honeydo.com Blog

Visit Honeydo Buzz, the new Honeydo blog!

Honeydo.com has launched a new blog this week! Check it out at http://thehoneydobuzz.blogspot.com.

Honeydo Buzz will serve as the portal to the world of Honeydo.com. It will be a central location for Honeydo where you can connect to the Honeydo web site, the Facebook page, the Twitter page and this blog page.

Honeydo Buzz will also feature interactive polls, photos, videos, contest information, tips, news and links.

Check it out and join today!

Small Business Gets it Done

For all the small businesses out there here's some stats to put it in perspective and a big thank you as well.  It's not the big businesses that keep the wheels of this economy moving, but all the little mom & pops and people who toil from nondescript office and industrial parks across the nation. 

Small businesses now:

• Number almost 30 million

• Employ more than half of all workers

• Constitute 99.7% of all employers

• Constitute 97% of all exporters

• Create the majority of business innovations

(Source: U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, 2009)

Why is the Customer Out of Focus?

If you've been paying attention to the people that are in the trenches that are "doing" Social Media and not just preaching it, then hopefully you're finding the ones that are doing it right.  Unfortunately, many people can't turn the corner without hearing about the latest @feed_my_ego or being asked to join the next facebook fan club. 

Everyone gets so enamored with the bright shiny objects, they lose sight of the business goals and objectives.  The tools are very powerful channels of communication.  In the right hands they become very effective platforms for creating dialogues with partners and customers.  In the wrong hands, you end up getting spam all over your shirt.

So where should a small business start to plan their online/social media efforts?  Hint: It's always about the people.

Sphere of Social Engagement

 

The Sphere of Social Engagement is a simple way to think about how conversations, strategies and messaging can be targeted to bring people closer to the center.  Ultimately, a business that best communicates with the core can reap the rewards of having those people reach back out through the sphere.

In the next Part of this series we'll discuss each sphere and start thinking about how to transition people between the rings.

As always, thoughts, insights and comments are always welcome.  It takes a village to make one.

PA Contractor Law - What it Means to You the Consumer

If you haven't heard, 3 months ago, Pennsylvania enacted a new home improvement contractor law and they're already considering some pretty significant changes.  It's something consumers should be aware of and know their rights.

Here's an article from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review about the proposed changes:

Pittsburgh Trib Article

and here's a link to PA's website about what's in the law for consumers and homeowners

www.attorneygeneral.gov

We're working on being able to incorporate this information into provider profiles on honeydo.com, but this is only part of the information.  Just because a contractor is licensed and registered doesn't qualify them as a good or bad service provider.  That's up to their reputation with customers and why ratings & reviews from people in your area are so important.

If you have any suggestions or comments on how they should improve this bill please let us know.  Also if you comments or suggestions about how we can help you become better aware of this info, we'd also love to hear that as well!

Best,

Brian

co-founder

New Design (with a catch)

Well the new design is live!  BUT, we're still working out a few glitches with the member pages that we'll have fixed over the next week.  So if you have ANY problems, questions or funny jokes that we haven't gotten in our email box a 100 times already. . .email us, call us or contact via the easiest method for you.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Sincerely,

The honeydo.com Team

Coming Attraction

A couple of teasers of the bigger, better and brighter honeydo.com. . .

After our pilot, we've been busy working under the hood (and on it for that matter) to incorporate user feedback.  To that end, we're making it easier to navigate and ultimately make it the easiest tool to help you get stuff done.  If you have any comments, insight or suggestions, please let us know and drop us a line or a tweet!

Are you in the crowded "no job" boat?

If you're one of the millions looking for a job here's some good insight from Nicholas Thompson - Wired.com.  

We THINK We Have Common Sense

This came across my email the other day.  Not only is it good for laugh, but it made me wonder:  How many times a day across the country does stuff like this happen? 

Never underestimate the power of Common Sense as a good mental foundation.

These contractors are installing the steel pillars in concrete to stop vehicles from parking on the pavement outside a Sports Bar downtown. They are now in the process of cleaning up at the end of the day and anxious to go home.


