We held a live twitter chat yesterday on the topic of diversity and small business with Ramon Ray and Capital One Spark. Ramon is the Small Business Evangelist for Infusionsoft and a Technology Evangelist for Smallbiztechnology.com. He is passionate about helping small businesses grow by educating them about technology and marketing best practices. For more background on small business and diversity, take a look at Yahoo Small Business Advisor and SparkBusinessIQ.com, powered by Spark Business from Capital One.
Capital One SparkBusinessIQ published their top takeaways from the chat as well.
Here is a recap of the highlights from the live chat.
Welcome to our live twitter chat on small business and diversity with @RamonRay ask questions using #YSBAnswers powered by @CapitalOneSpark
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
what are your BIGGEST challenges, concerns and questions regarding DIVERSITY in BUSINESS? live chat NOW #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
Q1:Q1 What does diversity mean to you in the context of small business? #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
A: Diversity is all about an openness of mind and action…. #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A1: Diversity is all about the small business owner recognizing strength in different perspectives #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A1: Small business owners can naturally be INSULAR (not diverse) – due to their size… #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A1: A smart small business person will welcome DIVERSITY of thought and personnel and see it as an asset #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A1: A smart small business person will welcome DIVERSITY of thought and personnel and see it as an asset #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A1: an article about how IBM used some of what @RamonRay is talking about in practice. https://t.co/JovHSCw4gQ #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
It's EASY to surround oneself with "mini-me's" – this can be dangerous and limit growth #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
Q2: How do small businesses address diverse audiences and viewpoints most successfully? #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
A1: starts with a WILLINGNESS to have a dialogue #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
I worked at the @unitednations for 10+ years and learned a lot about diverse audiences and viewpoints #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A2: Diversity is really about respecting others and appreciating (not fearing) differneces #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
How Diversity Will Help Your Small Business Innovate and Thrive. https://t.co/TQVeG4Xc9G #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
#YSBAnswers A1: Diversity in sex, religion, way of being….hair even.
— Jasmine Powers, DIVA (@jasminepowers) September 11, 2014
Addressing diverse viewpoints and people for BUSINESS means asking – is this good for business? #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
@ramonray I like to hire from a diversity of education as well. We have people with MBA and people with life experience. #ysbanswers
— Melissa Minchala (@minchala) September 11, 2014
I've learned that I only limit myself when I limit my ability to accept others #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A2:The Why and How of Workplace Diversity. https://t.co/JovHSCw4gQ #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
diversity of #education – very powerful – thanks @minchala – very smart… #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
#YSBAnswers Q2: It seems to require a need to take personal beliefs out of communications strategy.
— Jasmine Powers, DIVA (@jasminepowers) September 11, 2014
Q3 How can a small business make diversity a strength? #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
A2: Humility is the key to unlocking the potential in diversity. Addressing audiences with a willingness to learn turns heads #YSBAnswers
— SΛLTSHΛ (@Saltsha) September 11, 2014
@ramonray Make diversity your competitive advantage! It allows you to see your biz & the marketplace from different angles. #YSBAnswers
— Brian Moran (@brianmoran) September 11, 2014
A3 #YSBAnswers The more diverse a SMB can be the more niche audiences they can communicate with – talk about an advantage
— Ramon De Leon (@Ramon_DeLeon) September 11, 2014
A1: Real strength is the ability to KNOW you need diverse views from diverse people for #smallbusiness growth #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A3: Workforce Diversity: Understanding Our Differences And Full Potential. https://t.co/3P15jwxDu0 #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
what is strength? persistence, not quitting, fortitude- these traits are honed from a diverse team of thought and experience #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
.@ramonray Markets are diverse. Customers are diverse. The world is diverse. Diverse views are necessary for a #smallbiz #YSBAnswers
— Business Law Group (@BusinessLawGR) September 11, 2014
Q3 First, be clear on the sort of diversity you need, then don't just be open, be excited about it. #YSBAnswers
— Melissa Minchala (@minchala) September 11, 2014
A3: being able to SEEK diverse answers does not always mean you have to ACCEPT them either #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A3: Diversity can help a small business see markets that big biz may miss. #YSBAnswers
— SΛLTSHΛ (@Saltsha) September 11, 2014
Great point @saltsha – #smallbusiness have a built in FOCUS GROUP when they are diverse and not insular #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
Q4 Is it a valid point of view to consider diversity as a multitude of new target markets and customers? #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
A4: diversity must first START INSIDE the company; then evolve to seeking new markets and customers #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A4: The world is GLOBAL (thanks "Internet) customers are no longer just "local"… #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
#ysbanswers A3: I think growing outside of the exclusively female leadership could help me see what OTHER services I could offer.
