There is a reason the term mompreneur was coined.  It differentiates a mom who is also an entrepreneur from your average entrepreneur.  How exactly?  For starters, Mompreneurs possess all the feel good qualities of a stay-at-home mom, but they typically have some sort of business background that parlays well into entrepreneurship.  Different from the super-mom label used to describe working mothers of the 80’s, a mompreneur is someone who is a full-time mom but has found a way to start a business (usually from home) without sacrificing her desire to stay home with her young children.

What makes a mompreneur unique are her experiences as a mom and the characteristics she develops, and perfects, because of those experiences.  Every day, a mom has to inspire her kids.  She needs to have influence over them, and be direct with them.  Moms motivate, multi-task, delegate and negotiate on a daily basis.  Couple this with their backgrounds in business, marketing or other forms of management training and you get one fierce combination well-suited to the world of entrepreneurs.

But don’t just take our word for it.  We’ve highlighted several characteristics of successful entrepreneurs and explained how the particular skillset a mom brings to the table fits into each.

Highly Motivated:  Moms who want to reenter the workforce are usually highly motivated to do so.  They know the work it will take to balance their responsibilities to their children with the responsibility it takes to start a business … and they still want to do it.  They’ve learned to be highly efficient (getting a day’s worth of errands done in just two hours while the babysitter is watching the kids is not uncommon) and aren’t afraid to go after what they want (like  advocating for their child at the doctor’s office, in school, or during sporting events).

Flexible:  Mom’s show an innate ability to be flexible at home; switching gears at a moment’s notice.  For instance, how many times have you had the family packed up and ready to go to dinner when a child throws a wrench in things by throwing up, getting hurt or what have you?  Plans immediately change and somehow you are still able to tend to your child and fix dinner (in) for the family when you didn’t have any groceries in the house to begin with.  That’s flexibility and it’s something entrepreneurs need in order to deal with the inevitable ebbs and flows of a business start-up.

Masters at Multi-tasking:  Moms on the go are typically taking care of numerous tasks at the same time.  Whether helping their kids with homework while making dinner or scheduling a doctor’s apt while waiting for their child’s dance class to end, moms are known for wearing many hats and getting it done.  While some would argue that multi-tasking doesn’t allow you to focus 100% on any one thing, some level of multi-tasking is required as a mom and when starting a business.  You won’t always have the luxury, especially in the infancy of your business, of employing different people to handle specific jobs within your business.  You will be the person answering phones, making decisions, and packaging product in the beginning.  This won’t always be the case but knowing that you can handle multiple aspects of your business and still be productive is an invaluable skill to have.

Able to Delegate:  As a business grows, any entrepreneur will tell you that it is crucial to be able to delegate along the way.  Whether asking an employee to handle a small task or giving them ownership of a large piece of business, being able to delegate so you can free yourself up to focus on the bigger picture is critical.  Delegating is something moms find themselves doing every day as evidenced by “honey-do” lists, divvying up family chores, or “outsourcing” household help such as repairmen, plumbers, gardeners, etc.  They can step in as needed but know that stepping away is just as important.

Adept at Networking:  As we’ve talked about before, networking is one of the most important skills any entrepreneur can develop.  Networking opens you and your business up to endless possibilities and connects people and businesses in mutually beneficial ways.  This is a skill moms have nailed down to a science.   Moms network daily at the PTA, in mommy and me classes, and at after school activities.  Many are experienced at social networking and regularly visit sites like Pinterest and Facebook.  Moms are always connecting, exchanging information and helpful tips, and asking others for advice.  In this way, moms have populated their rolodexes with enough contacts to make the most successful businessmen envious.  Saying a mom knows how to network is like saying a fish knows how to swim.

Skilled Negotiators:  Many entrepreneurs could take a lesson or two from mom when it comes to the art of negotiation.  Those of you who have kids know that negotiating comes with the territory.  An example of mom’s superior negotiating skills might look something like this:

Child:  Mom, can I play video games?

Mom:  Sure.  As long as your room is clean and your homework is done.

Child:  But mom, my room is clean.

Mom:  And is your homework done?

Child:  No, but I fed the dog.

Mom:  And how is that homework coming?

Child:  It’s good.  I’m almost done.

Mom:  Can I check your work?

Child:  Sure.

Mom:  You only wrote your name on the paper.

Child:  I’ll finish after I complete the next level of Angry Birds.

