A fresh new post

Happy New YEAR! I have a Blog post, that I am SUPER excited to share with you. I asked Lauri Harrison of MomToBeDepot.com and Lauri Harrison PR to be our guest blogger. Here's the scoop on Lauri -

"Lauri Harrison is a marketing and public relations veteran. She launched MapQuest.com, DexKnows.com and dozens of other start-up companies since the mid-90s. She launched MomToBeDepot.com and momtobedepot.blogspot.com to write about cool, new products available for women and babies. Lauri is a featured mom blogger with Working Mother magazine and is a frequent speaker on marketing, branding and public relations for universities and organizations."

I have had the pleasure of working with Lauri on many occasions. And I have been so fortunate to get to know her and to be able to slap some of our shoes on her adorable son!

Our "question asker" (yes, the official term) - Claire (congrats! I'll tell you what you won below) - wrote a great question, which I thought was perfect for Lauri to handle.

"How does a small business get started with marketing
your product and/or your site?"

"This is a common question for many small business owners. The first thing you need to do is figure out why your product or service is better or unique - versus everyone else out there. Many business owners skip this test and just focus on what all their competitors are saying. That just lumps you into the same bucket as everyone else. The more you can separate yourself and differentiate - the more excited your customer will be to try it. Bottomline, refine your messaging and key differentiators to really stand out against your competition

Next, you should determine if you should build a web site or just get started with a blog. Then just build it! Be sure it's easy to navigate, has images that aren't too large to download and provides all the necessary information about you as a company as well as the product. Include guarantees or return policies as well. Once your site or blog is built - include the URL in all of your marketing
communications, such as email signatures, business cards, flyers, postcards,etc. This is your storefront - and you need to keep the URL visible in all kinds of ways - online and offline.

Build community - find like-mind people that would be interested in your product or service. This is where social media has a tremendous influence. Utilize MySpace, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, BrightKite, Ning, MeetUp, etc. Get the conversation started - by you plugging yourself but not just from a sales perspective but from an informative perspective. Perhaps you have eco-friendly products - talk about why it is beneficial for people to utilize green products, etc.

Get connected with as many people as you can online and in the real world. Participate at local networking events. Join leads groups. Be visible. It does take time and effort but that's the best way to build your brand - and have your customers become walking brand advocates for you.

Create a referral program. Incent your customers to help recommend your products - and reward them. This is a great grassroots effort that can take you to the next level.

These are some basics that can get you started - and build buzz quickly both
online and offline. Need more info? Just ask us!!"

Thanks Lauri! Even as a business owner for over 6 years, I learned some new stuff! Which reminds me, you can see us at all the following places -

Be our friend on Facebook
Spy on us on Twitter

Claire - I bet you're wondering what you won??? Well, it's from my personal prize closet - the cutest little PJ's from Liberty Garage (www.LibertyGarage.com) they say "Stinky's Diaper Service" on them - so cute!. I have always LOVED this company. Their product design is absolutely adorable. We personally eat all of our pizza off their slice shaped pizza plates. I have given this fun stuff for gifts too, it's a bit hit! Congrats! (contact me for details)

Have a question? Wanna win something? Wanna give something away to promote your product/business? Just ask us!!!

See...I didn't forget about you...

I owe you major apologies. Life has been pretty crazy - in a nutshell - house shopping, during the holiday season, kids crying because they have to move schools, renting out our current home, trying to get work done in my oh so much spare time, found a house, wrote a contract - YAY!, had a surprise party for my wonderful hubby (happy birthday babe!), just upped and decided to rescue a dog, still trying to work amongst Oprah replaying THE episode and getting slammed with the marketing and order fulfillment that goes along with that kind of exposure, kids crying about moving schools, again, but excited for the dog, Christmas shopping, packing, new TV shopping, new furniture shopping, holiday decorating, etc, etc, etc.. I am waiting for the moment when my head literally whizzes off into the sky because it is spinning so much (did you catch that visual, it's not pretty). So I am sorry, and thank you for your forgiveness.

When thinking about all of the things you need to just start a business it's easy to get overwhelmed. It is a busy time, but you think there will be a light at the end of the tunnel - "once it's up and running". I'm sorry I have to be the one to bust your happy-go-lucky small business bubble. But I have to tell you that if you have the slightest twinge that in a year or so after opening the doors, you'll be sitting back, in your cush chair, looking at your bank account online and watching the numbers grow - you really are C-R-A-Z-Y. The chaos doesn't quit, there is always something to do! (but if you have found someone that has made this type of success, please pass along my info, hook me up, I'd love to know their overnight success story!)

Our first small business question comes from Shanea (yay Shanea, you won some socks!)

"My question has to do with manufacturing. I have an idea for baby socks but I don't know where or how to have them made. How do you work with someone until the product is just as you imagined? Help! Any thoughts or knowledge is much appreciated."

Thank you for your question! Of course, you can travel to China and make friends with the manufacturing plants, but let's face it, who has that kind of time/money? Many companies use what is called a "Sourcing Agent" for overseas manufacturing. (and I actually know one here in Denver, and highly recommend him, email me for details). This agent will charge a percentage of your invoice from China, or something to that effect just based on what you negotiate . He will (or a contact in the country of the factories) seek the correct factory for your products, generate a relationship, negotiate your pricing and minimums, oversee your products being made, and will help to coordinate getting the product shipped to you. This really is an invaluable service for someone who is new to manufacturing. There are a bunch of pitfalls and logistics when manufacturing and bringing product back to the good ol US of A. You want to know that the factory you are wiring thousands of dollars to is not going to close up overnight or take the money and run, you also want to know that they know that they are doing what they are supposed to.

Please note, everyone who is launching new or has existing products for kids needs to know about this - The CPSIA is implementing new standards and testing on ALL children's products. Read more about the new Mandatory 3rd Party Testing laws which will be implemented Feb 2009 here.

Hopefully that answered your question, and if not, well, write back and I will hunt down more info for you! I don't like to brag, but I know people...:)

Anyone have any stories to share on this topic? We are an open forum and glad to take comments or answer questions! And if we use your question - you win FREE stuff!