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How to Start a Senior Transportation Business

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The National Center on Senior Transportation estimates that by the year 2030, more than 70 million Americans will be over the age of 65. And with the 85-plus section expected to increase to 21 million by 2050, our elderly population is growing almost twice as fast as the overall population.

Many seniors have to either depend on family members and friends to drive them around or use unreliable public transportation services. This provides a great opportunity for anyone wanting to start a transportation business for seniors who have traded their car keys for a back seat driving pass.

What’s Your Specialty?

Define how specialized your transportation business will be. For example, decide if you will transport seniors who need assistance with wheelchairs or walkers, or if you prefer to simply taxi around able-bodied folks to doctor appointments and shopping expeditions. This will determine what type of vehicles, equipment, insurance, and licenses you will need.

Business Regulations

Verify what rules and regulations apply to a transportation business by contacting your state’s Department of Transportation. The rules of the road not only change from state-to-state but also town-to-town, so check with all of the local jurisdictions in which you plan to conduct your transportation business to see if they require any special permits or licenses.

Insurance Issues

Consult with your insurance agent to see what type of additional insurance you will need to operate. Even if you decide to drive your own personal vehicle you will still probably need commercial automobile insurance. Some insurance companies require supplementary liability insurance and drug testing for all licensed drivers.

Mode of Transportation

Invest in a reliable vehicle to safely transport your elderly customers such as a minivan or 15-passenger van. While it doesn’t have to be brand-spanking new off the dealer’s lot, it should only be three or four years old with less than 50,000 miles on the odometer. Keeping your vehicle properly maintained and inspected will insure its dependability.

Equipping Your Vehicle(s)

Furnish your vehicle with any mobility equipment necessary such as a wheelchair lift or ramp. You may also need to install safety restraints or tie downs for walkers or wheelchairs. In addition, you should have a first-aid kit in the vehicle along with a cell phone or two-way radio for emergency communications.

Designated Drivers

Hire responsible drivers with good driving records who are licensed to drive in the state you operate. Depending on your state’s regulations they may also be required to get a commercial driver’s license. The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has a pre-employment screening program (PSP) that allows you to check the crash and safety violation history of a commercial driver for a small fee.

What to Charge

Decide what types of fees you want to charge for the type of transportation service you are offering. For example, a per-mile fee structure is the most widely used. However, it may be more practical to charge a flat fee that is billed in 15 or 30 minute increments if your service is driving people around on errands that requires you to wait for periods of time. Or you may want to set up a weekly or monthly payment system for regular customers who travel the same route each day, week or month.

In Conclusion

Finding reliable transportation is a big concern for seniors who want to live as independently and self-reliantly as possible. Anyone starting this type of business should not only be sensitive to their needs, but also mindful of time constraints so their senior passengers are never kept waiting.

Anyone working with seniors should be a “people person” and be able to exercise good judgment when issues arise. In this type of business you will be working with different types of people including senior clients, family members, caregivers, and/or professionals in the industry. Interpersonal skills, along with patience, honesty and punctuality will be essential to your success.

For more information on how to start a business that caters to the needs of senior adults including transportation, please check out my book, Start Your Own Senior Services Business: Adult Day Care, Relocation Services, Homecare, Transportation Service, Concierge, Travel Service and More (Entrepreneur Press, 2010)

Filed in Entrepreneurs, Senior Living, Start-up Ventures | Tagged business, entrepreneur, new business, senior living, senior services | Comments (0)

Managing Stress During the Holidays

Friday, November 18, 2011

Statistics overwhelmingly indicate that stress is the root cause of many health-related issues including heart disease, cancer, obesity, depression, memory loss, high blood pressure, and diabetes. And with increasing demands on both your personal and professional life, learning how to effectively manage stress is more important than ever – especially with the holidays right around the corner!

The first step to stress management is identifying what factors in your life are causing you to feel anxious. Some people have physical symptoms such as headaches or high blood pressure while others may get internal symptoms like panic attacks or depression. In either case, recognizing the source can help you find methods that will help decrease your stress level.

