Posts Tagged ‘small business’

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Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Listen To The “Experts” But Don’t Lose Sight Of Your Path

Whether it’s marketing, social networking, PR, or sales, there are a lot of experts out there. And every 12 to 18  months, a new star is born.  Everyone worships at their altar – for a while, anyway, until the next “business genius” steals the spotlight.  I believe many of these people have a lot to offer. Their experience and knowledge gives them a certain perspective, and this insight helps people who are trying to get their business up and running.

But I believe we all need to be selective when taking the advice of others.  Not necessarily everything someone else has done will work for you.  Your business and goals are unique, so an approach that propelled them toward their goal could actually put you on a detour away from your goal.

So how can you avoid that?  Get clear on what you want your business to look like and what you want it to do – for you and for your customers.  Once you know what this means for you, step onto your path with confidence.  Then you can easily determine what will assist you in reaching your goal.  There is so much good advice out there, but treat it all like a buffet or dim sum. Take only what will work for you.

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Posted in Approach, PR/Marketing | No Comments »

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

The 2nd Annual Unique Los Angeles Spring Show

The 2nd Annual Unique Los Angeles Spring Show is scheduled for April 24th & 25th, they are now accepting vendor applications, through March 10th.  Unique Los Angeles puts on two-day shopping events twice a year; a spring show and a holiday show.  If you’re an independent designer, it’s a great opportunity to display your products.

Unique Los Angeles events have quickly become one of the city’s premier shows for designers and artists.  Last December, their holiday event was attended by over 11,000 people. I strongly advise that you apply today.  

If you aren’t in Southern California, you could find a way to create our own opportunity.  Do a Google search for similar events in your part of the state/country. If you still can’t find anything, you could always pull together your own event. It’s been a long, hard winter. When spring finally arrives, people are going to be ready to get out of the house. A local designer show may be just what they’re looking for.  Here are some ideas to help get you started.

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Posted in Opportunity, Selling | No Comments »

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Lessons From Rollerskating (Rerun)

Lessons From RollerSkating from Beth Andrus on Vimeo.

This video is a rerun. I will have new videos, again, starting next week.

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Posted in Approach, Small Biz, Video | 1 Comment »

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

You Need To Have A Website & ChooseWhat.com Makes It Easy

If you already have website, go back to what you were doing. If you don’t, there is a site that can help you get set up. Like anything else that’s new to us, setting up a website can be intimidating, and frustrating. If you have a business, though (any kind of business) you need to have a website. It gives you credibility, and will help you market your product or service. There, your customers can find out about your company, get contact information, etc...

ChooseWhat.com offers a “build-your-website” option that is incredibly easy to use. You start by selecting an “information only” site ($9.99/month) or a web store ($24/month). You are then literally stepped through the process. The price includes a domain name.  And the first 30 days are free, so check it out before committing.

Here’s what you’ll see:

Get Started.
a) Create a free account.
b) Choose your layout and color scheme.
c) Choose your domain name.

Add Pages to Your Website.
a) Customize your Home page.
b) Customize your Contact page.
c) Add supporting pages

Create Logical Navigation.
a) Create main navigation links
b) Create secondary navigation.

Enhance Your Website (optional steps).
a) Customize your header and logo.
b) Change your layout.
c) Change your color scheme.
d) Get your website listed in search engines
e) Add images, video and other multimedia.

Everything in this guide is straightforward and easy to understand. As you click on each task, you are given a full, clear explanation of what you are doing, and why. You should be able to create your website in an afternoon.

Having an online presence is so important. You are missing out on opportunities each day that you wait. So give it a try, because the need for a website is not going to go away.

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Posted in PR/Marketing, Small Biz, Web/Tech | No Comments »

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Don’t Get Ahead Of Yourself

Getting caught up in the excitement of starting your own business can cause you to get ahead of your self.  It’s a common mistake, but you may pay dearly for it.

Starting a business is part hard work, part lots of fun.  Unfortunately, in the beginning, there are bigger doses of hard work – getting your website up and your shopping cart in place, registering for tax ID numbers, not to mention preparing your product or service.  So it’s understandable that people want to jump into the much more satisfying activities of marketing and PR, but don’t take these steps until you’re ready.

First, if you hire a marketing or PR person before you’re ready, you’ll be wasting your money and their time.  And, second, even if you’re doing these things on your own (I love DIY!) you could be caught with your pants down, so to speak.  If clients, journalists, and sponsors coming knocking before you’re ready, you will look amateurish and create a reputation for being unreliable.

I once jumped into a marketing opportunity before I had my vendors lined up. A huge order came in from this and I suffered a sleepless week getting the work done for my new customer, with the added pleasure of paying a subpar vendor a fortune for a “rush” job.

If your dream client/PR contact called you, would you be ready? If the answer is, “Yes, but I just need to ______”, then the real answer is no.

I get it. It’s thrilling to go full steam ahead, but you have to make sure you have something to offer before inviting the world in. It is easier to build a strong reputation from a clean slate, than it is to repair a damaged one. So clean house, get your ducks in a row, or whatever other metaphor you would like to use, then get out there and show the world what you’ve got.

