We’ll be discussing LOTS of things, from how to market online - even if you don’t have a website, how to get featured in the media and on shopping sites, how to get other people to promote your products for you, and more.

Once you register, you’ll be able to ask your own questions that I’ll answer on the teleseminar.

And if you can’t make it to the live call, don’t worry. I’ll be recording it and sending everyone who registers the Mp3 recording.

You don’t want to miss this event!

Click Here To Register Now!!

OneNote.

Using OneNote, publishing a copy of your notes to a shared location is a simple way to make them available to others.

Step One. Open OneNote, create a new page and type passwords to selected accounts on a specified page to share with your VA.

Step Two. Email by selecting the pages that you want to publish.

Step Three.  Of course this is only effective if your page is password protected otherwise you could inadvertently give access to all of your passwords to the wrong person.  To apply a password to specific sections of your notebook.

1. Click the tab of the section you want the password to apply to.
2. On the File menu, click Password Protect This Section.
3. In the Password Protection task pane, click Set Password.
4. In the Password Protection dialog box, type the password you want in the Enter password box.
5. Confirm the password by typing it in the Confirm password box, and then click OK.

Google.

Google offers similar password protection for sharing documents.  Users can edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations, and invite more collaborators and viewers.  The only way a person can view a document is if they are invited to view it thereby increasing the level of protection.

Users have the ability to designate someone as a collaborator or simply a viewer.  Viewers can see the most recent version of a document, spreadsheet or presentation, however they’re not able to make any changes. They can also export a copy of the document, spreadsheet or presentation to their local hard drive.

It’s vital to keep passwords protected particularly when you’re sending multiple passwords protected and private while still being able to share them with outsourced providers and virtual assistant whether they’re next door or around the world.  OneNote and Google make it easy and add an extra level of security that emailing passwords just doesn’t have.

Using foul language can turn off listeners – especially since some people will be listening with their children nearby.

Different people have different opinions, and that’s the way the world should work.  If your opinions are extreme, however, it may be best to keep them out of the podcast, as there will be some people who will undoubtedly take offense to them.

Joking about various subjects is another thing that some people can take offense to.  Some topics, such as race and religion are best to avoid at all times, even in a humorous tone.

If you have a co-host or a guest, there may be times when the two of you want to express different opinions.  Arguing is a big no-no, although a gentle debate may be appropriate.  When this happens, try to stay focused on the topic that the show is about.  Maintaining a clear speaking voice will make it sound less like people bickering, and more like people debating. Keeping things light will insure that no listener is offended.

Podcast shows are done on a myriad of topics and you never know who is listening.  Keep in mind customer service skills.  Using these skills in this setting can go just as far as using these skills in a face to face situation.  The difference here is that your skills will be reaching a much larger audience.  If the show you are on is not a debate of any kind, then keep a neutral stance, and allow for the input of others if it is interactive.

If you are scheduled to be on a show, then show up.  If something happens whereby you cannot make it, then by all rights call in; do not just leave them hanging as this is rude, most definitely unprofessional and can cause an adverse effect on those running the show.  I have seen this happen and seen the disappointment of everyone involved.

Just remember that when on a show, all sorts of people will be listening - whether they are in a car or at their computer, so always maintain professionalism.  The podcast may very well spread world wide and a bad first impression is always remembered.

If you are in the process of designing a website for your business, you may be wondering if you should use Frontpage or WordPress. Or, if you have already created your website, you may be wondering if you should make the switch to WordPress.

In this article we will go over some of the differences between the two programs and what their benefits are.

For many people, price can be a big issue. FrontPage is available for retail purchase at around $130 - $150. This is already outdated software, as Microsoft has since released Expression Web, an updated HTML editor that replaces Frontpage.

Wordpress is a free, open source blogging platform that can also be used to create websites. It is very easy to install and new versions are being released all the time. These “upgrades” are also free.

There is a large community of WordPress users, and if you ever need assistance you can find help through one of their many forums. Many WordPress have also created widgets that can be used to make WordPress work exactly how the owner wants it to work.

