Smbizforward mag september

Small Biz Forward Exploring the Entrepreneurial World of Today Vol. 20. N0. 8

September Issue

Summer fun is over. It’s time to get back in the work swing again!

Small Biz Forward

BUSINESSES THE PLACE WHERE BUSI NESSES COME TO CONNECT, COLLABORATE AND SUCCEED

420 West Cleveland Road Granger IN 46530 574-243-3901

WITH COOLER TEMPS, COMES DRYER HAIR...

Fall and winter brings cooler weather, so that means the heat in our homes and cars go on, this dries out the humidity in the air, giving us dry sta/c filled hair. We must add moisture to our hair product regimen, using the proper products is essen/al, work with your stylist and use professional products; they are different and prescribed by your stylist.

Kerri Spencer owner of Kerri's Avenue Salon

WHO CAN I BELIEVE?

I've been in the beauty industry for 27 years in all aspects from working for others, running a beauty college, color educator for two global color companies, health and wellness expert, featuring body wraps, hair/makeup for all medias and currently own and operate my very comfortable, beau/ful, salon and more....

Picking a salon /stylist........get a referral, you wouldn't pick a doctor out of the phone book, or get your teeth cleaned in someone’s kitchen. Make sure they are licensed and con/nue to aEend classes, keeping up with the latest in technology and design are a must. Any successful salon/stylist is willing to con/nue to bring the best to their clients.

Let’s talk fall......

COME GET YOUR STYLE ANALYZED....

FALL TRENDS FOR MEN AND WOMEN

We offer individual complimentary consulta/ons, call and book an appointment today 1-574-243-3901. We will explore your perfect colors, style, head and face shape, your best looks, and healthy, youthful /ps you can start using immediately. We will answer all your hair and product ques/ons.

HOW TO PICK.....a stylist/ salon.

HOW TO GET YOUR SEXY BACK; see someone from my staff….

Fall is almost here, are you ready???...

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN BASICS FIRST!!!

All hair-types should have their haircut and style reshaped no less then every 4-6 weeks, men and short ladies cuts need to be more oDen to hold the desired style. Longer styles may be trimmed less oDen 6-12 weeks, my moEo... "Only way to have long hair, is to not cut it oDen", micro trims will do, also in the bang area.

Now, with that being said, the color trends for fall are warm reds, auburns, and soD touchable hair for ladies, and men longer tops, cropped, short backs and sides. Color is fine for men but make sure you are blending grey with cooler tones so you look the most natural.

hEp://www.youtube.com/user/kerriblairsalon

hEps://www.facebook.com/KerrisAvenueSalon

Where can I find my information?

Table of Contents Follow the Yellow Brick Road .................................................................................... 7 Top Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring an A%orney ........................................................ 9 Keep Your Business Safe ........................................................................................... 12 Being Connec,ve — Point in the Right Direc,on ...................................................... 14 Back Beast! Back to Work ........................................................................................ 17 Text to Win Mobile Campaigns ................................................................................ 19 Back to School? ....................................................................................................... 21 Learning to COPE ..................................................................................................... 23 Pinterest—The Newest Social Media Tool ............................................................... 26 Business Plans ......................................................................................................... 31 How To Make Your Website Content More Effec,ve................................................. 35 Membership Directory ............................................................................................ 37 3 Small Biz Forward

From the Home Office

September 2013 Celebrating the success of entrepreneurs everywhere.

Editor: Nancy Becher Advertising and feature inquiries send to: publish@celebratebusinesspublishing.com

I can’t believe it’s September already. I know for me that’s a sign that it’s time to get serious about work again. I’ve taken time off for family, friends and relaxation this summer.

What about you? But with the weather turning cool again that means that I have to have goals set, projects created, and have to make myself go to networking meetings, strategic planning sessions and focus on what I want to see happening over the next few months.

This issue of SBF looks at some of these topics and provides us with a few ideas to help us all get back into gear and grow our businesses to where we’d like them to be in the future.

Mark your calendars for the events, plan your schedules, and keep a bit of that time for family, as rest and relaxation are a big part of moving forward.

Nancy Nancy Becher, Chief Everything Officer Business Success Unlimited and Celebrate Business Publishing.

Subscriptions can be directed to: info@celebratebusinesspublishing.com 701 N. Prairie Street Sturgis, MI 49091 269-651-3555 http://celebratebusinesspublishing.com info@celebratebusinesspublishing.com

Small Biz Forward is published by

Celebrate Business Publishing Small Biz Forward receives unsolicited materials (including le ers to the editor, press releases, promo onal items and images) from me to me.

Small Biz Forward magazine, its aďŹƒliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, republish, distribute, store and archive such submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensa on of any sort. This statement does not apply to materials/pitches submi ed by freelancers in accordance with known industry prac ces. Statements and opinions expressed in feature ar cles are those of the corresponding business owner.

While every care has been taken in the compila on of this informa on and every a empt made to present up-to-date and accurate informa on, we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. Celebrate Business Publishing will not be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any informa on within these pages or any informa on accessed through their web site.

Printing by

Sturgis PostNet, Sturgis, MI, 269-651-2670 Bill Martindale

@smallbizjunkie

h p://www.facebook.com/bsuconnector http://www.linkedin.com/in/nancybecher

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Contributors

Jason Barr, founder of Valen ne Web Services. We don't just build websites; we deliver fully-op mized campaigns centered around your important business objec ves to put the Web to work for you! Located in South Bend, IN. He’s there for all your website needs. Contact him at: h/p://facebook.com/jason.barr.sb

Kenneth Nichols is a lifelong entrepreneur and the owner of Urban Appeal Mobile Marke ng. Kenneth started his first business at the age of 12, cuEng grass around the small West Michigan town of Baldwin, Michigan. ABer gradua ng from Baldwin High School, Kenneth a/ended Western Michigan University where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies

Ed Becher, (Ret.) US Marine and

and a Masters in Public Administra on. Kenneth has 10 years

Former Chief Instructor, US Dept. of State, Uniformed Branch, Diploma c Security Service. Owner, The Bodyguard Academy, Sturgis, Michigan. He can be reached at: h/p:// thebodyguardacademy.com

of marke ng experience in the non-profit sector along with a wealth of experience in customer service, direct and business to business sales. kenneth.nichols.545@facebook.com

Barbara Nicastro is a problem solver, strategist and business execu ve highly experienced in analysis of complex document or factual situa ons. Uses a

Nancy Becher, Passionate about suppor ng “mom and pop” businesses, Nancy is the Chief Everything Officer of Business Success Unlimited, an educa onal training program and success mentor for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

She is the author of many short ar cles and published pieces in various magazines and online. An entrepreneur since age 12, she is known for her knowledge of running small businesses and caring about the people she works with. h/p://success4biz.biz is where she’s found!

pragma c business approach to prevent or resolve issues. Extensive leadership, public speaking, nego a on, media and mo va onal training experience. You can reach Barb at www.linkedin.com/in/bnicastro

Jerry Sarno is a Strategic Partner with Schooley Mitchell Telecom consultants, North America’s largest independent telecom consul ng company.

