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Firefox 3.6 launched – finally our loyalty rewarded

January 14, 2010 | No comments

If any of you are fans of Mozilla’s Firefox browser (I most certainly am), the upgrade we’ve been waiting for is just around the corner. The beta version is out, and the final version is said to be just about ready.

The choice for many bloggers, power users, and WordPress fans, Firefox 3.6, code named Namoroka, resolves a lot of the issues many users and bloggers were having with the most recent update, and adds some fantastic features that will benefit all users.

Among the changes, according to Mozilla’s site are:

Firefox 3.6 Release Candidate is built on Mozilla’s Gecko 1.9.2 web rendering platform, which has been under development for several months and contains many improvements for web developers, Add-on developers and users. This version is also faster and more responsive than previous versions, and has been optimized to run on small device operating systems such as Windows CE and Maemo.

Developers can find out about all the changes and new features at the Mozilla Developer Center.

The final release of this version is due out in a few more days, but I just had to download the beta.

One of the things I really liked about installing/upgrading to the new version was the communication available. It stopped and let me know which add-ons probably wouldn’t work before it installed the upgrade. This is different from the last two updates and I liked it. Not only that, but I didn’t need an IT professional standing over my shoulder or a how-to document the size of the Los Angeles phonebook to do it. Super easy, two clicks, anyone can do this.

I’m also thrilled with the Personas option they’ve added. Not that this is an option critical to the running of the browser, but I’m really happy to find a way to skin the browser to reflect me and my tastes. The only downside I found was that with some of the gorgeous designs available, you can’t read the rest of the stuff on your browser bar, so you have to be careful which one you use.

Mozilla also has released a new version of Thunderbird. So far the jury’s still out on that one. I’m still exploring the changes.

Addressing A Different Sort Of Problem

January 5, 2010 | No comments

Are you working from a home office? Are you hesitant to give out your home address to customers and clients? Are you reluctant to print your physical address on your business cards?

Join the club. I don’t want people showing up at my house, either. But there is a disturbing trend to drop mailing addresses from business cards and advertising. The only reason I see and hear my clients who are home-based give is that they don’t want customers coming to their homes. Well, guess what, when you don’t give a mailing address/street address, you’re letting folks know immediately you work from home!

The solution is quite simple and is nothing new. I remember getting this piece of advice in the 80’s from a mentor/friend of mine and I believe it still holds true: “If you don’t have a street address or use a Post Office Box as a mailing address, that gives the impression that you are less than solid, that you are a temporary concern and may not be around when your customer needs you.”

Postal Annex photoIn this day of virtual business, I entreat all entrepreneurs to think from your contacts’ point of view. What do you do for a Yellow Page ad? There are those who still use those to find businesses. What if they met you at a tradeshow, but forgot where you were located and want to find someone who delivers your product locally? What if they need to send you a contract for your services? What if they want to thank you with a card or a gift? There are numerous reasons to have a physical address available for them beyond the professionalism issue.

There’s an increasing popularity in sending greeting cards to your prospects to seal a deal or touch them in a different way. Look at the phenomenal growth of Send Out Cards ( no affiliation, just an observation). I get one of those at least once a week from all sorts of contacts. It’s a disservice to your contacts to not provide some kind of physical address.

Here’s what I recommend: Instead of a Post Office Box or your home address, you can rent a box at a mail drop. These are companies you see all the time in your daily travels. There is probably one down the street from you. These are companies like Mailboxes, Etc., The UPS Store, Postal Annex, and so forth. You can find them in your yellow pages or their websites provide local stores. The investment is minimal (it’s $10/month at Postal Annex)  but you get a street address as well as much more.

I’ve used a maildrop for my business address for the last 20 years. When I moved from California to Washington, my mail was forwarded seamlessly for the first 2 months until my change of address took effect. My clients and customers did not have to participate in the craziness of finding a new “home”, setting up the other business services and settling in. I could relax and know that as far as they knew, everything was under control and running smoothly. (Hah!) Using a service has provided freedom from waiting for packages to arrive, security so that if packages or mail (bearing checks!) arrive while I’m out they don’t disappear, fax services, packaging and shipping services, copy services and some have even provided 24-hour access.

I recommend you at least check this option out and I request you start putting a mailing address on your business card for the rebels who like snail mail (like me).

One Niche Or Two – Managing Multiple Market Segments

January 5, 2010 | No comments

I have realized just lately that in spite of the current trend of “niche-ing down” or targeting one specific demographic,  some of us continue to serve two markets  and although they sometimes have things in common, they do not intersect. I have two very different products and even though some of the consumers of Product #1 may need #2, and vice versa, not everyone wants or needs both.

I was listening to a podcast last week where the presenter was talking about Venn Diagrams – remember those?

Venn diagrams or set diagrams are diagrams that show all hypothetically possible logical relations between a finite collection of sets (groups of things). Venn diagrams were conceived around 1880 by John Venn. They are used in many fields, including set theory, probability, logic, statistics, and computer science.