Mom:  You’ll finish now or Angry Mom will put Angry Birds in permanent quarantine.

Child:  Got it.  Doing my homework immediately if not sooner.

 

Enough said.

Being a great mom and a successful business women do not have to be mutually exclusive.  Moms have a special gift for combining their dedication to family with their passion for business.  In the world of a mompreneur, creating balance and finding fulfillment is all in a day’s work.  To quote John Ruskin, “When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.”

We sat down with Bill Hasbrook of Boogie Wipes for a tutorial on setting up (and maintaining) your company’s technology systems.

BBM: How would a mompreneur go about finding the right tech person to help manage their new/small business technology needs?  What should they look for?

BH: First, I’d do a web search for small businesses in your area.  If you find a particular company’s website or technology to be of interest, many times there will be a contact listed on the site for a developer that consults for the business.  It’s best to try and find someone local that you can meet in person.  You can also ask around in your community for individuals that are passionate about technology, or you can post flyers at colleges.  Security is a big aspect of setting up appropriate technology systems.  Be sure you can trust any potential hires and make sure they understand how to keep your information secure.

BBM: Do you have any thoughts to share regarding the technology essentials a (consumer product) business NEEDS when starting up vs. what is simply NICE to have?

BH: The first plan of attack is usually to set up a web presence and an email address.  I recommend leaning toward online web servers that can provide both services in one package.  Google (www.google.com) has a combination of free services that can be invaluable to a small or start-up business.  You can set up a gmail account for free and use blogger (www.blogger.com) to start a web page.  For a bit more money, you can register a custom domain that will point to both accounts.   As your business grows, you can expand the services you require without needing to migrate to other systems.  Once you have set up a web presence it is important to expand into social networking sites that can help drive customers to your site and explore paid advertising and banner placement on targeted web blogs.

Today, it is not necessary to have a physical office location until your business truly dictates it.  Google offers free phone numbers and voice mail via Google Voice.  Or you can set up a full virtual office system using online services like Grasshopper (www.grasshopper.com) or Ringio (www.ringio.com).  You can even have an incoming fax number that scans and emails any incoming fax to your inbox.  With these services you can create an image of being a much larger business with very little cost up front.

If you are just getting started with a website and want to add a shopping cart so your customers can purchase directly from your company, you can start small and grow your systems as your company grows.  I recommend starting with PayPal (www.paypal.com) to set up your cart and take credit card information.  Customers feel safer using a name they have heard of and PayPal makes it very affordable to start taking orders immediately.  If you need to expand, start looking at shopping carts from other companies and note what service they are using.  The best recommendation you can have is seeing a system in use and liking the way it performs.

The last thought I have is to make sure you have your files backed up in real time.  There are many free services out there that will give you 5GB of free backup.  If your email is stored on an online service, it is automatically backed up.  However, you need to remember your other files.  I recommend services like IDrive (www.idrive.com), Mozy (www.mozy.com), Jungle Disk (www.jungledisk.com) and Carbonite (www.carbonite.com) to get you started.

BBM: What is the best way to determine when a company should upgrade (or expand) their tech systems (operating systems, email, etc.)?

BH: Technology should exist to make your life easier and more efficient.  If your current systems are becoming very labor intensive and you are missing out on opportunities due to outdated technology, it is time to look at upgrading.

BBM: What are the best ways to stay on top of new technology your company should be taking advantage of?

BH: I use Flipboard (www.flipboard.com) to keep on top of the most recent technology news.  It is a free app for any mobile device that automatically curates news feeds from around the world in real time.  It reads like a magazine and allows you to “flip” through articles fast and but then dig deeper into ones that interest you.

BBM: From an IT standpoint, do you have any favorite or can you recommend a few good technology resources companies should keep in their “back pocket”?

BH: Squarespace (www.squarespace.com).  It allows you to create a free website – even with a custom domain – quickly and elegantly.  Google services are top notch and very low cost … sometimes free. If you have a unique/niche market, it can be very affordable to start a Google AdWords (www.adwords.google.com) advertising campaign with target words that pertain to your product.

