I Network, Therefore I Am

There are days when I long for an on/off switch in my brain.

There are days in which I wish to only plop down on the couch and watch television all day, or play video games, and not move a muscle.

There are days in which I would love to completely ignore my texts, emails and phone calls for just a short period of blissful silence.

However, I own a business. A successful one, and for that I am grateful; and with that comes the importance of staying close to those who can help and who have already helped.

I network, and I network constantly. I am an inveterate networker, and it is something that now is in my body, like a nasty case of the flu, which no medicine will cure, even if I desired such a thing.

People sometimes ask me, why I network so much, and why it is so important. The answer is a bit of a paradox because it is simple, yet complex.

The easy part to explain is that nothing beats face to face contact to describe who you are, what you are, and what you do.  Despite all the technology that we have, nothing beats a good, old fashioned handshake and conversation. Ask yourself, who would you want to do business with: someone you’ve never met, or someone that you’ve had one-on-one experience with?

The more complex part of networking involves the constant rush of attending parties, mixers, concerts, charity benefits, churches, mentorship meetings, etc.  There should be a certain strategy behind what events you attend in regards to business development, the client you hope to attract, and in some instances, location – an element that sometimes falls out of consideration. Driving all over town without a travel strategy in mind will only give you a case of road rage and a migraine when seeing gas prices after those frequent fill-ups.

So, remember, think before you network.

Cash vs. Conscience

If you are a business that prides itself on delivering quality goods, it’s important to remember that even when a potential client is throwing tons of cash to produce substandard work.

You know the drill – someone wants you to do something – and quick. They use lines such as “It’s only one time,” “Oh, no one is going to see it,” or “I’m not going to tell anyone YOU did it.”

If you hear anything like that, run and run far away. 

Why? The scenario will go like this:

Say you decide to help the client out and offer a service that is substandard and runs contrary to your modus operandi – they are begging, crying and whining so much you can’t stand it. Your instinct is telling you not to go ahead with it, but you do.

The product is ready and you cringe, and cringe a lot, waiting for you client to see it. They arrive and they say they everything is fine and they pay above the usual just to get what they need. However, what inevitably happens is that words gets out that you did it. People are perplexed. People are shocked. People start talking about the poor quality and rush job that your company just did. All that chatter gets back to you and you now have to defend your business’ reputation.

All for a few extra bucks.

Next time, when someone wants substandard work done at a steep price, consider the consequences.

Toot Your Own Horn…No One Else Will

As a small business owner, the primary concern is keeping the organization afloat and in the black. Receivables, payables,  invoices, estimates, cash register receipts, taxes, payroll and human resource concerns, etc. are always at the top of the list.

However, there is an interesting conundrum in that yes, one needs to take the most efficient steps business-wise, but how is anyone going to know what a great business you have in the first place if marketing your company is at the bottom of your priority list?

It’s a delicate balance – the blending of sound business practices with more “trivial” issues such as spreading the word about your enterprise – but alas, if you don’t publicize yourself and your business, who else will.

Here at AA Printing we have an employee who is always on Twitter, Blogger, Facebook and other social media websites doing research and reading in addition to their other front desk, administrative and clerical duties. The obsessive reading and social media watching is a skill well utilized as our company is publicized frequently through these tools – pictures and links are posted, ideas taken from them are given to me to approve or disapprove, and most importantly referrals are made and new business is drummed up – leading to positive cash flow and positive good will between our clients and us.

For the business owner who is uninformed about getting the word out in a positive manner, the key is to ask for help. There are many people available who are skilled in social media who will gladly answer any questions. If you know a teenager, young adult, a friend, or someone who enjoys social media, don’t be afraid – ASK FOR HELP. There's no shame in that!

Just a Programming Note

When it comes to printing, no design programs used for creating marketing materials are the same. The delineation between them has to do with the level of professionalism and creativity of the graphics designer in question.

As mentioned in earlier blog posts, the look and feel of your materials are crucial to creating an identifiable brand that reflects its image.

Some reference points to remember are simple ones. Graphics designers worth their salt use the Adobe suite of products such In Design and Creative Suite. These are the granddaddies of design, or as it used to be called “desktop publishing.” They allow for varies of fonts, shading layering, textures, shaping, whatever your heart desires, etc. The one caveat is that the cost of these programs can be high, ranging from a few hundred dollars to thousands!

