Given these time limits, what can you say about your business? How do you decide what to put in, and what take out? Do you focus on new offers, old faithfuls, case studies, basic features, or come up with some ultra creative and original take on the same ole story? Most importantly, how do you talk about yourself without putting the audience right to sleep?!

Here are 5 quick tips to keep in mind:

1. Reach out of your standard zone and raise some eyebrows with a funny quip (make sure it’s really funny though, please!), or an amazing or surprising fact.

2. Prop your self up with a visual aid that fits your description. An intelletual property attorney from Crose Law often brings along a branding iron to describe the importance of trademarking.

3. Less really is more, so edit, edit, edit! Don’t try to cover everything your company is, does and says in your allotted time. Your audience will only absorb a small fraction of what you say, and if you go over your time limit, be aware that that’s about all the audience will remember.

4. Know your subject matter! Your familiarity with your topic will show, as will your lack of understanding if that’s the case. Capture your audience with comfort – your comfort with what you’re talking about.

5. Interact with your audience. Ask them questions, answer their questions, engage them and they’ll take more away from your presentation than they would if you stand up and preach to them.

You don’t have to be a professional public speaker, a fancy pants Powerpoint pro, or a comedian to capture an audience and share with them the benefits your company brings to the table. You just need to get organized, get up and get presenting.

A blog gives these special families a place to share information, photos, treatments, new drugs, links, successes, failures, and other information via social media. Blogs can be linked to Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites to spread the word even faster.

Stacy and Ansley’s story began 7 years ago, and can be followed via their new blog at www.stacycarverbailey.com.

The attorney: Burke Archer, Esq. is a General Council for The Function Group. His focus at the 5 Keys Seminar is to present and educate seminar attendees as to the different types of legal entities a business can take. These include: Sole Proprietor, Partnership, General Partnership, C Corp, S Corp, and LLC. His main point is to make sure you are protecting your personal assets when forming a business regardless of the level of liability your business model may incur. Burke answered questions about business licensing, DBAs, trademarking and the order to take when getting started.

The bank… financing a business start-up, or funding it for growth has been a challenge recently. Kathy Stroup of First Cherokee State Bank addressed the types of funding available and what it can take to get a loan including the importance of your personal credit score. She also discussed the service and services to look for in a business banking partner including personal rapport and technology. She also advised businesses to secure a line of credit when you don’t need it. Since you only pay interest on what money you use from your line of credit, the cost is minimal, and to have cash available during the lean times can get many businesses over the slow humps.

Insurance… protecting your business comes in many forms as Therese Johnson of the Canton State Farm office of Jey Willis discussed. Property, Liability, Workman’s Comp, Errors & Omissions, Umbrellas… there many options, but depending upon your business goals, growth strategy, customer engagement etc., there are solutions that will prevent you from potentially losing your business due to an injury, accident, fire, storm damage, or other catastrophic event. Questions from the attendees centered on workman’s comp and the requirements when hiring employees.

Accounting is not my strong point, and apparently it’s a big question on the minds of many entrepreneurs. Wendy Corlett of Acclaim Professional Services discussed the critical importance of proper recordkeeping, accurate tax returns, and the ease of using QuickBooks to keep track of it all. As a Certified Pro Advisor for the Intuit product for over 10 years, her talk focused on the risks a business owner faces when their records are not in order, or when they neglect payroll taxes. Education is key and professional accounting advice is warranted for anyone starting up a new business. Attendees had specific questions about fixed assets and other big words that we let our accounting professional handle!

Marketing a new business was covered by Linda Lullie of Inspired 2 Design. We changed up our talk for this third free seminar, and gave a general overview of the steps to take when starting up including identifying target market, branding, and then covered the types of advertising and marketing. At this seminar, inbound vs. outbound marketing strategies were presented as many participants had questions on how to market their business inexpensively. The inbound strategies of using search engines, social media and word of mouth marketing were key points. In fact, the upcoming Social Media Workshop was of interest to several participants of the seminar.

The event was held in the event room at the Frosty Frog Creamery in Hickory Flat. The venue could not be more perfect. Frank and Glenda Cole, owners of the restaurant, and their staff, catered to our needs. The room was ready, clean and comfortable. Whether 5 or 25 had attended, the room felt full. Everyone could hear and see the speakers and Powerpoint screen. The coffee was fresh, cookies were still warm, and the pastries… welll… enough said. Contact the Frog for your party or seminar like this one, it’s a central location for Canton or Woodstock residents, easy to find, and really affordable (especially when hosting a FREE event!).

