06Apr 2013 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

5 Fashion Don’ts for the Office

1st Saturday Style, Small Business Info
Does your office have a dress code? If you’re a one-person shop, maybe not. Although I’m sure you might dress differently on days you’ll be interacting with customers and the public verses non-customer work days. I mean seriously, do you want to hand out your crisp, professional business card in a rumpled shirt and baggy shorts? Probably not. Different office environments have varying guidelines about office-wear. If you’re working in a law firm, chic suits or pencil skirts and blouses might be the name of the game; if you’re at a creative agency, jeans and funky tops might be your staples. Regardless of where you work, however, there are still some fashion faux pas that you definitely want to avoid, unless you’re looking to be the talk of the water-cooler…
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03Apr 2013 by Cindy Berrier 12 Comments

Outsourcing for Small Business – Yay or Nay?

Small Business Info
If you’ve ever worked for a large company, or even a small company, you are probably familiar with outsourcing. Outsourcing is the practice of turning over certain elements of your business to outside experts. What you may not realize is that small businesses can benefit from outsourcing, too. Going along with the trend of these larger companies, small business owners are outsourcing a wide range of services from HR to finance and customer service to creative. Before you begin, understand that outsourcing takes both time and money in order to find the right vendor at the right cost. You need to take the time to build a strong, working relationship and give your in-house employees time to adjust. Here are some tips for evaluating the benefits of outsourcing for your…
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01Apr 2013 by Cindy Berrier 2 Comments

Getting the “Loyal” Treatment [INFOGRAPHIC]

123Print Infographics, Small Business Info
According to BusinessDictionary.com, customer loyalty is defined as the likelihood of previous customers to continue to buy from a specific organization. In other words, customer loyalty is when your customers continue to buy from your company even though your competitors offer similar products, sometimes even at a lower price. Maximize your customer love by instituting a loyalty program! There are many different things to consider when implementing a customer loyalty program, including allowing your customers to opt in, limiting participation to your most valued customers and offering custom membership cards. If maintaining loyalty is the purpose of a loyalty program, then most fail to live up to the name! Find out how your business’ loyalty program can stand out, and ensure that it does. In fact, find out how to…
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29Mar 2013 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

123Print Small Business Sense — Caressa Flannery

Small Business Info, Small Business Sense Interviews
Looking to start your own business? We've got you covered. Each month, 123Print will interview real, live business owners to uncover their tips and tricks to starting and growing a successful small business in the 123Print Small Business Sense interview series. This month ... Caressa Flannery, Owner of Create-a-Pulse Marketing and RelyLocal Frederick talks about starting and growing her businesses. FULL INTERVIEW: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1sTFQT0mU4[/embed] (more…)
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29Mar 2013 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

[TRANSCRIPT] 123Print Small Business Sense — Caressa Flannery

Small Business Info, Small Business Sense Interviews
Caressa: My name is Caressa Flannery. I’m actually a native of Frederick, Maryland and I’ve had the luxury of owning two businesses here in Frederick. I’ve been in the advertising and marketing industry for 20 years, 20 years.  It’s unbelievable, and basically through those two businesses I work with a lot of small businesses mostly on the local level, but some on the regional level as well. Create-a-Pulse Marketing, my one business, I’ve had for 12 years, and we provide web development, all kinds of graphic and marketing work, as well as event planning and social media. That’s kind of a big thing in the marketing realm right now. And then, as far as my other business, RelyLocal Frederick, started that in October of 2010, and that is a business…
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27Mar 2013 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

8 Common Email Marketing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Monthly Email Marketing, Small Business Info
Many small businesses use email marketing to advertise and grow their business. It’s affordable and, when done right, can be incredibly effective. But, email marketing is about much more than just pressing send. With increasingly stringent anti-spam laws and continually evolving technology, it is important to stay up-to-date on the current dos and don’ts of email marketing. So, if you are interested in improving your current program, or ready to start something new, be sure to check out the below list and learn about eight often-made email marketing mistakes, and how to avoid them! (more…)
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25Mar 2013 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

6 Tips to Create Small Business Success

Monday Marketing Minutes, Small Business Info
If creating a successful small business were easy, everyone would do it. The fact is, according to a study by Intuit, 49% of small businesses have a chance of failing within five years. More than having a great product or an awesome idea, creating small business success requires a strategy and planning. Here are 6 tips to help build a small business strategy that works: 1. Surround yourself with the right people. The smaller your business, the more important it is to have the right type of talented and motivated people on your team. Hire employees and form business partnerships with people who have different skill sets and abilities and who share your vision, enthusiasm and dedication. (more…)
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22Mar 2013 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Small Business Spotlight — AVON Representative Dawn Gunn

Small Business Info, Small Business Spotlight
This week, 123Print is shining its Small Business Spotlight on ... AVON Representative Dawn Gunn! "Hi, my name is Dawn Gunn and I am a Sales Representative/Recruiter with a wonderful company called AVON -- we are not just make-up any more! We offer a wonderful skincare line, clothes for all ages, jewelry for every need, household ware and of course our awesome line of make-up that is actually made right here in the states! Please feel free to click on my website to get all your shopping needs fulfilled -- it's a great way to shop from your seat, not on your feet!" -- Dawn Gunn, AVON Representative (more…)
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21Mar 2013 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

How to Market Your Small Business at Tradeshows

Small Business Info
You’ve established your business, created a website, printed your business cards, and even have a few loyal customers. It’s time to grow your small business even more. Take your company to the next step by taking it on the road! No, we’re not talking about a trapeze act or an invisible man act (seriously … so cool). We’re talking about packing your bags and taking your small business to a trade show! Here’s 7 tips to make sure your trade show exposition is a hit: [caption id="attachment_3417" align="alignright" width="300"] Display your business with a custom banner![/caption] Attention. Picture that little kid who is too short to be seen in a large crowd jumping up and down when you think about “attention.” Your booth should lure people over to you, be it…
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