Struggling Entreprenuer

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On 29 September 2007, while walking the floor of the exhibit hall of the Podcast and New Media Expo in Ontario, California, the Struggling Entrepreneur Podcast had the opportunity to speak with Rob Walch (host of podcast411 and Today in iPhone podcasts) at the Wizzard Media booth.

Rob discusses with us the value of content being king, as well as the benefits of hosting with Libsyn (Liberated Syndication), which was acquired by Wizzard recently. By the way, as you will see, both The Struggling Entrepreneur and Gain Control of Your Day podcasts are hosted at Libsyn.

Rob is also a weekly participant of the podcast called Today in Podcasting, which is led by the Podcast Pickle himself, Gary Leland (others that participate are Paul Colligan and Dave Jackson).

Rob is also the co-author of the book, Tricks of the Podcasting Masters. (available at Amazon.com)

As I mentioned before, I did nominate Rob Walch for the elected position of Chairman of the Education and Outreach committee of the newly formed Association for Downloadable Media. We thank Rob for his time and his enthusiasm with Libsyn and Wizzard, as well as his contributions to podcasting.

Tune in tomorrow and the following day when I release my own “top 5 picks” of services and offerings that I found most valuable to the struggling entrepreneur.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All rights reserved.

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In this bonus supplement episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we give you a few of the offerings that we have seen and investigated at the Exhibit hall during the Podcast and New Media Expo in Ontario, California, on 28 September 2007.

The day began with the inaugural meeting of the Association of Downloadable Media. This organization is in the infant stages of trying to create an industry association to standardize on metrics–especially for advertisers. I myself did nominate Rob Walch (host of podcast411.com and the other podcast, Today in iPhone) for an elected position as chairman of the committe for Education and Outreach. There were others nominated as well–but that is information for a whole other podcast episode for those interested in this topic.

We then attended the keynote session with Howard Linzon (creator of Wallstrip) being interviewed by Tim Bourquin (founder of the Podcast and New Media Expo). This session format was different–usually keynotes turn out to be presentations (one-to-many) by an individual. However, the interview format chosen by Tim Bourquin kept the pace moving and made the session refreshingly different, and it was anything but boring.

Then, on to the show floor of the Exhibit hall. Here, there were some hardware and software vendors, but there were also some suppliers for services for the small business owners and Entrepreneurs:

- Noble Transcription Services provides a range of text, editing and transcription services for the Entrepreneur–and at an affordable price range, which is extremely competitive. I myself have used them for transcripts for this series, The Struggling Entrepreneur, and they have been able to deliver transcripts (in both MS Word and pdf format with active links) in less than 24 hours. Yes, that’s right! Overnight. I would definitely recommend them for a small business or entrepreneur or online marketer or podcaster.

In addition, here are some other services and suppliers that I did mention in the brief audio episode for this podcast:

- Revver (for video blogging) ;

- tubemogul (for deploying your videos to other video engines);

- Podcast Pickle with a show special advertisement on the Podcast Pickle directory;

- RawVoice and the Podcaster Network with their statistics offering;

- intellipodcast with the offering to have recordings done online for independents or for small business/entrepreneurs.

- stomperNet for internet marketing services.

- Adobe Audition was exhibiting Version 3.0, with an upgrade price at the show; and

- Camtasia Studio (screen capture software for creating demonstrations or synchronizing with PowerPoint presentations) was also being demonstrated.

There is more detail in the audio portion of this special Expo Edition of this podcast episode. We hope you have enjoyed listening, if you yourself could not attend the conference.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All rights reserved.

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In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we have an interview with Terri Romine, the owner of a business called 1 Net Marketing Service that provides assistance targeted for all levels of entrepreneurs. This discussion took place in Ontario, California, around the location of the Podcast Academy 6 session.

Terri describes for us how her firm provides a free consultation for entrepreneurs–from the “dreamer” to the “newbie” to the experienced levels of entrepreneurs. This free consultation can help you in understanding the Internet Marketing needs, requirements and challenges for the small business owner–and then help to create an individual package of services and offerings to assist the entrepreneur. The personalized offerings of 1 Net Marketing Service can address your challenges in getting research and feedback–even before you start to build your business from your idea. And when you are ready for marketing your firm and its offerings on the Internet, then 1 Net Marketing Service can literally provide a “one-stop-shop” from setting up e-commerce sites for sales, transactions and even affiliate marketing. And what makes this very attractive is the price range that fits within the entry-level budget for almost any entrepreneur.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All rights reserved.

