Marty

What a great venue for our Marty! We enjoyed meeting all our friends, watching Brigette rock the pool table, and soaking up the ambiance.  I loved the wonderful lighted signs upstairs--awesome design.  Thanks boys!!

Nice seeing the group last night!  Thanks Dr. Tom Etter.

Robin Krieger

Keller Williams

This article, titled "10 Things Customers Want on a Website," is required reading for any business either already on the Web or considering getting a website.

If you need tech help, call Adam Fichman at Lifted Logic*. If you need content, call me, Liz Craig, Writer, at 913-236-7595.

See you at the Marty!

*or any of our other fine Web developers. I just happen to like Adam.

My husband, David Roney, is going to bring out the 1957 Chrysler convertible for you guys to see.  We will be at Scooters, so hope we can get into the parking lot past the road construction.

See you tonight:  robin and missy

Click to see Rizer relaxing Warhol Style!

As a Professional Organizer I normally wouldn't recommend using a storage unit. One thing I tell my clients is, "If you don't have room for it, maybe it needs to go." However, there are those times when a storage unit comes in pretty handy. Take for instance when, about a month ago, the sewer backed up into my basement. We had 12 inches of water when we woke up that Monday morning. What a mess! Once the water was cleaned up and the ruined items were removed the real clean up started. One of the first things I did was get a Mobile Mini set in our driveway. It was very helpful in getting all the salvaged items and furniture that wasn't ruined out of the way while we cleaned, painted and got our basement restored.

Here are 4 other innovative ways to use storage.

1) Urban downsizing: Storage is often a challenge in the big city, but it doesn't have to be. Free up much-needed space by storing non-essential items.

2)Salvaging: Hurricane, fire, basement flood or other unfortunate event? Speed up recovery time with a delivered unit. Store the salvaged items on site where you can reach them, and have them delivered to a secure, climate-controlled warehouse while your home is restored.

3)Renovations: Spring and Summer are great times to embark on a home renovation. Rather than clutter up the house while you are putting down that new floor, store your valuables, electronics, furniture and more in a portable storage unit to know that they are safe.

4)Archiving: Make record-retention and safety a priority by utilizing a storage unit at your business.

I have created a non-profit group called HEARTland Positive Dog Training Alliance (HEART).  It is a group of Kansas City's best dog trainers, pet professionals and dog owners dedicated to educating ourselves and others about humane, effective, science based dog training. 

There are 2 major training methods - traditional and positive.  Traditional training (HEART does not endorse this method) involves leash "jerks" or "pops" and the use of choke, pinch and shock collars.  This method creates a training atmosphere of pain and intimidation and is sometimes based in dominance training, meaning the belief that it is impossible to train a dog unless you are the dominant animal.

Positive trainers believe that you get better, longer lasting results using a comination of positive rewards for good behavior and non-hurtful consequences for unwanted behavior.  They also believe that using pain free methods creates dogs that are eager to please, enjoy working and it builds a stronger bond between you and your dog. 

HEART offers educational, networking and support opportunities for its members. 

There are 2 ways you can help HEART.  1) you can join the group as a supporting member (dog owners and pet professionals) or a professional member (positive dog trainers).  2) your business can offer HEART's members a discount or special of some kind in exchange for being listed as a supporting business on their website.

For more information - please contact Patty Homer - pattythepuppypro@gmail.com or 816-699-2260

and I like it! I just met with Josh Biles, one of our newest Marty members, and hired him to kick my ass for a month.  So when you see me I want you to ask me how it's going. That's one way to get motivated...write a check. I'm counting on Josh to help me reach my fitness goals. I want to tone up and get back into the swing of working out regularly.

Here’s how a small business can make a big splash on the Internet and reach and win customers:

• Have a good website.
(easy to find, easy to use, attractive and well-designed, providing useful info for your target audience).

• Have a presence on Twitter and Facebook.

Establish a "Like" page on Facebook (Used to be called a Fan Page) and invite friends and customers to sign onto it. You can post news and promotions there. Post tweets regularly - you can get away with posting the same info three times a day, morning, noon and night, to catch the most views.

• Blog like mad.
Be real. Be human. Establish a human connection with your prospects and customers. Offer valuable insights, knowledge and a piece of your own humanity. Regularly, consistently.

• Send out e-mail newsletters.
Not all about YOU, but about things your target audience would like to know. If you’re a tire store, how about tips on how to brake safely on ice? And by the way, the best tires to buy.

• Finally, do not try to do these things yourself.
Hire professionals. Whether it’s design, writing, website development or anything else regarding your Web presence, you’re better off to find reasonably priced freelancers out there who are experts. You’re an expert at your business. Probably not at social media marketing.

If you are an expert in social media marketing, kudos. But you’ll have to make a choice: are you going to run your business, or are you going to take all the time to get online and do your tweets, blogs and e-mail newsletters regularly, consistently?

How much is your time worth? I’m just sayin’.