View my PPT on SlideShare.

The S3skincare.com  site that I mentioned on slides 13 – 15 is composed of over 40 pages of healthcare copywriting expertise with descriptions for skincare products including Cleansers, Toners & Scrubs; Moisturizers; Younger Looking Skin; Exfoliators; Specialty Products; Men’s Products; and Sets of S3 Skincare Products.

One of my favorite pages of this site is for the Calm & Soothe Toner (Post Shave Solution) page. For “The Problem”, it reads: “Shaving your face can be described as scraping a knife over a sea urchin with a thin layer of soap. It’s not pretty, even if it’s been glamorized in TV commercials by handsome athletes surrounded by adoring fans. Shaving is an irritant, and some men have more sensitive skin than others.”

Though this was already a WordPress site that was first written years ago, the wanted to have it updated  with new graphics and more recent activities.

So Gil Zeimer of Zeimer’s Advertising Shoppe again worked with Bradley Charbonneau at Likoma who found the template that features a slider on the home page that can accommodates five different images and captions, along with three main copy blocks on the bottom of the home page.

Have a look and please donate if you’d like to help children around the world read English literature: www.BookBankUSA.org.

BEFORE

1. Start early; a year in advance is not uncommon for large tenants; smaller tenants can take six months or more. Note when your lease expires and hire an experienced broker before you have reached the above milestones.
2. Have a “Plan B.” Be prepared to “vote with your feet” if the Landlord is resistant and won’t make any rent or tenant improvements concessions.
3. Read the exhibits, floor plans, and work letter carefully; bring in an architect (Landlord’s or your own) to complete a pricing plan that meets your firm’s budget. In addition, if your firm has a little room in their budget, you should build in a little expansion room, so in twelve months you’re not looking for additional space again.

Your Broker will determine the current trends, custom and usage requirements of the retail or office market; your Lawyer can review the terms of the Lease and determine economic risks and legal parameters to be negotiated.

Rob Appleton
Dunhill Partners West
Dunhill Partners West is a San Francisco based commercial real estate brokerage and investment company specializing in real estate acquisitions, leasing and asset management. The company, founded by Mark Hutchinson in January 2005, was born out of his desire to provide a superior level of hands-on service to meet the unique needs of investors and principals.
rob.appleton@dunhillpartnerswest.com

http://www.dunhillpartnerswest.com

388 Market Street, Suite 850, San Francisco, CA. 94111
415-981-0805 Direct / 415-317-3636-Cell

Robert Gates
Erskine & Tulley, PC
Erskine & Tulley is a real estate and business law firm handling all aspects of business organizations, formation, contracts and real estate transactions and disputes. We pride ourselves on quick, cost-effective responses to client needs to help with planning and negotiation, solve problems and, if necessary, mediate, arbitrate and/or litigate.
bob@erskinetulley.com

http://www.erskinetulley.com

220 Montgomery Street, Suite 315, San Francisco, CA 94104
415-392-5431, EXT. 2051
FAX 415-392-1978

So much of our culture defines ‘success’ as how much we have: cars, a home, and especially work. While being financially successful gives us comfort and security, the question is, at the end of the day, at the end of the decade, or at the end of our lives can we look back and smile?

‘What do you do?’ is almost always the first question we’re asked or we ask. What if we we’re asked ‘Are you happy?’ … What if WE asked that … to everyone? Well, to our new business client they might look at us askance and take their business elsewhere, but isn’t that ultimately what we’re providing? Not ‘happiness’ but a successful product that furthers their lives or business?

What if you thought ‘Are you happy?’ to yourself, in relation to your clients, and around your loved ones? Meaning ‘givers gain’ … what can you give to yourself today, and others, that will feel successful, a 5 minute walk in the middle of the afternoon to clear your mind, a thank you call to a business associate, or a simple phone call to someone you care about.

Take a nap? What are you nuts?

The benefits of napping are many and varied, NASA and Harvard studies say a nap can increase productivity by up to 34 percent. Researchers from the University of Haifa did research on napping and long term memory function. They taught two groups a specific task with a series of steps. They then let one group stay awake and the other group had a 90 minute nap time. Not surprisingly, the group who took naps improved when they went back later in the evening to complete the same task. The group that did not nap, showed no improvement.

Balance and success in life can be very simple. What if you left a few minutes extra on that next daytime drive and parked your car three blocks from home or work … and strolled there? What if you called your spouse and ordered take out?

My guess is that like me, bringing the ‘simple things’ into your life are something you could stand more of … because at the end of the day while we live a very abundant life are we able to smile about some of the things we’ve done today? Who will you be nice to today? Put yourself at the top of that list!

Inbox: Where do I find the Gallery function?

Answer: WordPress Tutorial: Photo Galleries

Inbox: How do I get rid of all of these extraneous fields and buttons on my WordPress post  editor?

Answer: WordPress Screen Options

What’s your list of New Year’s Resolutions? As a freelance blogger and small business owner for over 15 years, my top New Year’s Resolutions for small businesses include these — feel free to comment below:

#10 — Go green…

#9 – Stop smoking…

#8 – Lose weight: Fire your worst clients…

#7 – Get organized…

#6 – Exercise your body and mind… Read more.

Plus, here are some Intuit Small Business Blog articles containing interviews of BNI Embarcadero members:

1) Amy Harcourt – “How To Avoid Discounting Your Services — Part 1“, “Part II”
2) Dan Wheeler – “How To File A Patent”
3) Phil Siegel – “How To Publicize Your Small Business”
4) Josh Larson – “How To Convert Your Garage Into An Office”
5) Bradley Charbonneau – “How To Name Your Company or Product”
6) Bob Gates – “How To Quit Your Job & Take Your Clients With You (Without Being Sued)”

Best Referrals

• Graphic & Web designers/art directors
• Ad agencies
• Marketing and sales execs
• Anyone who wants to enhance their Website with SEO keywords or with professionally written/edited materials
• Other certified green businesses

Industries I work with: Healthcare, Packaged Goods, Legal, Technology, Financial and Start-ups

‘Twas the night before networking when all through the bay,
BNI Embarcadero members were preparing for Schroeder’s Café.
The referral slips would be placed on the tables with care,
In the hopes that Giver’s Gain would soon be giving gain there.

Our members were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of crispy bacon danced in their heads.
Jerry was in his Pumpkin suit, Bart wore his Giants cap,
They’d just settled their minds for a long winter’s nap.

The next day on Front Street there arose such a clatter,
We sprang from our chairs to see what was the matter.
Away to the windows flew the members of our chapter,
We tore open the shutters. We thought it was a disaster.

The San Francisco sun was framed by the morning fog
Its mid-day luster looked like a simmering yuletide log.
When, what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But a hybrid sleigh and eight tiny Power Team reindeers.

With a little old driver, so lively and quicks,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nix.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
(WITH DENNIS’ ACCENT)
“Now, lawyers! Now, technies! Now, B2Bers and Relocators!
On, Brokers! On, Beautifiers. On Financiers and Marketing Makeovers!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

And then, in a twinkling, we saw on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each Power Team’s hoof.
As we drew in our heads, and were turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nix came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with bratwurst and soot.
A big bundle of referral slips he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

St. Nix said, “Referrals for each good little girl and boy!
In hopes that closed business will bring you lots of joy.
So with a stroke of a pen on the referral slip
Referrals went to all and expecting no tip.

There was one for Dan Wheeler and both of the Kate’s.
Even one for the Real Estate Lawyer Bob Gates.
A few for Seph Paul because Santa’s shop is a mess.
One for Joui Turandot to teach Marty Wall how to dress.

There was a logo for Lauren Deane Evans and for Likoma, a site,
Plus a new project that Gil Zeimer could definitely write.
St. Nix knew a company whose phones were a wreck,
So he referred them to Bart Saling of B2B Tech.

A new house got Adam Barnum some dough,
It needed upscale décor from Steven Favreau,
They’ll also consult with architects Larson-Shores,
And fund it through Kevin Casey of Guarantee Mortgagors.

Tom Redmond could list it then sell the house, too.
There are so many jobs that our members can do.

But if there’s a workplace problem with some hanky panky,
Anderies & Gomes are who you should you spanky.
And if St. Nix had a problem with a pill called Cialis,
He could put in a call to Christopher Morales.

Insurance reps are always part of the mix.
So that got three more referrals from old St. Nix.
One was for Jerry Becerra, or that’s what I’m toldt,
With others to Carlos Ramirez and Richard Reinholdt.

With a long day of schlepping, St. Nix’s back was a burn,
So he referred himself to Dr. Jamie Stern,
Writing referrals gave him carpal tunnel syndrome,
So he made an appointment with Adam Wiscombe.

He gave referrals to Amy Harcourt, Jessma Evans, and Avakian, JC,
Plus Joe Markert, Kenji Oshima, and Mike Heylin, the Mac and PC.
He called out Mischa Purcell, Adrienne Dale, and Phil Siegel,
As well as Ray Simon, Daniel Kim and Brittany Pettengill.

There was Dan Joraanstad, Dan Chomko, and Margaret Shebalin,
Kathy Olberts, Wendy Parker, Jerry Bayer and Wayne Allen Cameron.
Isabella Schwarzinger, Seth Tajbakhsh, Reno Fernandez and Linda Gordon,
Plus Julia Ten Eyck, Sergio Rosales, John Kalin, and Rob Appleton.

If some of St. Nix’s families needed banking, trusts or immigration,
He mentioned Ron Micuch, Heather Stoneman and Angela Warren.
And let’s not forget Kay Heatherly, Shianne Lombard and Cathy Cohn,
Because without all of them, St. Nix would never leave home.

And when his long day was done, St. Nix’s teeth needed preening,
That got Dr. Michael Hack a slip for teeth cleaning.
And for a new member who never had dance cards, Mr. Joe Blow,
Instead of referrals, he got a big heaping lump of coal.

Finally, St. Nix sprang to his hybrid sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But we heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all at BNI Embarcadero, and to all a good-night!”

Here’s a great BNI referral success story…

Lauren Deane Evans of Good Looking Ideas is a valued member of BNI Embarcadero.com. A few weeks ago, she forwarded me a Craig’s List email about someone looking for writers for a new Intuit Small Business Blog.

Most important of all, their writers had to be experts at WordPress, the most popular blogging software that lets anyone publish and update their own content as easily as using Microsoft Word. I’ve learned this platform through my work with Bradley Charbonneau of Likoma.com, another BNI Embarcadero member.

I’m proud to say that I’m now a contributing blog writer and am cranking out up to five articles a week for Intuit, which is also a long-time client of mine for direct response copywriting. Here’s the URL for my articles, so please visit the site, read some of them, and make a comment. Some of my recent posts are:

• “Virtual Companies: How To Compete With The Big Boys“
• “Top Five Halloween Businesses: Profiting From The Great Pumpkin“
• “Barter 101: Trading for Services“
• “How To Get Enough Sleep When You’re Running The Show“
• “Top 5 Startup Mistakes” and
• “How We Beat a Bigger Company At What It Does Best“.