Remote access to all of your computers is important especially if you rely on outside technology help.  With services such as LogMeIn (www.logmein.com) or GoToMyPC (www.gotomypc.com), you don’t have to be physically sitting at a computer to get into it.  A few other resources I would recommend include:

• QuickBooks (www.quickbooks.com):  Affordable and easy to learn accounting software
• GoToMeeting (www.gotomeeting.com):  Great online meeting software that allows you to have virtual meeting and share your screen.
• Dropbox (www.dropbox.com): Great cloud storage and file sharing network
• Microsoft Security Essentials:  Good free virus protection for your computer.  I find it works just as well as many of the paid services
• Malwarebytes (www.malwarebytes.org):  Fantastic free malware scan tool that can remove most malware from your PC.

BBM: Where does the IT guy go when he needs tech support?

BH: Google or Bing (www.bing.com).  It is rare that I run into a tech problem that I cannot find a solution to via a web search.  Most times someone has put together a nice tutorial on how to solve the problem.  From search engines you will get results from specialty tech blogs where experts routinely discuss problems and solutions.

Granted the Apples and Amazons of the world are giants and have deep pockets.  They can afford to invest in superb customer service systems and training resulting in you feeling as though you’re dealing with a friendly mom-and-pop store around the corner.  But offering customers great service doesn’t have to cost a lot.  In fact, spending big on customer service doesn’t always equate to happier customers.  It certainly doesn’t hurt, but when it comes to doing right by the customer, following a few general guidelines will keep your customers coming back time and again and maybe even garner you a few new ones along the way.

Be an Active Listener. When is the last time you said to your kids, “I know you ‘hear’ me, but are you ‘listening’ to what I’m saying?”  It’s easy to “hear” your customer, but what they have to say shouldn’t just be considered background noise.  By listening to customer feedback, you can better gauge your business’ strengths and weaknesses.  What can you do more of?  Where are you falling short?  Give customers an easy way to provide feedback or make constructive comments that you can utilize to improve your business.

Validate the Customer. Whether your customer is praising your business and wants more of the same or complaining about a negative experience they had, validating their wants, needs, or concerns is critical.  Maybe you want to make a change to your business that is going to save you money, but your customer really likes that piece of the business as is.  Ideally you would try to develop a compromise that would maintain customer satisfaction while doing the fiscally responsible thing for the company.

On the flip side of the coin, you might have a customer that is having a negative experience with your company.  Perhaps it’s with an online transaction.  The problem may be that they have no idea how to follow online prompts or they may be technology-adverse.  Rather than fault them for what may seem like a classic case of technical incompetence, your first order of business is to make their experience better.  When they feel you’ve done everything you can to make the situation right, easier, or better, the customer is less likely to write your business off and they will feel better about doing business with you in the future.

Provide Rapid Response. Whether you are conducting business in person, over the phone, or online, your customer should know that when they contact your business, they will be assisted in whatever it is they are looking for.  There is nothing worse to a customer than being directed, transferred, or bumped to a different person, department, or site and never getting the help they needed in the first place.  Having a rapid response system in place to work with customers will go a long way in showing your customer you are invested in their experience with your company.

Anticipate Customer Needs. One thing Amazon does really well as an online retailer is knowing who their customers are and what they shop for.  If you want to purchase a garden hose through Amazon, they might suggest items – in addition to the hose – you might like or need such as spray nozzles.  They essentially assist you as you shop.  At Nordstrom, you might be buying a running shoe and the sales person will suggest a moisture-wicking sock to go with the shoe.  This type of suggestive selling is both helpful for the customer and your business.

Exceed Expectations. Over delivering on the expectations of a customer is always good business.  When a customer can walk away from a transaction or business dealing with your company – knowing they got what they came for and more – they will be more willing to do business with you in the future.  Take for instance return policies.  A customer might need to return a product to your store or another store where it is sold.  They might know it can be returned, but taking it a step further, they might not know:  how easy it was to do; that they might receive a coupon good toward their next purchase; that they will get cash back; they will receive an email or note from your business apologizing for the issue.  It’s the little things that can make a big difference when it comes to exceeding customer service expectations.

Offer Rewards. A great way to show your customer how much you appreciate their business is by offering them some type of reward for their loyalty.  Things like coupons, special offers, and free samples act as a thank you of sorts while also providing extra incentive for doing business with you.

Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk. For any company that is serious about customer service, it’s not enough to simply say you’re invested in customer service, you need to be invested.  This means constantly doing right by the customer at every level.  From your customer service agent all the way up to CEO, customers should know no matter who they are dealing with, they are going to be treated well.

