Where Do You Work?

You are called many things: Entrepreneur, Freelancer, Work From Home Parent, Telecommuter, and even a Green Office. One thing we can all agree on, if you have chosen this line of work you are dedicated to working despite the noise and distractions .... working from home there definitely can be a lot of them!

So the question I am posing today is: Where do you work? When you need to meet a client or just need to get out of the four walls you call home, where do you go?

Walk into any Starbucks and that seems like the obvious answer. Looking around you are pretty much guaranteed to see at least one person pecking away on their laptop, plus that woman in a track suit chatting on her cell phone ... well she just might be closing a $30,000 deal. I try to avoid Starbucks because they are crowded, but there are so many it does make a convenient meeting space.

In my quest to find the greatest escape from my home office I found the following places:

1) Main Street Coffee House in Vancouver, WA

Main Street Coffee is a great place to work, meet with a client, or simply enjoy some amazing fresh baked cookies. They have a great loft area above the hustle and bustle of the day to day business where you can easily get a great deal of work accomplished. An added bonus for me is that they are owned by a sweet married couple I met back when I was only 21 years old, it was a happy accident the first day I walked into the Coffee House and found them behind the counter!

2) Farrar's Bistro in Vancouver, WA

Farrar's is another favorite of mine, not just because they are less than half a mile from my house. But they have good food and a charming staff. The bistro can get quite crowded, but when I need some quiet I seek out their patio.

3) Corner Office, Inc.

This is not a service I have used, but I am researching it. They offer a conference room, discounted administrative services, and the use of physical address that is not your home all for a small monthly fee.

If you work remotely let me know where you go!

Newest Project Is Live!

http://www.thedmitriagency.com/index.html

Web Design, by Three White Daisies.

Off The Wagon

My last post on this blog was August 24th. How did that happen to me, I do this for a living? After talking to other small business on the importance of blogging and other fabulous FREE marketing tools I haven't posted on my own site in over three months.

Over the summer I hit the road hard with an aggressive marketing campaign that really paid off. Between the blog posts, postcards I both hand delivered and mailed, networking events, and the Facebook updates I was everywhere. At first, I didn't see any results and started to wonder does this really work ... then the phone calls starting coming in & I noticed my billable hours creeping up!

So it really works and now I need to get back to it! When was the last time you posted on your business blog? I challenge everyone to make one new post before Monday morning!

Blogging Slump ... It Can Happen To Anyone

The real question is ... What are you going to do about it?

Over the summer I hit a blogging slump which made me think I couldn't be the only one. After a quick google search with over 247,000 results and realized I was definitely not alone.

There are a lot of ideas out there on what you should do to get out of your slump. Pro Blogger says you can get your blogging groove back in just 7 days by following the tips below:

The Daily Tasks

Day 1 – Write a List Post
Day 2 – Answer a Question
Day 3 – Write a Review
Day 4 – Write a Link Post
Day 5 – Write a Tip Post
Day 6 – Ask a Question
Day 7 – Tell a Story

Be sure to read the entire article: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/07/16/7-days-to-rediscovering-your-blogging-groove/

Another blog post I found 5 pages into my search was filled with great tips about "getting unstuck" that was really interesting was 20 Tips from Chris Brogan. These tips are just the thing small business owners need to be aware of with blogging. One of his suggestions is to think about the things you are personally struggling with and write about it, hence this post today!

I blog for several of my clients and I really enjoy it, but the only thing that keeps me on track is a strict calendar of what I am going to do and when. Today, I put myself on that calendar, too! As a small business owner it is so easy to put our clients needs before our own, but I am encouraging myself and anyone else reading this article to make sure to take time out for their own needs, whatever they may be.

If you have read other great ideas on curing the blogging blues please post them here ... I would love to read about them!

Thank You!

Summer in the NW is Almost Over ...

The past several mornings I have had to grab a sweater. By the early afternoon there is no longer a need for the sweater, but the crisp morning air makes me realize Fall is just around the corner. There was a time that this made me sad, but as a busy working mom I welcome the change in season's.

