Intuit Sites We Love

Sites We Love - Video Interview Columbine: Wounded Minds...

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:42:14 -0700

Sites We Love - Video Interview

Columbine: Wounded Minds Project

We spoke with Samuel J. Granillo, director of Columbine: Wounded Minds Project, to share with us a little be more about his project and some tips he’s learned along the way…

Sites We Love - Mr. Pete’s Cajun...

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:41:17 -0800

Sites We Love - Mr. Pete’s Cajun Spices

www.mrpetescajunspices.com

This week we meet Cory Neil, owner and CEO of Mr. Pete’s Cajun Spices, as he tells us his story of how he got his business started and shares his advice to new business owners.

What inspired you to start your business?

Mr. Pete’s Cajun Spices was originally owned by my father. As a child, I can remember as it neared dinner time, I could hear the sounds of the pots and pans clashing, smell the different aromas coming from the kitchen, and recognize the hard work involved in preparing meals. I became interested in learning the art of preparing fine dishes, and assisted my father in the kitchen as often as I could. Over time, my father took his culinary skills and opened his very first authentic seafood restaurant. I was able to get involved; and more experience provided me with the same skills that my father possessed. Unfortunately, after many years of success, the restaurant experienced devastation when it was stricken by fire. My father decided to accept his fate, and he moved on incorporating his love of cooking in a different undertaking.

Throughout the years in the restaurant, my father and I would blend spices to give our dishes just the right flavors. After much thought and plenty more mixing, my father decided to offer his authentic flavors as a wholesale dealer of spices to local supermarkets. This way, he was still able to bring his essence into the very kitchens of his customers. Recently, my father had decided that the business had become a bit overwhelming and approached me to purchase the company. He knew that I would continue to offer his true blends and create new flavors to accentuate his product line. I was truly honored by my father’s faith in my abilities to continue his legacy.

In July 2011, I purchased this company from my father and jumped in feet first. His hard work and dedication has inspired me to also embrace my love of food and its delectable flavors and to produce only the finest blends that I also serve in my kitchen today for my family.

What sets your company apart from its competitors?

My company is much different than the competitors in that I offer authentic flavors. I do not add fillers or load my products with unnecessary sodium to be financially competitive. In fact, I can include all of the delicious spices (which are more costly) and still offer my products at competitive prices, because I do not have the overhead that our competition has. My company is a family-based company that is run solely by our family. From the mixing to the distributions, myself and my wife handle all affairs with Mr. Pete’s Cajun Spices. Therefore, we are able to keep costs down and pass the savings on to our customers.

My products are also enhanced by the packaging labels, and as one of our customers describe “unique”. We design a separate label for each of our products. The graphics are very colorful and are eye-catching to potential buyers. We take pride in knowing that each design truly represents the product inside the packaging.

Finally, my company is also incomparable when it comes to product satisfaction. I guarantee that my products are of the very best of quality. Our goal is customer satisfaction, which begins at the creation of the products. I feel that if I can get you to try it, you’ll ‘Get Hooked On It!!!’

What is your favorite part of running your own business?

My favorite part of running my own business is the results, of course. Not the results of profiting, nor the results of business growth. It is the seeing the satisfaction on the customers’ faces. It is hearing the feedback from the customers. Each weekend, my wife and I go out to the supermarkets that carry our products to demonstrate our flavors. We like to gain a response from the customers and hear their reviews. I like to tell this story, because it just feels so satisfying to experience it. As I am cooking, my wife serves the customers. We watch them take samples and continue walking down the grocery aisles. Then, it hits them… the flavors. They turn around only to come back and ask about the product. They become interested in reciprocating the same great tastes that we serve to them. Witnessing that fulfillment provides me with gratification in knowing that I am achieving my goals and ultimately my dreams.

What lessons did you learn along the way that can help new businesses just starting up?

Although my business is still fairly new under my ownership and I am learning something new each day, I would suggest to new business owners to complete a lot of research. Begin with a business plan. Set goals for yourself, and then determine how to carry out those goals. Research the market industry, your competition, and your customers. Don’t make hasty decisions. Instead, make educated decisions. You must also have the heart for your chosen business. If it is not something you yourself believe in, how will you make others (your customers) believe in your product(s) or service(s)?

How do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc.) to promote your business and engage with customers?

