National Entrepreneurship Week – Let’s Support Young Entrepreneurs
February 29, 2008 by Yvonne Russell
Well, it’s National Entrepreneurship Week hosted by the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.
They provide resources and support “for teachers, instructors, program developers and others who help students of all ages find their own entrepreneurial opportunities.”
There are resources including a downoadable white paper and a national standards toolkit for entrepreneurship education.
I’m all for coaching and supporting the young. My co-blogger, Mary Emma Allen’s grandson is well on his way to being a young entrepreneur.
Also read about and hear an interview with Alice, a ten year old entrepreneur and founder of Frou Frou Flip Flops (love the name), at Shannon Cherry’s excellent Start Up Spark blog.
A “Great Green Leap Day” At Your Home Business
February 29, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
“Going Green” has begun to affect just about everyone and everything. At least we see the term more and more. Now there’s talk of going green for Leap Day, February 29 (and carrying it on throughout the year). Check out Alison Kriscenski’s post, Great Green Leap Day Encourages Volunteerism, at Greener Assets.
Have you begun to incorporate “green” into your business? Or are you getting tired of this term? I wrote about this topic in Are You Going “Too Green” In Your Home Business?
What do you think?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
Thursday Thirteen – 13 Things On My Business “To Do” List
February 28, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
I imagine most business people have their lists, and an important one notes their tasks or items to get done TODAY. Some people prioritize and put the urgent tasks at the top; others arrange alphabetically; or you may designate them with times (like appointments) during the day.
You might have a notebook and jot down your list daily or weekly. Or perhaps you use an organizer on your computer that reminds you each morning of what you have to do that day.
Here are items I should do this week. They aren’t in any order. I must prioritize after I finish writing them. (And then get to work accomplishing them!)
- File those papers in the wire basket
- Spend 20 minutes each day going through boxes of miscellaneous papers; either file them or throw them away.
- Outline blog topics for the next week.
- Write at least five of those posts today. (I have three blogs where I post daily.)
- Write the draft for my weekly “Country Kitchen” column; finish and e-mail it tomorrow.
- Answer e-mails and get them out of my mail box.
- Make a list of phone calls and call or text those I need to today.
- Make sure my calendar of appointments and blog/newspaper column deadlines are up to date.
- Invoice and mail out materials to business associates.
- Check answering machine and return any necessary calls.
- Organize my materials for an upcoming Beauty Break.
- Listen to a business training CD while I work.
- Take time to play in the snow with the grandchildren!
Your list will be different. Mine will change as I accomplish some of the items on it, add more, or rearrange as other business comes up
Do you use a list? Or planner of some type? I hope simply by glancing at mine, it will help you get organized or refine your organization.
Perhaps you have some great organizational tips to offer.
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
Can Blogging Harm Your Home Business?
February 27, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
(Oops! Somehow this title got posted instead of saved. So I’d better finish and let you know what I was thinking. So if you saw only the title, here’s “the rest of the story.” )
Generally we regard blogging as a method to help promote a business by informing customers, providing added information resources, bringing a more personal side to one’s business and reaching customers/clients whether you have an online or walk-in business. So, in general a blog connected with a business adds value.
However, can blogging by disgruntled customers (someone who thinks their feelings have been slighted, a person who doesn’t like your product but doesn’t give you the opportunity to make it right) hurt your business? In this era of reaching around the globe via blogging, web sites and Internet news, are businesses more susceptible to imagined and real complaints without being able to provide their side of the story?
Within minutes, actually seconds, the blogging customer’s take on the situation can be spinning around the blogosphere and you’re not even aware they’re upset. In the pre-blogging world, complaints generally were made by phone calls and letters to the business owner, perhaps a letter to the editor of a local newspaper, a complaint to the Better Business Bureau. They were made and handled relatively locally.
Now we’re dealing with a new way of marketing by the business owner, as well as comments and complaints by the customer.
What is your opinion about business and blogging from this aspect? Will it spin out of control? Serve public good? Should businesses respond on their blogs? Or ignore/answer on a case by case basis?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
Writers Cafe For New Or Experienced Freelance Writers & Bloggers
February 27, 2008 by Yvonne Russell
If you are a freelance writer or interested in a home business writing or blogging, drop into the Writers Cafe. It’s open every Friday to Sunday at Grow Your Writing Business.
The Writers Cafe is a friendly, supportive place for new and experienced freelance writers and bloggers to hang out at the end of the week. Network, share ideas, ask questions, offer jobs or just chat about writing, blogging, freelancing or business.
Great Place To Hang Out For Home Business Owners
If you’re a home business owner who writes for a living, as part of your business or just for fun, The Writers Cafe is the place to be. If you’d like to write or have questions to ask, head on over.
There are even virtual chocolate cookies and a virtual feast… all guaranteed 100% calorie free!
The Writers Cafe is open every weekend from Friday through to Sunday. See you there.
5 Ways To Brag…Discreetly
February 27, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
If you grew up in an era that I did, you might feel self-conscious about “tooting your own horn.” My mother called that bragging and felt it was for others to tell about. She was proud of us when we received recognition, but the general feeling was to downplay it.
