BENEFITS and FEATURES of your Lawn Display Business
Make sure your website & marketing materials contain Benefits more than Features. What is the difference between benefits and features? Features are a description of your product-- (ie) 5-6 ft. colorful Yard Signs, Personalized message sign, 30-40 pink flamingos, many critters or props from which to choose.
Benefits would be-- what is the benefit to your customer in using your business? (ie) "Make a friend happy with a unique early morning surprise", "Let the whole neighborhood know of your Graduate's Big Day!”,“Surprise a new Mom with a Stork in the Yard” Announce the New Baby” “Celebrate that BIG birthday with a Yard Card”
People are more interested in the benefit to them & the recipient than a long description of your product. In the Celebration Lawn Greetings business, it is all about recognizing people!
"A simple act of kindness has a beauty of it’s own".
Hope your summer is going well!
Marty Miller www.lawnexpressions.com/ www.yardcarddirectory.com/
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Preparing a BUSINESS PLAN
BUSINESS PLAN:
Do YOU have a Business Plan? Although there is SO much on this issue, I am taking quotes from a seminar I attended several years ago given by Courtney Price, Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Creativity at Metro College in Denver, CO.
Entrepreneurs frequently delay writing business plans because they are uncertain how to write and prepare the planning documents essential to a successful venture.
A business plan forces you to consider every facet of your proposed business and places funding decisions on paper where they can be evaluated and considered by all involved.
The outline should include: summary and executive overview; concept; management and organization; product/service; production plan; competition; pricing; marketing plan; financial plan; operating and control system; schedule; growth plan and a contingency plan.
The Best news about developing and writing your own business plan: once you have been through the process, additional plans take half of the time to write and you discover you lave learned valuable planning skills that will be critical to your success.
*******
From Marty: I considered doing a business plan as a daunting project for my Corporation & my d/b/a "Lawn Expressions YardCard Business", but I did add things to my business as I went through the process of preparing the Business Plan and found it fun and enlightening. My Business Plan was simple and was only 5 typed pages long, but was acceptable to get a "Line of Credit". If you plan to get Financial help at any time during your business, you WILL need a business plan.
Reference Book : "How to Write a Business Plan" by Mike McKeever.
I am sure there is an updated version.
Please leave a comment if this has helped you.
Sincerely,
Marty Miller http://www.lawnexpressions.com/ http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/
Do YOU have a Business Plan? Although there is SO much on this issue, I am taking quotes from a seminar I attended several years ago given by Courtney Price, Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Creativity at Metro College in Denver, CO.
Entrepreneurs frequently delay writing business plans because they are uncertain how to write and prepare the planning documents essential to a successful venture.
A business plan forces you to consider every facet of your proposed business and places funding decisions on paper where they can be evaluated and considered by all involved.
The outline should include: summary and executive overview; concept; management and organization; product/service; production plan; competition; pricing; marketing plan; financial plan; operating and control system; schedule; growth plan and a contingency plan.
The Best news about developing and writing your own business plan: once you have been through the process, additional plans take half of the time to write and you discover you lave learned valuable planning skills that will be critical to your success.
*******
From Marty: I considered doing a business plan as a daunting project for my Corporation & my d/b/a "Lawn Expressions YardCard Business", but I did add things to my business as I went through the process of preparing the Business Plan and found it fun and enlightening. My Business Plan was simple and was only 5 typed pages long, but was acceptable to get a "Line of Credit". If you plan to get Financial help at any time during your business, you WILL need a business plan.
Reference Book : "How to Write a Business Plan" by Mike McKeever.
I am sure there is an updated version.
Please leave a comment if this has helped you.
Sincerely,
Marty Miller http://www.lawnexpressions.com/ http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/
Monday, June 21, 2010
Starting a Website or Blog
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 www.blogger.com until you decide what you are truly passionate about. You might set up a 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 Card 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 – try for a .com unless you are an organization and then .org would be best. Profits and non Profits typically use.org.
Once you decide that you are headed in the right direction, then you need to research how to start a website. An excellent website to view is http://www.2createawebsite.com/ Lisa is very knowledgable in many areas of websites, blogging, U-tube and so much more.
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 for one price.
Another great learning website is www.visionofsuccess.com/
Questions or comments are always welcome. marty@lawnexpressions.com
Sincerely,
Marty Miller, www.lawnexpressions.com/ or http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/
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 Card 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 – try for a .com unless you are an organization and then .org would be best. Profits and non Profits typically use.org.
Once you decide that you are headed in the right direction, then you need to research how to start a website. An excellent website to view is http://www.2createawebsite.com/ Lisa is very knowledgable in many areas of websites, blogging, U-tube and so much more.