If you need something quick, easy and dirty (how does that sound) people can always turn to the Microsoft products such as Word and PowerPoint. These programs are good for what could be considered the homegrown approach to design, for instance a neighborhood newsletter, small signs, letters, documents, etc. Cost varies, too, ranging in the hundreds of dollars.

Just remember, it is very important to decide which type of program you need so you can the best result for your marketing materials.

Choose Your Business Cards Carefully!

With an innumerable amount of fonts, sizes, styles, color and paper to choose from, selecting the perfect business card can turn into a massive headache.

To make the selection and design process a bit more trouble free consider certain things.

Business industry cards are usually quite conservative if the career field you are involved is a financial one. 

Banks, mortgage companies, accountants, insurance, financial planning, etc – usually designs are simple, but elegant with one or two colors used.  Education is another field in which cards are quite conservative, but perhaps the school’s mascot or slogan is featured for propriety’s sake and to brand the institution.

However, if you work in architecture, graphic design, etc, where the field is a bit more creative, you can be a tad adventurous with your card as long as the basics such as name, phone, company, web site and email are still legible and prominent.

When it comes to creativity and cards, usually it’s people such as artists, fashions designers, hair dressers, makeup artists, who can get a little crazy with their cards -- BUT if you don’t follow the rules of design there will be overkill on certain things. There are still rules for these types of cards!

Another crucial element in the design of your card concerns the paper you choose. Matte, glossy, linen, C1S (one side glossy, the other side you can write on it), are just a few types of card stock you can choose from.

 The choice is easy if you follow certain guidelines:

·         Conservative types use matte or linen finish to reflect the business. No glitz and glamour.

·         Artistic types can get away with a nice, glossy card with unusual color selections and fonts.

·         Beauty professionals can strut their stuff – wild prints, unusual but legible fonts, die cuts – all the better to show off your creativity.

      Just follow a few of these guidelines, and you will have the business card that projects the image you want to share with the world.

Keep it Classy, Not Cluttered

When designing a document, whether it is a magazine or something as simple as a business card, a graphic artist worth his salt will instinctively know the fine line between classy and cluttered. What we mean by that is with all the different types of fonts, spacing, clip art, word art and symbol possibilities, sometimes it’s not hard to want to use every trick in the book.

In other words, learn how to stop while you’re ahead. In the world of fashion, an adage that many style gurus follow is to put on an entire outfit, complete with jewelry and accessories take a look in the mirror – and then remove one or two things. In the end you’ll look polished.

The same rule can be applied to graphic design.

 Here are a few tips to follow:

Be Careful with Color

Just because you may think that orange and green look good together doesn't mean your client will. Many newbie graphic designers make the mistake of thinking that the more colorful the graphic is, the more attention it will receive. Big Mistake!

Be Careful with Fonts

The old saying "KISS - Keep it simple stupid" applies to this mistake that is often made when first starting out. Using too many fonts will give your design not only an amateur's appearance, but a much cluttered piece of work. 

Be Careful with Line and Letter Spacing

In getting the word out about whatever you are trying to promote, impulse may tell you to try to cram as much text as possible in a small space on the document. Be a great editor too and just stick to the “who, what, where, when, why and how.” Following that simple edict will help any document you design be easily understandable!

Follow those rules, and you’ll have a great document in no time!

So What Exactly Does a Notary Do?

In honor of the fact that AA Printing now provides notary service, we are offering a couple of pieces of information about what it entails in the state of Nevada.

According to the State of Nevada Notary Handbook, “A notary provides services ranging from taking acknowledgements, executing jurats, administering oaths, to certifying copies. They serve in law firms, title companies, banks, government offices and many other private businesses.”

People often think when they get something notarized, they are having certification that the document in question is legal.

NOPE.

When you visit a notary to have something notarized, what is being done is an acknowledgement that the signatures on the document are true!

Also, be prepared to bring proper identification and to sign the notary ledger. If you are unable to do both, then the notary, by law, is unable to assist you.

Expansion: Do It, and Do It Carefully

Usually when someone opens their own business, more than likely all their attention and devotion is put strictly toward that sole entity. Hiring employees, getting the word out, and eventually making money is the goal of any good entrepreneur.