Jerry. Sarno@schooleymitchell.com 269-408-8679

Liz LaClair is the owner of Virtually Helps, a virtual assistant company. She is PASSIONATE about helping her clients with any and all of their office administra ve work and is a specialist in her knowledge of MicrosoB Office products. Check out Liz at: h/p://www.virtuallyhelps.com

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Contributors

Sherry Lynn Simoes works with Small and Home-Based Entrepreneurs to build a thriving business through the right marke ng methods as well as website design, blog training & design and social media training and management. She runs two networking groups (Women of Today and Business Builders Interna onal) and provides free training to members each month on a dierent aspect of marke ng their business.

Sherry Lynn can be found at: h-p://facebook.com/ sherry.simoes

Gail Turluck is the President of Connec ve Marke ng of Richland, Michigan. Connec ve Marke ng oers communica ons services including wri ng, e-newsle-ers, newsle-ers, web site content, edi ng, proofreading, and more. She can be reached at gail@connec vemarke ngllc.com.

WELCOME Fall into your home and share some extra designs with a friend this harvest season with SIMPLY SAID! Consultations available upon request. Contact Kathy Williamson today for these seasonal specials. Gift-Giving is always in season with Simply Said!

PHONE: (574) 850-4424 WEB: www.mysimplysaiddesigns.com/604 EMAIL: simplysaid604@yahoo.com Facebook: http:// www.facebook.com/ SimplySaidwithKathyIndependentConsultant 604

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Follow the Yellow Brick Road Please, I don't want to die! I haven't accomplished anything yet! — The Great Wizard of Oz Nancy Becher, Chief Everything Officer, Business Success Unlimited

Do you have a dream for your small business?

Want to see it grow and become bigger? Growing your business isn’t just a worthy goal; growing your business is a necessity for it’s survival and your economic well-being. But growing a company takes a lot more than good intentions. You need a plan.

Sound like something you could get into, but just not sure how to even get started? That’s what a lot of us say – which way do I turn, what is my next step?

Reminds me of the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz 7 Small Biz Forward

when he says, they went “that-a-way,” crossed his arms, and pointed in two different directions.

Dorothy hadn’t a clue which way to turn to get to the Emerald City. But off she went, finding obstacles along the way, which she struggled with and surpassed until she finally reached her goal successfully and was able to go home.

We don’t have to go spiraling off in a tornado, or land in a foreign country in order to survive and grow our companies. But, we do have to create goals,

focus on where we are going, struggle with difficulties, and eventually gain entrance to Oz, whatever Oz is for each of us. There are some lessons we can learn from Dorothy and the characters in this wonderful story (it just happens to be one of my favorites for a lot of reasons!) Let’s take a look at some of them.

1. What Gets You Up in the Morning? Purpose!

Do you have a purpose for your business? Do you know what you do? How about where you want to be in a year? What is your motivation for having your business? It’s always a good idea to have several avenues open to you – create friendships, partnerships, different services/products – but whatever you do, don’t lose track of that purpose that got you started. For Dorothy, no matter who she met, or where she went, her over-riding purpose was to get to the Emerald City, and Oz, so that she could get home. Follow your purpose no matter what, and you will succeed.

2. Do It Alone, OR Find Someone to Take the Trip With You? For many solo-entrepreneurs, their base of operations is their home (the bedroom, the basement, the kitchen – wherever they can find a corner of space to hang out). They work by themselves, with only themselves for support and knowledge. Here’s where the question “Where do I go from here” comes into play. Look to the left, look to the right – there’s no one there to reach out a helping hand and guide them down the road to their final destination. But, like Dorothy, you can find help and support along the way.

As small business owners, we all have similar goals for going where we are headed, but our reasons may be very different. Yet, when we work

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together, we are able to get to our individual goals met with the help of others.

How do you do this? Networking events, Mastermind programs, and strategic planning sessions are a few ways. The bottom line is: get off your butt, out of your office, and meet with other like-minded people. When you share your plans and dreams with others, they can share theirs with you and together (like Dorothy and crew walking through the forest), you can get there safely and more productively.

3. Don’ Don’t let the Flying Monkeys Get You – Have Faith.

I used to wake up in the morning and say, “Okay, what is going to happen today that I’m not prepared for?” And sure enough, there was always something waiting for me (just out of sight) that caught me up and kept me from moving ahead. A field of poppies maybe? Or DUCK, here come the monkeys. When you are always in the “put out the fire mode” you are never going to be able to take that next step forward and inch toward the goal.

So what do you do? Well, when you plan ahead, (and please put it in writing), you have something to refer to that will guide you through the fields. Have faith that your plans are leading you in the right direction and whatever set-back you may find in your way, you can climb over, go around, or just barrel through. Stay true to your values and mission, and just keep heading down the yellow brick road.

It is not always easy to keep positive focus on your situation, but when you just keep thinking (like when Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in OZ sing) “Move on Down the Road”, you will get there. So, keep these three things in mind and you’ll find yourself at the gates to the Emerald City and the guard is letting you in!

TOP MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN HIRING OR DEALING WITH AN ATTORNEY

By Barbara NiCastro, Law Offices of Barbara NiCastro

Few people enjoy having to hire or deal with an attorney. The times I’ve been a client, I’ve felt the pain. But don’t make things worse by not being smart about how you go about the process.

Here are some common problems I’ve seen.

WAITING TOO LONG TO SEEK HELP. Business problems are tempting to ignore, in the hope they will resolve themselves, go away or were imaginary.

Unfortunately, that rarely happens. Problems ignored tend to fester or become more complicated to resolve. Unless you enjoy spending more time and money on that problem, you’d be wise to consult with an attorney early on.

LETTING YOUR FINGERS DO THE WALKING. If you have an attorney already, skip to #3. For the rest of you, just remember this phrase: Yellow is not your friend. Or, for those not old enough to remember the yellow pages, the internet. You 9 Small Biz Forward

are looking for someone to protect your company’s financial and business future. Be thoughtful in your choice of who to hire.

Don’t choose your neighbor’s nephew who just got out of law school. Or your lawyer neighbor who doesn’t really have experience in the areas you need.

Or the person with the biggest search engine or ad. Get names from people whom you admire in your community: business owners, accountants, financial people, or your local Chamber of Commerce. Call more than one lawyer and check them out.

NOT LIKING YOUR LAWYER. The attorney you hire should be someone whose style makes you comfortable, who understands and pays attention to you and with whom you feel comfortable discussing issues and facts that might not paint you or your business in its most attractive light. Will he answer your questions, seek your input and feedback and make sure you understand what is happening and why? Or do you feel as if you are

bothering your attorney with your concerns or questions. If you don’t like your lawyer, it’s highly probable that he might not like you too much either. This is not the basis for forming a fruitful connection.

NOT DISCUSSING PRICE. There is nothing wrong or nitpicky about asking specific questions about how a lawyer bills, e.g., hourly rate, flat fee, contingency, retainer, etc. Or who will be working on the matters for which you need advice. Or a reasonable estimate of how much time/money it will take to resolve the matter. Or the various options you might have in how or when to pay. There’s a LOT wrong with not discussing price issues - it might lead to upset and difficulties. I’d also be wary of a lawyer who didn’t raise the topic of fees herself.

