July 2014 edition

Let Us Put Your Business in the Streets!

FREE July 2014

ANNUAL SUMMER ADVERTISER Advertising & Marketing Tips for Your Small Business Special Advertising Edition

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Publisher ’s Message Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it. - Dwight D. Eisenhower

What’s Your Brand?

Sharon S. Gordon Founder / Publisher sharonsgordon@gmail.com

Summertime is a great time to network, advertise, market and brand your business. Every July we publish our Annual Advertiser. This edition is and for the most part has always been a advertiser directory mixed with a few articles.

Recently at Urban Trendsetters we have increased our media and marketing services to include a new UTS Online Marketing Department as well as our new media service UTS CItyView. This is our new indoor and event digital billboard. As publisher of Urban Trendsetters I started my business like many of you. I had no money but I had a vision, desire and a commitment to make it happen NO MATTER WHAT! Boy have I learned a lot along the way. You need more that idea, vision and commitment. You need a plan and strategy for success in business.

As I begin my career as publisher of UTS I realized that as I attempted to help my clients and advertisers create their advertising, marketing and branding strategy, I had not created my own. I had to ask myself some questions as well. Who was I? What is my brand?

What do I do? Why should anyone listed to me? What I began to realize was that not only did I have the answers but that I was developing my brand as I went along. I now needed to define it. I also realized that the brand of my company begins with the branding of

myself as the expert in my industry.

I want to share a few notes on what I have learned throughout my experience. Branding is much more than just a thoughtful logo or slogan and it's more than just a unique color scheme. Below are the initial steps that need to be taken in order to start your successful brand image.

Step 1: Examine the Competition One of the keys to creating a successful brand image is to separate yourself from your competition. You will need to know how consumers see your competition. You need to recognize how your competitors differentiate themselves from others. Also, you should know your competitor's strengths and weaknesses. Your business can benefit from knowing this information by learning from their weaknesses, and learning how to differentiate your company from the competition.

Step 2: Identify Your Strengths Now that you know your competition's weaknesses you can begin to focus on your company's strengths. Perform a target market analysis, learn from it, and use it to your advantage. This is a useful tool to confirm your company's strengths are in fact important to your target market. Once you've realized your strengths, and what strengths are important to customers, you can think about ways to successfully market these to the public and involve them in your branding campaign.

Step 3: Know Your Customer Learn more about the customer. Know their purchasing behavior. How often do they buy? Do they buy only during sales or promotions? Do they buy an array of products or services or just a select few? These are questions you should ask to better market to your customers. Also, know your customer's lifestyles, needs, mindsets, and attitudes.

Knowing and working with these personality traits are also key to marketing success.

Step 4: Be Your Brand Make sure your company truly represents what your brand identifies you with. For example, if one of the traits your brand identifies your company with is being positive, be positive. This means every employee from the receptionist all the way up to the CEO needs to live your brand.

Once you have tackled these steps you are well on your way to better advertising, networking, promotions and marketing campaigns and strategies for you and your business because you have set the standard for your brand. For more information and coaching on creating your business or personal brand feel free to contact me a t sharonsgordon@gmail.com. Take care and Be Blessed!

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Team UTS

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IN THIS ISSUE

Publisher/CEO Sharon S. Gordon Editor-at-Large Alicia (“A.C.”) Dunlap V.P. Sales & Marketing Lisa Freeman-Williamson Sales Leonette Robinson Contributing Writers Delois R. Wright Brenda Spencer Mykayla Bryant Production/Graphics Mayda Sanchez

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How Mobile Business Apps are Changing the Face of Businesses

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#1 Marketing Strategy: Your Marketing Message

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Advertising Your Home Business The Inexpensive Way

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Free Online Advertising Channels For Your Business

Online Ashley Corry Distribution Cobre’ Gordon UTS Grind & Go Street Team Copyright Urban Trendsetters is published monthly and distributed the first Thursday of every month as a complementary publication by Myshbre’ Media and Communication, LLC,5773 Emporium Square, Columbus, OH 43219. Publisher reserves the right to edit, reject or cancel any advertisement or editorial

Urban Trendsetters Distribution Location

GET YOUR Free Business Listing Premium Directory Launch Specials Available Including,,,,, ADDITIONAL PHOTOS / VIDEOS / AUDIO COUPONS / DIGITAL / PRINT & MORE What is the BEE Business Directory?

The BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) Business Directory is a community resource for locating African Americans in business and to communicate additional businesses, resources and services available to build and enhance opportunities in the community. Our first edition of The BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) Business Directory will launch in Central Ohio. The BEE Business Directory will be published in print and online.

