Staff Advantage Blog

Social Media Fans Spend More Money Online

Andrea Dwyer — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:09:00 GMT

Previously, we gave you some tips on how you could use social media to reach out to more customers. We discussed how you could boost profits by using social media to attract people to your store or to get them to come out to your events. It is possible to take online connection, offline. But what about the interested customers who are too far away to get to know you in person?

Researchers who measure the public's use of social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, have found that people who use social media have a tendency to spend more money online than people who do not. For example, research showed that those who use Facebook a lot spend more than those who use it a little and both of those groups spend more than people who do not use Facebook at all.

Now you might be thinking that this makes sense--if they are already comfortable networking and socializing online, why wouldn't they do some shopping online as well? It is logical that people who are online already would not mind spending some money while they are there. What is not logical is for business owners to ignore the potential to reach customers via social media sites.

A presence on social media sites means that you have access to a group of people who are quite willing to spend money online. You may not be able to interact with all of your customers in person, but you can certainly share with them online to let then know what you are doing and get their feedback.

Use Social Media to Reach Out to More Customers

Andrea Dwyer — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Some people are concerned that increased use of social media will erode personal interactions—meaning that there will come a time when some of us barely speak to each other at all. While it is certainly true that technology has changed the way we communicate, it does not have to lessen the quality of our interactions.

If you run a business, then you know that interaction with current and potential customers is vital. Social networking can help you create more opportunities to interact. In a recent study , Hubspot found that inbound marketing via blog and Twitter doubled average monthly leads for small and medium sized business. Here are suggestions on how to engage your followers:

Use Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to publicize events and sales. Some people may not walk into your store, stop by your county fair booth, drop in on your lecture or visit your farmer’s market stall on their own, but an invite will encourage them to do so. It only takes a little effort to get your online acquaintances to become in-person connections.

Promise discounts to those who mention that they learned about a product via social media. Some businesses use online tools to draw people in, asking them to say a secret password or to just mention were they heard about the discount. This will give you an opportunity to get an idea of how many of your online connections are willing to engage with you offline. It will also allow you to meet them and impress them with your customer service and expertise.

For those of you who really want to spend your time concentrating on keeping customers happy and spend less time online trying to foster these interactions. Staff Advantage is here to help. We can implement and monitor your presence on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter for you. We offer a variety social media packages to support your online presence.

If you are just looking for some help in getting started, we can help you launch your foray into online social media, provide a brief consultation and then you will be one your way. Or we can start and then monitor your social media presence for you.

Research Shows that Young Adults Rely Heavily on Social Media

Andrea Dwyer — Mon, 10 May 2010 12:53:00 GMT

When we mentioned that Staff Advantage can help you take on social media, we mentioned the fact that the number of Facebook users who are between 35 and 49 has grown exponentially. This is true and one of the reasons why businesses who think that social media is only for the young should not ignore the possibilities of what it can do for your business.

So please do not think that what we are about to say is in contradiction to that idea; rather this is yet another reason why social media is so very important for your business.

According to a study conducted by the International Center for Media , college students are in some ways addicted to social media. According to ICMPA research, “without digital ties, students feel unconnected even to those who are close by.”

While we don't think that addiction is a good thing, we want to comment on the fact that the buying public of tomorrow relies heavily on social media. Even if you think they are not your customers now, they will be. Businesses that plan for longevity look for ways to entice and engage their current and future customer base.

A presence in some form of social media is important for your business strategy, today and in the long term. Niche-driven marketing is the way to go: you don't have to reach everyone; you just need to connect with those who are most interested in actually doing business with you.

Staff Advantage offers several Social Media packages that offer a range of services. If you are a do-it-yourself type who needs a jumpstart. You can employ us just to help get you started- we'll create your profiles, set up a dashboard so you can monitor social media sites and give you an hour of training/consultation.

On the other hand, if you want to get in on social media, but don’t think you can dedicate time to it, we can get you started and then monitor your social media accounts for you.

