Advertising Agency Blog - Inspired 2 Design, LLC

We attended a Networking Workshop this week, and found it a great refresher course in what to do and what not to do when promoting yourself and your company via networking. Business Networking can be defined as:

“a process” of

• it takes specific steps, a set order of events

“establishing” a

• means setting up

“mutually beneficial”

• means both parties gain

“relationship” with

• personal, first-hand knowledge

“other people” to

• those other than yourself and those you work with

“increase business”

• means more money

Basically, networking is connecting with others you know personally who will recommend your business and expect you to recommend theirs so in the end, you both make a sale. Your network is an extension of your advertising team.

Some Business Networking Do’s

• Set reasonable, attainable goals for networking
• Look at every opportunity to network
• Be prepared with a short 30 second introduction to yourself, your company and your unique selling position
• Be prepared with your business cards and ask others for theirs
• Ask open ended questions using “what” and “why”
• Find out what the other person is looking for in a qualified lead
• Ask how you can help
• Introduce others
• Make notes about your conversation
• Smile and shake hands

Some Networking Don’ts

• Don’t try to meet everyone
• Don’t sit with or talk with people you know
• Don’t talk about yourself and your business only
• Don’t forget: everyone is there for the same reason you are
• Don’t arrive late, don’t leave early
• Don’t drink too much or eat too much
• Don’t forget to follow up

Business etiquette is so very important at networking events, as you are repeatedly making a first impression. Keep conversations light and positive. Make yourself memorable somehow to those people you meet, solve a problem-meet a need. Practice your introduction so you can deliver it with confidence, poise and so that you don’t forget anything. And most importantly, have fun. Practice with your co-workers, start a workshop with others in your building. Enjoy the opportunity to meet new people, start new relationships and enjoy getting out of the office for a while.

Inspired 2 Design, LLC

We decided to create an online glossary of terms relating to computers and the internet to be used as a tool to educate and inform.

Alt Tags
Text that is displayed in place of an unavailable image or on a mouse-over.

Animated GIF
A small animation based on multiple GIF images displayed in succession.

Autoresponder
An automatic email message sent as a response to an inquiry.

Bandwidth
How much stuff you can send through a connection measured in bits-per-second (bps)

Bit (Binary DigIT)
The smallest unit of computerized data.

Blog (weB LOG)
An online journal.

Browser
The program that displays web sites on a computer, ie. Internet Explorer, Netscape and Firefox.

Cookie
Information sent by a Web Server to a browser that is saved and to send back to the Server whenever the browser makes additional requests from the Server.

CMYK
The four color inks used in professional printing (cyan, magenta, yellow and black). See RGB.

DNS (Domain Name System)
The system that translates Internet domain names into IP numbers. A “DNS Server” is a server that performs the translation.

Domain Name
The unique name that identifies an Internet site.

DPI (Dots per Inch)
An output term referring to how many dots of toner are used to create printed images on paper or film. Graphics for print are typically 300dpi. See also PPI.

Dynamic
The interactive elements of a site.

eBook
An electronic book which can be downloaded and read or printed.

Email (Electronic Mail)
Messages sent from one person to another via computer.

Ezine
Electronic newsletter that is emailed or linked from a website.

Flash
Animation software by the company Macromedia used to develop interactive graphics for websites and presentations.

Form
Allows a user to enter data that is sent to a server. Used to submit or to retrieve data.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
A method of uploading or downloading files from another computer or server.

GIF (Graphic Interchange Format)
A common format for image files, especially for images containing large areas of the same color.

Gigabyte
1000 or 1024 Megabytes.

Hits
The number of times a web page is visited.

Home Page
Usually refers to the main web page of a website.

Host
Stores web pages on its server, to make them available to internet users.

HTML
The code that tells browsers what to display.

HTTP
The rule set applied when files are sent from web servers to browsers. Most URLs begin with http://

Hypertext
Text links to other documents or web pages.

Incoming Link (Backlink)
A link to a website from another website.

Internet
The collection of inter-connected networks using TCP/IP protocols.

Intranet
A private network inside a company or organization for internal use.

IP Number (Internet Protocol Number)
A computer’s unique address used to identify and communicate with other devices on a network.

ISP (Internet Service Provider)
An organization that offers access to the Internet.

JavaScript
A programming language used to add interactive features to a website.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
A format specifically used for photographic image files.

Keyword
A word or phrase used in a search engine to find related web pages.

Keyword Density
The number of times a keyword or phrase appears on a web page.

Kilobyte
A thousand bytes.

Layout
Art that shows the design appearance of a web page.

