On July 1st, the HST comes into effect through Ontario, replacing the PST and GST. For businesses, it means updating accounting and invoicing systems and taking advantage of tax cuts because of Ontario’s tax changes.

For more information, call 1-800-959-5525 or visit one of the three websites our Provinces provided us with:
http://www.ontario.ca/hstready
http://www.cra.gc.ca/harmonization
http://www.ontario.ca/taxchange

The proposed Accessibility Standard for Information and Communications outlines how businesses and organizations will have to create, provide and receive information and communications in ways that are accessible for people with disabilities.

On May 31, 2010, the Ontario government announced that it will integrate three standards into one streamlined regulation. The three standards are:

1. Employment Information and
2. Communications, and
3. Transportation.

Read more about proposed accessibility standard for Information and Communications.

Mayor Larry O’Connor writes…

On April 16, the BEDAC – together with staff from the Durham Region Economic Development department – hosted its first event, a Social Media Boot Camp. Brock High School offered up a classroom as the prefect venue for the workshop. Thirty local businesspeople came to find out what social media is, who’s using it and how to automate their communications to take advantage of social media spaces such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

Sue Sutcliffe, owner of ‘The Web Coach,’ shared her nine steps to a successful social media campaign, offered tips on how to manage your social media profile efficiently and tricks to make it as easy as sending an e-mail. Her presentation was so engaging that our local business owners kept her going for an extra 45 minutes.

via The Scugog Standard April 22, 2010 newspaper.

LinkedIn.com offers 806 searchable FAQ (frequently asked questions) on their website including the following questions I get asked most often by new users (who might not know what to search for):

1. How do I sign up to join Linkedin?
2. How do I find my LinkedIn account?
3. What do I get for free with a basic account?
4. What are the benefits of upgrading?
5. How do I build a strong profile?
6. How do I add a photo?
7. How do I send invitations to connect?
8. How do I create a group?
9. How do I manage recommendations?
10. How do I add a job posting?

Click here for more LinkedIn answers.

We’ve assembled 7 wonderful speakers, that will talk to you about tapping into the power of creativity fun and play into your work, knowing your customer’s buying styles and personality, developing your marketing message so that it’s targeted to your ideal buyer, effortless marketing, healthy living strategies for optimum health, getting past limiting beliefs and into the zone and finally you’ll become expert on making the most of online social marketing…

Plus you get breakfast and lunch and have a chance to network and connect to our speakers and teachers directly.

Now, I know if you’re like me…you’re wondering…why should I attend a day like this?

Well first of all…if you sign up now…you save…our regular price is $149.00 (GST) per person…but now until December 31st, it’s $109.00 (GST) per person and it’s just $199.00 if you bring a buddy…

Second of all it’s a tax savings this year…in 2009…

Third if you invest in yourself and you plan and set goals, it makes you more competitive and gives you a slight edge over your competitors.

Fourth…when you get this kind of learning it makes you better able to serve your customers…plain and simple.

So if you want to learn more about this event…log onto the website and see what we have in store for you on January 16th…the link is below…just click on it…

http://www.smallbusinessbigideas.com/CreateIgniteandInspire.pdf

Once you’re on that site…you can see who’s speaking, what the day is about, and of course you can ask me any questions about the event.

I would love to see you out on January 16th…So Jump in…2010 is looking Great!

Claim.io (formerly ClaimMyName) now injects your brand into 300 of the most popular social media and social networking sites, creating an account on each site, securing your name and/or vanity URL, and embedding your messaging, logo and links into each account.

 

Why Claim Your Name? 

• Brand Protection - Claiming your name and other high value keywords on the most popular social networks prevents your brand from being hijacked and helps ensure that you own and control your presence online. Don’t wait until someone else claims your name and its too late.
  
• Brand Exposure - Claim.io goes beyond protecting your brand. We establish a rich presence on each social network that includes your brand’s messaging, logo and a link back to your primary website. You fill out one form and we take care of the rest.
  
• Search Engine Visibility - Increasing the number of inbound links (other sites that point to your website) is one of the most effective ways to increase your visibility on major search engines. When you claim you name across 300 social networks, each account that we create for you becomes a site that points back to your website. 

 

Click here to get started now!

 

Dear Friends and Patrons,

We are excited to announce the first in a series of creative art workshops at Ridge Top Bed & Breakfast in collaboration with, Newcastle artist, Elke Clarke. Spend a relaxing social evening with a group of your friends or meet new people while painting a work of art.

