to make the world a better place to live, what more can there be?

6 Blogs Every Blogger Should Read

If you’re a blogger looking to increase traffic, monetize your blog, or improve your content or design, there are quite a few blogger resource blogs that can help. As a start, we’ve put together a list of six essential blogs every blogger should read on a regular basis.

Hot Blog Tips – Keith Bloemendaal’s blog covers a wide range of topics and is updated regularly. Having started several businesses both off and online, Keith (a regular commenter on Blogtrepreneur) could be described as a serial entrepreneur and really knows his stuff. Hot Blog Tips topics include social media, SEO, Wordpress, and general blogging. It’s a great resource to learn about any of these topics from a guy who lives it every day.

ProBlogger – No list of blogger blogs would be complete without Darren Rowse’s ProBlogger. This blog is packed full of information to help bloggers make a living online. As Darren (also the creator of TwiTip.com) puts it in his recent post welcoming new readers, “ProBlogger is a blog that is devoted to helping bloggers improve their blogging and explore ways to earn an income at the same time by writing about topics that they love.” If you’re new to blogging, be sure to check out his post, Blogging Tips for Beginners.

CopyBlogger – Another no-brainer when creating this list was CopyBlogger. Promoting successful online marketing through improving your copywriting skills and content marketing strategies is the aim of founder Brian Clark’s blog. With posts like 10 Secrets to More Magnetic Copy, The 7 Deadly Sins of Blogging, and 5 Steps to Going Viral on Twitter, it’s no surprise CopyBlogger has attracted over 106,000 subscribers and nearly 50,000 Twitter followers. If you’re not one of them, click over and see what all the buzz is about.

Weblog Tools Collection – This site’s name says it all. With tons of articles, videos, and news on everything Wordpress, WTC is a complete collection of tools for Wordpress bloggers. Whether you’re interested in the latest WP widget, or theme, skin or template, you’ll find it on this site. Not using Wordpress? In addition to Wordpress-specific information, the blog posts cover a wide range of other useful topics, from web ethics to the business of blogging, so check it out.

BLogic Think – Offering lots of free Wordpress plugins and themes, and some great blogging tips, this blog, started and written by Yunike Puspita and Satria Nugraha, has a lot of solid content. Because English is a second language to the writers, it takes a little more effort to read the posts. Because Yunike and Satria are full-time bloggers who make a living doing what they write about, it’s worth the effort. Be sure to pay particular attention to their posts on making money online.

Daily Blog Tips – A blogger and web developer since 2005, Daniel Scocco is the founder and writer of Daily Blog Tips, a great resource for anyone looking to make a living through their blog. Looking to get started with affiliate links on your site? Check out 15 Affiliate Marketing Questions Answered. DBT offers some outstanding content from guest bloggers, like Henri Junttila and Amit Banerjee as well. If you’re not already there, join Daniel’s other 40,000 subscribers and make the most out of your blogging efforts.

Whether you’re new to blogging or a full-time veteran blogger, we hope this list will help you to optimize your blog’s content, design and income. Obviously there are a lot more great resources out there. What’s your favorite? Join in the conversation below and share your thoughts.

Tweeting For Clicks

Like any other business or marketing tool, Twitter works well only when it’s used properly. But what does that mean? If you’re using it to drive traffic to your site, it means using some simple, specific techniques to improve Twitter’s effectiveness. Overall, the key is to stand out from the crowd. The problem is, Twitter’s greatest attraction can be its greatest flaw – it’s free. So it is flooded with millions upon millions of people, all screaming, “Look at me! Look at me!” With just a couple of simple guidelines though, you can stand out from the crowd. With patience and the right approach, people will not just follow your tweets, but click through when you post a link – and better yet, re-tweet it.

Offer value

Take a look at the screen shots of two Twitter timelines below. Both post links in pretty much every update, but with very different results. The user on the left probably wonders why his/her Twitter marketing efforts aren’t paying off, while on the right, Guy Kawasaki (@GuyKawasaki), with over 200,000 followers, gets thousands of click-throughs every day. The big difference is that the person on the left posts links that are entirely self-serving. In other words, however cleverly disguised, there is little doubt that when you click on one of those links, he/she is getting something out of it. On the other hand, Guy posts links to useful information. Yes, the information lies primarily on his site, so he benefits from your clicks, but he’s not trying to sell you something at every turn. He has set the expectation of his followers that he’s a resource, not a snake oil salesman.

The lesson to learn is that when you have a reputation for helping, people will respond favorably to what you have to offer. That of course is true everywhere, not just Twitter, but with all the scammers and spammers on Twitter, it’s especially applicable. We don’t recommend posting a link every time you post, and when you do, link to a helpful article, funny video, or cool new site more often than you post to what you sell. That way when you do direct followers to your own site, people will gladly click away!

