Susan-Says

Pain Pinches Small Business Profits as Healthcare and Productivity Costs Increase

2008-10-04T03:02:00Z

Feeling good and easily managing everyday activities is something many of us take for granted. But when something happens that makes simple tasks tough to accomplish, you clearly understand how much you’ve lost. Millions of American’s who suffer from chronic pain experience that loss. Living with chronic pain seriously impacts your quality of life, yet many endure their agony in silence. There are myriad health problems that result in chronic pain including injuries, cancer, various types of arthritis as well as other illnesses and diseases. Yet, as advanced as our health care system is today, many chronic pain patients don’t get the help they need. As a result, they drop out of the workforce, isolate themselves from family and friends, experience depression and typically experience other medical problems.I’m keynoting at a luncheon in Minneapolis for the American Pain Foundation. I am the organization’s national spokesperson. Why me? Because I am a chronic pain sufferer. I have Fibromyalgia and the saga of my journey to get the proper diagnosis and treatment spans decades. You’d laugh if you heard all the medical diagnosis and remedies that were suggested. The Mayo Clinic was my savior in terms of providing a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. I’m passionate about helping raise awareness about chronic pain conditions and helping everyone get the support and treatment they deserve. From a small business perspective, this is important because chronic pain accounts for more than 80 percent of all physician visits costing our country about $70 billion a year in medical and disability claims. Of course, that doesn’t take into account the loss of productivity or increased absenteeism due to pain. If you or someone you know suffers from chronic pain, I invite you to visit the National Pain Foundation web site. You’ll find information, resources and support. Plus, SBTV.com has a library of content relating to dealing with pain in the workplace including information on simple work accommodations that can help talented employees remain productive in the workforce. Finally, if you have additional information, questions or resources, please share them. Let’s work together to increase the quality of life for chronic pain patients.

Build Buzz for Your Business: Leverage the November Election.

2008-10-02T16:28:00Z

Tonight is the vice-presidential debate between Governor Sarah Palin and Senator Joe Biden at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Entrepreneurial students are using the event to “cash-in” on the debate and promote their school. To accomplish that, they are selling pink elephant and blue donkey cookies to measure the support for each candidate. Not only are they making money, but they are generating national press coverage. Baskin-Robins ice cream is also churning a political promotion. It’s asking consumers to vote for their favorite Presidential candidates by selecting between two flavors dedicated to Republican Senator John McCain and his Democratic rival, Senator Barack Obama. The ice cream representing McCain is called “Straight Talk Crunch” which is a white chocolate ice cream, caramel ribbon with chocolate pieces, crunchy mixed nuts and candy red states mixed in! The ice-cream chosen to represent Obama is “Whirl of Change” a flavor of peanut-nougat ice cream swirled with hunks of chocolate-covered peanut brittle and complimented by a caramel ribbon. Is there a way your business can build a promotion about the upcoming November elections? Perhaps, you could run a special promotion on your web site with two options relating to each candidate. Don’t forget your home-town candidates too. If there is a hot race is your community, you might generate interest by focusing on it. Be creative. It’s a great way to build buzz. This election has everyone talking. Why not make sure they’re talking about your business too.

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2008-09-25T21:55:00Z

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Women of Achievement Deserve a Permanent Place of Recognition. Support the National Women’s History Museum.

2008-09-12T01:33:00Z

September is Women of Achievement Month, a national observation recognizing the accomplishments of women from all walks of life. I've been fortunate in my career to have met many outstanding, courageous women who are inspirations and role models not only for me, but for all of us.

My mother was one of those women of achievement who took risks and refused to follow the limited roles granted to women at the time. She became an entrepreneur in the 1940s – probably before anyone ever used the word entrepreneur and certainly before many women ever thought about launching their own businesses. But contrary to what you might think, she wasn't alone.

The United States was built on the foundation of small business, and many of those firms were owned and/or operated by women. Baker Library at Harvard University owns a collection of accounts of female-owned businesses from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. These papers document women-owned taverns, general stores, millinery shops, schools, farms, cider mills and saw mills.

