Small Business Blog - America's Best Companies

What's the Difference Between a Pyramid Scheme and a Ponzi Scheme?

al@gowithabc.com (Al Lifchultz) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:42:20 GMT

The difference between pyramid schemes and Ponzi schemes is in the methodology. Pyramid schemes rely on multiple levels of investors, each promising exorbitant returns to the succeeding level, whereas Ponzi schemes feature a central figure who promises exorbitant returns to all investors.

Knowing risk as they do, those at BusinessInsurance.org want to help you recognize and steer clear of these dangerous investments:

Pyramid Schemes

Pyramid schemes are organized into investor levels. At each level, investors are responsible for recruiting new investors and obtaining money from them. It begins when one person asks a small group of people for a sum of money in exchange for a promise of large returns. Each of those investors must then approach another small group of investors and make the same promises. After recruiting new investors, existing investors pay a portion of the new investments to the level above them and keep the rest. If an investor does not recruit additional investors, they receive no return on their original investment, so the financial incentive lies in recruiting new investors.

Pyramid schemes collapse when the bottom level cannot recruit enough willing investors to sustain the flow of money to the top of the pyramid.

Ponzi Schemes

Ponzi schemes are similar, except that participants don't have to recruit others. Rather, they invest passively in exchange for a promised return on their investment. Ponzi schemes are named after Charles Ponzi, who infamously defrauded willing investors out of $6 million by exploiting international price differences in a postal product. He promised investors he could help them make money the same way. After doling out some of the initial returns, Ponzi began embezzling the rest and eventually walked off with the money. He was caught a short time later, and because the fraud was such a huge sum of money for the time, his special brand of scheme soon bore his name.

Ponzi schemes collapse when investors panic and attempt to reclaim their money. Though with the false promise of high returns from novel investments, Ponzi schemes often attract more seasoned investors.

Want to learn more about the schemes and how to spot them? Read the Federal Trade Commission Attorney General Debra Valentine's speech, Pyramid Schemes.

The Importance of Web Presence for Small Businesses

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:52:10 GMT

Unless you're living under a rock, you know that the internet is a very, very powerful tool for small businesses. If your business doesn't have a webpage on the internet already, you're way past overdue to get one. The majority of Americans use the internet daily, and consumers expect businesses to be familiar and utilize the web as well. The internet gives your consumers a window to your business and a way to reach you 24/7/365.

Additionally, local search is becoming an important tool for businesses to be found on the internet. In fact, a mid-March 2010 survey by BIA/Kelsey and ConStat shows just how important the internet is for small business. "The most common online tool used for local research was search. Nearly one-half of respondents used Internet yellow pages and 42% checked comparison-shopping sites before heading to local businesses." The survey also showed 90% of consumers searching online first to buy locally. Building a presence on the internet is imperative for small businesses. To expand your presence on the internet, look into these different strategies.

Get Your Business Listed
Local search (as indicated in the survey above) is rapidly becoming an important aspect in small business web presence. Not only is it important to have a strong website, but also to claim your business online to be picked up by search engines. Your business listing is what will come up when consumers search for business on big search engines, such as Google, Bing, etc. Claiming your business will help your business climb in keyword search results on the big search engines. To get found online and claim your business today visit EZlocal.com.

Business Blog
Small businesses who blog will expand their web presence by simply communicating with their customers and the world wide web. The connection is important to build relationships and act as not only business information for a consumer, but also to act as a resource for industry news and trends. As someone with knowledge, it is your job to share it with your consumers and others in your industry.

Furthermore, including a blog on your small business website will assist in long-term keyword recognition. Using important keywords helps your business get found online in search engines, and also informs the reader on the topic of the blog. Beware of meta tag descriptions and keywords - you do not want to be recognized as spam. Read more about blogs for your small business here.

Utilize Social Media
Unsure how to use social media for your small business? A few ideas include starting a marketing campaign, offering coupons for Twitter followers, or posting a special event on Facebook Fan Page. The internet allows small businesses to interact, plan and communicate online. To keep up with social media, it is important to concentrate on two to three sites and create a strong presence. The top sites for businesses to engage in social media are Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. A simple way to find out what sites you should use for your business is by simply asking your customers. They are, after all, the ones you want to engage with!

Additionally, incorporate your social media into your website. Include links to your Facebook Fan page, Twitter account, or LinkedIn group for easy access for your web visitors to engage with your business via social media. If you have company newsletters, include your social media links in there as well. Connecting is just a click away!

Measure Your Progress
Measuring your business' presence online is important to see what traffic you are driving to your site. Use Alexa rankings to gauge how your website stands up to the rest on the internet. Another way to measure how people are visiting and interacting with your business is measuring the number of comments your blog has, or the number of followers or fans in your social media campaigns. Both statistics are important. Tracking your website statistics with Alexa or Google Analytics helps to determine where the majority of your traffic is coming from, bounce rates, and click-through rates.

Small businesses need web presence-plain and simple. A lack of internet presence will no doubt keep potential consumers from finding your business. What other tips do you have for putting your business on the internet?

Small Business Success Story: Yevgeniya Lepskaya School of Music

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:15:13 GMT

Can you tell me more about yourself?
I was born in Kiev, Ukraine and immigrated to the United States when I was 19 years old. I received a full scholarship to Roosevelt University Musical College in Chicago. I graduated in three years, with honors, from the Chicago Musical college with a Bachelors degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. I then attended Northern Illinois University for graduate school on a full scholarship, and received my Master's degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy in 1999.

What made you decide to start your business?
I have been teaching music all my life. While I was a student at Roosevelt, I began teaching a few people on the side. Word began to spread of my teachings, and the number of students I had kept growing. Six years ago, I got my own space and started my teaching business.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome?
The biggest challenge that I had to overcome was coming to the United States. I did have full scholarships to Roosevelt, but I only had $200 in my pocket. It was very hard to survive on little money, let alone in a brand new country. It was a struggle to survive, but I overcame the challenges with the help of teaching.

What is your favorite aspect of owning your own business?
I view my business as an extension of myself. I love what I do. I've been involved with music my entire life, and teaching for many, many years. Music is what I know, and what I love. It is about the art; it is beautiful and a special gift. The best part, for me, is working with the children. The children are like my extended family - it warms my heart to know that they appreciate and care about me as much as I care about them. It gives me a great feeling to know that I have great relationships with the children.

What motivates you?
My motivation is the ability to perform for others. I still play the piano very often and perform yearly in Chicago. I am motivated to the best.

What advertising and marketing strategies have worked for your business?
I have tried participating in variety shows in my area, placing ads in the Yellow Pages, posting signs in various buildings in the area, and started a direct mailing campaign. The most successful strategy that has worked for me is word of mouth. Many of my students are referrals from current students. My business has recently been listed on EZlocal and I am excited to be found on the local search engine to bring in new business.

What has been your biggest success so far?
My biggest success so far is that I've never had any other job besides teaching and playing piano to support myself and my career. Most artists, whether its fine arts or creative arts, are forced to have other jobs to support their work. I have always been able to support myself, make a living, and create a life for myself solely with my art.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I would like to see my student body grow from 60 students to 100 students.

What is most important thing to remember when starting your own small business?
You have to do it for the right reasons - you can't start your own business to get rich quickly or to buy things. You should start a business if you have the skills, a unique idea, and a way to attract customers. It is important to be smart about money, space, rent, loans, and other financial burdens, and not start a business because you think you can get rich quick. Bottom line is: you need to do it for the right reasons.

If you could give aspiring entrepreneurs any advice, what would it be?
Do the math before you begin. Don't keep your heads in the clouds.

BUSINESS NAME: Yevgeniya Lepskaya School of Music
OWNER: Yevgeniya Lepskaya
LOCATION: Park Ridge, IL
WEBSITE: http://www.artofmusicschool.us/

Can a Small Business Owner be TOO Much of a Leader?

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:13:59 GMT

Many small business owners treat their business like their own child, and they definitely should. New small businesses need caring, nurturing, constant supervision, and could potentially cause an all-nighter. As the business continues to grow and employees are hired, the small business owner solidifies his or her role as leader of the business. As time goes on, it is important for the small business owner to become a trustworthy leader and relinquish some control over the business to its employees. But, some small business owners never reach that level of trust, and hinder their leadership abilities. Here are a few scenarios where small business owners are lacking in leadership.

You Have Anxiety About Giving Others Control
Occasionally, small business owners turn into control freaks: watching over employees shoulders, refusing to leave work before anyone else, meddling in others' work, and just being overbearing. Giving up the reigns is a difficult task, especially when you're the boss. Unfortunately, you can't do everything. Repeat - you cannot do everything! Your business will only be successful if you learn to trust others and create a system with your employees to delegate work fairly and appropriately. When employees feel trusted, they feel empowered and important. Employees are more likely to feel encouraged to work hard when they know their boss trusts them with work and gives them their baby to hold.

Your Business Does Not Have an Employee Manual
The first step to relinquishing control is to create an employee manual. Creating a manual will outline what you need your employees to do to conduct business in a productive and efficient manner. Additionally, as the author of the manual, small business owners can instruct employees on what to do based on how they want their business to be run. For example, the manual could include different closing procedures when the business closes shop in case the owner has to leave early.

You Delegate a Majority of the Work...to Yourself
Yes, your business is like your baby. Yes, you want to make sure that everything is done. If you do not delegate the work to your employees, you will lose productivity, money, and respect from your employees. Trust your employees that you hire and provide them with the manual. If trained properly, your employees can do the work exactly how you would. This way, you are trusting the employees with your business, and allowing them to actually do their job.

You Haven't Taken a Vacation Since Opening Your Business
Owning a small business is very stressful. Keeping track of finances, profits, your employees, and basically everything, falls on the shoulders of the owner. If business owners plan ahead and trust their employees, taking a vacation should not be a problem. Spending time away from the business and with your family is not only important for keeping your personal life in check, but also to give your business room to function without you.

The Solution

Too much of a leader? The solution is simple: back down and let go. Small business owners who put too much on their plate and choose not to back down will find themselves overworked, miserable, stressed, and fit the bill to be labeled a control freak. To start, you must realize that the business will never take off without delegating the work. Being a leader involves being in charge of your employees and their work. Take control of your business by releasing control. Next, avoid the urge to micromanage. It might be hard at first, but using an employee manual will give your employees direction and guidance.

A leader is someone that many people look up to, respect, and look to for guidance as a role model. A small business owner must be a leader for its employees. Being too much of a leader and too obsessive is a problem many business owners face. Realize the problem, and relinquish control to gain control of your business.

Want to Run Your Business Blog Into the Ground?

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:41:40 GMT

Business blogs are great. Not only do consumers get information on company's marketing campaigns, successes, and industry news, but also insight on the company itself. Blogs used correctly will draw people in, and create a great business-customer relationship. Those blogs which fail at creating this relationship and are used incorrectly could prove detrimental to your business. There are a few simple things that your business blog can do stop your blog up for business failure. Do you want to run your business into the ground?

Don't Include RSS Feeds

"Who cares about making it convenient for those who are following you? If they want to find your blog, they will. What's the use for an RSS feed?"

RSS feeds are a great way for your loyal readers to receive updates immediately each time your blog is updated. These people could include employees, customers, potential customers, competitors, or random people on the internet looking to gain information and insight to your company. Whoever is following your blog is following for a reason. Make it easy for them to keep updated!

Missing or Out of Date Contact Information

"Well, I have my email address listed on the contact page, so I figured if anyone wants to contact me about my blog, they can from there."

Contact information on your blog after each post is crucial. Have a small "contact" button with an automatic link to email to contact the author immediately. Also, keep your business contact information (address, phone number, email) at the bottom of every single page of your business website. That way, the information anyone needs to contact you is available at all times.

Avoid Reaching Out to Readers

"I write the blog, so I'm going to write about what I want to. My readers should have no say, since I'm the one writing!"

Reaching out to your readers via posting questions or comments on your blog is important. You need to have the attention of your readers, and a great way to do that is to interact with them. Do they want more information on any topics? Have industry questions? Need advice? Dedicate a blog post to your readers and ask them what they want from you. Encourage comments from your readers. Reach out and help your readers. In return, they will help you!

Get Very Creative with Keywords

"I want my blog to be found online, so I can use any keywords I want, right? Business, economy, other big buzz words will get my blog found. I can even include popular words to get my blog found in meta tags, like Lady Gaga!"

Keywords are what gets your business found online in search engines AND give the reader an idea of what the article will be about. Keywords should be in all important areas linking your blog to the world wide web: domain name, title, headings and tags. Meta tag description and keywords should also not be forgotten. They MUST be relevant to the information in your blog. Spamming your tags and keywords with buzz words will cause the opposite reaction of what was intended. Instead of search engines appearing higher in search results, the search engines will recognize the spam and your article will appear lower, or not even included in the results. Is it worth it?

Every Post is Written by "Admin"

"The blog is the blog by OUR business, and multiple people contribute. Why put a personalized face to the name?"

Every blog post has an author, and each author has different writing styles, preferences, and techniques. Whether it is the same author every time, or multiple employees contribute, you need to distinguish your authors for each post. Create different settings so each author can post their own blog. Include a small "about the author," as well as a picture and a link to contact the author directly. Putting a name and face behind each post gives readers a personalized feel for the blog.

No Comment

"I appreciate feedback, but I don't want negative comments, just positive ones. To avoid this, I'm leaving off the comment box. I don't care what people say, anyways."

As stated before, interacting with your readers is crucial to finding out what they want to know, what they like, and what they don't like. Face it - you're NOT perfect; no one is. Any comments, positive or negative, generates a follow up conversation and additional interaction with your readers. Any comment deserves a short, "thank you," and a follow up statement. Think of negative comments as constructive criticism. Address them appropriately, and do not attack the commenter.

A business blog is an exceptional tool that must be used properly and effectively. Do you know of any ways to run your business blog into the ground?

Top 10 Tax Tips I Didn't Know

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:58:03 GMT

Tax time for small businesses is typically very stressful. With the April 15 deadline approaching, now is the time (if you haven't already) to get started on preparing your taxes. While researching for this week's tax tips and blog, I came across many tax tips that I didn't know about. Check out my Top 10 Tax Tips!

