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I
live abroad in Germany. I have placed myself in a position
where although I am not the owner of the company that employs
me, I do have my own section of the business. I need more
time and money to make it work. Are their grant funds for
women living and working abroad?
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
Tracie:
I don't have enough information about your business to comment
in detail,
but I don't personally know of any American-sourced small
for-profit
business grants for people in other countries, whether they
are American or
not.
I would imagine that the US does have some funding or assistance
available
for Americans starting businesses abroad. I don't personally
know about
them, but a good place to start looking would be the US Small
Business
Administration website at www.sba.gov or the US Department
of Commerce
website at www.doc.gov. Of course you may find several large
companies with
non-profit funding arms for out of country businesses but
those would be
available by searching individual companies.
Depending on what you're looking for exactly, you may also
be able to find
something by doing a Google search. I did a quick one and
found
www.grant-finder.net. I'm not sure it will be helpful to you
specifically,
but spending some time researching through Google is always
a good bet. If
you have a connection with the American armed forces, the
bases in Germany
may also be of help.
Good luck!
dM
I'm
opening a specialty gift store, next month, and I'm having
trouble deciding on a location. Is it better to pay high rent
at the most popular strip mall in town, or half as much, at
a "fair" location, and maybe spend what I save on
advertising?
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
Congratulations on your new store!!
I suggest asking some of the other existing merchants around
each location and seeing what they think. The ones who are
paying a lot of rent are either struggling or glad that the
foot traffic makes them a good profit. On the other hand,
the ones paying less for rent may still be struggling because
they don't have as many customers as they want, even if they
do advertise. Find out what their track records are -- why
some merchants leave each location is also helpful information
to have. You could advertise a lot, but if people don't come
to a certain retail area, they just don't come so even if
you're paying less rent, you may end up starving for customers
anyway.
Another question is to see if there are other specialty gift
stores in either area. Why or why not? If there are none,
maybe they don't survive there and it would not be a good
place for you. Ask those kinds of questions.
If you decide to go to the higher rent area, see if your landlord
will cut you any deals. For example, they could start your
rent out at a few hundreds dollars a month less than otherwise,
and go up to the regular price from there over time. See if
they will throw in grand opening signage for you. You might
also see if any of the other merchants in the higher rent
area will split the cost of holiday advertisements with you.
Finally, if either area has a merchant's association, you
should definitely check with them and ask as many questions
as you can about both areas. Merchant's associations are excellent
sources of information and wherever you decide to lease, if
they are an active organization, you should seriously consider
joining them.
Good luck!
dM
I just need some direction. I moved from Naperville, Illinois
to Madison,
Mississippi and feel totally lost. I have primarily worked
out of my home
as a paralegal, court reporter to owning gumball machines
and placing them
in various locations. My children are older now and I have
more flexibility;
however, I am working full time as a legal secretary in a
law firm and want
my independence once more. I just don' t know where to begin.
I am a great
baker and can bake anything from cookies (cookie bouquets
too) to chocolate
eclairs and apple slices. I have two children in college and
one at home
and still need income every month. I would like to start a
baking business,
beginning at home, so I can still work at the law firm, get
my name out
there and then cut back on the office hours as the business
expands. I just
don't know where to begin. I know how to become an LLC, but
what do I do
next? I am nervous, but so excited. There is a Cookies by
Design located
about 15 miles from me, but there really aren't any bakeries
in Jackson, MS
at all. Please lead me in the right direction.
Thanks.
Pauline
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS: Congratulations on
your ingenuity and desire to regain your
independence. There's nothing like being in business for yourself
as you
know! I'm glad you are a good baker -- that's fantastic and
it makes me wish
I lived in your city since I love just about any kind of cookie.
But as you
know since you've been in business before, having the talent
does not
necessarily mean you're cut out to start and run the business.
So, you're in
a good position at the beginning before doing anything to
do the most
important thing of all -- PLAN!