Social media has been a great influence in my business. When my father had the company, he relied solely on word-of-mouth. Even though that may be a large part of marketing, I was able to take my business a step further by offering my products on line through my website. However, I was not seeing the visitors I was hoping for. Incorporating social media has allowed me to introduce my company to so many more people from all over the world. Social media is also an excellent outlet for others to share my products with their family and friends. I like to inform my customers of new products, events, or simply give them a recipe to follow using my spice blends. Even though my website features these topics, I can share them through more channels to gain more visitors and ultimately customers. I also use one specific form of social media for professional business contacts. I have been able to locate and instill interest with major supermarket networks. I have also been contacted by distributors and other types of business that can help in my company’s growth. I would highly recommend any business owner to take part in social media. After all, that is where your potential customers are congregating.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I think that by managing my own company solely without the use of employees at this time is my best quality, as I am able to offer my customers the personal service they have come to appreciate. I believe that the personal service, as well as the competitive pricing, gives me a step up to the competition, which ultimately gains success. I wouldn’t have been able to manage my own website, as I am not technology-savvy to say the least. Intuit has made this task accommodating and enjoyable. I am able to provide an accurate depiction of my company by customizing my site in a Cajun theme, and it is fun to be able to observe my very own creative works.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Cory!

Website: http://www.mrpetescajunspices.com/

We’re having technically difficulties on our Intuit...

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:33:17 -0800

We’re having technically difficulties on our Intuit Websites Blog page, so we are back here for the time being! There have been quite a few Sites We Love winner interviews that we haven’t been able to post up until now, but you’ll see them here shortly!

Thanks,

Aubrey T

We’re moving on up… to the Websites side! Sites We Love is...

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:08:41 -0800

We’re moving on up… to the Websites side!

Sites We Love is moving to the Intuit Website blog! This will be a great opportunity for more people to read the great articles and interviews from all of our Sites We Love winners.

The Intuit Websites blog also features a ton of helpful articles on all things website – from how to build a fanbase to teaching you how to take better photos for your site.

So please go to our new home, bookmark the page, and share the news with your friends and family! See you there!

Sites We Love - Garland Sandwich...

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:49:00 -0800

Sites We Love - Garland Sandwich Shoppe

www.garlandsandwich.com

Kristen, from Garland Sandwich Shoppe, never believed she would start her own business — she never even wanted to! However, things just worked out that way and now she couldn’t be more pleased with her decision. Read her story below…

What inspired you to start your business?

I never truly wanted to start my own business. I always had the thought that it might be fun, but in reality I never wanted to truly jump through all the hoops involved with starting from scratch. In 2008 after I moved to Spokane from Phoenix, AZ I was worked as a Job Trainer for a local non-profit teaching low income and homeless women how to obtain employment in the hospitality field. Due to the economy and funds available, my position was eliminated.

A friend of the family used to own a sandwich shop in this little eclectic neighborhood called The Garland District. The building had been vacant for a few months when my mother threw out the idea of starting a sandwich shoppe. With the job market being what it is, I figured why not?! So within a month we signed the lease, got the equipment and opened for business. It was actually far easier than I ever imagined. My start up costs were far less than I ever would have imagined and I didn’t even apply for a loan of any kind from a bank. I simply got my family in on the action.

What sets your company apart from its competitors?

It’s hard to describe what sets The Garland Sandwich Shoppe apart from others. Most sandwich shops focus on BIG sandwiches that are mass produced. I produce fresh Panini and deli style sandwiches right in front of you to order. No added fat when grilled. All vegetables, all the ingredients for that matter are purchased locally. I even head to the bakery every morning to get the freshest bread. My sandwiches are the biggest in regards to size, but they are made from great ingredients and friendly service. The portions are more than enough to be full but not enough to get stuffed. We like our customers to walk out satisfied but not miserable. Because we are family operated, mainly my mother and I, each customer gets personal attention.

What is your favorite part of running your own business?

I use Intuit for my book keeping needs and payroll when I had employees. I also used Intuit’s Website program to create my own website from scratch. When I went to business school accounting was a nightmare for me and Quickbooks definitely made it a lot easier to take care for business myself. I love the flexibility and real time changes I can make to my web site as well.

What lessons did you learn along the way that can help new businesses just starting up?

Starting a business can seem like a huge under taking in the beginning. But I have learned from personal experience that if you get the right people on your side from the beginning, especially those who have strengths where you have weakness, your experience will be much more fulfilling. I was blessed to have an amazingly supportive family that helped and continues to help me every step of the way.

How do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc.) to promote your business and engage with customers?

We rely heavily on social media in regards to advertising. People should see social media as a free service that should never be taken for granted. We have an active facebook fan page, website, mobile site and of course a Twitter. “Word of Mouth” via social media is an awesome way to do things for little to no cost.

What are some new or exciting things we can look forward to for your business in the near future?

We are an extremely small shoppe, but hope in the next few years that we can expand. I am not necessarily wanting to open a second location in the near future, but I would like to have a larger building in this particular business district. I would like to be able to serve local beer and wine and expand the menu. I would also like to have more seating to be serve our dine in customers.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Kristen!

