Saturday, December 26, 2009

Preparing your small business for your vacation

Want to skip town so you can go home and visit with some family? Maybe you’re feeling a little burned out and need to get away from it all? Whatever the case, burgeoning entrepreneurs are just as entitled to vacation times as their counterparts who receive biweekly paycheques. However, small business owners have to make some more complex preparations ahead of time.

I’m speaking from my perspective as a freelance writer, though the same concepts should apply to other entrepreneurial professionals as well. This also goes with the assumption that you are largely a one-person operation, but adjustments can be made for slightly bigger companies too.

First, it is important to plan ahead if you are going to take more than a couple of days off. Keep project deadlines in mind so that you leave little, if anything, “on the table” while you are away. You don’t want to have that looming deadline in the back of your head as you try to relax with an umbrella drink on the beach. It’s fine to line up more work for when you return, but try to minimize any work that straddles on both sides of your holiday time.

Second, ensure that proper preparations are in place for the receipt of any letters or parcels that you may be expecting in the mail. See to it that there is someone there to receive them on your behalf. Better still, make use of a mail service, like the one offered by the Network Hub, to handle your shipping and receiving needs in your absence.

Third, you may want to inform your existing clients of your intentions. It would leave a bad impression if a client assumed that you were in the office, sending you an urgent email or giving you a call, only to feel that he or she is being ignored. A simple and straightforward “out of office” auto-reply message may be in order.

Coming back from your vacation, you can feel re-energized and more motivated than ever to get back on the job. You deserve some relaxation time.

About the author: http://michaelkwan.com" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Michael Kwan is a professional freelance writer based out of Vancouver, Canada. He can be found blogging at http://btr.michaelkwan.com" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Beyond the Rhetoric.

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Sunday, December 20, 2009

The easiest way to get client referrals

While it is certainly valuable to invest in other marketing techniques, one of the greatest sources for new customers and clients is through referrals. This word-of-mouth advertising is particularly impressive because it doesn’t have to cost you a penny, quite unlike the promotional tactics that you may employ in a local newspaper or in online advertising.

The challenge, of course, is finding the most effective of way of acquiring new client referrals. How do you convince other people to send new customers your way? Well, there is one strategy that is remarkably simple but is also very effective: just ask.

You’d be amazed by how well this works. Each time that you can complete a project with a new client, be sure to thank them for their business, but don’t be afraid to ask them if they know anyone else who may be interested in your services. If your new client had a positive experience with you, they should have no problem recommending you to their business associates.

The key is to be helpful, but not pushy. If the new client feels obligated to send more business your way, they probably will put you in an unfavorable light and thus lower your chances of getting another new client through a referral.

Don’t stop at just getting new referrals through your clients either. It is very well possible to use a “suggestive sell” on your existing clients. For example, let’s say that a freelance writer like me just finished writing an instructional manual for a new product. From there, the same freelance writer can offer to write the press release to announce the product.

You’ll never know what you can get unless you ask for it.

About the author: http://michaelkwan.com" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Michael Kwan is a professional freelance writer based out of Vancouver, Canada. He can be found blogging at http://btr.michaelkwan.com" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Beyond the Rhetoric.

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The infrastructure needed for a home business

There is a definite appeal to working from home. It means that you don’t have to fight rush hour traffic or put on your fancy three-piece suit, since the commute to the home office is a short and casual one. However, working at home is not without its shortcomings. For instance, it means that you’ll need to invest in the right infrastructure to have a functional home office.

Naturally, the infrastructure required for your home office will depend on your chosen industry, your specific role, and your own personal preferences and needs. There are a few items that are common for most work-from-home professionals and their costs must be considered before taking the leap into having a full home office.

At the very least, you need a reliable computer that is not shared with anyone else in the home. Whether you opt for a laptop or a desktop, a PC or a Mac, is completely up to you, but this computer must not be shared with other family members. The last thing you want is to be contacted by a client only to see your significant other playing World of Warcraft on your sole computer. It may be worthwhile to visit a coworking space at times to avoid these situations and distractions.

To go along with your computer, you will also need a reliable Internet connection. If the nature of your business requires greater bandwidth and faster speeds, investing in a faster Internet connection is a worthwhile expense. This not only includes the price of the service, but also the suitable modem and router to accommodate the added speed.

Other equipment may include a suitable printer, copier, scanner, and fax machine. This can be best achieved with a multifunction printer of some kind. Depending on your business, you may or may not need a dedicated landline telephone. Some home-based businesses rely solely on mobile phones or VoIP (like Skype). All of these needs can be met with shared office space, since the organization providing the coworking space will maintain this equipment for everyone.

The infrastructure can easily extend well beyond basic hardware too. Entrepreneurs are well-advised to invest in software for accounting, customer relationship management (CRM), tax reporting, and more. Don’t forget about the design and printing of business cards, company letterhead, and other related stationery products too, as well as accounts with shipping companies and other specialized services. Investing in a mail and fax service can be worthwhile, since someone else can receive deliveries on your behalf if you are absent.

There’s more to a home office than throwing an old desk in a spare bedroom. The infrastructure can be just as complex and robust as a conventional downtown office.

About the author: http://michaelkwan.com" target="_blank">Michael Kwan is a professional freelance writer based out of Vancouver, Canada. He can be found blogging at http://btr.michaelkwan.com" target="_blank">Beyond the Rhetoric.

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Britney Spears approach to small business

Well, we probably can’t give all the credit back to Miss Spears, but there are several lessons that small business owners can learn from Britney’s career. Entrepreneurs may more typically look up to people like Ted Turner, Donald Trump, and Steve Jobs, but there is still inspiration to be gained from looking at the success of pop stars too. Britney epitomizes this sentiment.

Never Down for the Count

Most of us probably remember Britney’s breakdown a few years back. She got into a bad relationship, shaved her head, and found more press in the tabloids than from the Billboard rankings.

However, with some good guidance and direction from her father, Britney has been able to get herself back on track and she has regained much of the success that she had lost. She’s rocketed back to the top of the charts, gone on tour to promote her new album, and she seems to be much more “together” than she has been.