An effort is underway to officially and permanently recognize these industrious women who worked hard to make America a great nation and to create opportunities for the next generation of young women. Currently, the stories of these amazing women are only showcased through temporary traveling exhibits and other special events. But there is legislation before Congress to designate a permanent museum in Washington DC to pay tribute to the women who have contributed in diverse ways to the success of our country. The measure introduced in the U. S. House of Representatives, (H.R. 6548), would allow land adjacent to the National Mall in Washington be purchased as a permanent home for a National Women's History Museum.

The plans for the proposed museum represent one of the first green museums in the nation's capital. The design of the building will include many sustainable features and energy efficient and eco-friendly approaches to reduce operating costs and the impact on the National Mall.

Lawmakers must act before this session is over, or lose an opportunity to support women's many diverse contributions to the success of our country and to the creation of greater opportunities for all women.

To ensure the creation of the women's history museum, you must act quickly. The legislation must be passed before the end of this year's Congressional session.

To learn some easy ways to put your support behind the campaign and make your voice heard on Capitol Hill, click here to learn more about the Right Here Right Now campaign.

My mom deserves this and so do many other moms, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, daughters and girlfriends. Don't let this opportunity go by. Act now.

New Program Helps Women Business Owners Gain Access to Federal Contracts

2008-09-11T18:11:00Z

The federal government spends billions and billions of dollars every year on purchases ranging from toilet paper, conference tables and training to Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle units. I have no idea what that last thing is, but Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. was recently awarded a $32,903,698 contract for that equipment by the Department of Defense.

My point is the United States Government is the world's largest purchaser of goods and services spending more than $400 billion annually. Out of that huge procurement pie, women business owners barely get a few crumbs. Despite legislation passed in 2000 stipulating that all Federal agencies meet a five percent contracting goal for women-owned small businesses, women receive less than four percent of Federal procurement dollars.

In an effort to remedy this situation for the more than 10 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., WIPP – Women Impacting Public Policy – is providing a new program called "Give Me Five, 5%: Education and Access for Women in Federal Contracts." A critical first step to increase the Federal procurement dollars for women-owned companies is to make sure their businesses are registered in the Central Contracting Registration (CCR) database. Currently, only 14 percent of the nearly 450,000 businesses registered are owned by women.

The CCR process can appear intimidating and time-consuming. When I asked a few women business owners why they weren't registered, they explained they started the process, but got confused and gave up. In reality, the process is really fairly simple and quick. The Give Me Five program through WIPP is designed to help women business owners get registered on the CCR so they can gain eligibility to apply for Federal contracts. It took WIPP member, Mary Schnack, owner of Up From the Dust, only 10 minutes to complete her registration.

The "Give Me Five" program is sponsored by OPEN from American Express. For more information, email MMARKOFF@WIPP.org or visit the WIPP web site. Don't miss this opportunity to get a piece of the procurement pie for your company.

Ducks and Quacks Build Business Brands.

2008-09-08T11:35:00Z

Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund, knows a lot about runways and red carpets, but she wasn't the main attraction during a recent appearance at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Crowds of people gathered in the hotel's lobby, but not to catch a glimpse of the 19 year-old beauty queen. Instead they gathered eagerly awaiting the parade of the hotel's internationally acclaimed stars. Twice a day ( 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.), the famous Peabody ducks waddle down the red carpet to the tune of John Philip Sousa's King Cotton March. In the mornings, the regal group exits the elevator and heads toward the hotel lobby's grand fountain. In the evening, they return to an awaiting elevator which for nearly 75 years has taken these famous guests to their penthouse suite known as the Duck Palace.

This now popular tourist attraction started as a prank and became the hotel's prime promotion and signature branding. The Peabody Ducks are inseparable from the Peabody Hotel itself. They are featured in the hotel's logo, marketing materials and even the soap in the bathroom is shaped like a duck. A visit to the hotel's gift shop nearly overwhelmed me with available duck merchandise. I don't think I've ever seen so many ducks, but what great branding strategy.

Ducks seem to be working well for other promotional pitches. "Aflaaaac" Of course, I'm talking about insurer AFLAC and that annoying, vocal, white duck featured in its television commercials. Not be left out of these branding bonanzas, even the little gecko is getting in the game. Just like the AFLAC duck, the Geico Gecko stars in its own commercials helping the company stand out from its competitors.

