We want to thank all of the military veterans out there, for the safety of our Country. Now we want to give back to you. Did you know that there are several resources available to you, if you are looking to begin a new adventure, as either an entreprenuer or small business owner? Below is a partial resource listing:

 Ethics:  A Hidden Value – Part 1

As a business person we will always be faced with several challenges.  How these challenges are handled will show our ethical character.  Our ethical behavior expands into our businesses, as well as, our personal lives.  Below is something I saw earlier this month (author unknown) that made me realize that ethics are always important, whether others see what we do or not.  How we handle our ethical business practices create a trend that can either strengthen or weaken our businesses.

First Important Lesson: Cleaning Lady
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:  “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”  Surely this was some kind of joke.  I had seen the Cleaning Lady several times… She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50’s, but how would I know her name?  I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank… Just before class ended; one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.  “Absolutely,” said the professor.”  In your careers, you will meet many people.

All are significant… They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say “hello.”

I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her Name was Dorothy.

Naylor says:  Our world appears to be very small because paths do cross. This college student may not directly cross paths with Dorothy (The Cleaning Lady) again but may run across somone in her family; her children or siblings, who may become either a co-worker or boss causing the possibility of paths to be crossed indirectly with Dorothy.  Be aware of how you treat those that cross your path.

Second Important Lesson: Pick Up in the Rain
One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American Woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.  Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.   A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960’s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.  She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him.   Seven days went by and a knock came on the man’s door. To his surprise, a Giant console color TV was delivered to his home A Special note was attached.  It read:  “Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night.   The rain drenched not only my Clothes, but also my spirits.

Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s’ bedside just before he passed away… God Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.”  Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

Naylor says:  Interesting how everyday life conditions establish our values and how disasters seem to transform them.

Third Important Lesson: Always Remeber Those Who Serve
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a  10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.  “How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked. ”Fifty cents,” replied the waitress.  The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

“Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired.  By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.  ”Thirty-five cents,” she brusquely replied.  The little boy again counted his coins.  “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said.  The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away.  The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table.  There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies.  You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

Naylor says: Patience is a virtue. It speaks volumes for you.

Stay tuned for part two to learn more about being a person of great ethics and moral character in today’s world.

Vernita Naylor, Ft. Worth SCORE
View posts by Vernita Naylor

Recently I asked in one of my previous blogs “What sets you apart from your competitors?” What have you done for them to easily locate you, your company, your product or services?’ I even provided some easy online marketing rules to live by using your website.  Now I want to expound on online marketing. 

To set yourself apart from your competitors you “must” have a BRANDED website.  A BRANDED website not only focuses on your company’s name but it also Speaks Volumes For You in several ways.  Everytime online content about your company is displayed it should be BRANDED content. Your BRANDED content should be the same content that is being displayed in your collateral materials. Pay close attention to your website’s keywords (aka Search Engine Optimatization-SEO) does it fully tell us about your company? 

If you are a Bookkeeper for Non-Profit Organizations and a potential client began looking for you are they able to find you?  They would if you display the proper BRANDED conent for your company’s website.  With the proper content eventually your company will be placed high within the website rankings, offering you a “high” probability of being contacted about your company, its product or services.  If you are on a tight budget, take the time to frequently submit your url to several of the free search engines.  

Did you know that another way to help your target audience easily locate your company is by creating your own “personalized” company database?  How?  Do you collect business cards when you’re out networking?  Begin creating your own “personalized” company database with the business cards.  Another way is once again using your website.  On each page of your website allow the viewer to sign up for company information on specials, newsletters, or updates by providing you with their email address.  Whenever you send “anything” out to your target audience make sure you are using your company’s BRANDED email address.

The more you use your company’s BRAND the more visibility you are creating for your company’s name, product or services.  When sending out mass emails use approved companies like Coolermail or Constant Contact to avoid sending spam and having your email account(s) being shut down or blocked.  Additionally, these companies offer webinars, tips and updates on how to effectively use online marketing tools.   

Social media is another online marketing source that offers excellent opportunities for creating partnerships and developing relationships.  When deciding which social media would best suit your company’s needs consider your company’s product or services. 

• MySpace offers a more entertainment, young, diverse community. 
• LinkedIn offers a more “business community” where you can connect more closely and personally with those of similar interests whether it is in Human Resource Management, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, Event Planning, TV/Film Marketing or Marketing Communication. 
• Facebook offers a community of socializing with family, friends and loved ones while connecting with others 
• Twitter offers a community of  virtual real time interactive updates
• Youtube offers a community of variety and can be utilized as a substitution for mainstream TV, and let us not forget YELP. 
• YELP is another form of a social media source offering a diversity of business networking opportunities from company postings to company recommendations to company rankings to connecting more closely with other companies that may be able to suit your needs. 
• There are several other Social Media threads available to you outside of those listed for business introductions, leads and opportunities just research them carefuly to see which ones will work for you. 