One of the first things I suggest is checking with the local
branch of the
Small Business Administration to find out what services they
offer to start
up businesses. The SBA's website at www.sba.gov is a wealth
of information
and you can find your local branch there or in your local
phone book.
Whether you use their services or not, you will need a business
plan. Your
business plan will provide you with a framework for starting
your business.
You will need to address such issues as:
1. how will you bake your products?
2. do you need a registered commercial kitchen to comply with
state law?
3. where will you purchase raw materials at the lowest price
so you can make
a profit?
4. how much of a profit do you want to make?
5. how will you sell your baked goods -- website, word of
mouth, church
bazaars, advertising in local papers?
6. what will make your baked goods unique and different from
what people can
get in the grocery store for less money than you'll probably
end up
charging?
7. where will you get start up cash? savings account? a small
business loan?
a gift from a family member? You'll need money to start your
business unless
you want to worry about cash all the time.
8. what will you call your business? Choosing a name that
is not already in
use by another bakery is key to building your brand.
Those questions are just the tip of the iceberg. Check www.amazon.com
for
books on how to write a business plan and then purchase 1
or 2 of them to
get you started. Also check out www.bizplanit.com for business
planning
tips. You should also check www.amazon.com for books on successful
people
who have started baking companies. Check baking company websites
and read
their start up stories if they posted them there. This will
give you
encouragement and inspiration. Visit http://www.mrsfields.com
and read the
story of how she started her business in the About Us section.
Look for
other small business start up stories in magazines and on
the web to get
ideas. I saw this baking company featured in a small business
magazine a few
months ago: http://www.cakelove.com
They key with anyone who wants to start a business but does
not know where
to begin is to start slowly and not expect miracles early
on. If you fail to
plan, you plan to fail, so make sure you plan things out before
jumping out
there. The bottom line is to do some research -- seek out
people who can
help you locally as well as books and business magazines that
would be good
to subscribe to. Spend an hour or so at the magazine rack
at a local library
or bookstore in the business section and choose a few that
cater to small
business. There are also tons of them on the web.
Good luck!
dM
Hi Donna,
My name is Jennifer and I live in Southern California. I would
like to start up a fast food restaurant, however I am unexperienced
and have
very little funds. Could you please recommend some books or
anything that I
can research on or read so that I do not waste my money on
just any
book/materials that will not benefit me.
Thank you sincerely,
Jennifer
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
I have never researched starting a restaurant per se, but
I'm sure if you
contacted the trade associations representing the restaurant
and fast food
industry, they can help you. There's the National Restaurant
Association for
starters, and most states probably have chapters that can
steer you in the
right direction. www.restaurant.org. They have experts in
the industry there
and I'm sure they would be better than me at recommending
materials that
won't waste your time. You should also conduct an online search
for other
organizations in that industry that could help, plus visit
www.amazon.com
and see what restaurant books are out there and read the comments
of
readers. They are usually objective and very helpful so you
can make
selections that have helped others and are most likely to
help you.
Starting a small business in general without any money, especially
one that
requires you to either buy or lease space, comply with state
inspection and
food codes, hire wait staff, pay unemployment insurance and
social security
taxes, get premises liability insurance, purchase or rent
tables and serving
utensils, etc., is likely going to be really tough so you
are right to
research as much as possible before jumping in.
Good luck!
dM
Question:
Starting daycare with minimal funding and
stay ahead of the competition.
I am a 56 year old Grandmother raising my three grandchildren,
ages 4,9 & 11 years old. I am thinking of moving to a
small town
about an hour from Kansas City where I now reside. My sister
lives
there now and it is the best thing she could have done for
her family.
The problem is the jobs are very few and, of course, they
don't pay as
well as the Big city. I thought of Home Day Care, as I did
that a few
years ago, but they just opened a large day care center. Would
it be
wise to try to compete? I need to start something with VERY
minimal startup cost.
It's scary enough moving to another town with 3 kids, but
I know I can do this. I just
need some guidance as to what is original enough to "bring
to town" with me.
