I had a GREAT time talking with Chris Voss, president of Strategix One Consulting, while in Las Vegas recently. Chris is one enthusiastic guy, and his volumes of ideas and knowledge on Twitter and The Chris Voss Show are impressive. We laughed about the trend some self-proclaimed social media “experts” discuss about how social media is not about selling or marketing, it is all about giving value. As a long time seller and a sales effectiveness subject matter resource for the past 10 years, I’d like to share that this IS what true selling is about. It is all about adding value, listening, seeing what challenges people have, and then working to help them solve them. Sometimes you have a product or service to help them, and other times, you can refer them to someone who can better help them. The social media is simply the TOOL. We just have new tools now. Good salespeople have been doing these things for decades. See his brief tip about social media:

Chris Voss quick tip – interview with Lori Richardson

I’ll be uploading a couple more shortly.

As the tour rolls on to Austin, Dallas, San Francisco, New York City, Upstate NY, Hartford, Boston, Portland, and beyond – we are looking to shine a light on local speakers, trainers, and authors who help small business owners succeed.

They may be focused in finance, SEO, WordPress, marketing, PR, or other areas – but the key descriptor is that they have tactical, helpful tips that attendees can put into use right away. They are not there selling their product or program – they are out to help support the business owners who do.

In different cities and towns we find these folks in different ways – often via social media (@scoremoresales on Twitter or via the ScoreMoreSales FB page. People refer us to local experts and local entrepreneurial hubs and groups.

So who do you know that we should know, who are helping your community’s small business owners make big things happen? Drop a comment, send an email or give us a call and let’s bring the Small Business Innovator Tour to your town.

Bonus points: Hawaii and Alaska contacts!  Who are the local small business speakers, trainers, and authors in Honolulu and Anchorage?

I’m excited to be hanging out with some great entrepreneurs and innovators at Texas Coworking on Monday, July 26th. We are holding an innovation event and Biznik event there that morning. I’ve never been to Austin and have heard of the great entrepreneurial spirit there for some time.

If you know any entrepreneurs in the Austin area, or any small business innovator / expert types – people who help small business grow – please send them my way so I can interview them and post the video at AllBusiness and elsewhere.

On July 27th I’ll be in Dallas, and also looking for innovators and entrepreneurs to video interview. Know any?

The Fab 50 Small Business Innovation Tour has a new home – it was getting a bit segmented. You’ll find this to be your one-stop source for information on small business experts around the U.S. as well as our tour stops — plus incredible things along the way