Website: http://www.garlandsandwich.com/

Sites We Love - SugarBabies Cakes &...

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:39:51 -0800

Sites We Love - SugarBabies Cakes & Cupcakes

www.sugarbabies-cakes.com

Nicole, from SugarBabies Cakes & Cupcakes, gave us some insight on how she started her business. Check it out below!

What inspired you to start your business?

My children and my desire to work from home, where I could combine my artistic talent with my professional skills in a satisfying and profitable way, inspired me to start my business. I began my professional career in 2000 after graduating from F.I.U. (Florida International University) with a degree in Hospitality Management. I worked for a Resort Hotel and Spa in Miami where I advanced to the position of Events Coordinator, a demanding but rewarding job that greatly helped to prepare me for my own business. After the birth of my first child in 2007, I took an extended leave of absence and by the time I had my second child in 2009 I had realized that my heart was at home and the concept of “SugarBabies” was born! My own little sugar babies now number three and I am grateful to be able to run my business from home. To me, it is the best of all worlds!

What sets your company apart from its competitors?

My high standards of quality and the attention to detail that I bring to each unique job. I take great pride in being able to give my customers a “one of a kind” product designed and executed specifically for them and I consider each individual creation a “work of art!” I try to make my customer’s experience – from their first view of my website to delivery of their purchase – as personal and satisfying as possible. I like to interact with people on a one-to-one basis and I strive to make them feel confident in my ability to create for them exactly what they want… even if they don’t know themselves!

What is your favorite part of running your own business?

The freedom to manage my own time! I love working with people and I am grateful to have the opportunity to build a career that allows me to combine my artistic talents with my professional skills.

What lessons did you learn along the way that can help new businesses just starting up?

When starting a business you have to be patient as well as persistent. It will not happen overnight! I have been preparing for this for four years prior to actually putting a website up. Also… to get my prices right! I was trying to keep my prices low while delivering the highest quality product and I found that this is not always possible! I had to discipline myself to charge what the high quality of my unique service was really worth!

How do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc.) to promote your business and engage with customers?

So far, the only social media I have utilized in connection with my business is Facebook and I use that only as a forum to showcase my current projects. Because of the nature of my business I must reach a localized clientele with very specific needs. At this point, my website and my referrals network are my most useful tools! However, I am considering more ways to reach out and have already started preliminary work for a project using YouTube.

What are some new or exciting things we can look forward to for your business in the near future?

It is my goal to, one day, have my own boutique bakery shop. In the more immediate future, I am working on getting set up to market nation-wide by offering an online mail-order service. In addition, I will soon be adding Event Photography to the list of services that I provide and you can look forward to seeing a new page on my website devoted to my photography!

Anything else you’d like to share?

I must mention that creating a website was the single biggest boost to my business! I knew that I needed one but I also knew that I couldn’t afford to hire someone to create it for me. After a good deal of looking around and a bit of trial and error I decided to take a chance on Intuit’s site building tools and generous free trial. I soon found that not only was it possible for a novice to create a website, but that it could also be really fun and satisfying! I take my hat off to the Intuit support team who helped guide me along the way to first page search engine results!

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Nicole!

Website: http://www.sugarbabies-cakes.com/

Sites We Love - HRSS Consulting...

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:50:50 -0800

Sites We Love - HRSS Consulting Group

www.hrssconsultinggroup.com/

This is Karen, from HRSS Consulting Group, who was kind enough to take some time out of her day to share with us some meaningful insights about her business!

What inspired you to start your business?

I definitely love having autonomy, but more importantly wanted to apply my knowledge and skills in a way that would help people. Unfortunately, many employees in the workplace today feel under-appreciated and under-valued, which negatively impacts motivation, morale, and job satisfaction, creating lower productivity and higher turnover rates for businesses. Starting HRSS Consulting Group allowed me to offer strategies and solutions to organizations in an effort to attract, retain, and leverage their most valuable resource – their people. People are the key to business success and identifying and addressing their needs will ultimately drive positive business results.

What sets your company apart from its competitors?

In short: customer-focused, value driven results. I provide the most value and service per dollar spent by offering a satisfaction guarantee for every service I provide. And because I’m a sole proprietor I can provide companies the personal attention and one-on-one relationship they deserve. Additionally, because of my military background, I am able to combine a plethora of leadership experience and insight with a no-nonsense approach.

What is your favorite part of running your own business?

Knowing that every day is different. It can be a double-edged sword, but I love the fact that I never really know what will surface each day. Unexpected events occur and I run with it, making the best out of each situation.

What lessons did you learn along the way that can help new businesses just starting up?

Perseverance is key! You have to stick with it even when times are rough. Another key lesson is to develop a support system. Ensure that you have a close, trusted group of colleagues, friends and family you can talk with about your day-to-day challenges.