Can you guide me to some resources that would weed out the
Get Rich Quick Scams?
Keep on Dancin'
From,
Grannie
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
Your message raises at least 3 significant issues:
1. how to deal with competition
2. how to start a business with minimal funding
3. avoiding get rich quick scams
I'll address each below.
1. In your situation, while there is a competing day care
center, I can tell you that as the mother of a toddler, the
care my daughter would get at a day care center in my area
cannot hold a candle to the care she can get in an in-home
situation. There are several things that set the in-home environment
apart including that there are less children in a home (so
less chance of contagious illnesses) and that the in-home
scenario more closely resembles a child's environment at home.
These are benefits that day care centers cannot compete with.
I'm sure there are other differences that you would know of
since you have provided day care in the past. So think back
to those days ... visit the day care center and see for yourself
how effectively you can distinguish your in-home care from
what they offer -- and then market that to parents if you
decide to go that route.
2. Starting a business with minimal funding is a challenge,
no doubt. Even an in-home day care center will require outlays
of cash up front for such things are insurance, toys/books/games,
first aid kits, blankets, videos, licensing and inspection
fees, etc. I strongly advise against starting any business
from the ground up with no cash on hand, either from savings
or from a small business loan simply because it puts more
stress on a business than it needs when it is starting up
and already has non-financial stresses to deal with. That
doesn't mean it cannot be done, but if cash is available from
somewhere, the chances of success increase significantly.
In any event, if there's no cash there, but the desire is
there, perhaps the best way to go is to start up a venture
with a partner who can invest cash while you invest sweat
equity, or simply join a reputable network marketing program
which has a minimal start up investment fee.
3. The best way to avoid a get rich quick scam is to create
a business yourself. Granted, everyone cannot do that, and
for many, starting a business using an infrastructure that
is already there (such as in network marketing arrangements)
is the quickest and most efficient way to generate income.
Nevertheless, as you say, there are lots of shysters out there.
If you decide not to start a business from scratch yourself,
the best way to avoid getting "taken" is to research
the details of any company before you start working with them.
Get references from others who are satisfied (or not) with
the experience, research the financial soundness and history
of the company, find out what their future plans are and how
you can fit into them. Leave no stone unturned, and if your
instincts give you pause, it's probably best to follow them.
... and as you say, Keep On Dancin'!
dM
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Question:
Where can I learn more about laws for importing/exporting
products?
I am thinking about bringing imported products into my business,
and I need to learn about import/export laws and such. I have
searched, and
surfed, and asked around but I just can't find anything helpful.
Do you know
of any resources that I could explore that might help me?
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
One of the most helpful resources is
the Web site for the US Customs Service
at www.customs.gov. There is a lot of information there and
if it seems a
bit overwhelming, you might try getting in touch with a Department
employee
to see if someone can steer you in a more direct fashion to
the regulations
you are looking for. The regulations by the way will vary
depending on what
you want to import and in some cases various federal agencies
will be
involved.
You can see a listing of Customs Service departments and
phone numbers at
this link:
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/headquarters.xml
You might also check with your local US Small Business Administration
branch
office to see if they can assist you. You can search for the
branch closest
to you at this link:
http://www.sba.gov/regions/states.html.
Good luck!
Donna Maria
Question:
What are the most effective marketing tools?
Hi ~ I am just beginning my home biz
venture. I have had my
website for a couple of months now. There seems to be so many
ways to
market and I work on it daily. But I was wondering if you
could give me some
tips on what you think are the most important/effective marketing
tools to
help get me going.
Thanks!
Newbie with big dreams
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
You are right! There are so many different marketing tools
and there is no
cookie cutter answer to what will work best for your business.
To that end,
the most important tip I can provide you about choosing what
marketing tools
are right for you is to plan and be thoughtful and well organized.
Know your
business and your customer, and choose the tools that work
best for both.
