FinditLocal411 Blog
May 13th, 2010 at 11:05 am
 In tough economic times like these, the element of Hope is as necessary as a well devised job resume. There are many blog posts and articles out there focused on encouragement throughout the job search and tip lists to make the search more productive. However, many Michiana residents are finding themselves still on the job search sidelines after a year and often longer of unemployment. Instead of encouragement, many of you are looking advice on continuing the job search or making a drastic career change.
As Kenny Rogers said, “you gotta know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away.” In truth, no one can tell you when it is time to hang up your job search and go back to college or change careers altogether. However, there are things that you can consider before making such a decision.
Examine Your Motives
If your reasons for looking for a job begin and end with the fact it is the last job you held, maybe you should examine your motives. Spending several months or a few years unemployed for a job that you aren’t enthusiastic for doesn’t make much sense. This is especially true in the age of multiple furthering education programs, which provide training toward new skills.
Examine Your Industry
In Michiana, the steel, auto and RV industries went belly-up in 2008. However, the steel and auto industries are now making a rebound. Many of the displaced workers in Michigan and Indiana have been contacted for return to work or are already back on the job. Meanwhile, the RV industry is still down for the count. Workers in this industry may want to consider a career change or training for something new.
Examine Your Skills
Workers in the RV industry may have other skills that the other industries like steel, automotive and other manufacturing companies can use. Welders, assemblymen and even managers and inspectors can utilize their skills elsewhere, as the RV industry has yet to recover. People who have more specialized skills may want to look at ways to utilize them in other industries. This is where a craftily written resume comes in handy.
Examine Your Passion
 While you are unemployed, take up a hobby, something that involves your passion. Closet writers, artists, crafters, and people with a business plan that they never before had time for can dust off these ideas and try them out while unemployed. For some, your passion may end taking a life of its own, becoming a small business or career change.
To decide whether your employment path has ended, you must take stock of your situation. The above examinations and considerations will help. However, the decision is ultimately yours.
May 11th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
“You’re a tool.”
“Thank you.”
Did you ever think that being called a “Tool” would be a good thing? Well, in this case it is. Let us explain.
Name recognition is an asset for any business, especially in the tourist communities of Michiana. Aside from spending a fortune in advertising or on gimmicks with little returns, small businesses can benefit from becoming a tool for consumer use.
What is a Consumer Tool?
A consumer tool is a resource that consumers use in order to make purchase decisions, gather information and to stay up to date on industry information. A business that becomes a tool benefits from continuous exposure for its role as a resource as well as for its profitable ventures. The consumer makes an initial purchase, but returns continuously because of the resources.
How to Become a Consumer Tool?
There are a few tips to consider when trying to become a tool for consumers.
- Find Your Niche. Appliance repair services and parts retailers can offer instruction on basic maintenance. A bakery could host a cake decorating class. An accounting firm can offer tax tutorials. Whatever your business is, figure out what you can offer to the community that would make your business a resource for consumers.
- Consider The Costs. Make sure that the resources you offer is cost effective for your business. You may want to try to recoup some of the costs. For example, the bakery may want to give one free course, while offering a regular course available for a fee.
- Be Creative. Instead of sending out how-to flyers or promotional items, find something that will get your business out and active with the community.
- Get Attention. Consider resources that will draw media attention a.k.a. free advertising. A copyediting service can offer resume clinics for the unemployed. In Michigan and Indiana, two states among the highest in unemployment numbers such a clinic will be major media news.
- Look for Grant Funding. Grants are available for community related activities. Businesses that come up with ideas to benefit the community like resume clinics and even boating safety courses, may be able to apply for grant funding for the projects. They may have to partner with a nonprofit agency in order to acquire the funding.
Activities such as these will keep your business’s name on the tips of tongues within the community. It will also give you business some positive press that will follow you out of this recession economy.
April 8th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
In a January 2009 article, Newsweek Magazine coined the phrase “gigonomics” to describe the ever increasing trend toward a freelance workforce. Made up of so-called “giggers” who work by the project or gig, with no strings attaching them to one company, this emerging workforce was absorbing many of the newly unemployed. Today, several million people make up the freelance or “gigger” workforce, but millions more are searching for jobs that just aren’t available. So, how does one find a gig or freelance project?
Freelance Job Auctions
There are a number of sites that allow you to submit a bid for a job. In your bid is your price, experience, samples and a description of how you would complete the work and the length of time it would take to complete it. The employer chooses the bid or bids that best suits the project. The follow sites offer many job opportunities for writers, designers, computer programmers, data entry workers, editors and others.
Stock Photography
There are sites for photographers to get involved. These portals are a place where graphic designers and photographers can post their work for sale to web designers, publishers and advertisers. Customers pay for the right to use the images. You, the creator/photographer, receive a royalty calculated on the types of use. Most are operated on a system of credits. Buyers purchase credits based on the size and type of file needed. You earn a set dollar amount or percentage of the credit. If you’re looking for ways to sell your pictures or designs, check out:
Freelance Classifieds
Find everything from walk-on movie roles to hair modeling gigs on Craigslist in the “Gigs” section. Look at sites like Online Writing Jobs, Sologig.com and iFreelance.com for writing, design, coding, data entry and more. These sites and others like them are classifieds for the gigger nation. Sometimes you can find a long-term project here after you build a working relationship with the company or individual, but the majority are one time or temporary gigs.
Take Care
Remember to watch out for scams, which abound in the freelance job industry. Some sites like Guru, elance and iFreelance charge a fee for full membership. However, a certain amount of bids or job posts is open to anyone for free. Do not pay for a service until you have deemed it cost effective and your getting the proper return on your investment. For example, a basic membership to Guru.com is $130 that you pay quarterly. It is cost effective to pay this fee if you have received enough work to profit after the fees. Otherwise, use the free account.
Welcome to the gigonomic workforce. Get out there and find that first project!
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.
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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.