Link
Text or an image that when clicked, takes the user to another web page on the same or different website.

Loading
The speed at which a web page loads from the server to a browser.

Megabyte
One million bytes.

Meta Tag (Meta Element)
HTML code that provides information about a web page found within the source code.

Mouseover (Rollover)
Code that signals something to happen on a web page when the user’s mouse rolls or hovers over a hot spot on the page.

Navigation Bar
A set of links to the different pages of a website (Home, About Us, Service, Contact Us…). Typically displayed across the top, down one side, and/or across the bottom of a web page

Network
A connection of 2 or more computers to share resources.

Page Rank
The importance Google places on a web page indicating where the page appears in the results.

PDF (Portable Document Format)
Allows files to be viewed and printed with all formatting intact regardless of computer system.

PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor)
A scripting language used to create dynamic web pages.

Pixel
A single dot of light on a computer screen.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
A file format enabling image compression without quality loss.

Podcast
An Internet broadcast.

Portal
The first website a visitors see when going online.

PPI (pixels per inch)
A measure of the resolution of a graphic image. Web images are displayed at 72ppi. See DPI.

Protocol
A set of communication rules.

Resolution
The number of pixels across and down set on a computer monitor. Displays the size of a web page on a browser (800 x 600 is the most commonly used resolution setting).

RGB
The colors of the three “guns” on any monitor which fire red, green and blue into each pixel on a screen including television monitors to create 16 million color variations including white and black. All web graphics are RGB. See also CMYK.

RSS (Real Simple Syndication)
A protocol for sharing content, especially news articles and Blogs. Consists of “feeds” and “readers”.

Search Engine
A website used for searching the Internet.

Security Certificate
Information used to establish a secure connection.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Designing web pages to rank as high as possible in search results.

Server
The computer storage provided by a web host or web hosting company.

Shopping cart
A program that allows shoppers to select and pay for products on a website.

Site Map
Text links to all of its pages of a website, available on one web page.

Spam
The broadcast of the same email message to people who didn’t request it.

SQL (Structured Query Language)
A specialized language for sending queries to databases.

SSL (Secure Socket Layer)
A protocol that enables encrypted, authenticated communications across the Internet.

Stickiness
The length of time a user stays on a website.

Subdomain
A website that belongs to a main domain – ie. www.sub.main.com.

Submission
Registering a website for inclusion in a search engine or directory.

Thumbnail
A small image usually linked to a larger version of the same image.

Traffic
The number of hits a website receives.

Upload
The transfer of files to a server.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
A unique address on the Internet.

Web Page
A published HTML document that is part of a website.

Web Safe Colors
A set of standardized 216 colors available for display in a browser.

Website (or web site)
A collection of web pages linked by a main domain name.

Inspired 2 Design, LLC

Establishing a successful home-based business isn’t just possible, it’s practically a no-brainer these days. But as with all things, using one’s brain is probably the best idea. Here are some tips and reminders for those of you thinking of starting, or running your own business out of your home:

• Don’t Broadcast, but don’t deny (if you work out of your home, make it a point to answer truthfully when asked if you work out of your home. Never, Never make excuses!)
• Keep in mind your low overhead, make that work for you. Don’t forget to take advantage of all the IRS home office tax write-offs.
• Subcontracting not only saves you money on payroll, but lets you be super selective on whom you hire for each job and always gives you the easy out if the relationship doesn’t work out.
• Home businesses can and should advertise like a big business. After all, you offer everything big business does except public parking and restrooms.
• Keep your business mannerisms professional. Dress professionally, answer the phones professionally when at appointments, utilize company letterhead, incorporate a company electronic signature into emails, and keep the dog, kids and other distractions out of the office during business hours.
• Maintain your own separate office space. It’s worth it.
• Network with pride. Offer your business card with an address or PO box. Make sure you have a website. Place publication ads. Send out direct mail marketing.
• Offer to meet clients at their office so you can get a feel for their business climate and culture. If your client is home-based, meet in a public place during regular business hours.
• Lastly, enjoy the freedom of coming to work in PJs and slippers, making your own hours, jumping on the treadmill during breaks, picking up the kids after school, taking an extra 15 for lunch, and being your own boss.

Home-businesses account for 50% of small businesses in the U.S. Huge corporations like Apple Computers, Hershey Chocolate, Mary Kay Cosmetics and the Ford Motor Company all started as home-based businesses. Never, Never feel guilty or second guess your decision to work from home. You are part of a growing trend of success. Congratulations!

Inspired 2 Design, LLC