So what does this mean to your business? These are all classic examples of how unique and creative branding strategies can create memorable brands. Something out of the ordinary – not the same old promotional pitches. I'm not suggesting you run and purchase ducks or any one animal mascot to enhance your brand. Every business has the opportunity to create powerful business promotions. You are only limited by your own imagination. What can you do to draw attention to your company? Get people talking about your red carpet ducks or walking, talking gecko and watch your business grow.

You are invited to a Great Party with Smart People, Great Food, and Plenty to Talk About!

2008-09-03T22:17:00Z

Most ten year olds don't get a huge birthday celebration, but the stunning success of a business changing the way the world accesses information is not going unnoticed. You see, this ten year old is Google, the most widely used search engine.

Google opened its doors in September 1998. The exact date is the focus of a debate. Even the folks at Google admit the founding date has moved around over the years, depending on when people feel like having cake. I feel like I've had a seat at the party. I've been talking about the best way to use Google and the many things it can do for a small business for years. From network television news shows to community business networking meetings, I've been sharing tips on how to use Google in small business and in personal and social matters for many of those ten years.

Google is helping many entrepreneurs compete with their larger counterparts in a number of ways. In fact, numbers play a role in the search engine's name. 'Google' is a play on the word 'googol,' coined by Milton Sirotta, nephew of American mathematician Edward Kasner. A 'googol' refers to the number represented by the number one followed by 100 zeros. It's a very large number. In fact, there isn't a googol of anything in the universe -- not stars, not dust particles, not atoms. Google's use of the term reflects the company's mission to organize the world's immense information and make it universally accessible and useful.

A firm dedicated to connecting and sharing information didn't have a particularly warm and fuzzy start. In fact, according to Google lore, company founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin were not terribly fond of each other when they first met as Stanford University graduate students in computer science. It seems the founders argued about every topic they discussed. Their strong opinions and divergent viewpoints would eventually find common ground in a unique approach to solving one of computing's biggest challenges: retrieving relevant information from a massive set of data.

The buzz about Google's search technology, remarkable success and the flexibility it offers users is enhanced by the way the firm treats employees. Google runs a fleet of luxury buses complete with plush seats and wireless Web access so employees don't have to commute. For those who want to drive, there is free parking and a lot of other perks. All eight thousand employees at Google's Silicon Valley headquarters can eat for free in any one of nineteen gourmet restaurants serving a variety of foods around the clock. There is also a free gym, laundry to wash clothes with eco-gentle detergent provided, a work-out pool, subsidized massages and even private areas to take a nap! Google offers subsidized day care facilities on site for working parents, an on-site doctor's office, pharmacy and a number of other perks designed to keep employees communicating, innovating, and creating.

I think there is a lesson about creating an atmosphere where creative people can talk and giving them power to do what they know best. The search engine giant concentrates on hiring the best people and allowing them to put their expertise and experience to work. Who doesn't love a great party with smart people, great food, and plenty to talk about? I think Google's tenth birthday party has it all!

The Hair Biz Stands up Despite a Down Economy

2008-08-27T15:22:00Z

One of the fun things about doing guest television appearances for the networks is getting your hair and make-up done by professionals. Most of the stylists are solo entrepreneurs so in addition to picking up tricks of the trade from them, I also like to ask: "How's business?" Does the beauty business hold its own in a sluggish economy? Most say, "So far so good." The reason they say, is because typically their customers aren't living paycheck to paycheck so they aren't likely to skimp on personal care services.

To further my research from the network make-up chair, I asked my friend Pete, who owns several salons and has been in the industry for more than 35 years. He concurred with my findings. However, he noted that some customers may stretch the time in between salon visits a little longer when times are tight. For example, if you regularly book salon appointments every four weeks, you might decide to go every five weeks instead.

My informal research reflects the national data on the salon-industry's vitality. There are some 75,000 beauty salons in the expanding beauty business – a $16 billion industry. When you add an additional 5,000 men's hair salons and barber shops to the picture; hair care and personal services equals a lot of small business jobs!

