Internet Marketing: Affordable Ways to Achieve an Internet Presence - Yodit Mesfin, Program Manager for the Michigan Women’s Marketplace, an initiative of The Center for Empowerment and Economic Development, a non-profit organization based in Ann Arbor. She is also founder of “All for You”; a company dedicated to the empowerment of women through image consulting and concierge services.

With new visitors using Internet everyday and the continuing rise of Internet retail sales, it is very important for women business owners to establish an online presence for their business. Today, the Internet is yesterday’s Yellow Pages. You have to be there to:
Attract new customers (More and more consumers let their fingers do the searching before buying; customers will find you regardless of location or time);
Provide better customer service (add to your credibility, accessibility, and communications);
Entice existing customers to buy more (Using a publish and subscribe notification (email) of new products allows your customers to easily stay informed on our new business offerings, having an online presence helps to create customer loyalty).

Whether your site is designed to provide information or for e-commerce you need to know (and regularly review) your purpose and what you want to accomplish through your site.
  Who do you want to reach?
      - Who is your target market? How should you create the site
          to reach this market?
What do you want visitors to do at your site?
Identify your customer need
      - Who will be buying? What will they be buying?
          Why will they be buying online from you as opposed to
          elsewhere?
Determine your online offering
            - Make sure your offering meets your customer needs
           as well as your business goals.

No matter how on target your site is, your customer has to find you. To increase your visibility, the most successful methods of online marketing are:

Meet & Eat, April 20th
Dinner followed by a rotating networking event where everyone will get a chance to learn about every business.
Cafe Marie, 1759 Plymouth Rd, AnnArbor, MI 48105
$10 for dinner and networking. Limited space available for this program.

Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Business Etiquette: Negotiating Your Career With Grace with Janet S. Sherman
Founder of Executive Manners Ms Sherman shares insights and tips for showcasing your business skills with poise and savvy. Janet was trained at the Protocol School of Washington in Washington D.C. and has taught inviduals and groups how to use business etiquette, dining skills and international meeting protocol to their advantage. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so it better be a good impression; learn how.

Fall Wine Tour, Sunday, October 8, 2006

    Michigan Small Business & Development Center Workshop, April 25, 6-9pm

The Perry Rueben Company, LLC. is presenting a workshop for business owners who want to grow their businesses without the operational and legal hassles that so many companies encounter. You will receive a “road map” through the job creation and hiring maze, and sample policies and procedures to make adding workers less time-consuming and intimidating. If you are thinking about bringing another person into your business, considering contractors, temps, part-timers, and other options, this workshop is for you. If you are you struggling with all the paperwork and processes needed, or have already hired someone, but are not sure if you handled all the details correctly, this workshop is for you.
    Call 734-547-9170 to reserve a spot. $30.00 per person. The workshop is sponsored by, and held at, the Michigan Small Business Technology Development Center, Ypsilanti, MI. For more information contact 734-747-6089 or email michelle@perryrueben.com.

Breakout Marketing Group is presenting three "Women's Days of Pampering and Relaxation," April 28 - EMU, May 1 - Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, June 6 - Westin Hotel in Southfield. 4-9 pm

A $10 fee will get you into any of these events, developed to bring Wealth, Health, Beauty, Fitness and Personal Development to women in an effort to educate and bring awareness about the silent killer, stress. Identifying and acting on what is needed to control stress will help one live a happier and fulfilling life now and into the future.
    If you have the appropriate product or service line, you can become a vendor at these events. For registration forms and to learn more, see the site.

Golf ClinicTuesday, May 2 at Lake Forest, 5:00-6:30. Cost: $20

Golf ClinicTuesday, June 6 at Lake Forest, 5:00-6:30. Cost $20

Ann Arbor Diet Center is our area’s premier weight loss center for those seeking to make positive long- term changes in their weight and health, providing a unique blend of individualized weight loss counseling, flexible and enjoyable dieting options, and healthy cooking classes.

Dr. Denise Williams has devoted her career to helping people make positive changes in their health. She worked for 22 years providing health education and wellness services to individuals and corporations. She earned a PhD in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan, and a Master’s Degree in Behavioral Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. She also lost 50 pounds and has maintained that weight loss, so she can understand and sympathize with the daily challenges facing her clients. She and her staff pledge to offer clients techniques and methods to lose weight that have proven themselves in the marketplace and in the research community.

Ann Arbor Diet Center’s meal plans emphasize higher- protein, moderate carbohydrate, and low-fat food choices in healthy portions. All plans follow American Heart Association, American Dietetic Association, and American Diabetes Association nutrition guidelines. Plans are flexible to support cooking meals at home for a family, traveling on business, going to restaurants and social events, and other activities. “For example, we analyze restaurant menus and give clients advice on what dishes to select and how to communicate with the wait staff to modify menu items. We also help clients to make wise grocery store purchases, through education on nutrition label reading and related topics.”

Clients’ progress is tracked not only by the scale, but also by sophisticated body composition analysis equipment. “Our state-of-the-art bioelectrical impedence technology allows us to measure body mass index, body fat percentage, body water levels, and metabolic rate on an ongoing basis, right in our office,” explains Dr. Williams. “Our goal is to maximize the percentage of fat lost while minimizing the amount of water that is lost, and preserving the percentage of lean mass in the body to the greatest extent possible.” When these goals are achieved, clients report significant positive changes in body size. Clients can further enhance their results by participating in some form of regular physical exercise.

“Our greatest reward is when we can help to bring a client to a moment of realization or self-discovery that can bring a significant and positive change to their life,” Dr. Williams notes. “Although many of our clients come to us with a history of dieting ‘failures’, it is clear that every one of our clients has tremendous talent and capability. We work together to build a future of successful weight management.”

TO LEARN MORE, CALL TO SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION AT 734-327-2800. SPECIAL OFFERS FOR WBO MEMBERS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS!

This month's Challenge

If you don't know where you're going- anyway will do-- and who knows where you'll end up!

Jan McDermett said you need to set goals for yourself so you do have some control over your business. Goals should be specific, measurable, and attainable. They should be near term, target, and long term. The near term and target goals help define your steps to reach your long term goal.

The challenge this month was to come up with one Horizon (or long term, i.e 5year) Goal, and define the shorter term (quarterly, annual) goals that will help you get there.

Susan B. Taylor, Information Research Services
April Davis, BreakOut Marketing Group
Ruth Schmidt, Arbonne International

TLCI, Website Design, Development, Consulting, SEO, Marketing, 12% off, 662-0154
Healing in Motion, JB Myofascial Release, 25% off, 913-4816
Helping Hands Computer Solutions, Computer and Business Support, 10% off, 995-6875
Contours Express, Women's Fitness, $100 off, 327-2800
Cafe Marie of Ann Arbor, Breakfast/Lunch Cafe, 20% off, 662-2272
Ann Arbor Diet Center, Personalized Weight Loss Services, 10% off, 327-2800
University Bank, Banking/Insurance, 1 year free membership, 741-5858