— Jasmine Powers, DIVA (@jasminepowers) September 11, 2014
A4: if you want to expand to new markets you MUST have a TEAM and MINDSET that is diverse #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A4: Diversity: purple customers need to have purple messaging, purple language, purple sales…etc #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
.@ramonray Being adaptable is a smallbiz strength. If you don't leverage your strengths to the fullest, what is your ceiling? #YSBAnswers
— Business Law Group (@BusinessLawGR) September 11, 2014
A4: 4 Engagement Strategies to Diversify Your Customer Experience. https://t.co/JTQNiKjxVH #YSBAnswers some interesting points of view here
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
May I bring up another elephant in the room…? Are you ready…? #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
Diversity is not just about a majority being DIVERSE it's also about a MINORITY being diverse – it goes both ways. #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
Q5 What are the traps and pitfalls that a small business can fall into when considering diversity? #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
A5: There are many local and national laws in regard to diversity – follow them. know them. period. #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
.@ramonray Even other regions of the US are important. Midwest is not the same as East Coast which is different than Cali. #YSBAnswers
— Business Law Group (@BusinessLawGR) September 11, 2014
A5: Be prepared to make mistakes and be ready to QUICKLY make things right #diversity #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A5: In an attempt to be diverse do not patronize or insult #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
@BusinessLawGR compliance – that's the word…. #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
RT @jasminepowers: @ramonray Q6 What if your efforts to be diverse still are met with 1 demographic being attracted to your biz? #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
@jasminepowers – good question – I'd KEEP TRYING. #diversity is a journey not an action – so KEEP going #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
@ramonray @jasminepowers Similar to if you are not making sales. Try a new approach to solve the problem. Dont get discouraged. #YSBAnswers
— Business Law Group (@BusinessLawGR) September 11, 2014
Smart thinking on diversity and small business in the #YSBAnswers chat. https://t.co/3dXj7gcdO2 and https://t.co/TQVeG4Xc9G
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
A5: TIP: If you feel slighted in some way – consider that maybe it's YOU and NOT the other person 🙂 #diversity #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
true diversity is also being willing to "let go" – I have to do that on a daily basis with my own team #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
Q7: What OPPORTUNITIES does diversity bring for a small business (sales, customers, ideas, etc.) #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
diverse #smallbusiness have beautiful capacity to gain FRESH IDEAS, BETTER EMPLOYEES and LOYAL customers #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
.@ramonray Try to spend time outside that environment. Travel. Study abroad. Keep an open mind to everything. #YSBAnswers
— Business Law Group (@BusinessLawGR) September 11, 2014
A7: before ACTING take time to THINK and EXPLORE to evaluate new opportunities #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A7: the biggest challenge for small business is new customers. Diversity opens up new markets and customers #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
@YSmallBusiness The world is a big place. New markets and customers definitely exists outside of what you think you know. #YSBAnswers
— Business Law Group (@BusinessLawGR) September 11, 2014
A&: DIVERSITY OPPORTUNITIES: hire seniors; hire former convicts; hire young people; hire flex time parens #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
Diversity, at times, takes boldness to say NO to ones core thought group #diversity #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
Q10 Key points to bear in mind – 3 takeaways from today around diversity and small business? #YSBAnswers
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
A10: diversity is a must; diversity is strength; diversity is a BUSINESS asset #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
A10: companies who are NOT focused on diversity are weaker than those who are focused on it #ysbanswers
— Ramon Ray (@ramonray) September 11, 2014
People with different life experience add value to business. Their perspectives can challenge and inform. @minchala @ramonray #YSBAnswers
— Tiffany Jana (@twiffanyjana) September 12, 2014
Thank you all for taking part in our twitter chat on diversity #YSBAnswers with @RamonRay powered by @CapitalOneSpark! Good luck!
— Yahoo Small Business (@YSmallBusiness) September 11, 2014