Eventually, as a wave of success comes over that first business, sometimes, a business proprietor starts to think about other things, such as expansion. The premise sounds scary enough, but what if you want to bring more to the brand through a new location or services? It’s time to roll the dice.

However, when considering expansion – such as adding a new location, and/or new services, careful deliberation must occur in order to make sure you won’t jeopardize you’re the successful endeavor that already exists.

Here are some ideas:

·         You may also be in a better position to defend your business against price-cutting by your competitors. As you branch out to other markets, you may be able to sell more and increase your sales. Larger sales volume will allow you to offset lower per-unit profit.

·         If your competitors are increasing their operations, it may mean that they have seen new, untapped opportunities in the market. Your competitors may have stumbled upon a good idea. If this is the case, you can do two things: wait and see how the competitor does, or follow the competitor’s lead.

·         Before deciding, you need to study carefully the financial benefits of such an expansion, and whether your cash flow can support the additional investment. It is important to determine where and how you will get the money to pay for the additional inventory, new facilities or equipment. The ideal situation would be to expand only when you have already proven that demand exists for your products or services, as proven by your fat bottom line.

·         When you expand your business, you should be prepared to delegate responsibilities to others and be open to new ways of doing things. If you are previously working solo, you now have a new hat to wear: a personnel manager.

Remember the importance of taking numerous variables into consideration of expansion your business; and if you feel you are ready, go right ahead!

Dealing with the Difficult!

A successful business owner must give a lot of importance to clients; and his or her offering should reflect the client’s needs.

Each and every customer is important and a good business owner must satisfy the client’s needs with his service. It is imperative to know about the pros and cons of our service from the client’s feedback, and if need be, change the service and/or product. However, if a mistake occurs from the client’s side, offer constructive communication and explain things in a respectful way that enables them to recognize what they did wrong.

If the mistake is from the business owner’s side, he/she must rectify it so the customer stays. Acquiring and maintaining customer satisfaction is the real achievement of a business owner. If a customer is satisfied with your work, surely they will recommend you to their friends and relatives, which expand the business without the added cost of advertisements.

Business owners always need customer feedback to know about their views on the product and service. Most clients will give positive feedback if they are satisfied with the work. Undoubtedly, there are some customers who are impossible to satisfy even if they are given exactly what they want.  Regarding them, it’s best for to stay even tempered and appreciate the business – sometimes, the most “difficult” clients can be the best in terms of offering numerous referrals. “Difficult” clients usually recognize their behaviors and compensate by helping those who have put up with them, so to speak.

Stay classy, business owners!

Supply and Demand

Owning a business means many things including keeping the customers, supporters and clients happy, in addition to making sure the employees are paid on time.

However, who makes the owner happy and satisfied in a timely manner?

Hopefully it is your suppliers.

Yes, the people who make sure your credit card machine is running correctly; the server doesn't crash; the cash register updated; the phone lines up; the mail delivered, etc, etc. The question is, as a business owner, how do you maintain a relationship with your suppliers that are based on respect and prompt attention to each other’s needs?

Here are some ideas:

·         Solicit feedback from each so you both are working in tandem, correctly.

·         See situations from all points of view when in a possible dispute.

·         Develop action plans or mutually agreeable terms when entering or renewing contracts.

·         Let your supplier know as soon as possible if permanent changes need to be made to a service they provide.

·         If your supplier is doing a great job, let others know. They will appreciate it.

One the most important things that you as a business owner can recognize as a key to success is that everyone is pretty much seeking out the same things as you including building a great band and keeping it operational – and profitable.

 Work together to make it so!

Keeping a Team Intact

As a business owner, undoubtedly you have created a team of people who are different in many ways – personality, temperament, age, experience, knowledge, etc. And, there are days in which those differences come to a head in the workplace leading to disagreements and grumpiness, which can lead to a reduction in productivity and positivity.

How do you keep the team together in a healthy manner? Here are some examples:

·         Have an occasional “gripe fest:” Now, that doesn’t mean to hold a finger pointing festival in which team members start accusing each other of childish actions, but instead consider it an exercise in productive, collective venting. Are there certain behaviors that each member displays that drives opposing team members crazy? Talk about it in an encouraging and supportive manner and try to get to the root of the issue.

