This week marked the beginning of the 3rd annual StartUpNation Leading Moms in Biz Competition.  Yes, I do realize that you are on the StartUpNation site, but I really want to call your attention to this unique opportunity.

First of all, huge thanks to StartUpNation for holding this competition.  It is an extraordinary feeling for moms in business to be recognized for the momentous effort behind running a business and growing a family at the same time.  For someone who manages a family and business along with spending a good part of my days helping moms realize their potential, I am so proud of ALL moms in business.

Secondly, there is the obvious amazing amount of publicity and attention that Leading Moms in Business can achieve through participating in the contest.  This goes without being said, but there is no price tag that anyone can put on this.  With tight budgets, P.R. is something that moms in business are often left to do by themselves (and it is not easy).

Finally, the MAIN reason why I am so excited by the Leading Moms in Business contest is something a bit deeper.  As moms in small start-up businesses, I find it essential that we SUPPORT one another.  What a better way to increase your mom network than participating in this contest.  There are so many awesome mom-run businesses out there, and if you are one of them — YOU should enter this contest.  Once you enter, take a good look at all the other amazing businesses entered and connect.

When I need a birthday gift for a friend, a delicious dessert sent somewhere, legal services, organizational help, or just want to find a funky new product for myself, I look to moms in business.  Where better to start than the fabulous group that StartupNation honors.  By supporting one another, referring each other, and collaborating, it is truly a WIN-WIN for all moms.

The national publicity that goes along with this contest is absolutely the priceless, but making a commitment to support one another in this contest is the icing on the cake.

If you are on Pinterest, check out my Board of moms in biz (another fun way to show off mom business products and services).

For more of a view into moms in business and all the is involved in making it happen, visit me at http://backngroovemom.com

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5 Reasons to Use the Phone Instead of E-mail

1. You have a long message to share.

If you have a lot of information to share with someone, pick up the phone.

After all, it takes time to write a lengthy e-mail, and the recipient may not even read your entire message because it’s too long. By having a quick conversation via phone, you’ll be able to convey your message and get an immediate response.

2. You need to react to someone’s response quickly and accurately.

If you are trying to sell something, share an idea or get feedback, pick up the phone.

You’ll be able to hear how the other person responds to your information right away. Then, you can provide an appropriate response to get your point across.

3. You want to promote your company.

If you want to promote your business to the media, pick up the phone.

The only way to form long-lasting relationships with specific media-members is to get to know them, find out what they want and provide it. Plus, it’s much easier to share your passion and excitement about a story idea via the spoken word.

4. You need to discuss a touchy subject.

If you need to talk to someone about a sensitive work or personal matter, and cant’ meet with them in person, pick up the phone.

No one wants to find out they’ve been fired or dumped via e-mail! Show some courage and have mature discussions about touchy subjects via phone, not e-mail. By hearing what someone else has to say, and how they say it, you’ll have a better chance of solving problems, improving relationships and showing empathy.

5. You have business contacts that you’ve never talked to on the phone.

If you have business contacts you know only via e-mail, pick up the phone.

Being successful in business is about building relationships with the right people, communicating and doing well at providing a particular product or service. How can you network and give your target market what they want if you don’t communicate with your business associates in real-time?

Make the Effort.

Yes, many of you hate to talk on the phone and would much rather stay at your desk and type. (You know who you are, you SEO copywriters and techies out there!)

But if you make the effort to communicate with people via phone rather than e-mail, you’ll save time and effort. Plus, you’ll be able to give better responses to improve sales, media hits, relationships, and overall results for your business.

“Ring.” “Ring.” “Ring.” Is that your phone? Maybe you should answer it?

For help with your SEO copywriting and communications, please contact me below or at www.rembrandtwrites.com.

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If you’re like me, you’ve probably said this statement many times: “If I had only known then what I know now.” I understand that mistakes are part of the process, but do I have to make so many of them!?! Experience has made me a fast learner and now, more than ever, I pay attention to those who have gone ahead of me so I can learn from their mistakes and hopefully not make so many on my own. Maybe you do too.

To gain some more insight, I asked business owners who have been in business five years or more the same question, “If you would have known then what you know now, what would you have done differently and why?” Their answers were not only insightful, but inspiring and I think you will really appreciate what they had to say.

So here you go; 29 (plus one) insights from business owners like us on what they would have done differently had they known.

We would love to hear your answers too, please leave a comment and let us know, “What would you have done differently in your business if you would have known then what you know now.”

Enjoy!

1. Hire Slowly, Fire Quickly

Oh man, I wish I would have remembered this one every day when I woke up. There is little of greater importance than having the right people on your team(s) and when you find out an apple has gone bad or you have found a worm in a seemingly perfect apple, get rid of it ASAP! The old adage is often true, ’some dogs can’t hunt’.

Thanks to Ben Sayers, VoIP Supply, LLC.,VoIP phone systems, in business 8 years

2. Be More Open to ChangeTechnology and trends are constantly evolving: one day you are set in your Facebook ways and the next day Pinterest is the new phenomenon. Social media has changed the way we do business and how startups utilize it is integral to your success. However, if someone told me this during social media’s infancy, I would have called them crazy. I let all my years in business bias my first impression of social media and thought it was simply a fad. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Social media has changed the way we do business and has set the bar for the way we measure success. If companies are not willing to adapt, they will never become an industry leader or experience great successes.

Thanks to Jim Joyal,, SHIFT Communications, PR and social media agency, in business 9 years

3. Be the Boss Not the Buddy

Don’t be friends with employees. When you try to be too nice it makes it easy for others to take advantage of you, and that’s been true of about 80 percent of everyone I hired in the past. There was a time when I would give a job to almost anyone who asked, regardless if they were qualified or not, because back then I had the capital and I did not want to be the person who turned them down. Most of the money I lost when I started out was due to being overly tolerant of inefficient employees. It’s fine to be friendly with your staff, but you have to set boundaries and be willing to be a firm boss — whether you have three or 300 people working for you.