Mix it up

Social Media is all about building relationships. It is a great opportunity for your prospects, readers, and customers to get to know you better. Even online, people do business with people, and even more so with people they like. So regardless of your industry, don’t make your Twitter feed all about business. A combination of personal posts about yourself, posts about your business, informational or general-interest posts, and re-tweets keeps your feed interesting and therefore worth following. Pam Moore (@PamMktgNut) with FruitZoom, Inc., a Florida-based marketing and Social Media consulting firm, does a great job of this. Her last 24 hours of posts, as of the time of this writing, included a link to a poll she created using PollDaddy, a few re-tweets, some @-replies, a link to a useful Social Media guide (on a site other than hers), a link to a blog post on her company’s site, and a post that she accidentally left her Blackberry at home today. Her 15,000+ followers know Pam’s feed is going to offer a variety of usefulness, entertainment, and personalization. So when she posts that link to her own site, her followers gladly click through.

Using Twitter effectively is part art and part science, and it takes time and patience to perfect it, but if your aim is to drive traffic to your site, we hope these tips will help. If you’ve got other advice, join in the conversation by leaving a comment below. We’d love to hear what’s worked well for you!

Avoid Planning Paralysis with the One-Page Business Plan

What’s the first thing most everyone says you need to do if you’re going to start a business? Write a business plan. But what if you’ve never written a business plan? Or what if you have, and the plan for your last business idea took you three months to write – and you haven’t even looked at it since you wrote it?

Depending on what you read, you might think you need to come up with 30-50 pages of meticulously thought-out, detailed material, including comprehensive financial projections, market studies, contingency plans, and more. So it’s no surprise that the very idea of having to write a formal business plan has kept some would-be entrepreneurs from taking the leap into business ownership altogether.

Of course you do have a lot of options for help if you buy into the conventional wisdom that a formal business plan is an absolute necessity. For starters, there are several hundred books on the subject, ranging from the “For Dummies” version for about fifteen bucks, to Bankable Business Plans for Entrepreneurial Ventures for $95.00 ($52.78 a pound!). Or you can download some slick software, like Palo Alto Software’s Business Plan Pro for $100-$200. If you want to go all out, you also have the option of hiring a firm like Portland Oregon’s MasterPlans to create a plan for you, for an average of $1,500-$4,000.

Let’s be clear: if you’re in need of start up financing, you will need a more formal business plan, and it might even be worth shelling out hundreds or even thousands of dollars and spending plenty of time to create one. Even then though, some bankers will tell you less is more, at least initially. When it’s time for your proposed loan to go to committee – or whoever the decision makers are – they want to see everything. But when you first present the idea to your financier, they’ll probably just want enough to help them decide whether it’s worth taking it to the next step.

If you don’t need major financing to get your business going, even if you might need it down the road, and if you’re dreading the idea of creating a formal business plan, take heart. A study undertaken a few years ago by Babson College has some good news for you. The study, entitled Pre-startup Formal Business Plans and Post-startup Performance, looked at 116 businesses started over an eighteen year period, from 1985 to 2003. Here’s what they found:

The analysis revealed that there was no difference between the performance of new businesses launched with or without written business plans. The findings suggest that unless a would-be entrepreneur needs to raise substantial startup capital from institutional investors or business angels, there is no compelling reason to write a detailed business plan before opening a new business.

Does that mean planning is unimportant? No, it does not. It means you can actually start planning to run your business… planning to do business, rather than planning to plan to do business. It has been said that a goal with out a plan is just a wish. We definitely advocate putting together a written plan. But for most businesses, that can be as little as a single page.

Welcome to the world of the one-page business plan! We believe your plan should have the following elements, all of which should be able to fit on one page:

Vision – Your vision talks about what you’re building. Whether it’s to dominate your market or simply be the best at what you do, this one to three sentence statement tells your company’s future.

Mission – While your vision tells the end result of your efforts, your mission statement talks about why your company exists. It talks, in a general sense, about how you will accomplish your vision.

Objectives – This section can simply be a list of bullet points stating your business goals. These items might be, “Generate $X in revenue this year,” or “Hire two employees by the third quarter.” Don’t worry about specifics in this section; just list end results.

Strategies – Your strategies tell how you’ll meet your objectives. Without going into great detail, list bullet points, such as, “Build a strategic alliance with Chamber of Commerce and other service organizations to increase local visibility,” or “Maximize gross profit by utilizing co-op advertising with select vendors.”

Action Plans – You’ll still use bullet points here and won’t be overly descriptive, but these list items will have dates tied to them and offer more specifics than your strategies. Examples are, “Move to Greenway Business Park office – May 1,” and “Negotiate bulk rate pricing with XYZ Supply beginning March 15^th.”

This one-page plan, like any good business plan, is a fluid document and will change as your business changes. If you do go for financing at some point, this plan will provide a starting outline for a more formal plan. And even then you don’t have to fret too much. (Check out GrowThink’s innovative Ultimate Business Plan Template software for an easy-to-use, effective way to create a professional business plan to take to any financial backer.)

Unlike the kind of plan you put together for financial institutions, the one page business plan is light, practical, and easy to refer to. You might even consider keeping it posted on the wall above your desk to remind you where you’re headed and how you’re going to get there!

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