Three of the most effective marketing tools for online business
are:
1. A Web site. But not just any old Web site. A plain old
Web site is not a
good marketing tool. In order for a Web site to be an effective
marketing
tool, it must be professionally designed, unique, organized,
easy to use,
attractive and functional. Test your Web site regularly to
make sure it
lives up to these requirements.
2. A regularly published newsletter targeted to your particular
market,
which contains unique and well-written content. This ensures
that you remain
in constant contact with your customers and helps generate
sales. An online
newsletter does not have to be daily or even weekly to be
"regular". A
monthly newsletter is fine so long as it's published monthly
at the same
time (i.e., the first Monday of the month or whatever) and
is of interest to
your readers.
3. A set of coordinated and polished marketing materials,
including business
cards, company profile, photo(s) of products, customer testimonials
and
things of that nature which can be used as a press or media
kit to gain
increased attention for your business.
Again, there's no cookie cutter answer, but starting with
these 3 tools
should give most any online business a great start. You can
refine things as
you go, tweaking your tools until you create just the right
framework that
works best for you and your business.
Good luck!
dM
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Question:
How can I start selling my own line of cosmetics?
I am a freelance makeup artist. Now, I've started making soaps
and
toiletries at home and am very passionate about it. I really
want to make a
business out of it, but I'm not sure where to start. What
I dream of doing
is having my own line of makeup. I'm slowly learning how to
make makeup
products at home, but how do I go about starting a line? I
know other
companies started out of their kitchen (like Burt's Bee's)
but how do you
begin selling and how do you get where you can correspond
with a lab to get
it manufactured? I know I could come up with great and unusual
products and
packaging, but not just with what i have in my kitchen! It
seems so
unreachable! Please HELP!
Signed,
Make Up Biz Owner Wannabe
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
How excited you must be to have found a new passion! I share
your passion so
I truly understand what it's like to feel overwhelmed at getting
started.
The first and most important thing you need to do, however,
is slow down and
not be in a hurry. That more than anything can put you out
of business
before you even start. After that, relax and gather your thoughts,
put
together a plan, learn all you can about the industry and
then move forward
when you have prepared yourself. Here are some things to do
to begin:
1. Familiarize yourself with the FDA's cosmetics regulations.
You can find
them at the FDA's Web site at this link:
http://www.fda.gov. You'll see a link to "Cosmetics"
on the home page. These
are not the only regulations you need to be aware of, but
they are a
significant part of what any cosmetics company must know.
Your state may
also have a cosmetics law that you need to be aware of. Learn
about
preservatives as well.
2. Decide what business structure you want. Do you want to
incorporate? Do
you want to be a sole proprietorship? You can contact your
state government
for details about how to set up your business in your state.
Select a
business name and make sure you think about trademarking it.
Also, be sure
that you can get a Web site with a domain name that you want
for your
business to identify your online presence.
3. Purchase and maintain products liability insurance which
you can get
through certain trade organizations including The Handmade
Beauty Network
(http://www.handmadebeauty.com). There are lots of resources
at that Web
site and you can join once you start your business.
4. You'll want to make sure you are buying your supplies
at the lowest
prices possible. You can find suppliers at www.mangobutter.com.
Then, you'll
need to set your prices in a way that covers your costs, plus
makes you some
profit.
There are lots of other things you'll want to do to get started
but the
above are really good places to start. There are lots of basic
business
planning books you can buy at www.amazon.com including The
Complete Book of
Business Plans by Hazelgren.
Good luck!
dM
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Dear Donna Maria,
I have some ideas for a home based business, but
I don't know how to start. Can you please help me?
Signed,
Aspiring Home Biz Owner
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
Dear Aspiring Home Biz Owner,
Since your question is general, I'll start by saying that
if you
have some ideas for any kind of business (home-based or not),
the first thing to do is to get them down on paper and start
preparing a business plan. Include everything you can think
of about your business:
what is your business
what service do you provide
who are your competitors
how will you compete with them
where will your start up cash come from
will you have a Web site
how will you sell your product or service
how will you advertise
how will you price your products/services
will you have partners and/or vendors or will you be doing
everything yourself
These are just some questions to start with. Once you start
answering them, you'll be on your way to preparing a business
plan
and then you can start your business. For more information
about
business planning, you can visit www.bizplanit.com.