Develop Employees. Taking the time to train employees is a vital aspect of great customer service.  By giving employees the tools they need to provide great service to your customers (product knowledge, a customer service playbook, etc.), you are empowering them to represent your company in a way that matters.  In addition, employees are more likely to care about your company and how it’s represented when they know they are being valued as well.  Listening to employee feedback, offering incentives, and rewarding them for their hard work are all ways of improving customer service by investing in the well-being of your employees.

Be Helpful Without Expecting a Profit. Regardless of whether you make a sale, being helpful and responsive to customer needs is a sure fire way to show customers you genuinely care about their experience you’re your business regardless of whether they are buying your product.

Follow Through and Follow-up. Lack of follow-through or follow-up can be a customer service killer.  Whether you promised to notify a customer when a product ships or you simply need get the answer to a question verified, taking the time to circle back with your customers just might be one of the most important customer service guidelines you can follow.  When you leave a customer hanging, that gives them all the reason they need to take their business elsewhere which isn’t good for your reputation or your business.

The power of great customer service is palpable in a business landscape where competition is fierce.  Make the investment.  Your customers and your business will thank you.

Transitioning from a great product idea to actually mass-producing a great product can be challenging at best. You know the product can be made because you developed a prototype. But that is just one unit and you might need hundreds of units on the conservative end to get your business off the ground. So, where do you start, where do you go, and how do you get there?
We’ve compiled the following tips and recommendations to help answer these questions and hopefully take some of the mystery out of finding the right manufacturer for your product.

First Thing’s First

To get your sourcing and manufacturing bearings, we recommend doing your research. Tap into online sites like www.alibaba.com, www.thomasnet.com, www.globalsources.com, and www.mfg.com; all are great resources to get you pointed in the right direction. You might also consider shopping the competition. Does your competitor have a reputation for producing quality products on a consistent basis? If so, then check out where they (or other businesses with similar product offerings) manufacture products.

When seeking manufacturers, it’s also important to put your networking skills into play. Don’t underestimate who you know or what you can learn from others who have been where you are. Regardless of their specific industry, they may have that critical piece of information you have been looking for.

You might also consider working with a third party who can provide you with sourcing and manufacturing recommendations. Open a line of communication with your local small business development center as they are a good place to get reputable referrals. Or, for a fee, you can go the route of a broker or middleman to do the sourcing work for you.
Regardless of whom you choose to talk with about manufacturing your product, make sure you have a signed non-disclosure agreement or NDA in hand for intellectual property protection.

Location, Location, Location

With your list of possible manufacturers now in hand, it’s time to start narrowing the field. Separate the companies by domestic and international and weigh the pros and cons of producing product by location.

You might choose to manufacture stateside if you are committed to having an American made company, have short lead times, and/or can afford the added expense (cost of labor or access to raw materials) of doing so. You might choose overseas manufacturing if you’ve found a company that specializes in the production of your product or similar products, if longer lead times are not a problem for you, or if your budget makes domestic manufacturing cost-ineffective. Keep in mind international production also comes with the added challenges of language barriers and cultural differences.

Your carbon footprint, customs fees, insurance costs and tariffs are also points to consider when making your final decision on which companies to go with.

Now What?

Once you’ve found the manufacturing facility that’s right for your product and business, being a good partner and staying on top of the manufacturing process is paramount.

Ask your production facility for third party audit information. Regardless of what you are producing, you will need to adhere to certain health and safety certifications. In foreign countries, having these done for social accountability and quality issues is critical.

Develop a checklist that you and your manufacturing partner can work with to ensure consistency and quality. The list might include how much, if any, of the shipment was defective, if it was packaged and delivered as promised, and whether deadlines were met, etc.

You will also need to be sure of your product specifications, how they will be measured, and be able to clearly communicate that information to your manufacturing partner. Having your own staff present on early production runs (vs. a manufacturing liaison) is a good idea to help the process run smoothly out of the gate. If you do encounter problems, you can use your first-hand knowledge of the run to develop a plan to rectify the situation.

Finding the right manufacturer can make all the difference when transitioning from prototype to full-fledged product production. This is definitely not an area where you can afford to take short-cuts; take the time to shop around so you can confidently check this box off your list.

So, in the spirit of awards season and in celebration of mompreneurs everywhere, we’d like to give a shout out to the following Boogietastic businesses that help make our jobs easier and more enjoyable.  We couldn’t do it without them!