A U.S. Department of Labor projection shows that between 2002 and 2012, the salon industry is expected to add 111,090 jobs. By 2012, the industry will include 865,000 workers, a 14.7 percent increase over 10 years. In addition to these numbers, many cosmetologists and stylists choose to be independent contractors renting space from salon owners and managing their own business needs.

So at the end of the day, it seems the salon business weathers an economic downturn fairly well. Personally, I think I'd give up a lot of things before I'd let anyone see the gray hairs sneaking through. How about you?

A Perfect Match: Two Tennis Loving Moms Team Up To Turn Passion into Cash.

2008-08-20T22:41:00Z

You may not see this year's tennis Olympians wearing a new product invented by two tennis loving moms, but just wait.

Recently, I met two amazing women entrepreneurs whose new product launch has the power of a Venus Williams serve. Ernabel Demill and Meredith Kasun, co-founders of Bodystyle Athletics™, were selected for the Elevator Pitch segment on MSNBC's "Your Business". As luck would have it, Benjamin Nemo, CEO of Scorpio Ventures and I were the two panelists. Now, I'm not a tennis player. In fact, I've never been good at or interested in anything sports related, but their product, the TennisRAQ, blew me away. It's so simple it makes you ask: Why hasn't this been done before. Perhaps, that's the reason, after only six months in business; Ernable and Meredith are enjoying some success.

Before I tell you more, let me first explain the product. The TennisRAQ (pronounced tennis rack) is an accessory for tennis enthusiasts. It's a type of belt that fits around the waist, fastens in the front with a Velcro closure, and holds up to three tennis balls.

Ernabel and Meredith met at a tennis clinic where they became perfect partners. They'd been playing at the same level for about the same amount of time. And they are both passionate about tennis. Their personal lives were also on parallel tracks. Both were stay-at-home moms who were looking for their next career move because their children had reached school age. One day, they started talking about how they were tired of chasing after and picking up tennis balls because their tennis attire didn't have pockets. Of course, you can always place balls underneath a tennis skirt, but they're bulky and not very flattering. Plus, neither of them liked wearing skirts when the weather gets cooler. Some women, including Meredith, prefer pants year-round and because they don't have pockets, there is no place for your tennis balls.

Then it dawned on them: How about a belt that holds the tennis balls for you. So they went to work. Drawing upon Meredith's background in fashion, the duo put their heads together and created a functional tennis belt they named the Tennis RAQ.

Next they took the necessary steps to protect their invention and set up their business as a Limited Liability Company. With the newly manufactured products in hand, they headed to the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California where they set up a booth and created a buzz at the event. (First picture to the left.) Since then they've sponsored other tennis events, successfully obtained positive media coverage and secured placement in a number of posh tennis stores. Check out their Facebook page. It's difficult to launch a new product, even if you're already an established business because start-up costs can be expensive. Then once you've got the product produced, you need additional funds for marketing and distribution. That's why Ernabel and Meredith were pitching on "Your Business" – they need seed capital to help them promote and sell their product. During her pitch (Meredith modeled), Ernabel said, "There are 25 million amateur tennis players in the U.S. Even if only 10 percent find the TennisRAQ a "must-have" tennis accessory, then we'll be a successful business."

You can find pictures of the TennisRAQ on the Bodystyle Athletics web site.

If you have a great idea and you'd like to more about launching a new product, or if you have thoughts, ideas or questions feel free to contact me. (SWS@sbtv.com) Enjoy this great quote I found on the Bodysytle Athletics web site:

In tennis, one can learn a good lesson for life:
The person who serves the best, quite often,
is the winner.

Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama May Be Texting You This Weekend

2008-08-20T19:13:00Z

The Olympics are drawing to a close and now the Presidential conventions are up next. In fact, the Democratic National Convention is coming up next week, August 25-27, in Denver, Colorado. But many of the party faithful won't have to wait that long. They'll be linked by technology long before the first speaker takes to the podium. Barack Obama has indicated he will announce his vice presidential pick by sending a text message. Rrumors on the street indicate that the running mate decision could be made public over the weekend and the first announcement will be made by texting..Text is becoming a preferred method of communication. One in four mobile phone users who have received text ads has responded at least one time, according to research from the Direct Marketing Association. I know I would be lost without my smart phone that handles not just calls, but also text messaging, fax, and my e-mails and blogs when I am traveling.

