Bob's Biztalk posts

Odd Shaped Biz Cards. Do They Really Stand Out?

We all get stacks of business cards when we go to networking events. And I'm sure everyone has their own "method of madness" in organizing them. Whether you pick and choose, promising ones go in a nice business card holder, or possibly you scan them in. Or you might wrap a rubber band around them.

I believe the first transition away from the traditional card was to make them vertical instead of horizontal. But card holders were still popular and that forced one to turn their head at a 90-degree to read it.

Whatever the case, what do you think about odd-sized business cards? There are Moo Cards out there, cards half the traditional size. And I've found larger ones, the size of playing cards, or maybe perfectly square.

So I'm asking you...

What is the strangest shape of card you have ever received?

Do those cards really stand out, do they really make a difference?

If you have a card that isn't standard size, how has it worked for you?

My Other Indie Side

Hey, Bizniks. I'm here to re-introduce my bad indie self. Most of you know me from MarketingYourSmallBiz.com, the online business Judy and I started in January and have been promoting here on Biznik.

One week ago, we made a huge decision - read about it here. We are putting all out energies and passions back into Cat's Eye Group, our 15 and a half-year old marketing communications business. With a slight name change—to Cat's Eye Marketing—we are back to doing what we love most. Cat's Eye Marketing provides print and web design, copywriting, photography, and marketing support to soloprenuers, small businesses and nonprofits.

Since joining Biznik in January, Judy and I have been very active—both online and offline. We will continue to connect with the exceptional people we have met here and looking forward to building new relationships.

Visit our website and drop us a line. We'd love to hear from you.

Is Print Dying?

As a 16-year veteran of graphic design, I am seeing fewer and fewer printed materials being requested—and produced. Although I am a firm believer print will never go away, I do see areas where it does seem to be slowly disappearing. A few insights from my own experience....

Yellow Pages - How many phone books do you get? How many can we handle? I personally haven't used a phone book for years. When they are left on my doorstep, they go directly into the recycle. FACT: A client of ours is dropping his $35,000 a year yellow page ad to a single line listing.

Brochures - So many businesses going to online brochures. How often does someone hand you a printed brochure? We have boxes left of ones we printed over a year ago. Are they a dying breed?

Postcards - This is one I still believe will be around for awhile. They still have a good impact if done correctly, and are not quite as expensive as mailing a letter. You still see plenty of them coming in the mail!

Annual Reports - Again, are you seeing these more online? Are the days of a slick, full-color corporate annual report coming to an end?

Okay, designers, printers, marketers, yellow pages reps, all of you out there. Let me know your thoughts!

Almost Free Biz School

I would like to invite Bizniks to the Almost Free Biz School on Oct. 4th.

Join these Biznik presenters at the Almost Free Biz School - myself, Dan McComb, Howard Howell, Pamela Ziemann, Keith Gormezano and Karen Waddington, plus others, for the:

* Almost Free Biz School - A Full Day of Classes and a Light Lunch for just $18*

Oct. 4, 2008; 8:30am-4pm; Technology Resource Center, Renton Technical College

Get help and mingle with other start-ups, would-be start-ups and small business owners and learn in classes like these:

• Forecasting Your Cash Needs
• Make More Money from Your Website
• Shameless Bragging with Social Networking
• Marketing Plan - Useless Unless Used
• How Businesses Get the Funds They Need to Grow
• Maximize Your Legal Business Tax Deductions
• Blog Wild: How a Blog Can Help Your Business
• Subtle Selling
• Marketing Your Business with Social Media
• Get Your Books in Order -- Quick!
• Find Money with a Good Business Plan
• Big Marketing Ideas, Small Budget: Eight Low-Cost Marketing Strategies
• 5 Communication Steps: Get the Sale
• Panel Discussion: Small Biz Ownership - Tips for Success

more info at rentonbizschool.com

Office Space $200 for 6 months - less than $34 a month!

We have a gift certificate we bought at an auction for $200. The value of the 6 months rent is over $1,300. It is a 9' x 10' private workspace in Creative Workspace in Renton. It has a vaulted ceiling and courtyard view. Includes heat, electricity and is a secure building. The gift certificate is transferable and we will sell it for what we paid for it, $200 -- that's only $34 a month! Call us at 425.223.0022 or email me at publisher@marketingyoursmallbiz.com for more info.

What Are Your Blogging Issues?

What do you find most challenging with your blog? Or what roadblocks are keeping your from starting a blog?

I am thinking of doing a lunch/discussion/informational event in Renton to help answer these questions. Would anyone be interested?

New Marketing Resource for the Solopreneur

Check out our new website and our exciting subscription offers. Sign up for SoloSelect and receive our ebook, The Solopreneur's Personal Branding Toolkit, or sign up for our premium membership, SoloSavvy and get our ebook and a one page critique of your homepage absolutely free!

Congrats to Award Winners at BizJam

For those of you who missed the BizJam Soirée, there were awards given to some fantastic Bizniks and their contribution to the community.

Howard Howell - Most Biznik Events - now Howard is the master at hosting events. His expertise in networking truly earned him this award.

Judy Dunn - Most Thoughtful Comments - Okay, I'm a bit biased here. But Dan did make her blush and his comments were something that kept her on a high the rest of the evening.

Molly Gordon - The Master Connector. Currently at 150 connections. She has brought a heck of a lot of Bizniks to the community. You go girl!

