Last night, Slingshot, Capital One’s new small business network launched in Raleigh. Over a hundred business owners showed up to hear about how their business could benefit from being part of this new social network. I was the keynote speaker again. What I always love about speaking in this part of the country is their hospitality. People are always warm, kind and welcoming. I got the question often; “When will you be back? Come by and visit me in my business”.I met up with a lot of people that had read my first book and now were interested in reading Bounce! Small business owners are yearning to tap into social media but without all the distractions that other networks have- enter Slingshot!

I talked to many business owners who are involved in the real estate and mortgage business and this part of the does not seem as hard hit as others. It was also refreshing to see so many owners from “main street businesses” like photography, carpet cleaning, commercial window washing, ministers, travel agencies, signage, real estate, mortgages, construction, and financial planning. We forget sometimes with all the fancy businesses that we read about every day that these main street businesses are what really make the economy hum.

Yesterday in Denver, I was the keynote speaker for the launch of a new social media networking site for small business called Slingshot. It was a classy event for entrepreneurs where Capital One pulled out all the stops with the room looking a like Main Street, USA. Slingshot is the new site for small business owners where they can go to connect with customers, vendors, find deals, learn and form new alliances. The network is available to everyone, but they are focusing on Denver and Raleigh so they can build value for each of these business communities before moving on to others. Slingshot is stressing that it is for local businesses to help each other.

After I spoke, I asked the attendees, with Slingshot, How Do They Bounce?