How do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc.) to promote your business and engage with customers?

All in all, social media has not proven to be the most influential in attracting business. Consulting is a relationship-based service that requires trust as the fundamental foundation to building that relationship. That’s hard to do using social media. However, I do use Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ to provide updates on my day-to-day activities and I post leadership and human resource related articles in an effort to inform my audience. Additionally, I use LinkedIn to network and collaborate with colleagues.

What are some new or exciting things we can look forward to for your business in the near future?

HRSS Consulting Group will be providing best practices for an HR Column in Spacecoast Business magazine, a local trusted source of business coverage. Additionally, there are plans to expand HRSS Consulting Group within the governmental sector while simultaneously establishing roots within the local community of Brevard County, Florida.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Yes, although it’s more of a tidbit. Did you know that HRSS stands for Human Resource Strategies & Solutions? Did you also know that HRSS is pronounced “hers”? It’s a play off the acronym (military people love acronyms) and it reflects the fact that HRSS Consulting Group is a woman-owned small business. I like to think it’s a quite clever combination of who I am and what I aim to do.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Karen!

Website: http://www.hrssconsultinggroup.com

Sites We Love - Little South www.littlesouth.com Matt, from...

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:52:00 -0800

Sites We Love - Little South

www.littlesouth.com

Matt, from Little South, tells us a little bit about his nightlife and DJ business. He shares some good points that hopefully will inspire you!

What inspired you to start your business?

I wanted to create a website to support nightlife and local DJs in the South West of England. In 2002 I used the Sitebuilder to create ‘Littlesouth.com’

What sets your company apart from its competitors?

Littlesouth.com is the only dedicated nightlife website for the South West and has grown to become a reliable resource for events and nightlife media.

What is your favorite part of running your own business?

My favourite part about running Littlesouth is that I have full control over the brand - from website design right through to working with event promoters to keep the South West nightlife supported!

What lessons did you learn along the way that can help new businesses just starting up?

Keep things simple. Form strong links with local companies and services that compliment your company.

How do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc.) to promote your business and engage with customers?

Littlesouth.com has made use of social media share buttons which are on most pages, allowing content to be shared easily. The Sitebuilder have Facebook and Twitter buttons to link directly to our relevant social pages too.

What are some new or exciting things we can look forward to for your business in the near future?

Littlesouth is always being updated and tweaked. It is hoped that new collaborations with services that compliment our company can bring a some real treats for our visitors in 2012!

Anything else you’d like to share?

We are currently running our annual ‘DJ of the Year’ competition which aims to recognise an artist who has been particularly popular throughout the year. Visitors can vote online at www.littlesouth.com throughout December. A winner will be announced in January 2012.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Matt!

Website: http://www.littlesouth.com

Sites We Love - L & R Tax Preparation www.lrtaxprep.com Meet...

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:24:00 -0800

Sites We Love - L & R Tax Preparation

www.lrtaxprep.com

Meet Bruce, founder of L & R Tax Preparation, as he shares his insights and tips on how to build a successful business

What inspired you to start your business?

Tax season is enough to give many people ulcers. Filing taxes is an intimidating task for many, but the chance of receiving a refund is inspiring. I have been preparing returns for years - first in college and on through my employment with (at the time) the largest US based Accounting firm.

After seeing so much over the years, I found that there was a real need to provide “everyone” with the ability to work within the ever-changing tax code maximizing their returns. The large CPA firm was not really a good venue to accomplish this. They seemed more interested in profits and not the individual they worked for.

Coaching/prodding from my wife and family, prompted me to go into practice for myself. Becoming a self-employed tax preparer allows me to work a challenging career that also allows me to use my quick-coded thinking and ability with numbers to help others.

What sets your company apart from its competitors?

My goals are the same now as they were when I started 14 years ago. Our desire is to help everyday people feel more comfortable about filing their yearly tax return, with the added goal to help them understand why “it is what it is”. We want to guide them in a manner that could make it less painful personally and in their bank.

Competitors in this field are both unique and compromised by their designations. What I mean by that, is we are where we are with the hope of the American Dream, to have a profitable business. My goal isn’t business; my goal and the goal of my company is to help tax payers, first and foremost. The high-profile CPA firms, law firms, fast-food type return preparer shops are not really that focused. Sure, some of those employed there may have that in their mind; unfortunately, corporate goals don’t allow them - what I call - the relaxed personable person they can work with.

When my clients come in, they are here because we are trusted friends, working to help them. Not because it is our job, but because we want to help.

What is your favorite part of running your own business?

Running my own business is a challenge, and thus my favorite thing about it is the challenge. Like any business, we have to keep up with what is new in our industry (in the Tax, Payroll, and Accounting business, which is a daily changing environment). No two clients are the same, so our product isn’t always the same. And no two situations will be the same. So everything stays unique to each customer/client.