Since our summer's are so short we tend to try to cram too much into them. July and August has been a steady stream of BBQ's with friends, camping trips, and many other adventures. . . not to mention we are all still working! The kids may be home and the weather may be nice, but there is still work to be done.

I have had a great summer with friends and family, but welcome Fall with open arms!

Working parents .... what are some tricks you have for making summer's fun for you and the kids without feeling so overwhelmed?

Green Marketing Made Affordable!

We all are recognizing how important it is to do what we can for our delicate environment. Three White Daisies has made some efforts to make your marketing pieces both affordable, but also environmentally friendly. Many small companies believe that green practices are important, but they can't afford them.

As a print broker I work hard to find you the most affordable printing for your projects, but they must also meet the following criteria:

1) Keep it Local! In my search for affordable printing I will never select an option that is further than 2 states away. I believe in keeping it local, but also realize the importance of fuel economy. We might be able to find lower prices if we ordered something that was printed in another country, but then we have such a large "footprint" and the few dollars we might save is not worth it.

2) Soy Ink, really! They really can do anything with soy, it is amazing! All the printers I work with use soy ink. Soy ink is a safe and environmentally friendly ink because of its simple compound compared to petroleum–based ink. Soy ink also makes recycling easier and surprisingly produces even more vibrant colors.

3) Guilt Free Paper! This may sound funny to you, but not all paper companies will get their paper from legitimate sources. The only paper companies we will use paper is produced specifically for paper-making and is not produced from illegally deforested trees.

Working from my home office not only helps me keep my prices low for both design and printing needs, but it saves me from commuting to work every day. One less car on the road is a good thing. In my home office I keep things as green as possible by using environmentally friendly cleaners, turning off light switches, and using energy saving products whenever possible.

If you need some tips on how to make your office green check out this article!

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What Are You Wearing?

Do you still get up and put on the hose and high heels ... do you button up your shirt and wear a tie? What are you wearing to work when you are your own boss?

Most of the time when while working I am hidden behind my 19" monitor in my home office and you can't even see me. If you could see me you would most often find me in flip flops, jeans, and a t-shirt. Since my work is sometimes sporadic and in the rush to get a job done for a client I am working into the wee hours of the morning then I will allow myself to put on my fuzzy slippers and favorite three stripe sweat pants that are so well loved have on two stripes on the left leg.

I have seen ad's suggesting, "work from home and stay in your pj's all day!" When I see those ad's I wonder how they were raised. As a mom, I rarely let my daughter stay in her pajama's all day and it didn't matter that she didn't have a high powered meeting to attend. It is apparent even from ages as early as two that staying in pajama's for a prolonged period of time can encourage lazy behavior and cause one to want to spend too much time on the couch. (At least at my house!)

The other thing for me is that on more than one occasion it will be a day when I didn't have any client meetings set up, but at the last minute a client will need to meet with me. I would hate to not be there for a client because I was still in my pj's and couldn't get ready in time. With a quick change of my shoes and the addition of a cardigan I am ready for a client meeting.

I have a few clients that dress rather formal, but most of my clients are very casual even though they don't work from a home office. I might find them in red converse and shorts or jeans and an Ed Hardy tee.

I guess to sum things up: I think dress codes can be casual, but even if you work from home or in a small business you should get dressed in something that would be presentable in public. I am wondering what you think! Please share your opinions on dress code ... if you have one tell me about it! If you don't please tell me why!

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PS: My favorite tee right now is the Vintage V-Neck T from the Gap!

Why Am I Sad About Hollywood Video?

Seriously, I am kind of sad when I see all the Hollywood Video's closing down. Not sad enough to get up and go into the video store, however. I like to think if it were a local owned by some residents who knew me by name when I walked in I would still go to a video store, but I haven't seen one of those in years...at least not near my house.

I feel a loss, it is an era ending... I am thinking that my daughter may never know what it is like to go into a video store and argue in front of total strangers over the choice between a romantic chick flick or a shoot 'em up and then eventually settle on a comedy you can both agree on. Not even seven years old when she wants to watch a movie she asks me to download it or get it on demand.

As a small business owner I wonder what this means . . . It's not just Hollywood Video, but lots of long time well established businesses are unable to keep their doors open in this economy. Without such large overhead, maybe this is time for the small business to thrive!