Favorite place to work (outside the office): Starbucks (www.starbucks.com).  Between the coffee, Starbucks Rewards, Wi-Fi, and an unpretentious coffeehouse vibe, Starbucks is our pick for favorite place to bring your laptop for a change of atmosphere.

Favorite mom blogs right now:Never ones to take ourselves too seriously, we like to visit (www.cakewrecks.com) for the funny photos of real cakes and hilarious captions. (www.shitmykidsruined.com) is also a favorite for reminding us we’re not riding the mommy crazy train alone … Things could be worse!  Honorable mention goes to (www.mommyofamonster.com) for the genuinely funny and real writing and (www.skinnymom.com) for great tidbits on “fitness, food, fashion and family.”  Our Boogie Dads also recommend the GeekDad blog at (www.wired.com/geekdad)

Favorite cup of coffee when you need to get up and running:  The overwhelming winner here?  Anything you can make in a Keurig (www.keurig.com) – did someone say Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla?  You can’t beat a Keurig coffee for convenience, variety, and for making you feel like a real barista who can brew the perfect cup of joe.

Favorite workout when you need to blow off steam:  While “digging holes” makes the list of one Boogie Dad as a favorite way to de-stress after a long day at the office, it is Crossfit (www.crossfit.com) that takes home the gold statue here for its intensity and community.  Honorable mention goes to power yoga, running, walking the dog and jumping on the trampoline with our kids.

Favorite place to get current: Global media site Vice (www.vice.com) and curiously relevant blog BoingBoing (www.boingboing.net) are two places we like to visit to keep us on our toes.  Check them out and see what everyone’s talking about.  We also like the lower-tech option of visiting our local malls where there is always something new, trendy and colorful to see.

Favorite tradeshow regardless of your industry: We like Technology, Entertainment and Design or TED (www.ted.com) for its inspiring and powerfully relevant speakers, talks and information shared.  We also like the Consumer Electronics Show or CES (www.cesweb.org) for spotting consumer trends and getting hands-on with the latest gadgets.

Favorite airline for comfort and deals:  Alaska Airlines (www.alaskaair.com) and Delta Airlines (www.delta.com) are our picks for the get you there and get rewarded for it airlines.  We also like Virgin Atlantic (www.virgin-atlantic.com) for comfort and the deals on Southwest (www.southwest.com).  Honorable mention goes to Lufthansa (www.lufthansa.com) for destination travel.

Favorite hotel chain for business travel: It’s all about the points here.  Marriott Hotels (www.marriott.com), our clear winner, provide clean, comfortable, affordable room rates for your business travel.  When it’s time to travel for fun; cash in those points for special discounts, room upgrades, or bonus points/miles.  Marriott Rewards also translate into great merchandise offers.  Honorable mention goes to Embassy Suites (www.embassysuites.hilton.com).

Favorite cloud computing service:  We heart Dropbox (www.dropbox.com), one of the originators of cloud
Storage, and working with Basecamp (www.basecamp.com) for business.  Google Drive (www.drive.google.com) is a close second.

Favorite place to network:  Can you tell we’re a mom-friendly company?  Our favorite place to network day-to-day is the PTA (www.pta.org) and through our children’s activities.  That’s not to say we don’t love our social networking sites.  LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) is our top-of-mind right now for establishing new contacts or finding people with particular specialties.  We also like networking through Girl Develop It (www.girldevelopit.com) for our more technical needs.

Favorite social media outlet:  Not a huge surprise here … Facebook (www.facebook.com) was our number one pick but super awesome connect, share, follow and research site Pinterest (www.pinterest.com) was a close second.  Our dads also like Google+ (www.plus.google.com).

Do you have some business-related favorites to add?  Drop us a note on our Facebook page … We’d love to hear from you!

There are dozens of reasons for this love/hate relationship not the least of which is the fact that you love how social media gives your company inexpensive and broad visibility; but, you don’t love how it can open your business up to public criticism and other negative attention. Having said this, there are ways to embrace social media while avoiding many of the pitfalls associated with it – keeping your relationship on an even keel. We’ve compiled the following list of Do’s and Don’ts that should help you do just that.

Do: Take advantage of the exciting opportunities and various platforms social media offers. Develop a social media plan and let it evolve organically. Pick an area to start with (perhaps having a presence on FB) to get your feet wet and branch out from there.

Don’t: Blog, tweet and post (Facebook, Linkedln, Pinterest, Instagram) all day, every day. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Stick to your plan and be strategic about the information that is going out. Not to sound cliché, but it really is about quality over quantity.

