For Subscribers

Sell Buzz 06/05 Marketing blogs, broadcasting your expertise and more

By Gwen Moran Edited by Frances Dodds

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Ever dream of having a talk-show gig? It may not be sofar-fetched. According to Chris Witting, president of Syndication NetworksCorp. in Morton Grove, Illinois, there are 10,000 radiostations, a burgeoning internet-radio market and satellite-radiostations that need programming.

"You don't need broadcasting experience," saysWitting. "What you really need is an area of expertise thatpeople want to hear about."

Beth Gallob, 53, and Monica Mariani, 42, did it. Their show,Beth& Monica's Small Business Marketplace, airs once amonth on Fountain Hills, Arizona-based KFHX. They got the gig whenGallob met one of the station's volunteers, who mentioned theneed for new shows. Gallob asked Mariani, who owns a graphic designand consulting company and with whom she had collaborated on a fewprojects, to develop the idea with her, and before long, they wereon the air.

"We wanted to find a venue that could help small businessesand help us find new ways of promoting our own businesses,"says Gallob, who owns a marketing communications firm.

Think radio is for you? Witting shares these tips:

  • Put your show concept on paper, including potential topics,guests, show length and format.
  • Approach small stations. They're usually more eager forprogramming.
  • Once on the air, offer your show to stations in other markets.Self-syndicating can be a far-reaching way of promoting yourbusiness--or maybe even generating a revenue stream.

Quick Pick

There are blogs on virtually every topic, including marketing.Here's a short list of the cream of the crop:

  • Smallbusinessbranding: Although it bills itself aspart website, part blog, it's really more of the latter, withgreat content that doesn't just take marketing advice at facevalue. Every small business will find some take-away value.
  • MarketingVOX: Read this blog (or better yet, have ite-mailed to you daily), and your colleagues will wonder how youknow about every major marketing story in the media.
  • BrandAutopsy: Irreverent and smart, this marketing catch-allnarrative probes everything from your brand's phone voice tothe secret power of NPR sponsorships. And its recaps of the latestand greatest marketing titles will have you frequenting your localbookstore.

29% of

executives say the most important expertise a business leader canhave is marketing.
Statistic Source:Institute of International Research

58% of

internet users have deleted cookies--files used to track user webtraffic;

39%

delete them monthly.
Statistic Source:Jupitermedia Corp.
Gwen Moran

Writer and Author, Specializing in Business and Finance

GWEN MORAN is a freelance writer and co-author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Business Plans (Alpha, 2010).

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

This 29-Year-Old's Side Hustle Brought People 'to the Dark Green Side.' It Made $10,000 Within 2 Days and Sees 6 Figures a Month.

Nikki Seaman began work on her business when the pandemic led to grocery store shutdowns.

Business News

Perplexity CEO Says AI Coding Tools Cut Work Time From 'Four Days to Literally One Hour'

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas said that the startup's engineers are using AI coding tools.

Business News

Here's How Much a Typical Microsoft Employee Makes in a Year

Data from thousands of new federal filings shows how much Microsoft is paying its employees, from software engineers to product designers.

Business News

The Fyre Festival's IP Just Sold on eBay, and Founder Billy McFarland Isn't Pleased: 'Damn'

Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland sold his brand's IP and assets. Here's how much the new owner paid.

Growing a Business

Your PR Strategy Might Be the Reason People Don't Trust Your Brand — Here's How to Fix It

Tired of chasing leads? Discover how thought leadership PR builds trust and brings high-intent clients to you — no cold outreach needed.

Marketing

Why Skipping This One PR Move Could Stall Your Startup's Growth Before It Even Begins

Doing PR is critical for startups, yet many entrepreneurs are so busy developing their product that they forget to make a media plan.