Good luck!
Donna Maria
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I am an at-home mom. I really want to work and be able to
stay
home with my daughter. I think that I have found a CAREER
that I want to go
into. What are the steps that I can take to make sure that
it is a
legitimate business? AND how can I convince my husband that
this is a good
choice?
Desiree
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
Dear Desiree,
As an at home mom, I can relate to your questions first hand!
I don't know
what career you have decided on so it's hard to answer your
questions
specifically without more details. Nevertheless, here are
some general tips
on making sure something qualifies as a legitimate business:
1. Ask for references from people already in the business.
There's nothing
like first hand experience to give you an idea of what it
would be like for
you.
2. Ask to see a coy of any contracts you would have to sign
to become
involved in the business ahead of time. Ask about time commitments,
financial commitments, etc., so there are no surprises. Read
any contracts
carefully to make sure you can meet its terms and ensure ahead
of time that
you would get the benefit of your bargain too.
3. Investigate the track record of the company owners. Do
they have a
longstanding interest in the industry or is the venture just
a fly by night
money making venture for them? How much money do they make?
What do they do?
What is their reputation in the industry, whatever it is?
How healthy is the
business itself, considering our poor economy at this time?
As for "convincing" your husband, let me suggest
that you look at it a
different way. Since you don't know whether the business is
legitimate
yourself, you won't have much luck convincing your husband
of anything yet.
Don't let your excitement and anxiety about starting a new
career make you
put the cart before the hors. Educate yourself first. Convince
yourself
first that this is the business for you. Once you have a solid
basis upon
which to base your decision that this is the best thing for
you, then
educate your husband about why it's also the best thing for
your family. Ask
him for his input and suggestions. You'll probably fare better
approaching
it that way than with the preconceived notion that you have
to "convince"
him of your position.
Finally, a consideration for yourself as a mom. If you are
the primary
caregiver for your children and you don't have any help during
the day, is
this a business you can do well and still provide your children
with the
attention they need? If not, one will suffer and it would
probably be the
business. So if you decide to go into this career, try to
arrange for some
help a few hours a week so you can concentrate on growing
your business
during some uninterrupted stretches of time.
Good luck!!
dM
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Question: Finding a good lead
company
One of the most difficult things is sorting through the different
lead
companies. Can you recommend a credible lead company?
Mary Ann
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
Dear Mary Ann,
Assuming you're asking about sales leads companies, I cannot
recommend a
lead company. Finding the best lead company for you depends
on a variety of
factors that I don't know about your business. Here are some
questions I
would ask and things I would do before engaging a lead company.
1. Make sure you don't commit to a long term contract initially.
Enter into
a short term one and commit to longer if you are pleased with
their
services.
2. Always ask to see a copy of their contract and review
it carefully before
committing
3. Look for a lead company that charges you for results and
not for their
time. In other words, if they charge by the month, that does
not guarantee
you anything. Make sure you understand exactly what you are
getting for your
money.
4. Make sure the company has expertise in your business area.
In other
words, if you own a cosmetics company and are looking for
wholesale leads,
make sure that they have expertise in that area.
Best & Success!
Donna Maria
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Question: We're Stumped! Where'd
our site traffic go?
Our site, launched 10 months ago by two stay-at-home moms,
was getting
20,000 - 30,000 hits a month. And it dropped rather drastically.
As did
our sales. What are we to do? Our company is so close to either
thriving
or sending us into divorce court. Any suggestions? We have
NO advertising
budget as our funds are being depleted daily! Thanks.
