Mind Your Business

The impact of a Virtual Assitant on small business.

Whoops! Did one of your hats just slip?

Somehow, many of us have picked up the notion that if we want something done right, we have to do it ourselves. And we've carried that idea into our small businesses too.

We're marketers, writers, designers, salespeople, production managers - most of us try to do it all without any help. But there comes a point where there are just too many hats to juggle, and something slips.

Have you ever considered the impact of a VA on small business? Maybe it's time to give up one of those hats and accept some help that can grow your business.

It's a common misconception that VAs are an unnecessary luxury for small business owners. But many business owners who use VAs find that their VA actually helps them make more money, and develop in ways they could never do on their own.

Hiring a VA can free up your time so you can spend more time on creating and developing your business. 

Not only can they handle tasks you don't like or don't have time for, but a VA can help you work out new ideas and come up with ways you can work more efficiently.

If you still think you can't afford to hire your own VA, look for one who caters to small or home business owners. Some of these VAs will keep their fees low because they know their clients can't afford high-priced help.

A lot of VAs offer retainer packages, and will charge you less per hour, the more work you give them.

They also specialize in the same areas you need help with, so they can get the job done in a lot less time than you can do on your own.

What impact could a VA have on your small business? Imagine for a minute....

What is the one business task you don't like doing? That niggling thing that needs to be done, but you put off as often as you can. Or maybe you can't avoid it (like checking your e-mail), but you always feel a little resentful of the time it takes away from creating or developing other parts of your business.

Now, think about how many hours you spend on that task every week. Not just the time you spend doing it, but the time you spend thinking about, the minutes you spend preparing for it, rechecking it after it's done, and wondering if you missed anything.

That's how much time you're losing each week doing something a VA could do for you. And time you could be spending creating or developing other areas of your business.

If you're still not sure you're ready for a VA of your own, try giving up just that one task you thought of earlier. Even if it's one hour a month, that's 12 extra hours a year you can spend on developing your business - and keeping a firmer grip on the rest of your hats.

Photo©iStockphoto.com/Steven Kratochwill

Is Marketing Wednesday getting lost in all the activity at Make Mine Pink?

It's that time again and I didn't have the heart to nag everyone about marketing Wednesday this morning. If you're a member of Makeminepink.com or visit Make Mine Pink very often, you know there's a whole lot of marketing going on all the time these days! It seems like just a few weeks ago that I was reminding (ok nagging) everyone to remember to market on Wednesday for an hour. Now we're knee deep in promotions that require some pretty intense marketing and networking every single day.
What Promotions you ask? Well I'm sure by know that you've heard of our now famous Pink Friday At Make Mine Pink for "shopping with a twist." It's a themed event that we hold each week on Friday.This week:
"I would like my roses to see you."~ Richard B Sheridan 1751-1816

http://www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday/, your exclusive invitation to “Shopping with a Twist” is one stop shopping for a fabulous look.

On Friday,July 18, we present "The Garden Path."
Join us in long the Garden Path, stop for tea, find a soft spot to enjoy the flowers, take a quiet minute to write in a flower inspired journal, or maybe find some products to help your home and bath smell like the garden. We will feature all styles of merchandise from vintage to antiques, new and gently used, jewels and altered art, soap to tea, and everything in between. Please join us for a day along the garden path, the flowers will be gorgeous. I hope to see you there!

Take a look at one of the fabulous Boutiques that participated in Pink Friday last week. Our theme? On the Porch of course! If you missed these beautiful offering, please visit C'est Chouette for more beautiful tuffets!

Business Potpourri..

Good "Marketing Wednesday" Morning Everyone! Marketing chat last night at MakeMinePink.com was fun and inspirational! If you've never been to one, you're really missing out!

Because we've been so busy at Make Mine Pink with our PINK FRIDAY themed shopping events and plans for our upcoming CHRISTMAS IN JULY SHOP HOP, the marketing chat was a Potpourri of topics. We discussed better ways to market each event and also spent some time talking about goal setting in business. It seems that in the rush of day to day, we forget about setting very real and very attainable business goals. Goal setting is something that should be done on a constant basis. As we've discussed before, they don't need to be huge goals. Make them small.. make them attainable and then revel in your accomplishments. Little by little as goals are met and confidence grows, you'll be more comfortable setting even bigger goals. Nothing does more for confidence than actually reaching the goals you set!
Won't you join us today.. Set a goal, Name it out loud.. then give it a date to be completed and write down the steps you'll take make sure it is. I think you'll find that what you've just done is the hardest part of goal setting. Once you set the goal, you have a clear and concise plan to make it happen.

