By Karen Post, on September 14, 2010

http://vark.com/home

Aardvark is a way to find people, not web pages, that have specific information. Aardvark is a new kind of tool that lets you tap into the knowledge and experience of friends and friends-of-friends.

Send Aardvark a question (from the web, IM, email, Twitter, or iPhone) and you’ll get a quick, helpful response from someone with…

The right knowledge

Similar tastes

Friends in common

By Karen Post, on September 14, 2010

http://www.moneytrackin.com/

moneytrackin’ is a free online webapp that allows you to track all your expenses and income easily and without effort, thus allowing you to have a clear view of your financial situation. It intends to be a simple yet powerful online budget management tool.

Main features

• Control as many accounts/projects as you want
• Log all your transactions (expenses/income) and tag them to organize them better
• Keep informed of your financial situation at a glance, viewing at any time where your money goes
• Share tips with other users and take advantage of the community knowledge to save money
• Anonymity, we respect your privacy
• Sharing budgets and collaborative working of many people together on the same account
• Public API to allow the integration with third party applications

By Karen Post, on September 14, 2010

www.cashboard.com

Time tracking, expenses, invoicing, estimates, and online payments done your way. Cashboard does it all, and does it for free.

• Send PDF invoices, estimates, and receipts.
• Accept payments online – no more waiting for checks.
• Track expenses and re-bill them to your clients.
• Track billable and non-billable hours for yourself, your employees, and contractors.
• Kee p your clients in the loop and let them know where their money is being spent.
• Fully customize Cashboard’s appearance to look like your own project management and billing solution.
• Integrate smoothly with 37signals’ Basecamp
• No software to install, no money down,
• no long-term contracts to sign – ever.
• Free version
• $0 for life
• 1 Active Employee
• 1 Active Client per month
• 2 Active Projects
• Unlimited Estimates
• Brandable interface
• Bank-grade 128 bit SSL encryption

By Karen Post, on September 14, 2010

www.thebudket.com

Are you planning on growing your business? Are you tired of the spreadsheet chaos? Did you know that lack of cash flow analysis is often the reason for business ventures to fail?

Budket is an easy and affordable web-based financial planning and cash flow analysis tool. You can try it for free and start working in minutes.

By Karen Post, on September 14, 2010

http://www.freshbooks.com/

FreshBooks provides fast and simple invoicing and time tracking services that help you manage your business.

Secure, web based tool branded with your business name.

• Invite contractors to join your team and track time on projects. Receive their invoices all in one place. Logins for contractors and staff.
• Share documents with your staff and clients, set access levels to restrict who can see what.
• Create support tickets to help manage additional time spent with customers.
• Send invoices by the mail prepared by the FreshBooks team, just purchase stamp credits. Invoices are sent via first class business mail within one business day.
• Keep track of your expenses, for both projects and yourself. Easily re-bill clients on project expenses.
• iPhone app for remote use

Fresh Books has tons of add ons in the following categories:  mobile, time tracking, project management, accounting, expenses, CRM, forms and appointments, marketing,  eCommerce and POS, Google document sharing,  WebHooks,  payment gateway,  electronic signatures and customer support

FreshBooks has 5 different paid plan options and 1 free plan. The free plan has many bells and whistles, but you are limited to 3 clients but you can invoice them as much as you need. Also, emails sent from the system will have an added signature at the very bottom that reads: “Save time invoicing with FreshBooks (www.freshbooks.com)“.

By Karen Post, on September 10, 2010

I have always enjoyed cycling. I saw the movie Breaking Away as a child and wanted to be a bike racer. Those plans were deferred as I spend twenty plus years as a competitive equestrian which is an extremely time consuming pursuit. Recently, I traded in riding horses for riding bikes and it has become my new passion. This past Sunday, I rode in the Savannah Century (103 miles, to be exact). The course started over the Talmadge Bridge and went into South Carolina, then wound through rural southeast Georgia before heading back to downtown Savannah. The event was well organized, the weather was relatively mild for the southeast and the camaraderie was awesome. I did not ride as part of a team, so once I’d logged 30 miles and the crowd started to thin out, I had a large chunk of 5 plus hours on the bike to take in scenery and think. I learned a few things about cycling and myself and found that they are applicable to business.