I have been sending out daily success tips to entrepreneurs, small business owners, the self-employed, and those who dream of owning their own business. It is one way technology is helping me reach more small business owners during their busy days with tips to help them grow their enterprises. Have you signed up for this free daily boost of business wisdom? There are no charges other than the fees you may incur when you receive a text message. I am working with a mobile marketing company, MESSAGEbuzz that specializes in interactive SMS campaigns for organizations of all sizes. MESSAGEbuzz works with all carriers and types of phones enabled to receive text messages so it is easy to sign up. These daily text tips are useful tools and resources. Click here to sign up for the text tips or Text 35350 with BIZ in the message line. I hope you will become a part of my campaign to expand the positive reach and impact of the nation’s small businesses! We are a mighty force and have a powerful message to tell!

To learn more about the upcoming November election and the small business platform visit SBTV.com’s 2008 Election Coverage- Your Business + Your Choice = Your Future

My Encounter With a Woman Who Changed History: Dr. Sarah Weddington.

2008-08-14T13:01:00Z

Hundreds of women business owners turned out for the Women's Leadership Exchange Summit in Long Beach, California. It was a day filled with amazing keynote speakers, training seminars and of course, lots of networking. I'm always impressed with the quality of the WLE conferences produced by founders Leslie Grossman and Andrea March. Since 2003, this dynamic duo has spearheaded 33 conferences focused on their mission of providing women in business with the knowledge, tools and connections they need to propel their businesses and careers forward. Their success is no surprise given the fact both Andrea and Leslie have been wildly successful entrepreneurs themselves so they bring a lot of their wisdom to these events as well.

The highlight of my day was meeting and spending time with the event's keynote speaker, Dr. Sarah Weddington. In case you don't know who she is, Dr. Weddington argued the Roe v. Wade case before the Supreme Court. She is believed to be the youngest person ever to win a case in the highest court in the land. But she almost didn't do it. A male attorney with a New York firm offered to help her prepare the brief and so she accepted his assistance. As it turned out, he did nothing, but he did have experience arguing before the Supreme Court so she thought maybe he should argue the case instead of her. Then she learned, unbeknownst to her, he had already written a letter to the court stating he would be the attorney arguing the case. Well, his arrogant, presumptuous attempt to take over got the Texas minister's daughter riled up. Because it's up to the client to make the decision of who argues the case, she called and confirmed they wanted her to do it. So she did. And as they say, the rest is history.

Dr. Weddington is warm, generous, candid and approachable. If you met her and didn't know who she was, you'd never guess she's been a trailblazer and a passionate advocate for women for decades. During her career, she has been an attorney, legislator, Presidential advisor, professor and expert called upon by the national media and institutions of higher learning. Currently, she is an adjunct professor at the University of Texas in Austin, where she is shaping a new generation of leaders through her classes "Gender-Based Discrimination" and "Leadership in America." She's also the author of "A Question of Choice" which chronicles the Roe v. Wade case.

What an absolutely incredible woman, and I'm thrilled to have met her. You can learn more about her work through the Weddington Center.

If you're interested in attending one of the Women's Leadership Conferences, the next one is coming up on October 21 in Boston. At that event, Helen Grenier, Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of iRobot, will be the keynote. There's more information on SBTV.com's events calendar. It's worth the investment of your time and money. You'll not only learn a lot to help you grow your business, but you'll also make great business connections, too.

Exercise at Work? 63% of Small Business Owners and Employees Would Exercise Together.

2008-08-02T21:32:00Z

Just about everyone I know wouldn't mind shedding a few pounds. But staying fit may be as important to your business as it is to your waistline. Believe it or not, according to the Physician and Sports Medicine Journal, it costs about $330 per year in direct medical expenses for each inactive employee on your team -- including you. That's just about a dollar a day.

By the way, that doesn't include indirect medical costs such as workers' compensation claims or the loss of productivity when you or an employee is technically at work, but less focused because of an illness or injury. Want to check out how well your business is doing. There's a resource available called the Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator. The calculator uses the latest research available that includes medical costs, workers' productivity and workers' compensation fields. See how your business compares.

