Wyoming Entrepreneur Blog

Self Publishing Options on the Web - Wyoming Entrepreneur Guest Blogger - Aliza Sherman

You have a PDF file and want to publish it online. Or you'd like to embed it into your website or leverage that PDF in some other way. Maybe it is a white paper, a how-to guide or an ebook. Here are a few quick solutions for self-publishing with a PDF.

Scribd - One of the early sites for hosting documents including PDFs with an elegant document viewer for embedding them into your site. Sell your documents in the Scribd store. You can also import your Google Docs. Example: QR Code Handbook on Scribd.

SlideShare - Convert your PowerPoint slides to a PDF, and upload to Slideshare. You can allow people to download your PDF, embed it into your site, and with their Pro level, you can capture leads directly from your files. Example: QR Code Handbook on Slideshare (note that this file wasn't designed as a slide presentation but as an ebook so the layout doesn't align properly - here is a slideshow converted into a PDF and uploaded to Slideshare).

Issuu - If you are great with design, you can produce beautiful digital magazines and publications using Issuu. Upload your PDF file (or PowerPoint, Word Doc), display it in your Issuu Library, and get stats on readership. Example: QR Code Handbook on Issuu.

DocStoc - Another site where you can monetize your PDFs. Upload to DocStoc, and offer your PDF publication for sale or share in ad revenues (DocCash program). You can also embed documents into your site. Example: QR Code Handbook on DocStoc.

There are many ways to publish a well-designed PDF document or one that is chock-full of great content. Offering your content in a downloadable format - or even selling it - helps you get the most out the content you publish.

Aliza Sherman, Web pioneer and digital marketing consultant
http://alizasherman.com

5 Ways to Collaborate Online - Wyoming Entrepreneur Guest Blogger Aliza Sherman

If you’re looking to collaborate more with your employees, team members and stakeholders, there are many opportunities to do this effectively and efficiently online. Virtual collaboration gives you and others the flexibility to access content and resources from a computer anywhere at any time.

Here are five different applications that offer collaboration tools that could help you generate more ideas, give easier access to the collaboration process and archive content for future reference.

Tracky - http://tracky.com
This "social" collaboration tool lets you create up to five "groups" or projects. Add "tracks" or tasks to the site, and then others you invite can access them, comment, attach files or add subtracks. Track what your collaborators are up to during the collaboration process through a social network-like feed. Tracky is easy to set up and is full of features that reveal themselves as you use it more and more.

Mightybell - http://mightybell.com
If you’re looking for a more visual collaboration tool, use Mightybell to create a Space where you can add posts, photos, questions, video, links, files and events. You can then invite others to participate in adding content and comments. Resources are presented in visual blocks, and you can access your Space any time to use the data you’ve gathered collectively.

Stixy - http://stixy.com
If you’re looking for an easy-to-use but lighter-weight collaboration tool, Stixy uses sticky note-like annotations so you can invite others to add notes, photos, documents and To Do lists.

Bubble.us - http://bubbl.us
Another form of collaboration is the collaborative mind map or flowchart. Bubble.us lets you make free diagrams and invite others to build on your visual map. Great for planning and for mapping out a website or a process. For a heavier duty collaborative mindmapping, try MindMeister - http://mindmeister.com (starts at $4.99/month for a personal account after a 30-day free trial).

Pinterest Collaborative Boards - http://pinterest.com
If you use Pinterest already, you can set up collaborative boards with others who also use it. Even if you and your team members aren’t on Pinterest, you can all set up a free account just to use the Pinterest Collaborative Boards. To invite others to these boards, you need to be following them or one of their boards first. Similar to Mightybell, you can then jointly “pin” online content for the team to share including articles, blog posts, photographs, infographics, and video to the collaborative board. There are limitations to Pinterest boards such as you cannot rearrange pins, however, if you are looking for a quick way to share online information with others, this is a nice visual way to go. If privacy is important to your process, you can create Secret Pinterest Boards and invite up to three other people to collaborate on them.

As you can see, collaboration online comes in many shapes and sizes. The key is finding a solution that is easy for everyone to access and use and something that will keep your collaborative efforts in an always-accessible archive.

Aliza Sherman, Web pioneer and digital marketing consultant
http://alizasherman.com

Tips to networking and relationship building when selling products and services to the government.