What lessons did you learn along the way that can help new businesses just starting up?

One of the most interesting things about my work, is that I am able to come in with a new business and see the different workings of a vast majority of types of businesses. I have been privy to a lot of great ideas that have really launched and some that not.

I have come to learn the a business owner is a driven person, and those that make are the ones who I have learned the most from.

The biggest and most important lesson I learned is one from my own design. Your customer - never lose sight of that “person”. It doesn’t matter if you are a retailer that has 1000 patrons a day, the contractor whose client list usually isn’t very long, or the entrepreneur who is sitting in his or her home never meeting their customer. That customer is it. You need to know that person, recognize the person on the other end and see what you are doing from their perspective. The idea “build it and they will come” is a true one, your business needs them to come back.

If you can build your model around that, you will succeed and go where you want to go.

How do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc.) to promote your business and engage with customers?

Social media is a great tool. My belief is to use it true and not exploit the power of that tool. I use it to let others know I have a new blog post out or about some new rule that is going to affect a large number of folks/business. I use Twitter in that way, and reach the most from it.

I use Facebook to keep family and friends updated, not on just what I am doing personally but also professionally, as what happens in my world might affect them. I have a Facebook page for L & R Tax Preparation, and this is more focused on my world. I have many like-business sites linked in with it so it is kind of a one stop shop for what is going on in the world of taxation and personal finance as it affects the individual as well as the small business owner.

I write a small blog where I try to share some information that needs a simpler explanation given to it. Our world (Accounting and Tax Preparation) affects everyone to some degree. In that many Accountants will forget that, they in turn write and speak in Accounting. A language that might as well be from another planet.

What are some new or exciting things we can look forward to for your business in the near future?

For year 2012, we have many things in the works. We now are able to offer an on-line affordable venue where taxpayers who are able to prepare their own returns can go to do just that. It is very easy to work with, and affordable.

We are also offing more choices to the tax payer client. We will be providing more choices in how they can pay for services, along with how they receive their refunds.

We will be doing more for companies who need a payroll solution. Offering Direct Deposit for their employees along with a very affordable Debit pay-card. Affordable for the employee, at $1.95 monthly. A small one-time fee for the employer offering the card. We also have improved our on-line payroll services to offer more choices for the employer and their employees.

We will be starting to apply how to videos for the QuickBooks community of users. We have used Intuit products since our conception, and want to assure other users the proper use of the tool they have.

Anything else you’d like to share?

In all my years in the Accounting field, I have used a lot of software, and seen a lot of companies that inspire to help the small business.

In those years one company has stood out that does more for the small business than any other for profit company out there.

I would like to thank Intuit for all they do for us in business. You guys are great and I look forward to many years at your side using your products.

To small business owners everywhere, for the record, I do use a lot of Intuit products, but not all of them.

When you start and grow your business, it is important to see that in some respects a company that provides you with products successfully will not always fit your model. Do not restrict or hold your business back because of limitations from your providers. There are times when your business takes off and you have to hold it back, that is acceptable. Don’t let your suppliers, or other venders be a cause of your business be held to a static point. If you get to a place where you can grow, but your lifelong vender has nothing to help you get there, look around for a viable solution.

Good luck with all you dream, and all those dreams you chase… It can be done.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Bruce!

Website: http://www.lrtaxprep.com

L & R Tax Preparation Meet our Sites We Love winner for...

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:39:00 -0800

L & R Tax Preparation

Meet our Sites We Love winner for 12/05/2011.

About L & R Tax Preparation…

From the website… “Individuals and Business owners are continuously faced with ever changing tax laws and regulatory paperwork. Helping business owners find relief and recognize areas between managing a business and managing their time is a foundation for that balance. This requires open communication to reach an understanding of the clients’ unique needs, through research, and sound analysis. L & R Tax Preparation is dedicated to meeting these goals with high standards of excellence and professionalism.”

What we love…

I love a professional website that does not just look great, but has a ton of relevant content that is easy to navigate to. It felt easy to trust this website right from the beginning, with its pretty graphics and concise text. However, my favorite parts of the site are the three points they highlight on the home page: “The support you deserve. Security you can trust. Services you rely on.” It is always a good idea to tell your potential customers why you should choose your business.

website: http://www.lrtaxprep.com

twitter: http://twitter.com/bruce_taxguy

facebook: http://facebook.com/LRtaxprep

Stay tuned this week to hear more about L & R Tax Preparation!

Sites We Love - Christian Porter Now Featuring… Sites We...

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:12:00 -0800

Sites We Love - Christian Porter

Now Featuring…

Sites We Love winner, Christian Porter, has a bunch of upcoming shows this month. If you’re going to be in the Stroudsberg, PA area, be sure to check them out!

