FinditLocal411 Blog
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:56 pm
 E-Commerce is slowly sucking the life out of small businesses. As the big boys get comfier and comfier on the web, your customers are slowly being drawn to their “ease-of-use”, “convenience” and “functionality”. Web design and development is progressing to impressive levels these days and the big winners are customers.
Major companies provide online portals for customers to easily purchase goods and services. But what if your business cannot afford a $10,000 website for your company with an online shop? With this in mind, FindItLocal411 has launched the E-Commerce solution for small businesses.
We are proud to announce the launch of two features on FindItLocal411.com that will drastically improve the way you attract customers. “The Marketplace” and “The Blast” are designed to help you and your customers conduct better business.
The Marketplace
The Marketplace is structured to function as a “web mall” or “online store” that features the products of businesses from across town or across the nation!
 The concept is simple: If you are a business owner, you can list your products (like Pet Detangler show on the right) on The Marketplace site for customers to peruse. Once products are bought, you will receive orders via email with purchases deposited directly into your bank prior to shipping. You ship the purchased product to the customer and the sale is complete! It’s like opening a new store online for minimal cost.
The Blast
To complement your Marketplace presence, we will be instituting an “Email Marketing Blast” to promote your products. Emails can also be utilized to highlight special services, sales or special announcements. These messages reach thousands of consumers directly once they express interest in this “deals” notification.
The emails are designed to increase exposure and sales at the same time. The schedule of emails works like this: Twice a month we will deliver a customized message about some feature you wish to have known about your business to a list of your current and past customers “only”. And twice a month we will deliver another message (or the same message if you choose) to “our entire list” of subscribers driving new customers to your business. That’s four times per month your message is delivered directly to many thousands of known customers!
Increased Business
These two features are intended to enhance the standard Business Listing Directory we already have in place. As many readers know, companies and organizations listed on our site enjoy significant boosts in page views and hits/month. Even if your business model will not benefit from “The Blast” or “The Marketplace”, our Business Listing is sure to provide value.
Since our launch in the spring of 2009 FindItLocal411.com has become a resource for small business. We focus on day-to-day business issues on our blog and offer many ways to leverage your business through online marketing, advertising and social media. The addition of E-Commerce options, our latest addition to FindItLocal411.com, may prove to be our biggest evolution yet. Home businesses can now compete in the same market space as Wal-Mart or Target.
Online Purchases Going Up
Shoppers are turning to the Internet with greater frequency these days as the chart to the right shows. Granted, the spending referred to occurred in 2006, but it is safe to assume that online sales have only increased in the three years since. With this new FindItLocal411.com program, businesses of any size in any part of the country can jump on board and earn their share of the industry spending.
Table Courtesy of Wikipedia.org.
January 5th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Not all businesses require a brick-and-mortar office to become successful. As the masses of entrepreneurs grow, there are several types of companies that would work well as an Internet Business for both product and service industries. If prospective business owners begin by understanding how to market this type of business as well as how to most successfully compete with companies that actually have office space, you can learn how to start an internet business.
Step 1 – Get Official
It’s a huge misinterpretation that an Internet Business doesn’t have to jump through the same legal loops and a brick-and-mortar company. There is a very real requirement for any type of business to file with the state for both tax and employment purposes. Just because no one sees your business on Main Street doesn’t mean that you don’t have to exist to both the federal and state government. Your local small business association will help you find and complete the paperwork you need to make your business official.
Step 2 – Put a Face on Your Business
It seems a little redundant to say that an Internet Business needs a website. However, because your website IS your business, you need to be very careful to consider the following points when creating it:
- Use a reputable web designer Be cautious in who you choose to design your site. Have an Intellectual Property attorney look over the contract before you sign to ensure that the site you pay for belongs to your company and includes all the aspects you want for your business.
- Keep SEO in mind in your layout and site building. If your web designer doesn’t know how to include these points, see about finding a web marketing expert to help get your site off the ground the right way.
 Step 3 – Build your Brand
Use Social Media Marketing tools to build your online brand to your target market. Sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn offer powerful tools to business owners looking to connect with their consumer base. Targeted, inexpensive and traceable, they are a vital part of any business marketing plan.
December 17th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
As you celebrate your patent for your new business product, you may experience an overwhelming thought. Don’t worry…that should be happening. Holding the patent isn’t enough. The standard plan is to promote it to retailers, consumers and distributors for both direct sale and licensing agreements. It’s a daunting task, but there are several routes you can take involving social media, PR and memberships with trade organizations.