Other steps you can take to manage stress is decreasing the amount of caffeine and alcohol you drink. Eat healthy snacks throughout the day to keep your blood sugar elevated. Deep breathing and meditation are easy techniques that require very little time. Also, exercise is a good way to manage stress that has many other health benefits by lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight.

Dr. Kathleen Hall, internationally recognized stress and work-life balance expert, and founder/C.E.O. of The Stress Institute, Mindful Living Network and Alter Your Life, recommends using her renowned S.E.L.F. Care program during the times of holiday stress to help stay cool and collected:

-Serenity: Listen to calming music before bed, do a short meditation, use guided imagery picturing leaves floating down a water stream or balloons floating off into the sky.

-Exercise: Take a walk, ride your bike, dance, practice yoga or play. Exercise is essential is stress reduction!

-Love: Maintain close relationships with friends and family members; look at the holidays as a time to take advantage of quality family time, even if you feel stressed at first. Healthy relationships contribute to healthy minds!

-Food: The holidays are full of wonderful food. Let yourself indulge a little bit rather than forbidding yourself from enjoying holiday treats!

Amy Stone, a pottery artist from Northwest Mississippi, recommends organizing your time and getting plenty of sleep. “Set time goals for yourself and try to get in bed at a decent hour,” she says. Stone admits this was hard for her to do initially because like a lot of artists she is most creative at night. “I learned to map out my time better and sleep at night instead of keeping owl’s hours.”

Stone also recommends keeping a calendar of deadlines so that you can clearly communicate to customers when they can expect their finished order. “This is paramount, especially with Christmas fast approaching,” she says. “I’m usually done much earlier than the allotted time frame, but this keeps customers satisfied and helps my sanity as I take on more projects.”

Internationally recognized artist and designer, Pablo Solomon, encourages people to not stress out by putting themselves into debt buying big, expensive presents. “My wife and I shop yard sales and junk stores year around to find unique items that our friends might cherish such as old books, art, vintage purses, and other collectibles,” he says. “Often our gifts are the most appreciated because they show we put time and thought behind them.”

Another gift-giving idea comes from Connie Mettler, publisher of the Art Fair Calendar, who recommends that instead of spending hard earned money on gifts, start trading/bartering with other artisans and entrepreneurs early in the year so that you are ready with gifts for the holidays. “Usually these are gifts you would have a hard time justifying paying retail for.”

Remember to be good to yourself during this stressful time of year. While you cannot completely eliminate stress from your life, you can take steps to effectively manage it. Take some time on a regular basis to check all systems and regulate stress levels; your body and mind will thank you for it!

Happy Holidays!

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This feature article was written exclusively for the Association of Artisan Businesses, an organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the artisan industry. Reprinted with permission.

Filed in Artisans, Health / Lifestyles | Tagged health, holidays, managing stress | Comments (0)

The Art of Wrapping Fine Chocolate

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Think about the best piece of chocolate to ever pass between your lips. Was it smooth and creamy? Or perhaps a little crunchy with a hint of raspberry? Maybe it had an unusual or distinctive shape. How about the wrapper? Chances are you may not remember that last little detail, but today’s chocolate manufacturers want you to. And they are becoming more creative in their packaging efforts. The experience of luxury chocolates is no longer limited to the aroma and taste, but also to the presentation.

With an eye towards art, the succulent, pure chocolate “Labooko” bars created by Austrian chocolate maker, Josef Zotter, feature wrappers specially designed by artist, Andreas Gratze. The first design for their chocolates was drawn up nearly 20 years ago when Gratze invented a small devil that can still be found on the cover of “For Rascals.” Since then, Gratze tries to reflect the taste of each Zotter chocolate bar in his wrapper designs. For example, he thinks about how celery would feel being paired with port wine for Zotter’s Celery, Truffle and Port Wine bar or how black tea and lemon are going to interact with Zotter’s Black Tea with Lemon bar.

Personalized chocolate wrappers are immensely popular because of their versatility and uniqueness that allows people to leave a lasting and tasteful impression. They have hundreds of uses that can be sentimental, humorous, or refined. Celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, and bar mitzvahs are frequently commemorated with decorative wrappers on small pieces of chocolate to be used as place cards, party favors, or thank you notes. Businesses also use personalized chocolate wrappers as promotional tools such as business cards, coupons, or special announcements like the ones found at Chocolate Covers. “A photo on a candy bar is more memorable than one in the phone book,” their website advertises.