GOING ON THE CHEAP. You really do get what you pay for. Here is where getting a good referral, checking out lawyers with former clients, and going online to check out an attorney’s age, education, experience and areas of expertise could prove highly helpful. You might be

better served with an attorney who charges more but is much more experienced, or who is familiar with the particular issues facing you. What you think you will save in hourly rates with a less expensive lawyer might be eaten up if that person’s inexperience or inefficiency results in longer times to do your work. On the other hand, be careful about the “over the moon” rates since you may be paying for someone’s marble lobby while it will be the firm’s younger associates who will be doing the brunt of the work on your issue.

NOT KEEPING IN TOUCH. You and your attorney should be able to reach each other easily and quickly to discuss information and strategies critical to the issues involved in your case. Don’t be a slouch about getting back in touch and don’t let your attorney treat you that way either. Deadlines matter.

NOT BEING HONEST WITH YOUR ATTORNEYS. Way too often, clients tell their attorneys only the information they believe is helpful to their side. They withhold other information out of embarrassment, pride, laziness, inadvertence, or in some cases, venality. Way too often, the resolution of the issue will hinge more on what you don’t disclose that on what you do. It is critical for your lawyer to have a complete understanding of the 10 Small Biz Forward

factual basis for the other side’s position, since in most disputes, there is no absolute right or wrong, merely different interpretations of the same set of facts. Failing to arm your lawyer with all information about the problem will leave him – and you – at a disadvantage since you will not be optimally ready to craft resolutions for all possible interpretations.

NOT TAKING YOUR LAWYER’S ADVICE. I have had clients who paid me well for sound advice that they either neglected or flat-out refused to follow. I have had others who refused a fiscally reasonable business solution in order to throw more money at an option that might or might not work.

Your lawyer is your advisor and should be pointing out not only the merits but also the weakness of your position. He may have dealt with your problem a hundred times and knows what can...and probably will...go wrong.

Disagree with him if you wish, but be sure you are not doing it out of ego, personal animosity for the other side or refusal to admit that you are partially responsible for the problem.

NOT PAYING YOUR BILL. This should fall into the “duh” category, but, sadly, it isn’t.

While a client would never think of failing to pay other bills, paying one’s lawyers doesn’t always fall into the same category. Personal self-interest aside, that is wrong. If you receive an invoice that troubles you, call your lawyer to discuss.

Don’t be afraid to question excessive or double charges, or work performed that you didn’t approve or never received. If the fees are large, try setting up a payment plan or ask for more time to make payment. Remember, lawyers have mortgages, insurance and others to pay too!

Like any other trust relationship, time and attention are the keystones of finding the right lawyer for you.

www.plexusslim.com/kimgreenindy

It’ It’s working for me, It’ It’ll work for you too!

Kim Green @ h-p://www.kimgreen.nerium.net

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Keep Your Business Safe Security and the Entrepreneur Ed Becher, PPS, The Bodyguard Academy

For many of us, this time of late summer/early fall sees us, our children, or both, headed back to school. But not only should we be thinking about education, let’s not forget about educating ourselves on the security needs of our businesses and our families.

We have all seen an upsurge in violent crimes in the news lately, but what does that mean to us?

The FBI reports a 3.7 percent increase in violent crimes for 2012. In 2011 the rate in Michigan was 445.2 per 100,000 residents. Property crimes were at 2,612 per 100,000. While reports say that overall from 2003-2011 crimes reported dropped 21.9%, some experts believe the number of crimes not reported has risen as well. What does this tell us?

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We were more likely to be the victim of having our property stolen then we were of being the victim of a violent crime, but the numbers are still high.

This morning I became aware of the murder Friday evening of a client’s father in Kalamazoo.

As of this writing the motive is still unknown. The victim was 88 years old and in his home with his body being found by a neighbor who went to check on him. Every night here in SW Michigan we are hearing of another shooting, many by youngsters too young to legally possess the weapon, and many of those weapons stolen during burglaries.

As business owners we need to ensure the safety of not only ourselves and our families but those of our employees and clients/customers.

Here is where we as business owners can go ‘back to school’. If you have an alarm system, contact your system provider and ask them to come out to your home or business and refresh you on all the benefits the system has to offer. In retail, look into some training on loss prevention, or how about a personal safety class for your daughter or female employees.

Use a smart phone? When was the last time you attended a class or discussion on smart phone use and safety?

Have you looked around your place of business or home to check the fire extinguishers? Are they still charged and where you remember them being. Yes, you turn your alarm on every evening when you head home, but is it working? How about the locks on your doors, are they working properly? Here is one few of us check…are your windows closed and LOCKED? How about passwords for your garage door. When was the last time it was changed?

With Fire Prevention Week coming up in October, you will hear a lot about checking the batteries in your smoke detectors, but do not forget the carbon monoxide detector’s batteries as well. With batteries do not forget the flashlight you keep beside your bed.

You don’t keep one there? Why not? Remember things do go bump in the night.

Ed Becher PPS is the Owner and Director of Training for The BodyGuard Academy located in Sturgis, MI. He can be contacted at ed@thebodyguardacademy.com or by calling his office at 269-6513355 to discuss your security concerns.

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YBNF Tip: Best $5 You'll Ever Spend It is so exci ng seeing so many people using the BOOST PROMOTE op on! It's a great way to make sure lots of people see your post. First, create the post you want everyone to see. Next, BOOST POST by clicking on the BOOST POST bu,on at the bo,om of your post and choose your audience to match your budget. Just $5 can have a great impact on your business.

Note: If you don't have the BOOST PROMOTE bu,on then probably you are under 100 fans on your business page. Time to promote that page and get to 100 so you can take advantage of this very inexpensive marke ng tool. View our page at www.facebook.com/ YourBusinessNeedsFans and click on the NOTES tab for more helpful ps for Facebook Business Pages. Need help in reaching the 100 fans mark, please comment on this post and include the link to your business page and we'll try to get everyone helping each other reach that 100 fans mark.

—

Point in the Right Direction

by Gail M. Turluck, Connective Marketing

People who know me well are aware I'm a passionate sailboat racer. Big boats, small boats, it doesn't matter to me; I'll race 'em! Part of doing well while racing is to be pointing in the right direction.

day of the week! Indoor leagues – bowling, cards, tennis and more – no more rainouts, so time management is critical. And, many summer activities – like sailboat racing – carry on well into the fall and must be balanced carefully.

Truly, the same can be said for our businesses.

As summer winds down, all sorts of activities restart that can take us off course. School – whether for our children or ourselves or our co-workers or our clients – changes the daily routine to one that is quite inflexible and demanding. Many of us enjoy football – and devotees can get their fix almost every

Connect the end of your summer schedule and activities smoothly to those you transition to for fall and beyond. Consider those goals you re-examined last month and think through how you are going to steer through the upcoming changes to take you to the right course to achieve them.

