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People are always asking me "why does this entire trade display only cost $7 to produce in China when you're quoting $700?" - I finally have a good answer to that question! While I have long been a fan of outsourcing to Canadian suppliers, I have had a hard time articulating the VALUE of working with people you know. Check out this edition's article on "Doing Business Internationally" and you'll soon discover why the job in China really isn't $7.
Last month I asked you to tell me your success stories, if any of you had them, with social media for business. I received one great article on how one local marketing expert has turned blogging to bottom line results. Click here to read her story.
As for me and Meringue3.14, I'm still shying away from the social media madness. I share this for the benefit of those of you who are feeling guilty because you're not a social media expert yet - you're not alone. The one thing that I keep in mind while I sloooooooowly investigate the subject is "Do I use social media tools to find the businesses and contractors that I'm employing?" The answer is no. So there are definitely still other ways to market and grow your business.
Amy Perzan Merrill
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Doing Business Internationally
We often hear stories of people acquiring products and services less expensively in countries outside of North America. There are success stories and disaster stories. Before taking the plunge, evaluate several factors.
1. How well do you know who you are doing business with?
Business and work ethics vary drastically. If the business has a solid track record of good business ethics, then you may want to consider it. However, if the business requires and receives a prepayment from you but then "runs" without producing the goods, then you are getting the short end of the stick!
2.What accountability is in place?
Does the business stand behind its work? If the work is not done to your satisfaction, will the company redo the work at no extra cost? Who is responsible if the goods are "lost in shipping"? If the company cannot provide clear tracking of the shipment, be very careful. The company can say the goods were sent, but were they? Are they dependable in meeting deadlines? In some companies, if the workers do not want to go to work, they don't! Case in point, a pilot decided he wanted to stay home and not go to work. A colleague of mine was stranded for three days and missed his international connecting flight! If pilots work that way, imagine how your project may be treated! Talk is cheap in some circles!
3. What are the terms and conditions?
If the terms and conditions favour only the company and you feel you are "signing your life away", you probably are-- or at least you will probably lose! Be sure the terms are a win-win for both parties. Will the company be able to meet your deadlines? Can you build into your project enough of a buffer that if the goods are not completed on time, you still will be able to get it done.
4. How will your goods be shipped?
If you are going to be guaranteed a reliable tracking system, such as FedEx or DHL, you will be paying a flat fee before weight and size is calculated into the total invoice. Reputable shipping companies is the only way to ship, even though the cost is high-- maybe too high for your project. You will need to ask for the shipping waybill when the company says it is shipping it. Otherwise, your items will probably "get lost" and you lose your money!
5. Can you be there in person, or have someone you trust to be there for the duration of the project?
This is probably the only way you could get the work done less expensively. You monitor the progress of the work. You deal with the company face-to-face and can address problems that arise. In many cultures, business dealings are built on relationships. It is rather difficult to have a good business relationship via email. Good old "eyeball-to-eyeball" often works wonders!
Doing business internationally can be great, but for many projects and situations, it is not worth the stress and hassle. It definitely is a "buyer beware" situation!
Carol Abbott,
Office / Project Manager, Meringue3.14
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B2B
Payment Strategies for Small (but mighty!) Business
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Are you keeping up with current payment trends?
I've been working on new systems for my ever growing business and 
have revisited how I'm doing everything - from naming and saving files to how I collect on jobs. Previously, my norm was cheques and credit cards, the latter via good old TD Merchant Services and my handy dandy phone (what a pain!). In evaluating this system I uncovered some information that has made me change my ways. Here are the highlights of why my NEW policy is to setup clients for email transfer and Paypal payments:- Email transfer is in real time (great for deposits on rush jobs!)
- Yes, email transfer has a fee associated, but it's minimal when you add up the cost of processing a cheque (ie writing it, mailing it and reconciling it)
- Eliminate the need to chase bad cheques
- Paypal kicks TD Merchant's butt when it comes to security - your client's should thank you
- Paypal costs a little more, but the time it's saving me in admin more than counteracts the slightly increased fee
- No more expired credit cards and data entry issues!
Amy Perzan Merrill is a graphic designer in Calgary, Alberta. Her company, Meringue 3.14, specializes in creative branding and cost-effective print solutions for small business. For more great tips on how you can turn your material into powerful marketing and communication tools, subscribe to "Designer", Amy's monthly ezine.
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DESIGNER TIP #44
When printing CMYK, use "rich black" in areas where you have blocks of black.
Many people use the default black (100% K); however, rich black (63, 52, 51, 100) works better.
If you're not getting nice results in your black, ask your designer if it's "rich black" and see if that doesn't make a difference.
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social media works for local marketing expertI am a marketing professional, not a social media expert, but that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing for my own business online! And what I am doing is working for me. I am about 7 months deeply into using an integrated, regular system of tweeting, facebooking and blogging. The result? My online world and "real life" world are now more connected, more integrated, and more exposed to new audiences than ever conceivable. Social media, when you use it to share good content and connect as the authentic human being you are, eliminates boundaries and creates nearly immediate word of mouth opportunity. My customer database for online courses/marketing has tripled and real life products and services has nearly doubled.
How has social media helped my business:
· Incredibly useful business to business connections which are leading to collaborations so I can "think bigger" about my business
· Gaining exposure to people who have written books, have their own shows, do amazing things... mentors and people with HUGE following. When they comment or connect with me, their 10,000+ followers see it and it benefits my "online currency".
· Expanded client-base that is growing without geographic, financial, mindset limitations
· Opportunity to find more people who are my ideal customers, but using tools can narrow and target by interest, behaviour and geography
· Allows potential customers/collaborators to get to truly know me without meeting me
· Deepens existing customer relationships in the 'between times' of seeing them IRL (in real life)
· Instantaneous credibility among people I don't know is created by referrals.
· By joining tweetchats (planned chats on Twitter) I am instantly recognized as an expert by my contributions
· Facebook tools (like 'events' tab on my business page) and Facebook advertising have generated interest that has translated to customers
Kim Page Gluckie, CAAP
Strategic Planner & Trainer
MPowered Marketing
www.mpoweredmarketing.com
www.marketingmomblog.ca
www.twitter.com/Power_of_M
<http://tinyurl.com/mucvrv>
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