Aliza Sherman: She Knows Social and Mobile

14 Tips for Really Rural Businesses - Entrepreneur Mom - Work It, Mom!

14 Tips for Really Rural Businesses - Entrepreneur Mom - Work It, Mom!.

I invited my Twitterfriend Becky McCray to come up with some tips for rural businesses. Below are some of the ones I came up with. Having worked in rural areas before, I am really aware of the issues of doing business in places where your internet connection can go down just because the wind is blowing!

Doing Business in Rural Places

1. Invest in fast Internet access. Sometimes it has to be satellite which can be pricey, but you can write it off your taxes as a valid and essential business expense.

2. Identify wifi hotspots - or Internet-enabled locations - in your area. If my Internet connection went down, I’d drive into town to connect at a cafe or restaurant or even a hotel or campground. Some McDonalds and Wendys even offer wifi so find out which businesses are wired and use them as backup when your access goes down.

3. Stock up on car chargers. Even when house power went out - particularly in my RV - I could rev up the engine and power up my essential tools and gadgets including computer and mobile devices. Invest in a USB car charger to charge your handhelds such as the SynCh from Malleable Devices.

Read More...

What are some of your tips for doing business in remote places?

50 Online Applications and Sites to Consider | chrisbrogan.com

50 Online Applications and Sites to Consider | chrisbrogan.com.

I am constantly asked by non-social media junkies: "Where do you find the time?" My multi-tasking, multimedia, super-social world pales in comparison to the Great Chris Brogan. This guy is definitely a Social Media Guru. Hope our paths cross someday soon so I can meet one of my idols in person!

Of course, reading a post about 50 online apps means I have probably 40 that I haven't yet tried or even heard about that I now have to make the time to check out. Can't call myself a social media marketer if I haven't been there and done that!

Err...thanks Chris, for creating even MORE work for the rest of us.

Social Networking and a Small Town Business - Why Bother? - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once.

Social Networking and a Small Town Business - Why Bother? - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once..

I love Becky McCray - she wears her small business/rural cred on her sleeve and it is so important because often rural businesses are overlooked by the rest of us and rural businesses can truly benefit from all the tools the rest of us are using and touting. Yay Becky! Check out her blog post on Liz Strauss' excellent blog at the link above.

Who is Technorati Trying to Reach | chrisbrogan.com

Link: Who is Technorati Trying to Reach | chrisbrogan.com.

Chris Brogran poses questions about who Technorati is trying to reach in this brief but pointed post. A lot of folks have been commenting about their feelings about Technorati being "over." Ian Kallen from Technorati even posted with his email address looking for feedback.

Although I may be stretching a bit here, I think/hope that Chris' post was triggered by my Tweet yesterday (http://twitter.com/alizasherman/statuses/786589641) asking similar questions. If so, it once again goes to show the incredible power of Twitter. People who are following you are actually listening - although I know that anyone following over 100 people do end up catching only snippets of your conversation flow.

Still, to tweet about this one day and see a blog post from one of my new media heros (yes, Chris, it is true) and see a vibrant comment conversation ensue - well, it warms my heart. Of course, if his post wasn't inspired by my Tweet, then it just proves what an egomaniac I am thinking the whole world listens to and revolves around me. (Someday, people will get my sense of humor, but until then...I'm Just Kidding. I know that only PART of the world revolves around me.)

I revisited Technorati yesterday, claimed my Cybergrrl Oh blog, then sat puzzled for a moment because I just didn't know what to do next. I was confused (and no, it wasn't just my mommybrain). Still, I think I need to pay a little more attention to Technorati because they are still an ongoing concern in this Webby 2.0 social media bloggy space.

They may be forgotten, but they aren't gone...yet.

Monkeys In My Pants: Watch The Video Of My Interview With Fox News About Social Networks

Link: Monkeys In My Pants: Watch The Video Of My Interview With Fox News About Social Networks.

See Mitch Wagner on Fox News. He doesn't even break a sweat. Chatting it up about social networks! Shout out to Mitch!

NPR : Blogging Becomes More Mobile

Link: NPR : Blogging Becomes More Mobile.

My new Twitterfriend (name drop here) @acarvin (me and hundreds and hundreds of other people are his closest and most personal Twitterfriends) chatting away with Steve Inskeep on NPR about microblogging.

He managed to get a good plug in about @susanreynolds and the Frozen Pea Fund - indirect but we all know who he was referencing!

What is important?

I received an electronic holiday greeting from social networking gal Cris Popenoe. The saying on the card really hit home so I thought I'd share. Thanks Cris!

             

Lao Tzu:

Fame or integrity: which is more important?
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: which is more destructive?

Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

The terribly wrong message sent by Jessica Seinfeld and Missy Chase Lapine. - By Mimi Sheraton - Slate Magazine

Link: The terribly wrong message sent by Jessica Seinfeld and Missy Chase Lapine. - By Mimi Sheraton - Slate Magazine.

When I heard about Jessica Seinfeld's new cookbook, Deceptively Delicious, and her idea about pureeing veggies and stuffing them into foods kids like (brownies, mac 'n' cheese) so they "eat their veggies," I knew something about that disturbed me but I wasn't sure how to articulate it.

That is why I loved reading this article by Mimi Sheraton. She delved deeper into the dishonesty of tricking children into eating what is good for them by hiding it. Worth a read for every parent struggling with a picky eater.