Use Twitter to Connect with More Customers

Andrea Dwyer — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:43:00 GMT

We have already mentioned that the team at Staff Advantage can help you take on social media, but perhaps you need more specifics. We have met a number of wonderfully savvy business owners who do a lot to promote their businesses offline, but when it comes to online promotion, they have not gotten past the e-mail stage.

Perhaps you are one of these people who have not embraced social media because you really do not understand it. Let's talk about Twitter , for example. Many people like to speak of it with disdain because they really do not understand just what this power online tool can do for their business and their website. Twitter allows you to reach out to an increasingly distracted public and to the search engines that dictate what internet users see at the same time. It really is a win-win.

A message on Twitter is called a "tweet" and each tweet has a limited number of characters. Think of tweets as mini-ads. While there are some who are there for purely social reasons, a good number of Twitter users really want to exchange information. You can provide Twitter users relevant content about your business, you industry and do a little promotion of your products and at the same time, you may find that other people do the same for you. You have the potential to connect with an unlimited number of people all over the world via Twitter.

Search engines also take notice of Twitter, searching public tweets and include them in search results. And connecting your Twitter account to your website and keeping it active, is another way to make sure that your website has fresh content--something the search engines really favor. For more tips on how to leverage Twitter, check out 5 Tweet-Worthy Small Business Twitter Strategies.

Investing even a little time and energy into Twitter is worthwhile. However, if you do not feel that you or your staff can take on one more thing, why not call on Staff Advantage to help? We have a number of Social Media packages and will be happy to work with you.

Staff Advantage Can Help You Take on Social Media

Andrea Dwyer — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:55:00 GMT

If you are not yet using social media, we have to ask: why not? We know that marketing is an important aspect of your business and that you want to reap the most benefit from your marketing efforts. We can tell you that social media, whether it is Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, is definitely worth the investment of your time and other resources. Social media is a 24/7 marketing enterprise; it is working even when you are not.

Those of you who think that social media sites like Facebook are only for the young, should take note: research has shown that “the biggest growth spurt for Facebook has been in the category of users from 35 to 49 years old (www.bizjournals.com).”

No matter who your customer base is, we can tell you that they are probably using some form of social media. Even if they are not, you can use social media to reach new customers.

Stepping into the world of social media does not have to be daunting. In fact, Staffing Advantage can help if you do not want to wade into the social media pool on your own or if you don’t think you can devote any time to it.

Some people are surprised at the idea that someone would hire someone else to assist them with social media services. Why is this? If you allow someone else to care for other precious assets like your health or your children, you can certainly accept some help with running your business.

Having someone assist you with online communication is an update of what companies and small businesses have done for years--hiring people to write newsletters and press releases. The content and direction come from you, we just do some of the heavy lifting for you. Take a look at our Social Media Packages to see how we can help you reach more people and boost your business. And if you like what you see, but what to tweak it a little, we are happy to customize a package that will fit your needs.

How to Write To-Do Lists So You Get Things Done

Andrea Dwyer — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:43:00 GMT

We recently shared some tips for how you can be more productive. We mentioned the value of planning your day and here are some suggestions for writing useful to-do lists.

Divide large tasks into steps
Your ultimate goal may be quite large and it is likely if you just throw a huge task on your to-do list, you will feel overwhelmed.

If you need to find a venue for a banquet, you could write "find banquet venue," but unless you have a place in mind, you won’t be able to check it off that quickly. Think about the small tasks that need to be completed like: listing possible venues, contacting possible venues or finalizing the banquet budget.

Use action words
When it comes to motivating yourself or people who work with you, you likely know that action words help when speaking. Well, that same principle applies to all that you write—even to-do lists for yourself. There is a very subtle difference between “Make appointment with new prospect” and “Call new prospect before noon” but a few words make all the difference. The second phrase really is a call to action whereas the first phrase lacks urgency.