In business, you’re going to get knocked down. Sometimes, it’ll be your fault and other times, it won’t. The key is having the ability to get back up time and time again.

Stick to What You Do Best

When coming up with a “comeback” for her career, Britney Spears (and her father) did not try to reinvent herself. She didn’t suddenly try to dabble too heavily in country, hip hop, or whatever was the current flavour of the day.

She’s a pop artist who sings “catchy” radio-friendly tunes. It was with this exact same genre that she managed to come back into the limelight. People didn’t want a “new” Britney; they wanted a more grown-up version of the “old” Britney (and it worked).

At the same time, she was able to capitalize on new technologies like Twitter to improve her chances at a successful comeback. Small businesses need to grow with the times, but the core product must remain true to the brand.

About the author: http://michaelkwan.com" target="_blank">Michael Kwan is a professional freelance writer based out of Vancouver, Canada. He can be found blogging at http://btr.michaelkwan.com" target="_blank">Beyond the Rhetoric.

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What business owners can learn from Jay Leno

For years, David Letterman and Jay Leno battled for ratings and market share in the lucrative 11:35pm late night television spot. However, Jay Leno announced in 2004 that he would be leaving the Tonight Show, passing the reins to Conan O’Brien.

However, it wasn’t like Jay Leno was going to retire and disappear into the sunset. He wanted to get back on television and he got his wish with the new Jay Leno Show at the 10pm time slot. What can business owners learn from such a move?

Stick with What You Do Best

Perhaps one of the biggest lessons that can be derived from this story is the value of work ethic and tenacity. Rather than disappear, Jay Leno continued to seek out opportunities to grow and to get himself back on television.

He also had a good grasp on his strengths, knowing that he would be best suited as a talk show host and not as a sitcom personality or a traditional news anchor. In business, know what you do best and work to build that skill set into something exceptional.

Be Loyal to Those Loyal to You

It didn’t take long after the announcement of Jay Leno’s departure from the Tonight Show that rumors sprung up about Jay moving to another network. It was a very real possibility that Leno could launch a new late night talk show with ABC or FOX, for example.

He may have entertained such offers, but Jay decided to stick with NBC in the end. This was the network that built his career and he had a certain loyalty to it. In like manner, business owners should remember to return the loyalty that they receive from customers, associates, and business partners. You don’t need to step on toes to climb the ladder.

Know the Importance of Branding

Jay Leno knew that he had established himself as a brand and this was nearly twenty years in the making. This, more so that his actual comedic ability, determined his long-term success. Entrepreneurs and new business owners need to learn a similar lesson.

About the author: http://michaelkwan.com" target="_blank">Michael Kwan is a professional freelance writer based out of Vancouver, Canada. He can be found blogging at http://btr.michaelkwan.com" target="_blank">Beyond the Rhetoric.

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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

My experience with event marketing

In the last 2.5 years, I have managed and promoted a lot of events, but for this particular post I will speak about the Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup.  I took over the role of organizer for http://www.meetup.com/vancouver-entrepreneurs-startup-vancouver-office-space/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup in June 2006. At that time we had about 200+ members, today we have about 2000+ members.   Our mission for http://www.meetup.com/vancouver-entrepreneurs-startup-vancouver-office-space/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup was the same as our mission for http://www.thenetworkhub.ca" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">The Network Hub – connect, create and collaborate.

When we first started, our first meetup (which took place in http://www.meetup.com/vancouver-entrepreneurs-startup-vancouver-office-space/calendar/5005808/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">July 2006) consisted of about 14 people. It was a seminar format and we relocated at SFU Harbour Centre because our office was just a couple of days behind on finishing construction (for those doing some calculation in their head, yes, we did open before Workspace).   Our very first guest speaker was http://www.pamelachatry.com/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Pamela Chatry and, bless her for taking a chance on me, she trusted me enough to come and share her wisdom with the group.  Getting the word out about the group was difficult; people hesitate to promote a group that is so new that they have not made up their mind about how they feel about it yet.  We posted on http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/cal/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Craigslist community events and posted on a few local event websites but it was all very random.  We gained a few members but they just joined to see what’s going on, they didn’t engage or RSVP to attend the event. But the people who were coming regularly were strong believers and supporters of the Meetup.

I am referring to loyal, long-timer supporters of Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup such as http://www.facebook.com/josh.ellwood" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Josh, http://www.addcoach4u.com/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Pete , http://www.sohosalescoaching.com/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Tom, Efrain, and Arash.  They were the tipping point of the Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup. They not only told their friends about it but they brought their friends.  Tools such as Craigslist, event websites and even Facebook group/event invites were just awareness tools; it was the people who were believers that made that extra push – from awareness to engagement.

We’ve tried many different things: tradeshows, posting online events, Craigslist, flyering, cross-promoting, building ambassadors. We put flyers in coffee shops, libraries, bars and cross-promoted with different entrepreneur clubs (this was our guerrilla marketing effort).  Do we use these tactics anymore?  Not as much, because Twitter, and now Facebook Fan Pages, do a better job assisting us.

Fast forward to this year, we had about 1800 members to start the year and we are now ending the year with about 2200 members.

What do we do today? We use Twitter and we cross promote with other organizations with similar interests.  Did we get lazier?  Yes! Have we gone outside? It’s not flyering weather. Jokes aside, Twitter works very much like flyering, as well as posting to online event websites, except that I can add the personal touch by directly connecting with persons of interest and inviting them to events.  Vice versa with organizations, I can personally tweet them about the upcoming events and invite them out.  But the #1 reason why we are able to sit back a bit more and why the Meetup was able to gain the membership we have up to date? The PEOPLE who are our ambassadors!

If you offer value to people and they deem it useful to their lives, they cannot help but talk about you.  Remember, don’t get lost in the tools.  Social media is not so different from ads in newspaper or television advertising: just because you are shown on TV or is retweeted it does NOT mean that you will gain an ambassador who will go out of their way to tell their friends, invite their friends and get their friends to engage with your event/product/service.