1 ) Preparation is key. This is true of a Century, or any business event in life. I was a bit nervous at the start of the morning, because I had not logged as many training miles as I had hoped this summer. Our hot southern summer kept me off the road for a few days and other commitments chewed into my training schedule. However, I did have a good level of fitness and was able to perform well despite not sticking to my originally planned regimen. Sometimes, you can get by with less preparation than you would have liked. I did think about skipping the event, but I am glad I didn’t. So, even when you think you haven’t put in 100%, just go ahead and do it. If you come up short, you know how much you need to do next time.

2 ) Those that talk the most have the least to say. I sat quietly with my bike waiting for the SCMPD to close the bridge so that we could get on our way. I heard lots of people around me bragging about performances in other events and on training rides (long distances, high speeds). I thought I would be at the end of the pack and dropped by every group out there based on what I was hearing. Once we got out on the road, I saw several of the self-proclaimed speed demons drop back and even turn off the 103 mile course to ride the 37, 56 or 69 mile routes. The quietly confident riders performed the best.

3 ) Watch out for road hazards, and be polite and warn those around you. When riding in a large group, you have to watch out for things on the road and the other people around you, much like you would if you were driving a car. Stay focused. And, when you see something, tell those behind you, as someone ahead of you warned you.

4 ) You will encounter unexpected obstacles, and you’ll just have to find a way to get past them. As we approached a draw bridge with a metal grating, the entire group slowed down. The organizers of the event warned us that we should walk our bikes over the bridge if it had rained and the surface was wet. It was sunny and 90 degrees, so I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Perhaps people were just erring on the side of caution and walking across the rough surface. However, we were, in fact, slowing down to get past a 6 foot gator in the roadway. We had been warned about road conditions, but no one expected a gator to cross our path. We all slowed down and communicated to one another to slow down and to pass with care. The entire group (that I could see) got past the gator with no casualties.

5 ) Know your limits, but push through them. I knew I could not keep up with people traveling upwards of 25 mph, but I also knew that I could move out of a comfortable pace and challenge myself by keeping up with a group that rode slightly faster than I rode alone on training rides. At about 85 miles, with my bike computer temperature gague reading 107 degrees, I felt pretty tired, but I knew that after traveling that far, I could make it the last 15 miles.

6 ) Going it alone is tough. I did not ride from the start with a group, so I didn’t have anyone to work with to share the burden. I have a friend who is an elite cyclist and competes in events all over the world. He always says that after a big climb, he never wants to find himself riding in a flat valley to the next climb all by himself; it’s just tough, it’s much easier to have at least one rider to help keep a quick pace. I rode by myself for the first 40 or so miles until the my first stop at the third rest stop. I tend to enjoy working alone, but it is a challenge. I realized how much easier it was to ride in a paceline where one person pulls the group along for a while, then moves to the middle or back of the pack to recover while the others take turns leading.

7 ) There are nice people out there. I passed one particular group a couple of times, but working together, they always caught me. After the third time, one member of the group asked me if I’d like to join them as they rode by. I said, “Yes, thank you!” It was much easier to reach the end with a group willing to share the work. And, you find yourself pushing yourself harder when you are in front and want to help everyone along. I rode stronger and faster when I was in the group. Granted, this was not a competitive event, but I was really impressed and inspired by the camaraderie and helpfulness. People at the rest stops were helpful and people that rode by at faster paces would shout words of encouragement.

8 ) Be a productive member of the team. For a while in the first part of the ride, I found myself with a riding partner for about 8 miles or so. Over my left shoulder, I saw a shadow. I looked back often and saw that person constantly. He was drafting and by riding behind me he could ride faster with less effort. I gestured for him to move in front a few times, but he would not. It was irritating. So, if you are in a group, doesn’t matter if it is two or twenty two, don’t hang at the back letting everyone else pull you along. Pitch in. Even if you can’t stay in front for as long as some of the other members, get up there and do your best. If people see that you are doing your best to help, it will be appreciated.

