Women Entrepreneurs - The First Year

Does your website have video?

I admit it... I haven't been much of a video fan!  In fact, the only video I have on my Fun Car Tattoos' website, is a fun one that I did when my family all got together for a wedding last year.  No, it's not professional but yes... it was a lot of fun to do!  Who knows if it sells any car magnets but... we had a lot of fun making it!  (See it now!)

But according to Financial Guru, Vanessa Summers, we are missing the boat if we don't have video. 



‘Did I Just See Your Video?’

Research tells us that your website visitor will only stay on your home page a few seconds when they visit your site. Additionally, 99 percent of first-time visitors to your website will not become customers the first time they visit your site. That means that you have one focused objective when visitors click oto your web site for the first time: Engage their interest by having captivating and compelling video automatically play when they hit your website’s home page, directing them to the next step you would like them to take.

There are a number of reasons this will be extra valuable to you in building your online money-making business. Firstly, your audio or video will help engage your visitor immediately at an elevated level . That will keep them on your website at least twice as long as they would stay without it. The video will also create a more personable experience of you, your company, and your products and/or services. Ultimately, people buy from people they like- -people they connect with–people they intuitively trust. Your video or audio allows you to immediately shift your relationship building into high gear with those who visit your website, who are extremely valuable to you and the growth of your business.

Further, your video will give your visitors a welcome greeting with the immediate next step that you would like them to take. Simply put, that’s getting them to opt into your list by leaving their name and e-mail address. Why is this your first directive when they visit your web site? Because, as I mentioned earlier, research already tells us that 99 percent of your website’s traffic will not become customers the first time they visit. If you can get them onto your list, however –bam–you have the opportunity to begin building a relationship with them online through sending value-added updates, tips, tools and resources you know they will love, with personal messages that ultimately convert these prospects into happy customers who are raving fans and will refer additional ideal customers to you.

So here is where opportunity meets “being in the know.” “Plug & play” technology has made it extremely easy and user friendly to add a plethora of cool innovative features to your website at low cost, with a minimal amount of turnaround time. The Flip Video Camera is a new plug & play technology that will immediately impact your relationship building and list building to boost your online money-making!

The Flip video camera is a nifty little gadget released earlier this year. With the Flip, it couldn’t be easier to shoot video, upload to your computer and then post to your website. No downloading of additional software, no long wait times and, best of all, no big production company costs to make this happen. Plus, because it is so easy to shoot and post video on your website, blog or even on You Tube, you now have the opportunity to be in REAL TIME with your customers and prospects, responding to feedback from customers or new trends in business to make your products and/or services that much more marketable. You can pick the Flip video camera up at several online retailers for about $150 or at Costco for about $120.

Yes You Can! Becoming a Freelance Writer!

Becoming a freelance writer seemed like the perfect fit for me after I had my first child, Michael.  I had always worked in an office.  I loved the social environment and the feeling of being part of a team, but working from home with flexible hours was the best fit to accommodate being a mom.
 
After writing a few travel pieces, our family moved to Las Vegas. This is where I found out how much I loved to write.  There’s so much to see and do in a town that offers loads of entertainment and attractions that I decided that writing about Las Vegas was my best bet. Now after writing hundreds of stories on a variety of topics for such regional magazines as Nevada Magazine, VEGAS Magazine, Las Vegas Life, and Desert Living, I’m working on branching out to national magazines.  And, now with another addition to the family, Christopher, I’m going to start adding another specialty – family travel.
 
The key to freelance writing is cultivating relationships with editors.  Many magazines are written mostly by freelancers, like myself, so the competition can be quite steep.  The single most important part of getting a story is writing a strong query letter, which demonstrates my story idea and my writing style.  Knowing the magazine’s focus and audience is also crucial, so I have a library of magazines that I peruse through to get ideas and become familiar with their style.
 
Writing has always been a good way for me to express my thoughts and preserve memories.  I still consider one of my best pieces was the one I wrote for a creative writing class when I was 14.   It was about my hair-raising experience riding a mule named Shirley down to the base of Grand Canyon – my first travel piece!
 
Please visit my other stories at www.suite101.com   and my blog at www.spapixie.blogspot.com.  

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Marisa Finetti is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas, NV. She writes for numerous city and regional magazines primarily on the topics of shopping/fashion, travel and spas.

Stress management - Not just for working moms!