Be detailed
Notice that in the example above, there is a time frame included. If you meet a new prospect who tells you that he or she is in the office during the mornings and out with clients in the afternoon, use that detail for motivation. An even better to-do list item would be “Call new prospect before noon, 555-555-5555.” Do not give yourself any excuses to get sidetracked when you pick up the phone. If you write the number down on your to-do list, there will be no need to look it up because there is a good chance that you will get distracted.

Here are 25 online solutions to create a customizable to do list. If you find you need help running your business, but are not ready for a new full-time staff member, why not hire a virtual assistant? A virtual assistant can help you get organized or assist with specific tasks.

Productivity Tips for Small Business Owners

Andrea Dwyer — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:21:00 GMT

When you run a small business, a lot depends on you. It is your responsibility to keep yourself healthy, productive and motivated.

Here are some tips to help your days run smoother--

Plan your day

Whether you do it when you close up shop at the end of each workday or do it first thing when you start your day, planning is key. Sometimes the pressure of needing to get things done makes you believe you do not have time to plan, but this could not be further from the truth. You cannot afford not to plan! When you plan, write down the three things you must do that day. You can write down other things, but be sure to prioritize your top three. You will feel a sense of accomplishment when you can cross those off of your list. Here are more ideas on time management.

Check in with yourself

Whether you have employees or not, you know that many bosses like to see if their employees are staying on task and give them some encouragement to remain focused if they are not. When you are the boss, you need to do the same for yourself. If you look back and feel as if your day was less than productive, take yourself to task. Periodically,throughout the day take a moment to examine whether or not what you are doing is a good use of your time and if it is furthering your goals. If not, move on to another task that will be more beneficial.

Take a break

The temptation to work nonstop and forget about lunch is all too real for people running small businesses, where so much depends on a small staff or may be even just you. You will actually be less productive and may burn yourself out if you do not schedule break time. A break will re-energize you. Sometimes you spend more time on a task than necessary because you need to take a break so your mind can relax. A break will allow you to return to work with a renewed focus. Don't forget to take time to enjoy your life.

What I Hear in Your Voice Mail that You're Not Saying

Andrea Dwyer — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:38:00 GMT

I've seen articles that boast “Top 10 Ways to Improve Traffic to Your Website in 2010” or “Top Trends and Forecasting for 2010”. I've read the articles, and they no doubt include valuable information. But before you start implementing new plans for the future, I recommend we revisit a few old rules, specifically voice mail etiquette. While it's an old, forgotten topic, I think it's an important subject.

I know we are riding the tails of a recession and some of us are overworked performing double duty while our co-workers were recently laid off. But I've got to say...I've heard quite a few rather tired, blasé voice mails. I can here the despair in your voice. Did I mention this is not my voice mail I'm referring to, but the mailboxes of my equally overworked clients whose voice mails I check daily. Luckily, my clients are spared the mundane, monotonous messages that I hear; however, not everyone has a virtual assistant checking their messages.

I assume people leave voice mails for a good reason, and they expect their messages to be heard with some sort of follow-up action. May I give a few recommendations:

Articulate – seriously. Slow down, speak up and speak clearly. I know you know this, people! This is nothing new.
Limit your words. Keep your messages brief. Include your name, company, brief purpose of the call and your phone and/or email address. Please, please, please do not ramble. Kate Zabriskie of Business Training Works, Inc. took the words out of my mouth when she wrote, “If you are rambling, for the sake of others and your reputation, stop yourself and rerecord“.
Duplicate. Reiterate your phone number twice. The less time I spend rewinding the message to go back and find your number, the more likely you will be at the top of the list for a call back.
Never leave a business voice mail that says, “Call Me”. I can not stress enough, how frustrating that is. So, now I have no idea why you called, and I can't adequately prepare for the returned call. This is not the best use of my time.
Stop saying, “Um”. You sound informal and unprofessional. Don't do it.
Smile. My husband who used to work in sales advised me to do this. Before you get on the phone, smile. It loosens your facial muscles, and you sound much more pleasant in your message. In all honestly, I am more inclined to return a call right away when the voice message is positive, and the person on the other end sounds like they are having a good time.