Owner of Generous Gems
http://www.generousgems.com/america.thm
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
Hello Generous Gems:
It's difficult to answer your question without having some
idea about why
your site traffic (and thus sales) dropped so drastically
over what seems to
be a short period of time. Opening a new business with NO
advertising budget
is risky because if you cannot get the word out, people won't
know about
you. However, unless you had an advertising budget at one
point, but it has
dried up, you must have done something with no advertising
budget at some
prior time in order to get 30,000 hits a month. Whatever that
was, I would
be curious to know if it stopped, and therefore, hits and
sales dropped.
It's hard for me to say for sure without know more about
you, but here are
some tips that have worked for me to increase traffic and
sales. These
suggestions do not require an outlay of significant money,
but they do
require an outlay of significant time. Time is money, so you
will eventually
have to weigh your options and decide that you will invest
time OR money in
some sort of advertising plan. Here are some suggestions:
1. Co-Branding. I noticed from your Web site that you work
with non-profit
organizations to create jewelry lines reflecting the mission(s)
of various
non-profits. You might talk with them about a co-branding
effort where both
of you promote each other's efforts. For example, if you developed
the
America's Pride Line to honor 9/11 victims and benefit the
United Way and
the USA War Victims Fund, Inc., those organizations could
publicize that for
you in their newsletters, Web sites or other promotional materials.
Now is
the time for that since the media is ablaze with 9/11 recognition
events.
2. A Newsletter. Create an online newsletter that you send
to your customers
and persons interested in learning more about your jewelry
and jewels in
general. I have a good friend who is to jewelry what Meld
Marcos was to
shoes. Now and then, she shares interesting information with
me about the
formation of natural stones in the earth, etc. It would be
of interest to
persons who buy jewelry to get a better understanding of how
jewels are
created and also how they are synthetically reproduced. What
is a carat? How
do I know I have a good diamond? How were birthstones chosen?
How long does
it take a certain stone to form in the earth? Why are diamonds
so prevalent
in South Africa and not in Mexico or Holland? What makes pink
gold pink?
Interesting tidbits like that would not take long to put together
and you
could have a monthly newsletter that promotes your business
while also
providing unique content for your readers. You could ultimately
sell
sponsorships for the newsletter to generate income. Companies
that may be
interested in sponsoring include companies that sell products
that
complement jewelry (purses, shoes, scarves, etc.) or other
companies owned
and operated by fellow Webmomz.
3. Media Kit. Put together a media kit and send it to magazines
and other
publications that cater to readers who would also be interested
in your
products. Get to know those magazine editors and find out
what their
publication schedule is. Perhaps you could write an article
for their
publication in exchange for promotional mentions and/or cash.
Create press
releases when you launch new products so that the media will
find the
newsworthy interest in your products and activities and tell
their readers
about it. Again, the 9/11 line is perfect for this time because
everyone is
looking for a 9/11 angle. It may be too late to exploit that
at this late
date, but you can keep it in mind for next year and for other
events that
inspire you to create new lines.
Good luck!
Sincerely,
Donna Maria
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Question: How can a startup business it's first customers?
Dear Donna Maria,
How can I jumpstart my new business to bring in some work?
I have really advertised locally and other places and check
any articles I can find to help me. I am having a problem
getting work to keep me going. I even did my website myself
to save money.
Money is really short and I try so hard. I have created business
cards and a brochure which I hand out everywhere. I selected
a name I thought would grab their attention and reflect me
and my business. I have introduced my business and myself
even with letters, enclosing brochures and business cards,
especially to new businesses in my area. I am strong on dependability
and honesty. But not alot of response has come my way. I am
not sure what more to do.
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
Thanks for your question, which points out one of the most
significant challenges for small business owners: getting
new customers. From the information in your message, these
things occur to me:
1. Handing Out Business Cards & Brochures "Everywhere."
As they say in the real estate industry, "location, location,
location," meaning where do you hand out your marketing
materials? If you are not targeting areas where there is a
concentration of people needing your services, then you're
wasting your time. You need to be giving your marketing materials
to people who need your services, which means you have to
figure out where they are. Joining the local chamber of commerce
may be a good place to start. Attending their monthly networking
events will connect you with other small business owners in
the area who just might need the extra help, especially if
they have downsized and do not have the employees in-house
to do the work that you can do for them.
