Shelley, my ex-hairstylist

About a year ago, I moved intrastate, about 4 hours away. I had lived in my old house for over 10 years, and had fallen love there… with my hair stylist, Shelley. Shelley and I had been hanging out together, every six weeks for most of the ten years I lived there. So when we moved, I actually drove back up to visit her the first time my hair needed to be colored. But after a while, driving four hours to get my hair done was a stretch, even for me. So I had to break up with Shelley. It was hard… very hard. How was I going to find another hair stylist as good as Shelley?

So what makes a good hair stylist? For me, it had a lot to do with personality. Shelley was outgoing, a little crazy, funny and kept me entertained for years and years. She knew more about me than most people. Other things to consider? Skill, experience, enthusiasm, the ability to listen, knowledge of the latest trends, and the ability to know how to work with your hair type.

Once I had broken up with Shelley, I had to start my hunt! As a woman in my 40′s with slightly graying hair (ok – REALLY graying hair), I couldn’t wait too long. I started asking around, and even asked strangers whose hair styles I admired. My search included leveraging my friend base on Facebook and Twitter – posting appeals to my friends to share where they colored their grays.

Someone Tweeted that they used a salon called “Wink”. Sounded interesting… I asked her about it: how long had she been going, who did she use, cost, etc. She answered with the basics, but then mentioned “but make sure you go to the ‘other side’”. Huh? Ummm, I just want my hair colored! I didn’t need a Sci-fi experience But my curiosity got the better of me, and I booked my appointment at Wink – the Other Side.

My appointment went smoothly – I had an efficient, pleasant, knowledgable stylist who did a good job. She even listened intently and inquired about me and my life. So it looked like we had a winner! Phew! I went on to visit her on my six week schedule for a few months, and then received the call: “I’m sorry, but Sam*  has moved on, so we need to give you a new stylist”. What? I had been abandoned? Dumped???

Fortunately, before I had a chance to panic for too long, I received a friend request from “Sam” through Facebook. She had found me, and wanted to tell me she had not dumped me, but that she had just moved! Awww – we really WERE friends. Maybe not as great as Shelley, but we have a few years to work on it. Thank goodness for Social Media!

*name changed to protect the inncent

A little known secret for small business owners. Google has a free advertising solution that is available to ANY business owner!

The service is called Google Places: Your local business, discovered on Google.

Why add your listing with Google Places?

Google Places gives you the ability to enhance the Place Page for your business by adding photos, videos, coupons, and even real-time updates like weekly specials all on your Place Page. Verifying your listing gives you the opportunity to share even more information about your business with Google.

How it works

Each business listing on Google is in fact a giant ‘cluster’ of information that they get from a few different places: Yellow Pages, for example, as well as other third-party providers. However, the basic information that you submit through Google Places is the information that is trusted the most. This means that it will appear instead of any basic information that they get from anywhere else.

You can add other information to your listing too — such as a description of your business, for example, as well as photos, reviews, or information about hours and parking costs — that will also appear above similar information from other providers. So think of this as another opportunity to promote your business.

For example, if you Google “Marketing Agency – Virginia Beach”, you will find “Wave Marketing” listed on the map. If you click on the listing, you will see the following page, that includes content added by the business.

So what are you waiting for? Get started now!

Step 1: viagra for contractors on sites like Bragadoo, looking for those who have ‘brags’ from their happy clients. Also remember to ask your friends and family for references.

Step 2: Choose 3 contractors to interview.

Step 3: Ask questions. LOTS of questions. (See the list below).

Step 4: Receive the bids, check the contracts (read the fine print!) and select your contractor.

To help you with step 3 of the process, here is a great list of questions to ask during the interview process:

• Does the work meet the standard you’re looking for? Ask for examples of past projects, including photographs and videos.
• What’s the process the general contractor uses from start to finish? Get the details in writing.
• Does the contractor work on a fixed price?
• Who are the subcontractors? Ask for a list then call them to learn more about the contractor. Even ask if the company pays the subcontractors’ invoices and is current.
• Who pays the subcontractors and how often?
• What are the standards for subcontractors on the job site? Subcontractor expectations include various standards, from not parking on the client’s driveway to end-of-day cleanup requirements and dress code.
• Are all contractors and subcontractors bonded and insured? If not, and they’re injured on the job, there are potential repercussions regarding your homeowners insurance.
• Is the remodeling company lead-paint certified? This is required for any project built before 1978.
• What does the work contract look like? Ask for an example.
• How often does the contractor experience cost overruns — and why do they happen? Sometimes homeowners ask for changes that affect the price, and sometimes contractors experience budget changes.
• How would budget changes be managed on your project? Properly managed, a home renovation budget should have no surprises.
• Are past clients satisfied with the final job? Ask for references. Call them to ask whether they’d hire the company again.
• Is a warranty offered? What is it?

List originally published in Indy Star 08/08/10

Does your business have a Facebook Fan Page? If not, it is something we highly recommend, to build a fan base of followers who you converse directly with.  To help you get started, we recently found a comprehensive (and LONG) list of tips to get people to like your Facebook page. We’ve broken it down for you in to more manageable bit-sized pieces.