Join us in the MMP public forum and Make the commitment to your business today! www.makeminepink.com/forum

Don't you just love marketing Wednesday?

Good morning fellow business owners! Doesn't your heart just beat a little faster when you see my marketing Wednesday post?  Sure, I know that for some of you it means you just stepped off the treadmill or ran upstairs with a basket of laundry, but for some..it means you're excited about your business and look forward to growing it to new and exciting levels! Marketing should be as natural as breathing for you now. Just as we need to breathe to live, your business needs to be marketed to succeed. Unfortunately, as we've discussed before, without a clear vision for your business, it's rather difficult to keep marketing and notice steady growth.

As you know, Tuesday nights at Make Mine Pink we host a members marketing chat. Last night our topic was BUSINESS PLANS... And do you need one to be successful? My personal opinion.. absolutely yes!

A business plan is like a Road Map to get your business to where you want it to be. Many will argue that every business needs a complex business plan, and if your objective is to obtain funding based on your plan, then it will need to follow a much more structured path. But if a simple plan is all you need to keep a clear vision of where you want to go, measuring progress along the way, well that’s ok too.

Personally I think that a short, practical plan with very clear goals is the best type of business plan for many people in our position.

A business plan is a wonderful tool because it gives you and idea to really think through your ideas. Some ideas may sound great in theory, but once you put it to paper, you’ll see aspects that you hadn't considered.

Your plan will give you and your business a sense of direction and very clear time-lines. We've talked about goal setting many times and how how they play a part in determining the success of our business. we can't make and reach goals without a clear vision.

Many of us started with a business before we even really formulated a plan. Some of us stumbled into business while doing something that we love. While it’s great to have that passion and dream, the reality is.. We need a plan to make that dream a success. Many of us already have a plan, but just don’t realize it. Get that plan to paper! I’ve seen too many business owners give up on their dream because they don’t have a clear vision and plan.

We’ve discussed having a clear vision and we’ve also discussed setting goals. Now its time to combine those two things into a short but clear business plan.

I know the first thing some of you will say is that you have no idea how to write a business plan. This doesn't have to be a fancy plan. But if you feel more comfortable a formal business plan, there are many templates and business plan how to’s out there on the web. Just do a Google search on business plans. You'll be amazed how many you'll find.

A business plan doesn’t need to be complicated. What it needs to be is YOUR plan of action. Your VISION for where you want your business to go.

Some of the things you need to consider when writing your business Plan are:

Give a brief description of your business including name of business as well as what products or services you offer.

What is the structure of your business? Do you have employees? Where are you located? Where are your products currently being sold?

If not a new business, what growth have you experienced? If you have this information, it would be great to include your growth to date. Example. Make Mine pink started in 2004 with 7 members, in 2007 had 200 members and in 2008 1000 members. That’s a growth in membership of 500% in the past year alone.

What is your target market and how do you reach them?

What products or services do you offer that make you stand out over your competitors?

Where do you want to see your business to go? This is your own personal road map.

How will you get your business there? (What are the steps you will take to make that happen)

How long will it take to get your business where you want to go? Give yourself a measurable goal with time frames. This can alwasy be changed.

What costs will be involved in making this happen? Will you need funding?

Keep your goals specific and measurable and remember.. This is YOUR business plan. That means it can be changed if you want to change it.

PINK FRIDAY at Make Mine Pink.. have you heard?

I apologize for being so late with my marketing post. We have been very busy at MakeMinePink.com these past few weeks. We are ALWAYS keeping our eye on new and inventive ways to market the fabulous businesses here at Make Mine Pink. I'm sure by now that you've heard chatter about PINK FRIDAYS as Make Mine Pink! It's exciting, it's innovative and it's all about fun!

