Business Tip:

The Standard Miliage Rate is where you track the BUSINESS miliage you accrue and use a standard rate. For January 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011, the standard rate is 52 cents per mile: for July 1 through December 31, 2011, the rate is 55.5 cents per mile.

You need to keep accurate records of the miles incurred for business purposes, dates of business use, destinations and the business purpose (deliver order, banking, deliver catalogs, home spa show, party, one on one etc). Also you'll need to note the odometer readings at the beginning and end of the year to determine the total nimes for the year for all uses. The important aspect is to make sure you maintain accurate records. The IRS may disallow a deductioni for mileage if you are unable to substantiate your deduction.

Networking 101!!!!

T.E.A.M. Chapter of ABWA

The Energizing, Achieving Motivators Chapter of  American Business Women's Association

Monday November 14th

Networking starts at 5:30 and the meeting comes to order at 6:17 . . .

Networking 101!

Whether you're just starting out with "Networking" or you're "experienced

Whether you're Networking for Business or Personal resources . . . Networking 101 is for you.Learn Networking Tips and Tools that can make your experience less freightening while being more productive.

Join us Monday evening November 14th to learn more about what networking can do for you.
Hobby Hilton,  9100 Gulf Freeway,  South Houston TX . . .

Cost $27.00, RSVP Appreciated for meal count. GREAT Networking, Door prizes and much, much more.  :RSVP:  T.E.A.M.ABWA@gmail.com  or call  832-495-6347

T.E.A.M. Chapter of American Business Women's Association is in Formation, and we are looking to provide an environment for mentoring, networking and business development for the seasoned professional, business owners, corporate executive, or if you are busy working for that next promotion.
Mission Statement: To bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support and national recognition

Blog:  http://teamabwa.blogspot.com/

SAVE THE DATE: Thursday November 10th -- 13th Annual Networking and Vendor Night

13th Annual Networking and Vendor Night

Thursday November 10th

5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Location Four Points by Sheraton Houston, Memorial City

11055 Katy Freeway (I-10 and Beltway 8),  Houston TX 

More Info Who doesn't need an opportunity to NETWORK?

W.I.N.G.S. Chapter of American Business Womens Association is holding our 13th Annual Networking and Vendor Expo Event at the Four Points Sheraton.

Come for GREAT Networking, Holiday Shopping with our Wonderful Vendors, GREAT Food (not to mention the deserts). Wonderful Door Prizes, meet NEW Friends

Be sure to bring your business cards and 60 Second Introduction

RSVP: CathyJELady@gmail.com  or call 832-465-8670

Dinner for Guests and Members: $23.00

Please share this invitation with your Friends and business Associates!



Work your Business into Normal everyday activities, you can do it

Thursday Sales TIP

Don't forget to work your business into your normal everyday activities. I am going to share one of my favorite ways....LifeStyling Your Business. I use this in my business but it can be adapted to almost anything:

Get out a blank calendar. Then sit down and block out all of the time that you are NOT available. Start this NOW…and then just before the month ends go over your next months schedule and get it blocked out. So many of us get hung up on when we are going to find the time to fit our business in….well, here is a simple solution.

Fill in all of your activities, children’s activities, church, doctors appt, sports schedule ect….even fill in for household chores and shopping. You will then see what kind of time you have left…sometimes it is 10 or 15 minutes here or there…or you find you have one or two hours open. I thought about this method and figured it would work quite well.

However, I thought how to take it one step further. Use all of the times you have blocked for appointments, activities ect as BUSINESS BUILDING TIMES AS WELL. That’s right.. So, get yourself some card size blank envelopes (these would be the size that an 8x11 folded piece of paper would fit in) …found at an office store or Walmart. You can get a box of 100 for relatively cheap. In each one put a catalog, a scent sample and business card, a flyer with specials…what ever else you want. Carry these with you and while you are out and about doing what is SCHEDULED mention your business and hand them an envelope.

I have been doing this for a week now and have had 3 orders, a fundraiser inquiry and 2 people interested in the business…..just for going about my normal daily life.

In addition, if you have a ton of votives you can use these with the same method.

However, the premade envelopes with the flat scent sample is easier to carry. It is that simple.



Weekly Tip:

HOW?

Ask how they heard about you. It's important to understand what marketing channels are working. If most of your new customers are coming from referrals, create opportunities for more referrals. If they saw an ad, run that ad again. Always repeat what works.

Networking Tip:

Face to Face networking is important to building your business.   When you walk up to someone NEW,  introduce yourself "briefly" and ask this NEW person something about them,  what they do,  or if they have been here before.    They will be more likely to remember you if you show genuine interest in them.

Catherine James

Managing Director, Jordan Essentials

                                            www.myjestore.com/CatherineJames

Call for Vendors

W.I.N.G.S. Chapter

American Business Womens Association

Is looking for Vendors at this time for our 13th Annual Networking and Vendors Night

This is our best attended event of the year,  and are looking for vendors to fullfill our attendees evening shipping experience

November 10th 2012

Four Point Shearton -- I-10 and Beltway 8

5:30 to 8:30 pm  dinner included

contact me today for more information   CathyJELady@gmail.com 

Know the Code

If you haven't noticed QR (Quick Response) codes yet, keep your eyes open- you're going to start seeing them everywhere, including magazines, flyers and conference materials.

These little black and white markings are two-dimensional bar code images that, when scanned by a camera on a smartphone, open a link to a website, send an SMS or dial a phone number. QR codes are becoming widely used to supplement marketing efforts, and they're being used in ads in newspapers, magazines or even in the window of businesses. They can basically link everything in the physical world to electronic information immediately.

The cool thing is, you can create QR codes for free. Do a search on "QR Codes" and you'll find several website that will generate a code for a particular website address or piece of text, at no cost to you. The best format to get for print quality is a website that offers a tiffs option.


That means that the only cost associated is the printing, and if you're creating an ad or direct mail, you're likely printing anyway.


If you use QR codes, keep in mind that they and the apps that scan them are still foreign to most people. You will want to make a point to spell out how to scan the code and help instruct customers on where they can grab scanner apps.

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Annual Fall Festival

We are excited to announce our 3rd Annual HoustonWAHMs Fall Festival on Saturday; September 24th at Chick-fil-A at 5905 FM 2920 in Spring, TX.  We are still accepting vendor applications and you can obtain more information about the event online at:  www.houstonwahms.org/festival.

It's all about the Follow-up!!!!

The Money is in the Follow-up!

Below are sales statistics that are so worth sharing!!

Check out this little Pearl of Wisdom

*48% of sales people never follow up with a prospect

*25% make a second contact and stop

*12% only make 3 contacts and stop

*10% make more than 3 contacts

*2% of sales are made on the first contact

*3% on the second contact

*5% are made on the third contact

*10% on the fourth contact AND.....

*80% of sales are made on the 5th to the 12th contact...

How about that!!!