Building Your Business or Non-Profit Email List

Building a FB fan base and growing an email marketing list can sometimes become overwhelming.  It will be much easier if you integrate these two tasks together.  Here are some tips to integrated your business or non-profit email list with social media.

1. Add a "Join My List" Tab to Your Facebook Page.
If you're using Constant Contact or Mail Chimp, they provide instructions on how to add this tab to your page.  Make sure you call this list - Facebook Mailing List or something that will let you know they came from Facebook.

2. Keep a Consistent Message.
Many times your email and your Facebook page have different messages, which confuse people.  Use your email to support your Facebook and Facebook to support your email marketing and you will see both channels grow.  If you a non-profit dealing with children or a small business dealing with children's clothing, you message should convey what you do and who is your client.

3. Make Your Content Different.
You can still tell the same store but with a little different slant.  Use email to share insider stories about what your customers/clients outcomes are and on Facebook start photos and videos from those stories.

4. Consistently Cross Promote Each Channel
In Email refer to photos you posted on Facebook and on Facebook when describing the photos, invite fans to subscribe to your email newsletter to get the inside story.

Judy Haenni                             Learn More About Constant Contact
Eye on Detail

Launching A Small Business or Non-Profit?

Tips for Launching A Small Business/Non-Profit

If you're ready to join the group of almost 29 million small business owners, let's look at some tips on how to go about it. The tips could easily be applied to any non-profit startups, as well.

Grab a notebook and take notes as you go through this list.

1.  You've got your business, now where do you start?  Focus on potential problems, potential employees, needs, other services and products that might be added on at a later date.  This will help you look beyond just getting the business up and running.  

2.  Have you got a  business plan? Your local chamber may have a SCORE group of retired business people willing to help you with your business start-up.  There may be other resources at your local technical colleges, too  If you are looking to obtain money from a lending institution, you will need this.

3.  What resources will you need to start with? I'm talking about  start-up funding, tools, manpower, space, inventory, etc. All businesses need resources from time to time.  

4.  Hire an accountant and keep track of your expenses.  Understand what expenses are tax deductible and what are not.  You might want to have the services of a business lawyer to keep you out of liability situations.

5.  What's your marketing plan? Set up your social media account because that is the least expensive and quickest form of marketing.  Ask friends and family to likes before you've even opened the doors. Develop a website, business cards, events and be consistent with branding (logos, colors, fonts, etc.)  If you have merchandise or are a non-profit, PUT A PAYPAL button on your page.  Doesn't cost you anything and could get you additional clients or contributions.

6.  What about your finances?  Look at your accounts payable, bookkeeping, taxes first.  You don't want to have troubles with the IRS before you've even begun. Use a simple form of bookkeeping like Quickbooks.  You might want to hire someone with payroll and accounting experience to handle books on a part time basis to make sure you're following tax regulations. 

7.  Set up your business as a limited liability or an S Corp (depending on what your accountant recommends. 

8.  First Impressions do count?  Remember, whatever you're doing or wherever you are, you represent your business.  Be mindful of that and always put your best foot forward.  Dress neatly, and look professional.  That doesn't mean you can't be in business casual.  

9.  Don't let the day to day business get the best of you.  As the owner, you need to be checking on inventory, social media, employees, human resources, payroll.  Make your list daily and stick to it.  These little things can "close a business".

10. What are your goals and how are you going to obtain them?  You need to set realistic and measurable goals and apply action steps toward accomplishing them. In making continual new goals, when you accomplish old ones, you will be motivated to accomplish more.

11.  Ask for feedback from customers, staff and keep a watchful eye on the competition.  When given constructive criticism, look at it with an open mind.  You would be surprised to see how your business is perceived by others.

12.  Seek advice.  When starting a business or non-profit, you CAN'T and WON'T know it all.  Seek out people you trust to give you good advice. 

13. Know your target audience.  Who will be your customers, clients, donors or prospects and why?  Find out what is important to them and address their needs, not yours.

Helping Your Child with Homework

Homework

I have long passed the age where my children were in school and living at home but I have been observing conversations with parents (mostly mothers) about how long they spend with their children helping them with their nightly homework.  In reading a recent article by Dr. John Rosemond, family physiologist, he agreed with a recent study observed by two prominent colleges.  

This situation started  in the 1970s as part of the "boat people" migration but there is no indication that parent involvement outside of some very discrete populations (learning disabled, etc.) that this has worked.  What it does do is enables the parent and the child's grades become very personal.  Now you've got a parent complaining about a child's grade.  Now a child's weakness becomes more pronounced because the parent has become the enabler.  Those weaknesses may never be totally developed because they have "a helper".

A recent study by University of Texas and Duke University analyzed 30 years worth of data regarding parents helping in children's academic homework.  What they discovered is parents who help with homework may actually be hurting their children's chances for success.  Regardless of race, income or education level, parental help did not translate to higher scores on standardized tests.