Environmentalists have also jumped on the confectioner’s bandwagon by using chocolate candy wrappers made of biodegradable products. Many political and environmental groups use the wrappers as a means to promote their cause such as the Endangered Species Chocolate. And in an effort to clean up Mother Earth and promote conservation, some companies like Ecoist, are recycling chocolate wrappers into fashionable coin purses and accessories. Charles Chocolates even makes an edible chocolate box, alleviating the need to recycle their packaging.

Just in time for the holidays, gourmet Vermont chocolate maker, Lake Champlain Chocolates, has introduced its holiday line of all-natural chocolate gifts for winter, Christmas, and Hanukah gift giving. This year’s packaging features dazzling designs incorporating scenes fromVermont’s great snowy outdoors. These include a new triangle-shaped box of Organic Truffles and a lopsided Nuts and Raisins Star box with a clear pane window. “The festive packaging for the holidays is just the answer and the retail price offers affordable luxury,” says Allyson Myers, Director of Sales for LCC.

The production of fine gourmet chocolate is an art that is not only reflected in the composition of the confection, but in the overall appearance and delivery. For the chocolate gourmet it is the epitome of excellence.

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Filed in Business Development, Recipes / Cooking | Tagged business, chocolate, marketing | Comments (0)

How to Prepare a Basic Business Plan

Sunday, December 26, 2010

A well thought-out business plan is a detailed blueprint that outlines a road map to success for your business. Not only can it be used as a tool when approaching lenders or investors for outside financing, it can also be an in-house guide during the start-up process that should be continuously referred to throughout the operation of your business. A good, solid business plan will help you develop financial, marketing, and operational strategies. And, by taking a close, realistic look at your business it can help you work out long- and short-term goals.

The following is the format for a basic business plan:

Begin your confidential business plan with a COVER PAGE that lists you as the owner or proprietor, the name of your business, address, phone number, email address, website, and logo (if applicable). It’s also advisable to include the name of the individual, corporation, or lending institution that you are submitting the document to near the bottom.
Start constructing your business plan with a detailed outline that will later serve as the TABLE OF CONTENTS. This can also be used as a guide during the creation process that identifies all of the main components.
Provide a brief synopsis of your business plan in the EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. This is basically a sales page touching on key points such as your goals and objectives, an overview of the industry, marketing strategies, operations and management, inventory, capital requirements, and financial projections. Although this section appears near the beginning it is typically written last because it provides a summary of your completed business plan.
Create a MISSION STATEMENT that identifies who you are, what you do, and the clientele you serve. Ideally, a mission statement is no more than a couple of sentences long. Although short and sweet, a mission statement sets the tone and direction your business wants to take making it an important element.
Confirm your company’s legal structure in the ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT section as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. Identify key players such as co-owners, partners, employees, consultants, and advisors by highlighting their skills and experience. Point out any special licenses, certifications, or permits required to operate and how you plan to address those issues.
State your financial objectives in the FINANCIAL PLAN, including sources for start-up funds, how much capital is needed, how loan monies will be disbursed, and anticipated cash inflow and outflow over specific time periods. Include personal financial statements and income tax returns, a proposed budget, balance sheet, profit and loss statement, break-even analysis, and income projections for the first, third, and fifth years of operation.
Include SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS or appendices such as resumes, personal and business references, credit reports, contracts and agreements, and any other legal or miscellaneous documents that are pertinent to your business.

Microsoft Business also recommends including an “exit strategy” in the event you decide to sell or close the business.

There are a ton of resources and references available online for constructing a business plan. The U.S. Small Business Administration provides a wealth of information for writing a business plan, including comprehensive guides and outlines, as well as an online workshop.