Once you gain an ambassador, do everything in your power to fulfill and exceed their expectations.  Rain or shine, Meetup will always take place on the third Thursday of every month (with exception of summer when networking in a room full of people can get too hot).  Every guest speaker is vetted, and once in a while, I like to mix things up to keep the event fresh such as Meetup of Meetups or a mini tradeshow.  Sometimes I make mistakes: the speaker isn’t as prepared or the topic isn’t as interesting, but that’s ok because my ambassadors will let their new friends know that next month will be even better.  These kind of conversations and support can hardly take place on a platform that only provides 140 characters nor can they be done with a “like” button.

I hope this helps you think about your social media/guerrilla marketing strategies. Feel free to ask me any questions you need using the comments below.  On a side note, follow us on http://www.twitter.com/thenetworkhub" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Twitter and be a http://www.facebook.com/thenetworkhub" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(38, 62, 84);" target="_blank">Facebook Fan if you are interested in great networking opportunities and interesting workshops geared for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

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Monday, December 7, 2009

Should you have set business hours

When you run a brick and mortar business like a coffee shop or a grocery store, it goes without saying that you likely have set business hours. These hours are typically posted on the door and customers know exactly when they can expect you to be available.

What happens, then, if your business is primarily online or you operate on a “by appointment only” basis? The assumption that many people seem to have about freelancers and other similar professionals is that they are always “on the clock” and, as such, they are always available to be contacted by current and prospective clients.

There are certainly both advantages and disadvantages to setting standard business hours for situations like this. By having set business hours, it is much easier to achieve a healthy life-work balance, because it is much easier to leave work at work and home at home. This balance can be further enhanced by renting office space outside the home, rather than working out of a spare bedroom. To some, set business hours can also help to legitimize your company.

On the flip side, doing away with conventional business hours can also have its perks. One of the more popular reasons why some people choose entrepreneurship in the first place is the ability to have a more flexible work schedule. Set business hours can feel restrictive by comparison.

Having a more open schedule may mean that you may have greater opportunities to capture a potential sale, both at 3am and 3pm. On the other hand, clients may expect near-instant email responses at any hour of the day and they may even call you during what you consider personal time. The lines blur considerably.

In the end, it is largely a personal decision whether or not you should have set business hours. The best way to find out would be to give both configurations a try, seeing which you favor more.

About the author: http://michaelkwan.com" target="_blank">Michael Kwan is a professional freelance writer based out of Vancouver, Canada. He can be found blogging at http://btr.michaelkwan.com" target="_blank">Beyond the Rhetoric.

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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

But will it make money


I was watching an episode of Dragons’ Den on CBC the other day when one of the venture capitalists brought up a seemingly obvious point that is oftentimes overlooked by entrepreneurs.

For those of you who are not as familiar with the show, Dragons’ Den allows entrepreneurs and small business owners to pitch their ideas to a number of investors. The hope is that the venture capitalists will be willing to invest in their companies for a percentage share of the company’s ownership. We see everything from iPod sleeves to barbecue sauces on this show.

In the episode that I saw, one of the entrepreneurs presented her idea for a dog fancier’s trade show and carnival. She said that she had already successfully hosted a number of these shows and that she was ready to take it to the next level. As it stood, the show had free admission, was small scale, and under-charged the advertising vendors like Purina and Iams.

The budding entrepreneur said that the next step would include larger indoor venues, charged admission rates, and an expansion of the concept with merchandise sales, among other ideas. The venture capitalists questioned the profitability of such a show, saying that while it may be popular with free admission, it is unproven as a money-making business.

It’s easy for entrepreneurs to lose sight of the end goal. They can get caught up in the enthusiasm of the idea without paying enough attention to whether or not the business can make money. Nowhere is this more prevalent than with web-based businesses. Twitter and Facebook are hugely popular, for example, but they’re far from being immensely profitable.

For your business to succeed, it needs more than just popularity; it needs to be economically sound and it needs to financially viable.

About the author: http://michaelkwan.com" target="_blank">Michael Kwan is a professional freelance writer based out of Vancouver, Canada. He can be found blogging at http://btr.michaelkwan.com" target="_blank">Beyond the Rhetoric.

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Monday, November 16, 2009

The importance of mentoring in a coworking space

While many people may think that coworking is merely working on your own projects while sitting around other entrepreneurs and sharing a workspace, there are many additional benefits to coworking. In previous posts I have mused about the importance of sharing library resources, and even having a coffee break and hanging out with other entrepreneurs at the office.

Depending on the type of coworking space you have, you may or may not have mentorship activities built within. In the case of The Network Hub, entrepreneurs not only have a shared space and the resources to build their business (wireless, physical mailbox, etc.) They can also benefit from mentorship activities.

My own experience as a coworker at The Network Hub has been strongly enhanced by the fact that I have regular meetings with Minna Van, one of the co-owners of this coworking space. We meet about once a week, and we talk about our business. We discuss how things are going, in terms of how we use the time, particular challenges, and all the while, respecting the privacy and anonymity of our clients.

Having these mentoring meetings is definitely one of the best benefits of a launch pad like The Network Hub. While not every coworking space is modeled this way, even if the formal element of mentorship is not incorporated, it’s always good to have at least informal gatherings of entrepreneurs where they can share concerns, ideas, thoughts and challenges. It’s good to have a support group!

Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega is a Vancouver-based researcher, educator and consultant in the environmental public policy field. He conducts research in water governance, urban sustainability, comparative environmental policy and economic geography. Dr. Pacheco-Vega’s consulting studio has a home at The Network Hub.

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Shared caffeine? Coworking and community building around coffee breaks

Caffeine is a great resource for anybody who needs to wake up in the morning and do work. Personally, I like my coffee strong, black, without cream nor sugar. And more importantly, I like having my coffee surrounded by people. I find that great ideas start to float in my head whenever I am having a coffee break.

But I always wondered if this could be a central element around which coworkers could grow community. A few weeks ago, I asked the members of the Coworking Google Groups whether they thought that having a shared coffee maker would help build community around a coffee break. I got a few responses back, everyone agreeing that it was a good idea.

The thing that really struck me was this thought from Alex Hillman, the co-founder of Indy Hall and widely respected as one of the early builders of the coworking movement. Alex replied to my email saying, amongst other things:

I wouldn’t dismiss the coffee pot (or a water cool) as a social/community building tool so quickly. Having community “places” within the office, no matter how small, provide a reason for someone to get up from their desk and bump into/converse with someone.

