Mark's Biz Talk posts

How often do you ask for the bad stuff?

I'm curious- how often do you take time to ask your clients and customers: "What do you hate about my/our business/service/product? What's broken, not working, or pissing you off?"

And, when you don't ask but you get feedback anyway, how do you react? What do you do with feedback like that?

This came up because an article I recently posted had rather low ratings compared to previous articles, and I was curious- so I asked. And, it turns out that some people were rating it very high, and some people were rating it very low, and I got some very interesting feedback from people.

So, I'm wondering how you all handle it?

Looking to hire... again...

Hey folks,

Wow- I can't believe how absent I've been from here the last month or more. It's been a wild ride, and Biznik kinda fell off my radar for a bit.

The ride isn't over yet, and yet, we're looking for help finding the perfect assistant. Here's the job description: Admin Assistant with Oomph.

Yes, we know about virtual assistants. :) We need someone local to Portland, who can join our team.

Please feel free to forward it on to any good candidates you may know of.

Thanks! peace Mark

Celebrating getting published!

Hey folks, I'm just super excited- I've been accepted as a blogger in the business section of The Huffington Post. It's a big deal- whether or not you agree with the politics (it's a very progressive-leaning publication) it gets a LOT of views. The connection happened by magic, and I'm excited, as I said, but also feeling vulnerable. It's a big stage to be on, even if it's just a small section of it.

Here's the post: How Productivity Contributes to Global Warming and Debt.

My request, fellow Biznikians, is if you're willing- please go to the article, read it, and comment on it.

And, if you like what you read, click "I'm a fan." I'd love to pick up followers and popularity there, so I can stay. :-)

Thanks for celebrating with me. It's very wild.

A question about Beth Jones' USP article

I read Beth's USP article, I'm going to push back a little bit. :) Hi Beth- just a little friendly, respectful pushback to keep things lively.

While I agree with many of your points, I've noticed that a lot of times a USP is very focused on the business owner, or the business, and not on the client. USPs can often come off as "me-me-me-centered." In fact, in our marketing, I rarely use our USP front-and-center because it seems too soon to bring it in.

Even in your example with Biznik itself, the "business networking that doesn't suck"- although I've mentioned it at times, I rarely use it, or think of biznik in that way.

And, in your example of your own USP: "We create engaging books for businesses which capture that business’s legacy and celebrate its history. What’s unique about my company as opposed to some other companies who also do business history books is that we tell the stories." I'm left a little confused- I don't get what you're saying here, or why it's important to me as a business owner. And I'm someone who has published several books and programs, so theoretically I'm in your target market.

I know that USP is important, and I love that you made such a point of it being client-centered. But my conclusion has been that the USP is often over-rated and not as necessary as we think.

Wonder what you think of my pushback? Can you help me understand the point you're making a bit more?

Thanks!

Portland Event- curious?

Last year I told Dan that I would be willing and happy to host an event for Biznik in 2008. Well, here we are, and I'm happy to move forward with that.

Of the 187 members in the Portland area, who's interested in what? Some possible topics I'm happy to discuss:

• Creating a Heart-Centered and Effective Website to grow your business.
• Heart-Centered Sales- how to talk to potential clients with integrity and heart, and still get paid.
• Creating information products for your service business. 30%+ of our monthly revenue is from product sales- we've made over $100K in information product sales over the last two years.
• Building Strategic Alliances- the number one marketing strategy for business expansion.

Any of these sound good? Let me know which one you like, and I'll set it up.

Hiring an assistant

We just had our first adventure of hiring an actual assistant. It went pretty decently- except she gave notice after five months, and now we have to start over.

This is a learning process for us. Anyone with experience in hiring care to share?

Here's the listing we created: (http://www.heartofbusiness.com/contact/hire.htm)

URGENT- blacklisted! I need a referral

I'm in a little bit of a panic- it seems that somehow our domain, heartofbusiness.com, is getting blacklisted by some ISPs, and so emails, just normal, personal, individual emails to clients, are bouncing back.

Can anyone help us? I'm guessing some spammer hacked our domain somehow. Do you have a referral for someone who can help undue the damage?

You can contact me directly, send a private message, or use a carrier pigeon or smoke signals. Whatever you want, I need help.

Thanks!

Heart-Centered Websites: A nearly-Biznik Event

Again, I'm partnering with Biznik-Portland-Partner CubeSpace to present a monthly Lunch n learn.

Because it's not strictly for Biznik members, but also for Cubespace members, and anyone in the Portland metro area, we couldn't make this an official Biznik event- but it has the same spirit as one, I like to think.

Here are the details:

Wednsday, November 28 noon-1:30pm Lunch n Learn at CubeSpace

Creating Heart-Centered Websites for your independent business Details on the CubeSpace website: (http://www.cubespacepdx.com/node/1428)

Is it really possible to have your website grow your business? (Is there a way to create a website that actually brings in business, while avoiding hype or strong-arm tactics?)

