SMB Strategy Cast #12 - Business of Podcasting

• Friday the 13th, January 2006


• Podcast Description – Cover business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small and medium business.


• In this episode - I am taking a couple episodes off from the discussion of the Business Plan and instead going to talk about the BUSINESS OF PODCASTING.


• Specifically -
  o Why I got into podcasting - what my goals where and are.
  o What the business decisions where and my business strategy going forward.
  o I am going to spend some time on Search Engine Optimization SEO and my stats since starting the plan.


• Why I got into Podcasting – a short timeline
  o October 2004 – I saw a one paragraph article in Business2.0 or Wired Mag on what’s hot mentioning Adam Curry and podcasting. So, I began downloading his podcast and eventually downloaded the ipoder lemon (now called juice) to automatically add Adam’s and other podcasts to iTunes.
  o January 2005 – I say to myself I can do this, afterall I am a former college radio DJ. I hooked a mic to my desktop and downloaded some freeware and recorded a test show The sound card was so bad it sucked, so I never got going. I continue to listen to other shows.
  o February 2005 – I start Eagle Strategy Group and setup www.eaglestrategygroup.com. Podcast put on the back burner.
  o August 2005 – I setup a 2nd web site bizplanhelp.com. To center on business plan resources and drive traffic back to eaglestrategygroup.com. Start spending more time on SEO.
  o September 2005 – podcasts are on itunes, I need to put together a podcast to sell my work and from an SEO standpoint get above noise. Since my tests earlier in the year I had received a Sony laptop and when I tested again the quality was good and it is what I am using today.
  o October 2005 – recorded and published my first Podcast.


• Next episode - Goals for a business to get into pocasting as well as my web and podcast stats.


• Podsafe Music at beginning of show was Chub Creek Music – “Episode 9 Fake Band Intro” (www.chubcreek.com). Link to Chub Creek on the Podsafe Music Network provided by the Podsafe Music Network at music.podshow.com.


• Email questions and comments to – podcast@bizplanhelp.com


• For help with your business plan, startup or strategy project, check outwww.eaglestrategygroup.com and www.bizplanhelp.com


• Download this Episode

SMB Strategy Cast #11 - Organization Plan in Business Plan

• Friday, December 23, 2005


• Podcast Description – Cover business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small business and medium business.


• In this episode we are going to cover the Organization Plan in the business plan.


• Download the UPDATED Business Plan Outline.

Items in Org Plan

• How corporation will be organized:
  o Type - S-corp, c-corp, partnership, LLC, etc.
  o Ownership – Owners and % (or shares) of ownership
  o Board – who will be in the board of directors


• Personnel & Responsibilities
  o Org Chart – Don’t go below director level, unless key to business.
  o 1 paragraph on each person filling a role
  o Or, If the position is open include a paragraph on the characteristics you are looking for in someone to fill the role.
  o Put resumes in the appendix


• How does this compare to what was included in the Description of venture?
  o There will be some replication, because the key people introduced in Description of Venture should also be in this section
  o They may be serving a role in the org chart, on the board, an owner, or all of the above.


• Distribution Example
  o 2 Guys set up a public warehouse company in the mid-west, the majority partner has contacts and money, the minority partner will run day-to-day operations of the business.
  o Set up an LLC with Majority holding 70% of stock, 30% to minority partner. Legal address also included
  o Board members are these two plus a finance person that they bring in, who will also help setup accounting department, accounting system, and hire independent accountant. Positions on Board (chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, etc.)
  o Org Chart –
  
  • Minority owner as President/COO, Majority Owner is VP of Sales.
  
  
  • Show at least highest level in each operational area. Overall chart should not be more than 3 deep. In this example they will hire a BookKeeper as highest accounting level.

• Podsafe Music at beginning at end of show was Charlie Crowe “Vegas Hard Rock Shuffle” (Charlie Crowe's Web Site). Link to Charlie Crowe on the Podsafe Music Network or listen to other music on the Podsafe Music Network at music.podshow.com.