For a few months now, at The Network Hub, we’ve begun to share our coffee breaks as we now have a brand new, sleek and stylish coffee maker (espresso/drip) at the office. I named it “Monique” in honor of a dear friend of mine and a fellow entrepreneur, Monique Trottier. Monique Trottier is a wonderful, brilliant entrepreneur, who also has a fantastic sense of style. Since Monique (the coffee maker) is also sleek and beautiful, I thought the name was appropriate. And yes, I think that sharing coffee breaks has in a way helped continue growing the relationship between the community of entrepreneurs at The Network Hub.

Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega is a Vancouver-based researcher, educator and consultant in the environmental public policy field. He conducts research in water governance, urban sustainability, comparative environmental policy and economic geography. Dr. Pacheco-Vega’s consulting studio has a home at The Network Hub.

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Sunday, October 25, 2009

Before you launch; things to consider before opening a business

For years I’ve worked with entrepreneurs as they go from bright idea to start-up business. Some people agonize over whether or not to launch. Others become reluctant entrepreneurs by inheriting a business or due to the sudden need for additional income. The decision to open a business can be complex both personally and professionally and for this reason the pre-start-up issues occupy a great deal of time in my introductory workshops. Start by asking yourself some questions. First, why are you starting this business? Is this an outgrowth of another career, do you have the “better mouse trap” the world is waiting for, or are you seeking a new stream of income?

Before opening a business there’s a lot of homework to be done. You need to thoroughly research your industry and your competition. After you launch is the wrong time to find out you don’t know who your target market is. Whether or not you plan to seek outside funding, your financial house should be in order as well. Your business plan should include a realistic view of projected cash flow and you need a good understanding of the responsible use of credit.

Do a personal assessment of your skills and talents. How are you going to fill in the gaps in your skill set? Most successful entrepreneurs have team around them to provide the specialized knowledge and abilities outside their core business talent. You will have to budget for and pay for some of these experts to do things like set-up your books or file your taxes. What’s your business model? Some businesses require you maintain an office, while others can be operated totally online. Are you looking at renting a storefront or will virtual office space be smarter? Location and communication methods are dependent upon knowing your market and how and where they shop.

The self-employed are some of the happiest people around. But like any major life decision you need to think carefully before taking the path of entrepreneurship. Consider how running a business will fit into your life and how you will pay bills during the start-up phase.

About the author: “Karen Southall Watts 

has been training and coaching entrepreneurs for over a decade. She teaches business courses for Bellingham Technical College.”

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The magic of word-of-mouth marketing

People are funny. No matter how smart or logical we consider ourselves we still prefer to buy products and services from those we feel we know and trust. This is true even if we “know” them by association only. This desire to do business with people we feel a connection to is the foundation of word-of-mouth marketing. A referral or recommendation is a powerful thing. When someone recommends a business to us we assume they have already vetted the business and it passed the test.

Once you understand how important word-of-mouth marketing can be you must beware of what I call the “angry customer rule”.  It turns out that customers who feel cheated or feel they received low quality goods or services are far more eager to talk about their experiences than satisfied customers. Call it human nature, but we just don’t seem to be able to resist sharing our bad business war stories with anyone and everyone who will listen. Getting happy customers to talk up your business is a bit more difficult, and we all know it. This is the reason a recommendation carries so much weight.  So what can you do to encourage customers to share their delight in your business?

  • Ask your customers to refer people to you—thank them EVERY time they provide you with a lead
  • Follow up on leads in a timely manner—don’t make people wait for your call for days and days
  • Be responsive to your customers’ comments and concerns—show willingness for constant improvement
  • Provide referrals to others freely—word-of-mouth marketing is based on relationships and you need to do your share

Whether you call it generating buzz or turning customers into fans, word-of-mouth marketing is an essential part of your marketing mix. Recommendations are golden. 

About the author: “Karen Southall Watts has been training and coaching entrepreneurs for over a decade. She teaches business courses for Bellingham Technical College.”

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Friday, October 16, 2009

Networking your way to success


John Donne famously said, “No man is an island”. When it comes to entrepreneurs this statement is absolutely true. Business involves exchanges of goods or services for money (or other goods and services in the case of bartering) and is based upon relationships. To do business you must connect, and the best way to connect is through networking. Just putting up a website or printing business cards is no more effective than putting a sign in the front yard. Networking puts a face on your brand. Your contacts will become your customers, clients and sources of referrals. Without them you are trying to function in isolation—making yourself a business island.

Ideally your networking will include a good mix of formal networking, informal and one-to-one networking and social networking through technology. By blending the approaches you can increase your chances of success. For example, formal networking events like the Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup give you access to a group of professionals who arrive ready and willing to network. They are there to share and listen and are super receptive. One-on-one meetings give you the chance to get more in depth with your contacts and to really delve into how you can create win-win opportunities. When possible try to schedule at least one of these during your formal event. In other words leave the Meetup with more than a handful of cards. Finally be sure to add technology based options to your networking blend. Social media sites allow you to exchange information with and connect with people from all over the world. You can stay in touch ‘round the clock and provide up to the minute updates on your newest projects and products.

People can’t engage you for projects or buy your products if they don’t know anything about you. Networking skills are what set the successful apart from the entrepreneurs who struggle.

About the author: “Karen Southall Watts has been training and coaching entrepreneurs for over a decade. She teaches business courses for Bellingham Technical College.”

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Monday, October 12, 2009

Who’s afraid of networking?

