Biznik Blog

What is a forum post without anyone commenting on it. Here are some of the most engaged members in the forum.

Thanks gang for keeping the ball rolling!

You like Biznik, right? And Facebook and Wikipedia and Twitter, and the myriad of sites where you can share information with your peers, like Instagram and Pinterest and Tumblr? Then you need to help stop SOPA & PIPA (Stop Online Piracy Act & Protect Intellectual Property Act) now.

I’m in favor of curbing online piracy. The SOPA & PIPA bill do more. They allow the blockage of a site even if the supposed copyright infringement is user generated content. Theoretically, you could be shut down for a comment on your blog that violates a copyright. Sites like Facebook, Wikipedia, and Biznik couldn’t exist. Get it? If this bill passes, we’re giving the government the right to shut down sites. It would be the end of the internet as we know it. Not OK.

Still confused? Watch this video by Fight for the Future:

What can you do? You can start by signing one of the myriad of petitions out there. This one was originated by Google: https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Don’t let this happen. Stop censorship.

Laura Dodson is a Quickbooks Certified ProAdvisor in Seattle. She has been a Biznik member since June of 2009. I first met Laura in late 2009 as a Biznik member, before I was hired as the community manager. I asked a question in the Biz Talk forums as a newbie. She gave me straight up awesome business advice. And that’s what it’s all about.

When did you first know you were passionate about tax prep?

I love solving complex problems with many moving parts. I think my passion about accounting, tax, and business processes all fall from that problem solving mojo. I liked it in grade school when I finished the math test first, and I still like it when I find a solution that puts a smile on a client’s face.

Almost all entrepreneurs agree that making mistakes can be the best way to learn about yourself as a businessperson? What’s the most important mistake that you have made?

That CPA’s don’t need to market or advertise or market their services. One of things that I like the most about Biznik is the incredible amount of knowledge base stored in the Articles. I don’t always agree with the writers but I learn a lot and get new ideas on how to present my business to the outside world. I’m personally very shy and quiet. One of the things that I’ve learned is to be a bolder and louder version of myself in my marketing/advertising. I think that is the biggest influence that Biznik has had on my business.

How has being in business for yourself changed how you view the world?

Trust, but verify. Ronald Reagan used this phrase a lot, especially in dealing with other nations during trade negotiations. I think it strikes to the heart of what constitutes good business sense. Trust others, but make sure they follow up with their end of the bargain.

What is a recent compromise you have had to make for the benefit your business?

The amount of time that I devote to running the business.

Is there a Biznik member that you would like to get to know better or work with?

Kathleen Fasanella – A Pattern Maker in New Mexico.  She commented on one of my BizTalk posts and has an incredible depth of knowledge in the fashion industry.  I would encourage anyone with aspirations in that field to read her books and blog.

What development would you like to be known for in accounting?

A return to the old fashioned type of CPA firm where people come in have a cup of coffee and discuss their issues/tax problems.   There is a great emphasis placed in my industry of trying to be more efficient/profitable that I sometimes think the customer service side is neglected a bit.  If we strive to become automated tax preparation firms  how are we different than a tax preparation program?  This January Infospace purchased Tax Act for $287M.

A quote from the CEO of Infospace. “We know what it means to acquire customers online, and develop products for online environments. And all of those disciplines are front and center with TaxACT, since it is an online business through and through. ”

I disagree with that statement.  Tax preparation is more than that.  It’s about having a great understanding of the client’s needs, applicable tax law, and project management.

Do you have a consistent challenge that you work to overcome?

Finding time in the day to do everything that needs to be done.  I now put my personal time in my schedule and make it just as much a priority as my customer’s projects.

What advice do you have for an accountant, or for someone just starting out?

In any technical field the educational portion of your training is just the beginning.  It sometimes takes years to become proficient or to have a wide range knowledge base.  Take the time to find a mentor who will help guide your steps to your goals.

Independent business owners from all over the world are publishing dead-on focused content in the form of articles on Biznik. Biznik curates them and releases them in a thoughtful and orderly fashion.

Having access to a curated selection of edited business articles is a big benefit for the author, frequently resulting in clients.

And clients are good. Except for when they are not. But even that is addressed in the Biznik article sections!

As these articles suggest, writing and also participating in the Biznik articles is hugely valuable use of time. I hope you enjoy these articles, or re-enjoy them as the case may be.

And if you write, consider publishing your content on Biznik. Notice what types of aricles have been most successful here:

1. Articles that clearly state the authors perspective
2. Articles that are casual and easy to read but are packed with great insight
3. Articles that are timely with snappy (but not too snappy) titles.
4. Check out a little piece I wrote which may help you formalize your thoughts. Think You’re a Melville?

If you submit something, and it is good, but just needs a little work, our editors will help you finalize it before circulation, because the whole community benefits from a well written article.

Brian Crouch of MUSIC Group Services US

The most read and commented article on Biznik in 2011 was A Groupon Tale: the parable of the Cobbler by Brian Crouch.

It was written during a time that Groupon was in its like fifth round of financing. He struck when the hammer was hot and it proved to be a very powerful for people.

Because Biznik members get the one to one relationship between client and profit that can exist, site like Groupon are difficult for some to grock. Though, as many commenters noted, it works for some business sometimes, but no matter what, there must be a plan implemented

An excerpt from the comments, “A brilliant way to explain the Groupon model. I was captivated by your story.” – Judy Dunn

Carolyn Higgins of Fortune Marketing Company

Carolyn Higgins has been on fire this year. She is funny, smart and offers a TON of awesome advice. Her easy to understand and implement business sense has definitely been a help to Biznik members this year. Her most read article of 2011 was 6 Things Every Business Owner Can Learn From Lady Gaga and the most commented on article , with 94 comments is Top 7 Reasons to Fire a Customer. I hope she continues to offer up articles for a long long time.

