Have you heard? Everything’s coming up “Chocolate” this summer in Southern California at the premier chocolate, wine and coffee festival! In addition to a myriad of chocolate delicacies to delight your palette, there will be wine tastings, fine coffees to sample, a celebrity chef challenge, a fashion show and fun filled `Chocolatetivities’ for the entire family. A few of our sponsors include; Disneyland, jetBlue, OC Foodies, OC Standard and Lance Magazine.

This is a HUGE sales and promotional opportunity for sponsors and exhibitors to get their product brand “out there” to the public in a fun, friendly and tantalizing way; but most significantly, it supports education through the art and the charities who will be benefiting. The Event promises to become the signature festival for MUZEO and throughout Southern California, raising funds to benefit MUZEO’s Eniro program for access to the Arts for at-risk youth and children throughout the region. A portion of sponsorship and sales for the festival goes to charity and is tax deductible.

Now how can you, the OC Business Owner get involved? How about becoming an exhibitor?

Exhibitor Booths include those for businesses, food and drink vendors, as well as Non-Profit/Charity Groups. Here is a tasting of what you need to know…

• For food and drink vendors it’s $200 for a booth. They sell tastings at about $3 a ticket and keep half. The other half   goes to MUZEO charity.   Any chocolate vendors will be in an air conditioned area.  A food or drink permit is required. Electrical is an extra fee.
• Business booths are $500 – $750
• Charity booths are $200. Charities have to have a raffle or activity that patrons will use tickets   to pay for. The charity keeps half of proceeds.
• Restaurants, Food and Drink Vendors can also choose the option of a booth, free of charge if they donate 100 percent of tasting tickets proceeds to MUZEO charity

Already touted as the “Can’t Miss” event of the 2011 summer season, CHOCOLATE ~ The Event appeals to chocoholics, foodies, music fans and art enthusiasts of all ages. Click for more information on becoming a sponsor or on the event itself.

Over the last 2 years, nearly every bank large to small has tightened their lending requirements dramatically making this a very tough climate for small businesses to obtain financing.

In this tough economy it is more important than ever to keep your business growing because there is no safety in just standing still. Competitors are all hitting hard times and many will cutback or outright fail. Where are their customers going to go?

Businesses need working capital to grow and that is precisely what the current credit markets are denying to many small businesses today. The result is that good and profitable companies (often with many years of historical profits) are squeezed to the point of eliminating marketing and passing on new business. This can endanger the business health of small businesses at a time when many are positioned to grow.

Factoring can help B2B/B2G businesses keep growing in these tough times. Below are advantages of factoring:

· Factoring often provide working capital in as little as 1 business day.

· Many factors do not charge to open an account.

· Look for no minimum factors so you stay in full control.

· Factoring does not impose restrictions on your day-to-day operations or take any ownership stake in your business.

· A factor does not lend money so there is no new debt on your balance sheet.

This link shows a real-life example of a small business factoring success.

http://www.inlandsocal.com/business/content/banking_finance/stories/PE_News_Local_S_bp_1207_cashflow.2eeb3f1.html
The take-away from this for small business owners is you have business financing options beyond your bank and personal money.

To learn more about Oxygen Funding and to view their profile, click Here.

The author, Adam Lomax, Executive VP and COO, Oxygen Funding, Inc., can be reached at www.oxygenfunding.com,adam.lomax@oxygenfunding.com or call (800) 790-3419 9-5 PST.

Twitter, just like any other Social Networking site, is largely used by people from across the globe. The more people who follow your tweets, the greater your chances are of reaching potential customers. Your followers, however, are somewhat pre-qualified; if they are not interested in what they see in your tweets, they will quickly un-follow you.