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Filed in Business Development, Entrepreneurs, Start-up Ventures | Tagged business, Business Development, business plan | Comments (0)

Tips on Keeping Your Family Healthy This Flu Season

Saturday, November 6, 2010

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During these cold, blustery, winter months, one of a parent’s biggest concerns is the influenza virus. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, cold weather does not cause colds or flu; however, the viruses that cause them tend to be more common during this time of year when children are in school and have closer contact with other kids. This is a big concern because children are generally more susceptible than adults to catching the cold or flu, which can develop into something more serious such as ear or sinus infections, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Taking a few preventive measures can greatly decrease your family’s chances of an infection from a cold or the flu:

• Teach your children to wash their hands several times a day to prevent the spread of infection. Encourage them to use warm, soapy water after using the restroom, playing with high-exposure toys, playing outside, and before eating. Use cleansing pads or hand sanitizer whenever clean water and soap are unavailable. However, use caution with hand sanitizers as several cases of alcohol poisoning in children from swallowing small amounts have been recorded.

• Another preventative tactic is to teach children to cough or sneeze into a tissue, or if one is unavailable into their elbow. This helps to keep their little hands slightly less germ free and reduces the chance of spreading cooties to others. Stuff a package of tissue into your child’s coat pocket or backpack so they will always have some on hand.

• Develop a germ phobia by disinfecting surfaces in your home that family members commonly touch such as counter and table tops, keyboards, remote controls, telephones, light switches, doorknobs, and handrails. And, of course, the bathroom. Throw plastic toys in the dishwasher to be sanitized, and stuffed animals in the washer. And no more sharing cups, food, silverware, or towels.

• Boosting a child’s immune system can help immensely in warding off an infection from a cold or flu virus. The best way to do this is by eating healthy, exercising, getting plenty of sleep, and drinking lots of fluids. Some people also prefer to give their children nutritional supplements such as Vitamin C, Zinc, or Echinacea. However, be sure to consult with your child’s pediatrician before administering any type of supplement.

By taking these steps to ward off germs and boost the immune system you can reduce the chances of catching the cold or flu. Proper hand washing, a healthy lifestyle, and preventative disinfecting can greatly help in this battle. And parents can help keep their families healthier this winter season.
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Filed in Health / Lifestyles | | Comments (0)

Which is Greener?

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

greenglobe1 Green is actually my favorite color, but when I talk about “going green” these days I’m really referring to a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Not too long ago I drove by a huge landfill right next to I-95 in South Florida. It was a shocking sight and really brought home the impact of our wastefulness.

So I started thinking about ways our family could reduce our carbon footprints. Of course, that brought up a lot of questions about which approach was better when taking into consideration how much water, energy, and production costs were involved with different processes. Here are a few things that I found out and wanted to share:

Dishwasher vs. Hand-Washing: According to a study from the University of Bonn in Germany, the average dishwasher uses only half the energy, one-sixth of the water, and less soap than hand-washing dishes. It is possible to be more efficient when hand-washing, but it’s not easy according to an article posted at Treehugger.com. So, the green solution is to run the dishwasher once it has been completely filled (not half full) with dirty dishes with the heated drying option turned off.

Note: rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher is not considered eco-friendly because of the amount of water that is used (approx. 2 gallons flow from the faucet per minute). If your dishwasher does not effectively clean food particles from the dishes, put them on the rinse cycle first which still uses less water and energy overall.

Paper plates vs. real plates: Reusable plates are more environmentally friendly when washed in the dishwasher. Unless they are made from recycled products, paper plates require trees to be cut down and chemically processed at paper mills which pollute the air. Then the paper plates eventually clutter up landfills where they will probably never fully degrade. The green solution is to stock up on inexpensive plates that can be found at thrift shops, garage sales, and your local dollar store.
Cloth vs. Paper Napkins/Towels: It really depends on how the cloth or paper napkins are made. For example: cotton is not typically an environmentally friendly process (unless its organic), due to the greenhouse gas emissions from growing the raw materials and the manufacturing process. So using a paper napkin (preferably from recycled products) is actually less expensive and less invasive to our environment than a cotton napkin. Your eco-friendly choices are: (1) purchase hemp, linen, or organic cotton dish towels and napkins; wash in cold water and line dry when weather permits, or (2) purchase paper towels/napkins made from recycled materials that are unbleached with no ink designs (think very plain). Another green option is to either buy secondhand towels and napkins, or make your own from old sheets and towels.
Plastic or paper? When it comes to bagging your groceries – neither. Reusable bags are the best alternative. And you probably already have some on hand without the need to buy new ones. Carrie Boyko of the New Kid on the Green Block blog (www.newkidonthegreenblock.com), writes, “Cleaning out your closet to find all those gifted tote bags you tucked away for a rainy day is probably your best and most economical implementation for this idea.”
Styrofoam vs. paper cups: You would think this is a no-brainer…and you would probably be wrong. At least, I was! The surprising reality is that Styrofoam is more eco-friendly and much less expensive to produce than a typical paper cup for hot beverages. Those trendy paper cups from your favorite coffee shop cost twice as much to produce, require 36 times the amount of electricity, and 12 times the amount of water. Plus, you have to use a cardboard sleeve to keep from burning your fingertips off. The only way a paper cup can win this contest is if it’s biodegradable (and most are not). Of course, the best case scenario is to bring your own cup or tumbler.