The printed version will be available for distribution September 2014. Our goal is to register over 500 businesses by submission date August 1, 2014. Join Us!

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Desmon Louis Smith (DLS) Education Services is a nonprofit organization located in Columbus, Ohio. Our organization provides educational services to the local community. We assist with developing skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by offering classes on building robots and designing web pages, to name a few. In addition, we help develop computer skills such as searching the Internet, paying bills online, and using social media.

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Business

How Mobile Business Apps are Changing the Face of Businesses

given a heartily welcome to the concept of mobile business apps and the people there have been using it to achieve greater success in lesser time. People working in this industry say that they save a considerable amount of time by dressing and applying makeup on the clients with the help of a mobile business app.

Until few years back, it was virtually impossible to envisage how mobile apps would make our life easier in many spheres. More than 80 percent of all mobile phones are smart phones and this is the reason why businesses are inclined towards using the concept of apps and mobility in their day-to-day activities. Organizations already using an app have shown the world how their use has helped in augmenting the annual revenue and how they can influence the overall modus operandi of any business organization.

Another industry that has most benefitted by mobile business applications is the IT industry. Industry experts say that they are finding these technological upheavals challenging to use but beneficial at the same time. Prior to business apps, the biggest challenge faced by IT professionals was gathering and rendering the data. The advent of mobile apps and cloud computing has sorted this issue completely. Better and faster exchange of critical data has made IT industry admire and advocate the big scale usage of mobile business apps.

With the aid of an app, the team leader can send a one push-off message to One of the several advantages of using a mobile business app is the freedom his entire team. Not only this, a technical support executive can respond to to process data in real time. You do not have to wait for data to be updated any query from any location at any time. This is commendable as it helps in and by a mobile business app, you can immediately collect the data and pro- maintaining the fluency of the business services rendered by the employees cess it. Few business apps are known as the spiritual partners of the employ- regardless of physical boundaries and take care of every clients with their ees as they have helped a lot in increasing their productivity. They help in actions. updating the inventory faster than before, checking the prices very quickly and simplifying the payment process.

I feel that the impacts of mobile apps are undoubtedly great as they influence the entire business process in some way or the other. However, for this Business apps not only help a business in the internal process but they also a business has to get an appropriate app, which can help in savings time as allow it to maintain a highly responsive and spontaneous customer care ser- well as money and give a better return on the money invested in building an vice. Business apps have eased the process of contacting a client regardless app. Contact Urban Trendsetters today for a Business App Consultation at of where he is. An insurance agent for example, can easily submit reports for 614-526-UTS1(5887) or uts.ads@gmail.com. the claims right from the scene of the accident if he owns a smart phone. He can also use a GPS system to order a tow truck and get it much faster than before. This responsiveness can only be achieved with a business app and it is only due to this, that more and more businesses want to avail the benefit of the latest technology called mobile business apps. The fashion industry has

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Business

#1 Marketing Strategy: Your Marketing Message Your marketing message is what forms the background of all your marketing strategies and communications. If your marketing message is weak, unclear or poorly crafted, then it doesn't matter what specific marketing tactics you use...your prospects and customers won't take notice.

The goal is to have a well-written, targeted marketing message that resonates with your target market. You want them to see or hear your marketing message and get an instant reaction of "Hey, that's for me". You want them to go to your website, give you a call, send you an email, ask someone about you - you want them to find out more about you and the solutions you offer.

Prospects and customers who are exposed to your marketing mesIn other words, a great marketing sage (via your website, elevator message means you'll have more speech, business card, brochure, and more qualified prospects special report, sales letter, dicontacting you, generate more rect mail, etc.) should have anand more business, and make you swers for the following questions: happier and happier!

1. Is this product or service for So what exactly is your marketme? ing message?

Your marketing message is more 2. Why do I need this service or than a USP (Unique Selling Posi- product? tion), or value proposition, or your tagline or brand. It is a com- 3. What will I get from this plete message that describes product or service? what you do, who you do it with, what problems you solve and what solutions you offer.

4. How will this service or product change how I'm feeling right You want your marketing mesnow? sage to grab your prospect's attention, show them how you can 5. Does this product or service solve their problem, why they really work? should trust you and why it's in their best interest to do business In order to ensure that your marwith you. keting message is the best it can Your marketing message should be, and answers the above ques"speak" to your prospects and cli- tions for your prospects and cusents by appealing to their "hot tomers, you need to do some buttons". The problem or issue homework. that triggers emotional reactions In order to craft a successful that keep them up at night, try- marketing message, you have to ing to come up with some soluunderstand your target or niche tions. group, the problems they have and their motivations to buy. You

How are you different from your competitors?