It's so funny... I just read a really good article called Be an Entrepreneur, a Mom and Manage Your Stress.  Put these tips and advice to good use and you might find fewer of life's burdens keeping you down.

Well, I'm not a Mom but I need help managing my stress too!  Between my business, Fun Car Tattoos, and the economy, my stress level has gone through the roof!  (Actually, it's settled between the bottom of my neck and the top of my shoulder blades.  And...throwing the ball for the dogs doesn't seem to relax me like it use to!)
 
Stress isn't just for moms!  You guys... we all need to learn to relax a little.  Here's a perspective by Lesley Spencer Pyle of HomeBasedWorkingMoms.com.

How many times have you felt like the walls are caving in around you and your stress has reached an all-time high? It's not an unusual feeling for mompreneurs, who deal with the often-competing demands of a busy family and running a business. Fortunately, there are as many ways to deal with stress as there are situations that cause it.

Do it for your family and for your health. Successfully reducing stress is a major factor in protecting and bolstering the immune system, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Here are some ways to reduce stress:

• Get healthy. Getting healthy and then maintaining your health are the best steps toward reducing stress and keeping your body in great shape. This includes getting adequate sleep, adhering to a healthy diet and exercising.
  
• Sleep. Getting a good night's sleep not only helps with overall health, but it also helps keep things in perspective and allows you to think rationally. You don't think as clearly when you're tired as you do when you're well-rested. That increases your stress level because you have to struggle to think through a situation.
  
• Stop procrastinating. How many times have you told yourself, "I will deal with that tomorrow"? Procrastinating elevates stress levels if you continue to dwell on the problem. The longer you put it off, the more your anxiety builds. The problem isn't going to go away by itself, so deal with it right away and get the weight off your shoulders.
  
• Eat healthfully. The more hectic life becomes, the more one tends to eat on the run, which throws a well-balanced diet out the window. Eating a healthy diet helps lower your overall stress level by giving you a balance of nutrients such as vitamins B, C and E. When under stress, you tend to lose vitamins C and E. And deficiency in the B-complex can lead to depression and irritability. To avoid grabbing junk food, keep healthy snacks in your purse or desk drawer to help curb hunger.
  
• Exercise. Another important factor in improving your overall heath and relieving stress is exercise. According to MayoClinic.com, physical activity pumps up your endorphins, which are the brain's feel-good neurotransmitters. So get out with the kids, play a little tennis or soccer, or take a walk around the block. Exercise can also increase your physical well-being, which will improve your overall self-confidence.
  
• Stay organized and prioritize. Living and working in a cluttered, chaotic environment can increase stress levels. Being organized doesn't mean that everything is neat and tidy; it means that everything is in a particular place because you've developed a set of processes and procedures. So reduce office clutter and pare down to your basic needs.
  
• Get advice and help. Being a new mom can be overwhelming. As a mom you may question whether you're making the correct decisions when dealing with your kids. Becoming involved in local groups may provide an opportunity to talk to others, get advice and gain a different perspective.
  
• Learn to say no. It's OK to say no to avoid taking on too much, especially if your plate is full. People may be put off at first, but they may also respect you for taking control of your life. It's about making you happy, not making sure others are always happy with you.

Stress is a part of life. It helps keep you on your toes. But it has a negative impact on your health, your relationships and how you manage your personal and work lives. When you're a mompreneur and a mom, there's an increase in stress because of the responsibilities that go along with juggling your business and your family. Putting these tips in place may help reduce the stress that comes with being a mompreneur.

My final advice: Take a deep breath and relax.

Lesley Spencer Pyle is the founder and president of HomeBasedWorkingMoms.com and HireMyMom.comand the author ofThe Work-at-Home Workbook: Your Step-by-Step Guide on Selecting and Starting the Perfect Home Business for You. Pyle has been working from home for more than 13 years.

Featured Women Entrepreneurs - Lisa Dolce and Becky Albright

Yappy Days is less than one month old! How exciting! Business partners Lisa Dolce and Becky Albright teamed up to provide a full service pet salon and boutique. Not only are they following their passion, they are having a lot of fun in the process. And... they are the envy of many...They can bring their 4 legged family to work with them!

