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Showing posts with label business resources. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business resources. Show all posts
Saturday, August 24, 2013
8 MISTAKES THAT CAN HURT YOUR BUSINESS



Have you every said to yourself  “If I had known then what I know now, I would have done things a lot differently.” ?

The following are a few that I wish I could go back in time and tell myself!

  1. WRONG PRICING: If the price is too high then no one buys, if the price is too low  then you don’t make money. Almost everyone prices low. If you think you’re priced high, you’re probably just lower than you ought to be. I would suggest to reevaluate bi-annulaly or annually as material cost can change.
  2. MARKETING ( WHORING OUT THE GOODS): If people don’t know about your products, they won’t buy them. Alot of time, first time "crafters" think it is enough to produce a great ( sometimes not-so-great) product and just put it online. You  have to ge the word out! An easy way to do this is by participating in a craft show or fairs.
    Create a sign-up sheet and begin developing an e-mail list immediately. These are the people that have already expressed an interest in your work, so they are the most likely to buy from you.
  3.  KNOW YOUR ROLE: Spend your time doing the things you are good at, not struggling at the things you don’t do well. If you are lacking in a particular area, then try to consider hiring someone  or outsourcing to someone who is strong in the areas you are weak.  If you can’t afford to do so yet, tap into your network of friends, family or crafting network ( trust me, the crafting network is big and mighty!).
  4. RIPPING OFF THE GOVERMENT: Pay your taxes. All of them.Don’t cut corners with the government. File what you need to file. Even when you may think that you have gotten away with something, trust me.....you haven't! They will lay in wait  ( sometimes for years) and just when you are waiting for a refund check ,  maybe a lotto scratch-off or notice a freeze on your bank account...you get a letter stating that it is being with held for an outstanding tax balance.
  5. NOT SEEKING ADVICE: If you are the smartest person in your circle....then get a bigger circle!  There is a whole group of smart people around you: personal friends, craft business associates, local business connections, parents, siblings, children, or a spouse. All of them have something to offer, and may see things you’re going to miss.
  6. DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB:  Even if you feel like your product is in high demand, most small businesses are not profitable within their first year or two. You should have a reliable source of income from something other than your new business to sustain yourself during your intial start-up period.
  7. SPENDING TOO MUCH: Many small businesses spend too much money "setting up shop," That inclues buying to much material, inventory, website, brochures and etc.  There are alot of ways to have a professional presence without spending alot of money.  Take a look at our different articles for Business Tools, that provide low cost ways for "upgrading" your business!
  8. FOCUSING YOUR PRODUCT: If your business isn't doing as well as you'd like it to, it's very easy to become impatient and try to shake things up with a new product.
    Businesses that do well stick with what they do best.  Several years ago , I have a variety of products, but realized that my best sellers were the  funny cards. This led me to really evaluate my products and focus my line....hence my brands called Glib Greetings and Courtesy Cards. Think about it...when you want a Frappachino you know exactly where to go right? The same should be said for what every your product is....when they want it, they should know to go to you to get it.

 What advise do you think can hurt a business?


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Sunday, June 16, 2013
Color Crush: Color Palette Generator

For me, finding the correct colors for a project can be hard. When choosing those colors for a design, alot of times, clients minds can go blank .Generally they will see an image and want  to use colors from the image .This is where a color generator is the perfect tool to use.
A color generator or color scheme selector is a tool for anyone in need of a color scheme. In most cases these online tools have the color codes attached and some offer extended features to help a designer build the perfect color scheme. There are alot of color generators out there, but I the following are a few that I like based on image uploads. There no order of favorites, just ones I prefer over the rest.


1. Big Huge Labs
  2. Color Palette Generator


 3. Degraeve
       (based on url, must have url of image . Cannot upload from computer)
 

4. Patorjk
     (based on url, must have url of image . Cannot upload from computer.
       Also, they allow you to choose your Hue variance, based on picture)

5. Photocopia
    (This is an extension of colorLovers, so you can log in with your colorLouvers login and save
     your  pics. You can use an url or load one of your Flikr pics  & choose your Hue variance, based
      on picture)


6.Pictaculous
    (This is an extension of Kuler and Color Louvers as they also give you suggest the closest color
      palettes already made.  They also let you download the palettes for easy install instead of     
      copy/pasting the color codes)
7. Cool Hunter
     (This site is good, but I do not like that the picture is autmatically sized to thumbnail & they
       only give you 5 colors with no variations.)


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Saturday, April 13, 2013
Sell Your Ass Off: Seller Sites For Your Products ...Part 2


Etsy is clearly the "go to" place where crafters can sell their handemade creations , from Apparel and Accessories to Home Goods and even Artisan Foods, but is it the only place? Though Etsy does try to adhere to their strict "Handmade Motto", some sellers as well as buyers are concerned that Etsy may end up similar to what Ebay has currently become.....a reseller haven.
 
Now, don't get me wrong, Etsy is trully a great place to go and find unique items , new designers as well as as giving an individual an oppportunity to start their own business who may have never had the means to do so, but there are some other sites similar to Etsy where a "Crafter" can expand their business as well.  Selling crafts online can be a legitimate online job, and profitable if you know where to sell your items.

