It’s Your Business Survey Launches Today to Capture New Insight into the Dana Point Business Community

DANA POINT, Calif. – On the heels of its nationally recognized program, Hide It, Lock It or Lose It, the City of Dana Point, in conjunction with the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce and Dana Point Police Services, is pleased to launch It’s Your Business, an initiative created by the newly formed Dana Point Business Services Team. It’s Your Business aims to identify the needs of the local business community, address those needs in a timely and professional manner, take action to best serve businesses, and prepare for the future through proactive and ongoing dialogue.

It’s Your Business kicks off today with an initial survey asking local businesses for feedback. The survey will shed light on what businesses feel is going well, and in what areas there are opportunities for enhanced services. The team is committed to responding and taking action on the survey responses to make the Dana Point the best it can be for businesses.

“We recognize that Dana Point businesses have a voice and we want to hear from you,” said Mark Levy, Chief of Police Services, City of Dana Point. “This initiative started with a focus on business safety, and quickly grew into a comprehensive program designed to meet the needs of our local business community. The responses to the survey are just the first step in the process of fostering an ideal working environment.”

From networking or noise levels to code enforcement or business safety, no concern or compliment is too big or too small. The deadline for the It’s Your Business survey is Wednesday, November 9, 2011, but businesses are encouraged to submit their responses as soon as possible so the team can get to work on taking action. All businesses that participate will receive a response.

More information and the full It’s Your Business survey is available at www.itsyourdpbusiness.com. The Dana Point Business Services Team will also be making personal connections with the local business community over the next few months at networking events, office visits and through email communication. Businesses interested in learning more about It’s Your Business and obtaining a hard copy survey may contact Christy Teague at the City of Dana Point – (949) 248-3519; Cassie Levine at Dana Point Police Services – (949) 248-3581; or Laura Ouimet at the Chamber of Commerce – (949) 496-1555. Businesses can join in on the conversation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itsyourdpbiz and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Its-Your-Business-Dana-Point/232728180098505?sk=wall.

About the Dana Point Business Services Team:

The Dana Point Business Services Team is an alliance comprised of the City of Dana Point, the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce and Dana Point Police Services. The team is launching It’s Your Business, a program to evaluate the needs of local businesses in order to better serve them and foster their success. For more information, visit www.itsyourdpbusiness.com.

For a snapshot of all of Orange County’s cities, please visit OrangeCountyResource Guide.com

Thanks to Kirsten Wright with Wright Creativity – Web design, Social Media and Blog Strategy – for today’s blog post. Reposted with permission

I don’t often write about LinkedIn because it is one of the tougher tools for a small business to valuate or use well. Most of the businesses who are using are simply spamming the group streams and connecting with as many people as possible in hopes of creating a lead. Not only is this outside of the TOS for LinkedIn, but it’s a great way to tick off a lot of people in a hurry.

What other ways have you found success with LinkedIn…or are you among the group that has yet to really dive in?

Orange County Advertiser is excited to welcome back guest blogger Kari Adler, owner and founder of Have a Tiki Day with more timely business advice.

Is it really 2011? Yes! And the ONLY way we should think of this New Year is how lucky we are to experience it. Each day is truly a treasure and we need to remind ourselves everyday! Don’t allow yourself to be drained by what you don’t have, or can’t do, or criticism by others. This babble will only hinder your ability to live each moment of your life with appreciation for what you DO have.

I remind you of this because of my own latest experience with negative comments directed toward me. I was recently featured in an article for the Orange County Register titled No jobs? Graduate, 23, creates something bigger . I received several positive comments, many thanks to all of you, and several negative ones. Some were downright nasty. One individual even attacked my family. I couldn’t understand why someone would write such negative things without knowing me. I felt horrible.