Thanks to Cathy Ward, BridesVillage.com, wedding accessories e-commerce retailer, 11 years in business

4. Lock in Your Location

Had I known then what I know now, I would have done everything possible to purchase my own business property. Last year, the rent for my original office, located in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn doubled, necessitating my having to move during my income tax preparation season.  If I had to rent a property, the lease would have included a “lease to own” clause and have a termination date during my slow season.

Thanks to Eustace L. Greaves Jr., Greaves Financial Services, Insurance and Income Tax Preparation Services, 17 years in business

5.  Start with Sustainably in Mind

In hind sight I would have focused much more deeply on a sustainable way to generate deal flow and new leads. No matter how large you think your network is (mine is large) it is not large enough and although power networking/word of mouth is the best source of leads of all the advisor/coach /consultant/soloprenuers I know almost none are reaching their personal income goals. What I am doing differently is focusing on the internet. I have just launched an e-commerce site and hope to launch a content site in the next 90 days. Historically my advisory services were delivered on site at companies located regional. I will continue with my advisory work with about 1/3 of my time, but focus on national and to a lesser extent international clientele via phone or Skype.

Thanks to Ajax Greene, On Belay Business Advisors Inc., business advising, 7 years in business

6. Know the Value of Vision

I would have placed an earlier emphasis to define the vision, mission and values of our company. It is important for the value of our employees to be aligned with my vision for our Company.

Thanks to Jason Maxwell, MassPay Payroll Services, payroll services company, in business for 8 years

7. Eliminate Distractions

Having owned several companies, I would have eliminated my distractions sooner than I did, e.g. real estate investments (rentals), buying and selling a laundromat, renovating homes, etc. While all the ventures were profitable they took away from focusing on building a brand that ultimately would have had more value than the combined profits of each transaction not related to directly building that brand.

Thanks to Joseph Carvelli, Retail Ingenuity, retail inventory and sales forecasting, in business for 12 years

8. Set Aside Significant Saving

I assumed if I built a good product, they would come! I had no idea how costly being in business would be, the amount of money I needed to succeed, or the toll the financial strain would take.

I am blessed that I had the tenacity and the strength to succeed despite overwhelming odds. If I could go back to the beginning, I would make sure I had significant savings set aside, or capital from another source. I cannot overstate the importance of being properly funded!

Thanks to Regina McRae, Grandma’s Secrets, dessert delivery, in business for 18 years

9. Put More Emphasis on Processes

If I had known then what I did now I would have put a lot more time into creating processes.  I find that with the majority of businesses these fundamentals often get overlooked and sometimes ignored completely. To me this is utter madness! A company can succeed or fail just by their processes. We find that we avoid 99% of mistakes because we process them out. This not only avoids unnecessary errors and client issues, but actually makes the company as a whole more efficient.

Thanks to Ben Norman, Koozai Ltd., UK based digital marketing agency , in business for 6 years

10. Delegate, Delegate, Delegate

I would have delegated more and not tried to do everything myself. Although it does take time to build relationships with your staff, I waited too long to delegate certain responsibilities that could have been done by someone else. Giving responsibilities does much to validate a staff member’s gifts and also demonstrates a deeper level of trust in the employer / employee relationship. Letting go of certain tasks has been difficult for me but I have come to realize that the more responsibilities I entrust to others in their areas of expertise, the lighter I feel, the more confident a staff member becomes and greater things are achieved by their efforts than could have been done otherwise.

Thanks to Stephanie Ciccarelli, Voices.com, online voiceover talent marketplace, in business for 8 years

11. Let Go and Let it Grow

For many years I had to know everything and do everything. I have discovered that other people and organizations can do things better and at a lower cost than doing it myself.  Letting go has enabled my business to grow and prosper and made my life much easier.

Thanks to Bob Shirilla, Keepsakes Etc. and Simply Bags in business for 30 years

12. Avoid Delaying Difficult Decisions

My biggest lesson over the years was learning that sometimes decisions had to be made for the good of the company, which sometimes meant disciplining or dismissing employees. In particular, when the economy started going into recession, I had to fire one of my closest friends in order to keep the company going. I should have done it sooner. As a result of my delay, it took a while to regain the company’s financial stability. Making difficult decisions is part of owning a business. Owners have to be willing to do it.

Thanks to Susan Southerland, Just Marry, Just Right DM and The Susan Southerland Secret, event planning, destination management, and small business consulting, in business for 20 years

13. Start with a Solid Team

I would have started with a solid business plan, hired an account, and started with a solid team around me.  There are not many businesses that are successful with one person wearing so many hats. Do what you do best and allow others to contribute what they do best to help your business grow.

Thanks to Amore Leighton Black, Apples & Oranges Public Relations, public relations and marketing, in business 7 years

14. Charge What I am Worth

I would have charged more! I was so excited to be working for myself doing something I loved. I’ve never been a person who chased profits -that’s not why I do what I do. But I didn’t do my homework and when I started, I charged pretty close to what I was making hourly at the jobs I’d left behind. That was all fine dandy except when working for myself, that wasn’t enough to cover things like taxes, health insurance, and so on. And also, I was definitely undervaluing my services. I was booked ALL the time, yet I could never seem to get ahead. Even though my clients all loved me and thanked me for my work, I doubted my value, and that was definitely reflected in my pricing.

