Fort Collins, Colo.: Do you think Small Business Marketing is going to be more important in the future or is it going to be blended with no differentiation with large companies marketing becouse of the low cost in new digital ad and marketing tools ?

John Janstch: Ft Collins - (by the way I have two daughters at CSU! Go Rams)

I hesitate to say more important because I think marketing has always been one of the most important activties a small business can engage in - in fact, small bussinesses are really marketing bussinesses.

The definition of marketing for me is gettting someone who has a need to know, like and trust you. The small business, usually can't afford to buy know, like and trust and so has always had the need to be more creative, more focused and more resourceful to build trust.

Small businesses can use the new technology you refer to as an advantage in that game.

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Pasadena, Calif.: Hi John,

I've been reading Duct Tape Marketing for about a year now, and got here via your link.

My name is Rob Walling, and I blog to 1200+ daily readers about software development over at www.softwarebyrob.com. I've published several articles in technical magazines, and recently published "How to Choose a Company to Develop Your Software" at work.com.

I would like to offer my services to respond to software-related questions you may receive. I'm a software developer by trade, and have in-depth experience serving small and medium-sized businesses, in addition to running my own small business, The Numa Group (www.thenumagroup.com).

I'm not sure how many technology questions you will receive, but I thought I would offer nonetheless.

I'm gald you were able to land this spot as the "Expert" for BizBox and excited to see where it leads!

All the best,

Rob
rwalling-thenumagroup.com

John Janstch: Hey Rob,

Thanks for the note - I love what you are doing and will reach out to you when I get over my head on a software question.

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Houston, Texas: Is it not true that interruption marketing -cold calling and door to door are not as effective as they once were and if so, what inexpensive ways could you warm up a cold prospect?

John Janstch: Houston - Cold calling has never been a very effective way to go, but you're right it's gotten next to impossible.

I suggest every business should create a series of useful, valuable information products and advertise those for free to a target market. Think in terms of a report or simple document that might be titled - "Secrets to qualifying for the lowest mortgage rate." If you were in the mortgage business and the reader of an ad offering this report was shopping for a mortgage, they might get this information and turn themselves into a hot prospect.

Information products can come in the form of workshops, teleseminars and articles published in magazines too.

So, what information does your target market desperately want to have?

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Anonymous: I would like to open a specialty retailer. The biggest challenge to me is finding out how I will get my products and what they will cost. Distributors and jobbers won't even talk to you about this unless you already have an existing business, or so it seems. What is the best way to approach these vendors?

John Janstch: Anonymous: Without a little more information the best advice I can give you is to find an association or trade show that represents the industry you are trying to tackle and invest in going to a show or joining an association. This is one of the best ways to start making contact with manufactures, distributors and even friendly competitors.

It's also a great way to find the newest products.

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Clearwater, Florida: I have a small professional service firm that provides self employed indivuduals with Solo 401k and Roth Solo 401k retirement plans via http://www.solo-k.com.

I'm trying to increase my traffic volumes. Would press releases about particular retirement oriented events help? Or do I need to provide more substantial information products such as white papers or ebooks? Or should I do both??

John Janstch: Clearwater: I think you answered your own question. Do both. Provide press releases and submit articles to article directories and print publications. Also, create a simple white paper - something like - The 10 most misunderstood facts about Roth IRAs. Start a blog too - I guess you get the theme.

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South Africa, Cape Town: Is there a difference between Entrepreneural businesses and small busineses?

John Janstch: Cape Town: Yes I believe there is a distinction, although I don't know that it is widely applied.

To me, an entrepreneurial business is one that is started and operated by someone with a clear vision of where the business is headed and what they intend the business to become.

A small business is generally a business, started by someone to do something they know how to do, maybe even to simply replace a job.

I wouldn't say that definition is universal but that's my distinction.

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Sterling Heights, MI: Hello John,

I have a few questions for you. I see many internet companies with great success including Amazon and others, and I ask myself what tools and strategies they go about to make them that successful? Do you know if there are any optimization-type programs that can keep track of customers? Also, what kind of first step could one take in advertising and marketing? Thank You

John Janstch: Sterling Heights: Wow, that's a lot of question. The strategies of Amazon? Okay, here you go - have great products, have great content, be easy to buy from, create lots of buzz and reward the heck of people for being a customer and referring other customers. There, that should do it.

Keeping track of customers. - ACT! or SageCRM are my favorites.

First step - have a strategy that allows you to really stand out from your competitors. It can be a market niche, a new product, packaging, a way of doing business - just don't do anything until you have that.

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Anonymous: Hi John. I'm curious about entrepreneur's time management. So much to focus on - but where do I start?

John Janstch: Anonymous: Your question may be one of the toughest subjects you will deal with as a business owner. Let me just say it will always seem that there is more to do than you can do. The trick is priorities.

It may sound cliche but you've got to have a clear vision of where you want your business to be in 3-5 years and a list of action steps to take you there or you will always be torn by whatever task seems to be screaming the loudest.

I have two books I like to suggest for this very dilemma.
Getting Things Done and 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management.

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Lyme, Conn.: Hi John, Thanks for the great information. What are the benefits of blogging for small business and if you do think there are substantial benefits, (I have recently started a winery) how would I go about promoting and getting my blog read?

John Janstch: Lyme, Conn: There are many short and long term benefits when it comes to blogging - your's by the way is a great industry for this tool.
1) Search engines love blogs
2) People love rich information that you can give over time using a blog format
3) It's easy - once you're set-up anyone who can type can make it work
As for promotion. Like many things. Write a lot, write like you speak, write for a long time. Network with other bloggers, participate in industry and local conversations on other blogs.

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Kathmandu, Nepal: Dear Mr Janstch:

Greetings from Kathmandu!

I've been in serious literary, creative or fiction writing - short stories, novels etc - for many years and have always considered it as a personal business prospect to gain fame and fortune, especially when I'm nearing retirement now.

But I need financial help: possibly loans, grants, residentships or scholarships from universities, trusts, organizations or foundations in the US.

Personally, I prefer being considered for loans which I could repay in installments once my literary works are published, one by one, and the sales thereof could be proportionately diverted to the lender.

Could you please offer any other solutions? Thank you in advance.

John Janstch: The type of terms you are suggesting might only be acquired by a patron type of sponsorship. Build a web site and start selling your works online! Put a great deal of content online for free and seek a sponsoring patron by driving them to this site. You might also find other writers who have an interest in showcasing their works here with you. Best of luck!

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Franklin, N.C.: Wow, I love your site! My suggestion to any small business owner is to have patience and have a good analysis of what works, ditch something that isn't working, and wait for the result of transitions patiently.

I am aiming for a B.S. to give myself an edge or as some put it, a leg up on the competition for Web Developers. Plus, I can always fall into the middle management sector of Information Data Communications Network Specialists or shoot for a teacher certification. Although I truly enjoy programming, it certainly is a good idea to expand the horizons.

Sharon Solesbee, A.A.S., A.S.

www.InternetEngineer.biz

John Janstch: Sharon: Thanks - I'm trying to figure out if you asked a question. Well, yes, keep learning or this zooming thing called life will pass you by.

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Concord, Mass.: What emerging businesses would be on your top 5 list if you were to bootstrap a new business today?

Thank you

John Janstch: Concord: Just about anything online for starters. Dive into a very specific niche and become an expert in it. Use blogs, forums, podcasts, and RSS to create a stunning array of content around a very specific topic and then monetize the traffic.

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