What did result was the parent taking responsibility for the child's achievement level.  Very simply put: the more responsible the parent, the less responsible the child.  The children developed a psychologists term "learned helplessness syndrome".

I know we don't want to see children struggle, but it many cases, it's not a bad thing.  Struggle can cause growth.  What the children need is encouragement and empathy for their struggles.

The entire study is in the book,  "The Broken Compass: Parent Involvement with Children's Education," by Keith Robinson and Angel Harris.  Available at Amazon.

BBQ JOINT, TOMMY'S IN DARLINGTON COUNTY

Food Frenzy in Darlington County


This weekend my adventure was to be exposed to various barbecue in the area, which I hadn't tried in a while.  Now, that is not to say there may be other great "cue" places but he is how it went down.  


As a South Carolina Judge and Marshall for BBQ events, I enjoy the art of cooking BBQ and the enthusiasm of people who do this for a hobby or as a living.  I started this adventure with relatives coming from Charlotte and knowing that they to were BBQ fanatics.  


We started on Saturday going to a place in Lydia that I had been told about but had never visited.  It's an old service station that cooks BBQ for takeout.  You might not realize something called Tommy's Self Service would be such a place.  Upon driving up to the location the gas pumps are out front and there are 5 cars parked along side.  Now let me tell you this, Lydia is a speed trap overseen by Darlington County Sheriff's Office.  I would suggest you adhere to the 35 mph or you will see the "blue light special".  Exactly what you don't want to see.  


Upon walking inside it's like the old time convenience stores out in the countryside that has gone by the wayside.  Not Tommy's.  locals were standing in line.  In looking around, there were no menus to be found.  I looked over the hand printed specials on the meat case and because absolutely confused as to what I was going to get so I definitely got more than I needed.  I started out with 2 rack of pork ribs.  Asked if I wanted them cut or whole and whether I want a mop sauce on them.  I had the sauce put on the side and had them cut.  My sides included:  sweet potato fries, baked beans, dirty rice (yum), dinner rolls and dessert.  I got there just in time as the gun class was just letting out to join them for lunch.  


Heading back home, the aroma coming from the back seat was phenomenal.  Upon arrival everyone was excited to try my new find.  I can't tell you how good it was.  Everyone commented about everything they were eating and the best was yet to come - dessert.  


We were all so full we decided to leave dessert until a little later.  When it was time, we opened up the container(s) and it was addictive.  Fresh banana pudding that just melted in your mouth.  Fresh bananas, vanilla wafers that still had a little crunch and banana pudding.  A great finish to a day of pure enjoyment.  


Next time your headed around Highway 15 South of Hartsville, you need to make your stop at Tommy's Self Service.  They are open on Monday thru Saturday 7am to 6pm.  If you stop in, tell the Judy with Eye on Detail sent you.  


ENJOY!

Fun Time in Pee Dee

Coming to your from Eye on the Pee Dee

Here it is another Football weekend and everyone is gearing up for Fall.  Many things going on in the area this coming week.    Francis Marion Performing Arts Center on Thursday night has Florence JazzMasters performing.  My BFF Miss T will be singing her sultry jazz songs for your enjoyment.  Great sound for all ages.

WINE, SWINE, BRATS & BREW

Friday night, Saffron Catering in Hartsville is hosting a Wine, Swine, Brats & Brew BBQ Event.  Bill Travis of Travis Jewelers will be cooking up his fantastic BBQ Ribs, Pulled Pork and throwing some brats on the grill.  Reservations MUST be made by Tuesday pm as Bill has got to get the meat and start preparing it.  Fun time.  You can choose, Combo Plate, $20, Ribs Plate, $18, Pulled BBQ Plate, $11 or Brats Plate, $8.  Sides of baked beans, cole slaw, mac n cheese will be your options and cornbread will be served with each meal.  Come join Saffron, you'll be glad you did.  Saffron is located at 110 W. Pinewood Avenue, Hartsville.  Their phone number is 857-1978.


               PIM'S FARM CORN MAZE

This Saturday is the Pim's Farm Corn Maze Festival.  Pim Booth has 2 corn mazes for you and your family to weave your way through.  Festival starts at 10 a.m. with a tribute to the Indian tribe that existed in the Society Hill area many years ago.  Old machinery, harvesting equipment people making crafts and home items as they did many years ago.  Disc golf is available along with a "primitive" putt-putt golf course, cow train, live animals and much, much more.  Pim's Farm is on Dovesville Highway between Darlington and Society Hill or between Hartsville and Society Hill.  Pim and the gang look forward to seeing you come and have a fun time.