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 for one price.
Another great learning website is www.visionofsuccess.com/
Questions or comments are always welcome. marty@lawnexpressions.com
Sincerely,
Marty Miller, www.lawnexpressions.com/ or http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/
Monday, June 7, 2010
WEBSITE SPRUCE UP
1. How often do you look at your website?
2. How often do you make changes?
3. Do you check to see what position your website is on the search engines?
4. Do you ask customers how they found you?
These are all very important for your business. You MUST stay on top of these things and not let your information become outdated. Your service and pricing should be easy to find. No one likes to call to find out prices.
Websites should also have your Contact Information displayed on the HOME page or a link to your information. Consumers do not like to have to spend time finding where this information is located.
In the Yard Card & Lawn Display business, your State should be listed on the Home Page. If someone is looking for a display in a certain State and you only have counties listed on your Home Page, the customer will probably move on to another website. Also if the comsumer types in "Yard Cards, CO" and your State is not listed, your website will not be seen---business lost.
If you are purchasing a product or service on the web be sure that there is an "https" the "s" meaning secure. The site may also have a "lock' displayed on the website, but still must have the "https".
Spruce up your website today! This is your main instrument for good advertising.
"You don't get any rewards out of this life unless you make an investment"
Sincerely,
Marty Miller, http://www.lawnexpressions.com/ http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/
2. How often do you make changes?
3. Do you check to see what position your website is on the search engines?
4. Do you ask customers how they found you?
These are all very important for your business. You MUST stay on top of these things and not let your information become outdated. Your service and pricing should be easy to find. No one likes to call to find out prices.
Websites should also have your Contact Information displayed on the HOME page or a link to your information. Consumers do not like to have to spend time finding where this information is located.
In the Yard Card & Lawn Display business, your State should be listed on the Home Page. If someone is looking for a display in a certain State and you only have counties listed on your Home Page, the customer will probably move on to another website. Also if the comsumer types in "Yard Cards, CO" and your State is not listed, your website will not be seen---business lost.
If you are purchasing a product or service on the web be sure that there is an "https" the "s" meaning secure. The site may also have a "lock' displayed on the website, but still must have the "https".
Spruce up your website today! This is your main instrument for good advertising.
"You don't get any rewards out of this life unless you make an investment"
Sincerely,
Marty Miller, http://www.lawnexpressions.com/ http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
YARD CARD COMPANY RECOGNITION
How do YOU get noticed on the Internet? With so many websites on so many different subjects and with numerous search terms, it seems an impossible endeavor.
Check common search terms for your industry in the search bar. The Lawn Display industry would have search terms such as: yard cards, lawn displays, yard displays, stork signs, lawn flamingoes —the list goes on. Look up the ones that you think customers use most. If you have an analytics program it will also give you this information. With Google or Bing, you will find that National Directories come up for most of these terms.
You will find that some Directories are Free to Join, some charge a Fee. What is important is which ones come up for the relevant search terms you think your potential customers use! Even if there is a Fee and the website is reputable, just one rental would pay for Joining that Directory. My experience is that you should be on ALL Directories but definitely on the ones that come up high. The 2 highest Directories are typically (on Google’s 1st page) http://www.flamingoed.com/ and http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/ . Your company should be on both of these Directories and often it will also pull your website up higher in the search engines.
If you want business, you need to pay attention to what is happening in the over-all Industry. Just waiting for rentals or referrals does not work that well.
"Doing business without advertising is like winking at a someone in the dark. YOU know what you are doing, but no one else does." Stewart Britt
Comments ALWAYS welcome!
Marty Miller
Check common search terms for your industry in the search bar. The Lawn Display industry would have search terms such as: yard cards, lawn displays, yard displays, stork signs, lawn flamingoes —the list goes on. Look up the ones that you think customers use most. If you have an analytics program it will also give you this information. With Google or Bing, you will find that National Directories come up for most of these terms.
You will find that some Directories are Free to Join, some charge a Fee. What is important is which ones come up for the relevant search terms you think your potential customers use! Even if there is a Fee and the website is reputable, just one rental would pay for Joining that Directory. My experience is that you should be on ALL Directories but definitely on the ones that come up high. The 2 highest Directories are typically (on Google’s 1st page) http://www.flamingoed.com/ and http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/ . Your company should be on both of these Directories and often it will also pull your website up higher in the search engines.
If you want business, you need to pay attention to what is happening in the over-all Industry. Just waiting for rentals or referrals does not work that well.
