Musings -

       The very last thing you need when you are running a small business is another chore to eat into your already over-crowded schedule. At this point in your business building you want more customers, but just can't do more than what you are already doing.

        This is a good time to take a moment to analyze just what is working and what is not; you can free up a lot of time if you eliminate unproductive projects. Some things might be worth enhancing and some are just taking up your valuable time with no rewards for your effort.

       One task that will yield the rewards and increased customer base you want is to write a newsletter and piggyback it to a blog.  When would you do this extra task, you ask? It really would'nt be much of a chore because as you are writing for your newsletter anyway you are also writing for your blog. Your newsletter is reaching out to your permission based  mailing list, but your blog can reach a much wider readership, especially if you promote it with social media.

       Your blog is also a good place to post articles that don't fit into your regular newsletter format, but are worth sharing, or repost articles written by others (with proper citation) that match your mission or vision. You could also post a link from your newsletter to your blog that provides more insight into your feature article.

       Blogs also feature additional statistics that you can use to refine your customer base and get a better feeling for who they are and what makes them buy, encourages pass it on links that can build your audience and solicit comments and responses that can be very useful.

       If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of writing a newsletter and a blog you can hire a freelance writer to help you.  They are not very expensive, can easily earn their keep, increase your business, and open new sources of income that have been outside your reach. 

Your Money-Your Life

Emergency Planning

       After watching the results of a major snowstorm on the east coast the question came up: do you have a plan in place for your family in case of an emergency?

       Each of you should have a plan in place for your family in case of emergency or natural disaster.  Ask yourself whether you should stay where you are or is evacuation necessary.  If you 

hav e to get out fast what is the best exit to use and what if that is blocked, do you have a plan "B"?  If your family should get separated where will you meet and regroup?

       What possessions should you take with you?  Your legal papers should be all together in one place so you can grab them easily; create a box to store important things that you can grab easily. You escape box could contain things like birth      certificates, passports, insurance policies, a list of contacts or Grandma's candlesticks. Don't forget to have a plan for your pets, too; they are a part of your family.

       Like the Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" having a plan in place will give you peach of mind and the best chance to limit the after effects of an emergency.