Creating a dynamic and effective marketing message is key to your business's success. If you don't take the time to do this important marketing step, then you'll most likely end up sitting in an empty store or office , or in front of an empty email inbox and wondering why your marketing isn't pulling in any customers.

For more information about creating a customize marketing strategy for your business contact Urban Trendsetters Media at 614-526UTS1 (5887) or email us at ust.ads@gmail.com visit our website at

also need to know what sets you www.urbantrendsetters.com apart from your competitors and what solutions your products and services provide.

So your marketing message actually encompasses several different aspects: 1) Target market - who is your message and marketing communications directed to?

What is the personality of your potential audience?

2) Problem - what is the issue or concern that frustrates your prospects and clients? What's not working for them or could work better?

3) Solution - what solution can you provide to alleviate your target market's problem? What will your customers experience from working with you/buying your product?

4) Benefits - what are all the ways that your product or service helps your client? What are the actual results?

5) Uniqueness - what is unique about your company's offerings that make a difference to your potential and current clients?

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Business Advertising Your Home Business The Inexpensive Way 1) Business Cards Go down to your local office supply store and invest a few dollars in some blank business cards. Return home, fire up your computer, open Microsoft Paint and create your first advertising tool. Include your home business name, your website Have you heard the expression: "You address and your contact inforhave to spend money to make mon- mation. Design a catchy logo for ey!"? Anyone who has ever owned a your card. Give them out to everybusiness knows that this saying is one you know. Encourage your true. If you are going to create a friends and relatives to pass them work from home venture, you will out as well. Attach one to all of your confront this concept while you are correspondence. Be creative and developing your strategy for home consider other possibilities for circubusiness success. Advertising will be lating your business cards. one of the major financial challeng2) Bumper Stickers es that you will encounter.

Go down to your local print store Marketing is the most important in- and get an estimate for designing vestment that you will experience and printing bumper stickers. They on the road to prosperity for your are relatively inexpensive. If the home based business. You will be cost is too high, create your own devoting your time, your effort and through Microsoft Paint or, if you your capital to creating a successful can afford it, invest in a good softadvertising campaign. There will be ware program for developing expenses because your potential graphics and text. Include your work customers will not find you unless from home business name and webyou advertise. If your marketing site address. After you're done, find budget is small you need to discover a printer who will produce your inexpensive methods for attracting stickers at a cost you can afford people to your home business. Is (any friends or family who know there any way that you can adversomeone?). When you have your tise without getting a second mort- bumper stickers in hand pass them gage on your home? out to everyone. Put the first one on your own car.

Yes! There are a variety of methods for introducing your home business 3) T-Shirts to potential customers without hav- Create a T-shirt that has your home ing to spend a large amount of mon- business name and your website adey. These ideas can be implemented dress. If you cannot afford to have it at a small cost if you tackle them done, develop your own design, one at a time. Depending on your print it out on your computer, buy a time and budget, pick the best one T-shirt and iron it on. If you have that will work for you and go with the extra money, create a few for it. Be creative and see if you can family and friends. Wear your Tcome up with other ideas. shirt everywhere, particularly where Business Cards you might find your target audience.

Bumper Stickers 4) Free Newspaper Ads T-Shirts Think about the free publications Free Newspaper Ads (Nickel Ads, IGA Shopper etc.) that Flyers you find at your local supermarkets, Word Of Mouth convenience stores or fast food restaurants. Get about three of these

newspapers and take them home.

Sit down and create an advertisement that describes your home business, gives your website address and mentions your contact information.

Thumb through these periodicals and look for a section or heading about placing an ad and follow their directions.

5) Flyers Turn on your computer and go into Microsoft Works (or your graphics and text software). Using their templates, create a flyer that has all the essential information about your work from home business. Print out as many as you need and start distributing them. Disperse them in your neighborhood, retail establishments, grocery stores, restaurants, local colleges or anywhere else that you can (legally) advertise your home based business.

"Nothing can be done except little by little."

For more information about advertising for your home-based business contact Urban Trendsetters Media at 614526-UTS1 (5887) or email us at ust.ads@gmail.com visit our website at www.urbantrendsetters.com

6) Word Of Mouth The most powerful (and least expensive) form of advertising is word of mouth. This idea can be better developed after you get the ball rolling for your home business but, it will be the best and cheapest way to market your work from home venture. Once your reputation is established for providing excellent customer service your buyers will spread the good news to friends and family. Provide first rate service to your clients and your free publicity will develop.