2. Your Slogan - "An Electronic Extension Of
Your Business"
This slogan doesn't immediately tell me what you can do for
me. Do I need an "electronic extension" for my business?
Well, I don't know. Do I need someone to do my newsletter
because I don't have time? You bet I do!! I think a slogan
that immediately told your customer what you can do for them
just might help. Use action words that let businesses know
you can save them time and money. Every business owner needs
that!
3. Money Is Tight.
Yes, I agree. As a fellow small business owner, I am accustomed
to stretching a dollar. On the other hand, the reality is
that you have to spend money to make money. If I were in your
shoes, I would set aside some resources to engage the services
of a consultant who could help you get your message out by
choosing the right places to advertise your services. If that's
not possible, I would contact the advertising departments
in the publications in your area and ask them if they have
some reasonably priced space where you can buy an ad in the
business section. Maybe they have classifieds or business
card size ads that you can afford to buy. They may also be
interested in doing a short business feature on your services
if you buy an ad with them.
I hope this helps.
Good luck!!
dM
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Question: Criteria for selecting a good lead company
Dear Donna Maria,
What should someone look for when they are selecting a lead
generation company?
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
Assuming you're asking about sales leads companies, I cannot
recommend a
lead company. Finding the best lead company for you depends
on a variety of
factors that I don't know about your business. Here are some
questions I
would ask and things I would do before engaging a lead company.
1. Make sure you don't commit to a long term contract initially.
Enter into
a short term one and commit to longer if you are pleased with
their
services.
2. Always ask to see a copy of their contract and review
it carefully before
committing
3. Look for a lead company that charges you for results and
not for their
time. In other words, if they charge by the month, that does
not guarantee
you anything. Make sure you understand exactly what you are
getting for your
money.
4. Make sure the company has expertise in your business area.
In other
words, if you own a cosmetics company and are looking for
wholesale leads,
make sure that they have expertise in that area.
Best & Success!
Donna Maria
BEAUTY
Question: Pore Me: Help my clogged pores
Dear Donna Maria,
I grew up in the country and was never too big on
taking care of my skin. All I have ever used to
wash my face is just the same soap I shower with.
Lately, I am noticing that I am getting a lot of clogged
pores. What do you recommend for a good daily face cleaning
regiment?
And do you recommend use of daily moisturizers too?
Help this clueless girl to get "in the know" about
facial care.
Thanks!
Kris
ANSWER TO QUESTION:
Dear Kris:
If you have noticed an increase in clogged pores, it could
be due to a
change in the way your skin reacts to the environment. That
is, it's not
necessarily anything you are doing, it could just a easily
be that your skin
is just plain old changing and it's great of you to notice
that. You skin
may simply not like to be washed with the same old soap anymore.
Also, if
you wear oil-based foundation, this could be contributing
to your clogged
pores as well. In that case, I suggest cutting back or finding
an oil-free
alternative.
In terms of a daily regimen, it's never too late to get in
the habit of
taking care of your skin. It's our first defense against the
elements, and
projects either a healthy radiance or a sickly paleness depending
on how it
is treated.
I recommend a simple skin care regimen I have followed for
years: cleanse,
tone, moisturize. If you like to use soap, cleanse with a
gentle handmade
soap. Handmade soap tends to contain more glycerin than many
non-handmade
soaps and is frequently also loaded with moisture-rich oils.
(Check the
label to be sure.) Toning is critical because after cleansing,
the pores are
opened, thus allowing dirt and other debris to become trapped
in them. Once
that happens, the pores can become clogged. Toning immediately
after
cleansing helps to tighten the pores so that dirt cannot penetrate
as
easily. This can decrease the number of blackheads as well.