So, the question is, how do you most effectively communicate with your audience? SocialOomph makes it easy by offering tools that automatically respond to your Twitter followers and schedule tweets for future dates or times. Along with those features, SocialOomph also includes;Twitter ~Keyword Tracking
~Set up what’s known as an auto-DM (When you get a new follower, SocialOomph automatically     sends them a DM which you previously wrote)
~Automatically follows those who follow you, and un-follows anyone who un-follows you
~Finds you new followers while eliminating spammers in the results
~Includes an integrated console to manage more than one Twitter account

The Disadvantages of using SocialOomph

Before you type socialoomph into your browser, there are a few things you should know first; for one, you do not get all of the features listed above unless you sign up for a professional account. When you first sign up, they will offer you a week’s free trial, which includes all of the professional features listed above, and then they will ask you for a subscription fee. If you do not pay the subscription fee, you can still use SocialOomph, but on the basic package they offer. The professional package is pretty pricey, but if you use Twitter for Marketing purposes, it could well be a worthwhile investment. You should also be aware that SocialOomph recently changed their policy due to Twitter claiming that repeating tweets are a breach of the site’s Terms of Service. Duplicated content is considered spam, basically. This means that using the same URL in different tweets is considered spam.

All in all, SocialOomph is a very effective way to help save you time and maximise the effectiveness of your Twitter Marketing. It’s up to you to decide; go have a look.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_M_Williams

To see how Welcome Express can help you in the social media arena, click HERE

TRADE YOUR INVENTORY!  

New, Excess, Last Seasons Goods
 
Now…you can sell it all at our Annual Expo in exchange for products/services you need WITHOUT  having to spend cash! 
 
Trade American Card is Orange County’s largest trade exchange. Annually trading  millions of dollars in goods/services. All while saving hard earned cash!

Sunday,  December 13, 2009 

The Grove of Anaheim

 
10am -  3 pm

  
*Bring your inventory to sell at this one day show in exchange for trade dollars that can be used to purchase hundreds of items including: advertising, entertainment, printing, medical, dental and optometric services, accounting/bookkeeping, photography, payroll, pest control, salon & spa services, business equipment, security systems, travel, jewelry, cosmetic surgery and much more.  One-time membership required.

 For  more information visit  Orange County Resource Guide  

Nine Common Small Business Mistakes and Cures*
Every small business makes mistakes in the journey to success. Stay alert to the pitfalls by planning ahead and taking steps to avoid the common mistakes.

Can You Relate To Any of These Mistakes?
1. An over-reliance on the “vision” and an underdeveloped plan to get there. Your goals are the easy part to define. Work tirelessly on a disciplined strategy toward achieving these goals.

2. Not sustaining your passion for your business through the tough times. We all have times that “test us.” This is the time to dig down deep and remember why you are in business and renew that hunger for success and passion for what you do. Remember, Thomas Edison had about 1,000 failures before finally inventing an electric bulb that worked.

3. Coasting when things are going well and becoming lax about sustaining an aggressive business model.

4. Not diversifying. You should always have new plans and look for new ways to expand on your initial offerings.

5. Not budgeting enough money for branding, advertising and marketing. Business owners frequently fail to set aside adequate funds to get the word out and look credible.

6. Not setting your business apart from the competition. Actively make your product or service distinct from your competition and use this distinction as part of your marketing and advertising.

7. Neglecting loyal existing customers. Word of mouth is powerful free advertising, so keep your good customers happy and content. Always try to improve customer relations. However, if a customer becomes a major distraction to your business, find a diplomatic way to let them go and move on.

8. Not being focused on efficiency. Time is money, so let others help you reach your business goals if they can do a task better and faster. If you know the best possible way to do something, teach those around you. This will free up your schedule to focus on business growth.

9. Doing things on your own, when you need help. Sometimes we let our ego cloud our judgment and we don’t realize that we would have been better off hiring an expert. While often times cost is the true inspiration for doing things on our own, there are times when doing things on our own proves to be costly.
————-
*Source: Matt Chansky  http://www.momentum18.com/common-business-mistakes.html

The economy is down. Make the most of it by reading the signs. Call it economic uncertainty. Call it a full blown recession. Call it opportunity comes-a-knocking, especially for those companies with vision, a remarkable message and the desire to grow.