Unfamiliar with their music? Listen to some songs on their “Band Page” on Facebook!

Which song is your favorite?

Sites We Love - Christian Porter www.christianportermusic.com We...

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:33:00 -0800

Sites We Love - Christian Porter

www.christianportermusic.com

We interviewed Christian, an all-round performer, to give us some insight on what sets him apart from the…

What inspired you to start your business?

I love music and as an upcoming singer/songwriter and producer, I wanted the world to get to recognize my music and me. So I created my music business to show people my music and my musical services..

What sets your company apart from its competitors?

The thing that sets my company apart from others is that it’s me. It’s a very personable business where you work with me and only me so everything can be clear, precise and personable.

What is your favorite part of running your own business?

The business is me. I get to be the promoter, the manager, the agent, and the product and I have complete control over my entire business.

What lessons did you learn along the way that can help new businesses just starting up?

Keep your business personable. People like to work with most important person in the business, the person who can be friendly and get the job done. Even when your business grows, you should always be the one to check on things often and be personable with customers.

How do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc.) to promote your business and engage with customers?

I use social media to highest level. As a musician, social networks allow me to promote my music, merchandise and services at ease. Social media also allows me to be as personable as possible with my customers and it’s an easy way to gain customers.

What are some new or exciting things we can look forward to for your business in the near future?

My music is growing by every minute. People should be looking out for my new album of original music which will be promoted on social media and, of course, my website with Intuit.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Christian!

Website: http://www.christianportermusic.com

Sites We Love 11.21.11 The Job Wizard What We Love… The...

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:53:00 -0800

Sites We Love 11.21.11

The Job Wizard

What We Love…

The moment you land on their home page, you know what the site is about. It is so easy to navigate through the site, and there seems to be fresh content on the blog to keep us coming back for more.

About The Job Wizard…

From the website,

“The bottomline, life is difficult for most people right now. The good news…

There are employers that are desperately seeking to fill vacant positions. Additionally, with the right plan, you can attend the right fit college, with the right financial aid package, and take the major that matches your career interest.

However, to accomplish either you have to filter through all the noise that is out there in order to learn the truth about what you need to do to succeed.

The purpose of this website is to help folks filter out the noise so they can focus on what’s most important. TheJobWizard.com does this by providing real answers to real questions.”

Come back tomorrow to read our interview with website owner, Cord.

Sites We Love - Video Interview Glory Unlimited Ministries We...

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:44:00 -0800

Sites We Love - Video Interview

Glory Unlimited Ministries

We asked Dr. Deborah K. Witt, Medical Director and CFO of Glory Unlimited Ministries, to share with us a little be more about their work and what has helped them to succeed…

Glory Unlimited Ministries Meet our Sites We Love winner for...

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:31:48 -0800

Glory Unlimited Ministries

Meet our Sites We Love winner for 11/14/2011.

About Glory Unlimited Ministries…

Glory Unlimited Ministries is an organization dedicated to helping and educating the less fortunate in Haiti, Jamaica, Honduras, Mexico, and Kenya.

What we love…

You can see the passion that this ministry has for what they do through the abundance of content on the site. They share with their viewers pictures and inspiring stories that draws you in and inspires you to help make a difference.

Sites We Love - Quote of the Week Portland PartyWorks We...

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:45:00 -0800

Sites We Love - Quote of the Week

Portland PartyWorks

We interviewed Ellen, web designer and social media manager of Portland’s PartyWorks, to get some insight on what makes the company so successful…

What inspired you to start your business?

Our motto “We’re Serious About Fun” has always meant we treat the business of having fun seriously. Since 1988 our experiences have helped us to shape our company so that we can provide the best entertainment, with outstanding service and an overall excellent experience.

What sets your company apart from its competitors?

PartyWorks strives to be a valued partner and won’t settle for being just another supplier. We know our event experience, quality service and customer support will keep customers coming back and we work hard to exceed expectations at every step of the way. PartyWorks employs staff not contractors. This staff is hired for their customer service skills. We have a dedicated Graduation Party Planner that specializes in this specific event structure. This venue focus is why PartyWorks can offer knowledgeable suggestions based on experience and help clients avoid potential problems. We pride ourselves in carrying one of the largest selections of interactive inflatable’s and games in the Northwest and grow this every year. We add to our inventory based on customer feedback and current best sellers. Finally, we also offer a Best Price Guarantee, ensuring our clients they are not only getting the area’s best service and quality, but also the best price available.

What is your favorite part of running your own business?

Having been in business for over 20 years PartyWorks is now seasoned and not susceptible to the ups and downs of a start-up. The company environment is flavored by an atmosphere of fun and we all take joy in working with our return customers and creating successful events and happy, satisfied customers.