File Your Tax Return for Free - The IRS Free File program provides free federal income tax preparation and electronic filing for eligible taxpayers through a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance LLC, a group of private sector tax software companies. Free tax preparation and filing via online software is available to anyone with a 2009 Adjusted Gross Income of $57,000 or less. If that’s you, head to the IRS website and choose from a list of approved tax preparers, and get started. If you aren’t sure which preparer to use, answer a few quick questions and the Free File program will suggest some matching companies. (read more at Precept Law Group)

Go Green - Federal and state governments are throwing money at small businesses in the form of tax incentives for environmentally friendly initiatives--from solar panels to energy-efficient washers and dryers. In Georgia, for example, a new Clean Energy Property Tax Credit program will dole out $2.5 million a year over the next five years, says Peter Stathopolous, a director at accounting firm Bennett Thrasher PC in Atlanta. In some states, small-business owners can use green credits to offset both corporate and personal tax bills. For a comprehensive list of incentives, check out the Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. (via Forbes.com)

Employ Your Children - Doing business with family has its challenges, but at least it comes with a tax benefit or two. Putting Junior on the payroll means he's qualified to begin contributing to a Roth IRA, a smart way for him to start saving for retirement. Another perk: Assuming your boy stays in the business, by putting him on the payroll you are essentially shifting a portion of the company's income into a lower tax bracket--his. You also receive a larger tax deduction for a dependent earning a wage than one who doesn't, notes Richard Dauman, a principle at Bessemer Trust. (via Forbes.com)

Deduct Your Business Startup Costs - Every new business incurs start-up costs for a variety of things such as market research, training, and fees paid to consultants, accountants, and attorneys. The good news is that most of those costs are deductible, but the bad news is that the rules for deductibility and timing are not as clear as those for operational expenses. Section 195 of the Internal Revenue Code is the main provision related to the deductibility of start-up costs. According to this section, deductible start-up costs are those that would be deductible if they were incurred by an existing business. (continue reading at The Enrepreneurial Advocate)

Depreciation is Your Friend - "Be sure to maximize the depreciation deductions available by using the Section 179 immediate deduction of certain fixed assets and the 50 percent bonus depreciation for purchasing new assets," said Claude A. Titche III, CPA, Tax Partner at Beene Garter in Grand Rapids, Mich. "Quicker depreciation expenses save tax dollars for other important purposes. Remember that you only get to deduct the cost once. A current deduction is better than a deferred deduction." (via Moore Stephens North America Inc.)

IRS Resource for Learning About Business Taxes - Bootstrapping entrepreneurs need as many low to no-cost resources as they can get their hands on to start and run their businesses. A good, free resource for start-up tax information to check out is the IRS Virtual Workshop. The surprisingly modern interactive site is designed to help new businesses owners understand federal tax obligations and procedures. Users can choose from nine different lessons. (continue reading at Precept Law Group)

Watch Out for Surprises From Out of State - "Small business owners need to review their state filing requirements for income tax, personal property or sales and use tax," advised Joel Rothenberg, CPA, Tax Partner at DiCicco Gulman and Co. in Boston. "The states are very aggressive in enforcing their laws and small business owners need not only be aware of the rules in their home state but determine whether their activities in other states trip a filing requirement." (via Moore Stephens North America Inc.)

Check, Check, and Re-Check - Re-examine every purchase, every expense you made in 2009. Make sure you've taken all the business tax deductions you are entitled to: expenses you didn’t record in your ledgers, expenses you didn’t think were deductible, “personal” expenses that qualify as business expenses. Neither the IRS nor your accountant is going to know about a deduction you forgot to take. It's entirely up to you. (via PowerHomeBiz.com)

Take Advantage of the New Rules for Business Losses - "Small business owners need to plan for their net operating losses (NOLs). An election must be made at the time the 2009 tax return is filed to either carryback or carryforward the current year NOL. The taxpayer needs to look at the tax rates and income levels in the prior years. If they were not substantial and income is expected to increase in the future, it may be better to carry the loss forward," said Stacey J. Dell, CPA, Tax Partner at Mohler, Nixon & Williams in Campbell, Calif. (via Moore Stephens North America Inc.)

Report Large Cash Payments - Listen up, members of the under-the-table crowd: Cash transactions greater than $10,000 must be reported to the IRS, via Form 8300, say AGH's Blue. That mandate goes for payments with cashier's checks, traveler's checks and money orders as well. Part of the information you'll need to complete a Form 8300 is the social security number of the buyer. (Beware buyers that give you push back--they may not want to be on the IRS' radar screen.) One weird caveat: While selling personal real estate doesn't require a Form 8300 filing, selling a mobile home does. (via Forbes.com)

Finally, one last big THANKS to Kyle Durand, an entrepreneurial adviser and legal expert on all things small business. Kyle has been the source this week for our tips, and has given us great advice to pass along to you. His business, Precept Law, specializes in helping small businesses legally. Find some great tax tips on the Precept Law blog . Visit Kyle Durand at www.entrepreneurialadvocate.com and www.preceptlaw.com , or join his conversation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kpdurand .

The Ten Commandments of People Skills in the Workplace

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:19:46 GMT

We use "people skills" each day during every interaction with others. Interactions in the workplace generally have a professional manner, and are typically analyzed and scrutinized. Look no further if you desire to boost your personal skills, be confident in the office, connect with others to establish rapport, and understand your reasoning for miscommunication. Follow these Ten Commandments for People Skills in the Workplace.

1. Thou Shall Not Complain
Don't complain! The workplace will be a stressful environment at times. Complaining at work takes away from productivity and invites negativity to take over. At least half of the people you complain to at work will not care, and some could even think that you got what you had coming. If you're frustrated with something while at work, save it for personal time.

2. Thou Shall Smile
Smile and say cheese! Smiling is part of the foundation for outstanding people skills. It shows the world that you are friendly and approachable. Additionally, a little known trick is to smile when you are talking on the phone, especially when making sales calls. Although the person on the other end cannot see the smile, they can hear it through your tone of voice and how you speak.

3. Thou Shall Actively Listen
Be an active listener! Listening is an important part in conversing with others. While one party speaks, the other is listening. While you may hear what others are saying, it does not mean you are actively listening. Hear words, process the information, and react. This is especially important in the workplace. Receiving orders from the bosses requires active listening. You don't want to miss out on any important information!

4. Thou Shall Show Appreciation for Others
Show that you appreciate others! In the workplace, many people typically handle one project. In this scenario, people skills play a major role when dealing with others to achieve a common goal. When a co-worker gives extra effort in a project or piece of work which you have benefited from, it is respectful and important to let them know you appreciate their work. A simple "Thank You" or "Hey great job there" will work. If you want to go above and beyond, inform your superior of his or her work, or take your co-worker out to lunch.

5. Thou Shall Not Forget Names
Don't forget names! Remembering names is important in all aspects of business. When you are trying to close a sale, using the customer's name is a way to remind them that you are paying attention to detail, and them specifically. Name recognition at work is important to make others feel appreciated, wanted, and involved.

6. Thou Shall Go Above and Beyond
Go above and beyond! Have you made any sacrifices for others (customers, clients, or co-workers) lately? Going the extra mile for others in your workplace will not only get more done, but add extra value for your work. Spending an extra five to ten minutes on a project for some extra added touches, or extending a courtesy phone call will show appreciation and your kindness.

7. Thou Shall Never Gossip
Don't gossip! Gossip is a killer in the workplace. Spreading treacherous rumors about a co-worker in order to get ahead or bond with another is detrimental to all. Gossiping tarnishes others' reputations, and separates the cohesiveness of your workforce. Avoid gossip at all costs. You never know who is listening.

8. Thou Shall Not Interrupt
Don't interrupt! In the workplace, many ideas are shared and exchanged between multiple co-workers. Regardless if you believe an idea is excellent or poor, hold your tongue. Interrupting shows very little respect for others. Be polite and allow others to finish their train of thought before commenting on others. Remember, be helpful and do not attack when providing constructive criticism.

9. Thou Shall Be Confident
Be confident! Confidence is key when it comes to interacting with people, especially in the workplace. Meeting with superiors about a big project will get your nerves going, but it is important to not let it show. Be confident in your actions and around people. Hold your head high and be prepared for any and all situations that could be presented to you. Heed this warning: Too much confidence is frowned upon. Be confident, not cocky.

10. Thou Shall Self Assess Thy People Skills
Always evaluate yourself first! Do you know how strong your people skills are? Or how weak? Self assessments help judge your progress with knowing what you can do and how you can relate with others. Additionally, self assessments gauge your skills at the workplace. If you find yourself struggling with your people skills, reflect on these commandments to find out ways to improve.

Use these guidelines when communicating, relating, and speaking with others in the workplace. Mastering your people skills will help with miscommunication or misunderstandings at the workplace. You'll connect with others, establish rapport, handle confrontation professionally, and learn to give constructive criticism effectively. Do you have any pointers on personal skills?

Know Your Industry

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:08:12 GMT

Starting a small business is an exciting time for entrepreneurs, especially if it is in an industry that they love. Taking a hobby or interest and turning it into a business is a common trend for many entrepreneurs. Having the love and dedication that small business owners need to start their business is important, but you can't make common mistakes to keep your business from success. An important step in starting your own business is knowing your industry.

An industry is defined by Princeton as, "the people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise." It is important to know specifics about your industry for many reasons. Knowing your industry will not only help your business succeed, but also give you an edge on your competition, and provide banks and other lenders information that they need to make an educated decision about loans for your business.

So what do you need to know?

Industry Participants
You need to know who is selling in your industry. Most importantly, you need to know the different types of businesses that are selling in your market. For example, make sure you know whether big name chains are infiltrating your industry, or if smaller businesses are dominating.

Competition
You absolutely must know your competitors. They are the individuals who will either make or break your business. You should know your main competitors and a few specifics of their business. This includes: strengths, weaknesses, products, distribution tendencies, finances, reputation, pricing, and more.

Distribution Patterns
Know every step on the path between suppliers and users. Who uses distribution companies? Manufacturers? Retail stores? Door to door? Telemarketing? Analyze the success rate of each of these different strategies. Also, keep in mind that the Internet has changed the way distribution works. You can find out specifics on different companies through various websites. Additionally, Internet sales have skyrocketed in the past years and have created new distribution channels and processing.

Buying Patterns
Buying patterns include factors or key selling points which lead to a consumer's decision to make a purchase. These factors include: service, support, price, sales staff, training, software, delivery, brands, and reputation. Understand what is working for your industry, and what is not.

Trends
Know what is popular, and what is not. Gain an edge on your competitors by knowing and providing consumers what is desired and wanted right now. Know the environment, especially when the trends change.

Entrepreneurs must have a grasp on their business' industry before opening its doors. You need to know what is working in your industry and what is not, who your competition is and what they offer, and patterns of your consumers.

Start-Up Businesses: A Timeline

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:51:49 GMT

Everyone has seen the start-up of a small business in movies or television. It all seems like a piece of cake, right? You take a great idea, find an abandoned location, declare that you're starting a business, and in a few weeks, your business is filled with products, people, and money. In reality, that is never going to happen (unless you're Uncle Jesse from Full House starting up the Smash Club).

Starting a business takes time, and lots of it. When you have a great idea, there's no time to lose. Start acting to launch your business is immediately. Most businesses average a 9-12 month planning and organizing process before opening its doors. Use the timeline below as a guide to track your progress on your start up business.

NOTE: This is a guideline. Every business is different. Use this as a basic template to see our recommendations on what to do for a start-up. Some businesses many not need all these steps. Some may need to delve deeper into certain aspects. Every start up business is unique.

8-12 Months Before Opening Your Doors

Choose your business based on an idea, skills, and business focus
Research your idea thoroughly

Target audiences
Possible locations
Various markets
Competition

Brainstorm a name for your business; check to see its availability and register
Apply for licenses from your city, county, state, and/or industry
Find your key advisers

Bankers (set up budget and business plan)
Lawyers, attorney (legal purposes)
Insurance brokers (liabilities for employees)

Choose your business location

Design a layout
Find out about zoning permits
Review leases with attorneys

Look into business organizations for networking and advice

Chamber of Commerce
Industry associations
Small Business organizations
Main Street Groups

Determine your business goals and mission statement

4-8 Months Before Opening Your Doors

Revisit your business plan for revisions and to add to it

Marketing ideas
Advertising campaigns
Social media campaigns

Decide on business type (Sole proprietor, Partnership, Corporation, etc)
Revisit your banker

Discuss final budget
Set up payroll
Discuss financial obligations

Create a petty cash fund for emergency
Draft a "back up" plan

0-4 Months Before Opening Your Doors

Double check business licenses and insurance
Arrange movers, Internet installation, telephone installation
Open business bank accounts
Set up "Grand Opening" marketing and advertising campaigns

Throughout community
Chamber of Commerce meetings
Online announcements

Draft employee handbook
Hire employees

Write copy for job postings
Interview employees

Contact IRS for Federal Employment ID Number
Contact your state for State ID Number
Apply for seller's permit
Contact state for tax forms, employment requirements
Contact state for mandatory posters in the office

Fair compensation
Sexual harassment
Safety

Order supplies, office furniture, and equipment
Determine business specifics (hours, email address, etc)
Train employees
Set up Website
Set up Social Media

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube channel

As stated, every business is different. Take these general guidelines to heart when starting up your business. If you have any business suggestions for start-ups, feel free to comment or shoot me an email for my next start-up blog at cheryl@gowithabc.com.

A Window to Your Business World

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:43:40 GMT

Retail shops are one of the most common small businesses in America today. To compete with the other boutiques, mom & pop shops, and, yes, even retail chain stores, it is important to appeal visually to your customers. An appealing and motivating storefront window will grab people's attention and attract them to your store. Let's take a closer look.

Recognition
To make a name for your business, you need to be recognized by customers, potential customers, or people who were referred to your business. Without being recognized, who will notice you? You need a few simple things to be recognized.

Business Name- Stating the obvious, your business name must be prominently displayed for all to see.
Logo- Your logo is what will help people "brand" your image in their brain. More on logo's in a bit.
Business Information- Don't go too overboard with using your business information as a part of your storefront design. It is important to have your store hours, address, phone number, email address, and/or website on your storefront for simple information. This information is typically on the door to businesses, but it is important to be there nonetheless. Make sure it is professionally constructed, and that all the information is current.

These three components make up the first visual impression of your business. As first impressions are lasting, it is important that they are able to reach a multitude of people. Your storefront will obviously be seen by those who are standing right in front of your business, but what about those further away? It is important to make sure that your business name and logo can be seen from the opposite side of the road.

Enticement
What you display in your storefront windows is what people outside will know, understand, and see about your business. There needs to be enticement, or something to lure customers in your business, as a part of your storefront window display. The goal of your storefront window is to get people to act upon their feelings that you evoke from your display. You must create a need for people to get curious about your store and want to enter.

Logo- Each business needs to have a logo, regardless of how simple or complex it is. Your logo should be unique, brand your business, and easy to recognize. Find more tips on creating a logo here.
Product Placement- Your storefront window should give a sample of what you are providing inside your business. Having a few of your products in your window is a good way to entice customers to enter. Include a wide variety of products: fairly inexpensive, costly, new shipments, sale items, and best sellers. The most important product in your storefront window is the one that sets you apart from other stores.
Aesthetic- Your storefront display needs to be pleasing to the eye. Spacing, colors, design, and layout are all important factors. Glass shelves are a great way to blend in with the glass for the storefront window. Also, you could try to hang various parts of your display from the top of your window ledge with just a few hooks and fishwire. Create a theme for your design so that the colors and layout will coordinate with your products.
Keep Your Display Unique- People will notice any changes in your storefront display. It is important to make it unique to you and anything important going on in your business or in the world around you. Change it up for holidays, big events, important sales, and season. Make sure to meticulously plan your next design before you start to deconstruct your old display. Don't forget: changing your window is a free advertisement.

Storefront window displays can be an excellent first impression on a potential customer if you plan, design, and execute correctly. Plan ahead, show off all the right stuff, and lure your customers in the store with your logo, product placement, and design. Get creative!