Do you want to market your goods and or services to government agencies? If so, developing an effective approach to the process can be helpful. The following are a few tips to that will prepare you for efficient communication that will be important when networking with contracting officers and other government agency representatives.

Conferences, matching making events and any other time you have the opportunity to engage in a conversation with a government agency may seem like the time to sell your business and do all of the talking. However, it is far better to do more listening so you can gather performance criteria information and have a better idea of what they are looking for. It is very important to take direction from contracting officers carefully because the information that you receive will help you focus on the contracting officer’s mission and what you can do to meet their objectives.

The government is very interested in the latest methods and technologies but before presenting an advanced solution make sure and do your research by reviewing the government standards compliance, and be prepared to discuss a cost-benefit in your presentation. A business should know exactly what the agency is expecting if they want to be successful in government contracting.

Being awarded a contract represents your company’s commitment to successfully perform all tasks detailed within the contract regardless of its monetary value. Everyday, more and more acquisition abuse stories are being reported. Business ethics and compliance with established laws are no joke when working with the government. Not only can non-compliance and poor business ethics bring bad publicity the chances of ever receiving another award are extremely slim.

 Once you receive a contract award, you should understand that this is only one of the first steps in a successful government contracting relationship. Maintaining a “win-win” relationship before and after the contracting officer’s established agreement is made is essential to being awarded any other contract there after. If your business provides the government with a quality product or service that delivers to the agencies needs, then it is more likely your business will have more contracts awarded in the future. Past performance is one of the areas measured during the source selection process of a contract award.

 In summary, it is good to keep in mind when entering a conversation with a government agency representative to listen and not to overly sell. Knowing what the agency is looking for will help you when bidding on a contract.  Also, be aware of the Federal Acquisition Regulations that apply when you are placing your bid to prevent termination of default on a contract. When bringing new innovative products or services to the table do your research. Finally, once you get the award be prepared to deliver. Your performance on your first contract as well as the ones that follow is key to government contracting success. For more tips and assistance before approaching a government agency contact your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center. They provide free strategic planning assistance to small businesses across the country. Visit their website http://www.aptac-us.org/new/.

Also, for opportunities to meet with government agency representatives in Wyoming contact the Wyoming PTAC. They have several workshops as well as an annual conference that provide great opportunities to connect with contracting officers. The 2013 Annual GRO-Biz Conference will be held on February 19th-21st at the Holiday Inn in Cody WY. For more information on this event contact Wyoming PTAC at 1-866-253-3300 or [email protected] or register here

http://www.regonline.com/2013grobizidea.  

 

The 2013 GRO-Biz Conference and Idea Expo is the conference you do not want to miss.

It’s that time of year again! The annual GRO-Biz Conference and Idea Expo sponsored by Senator Enzi, Governor Mead, the SBA and many others, is just around the corner. This year the conference will be taking place on February 19th-21st in Cody, WY and you do not want to miss it! The opportunities are endless and the connections you will make are invaluable.

The conference offers non-stop opportunities for businesses to connect with numerous government agencies. Find out first hand what different agencies buy, what their forecasts are, how and where they put their work out for bid, how do they pay, what are their expectations and much more.

How can you prepare for these one on one opportunities? Well that’s a great question. It’s helpful to come to the conference with business cards, examples and a capabilities statement. The capabilities statement should list the products or services that you offer, your DUNs number, CAGE Code, set aside certifications, and more. If you need assistance in preparing for the GRO-Biz Conference and Idea Expo contact the Procurement Technical Assistance Center. The PTAC will offer guidance in the preparation of a capabilities statement and any other registrations or preparations that would be beneficial to have completed before attending the conference.

Different sessions will also be offered during the conference. They will cover a wide array of topics including: Accounting Requirements for Federal Contractors, the new System for Award Management, Proposal Preparation, Small Business Role in Federal Acquisition, Federal Government Internet Invoicing Systems and more. In addition to the great sessions that are offered there are some amazing keynote speakers such as Jason Kintzler from PitchEngine, he will close this year’s conference as the final lunch speaker with “Finding Relevance in a Social Economy.”

The 2013 GRO-Biz and Idea Expo is not your typical conference, the opportunities are endless. To register for the conference or to view an agenda go to: http://www.regonline.com/2013grobizidea

If you have any questions, or would like tips to prepare for the conference contact Natasha Stahla with Wyoming Entrepreneur PTAC at [email protected] or call 1.866.253.3300.