BUZZ ON BUSINESS
by Peter Wein
Making Sure Your Business is Visible!
So it is now the so-called “Dog Days of Summer.” Anyone who has been here long enough knows that the Dog Days last a lot longer than they do in other parts of the country. Oh, the heat! Oh the Humidity! And of course, all those storms. We are in a time when storms do not only refer to the weather outside. They all refer to the last quarter of the so called off-season. There are many empty store fronts and offices, not only in the Wellington area, but all over the region. Those fortunate or smart enough to still be around (whether prospering or just hanging on) are anxiously waiting for the time the snowbirds migrate down for the autumn and winter seasons. Yes, the roads get crowded. The lines at restaurants get longer. But the revenue infused into local business get stronger. I find it amazing that even with the amount of year-round residents, there is still an impact on the hi’s and lows of doing business with the seasons.
Money is tighter, not only for your business budget, but also on the personal side. You, as well as your customers, are being a bit more frugal than in the past. As a business owner, you tighten your purse strings and hope you can ride out the “slow season.” A mistake many small businesses make is that they withdraw from advertising their businesses and are waiting for the seasonal onslaught. One important thing to keep in mind: If you don’t promote yourself now, you may not be here later. The smart thing is to allocate a budget that includes dollars for the off-times. It is that time of the year that you can gain or retain the year-round residents. I know personally if I could keep more year-round clients my off- season slump wouldn’t be as severe. This doesn’t mean spending tens of thousand in this slower time.
There are always special ways the outlets available will work with you on a marketing program. Additionally, (and I am a big advocate of this), there are plenty of networking groups out there that you might just fit into. Of course, there are the BNI’s, the NPI’s the Chamber of Commerce’s, but there are also groups that meet where you aren’t obligated to a committed membership with regular attendance required or yearly and weekly dues. Off the top of my head, I know that the Business Solutions Group meets monthly at Tree’s Wings in Royal Palm Beach. There is also the Women’s Empowerment Group. See the “Calendar” page of this website for dates and times. Also one that I have found to be one of the best is the Western Executives Networking. Coordinated by Troy and Ingrid Webster (561-793-5509), they hold bi-weekly gathering at different locations around the Wellington area. The beauty of those just mentioned and others are that you can show up as your pocket and time schedule permit.
As I tell my prospective clients, whether for My B Network or for radio advertising and promotions, you need to remember something if you are a small business looking for customers within a small radius geographically. I always suggest that you find ways to become more visible. Besides thinking of where to spend dollars such as print, Internet, radio, etc., you are the best ambassador your business has. Get visible! Get involved in community activities. Be heard on the airwaves that concentrate on your desired area.
Remember, I can always be contacted and I am willing to talk and help with not only the outlets I provide for your business, but will also give you some input on other opportunities available for you. And if you’re reading this online, don’t forget Around Wellington magazine online as one of those affordable outlets!
Remember . . . get out in the community to help your business stay healthy. It is also the best way for me to see you “Around Wellington.”
Peter Wein, a business professional who is very active in the Western Communities, is also the managing member of the B Network. To contact Peter, email: [email protected] or call him at (561) 827-4223. Tune into Peter’s Livingroom radio show on W4CY radio, www.w4cy.com or visit his network at www.mybnetwork.com.