Novice Blunders

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:41:58 GMT

Everyone makes mistakes. For businesses, mistakes can be the deciding factor for staying in business or closing their doors forever. Many novice small business owners make the same mistakes within the first year of opening their business that causes them to have to close down. Find the top five mistakes and what you can do to prevent them below.

Mistake #1) Putting Your Heart & Soul Into Your Business, But NOT Your Head
It takes great deal of passion to start a small business. In fact, many small businesses are a result of a passionate idea or organization. It is important to have the strong feeling to get the business off the ground. Unfortunately, that is not enough. As much passion and drive you have for your business, it is important to also think about other factors for your business, especially your finances. Passion doesn’t pay the bills. You need to have a plan from the get-go to be able to determine if you business is simply a passion-driven idea, or something that is lucrative and will be able to keep its doors open. Talk to a business consultant, Chamber of Commerce, or network with other small business owners to have a resource and guidance for starting up a small business. Your heart and head need to work together.

Mistake #2) Inaccurate Financial Planning
It is every new business owner’s dream to have the cash flowing as soon as you open the doors. Reality is, that doesn’t always happen. Cash flow is essential to having a successful business, and it starts from when you start the process of opening your business. Aside from the start up costs of finding a building, purchasing or manufacturing products, and hiring employees, you need to keep in mind that there are other factors in determining costs and cash flow. One of the most important aspects of planning for your business financially is building a customer base. Without one, you will have no incoming cash flow or profit, and more than likely will have to close your doors. Building a customer base is not an easy task and takes time and energy. Experts suggest having at least six months of cash saved on reserve in case of hardship for your business. It is better to plan ahead for problems and have money saved in the back in case of emergency. Lack of plans could lead to the lack of your business.

Mistake #3) Going into Business Blind
So, you have an idea for your business, a great idea in fact, money for start up, and money set aside for hardship. If you think you’re good to go, think again. One of the biggest mistakes new small businesses make is going into business without knowledge of your market. It is vital to do simple market research. Before choosing a location for your business, you should do some investigating. Find out about the community where you want to start your business: trends, socioeconomic information, demographics, and most importantly, where your competition is. Remember, pricing and product placement is important. Once you find the area you want to set up camp, delve deeper into the community. Start attending Chamber of Commerce meetings. Get to know other local small business owners to network. Infiltrate yourself into the community in a positive manner.

Mistake #4) Not Knowing Your Business
You NEED to know your business. This is more than just phone number, address, and other contact information. Your "elevator pitch," a two minute summary and attention grabber about your business to a potential customer, is important to have. It is not necessary to memorize your elevator pitch, but you should know it well enough to be able to tell others at a moment's notice. Business cards are important to have on you at all times when opening a new business. Also, think ahead of possible questions that people might ask you. Know the answers to those questions. Your business' history is equally as important. Remember that you got into your business and opened it for a reason. Channel your passion for your business when talking about your business. Don't lose sight of what moves you.

Mistake #5) Not Assuming the Role of Small Business Owner
Having a job is one thing, and owning a small business is completely different. Owning a small business is more than a job. You need a completely different set of skills to own and run your own business than you need to perform well at a job. First and foremost, you need an entrepreneurial heart, goals, and the ability to dream big. Unfortunately, it doesn't end there. There are many technical aspects that small business owners need to know, including how to keep finances, legal issues, and employment issues. You can learn these entrepreneurial skills by networking with other small business owners, reading entrepreneurial based books, or talking to small business counselors.

Using your heart and your head are important when opening a small business. You need the passion to keep your business going, especially during the rough times. You need a business mind and entrepreneurial skills to keep your business open. Many small businesses fail within the first year, most of which because they make one of these five mistakes. Take measures to prepare for these mistakes in advance, and avoid them at all costs.

Suspicious Support: Wal-Mart's Failing Campaign in Chicago

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:48:15 GMT

Wal-Mart has set on an endeavor to break into the Chicago retail market yet again. A location has been proposed in Chatham, a town on the South Side of Chicago, for a second Wal-Mart within Chicago city limits. There are people that have voiced their opinions against Wal-Mart. Some believe that there will be no tax revenue for the city, no net job increase, Wal-Mart will drive down wages, and, most importantly, destroy local businesses. Wal-Mart and its allies refute the accusations, saying that the neighborhood and its area residents should be the ones who decide on the fate of the mega mart. Truthfully, the South and West sides of Chicago don't have very many options for their necessities and few resources. The Chatham Wal-Mart is one of the suggested solutions.

The Story
All businesses, including ones that are already established, need to have support to get the business started on the right foot. This can be done through public relations, marketing efforts, words of mouth, or through community groups.Wal-Mart created an online group in favor of the big box store opening in Chatham , but after taking a closer look, the "group" turned out to be nothing but a PR ploy from the Chicago Chamber of Commerce and a consulting firm in the Chicagoland area.

The imaginary community group was discovered by Chicagoist writer Kevin Robinson, after writing several articles discussing the new Wal-Mart. Finally, after much investigation, Robertson produced evidence of the false group and made it public on the Internet. His investigation started with an individual who would leave comments on his blog under then name "Chatham." Chatham would repeatedly read Robinson's blogs and comment in favor of the new Chicagoland Wal-Mart. Additionally. Chatham would lash out at strangers leaving comments that differed from his opinions. Finally, after a regular commentator accused Chatham of being a "paid Wal-Mart/Daley, PR spammer," Robinson took the investigation into his own hands.

After tracing the URL that was associated with Chatham's name, Robinson found himself at Our Community, Our Choice, a website which promoted the opening of a Wal-Mart in Chatham, which noted that it was supported by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Delving further Robinson contacted the email address associated with Chatham's comments, and traced the IP address to Serafin and Associates, a Chicagoland consulting firm that manages the PR for Wal-mart's campaign in the area.

Robinson contacted multiple people, one of which being the Regional Director of Media Relations for Wal-Mart, Tara Stewart. She would only answer five written questions from Robinson regarding the issues, and since the Chicagoist only does interviews face to face, Stewart resulted in a dead end.

Robinson was directed to the Government Relations Director at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Michael Mini. The interview proved to answer more questions than Mini answered himself. Mini reaffirmed the position for Our Community, Our Choice, which is their "advocacy to gain support," and it was "set up as a way to communicate with people." Furthermore, Mini admitted that he was not surprised thatSerafin and Associates were using their IP address to make such comments on his blog, but couldn't comment on why he didn't find it surprising. The most surprising comment came after Robinson asked Mini if he lives inChatham, or Chicago for that matter. He could only say, "no comment."

What This Means
America’s Best Companies was founded on the belief that small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. In Chicago, right in ABC’s backyard, the addition of another big box store could prove to be detrimental to the small businesses in the area. Local stores, boutiques, and mom & pop shops would be eliminated by the big-box store, therefore costing hundreds of Chicagoans their jobs. Chicago’s rich culture is filled with small shops and unique businesses, which might be lost with an addition like this. We need to ensure that small businesses stay in business, continue to flourish and boost our economy.

The bottom line here is that Wal-Mart's sleazy campaigning and promoting strategies is getting the big-box store nowhere. The negative press that they are receiving for Robinson's work is astounding, with much thanks to the Internet. TheChicagoist article has been tweeted, linked to, and mentioned in many blogs and articles since its release last week. The Internet has proven yet again to be a tool for getting the word out, and hopefully the word will spread so a secondWal-Mart is not built in Chicagoland thanks to an imaginary group to promote the big-box.

Don't Market to Generation Y

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:01:06 GMT

Sometimes known as the Millennials, Connecteds and Unreachables, Generation Y is compromised of individuals in their 20s and younger, or born in 1982 or later. They are an important generation to understand because they are comprised of 71 million Americans who spend over 200 billion dollars annually. They're taking over the Baby Boomers as the largest percentage of the working world. Gen Yers are hard to reach as a whole, yet one of the largest markets to make purchases. The best way to market to Generation Y is to not market to them, instead, establish a connection.

As a Gen Yer, I can tell you that we are a very unique group to understand, and an even more complicated group to know how to market to. Gen Yers are a product of Baby Boomers, and we were raised in a different way than any other generation. Baby Boomers raised us to be optimistic, live our lives first and work second, and that we can do and be anything we want to. Talk about optimism! Now that Gen Y is older, it is becoming increasingly difficult to market to this generation because of how they were raised.

So, how do you market to them?

Establish a Connection. Businesses will never get anywhere with Generation Y unless they communicate to them directly and specifically. Talking at them will do no good. A connection has to be made. Start a conversation, reach out to Gen Y and ask them what they want.
Cater to Gen Y. When you want Gen Y to buy into products and services, these elements have to fit certain qualifications. There must be a minimal cost (Gen Y have a "free spending" attitude, but not much money to spend), good quality (they won't pay for something that won't last), fast service (time is very valuable for Gen Y; don't waste any) and provide an experience (give them something worth remembering and talking about).
Be Authentic. Gen Y has experienced 9/11, wars and in addition to nearly every marketing scheme in the book. They will know what is real and what is not when presented with your marketing. Be genuine.
Get Endorsed by Their Friends. Gen Y listens to businesses to a degree, but the majority of them listen to the media and celebrities for what is popular. Also highly regarded are their social networks, their friends and other internet friends. Getting the seal of approval from who they listen to will help reach Generation Y.
Be Connected. Social media is a key communication tool and almost a way of life for Gen Y. If you have a good product they'll tweet about it. If you have a bad product then you can expect to see rants on Facebook statuses. Stay connected to Gen Yers by making a Facebook Fan Page and a Twitter account to reach out to this generation.
Engage Gen Y. Street teams are becoming increasingly popular for ways to interact with Gen Y. Get out into the world, approach them, and make the connection by communicating.

Companies Who've Successfully Marketed to Gen Y

Let's take a look at what companies have successfully marketed to Gen Yers in the past decade. Apple, Trader Joes, Mountain Dew, and Red Bull are just a few companies that come to my mind.

Apple clearly understands how to market to Gen Y. With the development of the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, and Mac, they reached out to Generation Y. Apple offers trendy gadgets with a "new" version of the products every few months or so, keeping up with the trends and Gen Yers "having to have" it. Also, iTunes gave Gen Yers music almost instantly for a low price to put on their iPods.

Red Bull is another business that understands Gen Y. You can see Red Bull representatives driving through towns, especially college campuses, promoting the energy drink with a uniquely decorated car featuring a giant bull and can on the top. Red Bull uses street teams to get Gen Yers excited about their product and hands out free cans and gets involved. Seeing the Red Bull car triggers excitement for a free can. Red Bull evokes the excitement by being labeled as a trendy and exciting product among Gen Y.

As a Gen Yer, I will be brutally honest. I DVR my favorite TV shows just so I can fast forward through my favorite commercials. I listen to my iPod in the car, and if by chance I am listening to the radio, I change the station once I hear a commercial. The way to market to me? Get my attention. Do something that I will remember. Communicate to me by giving me what I want instead of what you think I want.

3 Resolutions for Your Small Business in 2010

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:45:38 GMT

A majority of Americans have the same few resolutions when the new year rolls around: lose weight, eat healthy, spend more time with family and friends. If you are a small business owner, you NEED to have resolutions for your business as well. With high hopes for the economy in 2010, contribute to your small business' hard work for success this year by abiding these three resolutions.

1. Push for Progress
A new year brings new beginnings, new policies, new goals and new habits. In 2010, push yourself and your employees for success and progress. For small business owners, this means clearly planning assignments, projects, and objectives. Communicate to your employees what you expect from them before pursuing any project. Also, small business owners should take control of progress by conducting multiple mini reviews throughout the course of the year. Reviews help small business owners communicate to their employees what they are doing right, what they should be doing, and how they can improve. Provide constructive criticism in a way that is not condescending. For employees, take responsibility for your work. Be attentive and productive. Work hard independently, and know what is required of you before embarking on a project. Work efficiently, but complete the work accurately and completely. Take reviews and critiques seriously. Constructive criticism is important and very valuable information as an employee. Receiving praise for great work and things to work on are excellent ways to encourage hard work and progress.

2. Prioritize
It's pretty safe to say that a small business that is not organized will not be successful. Organization is key, and prioritizing is the first step. Even the simplest things need to be prioritized, such as checking emails, calling clients back, balancing the checkbook, and specific projects. Set a schedule for yourself and plan out your day, every day. Having a set schedule will help you realize where you are wasting time, and what you can do to change your habits and be more productive. For example, while it is important to check your social media sites for your business, it is not important to check up on your chickens and cows on Farmville . Keeping an orderly schedule will not only help you use your time efficiently, but you will get more stuff done and keep your company continually progressing (see #1).

3. Stop Procrastinating
There really is no time like the present. Procrastinating is a habit that most Americans have, and it is one that you CAN change. Start off by learning how to manage your time and prioritize (see #2). Once you can master these skills, you are well on your way. As a small business owner, there must be things that you have always wanted to do but have been putting them off for various reasons: not enough time, not enough money, unsure of the outcome, fear of doing something big. Conquer that fear. Living one day at a time is important, but so is not regretting what you should have done. Move to a bigger space. Expand your product line. Increase services. Take time off work and go on vacation with your family. Stop talking, planning, and thinking. Do it!

As you've noticed, resolution number three depends on number two, and number two depends on number one. Essentially, once you make the decision to start pushing your business towards progress and success, you can start to work on prioritizing and procrastinating. All three of these resolutions will help your business, your employees, and yourself.

My 2010 resolution for America's Best Companies is to write about what YOU want to hear, and to give you clear, useful, and exciting information. Feel free to email me, cheryl@gowithabc.com, with suggestions, questions, complaints (I'm not perfect), or ideas. Happy 2010!

Health Care Reform: House & Senate Bill Breakdowns

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:22:50 GMT

On Christmas Eve, the Senate passed their version of the health care bill, bringing America one step closer to a new universal health care system. The House version of the health care bill was passed in November, each with their own set of rules and regulations. Now, we play a waiting game. President Obama and his team will now reconcile the differences between the two bills into one bill. The final bill will be voted on by each chamber before being signed into legislation by President Obama. The House and Senate Health Care Bills are VERY different on very important issues that all Americans, especially small business owners, need to be aware of. Below are various topics included in both the House and Senate health care bills broken down, as well as some FAQ about what this means for small business owners.

Abortion

The House bill would ban abortion from being covered in the new public plan EXCEPT in the cases of rape, incest, or threat to the mother's life. It also bans people from using government subsidies to purchase private plans with abortion coverage on the exchange.

The Senate bill would essentially create a "firewall" to prevent federal subsidies from going towards abortion coverage. In plans that do cover abortion, beneficiaries would have to pay for it separately, and those funds must be kept in a separate account from taxpayer money.

Affordability(note: the costs for individuals will vary by income bracket)

Under the House bill, people receiving subsidies would never be required to pay more than 9.8% of their income towards health insurance. Those individuals NOT receiving government subsidies would never be required to pay more than 6.6% of their income towards health insurance.
Under the Senate bill, people receiving subsidies would never be required to pay more than 12% of their income towards health insurance. Those individuals NOT receiving government subsidies would never be required to pay more than 18.7% of their income towards health insurance.