This is just the beginning of new and “greener” things to discover, so I’ll keep you posted as I find out more. And please feel free to share some of your green tips with us on the Busy Moms Tips Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/BusyMomsTips.

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Charlene Davis is an internationally published writer specializing in business, e-commerce, spirituality, parenting, and food. For more great tips and articles for today’s busy women, visit her blog at: www.busymomstips.com.

Filed in Green Living | Tagged eco-friendly, green tips, greener lifestyle | Comments (1)

Filing Away Last Year

Saturday, January 2, 2010

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Stress, stress, stress! Good grief, every which way you turn is to be greeted with more stress. There is no avoiding it with sick kids, overextended credit cards, work deadlines, and life in general making its daily demands. So, we need to find viable solutions to deal with all of these hassles. For me, minimizing some of the pressure as much as possible has been the best alternative. And I’m doing that by trying to simplify and streamline specific areas of my life.

During the past year I have worked on my home one room at a time by decluttering and reorganizing everything to its best possible advantage. My mission is almost accomplished and I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel. The last room to receive a complete overhaul and makeover is my office, which still looks like something from a disaster photo-op. But even in there I have started implementing small strategies to make this an easier transition than it looks. And it looks bad.

A couple of years ago, I initiated a new filing plan that my longtime friend, Julie Stiles Mills, shared in Bible study. We were discussing the book, Living With Less: The Upside of Downsizing Your Life, by Mark Tabb (Broadman & Holman), and how to get more out of life by choosing to live with less. (This is an excellent book that is scripturally based.) I was complaining about my resident paper monster and how I had several years of filing piled up waiting to be crammed into about a hundred or so folders. Julie’s solution was simple: Don’t do it.

Julie said that folders should only be used for paperwork that will be used actively such as bank statements and medical records, and to segregate other types of business and client materials. But to assign a folder to every single piece of paper that will probably never be touched again is unnecessary and time-consuming. She recommended sorting the filing by year and then pulling out only the pertinent papers that needed folders. The rest could go into a box or expandable file folder with the year marked on it and set aside for easy access, if necessary. If I needed to find something at a later date, I would know exactly where to go and look for it.

I have to tell you that this filing method has been so liberating! Such a simple solution to an overwhelming task.

Shortly after that discussion, Julie wrote a 3-part series entitled, “Don’t file paper at home anymore” at Pragmatic Compendium. In her charming and humorous style, she goes into a lot of detail on how to easily and efficiently tame the resident paper monster, and (this is the best part) teach other family members how to follow it! Here are the links:

Don’t file paper at home anymore: Part 1

Don’t file paper at home anymore: Part 2

Don’t file paper at home anymore: Part 3

Filed in Organizing Tips | Tagged filing, living with less, Organizing Tips, stress relief | Comments (1)

NOW is the Time to Start a New “Recession-Proof” Business

Friday, October 9, 2009

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In today’s economy it seems almost every industry has been unfavorably affected by the recession. Nevertheless, new startup ventures continue to pop-up around the country with amazing degrees of success. How is this possible when everyone is cutting back everywhere?

