Blog - Page 2 of 3

12Nov 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Tweeting Your Way to the Top: How Twitter Can Help Build Your Business

mark buckner, marketing, social media, Twitter

“The qualities that make Twitter seem inane and half-baked are what makes it so powerful.” -Jonathan Zittrain While Twitter isn’t as massive as Facebook or Youtube, it is still one of the world’s most popular social media websites, boasting over 330 million active users every month. And though many younger internet users are moving on to Instagram and Snapchat, 45% of Twitter’s audience falls between ages 18-29, making it a valuable resource for business owners with a younger target demographic. Every social media platform attracts a particular audience, and it is important for entrepreneurs to go where their prospective audience goes. Barbara Caine recently held a class covering how to enhance your Twitter profile and find potential customers with just 280 characters. One of the reasons that Twitter is so…

05Nov 2018 by admin No Comments

All Linked In and Nowhere to Go: How to Build Business Relationships With LinkedIn

LinkedIn, marketing, social media

While many business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs have a LinkedIn account, most of them don’t really use it. Many are told that LinkedIn is important, but only end up making a barebones account that quickly falls into disuse. This is a big mistake though, as LinkedIn is easily the most professional social media platform, offering ample business opportunities and remaining largely free of the silliness you find on Facebook or Twitter. Some basic tweaks and 15-minutes per day, Barbara assures that you’ll build up a sizable following on LinkedIn in no time! There are several reasons why LinkedIn is so appealing. While its user base doesn’t approach Facebook and Twitter’s billions, LinkedIn still boasts over 467 million users, with two new profiles added roughly every second. The age demographic on…

29Oct 2018 by admin No Comments

Facebook Marketing and Business Growth

Facebook, marketing, social media

While recent data security concerns have hurt some people’s opinion of Facebook, it is still one of the most popular social media platforms available, with billions of active users every month. It is also one of the easiest and most comfortable social media sites to use, with several features that entrepreneurs can use to promote their business. Below are a number of tips to help enhance your Facebook profile and make your posts more engaging. And once you’ve learned how to use Facebook effectively, you can apply most of what you’ve learned to expand your influence on other social media platforms. Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) went public with its initial public offering (IPO) on May 18, 2012. Since then, many users have found it difficult to get exposure for their…

25Oct 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Your Social Media Success Strategy…

Facebook, instagram, LinkedIn, mark buckner, marketing, seminar, social media, Twitter, video

Every year, FUSE Business Training hosts the Social Media Success Strategy seminar, an annual event dedicated to bringing together small business owners from across the Chicagoland area to learn the latest social media changes and strategies from experts in the industry. The overarching goal of the event is to grow a strong and supportive network of local entrepreneurs via social media efforts. Lead by FUSE’s Barbara Caine, the 2018 seminar took place at greenCOW Co-Working from August 16th to August 18th, and covered a wide range of topics, from social media strategies and workflow processes to content creation and lead generation. Consider this a summary of the major topics of the event. After some brief introductions, Barbara asked attendees to define their target market and their ideal client. At…

22Oct 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Are You Working ON Your Business or IN It?

business building, mark buckner

One of the mantras of FUSE Business Training is “Work ON your business, not IN it.” Many business owners spend too much time micromanaging minor tasks instead of focusing on how to take their business to the next level. When you have a smaller business, it is common to be intimately involved in every aspect of the company. Sometimes this is even necessary. However, as your business grows and your employee count increases, you need to spend more time focusing on the big picture. NOTE: In this article, when the term "employee" is used it is also referencing independent contractors, volunteers, or any other person who might be playing a role on your team. Some people have trouble understanding the difference between working ON your business versus working IN it.…

18Oct 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

6 Ways to Grow Your Business Today!

business building, mark buckner, marketing, Positioning, seminar, time management

Every good business owner has a story to tell and advice to give. As such, greenCOW Coworking and FUSE Business Training decided to come together to host the Small Business Success Seminar, a quarterly event where business owners from around the region can share their stories and help their fellow entrepreneurs grow. For the July 2018 Seminar, FUSE and greenCOW brought in six speakers to present for those in attendance. The first presentation, “Relationship Advice for Your Business,” came courtesy of Isaac Carr from CCSK Law. He emphasized the importance of understanding the inner workings of business organizations, stressing the difference between just going into business and becoming a business entity. He went over different types of businesses, such LLCs (limited liability companies), C-Corps., S-Corps., and 501(c)(3) Nonprofits. He also…

11Oct 2018 by admin No Comments

How to Find Free Business Leads Using Your Library Card

business building, lead management, mark buckner, Prospecting

With the rise of digital publishing and eBooks, many people tend to undervalue the place of libraries in the modern world. However, libraries provide a number of services and resources beyond just books, and several of them are potentially useful to aspiring business owners. In fact, if you have a public library card, there is a good chance that you have free access to a massive database full of potential industry leads and might not even know it. ReferenceUSA is a source for business and residential information compiled from thousands of public sources, and many libraries provide their users with access to their databases. This can be hugely beneficial for business owners, as it essentially means you have access to unlimited business leads. At a recent class, Barbara Caine walked…

27Sep 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

The Basics of Business Event Management

event management, mark buckner, marketing

Running a business is never just about the desk work or making phone calls. As your business grows, it’s inevitable that you will end up hosting an event of some kind, whether it’s a training course, a seminar, a networking event or an office party. But event hosting requires a tremendous amount of forethought and planning. At a recent class held at greenCOW Coworking, Barbara Caine went over her tips for hosting a successful business event. If you have one coming up, keep this advice in mind, and if you don’t, consider how you would apply it to an event in the future. The Basics When it comes to planning an event, there are a few important factors to figure out right away: the topic or purpose of the event,…

13Sep 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Barbara Caine’s Best Kept Secrets to Greater Productivity

mark buckner, time management

Time is one of the most valuable assets of an entrepreneur, as there always seems to be too much to do and not enough time to do it. However, more often than not it isn't a matter of not having enough time, but not using that time effectively. Quite honestly, we all get the same 24 hours each day. What you do with it will determine how successful you are. In a recent class held by Barbara Caine, she discussed her tips for greater productivity. As a businesswoman, an educator, a public speaker, and a mother, Barbara has a lot happening on any given day, but she's learned how to manage her time in such a way to make the most of her time. Her secrets can be summed up…

16Aug 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Productivity and Accountability Advice for the Aspiring Entrepreneur

mark buckner, time management

It's no secret that entrepreneurs are busy people, with numerous tasks to complete any given day. As such, it can be hard to shake the feeling that you aren't working as efficiently as possible and not getting enough done. This was the line of thinking that inspired Barbara Caine to host her Productivity and Accountability Days, a series of events FUSE Business Training does in collaboration with greenCOW Coworking. The objective is simple: bring entrepreneurs together and help them get more done in less time, and after attending one I've picked up on several tips to help get the most out of your workday. Productivity and Accountability Days alternate between 25 minute work periods and 5 minute breaks. At the beginning of each work period, everyone decides on a task…