Cost

The House bill costs $1.1 trillion dollars over a decade, which is over Obama's $900 billion health care spending cap.
The Senate bill would cost $871 billion over a decade.
The cost for plans for individuals cannot be predicted yet. Income, number of family members, subsidies, employer assistance, insurance policies, state of residence, and other factors contribute to finding out the cost of an insurance policy. Small business owners can gauge about how much they would spend per employee on insurance based on the number of employees, payroll, and cost of insurance that they currently provide. Again, the criteria is still just an estimate; more conclusive information will be available when the bills are merged.

Employer Requirements

The House bill requires employers to contribute to health care insurance for employees. Businesses with payrolls under $500,000 are exempt.
The Senate bill does not require employers to provide any health insurance. But, the bill would charge companies with over 50 employees a penalty for any employee whose health insurance ends up subsidizing. Additionally, a tax credit would be available for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees and $50,000 in average annual wages. A full tax credit would be available for small businesses with less than 10 employees and $25,000 in average annual wages.

Financial Assistance

Under the House bill, subsidies are available to those making up to 400% of federal poverty level (currently $88,000 per year for a family of four) for health insurance premiums. It would expand Medicaid eligibility for low-income individuals and families, cover new preventive services, and increase payments for checkups.
The Senate bill also includes subsidies for those making up to 400% of federal poverty level, and expands the Medicaid program to include those making 133% of the federal poverty level.

Funding

The House version draws on the wealthy to help fund public health insurance, levying surtaxes on anyone earning more than $500,000.
The Senate version imposes a 40% tax on every dollar above the $8,500 threshold for individual insurance premiums and $23,000 for families of four. This is more commonly known as the "Cadillac plan."

Help for Individuals & Small Businesses

The House bill sets up "insurance exchanges," in which those who are newly required to get insurance will have the opportunity to shop around to find a good policy. Until the exchanges are set up in 2013, the bill offers immediate assistance to those who have been uninsured for several months or denied a policy because of preexisting conditions.
The Senate bill also includes "insurance exchanges," and would open in 2014.

Illegal Immigrants

The House version addresses illegal immigrants but refuses to grant them federal funds, allowing them to buy insurance on their own.
The Senate bill denies illegal immigrants coverage even if they can pay for it themselves.

Individual Requirements, Mandates, & Penalties

Under the House bill, those who fail to buy health insurance face a penalty of up to 2.5% of their income.
Under the Senate bill, those who fail to buy health insurance face a penalty of $95 in 2014 and reaches $750 in 2016 for adults or $2,250 per family, maxing out at 2% of income.

New Taxes

The House bill would tax the wealthiest Americans. Individuals making over $500,000 and families making over $1,000,000 would pay a surcharge on a portion of their income. This would take affect in 2013.
The Senate bill would impose a 40% tax on high-cost health insurance plans, which are those plans valued over $8,500 per individual or $23,000 per family. Additionally, the bill charges a 10% tax on indoor tanning services and increases Medicare payroll taxes, ranging from 1.45% - 2.35%, on individuals making over $200,000 per year and couples earning more than $250,000 per year. This would take affect in 2014.

Public Option

The House bill creates a government-run insurance program that offers plans in competition with the private market. The government would negotiate rates with health care providers. This plan INCLUDES a public option. Medicare expansion would cover more Americans under this bill.
The Senate bill does NOT include a public option. Instead, the bill offers national health exchanges, which are private plans regulated by the government, specifically the Office of Personnel Management. This bill draws on Medicaid to expand their coverage.

What does this mean for you?
What does this mean for YOUR small business?

What it boils down to is this: Every American will be required to obtain health care insurance or face annual penalties. There are different requirements for employers in the House and Senate bills.

House bill: Most employers that don't provide coverage that meets the minimum standards will pay a tax equal to 8% of their payroll, which provides cause to believe more people will be insured with health care by employers than on their own.
Senate bill: A smaller annual fee of $750 per full time employee against employers that do not provide insurance leaves officials believing that less people will be insured through their employers.
The penalties are higher in the House bill than in the Senate, which is why more people will be covered by employers if the House version passes.

Small businesses who meet the regulations for receiving tax breaks and are able to shop around for health plans will benefit the most from national health care reform. Unfortunately, many problems arise from spiraling effects of implementing sweeping national reform. Some of the minimum benefit requirements in the House and Senate bills would make insurance too expensive, causing them to drop what they already have than to upgrade their health insurance policies. Some small businesses would even save money by dropping insurance all together and paying the penalty fine.

This brings up an interesting question for small business owners: Is there a "hidden" incentive to eliminating employees to receive various benefits and breaks as a result of health care reform? If you are paying an outrageous amount of money to provide your employers with health care that needs to be upgraded in the reform bill, in some cases, it would be cheaper to drop the insurance and pay the fine. This calculation has many small businesses thinking about what they are going to do in the future regarding number of employees, tax credits, and the cost burden to upgrade insurance.

There are many, many things to think about as a small business owner upon the new regulations for universal health care. But, for now, all we can do is sit back and wait for Obama and his team to combine the two bills and decide the fate of our great nation.

It's Here! The Nexus One Google Phone

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:01:09 GMT

Christmas came on January 5, 2010 this year for thousands of Google addicts like myself. The launch of Google's hosted web store and new Nexus One phone is FINALLY here!

And I bet you're wondering why you, as a small business owner, should care? Good question! For starters, the Nexus One provides instant access to all of your favorite Google applications, which especially come in handy for small business owners. Track emails, access your calendar, and get your business phone calls through Google Voice on your Nexus One. Additionally, hundreds of applications are being developed by Google to challenge the rival iPhone's, giving small business owners access to their social media sites, finance insights, sales information, and more.

Google's hosted web store is a new way to connect Google's online users with the ability to purchase Android devices. The goal is simplicity: simple ways to purchase a phone and service plan, delivery, and start up. Sounds too good to be true, but then again, it's Google, so it has to be true!

The first phone is the Nexus One. With a sleek look similar to that of the iPhone, it integrates all of Google's apps onto one mobile device: Gmail, Google Talk, Google Maps, Google Voice, and more. The Nexus One is as tall and thick as a pencil, and weighs about 53 pennies. There's also a metal band on the back of the phone that you can have engraved. It's a perfect spot for alternative contact information, such as an email address, in case your beloved phone is misplaced. Some more features, discussed on the Google Blog include:

Dynamic noise suppression from Audience, Inc.
A large 3.7" OLED display for deep contrast and brilliant colors
A 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon™ chipset for blazing speeds
Runs on Android 2.1, the newest version of Eclair
Voice-enabled keyboard so you can speak into any text field
Live Wallpapers
3D photo gallery for richer media experiences

Motorola has already released a version of this phone, called the Droid, which was released to Verizon in fall 2009. From reviews and a friend who has a Droid, it is one of, if not, the best phone on the market today. With the addition of the Nexus One to the Verizon family in Spring 2010, the Android platform seems to be unstoppable. It is quite different from that of the iPhone, but the Android platform has many advantages that the iPhone does not. For example, the Android is a free and open source platform and continues to grow. The devices are being built faster at a lower cost, and anyone can build anything on top of the platform. This angle is what Google was hoping for. Google paired their advanced technology with platforms and mobile devices to bring us the Nexus One.

Currently, the Nexus One is only available to purchase either without operator service or with service from T-Mobile USA. You can order with either of these two options, or wait for Spring 2010 with Verizon for the US or Vodaphone for Europe.

Personally, I absolutely CANNOT WAIT to purchase my Nexus One with the Verizon network. I currently have a Blackberry Curve and have always wanted an iPhone, but never wanted to make the switch from Verizon. Now, I can have an even better phone on my favorite network with all my vital Google applications. Hurry up, Spring 2010!

Five Ways to Survive the Holiday Season

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:10:51 GMT

The holidays are officially here! With Christmas just three days away, last minute shoppers are scrambling to buy gifts. Malls are crowded, lines are long, and finding parking takes hours. With all the stress that unfortunately comes with the holidays, there are a a few tricks that can be done to help you survive the season.

1. Be Patient & Flexible
For most, shopping during the holidays is one of the most stressful times of the year. The pressure to find the perfect gift for someone builds up on customers and often leaves them frustrated. Realize this as a small business owner and/or employee. You need to give your customers extra patience during this busy season. Understand that they might talk back at you, be rude, or even argue. It is nothing against you, just the frustration and stress of the holidays speaking. Be nice and patient with every customer at all times. If a problem arises, take a step back and think it through. Be flexible and creative to find resolutions to solve the problem. Take the extra time to go out of your way to help customers at whatever length necessary.

2. Put Customers First
YOUR customers came to YOUR business for a reason. Give them the great experience that they want and deserve. Without these customers coming into your business, your doors would not be open. Make sure you put your customers' happiness first. Encourage impeccable customer service and put their wants and needs first. Imagine if YOU were the customer coming into your place of business. What do you want to see from employees? How do you want to be treated? Think of these things when interacting with customers. Most customers are looking to get in, purchase, and get out as quick as possible. Also, customers' anxiety is lifted when they see helpful, smiling employees while shopping. Be the type of employee YOU would want to see as a customer.

3. Be Fast & Efficient
The holidays sneak up on most people every single year, and just as fast as they come, they go. Making time in already busy schedules to go shopping for gifts is quite a challenge that adds pressure to the holiday season. To ease the tension and stress, be fast and efficient to help out your customers. Know the answer to certain questions and products before helping customers. For example, if you have a popular item, make sure you know how much it costs, if you have any more in stock, and if you can order online. Keep in mind it is just as important to be fast as it is to be friendly.

4. Listen & Help Your Customers
Customers who ask for help really do need it; otherwise, they would not be asking for it (duh). It is important to focus on the customer and their needs when they approach you for help. Truly listen. Stop what you are doing. If you need to, ask questions to clarify what exactly your customer needs. Do whatever you can do to help your customer. It is important to sell to your customers as well, but during the holiday season, most shoppers know exactly what they are looking for when they shop. Save yourself from the bitter rejection and obnoxious eye rolls, and help your customers instead of "hard selling" to them. For the holidays, most businesses' goals are centered on profit as well as customer service. Provide exceptional customer service and help your customers, and the profit will come naturally.

5. Have Fun!
Tis the season to be jolly! Get in the holiday spirit to survive the hustle and bustle of crowded malls, stress, and pressure. Many are focused on the negative part of the holidays, especially when shopping and stressed. Remind your customers that this time of year is supposed to be fun. Bring joy to the workplace. Play holiday tunes to get your customer in the mood. Wear Santa hats or jingle bells. Hang holiday lights. Hand out candy to customers, especially to children. Get festive!

The holidays don't have to be a stressful time of the year. Easing the stress boils down to two things: provide great customer service and have fun. It is, after all, the most wonderful time of the year!

6 Rules of Marketing to Generation X

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:19:39 GMT

Combining unique preferences, resentment and rebellious tendencies, and elaborate priorities, marketing to Generation X is quite a difficult task. Here are 6 rules of marketing to Generation X.

Don't recycle the past. Generation X knows many popular marketing strategies that have worked for Baby Boomers. Gen X knows what has been used already, and in turn know what is a new and exciting way to grab their attention.
What's "In" may not be in with Gen X. This group is attracted to what is affordable and of great quality. Trends which don't break the bank are the ones that Gen X will lean towards. An example of well marketed trends to Gen X include the "Going Green" effort. Gen X is highly concerned about the environment and will try green trends.
"Hard selling" is poor selling. Generation X finds "hard selling" harsh, rude, and obnoxious. They are turned off by this sales method. If you are going to pitch to Gen X, you need to do so in a manner that will get them to listen. Gen X prefers hearing who you are, what your business is, what you stand for, and the quality of your product before making a decision whether to trust your business.
Honesty is the best policy. Manipulating Gen Xers is quite difficult, as they know the tricks and gimmicks that come along with sales. Be honest with them. Gen Xers will be more willing to buy or try your product if they TRUST you.
Don't be too stiff. Gen Xers aren't the most flexible generation, but being too stiff will cause problems in the end. Some flexibility is important. If Gen Xers are on the fence about a purchase or commitment to your product or service, see what you can do to cater to their needs. Can you give them a free trial? Take off a few bucks? See what you can do.
Don't be offensive. Gen X is compromised of a diverse group of people, each with different backgrounds and beliefs. Offensive or malicious ads targeted towards specific groups will turn off Gen X. Keep this in mind, especially if you are attempting humor in advertising.

"They have trouble making decisions. They would rather hike the Himalayas than climb a corporate ladder. They have few heroes, no anthems, no style to call their own. They crave entertainment, but their attention span is as short as one zap on the TV dial. They hate yuppies, hippies, and druggies. They postpone marriage because they read divorce. They sneer at Range Rovers, Rolexes, and red suspenders. Things they hold dear are family life, local activism, national parks, penny loafers and mountain bikes. They possess only a hazy sense of their own identity but a monumental preoccupation with all the problems the preceding generation will leave for them to fix."

This description, taken from a Time magazine cover story, describes Generation X. There are many misconceptions about Gen X and their values, morals, goals, and actions. For example, many believe that rocker Curt Cobain was the leader of Gen X and defined their generation. Although he was a part of Gen X, Cobain was not the leader, and in fact, he only spoke to a handful of people. Generation X is quite the complicated generation in terms of their attitudes, therefore making marketing difficult. Dissecting Gen X shows they both resent and rebel in their actions and attitudes. It is important to understand the difference between the two before finding ways to market to Gen X.

Resentment
Baby Boomers experienced a number of problems which were handed down to Generation X. These problems include debt, environmental issues, AIDS, homelessness, and divorce.These burdens were placed on the shoulders of Gen X and they couldn't do anything about it. This forced Gen X to feel a great deal of resentment for Baby Boomers. Gen X had to abandon the beliefs and examples they had while growing up of how to make, save, and spend money as a result of the new burdens. For the first time, a younger generation had less of a chance of achieving the standard of living as their parents. Generation X resented the burdens placed upon them, hindering the opportunities that were available.

Rebellion
Generation X is known for its rebellious tendencies. Can you blame them? The burdens Gen X faces, including debt and divorce, forced them to change the way they spend, save, and generate money. They had to stray away from what they saw their parents do, and found themselves frustrated that they couldn't achieve what their parents once did. To react on their frustrations, Gen X rebelled in ways they thought they would get their voices and frustrations heard. They rebelled in unique ways, causing a change of trends, actions, and values for their generation as a whole.

Generation X is quite the rambunctious group. Some of their distinct qualities include:

Gen Xers have a unique order of trust: themselves, friends, others, media. They listen to themselves first, then turn to their friends for feedback. Gen X trusts the media the least, putting the value on actual people's opinions rather than what the masses say.
Preferring straight talk instead of manipulation. Gen X is turned off by the manipulation of mass media, direct advertising, and hype. Marketing to them is a very difficult process, but it can be done with the right tools, mindset, and integrity.
Key issues set off Generation X and will help in making decisions on what companies, brands, or products they choose to purchase or support. Political, moral, and emotional issues are hot topics for Gen X and should only be used in marketing/advertising very cautiously.
The priorities of a product of Gen X are affordability, quality, and last, trendy. Generation X will jump on a great deal for a product before spending money for some expensive trend.
Generation X will test the waters out with a new or different brand that they are used to. Their willingness to adventure for a new product is unique to their generation. Keep in mind, they place importance on affordability and quality.
Communication is KEY. Gen X wants to feel like they are not being grouped. Communicate to them on a personal level to grab their attention. For example, an email blast with their name in the header makes the recipient important.