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It's been a long process to chart the course I'm on today. These days I'm editing and publishing the Lake Michigan SuRF newsmagazine and guiding membership development for the Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation, editing and publishing the Windward Leg newsmagazine for the International Sunfish Class Association, writing this monthly column, co-leading the Women In Networking group of Richland, Michigan, and improving my and others' fitness.

That certainly is not what I expected to be doing ten years ago when I entered the financial planning business. After seven years, however, I discovered that work was not bringing me the rewards I sought. It was time to change direction.

The exploration process involved studying what I'd done the most, what kind of work I'd enjoyed, who I naturally enjoy working with and around, how I could incorporate my passion for sailing and fitness into my every day, and achieve the freedom I seek while building a business. I came to realize that writing, editing, publishing and organizing were a lurking presence in my every day, no matter what business I had been in.

As I realized that, I also suddenly stumbled upon

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opportunities to apply my skills and bid for projects – and to do so successfully! All of these clients are in states of flux, development and growth and there is enjoyment in working to help them improve. There is plenty of opportunity to make course corrections to broaden the reach of these publications, organizations, and their missions.

The route you choose as you work to strengthen your business' niche is critical as we transition seasons and get our business dealings on course. Make sure you are playing up your strengths and passions and you will find that with little effort you are pointed, business-wise, in the right direction.

Gail M. Turluck is the President of Connective Marketing of Richland, Michigan. Connective Marketing offers communications services including writing, e-newsletters, newsletters, web site content, editing, proofreading, and more. She can be reached at gail@connectivemarketingllc.com.

Looking for a place to hold a meeting?

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Back Beast, Back to Work!

Liz LaClair, CEO, Virtually Helps, LLC

It’s that time of year, again. OK, so which one of you is more bummed? The kids: because they have to go back to school? Or you: because you have to go back to work? Well, let’s be honest, when it comes to family, we need to make time for our spouses and our kids year round. It’s a major bonus when you can take time off the schedule to take off and do something FUN! Are you well rested and ready to take on the fun of your business? Remember, you started your business with the idea that this is your dream, the thing that lights your fire. Your business isn’t a love/ hate relationship, just frustrating sometimes.

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This time of year can mean a couple of different things. You (and the kids) are ready to go to school to take a couple of classes to keep you fresh and upto-date in your field. Or, it can mean that you found your burst of energy to tackle that new project to boost your business.

For me, as a virtual assistant, taking a certification course will keep me up-to-date, and will have the added benefit of being a boon to my business. Yes, I have signed up for a class and will have my certificate by the time this article is published (that’s the plan anyway). As usual, in the business world experience is a good thing, but a

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certification/degree is BEST. Now for many careers one needs that degree (medical field comes to mind) and must take continuing education courses to keep fresh. But there are businesses that may not require refresher courses – that’s why you hired staff, they have to be up-to-date. But keeping your brainfresh and in the know on the trends of your field, taking classes doesn’t hurt. You could even teach a class or two to keep you on your toes.

Um, you’re still humming that tune form the Staples commercial, aren’t you? Well, it is a fun Christmas carol and it does get you ready for thinking about that holiday (the next big chance for time off)!

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Staples commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=4DComGO8JYo hyperlink on the 1st sentence: It’s that time of year, again.

Text To Win Mobile Campaigns Kenneth Nichols, Urban Appeal Text to win mobile campaigns are a mobile marketing strategy that is effective in collecting customers’ information (new and old) to reward and engage at a later time. Text to win campaigns are implemented through text messaging service platforms. (By law they must also receive information informing them of how many messages that they can expect to receive from Company A per month, and provide instructions on how to optopt-out when they no longer wish to receive specials from the company via mobile.)

Example: Step 1: Company A advertises to customers in printed ads, websites, commercials, or social media to Text ICECREAM to 99000 from a mobile device for a chance to win a free Ice Cream Cake. Winners can be selected at random or as the 10th, 20th, 50th, etc. customer.

Step 2: Customers Text ICECREAM to 99000 from their mobile to device as instructed. Automated messages then thank the customers for opting in and

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ask for their name, birthday, email, or whatever Company A wants to collect.

Step 3: Company A can send out a message with a special code to the winner on a specified date or even provides those that opted in with a special discount (Ex. 10%) Step 4: When Company A decides to send out a daily/weekly special or information on new meals, they already have a running database of numbers to send information out to.

Step 5: Repeat Step 1 or start a new campaign with a new incentive.

When specials or sales are sent to customers that have opted-in, the response rate for customers is universally 20-50%. Text to win mobile campaigns have proven to be highly effective by engaging participants with instant win opportunities. When you incorporate a mobile coupon for each bounce back message (personal response) you can increase the ROI (Return on Investment) with each participant.

What Can You Do at BSU? BANG (Business Abundance Networking Group) – meets 8:00 – 9:30am every Tuesday This group is the core of SSBI – new members start here with weekly meetings in which they get to know other members of the group, both personally and professionally. Each week, the focus is on exploring a different member’s business. Through support and interaction, members gain increased confidence while building relationships with other business owners. You’re not alone, come share your story with us!

Entrepreneurial Forum – meets 4:00 to 6:00pm the second Tuesday of every month This once a month meeting will give you the opportunity to hear what the experts say and interact with other business owners in a relaxed learning environment. Members will gain valuable insight on what it means to be “in business”. This group focuses on the one thing that is common to all of our businesses….sales. Once a month we discuss the issues that help us all find more clients. Topics such as “Networking 101, getting to know each other”, “Now that you’ve got all those business cards, what do you do with them?”, and “Social media dos and don’ts” are examples of recent discussions. Your business education starts here, at the next Entrepreneurial Forum!

TIGER Group – tbd World War II saw the creation of small groups whose function was to bring people together for small challenges and then disband once the “project” was complete. Tiger Groups have a similar mission: Members work together building key pieces of their business with the help and support of others in the group. An example is our latest 6-week series on marketing plans. From establishing a target market, to identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (S.W.O.T. analysis), this group will help you apply the fundamentals of business to your particular situation. It’s hands-on, and it’s real world…

Peer Advisory Group – Next meeting starts September 9th, 8:00 to 10:00am, Niles Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, Niles, MI The idea is that when you have several people focused on one thought, question or idea, you find solutions as a group that you would not have found alone. BSU believes the same…it’s the power of brainstorming, accountability, support and education all rolled into one…it’s your very own personal Board of Advisors! Apply now - groups are hand-picked based on length of time in business, type of business and your individual personality style. You will thank us later….

Lunchtime Learners— Learners— Conducted online, this group meets the 3rd Thursday of the month from 12:00 to 1:00pm.

Read any interesting business books lately? This group chooses a book each month to discuss and learn from.

TGIF – meets 5:00 – 7:00pm the last Friday of the month This monthly open networking is for fun and relaxation as well as a quick and easy way to get to meet other business owners in the community. Come and hang out with us!

