What is a QR code?

April 15, 2011 Beth Devine

Have you seen the QR Codes popping up everywhere? There’s even one on my bank statement. Do you know what they are? How to use them or how to get one?

According to Wikepedia and other online sources, QR (Quick Response) Codes were developed for tracking parts in Japanese auto industry. But in recent years the codes have seen widespread use for marketing products and businesses.

How does it work? Smartphone users scan the code and have instant access to your website, contact information or other information. You can create a QR code at a number of online sources and it can contain, a url, phone number, text or SMS. To read it, a smartphone with a bar code reader is required. I downloaded the free app called Quickcode for my Android. When I scan a code containing a URL, I have several options. I can go directly to the website, bookmark the website, send the address to someone via email, or post the address to Facebook or Twitter. (Remember to optimize your website design for smartphones if you use QR codes to send folks to your website.) If the code were a phone number, I could call the number or save to my contacts. Or the code could be a text message that would be instantly readable.

Here are a couple of websites where you can create your code:

You can also create a code with a graphic – like the one to the right…

So how might you use this QR codes in your marketing?

Put it on print ads and send folks directly to a product page where they can purchase a specific item
Put it on product packaging and link to installation or operation instructions
Use on your business card, brochure, or advertising and map your store location
Send to a location with a free download or coupon
Send a text message
Phone number
Other ideas?

For more information about how to use QR codes, please see this excellent article http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-qr-codes-can-grow-your-business/.

E-mail safety tips – avoid phishing scams

April 10, 2011 Beth Devine

If you’re like me you’ve done business with at least one of these companies:

TiVo, Walgreens, US Bank, Disney, JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, Citi, Home Shopping Network, McKinsey & Company, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, Marriott Rewards, New York & Company, Brookstone, or The College Board.

These are just some of the companies whose email lists were exposed earlier this week, when Epsilon, the world’s largest email marketing firm was hacked. Fortunately, the security breach was limited to email addresses and names, and not more sensitive information, like credit card numbers, or social security numbers. But the breach warrants a reminder to be diligent in processing your email.

Imagine I’m a bad guy…

I’ve hacked into Epsilon and have obtained hundreds of thousands of email addresses for, let’s say, Capitol One customers. Now I just build a website page that looks like a Capitol One website page, create an email that looks like it originates from Capitol One, send it to the thousands of Capitol One clients and wait for innocent victims to log into my website with their Capitol Once username and password. Now I have all I need to log into the victim’s real account and steal their sensitive information, their reputation and their money.

It’s called Phishing. The practice where bad guys send emails claiming to be a a reputable company to unknowing customers in order to lure them into providing sensitive information.

We’ve all received phishing messages. They’re mixed in with the hundreds of emails many of us process daily. Processing email takes time and it’s a job that we may rush through, but it’s critical that we think before responding to email and be absolutely certain that the sender of the email is legitimate.

As you process your email, remember…

Never click through to a website that claims it needs you to verify your password.
Be suspicious of any email requesting your password or sensitive information. Reputable companies will not randomly email you asking for sensitive information.
If you receive an email from a company and you’re not sure if it’s legitimate, do not follow the link in the website, instead go directly to the website you know to be real or call the company to inquire about the request.

More about Phishing at and about email safety in general at WiredSafety.org.

Web Savvy Marketers at the CT Business Expo

April 7, 2011 Beth Devine

We will be at the CT Business Expo on June 9, 2011. This is an expo that The Hartford Business Journal holds each year. We did a walk through last year and were so impressed that we decided to exhibit this year. Come see us at booth #416. In addition, I’m on an educational panel called “Sales for Non-Sales People”. It’s a 45 minute interactive presentation to be held from 2:30-3:15. As many of you know, I enjoy selling – even the dreaded “cold call”. Stop by and see if we can inspire you to embrace your inner sales person.

I Gave Myself A Snow Day

January 25, 2011

Another snowy morning in Connecticut, another day of rescheduled meetings. As a result, I had two hours of morning time unaccounted for, which turned out to be a wonderful gift.

I made a cup of tea, built a fire in the fireplace (actually, I just turned on the gas jet), and settled in with Jane Pollak’s book Soul Proprietor: 101 Lessons from a Lifestyle Entrepreneur.

While reading “Lesson 79: Design your business to financially and mentally support your time off” something clicked for me. I enjoy being self-employed! I love it that I didn’t have to “go in to work” on a snowy morning, or call my boss to say I’d be there late because I’m such a chicken driver, or worry about making up the time. My business does support my time off–mentally, anyway. (The financial part is a different issue, but that’s for another time.)

So, thanks, Jane, for reminding me how much I like being a soul proprietor. And thanks, Ms. Weatherperson, for giving me the time to reflect and realize that. And thanks, Nancy, for having the courage to do it your own way.

How about you other sole/soul proprietors? What do you love about being self-employed?

Social Networking IS Your On-Line Referral

December 27, 2010 Beth Devine

I had a meeting last week with a potential client that sells to consumers. We spoke a little about social networking (ie: FaceBook, Linked-In, etc.) He made it very clear that he had no interest in doing anything in that realm. He then went on to tell me a story about a customer that would only purchase his product once they found someone they knew who was using it and happy with it. They had checked the company’s references, and although they were all very good, it wasn’t until they spoke with someone they knew that they decided the product was good for them.