Every PINK FRIDAY starting May 30th, MMP will host a themed event! The very first theme will be Springtime in Paris. All the participating boutiques will have special Parisian themed products for sale starting Friday! Not only will this give our boutiques a boost in traffic, this will give our valued customers a chance to complete a room decor or complete a collection all at one time! We'll provide a list of participating shops with links to their themed offerings. It will almost be like having a personal shopper!

Click on the link for more information about PINK FRIDAY at Make Mine Pink!

Are you still fence sitting about joining the boutiques at Make Mine Pink? It's time to take that leap of faith and join the amazing group of women that always have their eye on success!

Wait until you see what we have planned for Saturdays!

It's Marketing Wednesday and we have a BIG REVEAL!

Good Morning fellow marketeers! It's a beautiful day here at my oceanfront retreat. As I sit here at my laptop with the ocean in front of me as far as I can see and the soft and steady sound of the waves lapping the shore, I am consumed with excitement about our most recent Makeminepink.com marketing chat! You can take the girl out of the business but you can not take the business out of this girl! No matter where the girl is!
I never get tired of the energy and excitement I see in each and every member that attends the Tuesday night marketing chat. I see such passion and drive and energy with every new and creative idea we discuss. And let me tell you, creativity is at an all time high these days at Make Mine Pink. I hate to be vague, but we're just not ready for the BIG REVEAL. In the next few weeks we'll be able to share an exclusive MMP event that will change the way our customers shop! Intrigued? You'll either have to wait for the reveal or you'll have to join us at  http://www.makeminepink.com/join/about. It will be the best move you'll make for the promotion of your business!

Remember.. marketing is vital to the success of your business. Be creative, but don't overlook any opportunity to promote your business no matter how small the opportunity!

As always.. please MIND YOUR BUSINESS!

How does the economy effect your marketing plans?

Good Morning Ladies. It's Marketing Wednesday and we're all renewed and excited from our Tuesday night MakeMinePink.com marketing chat!

So many business owners have expressed concern about what they can do in this struggling economy to keep sales on an upward climb rather than on the decline. It's really simple.. GET CREATIVE! That doesn't mean that you should stop doing what you have been doing by offering quality products and services to your customers, it just means we need to pay closer attention to what our customers needs are. We shouldn't just assume that because the economy is troubled, people won't spend money. Instead people are staying home more and their nesting instinct is kicking into high gear. We're still spending on home and family and gifts because those needs never change. I know that I haven't stopped spending, I'm just making more careful choices.

What are you doing to convince consumers that they should spend some of their stimulus check with you? I'm sure you've noticed that the larger business like Walmart, Sears, Staples and I'm sure many more, have taken the creative approach to cash in on this Government Give-back. They've taken bold marketing steps and have been very clear about what they want from you and what they will give you in return. It's time for the small business to step up and ask for their share.

I look forward to seeing a lot of creative marketing going on in the next few months! Right now you can't afford not to MIND YOUR BUSINESS! 

Come join the forum at Make Mine Pink where we're talking about creative ways to maintain steady growth. Won't you join us? www.makeminepink.com/forum

Having worked on your marketing and branding and superior products and customer service will keep you afloat in troubled times. But is that enough? That all depends on what your goals are. It's

It's marketing Wednesday..are you ready to THINK BIG?

Good morning everyone! I'm here on beautiful Cape Cod having a bit of working vacation. It's been chock full of business and relaxation, but no matter where I am.. it's Wednesday and we know what that means! Time to MARKET LIKE YOU MEAN IT. What have you been doing to get your business name out there? It's a surprisingly small world out there and a little persistence could be all it takes! Last weekend I posted a story on my Pinque Inc Diaries blog about finding a Make Mine Pink Pen 600 miles from home. It was pretty exciting to see our waitress using a Make Mine Pink Pen to take our order! It gave us  great opportunity to Toot Our Horn a Little to anyone that cared to listen. We had a captive audience in the little breakfast shop.

As you all know, Marketing Wednesday always follows MakeMinePink.com Tuesday night marketing chat. I always have a topic in mind but don't always get to topic. Last night we talked about THINKING BIG and the opportunities awaiting us if we care to kick things up a notch.