• Email business plan questions and general questions and comments to – podcast@bizplanhelp.com


• If you need help writing a business plan sendme an email at – info@eaglestrategygroup.com


• Click here to vote for this Podcast at Podcast Alley


• Download this Episode

SMB Strategy Cast #10 - Purpose of the Business Plan

• Wednesday, December 07, 2005


• Podcast Description – Cover business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small business and medium business.


• In this episode we are going to cover the purpose of the business plan.


• Key Messages:
  1. The entrepreneur or department manager needs to take an active role in writing the business plan.
  2. The business plan is about getting organized.


• Podsafe Music at beginning at end of show was Alamantra “Surf Babe” (www.alamantra.com). Link to Alamantra on the Podsafe Music Network or listen to other music on the Podsafe Music Network at music.podshow.com.


• Email business plan questions and general questions and comments to – podcast@bizplanhelp.com


• If you need help writing a business plan sendme an email at – info@eaglestrategygroup.com


• Click here to vote for this Podcast at Podcast Alley


• Download this Episode

SMB Strategy Cast #9 - Marketing Plan Part 2/Business Plan

• Thursday, December 1, 2005


• Podcast Description – Cover business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small and medium business.


• Download or view Business Plan Outline


• In this episode - Continue the discussion of the Business Plan, concentrating on Marketing Plan. Specifically - Marketing Plan from Business Plan vs. Marketing Strategy


• Number 1 difference is “DETAIL” – Comsumer Packaged Goods (CPG)example from Episode #8 talked above the marketing plan as 2 pages. Marketing Strategy is all the detail on what is expressed in the plan and then some.

Two Examples of Expanding the Marketing Plan into a Marketing Strategy Doc:

• Pricing – In marketing plan, talked about the keystone pricing strategy in a couple paragraphs. For Marketing Strategy, break down actually pricing for specific product lines. Some questions the Marketing Strategy answers that are not necessarily in the Marketing Plan: How will each product be priced to customers and what the goal is for pricing at retail? Will different customers or customer segments get different pricing?
  
• Promotion – in marketing plan for the CPG startup, spend a couple paragraphs on couponing and in store circulars, but in the strategy you break down the schedule of what coupons and when, what in store circulars and when. Also, in a Marketing strategy you need to include a budget by month.
  
  
• Podsafe Music at beginning at end of show was Chub Creek Music – “Episode 9 Fake Band Intro” (www.chubcreek.com). Link to Chub Creek on the Podsafe Music Network provided by the Podsafe Music Network at music.podshow.com.


• Email questions and comments to – podcast@bizplanhelp.com


• Download this Episode

SMB Strategy Cast #8 - Marketing Plan Part 1/Business Plan

• Monday, November 28, 2005


• Podcast Description – Cover business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small and medium business.


• In this episode - Continue the discussion of the Business Plan, concentrating on Marketing Plan.


• Download or view Business Plan Outline


• Walk through what should be included in the marketing plan from the business plan outline. Examples for Consumer Packaged Goods startup and a hospitality startup (restaurant or bed & breakfast).

Consumer Packaged Goods Company Sample:

• Branding Strategy – brand identity, packaging, slogan
  
• Promotion & Pricing – Promote the product and price at retail (keystone)
  
• Target Market (Distribution) – Bricks N’ Mortar Retail Segments – Mass, Drug & Grocery
  
• Product Forecast – 3 Years by quarter, by product line (Why 3 years?)

Hospitality Business Sample – B&B or Restaurant

• Branding Strategy – same except now packaging is the restaurant or B&B itself (restaurant theme? VT B&B or for west coast wine country?)
  
• Pricing – restaurant – menu, B&B – rooms & additional services (travel, hay rides, champagne & chocolate covered strawberries)
  
• Promotion/Distribution – how do you get the name out. Location, chamber of commerce, yellow pages, Internet, AAA, etc.
  
• Send Questions or Comments to podcast@bizplanhelp.com


• Podsafe Jazz at beginning at end of show was Evan Tate "Round One" (www.evantate.com) provided by the Podsafe Music Network at music.podshow.com.


• Download this Episode

SMB Strategy Cast #7 - Operations Plan/Business Plan

• Tuesday, November 15, 2005


• Podcast Description – Cover business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small and medium business.


