HP offers online classes, both business and software.  I've taken a
couple of them and they've been great!  Here's the link to all the
classes.

http://h30187.www3.hp.com/all_courses.jsp



--- In AroundKitsap@yahoogroups.com, "aroundkitsap"
<aroundkitsap@...> wrote:
>
> Hi, starting this great links topic.  If you have a link that
would
> help all of us Kitsap Businesses, please share it!
>
> First one:
> http://www.kitsapgov.com/sw/junkmail.htm
> Let us know if you've used this service and if it actually works.
>
> Thanks,
> Heidi Barnett
>

Hi, starting this great links topic.  If you have a link that would
help all of us Kitsap Businesses, please share it!

First one:
http://www.kitsapgov.com/sw/junkmail.htm
Let us know if you've used this service and if it actually works.

Thanks,
Heidi Barnett

Hi everyone,

Has anyone tried this?
http://www.kitsapgov.com/sw/junkmail.htm

I just came across this and wasn't sure if it works or not.  If you've
tried it, please share your feedback in hopes of being able to reduce
our junk mail pile.

Thanks,
Heidi Barnett
www.AroundKitsap.com

Most business advice includes doing a business and marketing plan.
From personal knowledge of creating both, if you do one plan you
already have about 75% of the other one.

The other thing I learned along the way is the primary goal of
creating the plans was to give me information so I can make better
business decisions and be more prepared.  For others, the incentive
might be to get a business loan.

Either way, the plans are there to guide YOU.  If you're doing the
plans for yourself (your eyes only), it doesn't have to be the stoic
document that even you don't ever want to look again.

I noticed that when I did my first round of the plans, it was a lot
of dreaded work because I had no clue what I was doing or what all
the information was supposed to mean.  It wasn't until the end of
the process that my little light bulb got brighter and I figured out
that all this work was actually to help ME not the people I showed
it to.  That's when I started including jokes, brilliant colors,
encouraging comments, dancing stick people, imaginary customers,
etc.

And being further down the road, I realize there was absolutely no
way to know what was coming during the months of start up.  Planning
did help me keep my eye the bouncing ball (although I confess to
straying a few times).  I don't know why I was so fearful of making
mistakes when they were inevitable.  The point is to find them,
figure out what to do about them, and then move forward.  So please,
don't procrastinate doing your plans because they won't be perfect.
Perfection is not expected, and really, do you want to do business
with anyone who expects perfection?

This year when it comes time to update my plans, I plan on making it
something that I'm excited to refer back to, it's not going to hide
in my closet.  I'm a bit of a trickster and creative to boot, so
just the thought of having fun with the plans has already given me
incentive to revisit them.

I'd like to encourage you to make your plans something that you look
forward to revisiting - even if you might need to spend a little
extra time cleaning it up for a serious loan officer.  And if you'd
like to share some of the fun things you decide to include - we'd
like to hear about them!

Demographics Resources:

One of the elements of both plans is demographics.  We've found a
couple of resources that we'd like to share with you.

Some of the best Kitsap County statistics can be found at Washington
Prospector http://www.washingtonprospector.com/ , select the search
by criteria from the top of the left menu and then select Kitsap
County on the right side of the screen.  Basically, it consolidates
data from many resources into one location.

And if you're looking for some internet data, check out Pew Research
at http://www.pewinternet.org/ Pew Research has been conducting
internet surverys for several years on Internet Activities, Internet
Demographics, etc.

Both sites have plenty of data to give you a great start.

Happy planning!
Heidi Barnett
-owner-
www.AroundKitsap.com

Kitsap website designed to help local business
Most of you know that looking for something on the web can turn a
quick minute into hours. Not a surprise when you'll be searching
over 9,000,000,000 websites.

How do you make your business stand out among 9 billion websites?

Websites catering to more localized areas are one of your strong
options. That's the concept behind the new website, AroundKitsap.com
where this approach of consolidating small business into one area
will compete with the big chain stores.

As a small business owner, you know most of your advantages over
large business - unique products and services, superb product
knowledge, great service and can easily bend to your customer's
needs. It's not price that dictates the business, it's your customer.