I realize that these tips are common sense. But I hear more and more voice mails that are sub par. Here is a sample voice mail that is appropriate:

(Smiling)“Hi, this is Andrea Dwyer with Staff Advantage at 404-556-0156. I had a couple questions about the revisions you requested for the marketing newsletter. Can you please call me? Again, it's Andrea Dwyer with Staff Advantage at 404-556-0156.”

So, by all means, read the “Social Media Trends and Report for 2010”or implement “The Top 10 Tips for an Online Marketing Strategy in the New Year”, but don't abandon your core competent practices. If you don't put effort into the little things, how can you conquer the big things?

Company Office to Virtual Office

Andrea Dwyer — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:18:00 GMT

Introducing dynamic guest blogger, Jennifer Fowler.

Recently I have had the opportunity to work from my virtual office while also furthering my education. Making the transition to the virtual office is rewarding and challenging. Rewarding in the sense that I am able to perform the tasks that I enjoy - working behind the scenes making my clients look good and their jobs easier. Challenging in the sense that I am quickly learning that the social media world, while difficult to fully grasp, offers a networking avenue that I have not traveled before.

This growing virtual market is exciting. I am meeting professionals like myself from all walks of life. We are all striving for greatness. Virtual Assistants know what it takes to get any job done. We are entrepreneurs, leaders, perfectionists, and students. As such our time is valuable and must be managed with the big picture in mind.

There are Virtual Assistants that are in this profession out of desperation to find an income stream. Then there are those of us, like me, that are passionate and will search high and low for those clients that need us the most. While our virtual offices may include children's toys and our pets curled up at our feet, it is still a thriving,productive office because the environment is our shrine of existence. We thrive in a world of constant change and welcome the change to virtual gladly. The challenges within our environment accompanied by our years of business experience make us who we are.

We are the Virtual Assistants that make THE DIFFERENCE!

________________________________________________________________________________________

Jennifer is a virtual assistant and President of A+ Office Support. She has more that 15 years experience working with senior level executives.Her tough skin with an incomparable demeanor and ability to take the initiative make her a valuable support partner. You can find Jennifer at www.aplusofficesupport.com

When a Customer Says, "I have No Money"

Andrea Dwyer — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:39:00 GMT

In 6 Things They Mean When They Have No Money, Naomi Dunford does an amazing job of reading between the lines. Her interpretation of what consumers mean but don't say is simply detailed in her blog entry. Naomi starts by putting the reader into 3 categories:

1. People who sell things, or want to sell things.

2. People who are, without exaggeration, destitute and are very sensibly finding free information online about starting and running an ittybiz.

3. People who are financially comfortable but like to wave the I’m-so-fucking-liberal flag. (We know who you are. We can identify you by your screaming about the plight of the poor, while donating less than 1% of your money and 0% of your time to charitable causes.)

I would say that I fall into the first category. When Naomi and her company put out a new product, she receives feedback from people who tell her they have no money to make a purchase. I get this email when I reach out to new prospects. I start to question whether my price is competitive for what I offer. According to Naomi, they are lying to you. She breaks down what, "I have no money" really means.

1. I’ve bought four [things like your product] in the last two months and haven’t used any of them. I’m getting really disillusioned and I’m blaming myself for buying things and not using them. I feel I don’t deserve to buy your thing.
2. My spouse is really pissed off at me because I’ve been spending too much money on the internet/on clothes/on these crazy make-money-online schemes. Your product is not worth making things awkward with my spouse.
3. The last three [things similar to what you sell] I’ve bought haven’t come close to living up to their promises. Now I don’t really trust them, even from you. I think it sounds good right now because I’m excited, but when I actually buy it, I’m going to be really disappointed and mad at myself because I should have known better.
4. My marriage/job/life sucks, and I need some little conveniences to keep me going. (Latte on the way to work. Sending the kids with lunch money instead of lunch. Sending MYSELF with lunch money instead of lunch.) I CAN afford your thing (I do have the money) but if I bought it, I’d have to give up my little conveniences, and I’m not willing to do that.
5. I have another completely valid reason for not buying, but it takes too long to explain and it’s kind of embarrassing. (Examples: I drink too much. I have a feeling my spouse is about to leave me and I need to make sure I have money aside for a divorce and/or alimony. I just came very close to maxing out my credit card, and there’s a big psychological difference between an ALMOST maxed out card and an ACTUALLY maxed out card, and buying your thing would really freak me out.)