Thanks to Alaia Williams, One Organized Business, professional organizing and small business systems consulting, in business 5 years

15. Focus on Building Relationships

We spent a fortune of money on advertising when we started out (with unimpressive results). We then changed our focus on relationship building with existing clients and organic search maximization vs. paid ads.  Now we see incredible returns in the form of referrals, and new business at a cost that is a fraction of what we used to spend. We needed to learn the hard way but if I knew then…

Thanks to Ben Schusterman, ElJet Aviation Services - private jet charter service, in business for 5 years

16. Start with More Money, Less Friends

I would start with about three-times as much cash as I thought I needed. I’d also be cautious around hiring friends/family.

Thanks to Heidi Ganahl, Camp Bow Wow, doggy day & overnight care, in business for 12 years

17. Use a Better Business Model

If we knew then what we know now, we would have started with the business model that we changed to about two years ago. Before the recession hit, we charged $39.95 for an annual membership with no free trial, and no automatic rebilling at the end of their membership term. During the recession, the rate in which we generated new members waned and we reached a growth plateau. To combat our stagnation we decided to change our revenue model to a free trial and a monthly rebilling combination. We implemented a three-day free trial and then a recurring $18.95 monthly fee after the three days expired. We are doing very well as a company now, but in retrospect, we should have thought about rebilling from the get go.

Thanks to Ian Aronovich, GovernmentAuctions.org, providing information about government auctions of seized and surplus merchandise

18. Hire Employees Sooner

One thing I would do differently if I were starting my training business today would be to make my first hire sooner. Operating on shoestring (and a broken one at that), I originally had to do everything myself. The thrift that made it possible for me to survive and then thrive in the beginning quickly became a hindrance when I delayed hiring people who could do any number of specific tasks easier, cheaper and far better than I could.

Thanks to Barry Maher, Barry Maher & Associates, motivational speaker, leadership trainer

19. Dream Bigger

I would have dreamed bigger from the start. In the beginning, my focus was on serving clients in my own Puget Sound backyard, even though successful people who were familiar with my publicity expertise and storytelling gifts were telling me to think nationally or globally. If I had it to do over again, I would have put more emphasis on national and global reach of my message right from the start.  Lead with juicier, higher value, and leveraged offerings first. When I was just starting out, I put a lot of emphasis on creating the absolute best $10 product about do-it-yourself publicity that I could create. Yes, the Media-Savvy-to-Go Publicity Tips Booklets have sold by the thousands since debuting in August of 2006. However, it is so much easier to make a bigger impact for more people and my own balance sheet by leading with a juicer, higher value offering. Today, the Broadcast Your Brilliance Webinar Series and Bye-Bye Boring Bio PLUS! Programs deliver great value for many around the nation and the world at price points that make it a whole lot easier to make a good living. Whether you create an entry level product or something much more, you still have to create all the systems to support those offerings. By leading with a deeper offering, the rewards are greater for all.

Thanks to Nancy Juetten, Authentic Visibility, PR tools and training, in business 11 years

20. Approach Additional Services More Cautiously

I’ve been in business as a web designer for 18 years. The main thing I would have done differently knowing then what I’ve learned along the way is I would approach any add-on services very cautiously. I used to briefly check out add-on services such as hosting, domain name management, and others, and then I would jump in whole-heartedly. Most of the time, it worked out fine for me. However, the occasional missteps cost me dearly.  As I learned more about running a business, I also learned through hard knocks that it is much better to approach additional services methodically and cautiously. I don’t put a lot of funding and energy into them until I’m sure it is the right thing to offer. I’ve learned it is easier to resist the urge to jump at opportunities than it is to extract myself from the occasional quagmire!

Thanks to Jim Smith, Blarneystone, LLC web design, in business for 18 years

21. Give More Away Sooner and Speak More

Network a lot more in person (the Internet was in its commercial infancy) and hunt for in-person speaking engagements, even if they are not paid.  Good writing alone is not enough to convince clients to hire you. They want to hear you speak on your topic of expertise, and when you help business owners with their problems or concerns, they are more likely to hire you and/or to recommend you to others who hire you. I once helped a business owner write something for his church at no charge, and with another small assignment that paid very little. That led to a long-term writing assignment that exceeded $40,000 in fees. Sow seeds of good will and interest through your networking, speaking, and help. Continue to do this even after your business is successful because it leads to more success.

Thanks to Candace Talmadge, Talmadge Writing Services, writing services, in business for 29 years

22. Been More Focused on This Business

I wouldn’t have started it out of my apt.  I would have “cleared the decks better” by parsing other interests that I was juggling at the same time. I would have learned more about guarding a business (legal, insurance, LLC/Scorp/Inc).  I would not have spent so much money on a business plan.

Thanks to Todd Greene, HeadBlade men’s grooming, in business 12 years

23. Don’t Do It All Yourself

I would have gotten an assistant, accountant and web coder much earlier. I did it all myself for 8 years in my business and have only been hiring assistance for the last two years. I knew it would free up my time to hire people - and what I didn’t know was how much it would free up my mind and let me do better, more powerful work along the way. I’ve been able to create more products and do more thought leadership since getting those little tasks off my plate… and if I’d done it earlier, I can only imagine how amazing things would be.

Thanks to Erin Ferree, BrandStyle Design, branding for small businesses, in business for 10 years

24. Look Before Leaping

What I know now is the huge cost of marketing and promotion required to build demand. We started out expecting to sell retailers and distributors and attend trade shows and travel to customers and sell and spent two years on that path. Then we took a hard right and for past two years we have evolved into an Internet retailer running DRTV (Direct Response TV) infomercials with 85% of our business now direct to the consumer. Social media was never in the business plan either now it’s vital.

What would I do differently knowing what I know now? (1) Keep my old job as long as possible and not leapt off the cliff (but it was a nice feeling) (2) Anticipate 5 years to break-even, and set aside “don’t touch” money.

Do I regret jumping off the cliff? No way. As I tell my wife- don’t look down, keep looking up!

