In Context MultiMedia
Business Development in Context -Stephen Smith's Services pageWelcome to In Context MultiMedia. This resource has been specifically created to teach you how to develop your small business and yourself, from the inside and out.

This is not just another blog purporting to tell you about how to grow and strengthen your business and brand, I am doing it right now. I am living it right now. And it is time for me to pay it forward and tell you what I did, show you the steps I took, and work with you as your business grows.

Take action on what you learn here and you will take your small business to the next level.

  • Learn how to use a blog to communicate with your customers, your competitors, and other members of your strategic alliance.
  • Learn how to get away from "marketing messages" and have real conversations with social media.
  • Polish and perfect the leadership skills that you need to implement your vision for your business.
  • Discover the power of the Long Tail, and how marketing now means selling more of less.
  • Create a powerful personal network of real friends and business advisers that you can collaborate and innovate with to take your personal development to the next level and beyond.

I’d like to help you invest your time and effort, promote yourself and your business, and get a return on that investment.

Business Development in Context -Stephen Smith's Services page

This is what I do:

  • I consult on how to get involved with on- and off-line communities,
  • Use Twitter and Commenting strategies without being a spammer,
  • Increase your online presence to attract and generate more business,
  • Teach you to create and implement a blogging platform for your business and your community,
  • Teach actionable steps that you can use to improve your productivity workflow
Business Development, as part of the In Context Multimedia family of web resources, has come into being through my own efforts at learning how to blog, how to create info-products and how to market myself and my products. I have 14+ years of experience working in the Hospitality industry, in operations and in sales, which has taught me many lessons about life and business.

In the past few years I have become intensely interested in how this internet thing works, and how to make a business out of it. I have read hundreds of blogs and books about this and related topics. Many lessons were learned the hard way, and almost all of them "on the job."

To read more about the most important lesson, click here [link].

Getting Started

This site is set up a little differently from many of the blogs and media sites that you may be familiar with. I recognize that all of you reading this are at different points on your development curve. Some of you may already be excellent marketers, but you are looking for ways to lead and engage your employees. Some of you may have a successful business and want to learn how to reach out to your customers on the internet and extend the reach of your brand.

Therefore, each category is in its own "channel", where you can follow the topics that you are most interested in. You can also subscribe to the main RSS feed in order to get all of the content. Your method of learning, your pace of learning is up to you. The primary categories that we will be addressing are:

Each article, or post, will also be tagged with a more specific topic name. In this way you can not only just read posts about Blogging, for example, but you can read all of the posts that are tagged "customer service" or whatever topic you wish to develop today.

Click on the category links above to learn more about each specific category, or choose a subscription option here. Some of the latest posts cover the following topics:

In Context MultiMedia



Testimonials

Stephen Smith is a true expert who is also easy and fun to work with. I had some problems with document software and work flow, which he solved for me in a way that will definitely save me time and money. He is responsive and thorough as well - what more can you ask for? I would use him again without hesitation.

Brad Shorr
President
Word Sell, Inc.
www.wordsellinc.com

Stephen is a blogger with a cooperative mindset. He loves to work together to share knowledge and work on being successful. We have worked together in the past and will continue doing so in the future. His blog Productivity in Context contains a wealth of information on how to manage your activities and time in a more productive way. At the same time he shares his insights in leadership development and new media too.

Lodewijk van den Broek
Owner
How to be an Original

Read more recommendations here [link].

Blogging in Context
Learning how to write an effective blog is becoming an important part of modern business. I am exploring this topic in detail on the Blogging Channel of Business Development in Context.

Here are some of the most recent posts on the Blogging Channel: Business Development In Context » Blogging
Conversations in Context
The future of your business depends on the conversations held on the internet. Twitter, Forums, blogs. All of these amazing new tools are being used by consumers and customers alike to talk about you, your company, your products and services. You need to take part in these conversations. Social Media is not for the faint of heart, but with courage and honesty you can learn to talk with your customers and create a relationship.

Trust is the new currency of business, and it is something that we will be discussing on the Conversation Channel of Business Development in Context.

I am looking forward to discussing how "trust” is becoming more important, especially interpersonal trust and intra-community trust. Both of which are gaining ground where institutional and governmental trust are declining. The whole idea of Web 2.0 is that conversations are growing, and while a market may span the globe, its members are inter-connected in more ways than ever.