Choose a toner
made with plant extracts like rose water and witch hazel herb
and essential
oils like tea tree, lavender, lemon and geranium. Try to avoid
toners
containing alcohol because they tend to dry the skin. Finally,
after the
skin is cleansed and the pores are closed, apply a moisturizer
so that your
skin is hydrated and remains as elastic as possible. The moisturizer
will
penetrate the skin, providing a soothing suppleness. Don't
forget to dab a
bit of moisturizer around the delicate eye area ... dab, don't
rub! If you
select a moisturizer with essentials oils and Vitamins, A,
C and E, you'll
be doing your skin a favor because those ingredients contain
anti-oxidants
and/or plant chemicals that help support the skin's natural
structure.
If your skin tends toward oiliness, apply a lighter application
of
moisturizer than if your skin is more on the dry side.
If you spend much of the day outside, a moisturizer with a
sunscreen added
can also be a plus.
I am a firm believer that a woman does not have to be a professional
skin care specialist in order to manage her own skin. However,
from
experience, I also believe that the occasional facial treatment
and analysis
by a qualified skin care professional is a good thing, not
to mention a
relaxing treat for any mom on the go. In addition, working
with a company
that can manufacture cosmetics specifically for your skin
type is also a
good way to nurture yourself and your skin. Companies that
are members of
The Handmade Toiletries Network (http://www.handmadetoiletries.com)
can be
of assistance in this regard and often make wonderfully gentle
handmade
soaps that are pleasant and safe to use on your face.
Last but not least, remember that our skin changes as much
as the rest of
our bodies. Take care to establish a regimen, but also pay
attention to your
skin so that you can respond appropriate to any changes and
maximize your
healthy glow!
Good luck!
Donna Maria
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Question: Help, me hair is falling out!
Dear Donna Maria,
My hair has been falling out more than usual and it is dry.
I color my hair, I have thick hair but recently I have noticed
it is thinning and kind of frizzy. Please help. Thank you
so much in advance.
Letty
DONNA MARIA ANSWERS:
Hi Letty:
There are a variety of things that can be affecting this
seemingly new change in the way your hair is behaving. Among
the possible culprits are change in diet, change in or taking
of new prescription drugs, change in cosmetic products used
on the hair, pregnancy, change in routine (especially if it
includes increased air travel), increased exposure to sun
or wind, change of seasons and just plain old aging. It could
also be that your hair has developed a sensitivity to the
color you are using. As you know, our bodies and all of their
parts change for all of these reasons and more!
The best thing to do is closely examine your lifestyle starting
with the above short list and see if you can notice any marked
differences in lifestyle that might be contributing to the
change. Increased air travel may contribute to your frizzies.
When I was pregnant, the texture of my hair changed for the
better so if you're pregnant, I suppose it's possible that
it could change for the worse depending on any changes in
diet and/or drugs. You might also give you hair a rest from
the colorant you are using or substitute a natural colorant,
like henna.
Some herbs that are said to increase blood flow to the scalp
and therefore bestow positive effects on the hair, are horsetail,
coltsfoot and nettles.
You can doctor up your favorite conditioner using these remedies
by making a strong tea using those herbs and adding the tea
to your conditioner. Mix well and apply to hair as usual.
To make the tea, just put a handful of each of the herbs into
a large bowl of boiling water (about 2 cups). Steep the herbs
for about 15 minutes, then strain out the herbs using a fine
strainer or cheese cloth. In a plastic cup, add the liquid
tea to some of your conditioner and mix well before using
to condition your hair. Allow the conditioner to stay on your
hair for at least 10 minutes, then rinse well.
Finally, if your hair is frizzy, try putting a light application
of vegetable oil on the ends. Olive oil would work wonderfully.
Comb it through before washing your hair. For a hot oil treatment,
use warm oil and sit under a dryer for about 10 minutes before
washing your hair.
Of course, thinning hair can sometimes be a symptom of a
more serious
ailment so be sure to consult a qualified health care practitioner
who can
advise you more thoroughly about this issue.
I hope this information is helpful to you, and good luck!
Donna Maria
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