16:05:45 [kaygreen] still getting a few retail orders every day from the woman's day article

16:06:02 [countrycat] awesome!

the house for more than a few hours so maybe I'll eventually be able to go

16:07:39 [kaygreen] so ladies introduce yourself and your business please

16:08:05 [janb] Jan Brown, Gift Basket Hugs, http://www.giftbaskethugs.com 

16:08:12 [countrycat] Lena Specker owner of http://www.countrycatcandle.com  and http://www.wahmpartyplans.com 

16:08:31 [countrycat] Jan I've been getting some hits from our banner exchange from last week

16:08:50 [janb] I may be in and out of this chat but I learned a lot on your last chat Kay so I couldn't resist.

16:09:08 [kaygreen] awesome so ladies who do you feel you are doing in the name branding area

16:09:29 [janb] Hi, Yes, I have been getting some traffic also. Thank you. My site seems to get over 60 visits a day lately.

16:09:30 [kaygreen] we will only go 1 hour today - I have a child to pick up early today

16:09:43 [kaygreen] super Jan - how are you marketing

16:09:46 [countrycat] umm negative lol I'm working on getting shirts and ect with cafepress

16:09:52 [kaygreen] cat how are you hits going

16:10:34 [countrycat] about 40 a day but this new candle site has been up since the 2nd week of feb

16:10:54 [janb] I am using flyers, coupons and pay per click on the internet. I try to keep the clicks under .20 and set a budget. So far it seems to be working. Of course Easter is coming up for gift giving. Lots of baby baskets.

16:11:16 [janb] Forty a day is great for a new site.

16:11:22 [countrycat] so I'm thrilled since I've just started putting it in the search engines and doing links so we've not been picked up yet

16:11:45 [countrycat] thanks Jan I'm trying to get all the traffic from my old site switched over too

16:11:46 [janb] My site had lots of Christmas traffic and then January was very quiet.

16:12:36 [countrycat] Kay are you finding that SEO group a little hard to follow that we learned about last week in chat?

16:13:23 [kaygreen] yes but only because you have to devote and hour or two a day

16:14:06 [countrycat] ahh that's where I'm going wrong I'm going to have to pull out some time in the am to do it then

16:15:57 [tagpkat] I just started with a new company. http://www.tinasgoodies.com  My consultant # is TGM118 is anyone is interested

16:15:59 [kaygreen] what you do now is search engine can take a month to react

16:16:17 [kaygreen] has everyone introduced yourselves

16:17:03 [sewnaunt] Hi all Gail from http://tillientots.theshoppe.com 

16:17:06 [kaygreen] we are talking about name branding. If you are a rep for another company you still need to create a name for your own business

16:17:24 [kaygreen] you want people to know you buy your business name

16:17:51 [kaygreen] so instead of being the MyPreciousKid rep my rep Pam as known as Moms Does It All

16:18:05 [kaygreen] under that name she sells My Precious Kid plus Watkins plus .......

16:18:38 [kaygreen] I highly recommend getting your own domain name as well - not a free host - but a dot com

16:19:08 [kaygreen] Tag is tinasgoodies your site or the company site

16:20:33 [fraow] what is the difference between a free host and a dot com?

16:21:35 [countrycat] tripod is a free server ex my 1st site was through them  

16:21:40 [sewnaunt] a free hosting is free, dot.com hosting will cost per month

16:21:51 [countrycat] they have pop ups and tons of ads and limit what you can do

16:22:10 [kaygreen] countrycatcandle.com  is a dot com

16:22:12 [fraow] is any one better than the other?

