Even if you wanted to ignore it, and many small business are trying pretty hard to, you can't overlook the impact social media is having on many aspects of our  lives - including our professional lives.  And we really haven't even scratched the surface, as more social tools, sites and communities come online every single day.  

We welcome Shel Israel to the show.  Shel is a pioneer in social media having co-authored, along with Robert Scoble, Naked Conversations.  Shel talks about why he and Robert wrote the seminal book, how social media has changed since writing the book in 2005, and the importance of understanding the impact it can have on your small business.  Shell also looks into his crystal ball to give us a glimpse at what we should be on the lookout for in the not too distant future with respect social media and it's evolving role in our culture.

We also welcome back Steve Strauss, USA Today small business columnist and author of The Small Business Bible. With it being summer time, it's important for us small business types to be able to get away from the office for a bit.  Steve gives us a few pointers on how we can feel comfortable on vacation and still have things running smoothly.  So if you're getting ready to take some time off, or you're too afraid to do so, listen to Steve and get a few tips on how to do it the right way.

And Wordtracker's Ken McGaffin returns for another Keyword Rich segment.  This time around Ken clues us in on how newspapers can be great sources for our keyword research efforts, and how you can use papers to uncover more keywords with Wordtracker's free keyword suggestion tool.   He also discusses how reading industry articles from respected publications can even lead to relationships with columnists looking for experts to interview.  

 Shel Israel writes, speaks and video reports for FastCompany on social media's impact on business and culture. He is a co-author, with Robert Scoble, of "Naked Conversations--how blogs are changing the way businesses talk with customers," and serves as a senior adviser to several promising social media start ups. Shel is a senior adviser to both the Society for New Media Research and the Social Media Club. He also serves on the board of directors for YourTrumanShow a video blogging site.

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