Over the last two years, with the recent craze of recession and downturns, we’ve watched business owners taking a turn to become more financially savvy and responsible, which has led to the creation of many online management and online budgeting tools.

In the last 20 years of owning and operating a business, having been through a divorce and health crisis, I’ve learned that it’s not really about HOW MUCH money you’re making, but HOW YOU MANAGE, spend, save and invest your money. I recently contacted the Mother of Cash Flow (in my opinion) Erin Lozano of  to interview in an upcoming series to improve the Financial IQ of women – Independently Wealthy Women.

“What is Green Sherpa?”

Green Sherpa is a web-based cash flow management and budgeting solution that helps people make better financial decisions about how to save and where they spend their income. Green Sherpa offers a unique alternative to existing financial management software, making financial organizing and planning more convenient than ever before. Users can view in one place all of their financial accounts—banking, credit card, and asset accounts—from any computer, anywhere, allowing users to see their total net worth at a glance.

I was upfront with Erin and asked, “What makes your personal financial management program better than the freebies like Mint.com?” During my investigation, here’s what I found…

Our Financial Future is the Most Important:

Like most other personal financial management products, Mint focuses on financial history. But our most pressing concern is our financial FUTURE – history is secondary! And it’s the next 12 months that we are most focused on the most. GreenSherpa is the only product that offers real-time management of your financial future and goals, with the flexibility to adapt as your life changes.

Flexibility and Accuracy:

Mint.com users frequently complain that their financial information reported from their banking institutions is inaccurate or incomplete. Not so with GreenSherpa.

In addition, GreenSherpa provides far more flexibility in account management (you can add accounts that don’t sync) and categorization (you can add/edit/delete categories to your heart’s content). Green Sherpa is the ONLY personal financial management ones to offer cash flow management, a truly forward-looking solution for managing finances over the next 12 months. GreenSherpa is the only product to offer online collaboration with a spouse or trusted advisor, enabling busy    people to have the financial conversations that lead to sound    decisions and financial success.

The Mint.com just not as effective.  Users are not as loyal.

Mint, has signed up over 2 Million users in 2 years, validating the market space. However, 50% of their users signed up but never use the product!!  These users are leaving and coming to other personal management programs like GreenSherpa for great interaction.

If you’re looking for user flexibility, accuracy and easy tools for online budgeting that will meet your most pressing financial challenges, I think GreenSherpa takes the gold!  Plus, Erin’s offering a free 90-day trial so we can all check it out for ourselves!

In my past married life when I was feeling low, my ex would suggest, “Honey, why not go out and buy something? You can always return it when you feel better.”

Many a truth is said in jest. But hey, it’s all part of the female experience – to lust over something in a store, go for it, get it home and fall out of lust. Hence the return.

No store that I know accepts the “you’ve lost that lovin’ feeling” better than Nordstroms. I’ve never had a return not taken and because of that, my inclination is to buy more from the big N.

My advice – you should too!  Do not miss their shoe and accessory department! And when I’m with my hipster 14 year old diva – we love the junior department for affordable trendy pieces also. Because a woman has a right to change her mind.

Woo hoo!  We made it!  Are you inspired yet?   There’s just something that happens to me when the dial hits midnight!  The energy around the world is high and everyone is celebrating our first moment in the New Year – together.

For the past 20 years, I’ve been watching consumer trends.  I wanted to start the year off right and share my consumer predictions and how it could affect your bottom line in the New Year.

I predict 2010 will be one of the most exciting years in business we’ve had in a long time.  Here’s how I believe it will affect business…(drum roll please…)

WE, as entrepreneurs and business owners will HEAVILY rely upon our own creative energy and resources to use in our growth and marketing efforts.

Social entrepreneurship will spike because there will be more focus on helping others, solving world problems and providing great service and products to truly make a difference.

WE as consumers will be far more mindful about how we spend our money and therefore will be DEMANDING business owners to offer more competitive pricing, more options and higher quality product or service.

WE as a society are becoming increasingly disgusted with consumerism and wasting money.  We will be more interested in products or services that make us feel we’re being more resourceful or smart about our money.

WE are setting individual goals to prosper in all areas of life and will be more focused on reaching our health goals, re-uniting our family, re-igniting our relationships.  More people are interesting in experiencing more happiness and joy as a whole – a “lifestyle focus” like Tim Ferris teaches – rather than working ourselves in to a health or life crisis.  Businesses that enhance or help us reach our goals will be of great interest to us.

While we’ve seen the “green movement” go up and down in popularity, the green groups are gaining momentum – politically and from celebrity endorsements.  Pockets of enthusiastic groups are screaming for us to make “going green” part of our everyday living.

WE as baby boomers will be finding new sources of inspiration through becoming an activist of our chosen passion.  We will pay closer attention to businesses that support us and provide us with greater inspiration.

WE as business owners will be take a turn and stand TOGETHER as power houses to help one another succeed (via cross marketing, sharing resources, etc.) and be less worried about competition.

For more trends, be sure and get your free copy of The Business Skinny Premiere.

I encourage business owners throughout the world to consider these trends and make adjustments to your marketing and growth strategies to keep “the people” in mind.

WE, the people…

Here is a great tip on restaurant etiquette!

When making reservations to entertain a client – it doesn’t look good to show up at a great restaurant with business associate and not have made reservations to be there. If someone’s meal comes before you, it’s polite to wait until everyone is served — or you could graciously encourage then to begin.  Napkins go on laps — water and drinks on the right, napkins on left.  Avoid drinking alcohol — especially at lunch — long gone are the two martini lunches. It may only be appropriate at a reception or an event of that nature, but never over indulge under any circumstances.