If you or someone you know is interested in starting a business, keep watch on the 5-Keys to Business Success Seminar website for more information on our next free business seminar in Canton or Woodstock. For immediate help, contact the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and ask about their free mentor program RSVP, where local business owners offer a free 1 hour consultation to answer questions of new businesses (and old). Or contact Kennesaw State University’s Small Business Development Center for an appointment with a specialist there. SCORE is another resource for start-up entrepreneurs. You can always contact one of the 5 Keys listed above for specific questions, we’re here to help. Regardless of who you talk to, talk to someone before venturing out and investing your time and money on a new business. Get advice and input from professionals.

In the past two weeks, Inspired 2 Design has completed three web design projects:

1. KE Greene Mechanical and Hydronics: a Holly Springs heating, air conditioning and hot water company, has a new website:

The cool thing about KE Greene’s new website is the Blog/RSS feed connection. We’ve set up their website and blog so that as they add news and information to the blog that talks about hot water, the RSS feeds that blog post into the Hot Water page, same with all the other services they offer.

2. Ball Ground Heritage Days, a 2 day festival held in historic, downtown Ball Ground has a new and very functional website for its 8th Annual event this year. Their new CMS website has a fun flash banner, features scrolling sponsor listing, applications for participation (via PDF), and more. The event is coming May 15th and 16th, 2010, so if you’re a crafter, food vendor, or local business, there’s an opportunity to sponsor, host a booth, join the parade, or just come and have fun.

The BGBA is hosting the event this year and it’s going to be the biggest and best ever! Find out more at Ball Ground Heritage Days.

3. Social Media Crazed? Social Media lost? If so, Inspired 2 Design wants to take you by the hand and walk you step by step through the process of getting connected to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Our Social Media Workshop will be held March 11, 2010 at My Corner Office in Canton. Register on our newly designed and published website Train for Social Media.

Watch Inspired 2 Design’s website for more additions coming to our marketing sample portfolio including new business card designs, new logo designs, new brochure designs, new publication ad designs and more. Smart business owners know that the last place to cut the budget is marketing. You’ve got to be doing something no matter how busy you may be or how slow to prepare the field for new clients and customers.

If your company is not prepared for 2010 with a marketing plan, and you need help deciding what’s right for your business, call Inspired 2 Design – 770-781-3452.

Here are some common definitions:
- Networking is both an art and a science, building on sound principles and developed skill.
- Networking is working – it takes effort and time to become an effective tool.
- Networking is like farming in that you plant seeds, tend crops, and reap a harvest at some point in the future.

All these variations have a common theme. But here’s a definition that we feel stands head and shoulders above the rest:

Networking is cultivating mutually beneficial relationships between two or more people who share their connections in order to build bigger networks.

Why does this definition of networking stand out above all others?

1. It references the “cultivation” factor (like working and farming). Cultivation is a process involving time, sequence and steps. Effective networking involves all of these, hence making networking much like a science.

2. It considers the need for building “relationships”. Too often are events dubbed “Networking Events” where business people go to introduce themselves and hand out business cards to every person in the room. These types of events can certainly be a part of your networking process, but limiting your reach at such events ensures you’re considering the relationship requirement for effective networking. Since relationship is definined as being connected or associated with, your goal is to connect with people, not simply meet and greet.

3. It further clarifies relationships as being “mutually beneficial”. This is a critical factor for effective networking. Any relationship where only one party benefits is lopsided, and thus doomed for failure. For a relationship to be successful, it must be interdependent. The parties must rely on each other which indicates a level of trust must be established. Trust can only be established through cultivation of the relationship…if it sounds like a cycle, that’s because it is.

4. It specifies that “two or more people” can be involved in this network of mutually beneficial relationships. The size of your network is important as it defines your sphere of influence. Poor networkers have small spheres of influence and therefore may not be capable of holding up their side of the relationship. This is another reason that cultivation is important, it allows you to “weed” out those contacts that suck up all the nutrients, or referrals, and never offer anything to their networking partners.

5. It involves “sharing” – the joint use of resources. A sucessful network may include sharing contacts, sharing information, shared marketing, shared expenses, shared knowledge. This point is difficult for some business owners as they feel protective of what they’ve learned or achieved. But only through sharing information and experience will others get to see what you know. Only through sharing contacts will others benefit, and in the effective relationship, they’ll turn around and do the same for you.

6. It defines success as “building a bigger network”. A bigger network means more connections to future clients and prospects. Broadening your reach through mutually beneficial relationships ultimately leads to more sales, more retention, and more success in your business.

Of course, following the right steps is important, but developing the right skills is critical to successful networking. After all, no one is going to refer someone they don’t know or trust, and few will refer someone they don’t like. So, first it’s important to be known, it’s very important to be trustworthy, and it’s important to become a likeable people person (most people don’t care for the selfish, self-centered, all about me types).  And that doesn’t mean you have to have a bubbly, outgoing, life of the party personality. But it does mean that you need to take a genuine interest in other people, train yourself to be a good listener, and have a truly unselfish desire to see others succeed. These skills cannot be taught, they must be learned and practiced for many of us.

