Two Years Later – I’ve Learned to "Mind" My Business!

It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since Sunny Belle opened its virtual doors to the world and started offering fun hand painted gifts for every occasion.  If that sounded like a tagline, it kinda' was.  I can’t help it.  For two years, I’ve been in cyber mode, learning so very much (but not nearly enough) about setting up websites, creating blogs, improving Facebook pages and learning how to make Twitter and even Pinterest work in my favor.  I am obsessed with making things look pretty, yet professional.  I may not have completely succeeded with all of my efforts, but I think I’m on the right track.

One of the most important things I’ve learned is to trust my instincts as a consumer – not a business owner – as to what works and what doesn’t.  I need to think like my customers and my followers to make them happy and keep them coming for more.

So in my limited time on the internet scene as a small business, here are a few things I’ve learned along the way… 

WEBSITES:

1.     Create a website that looks professional, but follows the theme of your business.   There is no bigger turnoff to me than a lackluster or unorganized website.  I will literally close it out if I don’t like the way it flows.  If your website is not as top notch as it could be, then one may assume (however unfair) that your business is not top notch either.  Your website is a first impression to the buying community.  Make it count.
2.      Pick a theme that will set the desired mood when viewers find you.  If it’s an upscale photography business, be serious and don’t litter your website with polka dots and cutesy fonts.  If it’s a quirky gift shop, bring on those polka dots and cutesy fonts and showcase your creativity.  Make sure your website is easy to navigate; don’t frustrate people by making them search three pages to figure out how to start perusing your products.  Also, if you don’t have a mobile version of your website, MAKE SURE YOUR BUTTONS ARE LARGE ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO NAVIGATE EASILY ON TABLETS AND SMARTPHONES!  Likewise, even on a desktop version, make sure all your tabs and links are large and easy to spot.

3.       If you know HTML and CSS, then by all means, knock yourself out and design your own website.  However, if you’re like me and would LOVE to know HTML and more about web design, but don’t have it down pat yet, do yourself a favor and purchase a template and hosting plan to get your business launched, and study how to design a website on the side.  If, in a year, you’ve learned enough to do it yourself, then take it from there.  There are many wonderful website templates and hosting companies out there that frequently run specials that allow you to start an online business without cashing in body parts.  My personal favorite hosting company is Bizzy Mama Hosting.

4.       Domains – For as little as $5 per year, they are cheap enough that you should jump on every version of your primary domain name.  If possible, grab the .com, .org, .net, .info, etc.  The more you have under your belt, the less chance of a look-alike domain stealing your thunder.

5.     Always be sure to add social buttons on your website. Encourage your viewers to follow you everywhere!

6.   Set up a "Testimonial" page to allow others to see rave reviews about your products or services.  Word of mouth is golden!

BLOGS:

1.       I am NO expert blogger.  Yet.  My blog is slooowly getting better, but I have LOTS to learn!  Design-wise, the good news is that many of your website template designers also offer blog packages to match your web theme.  There are also lots of online DIY blog courses out there that will give you tips on what works and what doesn’t, and tons of blogging books you can purchase that have a wealth of information on what attracts followers, etc.

2.     Choose a rather simple and aesthetically pleasing design.

3.     My favorite thing about a blog – the discovery of OTHER cool blogs!  I've found some of the most amazing blogs by clicking on the list of "blogs I follow" often featured on the sidebars of my favorite blogs.  If you love one blog, you tend to respect their choice of favorite blogs.  So line 'em up.  (Make sure to feature blogs that are similar to your taste and have a gazillion followers). I said "blog" eight times in that paragraph.  Now nine.

4.      Choose catchy blog post titles.  I have to work on that with mine, but I do find that a catchy title is what attracts me to other blogs.  For example, “Redesigning with Mirrors” is not nearly as much fun as “It’s All Smoke and Mirrors!” or “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall”.  If you're stuck, choose three titles and ask a friend or colleague to pick the best one.

5.   Give readers options for ways to follow.  Google Reader is my personal favorite way to have all of my blog posts delivered to me.