What lessons did you learn along the way that can help new businesses just starting up?

Our motto is we are “Serious about Fun” but we are also serious about our safety and responsibility to our clients and staff. We hire our own employees instead of contractors believing employees have company pride and are more vested in excellent customer service. This pays off in customer satisfaction and our staff is consistently recognized for their willingness to go the extra mile in client response cards. Because we have employees we carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance to protect our customers & employees. We also learned to follow up with our clients after every event for customer feedback, They can tell us which games got the most attention, what they will be looking for in the future, and how well the products worked together. We find this information invaluable in future buying decisions and many other business plans. PartyWorks has developed programs for all price points so we can offer everyone the opportunity to have the very best fun. Our Will Call/Pick Up program works well for parties that only need a bouncer. We have packages for schools and non-profits and we we have large scale event programs that combine inflatable’s and games with catering and events designed to complement each other and service a variety of interests.

How do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc.) to promote your business and engage with customers?

When we redid our website last summer we designed it for social media communication across all the platforms. We wanted our customers to be able to access and discuss specific products by name, description or theme. Equally, we wanted to give event planners, schools and non-profits a place to go for ideas and inspiration. We showcase photos from past events here, offer ideas for theme parties, and share news and details on upcoming community events. Though our blog we try to offer helpful timely suggestions for event planning, activities and party management. For instance, we featured water slides and outdoor barbeque tips in August; carnival activities and haunted house tips in October; and now we will focused on company parties and Christmas events. We have a YouTube account that highlights some of the All-Night Grad Parties. This is the perfect venue to target the graduation age client. Posts are unique to the site and not blanketing out the same message to all Medias. All of your social media sites have links to each other and then back to the site with additional links from our Blog and Facebook page highlighting specific area on the site such as our catalog and current specials. I use Facebook Insights, Google Analytics and Homesteads website reports to track what’s working and use this information to help me decide future posts, tweets, blogs and website SEO tactics.

What are some new or exciting things we can look forward to for your business in the near future?

Right now we are at the annual IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011. This is where we purchase new products to add to our line. There are so many amazing new activities and we will be sharing them on FaceBook and Twitter first before launching them on our New Attractions Page We learn a lot here and these ideas will be incorporated into our 2012 business plan. We will share some of these ‘Best Practices’ on our blog in the next month!

Anything else you’d like to share?

Yes! PartyWorks believes in giving back to the community. Not only do we support charitable causes, we provide special package pricing for non-profit, fundraising or school events. Our goal is to partner with as many non-profit organizations as we can to help them be as successful as possible!

Website: http://www.portlandpartyworks.com

Sites We Love Featured Product Portland PartyWorks Rock...

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:19:00 -0800

Sites We Love Featured Product

Portland PartyWorks Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em

How cool is it that YOU can be a Rock ‘em Sock ‘em robot at your next party! Portland PartyWorks offers a ton of different activities you can rent out, and this one is definitely one of my favorite!

The center is a free floating platform that creates a new twist to the classic game. What a great way to let out some steam!

Check out all their “Extreme Fun” entertainment rentals. What is your favorite?

Portland PartyWorks Meet our Sites We Love winner for...

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:09:00 -0800

Portland PartyWorks

Meet our Sites We Love winner for 11/07/2011.

About Portland PartyWorks…

Since 1988, Portland Partyworks has provided quality entertainment and interactive fun for all sorts of special events - from corporate picnics to church fundraisers.

What we love…

Staying constantly connected with your customers is a great way to stay relevant and show that you really care about your business. Mike maintains a blog with lots of helpful party tips, shares fun product pictures on Twitter, and posts interesting topics on Facebook! You definitely would not have a hard time getting a hold of them, and that’s key to being successful!

Sites We Love Winner 10.31.11 - www.yourbodysretreat.com What...

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:22:00 -0800

Sites We Love Winner 10.31.11 - www.yourbodysretreat.com

What We Love…

Every now and then, especially after a long day at work, we need to treat ourselves to some rest and relaxation. Your Body’s ReTreat offers a bunch of different services to help our bodies feel a little better, and their website manages to convey the same soothing feel.

About Your Body’s ReTreat…

We asked Jamie what inspired her to start her own business and what lessons she has learned along the way. She says having a plan and understanding your limitations are key things to know to be successful. Read more below!

What inspired you to start your business?