16:23:06 [fraow] this is Deanna from MPK rep #375

16:23:14 [countrycat] depends a lot can depend on your host if you have a good one or a bad one

16:23:37 [fraow] all this is new and I'm just trying to figure out some ins and outs to understand a bit

16:24:11 [kaygreen] a dot com will cost you $10 per yr for the domain name plus hosting - I pay $6 a month

16:24:21 [fraow] I don't have a web page yet...still thinking about doing that

16:24:43 [kaygreen] you will do better in business and name recognition is you get a dot com

16:25:03 [kaygreen] I host with Tony at http://www.wahmshoppes.com  $6 a month for 300 MB

16:25:16 [fraow] I know that I can get kidzidkardz.com  I just haven't purchased it yet

16:25:21 [kaygreen] and a .com is always better than a .org or .biz

16:25:33 [countrycat] he's great I use him for my candle supply site

16:25:49 [kaygreen] do not wait it may be gone

16:26:16 [kaygreen] also look at who owns the other spelling of your name or the plural - is it a competitor

16:26:32 [kaygreen] will your customers know the spelling of your site if you SAY it to them over the phone

16:26:48 [kaygreen] I stay away from funny spellings

16:27:02 [kaygreen] you will need a credit card or debit card for your business

16:27:23 [countrycat] you can use a checking account to get a domain through godaddy.com

16:28:01 [kaygreen] URL name is the first step to NAME branding your business

16:28:29 [kaygreen] after you get your domain name and email address for that domain ( do not use aol or hotmail for business email)

16:28:50 [kaygreen] make sure your URL and email address are on anything you send out

16:29:41 [kaygreen] so if I email someone from Kay@aol.com  they do not know what my business is

16:29:55 [kaygreen] is I email from Kay@mypreciouskid.com they know where to find me

16:30:18 [fraow] that is me...I think I may change my user name

16:30:18 [kaygreen] so get your dot com web page and then your domain name email and use it everywhere

16:30:22 [Kim] since I offer hosting with my company, I'm all for paid hosting... lol but

16:30:30 [countrycat] Kay I am switching all my stuff over to my lena@countrycatcandle.com  because of your suggestions

16:30:33 [kaygreen] lets brainstorm some places you can get your business name out there

16:30:40 [fraow] I will do that then

16:30:41 [Kim] Kay is soooo right... you really want your name out there as much as possible

16:30:47 [kaygreen] very good lena - and I like that your NAME is on it too

16:31:09 [kaygreen] everyone give a quick intro and URL please

16:31:15 [countrycat] thank you lol it took me 2 days to get set up!

16:31:28 [kaygreen] I am Kay Green founder of http://www.MyPreciousKid.com  with 100 reps

16:31:32 [Kim] http://www.Creation-Nation.com  Kim

16:31:46 [Dianne] Deanna, is you site going to be kidzidcardz.com?

16:31:56 [Kim] Most of you should have forwarders if you host with somebody

16:32:05 [kaygreen] I also own http://www.KayGreen.com  and http://www.123HomeBusinessGuide.com  free business resources and http://www.PreciousKids.org  Adoption & Homeschool Resources

16:32:10 [Kim] so you can set up your email as Kay mentioned

16:32:17 [sewnaunt] Gail owner of Tillie & Tots

16:32:39 [countrycat] Lena Specker owner of http://www.countrycatcandle.com  and http://www.wahmpartyplans.com 

16:32:45 [Dianne] I'm Dianne, owner of Wahm's United http://www.wahmsunited.com  and a rep with Kay -   (currently under massive overhaul LOL)

16:32:49 [kaygreen] yes you can forward your domain email to another account or better yet get it as a pop email and use OUTLOOK to read email

16:32:53 [sewnaunt] http://tillientots.theshoppe.com 

16:33:22 [kaygreen] so how can you get your name in front of people

16:33:37 [countrycat] signature in emails!

16:33:59 [fraow] yes sig in my e-mails thanks to Kay and plaxo

16:34:03 [kaygreen] I got a big one this week - the gal found me in a Google and then put my business name, URL and product info in an article in Woman;s Day Magazine

16:34:15 [Dianne] there's a placeholder from godaddy, but I think it's for kidzidcardz.com

16:34:31 [Kim] that was awesome Kay.....

16:34:35 [fraow] did the magazine come out to stands Kay?