Communities are relying on each other for trusted information and evaluations of products and services, rather than the Marketing and PR companies that dominated the late 20th-century marketplace. Companies no longer trust or show loyalty to their employees, so new conversations are taking place, new cultures are being developed.

Here are some of the most recent posts on the Conversation Channel:
Conversations
Leadership in Context
Leadership skills can be learned. The Leadership Channel of Business Development in Context is where we will grow these skill together. I have been a manager of hospitality and restaurant employees for more than 14 years. These can be some of the most difficult people to lead and inspire.

We will discuss techniques that work, and those that do not. Some of the planned topics include:
  • How to get yourself focused on the task at hand
  • How to fulfill your leadership role faster
  • How to choose the right strategy
  • How to make good things happen right away
  • How to build a winning team
Watch for an innovative focus on applying productivity principles to your leadership and management techniques.

Here are some of the most recent posts on the Leadership Channel:

Leadership
Marketing in Context
Marketing yourself and your business via the internet and its Social Media channels is one of the biggest challenges that an entrepreneur faces. Search Engine Optimization (SEO), flagship content, keywords - so many new topics for learning and developing your skills. The Marketing Channel on Business Development in Context is where we will be discussing the tools and techniques for getting the word out about your business.

Some of the topics covered include:

  • Asking for and encouraging customer reviews
  • How to monitor what's being said about you and your business
  • How to show your appreciation to your customers and community

Here are some of the most recent posts on the Marketing Channel:
Marketing
Networking in Context
Conversations. Leadership. Marketing. All important skills for the New Media business person. But are they worth anything without a network of contacts to brainstorm ideas? To give and get advice? To turn to for support and encouragement?

On the Networking Channel of  Business Development in Context  we wil be discussing how to meet people and create a relationship. A relationship that is mutualy beneficial and collaborative.

The key points:
  • Give value first
  • Prove your credibility
  • Demonstrate your commitment

Here are some of the most recent posts on the Networking Channel:
Networking
Productivity in Context
Raw Data In, Information OutThis is your resource for articles, podcasts, and video tutorials featuring best practices for personal productivity, leadership, "New Media" studies, and tools for organizing. 

Make this your headquarters for improving your life and work through increased mindfulness, education, and workflow practices. .

Links to Productivity Skill Basics

Productivity in Context is a record of my Getting Things Done practice.

I teach people simple methods and basic practices for getting their work done so they can live their life. Here are a few links that go back into the archives, discussing some of the basic skills you can learn for improved personal productivity:

Project Planning in Context

I have written an E-book and a self-study training course for people that are interested in Project Planning. This is not a big technical manual, but a general, easy-to-read application of professional project planning techniques. Project Planning in Context is written for you if you would like to learn more about planning and executing a detailed or time-consuming project and just don't know where to start.

Click here to read more about Project Planning in Context.

Recent Posts

Here are some of my most recent posts on Productivity Practices and Methods:
@Stephen | Productivity in Context

Guest Posting 

Productivity in Context is proud to be host to a terrific guest columnist every week: Mike St. Pierre's GTD Cafe every Wednesday. There is always room for additional writers who would like to get involved in the HD BizBlog community. Please send an e-mail ( stephen [at] hdbizblog [dot] com ) if you are interested in contributing.
Training in Context
This part of In Context Multimedia is still in development. Learn more about Brainstorming, LinkedIn, and Interviewing Skills at your own pace with interactive e-learning courses, podcasts and video.
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Questions, Comments, and Suggestions

Here at In Context MultiMedia, I am interested in having a conversation. Simply get in touch with me via any of the methods below to let me know how to better serve you! Send your questions, comments, or inquiries.

E-mail

Send off an email to stephen [at] hdbizblog. [dot] com. Or you can use this Contact form.

This is the fastest and easiest way to get in touch.

Telephone

Have a pressing question or comment that you would prefer to discuss on the phone? Feel free to give me a call at 207-450-1736.

I am in the US, in the Eastern Time Zone (-5:00 GMT).

Social Media

@Stephen (my online identity) is well represented on many of the popular social networking sites. You're welcome to connect with me on any one of them, although some are used more frequently than others.