 As you can see there are plenty of other options besides Etsy for selling your homemade products, Just remember that not everyone's business is the same, so it's really up to you to decide which will work best for your business (volume/ sales, brand needs and etc).
Which ones do you prefer?


  1. Bonanza: is a site like Etsy that used to be called 1000 Markets. In order to make money online selling crafts and handmade goods, you need to list your items for sale. Roll your mouse over "Sell" at the top of the screen and choose "add item for sale". On this page you will be able to name your booth, select your accepted payment options, promote your booth, and import your items for sale from eBay or Craigslist. After that you can list items for sale. Your item description includes a photo, a title, a description, a category, a price, shipping options, and item specifics. It is free to list on Bonanza and you only pay a commission to Bonanza when an item sells.
  2. UncommonGoods sells handmade and recycled items. The website doesn't say much about how to sell on the site, but I got on a live chat with a representative who said they are always looking for products to feature on their website and in their catalogs. To be considered you would need to send pictures attached to newgoods@uncommongoods.com.
  3. Silkfair is another site lthat allows you to create your own store, select a pricing plan, add products, and start selling. Silkfair offers a 14 day free trial. Stores are free to $7.99 a month up to $24.99 a month, depending on which features you want. It is not solely for handmade items, they do allow commercially made items to be sold as well.
  4. Supermarket is a trendy place to sell your creations. Here you are known as a designer. In order to start selling on this site you need to send your information (images, links, etc.) to the email address listed here: http://supermarkethq.com/signup/designer Send an email letting them know what you do with photos of what you do. If you are approved as a designer for Supermarket you will have a profile, logo, banner, and the ability to list items and collections for sale. When an item of yours sells the money goes directly into your own PayPal account. Supermarket then tallies up their commissions from your sales and charges your credit card every 30 days.
  5. MadeItMyself is quite self-explanatory. If you want to sell your items here you have to first become a member. After registering as a member you can list your items for sale. You will be charged fees when you list an item and again when the item sells. Commission is 3% of the sale price. The Terms and Conditions currently state that they are waiving the listing fees.
  6. DaWanda is a website like Etsy where you can sell clothing, jewelry, art, and supplies. Create your own shop on DaWanda. There are no current listing fees, but they are in the works. Commissions for products sold is 5%.
  7. iCraft is a little different as they charge no commissions when you sell your homemade creations on their website. The rules are that you must be the creator, it must be handmade, it cannot be food or beverages, you have to submit a quality photo of your work, it must be brand new (not used), and your work will be reviewed for quality. Your store is known as your Creator Exhibit and you have to have at least one item there. In other words, there are alot of policies you must adhere to.
  8. Folksy is a website that was created to showcase UK designers, artists and crafters. It doesn't say you have to be from the UK to sell. To start selling you would need to register, set up a shop, list your items, and promote your work. Unfortunately, didn't see anydetails on commissions. This site is the most like Etsy in it's appearance, application and ease of use.
  9. ArtFire offers you a place to sell your handmade goods, vintage items, fine art, and more. You can start selling with a free account or a pro account for $9.95 per month. You will get a customizable shop where you can list your items for sale, accept PayPal, Google Checkout and Amazon Payments, you can create coupon codes, and easily promote your items via social networks.
  10. eCreater  is a free online marketplace with the look of Etsy, but the selling style and selection of Ebay.This makes sense, since it allows you to import your Ebay items to their marketplace. This site allows unlimited categories, upload up to 10 photos per listing, has Paypal & Google Wallet Support, your own URL and various other options.
  11. Foodoro:  Like the popular Foodzie , which was bought out by Joyus, this is the site for artisan food vendors in the U.S only. Foodoro is also trying to engage the food blogging community by implementing an affiliate program (like Amazon’s) that lets food bloggers earn a percentage on traffic they refer to back to Foodoro (the bloggers can also embed a widget of a product they are writing about in their blogs). There are no upfront listing/setup fees and sellers who join Foodoro are small, independent food producers with a high standard of craftsmanship (produce small quantities, use only the best ingrediants and make their goods onsite).
  12. Zibbet:  is a marketplace  with no listing fees, no commission fees and a free level account with a 50 item limit. If you have more than 50 items in your store, you will need to upgrade to the Premium Level for $9.95/per month or $79 yearly. In addition, they have an Etsy importer.
  13. Meylah: is a new marketplace that allows you to upload and sell  goods instantly. Basic membership is free all you have to do is add your store name and you have an instant storefront.  Because they are the new kids on the block, they may not have everything that you need if you are thinking about leaving Etsy.
  14. Lillyshop: is so similiar to Etsy in look, design and interface. It allows unlimited free listings, a customizable shop , Google Analytics/Shop Statistics as well as a personal shop blog. It does not charge listing fees, re-listing fees or monthly fees. Lilyshop simply charges a 5% sales fee if you sell an item, but this percentage does not include the shipping price
  15. Luulla: is a newer marketplace that is free to sell but with two pricing options for sellers. You can choose the "Pay-As-You-Go" option that  the seller pays  $0.10 USD per item listing for a period of 4 months and 3.0% selling fee on the item's sale price. Or you can choose the "Monthly Plan" where the seller is charged a flat fee of $9.90 USD per month , unlimited product listing and 3.0% selling fee on the item's sale price. The option that you have of having a store front is uploading your company "web banner" and your listing will be beneath that.