9 ) You can do more than you think you can. Mind over matter is for real. At mile 87, we were departing the last rest stop and the sun had reemerged. I looked at the computer on my bike and it said the temperature was 107 degrees. I was hot and tired and when I went to the front of the group, I looked down and my pace was slowing. I thought I was done, but I found something in some reserve somewhere inside and I picked my pace back up and powered through the tiredness and burning quad muscles. My body really would have liked to have stopped, but the mind kept it going.

10 ) Finish lines feel good. As soon as the finish line was in sight, the pain, lactic acid and bad feelings melted away. It was amazing that the feelings of accomplishment and pride demolished the yucky ones. I was riding for personal reasons and proud of myself for finishing, but there was someone waiting for me at the finish line who was proud of me, too, and that made crossing the finish line that much sweeter. So, you always have to keep your eye on the prize while you are in the path to your goal. Finally, make time in your busy life to put time into building friendships and relationships. Having those people in your life to share in your victories make them that much more rewarding.

Don’t forget to view: Outdoor advertising – effective tool? Dangerous distraction?

By Karen Post, on September 10, 2010

All annoying,  all unnecessary, even if you work on commission.

My good buddy, international sales guru Jeffrey Gitomer said it best, “People don’t likes to be sold, but, they like to buy.”

You know who I’m talking about, it’s likely one of your relatives, I know it’s one of mine. They are always pushing food on me, try this, eat this, have some of this. The more I say “no thank you”, the more they push, the less I want it.

Does it make me want to try the food? Heck no. It aggravates me, same goes for pushy sales people.

I understand in tough times, we all want the sale, but instead of pushing, try pleasing, providing value and supplying pure helpfulness.

4 pleasurable ways to get customers to want your stuff instead of running from it.

1. Share a tip or secret about your product or someone else’s.
2. Send an unexpected handwritten note with a special offer, personalized and just for them.
3. Randomly offer a free trial or sample of a service or product with no strings attached.
4. Add a bonus gift to a small purchase.

By Karen Post, on September 8, 2010

Seemingly in every business category today, more businesses are being commoditized by the sheer abundance of choices customers have. It’s customers who decide who leads and who fails. How competition-proof is your business right now?

When customers have abundant choice, competition is always fierce. How do you differentiate your business in ways that matter to your customers? How do you command premium prices and greater profit margins when everyone else is discounting prices fighting to break even? More importantly, how do you, a creative entrepreneur, gain radical advantage over your would-be competitors in an ultra-competitive marketplace? I’m absolutely sure these questions swirl around in your head on a daily basis.

Here are six strategies that are fundamental to creating a competition-proof business– one that’s aligned to your greatest passions, talents, vision and life goals. For many entrepreneurs, (myself included) creating more value for people through creativity and innovation is a burning passion, and a fabulously cool way to travel through life’s journey.

Strategy One- As you think, so it becomes!
The seed of all great innovation is thought. If you fear your competitors, and believe their presence controls your success, they will. On the other hand, if you believe there is always an abundance of opportunity available for all, and your thinking is always in that inspired direction, opportunity will always be present for you.

Strategy Two- Do what matters to you and serves others!
What do you love? You must engage yourself in what you love–in what brings meaning and joy to your life. More importantly, what brings meaning and joy to you must serve the good of others as well. When you do this, you begin to realize there are no limits to your growth and success. You delight in asking yourself ” how far can I go?” Your business is the creative venue for this expression!

Strategy Three- Be different, and make a difference!
What do you stand for? To be competitive-proof, your business must be good–and different. Radically different! To radically differentiate your business from the slush pile of good, you must position your value proposition (what value and benefit you provide to people in need) within a deep and narrow focus. Your product/service must be highly specialized, and solve specific problems with better outcomes than people are currently experiencing.

Strategy Four -Provide more use value than you receive in cash value!
Here’s the source code for zero competition: whatever the amount of cash your customer pays you is always reciprocated with an experience of greater use value. Whenever customers perceive greater value in the (experience) use of a product or service than they paid in cash for it, they become raving, loyal customers, if not outright non-paid advocates of your business.