Generation X, simply put, is a complicated group of people with specific needs, wants, and values. How is your business going to stand out to Generation X? Think twice before being too trendy or offensive.

Top 7 Ways to Market to Baby Boomers

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:24:17 GMT

The Facts About the Generation
According to the US Census, 77 million people were born in the Baby Boomer era. This fascinating group of Americans make up the largest group in our nation. In fact, an American turns 50 years old every 7 seconds, more than 12,500 people every day! This generation has experienced every historical, cultural and marketing trend and phenomenon of the past half century (think Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" lyrics). This unique group of individuals have specific habits that define their generation. Let's take a closer look.

For starters, Baby Boomers are wealthy. According to the U.S. Census and Federal Reserve, 78 million Americans who were 50 or older as of 2001 controlled 67% of the country's wealth, which equals to about $28 trillion dollars. Baby boomers were taught to save and spend money carefully, which they exercise to this day due to the economy. Finding great deals in the paper, cutting coupons, and not touching their savings is a characteristic that they learned in their youth as a result from inheriting their parents' values from the Great Depression. Although they do have this amount of wealth and understand the value of the dollar, Baby Boomers spend their money wisely.

Baby Boomers have $2.3 trillion in disposable income, the largest amount for any generation. While they do know how to save their money, they know how to spend it as well. Retirement is a goal for all Baby Boomers, and once they hit retirement, statistics show they go on a large spending spree. Half of Baby Boomers plan to buy a new home after retirement, and are the most likely generation to make a home repair every six months or so. Baby Boomers have the money to spend, but they do so wisely. Where they do spend the money is where they know they will attain happiness, whether that be a new house, gadget, travel, car, or something to better the lives of them themselves and those around them.

How to Take Action
So, what does this mean to you? Baby Boomers are looking to spend, but wisely. They use social media sparingly, but are getting more and more involved as it becomes popular. With time and money on their hands for retirement, Baby Boomers like to try new things and explore new options. They value the ease of direct mailers and coupons they find in print media. They watch the news on TV, and a few prime time programs on the major networks. Finally, two-thirds of Americans age 50-64 use the Internet and visit specific websites of interest to their age category. Here are a few examples of marketing strategies to reach Baby Boomers that you can afford.

Create a Facebook Fan page for your business that is simple for users to understand and utilize. Link any viral videos on YouTube that your business may have, or for information in general. Simplicity is important.
Tweet deals from your business' Twitter account, but make it obvious that you are offering a deal or coupon. Use http://bit.ly/ to shorten links to your website where you can find the deal and to make it clearer to your followers that you have a deal. Ex: "Save 20% TODAY with our new online offer! Print & bring in store. (link)"
Ever notice how around the Price is Right, soap operas, or any daytime show on a major network you will hear multiple commercials for insurance? The insurance companies place their insurance advertisements for Baby Boomers during a time they know this generation will be tuned into the TV. Follow this strategy when you are marketing to Baby Boomers via the mass media: pick a medium and location you can guarantee they will see your advertisement.
Radio advertisements are a great alternative to an expensive TV commercial for marketing. Engage with listeners by being informative, yet catchy to remember the phone number. Relate to listeners, and tug on their emotions to encourage them to act immediately.
Baby Boomers have time and money, and try new things to fulfil their life dreams. Some travel, some go back to school, some start their own business, and some pick up new hobbies. Whichever option Baby Boomers choose, they value the feeling of youth and living life to the fullest. Try incorporating some of the Baby Boomers' classic songs in your advertising to grab their attention, and tie into the feeling of the "good old days" and how you can bring them back to that happy feeling. Nostalgia, nostalgia, nostalgia!
Ever wonder why stores ask for your phone number and/or email address upon purchasing? They are getting your information to send you coupons, deals, and direct mailers to use at their place of business. Send these deals out to your address book on a schedule; every two to four weeks is appropriate.
The Baby Boomers on the internet go to specific websites rather than surf the web. Banner ads are another great means in which to market to this generation. Start with creating ads that are based in emotion rather than facts. This generates more results, as does marketing to a "life stage" rather than the actual age. Don't forget to keep your message positive instead of threatening. Bold colors work while pastels should be avoided. Definitely don't do flashing or obtrusive as Boomers get annoyed and move away from those quickly. Some of the best places for those banners are on sites that revolve around retirement, travel, insurance and sweepstakes.

Think about this: By 2010, adults 45-years-old and older will out-spend younger adults by $1 trillion annually. Baby Boomers have the money and are willing to spend it wisely. How is your business going to stand out to Baby Boomers? Act wisely.

Overview of General Target Audiences

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:03:36 GMT

Last week, the ABC Small Business Tips explored different generations and gender as target audiences. Each generation, as well as men and women, have different approaches and insights on products, services, and businesses. These target markets are large groups, but if marketed to properly, your strategy will work on millions of people.

Baby Boomers
Baby Boomers consist of individuals born between 1945 and 1960. Their generation has been through decades upon decades of every single cultural and marketing trend and phenomenon of the past half century. The experiences that they have lived through (Vietnam, disco era, Berlin Wall, Desert Storm) help to define their life experiences which they rely on while thinking about purchases and trends today. This generation is full of hope and optimism because of their experiences, and know that there is an opportunity for anything to be accomplished. In this mindset, Baby Boomers are still in the workforce today because of their big dreams to live long to fulfill those dreams and are pushing back retirement. They appreciate the value of the dollar, and will cut out coupons in the newspaper and online. Finally, their experiences with many different types of people give Baby Boomers a large scope of how proper customer service should be. This generation is the one who will complain to get any situation fixed.

Generation X
Generation X is comprised of those in their late 20s - early 40s, born between about 1961-1980. Up until the recession, they have found success and positive experiences but are finding they have to change their ways of work, attitudes, and thoughts about the future. Previously, their hard work had paid off and the current economic situation is hindering their success. They are currently adapting to a frustrating situation hard work isn't making the full cut anymore in this economy. This generation is comprised of strong, original individuals who believe each of their opinions and ideas are valued. Additionally, Gen X values optimism and new opportunities, therefore are the group which will be likely to try a new business or product. Take advantage of their adventurous side by marketing to them via technology, such as social media, email campaigns, and newsletters.

Generation Y
Those in their 20s and younger, born in 1982 or later, are part of Generation Y. This group places a high priority on being involved, especially socially. Social media is KEY to Gen Y. They are on MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn , Twitter, instant messaging, blogs, and more. It is very important to this group to link to their friends. Use social media to promote the newest deals and the sense that "everyone is doing it" to reach this audience. The feeling of instant gratification is very important to Gen Y, and they are more apt to take advantage of instant savings or deals. The only way you will reach this group via marketing or advertisements is through gaining their trust. Finally, the media, testimonials, and others' opinions are very important to Gen Y.

Males
Men aren't the biggest fans of shopping in general. They are a unique group, and need to be catered to in a certain way. By having your product displayed to attract their attention and available for purchase, you will gain a customer. Men usually know what they are shopping for, and are eager to spot their item, get in, purchase, and get out as soon as possible. Connect to men through engaging content in specific places. Technology is a great way to connect to men, as most of them use search engines and actively check their email on a regular basis. Additionally, side banners ads on popular sports sites or Google ads will be a great way to reach men. Men are not as loyal to brands are they are to features, benefits, convenience, value, customer reviews, and industry ratings. Produce an excellent product with a great review and rating for men to stick to your brand.

Female
Women are quite different from men in many ways, but especially when it comes to them as a target audience. Women are loyal to their brands, unlike men. Once women find a brand that they like at an affordable price that they TRUST, they will continue to be loyal. Don't try to market to them with pink, frilly, and foofy advertisements or campaigns. Women feel advertisers don't understand them, but women are very simple: they are looking to get exactly what they want for the price they are willing to pay. Women actually number men on social networks, so market to them by communicating on blogs or sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Additionally, women look for bargains in newspapers and magazines. Women account for a total of 85% of all purchases. There is no way to forget about them; be loyal to your women consumers by being loyal to YOUR product and YOUR brand.

General target audiences are useful when marketing to a specific large group of people. Keep in mind the personalities, wants, needs, and values of these different groups when plotting a large marketing campaign.

The 411 on Target Audiences

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:52:21 GMT

As technology advances, many aspects of business advance as well. Websites are better designed, advertisements are presented in new mediums, and marketing strategies change. This means that consumers are reached in more new ways than ever before. With immediate information available, it is important to have a strategy for marketing which gives your business an edge over the competition. It is crucial to understand your customers and their needs in order to completely understand exactly what a target audience is.

Businesses' marketing strategies are built around the core objectives, values, vision, and goals of the organization. No matter how exceptional and outstanding a product or service is, there will be no success without the proper marketing. Furthermore, businesses cannot properly market without having product placement, promotions, or competitive pricing without knowing their consumers. Knowing your target audience is the solution!

Define Your Target Audience

Research your industry online to get a better understanding of how your products and services are categorized.
Look at the demographics of purchasing customers. Age, sex, location, economic status, etc. will give your business an idea of what kind of people buy from your business. This is a great way to find your target audience by utilizing basic facts.
Find out customers' preferences. Do they like coupons in the mail or online? What kind of media do they use? How much time do they spend shopping? Are they more apt to research a product via the Internet before purchasing? Questions like these can hep shape your marketing strategy.

Target audiences are important to have and define to properly implement a successful marketing strategy. Who is your target audience? We'll explore the answer to that question in our next article.

Ho Ho Hold the Holiday Perks

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:25:44 GMT

We've all seen the holiday-themed TV shows and movies with large, elaborate Christmas parties for employees with dinners, complimentary gifts, and the ever-so dangerous open bar. As a result of the recent economic struggle, many holiday parties are being cancelled. A few years ago, many businesses offered employees bonuses, gifts, and holiday themed parties, as well as some perks for clients. Instead, businesses are turning to different strategies when deciding ways to thank employees and customers.

According to an American Express OPEN Small Business Holiday Monitor, a survey of about 500 business owners, only 31% of business owners plan to give year-end bonuses this year, which is down from 44% last year. Additionally, only 16% will give raises, down from 30% in 2008. Almost 25% of businesses have stopped all gifts, but 28% are coming up with creative gifts, bartering, or incentives to avoid spending money.

If your small business usually throws an annual holiday party, think of ways to cut back in costs this year. One suggestion is to change the venue of your holiday party. Find a place that is affordable yet able to accommodate your employees; sometimes the largest venue isn't necessarily the most cost-effective. Another suggestion is to have an array of appetizers instead of a complete dinner during the party. This will allow for more mingling and socializing of employees at a lower cost. Finally, limit the amount of alcohol that is provided at the party. This will not only lower costs, but will also keep employees from driving while intoxicated.

An article in the Wall Street Journal gives some ideas about how some small businesses are getting creative in holiday gifts. Some are still elaborate, including providing a holiday party for multiple small businesses, and others include saying a simple thank you and acknowledging work more than usual during the holidays. My favorite idea is promising each employee that their car will be scraped off at least once this winter season. Regardless how your small business plans to give thanks to your employees and customers this season, make sure you at least acknowledge their hard work and send a smile their way.

How is your small business giving holiday thanks to your employees and customers?

Tis the Season....Already

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:33:02 GMT

It's the second week of November, and the local mall has Christmas trees up, lights strung through landscaping, wreaths hung on doors and parking garages, and holiday music on the radio. The holiday commercials are out in full force, with family in sweaters sharing smiles and love, extraordinary deals on popular gifts, and children that can't wait to gather around the tree to open presents on Christmas morning. Whether you like it or not, the holiday season is here.

Retailers, in essence, control the start of the holiday season. Typically, the "official start" to the holiday shopping season is the day after Thanksgiving, commonly known as Black Friday. Some stores have even had their holiday displays up since November first! Black Friday is a holiday all by itself, as stores have outrageousdoorbusters , ginormous savings on popular items, and deals you can only get once a year. In recent years, the holiday shopping season has been pushed back, leaving retailers and consumers adjusting their typical protocol. There are two ways to approach this phenomenon: as a retailer and as a consumer.

As a Retailer
Holiday marketing strategies which start before the actual holiday season will bring in customers and revenue, so consumers feel as if they are getting a head start on the holiday season. Give your customers great deals before the holiday rush, and in the meantime, prepare for the holiday rush. Do you have enough employees? Are your shipments arriving on time? Starting the holiday season early will give your business a "trial run" of how smoothly things will go for Black Friday and the rest of the holiday season. Having a "trial run" and starting the holiday season sooner will help your holiday predictions out by observing trends of the customers for this season. Track the trends, and change your store layout to promote the popular and discounted items. Work out all the kinks in advance and get your business prepared for the real rush.

As a Consumer
Starting the holiday shopping season sooner than usual can be both pleasant and stressful for consumers. Stores are packed, parking spots are hard to come by, and the reminders of having to spend money are everywhere. Fortunately, starting your holiday shopping sooner gives you time to get the shopping out of the way, leaving time for family and friends during the holiday. Spreading out your holiday shopping gives your bank account a break as well. Take advantage of the deals that retailers are providing early. Also, some merchandise that you see today in stores may not always be available closer to the holidays. Avoid the rush and anxiety of Black Friday by getting your shopping done earlier.

Whether you are like me, wishing it was socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music year round, or prefer to not be bombarded by "Jingle Bells" until December 23rd, retailers are telling you the holiday season is here. Do you have any other ways you and your small business prepare for the holidays?

140 Characters and 15 Minutes: Tips, Tricks and Advice

kim@gowithabc.com (Kim Fenolio) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:48 GMT

You know, a 140 character limit really isn't a lot to share something significant in. Neither is 15 minutes though, especially not between three people trying to convey the effects of social media on an industry. Fortunately, a collection of some of the best minds in small business were able to do just that at the 140 Characters Conference in LA this past October. I was lucky enough to have been one of the 140 people asked to speak and represent the state of now.

I wasn't alone in this. This conference was Jeff Pulver's baby. Jeff is a globally renowned thought leader, author and entrepreneur. He contacted Becky McCray of Small Biz Survival and asked her to put together a panel of people who could effectively speak on behalf of small business. She did just that. I was joined on a panel by small business owners Scott Townsed of United Linen and Neal Rohrbach of iDea Anglers.

Having never met prior to the conference, the three of us worked together to form a panel that would bring attention to a number of things in small business. Each of the guys shared what worked for them in their small business while I spoke to bring out how to go about it and, of course, giving tips, tricks and advice.

Give the panel a watch (or listen) and see what the big deal is. Video run-time is 15 minutes with some killer content. Leave you thoughts about the panel in the comments!

Do You Have What It Takes To Network?

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:30:54 GMT

Networking is important to small businesses in that it helps them to stay in business, grow their business, and connect to other business owners. The general way to network is usually by having your information on a neat business card and give your information to others. To create a big name for yourself when networking, you need to step out of your comfort zone and create a buzz. Here are few ideas.