Do: Include more than one area of business in your social media efforts. While it started out as a marketing tool, social media can also be used in other aspects of your business like Human Resources, Sales, or IT.

Don’t: Limit your social media transmissions to one-way communication – remind yourself that you’re not taking out an ad. Two-way communication is what makes social media unique and well … social.

Do: Have a dedicated person or group of people who are experienced and educated in the nuances of social media in charge of your company’s posts, tweets, etc. While social media is fairly easy to get the hang of, you need someone who can take the time to monitor and engage with followers. Not to mention you want someone who can be a consistent voice for your company.

Don’t: Start something you can’t finish. Once you’ve established yourself on the desired social media platforms, you need stay active on them. There is nothing interesting about static, outdated, or tired information so continue to interact, participate and stay relevant.

Do: Keep your business sites separate from your personal sites. Potential customers, clients, investors and partners don’t need to see what you were doing over the weekend or hear about your second cousin’s graduation from culinary school. There is good reason for not mixing business with pleasure.

Don’t: Slam the competition. Keep in mind that your competitors may be following your posts along with everyone else so keep the information you share appropriate for all audiences and on the up and up. Nothing positive happens from being negative.

Do: Use the feedback and comments you receive on social media as a way to improve your business. While everything should be viewed with a grain of salt, there is much to be learned, appreciated, and understood by connecting so directly with your followers.

Don’t: Let every negative comment frustrate you or get you down. Take the good with the bad and remember you can’t control what people say but you can respond strategically and quickly to inaccurate information.

Do: Engage in discussion, provide thought-provoking commentary, connect with followers, and have fun with social media.

Don’t: Engage in too much self-promotion.

Finding balance is the key to having a successful business relationship with social media. With a little planning, a little patience and some creative thinking, you can avoid many social media hardships and instead, drive business in a real and constructive way.

Industry tradeshows: Unique business opportunity and acute lesson in back and foot pain. But with tradeshows, you take the good with the bad and there is a lot of good to be had.

Generally speaking, tradeshows provide exceptional access and opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with some of the best and brightest in your industry. A little like speed-dating, you have a limited amount of time to catch the eye of the intended and communicate what you’re all about. And while not everyone you meet will be a match made in heaven, you will have accomplished at least one or more of the following: gained exposure, made a sale, sold an investor, received media attention, made a positive impression, solidified your credibility, or learned something.

A lot of work goes into developing and implementing a tradeshow strategy so we wanted to provide you with some things to think about as you establish what your tradeshow presence will look and feel like this year.

Start with the basics and that is researching, budgeting, and booking your space. Talk with others in your industry, go online, and research industry publications to find the right tradeshows for your business. Once you find the show(s) you’re interested in, reserve your space. Booth costs differ per show, location, size, etc. so keep that in mind when booking. Ideally, you’d like to be in a high traffic area but the space may be at a premium. If that’s the case, get a map of the event floor and pick the next best option (keeping in mind which companies you’ll be next to).

Taking your booking costs into account, you can then develop the rest of your budget. There is plenty to think about when budgeting including travel, staffing, freight, display development (whether it’s done in-house or via an outside firm), swag bags, etc. but don’t let it overwhelm you. Remember, you’re budgeting for the physical things which don’t take into account the non-physical benefits you attain by attending the show all together.

Next, make sure you have a well thought out goal and develop a plan around that. Is your goal to meet with X number of industry folks, X number of investors, and X number of press? Do you intend to headline a speaking opportunity, make an announcement, or perhaps engage in competitive research while there? Whatever your focus, having a goal will ensure everyone representing your business is moving in the same direction and communicating pre-determined key messages that might include what’s new, what’s fresh, and what’s relevant for your respective audiences. Whenever possible, set up key meetings ahead of the show to take some of the pressure off during the event when time is limited.

Optimize your show presence by doing as much prep work up front as you can. From staffing the booth right down to having office supplies on hand in the booth, dotting your i’s and crossing your t’s before the show even starts will ensure a smoother show experience. For instance, think about how you want your booth staffed (during peak as well as down times) so you have the right people available to talk with customers, press, or the general passerby. Include who you want at the show to take meetings outside the booth as well. Each person representing your company should be able to do a demo of your product on demand and communicate key messages flawlessly.

