BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARDS

ADVISORY BOARDS
An Advisory Board is a group of people (can be as small as 4) with diversified interests and opinions.  The group can meet once a month or maybe every other month for about 2 hrs. ea. meeting.  Each person has a chance to speak and should prepare something like the previous month's *Accomplishments, Challenges & Goals. *(these will be discussed in a future Post).   A Moderator for each meeting can be chosen to manage the division of time.

BENEFITS:


Talking with others in business who can:
* be supportive
* give unbiased ideas & help
* share your successes & celebrate your accomplishments
* understand your strengths & weaknesses
* bring fresh, new ideas to the table
* give you socialization with others in business
* help expand your business & personal goals
* keep you updated on other businesses or New business ideas 
* give YOU the opportunity to help others with your good ideas and support

The Group becomes your Business Family. You come back to your business energized and with a new perspective and creative ideas.  I have been in a group for over 15 years and find it one of the cheapest, most helpful things I have done for ME and for my Yard Card business devolopment.

To set one up costs nothing unless you get speakers or go to dinner together.

Form a Group of dedicated people who will be honest with you about their business and yours.  Donot make it larger than 8 people or time for each person will be limited. STAY on TRACK at the meetings and make it a commitment.  Please comment if you need more help with this idea!

"The New Year lies before you like a spotless track of snow. Be careful how you tread it, for every track will show".

Marty Miller   http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/      www.lawnexpressions.com/

ORGANIZE YOUR BUSINESS for 2010

ORGANIZE FOR THE NEW YEAR

* Clean out old files ----hard to do, not a fun job, but gratifying once you rid yourself of unneccsary papers & STUFF
* Update your database--very important
* Think of new ways to create business &  NEW customers
* Thank your repeat customers--maybe for New Years or Valentines Day
* Inventory your products to see if you need to purchase new things, refresh them, or add new products or delete those that are not working for you.
* Start the year with a GOOD method of filing, not only for tax purposes, but for keeping you "on track".
* Get on new Yard Card Directories and improve your Internet visibility
* Join business clubs or Chamber of Commerce--great way to meet people and get your service known
* Refresh your website with new content & photos--put your STATE on the Home Page!
* Start an Advisory Board with 3-8 other business people so that you can share experiences, support each other.  (more on Advisory Boards in future posts)

* Start the New Year with a positive attitude!

"Your outcome has much to do with your attitude."

Marty Miller  www.yardcarddirectory.com/

DIRECTORIES (Lawn Displays) for Interent Visibility

There are many new Celebration Yard Card/Display Directories on the Internet; some for specific companies & their products, and others more general. This gives you many choices as to where to place your listings. It is advisable to list on as many Directories as possible as that is often where the consumer will look to save time.

What Directories should you be on?
You can judge the criteria of each Directory by: What does it offer me? Is it a site easily found by search engine placement? Is it feasible in my advertising budget? How many rentals/sales do I need to pay for the listing? If it is less than 4 rentals/sales, than I would say it is a good deal. If you have no way to monitor which sites are bringing you business--ASK YOUR CUSTOMER. I send callers to a Directory almost every day, even if it is not my Directory www.yardcarddriectory.com/   People do searches using different search terms and I like to refer them to a Directory website that will be useful for them. The bottom line is visibility for your Business and accessibility for potential customers.  Also, being on a popular Directory will give your personal website higher rankings in the serach engines.  Put a link on your website to the Directory.

Marty Miller  http://www.lawnexpressions.com/