Thanks to Brad Barrett, GrillGrate, LLC, grill surface for better food, in business 5 years

25. Pick More Profitable Partnerships

I would have used deeper discernment in picking partners/vendors/joint ventures, even markets. I picked some doozey’s AND after the fact, saw all the red flags.

Thanks to Shawne Duperon, ShawneTV, media coach and production company, in business 11 years

26. Focus on Face to Face Interactions and New Technology

We learned a lot of lessons in starting our company. For example, we would never produce four-color mailers that are sent to mass prospective clients. We’ve learned that face-to-face interaction and building the business relationship is key. (This was pre-Internet). We also learned that a lot of mailing lists are not updated. This endeavor was expensive and resulted in a poor ROI. When the Internet came around, we certainly would have jumped on this new technology much earlier — developing a website much sooner. It’s an amazing tool to get your message out to the world to sell products and services with visuals. We try to make it much easier for clients to find us rather than we search for a ‘needle in a haystack’ to find prospective clients.

Thanks to Greg Jenkins, Bravo Productions, event planning and production company, in business 25 years

27. Plan For Growth, Be More Discerning in Following Advice

As the owner of a driving school in New York City, my first big regret is that I did not get all other licenses (Motorcycle, Bus, Truck license) earlier in life. I just pass my truck road test Tuesday January 17 2012.  Now I have to wait two more years before I can expand to teach Truck Lessons thanks to NYS requirement. Secondly, I was too naive and trusted many so called experts that convince me how to run my business only to find out they were wrong.  I wasted a lot of money trying ideas that did not work. 3.  In the real estate boom time I should have purchase commercial real estate to accommodate my growing business.  Now it’s impossible to get a loan.  I would have preferred to spend a bit more money to secure a property.

Thanks to Rajendra Hariprashad, Ena’s Driving School, in business for 8 years

28. Leverage People, Build a System

If I knew then what I know now I would have invested in two areas. One, I would have developed other people and brought them into the business sooner. No one is good at everything. Even Michael Jordon had a coach and team mates. One of my friends started a business five years ago and has 700 people working for him today. The more you can leverage other people and create a ladder for them to achieve what they want to then the more successful you will be. Find people you can trust and learn to work effectively with them. My business is much stronger today because I have a strong team.

Secondly, every business needs a system to build a pipeline that is consistent and measurable. I have depended too much in my business on my farming method which is delivering exceptional value to people I meet and eventually they and their friends become clients. I wish I would have understood how to build visibility for my business in my target market like I do today. I am beginning to develop a hybrid model that is both farming and hunting which I believe in the long run will deliver greater growth to my business. My approach that involves taking a prospect from visibility, credibility, and trust is proving to be highly effective. When people work with me they become more than clients they become friends because I am invested in their success. Everyday owning a business is a learning experience. I am very happy it is what I have chosen to pursue in my life.

Thanks to John Paul Engle, Knowledge Capital Consulting in business 10 years

29. Focus on Building Relationships with Customers

When I first started out, like most new veterinarians, my prime concern was my patients and their care. What I failed to fully appreciate was that each patient had an owner (aka client) attached to it! Often I would not address the needs and concerns of the client as well as I was trying to practice medicine and over time, I likely lost clients who, if I had better built my relationship with them, would still be a client today.

Thanks to Dr. James Day, Glendale Animal Hospital, veterinary practice in Glendale, Arizona, in business for 27 years

Bonus Tip:

30. Establish Boundaries With Employees

I would certainly separate “church and state” and I would have been more of a leader than a friend. As an owner and an active President& CEO of a small business- I’m in constant contact with my employees. When hiring new employees, certain requirements and credentials are necessary including: experience, expertise, and industry knowledge. Additionally, I look for multiple interpersonal skills and qualifications. That said, I’ve managed to find and retain wonderful employees who work well and who work well with one another. Formulating good friendships with my employees is nice but maintaining and stepping up as more of a leader at times, has been challenging. Establishing boundaries early on with employees is key and I wish I had known the importance of this, earlier on.

Thanks to Georgette Pascale, Pascale Communications, LLC. a healthcare specific PR firm, in business 7 years

Want to get more inexpensive and practical small business marketing ideas, grab a free e-book called “Build Buzz for Your Biz, 23 Creative and Inexpensive Marketing Strategies That Will Get You Noticed” at http://23kazoos.com.

Wendy Kenney is the bestselling author of How to Build Buzz for Your Business available on Amazon.com, and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Newsday.

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While you may not be able to afford a professional, search engine optimization (SEO) copywriter yet, there are some things you can do to improve your copy… and they won’t cost you anything but a little time.

Ready? Here are…

3 Ways to Improve Your Copy in Less than 60 Minutes:

1.    Change all of your passive verbs to active verbs.

Check your copy to see if you are writing in the past tense. (“Our customers saved money.” “The new widget helped our clients.”) Then, change all of your verbs to action verbs. (“Our customers save money.” “The new widget helps our clients.”)

It’s a simple step that can make old copy sound fresher and more exciting.

2.    Get rid of sentences that start with “We.”

When you read your copy is it all about your business, product features and how great your services are?

Boring!

Your customers want to know what’s in it for them. Instead of using “We,” use “You.”

For example, your copy might say:

“We provide the leading service in the country for washing windows and have been in business for over 25 years.”

Instead, you might say something like this:

“Enjoy squeaky clean windows in minutes! Relax working with professionals who have over 25-years of experience in the window-washing industry.”

You get what I mean. Stress the benefits you offer your customers… not how great you are!

3. Shorten your paragraphs.

This is an easy one. Shorten the length of your sentences and paragraphs. Make it as easy as possible for customers to read your copy.

After all, are you more likely to read a long page of text or short and simple paragraphs?

A Few Quick Changes Can Lead to Better Results.

These may seem like simple changes, but they can make a big difference to your written materials. By including active verbs, benefits and user-friendly paragraphs, your copy will be more exciting and easier to read, and that just may be what your business needs to bring in more sales!

