A one page business plan? How sweet it is.....

Business Vision, Mission Statement, Objectives, Marketing Strategies..... There nothing more overwhelming to a potential or new business owner than the thought of putting all that down on paper!

The One Page Business Plan is an enjoyable book that will assist you as you create a solid foundation for your business. Once you have completed "The One Page Business Plan" you have in your hand, the basis of your brochure or web page or networking and marketing plan, all on one page! What more can a New Business Owner ask for!



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Is Your Business on Google Maps?

How do people find your business?Control your listing and speak for yourself

Millions of people search for businesses on Google Maps and on Google.com (Google is the new Yellow Pages), so it's important to make sure your business listing can be easily found on Google.com and Google Maps. Using Google Local Business Center, creating a great listing takes just a few minutes and doesn’t cost a thing.

Your Google Business listing would also be available through Google Maps for Mobile, 1-800-GOOG-411 voice directory search, and Google Earth. On any of these services, if someone searches directly for your business name and city, your listing will most likely show up. Google will also show your listing for searches for your business category or other related terms.

Your business probably already shows up on Google Maps and Google.com, but do you have control over your listing and are you sure its details are accurate and thorough.

Do yourself a favor, go to Google, type in a term related to your business and your local city and state, i.e. if you are in the Pizza business type "pizza bristol pa". Take a look at the results. Is your business listed on the first page, if it's not potential customers will not find you. This is where Google's Business Listing come in.

Practical and easy to manage
Your Google listing is an easy way to maintain an online presence even if you don’t have a website. You can visit the Local Business Center anytime to edit your information or see how many people have seen and clicked on your listing.

Premium options, all for free
Make your listing really shines with photos and videos; custom categories like your service area, brands you sell and how to find parking; and coupons to encourage customers to make a first-time or repeat purchase.

Don't have time or knowledge about how to create or claim your Google Local Business Listing?
For only $25 The BITS Group can help you claim, create and fine tune your business listing. It the best $25 investment you'll ever make for your business....

Contact leonard.vasquez@thebitsgroupinc.com for more information. Read more ...

Spyware encounters of the worst kind

It's unfortunate that very talented people feel they have to create destructive programs like Spyware and Viruses, when they could put all that talent to much better use. Recently two of my neighbors were victims of these destructive programs and asked me to look at their computers. They were seeing messages that their PC's were infected and that they should enter their credit card numbers and purchase software that would get rid of the viruses. Luckily, they did not give up their credit card information.

The PC's were infected with PC Antispyware 2010 and PC Security 2009 two nasty viruses. If you catch these viruses early, you can remove both of these by booting into safe mode, installing Malwarebytes free version, running the scanner and rebooting your PC. But the longer they are on your PC, they harder they are to remove. My neighbors PC's had the viruses for well over a week. So I had to use a three step approach (sometimes only step 1 and 3 are required to repair, I would try that first).

Step 1, boot into safe mode.
Step 2 download and run Combofix (read the instructions and follow them to the letter)
Step 3 download and install Malwarebytes, run the scan and reboot

These procedures work in most cases (and I haven't had to reinstall an OS yet) but do take time and patience. Use these procedures with caution.

One last note, if you are interested in a good reference about Spyware and Viruses you can read more at BleepingComputer. Read more ...

What should hoteliers look for when selecting Hospitality Mobile Service, Marketing and SMS solutions?

With Mobile phones being a key and cost effective Guest Technology Touchpoint, what questions should hoteliers be asking vendors and what features should they look for when selecting a solution?

Below are my top 10, and these are just some of the questions hoteliers should ask and features to look for. For more about low/no cost entry level solutions and higher cost full featured solutions read "Mobile Service, Marketing and SMS Tools for Hospitality" at http://budurl.com/MobileServices

1.Does the solution integrate with your existing systems? If the solution has a Guest contact or information capture option, how does this information integrate into your existing PMS, Sales and Catering system, Guest History system? Ideally, you do not want to have to maintain a separate Guest Information database.


2.If the solution has mobile portal tools, can existing website content be used or will you need to budget for web development time?


3.Does the solution work globally? If many of your Guests are international then the solution should be to acommodate and International carriers and multiple languages. Also, make sure you understand costs and convey any cost impact to your customer.


4.Does the solution work for any phone. Least common denominator is SMS Messaging, then moves to various levels of browser as well as downloadable applications (i.e. IPhone).


5.Can the solution work for a single hotel or scale to an enterprise with hierarchical levels of management?


6.Is the solution client based or cloud based? Ideally, a cloud based service would be best, minimizes hotel application management and can be accessed from anywhere.


7.Where does Guest Information live, who in the service providers organization has access and what happens if the service shuts down (how can your data be accessed)?


8.Guest Loyalty, services such checking of points, checking reservations, confirmations, coupons, special targeted packages, use of the mobile phone to replace the membership card.


9.Check in/out, allows the customer to bypass the people touchpoint if they want to. But also allows the hotel to be notified when a Guest is on their way to the hotel when the Guest checks in remotely. When the Guest checks in remotely, a message can be sent back about hotel services and events.


10.Event and Emergency Information, can be sent to the Guest with a sponsored by message if the Guest is attending a citywide convention or a hotel group meeting. As well, in an emergency situation alerts can be sent to Guest mobile devices.
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Monetizing Free:The Future of a Radical Price

Perhaps we can get some traction on monetization of free services since Chris Anderson/Wired Magazine Editor has written a book about it.

What services are we speaking about? Free HSIA and Free to Guest TV to start, but can also extend to the Free Breakfast or Free Coffee and Croissants in the Lobby before the restaurant opens.

"Monetizing Free", is concept I have mentioned to some in Hospitality a few years ago with minimal interest and it still may concept that the industry will NOT take kindly to. But with revenues down and expenses up, monetizing free services or what I call "Cost Recovery" is an area that should be considered.

Can Free Services really be monetized? Absolutely!

Pick up a copy of the book, read it from cover to cover, then contact me (whether you pick up the book or not) and I can show you how to implement these concepts in your hotel, mdu, hospital, hotspot and from the smallest bed & breakfast to the largest hotel/brand with little or no startup/capital cost using existing infrastructure.

I look forward to hearing from you.


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