Life is about connections. Business doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it happens between people. Networking is a key function in almost every business and career, so what keeps us from doing it? Perhaps it’s our lack of understanding of the networking process. Or maybe it’s our fears, many unfounded, about doing it just right. Here are some of the most common stumbling blocks to networking

  • It’s a waste of my time—it is hard for me to believe, but there are still some people who don’t see the value of networking. After over a decade of teaching and coaching entrepreneurs I still have to point out that personal brilliance or product novelty is simply not enough to create success.
  • I won’t have anything to say—that’s okay, because some of the best networkers are great listeners. Real connections are made through conversations and not through elevator speeches.
  • Everyone there will be trying to sell me something—how do you know that? There are lots of reasons for networking and one of the best is creating your “team”. Networking helps business owners to find that perfect accountant, real estate agent, or PR expert. Think of all the people who are shopping and not selling and you’ll feel more confident.
  • I’m too shy—you don’t have to be “the life of the party” to be a good networker. There are no rules that state you need to meet everyone in the room or be the last to leave either. That’s the great thing about networking; it’s about building relationships and not sticking to a rule book. Focus on meeting a couple of people at each event and really connecting.

 About the author: “Karen Southall Watts has been training and coaching entrepreneurs for over a decade. She teaches business courses for Bellingham Technical College.”

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What’s so great about The Network Hub?

What’s so great about The Network Hub?   This is the question I was asking myself as I headed out to attend my first Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup there this fall.

True to the internet photos, this Vancouver office space features wood floors, brick walls and the funky and upscale look so favored by young and trendy entrepreneurs. Beautiful spaces aside, are there any advantages to getting your Vancouver office space through The Network Hub?  Yes, and they aren’t all immediately visible.

The team runs a tight ship and thoroughly interviews every new tenant. Because they limits the group to one entrepreneur per industry, tenants immediately get the same advantages they might find in a formalized networking or leads group. Cooperation and collaboration abound as group members not only share office space but ideas. The downtown location near public transit and the vital areas of Vancouver is just a surface advantage. Vancouver office space at The Network Hub comes with all you might expect; shared reception, mailing address for your business and available meeting rooms.

However, The Hub team makes sure tenants get so much more. They reap the benefits of the team’s due diligence and hard work. They have the advantage of an economical Vancouver office space that comes with a dynamic and inspiring group of peers.

About the author: “Karen Southall Watts has been training and coaching entrepreneurs for over a decade. She teaches business courses for Bellingham Technical College.”

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Friday, October 2, 2009

An Entrepreneur Interview with Brian Wong from Follow Formation

Some of the best people I have met are through random introductions. Brian Wong was introduced through a mutual acquaintance of mine and after five minutes of meeting, I was completely fascinated by his endless amount of energy, enthusiasm and all of that on two hours of sleep. Even more fascinating is the company he has started with his co-founders and what they are up to right now. Followformation is a media darling at the moment as they are the start-up company from Vancouver that is making big waves in the social media world. If you don’t believe me, at the end of the interview there is a list of the press coverage they have garnered so far!


1. Tell us what you do.
Right now, I’m the co-founder of Aer Marketing Inc., an online start-up. We are the dudes behind Followformation.  I am responsible for the ideation, the design concepts behind all our work, and business development (i.e. full-time networking) + anything else that needs to be done.


2. You just finished university, how did you find the time to run Aer Marketing and also start Follow Formation while dealing with exams plus an internship with 1-800-got-junk?
I tell people I practice polyphasic sleeping, but the real truth is just that I sleep very little. I would my manage my time by following what Tim Ferris would call a low-information diet, while separating certain parts of my day for certain things. Followformation was started during the summer, so it was a little less stressful then. But near the end of my last term at university I was working my internship during the mornings and early afternoons Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, going to classes in the remaining time during the day, and allocating “aertime” every evening between play-time and dinner to work on our projects.


3. What was the most challenging aspect of being a young entrepreneur from your perspective?
Young and old, I think the hardest challenge is to “keep trucking” – there are always things that get in your way, and every day, it’s a battle. All I know is that this work has empowered me as a youth to go out and learn new things and meet and work with amazing people – things I would not have been able to experience had I thrown myself at a yawn-worthy line of work.


4. You have had a ton of press lately from the Georgia Straight to the highly sought after Mashable.com, what was the biggest reason for your success with getting press for your company?
Mashable was a complete fluke, but I took it upon myself to leverage that buzz. I have been up very early every morning since then hitting journalists on their blackberry’s and iPhones right before they hit the office. I’m actually pretty bad at it though. The other big reason is, and I hear this a lot – if your idea or concept at its core is not sticky or buzz-worthy, pushing it can only go so far. I think all the blog posts and tweets are a good litmus test for that.


5. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself regarding your business?
Don’t assume that everyone’s on the same page even when they’ve nodded their heads.


North America Press Coverage

Mashable: http://mashable.com/2009/07/14/followformation/
Fast Company: http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/chris-dannen/techwatch/super-charge-your-twittering-followformation
The Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-11216-Twitter-Examiner~y2009m7d16-Alltop-model-for-Twitter-from-Followformation
Killer Startups: http://www.killerstartups.com/Web-App-Tools/followformation-com-make-following-make-sense
InventorSpot: http://inventorspot.com/articles/migrate_followformation_30351
Blogger Institute: http://www.bloggerinstitute.com/2009/07/how-followformation-helps-your-blog/
Local – Techvibes: http://www.techvibes.com/blog/followformation-makes-sense-out-of-following-on-twitter
Local – The Georgia Straight: http://www.straight.com/article-241644/followformationcom
Local – Sauder School of Business Newsletter: https://secure.sauder.ubc.ca/360newsletter/20090716.htm


International Press Coverage


Brazilian business magazine: http://www.papodeempreendedor.com.br/tecnologia/para-tirar-melhor-proveito-do-twitter/
French social media blog: http://www.tubbydev.com/2009/07/qui-et-comment-suivre-sur-twitter-.html
Singapore top Tweeter blog (@techxav): http://techxav.com/2009/07/16/followformation-lets-you-follow-the-top-people-in-the-areas-of-your-interest/

 

And all the rest of our blog hits: http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?q=followformation

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An Entrepreneur Interview with Leon Ng from Real Estate Channel

Surrounding yourself with positive, ambitious and like-minded people is one of the important requirements to staying motivated as an entrepreneur.  I am fortunate to count Leon Ng as a friend and am constantly amazed at what he accomplishes as a young entrepreneur.  Keep an eye on this young entrepreneur as he builds his expanding media empire – TV, Production Studios, Film.