Enjoy learning some basics on the versatility of acrylic paints and composition. Be inspired to come up with your own unique interpretation of an expression of love. Bring personal photos, favourite love poems or “bits and bobs” to personalize your piece if you so desire. Or look to these examples below from several artists for inspiration to build on.

 

“LOVE IS IN THE AIR AND ART” Evening Art Workshop
Friday, February 6, 2009 from 7 to 9 p.m.
$25 per person + GST = $26.25
Includes all art supplies,
Wine and cheese sampling selected by Archibald Estate Winery, Tyrone

To book your spot mail cheque to:
Ridge Top Bed & Breakfast Studio,
2971 Regional Road 20,
R.R.#5, Bowmanville,
Ont. L1C 3K6
Payable to: Chris Stevenson

For more information contact:
Chris Stevenson, Ridge Top B & B (905) 263-1173 or
Elke Clarke, Elke Clarke Fine Art (905) 987-3075

The art project will be flexible enough to accommodate all skill levels. Sorry, no refunds, 4 days before date of course or workshop. We reserve the right to cancel the workshop, with full refund, if fewer than 6 people sign up. See you there!

It’s all happening on Friday January 9th, 2008 from 9:30-12:30 pm at the BACD (Business Advisory Centre Durham). Costs include materials and a light breakfast. $49.00 (plus GST) gets you in. For more information, click on the poster image to the right or call 416-630-3527 to register.

Let’s face it…we’re facing one of the toughest marketplaces when it comes to selling… If you are facing longer wait times, customers who aren’t so quick to decide and or pay, customers who need to more support from you when it comes to making a buying decision, increased competition and pricing pressures…then you may seriously want to learn how to sell more strategically…on November 28th at the Business Advisory Centre from 9:30-4:00 pm…You can tap into selling skills that will help you manage your selling process more productively… Sign up for an all day workshop that will have a positive effect on your bottom line… Transform Your Selling Style.

The Small Business Big Ideas Show Presents: Double Your Closing and Opening Ratio With Conversational Selling and tap into 3 prospecting/cold calling strategies that will improve your results. Join David Cohen host of the Small Business Big Ideas Show and expert marketing mind Tom St. Louis will help you unlock the keys to the kingdom as far as you integrating sales strategies that get you results…If you want to improve your sales performance and stay on track in this highly competitive marketplace then you want to register for this one day event on November 28th, at the Business Advisory Centre Durham.

Do sales happen as a natural consequence of a conversation between you and your prospect? Do you get closer and closer to the sale until the ‘close’ is inevitable and easy -and completely natural? Or, do you spend your time “visiting”with your prospect and then find yourself “following up” on a sale that never materializes? Can you even get in the clients door? Do you give up after 3 to 4 attempts?

HERE’S THE DEAL…

A lot of well intentioned business people who don’t think of themselves as sales people struggle with the basics. They are so afraid of being “pushy” that they assume a passive role in the selling process. Or, worse, they fall into the fatal trap of thinking that selling is all about talking about their product or service ad nauseum.

If selling is a struggle for you, it’s because you are doing it the hard way. We will be happy to show you how to sell like a natural. You will get the mindset, principles, strategies and scripts that will shift your selling life forever.

Plus we will show you how to crack the door open with 3 hot cold calling strategies…we will lead you
through the cold calling process and take the pain out of calling some prospect out of the blue. You will
be reminded of why you are calling someone now and what you can in fact do for them to improve their results in this economy.

DATE: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28th (9:30-4:00 PM)
WHERE: BUSINESS ADVISORY CENTRE DURHAM
COST: $69.00 (Plus GST) FOR THE DAY…
HOW: REGISTER BY CALLING 416-630-3527…
PRESENTERS: TOM ST.LOUIS and DAVID COHEN

Tom St. Louis has been marketing and selling for over twenty years. He has worked with large international brands and small start-ups. He will show you how selling can be a fun, touching, meaningful and profitable experience. Log onto www.zerald.com to learn more about Tom.

David Cohen is host of the Small Business Big Ideas Show and has coached and taught thousands of small business start-ups in his work with various self employment training programs. His 3 powerful strategies to making cold call fun is an interactive dynamic session. Log onto www.smallbusinessbigideas.com to learn more about David.