I read some great tips online recently about operating in a difficult economy. To sum it up:

1) Reassess your business model: A simple reassessment can oftentimes lead to increased efficiency and revenue.

2) Invest in marketing, it may be even more important now!

3) Find ways to cut back the budget, there is almost always something that can go.

4) Keep positive!

Read the whole article!

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Meet One of the Most Interesting Men in Vancouver

Today I got to visit Reo’s Coffee & Hot Dog Emporium, located in the Uptown Village part of Vancouver, WA. Reo's combines two American passions, coffee & hot dog's. Sitting right next door to another shop that boasts about it's hot dogs from the window, I wondered what could this place have to offer that is so different? With a quite impressive menu including everything from "awful waffles" to "fabulous hot dogs" and an amazing barista I was surprised to find I was most impressed by the man behind the counter, Chuck Leidy.

Not only is he charming with great customer service, but he has a plethora of intriguing stories to tell. If you are a fan of that little movie Twilight he could tell you about his ON SET experiences when they were filming! Yes, ladies ... Chuck was on set! If you have an interest in small business he is overflowing with tips and interesting stories ... even about how Nike got it's start back when Converse were selling for only $3 a pair!

So if you are looking for a great cup of coffee, a truly kosher hot dog, or just an interesting chat Reo's should be your destination! Personally, I am looking forward to working with him and getting to know both him and his wife Gina!

Featured Small Business of the Month July 2010: Babyface Skin Care

The small for now, small business of Babyface Skin Care started only two years ago with just one product: Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Traci Tran, a woman with an amazing sense of fashion and appreciation for quality, brought it in to supplement a thriving boutique fashion resale store on eBay. Quickly it became evident that people were craving more and more of high end products at an affordable price and as a result she shifted her focus from resale clothing to beauty products. Tran says, “It has to not only work very well, but I have to be able to offer it at an affordable price. I decided long ago that I would offer the products at affordable prices and take smaller profits so that everyone can enjoy quality, not just those who have the money to buy a $300 jar of eye cream or drop $500 at the Spa or Salon on treatments.”

In less than 2 years this went from a small venture that featured one product on eBay to an online store with more than 20 products. How did this happen? Tran says, “The big boom has pretty much been just within the last year, and the majority of that within the last 9 months. I'd say we are pretty blown away at the growth.” With such dramatic growth in such a short time can we expect to see even more from Babyface? Tran says they are working to streamline production of current products and even looking to carry some new items based on customer feedback. Many different distributorships and business owners are trying to get in on the action at Babyface, but Tran is wisely waiting until they get all their processes in place before moving forward with a major change. The first goal is to get Babyface Pure Protein on shelves at Ulta stores across the US. Tran explains, that she likes “ULTA because they have the same philosophy as I do, they are affordable quality.”

The advertising that has gotten Babyface into just about every country across the globe: word of mouth. No joke. There is not a huge advertising budget, just consistent quality service and product, a perfect feedback score on eBay, and an informative blog. Some new branding efforts include custom packaging, brochures, and a website designed by us! They recently also added a Facebook fan page that will allow customers to provide input, keep up on trends within the company, and any special promotions. If you aren’t already a fan of the products I suggest becoming a fan to learn more about it!

Adventures in Vancouver ... (Part 1)

Today, I got out from behind my desk and got to enjoy the beautiful sunny day in the Northwest! I spent the day walking the streets of Uptown Village in Vancouver, WA! I introduced myself to many local business owners, heard some great stories, and enjoyed a few wonderful treats ... overall, it was a really great day and I was impressed to find that it looks like Vancouver is getting very cool!

The first place I stopped was Hopeless Ink, admittedly I was a little intimidated before I walked in. Not only is this the first time I have gone out to promote my business, but through the window I could see four men around the counter. It was daunting, but I took a deep breath and went in. Inside, I was immediately impressed with how nice the studio was with tasteful design and very private tattoo areas. The staff was also quite impressive not only for their obvious talent, but for how friendly they were ... my nerves were put to ease very quickly. Based on my experience and the reviews I have read online I say if you are in the market for a tattoo this might be a good place to visit before making your final decision.