Armed with this information, and realizing small businesses are time and resource constrained, I wondered if business owners and their employees would be willing to exercise together.

So we ran a poll on SBTV.com's homepage asking the question: Would you feel comfortable working out with your co-workers? Sixty three percent of 617 respondents said yes. Thirty-two percent said no and three percent aren't 'interested in exercise at all.

What do you think? Any good suggestions for incorporating a wellness or exercise program into your small business?

I bought a treadmill on eBay for my office early this year. I thought I could walk on it several times a day for 10 or 15 minutes just to relieve a little stress. So far, I've been on it a total of four times. Not a very impressive track record.

I am interested in hearing your thoughts. Also, currently on SBTV.com's homepage you'll find a poll asking whether your business has a wellness program. Let us know.

Everybody’s Buzzing About Bartering. I’ve Been Talking About it For Years.

2008-07-31T21:26:00Z

Bartering is big business these days. Everybody's buzzing about it. The New York Times did a story. Good Morning America had a special segment on it. I've also done several television appearances explaining how bartering works and how it can help you manage your cash flow. Click here to see one of the more recent programs on Fox 2, KTVI.

It makes sense that bartering would increase in popularity during an economic downturn. Small businesses everywhere are feeling the impact of the slow economy. But I've been talking about the benefits of bartering for small businesses for years. Why? First, because I understand how strapped small businesses are when they are getting started and barter arrangements can be an excellent way of getting goods and services without shelling out money or going into debt.

But also, when I was growing up, I saw people barter with my family's business (a funeral home) to pay for our services. We got everything from a side of beef, to carpentry work, to a pick-up truck. Yes, the 1971 Ford pick-up – three on the column, no power-steering, no radio, no add-ons at all – now sits in my garage. I keep it because it's the car I learned to drive with and it holds a lot of fun teenage memories.

The barter system has been flourishing in this country for centuries, but it has seen an uplift in activity since about 1982. It's currently one of the fastest-growing economic segments. Last year, approximately $18 billion dollars in goods and services were bartered. The International Reciprocal Trade Association estimates about two-thirds of the companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange do more than $14 billion in barter annually. It clearly is big business.

Bartering can take place informally, much like what occurred in my family's business. However, there are more structured ways to barter for goods and services through barter clubs or exchanges. These organizations allow individuals and companies to exchange goods and services for barter credits that can be cashed in for a particular item or service. For example, a dentist does work for a lawyer, both of whom are members of the same exchange club. The dentist earns barter credits which are deposited in his/her account for doing the work. The dentist can then use those credits to purchase new office equipment or advertising space in a magazine. Some barter exchanges have brick and mortar stores where members can shop for the items they wish to purchase with their barter credits.

Bartering has also exploded on the Internet. There are quite a few online sites for bartering deals only. One of the most popular sites is SwapTree. SwapTree operates much like eBay except of course no money is involved. Here is the site's description: Swaptree is a new and innovative way for people to easily trade the books, cds, dvds and video games they are finished with, for the ones they want, all for free. With swaptree, your collections stop gathering dust and can be used to acquire other items you want. By offering to trade a single item, you can choose from thousands of books, dvds, cds, and video games that you can receive in exchange. Best part: everything is free, you only pay shipping.

Another popular site is Tradeaway. According to information on its site, Tradeaway provides the means for a business/person to acquire goods or services through a medium where cash is not a requirement for a transaction to take place. Now, items such as raw land and luxury condominiums can quickly trade hands through the patent pending innovations of Tradeaway. Believe it or not, you can even find livestock on the site.

So the next time you're worried about how you can get that new printer or find someone to design your new logo, look for barter opportunities. Personally, I'm searching for a shoe store who wants to trade shoes for advertising on SBTV.com. Okay – my male partners probably won't like that idea too much. But who knows, they might look cute in stilettos.

I Have The Most Incredible Business Idea!