1. Tell us what you do?
I’m in real estate marketing, tv/film & media production. I had my start at a small local cable station in Vancouver. From there, I saw the opportunity to start my own business. Three years ago, we launched the Real Estate Channel on one of the smallest networks in Canada. Three years later, we have expanded nationally and will soon be on the nation’s largest TV networks.


2. At 27, you already run the largest Real Estate Channel in Canada? Are you building a real estate media empire?
You’re flattering me. I am taking this one step at a time. I am very far from that right now. I do have a personal interest in real estate media and I think it is important to keep myself up to date with current real estate technology. One of my favourite real estate blogs is www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com


3. You also own LNG Studios, was there a moment you considered giving up on having multiple businesses?
Never! I believe in diversifying, as long as you can stay focused and not spread your resources to thin. It is best if you can expand in a way that your businesses can complement each other.


4. Do you have time to have a hobby?
I have a work hard, play hard mentality. I like to be creative. My true passion is in film. I am currently producing a short film called ‘Henry’s Glasses”, which received a grant from the Directors Guild of Canada’s Kick Start Program. The film is based in a Japanese Canadian Internment Camp in 1945 and production starts in October 09.


5. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself regarding your business?
If you know me, you’ll know that I am a very spontaneous person. When I feel good about an idea, I tend to jump on it (which is sometimes good & sometimes bad). I should be giving myself more time to plan and do my due diligence but you live and learn from your mistake! This is only the beginning.

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An Entrepreneur Interview with David, Alex and William from Design Vetica

Starting a company is hard but it’s even harder when you are in high school! So if you have excuses such as – I don’t have the time, I don’t have the money, or I don’t have the connection to start my business, team Design Vetica will blow all those excuses out of the water. They are young, they are determined and they are having fun working on their business.  Follow the team on twitter @designvetica.


Design Vetica


1. Tell us what you do.
Design Vetica is a Vancouver based interactive agency dedicated to web design and media production. With our core service being web design and development, we work with clients across all kinds of industries to aid them in staying ahead of the competition. Not only do we emphasize on businesses, we also create websites for individuals who want an online presence. In addition, within the next few months, we look forward to adding new media services offerings to what we currently provide.


2. What is the start-up story behind Design Vetica?
All of the partners in Design Vetica, before establishing this agency, have either worked as freelance web designer/developer, or have built some websites themselves. Most of the projects they received were referrals from friends; but long before that, they have done multiple projects for themselves. Recognized by what they can achieve, they were given one of their biggest projects: building their school’s site (and they were paid with school credits). In the following year, William and David started talking about building a company on the idea of web design and media production in IT class. Soon, they pulled Alex into the picture since he was very close in working on previous projects with William. On February 6th, 2009 Design Vetica was born.


3. What was the most challenging aspect of being a young entrepreneur from your perspective as your entire team is still in high school?
Our most challenging aspect of being a young entrepreneur is that we are STILL in high school! People who are not constraint with schoolwork can focus solely on their work (apart from all the other random stuff). However, we, as students have to juggle school work and getting good marks while keeping up with deadlines from multiple projects with clients. This has caused some problems already. For example, we had to drop potential clients during finals. Nevertheless, at times, we encourage each other to keep up our grades in school.


4. To what do you attribute your company’s achievement?
All of us at Design Vetica can attribute our achievements to the individual member in the team. Without such a dedicated and hard working team, Design Vetica wouldn’t be where it stands now.


5. What advices do you give aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those who want to start in high school?
It may sound cheesy, but DO IT; because you never know unless you try. The truth is when we think back to how we started, we were even shocked to find ourselves following such a crazy idea; but we are glad that we did it. Even if your idea fails, use it as an experience because we all learn from mistakes.

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An Entrepreneur Interview with Carlos Obregon from Bloom Marketing

With the explosion of social media sites on top of the existing sites, it is difficult to navigate in the online marketing world  – how do I position my online brand and what do I do with this thing call social media?  I lucked out and landed my first entrepreneur interview with Carlos Obregon from Bloom Marketing, you bet I will be asking about social media.  Bloom Marketing is a leading search engine marketing agency located in Vancouver British Columbia.


1.  Tell us what you do.
In a nutshell, we do online marketing. The services we offer are:

  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to make your site easier to find by prospective clients.
  • PPC (Pay per click advertising) these are the ads you see next to search results.
  • Copywriting – we write text for websites, this text is different than the text you see in print media, it is designed to be easy to read and informative for users and easy to read for search engine robots at the same time.
  • Social media marketing - we help website owners unleash the power of Web 2.0
  • Web Analytics – We track and analyze the traffic that comes to your site, we can then determine who the most likely buyers are, which cities they come from, what times of the day do they normally visit your site, and a large number of other metrics that can shed light into how your online sales are happening.


2. What is the start-up story behind Bloom Marketing?

In 2006 Azita Fazli and I saw the opportunity to start this company because we were witnessing the growing demand for online marketing services. Azita has been doing internet marketing since 2000 and I have been in this field since 2005. We had paying customers from day one and despite the recession we have been growing every year. We currently serve clients in the following industries: financial, tourism, real estate and consumer products and services


3. Where do you see Bloom Marketing going over the next 2 years?

We seem to be specializing in tourism related industries; we currently have a hotel chain, an airline and two regional tourism associations as clients. We also work in partnership with 4 ad agencies in the city to enable them to offer not only traditional media capabilities but digital media as well.


4. Social networking is huge these days; do you incorporate that into your business offering as well?
We do, we are currently active on Facebook with and ad campaign and a Fan page, on LinkedIn and on Twitter.


5. Any tips for start-ups with regard to online marketing and how to navigate through the social networking explosions?

Try it. If you are familiar with print and electronic media, chances are you will be greatly surprised by the ROI and lower cost of online marketing. As for social media, make sure you claim your company name on all the major social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. Even if you don’t have the time or resources at the moment to maintain your profiles, at least you can avoid the problem of someone else posing as yourself or your company.