For more information on SEO copywriting and increasing site awareness, please write to me below or at www.rembrandtwrites.com.

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Are you Pinterest-ed yet?

Pinterest is basically a visual bulletin board of what ‘pinners’ like… Users create ‘boards’ for individual categories (ex: home storage, yummy foods, books, cool products, funky restaurants) and ‘pin’ pictures of related items to the board.  The pin then links to the original site where the photo was pinned from, so anyone interested can find the item/place/recipe/etc on the web.  The possibilities are limitless.

Think of a virtual thumbtack holding a picture of that latest and greatest item you adore to a web page so everyone that follows you can see that you give this item 2 thumbs up.

Other users and followers can ‘repin’ your photos to their boards creating a snowball effect.  Heavy influencers, who share their pins, which in turn results in their pins getting repinned and repinned, creating a spiraling effect and rush for particular items on the web.

Are you getting the picture, here?  Yes, Pinterest is wildly fun, but the larger picture is that if products/places of business are being pinned/promoted/repinned, this can have a huge effect on start up businesses and products!

I asked, Rieva Lesonsky, former Editorial Director at Entrepreneur Magazine and current CEO of Grow Biz Media (and who recently followed me on Pinterest) for her take on Pinterest and Start Up Businesses.  Rieva just started exploring Pinterest, and her thoughts are:

Retailers (both online and store owners) and restaurant owners could really benefit from Pinterest. Retailers should create boards featuring new products, sale items, special promotions and trends. Make sure you embed a link to your store’s location. Restaurant owners can pin specials, new menu items, and even share recipes.

The key though (which I truthfully have not conquered) is to remember this is social media. Don’t just pin your own goods, feature products from other places. You don’t want to promote a competitor, but a retailer could pin from a store in another state or country. Both retailers and restaurant owners could pin like-minded items from magazines.

Thanks to Rieva, and I agree with her last thought very strongly.  Social media is about engaging, so do not make your pinning all about ME, ME, ME…but, promote someone in your referral network, another business in another state, or complementary products.  For example, if you produce golf balls, endorsing gold clubs would be a natural choice.

Just like other social media networks have evolved from something very social and fun to a viable business tool, Pinterest lends itself really well to this.

If you want to learn more about actually using Pinterest, and the ins and outs of ‘pinning’ and ‘repinning,’ watch this.

Want to find me on Pinterest? Here you go - Rachel

http://backngroovemom.com

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Hi gang,

John Lawson is a nationally known e-commerce and social media expert.  You can find him speaking at conventions all over the world and on colderice.com and if his name sounds familiar it’s because he was a winner of Startupnation’s own Home Based 100 contest a few years ago.

I’ve known John for a long time and we both thought it was high time we sat down and discussed my new position at BHFO, e-commerce, eBay, Amazon, business books, and of course, stripping.

So grab some coffee, pull up a chair, and enjoy!  Just click the link below to see the full 28 minute video:

Kevin Harmon and John Lawson

Kevin Harmon

Twitter:  twitter.com/imadness

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/YesTHATKevinHarmon

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It can be a whirlwind of activity. But be careful…

Don’t Move Too Fast with Your PR and SEO Efforts.

As you rush to get everything done in a timely matter, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Take a moment before starting.

Once your discover that you need to prepare a PR or SEO document within a short amount of time, take a moment to review what you are trying to accomplish.

What is the call-to-action for this project, and what do you want your target market to do when they read it? By taking this step, you’ll be able to work towards a goal and have a better chance of achieving it.

• Have someone else review your work.

Even if you have proofread your press release for errors, read it aloud to hear the tone and checked the SEO-keyword density and copy, have someone else review your work.

Since you are close to the project and moving fast to meet deadlines, it always helps to have another set of eyes review your work.

• Check results.

When you are finished distributing your press release, posting some SEO copy or writing another marketing or PR piece, look at the results. What happened? Did you meet the goal for that project?

Write down your statistics from Google Analytics. Did Website hits increase? Are the search engines finding your site? Did your press release get picked up on media site?

Then, review this data before you start a new project. What can you do differently to get better results this time? Perhaps, you reached your goal and need to follow the same process, but you’ll never know unless you monitor results and take action on them.

Timing Is Important, But So Are PR And SEO Results!

It’s essential to move quickly with your SEO and PR activities in order to compete and distribute current news about your business in a timely fashion. But in the process, don’t forget to review what you are trying to accomplish, check for mistakes and monitor results. This way, you’ll be able to meet deadlines, provide accurate information, and successfully meet goals.

Do you need help with your SEO and PR copy? Please write to me below or at www.rembrandtwrites.com.

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1. Give ‘Em What They Want

For us, at The Burger Dive, it was all about offering something that we didn’t think our city really had, and that we believed would be wanted. Our city is overflowing with fast food burger chains, and a couple of higher end burger chains, but it really lacked that one little mom and pop burger joint that everyone loves. We have maintained our standards from day one, using only fresh and quality ingredients. We make everything ourselves, and it has paid off. People tell us daily “this is the best I’ve ever had,” and they say they can really tell the difference between us and our larger chain competitors. It really comes down to freshness, and also our creativity with our burgers and our specials.

Thanks to Brad Halsten, The Burger Dive

2. Become a Winner

We have won multiple awards and we are proud of them. The awards have become not only a pat on the back, but a great marketing tool that really gets our name out there. The award definitely holds its value as the years go on.

Thanks to Matt Pringle, DCP Productions

3.  Become Really Good at Something Really Difficult

We are a team of professional organizers who specialize in the severely cluttered and hoarders. We actually receive referrals from other organizers because this is a very difficult segment of our industry and is too much for many organizers.

