08Jul 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

How to Take the Perfect Holiday Portrait

2nd Tuesday Tune-Up Your Life, Life Insight
Can you believe it’s almost time to start thinking about the Holidays?! Even though it’s only July, many families start to get the Holiday bug early as they want to get their family portraits done for their Holiday cards! Remember our popular “Shoot Your Own Christmas Card Portrait” series from 2011? Check them out for a more in-depth look at photography and set-up specifics. In the meantime, read on for some expert tips on how to capture the perfect photo for your 2014 Holiday Cards: (more…)
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07Jul 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Going Up! How to Develop an Elevator Pitch for Your Business

Customer Acquisition, Marketing, Monday Marketing Minutes, Planning, Public Relations, Small Business Info
Wherever you’re at in your entrepreneurial journey, developing and fine-tuning your business’ elevator pitch is one of the most important things you’ll do. Your elevator pitch allows you to give prospects a snapshot of your business. You’ve got only a few sentences to convince prospective customers why they need your product and/or service and why they can’t get what you provide anywhere else. To kick off the process of developing your small business’ perfect elevator speech, consider these five tips while you brainstorm. Think about what makes your business unique. You want your product/service to be intriguing to your potential customer(s). Don’t simply state the nature of your business (i.e. “I am a flower shop.") What makes your business stand out from your competitors’? (more…)
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03Jul 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Save the Dates: Your Questions, Answered!

3rd Wednesday Weddings, Wedding Inspiration
Your Wedding is no longer just a dream — it’s a reality. They liked it so they put a ring on it, the date has been set, the venue booked … now what? It’s time to let your family and friends know when the big day is by sending out your Save the Dates! Unsure if you actually need to send them out? Wondering if it’s too far out? Questioning who to send them to? We’ve got you covered. Find out our answers to some commonly asked questions on the who-what-where-when-why of Save the Date etiquette: (more…)
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01Jul 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

4 HR Tips to Help You Build the Right Team

Human Resources, Small Business Info, Workplace
Every small business owner knows how to wear multiple hats. Depending on the size of your company, you may take on the mantle of CEO, CFO, Office Manager, Staff Accountant and Human Resources all in the course of one afternoon. When it comes time to expand, recruiting the right team is crucial to your success. Here are four tips to help you build the right team to ensure your survival in the trenches and in the competitive marketplace! 1.       Know What You Need Before You Look for It. I once had a hiring manager tell me, “I don’t know exactly what I want Kevin, but I need you to find it for me.” As frustrating as this plea was, it was incredibly heartfelt and honest. My leader had admitted that we…
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30Jun 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

9 Easy Tips to Stay Focused and Be Productive

Marketing, Monday Marketing Minutes, Planning, Small Business Info, Workplace
If you’re like many small- and medium- sized business owners, time is your enemy — there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done. Focus becomes the key element to your day-to-day productivity, and with the distracting world that surrounds us every day, it’s hard to stay productive. But, getting key tasks done quickly and efficiently is not as daunting as it seems! Read on for nine easy tips to stay focused and increase productivity. 1. Learn to say no. If you’re a people pleaser like me, saying “no” to someone is easier said than done. But when it comes to productivity, it’s important to learn to say “no” so you can stay focused on important tasks. But here’s one thing to make it easier: Learn to…
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27Jun 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Small Business Spotlight – Daddy’s Boo Portraits

Small Business Info, Small Business Spotlight
This week, 123Print is shining its Small Business Spotlight on ... Daddy's Boo Portraits! Daddy's Boo Portraits helps you cherish your memories through portrait, photos and collage. Inspired by the owner's Daddy, her Angel, who called her "Boo," Daddy's Boo offers a variety of portrait ideas including memory, veteran, baby, sport, senior, retirement and generations to name a few. Daddy's Boo Portraits brings fun, creativity and class into all of their portraits which are drawn with nothing but love and inspiration. [caption id="attachment_7725" align="aligncenter" width="851"] © Daddy's Boo Portraits[/caption] (more…)
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25Jun 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Are You a Boss or a Leader?

Small Business Info, Workplace
Whether you just hired your first employee, you were fortunate enough to obtain that promotion, or have been managing a team for years — ask yourself, how are you planning on showing up tomorrow? The distinction between a boss and a leader may appear small, yet the impact you can make on your team is significant. The worst misperceptions that I have seen with people in their transition to becoming the boss: Assuming that because of your title, you know everything. It’s my way or the highway. You can tell people what to do; delegating everything. It’s not my fault if someone on my team cannot <insert task, skill, decision>. You can work less; you have people to do the work for you. You have to be serious all the time.…
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23Jun 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

How to Have a Killer Presentation

Customer Acquisition, Marketing, Monday Marketing Minutes, Public Relations, Small Business Info
Looking to drum up some new business? Consider conducting a presentation or demo in front of perspective clients or customers. These face-to-face meetings are a great way to make a great impression that lasts. Here’s what you’ll need to prepare for your stellar presentation: A laptop or tablet. If you have the ability to hook up your laptop or tablet to a projector, that’s even better. This allows you to show a digital representation of your work, including things that were too complex to bring into the demo. If your product/service contains an electronic element, this will give you a chance to walk your customers’ through a step by step process of how it’s used. Make sure whatever you decide to bring in is fully charged before your presentation! (more…)
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