This brings me to my first Tiki Tip of the New Year and my own personal resolution…

Tiki Tip: Turn a Negative into a Positive

I know, I know, you’ve all heard this before. But do you actually do it? Or do you dwell on negative thoughts that drain the life
out of you. If you’re like me, you are more inclined to believe a negative comment about yourself than a positive one.

As a self-proclaimed Perfectionista, I am already hard on myself. So criticism from others is especially difficult. This is where my brother Kash Adler, writer and actor extraordinaire, stepped in. Not only is he my younger brother, he’s my go-to for calm and positive energy. Basically, my little Buddha.

Kash flat out told me to stop being silly and turn this negative into a positive. I was dwelling and making myself upset. And upset over what? Some words from anonymous bloggers.

Of course I knew these comments were false and typical jealousy, but nevertheless, hurtful. As a small business owner, I’m not used to criticism that harsh. But he said, one day, HAVE A TIKI DAY® will be bigger than you could imagine. And if I think these comments are bad now, just wait until you’re a Fortune 500 company.

I now view these comments as preparation for the future. It pushes me to work harder on my business and reinforces the fact that I’m the one in control of my thought process. We are all faced with negativity on a daily basis, but it’s up to you in how you think about it. Think positive, be positive and you‘ll be productive!

Tiki Tip: Take out the Trash!

Referring to the physical mess around you. A space full of clutter and chaos will only distract you from what you need to focus on. Whether it’s your bedroom, office or kitchen…CLEAN IT UP! I have always found a disorganized space creates disorganized thoughts. Not to mention a waste of your valuable time if you have to sort through a million papers to find what you’re looking for.

I live and work in a clutter-free zone. Shocker, Perfectionista Kari operates in an organized space. But believe me, its works. I have helped other non-perfectionist people organize their spaces and it’s been successful.

In a hurry and can’t find your keys? Or the all important Blackberry? Eliminate this stress by placing your keys & cell in the same dish every day. Organize the little things and relieve the stresses you simply don’t need. Also, don’t forget to toss those items you won’t use again. They’re taking up space that you will eventually run out of. Whether its old books, kitchen gadgets or paperwork, donate what you can and take the rest to the trash!

Tiki Tip: Don’t Predict, ANYTHING

Predicting is the absolute WORST thing you can do. You may have an idea what will happen in the next 5 minutes, hour, or day, but you can never be sure. We like to plan and predict things as we think they should be and are let down when it doesn’t happen. By doing this, you set yourself up for disappointment. STOP this right now!

Always prepare for the unexpected and you’ll be prepared for anything! Life changes in split seconds and one can never know what’s around the corner. Therefore, DON’T PREDICT!

My grandmother always said, “Man Plans and God Laughs”. So very true! Sure I make business plans and keep events in my calendar, but I don’t freak if things change. I expect plans to change. This way of thinking will allow you to handle personal and professional changes much easier. Expect the unexpected and you’ll adapt with ease.

Celebrate the New Year with Kari’s Tiki Tips for your personal and professional life.

Peace, Love &… HAVE A TIKI DAY®

To combat empty store syndrome, many retailers are thinking outside of the box in order to attract customers. To stay competitive they are realizing that they must appeal to their community and become not just a retail location, but a destination.

Of course, many restaurants have already discovered the value of this concept by offering live music on Fridays and/or Saturdays. But does this concept work for say, jewelry stores or furniture stores? Business owners say yes and no. Not all are seeing a spike in sales, but they do see that they are cementing their place in the community.

Live music is not the only event businesses can add to their repertoire. Clothing stores are adding fashion shows. Fitness clubs are adding juice bars. Gift stores offer cookies and freshly brewed coffee. Events or perks are definitely becoming an integral part of retailers trying to reach out in a recession. And most retailers seem to agree that connecting with the community is key in the longevity of their business.

What ideas do you have in these tough times? Have you added events or special perks? We’d love to hear your comments!