We allow the client to be in command of their costs by charging hourly rather than making them buy a package up front and we make sure they are very comfortable with their organizer since this is SUCH an intimate business. We offer a quicker turn-around time if they are up against a deadline (often imposed by the county) while still allowing them to keep their dignity and self-esteem.

Thanks to Maria Spetalnik, ConquerTheClutter

4. Cater to Your Customer

Madcapz are specifically made for women by a woman. Most ball caps are made for men so they are too big and don’t fit women well. Our caps are low profile, meaning there is less room in the crown and this is better suited to women’s heads.

Also, Madcapz are available in over 20 fabulous prints; most baseball caps are in boring, drab colors and splattered with corporate and sports logos.

And finally, a growing trend with our buyers: they love that our baseball caps are Made in the USA! Most ball caps today are made in Bangladesh and China, ours are made here and buyers love that!

Thanks to Carrie Bell, Madcapz

5.  Tap into What Works and Make it Your Own

We are a military/patriotic fashion apparel brand. We just got started about 2 years ago but within 18 months had the most popular website among our competitors and the second largest following of fans on Facebook. How did I do it? A lot of long nights… But seriously, we separated ourselves. When I started the business I really just wanted something cool to wear that looked modern but had a military or patriotic twist to it, being a veteran of the United States Army and a Drill Sergeant at the time.

We took modern cool looks and quality from what’s currently hot in the market, put a patriotic or military twist on our designs and then guaranteed our apparel for life like another apparel retailer does. We really didn’t innovate anything, but took what works from other successful companies and put them together to come up with us, Grunt Style. It’s worked fantastically and we continue to explode with growth.

Thanks to Drill Sergeant Daniel Alarik, Grunt Style LLC

6. Specialize: Be The Expert-Then Deliver

There are a ton of freelance writers, but not many have expertise in my niches (aging, senior care, evidence-based health advice, and high-end SEO friendly content for websites). My clients come to me for expertise they haven’t seen elsewhere. They could pay cheap prices for lesser work, but they know that with me, they’ll get exceptional content that beats the competition’s. So I help their businesses stand out too! I also strive to be outstanding to work with.

Thanks to Leigh Ann Otte of LA Wordsmith

7. Ice The Cake

So many businesses advertise their “quality” or “speed” as if the competition doesn’t have this. Come up with something the competition doesn’t have, something extra - icing on the cake. I don’t market this enough - maybe I should - but when we write a book for a client, we will happily prepare a synopsis and query letter at no extra cost. We only bring this forward when a lead asks about what comes after the writing. It helps close the sale rather than generate new leads.

Thanks to David Leonhardt of THGM writers

8. Be Authentic, Be Bold, Be Different!

Here is something different in this day and age, NEVER TAKE ANY ONE for granted, listen to your clients. provide value in your products and service, and go above and beyond to make people feel like they are your only customer. Return to simple values such as face to face marketing, handshakes, and then use modern day technology to stay in front of them and provide resources, education establishing yourself as the authority in your field.

Thanks to Marc Abelman, Las Vegas Interior Design

9. Be Honorable and Forthright and You are Golden

Honest straightforward communication and portrayal of your product. No gimmicks schmooze.

Thanks to Lys Fulda, Sphinx Group

10. Cater to A Specific Niche

We make accommodations for, and cater, to special needs kids.

Thanks to David Perkins, Bubble Swim School

11. Specialize

I am a freelance copywriter competing with dozens, if not hundreds, of other freelance copywriters for assignments. However, with a degree in Chemistry and an insatiable appetite for understanding anything related to science and technology, I have a unique selling proposition. There are plenty of good writers “out there” who are terrified of anything having to do with technology. There are also plenty of highly skilled technical people who can’t tell you in English exactly what it is that they do. I have the rare ability to interview a scientist or an engineer, or read a very technical paper, and translate the “Techno-Babble” or “technical gobbledygook” into compelling English that even people with no technical training can read and understand. My corporate logo is a red apple, and my tag line is, “Technical copy with a delicious difference. Like an apple, it will be “red.” This is how I differentiate my business from my competition.

Thanks to Robert P. Baker, Copy To Go, Inc.

12. Create a Better Experience

Ringadoc puts patients in touch with doctors from any phone, anywhere, anytime. Our meticulous attention to technology separates us from our competitors. We devote just as much time to perfecting our software as we do to finding the best team of doctors, because we believe great technology goes a long way in creating a better healthcare experience. Most recently, we developed the first app that enables patients and doctors to video conference right on their Apple and Android devices.

Thanks to Stephanie A. Higa, Ringadoc Communications

13. Position Yourself As The Expert In Your Field

I try to not be a jack of all trades. We have a tendency to say, “Oh sure, I can do that.” By doing so you quickly find yourself in an over promise, under deliver situation. If you don’t spread yourself too thin, it gives you a chance to perfect the areas that you are really good at. That way you can be THE person in town who is the expert to work with. Be sure to have a list of people you trust to suggest in the fields that you don’t cover. You want to be the person your client consults for referrals!

Thanks to Darlynn Nangano of Little Blog Dress Media

14. Do it Differently Than Your Competitors

Listia.com is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell things without money. You post auction-style listings to earn credits, and can then use those credits to buy things from other users. It’s a great way to trade things you don’t use for things you actually want.

Our main competitive edge is being a truly free service, as opposed to eBay who charges listing fees to sell your things. In addition, we offer a charity donation feature so users can essentially turn the things they don’t want into charitable donations (www.listia.com/charities). We’ve captured a lot of users from the eBay market as well as the Free listings on Craigslist, and hope to continue expanding our services so everyone can barter instead of buy.

Thanks to Mabel Yoshimoto, Listia.com

15. Tell People HOW You Are Different

I changed my tagline last year to: We are not the biggest mover, but our clients tell us we are the BEST!

