Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Twitter for Business

Simply said, you can user Twitter for business. But how?
Friday, March 6, 2009
How to drive new business, right now!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
What do you know about your customer?
Monday, September 8, 2008
Daily Do's: What are 3 things you have to do?
Daily Do's: What are you reading?
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Entrepreneurs invoke Change!
The thread of our country is predicated upon ideas that have manifested themselves into true products, services and business that were designed by and for the people of this great
---Jake Press ---- Reporting
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Do you know about these Online Events?
So there you are!
You are at an event to meet people "business contacts" and here you are stuck in front of a guy, who just won't stop talking! He is going on and on about things that really don't interest you. Over in the corner next to the coffee table is someone that you know you have to speak to... what do you do?
You don't want to be rude, but you have to talk to this contact. Politely excuse yourself from the conversation by asking for their card and letting them know it was great meeting them and you have to meet this other person before he/she leaves. There is however another solution... how about scrapping that networking event all together and joining something that I found recently, it's called BlitzTime.com.
Now normally I wouldn't write an entire column on a company "site", but I found it to be incredibly resourceful with loads of potential. What if you could have those meetings from your office/home computer and phone with no traffic or "How's the weather conversations"? Here's how it works... You sign into blitztime.com and join "It's free.. plain and simple". You then have access to events whereby you will speak to several different people that pop onto your computer screen in 5 to 7 min increments. You dial into a number given to you and you will hear hold music letting you know that your blitztime is about to start. So now there you are, in front of your computer with the person that is about to speak to you in a matter of minutes or seconds. You have 5 minutes to tell what you do, what you can do for them and "vice versa". No weather conversations here! During the call within the last 20 seconds, get their phone number and email address if it's someone that has shown "interest" in what you do. Don't let the time run out before saying goodbye, but if you do, there are still ways to connect in the site.
It's a great way to polish, how you present your service or product and get you sharpened when speaking to others. I think this company is setting the future standard for how people will network online.
You may access them at http://www.blitztime.com/ "Check it out today and see what YOU think!"
----Jake Press Reporting.
Friday, August 15, 2008
How do you manage your contacts?
Just for a minute think about this... "The Phone Rings", you answer it, it's John. You know John is working hard and trying to meet new people and also get his business off the ground.
Is your first instinct, how can John fit into my business? How can I sell John my product? How much you are going to charge him?... Since after all "You do KNOW him". If this is you, I suggest one thing for starters. John didn't call you to ask you to sell him a product or service, or maybe he did. But maybe John just wanted to share about what is going on his world and wanting to know whats going on in yours.
Here is a very important fact: Friends do business with Friends. It has been this way for a very long time and I don't think that "rule of thumb" is going to change anytime soon. (Note: Make more friends). Here is something else to realize, John has something to say. People love to be heard and by you listening to John, he feels valued and important. If he feels important he will will be the guy you can call on late at night and answer the phone, like we talked about earlier.
What does John want? John wants assistance from you, he wants your advice, he wants your feedback on a situation. He has done something you have worked hard for "He is calling you" and YOU are the EXPERT! Giving John the expert feedback, will motivate him to make the necessary implementations and/or changes to his business. He will NOT forget that you were the one that helped him. You now have a powerful connection that knows people, that will get the message that you are the expert and how you helped him. Don't be surprised if you get calls from people he knows.
Here is another thought. "Don't wait for John to Call". Maybe, start off by giving John a call and asking him about his business and if their are any needs that he has, that you may be able to help him with your contacts/database/expertise/etc. "Whats the catch" he is thinking. There is no catch! When he knows there's no catch, he will reply with how can I help you. Let that linger to a follow-up conversation after you did what you said you would do, creates a powerful scenario where both of you WIN!
How many Johns do you know? What are you doing to help them! I promise the rewards are great!
Jake Press ----- Reporting.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Who do you know? Who knows you?
Ask yourself these following questions:
1. Who can I text that will call me back within minutes?
2. Who can I call in the evening and will answer the phone for me?
3. Who do I know that I also know personal things about them; their likes and dislikes, family names, music taste, frequent hangouts, their goals, objectives and dreams?
4. Who would take your call no matter what?
5. Who would do something, just b/c you asked them to do "that thing or favor"?
Now think about every contact you have in your Rolodex, your Outlook contacts, and other email contacts. How many do you know on that level?
For me evaluating this was a tough thing. I knew a lot of people, but how long would it take for it to register who I was if I called them? Would they take my call? And then I realized what I had to do.... "get more people to know me". In order for that to happen, I would have to care more about people then myself, put away my agendas and listen to people on a deeper level.
Would you agree that people will tell you everything you need to know if you just listen and get them talking. Asking people more about them, what they do, how they do it gets someone pumped! People love to talk about themselves. Listening, will tell you everything you need to know about how to do business with them... if it makes sense to do so.
If you are like me you probably have at least 3+ email address's in yahoo, gmail, and corp email. On a social network end, you are members of facebook, myspace, linkedin, twitter and probably one, two or three more, after all... isn't that enough? Yes and No.
Yes: Because you have to find ground "somewhere". A place that you can reference to and be referenced. Tip Part 1: take any of your following urls to linkedin, twitter, or other and attach it to your signature on your email. This will get people to access you from every email and it's not "in your face". It's a nice approach to marketing YOU. Tip part 2: You can also embed a code in any word in your email. A cleaner way of listing your URL.
No: Keep an eye out for other networks that pop up. It could mean finding a new client. But start somewhere and grow.
OK, so get more people to know you! Then make sure to ask them direct questions like, how can I help you with your business? What are you looking to do? What is your time frame? Then YOU will become the contact that people in your network want to meet!