Cinda Baxter writes in her blog, “always upward: blog” about the power of “supporting local business in small, easily consumable bites” by keeping our money local. In other words, with more businesses losing their leases every day, we can make a big difference by making a small change in our shopping habits.

We all shop. It’s a part of daily life and there is power in your shopping habits. Instead of going into neighboring cities, or even counties let’s choose to patronize those businesses in our own community.

Why?

•Keep money in our community: Significantly more money re-circulates locally when purchases are made at locally owned, rather than nationally owned businesses.
•Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy. Community businesses are going to stock their stores based upon the needs of their community. Let them know what you want and they will have the motivation to please their neighbors.
•Put your taxes to good use
•Support community groups – Our local businesses are the ones who sponsor our youth sports teams and donate to our auctions.
•Create more good jobs – there are city mottos based upon the theme of live, work, and play in the same city in which you live. Not having a commute is definitely a “plus”

This list is by no means exhaustive. What other reasons can you think of?

Now on the flip side of this concept, how can you, the Orange County Business Owner reach the patrons in your neighborhood. Welcome Express is “home plate” for new residents who are ready to touch base with their current surroundings. In addition to welcoming newcomers with a package of valuable welcome gifts from local businesses, we provide an online directory containing tools and resources – a mini yellow pages for newcomers. Take a look!

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.

Ready-Fire-Aim Marketing* – The Small Business Approach to Accelerate Your Marketing Success!
Welcome Express stands Ready, at YOUR Service to propel your OC-based small business towards its 2009 business goals! Ready-Fire-Aim!

This is the approach to achieve rapid improvements in your small business marketing results in Orange County. It’s not about incremental improvements, but rather transformational improvements.

It’s the Ready-Fire-Aim approach. I’m talking about an approach to marketing, and approach to business, and an approach to life. Enlighten your small business to the wisdom of the Ready-Fire-Aim approach. I know what you’re probably thinking. That little voice inside your head is asking, “Don’t you mean Ready-Aim-Fire?”

Lots of small business owners have a tendency to think about and maybe plan things, but then hesitate to take any action. You want to make sure you get things just right. It’s sometimes called analysis paralysis.

Take a good hard look at the people and organizations you admire for the successes they’ve accomplished. You’ll likely find they are much more willing to live by the Ready-Fire-Aim approach.

It’s like a great football team. They can’t possibly know everything that’s going to happen before they get in and play the game. They call a play they’ve designed and practiced (Ready), they run the play (Fire), and then they look to see how the other team reacts, re-huddle, and call another play that they think will be successful based on what they’re learning (Aim).

It doesn’t mean that you just go out and start acting and doing without any planning or thinking. Guess we could call that the Fire-Fire-Fire approach. That would be a mistake and most likely wouldn’t work out for your business.  But, Ready-Fire-Aim marketing can lead to is a willingness to increase the pace of your growth. Be willing to learn more and do more faster. Be willing to reach for loftier goals and accelerate the success of achieving them.

The thing is the marketing mistakes you make along the way aren’t going to kill you or drive you out of business. Everyone makes mistakes. But, the Ready-Fire-Aim person is the one who learns from the mistake, adjust and then gets ready to fire again.

Be willing to give yourself a break. You can’t know everything there is to know about marketing (or your business, or your life) before you get in the game and call a play.

Go ahead and have a big vision. It’s your vision plus your commitment that will lead you to taking the right actions.
Create a marketing plan to take you towards your vision. Don’t let uncertainty or unanswered questions hold you back. Just do the best you can based on what you know and trust that you will continue to learn and improve.

 If you’re feeling stuck in moving your marketing plan forward, then get some outside help. Maybe the Ready-Fire-Aim action you need to take is to hire a marketing coach or to join a power-marketing group. Nobody said you necessarily have to do it on your own.

Ready-Fire-Aim! Following even this simple advice will put you ahead of 90 to 95% of other small business owners in the game. Just think of what that could mean to your business and your life.

*Source: Kevin Dervin