6.     Use lots of tags and labels in your posts.  That way our dear friend, Google, will find those followers for you!

FACEBOOK:

1.      DO NOT...  I repeat… DO NOT post a picture of an item for sale with no price.  There is nothing more annoying than having to dig around for the price on a different page or ask someone in a message or post how much the item is.  If it’s for sale, state the price up front. Period.  If I am in a brick and mortar store and I see an item with no price, I will literally pass it up in lieu of having to track down a sales clerk to find it.  Time is money and the price shouldn’t be a secret. (Ditto with garage sales. HA)


2.     Check out cool apps that will attract followers.  Woobox is amazing and they have great apps that allow you to add tabs like Pinterest, Twitter, etc.   You can also entice people to like your page with coupons!  Like our Facebook page and receive 15% off your next order!  (It worked for me!)  The more people can peruse your entire social profile, the more interested they are and the more they get to see what you’re about. (Yes, Rachael, I did end this sentence with a preposition.  Carry on…)

3.     To avoid having to post the exact same pictures of products on your Facebook page that you have on your website (and with hundreds of items, trust me that can become an onerous task), have a tab designed that will bring the follower directly to your shop.  They can peruse the pics there and it will make it easier for them to purchase!

4.      Always make sure to have your website information in your “About” section on your Facebook page.

5.      Make your profile and cover images reflect the theme of your business, and if at all possible, match your website design.

 
TWITTER:

1.       If you have a Twitter account for your business, link them to your Facebook page so that what you tweet gets posted on Facebook or vice versa.  The more exposure the better.

2.       Be creative and make sure your tweet packs punch.  Don’t think being limited to 140 characters is a bad thing.  You’d be surprised what you can accomplish in a single tweet. Post pics on Twitter; add links to your website to redirect your followers; add hash-tags in hopes that your tweets become wrapped up in a trend!  (See an earlier blog post that showcases an article recently written on hash-tags).  Good stuff, I tell ya!

PINTEREST

1.     Create a Pinterest board specifically for certain products; when you add a price, it now creates a price banner over that picture!  How cool is that?  I’m late in the game and I’m just discovering this little tidbit.

2.      Always make sure you credit your business (www.sunnybelle.com) in your pins and boards.  Not much point in showing off your product if they can’t figure out where to go to buy it, right?  And while we’re on the subject, remember pin etiquette and be sure to credit anyone whose picture you post.  Fair is fair.

3.       If you’re combining both personal and business on your Pinterest page, be mindful of the personal boards you post.  Sorry, but the fact of the matter is, people will decide what kind of business owner you are by viewing other things that you find pleasing.  If you’re a baby clothing store, you might not want to create a board on your favorite 50 foreign beers. Just saying.  Check out The Mom Creative for 10 tips on using Pinterest well. 

Well that is all I have today and let me add, I would LOVE suggestions on how to make my blog, my website, my Facebook and my Twitter page better for my followers.  So please feel free to contact me at crystal@sunnybelle.com if there’s something that’s driving you nuts or something you’d like to see added.  I hope this helped you "mind your business" just a tiny bit!  Until next time, happy surfing, posting, tweeting and pinning!

There's an App For That Too (Goal #2)

So goal #2 of our "resolution list" was to keep up with technology...

How many of you have been put in your place by a child about 20 years your junior with his declaration that “You’re doing it wrong”?  It started with programming the VCR and now the cockiness bleeds into so much more.  That's the fast track of technology, my friends.  I am amazed at how much my children know about iPods, iPads, androids and laptops.  Heck, my son is only 11 and he is learning how to set up servers for video games!  Really?  I don’t even know what that means or if I even said that correctly!  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t want to lose the edge that I used to have on those little stinkers.

Before I launch into my recommendations of websites and apps, I would like to throw out a disclaimer.  Your life should not be dictated or consumed by your phone, by your e-mail, or by YouTube for that matter.  For heaven’s sake, put the phone down and pay attention to your children and your significant other.  The latest drama with Honey Boo Boo or today’s coupon on Bargain Bee is simply NOT more important than your family's needs. Enjoy the luxuries that technology affords us, but don’t let it RUN your life or your household.

Having said that, let’s shift gears and talk about how utterly awesome and cool it is to have all of this innovative technology at our fingertips.  Most of us have incredibly busy schedules, right?  So why not use some apps and websites that make life just a tad easier for us?  I’m game. Keep in mind that I take advantage of LOTS of other websites that are just plain fabulous, but I’m trying to narrow it down to ones that can assist you in reducing stress in your everyday life.  Mmkay?  Mmkay.  Let’s check out my faves in each category.

Websites:

Houzz – Want inspiration for decorating rooms?  Look no further.  This website is as addictive as chocolate (well...)  Without naming names, I even have a male neighbor (a manly man) who recommended this website to me. “He had me at design”.  Just kidding, B.  On this website, you can create an account (for free, of course – that’s how I roll) and organize your favorite room designs in folders.  It’s like HGTV quadrupled.  It's a time sucker though, so beware!

