Lbib2bsept2014 by Lisa Ball

Business Let’s Support Each Other

LBI Business

September 2014

Summer fun! I love living on LBI. The beach is just steps away. I can hear the waves crashing from my front porch. How lucky we are to live in paradise!

Shop • Eat •Hire Keeping it Local! LBI B2B is this monthly direct mail mini magazine. We will be sending a copy to each LBI Area Business. This is a way for businesses to stay connected. Our website LBIB2B.com will become a marketplace to sell products, gift certificates, services and coupons. You will be able to set up an account and sell or barter right off of our site. We will advertise the website! With close to 2000 businesses on and off LBI, we all need to shop local! If your business is open all year, you need to get that information out to the people who live and work in the LBI Area. Offer discounts and monthly specials to thank them for your support. We will be mailing your mini magazine to your business address so you can read at your leisure. Hopefully you’ll get some free time to enjoy the beach. If you’d like to change your address or if you know someone that would like to be on our mailing list, please go to our website and fill out the online form.

I noticed several new stores this year.

We’d love to hear about your first year on LBI. Please go to our website to post your comments. We would love to include your comments in our next issue.

SPENDING TOO MUCH ON ADVERTISING?

WHY?

Times have changed and so has advertising. The internet has changed the rules. Ads are everywhere. We are being pummeled with ads. Bigger is not better. Targeting an audience is key to keeping cost down. Figure out what YOU like to read. Flip through a magazine or newspaper and see what jumps out at you. Make a mental note on which emails you open and which you just delete. When you create your marketing campaign, do some quick math. How many CUSTOMERS are you reaching for the amount of money that you are paying? Where are your customers? Are they coming for the day to sit on the beach and need to grab lunch? Are they the older couple that wants a dining experience? Are they families visiting for the week? Know your customers and design your ad campaign around their needs. In some instances you may be over advertising. Random ads that are not reaching your buyers are expensive and just wasting your money. LBI is unique and there are many advertising opportunities. Putting your ad into the hands of customers should be your goal. Newspapers are a great way to advertise but they are very expensive. Small ads are hard to find because they get lost in the newspaper’s size. A magazine is easier to read on the beach. They are saved and displayed in rental houses. Magazine ad’s are less expensive and have a long shelf life. Guides and maps are great for weekly visitors. Filled with island information, they are a great place to advertise. They are usually handed out by realtors. Social media is cheap but a lot of work. Too many email blasts cause get ignored and lead potential customers to unsubscribe. Our summer is short so, your advertising campaign should be well planned. Get the most out of your advertising dollars.

LBIB2B.com

INLET DELI 33 W 4th St Barnegat Light (609) 494-3049

OPEN ALL YEAR

FREE COFFEE MONDAYS

Lisa

5 Reasons Why Your Small Business Needs SEO Many large corporations and companies know the importance of SEO (search engine optimization) and they respect the return on investment. However, small businesses do not always grasp the need for SEO and still rely solely on referrals and “word of mouth”. Although many local companies feel that they do not have the budget to implement or contract out an advertising company, there are more affordable options available. The most affordable, yet effective, form of optimization is called “Organic SEO”. Here are the 5 reasons why Organic SEO should be strongly considered if you have a local or small business: 1. SEO is Affordable: Compared to other internet marketing campaigns such as “pay per click” , social media marketing, email campaigns and local advertising posts, SEO has a fairly high return on investment. 2. Allows for Budgeting: You can budget what you spend. There are no hidden fees or added “extras” that you have to worry about. For a monthly fee you can contract an advertising company to douse the internet with your product content/services, links, business address and website. You do not need to do anything else but watch the business grow. 3. Moves you Forward: Make no mistake about it, your competitors are already doing this. If you are not moving ahead with the wave of technology, you will be pulled out to sea, where no one will see you. Organic SEO can bring you ahead of the competition in ways that you never expected. 4. Updates your Web Design and Content: Google and other search engines are always changing the way that they look at websites. One of the biggest mistakes made is creating a website then never adding content to it again. Failing to build upon the foundation of your site over the course of months and even years could actually damage your business profile. Search engines such as Google specifically look for relevancy and updated content when evaluating your ranking.

