Author Archives: Kari VanNoy

Using Facebook to Market Your Business

Posted on by February 21, 2013

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Traveling in Facebookistan: A Guide for Businesses

With 9 billion users, Facebook is far and away the most used social network in the world. If Facebook were a country, it would contain the third largest population, behind China and India. And like China and India, Facebook possesses its own unique customs and norms, and you should understand them to be able to fully leverage the site’s potential as a marketing tool. When I see businesses fail on Facebook, it’s often because they don’t bother to find out the local customs.

You’re a guest in Facebookistan. Behave yourself!

What makes Facebook distinct from other social networks? It’s that users have strong ties with one another. They are connected with their best friends, their family members, their in-laws and their long-lost friends from grade school. They share intimate areas of their lives. Such things as:

  • Birthday celebrations
  • High school graduation footage
  • Baby photos
  • Wedding announcements

The upshot for businesses? They need to be conscientious and careful in their technique. You can’t apply the old forms of one-way, direct-response marketing on Facebook, since people aren’t there to listen to sales pitches. They’re not necessarily in a buying mindset. They’re in a socializing mindset. You have to respect that.

Keep it real (for real)

If you try to port the old model of marketing into Facebook, you’ll be disappointed. The natives can get irritated and shun you. “With Facebook, marketers of any size can do effective, word-of-mouth marketing at scale for the very first time,” says Annie Ta, a Facebook spokeswoman. “But Facebook is about authenticity, so if your small business is not being authentic or engaging with customers in a manner that feels genuine, the community will see right through it.”

Don’t be fooled: It’s meant to be hard

Don’t be fooled by social media “gurus” who make wild promises about effortless Facebook success. Social media is all about creating relationships and influence—and this needs time to work. Many organizations think that if they set up a page on Facebook, that’s all they have to do. Marketing on Facebook is definitely an extremely effective way to reach local customers (we wouldn’t be talking about it if it weren’t). But here’s the rub: it’s also difficult (and rewarding) if you’re doing it correctly. The payback is well worth the investment in time and attention. According to a study from Social Media Examiner, nearly two-thirds of small businesses involved in social media point out that Facebook has improved their overall marketing effectiveness, and 80 percent report forming new partnerships after just two years of involvement.

Ebelskivers for a Romantic Breakfast in Bed!

Posted on by February 5, 2013

As a big fan of anything brunch, it’s hard to pick a favorite. But when it comes to Ebelskivers, they are definitely in my top 3 favorite breakfast foods! They are Danish pancakes – little, delicious pancake balls filled with apples, jam, nutella, or whatever tickles your fancy. They are very versatile, can be either sweet or savory, and takes only about 3 minutes to cook. (However, an ebelskiver pan is required, and you can get them at a number of retail stores, or online.)

This recipe I used apple filling to keep them more traditional.

Filling

1 Tbsp unsalted butter

3 Tsbp brown sugar, packed (I prefer dark brown to give in a richer taste, but you can use light brown if you prefer)

3 apples, peeled and grated

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

dash of ground cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, and just a pinch of clove

Cook in over medium heat till a thick glaze has formed, about 20 minutes. Drain liquid and set aside.

Batter

1 3/4 c. all-purpose unbleached flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 Tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

3 egg yolks

1 1/3 c. milk

1/2 c. unsweetened greek yogurt (I prefer Fage brand 2%, it’s thick and works great in the batter)

1/2 tsp real vanilla extract

5 egg whites

6 Tbsp unsalted butter melted

1 Tbsp confectioners sugar

1/3 tsp cinnamon

In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients, in a medium bowl, lightly whisk the egg yolks, then whisk in the milk yogurt and vanilla. Mix into the dry ingredients until well combined (lumps are normal). In a different bowl beat the egg whites on high with a hand mixer until stiff but not dry peaks for,2 or 3 minutes. gently fold in the egg white into batter in 2 parts. The batter should be very light and fluffy.

Heat the pan over medium heat and brush pan with melted butter, and make sure there is a little bit in the bottom of each cavity. drop 1 Tbsp of batter into each cavity and cook for 1 minute, then add 1/2 tsp of the apple filling and push it down with a wooden skewer so its covered in batter. Cook for 2 more minutes, then flip over. the bottom should be golden brown and slightly crispy. cook for about 3 minutes, till it’s all an even gold color, and repeat with remaining batter (should make between 30-40 ebelskiver). This step gets easier after the first batch or two, then you’ll get the feel for how to flip them with the wooden skewer or fork. Combine the confectioners sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle on top of ebelskivers and serve with syrup. Delicious!

 

 

 

 

Show Your Company A Little LOVE This Month

Posted on by February 4, 2013

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As this month is Valentine’s day, a holiday dedicated to showing the ones you care about how much you love them, why not show a little to your company?

It’s been more than a month since the holidays ended, and now that we are in the second month of the new year, and some of us may be starting to lag behind on the resolutions we made at the beginning of January. Don’t let yourself get caught in the lull of winter, stay engaged and continue working on your goals and resolutions you made for yourself.

Why not take this holiday to show a little love for yourself, and for your business?? Take this time to keep your Minutes current so that you don’t have to catch up later in the year. You’ll save lots of time that you can spend with the most important people in your life, your family and friends. It will also save you stress, so you can have peace of mind all year knowing you are caught up.

Need Minutes service? Get it HERE, and let us take care of them for you! Then you can spend even more time with the ones you love the most, knowing that your business is taken care of and on top of things, and always protected.

 

 

 

 

Small Business Tax Changes for 2013

Posted on by January 23, 2013

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Important 2013 Payroll and Tax Changes for Small Business

On January 2, 2013, President Obama signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. Here are some highlights of how this Act could affect your small business:

●    Previous income tax rates for individuals earning over $400,000 and households earning over $450,000 has expired and will now increase from 35 percent to 39.6 percent. The IRS has released new tax tables reflecting these rate changes, found HERE.

●    The Act does not extend the “payroll tax holiday,” so the employee Social Security tax rate will go from 4.2 percent back to 6.2 percent up to the 2013 taxable wage limit of $113,700. As a result, a worker earning $50,000 per year will now see $1,000 less in their net take-home pay as compared to 2012.

To read more about these changes, click HERE.

 

 

 

 

Quick Black Bean Tortilla Soup

Posted on by January 22, 2013

Quick Black Bean Tortilla Soup

 

When I am wanting a quick dinner that is healthy and delicious, this is my go to recipe. A little bit of chopping and just a few minutes of cooking and I have healthy meal that fills us up and is super tasty!

 

You need:

1 red onion, diced small (about the size of black beans)

2 red bell peppers, diced small

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, diced finely (and just a tough of the sauce if you like it really spicy)

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

3 c. vegetable stalk

2 cans black beans, rinsed well and drained

1 can corn, rinsed and drained

salt &Pepper

avocado, sliced

cilantro, washed and loosely chopped

corn tortillas

extra virgin olive oil

 

Put 2 Tbls olive oil in a pot and add diced garlic, onions, and red peppers. Cook for about 3 minutes on medium, till the onions soften and start to turn clear, and add the chipotle pepper and sauce. Cook for about 1 minute, add the cumin and stir well. after the peppers are soft and cooked, add the veggie stalk, beans and corn. cook on low heat till it’s heated through. Salt and pepper to taste.

While the soup is heating, cut corn tortillas in half, then into 1/2 inch strips. In a pan, heat enough olive oil to cover the bottom, and place strips in heated oil, and fry till they start to turn golden brown and remove from oil. place on paper towel to absorb extra oil and lightly salt.

place in bowls, garnish with slices of avocado, cilantro and chips. You can also add cheese, sour cream, or switch the avocado slices for guacamole for more decadence. Mm-mmm delicious!

 

 

 

 

Starting Your Year Off Right

Posted on by January 9, 2013

Happy 2013 to you and your business!

 

Now that it is a new year, we have the chance to set your goals for this year, and set your New Year’s Resolutions. Why not set one for your business as well? With the new year, you have a new chance to keep your Minutes up to date.

Maybe last year you didn’t stay on top of it, and you had to play catch-up? Maybe you didn’t keep track of things throughout the year, and at the last minute you had to try and remember everything that you did for the whole year? Make it your goal to not play catch-up this year, and keep your minutes up to date! Don’t keep sloppy records, stay on top of them, and do them right to ensure that your business stays protected.

Not sure what you should be documenting? HERE is what we recommend you should be documenting every month.

Don’t have minutes service? Get it from us HERE.

 

 

Christmas Cake For Breakfast

Posted on by December 19, 2012

Orange Bundt Cake – A Christmas Morning Tradition

 

 

 

1 yellow cake mix (Pillsbury)

1 small pkg. instant vanilla pudding

¾ c. oil

¾ c. orange juice

4 eggs

1 t. vanilla

cinnamon/sugar

 

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix all ingredients together, except the cinnamon/sugar. Beat 7 minutes. Grease the bundt pan well. Put half batter in pan and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Add the rest of the batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes. While this is baking, make the glaze.

 

Glaze:

3 T. butter

powdered sugar

canned milk

 

Mix this glaze together, adding a little powdered sugar and a little milk at a time. Make it not too thick and not too runny so you can spoon it on top of the cake and it will run (slowly) down the sides.

 

 

 

Gratitude to a Successful Year

Posted on by December 18, 2012

The Power of Gratitude…

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” –Sarah Ban Breathnach, inspirational author

 

 

 

This is the best time of the year, and the most hectic time of year for most small business owners. It is easy to fall into the anxiety and rush of the season.

But when you pause to reflect on what you are thankful for, it can put you in a positive mood; Last month we talked about gratitude journaling, and the great way it brought meaning to the season of Thanksgiving. We have continued this feeling of gratitude through to this month, focusing on what we have accomplished this year with our business. And isn’t that the greatest way to end the year? Take a look at how far YOU have come this year, and use this to remind yourself to be grateful and positive.

One tradition we have at our business, is to take time to list all of the major (and some of the minor) accomplishments for the entire year. We write them all down and schedule an entire morning to review them with everyone in our office. It becomes an energetic time to share and reminisce about the year! And if I left anything off of the lengthy list, someone is sure to let me know. We love to celebrate how far we have come and reward those who have done an outstanding job.

This “meeting” gets us in the frame of gratitude for all who have helped to move the business forward, and becomes a time of recognition (which everyone loves).

We also take time to recognize the feedback we receive from our clients and how those suggestions have made us a better company.

It is amazing to see this “Year in Review” and spend the time to show our employees our appreciation.

Here’s a few questions to ask yourself that will put you in that grateful perspective, and get you ready to think about your direction for 2012:

1) Who has made a difference in your life this year? What did they do? Have you thanked them for it? (It’s not too late to send a card of thanks!)

2) What has created the biggest impact on your business this year? Was it an event, an employee, a new marketing strategy? Who has helped you to implement and create positive change in your business?

3) What are some of your unique talents and gifts? What are some talents of your employees? What outstanding trait could you recognize for each employee?

4) Name five new things you learned this year related to the business. Is something working well…not working…does something need to change? Write them down and use this as a starting point for the new year.

We Love doing this! It leads us into a new year with a feeling of great accomplishment and gratitude, as well as preparing us for a great year ahead! What are your biggest accomplishments that you are grateful for this year?

 

 

A Thankful Thought a Day Can MAKE Your Day!

Posted on by November 20, 2012

Gratitude is not just to be reserved for Thanksgiving. Why not recognize and appreciate the abundance in your life each day?

I know, I know. You’ve probably heard many people discuss gratitude and how it can raise your vibration, and how writing in your gratitude journal helps to create more gratitude. But I wanted to try something even simpler.

I tried an experiment this month. A simple experiment of noticing one thing I was thankful for each day during the month of November. Something good that happened, a nice thought or person I recognized, or a joyful surprise that came into my life.

But I didn’t just notice. I WROTE IT DOWN on my calendar. I used colorful washi tape to write on so the appreciation could be easily seen. And guess what happened?

My joy was multiplied. And more good things started happening to me! (You may not believe it until you try it for yourself) Really, it changed the way I look at things and that made all the good things pop forward more easily. I mean, sure I still had the challenges and not-so-great stuff to deal with, but somehow that got a little easier, too.

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.” Margaret Cousins

Will you try this experiment? Let me know what changes YOU notice in your life!
Have a Happy and Abundant Thanksgiving all year round!

 

Pumpkin Spice Creme Brulee

Posted on by November 20, 2012

This time of year makes me want to eat everything pumpkin, whether sweet or savory. After trying many different recipes, this  is one of my favorite recipes to make during the fall season. It’s delicious, decadent, and surprisingly simple to make. I found the recipe on abeautifulmess.com and have made some slight alterations of my own. I like mine a little more spicy and pumpkin-y, so if you want a lighter flavor, you can follow her recipe here. I also subbed half of the cream for a half and half, so cut out some of the fat and calories.

Ingredients

2 c. organic heavy whipping cream

2 c. organic half and half

1/2 c. pumpkin puree

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp ground ginger

small dash of ground clove

3/4 cup sugar, plus more sugar for the tops (I used a tablespoon for each ramekin)

6 egg yolks.

In a pot over medium/high heat, whisk together the cream, pumpkin, and all spices until well combined. Allow it to just begin to boil, stirring lightly constantly so milk doesn’t burn to bottom of the pot. After you remove that from the heat, separate the egg whites from the yolks, and either discard or save for later. Combine the sugar and egg yolks and mix with electric mixer until well combined and the yolks start to lighten in color. Pour 1/2 cup warm cream into the egg batter while the mixer is still running on low. Once that is mixed thoroughly, slowly add the remaining cream mixture, mixing as you go. Do not over mix. Pour custard batter into prepared ramekins. Have ramekins in a shallow baking sheet. Add water to the baking sheet until it reaches at least half way up the sides of the ramekins. This is a water bath. Bake at 325 F for 40 minutes. The centers should still have a slight jiggle, but the edges should not move. Take out of water bath and let cool thoroughly in fridge for a couple hours. Once cooled, add sugar to tops and if you don’t have a torch, broil in oven until the sugar is all melted let cool in fridge for 30 minutes before serving to let custard set up again. Mmmm, Delicious!