Here is an excerpt from the Lady Gaga article: Know your audience and connect– Lady Gaga knows her audience, she has a huge fan base of young and old who feel disconnected and disenfranchised in the world and she speaks to and connects with them in her music, her image and her interviews.  She moves them because she understands them so well.  Who are your “fans”/customers?  What moves them and what do you do to move them? What do you do on every levelto connect with them?

Galen Emanuele from The Upfront Theater

Not only is the article by Galen Emanuele full of insight, so is the incredibly diverse and thoughtful discussion that follows. Galen’s was one of the top three most read and commented-on articles of 2011 with Stop wasting time marketing on social media like EVERYONE else. I think it shows the state at which many Biznik members are engaging at different social and interactive levels.

Here is a taste of what Galen has to say is found in a comment he made a week after publishing the article, “The point I will always go back to again and again is you’ve got to know what you’re using and what you’re using it for. You don’t catch lobsters the same way you catch a salmon even though they both live under water. If I see a bunch of people with fishing rods pulling up salmon into boats and I need a lobster, copying them by tossing a line into the water isn’t going to get me what I want.”

Today may be the bank holiday for New Year’s Day, but I’m back in the office and feel like the weeks of holiday slacking with a sugar-stoned stupor are behind me. Riding on the endorphins of a marathon workout this morning, it seems like a good day to reflect on the year.

To the outside 2011 may have looked like a year of business-as-usual. Behind the scenes our team-of-three has been hard at work developing “Biznik 3″. The genesis of Biznik 3 is a drive to take the work out of networking. We can’t take all the work out of networking — you still need to show up and talk to people — but Biznik 3 is a utility that helps you manage your peer-to-peer business relationships, track the referrals and recommendations that come out of your networking, and figure out just where you should be spending your valuable time. Some updates to the online community we all know and love will accompany this launch.

Change is never easy. I know this better than anyone — Biznik’s been my baby for 6 years. But I hope it will ease the transition to know just how excited I am about the direction we’re taking Biznik. It remains aligned with our original mission, to be a place where business networking doesn’t suck.

We’re wrapping it up now and will have it out before spring sets in.

Despite the amount of energy that’s been focused on this development, 2011 included some new developments not related to Biznik 3, such as the Member Book Promotion.

Biznik is full of massively talented people who’ve carved a way a through the world fueled by their vision. Amongst those ranks are a number of people who shared their vision in the form of a published book. You meet many of them every day in the articles section. Now you can see the books they published too. Seeing the cover of a book published by the very author who wrote an article I’m reading, adds validity and authority to their words. We wanted to create a way to support these authors further with an SEO-enhanced listing and a link to the site where a purchase can be made. Listings appear on the author’s profile as well as in the sidebar of the articles they publish on Biznik.

Another development was a reorganization of Biz Talk. One of Biznik’s first rules of engagement is to show up. As I like to say, Biznik is more than a networking platform, it’s a community, a movement — it’s a revolutionary way of interacting with your peers. Show up by contributing in the forums. “In ni che“.

We hosted two events in the Biznik Innovators Series in 2011, and lost our partner and dear friend, Kim Ricketts, to cancer. Kim’s talent as a networker, her extraordinary ability to form and nurture relationships with influential people, and her success with Kim Ricketts Book Events, brought the likes of Gary Vaynerchuk, Daniel Pink and Chris Brogan to our stage since 2009. We miss Kim and the innovative spark she brought to all her projects.

The biggest highlight of the year was our participation in the Seattle Interactive Conference. Matt rallied together a seriously impressive group of speakers for the Biznik stage, including Biznik’s LA Ambassador, Colleen Wainwright. I presented, Your Friends Don’t Trust You, Nor Should They, on the main stage, which fueled passion to get out there and speak more. We’re already excited about the next one in November 2012.

I hope this message finds you well-rested and eager to start 2012. From one indie business person to another, go get ‘em and make this your best year yet!

Right around the corner is something huge. It’s massive. (Can you tell I’m excited?)
We’ve been working on an awesome new project at Biznik, which will deliver you a game-changing peer-to-peer networking tool unlike any we’ve found out there.

“Biznik 3″ plans take the work out of networking, by connecting you with friends you already know, and the friends who trust them, while helping you take care of the people who are most valuable to your business — the ones who bring you business.

With this change comes new prices — the first-ever price increase at Biznik.
If you know the value of Biznik ProVIP, now’s your chance to lock in 2011′s price.
If you haven’t tried a paid membership yet… this may entice you.

A year of ProVIP at 2011′s price + 2 months FREE!

That’s 12 months for the current price of TEN!
In other words — get all the benefits of ProVIP (plus the new features too) for $240 through the END of 2012.

But you have to act now. This offer ends 1/15/12.

We’ve never done this before. This is it. Increase visibility and strengthen your SEO while locking in the gold-star benefits at the 2011 price.

Don’t just take our word for it…

“I highly recommend you upgrade to Pro or Pro VIP status. I joined as a Pro VIP and have never regretted it.  I have been repaid many times over and so will you. I credit Biznik for much of the success of my business.” — Bill Bradfield

“I stopped all marketing expenditure, quit the BNI, changed my business model and joined Biznik as a fully paid up member. So my marketing budget is now a grand total of $24 per month. And business has never been better!” — Sara Eizen

“I usually charge between $2,000-$10,000 for SEO consultation so the $24/month Biznik membership is a steal. Honestly. I recently got a new client that cold-called me and I asked him how he found me and he said he typed in “SEM Guru” in Google and there was my Biznik profile.” — Brian Rauschenbach

What are the new prices? We’re still working that out. Be assured that the savings should exceed $150 (if not more).

Lock it in.