5. Search Engines are directing traffic – It is estimated that approximately 85-90% of customers rely on review sites prior to making a purchase or scheduling an appointment. It will not be long before everyone does all of their searches entirely online. Here is the golden question: “Will potential customers be able to find you?” Without a solid organic SEO campaign in place, local searches and phone number indexes will direct customers to your competition instead of to you. It has never been more important than now to invest in Organic SEO. If you want your local or small business to stay ahead of the curve, then it is time to research and implement your strategy. Creating an online presence does not happen on its own or with a basic web site, it is fed and groomed over the course of time. To learn more about Web Design and Organic SEO, contact Purpose Advertising. Michael Sweigart, President, Purpose Advertising

www.purposeadvertising.com

Advertising Worksheet

Starting in October, we will be offering free workshops on social media, website design, graphic design, Excel and Word. We will have discussions about marketing LBI and events that will attract visitors to the area. LBI area includes the mainland. We all shop on LBI and Manahawkin; we all should work together! DISTRIBUTION ORDER OF IMPORTANCE Real Estate Offices Motels Outdoor Bins Direct Mail Subscription Email Blasts Facebook/Twitter Who is your Target Audience? Do you keep a mailing list of customers? Do you keep an email list of customers? Do you sell online?

PUBLICATION TYPE Newspaper Magazine Newsletter Direct Mail Postcard Direct Mail Magazine Rack Card Flyer

BUDGET

Is your website working for you? How many followers on twitter and Facebook? Do you post to Instagram? Who are your customers?

Do you know what your employee’s are saying? We all know that service is important. Your employees represent you. We assume that the attitude of your employees reflect your attitude. Recently my friend ordered dinner in an LBI restaurant. It was early and the place was empty. When the food came out she noticed she didn’t have a fork. She asked the server for a fork and this was the response: “We don’t have any, they are in the dishwasher.” My friend was shocked. How could they be completely out of forks? The place was empty. She waited twenty minutes for that fork. The food was cold and she was irritated. She said she will never go back to that place again. Can you afford to lose a customer? Our summer season seems to get shorter every year. Everyone that comes into your restaurant is important. One half cooked burger will turn away a customer forever. Consistency counts. I will eat the same food at my favorite place because I can count on a great meal. I bring friends to restaurants that I like. Happy servers will keep me coming back even if I have a longer wait. A server that doesn’t care is just a detrimental as under cooked food. Servers make the restaurant. They represent your happy “family.” Dining out is not just about the food. It is the dinning experience. I’ve been to restaurants that hold the door open for you when you walk in and the manager makes the rounds often to make sure everything is alright. I eat there often. Yet there are some places I’ve been that I never see the owner or manager. I’ve got to say...I prefer seeing the owner over summer staff. Comfortable seating is also important. Cramped plastic seating is unacceptable. Being claustrophobic, I prefer outdoor seating!

Lisa

“We don’t need to advertise, we’ve been around for a long time.” Advertising is important. It is your way of reminding people to come to your business. A photo of a juicy burger and cold drink makes you feel like eating! When you look at a soda ad, it is mouth watering. A cold can with condensation dripping down it’s side makes you thirsty just looking at it. Everyone knows where you are located. That is not the reason an established business will advertise. People drive past your restaurant a couple times a day. To get them to come and eat is the reason for advertising. Wordy ads are rarely read but photos evoke emotion. A plate of shrimp gets your mind focused. Later when you are getting hungry, you start thinking of the plate. By dinner time you are

determined to go out for shrimp. Where do you go? The familiar place that you saw in the ad. Why do customers choose one restaurant over another? Food & service are on the top of the list. Continual service and quality of food determines reputation. Some restaurants have outdoor benches for the crowds of people waiting to be seated. Sadly, some are restaurants are empty. Word of mouth is important advertising, but what gets that conversation going? Picture this; two woman sitting on the beach reading a magazine. One points to the photo and says, “I eat there all the time.” The other asks how it was. Now the conversation begins! Advertising keeps a connection between your business and your customer. Talk to your customers through advertising.