Then all of my follow-up with prospects and customers outlines how/why our clients say we are the best. This puts psychological triggers in their head so once we provide services for them (and my guys in the field are aware of this campaign), then when we ask for a testimonial they already have it in their head, that we are the best, and are more inclined to put that in their testimonial.

Thanks to Jim Howey of TechMove

16. Speak Their Language

We are the first marketing communication firm in the world to achieve LEED Platinum. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and was established in 1993 by the U.S. Green Building Council to encourage sustainable building practices in the U.S. My traditional marketing communications firm has clients in the building materials industry and we wanted to increase that business. Getting accredited, teaching LEED and finally getting the office Certified at the highest level tells our potential clients that we know what their customers are wanting in sustainable building products and that we can speak the customer’s language.

Thanks to Chuck Lohre, Lohre & Associates Marketing Communications

17. Niche-ify!

There are many companies that offer marketing services to small businesses. What makes Market Mommy different? We cater to the mom business owner who is trying to get her business off the ground in an affordable manner. All of our services are extremely low cost, yet professional. We help moms brainstorm and develop a marketing plan that is both effective and realistic. Our rates are low and we suggest other marketing efforts that are affordable as well.

Thanks to Dawn E. Berryman, Founder, Market Mommy®

18. Be Yourself, Have Personality

For many freelancers, we ARE our business. There’s just one person, just us. So, just like in personal relationships, just be yourself. Your business is unique because you are unique. Allow your personality to shine through. You don’t have to be the biggest or the fanciest or the most well-known company to be successful. Just look at me. There are bazillion web designers in Phoenix. What sets me apart? I treat clients like friends and let them get to know me.

Thanks to Perri Collins of Perri Collins Consulting

19. Partner with Your Customers

My company stands out because we make our members/customers revenue sharing partners in our business. Our referral program pays our members a percentage of the earnings of the customers they refer to us. They earn money without even shopping and establish residual income for themselves.

Thanks to Frank DeBlasi, Hoopla Doopla, Inc.

20. Helping Nurses Become Heroes

I recently launched a nurse speaking, training, and consulting business. At first, my sales message looked like the others (telling potential clients I could help improve their nurses’ clinical and professional…etc). Ugh. I looked like a cookie cutter. So, I got to the core of what I was trying to do and simplified my message. I want nurses to believe they are heroes; that making a difference is a choice. What makes me different is I tap into their emotions and help them believe in themselves.

Thanks to Renee Thompson of RTConnections

21. Be Old School!

I know that what makes my business stand out shouldn’t be so simple, or old school, but it is. I live by this motto: “Do What You Say You Will Do!” I know it’s not the golden rule, but pretty close to it. I am constantly amazed that my clients thank me for doing such a simple thing as returning a phone call. But, when your friendly competitors take days, or do it not at all, it makes you stand out from a huge pack. All you have is your word, respect it and others will respect you!

Thanks to Karen Berg of United Brokers Group

22. Personal Recommendations and Testimonials and Celebrity Endorsements

I work as a professional magician in the UK and it’s important to stand out in some way as there are hundreds of magicians fighting for the same (relatively small) amount of business and little to differentiate them.  One thing I have done is to make sure I get personal recommendations and testimonials from people who have hired me. It’s always useful to have plenty of these on your website, they really help. People can be a bit wary, as they know these things can easily be faked, so actual screenshots of any written “thank yous” are very powerful.

Also, I love celebrity endorsements. They are tricky to come by, but worth their weight in gold. I was working in a restaurant and an old guy came in with his family. I went over to do some magic for them and (OMG!) it was Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin! I made sure to get a photo with him and put it onto my website; I’ve had several bookings as a result from people who say “If you’re good enough for Jimmy Page then you’re good enough for me!” Always be ready to grab a picture with any celebrity you come across, even if you only speak to them for a few seconds grab that shot, it will be invaluable.

Thanks to Mike Stoner (magician) Magician For Hire UK

23. Provide a Money-Back Guarantee

We offer a 100% money-back guarantee for our services. This means that if one or more objectives are not met within the agreed upon deadlines, we will give the client back every penny of their fee. At first glance, there appears to be a lot of risk involved with doing this. However, we’re confident in our experience and the level of services we provide to our clients.

Thanks to Tim Parkin, Parkin Web Development, LLC

24. Provide a Free Trial

GovernmentAuctions.org is a subscription-based service that gives the customer the best and cheapest possible way to view and participate in government auctions via our site. We have changed the game by offering people an initial three-day free trial membership which has never been done before by anybody in the industry.

Thanks to Ian Aronovich, GovernmentAuctions.org

25. Offer Something that Your Competitors Don’t

In Phoenix we have a lot of problems with car windshields breaking due to rocks from never ending road construction and excessive heat.  The problem was that you could get your windshield fixed one day and then need it again the next.  Our glass company, Desert Breeze Glass become the exclusive licensee of Diamon Fusion glass guard which is a coating that is applied to the exterior portion of the windshield making it water and rock resistant. We have several insurance agents who have said their glass claims have reduced from the repeat glass offenders since applying DFI to their windshields.  This makes agents refer customers to us again and again.

Thanks to Cathryn Curcio of Desert Breeze Glass

26. Don’t Follow the Dots, Create Your Own Path

At SaveOnBrew.com we have both a blessing and a curse by having a very unique product.  It is easy to share with people and we often hear “why didn’t I think of that.”  The downfall is we have no marketing model to follow.  We had to become just as unique in our marketing techniques as our product.

Thanks to Jennifer Davidson Director of Operations SaveOnBrew, LLC.

27. “World Change is How We Roll.”

Sevenly is a social good startup that stands out from the competition in several key ways. Lots of people sell cool t-shirts, but we sell tees with a cause. Each purchase gives $7 to the charity of the week. We also standout by getting our customers involved in promoting the cause. For example this week, when we hit $4,900, we’ll have raised enough to pay for a clean water well for a village in Peru.