I walked into many great businesses today, but I don't think anything really impressed me as much as Pop Culture on Main Street in Uptown Village. I have driven by many times in the past year and half since the business was given it's rebirth, but I had no idea what was really going on inside. Walking through the doors you are surrounded by awesome decor, some cool kids strumming on their guitar, and a wall of pop like I have never seen-truly a flavor and brand for every taste! I learned that they offer amazing entertainment for music and comedy lovers of all ages which is such a treat and a real gem for the residents of this great suburban city!

The icing on the cake, literally, was my final stop to Je T'aime Bakery. Walking up to the counter I saw the owner really putting the t'aime or love into her home made bread. The staff at this bakery is very friendly and everything looks absolutely divine. Now, I have always been very proud of my brownie recipe but when I saw the gooey, powder covered brownies they had on display I could not resist .... I suppose I should hang my head in shame because my brownies really could not compare to the scrumptious flavor Je T'aime is serving up!

I have lived in and loved Vancouver for more than 12 years, but never spent so much time walking around getting to know the area. Next, I will be cruising the Downtown neighborhood and can't wait to see what I find!

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New website is going to be coming soon .... www.threewhitedaisies.com

Take Advantage of FREE Marketing Tools: A Simple Guide To Getting Started With Facebook

Most social media marketing is free if you know how to use it. I have set this up with some basic tips that will allow you to harness the power of the social media for your business. Let's start with Facebook, tips for Twitter coming soon!

Do you already have a personal Facebook account? If not, set one up today for free! Not only is it a great way to connect with friends and family members it can do wonders for your business.

Once you have a Facebook account you are ready to begin setting up a page for your business. You can learn a lot about the best practices by a quick visit to Facebook Pages.

Now we are ready to get started with your new Facebook Page. You will need to decide what category you are in from Local Business to Public Figure, this will appear under your business name when people do a search on Facebook. Now you get to name your page , click on "Create Official Page" and you are done!



Once you have taken a moment to fill out information about your business and upload some photos start inviting people to be a fan of your page. This can be done quite simply choosing the "Suggest to Friends" option on the upper right hand corner. While this method will allow you to very quickly share a link to anyone you are already friends with on Facebook you might be surprised by how many people will choose to "ignore" this request. A personal message through Facebook with a link to your new page can be a lot more effective.

If you have at least 25 people who "like" your page you can customize the name of the page so the link isn't filled with a bunch of random numbers and spaces. For example, I changed the name of my page so the link was simply: http://www.facebook.com/threewhitedaisies. Naming your Facebook page isn't exactly intuitive, but once you know what to do it is very simple. Facebook has a page, of course, that will allow you to change your username.


Now you are really ready to do some marketing! Facebook has ways to advertise right on the site and it can be fairly affordable. Make sure you start adding links to your new Facebook page to your blog, Tweet about it, and add it to your signature line in your e-mail!

Post a link to your new Facebook page here as a comment and I will "like" it .. help you get enough fans!

Best of luck!

Riding the social media wave: a user's guide to Web-based communication

Who is using social media? What is it exactly? When and where do people tweet, post and blog? Why do people engage in social media?

Social media is everywhere. It encompasses blogs, social networks (such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace), professional networking avenues such as LinkedIn, and creative sites like Flickr, a photography-sharing website. People such as the teenager next door, grandma and celebrities are using social media outlets. Remember when Conan O'Brien made news by first breaking his recent public silence on Twitter? Did you know that there are more than 300 million active Facebook users who post nearly 1 billion photos monthly to their accounts? Additionally, it would take 7,000 years for all the photos on Flickr to be developed at a one-hour photo!

People use social media for a variety of reasons. What role does social media play in your life? What role should it play?

"The savvy social media user will know how to maximize social media use for their benefit," explains Ted Long, academic director of Web Design & Interactive Media at The Illinois Institute of Art - Schaumburg. He recommends pointers from www.kodak.com as a guide to social media beginners. Some favorites follow.

* Know what you are talking about. If you are going to work with social media, be involved in social media. Start your own Twitter account, Facebook page, read blogs and get engaged. That is the best way to understand the culture, tone, best practices, and protocol.