With so much competition, using various types of online presence can help to validate your company’s product or services, garner business, create partnerships, develop relationships and offer supply chain opportunities.   Using these various online marketing strategies can help take your company to another level.

Vernita Naylor, Ft. Worth SCORE
View posts by Vernita Naylor

In the Mind of a Web Site

What sets you apart from your competitors? What have you done for them to easily locate you, your company or your services? These are some easy online marketing rules to live by: A Website is important for your target audience and provides viability for your company also it helps to create your database. Here is a checklist for you:

1. A domain name represents your company.
2. Create basic pages: home/about us, contact, service/product, and shopping cart (if applicable).
3. Create keywords (SEO) appropriate for your product and/or services. Remember flash pages can’t be read. Update keywords frequently.
4. With website hosting packages you will be provided the opportunity to create several email accounts.
5. Create email accounts that are easy to remember.
6. If do not have a website create email accounts that represent your company’s name (reply@xyz.com vs. replyxyz@gmail.com).
7. Sumbit url to various search engines frequently.
8. Use the business cards you collect to create your email database.
9. Send out mass emailing (not spam) through Coolermail, Constant Contact (or other reliable sources) with updates, specials – weekly, monthly or quarterly.
10. Develop linking partnerships with other companies using various commodities that ties into your product and/or services.
11. Return emails within 24 hours, unless otherwise noted (use your auto responders).

Remember an online presence is the trend and will help to validate your company’s product and/or services.

Vernita Naylor, Ft. Worth SCORE
View posts by Vernita Naylor

To help increase your leverage both personal and professionally, do a quick self-assessment of where you are by viewing the listing below.

First:

Create an informal business plan, around one to three pages each, as a blue print for your company.

Second:

Focus on marketing business basics:

1. Exercise A Professional Phone & Email Presence
- Let Your Smile Radiate Through The Phone
- Return Calls & Emails Within 24 Hours
-  Develop A Brief Company Identity On Your Vm
-  Use Proper Grammar, Especially On Emails

2. Exercise Professional Work Ethics
- Be The Employer, Not The Employee

3. Customer Service
- Service Your Customer – Internally & Externally
- Not Only Listen, But Hear Your Customers’ Needs

4. Networking
- Build Relationships
- Create Partnerships

5. Word of Mouth  Travels Fast And Far

6. Create Your Unique Brand
- Collateral Materials
- Online Presence
- External Presence – You

7. Grassroots Mix Media
- Article Write Ups
- Interviews
- Get Adequate Attention For Your Company
- Courtesy Efforts – Thank you, Birthday and Sympathy Cards;  
- Emails and Friendly Phone Calls

Third:

Here’s some suggested reading materials to help you further your business, relationships and marketing efforts. 

• Who Moved My Cheese? Spencer Johnson, M.D.
• The Starbucks Experience (Principles For Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary) Joseph A. Michelli
• Reposition Yourself (Living Life Without Limits) T.D. Jakes
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Your image speaks volumes for you! How did you rate? After your self-assessment determine what is missing and what needs to be improved.

Tips on A Napkin

Who would have thought that the basics are still viable today, as it was years ago? Do a self-assessment and see where you stand in these back to basics tips.

A. Create An Informal Business & Marketing Plan, 1-3 Pages Each, As A Blue Print For Your Company

B. Marketing Business Basics:
1. Exercise A Professional Phone & Email Presence
- Let Your Smile Radiate Through The Phone
- Return Calls & Emails Within 24 Hours
- Develop A Brief Company Identity On Your Voicemail
- Use Proper Grammar, Especially On Emails

2. Exercise Professional Work Ethics
- Be The Employer, Not The Employee

3. Customer Service
- Service Your Customer: Internally & Externally
- Not Only Listen, But Hear Your Customers’ Needs

4. Networking
- Build Relationships
- Create Partnerships

5. Word of Mouth Travels Fast And Far

6. Create Your Unique Brand
- Collateral Materials
- Online Presence
-  External Presence: You

7. Grassroots Mix Media
- Article Write Ups
- Interviews
- Get Adequate Attention For Your Company
- Courtesy Efforts:  Thank you, Birthday and Sympathy Cards; Emails and Friendly Phone Calls

C. Suggested Reading To Help Further You, Your Business, Your Relationships And Your Marketing Efforts:
- Who Moved My Cheese? Spencer Johnson, M.D.
- The Starbucks Experience (Principles For Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary) Joseph A. Michelli
- Reposition Yourself (Living Life Without Limits) T.D. Jakes

How did you rate? These Back 2 Basic Business & Marketing Tips are helpful despite your overall goals and objectives.

YOUR IMAGE SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR YOU!

Vernita Naylor, Ft. Worth SCORE
View posts by Vernita Naylor