When the business winds blow south and everybody gets tight with marketing, advertising and selling, what does your company do? Hunker down, cut to the bone, hope and pray you’ll ride it out? That’s your cue to step in and step up, snatching your competitors clients. Slow and steady isn’t going to win this race. Neither is short-term business think.

There is a massive amount of research to support this kind of thinking. A McGraw-Hill study of 600 companies showed that those who cut advertising during the recession of the early 80′s, saw sales increase by 19% between 1980 and 1985. Companies that continued to advertise, market and connect during the recession had sales increases of 275% during the same period. That’s right, a whooping 275% increase. Now what are you going to do?

Think about it. When your competitors decide to hide in the woodshed, it’s time for you go for the remarkable connection and win the competition. Because if you decide to hide out along with them, you’re going to suffer, right along side them. If you decide to wait it out, there is one thing you can depend on – companies that wait during the downturn, spend more money over a longer period of time just to get even.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_S_OGrady

Segment your Market -
All customers are not the same. They have different needs, preferences, and budgets. Segmenting the market into a group of similar customers can help you develop a successful marketing strategy. Trying to satisfy every customer with the same approach is not going to be effective and profitable.

Examples of ways to segment your customers:
- location
- age
- income
- education
- previous buying habits
- how they respond to different advertising promotions

Competition -
Make a list of your competitors. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Who are the major competitors in this market?
- How different they are in delivering their products and services?
- How do they make money?
- How much they charge and what they offer to the customers?
After you answer these questions ask yourself what they do better than you do.

Value Proposition / Unique Selling Proposition (USP) -
In order for your market approach to be successful you have to offer something different. You need to develop an effective value proposition or unique selling proposition. In your value proposition you will list your products and service features and the benefits they deliver to your customers.  Now you need to communicate your value proposition to your target market by:
- Advertising: print media, TV, radio, internet ads, search engine optimization, website marketing
- Public Relations: press releases, events
- Sales Promotion: special offerings, discounts, customer loyalty programs
- Community Involvement: sponsorship

Marketing ROI -
Key to effective marketing is measuring your promotional activities. For example, how many customers do I get from my ad in newspaper and how much did it cost me to get these customers. Now you can compare different alternatives and improve your marketing return on investment in your next promotions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ivo_Legenda

Many people are often confused with the words marketing and advertising. Marketing and advertising are two closely linked factors of an organization. The basic difference between marketing and advertising is that advertising is a key element of marketing. Marketing includes all basic functions of promotions and advertising is one of them.

Marketing:
In simple terms, marketing is a wide range of activities that a firm undertakes to place its products or services to fulfill the needs and wants of customers. Marketing is the exchange of goods between buyers and sellers in a mutually beneficial manner.

Marketing includes four controllable factors such as product, price, place and promotion. They are collectively called marketing mix. The management of a company has keen interest on these terms, because they determine the success of a firm company in market place. These parameters are designed based on the company’s resources and constraints. They even determine the acceptance of your products or services in the market.

A firm adopts certain methods to communicate with the target audience. These methods are collectively called as Marketing communications (Promotion Decisions). A mix of marketing communication includes:
1. Advertising
2. Sales Promotion
3. Personal Selling
4. Direct Marketing and Sponsorship
5. Publicity and Public relations

Advertising:

Advertising is the basic form of promotion decision. It is the most effective mass communication method. Advertising is a paid form of communication by an identified sponsor. It conveys non- personal, public messages with non-personal presentation of features to both existing as well as potential customers.

Advertising is the presentation of an idea, product, place or a person to induce the attention of customers. It is a part of the communication strategy, which communicates the firm’s offerings with the target group. Target customers get the ideas of products through advertisements published in newspapers, direct mail, billboards, radio, internet and television.