  

Cozi – Speaking of time, this app allows you to grab all those family schedules and pull it into one database.  No more inadvertently scheduling a PTA function on the same night as Tommy’s soccer game.  Cozi keeps it all on one calendar and notifies you of upcoming events.  It allows you to color code for different family members and even has designated to-do lists and shopping lists that can be shared by all!  There’s even a corresponding app for Androids and iPhones so staying in sync and maintaining your schedules and lists on the go is a breeze. 

Mint – This is a great personal finance planner that allows you to download transactions from your bank accounts, categorize them automatically, and produce spending and income reports using cool colorful graphs.  Mint lets users track financial goals, such as getting out of debt, saving for the little stinkers’ college funds or buying that new car. There’s also a thermometer graphic on Mint’s dashboard that gives you an idea of how much you have to save and how long it will take you to get there. The thermometer even turns red if you’re slacking!

  

Family Fun – This website is so much fun and a must-have for every parent.  Anything from crafts, recipes and printables to a variety of learning games and even party planning.  This site is amazing!

DIY Network – Don’t build a thing without it.  Enough said.

Autotrader.com – Don’t spend your time going from website to website.  Auto Trader makes car buying much easier because it pulls from both dealers and private sellers within a specific distance.  You can even save your favorite cars when you create a free account!  Suhweet.

Shutterfly – Okay, I grieved with the rest of you when Kodak Gallery shut down.  But I’ve wiped my eyes and my snotty nose and realized fairly quickly that Shutterfly is equally as awesome!  “Plain Jane” prints used to be the only thing you could do back in the day.  Now you can put pictures on everything from a t-shirt to a postage stamp.  Shutterfly is great for greeting cards, photo books and slideshows too.  The possibilities are endless!

Sunny Belle – My favorite website! (grin) Looking for a unique gift?  Sunny Belle has hand-painted wine glasses, water goblets, beer mugs, plates and platters for every occasion!  Check us out today!

Apps:

Vlingo – Don’t text and drive; speak it instead.  This is basically the android version of Siri. You can give this app verbal commands which will trigger many actions.  Not foolproof, but worth the few seconds to download.

Barcode Scanner – Scan barcodes on products then look up prices and reviews. You can also scan Data Matrix and QR (quick response) Codes containing URLs, contact info, etc.  By the way, QR codes seem to be the hot thing these days.  They are great to use on fliers or even on the backs of business cards or in print ads.  Just the swipe of a barcode scanner gives the consumer a ton of info in a flash.  It’s easy to create QR codes at QR Code Maker.   Try it out for yourself!

Catch – This is great for jotting down all those notes you think about when you’re not in front of your computer.  To-do lists, random notes about anything, tasks, etc. can all be stored on this app and tagged so that you can round up notes by subject matter if necessary.  Another cool thing is that when I use Vlingo to say “Remind me to…” it opens Catch automatically because I chose that app as the default "note taker".  That’s pretty sweet.

Google Drive – I am in love with Google drive which is essentially a cloud server.  No more bringing a flash drive back and forth from one place to the next.  Important “stuff” just stays in the Google Drive and I can retrieve it from virtually anywhere.

Google Voice – Another must-have for small business owners.  First I registered online and obtained a specific phone number that I use specifically for Sunny Belle.   Then by adding the Google Voice app on my phone, I was able to adjust my settings so that when I receive a Sunny Belle call, it has a specific ID and the app discerns the difference and sends the caller to Sunny Belle’s voicemail as opposed to my personal voice mail.  It also allows me to place a call originating from the Sunny Belle phone number instead of my personal cell number.  I could not live without the Google Voice app and it totally eliminates the need for me to purchase a separate phone line for my business.

PayPal – I use it to buy anything and everything and Sunny Belle uses it to accept payments.  The great thing is I can transfer money from PayPal to my checking account while on the road.  Can’t beat that!  And the good news is that more and more merchants are allowing PayPal as a payment method.

Urbanspoon – This app is old as the hills but still a top freebie!  Simply punch in your location and the type of food you’re craving and voila – there are multiple suggestions.  Fun to play around with when you’re indecisive about where to dine.

  

 Fitness Pal – Free online calorie counting and diet plan app that allows you to easily track your meals and your progress.  Includes customizable fitness plans too.  It holds a database of hundreds, if not thousands, of different foods and their caloric counts.

I hope some of these suggestions play a part in making life just a tad more convenient for you.  Remember, don’t overdo it with technology to the point that your family doesn’t recognize your face, but don’t let a three-year-old show you up on his iPad either.  Keep up my friends and enjoy life while you’re at it!  Cheers!