You’re tired of struggling financially and you need to create an alternative source of income. After considering the options, you decide to start a window cleaning business. You’ve scoured the internet for information on how to clean windows and you’ve practiced at home until you feel confident enough to offer your services to others. You have the money to invest in some squeegees, a couple of ladders and some business cards. Now what?Time To Advertise!Using the internet to market your window cleaning business offers a lot of advantages over traditional advertising. Advertising on the internet is absolutely the most cost-effective means of marketing available today and it can be very effective. In March of 2010, BIA (bia.com) and The Kelsey Group (kelseygroup.com) reported that, ”nearly all consumers (97 %) now use online media when researching products or services in their local area…”Having an internet presence means that your business information is available to anyone at anytime. As potential customers browse the internet, they can discover your business and the services you offer at a time that’s convenient to them and without any obligation or any of the pressure some people associate with ‘being sold’.If you’re starting your business with a limited budget, the most attractive advantage of internet marketing is probably the cost.Free AdvertisingIn some markets, using the free local listing sites on the internet may be enough to get you going. Potential customers are already searching for the goods or services you provide – they just need to be able to find you.Google PlacesSigning up for Google Places is simple and offers an opportunity to make sure your business can be found on Google and on Google Maps. With a Google Places listing, you can create an online presence even if you don’t have a website. It only takes a couple of minutes and it’s completely free.Start by reading the Google Places quality guidelines to make sure your listing will be approved. Then go to Google Places and sign in with your Google account. If you don’t already have a Google account, sign up for one, they’re free. Google keeps track of the number of times your listing is viewed during a Google search so you can track how effective the listing is. Once your account is verified, you can continue to edit the listing as often as needed to insure the best results.Yahoo Local ListingsYahoo local listings operates much in the same way as Google Places. Again, this is an opportunity to create a web presence that doesn’t require having a website. You can list your business name, address, contact information and the unique selling opportunity that your business offers. Your listing can include your products, services and brands in up to five categories.Start by going to the Yahoo Local signup page. If you don’t already have a Yahoo account, sign up for one. There is no charge for a Yahoo account and it only takes a few minutes to register.Bing Local ListingsMicrosoft also has a free local listing service similar to Google Places and Yahoo Local Listings. Start by going to the Bing Local Listings signup page and enter your information. Again, if you don’t already have a Bing account, you can sign up for one in a couple of minutes and there is no charge.Bing Local Listings lets users look for services in their local area which makes it easy for new customers to find you. Once your listing is verified you can log on to the Bing Local site and edit your listing to match any changes you may want to make as your business grows.Online ReviewsAll of the free local listing sites mentioned here also allow your customers to leave a brief review of their experience with you and your company. This can be a great tool to drive business from the internet to your front door. Most people today already have an email account with one of the ‘big three’, Google, Yahoo or Bing. Be sure to ask your customers if they would mind taking a few minutes and leaving a review of your company’s service on one of the local listing sites. If they’re happy with your service they’ll probably be glad to.After your window cleaning business has generated some income you may want to enlarge your internet presence with a business website. While the free listing sites do a great job of getting you started, a business website designed to target your local market is a definite must if you want to continue to grow your business and increase your income.More about business websites in the next article.
Fashion Trend Alert – Keeping Up With the Latest Styles
Styles change faster than the weather, making it really challenging for the average fashion diva to know which fashion trend to follow. Are the skirts long or short this season? Are we wearing the jeans with a bootcut, or are we going for the pencil style? And what about the tops to pair with the bottoms? It’s enough to drive the fashion conscious mad, but fortunately, there is a solution to this fashion trend dilemma. Whether you like to get your fashion news online or in print, there are plenty of resources to alert you to the latest and greatest so you can look “in” whenever you head out.Magazines Print magazines may seem a little passé in an electronic world, but these publications are still one of the best ways to find out which fashion trend is in and which are most definitely out. Pick up one or two at your supermarket check out the next time you are grocery shopping or browse the newsstand for some glossy selections. Many of the magazines that were popular a decade ago are still in “Vogue”, so you are sure to see some familiar titles out there.The Internet If you spend most of your day staring at a computer screen, there is no reason why you can’t do it wearing the latest fashion trend. There are plenty of fabulous websites that will keep you up to date on what the fashion latest trends look like. Once you find the styles you love, you can even grab your credit card and point and click your way to a fashion spree online! To ensure that you really are looking at a latest fashion trend online, check the website for a current date for the posting.The Television Maybe you don’t want to look like a desperate housewife, but you can certainly learn “What not to Wear” from your own television set. There are plenty of great fashion reviews on the tube that will give you the latest news on the newest fashion trend, including ideas for accessorizing and where to go in all the latest fashions. Hair and makeup trends will also be reflected on this international medium.Keeping up with the latest and greatest fashion trend might seem like more time than you have, but there are plenty of places that you can go to quickly and easily get all of the fashion news you need. Whether you prefer to curl up in front of the television or computer or with a favorite magazine, learning about fashion trends is as easy as an evening at home.
Northern Michigan Exciting Travel and Vacation Ideas on a Budget
Northern Michigan is the perfect travel and vacation destination with something to offer for everyone: Golfing, fishing, hiking, boating and other water activities to name just a few. With so much to offer and so much to see, making your vacation plans could be complicated, and with travel expenses and the price of gas higher than in more recent years, getting the most for your vacation dollar is important.Choose Boyne FallsMaking Boyne Falls, Michigan your travel and vacation destination will give you and your family more things to see and do in Northern Michigan and save money.o Boyne Falls is centrally located to hundreds of the most popular vacationing activities.o Only 6 miles from Lake Charlevoix, offering free boat launching, with plenty of free parking right on the lake.o Minutes away from shopping, and dinning choices offering tasty burgers to exquisite fine dinning.o Only 50 miles away from the Mackinaw Bridge.o Home to the Annual Polish Festival held the First week of August.o Boyne City Morel Mushroom festival.o Close to dozens of Northern Michigan wineries.o Enjoy golfing on some of the most popular courses in all of Michigan.o Access to hiking, biking, fishing and almost endless possibilities of other fun and exciting things to see and do.The winter season is just as exciting and popular for your next vacation plan as well. Boyne Falls is located right next to Boyne Mountain and less than 30 minutes away from Nub’s Nob, and many other exciting snow skiing and winter sports locations. There is even hundreds of miles of action packed snowmobile trails that start in the Boyne Falls area.Comfortable Inexpensive LodgingThe focus of your vacation is going out and doing and seeing things, and the cost of lodging shouldn’t be a burden to your budget. By staying in Boyne Falls you can save hundreds of dollars on lodging, and get all of the creature comforts that those higher prices hotel chains offer at almost double the price. There are many local motels in the area that offer the same amenities as the more higher prices hotel and motel chains, but change up 60% less, and with savings like that you put that money back in your pocket where it belongs and have more money available to see and do more on your vacation!The bottom line in planning your vacation is to get the most value for your money and open up your options for sightseeing, and just having more fun, and Boyne Falls can make all of that a reality for less money and offering more fun all at the same time!o 3 airports super close, with one right in town, one 6 miles away in Boyne City, and Pellston Regional Airport only 35 miles away serving many major airlines companies.o Access to local rental cars, boats, jet skis, bicycles.o A large variety of shops and stores for your convenience.o Perfectly located to all of the areas more popular tourist, and sightseeing attractions.There is truly something for everyone in Boyne Falls. Isn’t it time you vacationed in Boyne Falls Michigan?