How long do you think it will be before they realize where they parked?

Did You Make Your Business Resolutions Yet?

Most of us can just photocopy our personal resolution list from last year:

• Get in better shape
• Stop and smell the roses
• Take up a hobby
  
• Stick to the diet
  
• . . .
  

But have you ever made a business resolution list?  Maybe there are a few of you running small businesses that absolutely hit it of the park last year, congratulations, you're in the minority. 

For the rest of us we could use a little time for reflection and even dust off the ol' business plan.  Remember a business plan is SUPPOSED to fucntion as a dynamic document, evolving to account for the current and future climate of business.  Think of it as your Constitution that has its own Amendments.

What can you improve on as a business owner?

• Participating in a network group?
• Researching & adopting the latest technological improvements for your industry?
• Implementing a customer excellence plan (don't stop at satisfying customers- reach to exceed expectations)
• More meaningful and frequent solicitation from employees about ideas
• Learning how new media and technologies on the web can benefit your growth.  EVERY business can/should participate online because that's where your customers are.
• Anything else???

Don't miss this perfect opportunity over the next couple of weeks to make those resolutions. 

Thin your waistline and fatten your bottom line.

A Time of Great Opportunity

Time to batten down the hatches.  Reign in the expenses. 

Let's start with the easy stuff. . .marketing & advertising.

STOP!

The businesses that excel during these economic times realize that opportunities abound and capitalize.  Now is the time to not only increase your presence, but you can do it without spending anymore than you already are.  In fact I'll be willing to bet that you can INCREASE marketing and in turn increase your customers by utilizing many of the online tools and taking advantage of deals with traditional media outlets and spend less. 

Let's start with some of the traditional media channels like newspapers and radio.  In many parts of the country those ad spots were consumed by home builders, Realtors, retail and restaurants, many of the hardest hit segments of the economy.  Space was at a premium and the media channels could charge list rates.  Gone are those days.  As an example, we have recently negotiated for our regional launch, many steep discounts in these channels because the usual suspects have pulled up stakes.  So if you're a small service business, don't hesitate to ask for deals, especially package deals that include a combination of traditional and online space.  You'll be surprised at what they'll be willing to offer!

Now for the some of the things that don't cost anything but a little bit of time and commitment.  Many involve utilizing the web to (because more than 65% of people now search for local services on the web) build your business and increase your customer count.

1.  Start a blog.  You are an expert in your field, so let people know it.  Consumers are looking for help and they turn to experts.  By setting up a blog you can offer tips & tricks, interact with customers and build trust.  Many of the top blog sites are free and very easy to set up.  The major ones are; blogger, wordpress and typepad.  And if you already don't have a website, this is perfect way to create one.

2.  Contribute to community and business related forums.  These are great ways to increase your local presence online and connect with other related professionals that will help you improve your referral base.  Simply do a search like; "Sarasota forums", "pet sitting professionals" or "Pittsburgh community".  You'll probably find an onlie forum, community or both.  Don't be intimidated by these online venues, they welcome newcomers that can contribute knowledge from an area of expertise.

3.  Join a networking group or several.  For a service business these are some of the best ways to develop a referral network.  Many other professionals and businesses like Realtors, attorneys and the like are constantly asked by their clients if they know someone who does this or that.  If you do THIS or THAT then you need to be there.  People refer people they know so go and meet them!

4.  Join Facebook.  What is Facebook?  Isn't that for kids?  NOT ANYMORE.  Your friends are there, your business acquaintances are there and. . .your future customers are there.  More and more, small businesses are learning how to use Facebook to reach out to new customers and build trust with current customers by interacting and gaining feedback.  And if you don't know how, I'm sure someone around you can help.

These are just a few of the easy and inexpensive things you can do now to increase your business and we'll post more in the future.  If you have any other ideas that you would like to share or have something that has helped your business in particular, please share it by responding to this post!  And if you'd like help in figuring out some of theses please email us.