Back to Blogging!

I am one of the largest offenders when it comes to blogging  these days. I haven’t blogged on the newly created PR side of Strickly Events, LLC or any insight that I have gleaned from personal or professional experience; which is a disservice to me and my business.

So, on that note, I came across 10 Tips to Blog your Way to Small Business Success from Mark Hayward and it inspired me to no longer be a blogging “couch potato.”  

 

Ten Tips to Help You Blog Your Way to Small Business Success

Tip One: Define your goals

Whether you are a plumber, bike retailer, or cafe owner start by assessing your business goals and how you would like your blog to help you achieve them – e.g. Do you want customers to find you? Do you want to be on the front page of Google? Are you all about selling more services and product?

Tip Two: Research keywords

Before you begin blogging have a look at some of the keyword tools like the one found on SEO Book and determine what your potential customers and clients are actually searching for. If your business is active in a mostly local market, or generally for clients in a small town, then include the town’s name in your research. The information gathered from running a couple of keyword searches is extremely valuable when it comes to writing posts that are targeted and meant to highlight specific information.

Tip Three: Use free tools

I think many small business folk are turned off by blogging and social media because they are under the illusion that marketing online costs a tremendous amount of money. My chosen platform for my business website and blogging is WordPress, which, I am sure most of you know, is free to use and has some amazing free themes. 

Tip Four: Educate the consumer

When starting a blog that revolves around your small business the general tendency is to want to publish a bunch of SPAM posts that extol your virtues. While it is okay to do this once and a while, I have found that educating the consumer works tremendously well and is highly effective. Also, please remember that there is a big difference between using your business blog to tell your story (How you came to own the business, defining your passion, etc.) and just telling people to buy your product or service because you are the best.

Tip Five: Allow 3 to 6 months for return on investment (ROI)

There are a few schools of thought when it comes to measuring ROI for business blogs. We all, myself included, are searching for that magic bullet that is going to draw in more customers. However, from my own experience and in discussion with other business owners who blog, three to six months seems to allow enough time to put up an adequate amount of posts (even if you only publish once a week) and to also obtain a quantifiable and measurable amount of customer data.

Tip Six: Research the competition

Small business owners sometimes feel funny inquiring about what their competition is up to. Keep in mind, this is business, I highly recommend having a search around the web to discern what your competitors are up to. In most cases I think you will be pleasantly surprised to find out that they do not have a strong web presence. And if they do, you will now know that you need to step your game up a bit more.

Tip Seven: Keep it simple

Business blog posts do not have to be extravagant Pulitzer Prize worthy affairs. If you should find yourself stuck for topics, or are facing blogger’s block, have a look at this post. 31 Blog Post Ideas For Small Businesses.

Tip Eight: Forums are your friend

One of the most common complaints I hear from business bloggers who are getting started is ‘Nobody is coming to my site.’ Is that so? I don’t care if you trade in rare eighteenth century chess pieces or high-end designer shoes; chances are a niche forum exists for your specific business. Promoting your small business within a forum works best when you approach it in the same manner as step four. You need to educate the consumer and gain member trust before you can start endorsing yourself (otherwise you will be seen as a troll).

Tip Nine: Be consistent

Quite possibly the most important piece of advice for any small business blogger – You NEED to be consistent in your efforts.

Tip Ten: Once you are blogging regularly branch out into other social media

Starting a comprehensive social media and marketing plan can really help to give a traffic boost to your business blog. Social media does not have to be intimidating and you can easily start by uploading a few well tagged and described photos to FLICKR and then possibly move on to YouTube, FaceBook, and Twitter.

 

10 Hidden Wedding Costs – Why a good event planner is worth the investment

In the past, many have thought that hiring an event planner was an extravagance only meant for the elite.  After all, why spend money for something you could “do yourself”?  Today, however, times have changed. 

With the current state of the economy, budgets are top of mind; especially when planning a wedding. There are many tips and tricks to save money in the process. However, there are just as many unseen “extras” and hidden costs that can blow a bride’s budget (as well as her mind!)

Some things to consider:

What is your time worth?  Do you have the required amount of hours per week to devote to planning your event?  Think of it in dollars.  How much do you make hourly at work? Now, multiply that with the mass amount of hours you’ll need to spend researching, planning, and working to make your event happen.  It can quickly add up to more than you can reasonably handle.

Good event planners know vendors in the area that will best meet your vision and your budget.  Therefore, it will take them far less time to gather the information you need to make your decisions. Event planners do this for a living! They take on the stress and the challenges of the planning process. This allows you be calmer, more focused, and able to really enjoy the event when it finally arrives.

Event planners worth their salt should ensure that any of their brides also don’t get hit with hidden fees!  The following list of “10 Hidden Wedding Costs” is by no means inclusive, so brides beware! Hiring a savvy event planner  can eliminate these nasty surprises by reviewing vendor contracts, negotiating with venues and providing another set of eyes so that nothing is left to chance!