#1: Be Prepared With Quality Wall Posts and Consistent Engagement

Keep your page organized and loaded with fresh, quality content. Be consistent and active in your engagement with fans and also with the brand.

#2: Reward Your Loyal Supporters

Encourage existing and loyal customers to join your Facebok page as supporters, reward them with customizable badges/tabs (to be placed on their profiles for visibility) and special deals for consistent support.

#3: Leverage Your Existing Social Networks

If you’ve built a strong Twitter network for your business, utilize it to promote your Facebook page. Your followers can broadcast your message on both of their social platforms by reaching out to a greater audience about your business.

#4: Integrate Facebook Social Plugins to Your Website

It’s essential to have a main hub correlating all your social media activities. Your company’s website is the only place that gives you full control over content and brand management. Integrate Facebook social plugins to encourage connections such as Facebook’s Likebox, Like button, and Comment stream.

#5: Remind Your Fans to Like and Share

Facebook has some easy ready-made sharing buttons with which people can promote your tabs and pages to their friends.  Place a shout-out or reminder to ‘Like’ your status updates and instruct fans to click that little ‘Share’ button right next to your message so their friends will be alerted about the update.

There are five more tips here, so check them out!

Is it our leg-warmer loving “Jane Fonda” wanna be???

Or “Old Spice” man – “I’m This Guy” – who had a great Twitter campaign going on throughout the contest.

Maybe its “Full Calendar” – who definitely seems like she could use some help managing all her kids and work and … phew! I’m tired just thinking about it!

“Sorrynaire” the next Braganaire?

It looks like its going to be ‘I’m This Guy’… but we’ll have to wait and see what the judges have to say when the officially announce the winner on  Thursday 8/5 – so stayed tuned to our Facebook page and Twitter account to hear the announcement!

Votes as of 9:20pm on 7/27/10

]]> http://www.bragadoo.com/blog/2010/07/27/the-countdown-is-on-4-days-vote-who-will-be-braganaire/feed/ 0 http://www.bragadoo.com/blog/2010/07/25/a-little-sunday-fun/ http://www.bragadoo.com/blog/2010/07/25/a-little-sunday-fun/#comments Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:51:16 +0000 admin http://www.bragadoo.com/blog/?p=179 What does YOUR dog do when you’re not at home? Maybe you need to find a dog sitter on Bragadoo! Happy Sunday!

Shelley, my ex-hairstylist

About a year ago, I moved intrastate, about 4 hours away. I had lived in my old house for over 10 years, and had fallen love there… with my hair stylist, Shelley. Shelley and I had been hanging out together, every six weeks for most of the ten years I lived there. So when we moved, I actually drove back up to visit her the first time my hair needed to be colored. But after a while, driving four hours to get my hair done was a stretch, even for me. So I had to break up with Shelley. It was hard… very hard. How was I going to find another hair stylist as good as Shelley?

So what makes a good hair stylist? For me, it had a lot to do with personality. Shelley was outgoing, a little crazy, funny and kept me entertained for years and years. She knew more about me than most people. Other things to consider? Skill, experience, enthusiasm, the ability to listen, knowledge of the latest trends, and the ability to know how to work with your hair type.

Once I had broken up with Shelley, I had to start my hunt! As a woman in my 40′s with slightly graying hair (ok – REALLY graying hair), I couldn’t wait too long. I started asking around, and even asked strangers whose hair styles I admired. My search included leveraging my friend base on Facebook and Twitter – posting appeals to my friends to share where they colored their grays.

Someone Tweeted that they used a salon called “Wink”. Sounded interesting… I asked her about it: how long had she been going, who did she use, cost, etc. She answered with the basics, but then mentioned “but make sure you go to the ‘other side’”. Huh? Ummm, I just want my hair colored! I didn’t need a Sci-fi experience But my curiosity got the better of me, and I booked my appointment at Wink – the Other Side.

My appointment went smoothly – I had an efficient, pleasant, knowledgable stylist who did a good job. She even listened intently and inquired about me and my life. So it looked like we had a winner! Phew! I went on to visit her on my six week schedule for a few months, and then received the call: “I’m sorry, but Sam*  has moved on, so we need to give you a new stylist”. What? I had been abandoned? Dumped???

Fortunately, before I had a chance to panic for too long, I received a friend request from “Sam” through Facebook. She had found me, and wanted to tell me she had not dumped me, but that she had just moved! Awww – we really WERE friends. Maybe not as great as Shelley, but we have a few years to work on it. Thank goodness for Social Media!

*name changed to protect the inncent

A little known secret for small business owners. Google has a free advertising solution that is available to ANY business owner!

The service is called Google Places: Your local business, discovered on Google.

Why add your listing with Google Places?

Google Places gives you the ability to enhance the Place Page for your business by adding photos, videos, coupons, and even real-time updates like weekly specials all on your Place Page. Verifying your listing gives you the opportunity to share even more information about your business with Google.

