BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARDS

Start a BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD

Over a year ago I did a blog on starting a Business Advisory Board.  It seemed to be a popular blog, so I thought we would revisit the subject.

ADVISORY BOARDS

An Advisory Board is a group of people (can be as small as 4) with diversified interests and opinions and different types of businesses. 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 reviewed in a future Post). A Moderator for each meeting can be chosen to manage the division of time.  When you start your Advisory Board set down some rules to begin, so that the purpose is clear to the members.  Limit the number in your group so that each member will have enough time to address the issues to be discussed.  I would say as small as 4 to no larger than 10 members.  Make it a commitment for each member to attend.

BENEFITS:

Talking with others in business who can:
* be supportive
* give unbiased ideas and help
* share your successes & celebrate your accomplishments
* understand your strengths and weaknesses
* bring fresh, new ideas to the table
* give you socialization with others in business
* help expand your business and meet 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 17 years and find it one of the least expensive, most helpful things I have done for ME and for my Yard Card business development. Our group has met in business rooms, our homes, library private rooms and now with 4 of us we meet in a centerally located restaurant that is not very busy and we each purchase a meal and take turns talking about our business and presonal life, following the Accomplishments, Challenges and Goals format.

Form a Group of dedicated people who will be honest with you about their business and yours. STAY on TRACK at the meetings and again make it a commitment. Please comment if you need more help with this idea!

"You don't get any rewards out of this life unless you make an investment"

Sincerely,

Marty Miller   www.yardcarddirectory.com/   www.homeandhealthtips.com/

Websites and Blogging about Your Interests

BLOGGING About Your Interests


When you start a website you must first make sure that you have a passion, product or service that will be interesting to people. Research the other websites in your area of interest. If you are unsure of what you might want to start as a website, try blogging until you decide what you are truly passionate about. You might set up a www.blogger.com/  account, which is free. Start blogging about some of your passions; whether it be art, music, health, people or a business you already have or one you wish to start. As you blog, you may find a certain subject, product or service that is really interesting to you or one that you already have that consumers find interesting.

Make a list of domain names that you would like to use. They should be relevant to the subject of your Website. (i.e.) www.yardcarddirectory.com/ refers to a US and Canada Directory for those in the Lawn Display and Yard Sign business. You can easily search for domain names by typing in "domain name search" in the search area. You have several options of registering your website name – either as a dot.com, a dot. net or a dot. org. The dot.com is the most common, dot.net is more for business and dot .org is for organizations, profit or non-profits. If you are able to secure the website name you wish in a dot.com, that is best for the average website.

One of the best Sites to visit if you are learning is Lisa's website at: www.2createawebsite.com/  Read more about Lisa and why she is a great resource and teacher at my Favorite Links.

Once you decide that you are headed in the right direction, then you need to research how to start a website.
There are many possibilites. You may have a hosting company that sets everything up for you, or you may wish to try something like www.snapmonkey.com/ where you can make changes or updates whenever you wish for the same monthly charge. You may also just keep on Blogging and keep that as your website.


"The more places you are seen, the better you are recognized."
Sincerely,
Marty Miller,  www.lawnexpressions.com/   www.yardcarddirectory.com/