Don't forget to take at look at Part 1 of the Sell Your Ass Off Post!
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Sunday, March 31, 2013
Free Card Readers: Get Paid Anywhere with Paypal Here, Square & GoPayment

Now that Paypal has finally gotten their act together and actually put out their Card Reader for your smart phone, Square has got some competition.

All of the Card Reader options, Paypal Here,  Square and Intuit GoPayment, will send you a small credit card scanner for free when you sign up for a new account. Each scanner simply plugs into your smartphone’s audio jack and is easy to set up . Just remember that Paypal's card Reader  
Each service offers apps for Apple Products , like iPhone as well as for Android...though for for those of you who are addicted to the "crackberry" ,  Intuit’s GoPayment also supports some BlackBerry phones.

Each has a system of "items" to which you can add pictures, descriptions, and prices for the things you sell. The items appear on the main screen, and a simple tap will add an item to the invoice. Square makes entering custom amounts much faster with an easy-to-access keypad; in GoPayment, you have to create an item for the special amount you want to charge.

Once you have the items and charges ready, simply tap the Charge button to proceed to swiping the card. You do have the option of manual card entry in place of swiping, and Square will allow you to record a transaction as cash.
The next step is the signature, if one is required. (Square has added the option to skip the signature for transactions under $25.)
Receipts from Square say they're from Square, while receipts from Intuit say they're from the email address you have registered with Intuit.

All the services transfer money automatically into your registered bank account. Intuit takes that information at sign-up and treats each credit card transaction as a bank transfer, promising funds in your account within two or three business days. Square pulls money into your Square account, and, after verifying your bank account, pays out every evening. Paypal Here puts the money into your linked Paypal account immediately, after verifying the account when upon the initial sign up.

Square is easier to track when it comes to fees. If you swipe a card, you're charged a flat 2.75 percent with no transaction fee. If you manually enter the numbers, it's 3.5 percent with a transaction fee of 15 cents.But we careful, there are some hidden cost/restrictions.

For no monthly fee, Intuit GoPayment charges swipes at 2.7 percent with no transaction fee except on American Express cards, and at 3.7 percent if you key the number in. For higher-volume businesses, Intuit offers a plan that takes only 1.7 percent swiped and 2.7 percent keyed in, for a $13 monthly fee; if you do more than $1300 in sales a month, you'll prefer this plan

Paypal Here charges a flat  2.70 percent and  no transcaction fee. There is no check processing fee and there is an easy way to contact customer service. The advantages of Paypal Here is that it also utilizes eBay's technology so that merchants can scan items they sell into their "item lists" . This allows for a "fast checkout experience" for customers. In addition, Paypal is available in Canada, Hong Kong and Australia . Plus, alot of major merchants are now taking Paypal as payment, so it is just easier to integrate your buisness with them.

To find the best payment option for your business really just depends on several things.
  1. If your business is already using Paypal for check-out, then Paypal Here is the best option for you. Easy linking, to your existing account, ability to issue refunds and straightforward to use, this is definately the best option for you.
  2.  If your business is already a popular accounting software,  if you're currently using other Intuit merchant-services products, or if you frequently run over $1300 in sales monthly, then GoPayment is a good choice.
  3. If you're looking for somthing simple . straight forward and easy to use , but can deal with restrictions and fine print, then the Square system is a good option. .

What option do you think is the best?
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Sunday, March 10, 2013
$12 Photography Set Up

If you have not taken at look at Handmadology's post about a $12 photography set-up, you definately should!
Made with foil and a cardboard box, this setup by  photography pro Mariano, will definately get the job  done.....who needs a fancy lightbox anyway, lol
 


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Sunday, April 15, 2012
Whoring Your Business Out: 39 Sites To Advertise Your Products

Though by no means am I an expert in marketing , but since I started my business I am constantly looking for new ways to advertise or some might say "whore out " my business . Advertising is really "Trial and Error" and some of these methods work better than others. It is really up to you to decide what works best for your company, budget and structure...but of course that is the great thing about advertising, if something doesn't work, then you can easily change it.


The following are a list of ways and places to promote your business...
  1. Flikr: Online Photo Sharing Website ( great to store photos for your own website & share)


  2. Indie Public: Independent Art & Design community that is a place to share your items as well as speak with other artist in your field or elsewhere. You can sign up with your Google account and it includes options to "customize" your page.


  3. Kaboodle: is a social shopping community where people discover, recommend and share products. You can create groups and share your products or others and hit a wide audience.


  4. Craigslist: is not just for perverts and theives, it is actually a good place to advertise your products and for free under "services". You do not have to meet anyone, just direct them to your website or email.


  5. Postaroo: is an online classifed ad community similar to Craigslist . Though currently it is "invite only" if you add your email to the list they will update you when it will be open.


  6. Stumbleupon: is site that members (free to join) can recommend or "Stumble Upon" web pages that interest them. You can then discover and review/rate web pages, photos, and videos,"like or dislike" pages so that they can tailor what they find for you.


