Posts Tagged ‘business cards’

I don’t have an iPhone, but I do have the next best thing, an iPod Touch. It is a great tool that I keep by my side constantly. Well, every once in awhile the kids manage to borrow it to play some games. It is such a versatile tool that I suggest every business owner should get one (yes, even you Scott Blistein). If you are happy with your cell phone, just buy a Touch like I did.

The reason I suggest the iPhone is because it is so easy to use, and has so much versatility. One moment I can be playing Need For Speed and the next I can be writing a blog post, tracking my hours, or even viewing a spreadsheet.

If you are not familiar with how an iPhone works (and the Touch works the same exact way), everything is based around the Apps. Apple has designed a great piece of hardware with a large touch screen, but it is the Apps that really help make this a must-have tool for small businesses. That and a really easy to use touchscreen keyboard.

Apps are designed by third party software companies, and there are a ton of them. I recently reviewed BottomLine, a tracking app for cash businesses. Here are some more apps that are good for small businesses, suggested by TechStartUps.com, a website dedicated to news and information about to East Coast start-ups.

Here are some of their suggestions:

• Invoice2go. With this app you can create and email PDF invoices from customizable templates.
• Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite. The first full-featured Microsoft® Office productivity suite for iPhone or iPod touch with integrated access to multiple cloud services; MobileMe, Dropbox, Google® Docs, and Box.net directly from your iPhone or iPod touch.
• Business Card Reader. Import contact information right from a business card to your iPhone contacts.  Take a photo of the business card, check and correct the new contact info, and the new contact is added. This only works on iPhone, as the iPod Touch does not have a camera.
• SugarSync – Never be without a file when you need it. SugarSync gives you 24/7 access to all your PCs and Macs. View and share Word, Excel & PDF files, photos & more. Share entire photo albums quickly. No need to leave your computers turned on.
• HoursTracker – Track time spent on projects and view earnings, including different rates for different tasks. Clock in or out multiple times, add notes, and email reports.
• iSwipe Global Credit Card – Process major credit cards securely on your iPhone. iSwipe supports 18 currencies, with instant verification and fraud detection.
• Bento – Allows you to manage all your personal or business data in one intuitive application on iPhone. Organize your information using templates for easy tracking of contacts, projects, to-do items, customer information, and more.
• Pointer Remote for PowerPoint and Keynote – Turn your iPhone into a pointer for presentations and control PowerPoint 2008 or 2004 or Keynote ‘06/’08 presentations.

To this list, you could add a ton of great apps. Here are some of my personal favorites:

• ClockIn – A simple time tracking app with an export to Excel file option.
• Wordpress – I sometimes write posts right on my iPod. You can also check on and reply to comments.
• Gist – Gist.com is a powerful tool to manage all of your online relationships. The app brings the power of personal connection to the palm of your hand.
• Google. The Google app gives you access to all of your favorite Google tools, including Gmail, Reader, Calendar, Tasks, and News.
• Amazon Kindle – You can buy and read Kindle titles right on your iPhone. It is surprisingly easy to read on the iPhone, and you can zoom in if you need bigger words. And yes, you can take notes. Great way to read a business book when you are travelling, or in between things.

The iPhone or iPod Touch is a great tool for keeping connected, keeping track of things, and becoming more effective with your time. I know there is a big argument for some people against buying an iPhone because AT&T doesn’t offer good coverage. But this is so much more than a phone. It is a mini-computer that helps you stay on top of things, and maybe have a little fun from time to time as well. So go get yourself an iPhone or iPod Touch.

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Hello, I’m Bradford Shimp. I love my gadgets. You can learn more about me at BradfordShimp.com.

As I start my business from scratch, I am finding I have to create everything. I like having a logo, so I paid attention to this from the very get go. I considered getting a VistaPrint logo for Broad River Creative, but I prefer having something unique. So I designed my own logo. Now, it needs to be said, I am not a graphic designer. However, I think I have a pretty good eye for things, and with a little training on Photoshop, I could probably crush a nice logo. But I don’t have Photoshop or the time for training. So I used what I have and designed a logo. I put it on my first batch of business cards. In the end, though, I didn’t like it.

This left me adrift without a logo. Not the end of the world, I know. When I redesigned BroadRiverCreative.com, I just left the logo out of it. I still wanted something nice for the site, for letterhead and other materials. I think a logo helps bring things together. But it would have to wait.

Then something pretty cool happened. I don’t consider myself lucky. I hardly ever win things. But, out of the blue, I got a tweet from 99Designs saying that I had won a $1,000 design package. I was pretty blown away. I could use the award for anything I wanted on the 99Designs web site.

Okay, in case you don’t know, here is a little information about 99Designs. This web site offers crowdsourced designs. Basically, any business or individual puts a job out for bid. Instead of bidding for the price, designers bid with their designs. As someone looking to have something designed, it works out pretty well. You get a lot of variety to choose from. I personally had 236 designs to choose from.

Now, I know that there are quality designers out there that hate sites like this. They feel it commoditizes the process. In some ways, they are right. If you have a little more money, you may be better off hiring a proven designer whose portfolio you like. That gives you more control over the end design. But for people that are just starting out, 99Designs and sites like it are a good match. Its a step above (way above) stock logo sites. You get a custom design, but the cost is lower and controlled.