6. I don’t want to buy your thing but, for whatever reason, I feel the need to justify myself to you. Saying I don’t have the money feels like an inarguable and socially acceptable white lie. I get to feel good because I said nice things about your product, but I don’t actually have to part with my money.
I have to admit, I think #6 applies to me when I am propositioned to buy something. Honestly, I think I did this just last week to a persistent vendor on the phone. I have some money. I chose to spend it on another tools, products or services. Stop calling me!

This further perpetuate Naomi's point that those people really do have money. They're just spending it else where. If that consumer really wanted what you have and can not afford it, he would find a way.

They could split the cost [with a colleague]
They could offer to barter. (See my entry on October 21, 2009)
They could request a payment plan.
They could sell their guitar.
They could cut down on conveniences and luxuries for a few weeks.

Naomi's right. If you really want something, you find a way to get it. Even I saved my money, cut down on going out to eat and did hours of pricing research to buy the laptop that met my business requirements. I make these adjustments on a regular basis to get the things I want personally and professionally.

So, how do you entice the liars and the people taking their money else where? Naomi wisely says, "Nothing. Do absolutely nothing." I was relieved. That is exactly what I do when a prospect tells me they have no money. Well, I do say it a nice way, "Thank you for you time. If your situation changes, please don't hesitate to contact me in the future." Naomi has an excellent point, "If they thought it was overpriced, they would either tell you they thought it was overpriced, or they wouldn’t say anything." I completely agree that, "'No money' isn’t about price. It’s about value. They don’t currently see it in your thing, and your thing at a different price will probably not change anything. It might. It probably won’t."

The next time someone says, "I have no money". Don't over analyze their response and question the price of your product. Don't immediately offer them a discount. If they were truly interested, they would have approached you with an another payment option. And there is absolutely no benefit to getting angry or hostile. "People will give you ALL SORTS of reasons why they’re not buying. Be nice to them, but try not to pay too much attention to what the reasons are, because odds are, they’re not the real reasons."

Naomi Dunford is a a microbusiness marketing consultant, helping businesses with fewer than 5 employees create dynamic marketing campaigns on the cheap. She is a writer for IttyBiz.

Trojans, Worms and Other Viruses Found on My Computer

Andrea Dwyer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:30:00 GMT

That's right. My biggest business fears came true during one of the busiest weeks of the year. I was urgently working to complete a deadline, when an alert popped up to tell me my device was “severely infected with viruses!” I didn't even have a browser open. I was prompted to run an executable and update my virus protection by entering my credit card number. Tired from working a full 12 hours and anxious to finish the project in front of me, it was an easy solution. I quickly entered my credit card number and selected “Enter”...

Nothing happened. So, I repeated the process 2 more times and again nothing happened. Then, it dawned on me. If anyone were in my presence, they would have surely seen the panic in my eyes. A phishing virus successfully got my credit card number and was electronically transmitted to a digital vermin. I immediately consulted with my husband and called my credit card company. The representative on the phone broke down the worst case scenario: random purchases, stolen identity, etc. We hung up the phone to discuss the situation between us. I called my friend Candy who is an IT Manager. She walked me through a few step and asked me a few questions. I told her I was running Spybot and nothing else. She told me to refrain from clicking on the suspicious window, run Spybot to resolve the malicious files and restart my computer.