Social Media Promotions
LinkedIn is a powerful Business to Business (B2B) social media site that allows business product sellers to connect with businesses that would be interested in their products as direct sales reps or distributors. We suggest this tactic with caution though; cold-contacting LinkedIn users isn’t recommended. You must first build a relationship or start a conversation before jumping into the nuts and bolts of sales representation.
By creating a business profile on LinkedIn and joining groups within your niche as well as those that would include the businesses you plan to market to, you have the ability to directly promote your product to the key members of your target market.
For example, if you are selling a drink-related product, researching groups targeted to the beverage industry and retailers or distributors within that niche is a great way to start. Once you have joined these groups, take the time to introduce your product directly to your target market.
Public Relations: It Still Works!
Public Relations is not going anywhere. The vast influx of social media and search engine optimization isn’t replacing the PR industry, it’s merely adding more tools to the field. Press Releases are still a viable form of promotions to keep your industry and market aware of goings on with your business and news about your business product. Using both online and print media as a vehicle for information about your business is an effective way to build brand awareness and attract potential buyers.
ASI – Advertising Specialty Institute
 As a business product supplier, the easiest way to get your product in front of thousands of potential buyers and distributors is by joining the Advertising Specialty Institute or ASI. Boasting connections with more than 130,000 distribution sales people, this organization is the largest marketing organization in the specialty product industry. Membership opens up contact potential to all their members and is the easiest way to open up the floodgates for your products distribution.
Little Steps, Big Gain
Whatever technique or strategy you choose to implement, know that getting the word out is vital to the success fo your patented product. Anytime you make a connection with a peer or sales representative, think of it as a step in the right direction. Each tiny step is part of one big leap.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Anniversary or just looking for a break from the children with your significant other, come to the Michiana area. There are many romantic getaways just waiting for you.
Relaxation:
In need of some relaxation, visit the New Buffalo Inn and Spa. The Inn is just six blocks walking distance from the beaches of Lake Michigan. The rooms are specially designed with the lake in mind and beautifully decorated. One example of a second floor suite is the ‘Snug Harbor’ suite. It has a great room looking over the backyard garden, a vaulted ceiling, fireplace and entertainment center. The bathroom has a full tub and shower and the bedroom has a bed and mirrored alcove with a Jacuzzi whirlpool.
If you are looking for more space or are traveling with other couples, you may want to look into the cottages at the New Buffalo Inn. The cottages can sleep from 5 to 8 people and are located near the inn and in the downtown New Buffalo area.
Finally, just in the small town of New Buffalo is the New Buffalo Spa. They offer a large variety of packages, along with packages including your hotel stay at the Inn and your spa specialties.
Culture:
If you are looking for some cultural events, try the Southold Dance Theater in South Bend, Indiana, offering modern dance and ballet performances throughout the year. Along with performances of some favorites, including the Nutcracker, the Theater offers a wide range of creative dance classes.
Another possibility in South Bend is the Broadway Theater League, bringing Broadway shows to the Michiana area. The theater was established in 1959 and has featured some popular performances. Such as upcoming, it will be presenting Rain: a special tribute to the Beatles.
Outdoor Activities
If you enjoy the outdoor nature activities, there are many options, not including the beautiful lake.
One such place is the Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve. The gardens vary and change dependent on the season with daffodils and primroses in April and May, changing over to beautiful perennials in the summer. The Nature Preserve provides ponds, wildflowers and trails to enjoy.
Along this 105 acre property, there is also a conservatory and nature center. The Conservatory features a waterfall overflowing into a pond with tropical ferns and gold fish galore. In the nature center, you can learn about various birds and ecosystems, including an active beehive and local reptiles.
During the summer months from May to September, there are classical artists performing music throughout the gardens. During the holidays or on other special occasions, special chamber concerts may be held. There are too many highlights to list, including special events, classes and even weddings being held.
Food and Drinks
 Just want a drink, how about a local brewery? The Mishawaka Brewing Company in Mishawaka, Indiana has been brewing its own beer since 1992. At the Pub, you can enjoy top shelf drinks, specially brewed ales or your regular bottled beers. Along with brewing beer, the Mishawaka Brewing Company has their own line of soft drinks, such as Lazy Dog Root Beer, which are served at various locations throughout the area.
So grab your significant other and enjoy some time to yourselves in and around Michiana!
October 30th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Halloween is Tomorrow!! Make sure to find a haunted house in your area to get in the Halloween spirit. Here’s just one of the many spook zones you’ll find in Michiana.