The reality is the economic downturn has thrown wide open the entrepreneurial doors to usher in new business enterprises that recognize and understand people still want and need highly valued products and services, but at more affordable prices.

At the risk of sounding like I drank the Kool-aid, there has never been a better time like the present to become an entrepreneur and start a lucrative, specialized business. Many of these ventures can be kicked off with very little financial investment and expanded as the business grows.

To prove this concept is the Fire Island Beer Company which recently commenced sales in May 2009 and has already seen a huge increase in business. The company pays their team of phenomenal partners (top branding company, legal counsel, photographers, PR, sales consultants) with a piece of the action. “Rather than pay them in cash which would be prohibitive, we made them true partners in the company,” says Co-founder and Head Beer Maestro, Tom Fernandez. In other words, they are compensated in Fire Island Beer Company equity, which is a win-win situation for everyone.

This is the perfect time to strap on your propeller beanie hat and look for opportunities where others do not. “With a sluggish market come many challenges,” says Angela Brooks, Marketing Instructor of CSPI Academy. “Look for challenges clients have because of the economy and adapt your product or service to solve it.”

So where’s the money? Alan Lysaght and Denis Cauvier, PhD, authors of the international bestseller, The ABCs of Making Money (www.theabcguys.com), offer the following suggestions for potential new startup ventures:

· Second hand clothing stores: people need the cash for unused clothes, while others want designer goods at a fraction of the original cost

· Companies will always have a need for sales people but may have to outsource this as well. Consider setting up a sales team for sector specific industries.

· Are you technically savvy? Any software that accomplishes something faster easier and cheaper can become a bestseller overnight.

· Anything “green” from low phosphate cleaners to zero off-gassing products like beds, pillows and carpets will find an increasing market.

· With people holding onto their cars longer they will need more maintenance and repairs. This will create more need for fully-equipped self-serve garages

· Then there are the “vulture” industries. As people lose their jobs and homes, repossession experts prosper, as do auctioneers, junk removal companies, cleaners, bankruptcy specialists and debt consolidators.

The list could continue for pages, but due to limited space I’ll cap it off by squeezing in one more suggestion: With baby boomers entering retirement, this is an excellent time to start or buy a business that caters to the senior population. Travel and concierge services, transportation, estate planning, relocation, and healthcare are all safe bets for new businesses that will grow and prosper despite the economy. (Note: For more information on starting a business for seniors, check out the 2nd edition of Starting Your Own Senior Services Business, by Charlene Davis / Entrepreneur Press, 2009.)

Over the past ten years, small businesses have accounted for more than 70 percent of jobs across the nation. They are the core of America and will be instrumental in bringing us out of these difficult economic times. The next crop of millionaires will be ones who saw the possibilities created by the recession and capitalized on it. Do you want in?

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Filed in Business Development, Entrepreneurs, Start-up Ventures | Tagged economy, entrepreneur, new business, recession-proof, start-up venture | Comments (2)

What Young Entrepreneurs Can Teach Us About Business

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

computer1 Echo boomers – a/k/a baby boomer kids or Generation Y’ers – are pretty savvy young folks, especially when it comes to business. This fun loving generation is enthusiastically embracing the notion of free enterprise that has been threatening to bubble over the edge of corporate America for years. Armed with brainpower, optimism, and moxie, these young entrepreneurs are forging ahead in greater numbers by creating jobs that fit around their lifestyles and passions by developing a work-life balance their parents didn’t have.

Young entrepreneurs bring many things to the table including fresh ideas, innovative strategies, and energy – lots of positive, re-vitalizing energy. They are also learning that inexperience is not necessarily a risk factor.

When Foodzie (www.foodzie.com) was just an idea for an online marketplace to help small food producers, co-founder Emily Olson (25) said that a mentor told them they were lucky to be young enough to have no idea how hard getting started was going to be. However, Olson thinks that experience can sometimes get in the way of taking the risks you need to take in business. “Young entrepreneurs often dive in and then innovate along the way to try to make something new work,” she says. Today, Foodzie is successfully continuing their mission to help change the way people eat by connecting consumers with small artisan producers and growers across the country.