Lisa

Todays barter… not your Grandma’s barter. Ocean County’s Business-toBusiness Barter exchange.

Great Job Beach Haven Future Org. Visit www.beachhavenfuture.com to learn more about the beautifcaion of Beach Haven.

When I told my mother-in-law, Mary Cleary, a.k.a Gma, about launching EBarterNation, a business-to-business barter exchange in Ocean County (NJ) Gma, told me of a story of years ago when she and her mom went to a barter exchange in Eastern Kentucky. “People from all over brought their livestock, cars, and home made jam. “ Gma added, “The whole weekend you could not use money, the only exception was if you wanted something to eat or drink” Although generation, geography, and technology differentiate these two exchanges, the concept is the same; use trade instead of cash. But this is where the similarity ends. No one is dragging his or her livestock to market. Today’s barter exchange, although based on a simple concept, is a layered marketing concept. It is not just about non -cash transaction. True, EBN members are able to exchange products and services with each other without spending cash, but with today’s’ technology, it adds a multi-facetted advantage for nearly every business: 1. Convert excess inventory /downtime into another form of “currency” – a trade dollar. These trade dollars can be used for business or personal expenses instead of cash. Cash flow improves. 2. Create exposure to more cash paying customers. Use trade dollar to re-invest in your company on things like advertising, web site development, and search engine optimization. 5. Increase your spheres of influences. Word of mouth advertising is the most valued of all advertising medi it’s cheap & effective. Local & National web presences markets your product/ service to geographic areas that are not currently in your market’s reach. Happy barter members, many you wouldn’t have done business with, spread word of mouth just as much as and often to cash paying clients. Now you have customers you may never have had, using the trade dollars they spend, to re-invest in your business. 4. Market to a very loyal, incentive driven customer. Members who earn trade dollars want to spend trade dollars. They are looking forward to what you will offer. They will look to the network first, before paying cash for services. A Business tol Business trade exchange is a means by which many businesses can barter simultaneously, unlike traditional barter which is limited to one on one trades, where both parties have to want each what each other has, at the same time. EBarterNation is a B2B exchange located in Ocean County, NJ. EBarterNation’s mission is to help small business owners realize their true potential by encouraging creative, out of the box thinking, and utililliztion of their excess assets.Our goal is to provide our members with the highest quality of service.

Local Artists LBI has extremely talented artists. Consider buying wholesale products from locals! The economy has been so bad over the last few years that saving shipping costs and lower minimum orders will help retailers and local artists. Keep money flowing on LBI. We have around 1500 businesses on the island. Locals will buy items that are made on LBI.

Living on this small sandbar gives us a unique closeness. It reminds me of high school. You may not be friends with everyone but you certainly know everyone! We all want to support each other. Lisa Pick up your copy of Art and Decor of Surf City magazine. View artwork from several local artists. view online at LivingLBI.com

Virgin Vinyl

Did you know that Virgin Vinyl has be around since Tuckers was called the Port O’Call! I remember because I walked into the Port O’Call back in the late seventies and they were playing! Why do I remember? Because the two men on standing on the right of this photo are my cousins! They recently played at the Ship Bottom Waterfront Park and at the Ship Bottom Fire House. One of the members is also a Ship Bottom Homeowner. Lisa

Magazines Newsletter Email Blasts Facebook Twitter Instagram Graphic Design Websites Apps Printing

Wholesale Books

Bin Locations:

Multiple Issue Discounts

Barnegat Light-Andy’s Barnegat Light- Kubels Barnegat Light- Off the Hook Ship Bottom- Fishermans’ Headquarters Ship Bottom- Shore Good Donuts Brighton Beach- Kubels Too N Beach Haven- Hands Store Beach Haven- Schooners’ Wharf Manahawkin- Super Fresh Manhawkin- Stafford Diner

Plan your 2015 Advertising Campaign Call Lisa Ball 609-848-1111 Lisa@LivingLBI.com LivingLBI.com

We would like to thank Olive Garden for handing out LivingLBI and LivingLBI Gazette.

How Often Do You Go To The Beach?