Homework: Make a list of 10 people in your network of "who you know" that you want to know on that level. Then make a call, send an email, have a coffee and talk! Have Fun!
Jake Press - Reporting
Friday, July 25, 2008
Do I know you? Tips for finding the right business contact.
1st Step: Do your research! There are several ways that you can find the "right person", use Google and type in the persons name + title and chances are they have been interviewed at one time or another. Other ways include, using resources like tech crunch, and other sites like this to gain information about who is the top dogs in the company.
2nd Step: Know what to say before you start speaking! What is the state of their company, partnerships, at least know "something" about their company! Don't get in a position of "do you know what we do?" and you say uh!...Uh... That's a great way to end a potential connection/relationship.
3rd Step: Do it! Pick up the phone and make the call. Don't worry about what they say, because if you do step 1 and 2, and then proceed to make the call, you will be doing better than a vast majority of people. "You just have to make that call!"
4th step: Very important! When you are the phone, be real, be quick, be respectful, be YOU!
Know what you do, how you do it, how you can help them, don't curse, be friendly! After all people do business with people they like!
5th step: Don't worry if you mess up! It's all a part of learning! You will be tongue tied sometimes, you will lose your thoughts, it's ok. You're human! You will however, do Great!
----Jake Press Reporting
Monday, March 10, 2008
Normal People watch Talk Shows....CEO's watch The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch!
I love the way this show moves from beginning to end! The passion exudes from intro music to an end assignment to pay attention to our surroundings and find the hidden millions. The guests are you and I. They are everyday American entrepreneurs who strive for success in product innovation. They are what I call "The heartbeat of America" the hands of economic growth; they are visionaries that create opportunities for everyday workers.
Other guests on the show are industry leaders that have made multimillion-billion dollar brands and talked about how it happened from as little as 40.00 start to a billion dollar empire. Their Big Idea, Bad Idea segment is a natural "You Think Vs I think” creating a fun camaraderie of opinions.
I actually would love to be a part of this show. Maybe, if there is anyone reading this that is a part of the Big Idea show. Maybe they will take my efforts into consideration. Until then, continue in your efforts to achieve the greatest things in life and pursue the talents you have been given to solidify that success!
Most importantly.... keep Thinking Big!
Jake Press ---- Reporting.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
How do I define Failure? - Step 3
We have created our idea, we have taken the necessary steps to write it down, we are moving in the right direction with whatever it is that we need to accomplish. There is one thing, that hasn't been calculated, the fact that "something" will go wrong. As much as you don't want to hear it, if you don't prepare for it, it will feel like the world has been dropped on you. Maybe, it will be small, like a misprint on a brochure, or a deal went sour, or maybe larger like trademark issues, issues with rights, partnerships going to a dismal place, costs increase unexpectedly. Some of these things happen, so be sure to calculate errors in your process, time, and expectations.
Whew! That is tough to talk about. Of course we all have dealt with some errors in business. However, it is what makes us stronger, wiser, and sharper. May, I quickly make mention. Choose your business partner very carefully, in prayerful consideration. Do not be hasty and crass in your decision. It could certainly affect you briefly.
So, use this as a calcuation tool, when implimenting your execution of your business. You are successful! You are great at what you do! So, get out there and do it! Do it well!
Success is the only option.
Thinking Big!
-Jake Press - Reporting.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Do you have a written plan? Step 2 in a series of Steps.
This is such an easy concept to write down an idea or concept for changing the world or revolutionizing that industry, but taking the necessary time to do is another issue. I am here to tell you that if you don't write down your vision the following things will happen:
1. You will lose focus and sight of your goals. Candidly, you will forget what you are going for..
2. You won't know the steps to get there.
3. You will be in a stagnant position.
4. You will be looking for people to help and not know what help you need.
5. You will begin to be weary and un focused, because you will not know when you are close to
getting there. Your starting point or milestone so to speak.
Now that we have outlined what we must NOT do, let’s talk about the steps to writing down the steps!
1. Right Now! You must grab a pen and paper and start writing down your ideas, start numbering them and jot them down, I don't care if it's on scraps, write it down!
2. After initially writing down the ideas, schedule some time, if now is not good, to organize your idea in sections of needs and wants. What do I need to be successful; a programmer, designer website, business cards, tools, utensils, just start listing them. This way, you will know what gaps you need to fill.
3. I am not going to overwhelm you with more steps; we will get to this later.
Let’s start here.
I really would appreciate your thoughts and feedback, therefore, please send your comments. I am writing this to help people out there that are serious about their dreams and just needing some guidelines, tips, and hints to helping them further... their BIG IDEA.
Jake Press --- Reporting.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?? Step 1 of a series of Steps
Elections are here today! Did you vote? Voting is about making change and advancements in operating laws that are "suppose" to benefit us, hopefully. Such a change also starts with you. Voting is not just about deciding who wins position, but rather the opportunity to partake in making decisions that will impact our world. YOU have the choice to make that impact. It starts with your ideas, of what you feel will drive a new industry, existing industry and make something better, faster and/or easier.
Do you have what it takes? If you do, then you have already or will start writing a written plan of action for how you are going to get your idea off the ground. Guess what if a plane doesn't move off the runway then it will never fly. The same goes for your ideas, if you don't make moves on your idea to position it into a marketplace, it will stay stagnant! How sad that is, that so many of the ideas, fall into useless hands who have bought the lies of mediocrity, and looking at what they don't have as resources to get out there and make it happen! DON"T BUY INTO IT! There are unlimited resources on the web, dummies guides, howstuffworks.com, and SBA free programs that will assist you in making an idea a real opportunity. I promise your steps will be worth it. Please stay tuned for more motivational insight into Entrepreneurial America “ The Big Ideas”
Thinking Big!
- Jake Press Reporting