Effective networking is critical to the success of any business today. The onslaught of social media networks only drives this point home more than ever. People are social and today’s consumer wants to know who and what their connections recommend. If you do it right, it could be you and your business.

Now with the onrush of Social Media, there’s a new twist and an even better communication method that wasn’t really prevalent in late 2008.  Tie in #1-#8 above to Social Media networks like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Answers, and you have a whole new way to reach prospects.

Here are 6 new considerations:
1. Give something for nothing. Chuck Flagg of Cruise Holidays – The Flagg Agency hits it right on the head with his post “You Want Me to Give Away What?”. Read it here. The point is, that you need to share your expertise, or no one will ever know you have a clue as to what you’re talking about. It’s like giving out samples at the grocery store.

2. You will be most effective when your motives for sharing are genuine. Of course, you expect a return, but if you go into it with that as the sole motivation above helping people, you’ll defeat the whole purpose. Put others first, and you’ll find the results surprising.

3. People buy from those they know, like and trust. Get people to know you, be like-able, and be honest. Trust will build and in the end, dollars will flow. You’ll need to open up, be transparent and share things that you may at first feel are too personal, too proprietary, or too valuable. Remember, you gotta spend money to make money. Time is money, and building relationships takes time.

4. How much is too much? Well, the bikini reference Chuck makes in his blog post (see #1 above) may be too much for you. You may feel more comfortable in board shorts or a one piece skirted number. The point is that you know how your business operates and you can only be the judge of what can be found via a Google search, and what cannot. If you’re a professional, experienced in your field, you certainly have something to offer that others don’t. The trick here is to make them aware of what you have to offer without revealing all the cards in your hand.

5. Use the tools. Yesterday we posted information about how Social Media Marketing is another tool. Communication methods come and go, and the bottom line is that the deal is done between two people. How you forge that relationship is almost irrelevant once you shake and dollars are exchanged (of course, at I2D, we insist you track every customer you can to see where they come!).

6. Content is still KING! Filling your blog, writing articles, Tweeting tips, Sharing on Facebook, and Answering questions on LinkedIn are all great content boosters. Google LOVES your content, and your readers, visitors, friends, followers, and connections will all benefit. In the end… so will you.

Expert-status and the associated promotion of your business are really just by-products of the efforts you put into educating others. Call Inspired 2 Design to add knowledge to your marketing mix – if you don’t like to write, research or speak, we can help!

Two Sides to the Story

There are two distinct sides to the Social Media subject – those who believe it "works" and those who don’t. By works, we mean use of, or activity in Social Media can be "monetized". Truth be told, we haven’t had or heard of any business that’s been able to pinpoint any specific gain by use of Social Media Marketing. And that’s precisely what the non-believers say is the reason for their poo-pooing of the tool. On the other side, there are those who say it does work, are adamant about its success and its benefits, point out the rapid and continuing increase in Social Media advertising expenditures over the past two years, and who just plain refuse to accept the negatives – despite the lack of actual revenue associated with it.

Social Media’s Capabilities

To be plain and simply put, Social Media Marketing is a just another tool. And just like the other tools we use to market a business, service or product, this tool needs to be applied to the right job in order to produce the desired results. So, bottom line is this… knowing what you want to accomplish is where you start. Once you’ve established your goal, review all the options in your toolbox and select the right tool for the job. What is Social Media Marketing capable of producing for your business? Well, it may depend on your business, but suffice it to say that Awareness, Interaction, and Buzz are all possible end products. We all know that to be successful in business, people have to know about us, they have to have an interaction with us, and they have to talk about us.

So exactly what do we know for sure:

1. Social Media Marketing really isn’t marketing at all. It’s networking to build a relationship.
2. Social Media Marketing is interactive and must be two-way communication for it to work at all.
3. Online Social Media Marketing will increase the traffic to your website if applied correctly.
4. Social Media Marketing will help you manage your reputation online.
5. Social Media Marketing is extremely inexpensive, but very time consuming.
6. Social Media Marketing is here, and the smart companies will take the time and spend the money, to embrace it.
7. Social Media Marketing will result in actual revenue gains over time, when applied appropriately, and when treated with respect for the audience.

Regardless of which side of the fence you stand on, you need to be aware of Social Media’s pros and cons and its capabilities and limitations.

Inspired 2 Design would like to talk to you about your company’s Social Media Marketing plan, or lack thereof. Contact Us to get started, or if you’re already in it, let’s talk about what your doing and how to capitalize on your investment. If you’re a naysayer, we’d like to talk to you especially to see what you might be missing out on.

