Posted by Beverly on
May 17, 2008
Meet Featured Diva Betty Lynch
What goals did you set for 2010?
My goals for the new year is to become healthier. I have started working with a lady who is trained in herbs and have started taking my healthcare back in my own hands. Exercising is also on the agenda.
I am also starting a plan for promoting my cookbook.
Are you carrying over any New Years Resolutions from 2009 into 2010?
No.
Do you have any unfinished business carried over from 2009? If so, what is it and how do you plan to handle it? If not, what advice do you give to others when it comes to completing tasks?
Write out your weekly tasks so that you know what you have accomplished and what still needs to be done. I keep this list in my Blackberry and check them off when complete. This year I was already working on 2010 goals/tasks in 2009.
When someone does business with you what are some things you hope they take away from the experience?
I hope that my customers know that I am sincere in wanting to help them make a difference in their life.
Where can we connect with you? Website(s)? Blog(s) email address
Betty Lynch
http://www.mycountrykitchen.com
blynch1490@gmail.com
Author – “Back to the Table with My Country Kitchen” http://www.mycountrykitchen.com
Featured Contributor to Boomer Living http://www.boomer-living.com
L’Bri Pure n’ Natural – http://www.bettyl.lbrionline.com
Posted by Beverly on
May 17, 2008
Meet Featured Diva Debra Shiveley Welch
What is the name of your business and a description of what you do?
Saga Books
I am editor and partner in the publishing house Saga Books where we continue to offer traditional publishing. We have expanded our catalog to include most genres and are now working on a full-blown promotions strategy with Master Koda Productions to aid our authors in the marketing of their works.
In addition, I am an award-winning author of four books: A Very Special Child, a children’s book that explains adoption in a spiritual way, Jesus Gandhi Oma Mae Adams, a murder mystery co-authored with Linda Lee Greene, Son of My Soul – The Adoption of Christopher, a memoir and Cedar Woman, a novel about a woman of the Lakota Sioux who opens the first high-end Native American restaurant in Central Ohio.
How much has your business direction changed in the past five years and why?
Rather than change, the direction has expanded. From a traditionally published author I have now moved into the publishing world on the other side of the process. It’s exciting, sometimes grueling, but always satisfying. I live for the moment when I call a new author and say, “Yes! We’ll take your manuscript.” The inevitable whoop at the other end of the line makes my day!
I am carrying on with my writing and plan to continue my path of dabbling in different genres. My readers have asked for a sequel to Cedar Woman and so Ista Numpa will be my first romance, followed by Heads Are Gonna Roll, a thriller and Christopher’s Family Table, a cookbook.
What advice do you have for women who are trying to grow their businesses?
Put in the time. Keep thinking of new ways to promote. More importantly – have fun!
What do you know now that you wished you knew 10 years ago as it relates to business?
I have owned my own business before and didn’t enjoy it very much. Doing what I do now is so satisfying that I wish I’d started a long time ago. So choose a business that you know will fulfill you and allow you to use your talents to their utmost.
DebraSWelch@aol.com and my web site addresses are: http://www.DebraShiveleyWelch.net; http://www.SagaBooks.net/ http://www.SagaEBooks.com
Posted by on
May 17, 2008
Meet Featured Diva Deb Stevens
What plans do you have for the summer months as it relates to your business?
This year I’m looking forward to meeting more people involved with networking thanks to a new venture!
What recommendations can you offer to women to keep them motivated during the summer?
Think ‘fresh’! Summer here in Sydney is always quite hot, and with so many new fundraising events to follow I need to remain cool, calm & collected. Stay relaxed without overloading your schedule/s. Consider using the hot summer days/nights to YOUR advantage by finding ‘balance’. Work should be enjoyable, not a task you dread!
What advice do you have for fellow businesswomen who want to understand how to make social media work for them?
Search what suits! My schedule allows me plenty of time ‘online’, and I’ve used this time to research suitable social networks, often those suggested by friends, or through a quick GOOGLE search. Be clear on what your needs are, this will help to narrow down the different networks available. Create a Blog, join a group, attend any social gathering where you are able to meet like-minded people and promote your business/ideas! Advertising any events ‘online’ while inviting the public to view what you have to offer is crucial if you want to be noticed! Keep it simple but keep it going!
What’s your favorite social media site and why?
Twitter has become my main focus-unlike Myspace or Facebook, Twitter offers the fast-paced style of tool required to keep up with my advertising! With an increasing list of applications, Twitter provides me with various ideas & gadgets which are useful for my personal sites/blogs.
Are there any new projects you’re working on that you’d like the general public to know about?
I recently linked up with a medical research unit; GO research fund, and hoping this will open many new doors while assisting my ‘awareness’ campaign for ovarian cancer.
6) How can someone get in touch with you?
You can locate me at Twitter, now running 2 accounts: http://twitter.com/chook
http://twitter.com/freesiafile while my ‘landing page’ is open for comments: http://chookfiles.wordpress.com
Email: dannestevens@gmail.com
My main website: http://www.deliberatelydebbie.com
Posted by Beverly on
May 17, 2008
Meet Featured Diva Pam Archer
What is the name of your business and a description of what you do?
Pamela’s Event Design.
We are a full-service wedding and event planning business. This includes, but is not limited to, designing the look of an event, providing linens, exquisite floral design, props, lighting, and draping. Everything we do is customized for the
client, so no two events are alike.
How much has your business direction changed in the past five years and why?
I don’t think the direction has changed so much, as I am realizing the vision for my company. After years of laying a foundation and building a reputation for
high-end design, our clientele has changed dramatically. We are now in a position to be more selective about the clients we accept.
What advice do you have for women who are trying to grow their businesses?
You must have a business plan, but it must change and grow with changes in your industry or profession. If you are still doing business the way you
were two years ago, you have been passed by your competition. Stay abreast of market trends, through industry publications, networking, reading blogs, and following social media.
Track your business by always inquiring how your customer/client found you. This will help you to designate your advertising dollars more
wisely. Don’t try to be all things to all people. Find your niche and demographic, and market to them.
Use social media, but beware that it doesn’t consume so much of your time that you don’t have time to grow your business. My business nearly shut
down a few years ago, because I was trying too hard to connect. Pick two or three and limit your time spent on them. Schedule it on your calendar. You don’t have to connect every day, so don’t let anyone tell you that you do.
Focus on customer care! Stay in contact via hand written notes on birthdays, anniversaries, births, deaths, any important life event. You’ll be surprised at how rare it is for people to receive those, and how much they appreciate them, and they will call you the next time they need your services. Send
thank you notes to those who send you business, and keep your eyes and ears open for them to return the favor.
What do you know now that you wished you knew 10 years ago as it relates to business?
I wish I had known the importance of having a business plan and a personal mission statement. If you don’t know where you are going and don’t have a map of how to get there, you will run off in the ditch!
Learning to say “no” is hard for me, but necessary. I’m still learning, but I think I am a little wiser than I was 10 years ago. It is a learning process to have your own business, but if you are passionate and focused, you can be successful.
Where can we connect with you? Website(s)? Blog(s) email address
Website: www.pamelaseventdesign.com
Blog: http://idoweddings.wordpress.com
E-mail: afcpam@mindspring.com or pam@pamelaseventdesign.com