With fingers crossed, I was disappointed to find the virus pop-up screen laughing at me as my computer re-booted. Panic turned to anger. Well into the evening, I called another friend in my network, Marcel. Marcel is a senior IT consultant and a fellow business owner. I caught him out-and-about enjoying a cocktail. Marcel was understanding and listened to my situation. He said I was the second person to call him that week with the same problem. Marcel stopped by that night to pick up the computer, clean it and install a force field to ensure this would never happen again.

Still shell shocked by my experience, Marcel dropped off my computer the next day. He said I had 8 Trojans and a worm on my computer. Again, I was angry. How did this happen?! Marcel informed me that I was surfing the net without protection. But, I had Spybot. Its free! Its open sourced software!!! Apparently, it's not full proof against all malware. A difficult lesson to come to grips with. Thankfully, I had friends in my network who dropped everything to help me. Luckily, my husband was understanding about canceling our credit card. My computer is running back to normal with heavy duty virus protection.

The worst part is this experience affected my morale as a small business owner. I work hard. I work damn hard and to think that something or someone tried to take advantage of me...well, I took that personally.

Don't Have Any Money? Try Bartering

Andrea Dwyer — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:10:00 GMT

My husband and I recently had drinks with our dear friend, Hugh and his lovely wife. We were discussing the state of the economy and Hugh confident yet jovial said, “Awhh, its a wonderful time not to have any money!” My husband and I laughed, but as I started thinking about it...Hugh's right. Most of us are kind of in the same boat...struggling a bit, trying to stay a float in some cases while trying to maintain a sense of humor about it all.

And for the small business owner whose personal finances are sometimes sacrificed, we are no exception. While we continue to evaluate our situations and just barely slide by, we are forced to creatively obtain goods and services from our vendors. I've been approached twice this year to barter. I got to tell you...I love it and I would absolutely do it again. These solopreneurs were overwhelming busy and needed help with some tasks that were taking up a lot of their time but very pertinent to their potential profits. The first time I bartered I received 8 hours of webinar education on social media and web 2.0. The second time I bartered I received advertising space in an online magazine. Here's why I love to barter:

-I dig the determination. I'm game if a small business owner is willing to offer an alternative but not undermine the value of my services. These types of people are contagious and I want to surround myself with them.
-I got referrals. My barter mates were so pleased with my contributions they referred me to others that translated into cold hard cash.

-I expanded my network. These people know people that I want to know. They opened that door for me, and I was able to engage other professionals in their industry.

I've spoken to entrepreneurs who have bartered for professional photos, web design, software, office furniture, even yoga classes! That's right folks...one creative sole approached her local studio with a proposal to create and maintain a marketing campaign in exchange for ongoing yoga classes. As far as I'm concerned, they both made out with that one.

Have you Bartered? If so, tell me if you would do it again.

Losing Money – The Cost of a Nonexistent Website

Andrea Dwyer — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:00:00 GMT

According to an early 2009 research study from Nielsen Online and Webvisible Survey, 44% of small businesses in the U.S don't have a website. Now whether you believe the overly repeated stat or you are a skeptic, I worked with 3 microbusinesses this year who did not have a website. So, it is true! There are small businesses that have little or no online presence or need to revamp and renew their current situation.

Whether it’s to make a purchase or to do research, consumers are searching online with information at their fingertips. As much as 82% turn to search engines when finding a local business. And 89% of B2B decision makers search the Internet for products or services before making a purchase.

Before creating or revamping your company website, you need understand the goal of your site. Should the site be just a digital billboard of information? Or should the site be more interactive? Consider the needs of your potential customers and how you plan to sell your products and services. At the very least, your website should include:

1. Home Page - This is the first impression of your website. In some cases, your entire business. Your Home page could make or break a site visit.

2. About Page - This page should have a description of your business and what you have to offer. Be deliberate with your text. While its important to include details, too much information could cause your visitor to loose interest and move on.

3. Contact Page - You need to be accessible. This is the most important page on your site and tells your customers how they can locate your business or contact you to make a purchase. Make sure you include a phone number, fax number and email address so people will know how to get in touch with you.

