Keith's Biz Talk posts

Free document shredding on 10/17 in Seattle, Olympia, Troutdale (OR), and Anchorage, AK

The first rule in identity theft protection is IF YOU DON'T NEED IT, DISPOSE OF IT... RESPONSIBLY!

Gather up your unwanted documents and take advantage of this FREE shredding service offered through the Better Business Bureau, (which I am a member of) on Saturday, October 17th at the times below.

Drive up and drop off up to three (3) grocery bags or boxes of unwanted documents at the locations below. No cardboard or three-ring binders, please. Items will be securely shredded on-the-spot .

Western Washington

North Location:
Carter Subaru
17225 Aurora Ave N
Seattle, WA 98133
9 am – 1 pm

South Location:
All-Star Ford
3121 Pacific Ave SE
Olympia, WA 98501
9 am – 1 pm

Oregon:
Saturn East
3265 SW Sundial St
Troutdale, OR 97060
9 am – 1 pm

Alaska:
Wells Fargo
Northern Lights & C Street Store
301 W Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99503
10 am – 2 pm

For more information:
Niki Horace at 206.431.2222, ext 187
email: events@thebbb.org

Offered: 2010 Entertainment or Chinook Books at cost (see below). These are the two for one or 50% off discount coupon books for restaurants and services in Greater Seattle area.

The offer is only good for either VIP or VIP Pro members or any basic member who has hosted more than three events, written an article, connected with more than 24 people, or posted more than three comments or posts in the last year. I honor folks who contribute in other ways than spending money each month.

The cost is $16.00 for the Entertainment Book and $10 for the Chinook Book. If you don't know what these are, write to me at abt@scn.org. Pickup in Wedgwood/Ravenna in Seattle.

A nice opportunity to treat yourself for achieving certain personal or business goals, taking a client out and saving money (please remember to tip on the original amount and include the tip for your expense report or taxes), meeting a friend for coffee or lunch, or splurging with a loved one (or more than one if you get two books, smile).

Free oil change coupon from Bernie's Automotive in Ballard near major bus lines and with shuttle service

As an expression of appreciation that Biznik members and their referrals make up about 18% of my business over the last three years (which is why I continue to be a gold member), I am giving away four free oil change cards or coupons that I got from my mechanic. It is also a nice way to save money.

Bernie’s Automotive is located at Leary Way NW and Eight Ave NW by Fred Meyer in Ballard. They are by the #46, 28, 44, 15, 17, and 18 bus routes. They also offer shuttle service upon advance notice.

I recently raved about Bernie’s Automotive on Angi’s List, Yelp, Insider Pages, Merchant Circle, and CitiSearch. Why? They told me that I didn’t need to replace my brakes while other shops were painting an image of impending doom.

To obtain this coupon, send me a message or an email to abt@scn.org and let me know where you want it sent.

If I receive more than four responses, I will give them to gold, silver, and basic members in that order and based on the completeness of your profile in the case of a tie.

As a point of full disclosure, Bernie's will credit me $40 off any future repair bill of mine for each redeemed coupon.

Wanted: 1930's+ style black or antique doctor's bag for Dr. QuickBooks & Quicken (PC or Mac): I make house calls to help you

I run a Better Business Bureau Accredited Business with seven recommendations on LinkedIn and six on Biznik called Dr. QuickBooks & Quicken.

I named it that because I make house calls to people's homes and businesses to set them up in the programs, review what they have done if they are DIYers, and train them how to use the software properly so they don't have to waste billable time trying to learn the program on their own. Many of my clients appreciate not having to sit in traffic getting to a class and going at the slowest person's pace.

I am looking for a black leather doctor's bag with the folding top and two carrying handles about the size of two shoe boxes. It is the kind you would see in 1930's-1950's movies. I thought as it would be fun to live up to my brand and image, smile when I arrived at a client's place. I had a lead at an antique shop but it was sold when I got there.

Free copy of Quicken Online to keep track of your personal finances

Want to know what is happening in your bank accounts, loans, credit cards, transfers between them (also known as payments), and even the cash in your wallet?

Keep track of your medical bills and insurance payments, or your rental properties. Find out how to identify how much you are spending each day so you can determine how much is necessary and redirect your spending.?

Create reports that show you where your money is going or to prepare your tax returns in a more timely manner? And then act on that information by cutting back your spending?

As a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor who also trains and assists folks with QuickBooks and Quicken for the PC and the Mac, I am passing on this link from Intuit that they are now offering the Quicken Online edition for free.