The Niles Scream Park
The Michiana area is not lacking on Haunted Houses, Haunted Hayrides and corn mazes. In fact, Niles Michigan has its own Niles Haunted House Scream Park. This park alone brings in over 100,000 dollars in revenue, almost all of which was donated to local charities and school events, such as to name a few the Niles Football Teams, the Niles High School Yearbook, the American Cancer Society, the local Girl Scout troops and St. Jude’s Research Hospital.
So besides being a great charity event for the community, what is all the fuss about with this Scream Park? To begin, this park is on 44 acres of land requiring 150 to 200 people a night to yell, scare you and guarantee you with a night of terror! In fact, this place is so popular that in October 2008, the Park celebrated with their One Millionth visitor.
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Several Amusement Options
There are numerous attractions:
- The Haunted House: the biggest and scariest in the area
- Dark Terror-Tory Haunted Hayride: a one mile narrated ride
- Field of Screams with Maniac Maze
- Midway of the Macabre: enjoy various games and fun, including a paint ball shooting gallery
- Concessions
- Gore Store: with all your favorite Halloween fun stuff
- Psychic Readings: haven’t had enough fun and scariness, have your palm read
- And a few other fun events, including the Redneck Revenge and London Screams after Midnight.
The Haunted House has multiple routes and more than 100 possible paths. You would have to go through this house at least 7 times to catch everything. The displays and the routes are both changed every year for those returning visitors.
Age Appropriate
In one word, this place is scary. It is not appropriate for young children. The attraction is geared to scare high school and college age kids. The hayride and midway attractions are a little different, but still are not recommended for children under the age of 6. Obviously if your child is afraid of the dark, this is not the place to visit.
Special Packages
To keep the costs affordable, there are special packages, such as the Triple Dog Dare, where you can get a trip through the Haunted House, Redneck Revenge and London Screams (the other two main attractions). You can also individually purchase each of the attractions or tokens for the Midway attractions.
Find It Local!
The Scream Park is located just near Highway 31, just off Niles Buchanan Road on Mayflower road. Moreover, the website claims it is worth the drive from Kalamazoo or Indiana. If you do all the activities, you can be guaranteed a few hours of scares! Happy Haunting!
September 18th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Despite the gloom and doom stories being reported, Michiana is surviving the tough economic times. An entire website is devoted to the area’s economic health, especially that of Elkart, IN after the so-called collapse of the RV industry. Although Indiana and Michigan are in the red on every site that mentions foreclosures, job loss, and unemployment, we aren’t all standing in Depression Era bread lines.
Although many communities in the area have been hit hard by the economy, there are just as many pulling through with little damage. A few are even thriving! Furthermore, despite the dramatic push to paint Indiana and Michigan as destitute victims of fading industry, there are a number of bright spots that show Michiana pulling out of this slump.
3 Places Where Michiana is Showing a Comeback
1. Tourism
Tourist towns are thriving. For example, the small town of New Buffalo, Michigan, the population of 2,200 recently received a portion of a six million dollar revenue share from the hometown Four Winds Casino owners. That share was only two percent of the profits from the Four Winds. In addition, the town is a tourist magnet for its beautiful Lake Michigan coastline. New Buffalo is best known for its vacation rentals, pleasure boating and boutique shopping.
Although tourism is taking a hit in this economy, my recent weekend in New Buffalo and the small Michiana communities around Lake Michigan revealed a tourist town that is still bustling. There are several other Michiana towns experiencing a similar tourism boost.
2. Industry
Daniels Governor Daniels announced the arrival of seven companies to the Northern Indiana area silencing the talk of Indiana’s dying manufacturing sector after the RV industry collapsed. These companies include a plastics molder, a casting maker, a bathroom fixtures maker and a wire and cable manufacturer. These companies will come to the area with over 500 news jobs and over $22 million in investment dollars. Soon, Northern Indiana will be knocking the rust off its section of the Rust Belt.
3. Restaurants and Retailers
Despite the bleak economic outlook, some major restaurant and retail chains are expanding into Michiana. Red Robin, known for its specialty burgers, is opening a restaurant in Mishawaka in 2009. Olive Garden and Dunkin Doughnuts also expanded (into Michigan City) in 2009. The retailer Big R Stores is developing an abandoned Michiana building while mega-retailer Wal-Mart has plans to add jobs to its stores in Michigan. In May 2009, the chain showed its support for the state by launching its 90-day, $10 prescription supply program there.