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Following your bliss

“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.” – Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

You have probably heard a million times, follow your bliss or follow your heart which really means do what you are passionate about. What it means for me means casting aside my degree, defying my parents, and leaving a possible career in criminal law – everything that is seemingly concrete and predicable to do something that my heart tells me. Try explaining that to your parents and your peers – my heart is telling me something else and oh yeah by the way, forget what happened in the last 7 years of education and yes that 2 years in law, let’s pretend none of that happened. What I really want to do was with two partners; build a place where entrepreneurs can call their second home.

We struggled and struggled hard. We were MISERABLE as we were all young all still in university with pressure of exams, satisfying demands of current clients for our current business and dealing with family pressure. One of my partners was in Computer Science and another in Chemistry, and I was in Applied Science with a clear path going to Law. None of us knew what constructions look like but we all came to the office after work and school to carry hardwood and drywall to help out the construction workers. We accelerate the construction process from the estimated timeline of 6 months to 3 months.

That was 2 and half years ago and we never looked back. The result is The Network Hub. The space is now more than 4 walls and some doors, it vibrates with enthusiasm, energy and passion from the people who occupy it. If I ever doubt my path or have a moment of weakness, all I need is to open the door to soak in the buzz and the vibrations from the people in the space determined to change the world in their own way, completely absorbed in their passion and loving every minute of it.

One person in our space who is so passionate about his cause, he is staying up 24 hours to blog to raise funds for the BC Cancer Foundation. Dr. Raul Pacheco has lost 3 family members to cancer, including two of his Mom’s sisters (lung cancer and stomach cancer, respectively) and his grandmother (pancreatic cancer). If this isn’t pure passion, I don’t know what is… please donate generously to Raul. I sure will be as a person who recently lost my uncle to pancreatic cancer.
 
Quote of the day:
 
"Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats."

Howard Aiken
 
 

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Confession of an entrepreneur: Friendship

At last week’s Meetup of Meetups, I had a chance to kick my feet up early and catch up with some keen entrepreneurs who came earlier to the event. A question was posed to me… what was one of the disadvantages of starting a business when I was so young? I had to think about it… perhaps because my second Budweiser Lime Light got my mind a little hazy, but off the top of my head and maybe because of the social event we were about to have, I exclaimed, “You lose friends and you lose them fast!”

What people don’t tell you is that once you start your business, when you live and breathe your business, you literally become a social outcast in your close-knit circle of friends. You can no longer relate to the complaints about a nasty boss, long hours in cubicles and crazy co-workers. I find myself having little patience – if you have such a problem then find a new job or start your own business! Those were not satisfactory answers and it usually gets me in a lot of trouble with my friends. In replies, I usually get the “I can’t believe you would trade a regular paycheque for little or no money”, why would you work from the basement or even worse “get a real job”.

I have fantastic supportive friends who I have known from high school and elementary schools. They love me and I love them. We do anything to support each other but we strain to make conversations whenever we meet each other. Once we get past the pleasantries and the updates, we have a hard time connecting about the present so we revert back to past events…. our conversations usually take the tone of “remember that time in the cafeteria and you slipped?” or “remember that teacher who was so nice?” I almost feel a relief when our social outing is over because it took so much effort to come up with conversations. My best friend and I see each other maybe once every 6 months, most of the time more because her work keeps her very busy, actually busier than me! She’s an auditor at one of the top 5 firms. It was always her goal to be in the top 5 and mine to be running my own business. It is slightly sad that the further ahead we get in our respective field, the further we drift away from each other. While we still make every effort to catch up, things aren’t quite the same.

It’s not all that bad though, I have fantastic business partners who live and breathe the business with me. People who in an instant would know what I am going to do and vice versa, I think my partners are now my best friends too. We have to be… we are in a relationship that is even deeper than friendship, I rely on them for my livelihood and I see them more often than my family. If you are looking to start a business on your own, I would ask you to consider bringing in a partner but if that isn’t an option then please join organizations with likeminded individuals who are in the same boat as you.

I think this is the reason why I threw my hat in the ring to be president of then Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurs (now called SIFE) and after graduation I started organizing the Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup. It can get pretty lonely sometimes to not be able to share the success, obstacles and challenges with another human being who is on the same path as you are. Well at today’s event we are expecting about 600 people, about 360 of those attending are from Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup so I guess I can’t feel that bad I have 360 people who can share, understand and relate to what I am going through.
 
Quote of the day:
 
"Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out."

Stephen Covey

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How good do you want to be?

As promised, I will quote certain phrase from “The world’s best-selling book by Paul Arden” and elaborate on it each week. This week I’ve landed on the chapter with the question, “So how good do you want to be?” When asked, most people will say I want to be the BEST whether it is with regard to the best in their field or the best at whoever they want to be – husband, wife, daughter, son, etc. So why then isn’t every one the BEST?  This brings me to the quote of the week.

“Talent helps, but it won’t take you as far as ambition”

Everyone wants to excel at what they do but they are unwilling to make the sacrifices it takes to achieve those goals. This is what the quote intend to say… some people would rather well-liked because they confused being liked with being good. Some would rather take short-cuts but they don’t realized to be good you have to learn from experience and make mistakes. A long time ago, when I was in grade 11 I wrote a letter to myself in a notebook (which I still have to find) – in that notebook I wrote out the contract to myself. I knew to get myself on the path of being the best I had to sacrifice a few things…. in exchange for freedom to make my own decision and set my own rules I had to give up sleep, friends and peace of mind. I was ok with that but I also wrote down what I wasn’t willing to sacrifice, which was time with family, good friends and time for myself.

My start in my academic life was in science so I am fully aware of the rule, for every reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction. It doesn’t just apply to science; it applies to life as well. I know there is give and take in order to achieve what you need. So the next time I feel exhausted, hungry and grumpy due to lack of sleep I just have to remember this is my sacrifice to gain the freedom to make my own decision and play by my own rules.
 
Quote of the day:
"By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day."

Robert Frost

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Happy with my Facebook Vanity URL

Facebook single-handedly created a wave of cultural phenomenon by releasing vanity URL at 9:00pm last night.  Enthusiasts and geek-alike wait patiently and faithfully forgoing their Friday night rituals glued to their computer waiting for the countdown.  I have to admit, I was nervous and I had no strategies for picking a username.  It was going to be whatever was left over.  My palms were sweating and my head was already going over the alternatives that I could pick if Minna was taken.