16:34:37 [kaygreen] plaxo.com is a great free service - it puts your email address and web site in front of others who are in your address book

16:34:52 [kaygreen] yes I bought 2 copies today

16:34:58 [Dianne] not sure if it's out in Canada yet - kind of don't think so

16:35:09 [kaygreen] I have probably $500-600 in orders from that - it has been a blessing

16:35:21 [Dianne] wonderful for you Kay

16:35:37 [kaygreen] it came because I had worked hard on name recognition and search engine placement

16:35:52 [kaygreen] and because God blessed me a real gift

16:35:57 [kaygreen] for sure LOL

16:36:25 [fraow] I think it was a gift Kay

16:36:33 [kaygreen] email signatures, in link exchanges, write articles, in chat rooms, at online parties and bashes, in yahoogroups, when you donate prizes

16:36:39 [kaygreen] I know it was a gift

16:36:54 [Kim] sign guest books too

16:36:57 [kaygreen] in outgoing mail - bills

16:37:03 [Kim] on other peoples sites

16:37:15 [kaygreen] coupon packs - I put out 35,000 coupons last year

16:37:21 [fraow] I haven't done in bills as I pay thru internet billing

16:37:34 [countrycat] I've been doing ryze too and it seems to help

16:37:35 [kaygreen] get use to helping people see you as MPK.com

16:37:50 [Dianne] I'm having a tough time with Canadians and the coupon packs LOL

16:37:51 [fraow] I never thought of guest books that's a good one

16:38:09 [Kim] I just copy and paste my sig line in there.....

16:38:26 [fraow] I haven't tried the coupons yet...I keep forgetting about those

16:38:34 [Dianne] one Cdn group I'm with, I posted a message requesting fillers, and couldn't believe the response I got - it was honestly like they had NO idea what I was talking about

16:38:39 [Kim] I leave biz cards everywhere too.... in waiting rooms a lot... in magazines, lol

16:38:54 [countrycat] who all has guest books so we can sign? I have one on my candle site

16:39:04 [janb] I have been leaving coupons, flyers, cards...my husband thinks it is funny but it works.

16:39:09 [fraow] that is correct Dianne all this is soooo new to Canadians

16:39:27 [janb] I have a guest book but more people sign up for the mailing list.

16:39:28 [kaygreen] I leave coupon packs everywhere I go with my URL on the outside

16:39:51 [Kim] marketing can be really fun

16:39:58 [fraow] fun and interesting

16:39:59 [janb] Outgoing bills is an awesome idea Kay...I am just catching up here.

16:40:04 [fraow] sure learn a lot from the Americans

16:40:13 [Dianne] I just started a Canadian Wahms network on Ryze to start trying to change that situation & I'm also going to add a Cdn. section to Wahms United - with a section for coupon/flyer exchanges

16:40:53 [fraow] I don't have that kind of ambition yet Dianne...I'm still just getting my business up and running

16:41:08 [kaygreen] I have a lot of articles at http://www.123homebusinessguide.com/ that list other places and ways to market

16:41:31 [fraow] if it wasn't for the site at Kay's I would be lost for sure

16:41:57 [Dianne] ummm... YES Kim!!! Ryze has been one of the best networking places I've ever used!

16:42:21 [Dianne] Any biz! Then join some networks (kind of like Yahoo groups) and participate!

16:42:51 [kaygreen] any business

16:43:09 [Kim] I find sometimes competing with the bigger hosting companies is hard

16:43:21 [kaygreen] get in the habit of putting out 25 coupons packs or more every week plus 100 business cards

16:43:40 [janb] Has anyone used postcards? I actually have some but am afraid people would through them out. Maybe I could leave them as business cards/coupons.

16:43:41 [Kim] so I need to get my name out there way more

16:43:43 [kaygreen] make a list of where you can put them in your community

16:43:45 [fraow] I didn't realize I was in pink either...how funny is that...I don't even like pink

16:43:54 [Dianne] My goal is to put out 1000 by the end of April

16:43:57 [kaygreen] yes Kim - everywhere

16:44:25 [fraow] small community I will have to move to Calgary to put in 100 business cards

16:44:31 [kaygreen] I want to encourage each of you to put out 100 things with your name this week before the next class

16:44:34 [Dianne] I'm just hoping some fillers come in soon from some of the people I was explaining them too.