"Doing business without advertising is like winking at a someone in the dark. YOU know what you are doing, but no one else does." Stewart Britt
Comments ALWAYS welcome!
Marty Miller
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
GRADUATION YARD CARDS
Remember your Graduate with a Large Card in the Yard or Lawn Display on his/her Graduation Day! If you are having a party it helps those attending find your home.
Your Graduate will be so surprised and pleased with a Grad Display!
Check out companies in your state at www.yardcarddirectory.com/
Marty Miller
Your Graduate will be so surprised and pleased with a Grad Display!
Check out companies in your state at www.yardcarddirectory.com/
Marty Miller
Saturday, May 1, 2010
LIFE CAN CHANGE--Accidents Happen
Live Each Day--Accidents Happen
So where have I been since March? Life can change in an instant and mine did. We were in MI on March 25th for a Surprise party for my sister. I got to a relative's home and opened a door that I thought was the bathroom. The door opened in and I had stepped into a stairwell to a basement. My last memory was “Oh my God,what can I hold unto”.
Family heard what sounded like a 20 lb. sack of potatoes going down the 14 stairs, no utterance from me. They immediately came down to find me knocked out in an increasing pool of blood from a head wound. (As my niece descibed it--A CSI moment).
I was whisked off by ambulance to a great hospital (so thankful for that) where I spent 2 solid weeks, with 10 rib breaks, a shattered left wrist and forearm, head laceration and a dislocated and fractured clavicle. Head was stitched during surgery to operate on wrist/arm. A fixator was put on my wrist with pins down into my wrist. 2nd surgery was a chest tube for fluid in the lung. I had much therapy. You never go to a hospital for rest as someone is checking you every hour or 2, even at night.
Here is the miracle---neither knee replacement was damaged, my neck was not broken and my spinal fusion from my teen years, remained intact.
We remained in MI for 1 month and returned home to CO on 4/21. I was back in hospital here for Vertigo on 4/23-24.
Things can happen in life that change our focus and slow us down—obviously there was no business done on my part, for the month of April. I am starting slowly to get back to business in May. I have one more surgery to remove the fixator and pins from my wrist. I will remain on oxygen for a few weeks--remember this is higher altitude.
Never take Life for Granted! Following are a couple of quotes worth thinking about!
If you have a life changing event, please share it with us!
Being alive is loving being alive! Judith Alligim
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."
Art Linkletter
Your outcome has much to do with your attitude.
Life is made up of many changes; and no state, be it bright or clouded , will always continue. Spurgeon
OK –now it is back to business. Don’t forget those Lawn Displays for Graduation.
Have a Good Spring!
Marty Miller, business owner, author, artist
http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/ http://www.lawnexpressions.com/
So where have I been since March? Life can change in an instant and mine did. We were in MI on March 25th for a Surprise party for my sister. I got to a relative's home and opened a door that I thought was the bathroom. The door opened in and I had stepped into a stairwell to a basement. My last memory was “Oh my God,what can I hold unto”.
Family heard what sounded like a 20 lb. sack of potatoes going down the 14 stairs, no utterance from me. They immediately came down to find me knocked out in an increasing pool of blood from a head wound. (As my niece descibed it--A CSI moment).
I was whisked off by ambulance to a great hospital (so thankful for that) where I spent 2 solid weeks, with 10 rib breaks, a shattered left wrist and forearm, head laceration and a dislocated and fractured clavicle. Head was stitched during surgery to operate on wrist/arm. A fixator was put on my wrist with pins down into my wrist. 2nd surgery was a chest tube for fluid in the lung. I had much therapy. You never go to a hospital for rest as someone is checking you every hour or 2, even at night.
Here is the miracle---neither knee replacement was damaged, my neck was not broken and my spinal fusion from my teen years, remained intact.
We remained in MI for 1 month and returned home to CO on 4/21. I was back in hospital here for Vertigo on 4/23-24.
Things can happen in life that change our focus and slow us down—obviously there was no business done on my part, for the month of April. I am starting slowly to get back to business in May. I have one more surgery to remove the fixator and pins from my wrist. I will remain on oxygen for a few weeks--remember this is higher altitude.
Never take Life for Granted! Following are a couple of quotes worth thinking about!
If you have a life changing event, please share it with us!
Being alive is loving being alive! Judith Alligim
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."
Art Linkletter
Your outcome has much to do with your attitude.
Life is made up of many changes; and no state, be it bright or clouded , will always continue. Spurgeon
OK –now it is back to business. Don’t forget those Lawn Displays for Graduation.
Have a Good Spring!
Marty Miller, business owner, author, artist
http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/ http://www.lawnexpressions.com/
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