  7. Bust.com: is an online as well as paper magazine that celebrates handmade. They sponser there own "Craftaculars" which are craft shows around the U.S and London but they also are a good place to advertise. Just be prepared to pay a little extra for it.


  8. Craft Juice: is basically a social networking site for all things handmade. You can submit any item that you would like and the item goes out to a community of 5, 000+ . The way that you become "popular" and seen by more people thru votes. The more the community votes for your item, the more its seen......it is essentially a giant popularity contest.


  9. Craft Stylish: is an online (free member only) community where you can create a public profile of your work, promote your blog, tutorials or share photos of your work.


  10. Crafty Tips: is similar to Craft Stylish where a person can share thier work or crafting tips/tricks with other members.


  11. Designs to Love: is similar to Kaboodle, where members (free to sign up) can share with others products that they love.


  12. Try Handmade: is great handmade blog that sellers can submit pics to the gallery and if picked a possible write up will ensue. Also great resource to chat and discover other artist.


  13. Cool Mom Picks: is a blog that is geared towards products for mothers and kids. There is a section to submit your picks for review as well.


  14. Craft Gawker: is a photo gallery that allows you to visually search and discover handmade arts and crafts to inspire your own projects. They publish photography submitted by craft bloggers from around the world and the editors review submissions daily and choose the highest quality, coolest images to showcase. Though you can submit any handmade item (within the rules) they do have other sites such as Food Gawker, Wedding Gawker and Dwelling Gawker that are obviously catagory specific. I have personally recieved alot of traffic from the site and any one can submit to them, even your customers.


  15. Etsy Lush: is a picture based advertising site similar to Craft Gawker , that only accepts handmade submits from Etsy stores. Any Etsy seller of handmade goods can submit an item ( url) and upon approval it will be placed on the site with the link to the product. There are a list of Do's and Don'ts , so make sure to read the FAQ's thoroughly. Also you are only allowed to submit 1 picture within a 24 hour period and if you "abuse" that rule you could be blocked from the site.


  16. Pintrest: is a website that you can essentially make online "pin" boards in a similar fashion like Etsy Treasuries from anything/picture found on the web. In addition , you can browse other "Pin" boards that other people have made so that you can discover new things. Because it encompasses the whole web, you can make a "pin board" about anything, but the most popular are pin boards about weddings, home decor and food.


  17. Squidoo: is basically webpages or "lens" about what ever you would like to say/promote similar to a Facebook Page. You can find a variety of "lens" about things such as cooking and technology to shopping and how-to's. The best thing is that you can create as many "len's" as you would like. You can also make money from the site when someone clicks on your page ad. This is a great site if you have a variety of interest that may not specifically pertain to your company, but you can link your products to.


  18. 100 Craft Links: is exactly as it sounds, a site where you can list your shop with a "text" link.


  19. tumblr.com : Join and add items from your shop. People can follow you and you can follow them. Also can act as an inexpensive web page


  20. Wanelo: Social store similar to Kaboodle, where users post, collect and organize products and follow people and stores they like. You can sign in with an existing facebook account or via email.


  21. We Heart It: is similar to Pintrest , where users share images and products from the web.


  22. Artchain.com : A free directory that list your shop. Just add your shope where it says "Submit Artist Listing"


  23. Thefind.com : is a site similar to Kaboodle, where a user can find and recommend sites to other users. You can sign in with your existing Facebook or email, just go to the bottom where it says "submit a site" and put your shop or website in.


  24. Ravelry : is a community based site specifically for crocheters,knitters or anything that has to do with fibers and yarn.


  25. things people make: Is a sight to upload and promote your products as well as tutorials or blog. You can sign in using Facebook.


  26. My handmade Registry: Allows you to list items from your shop


  27. Craftcult: Though this is know to be have tools for Etsy users, they do have advertising options that can bring traffic


  28. Indiepublic: Is a community based site where you can create your own page with your products, share ideas and etc


  29. Pearl Trees : is similiar to We heart It or Pintrest , where you can collect ,organize and share interesting things on the web.


  30. Wist: is similiar to We heart It or Pintrest , where you can collect ,organize and share interesting things on the web as well as make a slideshow for your blog )


  31. Snipi: is also similiar to the above, but you can also share video as well, so if you have a video tutorial, it is easy to add.


  32. Crafters Buzz: will only link to your shop, but can advertise single items


  33. Unanimouscraft: is a directory for crafter to submit links to shop


  34. Etsy Shops Directory: Is a site specifically for Etsy Shop Owners that are allowed to add your shop to their directory.


  35. Etsy Love: Is similiar to Indipublic where users can set up a page for their Etsy Shop.


  36. Bloglovin': Is a central site for those of you who have a blog as a promotional tool. Just add it to Bloglovin' to get followers

  37. Indie Quarter: A site similar to Craft Gawker where you can submit your site to be featured.
  38. Indie Spotting: submit a find to get featured or you can just advertise with them.
  39. This Next: is similar to Kaboodle where users can recommend products.
Don't forget to check out our other post " Social Media For Your Business:Whoring Out Your Facebook and Twitter"
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
IS ETSY STOPPING YOU FROM GROWING YOUR BUSINESS?