·         Participate in team building exercises: Sometimes it’s necessary to blow off some collective steam. The team (including the boss) has been cranking it out like a fine tuned machine; however it’s time for some fun. Go do something as a team one day after work. Go to a movie, go to a show, and then head to dinner. Break bread and have fun. Nourish the team spirit.

·         Remember to “accept the things I cannot change:” Do you have an employee that becomes sensitive, another employee who is a genius but a bit scattered, or one who is sometimes too smart for their own britches? They all have traits that you appreciate or you wouldn’t have hired them. Of course, it’s important to work on their skills, but remember; occasionally it takes a while for them to learn the new environment and people. They wouldn’t be a member of the team if you didn’t want them there.

And finally, always being part of a team means a lot of things – good, great and not so great. If everyone can just continue to remember the long term goal – everyone will be a winner!

How to Survive a Glitch at Work with Your Sanity in Tact

Just when you think everything is perfect at work – the clients are coming in droves, the cash register keeps going “ka-ching” and you are being requested for your services on a frequent basis, something happens.

It could be one of many possible technical glitches – the credit card machine won’t process, the cash register won’t open, your staff is bickering, the customers are grouchy and you’re grouchy too.

 So what are you going to about it? Well, first of all accept that by being the boss, things won’t go perfectly, every day. Sometimes people are not attuned to your way of doing things until a trial and error period (hopefully) settles down. It can take people days, weeks or even months whether we like it or not.

 As long as they are doing the job and learning a little bit more and more every day, things most likely will pan out.

Sometimes days are tense, some days are fun, some days are a combination of both. Integral to dealing with the hoopla is to take it one moment, one minute, one day at a time. We all have to acknowledge that each day is going to be different. No matter how we want or try to have the same things happen each day in a perfect order, it’s not going to happen.

So, let’s try to enjoy the ride – and perhaps a good eight hours of sleep is in order, too!

Building the Business from the Ground Up

             

 In the world of  small business, creating a lasting impression economically and fiscally can be a difficult proposition if you don’t have the right foundation.

That foundation begins with becoming a member of your local chamber of commerce. The importance of a chamber can’t be stressed enough when it comes to finding a support system to help building your business brand. Consider a chamber a clearing house on information and facts which will support your business in a legal, ethical and (hopefully) a profitable manner.

Membership in a chamber of commerce will offer guidance as to how to navigate legalities surrounding business ownership. Many business owners think they will have to go it alone in figuring out how to do everything by the book; in turn they become so overwhelmed their enthusiasm wanes for being an entrepreneur.

So when you are planning your dream of being a business owner make sure that you incorporate practical ideas such as seeking out the best support you can get – your local chamber of commerce!

Small Business Owners Beware of Billing Scams

Small Business Owners Beware of Billing Scams

3-D Printing…What in the World?

In the world of “traditional” printing – cards, brochures, flyers, magazines, are considered one dimensional because of their inherent “flatness.” Now with the advent of better pigments, more streamlined printing and the demand for more eye catching displays, a new trend is coming along in the printing industry…3D.

What is considered three dimensional printing?  Those cute birthday cards that cost $10 at Target, musical Valentine’s Day cards that cost a mint at Hallmark, scrapbooking kits at Michael’s…you know what we’re talking about.

So what is behind this increase in popularity of whimsical three dimensional printing? Well, a previous blog entry talked about die-cutting and how shapes can be cut out of all sorts of materials – leather, plastic, metal, fabric – which helps in the world of cutesy and cuddling printing, i.e. those greetings cards we can’t resist. However, there is a tool that has been created in recent years that has helped the three dimensional look expand into the home market…

The Cricut.

This machine can range in price from a couple of hundred of dollars to close to a grand; call it a die cutting machine for the home…however, it is transforming the printing business as more people can complete some of their own projects when they want and how they want. The Cricut utilizes interchangeable die cuts in an array of shapes and images, all you change is the material that is cut – the tool is helping craft interesting items at home.

Hardcore craft people know what this machine is!

However, for your larger, more intricate printing needs…don’t forget your neighborhood printer…like us!

Ways Entrepreneurs Can Recharge in 2013

Ways Entrepreneurs Can Recharge in 2013