20 Small Biz Forward

Ed Becher, PPS, The BodyGuard Academy As a security professional I see things differently. My rose colored glasses have been tempered with trips to the Far East, Middle East and South America, and across the United States. During my time as an “Ambassador in Blue� (U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Security Guard) assigned to the Embassies in Amman, Jordan and Santiago, Chile, I was able to see things most people do not get the chance. I have been able to see democracy at work, and seen what happens when the people revolt against their governments.

Upon retirement from the Marine Corps I again went to work with the US Dept. of State, with the Diplomatic Security Service as a Uniformed Protection Officer. Once again thrown in the

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spotlight of international democracy at its starting point, and assigned to the residence of then Secretary of State Madeline Albright.

We, as entrepreneurs, think we have it hard; consider Madeline Albright, the first female Secretary of State in a mostly male dominated profession, having to deal with men who traditionally see women as inferior. But she did not give in and prevailed as one of the leading peace makers and leaders of our time.

As business leaders and entrepreneurs, we need to be constantly looking for ways to improve ourselves and our business models. We need to be constantly willing to open up and look, listen and learn. I hear way too many small business people

say, “I have been in business for 30 years. I do not see how you can help me”; then when asked how their business is doing they say that if they do not get more customers they will need to close shop. What have they done wrong? They were not open to listening; (Yes Nancy I am guilty of this as well) to criticism, would not listen to ideas and just kept on pounding along with no change in sight. Think where we would be today if Madeline Albright or even our founding fathers had thought that way.

With this being time when people go back to school, it is time we as entrepreneurs need to get ourselves back in the classroom and start to improve our own business education. I for one am looking at some classes to help me prosper in Executive Protection and some industry conferences. There are many ways to get up to speed, not just the classroom,

how about on-line programs, forums, small businesses conferences. If we stop learning how to better manage and improve our businesses we will fail. Let’s not go there; the way to improve both ourselves and our economy is for us to prosper.

Ed Becher PPS is the Owner and Director of Training for The BodyGuard Academy located in Sturgis, MI. He can be contacted at ed@thebodyguardacademy.com or by calling his office at 269-651-3355 to discuss your security concerns.

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Learning to COPE Jerry Sarno, Schooley-Mitchell Telecom Consultants Companies worldwide continue to struggle with device ownership and management. In an age when a job can’t be done without a smartphone or tablet, and with employees who continually demand the next big thing, many businesses are still unsure how to best handle technology.

Many have bowed to the pressure and jumped on the bring your own device (BYOD) bandwagon, where workers purchase their device of choice, pick their own plan and then receive a stipend to cover some of the costs. Though BYOD may make sense initially – most expect wireless expenses to be reduced and controlled easily – the scenario can run amok.

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Big issues can include employee termination, security, privacy, and support. Instead of making it easier, BYOD can increase workload for IT departments as they attempt to support multiple platforms, devices, and apps. Functionality can be compromised by employees looking to make a buck by purchasing the cheapest phone on unreliable networks.

So when traditional corporate liability – when the business purchases the phone and expects it to be used for professional purposes only – and BYOD don’t pan out, what is there left to do? Enter corporate-owned, personally enabled or COPE for short. It’s the latest trend in enterprise mobility, one

that seems to be keeping both management and employees happy.

Its popularity stems from the fact it offers the best of both worlds. COPE allows for a business to purchase and own a device, but gives workers the freedom to use the device for their own purposes. It means the flexibility for an employee to surf Facebook, but also for IT to wipe a stolen or lost device without any resistance.

Employee choice is still paramount in COPE, since many companies offer employees a selection of devices that comply with budget and security guidelines. Instead of having to find a way to secure professional functions on a personal device in a BYOD environment, administrators can partition a fully managed device for personal uses. Overall, it is

easier for a company to manage a device under COPE because it has full control and can configure the device for security and app management before it even lands in the hands of an employee.

Cost is another obvious benefit. BYOD often hurts the bottom line – a personally owned device is typically contracted to a retail plan. COPE allows for businesses to cash in on the substantial discounts enjoyed under corporate plans, a move that can trim operating expenses.

For companies considering which way to go, COPE is the happy medium offering employees the sleek gadgets they desire and administrators the control needed to be secure and successful.

TIPS Online surveys serve as a very powerful marketing tool. They can help you find your target market’s pain points, evaluate if your product and service is in demand or is reaching the right audience. The more we know about our customers and potential customers the better we can serve them. Make sure to check next month's issue for more info on Online Surveys!

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Schedule of Events K Enterprises – Your Business Needs Fans Business Mentoring, B2B Events P.O. Box 6056 Facebook Training, Consulta,ons & Design South Bend, IN 46660 www.Facebook.com/YourBusinessNeedsFans Karen – 574-344-8895 B2B Get Together/” Together/”Live Networking DeDe-constructed” constructed” Friday, November 1, 2013 – 9:309:30-11:30am (Trine University, 4101 Edison Lakes Parkway, Mishawaka, IN) Have you heard about our B2B Get Togethers? Lots of fun and a great way to connect with other businesses. This time we’ll have Resource Tables with information and guidance on Business Event Planning. Open Networking time 9:00-9:30 and then Business Introductions and “live Networking De-constructed” starts at 9:30. All businesses are introduced. Bring your business cards, brochures, samples. Just $5 to participate.

B2B Get Together Holiday Bash – It’ It’s A Networking Party Thursday, December 5, 6:156:15-8:00pm (Open Networking starts at 5:30) (Loca,on: Sprenger Health Care Center, Elm Road Campus, 60257 Bodnar Blvd., Mishawaka, IN) This B2B Get Together is a Holiday Networking Party with an awesome twist and we think the very best way to network successfully. It’s a sponsored event with complimentary wine, non-alcoholic beverages, yummy appetizers and will be held at the beautiful Sprenger Healthcare Center, Mishawaka. Open Networking at the bar, 5:30-6:15 and then Business Introductions and “Live Networking De-constructed” starts at 6:15pm. All businesses are introduced. Bring your business cards, brochures, samples. Just $10 to participate (complimentary wine and appetizers). RSVP please on Facebook, www.facebook.com/YourBusinessNeedsFans Event tab). Sponsorship Opportunities, call 574.344.8895.

B2B Get Together/” Together/”Live Networking DeDe-constructed” constructed” Friday, January 10, 2014 – 9:309:30-11:30am (Trine University, 4101 Edison Lakes Parkway, Mishawaka, IN) Time to give your business a boost, refresh your own focus for success and join in the fun of a unique networking experience. Lots of fun and a great way to connect with other businesses. Open Networking time 9:00-9:30 and then Business Introductions and “live Networking De-constructed” starts at 9:30. All businesses are introduced. Bring your business cards, brochures, samples. Just $5 to participate.

Michiana “Shop & Greet” Greet” Thursday, March 20, 2014 – 4:004:00-9:00pm (Saint Mary’ Mary’s Campus – Gillespie Center, South Bend, IN) Best Expo of the year! One of a kind event with our unique “Everyone Shops Experience”! Networking at its best and auction fun with local charities too. Sponsors, 40 Vendors, “A Minute Wins It’ Challenges, Great Prizes & Surprises.

Live Auction Fun! Great Networking! Fun for you and your friends and good for your business too! Come shop with us! $15 at the Door (and you get $10 back in Michiana Bucks to spend at the event). More info, call Karen 574.344.8895.