My experience with 99Designs has been great. In the end, the hardest part was choosing a design. There were some pretty creative entries, and the designers responded to my suggestions and kept working to make just the right logo. In the end, my choice came down to a few really great designs. Some were fun and very unique. I thought that this was what I wanted, and almost went with a design that looked like a box of water with two fish swimming in it. But then I didn’t. I went with a more traditional logo instead.

Why did I make this choice? Well, while I want my company to be fun, I also want a design that is easy to use across multiple mediums. I was afraid the fish one wouldn’t make sense as a logo in some settings. Also, I am going after business customers, and I didn’t want to have a logo that confused them. Taken by itself, the fish logo could look like a fish tank. I don’t sell fish tanks, so I thought that may be a problem.

So I chose another logo that I really liked. This one did a good job of capturing the essence of Broad River Creative without being over the top. It was a design that I saw progress from the simple original that the designer submitted to the end product that you will see below. I liked the cleanness and vibrancy of the logo, and thought that it was simple enough that I could easily grow with it.

That was another important aspect of my decision. Would the logo last? Could I envision myself using the same logo, or perhaps a variation of it, for years to come? A logo should have staying power, otherwise, what’s the point?

So now I have a logo for Broad River Creative. I am so thankful to 99Designs for awarding me the money. Also, they were great to work with all throughout the process. And each and every designer put in a great effort, some making many adjustments. It was hard to say no to many of them.

Of course, the logo is only a small thing. As I create this business, there are so many more important things. Often, I get sidetracked by things like design and look, and don’t pay enough attention to sales and profit. Next time, I’ll tell you a little about my marketing plan and how I hope to bring in a bunch of new clients.

Here is my new logo:

One important facet of having a business presence online is accessibility. You want to make it easy for people to reach out to you. You can attract all of the eyeballs you want to your site, but if you aren’t accessible, you won’t be able to build any relationships. If you are going to practice conversation marketing, you need to make it possible for others to start the conversation with you. Here are 10 tips on how to be more accessible online.

1. Put contact info everywhere

Wonder why people never call? Maybe its because they don’t know your number. Your primary contact info should be everywhere, including your web site, business cards, and all of your marketing material. Make it easy for people to find your number, email, or any other means of contacting you.

2. Set up a Twitter account

Twitter is tops for ease of access when it comes to the social networks. Having a Twitter account and actively using it opens up a new channel of communication.

3. Set up some chat accounts

People actively use chat software, such as AIM, Google Chat, and Skype. You don’t have to use all of them, but you should use some. There are even chat clients that support multiple chat platforms.

Take this a step further by incorporating chat into your web site. Google Chat has a function to make this easy. It is often easier for people to reach out to you via live chat than to pick up the phone.

4. Have easy to find and use contact forms

Have a contact form on your web site. It is up to you what information to ask for, but if you just want a person to reach out to you, make it simple. Ask for name and email, along with their question.

5. Get active on Facebook

Facebook is here to stay, obviously. Chances are, you probably already have a lot of customers actively using Facebook. So it makes sense to start an account for your business. Alternatively, you can start a fan page for your business using your personal account.

Provide links on your site to friend you on Facebook. Once you get established there, many of your Facebooking customers and prospects will reach out to you there.

6. Allow comments on your blog

If you write a blog, allow for comments. Don’t worry about spam or negative stuff, you can moderate your comments to keep that stuff out. By having comments, you are opening up another means of communication. It is a good idea to respond to the comments on your blog as well as to send an email response to the commentator. Its a great way to start a conversation.

7. Get a toll free number

Make it as easy as possible for people to call you. If you don’t have a toll free number, consider using an online service such as Ring Central to get one. People will be more likely to call if its free.

8. Make signing up for your newsletter easy and obvious

Your newsletter is a primary means of regular communication from you to your customer. Sometimes, the only way  a person will reach out to you is to sign up for it. So make it easy and painless. Include big links to it on your site, and only ask for name and email when a person first signs up.

9. Host webinars and calls

A great way to be accessible is by putting yourself out there. Hosting a webinar or live call on a regular basis allows people to interact with you on a group level with the opportunity to make it more personal by them asking a question. This is easier for some people than picking up the phone and asking questions directly. With a webinar, they have a chance to just listen in. Its up to you to excite them enough to move that to the next level of interaction.

10. Engage in plenty of conversations

A hermit is not very accessible. Instead, be the life of the party. Be everywhere. If you are active on social networks, a regular blog commentator, a blogger yourself, you will have more face time and make it easier for people to discover you and engage you in conversation. Just by being there, you are naturally much more accessible.

photo credit: Mr. Read

Recommended Reading

I am constantly on the prowl for good business books. Right now, I am reading Crush It, by Gary Vaynerchuk. I love Gary’s take on passion and business. This book will give you a kick in the butt to get up and get moving as you pursue your passions and your business.

If you are interested in Crush It, you can get it through Amazon by clicking here or by visiting your local bookstore.

Have a Small Business Question? Ask me and I will answer it here – email me with your question now.

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Bradford Shimp is the publisher of All Biz Answers. He is also the co-creator of Idea Anglers, a place to see your ideas come to life through collaboration. Follow on Twitter @bradfordshimp. Let Bradford help you with your business – visit BroadRiverCreative.com