Attention Small Businesses - Use a Facebook Fan Page for your Business, Not a Personal Profile

So many small businesses can benefit from Facebook.

There are now over 500 million active users on Facebook and 50% log into Facebook everyday.1

For consumer-based small businesses, Facebook is a fantastic platform for engaging your customers and creating personal connections with your fans. However, it is important to take the proper steps to set up your business appropriately on Facebook. Many businesses set up a personal profile for their business, instead of creating a "business fan page"

There are several reasons why you should not use a personal profile for your business:

1. Pages are public and may help your business in internet searches
2. Anyone can "like" your page, whereas, personal profiles require mutual acceptance
3. It is against Facebook's terms of service. In article 4.4 Facebook states: "You will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain"
4. Pages allow multiple administrators
5. Personal profiles have a maximum number of 5000 friends. Pages have no such limits.
   
6. If you use a personal profile as your business page, you have access to a great deal more personal information about your "friends". Some people may have an aversion to becoming a "friend" of a business, knowing their personal information is readily accessible to the business.
   

If you have already set up your business as a personal profile, your best bet is to create a fan page and then suggest your new fan page to your current friends. You can create a fan page from the login screen at Facebook.com. Below the login section, go to the link to "Create a Page for a celebrity, band or business".

There is no easy way to transfer over the fan base. Your fans will have to "like" your new fan page and over time, you can get rid of the old profile, or convert it to your personal page.

For Small Business owners in Wharton County, I am teaching a class April 12, 2011 in Wharton on Facebook for Small Business, where you can learn the basics of setting up and maintaining a professional business Facebook page. For more information, click here to see the event on my Facebook page.

1. Source: March 2011 Facebook.com statistics

Scout's New Website

I am thrilled to announce the launch of a fun, kid-friendly, web site for Scout, the main character in Marilyn Sebesta's series of children's books. Scout is a lovable, chocolate lab that goes on exciting adventures with Susanna and Charley Pratt in the small town of Prattsville. I welcome you to browse around Scout's web site. Take a look at the neighborhood map, learn a little about the characters, and if you like, join Scout's Pals Club.

Marilyn is a terrific story-teller with detailed accounts of Scout's activities. She has one published book, with another to be in bookstores by the end of the year. Marilyn lives in Wharton, Texas, and is very involved in the community. Before writing, she worked as the Wharton County Agent in the Agricultural Extension Service (now known as Texas AgriLife Extension Service).

Please take a look at Scout's new site here: http://www.ScoutTheLovableLab.com. You can also find Scout on Facebook or read her blog here.

Exercise and Goals

Exercise is great for your body and mind. Not only does it keep your heart healthy, but it can also improve your morale. I've recently been training to run a half marathon - my first. Unfortunately, I injured my piriformis muscle and had to take a couple of months off. But now, I'm back and feeling great!

I participated in my first 5K this past weekend in the Run Wild on the Prairie (benefiting the El Campo Museum) and proved to myself that I can set a goal and achieve it. I was happy with my run and now realize I can do just about anything, if I put my mind to it. I'm using this positive energy to springboard my business and personal goals and ideas into action. As well-known blogger, Chris Brogan says, set tangible goals and write your goals down. So here goes. I am starting with baby steps.

1. Blog once a week
2. Drop in and visit my clients (one a week)
3. Correspond with my clients monthly
4. Update my blog/website
5. Move forward with new company idea
6. Get involved in the Third Tribe Community

and a couple of personal goals...
7. Run and finish Half Marathon November 14
8. Lose 10 pounds by December 1

Now that these goals are written for the world to see, I'd better get busy! I'll let you know how I do.

A real life lesson in backing up your files

If you've been thinking, "I should back up my files in case my computer crashes." Do it today! There is no time to waste! My husband, Lane Lauritsen is a very smart man and he has always suggested I back up my files, but for some reason, I always had something more important to do. Or I would think to myself, my "indestructible" Mac is so new and I am so busy, this can wait. I had a similar conversation with Paul Sherland, who is a Mac owner like me, back in April. He recently lost his hard drive and recommended that I back up my files. He mentioned that in his case (and in many similar cases), the Apple store technicians were not able to retrieve any files and going to a specialist, like Drivesavers can cost a small fortune. According to an article in the NYTimes, "recovery costs at DriveSavers range from $500 for the slowest service - five to seven days - and fewest recoverable files, to $8,900 for a rush job, which will begin the moment the drive arrives and continue around the clock until the data has been extracted." YIKES!

After researching the various online backup solutions, I recently started using Mozy Pro, and today I'm very thankful that I did. My 6 month old MacBook Pro crashed on Saturday, leaving me stranded. I tried all the DIY fixes recommended by Apple and any other site I could find, but with no luck. So, I made an appointment at the Genius Bar at the Apple store. After a short period of time, they were able to tell me my hard drive was dead and they couldn't retrieve any data. This left me feeling quite anxious!! I knew I had set up Mozy Pro and had an automatic backup, to but had never had to rely the probability of it actually working. For every last detail of my life, including years of photos and all my business data, was at the mercy of my online backup.