But how do you compete with the big dollars being spent on
advertising to get new customers? Word of mouth is your best
advertiser, no brainer for that one. But what if your business is
new, has reached a plateau, or you want to expand?

The answer? Bind your efforts with other small businesses.

That's one of the areas where AroundKitsap.com can help. It's here
to compliment your existing marketing efforts by having an online
shopping mall that local residents can go to whenever they're
looking on the internet for a gift, service, or whatever. By having
one place to go, the customer doesn't have to remember your 'one out
of 9,000,000,000 website name' every time they want your product.

It's a bit like having a physical mall, but better for you. You
don't have to be available during set hours, especially helpful for
businesses that offer services or those who make their own products.
Also great if you want to have flexible working hours because of
family life, or if you want a part time 'retirement' business. We
recommendt answering e-mails at least once a day and processing
orders within 48 hours.

It has the added bonus of seller ratings, so if you give a high
level of customer service or your product is amazing, the rating
system helps establish a higher trust level with new or existing
customers.

AroundKitsap.com takes the responsiblity of website maintenance and
design. Automatic e-mails are sent to buyers and sellers, so you
don't have to sit by the phone to keep everyone informed. Also,
Around Kitsap does higher level marketing, including online, so you
don't have to learn about search engine optimization, Google
Adwords, etc.

You can also take advantage of the free business directory listing
and if your business has activities (classes, workshops, sales,
etc), they can be listed on the events calendar for free. There's
also an online group starting up with information that is helpful
for local Kitsap businesses and for support where you can ask for
product feedback, marketing ideas, accounting systems to use and get
cheers for a job well done (it helps to stay encouraged).

Always keep in mind that although Around Kitsap takes on a lot of
hats, you still have the responsibility of listing and delivering
your excellent products or services, arranging payments and doing
individual marketing. After all, it is your business and you do want
your baby to look like you.

Your success is our success!
Heidi
www.aroundkitsap.com

Good morning everyone,

If you found yourself lurking in this group, introduce yourself and
tell us how wonderful your business is!

Thanks,
Heidi
www.AroundKitsap.com

Are you looking for something that interests you?

Perhaps a gardening class?  Are you interested in the stars and want
to join other star gazers?  Maybe a business workshop to grow your
business is more to your liking?  Or check out one of the great
farmers markets?  Or join the crowds at a destruction durby?  Are you
a wine lover? Do you own a mustang and want to surround yourself with
other mustangs?

Whether you want to join a club, take a class or enjoy an evening of
music, goto www.AroundKitsap.com to find out what's happening in the
Kitsap area.

And while you're there, feel free to add your events.  Goto
www.AroundKitsap.com and click on ADD YOUR EVENTS to fill out a simple
form.  It's easy and it's free to add your events and/or activities!

When I asked Craig from Craigslist.org, what real world advice he
had to offer to someone starting out, he replied:

"Ummmm.... you've just asked for a very long amount of consultation,
and I don't even have answers; I just did one thing ten years ago
and then have followed through based on community feedback."

I was impressed by his simple but most powerful message regarding
customer service.

Have you ever noticed that when you believe in something, really
believe, how easy it is to do things that you didn't even know were
on the radar screen?  Things like ... me e-mailing Craig even though
I'm extremely shy by nature.

And doing something you enjoy actually gives you a special look.  Do
you know which look I'm talking about?  Sometimes it shows up with
eye sparkles, sometimes with a concentration that blocks out the
rest of the world, sometimes it's the way the shoulders pull back
and makes someone a few inches taller, sometimes it's an unfiltered
laugher.

My 'look' is helping people get what they want and creating Around
Kitsap is one way of doing that.  Owwweee baby - it definitely
floats my boat - so everyone - be successful!  And it doesn't have
to be success with Around Kitsap, it can be anywhere.  Creating a
painting, having a close family, running a marathon ... anywhere!

What gives you 'the look'?  Please share what makes you excited to
be in this world.

Heidi
heidi@...
AroundKitsap.com
Where your success is our success!