Clock strikes 9:00 pm, I clumsily and nervously put in Minna to see if it’s available.  IT IS!!!  SET USERNAME!  Done done and done.  I am officially the only www.facebook.com/minna on Facebook.  According to Bloomberg.com, Facebook members registered new user names at a rate of more than 550 a second after the company offered people the chance to claim a personalized Web address.  According to Larry Yu, a spokesman for Palo Alto, California-based Facebook 345,000 people had claimed user names within the first seven minutes and after 15 minutes, 500,000 users had grabbed a name.

facebook_vanity_url

It was an exciting event, it was very much like waiting to see if your name is announced for a very important award.  I don’t remember being this excited even for my university graduation.  Geeks around the world were gathered at one URL at 9:00 pm Pacific time to grab their own Facebook vanity name,  I was part of this geek history.   Highlight of my week :)

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Rethink Vancouver Office Space Strategies

Every year, Business in Vancouver magazine publishes their Office Leasing Guide and this year, The Network Hub was fortunate enough to be mentioned in the 2009 Office Leasing Guide. The recession has many small businesses in Vancouver rethink their office space strategies. Aptly titled “Pooling together: Co-working creates space options for small businesses” on page 31 of Office Leasing Guide 2009, Peter Mitham explores the different options for small businesses in this economic downturn.

Here are highlights from the article:

“Most often downtown, you can just rent the office space but there’s no utilities, there’s no one taking when things breaks down, there’s no receptionist, nobody’s taking care of the cleaning. You have to manage everything yourself.”

At The Network Hub, “You can concentrate on your business. We’ll take care of everything else.”

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Breakfast meeting? No thank you

A recent article on AdAge.com, “Can We Ban the Breakfast Meeting?” got me thinking about about breakfast business meetings. For those of you who know me, I do not do breakfast meetings.

My last breakfast meeting was the most comical and disastrous but also the last straw that led me to ban breakfast meetings. I was approached by an executive who was interested in pitching his service to me. He scheduled the meeting himself for an early breakfast meeting. After arriving 15 minutes late, he apologized and asked me for my name. He plainly forgot who he was meeting. He yawned in the middle of his pitch about how great his company was in their ability provide world-class services. What made it even worse than forgetting my name was he kept forgetting my company name, I had to help him out a few time. He apologized profusely about being unclear because he was out late the night before.

Needless to say, we never worked with his company. For the folks out there trying to maximize your day by starting early, here are some simple rules of thumb when you are itching to book a breakfast meeting.

1) Are you a MORNING person? Is the person you are meeting a MORNING person?
If you do not know your name or can not articulate a full comprehensive sentence, please do not book

2) If you are doing the pitch – please realize you might have to eat really fast or not eat at all unless you want your client’s shirt to end up with bits of your breakfast.

3) If you are doing the listening – will you be able to focus to listen or better yet make a logical analysis at this time in the morning?

Please think carefully before booking breakfast meetings, otherwise you might end up being an example for a blog post :)

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Vancouver office space evolve...

http://triangleb2b.com/?p=2302

Co-working is fast becoming an option for entrepreneurs who don’t yet have the funds or desire to rent office space, yet face a growing need for a place that enables them to hold meetings, have a place to work that doesn’t involve a bedroom or a family of four making menu decisions five feet away, and a need for added legitimacy in the eyes of their clients.

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Coworking vs. the coffee shop: Who wins?

The Bane of the Coffee Shop
Original post can be found at Coworking vs. the Coffee Shop: Who Wins?

When the pajama piece gets old, freelancers often head to coffee shops. There, you can be isolated among other lone wolves, experiencing human company, familiar faces, and a placeboic level of social interaction. The coffee shop allows freelancers to feel as though they’ve accomplished in that old-fangled world outside of the Web.

Admittedly, some freelancers are enterprising types who dress nicely every day, attend meetings and workshops, and expose themselves to open skies on a regular basis. I cannot count myself among their ranks. In my world, the suction capacities of the Internet tend to overwhelm the urge to self-present as a professional member of society. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I live in a town where business owners walk around in ski pants and dogs run around office spaces. You get away with less here, appearance wise.

Why Coworking is Better
But that’s not my point. My point is that working at home gets lonely; coffee shops are a little bit better, but coworking rocks. I say this having never done it (there is no venue in my town; I am considering opening one). I imagine that it must rock. Consider the average coffee shop, where:

-A cafe latte sets you back $3-$4. You feel guilty if you sit around without purchasing a new one, making an average day of work there cost around $12, excluding yummy baked goods.
-You may or may not end up next to really loud, gossipy people.
-You feel like a ham if you are the only one with a laptop.
-The seats are often uncomfortable.
-You can’t talk on your cell phone inside. Well, I don’t. Plenty of people do. I consider it rude.
-You are obligated to look somewhat hip.

Coworking, on the other hand, allows you a range of cafe-like benefits, without the cafe:

-You pay a flat membership fee instead of a daily fee.
-Everyone has a laptop!
-You get the chance to collaborate with your peers.
-The seats are probably more comfortable.
-Cell phone use is more acceptable–it is a workspace.
-The hip factor may not be a factor, although I am not sure about this point.

I can only imagine that coworking will burgeon as more people turn towards freelancing. Having frequented far too many coffee shops, I will allow myself to claim, having never coworked, that coworking is better.

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Coworking Visa is now in Vancouver

The Network Hub has been a part of the coworking movement since 2006. We are proud to be part of the movement to redefine office space.

We are excited to announce we will be participating in the Coworking Visa program.

A coworking visa allows active members of one space, when traveling, to use another coworking space, gratis. Terms vary from space to space, with regard to hours of operation, reservation requirements, etc.

For the travellers from abroad (especially those coming to enjoy the Vancouver 2010 Olympics), you can come and hang your hat at The Network Hub for three days for free (if space permits) if you belong to another coworking space participating in the coworking visa program. We want to make finding office space in Vancouver office space a lot easier for our fellow coworking colleagues.

If you are in Vancouver and looking for office space, please email me at mvan@thenetworkhub.ca and let me know your arrival date as well as which coworking space you are with.

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