Some Encouragement
The sectors discussed above are not in the clear just yet, but there’s no reason to abandon ship. For many in the area, such encouragement means that reality in the rust belt is much less bleak than that posed in the media.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:58 am
You protect the important things in your life. A house-security system for your family, a doctor for your body, and so on. But how do you protect your car? It can also be very expensive to maintain and care for, but if you find the right auto-mechanic, the price can be worthwhile.
So how do you choose a mechanic?
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Referral
In most situations, asking around and finding someone through word of mouth is your best bet. You should ask about quality, price and possibly turnaround.
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Communication.
A mechanic should be able to explain to you what is wrong with your car in everyday language, so that you understand. If you are not a car expert, you might not know what is wrong; you must be able to rely on that person to take care of the problems. Question suspicious diagnosis before accepting a quote.
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Certifications.
Many people understand a car engine and can fix a car without any certifications. However, there are extensive trainings that can keep their knowledge up to date. As you may be aware, technology and cars are constantly changing, these trainings keep the mechanic current with the best techniques. Additionally, in getting this extra training, it shows that the mechanic values the job, the cars and their quality.
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Fees.
A good mechanic will not look for the most expensive repair procedures. Instead, he would understand that although your car is important to you, it might not be feasible to put $3,000 dollars worth of work into it. The cost of fixing the vehicle should be weighed against the benefit. You will not want to put $3,000 of work into a car that is not worth that much.
Maybe you want to bring your car into the dealership. Here are some things to consider before heading back to the dealership’s mechanic.
- Dealerships, like Sauer Automotive in Indiana’s LaPorte County, often times have more knowledge about your certain type of vehicle, whether it is a Ford or a BMW. They sell and service those cars daily, so they are very familiar with their makeup.
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A dealership may have more advanced equipment that a local mechanic cannot provide. This may not necessarily a benefit, unless it is something tailored to your car model.
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A dealership will have extra knowledge about any recalls or factory problems with your vehicle.
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A dealership may offer a rental car or shuttle service that a small mechanic cannot provide.
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An independent mechanic may be substantially cheaper. The mechanics have to market for their business much more than a dealership, so they often offer more competitive pricing.
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As for labor charges, a mechanic may consider the actual time spent working on your vehicle and not the standard industry charge. For example, the dealership might say a repair takes 5 hours and will charge you for that time, even if it takes much less.
The best advice is to shop around. Look at the shop, meet the mechanic, and consider the prices and quality you are getting. This car moves you and your life so make sure to choose wisely.
September 11th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Major brands such as IHOP, KRAFT and Fortune Magazine have shown us that a company can thrive and even re-invent itself in an economic downturn. Their success stories apply to business in Michiana?
Keeping your composure in addition to providing quality customer services –the core of any business success—will help you navigate this economic downturn. This article will guide you to the other side of the recession –the non-gloom and doom side—with ten ways to keep your composure amidst the anxiety that comes with economic downturns.
10 Do’s and Don’ts for Keeping Your Cool in this Recession
- Do not panic. The biggest mistake that businesses both large and small encounter is to decide in a panic. The sight of rising costs and falling revenues sends many managers and CEO’s, to their balance sheets with a pair of scissors.
- Do not cut your budgets. Losing employees and entire departments is the most popular decision to such decision-makers. It is also the worst. Cutting staff reduces the company’s ability to function, often leading to sacrifices in customer service and product quality…and thus a slow and painful loss of more customers.
- Keep Marketing. Advertising, public relations and marketing are the first departments to see cuts. Many companies fail to realize that a recession is the best time to build your brand name and reputation. The advertising playing field is levelled because of the companies who must cut ad budgets to stay afloat.
- Do not pull money from ads to cut costs. Businesses and organizations receiving large income from advertising dollars (such as radio stations selling commercials) have seen the inevitable cut of advertising budgets. In order to stem this income loss, companies are cutting the costs of commercials and ad space. If you are able to weather the storm, you can keep the same number and quality of ads for cheaper prices.
- Avoid A La Carte Services. If you must make cuts, try unbundling services. There are no savings in paying for a promotional bundle, when you need only one or two of the services offered in that bundle.
- Haggle for Lower Prices. Again, advertisers are slashing prices to attract and keep customers. If you are looking at having to make cuts, call up the sales rep and try to get a better deal. This also works for distributors, vendors and so on.