Advertising also addresses key decisions of placing ads and determining their frequencies on various forms of media. Advertising is the most expensive communication as well as promotional method. The cost of placing advertisements varies according to the selection of the media. For instance, advertising on television and internet are highly expensive.

In short, advertising is a small part of marketing, but is one of the key marketing functions. On the other hand, marketing refers to all the processes that facilitate deals between buyers and sellers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Clarke

You probably know why going green is good for the planet, but did you know that it is good for your small business too? I’ll outline the three major ways that running an environmentally friendly business will translate to a better bottom line.

1.) Ecoefficiency Means Cost Savings The first major change you’ll see when you go green is that your expenses will shrink as your carbon footprint does. A company that has an environmentally aware mindset will use less resources to get the same work done, and that sort of efficiency can slash expenditures. Using compact florescent lightbulbs, for example, will greatly reduce your electric bill. Keeping in mind the toll paper products has on our rainforests will move you to cut down on unnecessary shipping materials, which also means you spend less. The lesson here is that you should use less, for the environment and for your bank account.

2.) Green Pride!

When you nurture a workplace environment that is concerned with the health of its community and the planet, you and your employees know that you are working for something more than just a pay check. That sort of sense of purpose makes the work your employees do feel important, and it is! When people are motivated by socially conscious and just goals, they are going to work harder and be happier while they do it. It has been shown that environmentally benign companies have reduced rates of absenteeism, increased job satisfaction, and commitment to the company’s mission. A proud employee is a productive one!

3.) Customer Good Will

One of the major advantages that very small businesses need to leverage if they want to regain a prominent place in the American marketplace is a sense of belonging to the community. Faceless behemoths like Wal*Mart are disliked by so many is because it is obvious how little they care for the places they operate. You and your business can stand out if you make an effort to make things better, and going green is a vital part of that. When you use recycled materials, call your customers’ attention to it. Promote green discounts for people who bring their own reusable shopping bags. Use locally grown, organic produce (not only are these better for the planet, but they are better for the people eating them too!). The possibilities are endless, so get creative. Go green and your community will thank you with increased business.

Peter Grantaire is a small business owner and blogger who writes about the challenges that small businesses face, as well as the joy of contributing to your community through your work.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Grantaire

For a list of “green businesses” in Orange County, click here

In today’s world, more and more people are becoming more conscious of their environment. As a result, more businesses are adopting environmentally friendly business practices, like becoming a sustainable, green business. However, even with all the advantages of going green, there are many business owners who find it hard to adopt green practices because of the costs needed to implement changes, such as reconstruction to their daily operations and alterations to products sold to the consumers.

What many don’t realize is that the benefits of green practices far outweigh the costs. Becoming a sustainable business can save money in the long run, create happier customers, and it contributes to a healthier planet.

If you’re interested in adopting green practices, the government Web site, http://www.Business.gov, provides a guide to help businesses adopt the green practices, listed below:

Follow the environmental regulations relevant to your business. Compliance creates two effects: it protects your business from fines and legal actions from the government and it protects the environment.

Create a sound environmental management plan. Since you are now running a green business, creating an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient workplace is important to send your message across. An environmental plan will help you achieve this.

Build green and install energy-efficient air-conditioning systems, appliances, etc. You can contract with an energy professional to help you manage your project.

Buy green products. Green products are made from recycled materials, non-toxic, renewable, and recyclable. Also buy food that is locally grown and organic.

Adopt energy-efficient practices. One of the most effective steps you can take to cut costs is to save energy. You can help your employees conserve energy by providing them with energy-saving tips.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle wastes. Money can be saved by reducing waste. You can also cut costs on raw materials, office supplies, and equipment. Some of the things that you can do to reduce waste are using recycled products, eliminating excessive product packaging material, and participating in recycling programs.

Conserve water. Through conservation, you both save water and cut costs associated with buying, heating, treating, and disposing of it. Try to use water-saving equipment, and minimize discharges to sewer or wastewater.

Learn how Home at Last in OC has “gone green”.  Click Here!