How it works

Each business listing on Google is in fact a giant ‘cluster’ of information that they get from a few different places: Yellow Pages, for example, as well as other third-party providers. However, the basic information that you submit through Google Places is the information that is trusted the most. This means that it will appear instead of any basic information that they get from anywhere else.

You can add other information to your listing too — such as a description of your business, for example, as well as photos, reviews, or information about hours and parking costs — that will also appear above similar information from other providers. So think of this as another opportunity to promote your business.

For example, if you Google “Marketing Agency – Virginia Beach”, you will find “Wave Marketing” listed on the map. If you click on the listing, you will see the following page, that includes content added by the business.

So what are you waiting for? Get started now!

Step 1: viagra for contractors on sites like Bragadoo, looking for those who have ‘brags’ from their happy clients. Also remember to ask your friends and family for references.

Step 2: Choose 3 contractors to interview.

Step 3: Ask questions. LOTS of questions. (See the list below).

Step 4: Receive the bids, check the contracts (read the fine print!) and select your contractor.

To help you with step 3 of the process, here is a great list of questions to ask during the interview process:

• Does the work meet the standard you’re looking for? Ask for examples of past projects, including photographs and videos.
• What’s the process the general contractor uses from start to finish? Get the details in writing.
• Does the contractor work on a fixed price?
• Who are the subcontractors? Ask for a list then call them to learn more about the contractor. Even ask if the company pays the subcontractors’ invoices and is current.
• Who pays the subcontractors and how often?
• What are the standards for subcontractors on the job site? Subcontractor expectations include various standards, from not parking on the client’s driveway to end-of-day cleanup requirements and dress code.
• Are all contractors and subcontractors bonded and insured? If not, and they’re injured on the job, there are potential repercussions regarding your homeowners insurance.
• Is the remodeling company lead-paint certified? This is required for any project built before 1978.
• What does the work contract look like? Ask for an example.
• How often does the contractor experience cost overruns — and why do they happen? Sometimes homeowners ask for changes that affect the price, and sometimes contractors experience budget changes.
• How would budget changes be managed on your project? Properly managed, a home renovation budget should have no surprises.
• Are past clients satisfied with the final job? Ask for references. Call them to ask whether they’d hire the company again.
• Is a warranty offered? What is it?

List originally published in Indy Star 08/08/10

Does your business have a Facebook Fan Page? If not, it is something we highly recommend, to build a fan base of followers who you converse directly with.  To help you get started, we recently found a comprehensive (and LONG) list of tips to get people to like your Facebook page. We’ve broken it down for you in to more manageable bit-sized pieces.

#1: Be Prepared With Quality Wall Posts and Consistent Engagement

Keep your page organized and loaded with fresh, quality content. Be consistent and active in your engagement with fans and also with the brand.

#2: Reward Your Loyal Supporters

Encourage existing and loyal customers to join your Facebok page as supporters, reward them with customizable badges/tabs (to be placed on their profiles for visibility) and special deals for consistent support.

#3: Leverage Your Existing Social Networks

If you’ve built a strong Twitter network for your business, utilize it to promote your Facebook page. Your followers can broadcast your message on both of their social platforms by reaching out to a greater audience about your business.

#4: Integrate Facebook Social Plugins to Your Website

It’s essential to have a main hub correlating all your social media activities. Your company’s website is the only place that gives you full control over content and brand management. Integrate Facebook social plugins to encourage connections such as Facebook’s Likebox, Like button, and Comment stream.

#5: Remind Your Fans to Like and Share

Facebook has some easy ready-made sharing buttons with which people can promote your tabs and pages to their friends.  Place a shout-out or reminder to ‘Like’ your status updates and instruct fans to click that little ‘Share’ button right next to your message so their friends will be alerted about the update.

There are five more tips here, so check them out!

Is it our leg-warmer loving “Jane Fonda” wanna be???

Or “Old Spice” man – “I’m This Guy” – who had a great Twitter campaign going on throughout the contest.

Maybe its “Full Calendar” – who definitely seems like she could use some help managing all her kids and work and … phew! I’m tired just thinking about it!

“Sorrynaire” the next Braganaire?

It looks like its going to be ‘I’m This Guy’… but we’ll have to wait and see what the judges have to say when the officially announce the winner on  Thursday 8/5 – so stayed tuned to our Facebook page and Twitter account to hear the announcement!

Votes as of 9:20pm on 7/27/10

]]> http://www.bragadoo.com/blog/2010/07/27/the-countdown-is-on-4-days-vote-who-will-be-braganaire/feed/ 0 http://www.bragadoo.com/blog/2010/07/25/a-little-sunday-fun/ http://www.bragadoo.com/blog/2010/07/25/a-little-sunday-fun/#comments Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:51:16 +0000 admin http://www.bragadoo.com/blog/?p=179 What does YOUR dog do when you’re not at home? Maybe you need to find a dog sitter on Bragadoo! Happy Sunday!