- Negotiate for Your Services. Discuss longer invoicing periods, pre-payment discounts and the possibility of a trade for services or products with clients. When the economy is bad, everyone is looking to keep their client list intact. Many are willing to negotiate to keep your business.
- Be Confident. Avoid sending out distress memos, pleas to consumers or any other lament over lost revenues. This gives the impression of instability. It will drive customers away and force vendors and distributors to entertain the idea of labelling your company a financial risk.
- Rely on Business Smarts. While it is important not to panic, it also unwise to maintain frivolous, unnecessary costs. Know when to hold ‘em, but also when to fold em.
- Steer Clear of Sweepstakes/Rebates sweepstakes/rebate camp. These items are just ways to disguise prices that are often out of sync with the competition. Rebates also falsely advertisement a discount when there really isn’t one. However, these are gimmicks that many companies turn to in order to attract customers.
There are more ways and reasons to keep your composure during a recession. These ten tools should give you a general idea of some of the major mistakes that prevent companies from surviving a recession.
September 4th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Las Vegas is falling apart at the seams. Tourism to the area has slowed tremendously. The housing market has almost halted. Although there are still some out there looking for a good time, the lighted streets of Las Vegas are just about silent.
Conversely, Midwestern casinos like our very own Blue Chip Hotel and Casino and Four Winds Casino Resort are expanding and growing.
The Blue Chip opened a new $130 million expansion in Michigan City. The gambling facility now includes a 302 room hotel, spa, 18,000 square foot event center, two “Vegas style” clubs.
The Four Winds Casino, has issued a check to the local New Buffalo and Three Oaks communities in an amount of over six million dollars. This is a mere two percent of the profits made since the casino opened in 2007 (just before the economy in the U.S. tanked).
While the Harrah’s Casino properties in the Las Vegas region were reporting a revenue loss of over 20 percent, the casinos in the Indiana/Illinois region experienced a gain of over three percent. In fact, this area is the only one of Harrah’s holding not seeing revenue losses for the first quarter of 2009.
How can Las Vegas, the town praised by Sinatra and the backdrop for many great movies, slow down while our hometown venues find success? The answer lies in target markets. Vegas casinos made millions from tourists hailing from outside Neveda. As travel incomes continue to shrink, Vegas continues to suffer.
Our local casinos, on the other hand, are a short drive from their patrons. Patrons seeking a vacation with the amenities and luxuries of Vegas at lower costs find Michiana casinos.—Four Winds, Blue Chip and even Harris—very entertaining.
5 Success Tips To Borrow From the Casino
Of course, the survival of the casinos in the Michiana area has much to teach other businesses struggling to stay afloat. That lesson is diversification.
The local casinos have a lock on gambling, but who wants to throw their money away on slots and tables? Also, many people lose it all within an hour, how does the casino keep them as a customer?
- Offer complimentary but separate services. Diversification is all about juggling more than one product or service. Casinos like Blue Chip added nightclubs, concert space, a spa and luxury hotel suites to their gambling services. These complimentary, but separate services give the gambler something else to do after he loses at the tables, or tires of the slot machines. In fact, these services attract people who aren’t interested in gambling, but come for the club, concert or simple relaxation.
- Think about convenience. The Michiana casinos also share another quality. They have several services in one location. The complimentary services offered in one location also offers a convenience factor that few entertainment establishments in our area can beat. In addition, those who overindulge can sleep it off in a luxury room without the worry of cab fare or designated drivers. You can do the same for your business offer your customers convenience. Just think about the types of things that compliment the things you offer.
- Be sensible. The casinos stay in the entertainment business. They don’t build libraries or add grocery stores. Those businesses do not compliment gambling and would therefore be a deterrent. Nightclubs and the business of running them falls in the same realm of business as a casino.
- Talk to your customers. Talk to the people who patronize your business and see what ides they may have. Sometimes the users of your services can see a complimentary service better than you can.
- Research. Study both your target market (potential customers) and competition. You must know who you are catering to and what you are competing against before coming up with a plan for success on diversification.
Diversifying takes many more steps. However, just like our local casinos, it can benefit your business. It is worth the effort, especially in a down economy (when your competition is low and concentrated on surviving and not on expanding).
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Beginning in the 1997 season, the stadium underwent improvements, modifications and growth. Currently, there is a seating capacity of 80,795 people, the 15th biggest in nationally. The majority of the ticket holders are season tickets (about 20,000) and alumni (more than 30,000). And as a tribute to how much fun the games are, over 10,000 students attend the games every week.
