Solar Flare Could Disrupt Businesses

No one was more surprised today than me when I woke up this morning without power - seems like it had taken out our fridge freezer!

An extremely powerful solar flare, the largest in over four years, rocked the sun early Tuesday (Aug. 9), but is unlikely to wreak any serious havoc here on Earth, scientists say. "It was a big flare," said Joe Kunches, a space scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center. "We lucked out because the site of the eruption at the sun was not facing the Earth, so we will probably feel no ill effects."

Today's solar flare began at 3:48 a.m. EDT (0748 GMT), and was rated a class X6.9 on the three-class scale scientists use to measure the strength of solar flares. The strongest type of solar eruption is class X, while class C represents the weakest and class M flares are medium-strength events. The flare is the largest one yet in the sun's current cycle, which began in 2008 and is expected to last until around 2020. Solar activity waxes and wanes over an 11-year sun weather cycle, with the star currently heading toward a solar maximum in 2013.

"This flare had a GOES X-ray magnitude of X6.9, meaning it was more than 3 times larger than the previous largest flare of this solar cycle - the X2.2 that occurred on Feb 15, 2011," scientists with NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, a space observatory that monitors the sun, wrote in an update. Before the Feb. 15 storm, the largest recent solar flare occurred in December 2006, when an X9-class solar storm erupted from the sun. Solar flares occur when magnetic field lines on the sun get tangled up into knots, building potential energy until they reach a tipping point. Then, that energy is converted into heat, light and the motion of charged particles.

While all X-class solar eruptions are major events, they pose the greatest threat to Earth when they are aimed directly at the planet. During those events the sun often releases a cloud of plasma called a coronal mass ejection into space, and sometimes toward Earth. This ejection hurls charged particles that can damage satellites, endanger astronauts in orbit, and interfere with power systems, communications and other infrastructure on the planet. Today's solar flare, and resulting coronal mass ejection (CME) was not aimed at us, however. "Because of its position the CME is going to shoot out into space and not be Earth-directed, and we don't expect any big geomagnetic storm with this," Kunches told SPACE.com. "We did luck out. If this would have happened a week ago, who knows?"

Communications blackouts reported: However, some VLF and HF radio communications blackouts have been reported, according to Spaceweather.com, a website that monitors space weather events. Whatever particles do head our way should reach us in a few days. "The cloud will probably miss Earth," SpaceWeather.com wrote. "At this time, however, we cannot rule out a glancing blow from the flank of the CME on or about August 11th." The plus side of such a collision is often unusually spectacular auroras, or Northern and Southern Lights, which occur when charged particles interact with Earth's magnetic field.

Ten Important Customer Service Tips for Small Businesses

10 Important Customer Service Tips for Small Businesses: If you are a small business owner, it is important to make an effort to not only please your customers, but to treat them very well. Just like corporations, customer service is an important part of a business. By making your customers feel valued, they will continue to use your services.

Consider these customer service tips to improve upon your small business customer service skills.
Establish a rapport. Every customer wants to know that you value them. You need to consider the relationship that you have with your clients. By maintaining a good relationship, your client will feel like you truly care about them, and will want to continue doing business with you. This is probably the most important small business advice.

Make personal phone calls. Whenever possible, make personal phone calls to your customers. If your customer hears your voice, they will feel like your company really cares. In a world where email and other quick forms of communication are popular, you can make your small business stand out by making personal phone calls in addition to your usual communication methods.

Distribute a newsletter. By creating a newsletter, you can keep your customers informed about your company and its happenings. Clients love when businesses stay in touch and update them on news and industry happenings.

Acknowledge holidays and birthdays. If you really want to set yourself apart from the crowd, make sure to acknowledge birthdays, holidays and other special events. Customers want to know that they have not been forgotten. This is a great way to make the day of your customers. This will help keep your customer coming back and will continue to bring you a profit.

Break your own rules occasionally. You will learn that there is not always one way to do something. By breaking your rules occasionally, you may learn that you have kept a customer that may have otherwise left. It is important to make decisions based on each issue that is presented to you. This will enable you to keep your customers happy.

Let your employees make customer service decisions. Teach your employees how to respect to your clients. Trust in your employees and their customer service decisions. By doing this, your employees will continue to recognize the value of keeping customers happy.

Offer gift certificates. If your customer is happy with your company and its services, chances are they will be likely to recommend your small business to friends and family. By offering gift certificates, you are making it easy to share your company and a way for other people to learn about your business and its many offerings.

Give back to your community. It is important to show support for you community. Small businesses are often supported by their surrounding communities. By showing that you care, and by giving back to your community, you will show customers that you care about things other than just your business.

Create a network. Branch out to other small businesses. Learn and share information from other businesses in your industry. There is always more to learn about your field, and by creating a network with other businesses, you will not only learn more, but your business will continue to grow.

These small business tips will help you continue to improve customer service. In a world where small business owners are constantly competing with corporations and big businesses, this customer service help will make you stand out from the crowd. Customers appreciate working with small businesses that care.