Strategy Five- Focus on your genius, delegate everything else!
The force multiplier in value creation and business growth begins when you elevate yourself to a place where all you focus on is opportunity to create value. Everything else is delegated (outsourced). Give yourself permission to allow the unique genius in you to run the show. Haven’t tapped into your genius yet? Here’s a clue: It feels so natural to you, you hardly give it any attention at all. You are so amazing at it, you don’t even sense it’s power to transform your current circumstances– and you have never been without it!

Strategy Six- Turn customers into your non-paid sales force!
To attract opportunity, create value for others first. The marketplace rewards those who earn and deserve, never because they desire or need business. It can’t be said enough–always make the customer successful first! When you do, your customer’s will be life-long ambassadors of your success.

When you develop the disciplined thinking and action required to implement these important strategies as a daily practice, you’ll be astonished at how fast your breakthroughs in growth will occur. It will be in quantum leaps rather than incremental spikes.

The reason is simple. When you free yourself to focus only on your most important activities, relationships and opportunities–increased revenue and profits are the natural result.

Thomson Dawson helps creative entrepreneurs and solo professionals gain more clarity and confidence to pursue their best opportunities for a bigger, better future. Get your FREE Guide to Building a Competition Proof Business: www.whitehotcenter.com

By Karen Post, on September 7, 2010

Does your brand need a face lift? Is your brand got a case of the brand blues? The deadline for Oddpodz first annual brand makeover is right around the corner. All entries must be submitted by September 30th. There is no cost to enter and the winning company or individual will receive a complete brand makeover including: a brand strategy, brand identity, touchpoint plan, news release blast and more. See details here.

By Karen Post, on September 5, 2010

Jump in your customer’s shoes today, and you can.

If you have a marketing role as an entrepreneur or a professional, you’d better be able to get in those customer shoes or you are in big trouble.

Today’s marketers of the most successful companies have a special skill.  Call it enterprising empathy—an astute ability to walk in the shoes of customers, see the world like they do, own their values and feel their most important needs, desires and pain.

This week, I’m in Aspen CO, a very elite mountain town and resort community. I’m staying at a several million dollar condo, surrounded by wealthy guests who sport everything from designer Prada garb, to Rolex bling, to Gap brand distressed jeans and no name flip flops. Nothing is inexpensive. There are masses of fit and attractive people every where and you experience an extreme attitude of quality and thoughtful service.

Businesses that do well here, even in the recent tough economic times understand the values of their market and know what makes them tick. They put on the Cole Haan and Jimmy Choo shoes, no matter how they personally see the world.

Is marketing to the affluent about entitlement, status, design, attention to detail? Or maybe a mix of all? Likely it depends on what they are selling to what affluent segment.

As a marketer or entrepreneur, especially if you are a successful one, it can be easy to put on the shoes that best represent and fit you. You are successful and affluent, you live a lux life, it’s a natural way to serve your customers the way you want to be treated.

But here’s the challenge, your customer or clients may be very different than you. They might be unemployed, have less disposable income, wouldn’t know great design, if it bit them in the butt or even be flat broke. They can also be older and have a very different set of values.

Yet many marketers and entrepreneurs try to push their values and preferences on their customers and wonder why sales are weak. DAAH!

Empathy is truly essential in effective marketing. Doing things just the way you like them can be the kiss of death, unless you are a mirror image of your customers, which often we are not.

On your next marketing challenge, try these strategies.

1) Loose all your beliefs
What matters is what your customer believes.

2) Don’t fall in love with your first idea.
First ideas often come from values you embrace.

3) Have an open mind to things that seem weird, stupid and crazy.
A Gen Yer views the planet, technology and TV advertising completely different than a 75-year old grandmother.

4) Shut up. Watch and listen to the target market.
Marketers tend to talk too much, often filling the heads of their research pools with their beliefs and then the market pool or research subjects will just agree with what you’ve thrown at them.  This will not produce gems of relevant marketing brilliance, but more of what you like.

When creating marketing plans for clients or your own business, think about what the buyer really wants and will respond to.  A Walmart fan may not even know who Frette is and most senior citizens are not digitally dominated. And don’t forget the importance of gender wiring. There is a huge gap in how women want their info and what men think and don’t think about.

For the most effective marketing ideas, jump into the buyers’ shoes. Leave your boots, heals and running shoes at home for your personal journey.