25 Small Biz Forward

Sherry Lynn Simoes — Marke ng Ac on Coach Staying on top of the newest social media marketing methods can be a difficult task. New social media sites appear at an alarming rate and it can make any small business owner wonder how they will ever utilize a new one.

The newest one that has made an impact is Pinterest and this is a great marketing tool because for just a few extra minutes each day you can expand your reach to new potential customers and build your online brand even further.

If you have checked it out you will have seen that it is full of wonderful, interesting pictures and videos. And essentially this is what the site is, a page of pictures linking back to the sources and companies that pinned that picture.

What does this mean for you?

Well first off it means more exposure and more exposure is always good for your bottom line.

Secondly it means that with some creative skills you can captivate an entirely untapped market. All you 26 Small Biz Forward

need to do is figure out what pictures best represent your company, set up appropriate boards and go from there.

Once you've gotten a batch of pictures that match that have to do with what your company offers all you have to do is start pinning them to your own boards and then those who follow you (much like friend on Facebook) can take your pictures and repin them to their own boards and the viral effect of Pinterest begins to take place. Each and every time your picture is pinned and repinned you get another link back to your website, your business and another connection to new potential customers.

Why should businesses use Pinterst?

Pinterest is a leader in driving web traffic and currently generates more traffic to websites than Google+, Myspace, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Millions of businesses are using Pinterest as a reliable search engine tool.

Businesses who have a presence on Pinterest gain web traffic in two ways.

First, Pinterest helps optimize your name in web searches. When someone searches the web your Pinterest page is one of the top results (behind your website, Google Places and Facebook pages).

Second, visually interesting photographs of your products and services can be easily shared and viewed by thousands of people that click the picture and are taken directly to your website.

What to Pin Here’s the fun part. You can pin either photographs or videos. What you chose to include on your pin boards is entirely up to you but to keep your boards organized and purposeful you should always make sure it is aligned with your services and speaks to your target market. Only pin content that you find truly useful, relevant to your followers, and worth spreading.

Make sure you include a description of what you’re pinning (required). Keep your description short (one to two sentences) and rich with keywords people are most likely using in searches.

If your pin is repinned or liked you will get an email notification from Pinterest. You can also see if your pin has been shared by looking below its description.

As a small business owner it is difficult to choose which methods you should use to market your business. My advice regarding Pinterest is, if you want to get seen online then you need to integrate Pinterest into your marketing plan.

With the tools you can use it really does not take much time at all and as you grow accustomed to how it works it will just come natural, just like you got used to how Facebook worked. I bet you comment a lot more then when you just got started.

Soon you will be pinning like a pro and with purpose!

Sherry Lynn Simoes is a marketing action coach who works with small and homehome-based business women to grow a thriving business by supporting them to find the right marketing methods. You can book a free coaching session at www.sherrylynnsimoes.com

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27 Small Biz Forward

Are you an Entrepreneur or Small Biz Owner? Want to connect with others who are on the same path? If you're ready to grow your business and want to be crystal clear on your mission and how to accomplish that growth, the Dream the Work Retreat is for you.

SPONSORS Michiana Chris,an Service Camp Your Business Needs Fans The BodyGuard Academy WSMK Niles Radio Kerri's Avenue Salon PostNet Sturgis Speakers Karen Bachert, Your Business Needs Fans Adam Fleming, Epic Life Studios Milene Jeffirs, Psychologist and speaker Kyle and Erik Johnson, J2 Marketing Cheryl Friar, Premier Women Network Jason Rosado, Distinctive Coaching for Business Success Kerri Spencer, Kerri's Avenue Salon Cost: $75 for attendees/$95 for vendors Register at: http://dreamtheworkretreathttp://dreamtheworkretreat-es2.eventbrite.com/?rank=1

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Agenda – 2013 has been a year of small business ups and downs. The economy is getting slowly better, but for many of us we’re working harder and harder without substantial increases in our bottom lines. We focus on time on doing the work OF the business and don’t take time to do the WORK necessary to GROW the business. BSU wants to help support you by providing a day to dream, reflect and plan for the growth of your business. Come dressed ready to roll up your sleeves, and get down to work. No suits and ties or nylons allowed. Just comfy clothes that you can relax in, work in, and move your business forward.

7:00-8:00

Vendor Set-up

8:00-9:00

Registration, Expo, Networking

9:00-9:15

Welcome

9:15-9:45

Sponsors Introductions; Valeria J. Daniels-Huston

9:45-10:45

Keynote – Ron Sather, “State of Business Now and into the Future

10:45-11:00

Break/vendors

11:00-12:00

Breakout Sessions (Choose from 4 tracks)

♦

“Living the Business of Your Dreams Thru Your Values” Values” -- Milene Jeffirs, Connect: Helping to Empower People

♦

“Networking Live - Deconstructed” Deconstructed” – Karen Bachert, Your Business Needs Fans, http://yourbusinessneedsfans.com

♦

“Goal Setting” Setting” – Adam Fleming, Epic Life Studios, www.epiclifestudios.com

♦

"Conquer Your Fear of Selling and Get People to Confidently Say Yes" – Jason Rosado, Achieve Your Ideal Business Now, http://www.AchieveYourIdealBusiness.com

12:00-12:15

Break/vendors

12:15-1:30

Lunch and Panel Discussion – Jason Rosado, Cheryl Friar Get Your Questions Answered

1:30-2:45

Mini Workshops – Topics such as building vision boards, Facebook, goal setting, business plan, getting financing, branding yourself for your business, and more. You can pick and choose, or you can take this time for thought – Walk the trails, sit by the water – give yourself time to relax and rejuvenate.

2:45-3:45

Breakout Sessions (Choose from 4 tracks)

♦

”Power of Your First Impression” Impression” – Kerri Blair Spencer, Kerri’s Avenue Salon, http://www.kerris-avenue-salon.com

♦

“Communicate Effectively When Listening is the Secret” Secret” – Milene Jeffirs, Connect: Helping to Empower People

♦

“Creating a Knockout Elevator Speech” Speech” – Adam Fleming, Epic Life Studios, www.epiclifestudios.com

♦

“Marketing on a Shoestring” Shoestring” -- Kyle and Erik Johnson, J2 Marketing, http://j2marketing.co

3:45-4:00

Break/vendors

4:00-6:00

Reception and Refreshments

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The BodyGuard Academy Sturgis, MI Upcoming Training Events: Gunslingers Gun Show, Ft Wayne, IN Sept 6,7,8…”Women’s Personal Safety” and “Effec,ve CCW, what works and what doesn’t” classes during the gun show Bail Fugi,ve Recovery Agent September 14 @8am; 3 weekends Bail Industry Training Summit September 17 @9am 3 and 7 day Execu,ve Protec,on, October 11 @8am, 3 weekends

The BodyGuard Academy is a provider of training programs to the security and bail industry. We also provide training programs for Human Resource professionals on ‘Handling Stalker and Harasser's’; ‘Active Shooter Response in the Office’

If interested in more informa,on on how we at The BodyGuard Academy can help you, feel free to contact us at: Office: 269-651-3355 Email: ed@thebodyguardacademy.com

30 Small Biz Forward

Business Plan? NOOOOO, please don’t make me!