This is an example of social networking, except that it was done over the phone instead of the computer. Now, imagine you could create this kind of referral that would go out to many people instead of just the person on the other end of the phone. That is what social networking can do for you.

Networking Isn’t a Dirty Word!

December 23, 2010 Beth Devine

I remember when I first started my own business and began attending networking events. I was so overwhelmed by the number of people who would tell me that I needed what they had for sale in spite of the fact that they hadn’t taken the time to find out anything about me and what my needs were. On occasion, I would meet someone who would ask me what I did, tell me about their company and talk about a way we could work together. They are the people who I still work with today after several years because we have a relationship.

The same problem occurs with on-line networking. Some people see it as another place to advertise their business. Too often, people use social networking groups to promote their business when they should be building relationships. It’s like any networking group. If people are genuinely interested in helping each other succeed, everyone wins. However, if everyone is just selling at each other, the group won’t last and no one will benefit.

Remember, no matter how you network, be it on-line or in-person, the important thing to remember is that people want to work with and buy from someone they trust and with whom they have a relationship. Approach it any other way and although you might get the initial sale, the chances of retaining the customer are poor.

Are you shopping on Cyber Monday?

November 29, 2010 Beth Devine

We made it through Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and today is Cyber Monday! What are you doing to support the economy? I’m not much of a Black Friday gal — I hate the crowds. But I did shop on Main Street Manchester on Saturday in support of small business–I just wish there were more shops to choose from! But Cyber Monday is where I excel! In fact Cyber shopping any day works for me.

In support of Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday I’ve put together a list of some of my clients who have something to sell this holiday season. They are all hard-working, small business folks and most are local to me (in the Hartford region), but a few have migrated south (can’t blame them!), so support these small businesses from the convenience of your home or office.

Santa Visits CT If you’re having a Christmas party in Connecticut, make sure you invite Santa! I bet you didn’t know I was Santa’s cyber elf!	Alison Designs Jewelry LOVE her stuff! Great designs, great prices!
Janets Plan-its Calendars are a classic gift at Christmas and Janet’s Astrology calendar provides valuable insight all year long. Gift certificates for astrology services are also available.	NOLA Tee Make a Wave! Make A Wave shirts encourages you to be socially aware of our planet and all of it’s wonders by promoting a message to preserve it and to help others less fortunate. And they’re fun shirts!
CT Corporate Gifts Need some business gifts? This is the place to shop.	CMW Aviation Shopping for any pilots? You’ll find the best pilot headsets here.
Good Guys Powersports The place for motorcycle enthusiasts. A unique assortment of motorcycle accessories — especially for aging bikers.	My Hands Your Health Is your neck sore after all this cyber shopping? Call Ginny for some therapeutic massage.

I just want to bang on the keyboard all day!

November 17, 2010 Beth Devine

Remember the song “I just want to bang on the drum all day”. Well, I’d just like a day where I can bang on a keyboard all day!

Yesterday afternoon, I spent about an hour coding some tricky html/css. It was the most fun I had all day long – in fact all week. I started yesterday giving a presentation to the Breakfast Club. It went well I guess, but presentations are not something I enjoy doing, I just do them because it helps build business. Then I came back to the office and responded to emails and put out some fires and wrote a couple of quotes. Finally around 3:00 I got to write some code. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!

Today – I’m not sure I’ll get any coding worked into the schedule between email and meetings.

I guess it’s time to retool the business…find someone else to meet, greet and put out fires…give myself some more coding time. Either that or retire and buy a drum set.

October Websites Launched

October 29, 2010 Beth Devine

New websites launched this month include

All the websites incorporate WordPress as CMS and use the Genesis theme as the framework.

I am not a networking cougar!

October 22, 2010 Beth Devine

I’ve been in “leads” groups before and in all honesty I don’t usually like them. First, many of them meet weekly at 7 a.m. and frankly although I’m usually up at that hour, I prefer not to start my official work day until I’ve showered and had breakfast. And then there is the pressure of providing leads. I understand that’s the concept of the whole organization but in reality a forced lead is usually a bad lead. Leads, a.ka. referrals. need to come from a place of authenticity for it to be a good lead. I need to know you and your business before I will bet my reputation on you by sending a client or prospect.

But in spite of my dislike of leads groups I chose to join the Breakfast Club recently. It’s a great group of local business folks dedicated to helping build each others businesses by providing leads and introductions to each other. I felt confident in joining this group for a few reasons.

They have a strong “marketing” sphere. This will make it easy for me to collaborate with and provide referrals and introductions to other members of the group.
They meet at 9 a.m every other week instead of 7 a.m. every week.
The group itself is awesome! They seem happy, friendly and optimistic. That says alot these days.

This past Tuesday was my second official meeting and I really enjoyed myself. Later in the morning while having my teeth cleaned I had time to contemplate the meeting–who I talked to, who talked to me, who I should talk to, etc. And an interesting and somewhat disturbing thought occurred to me. The only people I approached were young men! I spoke with other people, but they had approached me. OMG they’re going to think I’m a networking cougar! So just in case anyone noticed, I’d like to go on the record and say “I am not a networking cougar”. Next time we meet, I’ll make sure to approach folks of all ages and genders.