I have a love/hate relationship with Etsy....they have brought me exposure to a wider audience, but in some aspects they have also hindered me from gaining new customers.
The community is large and for the most part extremely helpful, but I have found that some customers are put off by having to go to Etsy and join the site just to buy my or others products. Also it stands to reason that while a customer may go on Etsy intending to buy from a particular seller, there is a strong likely hood that they will stray from the intended purchase by searching thru the site ( I have done that many times). One seller brought up a good point....when someone asks you "Where did you get that?"...do you say the store name , like" Gramkin Paper Studio" or do you just say "I got it on Etsy, or Ebay or Artfire...." More than likely you stated Etsy or the selling site as opposed to the actual name of the company who makes the item.
Now there are people who do "Quit Their Day Job" and I like others, read those featured sellers, but the majority of people who sell on etsy, have a "back up plan" in the form of a full time working partner or a job themselves. I am a big promoter of not putting all your eggs in one basket, having income from various sources and because Etsy doesn't really have the easy "social media" integration that a website gives you, it makes it difficult to cross promote your brand. You really cant add a blog, twitter or an other site that you might have that the customer might like to see. There is no mailing list for your specific store, just Etsy in general and the customer has to sign up to be part of the marketplace to purchase items from you. There are definitely customers that I have lost because of this last option.

What am I doing about it? Well, my business has expanded beyond what Etsy solely can do for me so I have decided to do a company overhaul. We now have a brand new site "Gramkin Paper Studio" and market outside of Etsy.This allows me to not only sell my merchandise, but also integrate all the other branding tools that I need. Now I still have love for Etsy, but now I love it like a mistress as opposed to my website that I love like a spouse. Etsy will now be a secondary option for those of my customers that still shop there..... basically a giant promotional tool for my business.



HAVE YOU GROWN BEYOND ETSY?










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Friday, May 6, 2011
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Etsy Fee Calculator -This tool allows Etsy Sellers to determine what to charge for each product or service listed. In addition to estimating those pesky little Etsy and PayPal fees, it also allows you to enter information about shippingand handling, postage, and material costs.








Outright- Automates your small-business accounting tasks by pulling all of your accounts into one place and organizing them. You can keep track of customers and their orders effectively and know exactly how much profit you are making after subtracting the overhead costs, labor, taxes and etc.


Pros: Great for small business accounting solutions and easy to use


Cons: $10/ a month fee, but does have a free 30 day trial.


Share -A-Sale - help product sellers set up a simple affiliate program where anyone who helps you get a sale through their special web link gets a commission on the earnings. You can do this for as little as 2-5% of your sale price or go further for downloadble products by offering 10-50%. Try starting out by asking existing customers to consider becoming affiliates or put up the information on your website and allow anyone to join. All in all, it’s not that hard to gain customer referrals if you sit down and map out a simple plan for getting there. Use the tips in this post to get out there and make it happen!Pros: Great for small business accounting solutions and easy to use Cons: $10/ a month fee, but does have a free 30 day trial.















































































Etsy Fee Calculator-























































































































































ETSYNC-Display your Etsy profile, shop or listings in a signature banner (image) which you can use on Forums, Emails, Websites, Blogs ... This dynamic signature will update automatically when you change your profile or shop info, or if you add new items to your shop ! You can also create a banner for your Etsy shop.
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Wednesday, February 23, 2011
13 Things Your Mail Carrier Won't Tell You

I came across this post from yahoo and thought it was interesting, especially since most of us spend just as much time shipping as we do making things. Entitled "13 Things Your Mail Carrier Won't Tell You" , I thought it was very interesting from the "delivery" side of things, but I still have my gripes about the "brick and mortar" side ;)

{13 Things Your Mail Carrier Won't Tell You}
1. Maybe your dog won’t bite you. But in 2009, 2,863 of us were bitten, an average of nine bites per delivery day. That’s why I wince when your Doberman comes flying out the door.

2. Remember this on Valentine’s Day: It takes our machines longer to read addresses on red envelopes (especially if they’re written in colored ink).


3. Why stand in line? At usps.com, you can buy stamps, place a hold on your mail, change your address, and apply for passports. We even offer free package pickup and free flat-rate envelopes and boxes, all delivered right to your doorstep.


4. Media Mail is a bargain, but most of you don’t know to ask for it. Sending ten pounds of books from New York City to San Francisco through Media Mail costs $5.89, compared with $16.77 for Parcel Post. Besides books, use it to send manuscripts, DVDs, and CDs; just don’t include anything else in the package.


5. We don’t get a penny of your tax dollars. Really. The sale of postage, products, and services at our 36,000 retail locations, and on our website, covers all of the post office's operating expenses.


6. UPS and FedEx charge you $10 or more for messing up an address. Us? Not a cent.


7. Paychecks, personal cards, letters—anything that looks like good news—I put those on top. Utility and credit card bills? They go under everything else.


8. Sorry if I seem like I’m in a hurry, but I’m under the gun: Our supervisors tell us when to leave, how many pieces of mail to deliver, and when we should aim to be back. Then some of us scan bar codes in mailboxes along our route so they can monitor our progress.