As far as I know, you can use it in either the Windows or Mac operating systems. Also, as a point of full disclosure, you should know that I get $2.00 for each person who signs up and activates at least one account. Oh, boy, I can get lunch at Wendy's, smile or leave a more generous tip at one of Howard Howell's events. I believe Intuit makes their money off their ads on the site. I just though you should know.

I am passing that information along so you can gain control of and track your finances, pay down, get out of, or learn how to reduce your debt, or save money for your child's education or your grand kids? Perhaps you are reading this because you realized that you need to get your ducks in a row if you want to retire in X years?

Quicken Online allows you to keep track of most bank or credit union accounts as well as the cash in your wallet (you might also be able to use this cash feature to keep track of your gift cards), your income, spending, investments including your 401(k)s, or brokerage investment accounts such as IRAs, 401(b), 403(b), and 529s, mortgages, loans, credit cards, and other debt. It won't let you manage your assets (then again, with the declining housing market, do you really want to be reminded how much you paid for your house, glub, glub?) but hey, it's free.

And yes, I even use it myself.

You may be able to keep track of your new small business if you are willing to use two or more accounts (I recommend one for business and one for personal for the online version but keep in mind that you won't be able to import your business account into QuickBooks or Quicken later on if you decide to use that program).

Use Quicken Online and the Internet to set up and download your online banking information from over 5300 banks including PayPal and other financial institutions, credit card, investment including brokerages firms, and loan statements.

Assign those transactions to the proper financial category and tax line so you will be ready next year. You can also schedule your bills so you can avoid potential late fees (that's what automatic withdrawals are for) and set up some financial alerts.

The choice is yours.

You can gain control of your life and finances by clicking on this link and start using Quicken Online.

Or you can sit in the financial darkness.

Free QuickBooks Pro software (Monday 12/22 ONLY at Staples)

My cousin who works for Intuit just sent me an email informing me that Intuit will offer QuickBooks Pro (I am presuming the 2009 for Windows version but have asked for clarification for my Mac clients) for FREE at Staples stores on Monday, Dec. 22.

This promotion is to help small businesses through tough economic times, and supports Intuit's goal of helping the small business ecosystem. Personally, if you are still using an older version, it is a great way to upgrade your existing software at minimal cost.

The regular price at Staples is $199.99. You get $40 in instant savings and with a $159.99 mail-in rebate, you can get QuickBooks Pro for FREE (of course, you have to pay the sales tax.)

If you end up buying more than one copy to be legal and because you need more than one copy in your work place, remember to use different addresses for the rebate as most rebate offers only allow one per address.

The offer is one day only; you can find the nearest Staples store at http://www.staples.com or buy it on-line through them.

Offered: King sized mattress set with mirrored headboard with nothing expected in return

A friend of mine in Redmond has a newer king size mattress set (top and bottom) and a headboard to give away. I thought I would offer it to Biznik members first. Headboard has "mirrors" along the section that faces the bed. Kinda of a 70s look in that the mirrors are broken up by some dark streaks which were normal for this type of mirrors. Headboard is very heavy.

You are responsible for providing your own transportation such as a ZipCar (formerly FlexCar) pickup truck if you don't own one.

Bed set is currently in their garage.

Tell me how this would make your life better.

Today only: Fry's is selling QuickBooks Pro 2008 for $129.99 plus tax along with PC6400 & 5300 memory

If you are thinking of getting QuickBooks Pro 2008 for the PC (and you've *confirmed that this is the right software for your business), Fry's is selling it today only (5-16-08) for $129.99 plus tax. The normal price is usually $150-170 depending on where you go.

They are also rebating the entire purchase price (excluding sales tax) for a 256 MB PCI Graphics Card, notebook cooler, McAfee Internet Security Suite 2008 for three computers (I have given my extra installations to my QuickBooks clients who are lacking protection), and a 430 Watt power supply.

Also offered after rebate are a Jabra Bluetooth headset for $2.99 or a Motorola for $19.99 (we all have to get ready for our handsfree law in July and so we can all look like half assimilated Borgs, smile), laptop stand for $9.99, Brother laser printer/copier/fax machine for $19.99, 2 GB DDR PC3200 (400 MHz) for $39.99, 2 GB DDR2 PC6400 (800 MHz) for $19.99, 4 GB DDR2 PC5300 Dual Notebook Memory (667 MHz) for $49.99, 4 GB DDR2 PC6400 Dual Memory (800 MHz) for $49.99, and 1 GB DDR PC2700 (333 MHz) Notebook Memory for $39.99, OEM XP Pro for $129.99 (for system builders?), 2 GB Micro SD twin pack for $12.99, and a 1500 VA UPS for $79.99.

