Interviews | Small Business Trends

HubSpot’s Mike Volpe on Why You Need Context AND Content In Marketing

By Brent Leary - Jun 14, 2013 - 4 Comments

When you think of marketing today, the first word that typically comes to mind is content – whether it be blog posts, images or video. But the one thing that may be keeping your marketing content from reaching its intended audience is context, or lack thereof. Mike Volpe, chief marketing … Read More

R.J. Hottovy of Morningstar on Amazon Prime’s Lessons in Creating Loyal Customers

By Brent Leary - Jun 7, 2013 - 2 Comments

With the rise of mobile, social and the cloud, you are also seeing the rise of subscription model businesses. A model of business built on building long-term customer relationships, and not on one-off transactions. Companies like The Tie Society, who don’t sell you ties, but a subscription to … Read More

Mari Smith on How Small Businesses Can Use Facebook

By Brent Leary - May 31, 2013 - 18 Comments

Did you know that your Facebook updates are never going to be seen by 100% of your fans in your newsfeed? Instead, only 2% to 48% will see them. Yet, Mari Smith, who has been called the Queen of Facebook, still says Facebook has value for small businesses. She offers several highly specific tips … Read More

Using Customer Experience to Drive Future Improvements

By Brent Leary - May 24, 2013 - 3 Comments

Enjoy this panel discussion on the topic of customer experience from the Social Biz Atlanta Conference. The participants are Ashish Bisaria, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience at Manheim, along with Rob Houser, Senior Director of Product Management for Sage Software. As well … Read More

Alexei Dunayev of TranscribeMe: Necessity is the Mother of Invention

By Brent Leary - May 17, 2013 - 3 Comments

It's likely that some of you have heard the old English proverb, "Necessity is the mother of invention." It's a phrase that aptly applies to the early beginnings of one small business, co-founded by Alexei Dunayev. Tune in as Alexei joins Brent Leary to discuss how necessity gave birth to the … Read More

Terry Jones of Travelocity and Kayak: Then and Now

By Brent Leary - May 10, 2013 - 4 Comments

What a difference a decade can make. Terry Jones, Founder of Travelocity.com and Chairman of Kayak.com, joins host, Brent Leary, to discuss adaptation to change and the differences between the early beginnings of Travelocity, founded in 1996, to the changes and opportunities that were in place … Read More

Justyn Howard, Sprout Social: Social Media Management Evolution

By Brent Leary - May 3, 2013 - 2 Comments

Technology moves at the speed of sound and social media resides in the technological realm. As a result, social management must be nimble and ready to evolve and adapt at the same speed in which technology moves. Justyn Howard, CEO and Founder of Sprout Social, joins Brent Leary to discuss … Read More

Oberweis Dairy: A Story of the High Value of Analytics

By Brent Leary - Apr 26, 2013 - 1 Comment

If you've never given thought to the value of analytics, the story that follows will prove to be a reminder of its worth. The story concerns Oberweis Dairy in Aurora, Illinois. Bruce Bedford, Vice President of Marketing Analytics and Consumer Insights for Oberweis Dairy, joins host Brent Leary … Read More

Matt Thomson of Klout: Measuring Influence in the Social Sphere

By Brent Leary - Apr 19, 2013 - 1 Comment

Tune in as Matt Thomson, Vice President of Business Development and Platforms for Klout, joins Brent Leary to discuss the ins and outs of social influence. Among the topics discussed are measurement, influential media, leveraging, branding and more. * * * Small Business Trends: Can you tell us … Read More

Melinda Emerson on Transitioning From Employee to Entrepreneur

By Brent Leary - Apr 12, 2013 - 9 Comments

Have you dreamed of starting your own business but find yourself unsure of how to make the transition from employee to entrepreneur? Melinda Emerson, the Small Biz Lady, joins Brent Leary to share her "Emerson Planning System;" six steps to transition from employee to entrepreneur. * * * Small … Read More

Brian Solis of “What’s the Future (WTF) of Business:” Creating Customer Experiences

By Brent Leary - Apr 5, 2013 - 7 Comments

Brian Solis, Author of "What's the Future of Business: Changing the Way Businesses Create Experiences," joins Brent Leary to discuss the importance of creating fluid, memorable and enjoyable customer experiences in business and across marketing channels. * * * Small Business Trends: You have … Read More

Loni Stark of Adobe: Digital Marketing Solutions in the Cloud

By Brent Leary - Mar 29, 2013 - Leave a Comment

Bob Dylan once sang, The Times They Are A-Changin' and these words still ring true today, some 49 years later. Marketers need to understand how their message can now be honed in with data and Loni Stark, Director of Product & Industry Marketing at Adobe, has a solution. She joins Brent Leary … Read More