Nancy Becher, Business Success Unlimited Have you ever written a business plan? Is it on your to-do list, but it’s “Just too complicated!”?

You hear business consultants tell you all the time that you really MUST have a business plan, but every time you start to work on it, procrastination sets in and it NEVER gets done?

If you think a business plan must be hundreds of pages in length and set in stone, I’ve got good news for you – it doesn’t. I think about business plans a bit differently than many of the more conservative consultants out there. Unless you need something to give to banks when you’re looking for a loan, a business plan—to me—is something that I use to help myself with the process of growing my business in a way that makes sense to me. What do I want to do about marketing? Who is my client?

What kind of money do I want to get from the business and what do I want to do with it? I love the saying “‘if you fail to plan, you plan to fail’, period!” That really does have a lot of significance to me; and should to you as well. When we don’t put down on paper our goals and our dreams, we will never get where we want to go.

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Now, the good news is: I have a form for a simplified business plan that, depending on how much you write, can be from 2-6 pages. That’s a lot better isn’t it? So, here goes. Here’s the form…

Brief History How long have you been in business, where did it start, and why did you start it? What was the main goal of the business.

Why Am I in Business?

Deep down you have reasons for why you want a business…Self-sufficiency? More money? Time spent with family and friends? Being the boss? Put it down in writing and be sure to be honest about your feelings here.

SWOT What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that face you and your company?

Perhaps you’ve been doing the same type of job for many years – that’s a strength, as is good with marketing, or finances, or whatever.

Maybe your weaknesses include feeling unsure of yourself, or lack of income, low self-esteem.

Those would go under the Weaknesses section.

An opportunity might be that there’s no one else in your town that sells what you do and people want it.

Finally, threats are anything that work against you and the survival of your business. Maybe you charge for something that others give away for free, or people not understanding what it is you do or sell.

Put at least 3-4 items under each category. Make sure that you really understand what these are and KNOW that they fit for you.

Goal Development is the next section and it is here that you look at different things that you want to accomplish and the time in which you want to see it completed.

Mission Statement – What do you want to have as your mission statement? There are a lot of websites out there that help you understand what a mission statement is and how to write it so that it is meaningful for your business.

Then, the partner piece to that is what are your corporate values? Are they something like mine?

Honesty, integrity, joyfulness, sincerity and really listening/hearing my clients are what my values comprise.

Vision is next on the list and it, like the mission statement, can be difficult to understand but you can find websites that help with that.

Next comes Business Objectives.

What are your objectives? How much money do you want to make? How many products or services do you want to sell? Do you want to have sales people? These are all objectives (or starting goals).

After you’ve gotten your objectives together, you have to look at the strategies that will get you

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there: they will help you accomplish the objectives.

At this point, you can break down the goals into – must do, should do, immediate action, and things with longer timeframes. Called SMART goals, these encompass – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound.

The third section is Special Considerations What is unique about your service or product?

Who is your target market? College kids, families, elderly, business, schools? Who do you want to sell to—and don’t say EVERYONE. That is the worst thing you can think of to say. You will never sell probably if that’s the case.

How are you attracting new customers? Do you use Facebook and other social media? Websites, newspapers and radio? What about networking and word of mouth?

Once you get all of these things figured out, you’re well on your way to growing a successful business. But the other thing to keep in mind is that this should NEVER be a static document. It should be revisited on a regular basis. Things change.

People change. You need to keep your thoughts and ideas fresh and you need to be ready to make changes when necessary, for it is only when we maintain our knowledge of ourselves and our surrounding environment that we are able to keep up with the changes that make our business something people will want to be part of.

What’s Happening Here!

There are LOTS of exciting events happening from now through the end of the year. Check them out!

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Peer Advisory Group — Niles, MI (Four Flags Chamber), 8:30-10:00am Entrepreneurial Forum — Take the Fear Out Of Selling, Na/onal College, South Bend, IN, 4-6pm Success Team — Old Na/onal Bank, Heritage Square, Granger, IN 8:30-10:45am, and Noon—1:15pm Book Club — online discussion regarding a business book of the month For more details, check out h6p://success4biz.biz/Upcoming_Events.html 33 Small Biz Forward

Peer Advisory Boards …

How Can They Help Your Business?

Entrepreneurs are generally people who put everything they’ve got into their dream – the business. They work night and day to grow it, to become successful (whatever that means).

They may want a steady income, time to spend with family and friends that they couldn’t have when they worked a J-O-B), they might want a vacation home, etc.

OR – they just might want to be the best person they can be with the best widget making company in the world.

support the others in the group in order to have everyone gain. It’s not a time to network, or to market, gossip or look down on others, although networking does get done, and marketing is created through relationships. BUT NEVER do we laugh at, gossip about or look down on the others. Everyone has the knowledge that what’s said there, stays there, and that all have their right to ideas, thoughts, etc. Yes, but is NOT allowed.

But, as entrepreneurs, we all know only too well, that this success is not so easily attained.

We may not know how to price our products, how to market our services, how to divide time between home and business …

All too often the words, “I feel so alone. I’m not sure where to turn or what to do next” come to mind and we sit and stagnate.

Business Success Unlimited has been running and facilitating Mastermind Programs both online and in-person for 20+ years. Now, since coming to the Michiana area, we have conducted several online programs that have been highly successful.

Peer Advisory programs are a way to combat that aloneness; it gives us the ability to share our thoughts, our fears, our questions with others who are generally in the same situation. In this place of safety and protection, we can each address our own issues as well as 34 Small Biz Forward

Most programs such as this are small. It is thought that the best groups hold between 6 and 10 people – this is so that relationships can be formed; people can truly start to know each other and know their businesses. Empathy is formed, and a true need to support and be part of the process for the other business owners becomes the

most important part of any meeting.

My programs are a bit different than most. The agenda for these are as follows: It is a two hour program – ½ hour – sharing “What Great Event/Situation/Emotion, etc.” has happened since our last meeting.

1 hour – each individual meeting there is a topic, discussion and exercise. Often the people are given homework that they complete and discuss at the next meeting. ½ hour – burning issues: If anyone has anything that they NEED to discuss with the others, this is the time for that.

The group meets twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Monday from 8:30am to 10am and the time frame is 3 months. At the end of that time, a new group forms: people can continue if they want, and others come and go as they feel the need.

How to Make Your Website Content More Effective

By Jason Barr, Valentine Web Services

When you’re doing research on a product or service online, few things are more disappointing than clicking through sites upon sites that present strong first impressions with good headlines and initially promising design only to find that the body copy is lousy. Make sure your business website isn’t making the following three design mistakes that will kill your conversion rates.

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Poor Typography or Font Choice Your body text needs to be readable! I can’t even begin to tell you how many sites I’ve encountered that might have actually had important things to say, or a product that would have met my needs at the time, but the typography made it too difficult to read.