9. Yes, we do have to buy our own stamps, but a lot of us carry them for customers who need them. If we don’t charge you, that’s because we like you.


10. Use a ballpoint pen. Ink from those felt tips runs in the rain.


11. Please dress properly when you come to the door. A towel wrapped around you doesn’t cut it. And we definitely don’t want to see you in your underwear!


12. We serve 150 million addresses six days a week, so we’re often in the right place at the right time. We pull people out of burning cars, catch burglars in the act, and call 911 to report traffic accidents, dead bodies, and more.


13. Most of us don’t mind if you pull up to our trucks while we’re delivering and ask for your mail a little early. But please get out of your car and come get it. Don’t just put your hand out your window and wait for me to bring it to you.


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PLUS: 11 More Things Your Mail Carrier Won’t Tell You



1. Most of us love our jobs and the people we serve. I met my wife and my best friend because I was their letter carrier.



2. We go to great lengths to deliver to every address, no matter how remote. That’s why, in the most rural areas, even UPS and FedEx rely on us to make their final deliveries.


3. Those plants around your mailbox are beautiful, but I’d like them better if you kept them trimmed back.


4. Is it hot enough for me? The heat index is 110 degrees. What do you think? (Instead of asking that, offer me a cold drink.)


5. Despite the “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night” motto, we’re instructed not to deliver to a mailbox if the snow and ice around it isn’t cleared. Most of us take the motto to heart, though, and do our best to deliver in even the most hazardous conditions.


6. I have people who leave a letter in their box and tape 44 cents in change to it. I’ll take it, but the next day I’ll be waiting in line like everyone else to buy you a stamp.


7. One day while delivering to a woman who had been very sick, her daughter met me by the mailbox and asked me if I wanted to say goodbye to her mom. She was unconscious and didn’t know that I was there, but I held her hand and said a silent prayer for her and her family. It wasn’t even an hour later when another customer met me at his door. He was a new father, overjoyed, telling me that his wife had just given birth to his son. The whole cycle of life, in just one day.


8. It’s a small thing that makes my job so much easier: Please park your car in the driveway instead of in front of the mailbox.


9. If a letter has your name but the number is wrong and it gets to you, thank your carrier. We still sort our mail before we hit the street.


10. If your carrier walks his route, it would be nice if you would sweep or shovel your stairs when it snows.


11. Sometimes, when my wife and I are shopping or out to dinner, I ask if they give discounts to people in the “service.” They usually say “yes,” then ask “What branch are you in?” I reply, “postal.” I usually get a funny look and a little snicker… I guess that means I’m just going to have to wait for my senior citizens discount.




article by Michelle Crouch for Shine on Yahoo
Sources: Letter carriers in Missouri, New Jersey, and North Carolina; Fredric Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers; and a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service.


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Friday, February 18, 2011
FREE COMPANY BUSINESS TELEPHONE NUMBER

I am always looking for ways to stream line my business more professional and now


Google Voice is a telecommunications service by Google launched on March 11, 2009. The service provides a U.S. phone number, chosen by the user from available numbers in selected area codes, free of charge to each user account. Inbound calls to this number are forwarded to other phone numbers of the subscriber. Outbound calls may be placed to domestic and international destinations from any of a user's configured telephones, or from a web-based application. Inbound and domestic outbound calls (including calls to Canada) are free of charge, while international calls are billed according to a schedule posted on the Google Voice website.
When you register you can choose a virtual phone number in any area code. You can use that number to send and receive text messages, record voicemails and even receive and make calls over the Internet, but it becomes particularly useful when you attach it to the number associated with your mobile or land-line phone.That means that you can now a have separate number for your business but have it come to your home or cell phone and you won't be worried about privacy issues.Tracking Calls From Your Website

Some Features of Google Voice:


Track Calls Thru Your Website: One of the great features is being able to track your calls. Since all of these calls are logged, if you use this number on your website you can tell how many phone calls your website is generating for you. Google Voice provides you with a “Call Me” Widget that you can put on your website, and if people click it and enter their phone number, the service connects you with your potential customer instantly.

Voicemail Auto Transcribed to Text Form: Google Voice automatically transcribes your voicemails into text messages. This is very helpful if you are in a place where cell phone usage is "frowned upon" like in a meeting or a noisy place.

Different Personalized Greetings: llows users to personalize voicemail greetings by caller. So if you want certain people to hear a professional greeting when calling your Google Voice number, you can set the greeting according to their number. For friends, you can record and set a more laidback greeting.g.

Google Voice App: So conveniant for this day and age , letting you access your features while on the go. Also you can send SMS messages from your app without charges from your carrier. The app is free and is currently available only for Android, Blackberry and Iphones ,just go to your phones "app market" and look for "Google Voice" under search.

Screen Callers: When callers dial your Google Voice number, you have the option to send them directly to voicemail as well as listen in to the voicemail as it is being left. This comes in handy for those unknown numbers directed to voicemail that you really wish you had picked up. If you determine that you do want to take the call, you can hit a number to cancel the voicemail and connect the call.