1. Lisa, Tell me about your business. Yappy Days, born November 1st, 2008, is a full service pet salon and boutique located in Monroe, Georgia. We offer grooming, training, pet photography, daycare, hair coloring, specialty retail and doggie aerobics classes for canine couch potatoes! We also provide our facility to local animal rescue groups (at no charge) for adoptions and meetings. We pride ourselves on our dedication to safety and a positive experience for every pet and pet parent who visits us and good, old fashioned work ethic and values.

2. Who is your target audience? Anyone interested in the welfare of animals, theirs or otherwise.

3. What makes your business unique? We give each client individualized and need specific services. Our motto is “quality” not “quantity”. While we are in business to make money, providing the most fulfilling experience is our priority, not how many dogs and cats we can “assembly line groom” in a day. At the end of the day, the bottom line is not the almighty dollar, but how many pets and parents we made happy.

4. What inspires and motivates you as an entrepreneur? From where do you draw inspiration? Having worked in this industry for other companies, it was frustrating to work with tied hands. Being business owners allows us to make educated decisions and be in control of what we feel is best for each client. Inspiration blooms with every smile on pet parents faces when their pets leave happy after a day with us.

5. How do you attract customers? Our Goodwill Ambassador Kiwi seems to attract the most attention. He attends public festivities with us, licking faces and wagging his tail. We like to think it’s his charismatic personality, and of course this is what we tell HIM, but it could have something to do with him being blue…

6. What is the most remarkable thing you did to get to where you are? I walked (stomped) out on a job with a corporate salon. I gave up insurance and a steady paycheck because I refused to give in to what I felt were unsafe practices. When push came to shove with my manager, I gathered my things (actually, I attempted to grab my tool case and dramatically storm out, but my case opened and my tools exploded onto the floor! Oops! So much for a GRAND exit!) This very spontaneous decision led me to the fateful events which paved the road for business ownership! I wouldn’t recommend this for everyone. But in my situation, in order to maintain my dignity and sanity, it was necessary to jump ship and tread water for awhile.

7. What was the most difficult business decision you've had to make? In order to get this business off the ground, we’ve had to give up paychecks for a couple of months. With the challenging economy, this was a VERY difficult decision, but we know future benefits and rewards will be well worth it!

8. What's the best advice you've received? If you start feeling overwhelmingly stressed, BLOCK IT. Whatever thoughts you have that hinder your success, BLOCK THEM! Imagine a huge wall between you and whatever thoughts are unproductive and energy draining. It works! You need every ounce of positive energy to obtain your dreams!

9. What's your perspective on balancing life and work? When starting any business, it’s expected that you may not be able to balance your business and personal life. In order to succeed you must invest time and energy, especially in the beginning! However, you must take time for you and your loved ones in order to HAVE a successful business. Your emotional health is very important not only for yourself and family but for the well being of your new endeavor. There has to be balance, and everyone has the ability to create it.

10. What is the biggest challenge you faced and how did you overcome it? Finding a facility big enough to accommodate our vision, as well as something affordable. We were fortunate enough to find a landlord who shared enthusiasm for our business and he has helped us tremendously. He was definitely our angel undercover!

11.What book(s) are on your nightstand? “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff… and it’s all Small Stuff” by Richard Carlson, PH.D, “You’ll See It When you Believe It”, Dr. Wayne Dyer, “Why Woman Need Chocolate”, Debra Waterhouse, MPH, “Pulling Your Own Strings”, Dr. Wayne Dyer.


12. What one thing would you like to learn this year? How to relax more!

13. What do you wish you had known when you first started? That things happen the way they’re supposed to. When you reach what seems to be unmovable road blocks, remember that you’re still on your way to reaching your dreams and goals, just taking a detour from the road you think you’re supposed to be on to get there!

14. What was the most innovative thing you did to drive business? Dyed my dog blue and hit the streets to meet potential clients!

15. Do you have a secret to your professional success? Maintaining a POSITIVE ATTITUDE!!

16. If there was one piece of advice you could give to other women entrepreneurs or women just starting out, what would it be? TAKE CHANCES.



To learn more about Yappy Days Pet Salon and Boutique, contact Lisa Dolce and Becky Albright at yappydayspetsalon@gmail.com or 770-267-7319. While they have the domain name for their business (www.yappydays.net), right now they are using their MySpace site to get started! (And... for all of us who have new businesses, we certainly understand how hard it is to get our website up and running! I never thought my website for Fun Car Tattoos was ever going to happen!)