If you do have a website, it's probably sitting there, looking pretty. You've put your heart into have your site really reflect who you are... so where are the customers?

Or maybe you've been putting off creating a website in the first place. It seems as if there are so many decisions to make: what it needs to look like, what to write on which web page. How do you figure it all out?

And, will it really open the door to new business? Is all that trouble really worth it? When you look around the internet, it seems as if the only websites that bring in paying customers are full of hype or else they look kind of antiseptic and corporate.

The big question: how do you create a website that is authentic to you, and still opens the door to new business?

Topics we'll cover in this Cubespace Lunch n Learn:

• What in the heck does go on your business' home page?
• What are the basic eight pages every website needs, whether you are a blog or a more traditional website?
• The true purpose of a website, and how it fits into your business.
• The Three Journeys of Marketing, and the purpose of the website in each one.

About the presenter: Mark Silver from Heart of Business, Inc. has been helping hundreds of his clients bring their businesses online. The author of the learning program Creating Heart-Centered Websites, Mark's website is responsible for bringing in a five-figure income each and every month, while helping to create a loyal, passionate following.

For more information, and to find the darn place where I'll be. :) Details on the CubeSpace website: (http://www.cubespacepdx.com/node/1428)

By the way, CubeSpace is darn cool. If you need office space in in Portland with all the fancy extras, but don't want to rent an entire office just to yourself (or buy all the equipment yourself, either) then you want to check out CubeSpace: (http://www.cubespacepdx.com)

I hope I see you there!

best Mark

p.s. Here's a related article:

Why you don't want Michelangelo working on your website: (http://heartofbusiness.com/articles/2006/Sep27.htm)

So, will I see you there?

Happy Turkey (or ToFurkey) Day

The eve before my wife and I wing away to St. Louis to meet my sister and other far-flung members of my family for Thanksgiving, I thought I'd share my gratitude for this community.

This is the first networking community that feels sustainable and fun, and that actually connects online and offline/in-person connections in a way that I can engage with authentically.

I'm very grateful for you all. I'm looking forward to 2008, and to hosting some Biznik events myself, adding to the community.

Cheers and sweet potatoes, and stuffing and etc.

How important is spirituality in your business?

When people talk about 'spirituality' they mean many different things.

I'm curious as to:

• what you mean by 'spirituality'
• whether it's important to you in the context of your business.
• how it shows up in your business, whether or not it's directly visible to your clients/customers.

Free talk Wed Oct 31 on Sacred Moment of the Sale

We couldn't make this an official Biznik event, because it's not just for Biznik members, but I'm giving a talk at CubeSpace, a Portland partner of Biznik, for their members, and for locals to my list, and for you all, too.

It's on the Sacred Moment of the Sale: How to talk to potential clients with integrity and heart, and still get paid.

Here's the link to the Cubespace description: (http://cubespacepdx.com/node/1373)

Although it's only an hour, it's based on a two-day Seminar we give on the topic: (http://www.heartofbusiness.com/themoment)

I know this link can look like a commercial pitch, so please excuse me- it's not my intention. I put a fair amount of effort to make my sales pages educational- it will give you a good idea of what I'm going to be talking about.

This is more than announcement- anyone have any questions about troubling conversations with potential clients that I can help with?

Free heart-centered, spiritually-aware effective marketing course

It seems like this is a good group to offer this resource to. It's a free marketing course we created. It's not something we offer to just everyone- you can't find it on our website. But, in special circumstances, we offer it to organizations or groups that could use the support.

Here it is: (http://www.heartofbusiness.com/6principles)

Let me know if it helps. Happy to be of service to this community.

I need a phpbb coder rightquick

Hey folks,

I've got a membership site: (http://www.thebusinessoasis.com)

And we used phpbb for our forum software. I need to add two mods to it, without disturbing the custom color and look I've added, somewhat painstaking.

I don't think it's a huge job, but I need it done this week, if at all possible. Does anyone have a referral for someone who can help me out with phpbb?

Feel free to respond here, or to send a message to me privately.

Thanks! Mark

Message deleting

Here's another one folks, as long as it's a wish list.

I've accumulated nearly 20 private messages in my inbox. Can you set up a little 'check box' next to them, so it's easy to check one, many, or all of them, and delete a bunch at a time? Deleting them one at a time is a bit of a pain, especially since I have to confirm "OK" each time.

Thanks!

Top and bottom links

I'm hoping this will be a super-easy patch.

When I'm reading a biztalk discussion, and there have been a few replies, I've scrolled down, eh?

The little nested link you have at the top, above the Topic title: Ex:

Biztalk » Indie Biz Q&A »

List the Price or not list the price?

Could you repeat it at the end of the discussion?

Biztalk » Indie Biz Q&A »

That way, if I've scrolled all the way down, I don't have to scroll back to the top to get back into the particular discussion I was in. Thanks!

Friday afternoon, PDX, can't work- Alberta cafe?

I'm in my home office, spinning my wheels. Anyone want to hang out at a cafe on Alberta St?