How many of you are trying so hard to follow the instructions of the gurus out there who are telling you to find a specific audience, target market or particular niche where you offer your products and if you can just find that one mysterious niche, all will be well.

I’m here to tell you, I can’t do that and neither can some of my peers.  Can any of you relate to the stress and frustration of trying to force a multi-niche product to fit into a market where it doesn’t sing?

So how do you manage a multi-market business?  I know it’s more work, but it’s important to know both your audiences. It’s also important to be absolutely sure that you do have unique demographics that use your products. Saying you have two markets is not just an easy way to avoid drilling down to identify your people. All the work you do to get to know your specific audiences (I really hate the word “target”) will tell you where they intersect and where they don’t.  Then you can begin to discern who those markets are and how either of your products can serve them.

Until you can mentally sit down for a cup of coffee with your ideal client/customer, until you can close your eyes and see them sitting across the table from you; that means know what they like to eat, how they take their coffee, who they watch on TV and so forth, you won’t know how to approach them.

The fun for me and I hope for you, is the journey to get to know those you most want to attract. Go meet them, greet them, and get to know them intimately. Here are a few tips to get you started.

1)      Put yourself in their shoes mentally – who would most likely buy from you/hire you?

2)      Where do those people you identified above shop, what do they read, what do they wear?

3)      Once you figure out where they shop, go there, too! Take a look around and see where this group is not being served.

4)      Try taking a survey – start talking to people you would most like to attract and ask questions, then, most importantly, listen to the answers.

5)      If they belong to an organization, contact the organization to see if they have information you can use.

It all comes down to knowing your audience. Once the strangers in your audience become friends, you’ll know them well enough to be able to directly address their needs – no matter which of your niches they fit into. Remember your own priorities. You are here to be of service on your way to being profitable. The core message behind sales is always to find a need and fill it. If you have a product designed to help more than one market segment, so be it.

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This article is also published on Biznik.com

Got Powerhouse Plexus?

September 3, 2009 | No comments

I love words. I chew them up, digest them, integrate them and tear them up. My word this post is “plexus”. I’ll get to why in a second.

What is a plexus? I’m glad you asked:

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plex⋅us

/ˈplɛksəs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [plek-suhs] Show IPA

Use plexus in a Sentence

–noun, plural -us⋅es, -us.

1. a network, as of nerves or blood vessels.

2. any complex structure containing an intricate network of parts: the plexus of international relations.

Origin:

1675–85; < NL: an interweaving, twining = L plect(ere) to plait, twine + -tus suffix of v. action

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Now, why this word at this time? I was searching for the exactly perfect word for a new group I want to start. I’ve been collecting Powerhouses for some time; women who are outstanding in their fields and who are willing to be part of something bigger than themselves. I am delighted to say, I’ve amassed quite an impressive collection. But I needed a cool word to describe the group. I started at Powerhouse Posse, but then looked up the definition of “posse” and it didn’t fit into the context I sought.

Then I found “plexus”. This works much better.

So, I guess what I have been doing is created a people plexus; a network of cogent powerhouses who are all working towards a common goal – success by service. The members of my Powerhouse Plexus are men and women who come from heart, who see what’s missing and guide others to fill in the gaps and live powerful, passionate and possibility-filled lives. For me, anyone who comes to me as a client is one of the most wonderful gifts, because those people have recognized that the next step for them is a partnership of excellence and that they don’t have to do it all alone!

Have you started creating your Powerhouse Plexus yet? Here are the requirements for mine – start making your list of attributes to find yours.

1) The participants in the plexus need to have recognized the need for partnership

2) The participants in the plexus need to have a sense of something bigger in the marketplace and not come from a scarcity mentality*

3) The participants in the plexus must be willing to help

and lastly

4) The participants in the plexus must be proactive, personally powerful and living their own dream.

So? Who’s in your Powerhouse Plexus?

First steps to create an identity

May 17, 2009 | No comments

You have your idea, your business license, and now you need to create your company. What does it look like to others? Do you want a professionally designed corporate identity? Do you even know what that identity should be?

seedling

seedling

Here are some steps to follow in the very beginning:

1) Imagine your company 5 years down the road – what sorts of things do you want it known for?

Imagine it however you want to – What I usually recommend is that you imagine yourself sitting down to your desk and reaching for a prospectus on your company that lays on top.  What does it say? How does it say it? Does it sing? Is it tightly worded for maximum effect? How well does it reflect what you originally set out to do?

2) Is there a symbol or a phrase that sums up exactly what you’re up to?

Is it displayed prominently on your paperwork? Your business cards, your website if you have one?

3) Before you settle down to the fun part of designing a logo, color scheme and office space, you need to figure out your primary message or even what used to be called a mission statement.

Is this something you can tell folks as an elevator speech? Does it succinctly embrace your market, your business and your goals?

4) Once you get that part, the rest is easier since everything you do needs to reflect what you’ve just figured out.

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