Not often enough! It is hard to live on such a beautiful island only to work all summer. Don’t forget to make time for the beach. This has been a great year for me because of my sweet grandkids. I gladly take time off for them to go to the beach, rides, water park, pirate ship and bay beach. We shop and go out to eat. I feel like I’m on vacation! I have to buy a shack tee-shirt, fudge and salt water taffy. We fly kites and build sandcastles. When the bell on the ice cream truck rings, we run and buy a Hello Kitty ice cream. I’m a full fledge tourist.

Enjoy your summer! We all have crazy schedules and it is easy to forget to relax. Make a conscience effort to kick off your flip-flops, soak up the sun and swim in that wonderful ocean. Salt water is very healing and the sun provides vitamin D. Go on vacation-right up the street! And of course, the beach is good for your mind! It looks like we’ll be rewarded with a warm fall this year.

Lisa

Well deserved FREE TIME Enjoy September!

Up Up and Away

OPEN SUNDAYS 8am-3pm

Whenever I run into someone from our business community one of the first question is “how is business”? We all like to gauge how are business is doing or will do based on current market trends. Now that we have half the summer under our belt I thought I would ask a variety businesses just that question.

595 East Bay Ave. Manahawkin

Tourism is the lifeblood of our economy. Those visitors who clog our roads and crowd our beaches are the reason we have bread on the table. So it is only fitting that I started by inquiring how many visitors we have this summer

609-597-7900

www.lubeDrx.com Super Fresh Shopping Center

Speaking with multiple rental agencies’ it seems summer rentals are up 15-20% from 2013 and are close to or at 2012 pre-Sandy numbers. Ship Bottom township reports that beach badge revenue is up $25,000 dollars thus far compared to 2013.

Auto Specialist in Lube and Oil Change

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY GIFT CERTIFICATES

Own little piece of paradise, according to the New Jersey Association of Realtors the numbers of home sold on LBI are up an average of 22%.

Get What You Came For! No Add Ons • No Pressure • No Upsells

Robin

Who is your target audience? LBIB2B is mailed to businesses on LBI and Mainland. PERFECT for lunch specials! Since we mail them to each realtor (not just one for the entire office) a “group special” would probably bring in the crowd!

Losing weight is simple chemistry!

LBIB2B

FREE

COUPON

Off 3

COUPON

Express Car wash @ Magic Wash

with Full Service Oil Charge

Cannot be combined with any other offers. Must present coupon at Lube Dr.

Off 5

Full Service Oil Change

• Complete Chassis Lubrication • Check Coolant and Fill Coolant Reservoir • Check & Add Brake Fluid* • Check & Add Power Steering Fluid* • Check & Add Windshield Fluid* • Check Air Filter (where applicable) • Clean Windows front/ rear ext. only • Vacuum Interior-Floors only. Up to 5 Quarts 15W40, 10W30, 5W30, 5W20 • Oil Filter Most cars. Cannot be combined with any other offers.

No car wash included * If necessary Lube Dr. 597-7900

COUPON

Cooling Service Special

Reg •Inspect coolant system for leaks •Drain radiator & refill with coolant $79.95 •Inspect condition of cooling system components

Most cars & smalls trucks with coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offers.

EBN EBarterNation ebarternation.com How does it work?

EBN

Start Bartering Today EBarterNation

No Cash FEES

90 Days

New clients only. Transaction fees and membership fees will be paid with trade dollars. Offer expires Oct 31, 2014

Robin Sinor 2909 Long Beach Blvd Ship Bottom, NJ 08008

609-709-8356

Services & Products

Business agreeing to sell their products and services in exchange for Trade Dollars, instead of cash to handle their transactions. For example, if a barter exchange member sells $500 worth of products to another member, they receive $500 in Trade Dollars credited to their barter exchange account. These Trade Dollars can then be used to purchase from the other trading clients within the barter network. The barter exchange is a third-party record keeper, providing monthly statements, showing all barter purchases, sales and trade barter balance.

If It’s Commercial... It’s Bonanni Realtors

85 Route 33 • Mercerville, NJ 08619 609-586-4300 Fax 609-588-9468 www.bonannicommercialrealtors.com