Now the Downside Google Voice:

As with all good things there are also some bad and though this is a fantastic platform, it is not the end-all solution to ditching your land-line altogether. There are some of the downsides to using Google Voice

New Phone Numbers: Changing to Google Voice requires picking a number from Google. If your business is established, changing phone numbers may be a problem. There are also no 1-800 numbers, thought if you are looking for a "Toll free" number for your business try Ring Central, a small fee based option.

Reliability: Every now and then there is a small delay in the call– hopefully the fact that they are opening up the system means issues like this are solved.

PRIVACY: By using Google Voice to control all of your phone activity, you're exposing a vast amount of personal information to Google. Everything from whom you call to what you discuss.... even that drunk night naughty text you may have sent your your significant other-is stored on Google's servers. Together with the other various data Google may have on you, all of that could create quite a file on you. Though I highly doubt that Google is going to set your information free to the masses as with other Google services, Google Voice is governed by a privacy policy that explains what can and can't happen with your data....but it's still in someone's hands and can "technically" be used for other things.

Caller ID Confusion: If you start using a Google Voice number as your primary number (which I dont recommend), be prepared for the fact that regular calls from your cell phone (or any other phone) will still show up as your old number. This may create confusion, as the number you give out won't match the number from which you actually call.

Number Change: You have to get people to start reaching you at a new number. You might have to reprint business cards or stationery, and you'd have to take the time to update your information anywhere you have a registered account (other websites, anywhere you have linked your info to and etc).Until they fix this problem ( which they are in the process of doing) be sure to think carefully about what's involved before you decide to make the move to the new service or try this Hack that I found.
Cool Hack: Use Google Voice Without Changing your Number

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT GOOGLE VOICE, GO TO THE WEBSITE OR TAKE A LOOK AT THE VIDEO BELOW:


TELL US ABOUT YOUR GOOGLE VOICE EXPERIENCE.....
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Monday, November 22, 2010
no image

Anyone who owns an Android or I-phone knows how addictive the apps can be...there are applications for everything ( my personal favorite is the "Starbucks Finder") and it looks like Etsy has finally gotten on the bandwagon. For those of you who have an Etsy shop, you can now take advantage of Etsy App Gallery. These applications are from developers who have tapped into the Etsy community, building their own apps for the web, desktop and mobile devices. Just as with most applications, some are more "useful" than others. The following are some of my favorites:

1. Etsy Catalog- Let's you create a PDF catalog with all the listings in your shop. You can then use your PDF catalog at trade shows, craft fairs ,in emails or with your company newsletter (if you have one).
PROS: Very easy to use beta interface to easily create the catalog. You can also change the listing easily before pushing the "button" to make the pdf catalog
CONS: Limited in design and color theme but if you are Illustrator savvy, you can alter pdf catalog easily in Adobe Illustrator and save as pdf.




2. Clock Bot- Let's you automatically renew your listings by setting the date and the time. This app is brought to you by Statsy, which ( for those of you who are not familiar with) is similar to Craft Cult.

Pros: Can set it to automatically renew your most popular items so you don't loose sales when something sells during an "off peak time"

Cons: Taking the time to set your listings, which can be time consuming if you have alot of items in your shop






3.Etsy Text- Sends you a notification text when you sell somthing in your shop. For those of you who do not have an smart phone with easily accesible email options.

Pros: easy to get an update when you need a quick notice. free to install and use

Cons: this is the only thing this app does and standard phone messaging rate apply.














Do you know of any etsy apps that are useful?
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
SOCIAL MEDIA FOR YOUR BUSINESS: WHORING OUT YOUR TWITTER AND FACEBOOK

One of the most asked about questions is "How do I use social media for my business?"..Translation, "How can I whore my business out on Twitter and Facebook?
As you know, I myself am a "Twitter Quitter", having shut down my account since it didn't increase sales or add any value to my business. But there are alot of people who swear by it and it does benefit there business is some way.There are no "hard and fast" rules or magic wand that can give you success with these outlets, but the following may be some info that can work for you.


1. Separate your personal and business social pages!
That means if you are all ready on Facebook or Twitter for yourself, dont use that same account to then promote your business. None of your customers want to get pcitures and video on the fantastic trick your cat learned last night. Stay focused on your product and objective ,give your personal Facebook to your friends and the professional to your buyers.If you are really serious about your business and promoting, keep it professional.

2.Social Media ResourcesResources to help you with using and promoting your social media for business




3.Don't Forget to make sure the button is working!
Make sure to test your button/link. I can't tell you how many times I have clicked on something and it wasn't linked. In addition to the company buttons that social media sites give you, there are also some that you can install yourself. Click below for a link of great and free social media icons to download.
FREE SOCIAL MEDIA ICONS

Most Importantly .....just because you posted new images on your social media accounts or Etsy store doesn't mean people will rush to buy them. You still have to get them to your website and thats why you really have to promote your Social Media Accounts just like as much as your shop to build your following.