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Welcome to this special post for The Struggling Entrepreneur, iin which we will begin the day-by-day reporting of the events and happenings surrounding the Podcast and New Media Expo in Ontario, California. We will be representing The Struggling Entreprenueur Podcast, as well as the companion Podcast of Gain Control of Your Day.

In addition to the upcoming Conference of the Podcast and New Media Expo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (September 28, 29 and 30), we will also be represented at the Podcast Academy 6, which is taking place at the Marriott Hotel across the street from the Ontario Convention Center in California, which is taking place on Thursday, 27 September 2007.

For Wednesday, 26 September 2007, we were well represented at the Podcast Secrets Reunion event, which took place at the DoubleTree Hotel, just next to the Marriott.

Paul Colligan and Alex Mandossian hosted a great event, in which our podcasts were well recognized. We also presented them a plaque award for their excellent contribution as instructors for the course, and for the value it brought to us.  Also, during the event, we went into detail about social media and social networking, as well as Premium Casting with the new offer from Paul Colligan and Alex.

However, we will be bringing you summaries of the other events in which our podcasts will be represented–including Podcast Academy and the conference itself.

We will give you summaries of the conference sessions that we will attend, as well as a “roving reporter” perspective and update from the show floor of the exhibit hall. There will be offerings, services, hardware, software, professional services, media consulting, marketing consulting, press release and promotional support from multiple vendors on the exhibit floor–e.g., transcription services, downloadable offerings for premium and customized content, etc.

We will also give you a perspective of what the ADM (Association of Downloadable Media) initial meeting is like and the results from it.

All in all, our podcasts will be well represented in all the major booths of the exhibit floor–The Podcast Partnership, Noble Transcription Service (where our transcriptions will be shown as a model and sample for others there in the exhibit hall to view), Gigavox, Casgle, and other exhibitors.

The brief audio mp3 file will give you a summary of what we will cover. See you tomorrow with a wrap-up of the Podcast Academy.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All rights reserved.

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In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, there is an interview with Charlie Pascal, the entrepreneur owner of Pascal Communications. In over 3 decades, Charlie has been a successful businessman in Corporate America (the Securities Industry), as well as an adventurer into multiple businesses, ventures and franchises.

In this frank interview, we explore from Charlie’s perspective the past challenges and pitfalls that faced early entrepreneurs–and Charlie’s recommendations to those entering this enviornment on how to avoid the problems–in Charlie’s own words.

This 40-minute interview traces over 30 years of Charlie’s experiences in the small business and entrepreneurial worlds, as well as hints and tips that can definitely help today’s struggling entrepreneur. Thanks to Charlie for his time and his suggestions.

Copyright (c) 2007, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we have an interview done via Skype(tm) with Tim Dewey, who is an aspiring Entrepreneur, but who has apprehensions with questions and issues, which are discussed.

Tim is currently podcasting as a hobby with his Sled Dog Podcast, while he also is a full-time employee in Corporate America and works as an internal trainer and educator.

I had met Tim in a learning environment, as he and I are both paying members and receive premium content and coaching from Dave Jackson in the School of Podcasting podcast series.

Tim’s questions and issues range from creating what he calls the “infrastructure” of an entrepreneurial business (or selecting the legal entity via an LLC or a Corporation), to the financing, timing, and locating of resources and mentors.

Discussed in detail are the need for a feaslibility plan and business plan. Referenced from my past experience is The Company Corporation– now, in this episode, I mistakingly referred to it as “the Corporation Company.” I apologize for this error, but I should have referred to it as “The Company Corporation” at www.corporate.com, and NOT as “The Corporation Company.” This is, by no means, the only firm in the business of assisting individuals to set up their own business entities–it just so happens that this is the company that I, myself, used in the past. And it served as the case-in-point for our discussion.