* Always be transparent. When you are communicating in social media say who you are and who you work for. Don't try to be sneaky and plant comments, don't hire people to go out and say nice things about you and stay away from ghost writing. Be genuine and be real.

* Post frequently. It's a lot of work, but don't post to your blog then leave it for two weeks. Readers won't have a reason to follow you on Twitter or check your blog if they can't expect new content regularly.

* Add value. Share tips, tricks and insights. People's time is precious and they need to get something out of the time they spend with you. Make listening to you worth their time.

* Respond. Answer questions, thank people even if it's just a few words. Make it a two-way conversation.

* Have fun. If you don't like what you are doing, others will notice it and won't enjoy interacting with you.

Vanessa Jackson, assistant director of career services at The Illinois Institute of Art - Schaumburg, reminds users that social media should always be appropriate for a professional setting. "Social networking sites are like the invention of fire for the 21st century. There is great power, possibility and functionality, but use it improperly and you can burn yourself," cautions Jackson.

Jackson advises:
* You can lock your profile, but remember that a lot of information can be derived simply by looking at your profile picture.

* Keep one clean profile per social media site. Don't bother having two profiles, one for friends and one professional.

* LinkedIn is for professional networking and shouldn't be used in the same manner that you use Facebook or MySpace, unless all of your social media profiles are business appropriate.

* Employers (and potential employers) really do check your social networking sites. Spell correctly, use proper grammar and don't be vulgar or degrading to others.

Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate, leaving many who don't use it feeling out of touch. To begin, start slow, learn as you go, and remember to represent yourself in a way that is appropriate for the world to see. Then you too can experience the benefits of being more connected than ever before.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Home Office Organization Journey

If you work from home or just have a busy family life good organization is ESSENTIAL. This is a lesson that I have learned the hard way and now that I am on the path to becoming more organized in life and business I want to share some of the things I have learned.

I think I learned the most important lesson from my Aunt Tracy when I was young about organization, but it too me a while to implement it. She would preach constantly about cleaning as you go! This is so important because those little piles can get out of hand in no time and when you face the reality of the fact you could have spent 30 minutes cleaning to avoid the situation it is a little depressing.

Sometimes you have to start small! Don't let a big mess overwhelm you, make a list of things you want to accomplish towards getting your home office organized and tackle one thing at a time. It helped me to set a finish goal date.

I also learned (I think from Oprah) that you should only touch mail once. This is so true! Thanks to modern technology there is no need to touch mail more than once and let it clutter up your office. Some tricks I have learned about mail:

Even if you don't intend on paying a bill right away you can enter it into your online bill payer with a post dated option. This lets you file it away immediately instead of letting it clutter up your desk, or get lost and cause you to be late on your payment.

How long do you save your bills? I save mine for one year, but the technical answer varies from bill to bill. With so much available online now, we really don't need to keep them at all, but for quick reference I like to have them on hand for one year. My dream is to own one of these scanners and eventually be rid of paper files.

No matter how pressed you are for space; keep your personal and business documents separate. Personal items are a serious distraction that will limit your efficiency and focus. I have two different file drawers in my desk, to the right I have all our personal files and then to the left I have all my Three White Daisies files. Sometimes personal and business overlap a little and thanks to some tips from Craft Warehouse I have created a stylish way to blend my schedules. I have a white board for all my business needs and one for my personal needs. Two magnetic area's to post recent work or notes, a calendar, and a cork board. The whole project cost me about $55. (Sorry for the fuzzy mobile photo.)

Once you've created an organized home office, take the time to see that it stays that way. Devoting a block of time each week to staying organized (I schedule time to organize each week!) will keep you from getting overwhelmed by the little details that hold chaos at bay!

Get more ideas from an expert! Ines can help you find that perfect starting point if you are overwhelmed. She is a professional organizer and a good person.

What are some of your favorite staying organized tips? We would love to hear from you!

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Summer 10/10 Special

This summer you can save on on your graphic design & printing needs with our Summer 10/10 Special! Save 10% off ANY print job from business cards to wedding invitations. Also, if you need custom graphic design save $10 off our low price fee!

