New Blog

Please check out my new blog for lots of great information and posts.
http://www.longforsuccess.com/blog

New Website!

I've got a new website & plan on posting to a blog on it. Please check it out at www.LongforSuccess.com

There you will find links to FREE webinars, podcasts and more resources!!!

New QuickBooks Networking Group

Joe Woodard has launched a professional network for QuickBooks ProAdvisors and Intuit Solution Providers called "The National Advisor Network."

The network has three membership levels starting as low as $10/month.

Some key benefits of this network include:

• An Online Resource Center
• A File Transfer System
• Monthly Members' Only Webinars hosted by Joe Woodard.
• Discounts on the annual Scaling New Heights conference for Intuit Advisors.
• Discounts and commissions on selected software solutions that integrate with QuickBooks.
• Ability to earn a "Master QuickBooks Consultant" designation with certification logo.
• And much more...

You can check out all the details here: http://www.nationaladvisornetwork.com/

Need a Logo? Have a Contest!

Since I had a new business name, I decided that I need a new logo too. I heard about Intuit Creative Solutions partnering with 99Designs where you can hold a logo design contest. It sounded interesting, so I decided to check into it.

You can set the prize amount that you want to pay the winning designer. There are some fees involved so the base cost is about $200 ($150 to the winning designer). My contest cost just over $250 with $195 going to the winning designer.

You create a brief with details and information about your business, target market and what you're looking for in the logo. You need to indicate how the logo will be used and exactly what you want delivered. You need files for Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator (EPS or API) so the logo can be re-sized and maintain the quality. I also asked for the logo in black & white and with a transparent background.

Most contests are for 7 days (but you can extend it) and you can get 100% refund if you don't like any of the designs submitted. However, if you guarantee the contest then more designers are likely to enter and submit their designs for your consideration. After a few days, I guaranteed the contest because I felt confident that I would be able to select a logo for my business.

Here's some of the things I learned during this process:

1. You really need an idea of what you want so you can let the designers know what you're looking for in a logo.

2. You need to provide feedback on what you like and don't like to guide the process. I sent comments to the designers and would ask them to make changes as needed.

3. You need to know what makes a good logo--which I researched during the process. A good logo is:

• Simple and uncluttered
• Memorable
• Works in a variety of formats (ie black & white, small for Twitter, Linkedin or Facebook or large for Webheaders)
• Represents your brand or image
• Colors and fonts matter and convey different messages
• Avoid clip art and stock images

4. The designers are great at following YOUR directions

5. I would have loved to have paid a professional graphics person to help advise me during the process.

When I first started my contest, I looked at some of the designers and their work and I invited a few to enter my contest since I liked their work. As the contest for my logo progressed, I was keeping up and providing feedback on what I liked and didn't like and things seemed to be going ok for awhile. Since I'm not very creative myself, I was impressed with a lot of the designs and I soon found myself overwhelmed with choices and options to consider.

I decided to solicit the opinion of others on what they thought about the logos submitted. It was interesting to hear the feedback from others. I asked people I knew and respected for their opinion. Plus, I asked group members of various Linkedin groups and the AIPB listserv group. In addition to hearing from accounting professionals, I heard comments from architects, engineers, attorneys and many other small business owerns. THANKS to everyone who took the time to provide feedback to me!

Evidently some of the logos looked like a Crest ad, the AT&T logo, a cruise line or airline, or a variety of other things. I found that women liked some logos while men liked other ones. One logo was a horizon which appealed to some, while others saw it as a day care or learning center. Some didn't like the logos that were long and horizontal. Some people thought some of the logos looked like I was running for a political office! Some people liked a minimalist approach while others were more artsy. There were a couple of designs that appealed to a lot of the people expressing their opinion--both men & women. It was great to have a 'focus' group and hear their opinions, but I realized I needed to chose which logo was right for my business.

Some of the best feedback I received was to consider how the logo would work in various formats--such as FaceBook, Twitter or Linkedin. What about in black & white when the logo is copied or faxed? How will it look as a web header? This was a good test and helped eliminate some of the designs.

Ultimately, I had about 30 designers submit over 400 variations of logos for my consideration. I realized that there were several that would be a good logo. But ultimately, the logo needed to represent my business and personal preference as well.

I finally decided on a logo which can represent helping clients achieve greater heights, increasing growth, a path to success, etc. Interestingly, some people see it as increasing swishes, others see a wave gaining momentum while others see a sail. For me, it seemed perfect since I love the lake and watching the sailing regattas on the weekend. Plus, I could think of many analagies to sailing and growing a business -- charting a course, navigating the winds of change, etc. that I could incorporate into articles, speeches or whatever. This one was my personal favorite which made it the right one to represent my business.