In addition, I wish to state that I am not a licensed attorney and I do not, in any way, give any legal advice, or pretend to do, or imply to do so. In this informal conversation, I relate to Tim Dewey my own personal experiences from the methods and resources I used in order to form my legal entity, which was a SubChapter S Corporation that was created in 1994. And the opinions given and recommendations from me to use a firm similiar to The Company Corporation to “outsource” the correct forming of the legal entity are strictly mine.

This episode was sponsored by A Halo Effect, a Marketing Consulting firm owned by Stephanie Hale, an Entrepreneur. This company provides support in Marketing, Events and Outreach.

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In this episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur, we interview Jeannette Peten, Founder and President of BIG Austin (Business-Investment-Growth), which is a firm physically located in Austin, Texas, but with virtual reach to all the United States. This organization assists all levels of entrepreneurs–from the “dreamer” (by helping generate an idea for the business) to the “newbie” (the individual just launching the business and stepping into the world of being an entrepreneur) and the “established” entrepreneur (the firm with the initial track record that now needs more financing for growth).

Because of BIG-Austin’s mission, Jeannette explains how she does manage this organization as a real business — in fact, she is an example of an “entrepreneur.” She tells how she had to struggle in the beginning, as well as the milestones that allowed her to become successful and to know when she reached her measurement of success.

Learn about the resources that can assist other groups, such as women starting businesses, or veterans, etc. In particular, see which courses that are offered by BIG Austin are delivering great results for the participants, as well as the instructors with small business experience, and alumni members of BIG-Austin.

Two offerings from BIG-Austin that were mentioned are:

- Start Smart: Fast Trac New Venture. Click here for info.

- Taking Financial Control of Your Business. Click here for info.

This episode is sponsored by A Halo Effect, a marketing consulting firm owned by Stephanie Hale, specializing in events marketing, outreach programs and marketing campaigns–to help your business create your message, deliver it, and grow a loyal customer base.

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This episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur is a live interview with Jeff Mills, the well-known Internet Marketing and Online Marketing wizard.

Jeff focuses on the hints and tips to help the struggling entrepreneur, especially in the areas of networking, education, training and learning from the experience of others. He also delivers some valuable advice about leveraging multiple resources to move from being a struggling entrepreneur to a successful one.

The Show Notes will have links to all the sites and resources mentioned (there were quite a few), from his Midwest Super Conference to the last detail. The show notes will be available in just a couple of days at this link: Show-Notes.

We would like to thank Jeff for sharing with us his knowledge and his suggestions, based on his experience. He is definitely a successful entrepreneur who has “walked the walk.”

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This brief episode of The Struggling Entrepreneur gives you a glimpse of the podcast interviews that we have planned for you:

1. A Live Interview with Jeff Mills – Hear Jeff Mills, in his own words, give his hints and tips for breaking through in the areas of Online Marketing, Internet Marketing, and other niches for today’s business. He is strictly focused on the audience for the Struggling Entrepreneur.

2. A Live Interview with an Individual who is considering becoming an Entrepreneur.

When is the right time to move forward and become your own boss with your own business? What are the questions and apprehensions in your mind as you consider becoming an Entrepreneur? Should you do it part-time or full-time?

Get some of the answers to these questions from the mind of an individual working a day job in Corporate America, but having the desire to launch his own business.

3. An interview with a self-starter in High Tech businesses, technical training businesses and now the Communications Business.

See how several decades of adversity in facing the challenges of self-ownership and entrepreneurship finally paid off for this individual, who is now a successful entrepreneur. He will share with us his lessons learned and give his recommendations for those just starting out.

4. When is the right time to incorporate and grow your business? And how should you proceed?

This is an interview with an individual who has run his own business on a shoestring, until the time when it is starting to grow into a well-known firm. Hear the issues surrounding the formation of legal entities and proceeding to organize your business while it is concurrently growing and starting to take off.

5. How do I get into the business of affiliate marketing while being an entrepreneur? Where do I start?

Share the concerns and questions about getting into affiliate marketing as a means of creating multiple revenue streams, without sacrificing your core business. Hear what others have done to become successful in this area by integrating it within their businesses.

6. Organizations focused on assisting the Entrepreneur.

In addition, we will be having interviews with the organizations that provide assistance to the Entrepreneur — from the dreamer to the beginner to the established small business owner.

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