More business tips for entrepreneurs at http://www.method-marketing.com

Teleclass Window Cleaners Marketing Conference Call + Add-Ons

Teleclass window cleaning marketing conference call: I'm happy to inform you that this coming Monday - Kevin Dubrosky is finally going to host a members-only telephone conference call for the WCMM (window cleaning marketing mentor) community! That means YOU. With Spring 2010 in full swing, it's an important time for your window cleaning business, and Kevin would like to make time available to answer your questions "live", and also have a chance to speak with you in real life, instead of simply on the forum platform. This will also be your chance to hear from your fellow members in real-time, and get to know them a bit more. Since the majority of members requested a 10pm EST call-in time slot (3 a.m. UK), that will be the time that this inaugural call will begin. Details will be provided next Monday afternoon in the members section at the Window Cleaning Marketing Mentor Website. If you aren't a member - it's not too late to join! Kevin says "I genuinely hope you can join me next Monday, May 24, 2010, at 10pm EST. The call will start at 10pm sharp, EST." "Block out your schedules! Lock yourself in your home office! Turn off your cell phone!"

Who is Kevin Dubrosky? Well if you don't know who Kevin is by now after reading this blog... Kevin Dubrosky is a window cleaning business owner like you, who lives and works in Canada’s largest city: Toronto, Ontario. After 11 years as a window cleaning business owner, in April 2010 he sold his latest professional window cleaning company, "Paneless Perfection" to concentrate on your business! Unlike “other” marketing guys, he really does understand the window cleaning world, and everything that goes along with you trying to make a success of your window cleaning company. See some of Kevin's Free Marketing Advice here. And check out his online advice here.

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Window Cleaners add-on's? Mike Hilborn of "Power Washers of North America" talks to Chris Lambrinides of Window Cleaning Resource - giving an in depth interview into some of the work he does & how they educate & network in the aerospace cleaning, concrete cleaning, fleet washing, kitchen exhaust, wood restoration & many other specialised cleaning areas in it's field. A must watch video for anyone thinking of expanding in to other fields. Trouble viewing video? Click here.

FaceBook & Social Media For Window Cleaners

Facebook helps to win new business: A commercial window cleaning company is expanding by using Facebook to win customers. Glassmatic has been in business since November, gaining more than 100 customers in its first three months. It is confident of increasing that number five-fold by the end of June. The business, based in Howdon- le-Wear, County Durham, and run by Johnny Harrison and business partner David Stewart, attributes social networking as a significant influence in its rapid expansion. Mr Harrison, who started the business after he was made redundant from his job in the construction industry last summer, said: “Facebook is proving to be important for us. We have got our own page and have well over 100 fans.

“It is a way for customers to get in touch with us and for potential customers to find out about us. “If someone sends us a message they would like their windows cleaned, we will come round. It is a very good marketing tool and one we hope will help us to grow.” Glassmatic has commercial and private customers in and around Bishop Auckland and Crook, and hopes to expand to other areas of the county. Former construction manager Mr Harrison said that although window cleaning was not an area he or Mr Stewart – a former plasterer – have a background in, their investment in equipment, helped by a Business Link grant, and commitment to giving the best service were paying off. He said: “When I was made redundant last summer, I had a few months to think about what I wanted to do next. I found I was turned down for a lot of jobs, mainly because I was too experienced, and it was really frustrating.

“Window cleaning is something David and I fell into really, but it is going very well. We are both new to running our own business and set ourselves realistic targets, which we are confident of achieving. Even though the weather stopped us from working for five weeks, we have still built up our customer base during that time. “We both know the value and importance of professional service from our previous jobs, and I think that is definitely proving important in running Glassmatic. “If you do it right, you get a good reputation, and with the start we have got off to, we are confident about the future.”

30 Tips for Using Social Media in Your Business: Wading into the fast-moving flow of social media can be daunting to a small business owner with very little time on his hands. Here's Inc.'s comprehensive social media cheat sheet for the time-strapped entrepreneur.

1. Offer a peek behind the scenes. Offering a sneak preview of new products, services, or features online can help build demand and provide critical feedback to help smooth the launch. For instance, John Doyle, founder of chocolate company John and Kira's in Philadelphia, posts photos of new products on Flickr and invites comments from customers.

2. Harness your expertise. Chances are your company's white paper won't go viral. But sharing knowledge you've gathered through your trade can go a long way toward boosting your brand. Ford Models, for instance, became a YouTube sensation through a series of videos that featured its models giving beauty and fashion tips.

3. Demonstrate what your company does. Because multimedia is so integral to social media, getting connected allows you to express your company's value proposition beyond words. To show just how powerful his company's blenders were, Blendtec's head of marketing, George Wright, created a series of videos showing the appliances churning up such diverse items as a rotisserie chicken, a Rubik's Cube, and an iPhone. The series' 100 million combined views helped boost Blendtec's sales by 700 percent.

4. Put your website's content to work. Want to draw more traffic to your website? Help spread the word by encouraging visitors to share content they enjoy. GotCast, a website that connects television casting directors with aspiring actors, draws new visitors by posting audition videos on Digg and allowing others to share video links on the site. One way to promote the sharing of your site's content is to install a widget, such as AddThis, that automates linking to popular sites.

5. Be candid. In unsure economic times, transparency goes a long way toward retaining and attracting customers. Giving readers the scoop on your company blog is an easy way to keep the lines of communication open. Giacomo Guilizzoni, the founder of San Francisco software company Balsamiq, even posts sales and profit figures to show that his company is on solid financial footing.

6. But be careful what you say about others. When Leslie Richard, owner of a North Carolina clothing company, described Vision Media Television as a "scam," she was slapped with a $20 million lawsuit. While recounting negative experiences with others won't necessarily lead to a court battle, it's best to steer clear of name-calling.

7. Interact with visitors—really. Just putting up a blog or a Facebook fan page won't do much good if visitors sense the flow of conversation only goes one way. In fact, Matt Mullenweg, founder of blogging platform Wordpress, lists not participating in comments as a surefire way to kill a community. Mullenweg and his team field the many suggestions users have for Wordpress through his blog.

8. Don't try to create a stand-in for yourself. With all the other tasks required within your company, it's tempting to outsource managing your social media or even to try automating the process. That can easily backfire, as Joe Pulizzi, founder of Cleveland marketing firm Junta42, learned when he tried sending automated welcome messages to new followers on Twitter. His online contacts quickly called him out for sending out what they perceived to be spam.

9. Don't pretend to be someone else. Thanks to IP address tracking, observers can also quickly tell when company figureheads adopt fake identities for the sake of fluffing up their reputation. Not only can the practice hurt your company's reputation, it could also land you in legal trouble. The plastic surgery Lifestyle Lift had to pay $300,000 in settlement costs to the state of New York for having its employees post flattering reviews of the company without disclosing their affiliation.

10. Help employees bond. Corporations such as IBM have built in-house networks—even virtual worlds reminiscent of Second Life—to link employees working in different locations. Small and medium-sized businesses can take advantage of readily available tools to facilitate collaboration. The Hoffman Agency, a public relations firm, uses Ning, which enables users to build custom social networks, to connect its U.S. staff with employees in Europe and Asia.

The other 20 tips....

Window Cleaners Small Business Tips for 2010

10 Small Business Tips for 2010: Who better to offer New Year’s advice to small business owners than small business owners themselves? Savvy and determined entrepreneurs across the country share their experiences every month with the Discover® Small Business WatchSM, and their collective wisdom from the past year could save their peers a lot of time and trouble in 2010.

“Trial and error is a great learning tool, but the tolerance for mistakes by a small business owner in challenging times can be costly,” said Ryan Scully, director of Discover’s business credit card. “That’s why it pays to learn from the past and use those lessons to succeed. The sooner America’s small businesses are thriving again, the sooner we’ll all be much better off.”

• 10 Tips for 2010

1. Start Preparing Your Taxes Now: Organize tax information early or it can distract you from running your business: 46 percent of small business owners say that finding and organizing the documents they need to prepare their taxes is very or somewhat difficult, and 77 percent of small business owners find the tax preparation and documentation process very or somewhat time consuming, which only takes them away from tending to their bottom lines.

2. Cut Personal Expenses: Find ways to cut costs outside of the business, because you’ll likely have to take home less pay and even go into your savings: 69 percent of small business owners say that current economic conditions are forcing them to reduce the amount of money they take home from their businesses, and 61 percent think they are very or somewhat likely to use their personal assets in the next year to keep their businesses afloat.

3. Think Green: Small business owners think the following business segments have the best opportunities for post-recovery growth, in order of importance: green industries, business services, technology and energy.

4. Have a Long-Term Plan: 43 percent of small business owners who have been hurt by the current economy say that it will be more than 12 months before their businesses rebound, followed by another 24 percent who expect that it will take six to 12 months to be in the clear.

5. Don’t Focus on the Money: Only 12 percent of entrepreneurs say that “making more money” is the biggest reason they became a small business owner; while 46 percent say they are motivated by having “more flexibility with their time” and by “being their own boss.”

6. Use the Web: 32 percent of small business owners who are part of an online networking community say that their biggest benefit from social networking is “getting new business leads.” Moreover, 47 percent of 3,000 consumers surveyed say they are more likely to use a small business that has a Web site.

7. Rely on Yourself: Don’t overextend yourself by borrowing too much in the beginning: 64 percent of small business owners say that they did not need financial capital to start their businesses. Among those who did need the capital, 45 percent received it from their personal savings, and another 16 percent borrowed from family and friends.

8. Focus on Sales: One way to stay on course is to keep a sharp focus on sales: Owners say that sales generation is the biggest issue facing their businesses today, followed by taxes, operating costs, health insurance, access to capital and inflation.

9. Stay in Touch with Family: 31 percent of small business owners say that they are very likely or somewhat likely to borrow money from family and friends in the next 12 months in order to stay in business.

10. Stay Healthy: Preventive medicine and taking care of yourself are important, given that 65 percent of small business owners report that it is somewhat or very difficult to obtain affordable health care for themselves and their employees.

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