Facebook Birthday Card Available Here
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Friday, July 23, 2010
COMPANY UPGRADE:WAYS TO MAKE YOUR SMALL BUSINESS MORE PROFESSIONAL

I constantly get emails asking about our website or how to make a business more professional. Most people think that you need an extensive knowledge of HTML/CSS, though this is helpful, it is not necessary to make your business more professional.
There are little things that you can do that can make a big impact on the look of your business.If you cannot "hire" someone to do your site for you or are on a limited budget, the following are some things that you can do yourself to very inexpensively "upgrade" the business.
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1.PURCHASE A DOMAIN
This is the one thing that I feel is necessary, even if you don't do anything else. When you have a domain you can then forward all of your shops , whether its your etsy, artfire, ebay, blog or other site to it. There are several important reasons to get your own domain:


  • The ".COM" instantly makes your business look more professional , especially on the business card.

  • The domain protects your business name. If you have a sucessful online( etsy, artfire, etc) business and then someone else has your business name in a domain you could be loosing business.
There are several places that you can get a domain name,some of the more popular ones are Go Daddy and Yahoo. There are several others, but these are great because they are known for easily interfacing with alot of servers ( website host and etc). For new users,Go Daddy usually has specials for a few dollars per yer, right now for the actual ".com" it is $10/yr. They do offer the option of purchasing a ".net, .info, .org" and etc that is cheaper than the ".com" , but we don't recommend that. Info and Org are usually for organizations and the Net looks subpar ( you have to think about the international buyers who come to your site), we suggest paying the extra for the ".COM". Also note that GO Daddy usually offers a "one web page" when you buy a domain name. This allows you to make the link to send to your various places (you do need to know the code to link pictures...its easy). Just remember that the Go Daddy Advert is on top, but you can pay extra to remove.
Yahoo is another good place for domain purchases. They also offer the $2/yr for new users or there rate normally is $9.95/yr. One thing to note with the "First Time Rates" that both of these have, if you only purchase a year at a time, then after the first year the price goes up to what every is the company going rate. But if you purchase several years when you first sign up, you can get all of the years for the same intro rate. This is especially the case with Yahoo, just make sure to read all the policies and restrictions before purchasing.

TIPS: If your domain name is already gone and the service you purchased from doesn't automatically give you alternates for your name, then try Nameboy. This site lets you put in your domain name and it comes up with a list of alternatives that you might be happy with.

2.GET A WEBSITE...SORTA
A website is something that everyone wants but doesn't think they can afford or have. There are several cheap place to get a website, especially easy for the "First Timer". The following offer "drag and drop" interfaces, that allow you to just point and click to change things.We suggest you try out services for free before you upgrade and pay the low fees...just to see if they work for you.




  • FAVORS ME offers a simple one page site, that lets you add 4 data sources for free. Anymore links than that you have to pay the low price of $20/per year. The great thing is that they can easily link to 20 different popular sites, like your blogger, wordpress, twitter, facebook, flikr, picasa and a whole lot more. Take a look at there directory to see what others have done using this site.

  • SOOPSEE literally turns your Etsy Site into a website. The good thing is this site is FREE and if you already have your own domain name you can easily use this site as well. For examples of how other Etsy members are using this site just go to there Gallery. Another good thing about this site is that it offers a more "user friendly" site analytic for those who are totally overwhelmed or confused by Google Analytics ( though you can easily use Google Analytics with this program)

  • WEEBLY is a free "Drag and Drop" website that lets you either buy the domain from them or you can easily integrate your own with the site. This beta site lets you easily change things, have unlimited pages and incorporate your blog or they even offer you the option of haveing your own "Weebly " Blog if you don't want to sign up for Blogger, Wordpress or etc. They do have a variety of templates that you can choose from and easily customize ( color , layout and etc) They also interface with alot of sites, like paypal, flikr and etc.

  • WEBS is another site similiar to Weebly. It has the same "drag and drop" system, but I think that they dont have as many templates to choose from as Weebly.
TIPS: USE YOUR BLOG AS A WEBSITE. If you have a blog already like Blogger , Wordpress or TypePad, this can be used as a website , forwarding your domain (if you have one) to this site. By using your blog as a website, you can easily use the sidebars(depending on your layout that you use) for your company items (link to your shop,gift certificates, etsy mini, company ads/announcements and etc).Just remember that the "minimal" templates (the white basic ones) are the most easily customizable for your needs.3.SIGN UP FOR AN ONLINE PHOTO SHARING ACCOUNTHaving a photo sharing account is good for several reasons. If you have a blog, the photo sharing account lets you upload large size images to use on your blog, essentially eliminating file restrictions since they are on a separate site. Also these sites gives you another outlet to get your product out there...basically free advertising (as long as you mark the photos "public").
There are several sites that offer this service and the following are the more popular ones that work with a large variety of sites easily:

TIP: just remember that though these are free to use, the free accounts have limited storage, so if you find that you need more then you will have to pay the low storage fees..usually not more than $20/yr.
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Just remember that you don't have to do everything at once, try them out and then decide if you want to commit(as well as pay the fees associated ).
Now that you have all of that together you can start to customize your company with certain Business Tools. We have several post and links that can be used for your website (from above) or if you are not ready to take the website plunge, they are great for your blog or general business.The following are links of interest that may help:

Etsy Business Tools You May Not Have Known
Business Tool To help your Company
Customizing Paypal for your business
Company Gift Certificates Made Easy
Basic HTML Codes
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