You know that little thing called “social media”?  Use it!  My pal Les linked to this great story about how to build a fan base on facebook for your business.  The first rule? Ask people to like you:

Give them a reason why. In our case, Weekly World News has plenty of entertaining content about aliens, Michael Jackson, Elvis, you name it. We tried capitalizing the word “LIKE”, writing short versus long copy, testing dozens of images, and trying out different interest targets. Don’t make it complex– keep the language casual, as if a friend was telling you about something cool.

Read the whole article! Great advice!

If all commercials were this honest, I probably wouldn’t mute all of them!

I think I’ll start my own series of posts entitled “Maddening Monday”.  Lately, I’ve had plenty of those.  We’re in the middle of a huge move, which is very difficult with no paid vacation days or PTO.  But when you’re self-employed, that’s what you have to deal with. 

Yesterday Patrick scheduled a job for after 3pm today, at the customer’s request.  That was convenient, as we figured we could get a lot done while our daughter was at school.  This morning the customer called, and told him that he could come anytime because his wife would now be home all day.  Patrick drops everything here, runs to Nashville to pick up the glass, and heads their way…because customers come first.  On his way, he receives a phone call from a woman saying she needed to cancel the job.  When he asked if she wanted to reschedule, she replied that they had called two companies, and they went with the company who arrived first!  Patrick just called to tell me that he was on his way home, after wasting most of the day and quite a bit of gas. 

99% of our customers are AWESOME…but it’s days like today that I long for some kind of mandatory “stupid charge” when we get screwed over!  Here’s to a better day (and smarter people) tomorrow!

Photo by boulter via Flickr Creative Commons.

Okay, I have to come clean.  I’m partial to the laptop. 

Two years ago, we purchased the laptop for my husband to use while he’s mobile.  That never really happened, so we’ve had two home computers, the desktop and the laptop.  I’ve remained fairly partial to my trusty desktop until it’s recent virus. 

I’ve used the laptop for a few weeks now.  Saturday, my two-year-old decided to see what would happen when his fruit drink was poured into the expensive “toy”.  The hard drive is fried.  So, until we locate the system setup disc, we’re back to the desktop.  And I am realizing how much I took advantage of the convenience of my laptop friend!  Here I sit, facing the wall, working…while my husband is watching television, and talking on the phone.  I feel like I’m in time out!  At one point during our solitary laptop use, I was working in the passenger seat of the car while my husband was driving! 

So, while my desktop remains my friend (my only one right now), I do see myself converting sometime in the near future.  It’s all about the convenience.  And I miss it!

Photo by Arbron via Flickr Creative Commons.

One of the most difficult aspects of owning your own business is committing to a schedule.  This can mean many things, depending on the nature of your business.  But, for all of us, there comes a time when our “normal”, money making tasks are slowed, and we witness some “down time”.  Frequently, this times goes to waste, and not much is accomplished.  But as time has passed, we’ve learned to use this time to our advantage. 

My husband’s business is 100% mobile, and his work is done outdoors.  So obviously, rainy, drizzly, or snowy days are slow.  Use of this time has become essential in keeping up the “paper” side of the company.  Patrick uses these days to catch up his books, make deposits, make follow-up phone calls, and set appointments.  We try to use our unusually slow days to brainstorm marketing strategies, as well. 

These days won’t always fall into your perfect schedule, and you’ll probably have to take a few “regular” days to do some of this, as well.  But don’t look negatively at your down days.  Look at them as opportunities. You never know what’s at the end of that rainbow!

Photo by Peter Kaminski via Flickr Creative Commons.

Photo by Mingo.nl via Flickr Creative Commons.

Just over two years ago, when my husband was presenting all the “perks” of owning his own business, the idea of having more time as a family really appealed to me.  It was probably the biggest selling point my husband could present.  I don’t believe that either of us were prepared, however, for sharing our family time!

Yes, I admit, we do spend more time together as a family.  But very rarely do we do anything or go anywhere without my husband’s phone ringing.  Nine times out of ten, it’s a business call that he “has to take”.  At restaurants, movies, the park, family gatherings…EVERY CALL COUNTS. 

One evening had been particularly rough, and the two of us were just sitting down to watch some of the many shows we’d recorded on DVR.  About 15 minutes into our first show, at around 11:30pm, his phone rang.  To say I was irritated is putting it mildly.  He answered to find a very intoxicated man requesting a quote for a windshield replacement.  Being the good businessman that he is, he looked up the part and price, and gave the man a quote.  The man scheduled the job for the next day.  My husband called me after doing the job to inform me that he had met his first customer who actually jumped up and down with excitement about having his windshield replaced!  Yes…he was still drunk.  But he was a happy customer, and we made money we wouldn’t have made if Patrick hadn’t answered that call.  EVERY CALL COUNTS!

I am constantly reminding myself that the decision “we” made (in quotes because I only take responsibility for it when it’s good!) to become business owners requires us to be on call all the time.  If we miss a call, the next glass company may get that job.  And in this economy, we can’t afford that! 

This is why Patrick carried his phone into the ocean this past June…he was waiting for a call.  The call came, but several hours later when the phone was being eaten alive by the salt water after the largest wave EVER struck my husband…and his shirt pocket (where the phone was nice and safely waiting).  By the time Patrick could get back in touch with the caller, all eight jobs had been contracted out to another company.  EVERY CALL COUNTS!

So, do we enjoy our added family time…YES.  Do we like sharing it with strangers?  Not really!!!  But we have learned rather quickly that owning our own business is not an eight to five gig!  It’s all day, every day.  The key is learning to appreciate what it means.  Our business is growing.  We’re making more money.  We’re a step closer to reaching our goals.  We’re succeeding!

Photo by Mykl Roventine via Flickr Creative Commons.

Not that I’d pay $200 for a pen anyway…

Did you know that your computer mouse can become “infected” with the same virus that “sickens” your computer?  I found out the hard way.  Last week our desktop acquired a virus, and we have been unable to use the computer since.  As a favor, since I’m not at all fond of the “schmancy” mouse my husband purchased for the laptop, he took the mouse from the desktop and traded them out.  Little did we know we were giving our laptop the virus! 

 I was stunned when my friend Kathy  wouldn’t use her mouse to fix my laptop because she didn’t want it to get “infected”.  Immediately it clicked (no pun intended) that we had spread the virus ourselves! Evidently, since they operate under the same system, they contract the same viruses.  WHO KNEW???  Okay, maybe many of you…but I’ve mentioned my tidbit of knowledge of the day to several people who had no idea! 

So, the next time your computer gets a virus, put it and it’s mouse in quarantine…or you may start an epidemic! 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pasukaru76/3608025579/