Monday Business Manners

Gift Giving in Business

Gifts are most always appreciated in our culture and others.  There are companies that have gift giving policies and can not accept a gift of more than a certain dollar amount, so be sure you’re in accordance with their policies so as not to offend or break their gift-giving rules.  If you can take the time over conversations to know more about who your clients are as people and individuals, what their interests are, etc., it is easy to recognize appropriate and less costly gifts as you see things that would be appropriate and show your thoughtfulness to them.

Over giving can be perceived to be an attempt to “buy” their loyalty, which is never a good thing. Ideally, there should be a balance of what you give them and how frequently so gifts aren’t construed as being anything more than a thoughtful gesture that acknowledges them personally.  To learn about  the best deals this holiday season (and we think always), check out last week’s post “The Top 6 sites to get the best deals”.

Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for you, I’ve had the lovely opportunity to own and operate all three mini pocket video cameras.

First off, if you’re not already using video in your marketing, please stop what you’re doing and get yourself a camera. Google and video are like BFF’s and many of your customers and prospects are more likely to watch video than read an article. I believe in a healthy balance of both. (Just look at my blog)

Now, for the moment of truth…which camera takes all?

Let’s start with this point – no matter what camera you decide on, ALWAYS get HD (high def).

Flip HD: Probably the most popular of the three, but not necessarily the best. The Flip HD camera has a small screen for viewing and taking footage. While easy to use, the quality of the footage is not as good as its two competitors. Plus, it will only allow you to record 60 minutes of footage at once before you have to whip out your computer, unload and can get back to shooting. (Price: $158-$199). Perfect for kids or college students.

Kodak HD: Kodak is The Flip’s biggest competitor, but not not our favorite of the three cameras either. It doesn’t seem to be “built to last” and became easily rattled as I transported in my purse. The microphone always was less than acceptable, which may be why Kodak heavily pushes an external plug-in mic as an accessory. It has a larger viewing screen and it definitely a step up from the Flip HD. (Price: $179-$199)

Vado HD: Easy to use and built with a great internal mic, the Vado HD is our top pic. I needed something a little more durable and long-lasting. It takes great footage, is especially easy to use, has high resolution, and can record longer than its competitors. It’s easily compatible with a Mac or PC and intuitive to use. Our top pic for business owners and entrepreneurs looking to utilize video in their marketing strategies. (Price: $129-$199)

Who doesn’t love a great deal?

To make your shopping easier for you this year, we’ve taken the guess work out of finding the best price. Here are the absolute best sites of the year to find excellent deals:

1. Amazon.com – compare prices on everything from books to sports goods to electronics.

2. Ebay.com – you can find ANYTHING on ebay.

3. ideeli.com – a newly launched free membership site to tells you about all of the latest fashion deals with tons of giveaways.

4. Bestbuy.com – Everything electronics and they currently have 99 cent shipping!

5. Slickdeals.net – user-generated deal sharing site.

6. Etsy.com – Our favorite place to find great handmade gifts.  You can spend HOURS on this site!

In this episode of Tuesdays with Nancy, we learn tips to dressing for ultimate success and how what you wear can affect whether or not you close the deal!

Monday Business Manners

It’s like John Malloy wrote about:  “Dress for Success is all about dressing for the job you want — not the one you have!”

Rarely does it serve you to look less than appropriate when meeting a client or prospect. Depending on your field of expertise — certain standards probably do apply.  Marketing and sales gives way to more flare and creativity in dressing (although always being appropriate) — more so than most conservative fields of finance and accounting. The devil is also in the details. Polished shoes, matching socks or hose, understated jewelry, ties and accessories that may make a bit of a statement — but only on one hand, etc.

Some of my clients have “casual day” every day, while others within the company wouldn’t dream of following that dress code and not coincidentally they’re usually senior management! Your goal is to emmulate those who are your direct clients at higher levels. As a consultant and valued advisor, it shows respect for your client and an ability to pay attention to the details.

It’s an unspoken or unconscious assumption that if you are paying attention to the details in the way you appear and conduct yourself — the same is true in the way you conduct your business.

Well, it’s officially Black Friday.  Some people love it.  Some people hate it.  Either way, everyone and their dog is looking for an excellent deal.  Black Friday is the day I officially mark as a key time to prep your employees to provide excellent customer service for the holidays.

Here’s why it’s critical to crack the whip on red carpet service:

1.  The Holiday season = the biggest buying season of the year, which can mean huge profit potential for your business.

2.  Customers are stressed out.  They want to find the perfect gift at the perfect price.  Get a reputation for providing both of those AND a perfect buying experience and you won’t be hurting for more customers.

3.  People will remember you for either the good or bad experience they just had.  How would you like to be remembered?

If you’re a business owner or corporation, consider doing the following to stand apart from your competition this holiday season:

1. Provide every one who walks through the door a bottle of water or have free water on site.

2. Partner with a local restaurant or fast-food chain and provide 50% off lunch coupons.

3.  Make sure you’ve got modern music playing.  Music has been proven to affect moods.  Just because it’s the season, doesn’t mean you have to play ONLY holiday music.  Provide a variety and play music that caters to your market.

4.  Turn on your air conditioner.  Although the temperatures are dropping outside, when you cram several hundred people in one store, it gets hot.  And when people get hot – they get mad.

Here are a few tips for online business owners:

1.  Offer sales for the entire holiday season.  Many e-commerce sites will compete for business – we have less loyalty to most sites and more loyalty to the best price.

2.  Always offer free shipping on ALL ORDERS.  Not everyone is offering this, but if you can, it will make you stand out.  People LOVE getting something for free.

3.  Offer customers a $5 off coupon for referring your site to friends.

No matter what kind of business you own – above all – make sure that who ever is at the front lines engaging with your customers is chipper, friendly, helpful, honest, and fast.