I have always been an entrepreneur at heart. When I was younger I would go door to door with fundraisers and although I wasn’t benefiting in any monetary way, I still loved the thrill that someone was choosing to buy from me. Before I ever obtained my Massage Therapy license, I knew I wanted to work for myself, although I did not envision what it would look like. While working for a small massage studio, I watched how the owner did business and thought about what I would change and how I could make it better. April 1, 2003 I launched Your Body’s ReTreat. After five successful years, the economic crisis began and I was feeling the effects of it. I start thinking of contingency plans and how I could potentially expand and reach a broader demographic. In 2009 I acquired my Esthetician license. Now in addition to massage therapy, I offer organic facials and hair removal for both men and women, which has grown my business three times what it was a year ago.

What sets your company apart from its competitors?

Compassion and dedication to client satisfaction. Rather than focus on quantity, I focus on quality. When clients book an hour massage, they get an hour, if not longer, not a 50 minute massage. Every massage session holds a 100% satisfaction guarantee. I have VIP rates on select hair removal services for clients who maintain regularly scheduled appointments. I also have a niche, which is hair removal for men. There are very few local Estheticians who do this and I am definitely cornering a market in this area. I make connections with my clients and ensure they are happy and satisfied with the services they receive. Those connections are very humbling to me. Making people feel good and look good is incredibly rewarding. Knowing I have something do with whatever positive emotion a client receives from the time they have with me is heartwarming and endearing.

What is your favorite part of running your own business?

I enjoy the “100% accountability” aspect. You are in control of all decision making so if something goes wrong, if you mess up, you can only hold yourself accountable for that. It teaches you discipline. About three months after I started Your Body’s ReTreat, I had to make a visit to the doctor. When I was leaving the nurse was writing my work excuse and asked me when I wanted to return to work. I kind of smiled and said “I don’t need those anymore. I am the boss.” This was my full circle moment. Flexibility is a definitely a perk with business ownership. I know I can play hooky from work, but ultimately, I will pay a price somehow. If I am unavailable, I risk losing clientele.

What lessons did you learn along the way that can help new businesses just starting up?

Have a plan. Know exactly where you would like to be within five years and ten years. Business 101: The day isn’t over until the paperwork is done! Keep good books and do not get behind with bookkeeping. Don’t be all things to all people. Have a specialty. Find a niche within your industry and embark on learning and knowing everything about it. Understand your limitations. Outsource or hire those to do the tasks you are not exceptional at. Your time is better spent on what you do best. Most likely you will spend more time and energy trying to do something on your own, when it would take you less time to earn the income to pay someone else to do the job. Make it convenient for clients and customers to do business with you. Accept credit cards, offer online shopping and if you cannot afford a receptionist to book appointments, offer online scheduling. Have an objective business mentor to bounce ideas off. Never stop believing in what you envision. If you allow the devil’s advocates to dictate your future, they will always create it smaller. “Don’t let the desire of great ambitions overshadow small success”. Recognize and be proud of your accomplishments.

How do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc.) to promote your business and engage with customers?

I use Social Media such as Facebook and Twitter to announce news and events going on within my business such as new products, services and new associates. Clients can also avoid phone tag by conveniently scheduling their appointments via Facebook. Most importantly, my Facebook followers are the first to know about upcoming promotions and specials, some of which are exclusive to them. Twitter has been a good networking source with vendors and other professionals within my industry. I have met some awesome business gurus through Twitter. I use Twitter to tweet what goes on, what I am learning and exciting happenings when I am attending industry conventions or seminars. I will soon be embarking on video marketing via YouTube.

What are some new or exciting things we can look forward to for your business in the near future?

I have recently hired my first associate and will soon be hiring a makeup artist. Your Body’s ReTreat will soon be introducing new products and services such as Eyelash extensions, full-body steam treatments, airbrush tanning and makeup application. I am in the process now of integrating on-line shopping capabilities on both my website and Facebook for those wishing to purchase their skin care and other goodies conveniently online and having them shipped rather than coming into the spa studio.

Anything else you’d like to share?

January 2010 I began rebuilding my website with Intuit. I have personally devoted a lot of time and energy into the site. This past summer I was ranking around 15 million and after tweaking with the Search Engine Optimization, I recently dropped below the 1 million mark. Having my site evaluated and critiqued by my peers and being recognized for my efforts is very rewarding. Thank you for this opportunity to share with others. I truly appreciate it.

Website: http://www.yourbodysretreat.com

Sites We Love Winner 10.17.11 -...

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:57:00 -0700

Sites We Love Winner 10.17.11 - www.cottagecontractorsinc.com

What We Love…

How can you not love a friendly, family-owned business?!

About Cottage Contractors…

Cottage Contractors was built on pure determination and good-ole-fashioned hard work and elbow grease. The Reevies pride themselves on the relationships that they have built with their customers over the years. As this is a family business, the sense of family extends to their customers and the way they do business. We hope you’ll become a member of the Cottage family!

Website: http://www.cottagecontractorsinc.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cottage-Contractors-Inc/210258379035098?sk=wall