Paul's Biz Talk posts

facebook fans

Hey everyone,

I wasn't sure where to go to find out this information -- and I find out so much more on Biznik -- so here goes:

Our nine-year-old has a facebook account, because one of his friends moved away, and facebook is easier for me to monitor than an email account. He has been very responsible: asking my permission before becoming friends with anyone, not installing any apps.

Now he wants to become a fan of a couple pages. I know that as a fan, I can't read other fans' info unless they are my friend. But can the owner of the page read his/her fans' info -- or do they have to be friends as well?

Thanks, Paul

Best Business Name

While we were on holidays, we walked by a store in downtown Peterborough called "I See France". It is, of course, a lingerie store.

While I often think people try a little too hard to be pithy when coming up with names for their business, I thought that one struck just the right balance: clever, memorable, and it says what it is.

As the owner of "Spafford Data Solutions" (a name that only fits one of those criteria, at best), I'm sure you can understand how I might admire that!

Has anyone else seen some cool names out there?

Marketing when you're busy

Hey everyone,

I'm in kind of a funny situation at this point. My business is thriving -- to the point of leaving me quite swamped by times.

So far, since going on my own in 2004, I haven't needed to do any marketing; the world has been beating a path to my door. I've really become the go-to guy in my industry for my city.

So that's all good, but of course I worry about the phone going silent. I have a couple questions about this:

• How do I market to potential clients when I don't have much time for marketing?
• What do I tell these potential clients? At this point in the game, I would really have to tell them something along the lines of, "I can help you, but you have to wait six to eight weeks for me to schedule a project for you". I just can't imagine that being a great message.

Thanks!

Database guy from Ottawa, ON

Hey everyone,

I just joined up yesterday, and have already posted in a few places, but thought I'd say the official howdy.

I'm a database developer in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Well, that's where a lot of my clients are; I actually live outside of Ottawa in a suburb that's been dropped in the middle of farmland, called Munster Hamlet.

I live there with the love of my life, and our two boys, aged 4 and 7. Are there any other members from up this way?