Using Intuit Creative Solutions partnered with 99Designs to get a logo, business card, or help with a website is great for small businesses on a limited budget. However, I would still recommend consulting with a graphic artist to get their professional opinion, guidance and assistance. If your budget doesn't allow this, then you should do your homework and research -- I researched colors, fonts and characteristics of good logo. However, instead of spending my time doing that, I would have preferred to pay for a consultation with a graphic artist.

Town Hall--What's the Small Business Development Center & What Can it do for me?

Mark your calendars for a Town Hall discussion ‘What’s a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and What Can it Do for Me’? We’ll meet in the Long for Success room in the Small Business Town Hall on Tuesday, August 18, at 1:00 pm PT (4:00 pm ET).

Michelle L. Long, CPA will be the moderator. Michelle is the founder of Long for Success, LLC and an Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, one of the national trainers for Intuit and author of the book Successful QuickBooks Consulting.

Special guests from Johnson County Community College Small Business Development Center in Overland Park, Kansas, include:
· Malinda Bryan-Smith – Regional Director
· John Andessi – Consultant

Discussion topics include:
· What is the Small Business Development Center?
· How can it help me grow my business and be more productive?
· How to find an SBDC near you
· Links and resources
· Most importantly—your questions!!!

You can type your question into the chat window or use a webcam and/or mic (about $20) to join in the conversation!

Here are a couple of links to join, but I’ll post again next week as a reminder.
http://community.intuit.com/small_business_town_hall Click Under Small Business Experts -- Long for Success and type in your screen name to join the room.

http://apps.facebook.com/smallbiztownhall/Home.aspx?auth_token=4b41dfb9c5fa6cceea9469e5e023dfdc

There is no need to register in advance or sign up, just type in your screen name to enter the room. When you enter the room, it may ask if you want to allow access to your web cam and/or mic. You can Allow or Deny. If you Allow access, then you can click on 'Request to Speak' and you'll be put in the speaker's que. When you're finished you click on 'Stop Speaking' at the bottom of that window and the it will go to the next person in the que.

If you don't want to speak up or use a web cam, you can type your questions or comments in a chat window on the right side.

Feel free to go into the room in advance to check it out and see how it works. You can even try out your webcam to see yourself & how it works!

I'm looking forward to it and think it is a great way to have discussions and Q&A with others!!!

Sending Large Files

Many times, the QuickBooks data file is too big to email to someone. Or perhaps, you have a large powerpoint file to send to someone. There are several services to transfer large files. A few FREE ones include:

www.sendthisfile.com
www.yousendit.com
www.pando.com

Check them out next time you need to send a large file!

If you're sending a QuickBooks data file, make sure the file has a password. Send the password in a separate email--not with the data file!

You can use this option to help clients when you cannot use remote access--have the client send you a back up or portable file. Then, you can open the file and talk with the client about it.

QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program and Certification Town Hall meeting

Mark your calendars for a Town Hall discussion ‘Everything you wanted to know about the ProAdvisor Program and Certification’. We’ll meet in the Long for Success room in the Small Business Town Hall on Tuesday, July 21, at 9:00 am PT (12:00 pm ET).

Michelle Long, CPA will be the moderator. Michelle is an Advanced Certified ProAdvisor, one of the national trainers for Intuit and author of the book Successful QuickBooks Consulting.

Special guests from Intuit include:
· Kate Viotto – Senior Marketing Manager, QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program
· Andi Anchetta – Program Manager, QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program

Discussion topics include:
· What is the ProAdvisor Program?
· How can it help me grow my business and be more productive?
· Details about the different ProAdvisor Certifications
· Tips & Tricks to help you study and pass the certifications
· Best practices for study and exam preparation methods
· Most importantly—your questions!!!

You can type your question into the chat window or use a webcam and/or mic (about $20) to join in the conversation! If you’re already certified, you can share your experience with others too!

Here are a couple of links to join, but I’ll post again next week as a reminder.

http://community.intuit.com/small_business_town_hall

Click Under Small Business Experts -- Long for Success and type in your screen name to join room.

http://apps.facebook.com/smallbiztownhall/Home.aspx?auth_token=4b41dfb9c5fa6cceea9469e5e023dfdc

There is no need to register in advance or sign up, just type in your screen name to enter the room. You may want to do it in advance to see how it works. You should have Adobe Flash Player installed. When you enter the room, it will ask if you want to allow access to your web cam/mic. You can Allow or Deny. If you Allow access, then you can click on 'Request to Speak' at the bottom of the middle section and you'll be put in the speaker's que. When you're finished talking you click on 'Stop Speaking' at the bottom of that window.

If you don't want to speak up or use a web cam, you can type your questions or comments in a chat window on the right side.

Feel free to go into the room in advance to check it out and see how it works. You can even try out your webcam to see yourself & how it works!