More specifically, having our products manufactured. Naturally this isn't something that would work for everyone..but is the natural progression for many.
We are very excited about a new business relationship that is being formed with a manufacturer that can and will change the way some of us do business. Over the coming months, we'll explore manufacturing and trade shows and anticipate incorporating a wonderful new program into the membership benefits of Make Mine Pink that will help members take that GIANT STEP to manufacturing!

If there's one thing I've learned along the way.. change is necessary for growth. Won't you join us at Make Mine Pink as we are always looking for ways to grow our businesses? We'd love to have you!

For more information about membership, please visit www.makeminepink.com/join/about.

Have a great week and please remember to MIND YOUR BUSINESS!

 

Can it be marketing Wednesday already?!

Good Morning all! You didn't think that just because I am away that I'd forget about Marketing Wednesday did you?
As usual.. we had our MakeMinePink.com marketing chat last night. I almost didn't make it because I was knee deep in ideas for this book that is trying to get written! I'm so glad that I did though. I was reminded that although my role is cheerleader and encourager to many, I am encouraged and supported every step of my own journey by these wonderful women. I left chat feeling energized and ready to face my own challenge with renewed excitement. I know that I sound like a broken record, but the law of attraction is alive and well at Make Mine Pink! The positive energy you'll find there at any given time is what gives so many of us the courage and fortitude to take that leap of faith. There's not a day that goes by that someone isn't taking that leap and if you look around, you'll see the most amazing net of women right there to catch us if we fall.
Won't you take that leap today and just step out of your comfort zone a little? It's OK if you're not ready for outrageous, but take a step, one step towards your success. Promote your business today like you would promote the business of a dear friend. It's really no different.. and will get easier and easier as you start proclaiming what an amazing business you have!

Outrageous Marketing if you dare!

Happy Marketing Wednesday Ladies! As you know, Marketing Wednesday always follows the MakeMinePink.com Tuesday Night Marketing Chat. Last night we talked about marketing on a budget which basically means if you don't have an advertising and marketing budget you have to get really creative and maybe a little outrageous! In lieu of money.. we have to use our heads. Maybe even quite literally! What can you do that will create a PUBLICITY BUZZ? Of course each business is different and everyone has their own niche.. but we all have creativity in common.

As some of you know, we recently held 2 Outrageous Tiara Contests. One live in Chicago at the Country Living WE Event and the other online at Make Mine Pink. This would and still could be a perfect opportunity for some outrageous BUZZ or press opportunity.

[Photo Above - Left, Karen Sweet Necessi-Teas Right, Roxie - Business in the bag and Jorabeels] 

Karen of Sweet Necessi-Teas tiara (hat) was an outrageous representation of her business! A hat with teacups! she you could absolutely create some positive buzz for her business! Just wear the hat when you're out and about. Just be prepared for lots of questions and have lots of business cards handy.

Sharon of C'est Chouette created a tuffet Hat.. It’s sure to get a glance or two or 100! Well....Grab the spotlight Sharon and create a BUZZ.

Michelle of Rose Petals and Blooms and Britta of Britta's Tea Parties were the winners of our two contests. Both should be sending photos and press release to local papers. After-all, how often do you win an OUTRAGEOUS TIARA CONTEST? As a matter of fact, just the fact that you entered one is newsworthy! It's up to you to do a little tooting or showing off. If it could mean FREE press for your business, wouldn't you do it?

Find ANY and EVERY opportunity to create a PRESS buzz and then inform the press of the upcoming event. Perhaps it’s a local show and you are offering free demonstrations.. Anything out of the ordinary is news worthy. Local papers are always looking to feature their local people and businesses. You just need to contact them.

Take GEORGIA of Grandma G's. She specializes in Vintage Linens. She could make a jacket or garden smock from cutter tablecloths, add one of her tablecloth totes, a name badge with her business name and a pocket full of business cards! What a great segue to the business! Make people sit up and take notice.

We also talked about Carol of Clutterbug Studio taking one of her vintage babies with her wherever she goes. It's a fabulous idea. Everyone loves a baby. But when they see what's in the carrier, won't that start a rather interesting conversation and opportunity to hand out a business card?

Use your HEAD and your creativity to find a way to market your business. Perhaps a FUN and FUNKY hat that tells the story of your business! I DOUBLE DARE YOU to get creative and get the BUZZ going about your business.

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