16:44:47 [janb] We are going to Storyland in July (a kids amusement vacation area)...I will have to bring as many as I can create.

16:44:58 [Dianne] my town is only 1400 people - I'm heading to several cities nearby to distribute

16:45:24 [fraow] thanks ladies... I only have 1200 in my town

16:45:57 [sewnaunt] my town is only 500 most I know, nearest big town is 70miles

16:46:00 [countrycat] lol my town population 500 at most but the town closest to me is 20,000

16:46:25 [janb] Do you think business cards work as well as coupons or does it matter Kay?

16:46:42 [Dianne] and I'm also going to call several other direct sales reps in my area about this too

16:47:34 [kaygreen] in your bills, to the checkout clerks, on bulletin boards,

16:47:51 [kaygreen] I do both - coupons when I can

16:48:15 [kaygreen] my town is 150 - city of 1500 is 10 minutes away - city of 30,000 is 30 minutes away

16:48:43 [kaygreen] anytime I drive anywhere I take coupons packs with me so I can write off all the miles

16:48:53 [Dianne] we have a local newsletter called The Mom & Caregiver which would be my absolute PERFECT target audience, but to advertise for 6 months is $750!!!

16:49:01 [janb] How big are the coupon packs?

16:49:07 [kaygreen] the trick is to be creative - who can you tell about your business

16:49:19 [janb] Lots of coupons or just your site?

16:49:21 [kaygreen] 5.5x8.5 envelope

16:49:44 [countrycat] that's not bad Dianne when I was advertising in country business is was 200 a month for classifieds but got no orders out of the 3 ads we did

16:49:49 [janb] I was trying to think of something creative to give to realtors now that the season is near for big home sales. Any ideas?

16:49:52 [kaygreen] my stuff plus 10-15 more coupons

16:50:06 [Dianne] and I know just advertising for a month won't do much (and that's $125! lol)

16:50:25 [kaygreen] getting them to promo you - list your press release might be better than an ad

16:50:29 [Dianne] Is that Gift Basket Jan?

16:50:41 [kaygreen] most times they need to see you multiple times

16:50:51 [Kim] can you split the cost with some other wahms?

16:50:58 [kaygreen] that is why I was surprised to get so many orders from the little mention in the woman's day ad

16:51:13 [Dianne] good thought on that Kay - I have to get in touch with Marilyn again about the press release

16:51:27 [janb] Woman's Day is big ...good for you Kay!

16:51:49 [kaygreen] thanks Jan - but truly it was a 3 sentence part of a 3 page ad

16:52:33 [kaygreen] but for what ever reason it is calling people to action

16:53:32 [kaygreen] I attend as many as I can both ways - as a vendor and as a customer

16:54:21 [Kim] yes, I just joined the yahoo group and say Nancy's ad

16:54:55 [kaygreen] Offline and online expos increase your exposure

16:55:30 [Dianne] http://www.smallbusinessreferralnetwork.com/expo 

16:56:25 [director] Online expos are a great cooperative marketing experience.

16:56:34 [kaygreen] donating prizes to these kind of events helps too

16:56:49 [director] You have the promoters, sponsor and vendors all promoting the event it grows and grows.

16:57:32 [Dianne] Not to mention that working together with everyone else, you meet some great people that may be able to help you out down the road

16:57:51 [kaygreen] I will post the transcript at http://www.123homebusinessguide.com/chats/chattranscripts.html 

16:58:37 [kaygreen] thanks Dianne

17:11:04 [kaygreen] free advertising here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WNC-Chat-Advertising/ 

17:11:13 [kaygreen] and http://www.123homebusinessguide.com 

17:11:55 [kaygreen] and on Monday at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1ChristianWAHM/ 

Chat by Kay Green of http://www.MyPreciousKid.com  , http://www.123HomeBusinessguide.com  , http://www.KayGreen.com  at kay@mypreciouskid.com We meet every Tuesday 1 pm PST, 4 pm EST
http://smallbusinessreferralnetwork.com/chat/phpMyChat.php3