 

10 Hidden Wedding Costs

It’s all those pricey extras that slide in under the radar. We’ve asked the experts to clue us in on their insider secrets for avoiding those little-known financial pitfalls and sticking to your budget. Check it out!

1. Band Equipment

Why it’s hidden The cost of the band includes fees for the musicians’ time and the minimum amount of equipment needed. If your reception space is extra-large, then additional speakers and microphones could possibly be required to project the best sound quality.
The cost Anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars
How to avoid it Before booking your band or DJ, you need to clearly explain the layout of the space (or have them check it out, if they’re willing) so the vendors know exactly what they’re working with. If they want to add in extra equipment, you should have them explain why it’s necessary before you sign a contract or agree to pay for anything else. 

 

2. Postage Stamps

Why it’s hidden Stationers don’t advertise the shipping costs; if they did, you might decide to go with simpler (read: cheaper) invites. 
The cost Oversized, awkwardly shaped and bulky invitations will most often run you as much as $2 each to mail. 
How to avoid it Skip the fancy boxed invitations and multilayer cards, which can bulk up quickly and cost a lot more than you bargained for. 

3. Gown Alterations

Why it’s hidden Dresses are pretty pricey and stores don’t want to scare away clients by listing alterations as part of the total cost.
The cost A simple hem can be less than $100, but completely rebuilding a bodice or moving zippers can send the price soaring.  
How to avoid it Ask about what the store charges for every alteration you may need before you purchase the gown. 
If it’s too much, don’t be afraid to take your dress to a less expensive seamstress to have alterations done.
 

4. Photo/Video Overtime

Why it’s hidden Your photo and video pros are booked for just a certain amount of time, so if your wedding runs a little longer than you expected, they’ll charge per hour. 
The cost Starting at $250 per hour 
How to avoid it When planning the day, factor in extra time for getting dressed and taking photos. You’ll get a realistic sense of how long everything should take. Refer to this itinerary when booking your photo/video vendors. 

 

5. Welcome-Bag Delivery

Why it’s hidden Most hotels don’t factor in a welcome-bag delivery fee when you block rooms. And they may fail to mention the rate unless you ask — they’ll just add it to your final bill. Inquire within; they may even charge you a fee for holding the welcome bags if you drop them off before the guests arrive! 
The cost Up to $7 per bag 
How to avoid it During the booking process, ask about the hotel’s policy on receiving and delivering welcome bags to guests’ rooms. It may be free or cheaper if they hand the bags out at the counter as guests check in. If you don’t want the extra charge, you can distribute them at the rehearsal dinner. >> 

 

6. Rental Transport

Why it’s hidden You’d assume that the rental companies would include these extra fees in the per-item costs (do they honestly think you’re going to fit 150 chiavari chairs in your own car?), but surprisingly, they don’t. 
The cost From $50 up to more than $500 
How to avoid it Ask the rental company what their shipping and packaging fees are up front — if the cost is too high for your budget, shop around a bit. You just might find that you’ll actually save some money by renting items from a more expensive company that includes delivery costs at no extra charge. 

 

7. Taxes

Why it’s hidden Even though these aren’t exactly hidden — we all know that there are taxes on almost everything — most couples don’t think about how much they’ll end up owing during the planning process. 
The cost This will depend on the total amount of money you’re spending as well as the location of the event (taxes vary in different areas).
How to avoid it There’s no getting around paying taxes, but paying the entire bill in one lump sum can help lower the overall price, especially in the winter when vendors have fewer weddings to cover their bills. 
 

8. Cake-Cutting Fee

Why it’s hidden If you use the cake provided by your reception site, the charge is typically wrapped into the cost. Going with an outside baker can jack up the price. Why? Because your venue’s workers are responsible for slicing and serving each piece, then cleaning the dishes. This means more work for their staff!
The cost From $2 to $5 per guest
How to avoid it Go with the site’s cake baker. Don’t worry: They’ll likely be able to work with your vision. If you’re set on a particular cake baker, then call your venue and find out what the fee is before you sign a contract.

9. Coat Check

Why it’s hidden When you book your venue in the summer, it’s easy to forget just how cold it’ll be in winter months like December. 
The cost The damage starts at around $200. 
How to avoid it Union rules may dictate the number of people who are required to work the coat check (and the amount they get paid). Have a good approximation of your total guest count when you book the coat checkers. 

 

10. Gratuities

Why it’s hidden Many couples often think that the “service charge” is a tip for the event staff when it’s actually an additional fee that the catering halls charge. For what? To cover their own cost for hiring servers. 
The cost Typically 15 to 20 percent of the event’s total food and drink fee 
How to avoid it Once you get the proposed fee, add the service charge percentage so it’s already accounted for before the event. The last thing you want is to get hit with an unexpectedly huge bill that just about breaks the bank. 

 

 

 

 

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-budget/articles/10-hidden-wedding-costs.aspx