Here are a few principles you should always follow for web type.

1. Minimum font size of 16 pixels. This will appear about the same size on screen as 12 point text on a printed page. Anything smaller than that and you’ll send your readers looking for their glasses—or to another site!

2. Have enough space between lines. A line height of 1.3 times the font size is a good place to start. Any closer together than that and it’s easy to confuse lines when you’re scanning. And the vast majority of web readers scan text.

3. Your line width should be no greater than 80 characters at most, and probably shorter. Readability studies show that readers are best able to process lines of text that are between 60-80 characters long due to natural eye movement. If your lines are longer than that, you’re probably losing customers.

4. Fancy fonts are good for headlines and graphics, but stick to basic, tried-and-true fonts for body text. Many design experts suggest only using sans serif fonts for body copy, like Arial or Tahoma, on websites. If you’re using Comic Sans, you should probably give up and hire a good designer.

2. Distracting Design and Broken Page Flow If you have too many gadgets on your page, readers will be distracted from your text. If they’re distracted from your text, they’ll be less likely to follow your copy from one sentence to the next and absorb the benefits your business offers. Therefore they’ll be less likely to be engaged emotionally in a way that furthers your business goals.

You want your text and supporting images to be the focal point of each page. Maintain a clean, mostly uninterrupted left margin, with most of your images either centered or aligned to the right of your content column.

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3. Text That Can’ Can’t Easily Be Scanned You can have well-written copy that uses good fonts, typography, and page flow and still lose readers if your text can’t be scanned easily.

Remember, the vast majority of web readers scan first, and only then come back to read more closely.

You should use frequent subheadings throughout your copy. A good practice is to write out your headings and subheadings before body paragraphs and make sure that if a reader only scans them will still get the point of your content.

Keep paragraphs mostly short, but vary the length. If all the paragraphs are the same length, or if most of them are long, your readers might get tired eyes.

It’s okay to have a one-sentence paragraph.

Emphasize important words with italics, and when you want to strongly emphasize a word or phrase, bold it. You’ll want certain words to stand out as viewers move through the page. Don’ Don’t overdo it, though, or it loses its effect.

Finally, make frequent use of things like: • bullet

point lists

•

numbered lists, which can be especially effective in feature/benefit statements

•

varied font sizes and colors to more strongly emphasize certain words or phrases—but again, don’t overdo it!

There are many more things you should pay attention to with your content design, but if you remember these three rules you’ll dramatically increase your website’s effectiveness.

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY AVAS, LLC

AVAS provides photo scanning, photo montages, social media consulting, and project assistance. h p://www.AVASLLC.NET | Cell: (574) 514-5193

Connective Marketing provides communications services to small businesses: • Print and e-newsletters • Handbooks, Yearbooks and Directories • Web site content • Organization membership management • Editing and Proofreading • Event management Connective Marketing offers non-profit management and consulting services. Connective Marketing has a particular focus on sailing and sailboat racing organizations and events. Be confident you can drop your dock lines and sail away knowing your needs will be met.

Connective Marketing /) 1245 West Gull Lake Drive (\ Richland, Michigan 49083 269.203.7130 T | 786.358.3605 F gail@connec+vemarke+ngllc.com | www.connec+vemarke+ngllc.com

Heartwood Renaissance Academy A private school dedicated to helping students succeed.

We teach students to SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS. The staff and teachers help DESIGN, BUILD, and TEST each child's skills, confidence, and self-esteem to fly with courage into their adult futures with the ability to overcome obstacles and accept challenges. https://www.facebook.com/pages/HeartwoodRenaissance-Academy | (269) 273-0160 Kerri’s Avenue Salon We are stylist-owned and operated, we care about our customers and would love you to be one too! Whether it's hair extensions, eyelash extensions, a Japanese straightener or some kick-butt color, give us a call and see what we can do for you.

MI Security Training/Bodyguard Academy Providing quality training for those working in the private security industry. http://thebodyguardacademy.com | (269) 651-3355 Niles Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce The Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to serving the needs of Businesses and the Community. For further information on joining the Chamber please call (269)683-3720, or chamber@nilesmi.com.

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Membership Directory Continued ‌.

Premier Women’s Network To Uplift, Encourage, and Inspire all Women in Business and Career Seekers to Achieve their Highest Capabilities through Networking and Education https://www.facebook.com/PremierWomensNetwork/ info | (260) 747-5202 River Country Journal Celebrating and nurturing life in Southwest Michigan river country. http://www.rivercountryjournal.com | (269) 279-8000 Reflexology/Reiki Relax, Release and Transform Your World Charlene Books, Certified Reflexologist, Reiki Master/ Teacher and It Works Distributor.

Charlenebooks@gmail.com | 574-323-7517

Schooley Mitchell

Jerry Sarno and Schooley Mitchell will save your business or organization; 1) Time; we do the work so you concentrate on your core business. 2) Money; we save $$$ on your telecom spend, if we don't, there is no fee. 3) Peace of mind.

269-408-8679 http://www.schooleymitchell.com/jsarno Your Business Needs Fans Encouraging businesses create and maintain their online presence by teaching best-practice Facebook marketing and so much more. https://www.facebook.com/YourBusinessNeedsFans (574) 344-8895

To save companies and organiza+ons +me, money, and gain peace of mind that their telecom expense is always op+mized for performance and price.

Jerry Sarno, Business Op+miza+on Specialist 269-408-8679 (o) 269-235-2497 (m) jerry.sarno@schooleymitchell.com

Schooley-Mitchell Telecom 38 Small Biz Forward

Success Club Where businesses go to connect | Collaborate | SUCCEED

Purchase a Platinum Membership with Business Success Unlimited and become a member of the Success Club, which gives you access to several different types of programs.

JOIN NOW

BENEFITS: (For only $195 a year) •

You get listings on the Business Success Unlimited website.

•

You get the opportunity to submit an article to the magazine Small Business Forward for possible inclusion.

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A monthly FULL COLOR, quarter page ad in Small Biz Forward

•

You may participate in: Mentoring Projects, Entrepreneurial Forums, Talk Radio, Business Abundance Networking: —— — Lunchtime Learners Book Club (FREE); Mentoring Project [Mastermind] ($75 for 3 months);

Entrepreneurial Forums ($20 per event); Talk Radio (FREE) and you may be asked to be a guest; Abundance Networking (FREE).

•

Member to Member Discounts (at least 10%)

•

Job Listings, Referrals, Authors & Publishers, Events

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Tradeshows and EXPOs (Annual conference in October. Vendors booth will be $75 or just attendance will be $50).

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Other events as they come up

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Plus, other highly customized programs

If you’re ready to build a strong referral network, then JOIN THE CLUB! We’re here to support you and help make your connections count! As our community grows, we will add valuable enhancements to this site with new features and benefits for all our members. This business club creates unique opportunities to connect with other professionals.

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Want to run an ad here? Sign up now and get 3 months for the price of one! This offer won’t last long, so contact us today at info@celebratebusinesspublishing.com or call 269-651-3555 for more information.

Hurry before the offer expires!

40 Small Biz Forward