Young entrepreneurs also show us how to dust off and breathe new life into old concepts. “We make your ideas SOAR!” is the tagline for Dinosoar Studios (www.dinosoarstudios.com) recently started by Travis Woodward (15). His company makes short videos companies can use to provide customers with information about their businesses and/or products. In addition to using social networking as a way to grow his business, Woodward says that word-of-mouth has been his best marketing strategy. “To get new customers I asked my friends and family for their support – and to refer ten of their friends, family and business people to me,” he says. The results were immediate!

This older-than-dirt form of networking is undoubtedly the most reliable and powerful method of promoting your business. The more you can get people talking about you and your business the better this form of viral or buzz marketing can work. And it doesn’t cost a thing. To prove this over the fence third-party endorsement still reigns supreme, there is even a Word-of-Mouth Marketing Association (www.womma.org) where members can learn how to use this skill more effectively.

Jared O’Toole (23), co-founder of Under30CEO (www.under30ceo.com), created to inspire Gen Y’ers to live their dreams, also believes in buzz marketing and thinks that all press is good – even when it’s bad. He feels entrepreneurs should not only welcome negative publicity, comments, or tweets, but also promote it. “Toss the negativity up in the air and let people engage and join sides,” he advises. “Not everyone will agree with you, but the point is people are talking about your business.” O’Toole believes the key is staying involved and gaining respect by presenting your side of the issue in a professional manner. And the people who end up aligning themselves with you will become more loyal to your brand.

However, if the thought of criticism still sends you in a tailspin, just remember the old adage: “If the dogs are barking at your heels, you know you’re leading the pack.”

Rock on!

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Filed in Business Development, Entrepreneurs | Tagged business, Business Development, young entrepreneurs | Comments (1)

Tips for Good Netiquette

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

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Internet etiquette or “netiquette” has been around since the mid-1980s – even before the World Wide Web exploded onto the scene when people were just using it for interoffice communications. Basically, it’s a set of social rules that have evolved over the years to help facilitate interaction between Internet users who communicate via emails, chat rooms, discussion forums, blogs, etc. As more and people spend a big part of their lives online, using good netiquette skills is more important than ever.

1. Don’t use ALL CAPS. Understand the significance of lower and upper case letters. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN? Typing in all caps indicates that you are shouting at the reader. But when typed in lower case letters there is no hint of aggression in the message. Of course there are times where capital letters can be used to emphasize a concept. For example, “His cat was HUGE!” is perfectly acceptable.

2. Use acronyms sparingly. With texting becoming more prevalent, abbreviations and acronyms in online messages are becoming more common. Standard ones such as LOL and FYI are generally understood by everyone. However, if they are uncommon or unfamiliar such as “thnx,” “ur,” and “pls,” people may wonder if you know how to type. If you habitually use some of these make sure to proofread your messages to ensure that no chat lingo has been included when sending out professional communications.

3. Watch your “tone.” Keep in mind that the recipient of your message cannot see your face or hear your tone of voice which sometimes results in miscommunications. If you are unsure how your remarks will be interpreted, you can insert emoticons (i.e., side wink ; ) or <g> for “grin”). However, it’s always safer to adopt a slightly more formal tone rather than risk possibly offending someone by accident.

4. Identify the subject/topic. Studies show that more than 40 percent of recipients decide whether or not to open an email solely based on the subject line. To increase the chances of having your email opened you need to have an appropriate subject that is short and compelling. And just like the body of the email you should user proper spelling and punctuation – and not all caps. Also, be careful of using common terms abused by spammers so that your message isn’t inadvertently sent to the Trash folder by the recipient’s spam filter.

5. Know who you are replying to. Using the “To”, “CC”, and “BCC” fields correctly also plays a large role in email netiquette. When responding to emails make sure you don’t accidentally click “reply all” unless you want everyone to see your response. Also, when addressing specific people in the message make sure you include those recipients in the ‘To’ field. Anyone that you’re not directly addressing should be moved to either the CC or BCC field.

While these guidelines don’t cover all of the rules of cyber communications, they do provide a basic overview of how to interconnect more effectively. Perhaps the number one rule when communicating online would be to address people the same way you would want them to address you – whether in person, through the contents of a letter, or behind a computer screen.