1. Revisit your marketing plan and strategy. The past two years have been an economic challenge for most small businesses, hence the need for some adjustments and tweaks to your marketing plan is most likely warranted. See what’s worked and what hasn’t and get rid or, or adjust, the losers. See what is working and how you can maximize the benefits there. See what’s new out there that you haven’t tried yet (if appropriate of course!)

2. Optimize your website for search engines. PLEASE. This should be number 1, but it is a definite must-do for 2010, especially if you have a geographic zone or service area that you’re limited to or assigned to. Search engine optimization (or SEO) is critical.

3. Google yourself in many ways. 1. Google search your company’s keyphrases and see where you rank. Google your name and see what comes up in the results. Google your company name and see who is talking about you. 2. Set up Google alerts to automatically find out when you’ve been referenced or indexed. Monitoring your buzz is the only way to keep a watchful eye on the good and bad comments your business receives. You can’t make an attempt to please an unhappy customer if you aren’t aware they are unhappy.

4. People are talking behind your back, so you better get on the Social Media Marketing bandwagon. Even if you just add a LinkedIn account, develop your profile and link up with a handful of contacts and associates – past and present – you’ll be ahead. That’s a minimum add to the wish list this year. Be sure to read up on social media and what not to do as much as what to do. Or call us, we’ll be happy to help you develop a social media plan.

5. Publish useful, relevant content that the educated consumer wants, needs, and can find and find helpful. More and more people are researching purchasing decisions online. Your product or service has to be present to win – there’s just no two ways about that. And publish often. Your website is hungry for updated, relevant information, and so are your customers and prospects.

6. Look at what you’ve already got, and find a way to keep it. Your current customers will provide you with 80% of your business in most cases. There is real value in continuing to exceed their expectations in some way with your product, service, or offers.  Don’t spend all your time seeking new clients; treat those you have with the utmost respect and care!

7. Get out from behind the desk, get off of the chair, and go meet people. Whether it’s your city or county’s Chamber of Commerce, Optimist or Rotary club, or a small local networking group, find other like-minded individuals and make connections, build relationships and grow your business in 2010.

8. Test something new in Advertising. Again TEST. Whether it’s changing from a magazine ad monthly to a daily or weekly newspaper ad, or simply altering the message or offer, you need to test market before making long-term and costly commitments. Test using the least expensive means available, and be sure to make sure the testing is fair and balanced or you’ll just be fooling yourself and your wallet.

9. Add some Public Relations to your marketing mix if you haven’t already done so. Drafting and sending a press release out for accomplishments, events, new hires, and other positive news is a great way to get free advertising that sounds newsworthy.

10. Look again before you leap. Measure, track, evaluate, adjust. That’s how you save money, and make your marketing budget go further for your business. Always measure the results of a campaign, ad, coupon, website update, email campaign, etc. to ensure you’re getting the best bang for the buck.

Just 10 to start with, but these ideas should keep many a small business owner busy for a while… at least until the second quarter! If you have questions or need help, call I2D at 770-781-3452 – we’re happy to help small businesses with their marketing in the Atlanta area or anywhere in the U.S.

1. Be relevant
Make your comments meaningful. Please don’t blow wind up our skirts by telling us what a great post we did and then move on. If you want to pay a compliment, give us a call. The blog commenting area is for continuation of the topic, respectful challenges to the topic, additions and observations, links to additional sources and truly useful content. If you have nothing to say… you have nothing to say. Leave it that way.

2. Be Correct
Run through your comment and spell check. Check your grammar, reread to insure the thought is understandable, and please keep the tone businesslike. There’s nothing that brings both your brand down faster than comments filled with typos and foulness. Remember, once you post, it’s public.

3. Don’t be a Know-it-All
No one likes a pompous person. Politeness is valuable. If you’re an expert, that’s great, share your expertise… just be humble about it and back up your knowledge with relevant links.

4. Comment Areas are NOT Billboards
Don’t leave links to your company’s website home page in the midst of your comment. Don’t say “Hey, Look at Me! I do …” Make your content sing your praises. This type of commenting will result in an edited comment or a deleted one. Links to relevant information are welcome. Signature links are permitted. Self promotion on our bandwidth is frowned-upon. Want to promote yourself? Start a blog, or offer to write a guest post on someone else’s blog. Coming to the party empty-handed each time will result in a shortage of invitations for you at some point soon!

5. Respect Rules 1-4
If you’re visiting a blog, think of it as just that, visiting. Leave the place the same, or better, than it was when you found it. Or… find another place to visit.

Offering opinions and information via Blogging takes time and effort. Commenting for true discussion and relationship building is easy as 1,2,3,4,5!
Inspired 2 Design welcomes relevant, thought-provoking business oriented comments on our blog.