Professional Business Cards
Yes, business cards are important for networking so they can have your contact information. No, they should not be the only thing that you do. For starters, make sure your business cards are professional. Have an edgy design on quality paper with all your contact information. Business cards should be kept in a safe place to avoid tearing and ripping. You might also want to consider adding your Twitter ID and Facebook profile to your card as a way for people to keep up with you in more of the real-time business world.

Q & A's
Be prepared to answer questions about yourself and your business. This is a given for any professional at any time, but even more important for networking. You can explain your business, your goals, and your purpose for going into business. If you've hit any rough spots, share them with others willing to network with you. We've all had our ups and downs. Talk about how you overcame your problems, ask them about theirs and share advice. There's strength in collaboration.

Additionally, be ready with questions to ask others who want to network with you. Regardless of what questions they ask you, make sure you ask meaningful questions to foster a relationship. Ask them about what they want most out of networking with other businesses. Find out their goals, ambitions, and business history.

Know Your Story
Your the story of how your business came to exist. Many people who are looking to network with you are interested in how your business started, your goals, and motivation. This is not your thirty second elevator pitch, but rather a heartfelt, honest story about your business. Briefly discuss the journey your business took from start to where you are today.

Don't Be Afraid of the Big Shots
Reaching for the stars to network is something that many small business owners are hesitant to try. You never know where you'll end up without first trying. If you're on Twitter first reach out to some small business professionals, subscribe to their blog, or follow their work. Send a personal message to these business professionals describing how they inspire and motivate you and your business. See if you receive a response, keep the contact to receive advice or guidance in the future. Build the relationship, don't market it.

Remember, the goal of networking is not to be a salesperson for yourself and your business. That's just plain annoying, and many will toss your information in the garbage. People who want to create real relationships via networking will know if you are being genuine and not just wanting to use them as a stepping stone. Be the balance on the stones and you'll be the one that people turn to in the future. That's the real point to business networking: be the one who's out there helping and you'll be the one they come back to again and again.

140 Characters and We Have One

kim@gowithabc.com (Kim Fenolio) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:08:43 GMT

This week I am leading the small business panel at the 140 Characters Conference in Los Angeles, California. This is pretty significant for our company, and for each of you, in that I will be sharing how small business is being effected by the real-time internet. Basically, I’m going to talk about how Facebook and Twitter (social media) are helping your business in the current state of the world, even in this economy.

This panel and conference isn’t all about me. I’ll be sharing the stage with some fantastic co-panelists: Scott Townsend of United Linen and Neal Rohrbach of Idea Anglers. Together we hope to give you a rounded view of how small business works with these medias from beginning to end. We’re calling our panel Small as a Tweet. We’re taking a few questions up front. If there’s anything specific that you’d like any of us to answer, you can ask at our website or on our Twitter account.

The entire conference will be broadcast live on the internet via the conference website. If you’d like to tune in live for my panel, you can visit http://lax.140conf.com/ on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 1:55pm PST. Once the video is gathered afterwards, I’ll share it here on the ABC site as well. There are many other layers to the conference and a lot of big names going to appear and speak. I encourage you to check out the other panels and see if there are specific speakers that would pertain to your niche.

Catch me, Kim Fenolio, on Twitter, send me a DM or @message me! I’d love to talk with you.

Customer Service and the Internet

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:09:07 GMT

Great customer service has become much more important to businesses with the popularity and increased influence that the internet now has. The internet provides an instant outlet for customers to rant or rave about a specific product, service, or business. Though not just for consumers, the internet has made providing customer service a lot easier for a business. So, what do you need to be aware of when coupling the internet with your customer service? What kind of options should you be looking for? How exactly can you provide customer service? Let's take a look.

Accessibility 24/7/365 - At the very least you should have a website that has your business name and information on it. What you must keep in mind is that this then puts your business out there for consumers to access any time and any day of the year. Make sure you have a phone number, address, and hours of operation on your homepage in a place that all visitors can see. This way they'll know when and how they can reach you.
Contact Form - A contact form on your website is a simple way to collect information from curious visitors. This allows for your business to gain information about your potential customer and cater to the needs that they're specifying. Make sure the person who will provide the best customer service to their inquiry responds in a timely fashion.
Online FAQ - Have a Frequently Asked Questions page on your website. Look at your business objectively (consider having someone else help you with this) and see what questions they could have. Then, answer them in the easiest terms that you can. Doing this will save you and your customers time. There's nothing like finding a quick answer to a question!
Social Media - Services like Twitter and Facebook make publishing thoughts about a business utterly instantaneous. Make sure that you monitor these outlets for mentions of your brand, products and services. Social media is all about transparency, so be sure to address issues quickly and in the medium that they were initially voiced.
Google Alerts - Set up a Google Alert for your business. Each time your business is mentioned on the Internet, you will be notified via email. Keep track of what the online world is saying, and address any issues that may arise.

Your business can't hide on the internet. Once your name is out there, it is nearly impossible to take down. Positive remarks about your business could lead to new customers, increased sales, and more online buzz about your business. On the other hand, negative remarks on the Internet could prove deadly. Address negative remarks about your business immediately, offer to fix the issue and provide an incentive for continued business.

What's the best way to avoid negative remarks on the internet about your business? Provide excellent customer service from the start.

"Vacation, All I Ever Wanted..." Or Is It?

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:21:12 GMT

Harris Interactive conducted a study with employees at various businesses and found some interesting results regarding vacations. 44% of employees dread the craziness of preparing for vacation at work the day before they leave. Additionally, 77% of employees believe the day they return from vacation is worse. How can you avoid the work related stress when it comes to a vacation? Here are a few tips to have a worry free vacation.

Before You Leave

To-Do List: Before leaving for vacation, create a list of what you need to do when you get back home. Take a look at your schedule and see what projects, deadlines, meetings, and other events you'll have. Know what you have to do when you get back so you have no surprises.
Vacation Alert: Create an automatic vacation response for your email address. This allows customers, employees, and clients who email you to know you are out of town, and when you will be returning. This way, no one will be expecting your usual prompt response or action.
Prepare Employees: Discuss expectations with employees. Make sure they have understanding on how to run the business without you there. Review any tasks before you leave, and if necessary, write out a how-to on certain tasks. Also, have an employee brief you on what you missed while you were gone in an email, and have them send it to you the day before you return. That way, you can find out upon your arrival to the office what you missed while you were gone.

On Vacation

Don't Stay Connected: Try to not check your email or phone frequently if you are worried about your business. If you must, limit checking your email or phone to once a day, preferably in the afternoon.
You're Not On the Clock: Limit business work to less than an hour each day, if you even have to do business-related work at all. Spend the time on vacation enjoying your time to yourself, your hard work, and life.
Relax! It's a vacation. Don't worry too much about your business. Enjoy your time away. This is the time to enjoy, relax, and recharge.

When You Return

Before The Office: When you get home from vacation, try to check your work email before going into work. Read the status update from employees regarding the business while you were on vacation (Prep Employees under Before You Leave). Read the urgent emails first, such as important clients, employees, or others and handle those quickly. Organize the rest by how urgent the email is, what it entails, and how soon you must respond.
Welcome Back: Try to arrive at the office early to avoid distractions from customers, employees, or just other work in general. Spend a short amount of time talking about your trip with employees, but then get back to work. Take care of the mail, shipments, finances, or anything else you may have missed while gone to catch up and get back to the regular work schedule.
Keep the Memories Alive: Miss the vacation feeling? Reminisce in a subtle way. Put a picture on your desk to remind you of your vacation. If you have a computer, make it your background.

When taking a vacation from regular life and work, these tips are some pretty healthy guidelines, and not just for the business owner. They'll work just as well for anyone who takes afew days off for a vacation. Next time you have a vacation and are worried about work, reference these tips, put them to use, and have fun!

Keeping Emotions in Control

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:16:47 GMT

Being a small business owner comes with a ton of responsibility. One of the most important things small business owners need to remember is the effect that emotions have on the business, and most importantly, your employees. As a small business owner, you are the role model, spokesperson, and face behind your business. You assume a leadership role as your employees and customers look up to you. As a leader, it is important to be emotionally stable and in control to manage your business and employees. Let's take a closer look.

Positivity
As the leader and one in control, it is essential for small business owners to be positive. It communicates that you are ready to take on any challenge optimistically. Positivity also comes in the form of being inspirational. Tell your story and how you got to where you are today to motivate others to think positively as well. It is important to remember that employees' moods are just as important as the owners'. Employee positivity keeps employees happy, confident in their job situation, and improve their job performance. This employee positivity is supported by upper management. Employees seek the approval of their manager and do so by doing great work.

Without the positivity of upper management, employees are more likely to not take their work seriously, be timid rather than aggressive at pursuing various opportunities, and fear losing their job. To avoid this, and encourage positivity throughout the office, managers need to show that they appreciate the work that their employees are doing. Remind them on a constant basis. Try an "Employee of the Week" spotlight or provide incentives. To boost morale and encourage positivity, provide surprise bonus rewards to jump-start productivity.

Negativity
A negative emotion coming from the owner of a small business is contagious. A negative owner for a small business means there is no optimism for the future, nor for the present moment. This negativity transfers right to the energy of all the upper management and the rest of the employees. It affects job performance by the employees, and one little problem could cause for trouble. A majority of the time, negativity stems from a problem with how the business is doing. Any time there is a financial mishap, a slowdown in sales, or problem in the office, negativity arises.

It is important to stay in control with these emotions, especially during troubling times, to not give your employees a reason to become negative. During a difficult time in your business, be honest with your employees, but keep your emotions in check. State the obvious, but leave the anger, frustration, sadness, and fear out of it. Honesty is important so the employees know which direction the business is going in. Keep the emotions in check by being honest, yet optimistic and hopeful for the future. It establishes leadership, keeps the business on track, and keeps employees happy. Take control and never forget the effects of your positive and negative attitude.

How To Keep Yourself in Check

Know your business-related fears. Once you know what you are most afraid of at work, such as financial troubles or a slow in sales, you can take on your fear and handle it professionally. Have a plan of action ready.
Know yourself. Think back to how you have reacted in the past to certain situations, how you handled them, and what others thought. Think about how these reactions would affect your business setting and employees.
Take a break. Before letting your emotions get the best of you, stop and think. Break from the usual habits of reacting right away and think your reactions through.
Emotions can't be helped. They are bound to happen, especially in a business setting. As a small business owner, learn to control these emotions by thinking ahead, preparing for every situation, and keeping a level head.

Being a small business owner means being professional and controlling your emotions. Know yourself, when you need to take a break, and think about the consequences of your actions to ensure respect and a productive workplace.

The Big Debate: Mac vs. PC

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:15:01 GMT

We've all seen the commercials. "I'm a Mac," "I'm a PC." The Apple sponsored commercials show the differences between the Mac and the PC in a humorous way, giving the Mac the edge. But, what don't the commercials show you? What do PC's have that's better? Are Mac's really the best choice all around, or is there a better option for small business owners? Let's explore.

Back to the Basics
Performance is one of the most important factors when deciding on which computer to buy for your small business. In general, the performance of any computer depends on the random access memory (RAM) which comes with your computer. The RAM is commonly referred to as the memory of your computer. More memory means a faster boot up and a more efficient experience. Based on information from various websites and my own personal experience with my PC and my college roommates' Mac, the two are very different. I have had one PC with Windows XP and one with Vista. Although Vista is the newer of the two Microsoft platforms, I have had more success, less meltdowns, and less confusion with XP . That being said, while my PC was being fixed during college (see more below), I used my roommate's Mac for a few weeks. The Mac had the Windows system installed, and it worked just as well as my PC, if not better. I was very impressed with the quick start-up with the Mac compared to my PC. I have no real long-term Mac OS experience to share.

"Ware" and Tear
Windows can now run on both the PC and the Mac, which is beneficial to small businesses as most Americans are accustomed to using the Windows platform. Additionally, both PCs and Macs have software that are essential to small businesses, such as accounting software. In regards to additional software, the PC has an unlimited amount of software that can be installed, from media to games and more. Unfortunately, the Mac is limited on what software they can install on their computers. Unique businesses who need special programs and software will most likely have better luck with a PC as there is a better chance that the software will be compatible. The hardware of the Mac and PC are completely different. Mac has a sleek and modern look on all types of computers while PCs are catching up to their signature look. For a small business, a computer is a computer, and the looks aren't necessarily what owners are concerned with anyways.

Media Frenzy
Both Mac and PC have the capabilities for media, including music, pictures, and videos. The Mac has a great program, iLife, which makes organizing pictures, constructing a video, and playing music via a remote easy for even the novice user. The Mac is a great bet for those small businesses who are heavily involved with design, art, and media. On the other hand, PCs can use Windows Media Center which allows for integrated sharing on different services. This allows your computer to connect to XBox, PlayStation, other computers, or TVs.

User Friendly
One of the most important questions when it comes to deciding between a PC and a Mac is how user friendly the computer is. PCs are Windows based, which is what the majority of people are used to. Vista has new upgrades to ensure that each move you make regarding system operations is the one you want to make. In other words, they try to make sure users are sure of what they're doing by having them click "continue" for each step. On the other hand, Macs have easy to follow tutorials so any user can learn how to use their computer. Additionally, Mac programs have the same feel and routine regardless of what program you are using, making it easier for those who are just learning. Also, Macs have the ability for Windows on their system, making it easier for Microsoft users to convert to Macs.

Show Me The Money
The upfront cost of owning a computer shows that the PC fares better than that Mac. Some PCs can cost about $500, while the Mac is usually around $1,000. Initially, if your small business is looking for a price efficient computer, the PC is the computer for you. Although, keep in mind the various costs that come with purchasing a PC than a Mac. For example, Macs have a stellar virus protection program, mostly because hackers are more interested in PCs due to the number of users. That being said, the price of the Mac comes with an exceptional anti-virus system. The cost of PCs go up when taking into consideration the upkeep with updates, downloads, and, most importantly, virus protection. Adding in those components, the Mac fares better in price. PCs are more vulnerable to viruses, which I found out the hard way by spending additional money to repair my computer and for advanced antivirus software. My roommate with a Mac never had a problem, nor has spent any additional money on issues with her computer.

The Bottom Line
So, PC or Mac? Small businesses are concerned, for the most part, with performance, ease of use, and cost. Since Microsoft can be used on either platform, and the RAM depends on the speed of the computer, there is no clear winner there. For the ease of use, Mac wins this one with its easy tutorials and the lack of confusion that comes with Vista. The cost issue is the kicker. Paying the amount up front for a Mac will definitely leave your bank account feeling a bit drained. Buying a PC will be cheap at first, but adding on the additional antivirus protection, software, and updates will add to your expenses. So, which should you purchase?

If you're looking for a computer that is easy to use, go with a Mac, but you will be paying more money for it.
If you're looking for max compatibility, go with a PC, where you will spend less money.

Every small business has different computer needs. Choose the one that is right for you and your business.

Small Businesses' Top 5 Financial Mistakes

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:36:20 GMT

Small businesses have a lot on their plate when it comes to finances as it determines the state of their business. Many small businesses have trouble managing their finances, and encounter problems without knowing it. Ironically, many of these small businesses having trouble are making the same mistakes. Learn from these top five financial mistakes small businesses make and keep your business in business.