Offer good June 21 through September 10, 2010. Must mention the postcard or this blog post to receive discount. Stay up to date on discounts follow this blog or be a fan on facebook!

http://www.threewhitedaisies.com/
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Proven Ways To Finally Get Rid Of Your Muffin Top!!

When I got the idea to write this I was thinking it would be a spoof. You see them everywhere ... little pop-up ads claiming instant results for weight loss without a change of diet or any additional exercise. It is a marketing ploy plain and simple ... they make a huge promise with exciting photos to lure people into clicking on their link. After you get past all the bold print and photos you will realize blah blah blah. I get so frustrated with marketers assuming the general public is stupid and I personally find it offensive, but the realize .... I DID click on it ..... sigh.

Just like I believe printing can be affordable, I also believe that marketing doesn't have to be sleazy. If getting rid of your muffin top is why you clicked on this link I do know of three sure fire ways to get rid of muffin top and I won't charge you a thing to read them! That's right three FREE tips ...

1) Buy bigger pants. Honestly, most of the time I notice a serious issue it is related to fit. I know from first hand experience how hard it is to move up to that next size, but it is worth it in the end. If nothing else just get yourself one new pair of pants until you loose that last 5 lbs. I recommend the Kut from the Kloth jeans as a good compromise. They are fairly priced and of a decent quality. Hold off on the $100+ jeans until you are happier with your shape.

Look at the photo above, she probably could look very cute in pants a size (or two) larger.

2) Go for a run 4 days a week. When I say run I don't mean 7 minute miles, just run at a pace you can keep up for 40 minutes (or more) and you will notice that your stomach flattens out dramatically within a short period of time. If you can't run for at least 40 minutes yet, be patient with your body .. you will get there!

3) Go raw/vegan! I did a 7 day fruits and vegetables only diet and the results were AMAZING!! Of course, I love cheese and didn't keep it up more than the 7 days and within another 7 days things went back to normal. A plan like this might not be ideal for long term, but we all have had those weekends where we want to look extra great and slip into the size smaller jeans, right? If you are working with a short time frame this is an option. Oh, the other benefit was that I felt great and it kept me motivated to stay on track even after I brought back other foods to my diet. (When I did this the first time I did it with the professional help of super amazing trainer, Derrick DeLay ... check out his site @ www.vibrantvegan.com!)

Let me know of something that you have noticed worked well for you ... I want to hear from you!

Best of luck!

FREE STARBUCKS COFFEE ... contest extended!

I love prizes so I decided to do it again!

We didn't reach our goal of 110 followers on Facebook by Sunday, but have let's give it another chance! If we have 110 followers by Sunday June 20, 2010 there will be a drawing for a $20 Starbucks gift card.

As someone who "likes" three white daisies on Facebook you will receive updates on things going on with the company including special promotions and discounts, contests and prizes, as well exciting news such as the upcoming re-launch of our website. In addition, for simply choosing to "like" us on FB you will receive an automatic savings of 5% off!

Even if you don't have a small business you may realize at some point that you want a birth announcement or holiday card. You might also know someone who does own a business, please use the "suggest to friends" feature to let them know!

Good luck!

http://www.facebook.com/threewhitedaisies

What's In A Name?

The most common question I get regarding my business isn't about the services I offer or rates I charge. Nope. What people most often want to know is the story behind the name, why daisies, why three, and why white?

One reason I can give is that I feel daisies, especially white daisies, are fresh and vibrant. They are such beautiful flowers and grow with a passion. I have always felt that translates well to what my business stands for.

While that is a good reason it doesn't explain the three so let me tell you where the name really started. According to the local florist in my home town, a daisy is the flower that represents loyal love. When I was graduating high school I had 3 very special friends who I wanted to somehow be connected to on graduation night and the rest of my life. We couldn't all march together so I had to find another thing that could connect us in the crowd. That is when I came up with each of us marching in to the high school gym wearing cap and gown and carrying one white daisy each.

When I started my business I knew I wanted to incorporate the fresh and vibrant feeling of the daisies in my name and in a nostalgic moment I decided it should be THREE WHITE DAISIES. I still love all three of those girls very much and it makes me happy every time I see my logo and think of them.

Now you know ....