2008-07-24T18:43:00Z

Recently I had an appointment to have a dental check-up and my teeth cleaned. I know you are supposed to do that every six months or so, but I think it had been a year or more since I'd been to see the dentist. Sure I've been busy – at least that's the excuse I used. But let's face it who really "likes" going to the dentist.

Nothing against my dentist by the way: He's a great guy. I've been going to him since 1986. He always takes time to ask about what I've been up to and we often wind up talking about all sorts of business issues. In addition to his dental practice, he's also an entrepreneur with several interesting businesses. And like most of us entrepreneurs, he typically has more ideas percolating in his head.

Okay so back to the dentist visit and my incredible business idea. As I was in the process of having my teeth cleaned, I thought, "Why doesn't a dentist offer pedicures and/or foot massages to his patients. Think about it. Wouldn't it be a much more pleasant experience if while you were sitting there with your mouth pried open, your feet were being pampered with reflexology. It might get patients in the office on a more regular basis.

My assistant once worked as a massage therapist for a spa that partnered with an auto detailing company. Drop your car off for detailing and get a massage, facial or mani/pedi while you wait. Sure beats sitting in a beat-up waiting area reading last year's Time magazine.

Think about those long hours waiting in the doctor's office. A chair massage could be an inspired way to calm anxious and frustrated patients. Of course, most doctors don't value our time so this one is probably out of the question.

Okay airline executives – listen up. You want to off-set rising fuel costs? Offer services on the flight that we can purchase. For example, how about having someone who could shine shoes? Hand or foot massage anyone? Foreign language lessons? I could go on and on with these value-added propositions. What do you think?

Seven Free Tips to Help You Market Your Business.

2008-07-18T21:26:00Z

A lot of entrepreneurs panic over how they are going to market their business. That’s because they don’t understand true marketing involves every aspect of your business including you. There's no better salesperson for your product or service than you.

Spread the Word. Start-up companies rarely have budgets for formal marketing programs; therefore, it’s up to you to get the word out. Start networking right away so you can spread the word about your business. Join local business groups and get involved. Remember, people like doing business with people they know and feel they can trust.

Give it Away. Many small businesses build customers by giving their product or service away. Margaret McIntyre, the CEO and Founder of Candy Bouquet, International, grew her company by giving away candy bouquets to area businesses. Once people had seen and experienced her innovative and tasty alternative to traditional flower bouquets, the phone started ringing and the orders began rolling in. If you are in a service business such as public relations, consider taking on a pro bono project for a community organization, charity, church or school so that other business owners can see how well you perform.

Names and Taglines. Unless you have tons of money to build brand recognition, you should make sure the name of your company is easy to pronounce and says something about what it is you do. One of my favorite examples is the home-moving franchise company “Two Men and a Truck.” It’s simple, easy to remember and it’s clear what they do. Clever taglines can also be useful in describing your business and can help potential customers remember you easily.

Be Consistent. Communicate the same marketing messages and branding consistently throughout your organization. Potential customers need to connect with your marketing messages numerous times before they start to notice you. If you are constantly making changes, it’s going to take longer for people to hear you. Even small things can make a big difference. Before I had a dog, I drove by a billboard advertising a pet grooming company called “The Barking Lot.” The phone number was XXX-XXX-BARK. Months later when I got my first dog, I remembered the number and called for an appointment.

Create a Web site. There is no excuse for not creating a professional looking web site for your business. There are many resources that provide design templates that are simple to use, even for the technology-challenged. For example, Microsoft has a free service called Microsoft Office Live Small Business which makes it easy to create a professional-looking web site for business. The service provides free web hosting, a customer domain name, email accounts and e-commerce capabilities.

Speak Whenever Possible. Don’t shy away from opportunities to speak to small business groups, trade associations or other professional organizations. This is a great way to establish credibility for you and your business. If you are uncomfortable speaking before a group, consider getting a presentation coach or joining an organization such as “Toastmasters.”

Go to Lunch. Finally, make sure you do at least one thing every single day to promote your business. Have lunch with a business acquaintance and let them know what type of person or business would make a good customer for you and then ask for introductions. Visit other businesses in your area and introduce yourself and your business. Add comments to blogs or join online social networking communities. Whatever you choose, don’t end the day without knowing you’ve done something to bring new business in the door.