In evaluating what your business offers, does your site need a shopping cart so customers can purchase items online immediately? Do you want to accept credit cards on your site to automate the buying process? Once you establish the basic needs and goals, you will need to obtain a host and register a domain. There are several companies and price points to consider. Weebly.com offers free websites and hosting with no ads. Your domain will have “weebly.com” appended to the end; however, it can easily be removed by upgrading for a reasonable annual cost. Godaddy.com and Hostgator.com both offer hosting, domain registration and proprietary website creating software at a reasonable price.

I recently met with a small business owner to create a manage their marketing campaign. To my surprise, their website was disabled and had been inactive for a couple of months. Once your site is up and running, due diligence in maintaining your site is equally important. Experts have related a company's website as providing 24/7 customer service and viable information even if a microbusiness or solopreneuer is not always available. Your online presence contributes to your brand. If your customers can't rely on your website being up and running, how are they to have confidence in your products or services?

If you don't have the time to create and/or maintain your website, consider outsourcing these duties. You can hire a Virtual Assistant (VA) to setup your site and make regular changes. There are many VA's who have the organizational skills to assess your online goals and the technical expertise to create a high quality website.

Creating a website for your business is a must in this day and age. Don't give your competitors an advantage by neglecting your online presence.

How an Umbrella Can Help Protect Your Business Against the Swine Flu

Andrea Dwyer — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:38:00 GMT

Have you ever noticed that when rain is in the forecast and you decide to cart around your oversized umbrella, it actually doesn't rain. I can't tell you how many times this happened to me living and working in the city. With my luck if I decided not to bring my umbrella, I would get caught in torrential downpour. While it was inconvenient to carry my umbrella throughout the day, it was better to be over prepared for an expected possibility.

In their most recent newsletter, the SBA encourages small businesses to be prepared this flu season. Why? Since small businesses are the backbone of the private sector and local community, a H1N1 pandemic could cause an economic ripple effect. And small businesses are particularly vulnerable due to having a lower number of employees with less substitutional resources. The SBA asks how will you “anticipate high levels of absenteeism” in case infected employees need to be segregated from the rest of the company? How will you handle the disruption and protect your investment?

The CDC is predicting gradual but continued outbreaks during the 2009-2010 flu season. Flu.gov recommends creating a written plan and provides suggested guidelines of what to include. So, invest a little time to be over prepared. If your employees are affected by the swine flu, you can mitigate the risks to your business. Thus proving once again, if you take your “umbrella”, the worst you'll get is a light sprinkle. Perhaps, it won't even rain.

GrowSmartBiz Conference and Inside-out Branding

Andrea Dwyer — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:03:00 GMT

Yesterday, I listened to the LiveStream of the GrowSmartBiz Conference put on by Network Solutions. There were several small business leaders in attendance. But guess speakers Chris Anderson, Editor and Chief of Wired Magazine and Ramon Ray, Technology Evangelist and the Editor of Smallbiztechnology.com and Bob London, President and CEO of London Ink, left lasting impressions with concepts such as a new freemium business model, understanding the needs of your customers and the importance of “inside-out” branding.

Bob London stressed that branding is not just about your logo or letter head. Your brand is your reputation and what people say about you when you’re not in the room. It’s how you execute on all the touchpoints with the community. Branding is how you execute as a small business. As I heard Bob describing the importance of brand execution, I reflected on a situation a few weeks ago with some companies who I believe are doing just that.

Recently, I reached out to leads on LinkedIn who answered a question regarding how they would use a virtual assistant. I connected with these individuals and sent a quick message letting them know of my services. I was floored when every single one of those professionals responded and within 24-48 hours. Some of these business owners did not need my services at the time, but responded to thank me for reaching out to them. For me, this was more than a courtesy, this was good business practice and appropriate brand execution. And even though these new connections may not lead to a sale, I am pleased to endorse them: