PRactical P.R. BlogThe Leader in Small Business Public Relations

I read a great article in Fortune Small Business about overlooked tax deductions. I was intrigued by someone in the article who said she and her partners (who also happen to be family members) hold a monthly dinner at a restaurant, which they treat as an offsite strategic planning meeting (100% deductible) rather than a business meal with a client (50%).  My accountant tells me it’s too risky, but I’m wondering if any of you have any thoughts. 

Read the full article here:

 Here are three things you can do right now to increase the public relations value of your home page: 

1. Put testimonials on your home page.  They can be at the top, in the middle, on the sides.  As long as they’re there.  Because nothing will sell you as well as a great testimonial.
2. Include your telephone number.  I know some companies don’t like to be called, but if you’re in business, you need to have that option.  It’s incredibly frustrating when you want to do business with someone and you can’t find the phone number.
3. Add a way to capture e-mail addresses.  Whether it’s a free newsletter, special report, discounts or some other enticement, make sure you always have a way to contact visitors who might not make a purchase now, but might eventually if you stay in touch with them.

Since gas prices are going up you’ve probably noticed that the media coverage about how businesses are affected has also gone up. Most of the media coverage is about how increasing gas prices negatively affects businesses.  But there are always businesses that do better when gas prices go up.  Here are some types of businesses that might do better when gas prices go up: 

• Online retailers
• Food and restaurant delivery services
• Mobile businesses that come to you

 If your business is doing better, this is a great time to make a publicity pitch. It’s also a great time to increase your promotional activities, and include how clients can save money on gas by buying from you.

A new site is listing top blogs in all kinds of categories. The ratings are based on layout and usefulness of content. The site is www.blogged.com and I heard about it in a terrific Small Business blog, Small Business Trends. 

Read the entire blog post here.

Just read a great article, for everyone from those of you who think you don’t need a Web site to those of us who think we’re knowledgeable. Some of my favorite myths from Justin Kitch: 

• My site is just for customers
• My Internet strategy is my Web site

Read the full article here.

Here are two new award opportunities from Entrepreneur Magazine and UPS: Entrepreneur of the Year – to qualify the business must have been owned and operated by the entrepreneur through at least December 31, 2007, created as a startup and not the result of a “spin-off” from a pre-existing business and, during its existence, must not have been an affiliate of any other company or other business such as a parent or subsidiary corporation. During Calendar Year 2007 the company must not have employed more than 100 employees (full-time and part-time) and must have earned at least $3 million in gross sales revenue during Calendar Year 2007.  Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year – to qualify the business must have been owned and operated by the entrepreneur through at least December 31, 2007, created as a startup and not the result of a “spin-off” from a pre-existing business and, during its existence, must not have been an affiliate of any other company or other business such as a parent or subsidiary corporation. During Calendar Year 2007 the company must not have employed more than 5 employees (full-time and part-time), must not have been in existence prior to Calendar Year 2004, and must have earned at least $500,000 in gross sales revenue during Calendar Year 2007. Candidates will be judged on the positive impact they’ve had on their industry, customers, employees and community. The winners will win tickets to the awards ceremony in CA and will be profiled in the December, 2008 issue of Entrepreneur.  The deadline to enter is June 30, 2008. For more information and to enter, click here.

This is a great article by my friend and top business coach Suzy Girard-Ruttenberg.  She has worked with me and my money issues for a long time and I have to say that every woman business owner I’ve met has issues with money. 

Take this quiz and find out if you need to work on your money issues.

I work with many Inc. 500 and 5000 companies and this is one of my favorite awards to help companies gain credibility and publicity. 

To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by the first week of 2004, and therefore able to show four full calendar years of sales.

Additionally, they must be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2007. Revenue in 2004 must have been at least $200,000, and revenue in 2007 must be at least $2 million. 

To apply, click here: http://www.incbiznet.com/user/register

I saw a recent episode of Oprah, where she was talking about a book in her book club, The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett.  Well, it sounded dull originally, but Oprah extolled its virtues and I bought the book and loved it. Becoming an Oprah book club selection is still a public relations home run for authors.

I don’t cook, so we go out to restaurants a lot. We were thinking of going to a new casual pizza place on Saturday night, so I decided to order a salad for a takeout lunch one day to try it out. 

I ordered the salad and picked it up and noticed that they didn’t put bread in the bag with it (as every other takeout place that I’ve gone to does), so I asked the guy (who was dressed like a manager) if I could get some bread with it.  He said they don’t offer that.  I said that Cheesecake Factory offers it, but he said they weren’t going to. I said, “For $8.50, you should really give me a piece of bread,” but he said no. The place has only been open a week, but the place was crowded at lunch time, and the manager seemed pretty pleased with himself. 

So I got home and was very dissatisfied. I really wanted that bread.  Plus, I paid $8.50 for a salad that had lettuce, tomatoes, chick peas, calamata olives, and a few slices of hard-boiled eggs along with so-so house Italian dressing.  It costs $2 to add gorgonzola cheese, which would have made it $10.50. I really wanted a Cheesecake Factory Cobb salad but this new place was much closer.  But I decided to remind myself of what a lunch-sized Cobb salad would cost at Cheesecake (with the world’s greatest balsamic vinaigrette and tons of bread).  I was surprised that it would only cost $9.95.  And that includes, avocado, lettuce, chicken, blue cheese, bacon and tomatoes. 

So this pizza place not only overcharges, but they wouldn’t give me bread.  We won’t be going there on Saturday night.  And I’ll be telling this story to my friends. And I’m writing it in my blog.  And I’m going to e-mail this blog link to someone who writes restaurant reviews in the area.  I’m sure some of you will think I’m being a difficult customer, but when businesses do annoying things, it really gets my back up.  If they had just given me that one piece of bread, I would have been fine.  They saved money on that order by not giving me that one piece of bread, but they lost out on my being a customer and potentially many other customers. Dumb P.R. move.