I haven't had much time to write this week because I am still working my normal amount but also moving apartments on top of that. So I spent Thanksgiving packing boxes and not eating the celebratory Chinese food I planned on eating after because the restaurant was closed. Oh well!
I am now thankful for frozen burritos and an internet connection I can mooch off of from the neighbors until mine gets hooked up.
I have managed to accomplish a few things this week, aside from not breaking any glassware...yet.
I got things ready for my accountant. Because accountant's high season is January through April, my new accountant has a little more time new to look at my business stuff then he will in about a month. I've spent the last two weeks going through my receipts, getting my mileage together, and all that fun stuff. I'm going to deliver it to him next week and he can help me make some decisions as the year ends, like if I should finally buy that printer I need now or in 2010.
I switched on my American Express Open business card, and moved the final few business transactions remaining on my personal credit card to it. I've been really good about not using my business account for any personal purchases but it hasn't been so good going in the other direction. This week, I've finally began putting a few recurring charges, like my monthly internet bill, on my business account. 2010 will be an easier year accountingwise because of it.
I tried to get internet service in my new apartment...and am still working on it. I almost didn't move just so I wouldn't have to deal with Time Warner cable. If you've been reading this blog awhile, you remember how it took me over a month last year to get internet. (And it's not the middle of nowhere, folks. I live on one of the main streets in Bar Harbor, home to the second most visited national park in the United States!)
My suspicions of being annoyed were confirmed when I spent an hour on the phone with them today. Four days ago, I signed up for free self installation and a modem that will be free after rebates, which they offered as part of the promotion. They then called to schedule a technician to come and tried to charge me for it. I talked to three different customer service people and a fourth in a special division is apparently going to call me back Monday. If you say it's free, give it to me for free, that's all I have to say! I'll let you know how it turns out.
I redid my price list. I like to publish my services and prices on the front page of this website. This is for three main reasons:
1) Potential clients know how much I cost and what kinds of services I offer. 2) It helps me be transparent and honest, which are core values of both myself and BEC. 3) When it comes to technology, most people assume it's going to be really expensive and are often pleasantly surprised that it's not.
Since the state of Maine will likely start taxing services in the next year, I'm going to have to raise my prices slightly in 2010. I took the opportunity to redo my price list in more detail and have it copyedited to make sure it was understandable by those who aren't on the internet all day like myself. I now have a readable document that I'm much more proud of.
Nothing like taking this moving week to get myself organized. And tomorrow, I'll be thankful to finally be in a new, larger place that'll be more conducive to a healthy separation between working and not working.
Every Monday, it's an example of a business, non-profit, or website doing something interesting to promote itself online. Got an idea? Let me know!
Now I'm not a big fan on national cable companies but I thought how Time Warner is handling their Disney/ABC negotiations pretty interesting.
They are keeping customers informed via email.
I've gotten a few updates about the current negotiations via Time Warner Cable email (and yes, I opted not to receive anything extra). I haven't unsubscribed because these emails aren't frequent. Also in their favor is they tend to be short and all driving customers to another website if they want longer versions of anything: http://www.rolloverorgettough.com/
They are driving their customers to a separately branded website.
Time Warner needs to keep running its day-to-day operations going on their company website, and these cable negotiations are a small part of what it does. So, for this 'campaign' they've set up a different website for educational (and political) purposes. I appreciate how they have their company name in the sidebar (as in they aren't pretending to be some third party group). But it is smart of them to keep their advocacy separate from their business, at least in terms of branding.
I've gotten a few emails. "I miss your blogs!" I miss them too!
Last weekend, I was in a wedding in Massachusetts and, combined with being busy at work in general, updating my own blog often seems like something I want to do and don't have time. Maybe when I get a smart phone in a couple months, it'll be easier to do these things in transit.
Here's what's going on at Breaking Even Communications:
I moved my office into my living room. I was most excited about my move from 220 square feet late last year precisely because I could have a separate office and living area. There was really only one logical choice for my 'office'.
Fast forward to months later. Why is my energy so low? My office had one small window behind me and it was not motivating to work in a cave.
So Imoved my desk to my living room (other office-y things like printer, stationary, etc. stayed in the old office). Yesterday morning, I watched a gold finch hover near a flower. I also got a ton of work done. For the whole separation of work and life, I might eventually get a screen to close off the area in the after hours but for the moment, this arrangement is working, and well.
Every Monday, Breaking Even looks at a business, website, or non-profit doing cool things online. Have an idea? Contact me and let me know!
It's easy to do the whole internet marketing bit when things are going well but what about when you have a PR disaster? How do you handle bad press about your company when you've made yourself very available online?
Jet Blue had an employee freak out on them last week. He's been getting tons of press and I don't feel a need to give him any more.
That said, I do need to say how Jet Blue has handled it seems really great.
They briefly and professionally addressed it on their company blog. It would be weird to completely ignore the controversy but what should you say when you don't want to be libelous or strangely silent? Read the great blog post solution called 'Sometimes the weird news is about us...' They aknowledged what happened and thanked their great employees.
I often get asked, "Why don't you give free seminars?" I've been thinking a lot about it lately and here's my response:
First of all, it isn't true that I don't ever give free seminars. Once a month, I do a free seminar for a business-related non-profit: chambers of commerce, Rotary, and other groups of that nature. If I get two requests the same month, I ask the person who contacted me second if they'd mind holding off. This is because I need to reserve time to do paid work so I can keep going as a business. Also, these free presentations are very general, usually introducing basic concepts as that's what time allows (and usually what the group wants).
Everyone else gets charged, whether it's a customized training session ($75/hour or $500, whichever is more applicable) or as a fee for a Downeast Learning workshop (between $25-$50/person). Am I just a money grubbing jerkface? Well, I might be... but even if I am, I have some good reasons for doing this:
1) It takes time to create workshops. I spend on average of 10 hours preparing slides for a typical workshop. I usually create an outline, get feedback on it from colleagues, make slides, and then get feedback on the slides. If you've ever been to one of my presentations, I hope you can see the thought that goes into them!
In addition to the time making the presentation, I also write a press release, post the workshop on several online event calendars, post it over Facebook and Twitter, update my blog, put up posters, contact all the local chambers, and do other things to get the word out, probably to the tune of a couple hours per workshop.
2) It costs money to present workshops. You'll notice if you go to my workshops, they are held in a space that isn't my home office. Since my house is tiny (not to mention ill equipped to handle 20ish people and their computers comfortably), I have to rent space.
Every Monday, the Breaking Even blog takes on a business, non-profit, or website with a good marketing idea. Have one? Send it in!
This morning, I was listening to NPR (on the Maine Public Broadcasting Network) and heard about former marketer now turned non-profit marketer Sid Lerner talking about the Meatless Monday concept him and his firm started as a way to get people to eat healthier one day a week. According to the story, 20% of the American population was aware of the term. Personally, I've heard about it on a few blogs I read (I do like food) and I was surprised the recognition of the phrase was that low.
Tomorrow (thurs) at 10am on WERU they are doing an hour-long show about small business & taxes with someone from Cooperative Extension and a representative from the IRS. As always, you're invited to call in with your questions!
The only reason I even thought of it because my accountant mentioned it as a possibility. But it might not apply to hosting etc. so let me know what your accountant thinks.
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Taxing IT related services? written by Matthew Baya,
November 28, 2009
Are you sure about the taxing of IT / Web related services in Maine? Last I checked that wasn't affected but I just e-mailed my accountant to find out. If this is true... ugh.
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