1. Your Business Has No Financial Policies Established

Since there are fewer employees who wear many different hats, policies are important for small businesses to establish rules, regulations, and procedures. It is the same for finance matters. Financial policies provide assurance that everything regarding finances is carried out in the same manner. Policies also encourage efficiency, as each employee learns the policies they are more accustomed to how to handle them. The important policies to have for your small business include handling petty cash, an employee reimbursement program, filing systems, and receipt saving.

2. You Don’t Use Help Available to You

Small businesses have a plethora of help available to them via the Internet. Additionally, there is help for accounting, payroll, and taxes using Quicken or Quickbooks. Each of these programs help small businesses manage their finances with an easy and affordable program. Additionally, many small businesses are using outside resources for help to ensure their finances are up to par. These resources include bookkeepers, tax advisers, and accountants. While these people are great to help you, be sure you take the time to research and find out which are qualified, reliable, and affordable.

3. You Don’t Backup Your Electronic Finance System

If something were to happen to your electronic filing system, it would be disastrous to your business. Your records and hard work would be eliminated without any backup. It is important to make sure you have a back up system to preserve your records. You can easily do this by burning the information on a CD, using an external hard drive, using a backup service, or print hard copies.

4. You Spend Money You Don’t Have, or Before You Should

Small businesses, especially start ups, don’t have much cash to spend that they actually have. It’s important to realize what you do have to spend, that you have the means available, and that you absolutely need the purchase you want to make. You can’t take a big leap before you know you can afford it without threatening the status of your business. Take into account your future plans and be sure you have enough to accommodate for them.

5. You Don’t Have A Business Plan, or Don’t Use the One You Have

Making a business plan takes hard work and time. It is important to have one to manage your money while trying to attain your goals. In your plan, you need to have the correct and current financial information to be able to forecast the future. Also, a plan allows you to budget your money more precisely. If possible, try to have an emergency fund just in case you need some extra money for a project, or if you are at your wits end and need to keep your doors open.

It takes an extraordinary amount of work to fix a mistake rather than to prevent one. The next time you are managing your finances, remember these mistakes and try to avoid them at all costs.

The Swine Flu Revisited

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:50:42 GMT

In April, America's Best Companies brought you The Swine Flu and Your Business. In just five months, the H1N1 Virus, commonly known as the Swine Flu, has affected thousands of people around the world and became a global epidemic. Specifically, the Western Hemisphere has seen the worst of the Swine Flu, with South America leading with the most cases and deaths, and North America following behind. Of the over 3,000 deaths from the epidemic worldwide, almost 700 were in the United States.

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine for the H1N1 virus and will start mass producing and distributing around the world. There are a limited number of supplies available at the beginning of October. 45 million doses of the 195 million ordered by the government are scheduled to arrive October 15. The same side effects that people experience from the normal flu vaccine could be experienced with the H1N1 vaccine. There are also tests to see how many doses the average adult and child need to protect themselves of the epidemic, as well as the effectiveness of the vaccine as a nasal spray.

The World Health Organization (WHO) are encouraging certain groups to receive the vaccination as soon as possible. These groups include pregnant women, children ages 6 months - 24 years old, adults younger than 65 with flu-risk conditions (asthma, diabetes, heart disease), health workers, and caregivers. The H1N1 Virus is different from the normal flu virus as it attacks younger people more than the elderly. Schools are taking extra precautions to try and control the disease by sending students home from school if they feel ill, encouraging them to see doctors, and practicing healthy habits.

H1N1 & Your Small Business

The workplace is an easy place for germs to spread. It is important to practice healthy habits at work. For small businesses, it is especially important. Each employee in a small business plays an important and designated role; if they were to fall ill, their work would not get accomplished. Small businesses need to take action and fast before the H1N1 Virus infiltrates their business and could cause disaster.

Prepare a Plan: Be ready for the swine flu before it hits your business. Have a plan of action in case an employee contracts the H1N1 Virus. This way, if the situation does arise, the procedure is the same for every employee.

Practice Healthy Habits: These healthy habits are simple and should be followed on a daily basis to stop the spreading of germs.

Cover your mouth! Sneezing and coughing is the easiest way to spread germs, especially if you do not cover your mouth. After you sneeze or cough, make sure you wash your hands. Another suggestion is to cough into your elbow to assure no germs are on your hands.
Wash your hands! Use soap and warm water. Make sure you create friction between your hands to kill germs. Alcohol based hand sanitizer does the trick as well.
Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize. Things that are often touched, such as phones, door handles/knobs, and counter tops should be cleaned regularly.
Be thoughtful about others. If you are already sick, think about others around you and take precautions. Be safe, be sanitary, be healthy.

Work From Home: A sick employee who potentially has the H1N1 Virus is as risk for infecting the rest of your employees, especially if you work in a small area. If it is plausible for your business, have the employee work from home instead of coming in to work. The sick employee can then rest and enjoy the comforts of being at home while sick, but still get their work done. Be sure to check in with the sick employee periodically on their health as well as how their work is coming along.

Additional Resources: Organizations have taken steps to help the masses during the swine flu epidemic. WHO updates with their Twitter account, providing immediate updates on health around the world, especially with H1N1. Additionally, the Center for Disease Control provides statistics, health suggestions, and FAQs on their website. The government has also taken steps to specifically help small businesses with the epidemic by putting together a guide book to use as a reference for tips on how to protect your business and keep a healthy environment.

Practice these tips and more to keep your small business healthy and swine flu free.

September Slump Got You Down?

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:36:38 GMT

The summer rush is over, the holiday season is approaching, and businesses are stuck in an awkward time frame. Sales start to slump, and businesses experience a slowdown. Small businesses then have a choice: they can view the slump negatively or positively. Viewing the slump negatively will only add unnecessary stress and frustration. Instead, view the slump as a chance to update and improve your business and services. Here's how.

Relax
Don't panic. A slowdown is a scary time for businesses, especially for entrepreneurs. Instead of instilling fear in yourself, take a deep breath and relax. While you are enjoying your downtime, don't let your business escape your thoughts. Keep it in the back of your mind, and draw from your relaxation for new and innovative ideas.

Plan & Get Ahead of the Game
Down time is the perfect opportunity to start planning ahead for the future. Start by reviewing what you have done so far, including all financial and stock reports. Analyze the data that you have collected and compare it to the goals that you set for yourself and your business. Adjust your business plan to reach your goals. Make necessary changes and take chances to encourage growth and success. If you know you have an upcoming project, get started on it as soon as possible. It give you a sense of accomplishment and production, as well as free up time in the future.

Improve Your Product & Customer Service
To improve you product, you need to start at the beginning. Start with the basics and take time to learn more about the trends, do's and don'ts, and skills of your industry. The more knowledge you have, the better your business will be able to market and connect with customers. Improve your product and find ways to make it something customers "need-to-have." Also, a good way to improve your product is to review and revamp your customer service policies. Follow up with clients and ask for suggestions for improvement, and what you are doing well. Appeal to the customer and give great service to keep them coming back. There is always something more to learn.

Create A New Marketing Strategy
A slowdown in sales gives businesses a chance to change their marketing strategies. Creating an affordable and unique marketing campaign during a slow period allows for time to plan and make all necessary preparations. Additionally, it gives you a chance to gauge how your business' new plan works after it is put into action. If you are receiving more customers to pull you out of your slump, then the marketing strategy was successful. If not, head back to the drawing board.

Network
We all hear how networking is very important for business, but it is even more imperative during a slow period. Meeting and socializing with other businesses will give you a chance to talk to other entrepreneurs and see what they have done to get customers and rise out of a slow slump. Additionally, you can see what trends are popular with your client base and adjust your strategy to accommodate to your target. You might even find a way to create lucrative partnership opportunities.

A business slowdown may seem bad at first. Take it as a time to find new ways to get new customers, implement new products, breathe, and get prepared for the future.

Nonverbal Communication Signals in Business

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:24:28 GMT

Communication these days comes in all forms, from verbal, written, nonverbal, visual, "writing on a wall" and even tweeting. For businesses, communication is very important within the company, customers, and clients, and some of the most important communication is said without words. Nonverbal communication speaks wonders about how you present yourself, as well as your business, to others and can convey just as much or more to your customers. Keep these nonverbal communication signals in mind the next time you are conducting business with customers, clients, or with your associates.

Posture
Keep your back straight! Don't slouch! Shoulders up! We've all heard how we should present ourselves visually by having correct posture. It's true: good posture will present your body in a positive manner. Good posture will give you a strong, upright, and positive looking body. You will look presentable, eager, and ready for whatever is thrown your way. Having good posture shows confidence and a strong individual. Slouching or slumping is sloppy and just plain unprofessional and communicating the message that you are sloppy and uncoordinated.

Eye Contact
On the same lines as posture, practicing eye contact is important when communicating in business. The correct use of eye contact will allow you to appear credible and trustworthy without uttering a word. Eye contact is important because it helps to develop trust between people by showing them visually that you are interested and want to hear what they have to say. Make sure you are looking into their eyes with intent, a glassy look is not the goal.

Gestures
Using your hands and face to add to the message you are trying to convey is a great nonverbal technique. Gestures emphasize your point, as well as give clues to what you really mean besides verbal communication. Negative and positive gestures are equally visual and can be easily interpreted by others. For example, if you are nervous, it is important to keep an eye on your gestures. They can enhance your nerves and make you seem even more uncomfortable. Stay in control and use gestures to add positively to communicate.

Movement
Toe tapping, leg twitching, drumming of fingers, or pacing are all nonverbal cues that draw the listener's attention. People are naturally drawn to movement and will shift their attention to a moving object rather than what they are focusing on. Be careful of your movements while communicating. Pacing grabs attention and encourages people to focus, somewhat like a professor in a large lecture hall who paces the stage to ensure students are paying attention. On the other hand, tapping and twitching are seen as signs of nervousness and will be more distracting than helpful in communicating.

Mindset
Your mindset is the most important nonverbal communication out there. It is what inherently controls the physical nonverbal communication actions. Just like movement, it is important to be aware of your mindset at all times to ensure you are communicating your true thoughts. For example, if you are a salesperson and pitching something to a potential client that is somewhat misleading, your mind will know and your nonverbal communication cues, such as body language and eye contact, will change. Additionally, being nervous or anxious will show in nonverbal physical forms of communication if you are in the wrong mindset.

Personal Presentation
Presenting yourself via your actions is a big part of nonverbal communication in business. Being dressed appropriately and practicing good hygiene is important. It communicates that you are put together and present yourself well, which will give others a positive vibe. Additionally, being on time, even a few minutes early, is important as well. It communicates that you respect others' time and are responsible to do business with.

Preparing the perfect sales pitch, speech, or presentation to communicate verbally is important - but don't forget about the nonverbal communication as well. Try to keep these signals in mind during any kind of interaction.

Is Working From Home For You?

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:56:04 GMT

Working from home is a great option for small business owners who either do not need a large workspace or store, have personal commitments at home, or cannot afford renting a place for your business. The perks seem to be endless for working from home: flexible hours, no commute, and certain tax deductions. Additionally, if you have personal commitments, you can arrange your work schedule around your family to cater to their needs. It sounds like working at home is a great idea, but before you jump right into the idea, there are a few things you must consider, especially if you plan on having your customers come to your home.

Neighborhood & Property
Although it is your small business from your house, you must consider your neighborhood, surroundings, and neighbors. To work from home, you need to have a suitable and accessible location for your customers. Consider the attractiveness of your neighborhood and your property and how well it is maintained to appeal to customers visually. Think about the relationship you have with your neighbors. Will working at home cause damage in those relationships or interfere with others in the area? Finally, evaluate the available space for parking for customers and clients. There must be enough space for people to park and have access to your business as if they were walking into a store or office building.

House
The most important thing to consider when working from home is your workspace. You must have a designated area in your home specifically assigned for you to do work, whether that is an office, basement, or corner of a room. It is best to try to locate your office in a place in your house that is easily accessible to the entrance to avoid customers having to walk through your house. Additionally, have restrooms and other storage available for you and customers to use. Finally, be sure your home has the ability for new connections to support your business, such as Internet capabilities and a phone line.

Family
Working from home undoubtedly will have a major impact on your life at home, including relationships with those who live with you. It is important to discuss the idea of working at home with your family to make sure they are willing to coordinate their lives with your work at home. Also, communicate your business goals and aspirations with your family. This will encourage support and motivation from those who mean the most to you.

Work Style
Working from home has its perks, but it will only work if you have a certain style of working. You must be able to supervise and discipline yourself. As a small business owner, this should be second nature for you as you have to run your own business every day. Additionally, you must be a self-motivated and self-disciplined individual to keep focus while at home on work. Time management is key, especially if you are working from home to tend to personal commitments.

Entrepreneurship
Starting to work at home is like taking the first step to starting your own small business. You must have the will power and personal discipline to do whatever it takes to succeed and mean business. Working at home allows you to work long hours at home instead of going into an office or store to complete paperwork and other odds and ends. Working from home also requires giving 100% towards your work during business hours even when it may be easier to be distracted with life at home.

Working from home has its perks, but you need to think thoroughly before taking the plunge. It is important to think about the space you have inside, outside, and around your home. Make sure your home is suitable to have your own workplace for business only, and discuss the changes at home with your family. Be prepared to work independently and jump into working at home as if you were starting your own business. Have you worked from home? What advice can you give small business owners who are starting to work from home?

How to Write an Engaging Subject Line

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:54:41 GMT

How to Write an Engaging Subject Line

Email newsletters or email marketing campaigns contain important messages, tips, savings, and more for your subscribed readers. The information inside the email is important to them, but without a compelling subject line, your subscribers may never open it. Email subject lines are just as important, if not more, than the rest of the information in the email. The subject line's main purpose is to get someone to open the email. Take these tips into consideration when writing your next compelling subject line for your email.

Even before writing the body of an email, it is essential to begin to think of the subject line for the email. Although it is not the bulk of what you want your subscribers to read, it is what they will read first and makes them decide if they will continue reading. You must think thoroughly and objectively about your subject line.

Take a look at the newspaper. The headlines are made to grab attention in as few words as possible, and they do a pretty good job of doing just that. They sum up the main idea of the text and give it to readers in just a few words. Subject lines in an email should do the same thing: state the purpose and a summary of what the main idea is in as little words as possible. Each email will have a different subject line because each email body will be different.

Find which type of subject line you prefer. Asking a question in your subject line will leave the readers wondering about the answer inside. Another type of subject line is the tease subject line. By teasing your subscribers with a clever subject line, they will want to know and read more. A direct approach will explain exactly what you want readers to know without any tricks or gimmicks. You can be personal in a subject line by saying "you" to get the attention of your readers. Be careful when using a direct approach or a personal subject line, your readers may be drawn to the attention of the subject line but maybe not compelled to read any further.

Avoid red flags for spam in your subject lines. These red flags include using all capital letters, multiple exclamation points, and the word "free." Not only do they wave a giant red flag for spam, but it also is not visually appealing. It will stand out, but look very silly. A subject line such as: "FREE GIFT INSIDE!!!!! OPEN FOR MORE DETAILS!!!!!!!" will be red flagged and marked as spam. On the other hand, a subject line such as "Your chance for a complimentary gift inside!" is more appropriate.