On the less official but undeniably important side of preparation is readying a shoebox-size supply box and making sure everyone in the booth knows where it is. This is the box that houses extra business cards, tape, scissors, pens, pencils, scratch paper, floor maps and/or schedules, and even breath mints. Chances are you will need one of these items at one point or another during the show and having them all in one place will save you time and frustration looking for them.

Promote your booth before and during the show to encourage foot traffic and create buzz. Consider creative mailers, emails, or Facebook teasers (live clocks or countdowns) that will get folks excited about your show presence. Aside from your product, what is new and different at your booth that will make it stand apart from all the other booths at the show? Do you have creative signage, giveaways, contests happening, or something new to announce? Try Tweeting or using other forms of social media while you’re at the show to direct attendees to your booth. Consider creating a Quick Response or QR code (those fancy square bar codes you can scan with your phone) to have at various locations around the show. Your code might provide further info on your product, your booth, where and when you might be speaking, and so on. Are you partnering with others attending the same tradeshow? If so, you can develop cross-promotional tactics to double your promotional impact.

One way to lighten your promotional load is to have an outside firm handle the creative heavy lifting. We like mom-operated Strategic Event Solutions for our marketing/promotions solutions. They can tear it up with their dedicated staff that specializes in consumer-driven events and tradeshows.

Pay attention to the “After” elements of any tradeshow and that includes after-hours networking and after the show is over follow-up. A great deal of networking happens at tradeshows as you might imagine but many networking opportunities exist after show hours at dinners, events, and show coordinated parties. While you may be exhausted after standing and speaking for hours, throwing in a little schmoozing at the end of the day can be quite beneficial. Don’t feel like you need to attend every function but do pick one or two to attend that make the most sense for your business.

When the show is over, the next phase of follow-up can begin. This follow-up should include debriefing internally on what worked, what didn’t and lessons learned. Externally, follow-up should consist of getting back to anyone who asked for further information at the event. Ask yourself, “Who do I owe what to and by when?”

Tradeshows really can be a fun and prosperous way of doing business even if you have to put up with aching feet for a few days. Remember, you can always treat yourself to a back massage and a pedicure when you get back home!

The beginning of every New Year tends to be a time of reflection; it makes us stop and think: How will this year be different or better than the last? Whether in your personal or professional life, wanting more, different or better is common and it doesn’t mean you have to be dissatisfied with the direction your life is moving. Asking ourselves these types of questions each year really is just a way for us take stock in our lives, reevaluate what we’re doing, where we’re going, and what can or will inspire us to live the life we want to live.

Without sounding too philosophical, finding what inspires us both in our daily lives and our professional ones allows us to grow, move, and create and keeps us from an ever stifled state of conformity (in our thoughts, ideas, and even our environment).

As you set out to find what inspires you this year, recognize that inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes and can hit you when you least expect it. Here are a few of our ideas for finding both personal and professional inspiration in 2013. What are yours?

Get out of your mind. Take a walk, exercise, clear your head, and try to get to a point where you can visualize a clean slate and go from there.

Rejuvenate and reflect. A little R and R goes a long way in allowing yourself to be inspired. If you take care of yourself, you are more apt to be open to new ways of thinking.

Check out TED (www.ted.com). No, we’re not talking about the Mark Wahlberg comedy about the talking teddy. We are talking about the Technology Entertainment and Design conference which brings together the world’s foremost thought leaders and doers to share their ideas. If you can’t attend in person, many of the TED speeches, talks, and lectures can be found online. Attendees have called it the “The ultimate brain spa” and with that kind of endorsement, there is sure to be something for everyone.

Join a forum, club or organization. The exchange of thoughts and ideas with other like-minded people can spark inspiration.

Teach, help or work with others. Tap into your area of expertise and your desire to do good and share it with others. Studies show this type of “do-gooding” has a positive effect on your health and inspires dignity, gratitude and overall happiness.

Let go of what’s not working. Getting rid of that extra baggage that doesn’t serve you well will free you up to focus on what matters.

Look to nature. Be mindful of the textures, designs or colors that appear naturally and be inspired.

Be a student. We tend to think that we are no longer students after we finish our formal education. But a person who is always learning and actively observing knows that life’s possibilities are endless.

Set a precedent. Don’t settle for status quo. As Ralph Waldo Emerson famously stated, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Who can argue with that logic?

Stay relevant. Particularly useful in business, staying relevant (by reading the news, listening to others in-the-know, embracing new technologies, etc.) will encourage you to try new things and keep your business fresh and well…inspired!