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Posted in PR/Marketing, Small Biz | No Comments »

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Stand Out With Your Message

Stand Out With Your Message from Beth Andrus on Vimeo.

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Posted in PR/Marketing, Uncategorized, Video | No Comments »

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Even With Coaching, How-To Books, And Seminars… It’s Still Up To You

This is an extraordinary time to venture into business ownership.  The Internet has changed the entire game. There is unprecedented access to information and guidance, and this has leveled the playing field.

But whether you work with a business coach, attend seminars, or read how-to books and blogs, you are the one who has to make it happen.  All of these activities are there to give you direction and/or tools, but only you can get your business up and running.  Only you can create the business you envision.

Take an honest look at how much time and money you’ve recently invested in any or all of these things. Then take a look at where you are with your business.  How long have you been operating at your current level, compared to how long you've wanted to take it to the next level?

A lot of people get stuck in the “information gathering” stage.  In this stage, it is easy to convince ourselves that we’re doing something.  But if you’ve been on a merry-go-round of learning and development activities, the reality is, you’re avoiding doing anything. The best way to actually move your plans forward is to take a break from the planning. Put the information you’ve gathered to use by creating an action oriented to-do list, and start moving through it.

For some of you, the next level is actually getting your business set up.  For others, it means expanding your product or service line or building your customer base.  Wherever you’re at, you are responsible for being there.  And wherever you want to be, you are responsible for getting there.  Feel confident from your past achievements, use the knowledge you have gained, and start moving toward your goals.

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Posted in Approach, Small Biz | 2 Comments »

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Flattery Will Get you Everywhere

Flattery Will Get You Everywhere from Beth Andrus on Vimeo.

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Posted in Approach, PR/Marketing, Video | 2 Comments »

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Video As A Marketing Tool

I can feel some of you cringing as you read this, but I think you should at least consider incorporating video into your marketing plan.  Video can be used in a lot of ways, and it’s very effective. That’s one of the reasons HSN and QVC are so successful. They are constantly connecting with their customers with conversation and demonstrations.  Video can do the same for you.

I love fresh pineapple but never bought it because it’s such a mess to slice up.  Then I came across a video of the Vacu Vin pineapple slicer.  The 2 minute demonstration showed how easy it was to use, so I purchased one.  It worked as promised, and now I would try other products from this company.  So, if you have a product that has a function you can demonstrate, video is a great way to go.

If your products that don’t lend to an instructional video, you can still show your products in motion, whether you sell apparel, makeup or jewelry. This also gives your potential customers a chance to get to know you.  And if your company offers a service, video is a great way to build trust.  People will start to develop a relationship with you before even meeting you.

Getting started is easier than you may think.  You don’t have to spend a lot to get a decent camera, and they all come with software so you can do some basic editing.  Then you can set up a YouTube channel and link from your blog, or you can put your videos on Vimeo and imbed the videos in your website, which is what I do.  Here’s a list of other video sites, if you’re interested in doing a little research on your own.

If you’ve never done anything like this before, practice. You will definitely get more comfortable with each try.  In the beginning you may feel embarrassed watching yourself, but keep practicing.  Sometimes I still cringe a little, especially if my lighting is bad, but I re-do it if I have time. (You can find a few examples where I ran out of time – not good, but, oh well.)  Like anything else, the best way to get started is to jump in with both feet.  Let me know if you have any questions.

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Posted in PR/Marketing, Small Biz | No Comments »

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

But How Do You Know It’s Your Passion?

We all hear it and read it every day – your work/job should be something you’re passionate about. As much as we all want to follow our bliss, many people don’t know what that is for them.  This is understandable.  Throughout our lives we’re told what it means to be successful, and which paths will lead us to fulfillment.  But upon arrival, we realize we were following the path of someone else’s dream.  So how do we switch directions and head toward our dream?

First, you have to remember what makes you happy. Go back as far as your memory will allow.  You will find clues in the games you liked the most, and the kids you played with.  Did you create neighborhood newspapers, or set up elaborate lemonade stands during the summer?  Did you like putting on plays with your friends?  We’re you the actor?  Or the producer, joyfully bossing your friends around?  Did you draw and paint pictures, or create costumes from your mom’s discards?  What you loved doing as a kid is what you still love, just maybe in another form.

Once you determine the “what”, spend some time figuring out why you liked these activities. Was it the problem solving, the creativity, the organizing?  It may take a little time, but as you get closer to the truth, you’ll know it, because you’ll feel energized and engaged.

The final step is simple, but not necessarily easy.  Step onto your path.  Changing the direction of your life is scary, but it can be done.  Approach the process as if it were a marathon, not a sprint.  Maybe take on a hobby or side job that reflects the true you. That may be enough for you to be fulfilled.  As your comfort level increases, though, you may find yourself wanting more.  And now that you’re on the right path, you’ll know what to do, because when we’re in touch with our true desires, we’re also in touch with our instincts.  So take the first steps, and the rest will fall into place.

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Posted in Approach, Small Biz | 4 Comments »

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