• In this episode - Continue the discussion of the Business Plan, concentrating on Operations Plan.


• Download or view Business Plan Outline


• Walk through what should be included in the Operations Plan for a manufacturer or distributor. Examples for an Importer, Distributor, and Manufacturer.


• What services shoul do an Operations Plan. Examples for a Computer Software Ousourcing business and Car Rental business


• Check out Jimmy Buffett products at Amazon.com. His music will always cheer you up.


• Send Questions or Comments to podcast@bizplanhelp.com


• Download this Episode

SMB Strategy Cast #6 - Description of Venture/Business Plan

• Wednesday, November 9, 2005


• Podcast Description – Cover business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small and medium business.


• In this episode - Continue the discussion of the Business Plan, concentrating on DEscription of Venture.


• Download or view Business Plan Outline


• This show is produced with the latest beta of CastBlasterwww.castblaster.com


• What do you include in the Description of Venture:
  Products and/or Services.
  Size of Business and bios of key people.
  Any general requirements that are important to the business such as office space, fixtures, computers, software, etc


• The Description of venture answers the question "What?". What products are you producing? What services are you offering? What real estate are you selecting?


• Purchase U2 products at Amazon.com.


• Send Questions or Comments to podcast@bizplanhelp.com


• Download this Episode

SMB Strategy Cast #5 - Industry Anlysis/Business Plan

• Friday, November 4, 2005


• Podcast Description – Cover business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small and medium business.


• In this episode - Continue the discussion of the Business Plan, concentrating on Industry Analysis.


• Download or view Business Plan Outline


• New York Public Library (NYPL)- www.nypl.org


• NYPL Science Industry and Business Library


• NYPL Business and Industry Online Databases


• Send Questions or Comments to podcast@bizplanhelp.com


• Download this Episode

SMB Strategy Cast #4 - Business Plan Part 2

• Thursday, October 13, 2005


• Podcast Description – Cover business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small and medium business.


• In this episode - Continue the discussion of the Business Plan Outline from episode #2.


• Download or view Business Plan Outline


• Send Questions or Comments to podcast@bizplanhelp.com


• Suggest a site that is valuable to SMB's for the Links section of bizplanhelp.com by emailling links@bizplanhelp.com include "Suggest a Link" in the subject and in the body include the URL, descrioption of the site, and topic.


• Download this Episode

SMB Strategy Cast #3 - NAS for Small Business

• Continuing Business Plan discussion will be delayed to the next episode and will instead talk about Network Attached Storage(NAS) for SOHO


• Visited Digital Life show at the Javitz Center in NYC on Friday, October 14th.


• I visited Tivo at the show and the next version of the software will facilitate listening to Podcasts. User will be able to surf preloaded Podcasts by category or add their own feeds on Internet connected Tivo's.


• Iogear Boss - www.iogear.com - we actually purchased this on eBay. We buy a lot of tech products through eBay, take a look at an article Network by eBay


• Buffalo Technology - Tera Station and Link Station


• Netgear - Storage Central


• Send feedback, comments, and questions to podcast@bizplanhelp.com


• Download this episode - SMB Strategy Cast - NAS for Small Business

SMB Strategy Cast #2 - Business Plan Part 1

• Thursday, October 13, 2005


• Podcast Description – Cover business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small and medium business.


• In this episode - Start our discussion on the Business Plan.


• Download or view Business Plan Outline


• Send Questions or Comments to podcast@bizplanhelp.com


• Suggest a site that is valuable to SMB's for the Links section of bizplanhelp.com by emailling links@bizplanhelp.com include suggest a link in the subject and in the body include the URL, descrioption of the site, and topic.


• Download this Episode

SMB Strategy Cast #1 - Introduction

• Podcast Description – Covers business strategy topics that pertain to startup, small and medium business.
• Publishing - 10 Minutes in length 1 or 2 times per week.
• Upcoming episodes cover the business plan for startups as well as seasoned companies.
• XML Feed and show notes will be added soon.
• Send feedback, comments, and questions to podcast@bizplanhelp.com
• Castblaster - The software used to create this Podcast is available at www.castblaster.com
• Download the first episode - SMB Strategy Cast Introduction