WELCOME

I would like to bet that a large percentage of AR Online readers have at least one stack of business magazines sitting near their office space. And, like me, there might be a Post-it on top with a scribbled message "To read."

My tip of the day is to take ten minutes to read the table of contents of each magazine, highlight the articles you really want to read and tear them out. Then you have an easy guide to tear out all the desired articles.

What's left is a nice folder of reading material to take with you wherever you go (keep it in the car or your briefcase maybe). You won't believe how many times you'll use your new stack of reading material when you have to wait, say, for a doctor's appointment, a prospective customer or an oil change for your car.

This business tip is my way of getting your attention (did I?) to announce MBA's follow-up event to February's "Fired…What Next?"event. That morning's theme was starting a business, digging into some of the most important topics for an entrepreneur. Now we're taking one of those topics, marketing, and putting it in the spotlight it deserves. Two speakers will discuss techniques of marketing with little or no money, focusing on Internet strategies and developing your company's compelling message.

As we put together this exciting event, you can mark your calendar for April 22. Speakers include Ken Abrams, master certified coach and president of TOPcoach International and Paige Miller, president of MultiPlanet Marketing and president of the Greater Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Details will follow soon…

Libby Beatty, Chair
MBA Board of Directors

NEWSWORTHY

Avoid Getting Involved in Shady Home Business Tax Schemes

The IRS is on the lookout and warning taxpayers about schemes that involve taxpayers deducting personal living or family expenses under the guise of home business expenses.

Some of the most misused deductions are on travel expenses towards non-clients, auto repairs on a vehicle not exclusive to business use and paying family members for work non-essential to the business. Be warned, manipulating tax laws can lead to audits, back interest and penalties.

The basic rule for your home business deduction is that the expense must be "ordinary and necessary" to the business activity. So check with a professional if your deductions seem too good to be true.

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MARKETING

Affordable Online Event Marketing

Online marketing company, Constant Contact, has a new service that is designed to help smaller organizations effectively and inexpensively manage and market events. Constant Contact helps you create an ad-free event web page with all the important information.

More tools available through an easy-to-use dashboard offer the ability to e-mail invitations, track registration and payments as well as e-mail reminders, updates and thank you confirmations to registered attendees. The program also enables users to capture and manage participant information, including accepting online payments via PayPal.

Check out the free trial. If you like it, the service can be purchased as a stand-alone feature for a starting fee of $15 a month for up to five events.

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YOUR FINANCES

Stall Payments for a Healthier Cash Flow

A popular and easy method to instantly increase your cash flow is by stalling your payments to vendors and service providers. If you don't already do this, it may be because you are scared to hurt your credit, but owing vendors is financially safer than owing the IRS or your bank.

Stalling payments for as long as is contractually possible and legally sound is a common business practice utilized by businesses both large and small. Approach your vendors and explain that in order to create a sustainable cash flow your business will have to "stretch" out your payments.

Whether they like it or not, their sales contract should outline the grace period for payments, and you have a legitimate right to use it.

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FOR THE HOME-BASED BIZ

Another Way to Look at Working from Home

The products and ads in your home can represent a great source of inspiration for your next marketing/ad campaign. They worked on you, right? Take a look around the house and see what inspires you:

Kitchen/Bathroom: The products and services that you buy time and time again can be found in your kitchen and bathroom. Ask yourself why you buy a certain brand again and again. Now, consider if you can use this appeal to get the same response from your customers.

Garage/Storage: These products are probably used less frequently, which means that they have less of a habitual effect on a consumer. How can your product/ad achieve more staying power?

Literature: Newspapers, junk mail, coupon books and magazines are great places to get ideas and pick up on design trends. Using color schemes similar to well-recognized brands can offer a sense of familiarity to consumers looking at your promotional material.

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HUMAN RESOURCES

Meeting Makeovers

With a little creativity you can turn meetings from boring and unproductive to lively and insightful. Here are some tips to turn around your next meeting:

Rotating Roles: By rotating the role of the meeting leader you get to see what employees bring to the table in a leadership role. It also can help other employees let down their guard and let the creative juices flow.

Animosity Breakdown: Try starting the meeting with an open invitation for employees to voice their complaints. This may help to get issues out in the open and let people blow off steam. How's this fun? After the complaints, everyone who complained should counter with a positive idea or comment.

Games: Friendly competitions and tiny rewards help to keep people participating. You can create teams and see which one addresses office/business challenges with the most creative solutions.

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IT

Protecting Your PC in Public

The ability to do business on the go is an enormous asset for an entrepreneur, but it can also pose a risk to the security of your business data. Here's how to protect your data and your hardware when computing in public places:

Password Encryption: Encrypt your hard drive so that a password is required to get your system to boot. A password will protect your hard drive even if it's taken out and connected to another computer.

Firewalls & Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): Make sure that your firewalls and VPN features are active to protect incoming and outgoing data. If your system doesn't have a VPN option, you can download one here.

Regular Updates: Updates often contain added or patched security features that help your programs and hardware stay protected against new threats and programming loopholes.

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NEW MEMBERS

When our member base increases there is more of everything: more creative networking, more benefits and more experienced, enthusiastic business owners. All move our members toward growth, success and the entrepreneurial spirit.

Click here to meet our newest small business partners.

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MBA EVENTS OF INTEREST

Watch for…

Starting a business was the topic for a previous MBA workshop. Now we're taking it one step further with a full morning of marketing; how to keep your efforts low-to-no cost and how the Internet will figure into your plans.

April 22, 2010
MBA offices
867 Sussex Blvd.
Broomall, PA 19008

For reservations and information, call (800) 533-3732 or e-mail info@mbainc.org.

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Unless specifically indicated, MBA does not intend mention of companies, products or services discussed in this publication to be construed to be endorsements. The information in this publication is offered as examples that may be useful to our small business readers. Please consult with an industry professional before implementing any of the tips or subscribing to any of the services described above.