For instance, there is a widget that creates a message that can be displayed at the beginning and end of each post which thanks the reader for visiting and invites them to sign up for the site’s RSS feed.

FrontPage is a program that needs to be installed on your computer. If a business owner hires an assistant or helper for website updates, that person will need to have FrontPage to make sure everything is compatible.

WordPress is web based, which means that a user can sign into their account from any computer with an internet connection. If they hire an assistant that person can log into the site from their computer and upload their own work. This can save the business owner a lot of time and open up the range of people with who they can work with.

Anyone who is familiar with Microsoft’s word processing software, such as Word or Works, will find it easy to navigate FrontPage. The program offers various windows that allow users to build their website in different ways. New users can choose to use the “design window”, which features the “what you see is what you get” editor, also known as WYSIWYG for easy website building. Experienced users can use HTML code in the “code window”.

WordPress is also very easy to use and allows their users to use the WYSIWYG editor or view their entry in code.

Both programs offer many benefits, but one thing is for sure: more and more people are switching over to WordPress. Even if you decide that WordPress isn’t for you, it may be worth your while to get at least a little comfortable with it, since so many other people are using it.

]]> http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/wordpress-versus-frontpage/feed/ http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/price-your-website/ http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/price-your-website/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:23:16 +0000 Crissy http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/?p=183 Time to sell your website?  In order to get the best price, there are a couple of steps to take.

Step One. Document your traffic.  How much traffic do you get on a daily basis? How many page views? How long do they stay on your site?  What is your search engine ranking?  All of this information is vital to a potential buyer. The more traffic you have and the higher your search engine ranking the higher you can price your website.

Step Two. What is your revenue?  From advertising?  From sales?  How much money does your website make?  It’s important to look not only at your most recent sales and advertising profits but to also look at past numbers.  What percentage of growth has your website seen in the past six months?  Year?  Lifetime? This is important because it not only demonstrates trends; it also demonstrates growth potential and profit potential - both very important to a potential buyer.

Step Three. What are your revenue options?  How is the website currently making money and what profit options have not been explored or implemented?  For example, if you’re currently participating in AdSense and making money there, perhaps another revenue option is to sell advertising space.  List possible revenue options.  The more opportunity to make money, the higher the value of your website.

Step Four. How much competition does the site have?  Who is the competition and what are their sites worth?  Ideally the perfect website would have zero competition and tons of demand however that is never the case.  Who is your competition?  How long have they been in business?  What are their revenue streams?  Where do they rank on the search engines in comparison to you?  This information not only helps to value your website, it helps potential buyers see the possibilities.

Step Five. Consider using a website valuation tools found online.  They typically ask for monthly traffic, ad revenue, sales revenue and expenses.  They’re a great tool to use as a starting point to price your website. Valuation tools do not know your audience, revenue options, nor do they know your competition.

Finally, if after all of your steps you find that your site is worth a bit less than you want to sell it for, there are a few steps you can take to increase its value.  These include SEO strategies to improve ranking.  Add advertising revenue to your site.  Tweak the navigation and/or layout so it’s easier to use and more appealing to visitors.

Often simple adjustments can have dramatic effects on the value of your website.  If you’re ready to sell your site, it pays to take the time to follow these steps and take the time to optimize your site for maximum profits.

One thing that all businesses have in common is a need for marketing. It doesn’t matter if a business was started yesterday or several years ago, the business owner needs to make sure they are being exposed to potential customers, and being remembered to old customers.

Start-up businesses, however, have special marketing needs. Many start-up business owners find marketing an essential task. Once a business has established itself, the owner will find they are receiving repeat business and may not need to spend as much time on marketing. But in the beginning, marketing will be a key ingredient to success.

Of course, start-up businesses are usually on a tight budget, which can make it harder to make a marketing splash. The following are a few marketing tools that every start-up business should have, and the best part is that they are also very budget friendly.

