Twitter Power: How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time, by Joel Comm

As someone who can be counted on to be clinging to the wallpaper at any in-person networking event, I have been curious about the surge in social networking. While I have dabbled, with some success, at using LinkedIn and maintaining my own blog, Twitter has remained a mystery to me. How can you possibly market your business in 140 characters or less? Who has time to sort through the thousands of tweets out there while running a small business?

I was pleased to find Twitter Power by Joel Comm at my local library.  Unlike some previous Twitter books that I’d picked up, this book seemed to be targeted towards me: a one-person professional services provider looking to reach my target market.

The first three chapters are a very basic Twitter 101 review.  Starting in Chapter 4, though, Comm begins to provide real advice on how to build a following and connect with customers.  I found it refreshing to see an analysis between building a huge following of random followers versus a quality following of targeted followers.

By far, however, the best part was Chapter 13 — Putting It All Together: A 30-Day Plan for Dominating Twitter.  For a wannabe tweeter like me, this carefully laid plan was just what I needed to dive into the Twitter world with some confidence.

Oh, and please follow me on Twitter at @dhgreenleaf !!

The IRS posted a new “Summertime Tax Tip” for entrepreneurs: the Top Seven Tips for Starting a New Business.  The full article can be found at:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=172970,00.html

I love the fact that three out of the seven concern bookkeeping and taxes.  So many new business owners get wrapped up in their new enterprise and lining up new clients, they forget that Uncle Sam is going to want to know a few things about their business next April!