Test your subject lines out with colleagues. An effective way to do this is to present the subject line without any additional information in the email and see if it is compelling and intriguing enough for them to want to know more. Also, keep an eye on your web analytics. It will show you open rates for the emails you send out to get an idea of how your subject line worked. Additionally, test the email before sending it to the masses. Send it to yourself to get a preview of the subject line. Be sure that what you want to be seen is seen, and that you are not cutting off any important words or information.

Last but not least, a subject line should pass two tests: the Must-Read Test and the Unbulk Test. The Must-Read Test will leave the subscriber feel left out or missing out on something if they don't open the email. The Unbulk Test comes into play if your email ends up in a filtered folder; the subscriber should feel inspired and compelled to read or move it to the inbox.

What kind of subject line would get you to open an email?

Avoiding Negative Publicity: The Do's and Don'ts of Advertising

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:43:46 GMT

Take a look at this advertisement. What is the first thing that comes to mind?

Shock? Anger? Hatred? Fear? Would you think it was for Homeland Security? The 9/11 Memorial? In actuality, this advertisement was pitched for the World Wildlife Fund.

Just over a week before the eighth anniversary of September 11th, this controversial advertisement was pitched to the Brazilian branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The ad features dozens of airplanes in mid-air, flying directly into Lower Manhattan with an accompanying tag line reading "The Tsunami Killed 100 Times More People Than 9/11." Underneath the comparison of 9/11 to the Tsunami, the WWF's signature logo of the panda is displayed next to the copy of the ad: "The planet is brutally powerful. Respect it. Preserve it.” The Brazilian design firm DDB Brasil designed the advertisement and, according to the WWF, they never approved the ad. The advertisement was accidentally leaked to the public without the approval of the WWF and was soon plastered all over the Internet. A press release from the WWF states:

"The concept was summarily rejected by W.W.F. and should never have seen the light of day. It is an unauthorized use of our logo and we are aggressively pursuing action to have it removed from Web sites where it is being currently featured."

If the WWF wanted publicity, they sure got it. Creating a compelling and provocative advertisement is good way to get attention, but in this case, it is the wrong kind of attention. Although this ad was released accidentally, the past cannot be changed and theWWF has been labeled. Bad publicity sticks with a company for a long time, and is forever on the Internet. To avoid negative publicity and become a headline story like theWWF, follow these Do's and Don'ts of Advertising.

Advertisement DO's

Learn from Other Campaigns Each advertising campaign is unique, but lessons can be learned from every single one. Take a look at successful advertising campaigns and recognize what worked and why. Do the same for the campaigns that did not do so hot. The successful campaigns will have something in common, maybe a catchy line or a creative ad. For the campaigns that failed, their thing in common will be their mistake that caused their downfall, such as an offensive image or slogan. Although it is important to learn from other campaigns, it is just as important not to copy them. More on this later.
Try for the Attention Getter Americans are exposed to hundreds, if not thousands, of advertisements per day. Without an advertisement that grabs people's attention, nobody will notice your ad. Be creative. Stand out from the rest and do something outrageous. But, use your head. The WWF ad is a great example of trying for an attention getter, but failing miserably.
Plan Ahead No advertising campaign will be successful without sufficient planning. A budget needs to be in place to know how much you are willing to spend on the campaign and any repercussions it may have. In the case of the WWF , the bad publicity is costing them money to defend themselves as their rejected ad has spurred conflict and outrage across America. Not only will they have to deal with the media, but with theirWWF members and supporters as well.
Check, Re-Check, and Check Again Before putting your ad out to the public, be 100% positive that you want your company to be represented by this advertisement. Some provocative campaigns are risky, so be ready for any reactions the public might have. Once you have released your advertisement, be sure to stand beside it proudly and support it fully. Although the WWF rejected the controversial ad, it still made its way onto the Internet. The lesson to be learned here is to be sure that every rejected ad (especially those that are sure to stir up drama) should be destroyed. One way to keep tabs on what the public is saying about your brand is to have community monitors. Acting as your company's "brand police," community monitors watch the Internet, especially social media sites, for any comments about your business's brand.

Advertisement DON'TS

Copycat The advertising campaigns that struck gold did for a reason. They were new, creative, and sparked the interest of the public. Chances are, copying a previous campaign will not be as successful the second time around, and the public will recognize the duplicate scheme.
Forget to do Your Research When working with an outside company for advertising, it is essential to research their previous campaigns to get a sense of their design. Find out if they had one bad campaign, and figure out why it failed. Even in campaign production and concept design, it's important to consider your sources. Without conducting thorough research, you could end up in a situation similar to the WWF.
Make False Claims The most important part of any advertising campaign, or any advertisement, is to be honest. Making claims that are false is not only illegal, but will spur negative publicity and leave your business with a negative reputation.
Lose Brand Focus Remember why you are advertising, it is for a reason. It is important to have the idea and importance of your business as your focus the entire time. This was a major problem for the WWF ad. The WWF regularly promotes its Fund through animals, wildlife, and nature. The public has linked the two together, and it has become the image and reputation that America is familiar with. Adding the traumatic historic event of September 11 into their advertisement has put a negative label on their brand making it a controversial ad.

Catching the Cold Call the Right Way

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:39:18 GMT

I remember the first time that I ever had to make a cold call. It was with a past internship and I was so nervous I thought I was going to pass out. I was afraid of saying the wrong thing, rejection, forgetting to mention something about the product, forgetting who I was talking to; you name it, I was afraid of it. I read the script like it was my favorite novel instead of trying to hold an actual conversation with the person on the other end. After the opening of the pitch which was just about twenty seconds (only it seemed like an hour), I heard an angry "NO THANK YOU!" and an abrupt phone slam. After throwing a pity party for myself for a second, I realized that I was neither fully prepared for the cold call nor confident. After learning more about cold calling, I became comfortable with calling strangers and able to pitch myself, business, and the product or service I was selling.

Picking up the phone to call a complete stranger and asking for some of their time to listen to you talk about your agenda is NOT easy. Cold calling is one of the hardest things to do in business, especially for newcomers. It takes practice, patience, time, and confidence to master this art. But once mastered, it becomes easier and easier to turn cold calls into actual sales. Additionally, the recession has caused more businesses to be careful with their money and take less risks, thus making the jobs of cold callers even more difficult. Whether you are an experienced salesperson or a novice, you can follow these tips to strengthen your cold calls.

Research
Find your target market that you want to pitch your product/service to. The more specific you are, the better chance you have to create a connection on a common ground. If you are targeting a specific area, find out about the area and certain quirks that show that you did your research. Showing you took time to look into your client and their environment before pitching a product or service encourages trust. The goal for researching is to set yourself and your business above the other generic telemarketers.

Practice
Practice, practice, practice. Without practicing, it will be impossible to get comfortable giving your sales pitch. Just like sports teams, bands, or learning any skill, you need to practice your cold calling to get better at it. Rehearse your pitch out loud in front friends or coworkers. Pretend it is the real thing, and do not hold back. Have others listening come up with a few questions or objections that you could face in real life. Don't practice by calling clients that you think will reject you; each call you make is a potential sale.

Script
Create a script for cold calling, but remember its purpose: provide a description of the product/service and why they should buy it. Although it is called a "script," do NOT read it verbatim. A script is meant to be a guide to help you through the cold call and not a strict outline of what you must say. Use bullet points with important things that you need to say about your product/service and the company. Keep in mind that you need to be able to have an actual conversation and not just read like a robot.

Confidence
Going into a cold call without confidence is like skydiving without a parachute: you're destined to fail. It is absolutely essential to have full confidence in yourself before you pick up the phone. If you are not confident, see the previous tip (PRACTICE!). A helpful tip to being confident while on a cold call is to stand up while you are on the phone. Sitting gives you a chance to relax, literally kick back, and not be as attentive. Standing up gives the allusion of authority and energy, which is then displayed in your voice over the telephone. Another suggestion is to smile while you are on the phone. Your happiness and friendly face will be portrayed in your voice. Finally, if you can, face a mirror. Body language is an extremely important form of communication which cannot be portrayed over the phone. If you are looking in the mirror, you can see yourself and note where you need to adjust to keep energy and confidence in your voice.

Persistence

According to AllBusiness.com, "Eighty percent of new sales are made after the fifth contact, yet the majority of sales people give up after the second call." The way to be persistent is to avoid rejection all together. Avoid giving potential clients the chance to say "no." Do this by asking open ended questions, or questions that require an explanation instead of a simple one word answer. As stated previously, the recession is causing business owners to reevaluate their spending habits. Upon hearing your pitch, they are going to ask themselves if buying your product/service makes sense to them. Convince them that it does.

Cold calling is no easy task, but following these tips will help you get on your way to successful sales. Do you have any tips?

5 Important Exceptions to Know Regarding Minimum Wage

frances@gowithabc.com (Frances Foley) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:37:37 GMT

On July 24th, 2009, the minimum wage was raised to $7.25. To employees, this meant another $2,000 per year added to their income, and to employers it meant an even larger headache. Minimum wage is the state and federal law that requires employers to pay their employees a minimum hourly wage. This wage is set up by the federal government, but each state, city, and county is free to impose it's own minimum wage or "living wage." The employer is held accountable to pay the highest--federal, state, or local wage.

Understanding the Relevant Law
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) increased the minimum wage over three years, 2009 being the last section of the law passed. The average employer must abide to the FLSA provisions if: (1) the business earns more than $500,000 in annual sales; or (2) if its employees conduct business between states, better known as interstate commerce. This includes calling, mailing, and shipping or receiving items to or from out-of-state.

Employee or Independent Contractor
The title you give a person working for a business, in terms of wage and employment, is based on factors analyzed by the Department of Labor (DOL). It is easy for an employer to be tempted to avoid taxing and minimum wage laws by identifying someone as an independent contractor. This may seem like a loop hole to many, but be prepared. If the work relationship identifies with DOL's employer-employee classification, the small business can be liable for back wages. This means the employer must pay the difference the employee should have been paid to what they were paid. The back wage will be paid over time for two or three years depending on whether the employer was knowingly trying to avoid FLSA.

With that being said, below are some important exceptions to the Federal Minimum Wage Law that will either benefit your business or the knowledge you should have with this law.

1. Full-time Students: If an employer hires a full-time student to work in service, retail, or at higher education institutions they can apply with the Department of Labor which will enable the employer to pay the students at least 85% of minimum wage. The student will not be able to work over twenty hours a week while school is in session but while school is on break they are able to work forty hours a week.

2. Under the age of Twenty: For the first 90 days on the job, the Youth Minimum Wage Program requires that the business employer pay workers under the age of twenty at least $4.25. After the 90 days, or when that employee turns twenty, the Federal Minimum Wage Law will apply. If you are considering hiring teenagers, this opens the opportunity to pay them less while they are proving their work abilities.

3. Employees receiving tips: The employees who regularly make more than $30 in tips per month are required to receive $2.13 in direct wages from the employer. If the amount of $2.13 plus the tips they receive equals minimum wage then the employee must receive all of their tips. In other words, that their tips cannot be split up with, for example, the kitchen staff.

4. Employees with disabilities: In circumstances where employers employ a person with disabilities they may apply for a sub-minimum wage certificate for compensating workers whose wage and productivity is impaired due to of their disability.

5. Volunteers or interns: If the person is hired as a volunteer or unpaid intern, then the Federal Minimum Wage Law is not mandated. It is necessary that the worker is told or understands that they are volunteering or an unpaid intern to prevent unnecessary lawsuits.

The increase of the minimum wage should be looked at in a positive light. Although, the employer is responsible to spend more money and taxes on payroll, they are also responsible for giving employees a better lifestyle. The more money they receive the more money they will spend in stores just like yours. The circle of payment will benefit you in time. It is important to know the law covering minimum wage because there are loopholes and there are consequences for trying to avoid the law. Being knowledgeable on both sides will benefit your business and keep you out of trouble.

Cash for Clunkers Damages Small Businesses

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:50:28 GMT

Obama's "Car Allowance Rebate System," known for its more popular name, Cash for Clunkers, ended Monday, August 24th at 8 P.M. EST time. According to a press release from the United States Department of Transportation, as of Thursday, August 20, there have been 457,000 dealer transactions which equals to $1.9 billion in rebates. Cash for Clunkers has "provided rebates of up to $4,500 when people turned in their clunkers for fuel-efficient vehicles. Most consumers have turned in trucks and SUV’s in exchange for passenger cars, with an improved gas mileage of about 60 percent." The Cash for Clunkers program undoubtedly created jobs, put people back to work, and kept the automobile industry alive. It has also reduced harmful emissions from clunkers into our air which helps our environment. Unfortunately, this pretty picture can be destroyed by taking a look at the most important group of businesses in America that drive our economy: small businesses.

Independent Dealerships
Making up about a third of car dealerships across America, independent car dealerships are not affiliated with a franchise and were directly affected by the Cash for Clunkers program. During the recession, these dealerships have struggled due to little credit available as well as the lack of consumers who are looking to buy a car. Cash for Clunkers only made the situations of independent car dealerships worse. Take, for example, Chase Motors in Virginia. Sales are down thirty percent due to Cash for Clunkers and have to face the possibility of going out of business every day. This is the same story with independent business owners around the country.

Chain Reaction
Many people traded in their clunkers for the government rebate instead of receiving the thousand dollars or so for trading it in at a used car dealership. As a result of this, used car dealerships have less cars and therefore less business. Many of these struggling dealerships cannot find means to keep their doors open and are forced to close. The dealerships that are fortunate enough to stay open are struggling from the lack of cars on their lot. Since the supply of used cars has dwindled significantly, the prices on the cars available are marked higher than usual to cover costs to stay open. As a result, the consumers who are looking to purchase a cheap, used car are unable to because of the high prices.

Falling to Pieces
Not only are used dealerships and independent dealerships losing money, small business owners who deal with car parts are losing money as well. Cars which were sold from these dealerships to junkyards or had the car stripped and pieces sold away went towards the Cash for Clunkers program. In addition to losing available cars for parts, small businesses dealing with auto repair have fewer cheap parts available. This will eventually lead to cutting back the numbers of cars they can work on in the future, and potentially causing their doors to close.

More Damage
So far, I have only mentioned small businesses which have been hurt by Cash for Clunkers that are in the auto industry. But what about other small businesses? What about transportation providers, such as limo services, taxicabs, or towing businesses who all need a way of transportation for their business? Or moving services, at-home repairs, lawn/ground maintenance, home improvement? Or for the entrepreneur, independent contractors who have to travel to clients? All of these small businesses require a vehicle of some sort for their small business to stay in business. Most of these businesses are unable to purchase an affordable vehicle within their limited funds since Cash for Clunkers drove up the price of used vehicles. These business owners have to sacrifice their vehicle, find another form of transportation, or close their doors.

The Bottom Line: Cash for Clunkers devastated small businesses. It has taken business away from small businesses when they are already struggling in this recession. The program increased the cost of the clunkers which were left on the market, therefore turning the used car market upside down, and taking the ones which are valuable to used car dealerships off the market. The Cash for Clunkers program had the intentions of being a good idea for Americans, but it ended up hurting the driving force of the economy. The Obama administration continues leaving small businesses asking, "what about us?"