This is not to say all resolutions are doomed to fail however.  Research has shown that by making smaller, more attainable goals throughout the year, you will be more likely to achieve them.  So, with that mantra in mind, we’ve compiled a list of five business resolutions that are not only wholly achievable during the course of the year, but can be considerably beneficial to your business.

Set Goals

Whether personal, personnel, or strictly business oriented, goal setting is essential to your business.  Look back at the past year and determine what worked and what didn’t.  This will help you in adjusting current goals and setting new ones, keeping you and your business moving forward.  Be sure to set up these goals in three to six month chunks so they can easily be measured, amended as needed, and ultimately achieved.

Track Progress

Akin to goal setting, tracking your progress is of vital importance to your business.  Set up ways to track the goals that you have set to ensure those goals are being met and that everyone is moving in the same direction.  But be specific.  Don’t just measure your progress in sales when you have so many other aspects to your business that contribute to its overall health.  Each set of goals needs their own measure of progress.

Communicate Key Messages

What are the key messages you want to get out about your business?  How will you communicate the company/product/initiative’s main attributes both internally and externally?  These are the questions you want to be asking yourself throughout the year.  Make key messages firm but flexible.  If you communicate one thing in January and do a 180 on that message in July, you will lose credibility both internally and with your external audience.  So, reevaluating messaging frequently will ensure you are consistent and help you avoid messaging pitfalls.

Talk with a Tax Professional

Unless number crunching is your area of expertise, getting outside professional help with your business taxes may be some of your best money spent.  Doing taxes for a business is very different from doing personal taxes and a tax professional or advisor can offer financial information and advice, help you prepare your returns, and even translate into money for your business.

Get Your Head in the Cloud

Small and large businesses are embracing cloud computing either on a regular or project basis.  Commit to getting familiar with this progressive new storage and service form as there are several benefits for your business (albeit some risks).  By storing your company information in the “cloud,” employees with an internet connection can access data and documents remotely offering more flexibility.  Several companies offer cloud computing services that are cost effective, secure, and reliable and allow for new business opportunities, better use of resources and overall business agility.

What does that mean exactly?  It means companies today know the value of both corporate innovation as well as social innovation.  Renewable, sustainable, green, corporate matching and giving programs, aren’t just buzz words to these companies, they are ways of doing business that will help lead them to financial success.

When you think about companies that embody this type of corporate and social innovation, there are several standouts.  All of which are hugely successful and highly respected.  Toms, the shoe makers, whose “One for One” initiative gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for every one pair of shoes sold.  Vermont-based Seventh Generation’s mission is to create household and personal care products that are easy on human health and the environment.  Then there is Green Mountain Coffee whose aim is to create great tasting coffee that is “environmentally sound and socially just.”

There are several different reasons being socially responsible works for you and your business.  First, there is the obvious; knowing it’s the right thing to do and feeling good about the way you conduct your business will elevate you as a business person.  Less obvious is how your ability to stretch beyond what is expected within your particular business or industry will speak volumes.  How?  By garnering positive media attention and enhancing your company’s image, encouraging investors to take note, attracting manufacturers and suppliers, gaining the respect of the community and other businesses, and enticing the best employees.

Then there is the consumer.  Just like great customer service has folks coming back to your business time and again, so too will being a socially responsible company.  There has been a paradigm shift in how consumers view the products they buy.  They are getting savvier and are more interested in how products are made, where they come from, and the stories behind the products.  “Made in America” campaigns are great examples of this – during times of war and economic downturn, American consumers are drawn to products made in America.  At the end of the day, consumers want to feel good about what they are buying.

An important thing to note about being a socially responsible company is that it doesn’t have to cost you.  While many companies today build being socially responsible into their bottom line (i.e. corporate matching programs or giving campaigns), you can make being socially responsible work for you, however large or small your company.  For instance, you can donate old technology equipment (you are no longer using) to schools or other causes.  You can choose to use natural, green or sustainable components in your products or services.  You can involve employees and get ideas from them on how they’d like to be socially responsible.  Provide incentives for volunteering in their communities.  Are they passionate about a cause or interested in raising awareness for something in particular?  If so, find a creative way to work that in to personnel and/or business goals.

However you decide to do it, make social responsibility your responsibility and encourage others to do the same.  By doing so, there will be nowhere to go but up.