Offers can be found in today's (Friday, May 16th, 2008) inset in most major daily newspapers (in Seattle, that would be the Times and PI). Quantities may be limited. Prices are good for today only. The Greater Seattle area Fry's is open to 9 PM and is located at 800 Garden Ave N. in Renton on the west side of I-405 at exit 5 (head towards the lake) and turn left at the light by the railroad tracks across from Boeing.

*a good way to confirm if this is the right software for your business is to call me at 206-789-8328 or any other Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor in your area or you can compare the boxes on display.

Free subscription to Seattle Business Monthly magazine

Seattle Business Monthly is offering free subscriptions. Here's the link that they sent me to forward to my business friends so they can sign up. There is some reference on that sign up page about qualifying but I haven't heard of anyone with a bona fide, verifiable business being turned down.

You can view their current and back online issues (including web exclusive material at http://www.seattlebusinessmonthly.com.

I always learn something from it. This is an update to a previous post.

Would like to be able to use the quote or indent command when posting

Sometimes, I would like to show that some words in a post are a quote besides putting them in italics and would like to be able to indent it.

I have tried to use regular HTML commands like <quote>insert text here</quote> but it hasn't worked.

Could we get this enabled or let us use an indent option?

Need to use different Biznik web site addresses for messages that are invitations to add people to network vs general messages or internal e-mail between members

When I get an invitation to join someone's network or a general message throught the Biznik internal e-mail network, the link on the bottom of my e-mail notification says they are the same:

Name of sender has sent you a message.

Thanks, The Biznik Team

When the message is an internal e-mail, I have to go an extra step to get to that internal e-mail.

What I think should be done since clicking on the add to network and send a message are different buttons under our pictures is that invitations to network would stay the same but general e-mail messages notifications would have a different Biznik web site address of:

http://biznik.com/members/name of member/messages?display=inbox

That way we would go directly into the appropriate area of our mail boxes and not have to do an extra step.

I personally think that mail should be its own tab between Your Profile and Members when we are logged inand not accessed through Your Profile. Currently, it seems like an extra step to access it and this change would encourage the use of the system to send mail internally.

A Place That Sells Unique Business Card Cases (So You Can Start a Conversation at Networking Events or When Handing Them Out to Clients)

If you are like most folks, you either keep your business cards loose in your wallet, purse, or cell phone or laptop case, or you might have some ordinary plastic or metal holder making a bulge in your pocket.

Recently, I was walking along 116 Central Way in beautiful downtown Kirkland (Washington State) and discovered KÕÄP 425-822-2003.

They offer a number of handmade business card cases or holders. Each is made by a different artist. All are conversation starters.

For example, John Hays and the other private investigators could use the one with finger prints on it. Architects like Dan Corcoran or home designers such as Dana Hendrickson would enjoy the blueprint one.

Pet sitters could use the pets design. Landscape designers and gardeners could use the one with grass on the front. Art folks and gallery owners might enjoy the art or tiki motifs.

Or you could contact the artists through the shop and have them design one for you.

Perhaps at an event, we'll see Mindy Carey, CFP open up one with a dollar bill or a dollar sign and a question mark, Sierra Kennedy, LMP whip out one with a pair of outstretched hands facing down, or one of our many photographers showing their best work?

Or you can hire one of our many design folks like jewelry designer Banu-Sekendur to make it part of your brand. Perhaps you could even have a series of cases for different events and venues.

Now, what do you think mine should look like and yours?

Or we could throw out names and see what we all come up with.

Improvements to the add me to your network and introduction click through of people's profiles

I recently got an invitation to network with someone and was introduced to another person.

In both cases, the invitor or introducer didn't realize that the text in the message body could be added to by them.

I would like to suggest that rather the following be added to the usual boilerplate text of these intra member e-mails:

The reason why is because ....

Unable to post a new event

I am trying to post a new *event but I can't find the feature anywhere on the site. I watched the video after searching for this. I have tried under the green events tab as well as my own events tab.

I'm going to be offering a QuickBooks Company File Check Up at Office Nomads on next Monday or Tuesday (April 7 or 8th).

Suggestion for change in wording of Invite subject line

Currently, when someone I invite gets an invitation to join Biznik, they see "Keith Gormezano has invited you to join Biznik" and then they have to read further to find out what it is.

I would like to see that changed to "Your name has invited you to join Biznik - a 6,000 member online and in person business networking and educational group." It is a bit more compelling.

I want people to want to read the message.

