Here are three cool tools to fire up your business…

I take pride in sharing my latest web discoveries and online resources with my friends and close colleagues.  Disclosure: When I become a fan of these new finds, I usually sign up as an affiliate and receive a small commission on referrals.  I never promote stuff that I don’t test and use myself…

Still, with sooooo much stuff coming at us from every direction, it’s tough to separate the crap from the really useful marketing tools.  With that in mind, here are the web resources I’m most enthusiastic about recommending:

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Finding time to understand and use hashtags on Twitter had not been a big part of my Twitter practice ’til now, but it appears to definitely be worth the time investment.

In a post on Twitip last month, Marcus Emmanuel Barnes wrote titled “Why You Should Consider Using Hashtags” that helped me to think about hashtags differently.  I hope it’ll do the same for you.

One of the key concepts to help understand hashtags is to think of them as keywords or keyword tags.  If you have a website or blog, you are probably aware of keywords.  They are the “key” words that search engines will use to connect people who search for some combinations of those words to your information on the web.

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The Flip Video camera’s brilliance is in its simplicity. Just click the on switch, point and shoot! To record, press the big red button on the back of the Flip (you can’t miss it!) To stop recording, hit the red button again. It really is that simple!

The interface is basically the same whether you’re using the original, early model Flip Video, the popular Flip Ultra, or the new Flip Mino. Of course, each version has gotten a bit smaller, slicker and a bit more expensive.

As of this writing, the original Flip Video retails for $129.99 (USD), though we’ve seen it as low as $89! The original has 1GB memory and holds 60-minutes of video. The colorful Flip Ultra, in your choice of five, bright colors, has 2GB space and room for 60-minutes of video. The Ultra retails for $149,99 (USD). The newest addition to the Flip family is the Mino, also with 2GB and 60-minutes of video recording time. The Mino runs $179.99, but is smaller and has an internal battery. Earlier models require 2 AA batteries. The new Mino also adds some increased functionality, such as pause, fast-forward and rewind functions for playback.

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What do megastars Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Aniston have in common? They’re all flipping out over Pure Digital’s Flip camera! Other Flip fanatics include Rosie O’Donnell, Pamela Anderson and the Barack Obama campaign…

It’s not just celebrities who are flipping over the Flip… Rave reviews have come in from all corners of the media world, from Time magazine, ABC News and Extra TV to the Wall Street Journal, CNN and USA Today.

With product evangelists like that, perhaps it’s no surprise that Pure Digital just sold their one millionth Flip Video Camcorder! The Flip has been the number one best-selling video camera on Amazon since its launch, and the camera’s popularity shows no signs of abating.

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We just helped a client install a new Wordpress blog, using version 2.9, and found that scheduled posting isn’t working like it should. This means that when you pre-write a post, and set it to publish on a certain day and time, the day and time passes, and no post appears.

In digging into this issue, it seems to be a problem with Wordpress 2.9, specifically the cron function.

There are several fixes you can try:

Option #1: If you’re technically minded, you can update your wp-includes/cron.php file, using the instructions found here: Fix missing posts in Wordpress

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If you do business on the Internet, then you’ve seen the emergence of Online Video as a powerful marketing tool. But did you know that Online Video can also be your “secret weapon” in the battle to buck the recession?

Using video to build your brand and promote your business – whether on the now ubiquitous YouTube or on your own website – actually attracts new customers and accelerates the sales process. There are several strong arguments for adding video to your marketing mix, but none more important than the simple fact that video boosts your business.

When you share a video with your potential customer, you instantly increase your “know, like and trust” factor. Projecting your personality and authenticity cane take months or years with text or email, but video is immediate and personal. Your prospects can see and hear the real you and, the sooner they feel they know you, the sooner they’ll buy from you!

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Time for your best Dr. Evil voice… Why? Because YouTube is now streaming ONE BILLION videos per DAY! Want a piece of that incredible audience? Here are 5 easy ways to get a video on YouTube fast…

1.    YouTube “Quick Capture!” – Just below the “upload” button on YouTube is the cleverly hidden “quick capture” function, which allows you to record your video “live” and on the fly with just your webcam. Give it a try!

2. Phone it in – If you’re an iPhone 3G owner, you’re in luck. The new iPhone with video not only lets you record video, it gives you the option to send your mobile video directly to YouTube – again with one click convenience.

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What do you do with that list of keywords after you’ve taken the time to brainstorm? You could potentially be holding on to a gold mine of profitable words, but you won’t know that unless you analyze their potential with keyword tools.

You don’t have to go out to your nearest computer store and purchase any software. Most of what you need is available on the Internet for free or a small fee. If they offer a free trial, use it. At least you will learn how the process works and if that particular software works for you.

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Ever notice that when you really make up your mind and set your intention to do something that all kinds of obstacles seem to get thrown in your way?

In my case, since deciding that I’m going to put all my business energy and focus into creating something special at Good Company, I’ve had all kinds of new client work show up. I love that, for sure, and so I’m having to take a look at how to manage all of this to get everything done. But I will.

Have you set an intention to do something great?

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In these turbulent and unpredictable times, you need every competitive advantage you can get to stay ahead. One powerful and low-cost tool is Online Video. Video has a small learning curve, but can create big results. In fact, video can become your secret weapon in the battle to buck the recession.

Using video to build your brand and promote your business – whether on the now ubiquitous YouTube or on your own website – actually attracts new customers and accelerates the sales process. There are many compelling arguments for adding video to your marketing mix, but none more important than the simple fact that video brings you closer to your customers and closer to the sale!

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