I saying trickery is NOT the way.

a shel of my former self

Link: a shel of my former self.

Bloggers get pitched. Get used to it! by Shel Holtz, ABC, principal of Holtz Communication + Technology. A must read for bloggers everywhere.

As a blogger, I don't mind relevant and thoughtful pitches. As a marketer, I hope my pitches are relevant and thoughtful!

I'm about to embark on a blog pitching campaign for a contest on Second Life for entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial minded. I think it would be a fun opportunity for some bloggers who blog about SL and are also entrepreneurial. The prize includes L$75,000 and free shop space to launch a business. I can't believe bloggers might get pissed at me for letting them know about this.

But then again, I may end up on someone's shit list. The risky life of a marketer.

Three Things LinkedIN Does Better than Facebook : [chrisbrogan.com]

Link: Three Things LinkedIN Does Better than Facebook : [chrisbrogan.com].

And the debate continues. Facebook vs. LinkedIn. Chris Brogan weighs in.

The Jeff Pulver Blog: Goodbye LinkedIn. Hello Facebook.

Link: The Jeff Pulver Blog: Goodbye LinkedIn. Hello Facebook..

I'm once again flummoxed by the raves about Facebook. I must not be paying close enough attention. My Facebook account seems static, but everyone else seems to be having "vibrant interaction." From Chris Brogan to now Jeff Pulver, smart people are singing the praises of the new and improved Facebook.

Are you giving up LinkedIn or other business social networking sites to nurture your Facebook experience?

Why Join Another Social Network

Link: Why Join Another Social Network.

Chris Brogan adding to the discussion about joining social networks - over "overjoining" as I've been doing lately...

Twittergrams, Day 5 (Scripting News)

Link: Twittergrams, Day 5 (Scripting News).

Dave Winer has come up with TwitterGrams, and I think I am going to love them. This will be a nice segway for me into podcasting - mini, byte-sized audio casts.

Of course, now I'll stress over what to say in my Twittergrams, but the tiny file size forces brevity, just like Twitter. Short & sweet.

I will try one as soon as I can. Right now, I'm just smiling at the thought of Twittergrams.

Tom Watson: Facebook Generation: Will Social Networks Change the Nature of Philanthropy? - Media on The Huffington Post

Link: Tom Watson: Facebook Generation: Will Social Networks Change the Nature of Philanthropy? - Media on The Huffington Post.

So social networks may be good for something other than friendships and dating after all...

Slimebuckets, pollution and web conservation Calacanis-style

Link: Slimebuckets, pollution and web conservation Calacanis-style.

Interesting article about one of my favorite smart people, Jason Calacanis.

POP! PR Jots: The Changing Media Landscape - by Jeremy Pepper

Link: POP! PR Jots: The Changing Media Landscape - by Jeremy Pepper.

A smorgasbord of smart people pondering media...courtesy of Jeremy Pepper

Redeye VC: Everything old is new again...

Link: Redeye VC: Everything old is new again....

Always interested in what Jason Calacanis is up to next. Mahalo.

How Will Twitter Affect Search? » Publishing 2.0

Link: How Will Twitter Affect Search? » Publishing 2.0.

As usual, letting the Smart People wax philosophical about Twitter and its affect on the universe at large while I sit back, read it, and wipe my brow with relief that I didn't have to think too hard and compose an actual post with my own opinion.

Who, me, lazy? No way. Just taking it all in.

Book Not Ready for Print? You Can Whip Up an Audiobook for a Podcast for Now - New York Times

Link: Book Not Ready for Print? You Can Whip Up an Audiobook for a Podcast for Now - New York Times.

Kudos to Grammer Girl aka Mignon Fogarty (or is it the other way around?) for the piece in the NY Times. I'm a fan.

Sporadic by Cathleen Rittereiser: Power Point Alientation

Link: Sporadic by Cathleen Rittereiser: Power Point Alientation.

Cathleen Rittereiser is FUN-NEE. Seriously hilarious. This is not only satire on a current event but it is so damned true about PowerPoint.

New Calacanis link-baiting rules

Link: New Calacanis link-baiting rules.

As my first official post under the new category "Smart People," I give you Jason Calacanis. I love this guy. As far as name dropping goes, his is my favorite to drop because he's always been a "love him or hate him kind of guy." And THAT makes for interesting reactions and conversations.

I have to say my admiration for Jason goes back to the days of Pseudo Radio when he invited me to be on his Internet radio show (yes, we used to call it "Internet Radio" before podcasts). Even when I was one of several guests in the studio, Jason engaged me in the conversation, making sure I was included. He also encouraged me to get my own show on Pseudo, and helped facilitate it. I called it "Women on the Web," I think I played a Pretenders song as the intro track and interviewed women in new media.

Jason also included me in his first list of who's who Women of Silicon Alley in his former pub Silicon Alley Reporter. I still remember the photo shoot on the roof of some Manhattan building with the wind whipping. Ah, those were the days. Internet radio, photo shoots, cocktail parties, pseudo fame. I'm getting all misty eyed.

No matter what anyone says or thinks, Jason is an absolute sweetheart. (Sorry, Jason, hope I'm not ruining the "image.") And a smart guy. He's the only person I know who can turn blatant self promotion into a step-by-step how-to list!

At a time when I'm looking to roll out Aliza 2.0, Jason is already working on Jason 3.0 and conceptualizing Jason 4.0. Smart, Mr. Calacanis, very smart indeed.