This is Tip #7 for creating a successful business.

Be Seen as an Expert. Want to be seen as an expert? If you have an area of expertise, here are some suggestions to show off your abilities:

Teach a class. Offer your topics to the community education department at your local school district. These classes don't pay much, but the exposure is wonderful. If you are a member of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, you can present on a variety of topics at the Small Business Resource Center (308-2014). The trick here is to offer some real help, not just market your business.

Donate your services. No matter what your area, there is a non-profit that can benefit from your help. Provide your service free of charge in return for using the non-profit as a reference.

Provide a sample. Some years ago, I received a newsletter from a person I had met during a networking event. I created a mock-up of a newsletter and showed it to him. He loved the first page, but when he turned it over the flip side was blank. I explained, with a grin, "If you want the rest, you'll have to pay for it." As a result, he paid me to produce his newsletter for over a year. Give potential clients samples of your work and let them know how to obtain more of your product or service.

Do a newsletter. Include short articles related to your area of expertise and send the newsletter out to your email list or postal mailing list. If you need help writing or don't know how to put a newsletter together, contract with a writer or desktop publisher. Send it out once a month. (It works for me.) If you don't want to commit to a regular newsletter, pitch your article ideas to a local newspaper or webzine.

Consider the time and money you spend on these activities part of your advertising budget. You'll find they pay off in ways you never anticipated.

On July 7, 13, 20 or 27th, join us for a free Lunch and Learn about WebGenius.

Learn how you can use this online marketing tool kit to quickly, easily and affordably reach customers and potential customers with timely, relevant news and information on your products and services.

Designed for the small business, now anyone with basic typing skills can: manage their online presence, build an invaluable electronic file of customers and their preferences, electronically mail preformatted information and promotions, and offer items for sale on their website. What better way to keep good customers coming back? RSVP to 210-392-3309 or to jrowanfuller@thebottomline.cc.

Want to chill out with friends after a hard day at work? Join us on Tuesday, July 13, at the Feeding Frenzy at the Radisson Hill Country Resort and Spa this month!

This is a FREE relaxed (non-Chamber- affiliated) networking opportunity, with an outdoor cookout compliments of the Radisson. Come join us! Tuesday, July 13, 5:30 PM until we feel like leaving.

We've been asked to contribute to important ethics research conducted by graduate researchers at UTSA.

Please click on the link below. You'll be taken to a multiple-choice survey that should involve no more than ten minutes of your valuable time. The survey is an inventory of ethical values and it is entirely anonymous. Your input is invaluable!

If you would like a copy of the results of the ETHICS IN BUSINESS survey, Lisa Calhoun (graduate student) and Dr. Anita Leffel (research director) invite you to contact them at lcalhoun@utsa.edu or aleffel@utsa.edu. You'll be provided with a link to the final results.

Here's the direct link to the survey and thanks for participating:

• Do you have a clear growth strategy for your
• Can you articulate that strategy to others?

Do you have trouble prioritizing when faced with the competing demands of customers, employees, limited resources, and dwindling time?

Focus on Business Growth from The BottomLine is a succinct, but highly effective one-on- one three-hour strategic solution for the small business owner. It will quickly help you clarify your options and rank your priorities. Led by veteran business strategists and marketing consultants, you'll leave with greater insight and practical next steps on your path to growth.

For more information, click on the link below to visit The BottomLine or call 210-392-3309.

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