A website is your virtual storefront and it can welcome customers from around the world, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Every website should contain at least some basic information about the business, including an “about us” page and a “contact us” page.

A blog is another essential tool that some business owners often overlook. They may feel that if they have a website, they don’t need a blog. That is not true. A blog and a website have very different purposes. A website is there to greet customers, provide information about the business, and, depending on the business, it is quite possibly the way a person can buy things from the business.

A blog, on the other hand, is there to communicate with the public and develop relationships. Blogs let potential customers see a more personable side of a business. People want to do business with people they feel they know and like. A blog can help a business establish that kind of connection with a person who lives hundreds or thousands of miles away.

Business cards are important, even if a business owner plans on doing business solely online. There will still be people in your local market that need your services, as well as people who know others who are in need of them. If passing around a few business cards can help bring an extra couple hundred dollars in sales, why not do it?

Social networking is huge, and taking part in it can help a start-up business gain a lot of publicity fast. There are many networks to choose from, including Twitter, MySpace, and Facebook. The point is to find one that suits your needs and start establishing some relationships.

Marketing can be a very fun activity for any business. Since start-up businesses need to spend so much time on this activity, it’s important to relax and get creative with it. Remember – it should be fun.

]]> http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/marketing-tool/feed/ http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/creative-pro-office/ http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/creative-pro-office/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:14:35 +0000 Crissy http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/?p=219

If you are finding it hard to keep track of all the information surrounding your projects and clients, such as due dates, phone numbers, and notes, you may want to look into CreativePro Office.

Designed for creative service-based business owners, this is a free, open source software that helps people keep track of all their business information.

A person does not need to be in a creative business to use it; it works just as well for bookkeepers as it does for graphic artists.

Here are some of the features it offers, and a description of how each one can help you achieve more in your business:

Office Dashboard

According to the CreativePro Office website, this feature allows you to “see the status of projects, tasks, invoices, important events and more in one customizable screen. You can also add widgets to your dashboard like RSS feeds, del.icio.us links and notes, tasks and more.”

Imagine how organized your business will become when all of the information you need is right in front of you. With CreativePro Office, you will be able to see the big picture of what is going on in your business, what needs to be done, and when it needs to be done by.

Client Manager

This section of CreativePro Office will keep track of your client information and allow you to view it all from one screen. You will be able to see their contact information, past and present projects, plus any invoices or quotes you have sent.

Your clients will also be able to log into their own CreativePro Office interface to view their project information. Your clients will never be left in the dark, wondering what the status is on their projects. And you won’t have to remember to email them every day to let them know what you did. They will be able to log in and view it for themselves.

Project Manager

It can be very easy to forget due dates. With the project manger, you can create an unlimited number of projects and keep track of the various tasks associated with each project.

Time Tracker

There are many free ways to keep track of the amount of time you put into your projects, but having one inside your office management program makes things very convenient.

Invoicing & Expense Tracking

You can see there are a lot of features within CreativePro Office that allow you to keep track of your work. This feature allows you to keep track of your money. You will be able to create invoices and even send them to your clients via email. Advanced reporting options allow you to see how much was invoiced, how much was received, and even which clients are the most profitable.

Tools like CreativePro Office allow small business owners to get organized and start making the most of their business.

]]> http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/creative-pro-office/feed/ http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/join-us-for-a-live-online-chat-are-email-newsletters-worth-sending/ http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/join-us-for-a-live-online-chat-are-email-newsletters-worth-sending/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:10:41 +0000 Crissy http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/?p=224 We’re partnering with The Downtown Women’s Club on November 11 for a live, online chat. We’ll be discussing Email Newsletters and if they’re worth sending. We’ll be discussing the pros, the cons, and the alternatives to sending them.

The chat will be taking place from 11:00 - 11:30 am Eastern. If you can’t make it, we’ll be recording the chat and we will be providing the replay link.

To take part in the Live Online Chat, just come back to this post and Click Here.

We would appreciate it if you would RSVP for the event. We’ll send you a reminder the day before, and we’ll also send you the replay link after it’s over.