Bryant University Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization

This post contains 3 lessons, which have helped Leo Laporte become one of the Internet's biggest success stories of recent years and which we can all learn from. Here's an introduction to Leo along with those three key lessons... Related posts:

1. Owning a hammer doesn’t make you a carpenter!
2. Building your twitter network
3. Quick business tip: Success leaves clues!

I have already had several books sent to me this year for review, written by social media experts or gurus. One thing all of them have in common, is that they contain a version of the following advice, which is, in my opinion totally incorrect: Build a following and market to that following. Here's what I have found to be better advice: Don't build a following. Build a community instead! FOLLOWERS are like the audience at a rock concert. They are set apart from the rock star on stage. They see the rock star as distant. They are part of the event, but a very small part. The rock star might get the crowd to sing the occasional verse, but we all know they are REALLY just broadcasting THEIR VOICE to the crowd! I really don't see a lot of value in positioning yourself as a rock star, if you actually want to get involved with people. Ironically, the people I see using this approach all the time, are social media experts! COMMUNITY members are like... Related posts:

1. Funny: What is a social media expert?
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3. Growing and securing your online network

I wrote recently about copycat marketing. That's where someone copies the marketing of someone else, hoping that it will work. After writing that post, I received a lot of email and comments, from people who had personal experience of copycat marketing going wrong. Here's one email, which I would like to share with you and hear your thoughts on.... Related posts:

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Have you noticed how some of the people who comment here, do so without using their name? The reason you are seeing this, is because they are trying to build links back to their websites or blogs, which contain anchor text, that will help their SEO. From an SEO perspective, this can be effective, however, by commenting with a marketing phrase, which does not include their name at all, it makes the comments seem impersonal. It's hard for the readers or myself to build a dialogue or connect with someone in the comments, who calls himself "Cheap PC Spares!" Here's an alternative approach... Related posts:

1. My dofollow experiment – The results
2. Internet marketing experiment update!
3. Google and me!

Sales leads or enquiries, are an essential part of the marketing process. After all, a steady flow of good quality sales leads, when acted upon correctly, can lead to a regular stream of lucrative business and allow business owners to plan ahead with confidence. SO, this post gives you TEN 10 popular and powerful lead generation ideas, to add to your marketing arsenal... Related posts:

1. 7 ways to get more sales leads and enquiries
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3. Want to massively improve your marketing? Then get specific!

Endorsed Relationships, have been referred to by marketing experts, including Jay Abraham, as the most powerful form of marketing in the world. I totally agree. This brief post, will show you what endorsed relationships are and how you can use them to market your business. What is an Endorsed Relationship? An endorsed relationship, in marketing terms, is simply a relationship you form with another person / company / brand, where they endorse (or recommend) you and your services to their clients, customers and contacts. This can come via literally any form of marketing... Related posts:

1. 10 ways to get massively more sales leads!
2. What are Joint Ventures and how do they work?
3. Your marketing mix part 2 of 2

Joint Ventures, often known simply as JV's, can be an extremely effective way to generate new business. This is probably why so many of you asked me for information on Joint Ventures, when I asked you for your marketing questions recently. The following is a brief explanation of what JV's are and how they work... Related posts:

1. The most powerful form of marketing on the planet?
2. Your marketing mix part 2 of 2
3. 10 ways to get massively more sales leads!

In order for me to make this blog as valuable as possible to you, I need to know which marketing challenges or problems are most important to you. For example; lead generation, email marketing, social media marketing, mail shots (direct mail), networking, retail marketing, referrals, joint ventures, etc. So, I would really appreciate it, if you would [...] Related posts:

1. How to discover what your prospective customers want
2. The magic of keeping in touch
3. 6 Marketing tips – Good timing!

This quick marketing tip is all about how to improve your marketing results in the medium and long term. In fact, it will give you one of the marketing foundations behind the most successful businesses in the world. Related posts:

1. Quick Marketing Tip – Strategic marketing
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Successful marketing is all about people. It's not about; brands, venues, websites, companies or social media tools - Marketing is all about people. You see, without people, none of those things matter. I met with a friend of mine this morning, who owns a large and very successful nightclub. We had our meeting this time, in the nightclub itself, rather than his office, and the sensation was amazing. I have only previously been there, when it's been packed with hundreds of people, having a great time and enjoying the music. This morning, you could have heard a pin drop, as we sat, drinking coffee and talking about his marketing. You see, it's not the building, fixtures or fittings that makes his nightclub a success; it's the people who work there and party there. Without people, the place means nothing. The value is in the people... Related posts:

1. Owning a hammer doesn’t make you a carpenter!
2. Networking and numbers
3. Online networking & attraction

I was inspired by a recent blog post by my friend Srinivas Rao @SkoolofLife how he actually created a marketing plan for his blog.  @Under30CEO we always say treat your blog like a business–be serious about it.  This takes it to the next level. Q1 Marketing Plan Skooloflife View more presentations from srinirao2k10.

This past week I spoke at University of South Dakota at their E-Evening. I had an absolute blast, the people were amazing and I’d like to thank everyone who attended, sent me mail afterwards and heard about Under30CEO for the first time. We are really trying to make it THE resource for young [...]

Hello everyone, today we have a short guest post from my business partner @JaredOToole about the contest we are running giving away huge prize money for one lucky entrepreneur and some mentorship from some major multi-millionaire entrepreneurs. A special thanks to Marshall Haas for putting together the contest and iPhone app.  Tune in as Jared explains [...]

Too many people are playing the end game, waiting for success and their trip to Tahiti and their Four Hour Work Week to be happy. Start enjoying what you are doing now!

Today I read: The Meaning of Life by Esquire Magazine. A compilation of interviews, people from Economists to actors to Snoop Dogg that talk about their thoughts on life and how it should be lived. Lots of great stories, not super deep and philosophical but some good humor and pictures. What I got out [...]

I’m headed to Summit Series.  Check out my plan for prenetworking like John Exley. My points include: prenetwork, how to tag team with a partner, getting photos with big wigs, and forming relationships when networking. Learn how to do this online with our free eBooks and Videos at http://RockStarBusinessSeries.com

People have been asking me non stop lately “What should I wrote about?!” My answer: write about what you care about. I had an extremely gratifying response to my most recent article on Under30CEO. It was a response to BusinessWeek’s GenY hating cover story called “The Lost Generation”. I responded with a letter to our [...]

This past weekend I attended my 6th Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization National Conference.  Under30CEO rocked the place, throwing a huge party; I did a keynote on pursuing your passion, we gave to breakout sessions “Growing Your Credibility and Looking Experienced as a Young Entrepreneur” and “Building Your Rock Star Online Presence” and capped it off sitting [...]

To a certain degree its all about who you know, but at some point you’ll meet so many people you’ll never remember them all.  The best solution to remembering everyone? DON’T.  Get them to remember you.  You need to give them something to remember.  You need a way to stay in contact with lots of [...]

Today I Tweeted the following question: “NEED ADVICE: I’m thinking of creating 2 blog post titles, 1 that is social media friendly for the day of the post and then re-title it something more SEO Friendly.” Our friend @FamilyBusinessU asked for further clarification, so here it goes… Drop a comment and let me know what you think? Also–we [...]