              RED VELVET CAKE WARS

Hartsville Community Players presents a hilarious comedy Red Velvet Cake Wars.  This play has a huge cast and will certainly bring laughs to everyone attending.  Same writer as the "Dixie Swim Club", the family has returned to see who makes the best cake.  Friday, Saturday evenings and a Sunday matinee. check out Hartsville Community Player's webpage for times.

                                            AT THE CINEMA

And for those of you who haven't seen "The Help" you are missing a great movie.  Some nominations are sure to come out of this one.  Having lived in the South since 1980, this is what went on in the social scenes in small and large Southern towns.  Some of that is still around, I just hope we have learned to embrace each other and make this a better world working together rather than working separately.

Until we meet again, enjoy a great meal, perhaps even a great wine, but more important hug your family and tell them you love them.  Never know when tomorrow never comes!www.eyeondetail.biz

Children of Children & Grandparents

Coming to your from Eye on the Pee Dee

In the last year I have come across many situations of children having children and not being married and the reactions of grandparents.  As a grandparent of 5 beautiful grandchildren and two sons that are married these are my thoughts.  This article is about friends of mine living outside the Pee Dee area.

Being married at a young age and having children or being a single mom or dad is not an easy road to embark upon, but thinking your parents are going to babysit, feed you, house you, and give you free range of whatever you want to do when you want to do it is completely wrong.  I think you're playing on the emotions, especially, grandma-to-be, that they will always be there at your beckon call.  Grandparents have a life too.  They raised you, gave you an opportunity to have an education, probably provided you transportation and insurance for a car, in many cases, clothed you and took care of you when you were sick.

In the last two years I've watched two specific cases where the mom's go along their merry way and grandparents have taken the responsibility of being the care-giver and provider for the baby. How fun it is to go out and party and not have to worry about "the baby". When are we going to teach our children responsibility and be to be responsible for their actions?  Grandparents end up becoming enablers for these children.

Now, if grandparents want to be involved in their grand children's life and want to do and offer to do these things freely that's another story.  I will agree with the saying that grandchildren are the best.  As a grandmother, I can see my grandchildren, play with them, spoil them and then send them on their merry way.  Not the case if they were living in my home.

What's a grandparent to do?  What if they were young and came to us and said they were going to have a baby?  I would not have responded with a very open heart and probably would have be the "tough love" person in that situation.  As for the child, that child didn't ask to be brought into this world but I'm sure I would soften a bit around the edges.

Teaching children that they are responsible for their actions and that they need to be prepared for the consequences in whatever they do, was a deterrent for me not to stray to far from the "straight and narrow".  We as parents can't pull our children out of every bad situation.

I hope you as a parent are never faced with a situation when your child tells you there is a baby on the way.  It's a heartbreaking story to hear and it's a struggle to go through it.  Let's help young people make better decisions and wait to have 2 parents in a child's life.  It's not easy even then but some of the burden can be shared.   Parents raising grandchildren is not the answer but it is an option.

Kids Caught in the Middle: Schools & Education

I have observed for many years that the children at the top of the class and the children at the bottom of any given classroom setting are getting the best education in the public schools.

Why is that?  I think there are a number of factors involved.  An article, written by Janelle Martin, a retired math and special education and children's books author,  in the State Newspaper this week shared data from the annual Kids Count on children's well being which reveals the following:
24% of SC children are born to mothers with less than a high school education
45% of births are to single mothers, increasing the likelihood of a child living in poverty
20% of children tested "not ready" for school at age 5
64% of children living in poverty are never ready to by the parent

Startling statistic compiled for our state.   What are we to do?  From my perspective, there are several things that can be done.  First is to get the parents involved in children's lives.  It takes a village to raise a child.  That village consists of school, parent and the community.  Parents need to read to their children, take interest in what they are learning in school and if they are not able to help their children with their homework engage this people that can help their children have the best education possible.

Secondly, let's start teaching parenting and family life skills in churches and non-profit organizations focusing on giving young parents the necessary resources needed to teach themselves and their children finance and family life.  Family life skills, according to Jannelle Martin, are both taught and caught.  Many of these parents have never been taught these skills and cannot pass along that valuable information to their children.

Last but not least, educate families on where they can go to get help in mentoring and motivating their children to do their best in school.  In Jannelle's article she mentioned former US Education Secretary and Gov. Dick Riley noted education reform is not just a moral imperative but an economic imperative and becoming more and more a national security imperative.  He notes that under current conditions, only 10% of children in poverty will ever rise above that status.

We can't loose these children.  They are caught in the middle.  How do we take the next generation out of poverty and show them they can do anything they want with education and information in their lives?

I certainly don't have the answers but I do know as a parent, engaging in your children's education, reading to them and teaching basic life skills, many hugs and kisses, tough love and discipline will give your children the very fundamental skills of being an independent adult.

What's your take on the situation?