Thanks to Justin Palmer, Sevenly

28. It’s All in The Name

I think our memorable name differentiates us from competitors: Fatpacking

Obviously people don’t base their decision to join our weight loss backpacking trips by name alone, but it does get them to at least consider us.

Thanks to Steve, FatPacking.com

29. Stand Out on Every Level

Boxiecat.com is the first provider of mail-order subscription-based home cat litter delivery. The number one way we stand out is by being more convenient. In truth, we also strive to provide a better product in a more green way and to have great customer interactions. We really try to stand out on every level, as a startup, we know that’s our best chance for success.

Thanks to Josh Wiesenfeld, Boxiecat.com

30. Send Your Message in a Unique Package

It’s trickier to get the attention of the decision maker with your message. Two ideas we’ve used that have worked: (1) We have emailed a letter to a nearby pizza restaurant, they printed it out & delivered the pizza (vegan & cheese free since we publish a newspaper on natural preventive health) with our letter taped on top of the box. This idea was a big hit and helped establish the relationship and sale. (2)

Send your info by mail in nice 4 color/gloss file folders (label goes horizontal).

Thanks to Thomas Katovsky of Healthy Referral Newspaper

Want to get more inexpensive and practical small business marketing ideas, grab a free ebook called “Build Buzz for Your Biz, 23 Creative and Inexpensive Marketing Strategies That Will Get You Noticed” at http://23kazoos.com.

Wendy Kenney is the bestselling author of How to Build Buzz for Your Business available onAmazon.com, and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Newsday.

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I think about my dad, an entrepreneur himself, and when he formed a start-up business many decades ago in New York.  First, my dad had to grow his business locally in New York, and when it came time to expand to other parts of the country, it required an actual presence where he wanted to go.  At this point, my dad had to make sure his original office was running smoothly AND then move himself to a new city to start-up and so forth and so on….He eventually had 5 offices running in 5 different cities that served their respective local area.

By the time the Internet arrived, others figured out how they could successfully sell what my dad was selling through the web all over the country with one office (more than likely a home office).  It worked out well for my dad, he sold his name, rock solid reputation, and list of current clients to the right guy to move the business forward into the current state of the business world.

Start-up Businesses of today can claim a national presence and following in no time by staking their place on the web.  This involves a website, strong SEO, blogging, keeping up with fresh content, and positioning themselves in all social media sites.  I love this!  As a parent, it is comforting to know that I can expand my business to other locations right from my home office.  We also have amazing tools like Skype, GoTo Meeting, and who can forget, Email, that allow us to conduct business far and wide.

Obviously, there is an ongoing love affair with the happenings of the Internet and start-up business, which is why I like to stay up to date and so should you……

Here is what is top of mind for me this week:

- Google is changing their search feature again to provide anyone logged into Google, results that reflect that person (as in YOU).  That is right!  Starting this week, Google is rolling out ‘Search Plus Your World.’ Basically, if you are logged into Google and search a term, your results will direct you to where Google believes your personal preferences lie.  I have not surfed this feature yet because it is slowly rolling out this week (and I did not get not yet), but you can read about it here.

My Question is…..How will this affect start-up businesses in coming up in a search if the results are no longer based on Google’s usual algorithms but rather one person’s perceived personal preferences?  Much remains to be seen…It can be turned off, but that is a user-based decision.

- Without getting crazy political with you all, I must mention SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act).  This Bill if passed will place heavy regulations and consequences on websites that are perceived to be pirating information and/or linked with such sites.  As a blogger, I obviously do not endorse stealing content and I enforce copyright policies, however, this particular legislation may impede small business with radical censorship and dramatic punishments.

To learn more about SOPA - watch this:

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

You should be aware of this and can contact your local congressman to DO something about this act here.

That’s it for now…if you have a chance to play around with the new Google Search - share your thoughts and experience!

Rachel

http://backngroovemom.com

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On your mark, get set, go!

The alarm clock buzzes. You do your morning ritual, and it’s time to get back to work… but hold on just a minute…

Are you starting off where you left off in 2011, or do you have new and specific, public relations (PR) and search engine optimization (SEO) goals you are working towards?

If you woke up excited to get back to work, you are probably starting some new projects to help increase awareness and sales with PR and SEO.

However, if you started your day just doing “busy” work, (answering e-mails, following up on calls, checking social-media posts, etc. Yawn!), it’s time to add some Zing to your day!

To help you get over the after-holiday doldrums and add some excitement (and results) to your PR and SEO work, here are some questions to think about:

• Are you reaching out to customers?

If you haven’t sent a newsletter, blog notice, coupon, e-mail, or other, valuable communication to your customers lately, what can you send them that they will find interesting and useful now, and in the months to come?

• How old is the copy on your Website?

Add some new, SEO blog posts, articles, videos, case studies, and more to your site on a weekly basis (at least). This way, you’ll provide current and potential customers with fresh information and increase interactions to help build long-term relationships.

• What news can you share?

When was the last time you distributed an SEO press release to build buzz? If it has been more than a month, it’s time to post some news.

What is happening with your customers? Did you have a successful charity event? Do you have new products and services, white papers or other information you can share that will help others?

Even if you don’t think you have any news, there are good stories hiding in your company. It’s up to you to talk to your sales team, customers and partners to find out how they have benefited from your products and services.

Enjoy Some PR and SEO Zing Now!

If you are bored with your work and want to see better results, get creative! Think of ways you can provide more value to your customers and then promote the successes they have using your products and services.

Set new goals involving fresh and exciting SEO copywriting and PR activities, and you’ll have more fun. More important, you’ll start enjoying your work and see better results too!

Do you need help increasing results with SEO and PR? Please write to me here or check out my free information at www.rembrandtwrites.com.

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