Great Biz Stuff

Great Resource for Self Publishers

Some of my clients are authors. Often their work is published by large publishing houses such as Dell and Jossey Bass, but sometimes they choose to self-publish. Writing, printing and selling your own book is an exciting and somewhat daunting process. Dan Poynter’s Self-Publishing Manual has been an excellent guide. Originally published in 1976, it has been regularly updated and reprinted 19 times as of 2006. The book provides directions and resources for things like publishing options, writing, starting a publishing company, producing, distributing, and promoting. It also provides links to additional information on Poynter’s website. If you’re self-publishing or have clients that do, I urge you to check out this book available at Amazon.

Laura Peeling, CPVA

Send Out Cards -- A Great Way to Stay In Touch With Clients, Friends and Family

I have always been a would be card sender. I buy cards, sometimes even go so far as addressing them, but then they never make it to the mail box. I used to be envious of the people who managed to remember every birthday, anniversary, and holiday. I felt special, loved and also a little bad because I never managed to reciprocate. About six months ago, I found the solution to my card sending problem -- Send Out Cards. Send Out Cards lets you select from a catalog of cards online that are sent via U.S. Mail. You pick the card, type in your message (you can even have them make a font of your handwriting), address the message and push send. In a few days the recipient gets a nice card from you in the mail.

I can honestly say that my life has improved since I started using Send Out Cards. I send cards to thank clients for interviews and to welcome them as clients (I usually include a small Starbucks gift certificate). I make cards out of my pictures of my daughter and send them to my far flung family. I send still more cards to friends and acquaintances just to say hi. The website will even let you do a "merge" in your own handwriting and to set up a series of cards to be sent at specific intervals. The response to all my card sending is that people are taking more time to keep in touch with me and my life is richer for it.

Contributed by Meredith Eisenberg, Yellow Highlighter Virtual Asistance

Compendium, Inc

One of my favorite business gift sites is the one belonging to Compendium, Inc. The books, cards, magnets, notes-all the things they create are magical. The wisdom and inspirational/motivational messages aren't canned-like you see on so many other gifts of this ilk. Instead, they're fresh and wonderfully alive. I never find myself reading something only to nod and say, "yeahyeah," because it's the umpteenth time I've read the same thing.

I'm a coach who loves to send these types of gifts. If you're in a similar role, I suspect you'll find them wonderful, too!

Contributed by Stacy Brice, AssistU

Get Buttoned Up

In my world, business and personal overlap all the time. And since I work at home, almost everything commingles in one fashion or another-so being organized is important.

The challenge is that I find that I like the idea of being organized more than I like actually getting organized. And staying organized? Fugetaboutit. I'm a right-brained girl trying to make myself fit in a left-brained world, and it just doesn't work.

But then I found the Buttoned Up stuff. The Buttoned Up stuff consists of products, created by women, for busy women (it's good for men, too!) who need to get organized.

I'd walked past their products probably 25 times in Target before stopping to look at them. Then I looked, but didn't buy. Months passed, and I'd glance their way every time I was in the store (and I admit to going to Target a LOT).

Finally, I bought the Collision.kit. It's this small zippered thing that fits in my glove compartment, and includes everything I need should I find myself in an accident. It has pre-printed cards to capture vital information for all parties involved, a pen, a clipboard, and a flash camera. I've added my insurance info and my registration. And now I don't have to wonder where all that stuff is when I need it most (not that I get into a lot of accidents, mind you, but being prepared feels good!).