However, when we’re in business, our customers and clients like to know they’re dealing with someone who is successful or recognized for their achievements. You can learn to do this in a way that’s informative and humble, not with braggadocio. You also give others the incentive for achieving themselves when they learn about you.
Give the award organizer the information for sending out press releases. This also gains publicity for the organization or business that presented your award. (When my daughter and I were listed in Who’s Who in American Quilters, the publisher sent press releases to local newspapers. As a result, a school activity organizer, arranged for us to teach a series of workshops about quiltmaking, tying them into the curriculum.)
Write press releases and send to online and off line publications yourself if no one else is going to. (I sent press releases about my book about my mom’s Alzheimer’s journey, When We Become the Parent to Our Parents, to our newspaper. An organizer for women’s programs at a nearby church invited me to speak about caregiving and my writing.)
1. Mention an achievement on your blog. Your readers will rejoice with you and usually leave comments.
2 Offer to write guest posts about your specific award field. Then in the bio information, you can mention you’re a recipient of the award.
3. When customers ask, don’t play down the award, but explain what it’s for. They’re interested and pleased for you. Most also like to be associated with someone who has “celebrity” status.
4. Post copies of articles about your business on a bulletin board at your shop or on your blog/web site. (I’ve often gone into businesses where they’ve posted copies of newspaper articles, along with any photos taken at the time.)
5. Make a scrapbook of clippings and awards that customers can browse through.
An example of posting an announcement of an award is the one where I mentioned Yvonne Russell’s recent recognition. (Incidentally, Yvonne had no idea I was doing this. However, I thought her achievement merited recognition.)
What ideas do you have for spreading the word about your achievements in an interesting, eye-catching, yet discreet way?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
Do You Have “WOW” In Your Home Business?
February 26, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
Looking for that “Wow” factor, that something extra that makes your business stand out from the rest, sometimes can be like seeking an elusive treasure on a scavenger hunt. However, there you usually have a map or clues to guide you.
Well, now the b5media Business Channel bloggers have given you some of these clues in their Theme Day round-up of posts, Finding the Wow Factor in Business, at Eric Eggertson’s Common Sense PR blog.
We’re pleased to participate in Theme Day with our post, Why Do Certain Bloggers & Blogs Stand Out From The Crowd? We hope our readers find a great deal of helpful information in this Theme Day round-up to give their business the “Wow” factor…or unique branding.
What do you do to put “Wow” into your business? Share with us some of your techniques.
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
4 Ingredients Cookbook – A Self Publishing Home Business Success Story
February 26, 2008 by Yvonne Russell
Australians Kim McCosker and Rachel Bermingham have a best selling cookbook on their hands. In fact, 4 Ingredients is the fastest selling cookbook in Australia. In an era of cookbooks sold on the names of celebrity chefs, Kim and Rachel have had a self publishing success.
The concept is that every recipe has only 4 ingredients (or less). What a top idea. Who wouldn’t want a quick recipe after a busy day?
The Sunshine Coast Daily reports
Rejected by publishers who said there were too many cookbooks around already, the duo perservered and funded their own printing run of just 2000 – then phoned a local newspaper, which ran an article on them.
Things took off after that and there’s even talk of a TV show. Rachel said “We wanted something so we just went out and did it.”
I take my hat off to these ladies and wish them every success. Perserverance, goals and a belief in themselves has paid off. Plus, not unimportantly, they have a great concept. Self publishing isn’t always an easy road, so heed the cautions and do your homework first.
Consider Blogging & Social Media In Your Business PR
February 26, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
Blogging and social media (the interaction of people on the Internet) can affect your business and sales, even if you’re currently not utilizing these outlets yet. According to Susan Gunelius at BrandCurve, Target encountered a negative situation when they disregarded bloggers. (See her post, Target Dismisses Bloggers (& Customers) as Insignificant & Irrevelant.)
You’re not likely to make the NYTimes if you aren’t “up to speed” with the blogging and social media world, as Target did. However, it’s probably a good idea for you to be knowledgeable about this new phenonenom in the world.
Whether you have a blog or not, whether or not you consider using a blog for promotional and informational purposes, businesses need to be aware that there is clout in the blogging world.
What you post on your blog is viewed by the world…at least anyone in the world who has access to your blog. Once you’ve posted, the words can’t be retracted. You may take the post down, but somwhere they’re still viewable.
Even the way you answer e-mail you receive and comments you leave on blogs are out there for the whole world to see.
How are you utilizing blogs and social media to enhance your business?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
Business Attire For A Home Business? Yes or No!
February 25, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
Some people like to work in sweats, jammies, or ragged jeans in their home business and say it makes no difference in the quality of their work. Others consider dressing, if not in business attire, at least in something professional a way to develop an achiever’s mindset and better work attitude.
Jim Gordon, at Boss Hatch, gives his opinion at My Beef Against Formal Business Attire.
Of course, it will make a difference whether you’re operating totally via the Internet and don’t see your customers/clients or whether you have a shop where customers stop by.
What do you think about attire for your home business? Do you think dress makes any difference in the quality of work or impression on your customers?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen