Category Archives: Entrepreneur

Facebook Removes the 20% Text Rule

To the joy of marketers everywhere, Facebook finally altered the 20% text rule! This recent change will provide more flexibility and freedom to marketers, while likely impacting the ad experience for Facebook users. Below we break down some common questions about this recent change.

What was the rule before the change?

Previously, Facebook rejected ad requests where more than 20% of the image contained text. This caused frustration among marketers whose ads were rejected for containing just barely too much text, and for brands whose logo was text. Some arguably creative and effective ads were also rejected due to containing too much text.

Why did this rule exist if it caused so much frustration?

Facebook, as it repeatedly claims, is all about the user experience. Part of the user experience is the appearance and feel of the timeline. The line of thinking from Facebook went something like this… if ads appeared on timelines containing massive amounts of text, the timelines would appear cluttered and users would be less satisfied with the look of their timelines. Preventing advertisers from using too much text also helped push advertisers to make more creative ads that focused on “showing” rather than “telling,” since you rely on words to “tell.”

So with this change, can I now use as much text as I want on ads?

Marketers are now given the option to use photos in their ads that contain more than 20% text. No longer will beautiful ads be rejected for containing just a little bit too much text-marketers rejoice! The new change means Facebook will not stop advertisers from using an image simply because of an abundance of text (other restrictions, such as inappropriate images, still apply). However, Facebook still is pursuing the user experience as the priority. While it removed the “stick” form of motivation (punishing users for ads with too much text by preventing those ads from being published), it simultaneously implemented a “carrot” approach of motivation (providing an incentive to still use ads with minimal text). So even though it may not be a requirement, they still are going to make sure marketers keep limiting text at the top of their minds.

So, why would I still want to use ads with minimal text?

First, ads with too much text are not visually appealing. They make the photo appear cluttered and busy, two things you want to avoid because viewers will likely skip over it. Of course, there are exceptions where the cluttered and busy look is used to make a creative point, but generally speaking it’s a good idea to limit text from a graphic design standpoint.

Second, using too much text will negatively affect the amount of people who see your ad. Facebook has said that, given the same budget, ads with more text will reach a lower number of individuals than ads with less text. Hence the carrot again. They will motivate you to do what they like by giving you more views. Facebook won’t stop you from using too much text, but it makes it clear it is in the best interest of the marketer to continue using minimal text.

How will I know if my ad still uses too much text?

Images uploaded for ads will be placed into one of four categories. The one marketers should aim for is “image text: OK” because it will see no negative impact on reach. These photos contain no or minimal text. The next category “image text: low” sees a slightly limited ad reach. The third category “image text: medium” may see limited ad reach. The fourth category “image text: high” may not even reach the intended audience at all. When advertisers upload a photo in the grid tool, Facebook will let the user know which category the photo falls into.

Schedule Your Way to Holiday Cheer Part 1 of 3

It is that time of the year where the days are getting shorter and the to-do list keeps getting longer. It can be easy to get overwhelmed with how much you have to do, the time you want to take off, the gifts you needs to get, the school needs a volunteer, you have a holiday concert to go to, and so on with the never ending list of holiday festivities. At Alpine Small Business Solutions, we see it every year with clients trying to frantically clean everything off their desks before the end of the year or their annual leave. We have three main tips for you to keep the panic out of the holiday and make sure you are still on top of it all: Schedule, Organize, and Relax. We have a three-part blog series to help you make it to the end of the year and time off in a breeze when you use your online business manager.

Schedule

Begin early. I know we all don’t like the holidays running together. Halloween is displayed before school supplies are put up, Thanksgiving is sold out before trick or treating began, and Christmas has taken over the entire fall/winter season instead of just staying in December. Yes, it gets tiresome, but you should put this practice to use to make your holiday time go more smoothly. Start early and schedule everything you need to accomplish with plenty of advance. Remember, everyone is likely trying to do the same thing you are, and you don’t want to end up at the bottom of a long pile on someone’s desk.

Leave on time. Don’t stay late at work trying to get something else done; you will always find more things that need done and you are neglecting all your other to-dos.

scheduling help

Make a to-do list that is effective. Remember to focus on today and not every single task that has to be done sometime in the future. If you skip a task on your to-do list, it should get a higher priority the next day, and not everything should be in your “red” category—not everything can be an emergency, or there is no point of color coding.

To-do lists are a great way to keep projects organized not only when leaving for the holidays but also on a daily basis. In fact, I recommend taking 15 minutes at the end of each day to create a to-do list for the following day.

Schedule when you are going complete each to-do
item. A to-do list is a good start, but now it’s time to schedule when you will complete each task. If you have items that you need to delegate, book time to hand off the project. Treat each project as its own appointment. Honor that time and protect it from interruptions as you would time with a client.

A schedule is only good if you plan it and stick to it. You will keep yourself on track for your holiday fun. Next, watch for how to get organized to get out the door to family and fun.

2014 National Small Business Week

Honoring America’s Entrepreneurs: Small Business Owners DO Make a Difference

Let’s salute ourselves! We are the small business owners who dare to dream and create a company that we are passionate about. It’s often a difficult road and many people find it challenging to succeed, but with teamwork and dedication, the small business owners keep America strong. We provide an essential foundation and network for our communities!
May 12–16, 2014, has been proclaimed National Small Business Week by US President Barack Obama. The US Small Business Administration recognizes and highlights outstanding businesses and entrepreneurs from all 50 states. Important contributions of distinguished owners have been honored since 1963, when President John F. Kennedy first proclaimed the event.

The National Small Business Person of the Year, chosen from representatives across the country, will be awarded at the end of the week. In addition, the Phoenix award will be given to a public official, a business owner, and a volunteer involved with disaster recovery in a community.

Check out some of the amazing ways that small businesses make America strong.

50 percent of Americans own a small business or work for one!
Small businesses create 2 out of 3 new jobs in the United States every year!
Small businesses drive innovation and increase global competiveness!

Alpine Small Business Solutions is proud to be part of the network of small business owners and is committed to continuing to offer a wide variety of professional services with our personal touch.

Here are some ways that you can help your business remain strong and creative in the coming years!

1. Delegate your routine tasks to a virtual assistant or online business manager.

2. Seek imaginative solutions with other creative people.

3. Add people to your team to expand your horizons.

4. Take time to interact with other small business owners.

5. Celebratethe passion that you bring to your business.

The publisher of SUCCESS magazine, Darren Hardy, says, “As any small business owner knows, entrepreneurship can be a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, terrifying twists and turns. But they wouldn’t have it any other way. I believe we’re living in the greatest era of opportunity for entrepreneurs and National Small Business Week is a great example of that.”

We DO make a difference in the American way of life, for our families, our communities, our country, and the world. Alpine Small Business Solutions salutes all the small businesses and celebrates with you for everything that you bring to the business world. Thank you for your creativity and perseverance! Together, we are strong and growing!

Events will take place all over the United States honoring the small business. For additional information, visit http://www.sba.gov/nsbw/nsbw.

Denver has many events going on for Small Business Week. The city of Denver Office of Economic Development is sponsoring a series of small-business classes. For more information about Small Business Events in the Denver area go to www.denversbdc.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 25

ACCESS Opportunity with the City & County of Denver General Services/Purchasing Division, 9–11 a.m., 1445 Market St., 4th Floor Boardroom.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26

National Healthcare Reform: How It Will Impact Your Small Business—8–11 a.m., Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, 1445 Market St., 5th Floor.

THURSDAY, MAY 27

Road to Recovery—9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Kimbal Hall, 700 E. 24th Ave.
During these tough economic times, learn what your company can do to better position itself on the road to recovery.

San Francisco is on Monday, May 12, at Twitter headquarters and will be streamed on SBA.gov beginning at 11:40 am (Eastern). The event will discuss strategies to help small business owners learn how social media can be integrated into marketing strategies to help drive business growth.

Kansas City is on Tuesday, May 13, at Burns and McDonnell headquarters. The program includes “Are You Bankable: A Lender’s Perspective,” “Contracting with the Government,” and “From Small to Big: The Dynamics of Growing Your Business.”

Boston is on Thursday, May 15, at Microsoft New England R&D Center. Sessions are about online marketing strategies, rejuvenating your business, and finding capital for your business.

Washington, DC, is on Thursday and Friday, May 15–16, at the US Chamber of Commerce. The SBA will live stream several events, including speakers and award ceremonies for local and national business owners.

New York City is holding an event to help you promote your business into the mobile age. It is Wednesday, May 14, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM (EDT). You can attend in person or stream it from the Small Business Administration web page.

9 Ways a Virtual Assistant Can Stay Active & Fit While Being Desk Bound

I love what I do for a living! I am blessed to get to work from my home office and be here when my kids go to school and when they get home from school. Although, I try to live an active lifestyle, I am still desk bound most days. Don’t get me wrong, being desk bound has given me so many great opportunities and has really elevated me to the next level in my Virtual Assistant and Online Business Manager Practice. I absolutely love the thrill of being challenged by the tasks that I do while connecting with so many diverse people and helping guide entrepreneurs on ways they can lessen their load by delegating, automating, and systematizing their current processes.

Online Business Manager | Staying Fit While Being Deskbound

This is Jessica’s Home Office Set Up

As much as many of us love that we work from the comforts of our home, most of us don’t want to live an inactive lifestyle and be sedentary all day. Some people can delegate their work to be done by a virtual assistants or business managers to help reduce the hours in which they are completely desk bound. If you are lucky enough to have a great team of virtual professionals, awesome, that means you are more apt to get out and enjoy a round of golf, an hour of exercise at the gym, a bike ride, a brisk walk….or some hula hooping. For others, it may be a little more difficult to get out and get active during working hours, so to stay fit, you often have to be creative and find ways to exercise and keep moving even if you are desk bound.

Here are 9 suggestions to incorporate fitness in to your daily work routine.

Get an exercise ball instead of a chair. This will help with your core strength as you sit and balance. Choose a ball color that makes you happy, and this will stimulate your energy! Unlike sitting in a chair, sitting on an exercise ball engages your core muscles and helps improve balance and flexibility. Occasional bouncing can also help your body interact with gravity to a greater degree than sitting on a stationary chair, as well as being fun.
Take a break at least once an hour. Stand up, stretch, bend over, twist your body, lift your legs—get the blood flowing. If possible, deliver messages directly to your coworkers versus sending an email, what a great excuse for a short walk. Or if you have a dog, take him for a romp around the block or at a nearby park. Research shows that simply standing up, about 35 times a day or so, will counteract the cardiovascular health risks associated with uninterrupted sitting. Standing up once every hour was more effective than walking on a treadmill for 15 minutes for cardiovascular and metabolic changes.
Have a set of 5-pound weights handy. Several times per day, you can lift them over your head and swing them over your shoulder! Don’t allow your elbows to extend more than two inches behind your body. This exercise helps loosen your shoulder muscles and eases back tension. Strength training is an integral part of a well-rounded exercise program, and is recommended for both sexes and all ages. For every exercise that works the front of your body, be sure to do an exercise that targets the rear.
Place a foot massager under your desk. These wooden bars will provide relaxation while helping exercise your lower body. You can use them with your shoes on, or, if it’s appropriate in your office, slip your shoes off for a great foot massage. This can be done without out anyone knowing you are even doing it.
Reach for the sky! Also, reach way across the desk, reach for the wall, or reach for anything in any directions… just stretch and reach! Organize the layout of your office space in such a way that you have to stand up to reach oft-used files, the telephone, or your printer, rather than having everything within easy reach. Ideally, you’ll want to stand up at least once every 60 minutes, or more, so simply moving one or more things you frequently reach for could allow you to build this kind of movement in to your regular work day.
Hold on to the edge…of your chair or desk, then push yourself up and away (be sure that the item you are pushing away from is sturdy and won’t slip). Make it an action that is similar to a pushup. Also, use the desk or chair to steady yourself as you bend over to touch the floor.
Lift your legs. While seated you can march in place or make dance patterns. There are a series of moves you can do at your desk that will both release tension in your neck and back, as well as ease some of the day’s stress. You want to make sure you are keeping your blood moving.
Motivational Fitness Gadget. Whether it is a Fitbit (that is what I have), a Bodybugg, a Nike Fuel, or similar, these nifty little gadgets are an amazing way to help you with your motivation to get moving. It gives you a visual of how much (or how little) you are actually moving during the day. These devices can tell you all kinds of important information such as steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, stairs climbed, and with my Fitbit it even analyses my sleep patterns. They act as your very own personal trainer in a way. These nifty wristbands will also allow you to set goals for yourself and track your progress across all of your devices, like your smartphone and tablet. One of the girls I work with also has a Fitbit, so we connect on there to keep our “friendly” competition going (which is great motivation) and to help remind the other to get away from the desk when she doesn’t have very many steps in for the day using the cheer or taunt feature that is build in. I love it.
MyFitnessPal. This is an awesome tool, and it is free. I use it every single day. It is a Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker. They say that 70% of fitness and weight control is attributed to your diet. So tracking your food intake is super important to staying healthy and fit. My Fitbit even syncs with Myfitness pal, so that I can be sure to track everything I am doing. It also has a a large database of foods that you can select from, or if you are creating your own meals, you can download the app to your mobile devices and it will allow you to scan product labels for instant calorie counts. Another tool that I absolutely adore.
Bonus! I know I said I’d share 9 ways, but I have one more! Close your eyes; slowly rotate your head from side to side and back and forth. Think of your happy place and take a deep breath. In one minute, you’ll be refreshed and ready to resume your work!

If you need help, I strongly suggest setting a timer on your phone or your watch to alert you to take a break at least once an hour. You don’t have to stop working, just take a quick break to rejuvenate your mental and physical well being! And if you really need to just have something fun to do, take a look at this online site, compiled by Alpine Small Business Solutions: https://www.alpinesbsolutions.com/fun-stuff/. Great ideas!

What is a Google AdWords Campaign?

Working with your business on the Internet should be easy, right? You just post a few things on your website, and the customers start rolling in! It’s so simple. Yes . . . but . . .

There are better ways for you to draw potential customers to your site with a quality pay-per-click (PPC) effective Google AdWords campaign. Your ad is written with specific keywords that are targeted to your company. When someone searches online for that word or phrase, your ad can appear, and people click on it to go to your website. This is a good thing!

For example, go to your Google home page. When you search for a specific word or phrase, there are ads on the right side of the page. Your goal is to have your ad at the top of the page, and to have it intrigue people, so they want to click on it!

This is one of the best ways for you to attract more customers. Your company only pays for the consumers who click through to your site. However, the more clicks, the lower your rate can be, and the higher on the page your ad appears.

How can you get there? By hiring an expert Virtual Assistant or Online Business Manager! You need the expertise and experience of a researcher and writer to create an ad that will be relevant and interesting to your specific customers. This ad can introduce your business and describe what you’re selling (new or different from what’s available through other sites). The ad is also a marketing tool to let people know what services you offer.

Google Ad Words | Virtual Assistant

Why would you want to try this on your own? If you broke a bone, you could maybe try to set it yourself, but chances are you’d prefer that someone with medical expertise take care of you. And if you needed the services of an electrician, you would probably want to hire someone with training and experience to complete the job in a skillful way.

So why not hire a person who knows what to do to get you optimal results with your Google AdWords marketing campaign? Hire an assistant or manager who knows how to explore your business and research the best keyword alternatives for search engine optimization (SEO) to make your ad outstanding. That’s imperative before the writing even begins!

The virtual assist Organic SEO Manager ant or business manager will focus on how your business is different and the best concept to attract people. This will get your business noticed! Then the quality of the ad will target specific relevant searches.

Additionally, your manager can track your ads, PPCs, and site visitors to provide you with ongoing feedback and current ideas for SEO. Let an expert handle the busy, time-consuming work of this important marketing tool, while you focus on what you do best!

To get a free report and consultation about your business, please contact Alpine Small Business Solutions at this site: https://www.alpinesbsolutions.com/seopreliminaryreport/.

A Female Entrepreneurs Journey to Success

Good things come to those who…???
A Female Entrepreneurs Journey to Success

As I continue to grow my own business and strive to meet new goals I look back at my journey and am proud of the path that I am on. I sometimes wonder how I did it and often times scratch my head and am in awe of how far I have come in 12-years of being a small business owner. I honestly can say I have worked my ass off as a Virtual Assistant and Business Development coach over the years. I have helped countless entrepreneurs and small business delegate, grow and prosper, but I still seek balance.

But enough about me…let me ask you…When you think of a successful woman who does you think of? Do you think of Hillary Clinton, Jennifer Anniston, Michelle Obama, or another famous name?

Does being famous mean you are successful or a legend? Sure, I suppose it does, but when I think of successful women I think of someone who can run a successful business empire and also achieve work/life balance. A successful balancing act of success, family, love and fitness is what I consider SUCCESS!

So in honor of success and the journey to achieve it, I want to give a big VIRTUAL hug and high five to the top three female business owners of 2012.

The Top 3-Female Entrepreneurs of 2012

Sarah Fox has a degree in social work and initially started Krav Maga as a hobby but has since became heavily involved in the sport and has trained to become an instructor. She says she has never worked so hard for something in her life but it doesn’t feel like a job because she loves it so much. Sarah has started from nothing and worked her way up to a comfortable, successful, life with Fight Fit. Keep moving forward, Sarah!

Rachel Kabb-Effron is a certified elder law attorney for Kabb Law Firm which is an elder law firm offering an integrated, elder-centered solution developed by a team that includes an attorney, a public benefits coordinator and a social worker. Rachel felt helpless when she was in college and her grandmother was in a nursing home, she knew this was a passion of hers and decided to turn that passion into something real. Rachel says that one shouldn’t judge success by what’s in the bank or not in the bank at any given time; do what you’re good at and what you love, and don’t worry about the money. We like the way Rachel thinks.

Darlene Campagna took over leadership at Direct Opinions and immediately began making changes. The team was a bit skeptical at first but then saw that the changes were working and the team was becoming stronger than ever. She cut weaknesses and focused on the capabilities and strengths of the team. Darlene says that one of the toughest lessons is learning to listen to your gut instincts; if your gut says something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. She also says that being a small business she has the ability to choose which business’ to work with and which ones do not fit right and that there’s a comfort level that comes with that. We say, “Way to Go, Darlene!”

Did you Know

Women comprise 47% of the U.S. workforce from fashion to technical careers?
That successful Women entrepreneurs start their businesses as a second or third profession
Women start companies to better balance their work and family lives
Female-owned companies tend to offer more family-friendly benefit

WE ARE WOMAN HEAR US ROAR!

What is Blog Bookmarking & the 20 Sites You Should Be Posting Your Blog to…for Free

In most cases the whole reason you have gotten into blogging is to share information about your dog, your business, your mandolin picking progression, your health and weight loss or the experiences that have shaped and shifted your life. You have also likely learned that blogging will help you gain visibility and traffic to your website and is a necessary step in increasing your SEO. That is all well and fine, but how are you going to achieve the traffic and visibility to your content. Unless you are a SEO ninja or have a super sweet SEO team backing you, you likely have to take things into your own hands and learn the ropes. The question most people want to know is HOW?

The answer is easy! Harness the power of Social Media & Social Bookmarking. With a few strokes of the keys and clicks of the mouse YOU, my friend, can make some serious magic happen! Within minutes of submitting your blog to various social media outlets, social bookmarking and directory sites you are instantaneously and automatically connected to thousands of other like minded folks all over the world. Which means that traffic and visibility to your blog and website is happening all the time even when you are sleeping, showering or shaving! How flipping cool is that, right?

If you want to brush up and learn more about social bookmarking check out the wiki page.

There are hundreds of social media and social bookmarking sites out there. Some fail, some suck, but the bottom line is that there are way too many for me to list here. I have been doing this for a long time and with endless hours of trial and error, I have finally come up with a dream list of 20 Social sites that you SHOULD be posting all your blogs to. The best part is they are all FREE to submit to.

If you have a site that you post to and love and don’t see it in my list below, feel free to hook me up with the details. Post in the comment string below or send me an email. I would love to check it out.

Don’t have time? Does all this info makes you dizzy? No problem, we got ya covered. Contact us, today and let Alpine Small Business Solutions take care of all your social media and social blog bookmarking for you.

Public Service Announcement: Hey you, sit up straight, shoulders back, your posture is important.

Click the icon to be taken directly to their website for more information and register for your own account.

No Brainer Places to Post

Alpine Small Business Solutions

Where do you want to go with your business? Do you have stacks and stacks of things you need to accomplish and time doesn’t seem to be on your side? If only there were more hours in a day to allow you to accomplish all the tasks you have been putting to the side for the last few weeks, or dare I say the tasks that you have been putting to the side for the last few months!

Let Alpine Small Business Solutions clean out your “in box” and help you build your business and grow in the right direction.

You’ve come to the place Where Your Success Matters.

Alpine Small Business Solutions has over 17 years experience. We offer a myriad of different services from administrative, to bookkeeping, to event management, to real estate assisting, and so much more. Every Alpine Small Business Solutions team member focuses on adding value to your business by listening to your needs, striving to meet and exceed expectations, achieving excellence and providing the highest level of service to keep your business on track. With Alpine Small Business Solutions you can rest assured that your projects will be handled and completed in a quick and professional manner. We listens to your needs and we get the job done right and to your satisfaction. We know that your time should be centered on promoting and creating revenue for your business and with our assistance, you can.