Chris Haddad - Most Viewed and Commented On Article. Hey Chris, way to go. The article -- provocative as it was-- got people going.

Ilise Benun - Traveled the farthest to BizJam. All the way from New York. Not only did she make the trek, but Ilise is so active in the Biznik community, heck, it's like she's right here in Seattle.

And John Adair - the mastermind behind the Biznik website. He was recognized for his genius efforts behind Biznik. You are truly a gifted web guy.

And there were all the others, volunteers, attendees, sponsors, the list goes on. What a year of BizJam it was!

If I left someone out, please let me know and then beat me on the head!

Blogging From BizJam

At this year's BizJam I'm sure there will be plenty of us blogging live from the event, sharing experiences and knowledge. For those that are not able to attend, including Biznik buds across the states, and even the oceans, they may want a taste of the buzz that's going on.

So for all you bloggers who are going to be hitting the keys, list your blog site here as a reference to all those poor souls who are unable to jam with us!

I will refresh this thread as we get closer!

Who Wants Very Cheap Office Rent in Renton?

Who Wants Very Cheap Office Rent in Renton?

We purchased a certificate for 6 months rent at Creative Workspace in Renton at an auction. Since we already have an office there, we cannot use it (don't ask why we bought it!)

We have talked to the manager and can sell/transfer the certificate to someone who is interested. All we want to do is recoup the money we paid for it. (The manager requested no grunge bands or meth labs please.)

You will get 6 months rent for $300, valued at $1,474.

Private office space-- 9' x 10'

Unfinished floor and walls

Includes heat and electricity.

Secure building.

The building is just a few years old!

If you are interested, send me an email at publisher@marketingyoursmallbiz.com. I will forward you the manager's name and number for further inquiry.

How Did You Come Up With Your Company Name?

I fell into the red nose rage going on with Biznik and someone sent me a personal message noting the odd colored eyes on our cat Nuz. So here's the story...

15 years ago we named our other business Cat's Eye Graphics. The name seemed to fit with our design business. So that's pretty boring, huh. But the story behind it is the very next day a small white kitten showed up on our doorstep -- a stray and very sick. Once we brought him in, that's when we noticed the odd colored eyes. We figured, "this had to be a sign". So we took him in, nurtured him and 15 years later, at 25 lbs., he pretty much runs the business.

So how did you come up with you business name?

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

Recently at a Biznik lunch I hosted, I asked these three questions. Tell me "one" thing you wanted to be when you grew up? Tell me what "extra effort" you made as a child to reach this dream? And does it reflect on who you are today?

My answer was 1) A zoologist 2) I took a four volume encyclopedia that was published in 1910 (this wasn't back in the early century though) that my mom had packed away and went through each page, cut out any entry that had to do with animals, and pasted them in a huge three ring binder. 3) And does it reflect who I am today? I love animals.

Some of the answers from our lunch (only sticking to #1) Clown Join the circus Rock Star Reporter Moonshiner Farmer to name a few...

The great thing about this was everyone learned a bit more about each other and afterwards, it seemed to make conversation much more relaxing and natural.

So, what did you want to be?

Blogs as Websites

More and more I am seeing businesses using the blog format as their website. It's happening all over the place. Are you one of them? Or have you been thinking about changing your website to a blog format? What are the pros and cons you have discovered?Would love to hear your thoughts as I know several Bizniks who do this!

Do You Use Double Opt-In in Your E-marketing?

I know that a lot of us offer free newsletters, ezines, tips, what have you. In the software we use, we have the choice to use double opt-in or not. For those of you who don't know what that is, when someone signs up for our free etips, they get an email that asks them to reply to confirm the subscription.

We have also heard other "emarketers" say they do not use double opt-in because they lose subscribers that way. I know that we do have some that either choose not to opt-in after signing up or they must ignore that email for one reason or another.

But we feel it is good business to use the double opt-in, and a best practice for the internet.

Do you use it or not? Why or why not? Would love to hear.

Life Partners and Business Partners

I was Kiomi's breakfast yesterday ( a great event!) and during our conversation it ended up me mentioning that my wife (Judy) and I are celebrating our 15th year in business and our 25th year of marriage. After explaining how we worked side by side for all those years, someone gasped and asked, "How do you do it?" This isn't the first time I have been asked that question, but I always find it hard to come up with the magical answer. Usually I just explain it just must be the two of us. It works for us! Nothing specific. But as I think more about it maybe these three things play into it.

We talk and share a lot.

We don't hold things inside.

And finally, we both have great senses of humor and love to laugh!

With us both being Biznik members, we would love to hear from others that work with their significant other and what makes it work for you.

Strange characters in my blog listing on my profile page

Hi, on my profile page I am getting quotes, etc. turned into strange characters. I have asked Dan and he is checking into it, thank you so much Dan. But I'm thinking to assist him does anyone else have that problem on their blog listings in their profile. If so, who do you use for your blog? We use Typepad. And when I asked them, they said to contact Biznik (I just love when technical problems are passed back and forth). Maybe we can assist Dan in narrowing down the cause. Thanks!

South King County Meet and Greet

As a newbie to Biznik, I have and will continue to enjoy going to Seattle functions. But are there any of you in the South County -- Renton, Kent, Auburn, etc.-- who would be interested in a monthly Meet and Greet lunch in Renton? Let me know!