But thankfully, this story ends happily. Although it took about 30 hours of downloading and a few phone calls to Mozy, I was able to restore my hard drive and my life.

If I can stress one thing to you, there is NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT. Get your hard drive backed up today!

School's Out - 5 super local activities for your kids

School's out for summer! If your kids are like mine, they are desperate for activities. Thankfully, our local community has an abundance of activities for kids of all ages. Here are a few events or camps happening in June in El Campo:


El Campo Bowling Center - The El Campo Bowling Center offers a youth bowling league that runs for an hour each Wednesday at 1:00p.m., starting June 16. This league is a great learning opportunity for kids of all experiences and ages. For just $5, you can bowl with friends and learn the proper bowling techniques. Call the Bowling Center at 979-543-9999 or take a look at their website.

El Campo Museum - Our fabulous museum offers an Animal Camp every Wednesday June 9th through July 28th, 10 am to noon. Animal Camp is for kids ages 4-10 and the camp includes crafts, games, show and tell, and fun facts about animals. Camp Fee: $65 for Museum members or $80 for Non-members. For details, see the website or call 979-543-6885

Additionally, you can come to the museum any day and make key chains for Father's Day.

Cedar Chest Quilt Shoppe - Cedar Chest is offering 2 kids camps this summer:
KIDZ CAMP I - For students entering 5th - 8th grade, this class consists of 5 hours of total instruction (2 classes of 2.5 hours each). Students will be making a "Layer Cake Quilt Top". Call for more information and sign up today as there are only 4 spots available. Class dates are June 15 and June 29, 10 am- 12:30 pm. 979-578-8929

"SEW FUN" CLASS - For students entering 2nd - 4th grade, this class consists of 2.5 hours of instruction. Each participant will be making a pillowcase. Call for more information and sign up today as there are only 2 sessions available. Session 1: June 15 2 - 4:30 pm, Session 2 - June 29 2 - 4:30 pm. Call 979-578-8929 or see the website for more info.

Showplace 3 - Our local movie theater offers $1 Kids movies on Wednesdays. Check the website for shows and times. 979-543-8182

El Campo Branch Library - The library is packed with summer activities. Enjoy Family time on Tuesdays at 10:15, Toddler time on Wednesdays at 10:15 , Movie time on select Thursdays at 3:00, and Come & Go Arts and Crafts on Fridays at 10. For more information, see their website or call 979-543-2362

Photo credit: El Campo Museum

Helpful hints: Presenting with Keynote and Mac

I recently purchased a new MacBook Pro and love it! The graphics are amazing and I have never had so much fun laughing with my daughter in the iphoto booth, using the crazy features available. The MacBook Pro is worth every penny!

If you ever use your MacBook Pro in a presentation, there are some things to know before getting in front of your audience. In order to use an external projector, you will need to purchase a VGA mini adapter. Other versions of Mac have different sized ports, so don't rely on your friend's VGA adapter (note: this one is from experience).

Setting up the Presenter view is a bit confusing. First of all, you will need to open "Keynote preferences" and select "Slideshow". At the bottom, "present on secondary display" should be checked. Next you will want to select "Presenter Display" and check "Use alternate display to view presenter information". From this screen, you can also "Customize Presenter Display" and make the presenter display appear just as you wish. You can re-size windows and move windows around by dragging and dropping.

Once you arrive at the presentation, you will want to remove the "mirror" setting. I have heard of more that one horror story, where the Keynote presentation displayed perfectly on your Mac at home, in practice-mode. However, at the live presentation and connected to a projector, the audience saw the presenter display, rather than the slide show view. AKA, your worst nightmare! The Mirror setting forces both devices to show the same display, instead of allowing the presenter to see the presenter display and the audience to see the slide show. To change the mirror setting, connect the mini VGA adapter and go to the "Apple" icon in the upper left hand corner of your screen. Click on "System Preferences" Under the "Hardware" section, select "Displays", then "Arrangement" (this will only appear when connected to the external projector or monitor) At the bottom, uncheck the box that shows "mirror displays" and close the window. Now, you can have your presenter view on your computer and the slide show for the audience to view.

The little things you learn from "live" presentations!

image courtesy of Northside Education Center in El Campo, TX

Bauble-Head "Fabulosity"

Brooke Hlavinka is a gifted elementary teacher and ultra fabulous jewelry designer. She taught my daughter in 3rd and currently teaches her in 4th grade at St. Philip Catholic School in El Campo, TX. She is absolutely adored by all the kids. The fun all started in 2009, when another teacher asked Brooke to make a pendant. Soon, she got many requests to make a special jewelry pieces and her new business venture was born: Bauble-Head.

The pendant business grew into full necklaces, matching earrings and bracelets. Within the first year of business, Bauble-Head designs were featured at the Nutcracker Market at the Reliant Center in Houston.

Bauble-Head prides itself on quality items at affordable prices and takes great joy in creating special customized jewelry. She can create everyday conservative pieces and super fun and trendy one-of-a-kind designs. Take a look at the "fabulosity" here.