Ideally, it would be nice if we could choose the subject line. For my Seattle contacts, I would say something like "Dr. QuickBooks has invited you to join Biznik - a 6,000 member online and in person business networking and educational group with over 4,000 members in Greater Seattle."

BTW, the tags disappeared from the tag section when I edited this post but reappeared as tags on the right after I clicked on submit.

Suggested template for Invite Prospective Members

For those of you who would like to invite your friends but aren't comfortable with the brief canned invite, I offer the following template to use as you wish.

Begin:

I thought as a small business owner that you would like to join Biznik, a free to join, 4,000 member local (Greater Seattle area), independent business network where members meet to help each other build our businesses.

Currently over 10% of my business is coming from the group.

Here's what you'll find:

• The opportunity to post a profile about your business, what you have to offer other members, what you are looking for in clients and collaboration partners, and your educational background and work experience.

• Social events and happy hours where you'll build relationships, give and receive referrals, and meet new clients and collaboration partners.

• Online and face-to-face promotional opportunities for your business. You could even offer a course on what you know in your field.

• Educational workshops that help build your business skills. The last one I went to talked about value-based pricing and why I should raise my rates. Another told me why I should focus on teaching people the program rather than offer bookkeeping.

• Powerful web-based tools that build and manage your personal business network. Don't forget to join mine when you join.

• Opportunities to share your experiences, learn from others through the community's forums, and build your reputation at the same time.

• Improved findability in Google and other search engines. I'm currently #3 when people type in the words "Seattle QuickBooks (or Quicken) training."

• The opportunity to purchase supplemental business insurance such as disability insurance at group rates through one of our members.

And all this at the basic level - is free.

Also, Biznik is an MLM-free zone. Marketing products or services originating with an MLM business and recruiting associates is strictly prohibited.

Keith Gormezano Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor Dr. QuickBooks - I make house calls to fix your financial aches and pains and teach you the software program so you can fish for yourself. (206) 789-8328
Visit my profile at http://biznik.com/members/keith-gormezano to see what one (wordy) profile might look like and what the group can offer you. (Please do not join from viewing my profile. I won't get "credit" for it.) Please use this link: http://biznik.com/join/keith-gormezano.

-30-

One thing I don't mention is the price of an active or supporting membership. I think that people should see the value or get some business first before you can ask them to upgrade and some will anyway.

KG

Suggestion for new member badges

In regards to the Biznik Member Badges that appear under our picture and above the tiny photos of those folks in our networks, would it be possible to add something like:

"Attendee" (has attended 10 or more events in the last year), "Networker" (has 10 or more people in their network, "Participant" (has completed all sections of their Biznik profile of at least 100 words in each section), "Promoter" (has offered at least three or five promotions), "Poster" (has posted at least 10 posts), and "Commentor" (18 or more replies to posts [I choose the higher number as it is easy to reply but harder to post an original thought.])

Any thoughts on this?

Please give us a unique ID so we would get credit for anyone who joins after clicking that link.

At Dominic's Marketing Seminar last week, Dan mentioned that Biznik would like to increase its presence in the Seattle area and focus on this area.

One way would be to make it easier for us to promote our membership in the group on our web sites, ads, etc and get credit if someone joins as a result.

I currently promote Biznik on my profile and in my Craig's List and other online classifieds ads but if someone joins as a result, I don't get credit.

I would like to be able to get credit for the folks that join as a result of the link in those ads but not add them to my network automatically. Which would give me an incentive to make sure that I mention it in all my advertising to small business owners.

Is there a way of issuing each of us a unique ID so if someone joins after landing on the link, we could get credit for it? In the old Biznik, we used to have one but I don't know if that still exisits.

Perhaps, people could get direct credits when someone they know personally joins and indirect credit when someone joins as a result of this unique link.

Please change the invite feature (to prospective members) so accepted invites automatically show up in our network when they accept

I would like it when I invite someone to join Biznik using the internal Invite feature within Biznik that if they accept, they should automatically be added to my network. My name should also be added to the Who Invited You section of their profile.

The advantage of this is that folks would automatically have one person in a network and we would know who invited someone to join.

Offered: Incorporation or LLC Formation through Intuit's MyCorporation. Wanted: Office Professional 2007, unlocked cell phone, UPS device.

Visit My Corporation web site for more information about the service. The service is valued at $149

Limits. Offer expires January 28, 2008. State fees, rush fees, and fees for other services purchased while using the promotion will apply.

I am looking to trade this for a copy of Microsoft Office Professional 2007, unlocked flat cell phone with Bluetooth, or uninterruptable power supply with battery backup.