Making money online requires a commitment of time, effort and capital for your work from home venture to be successful. You will need to invest your money on advertising for your home business. If your budget is small, these ideas will help elevate your presence for a modest amount. Focus on one or two concepts that will fit into your time, expenses and comfort zone or develop other ideas. The success of your online home enterprise is directly related to the effort that you deliver and the patience that you exhibit. On a small budget, the results may take longer but they will come.

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BUSINESS a lot of free web space providers on the Internet!

2. You could advertise through other people's websites. And you could do this in a lot of ways too! You could create a banner that would summarize your business' offers and have it displayed on existing pages. Or if you have your won website for your business, you could use the said banner to link to your pages, or you could even settle for simple links. Additionally, you could have other webmasters about your venture and they could talk about it in their own websites.

What a wonderful invention it is, this thing we call the rave 3. You could create your own affiliate program. By giving commissions as incentive, you could invite a lot of Internet users to become your affiliates. Each affiliInternet! ate would work to help you make a sale. It's like having a battalion of sales representatives that you'd only have to pay if they manage to refer a willing customIf you would just take your time to know your way around, you could discover a er! lot of premium products and services being offered for free. What's best is that 4. You could try viral marketing. Viral marketing is the online equivalent of word there is a seemingly endless number of these wonderful finds, what with the Ino mouth advertising. By giving away something for free, for as long as that someternet being a vast network of constantly evolving ideas and all! thing has a link or a simple reference to your business, you're encouraging the recipient to spread the word about your business to the people he knows. This Among these magnificent benefits is the chance to be able to promote your busi- would result in the exponential expansion of your business message like wildfire. ness, any business, online, free of charge! It doesn't matter if your enterprise is a 5. You could advertise in online communities. Forums and mailing lists are popupurely online or offline venture, the World Wide Web is home to a great number lar venues that could likewise convey your business message. Membership to of marketing opportunities that you could avail of, with no damage to your busithese groups is usually free. Additionally, you could also create your own mailing ness' budget whatsoever. list and start capturing leads for future sales by doing some helpful follow-ups.

The Internet is a great place for promoting your business. There are five million Advertising can be a big problem otherwise. A lot of companies reserve a big people online at any given time and the world is, quite literally, your market. It chunk of their budgets to cover marketing expenditures. Sometimes, these gam- would be best for your business to capitalize on this wonderful opportunity and bles pay off, but there are occasions when they fail miserably, putting to waste expand your audience a thousand fold bigger! some good money that could have been used in other areas of development for And you wouldn't even have to spend a penny while you're at it. the business involved.

But with the many channels available online, marketing has become a less risky course of action. There so many avenues available online where you could advertise your business for free and attain more exposure for your products or services. Here are some of them.

Free Online Advertising Channels For Your Business

1. You could advertise through your own website. Ordinarily, you should pay a nominal fee for web hosting and your domain name. A paid web hosting service is more reliable. Your own domain name would impress upon your visitors an immediate sense of professionalism. But if you don't want to spend for them, there are

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BEAUTY AND STYLE TRENDS GUIDE

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CROSSING CULTURES TRAVEL AND TOURS Vision Statement Crossing Cultures Travel and Tours’ vision is to be the most creative gateway to the African Diaspora for all.

Mission Statement To celebrate the African Diaspora, to grow eco-tourism and to ensure comfortable travel though regular end-to-end service for all.

Commitment Statement Crossing Cultures Travel and Tours commits to share our knowledge freely while respecting your specific desires and to do so in a manner that encourages a long-term commitment from both parties. All of our services meet the highest standards of professionalism and are delivered in a personable manner at all times

Julialynne Walker Owner 614.214.6277 crossingculturestt@gmail.com www.ytbtravel.com/crossingcultures Twitter: #CCTTJW 18

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URBAN TRENDSETTERS BUSINESS DIRECTORY “Let Us Put Your Business in the Streets”

UTS Online Classifieds The Urban Trendsetters allow our customers the opportunity to submit their classified ads and pay online. You may add photos, videos and links to your classified ads. You may also choose to upload current display ad.

As with our coupons our classified ads are available in print, online, via e-blast in our weekly top classified blast as well as front page top classified listing feature on our website. Sell Your Items HERE! REGISTER YOUR BUSINESS IN OUR ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY FREE AT WWW.URBANTRENDSETTERS.COM /UTS BIZ LIST 20