|
 |
Your HOLD button may cost you a Client.
A Guide to Telephone Etiquette.
As the owner of a small business, you probably spend a lot of time speaking with customers. Most small businesses do not have customer service departments. The person answering your telephone in essence, is your customer service department. That person's telephone etiquette could make or break a sale. Telephone etiquette is often overlooked by small business owners and staff. These people often are responsible for many tasks and sometimes answering the telephone is a hindrance to their other responsibilities. Poor telephone etiquette will have a negative effect on your business. (Read More)
|
|
|
Dear Friends,
Hello and welcome to the May 2008
issue of the Small Business Centre Newsletter.
In this issue, we will give you updates on networking opportunities, seminars, an editorial piece on phone etiquette, and introduce Geek Speak, an article series featuring free/open source software solutions.
Thank you to the generous prize donors who helped make our last networking event, Springo Bingo, a huge success. Check out the fun on our new web feature, Networking Photo Gallery. Don't miss the next "photo op" at our June 4th Patio Networking.
Business Information Advisor/ Newsletter Editor
|
 Clients in the News...  The following clients have recently been featured in the local media. Congratulations!
Who: Sue Bedell of Second Bloom Design
Where: Breakfast Television, City TV - Toronto
When: April 3rd, 2008
Who: Margarita Ibbott of Downshifting - Professional Organizing Solutions
Where: Featured Speaker at the Diann Vail's Women Conference, London When: May 2nd, 2008
Downshifting - Professional Organizing Solutions provides organizing solutions to individuals, small business and corporate clients. Downshifting helps clients manage, de-clutter space, dispose of unwanted items, redesign and then set up systems that will help simplify their lives or improve their business operations.
|
 ABS Seminar:
Doing Your Own Bookkeeping
Monday, May 12, 2008
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: London Small Business Centre
Cost: $25.00+GST
Presented by Charlene Maginn, Business Advisor
Pre-registration required as seating is limited.
|
ABS Seminar:
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Time: 9:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Location: London Small Business Centre
Cost: $25.00+GST
Presented by David Ciccarelli Founder & CEO of Voices.com
Pre-registration required as seating is limited.
| |
|
|
|
  Networking WednesdayWednesday, June 4, 2008
Patio Networking
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Bernie's Restaurant in Byron
Address: 1290 Byron Baseline Rd., London (Print Map)
Cost: $5.00 (cash at the door)
Pre-registration required as space is limited.
To have your door prize listed on our website, contact Nancy Kopriva before May 24th.
|
 On Tap with The Entrepreneur's Club... 
Each month, members of The Entrepreneur's Club meet to learn from seasoned professionals, share knowledge and skills, and develop valuable business relationships.
During our April meeting, Sabina Manji, editor of The Mom & Caregiver Magazine and director of the London Caregivers Referral Network shared her experiences in growing her businesses - and how she toppled the competition.
Are you interested in becoming a member of The Entrepreneur's Club? Attend a Water Cooler meeting to find out what we're all about. All you have to do is pay for breakfast. You can attend two meetings without obligation and then we'd love to have you join us regularly.
Join us for our next Water Cooler meeting:
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Location: Timbers Chop House, 855 Wellington Rd., London
Check us out and pay only for your breakfast.
|
 Do you FLOSS? 
by David Proudfoot, Business Advisor
Do you FLOSS? No, I am not asking you about your dental hygiene practices. I am referring to free/open source software (abbreviated as FOSS or FLOSS).
As a small business owner you are always facing financial pressures. One cost saving solution that exists is to use free/open source software. Many people feel that if something is given away for free, it must not be of value. While this may be true for some products, there are many excellent programs available for free, including several market leaders.
The internet as we know it would not exist without FLOSS. Much of the "plumbing" of the internet runs on FLOSS programs. An example of this is that the majority of websites around the world run on Apache, which is Free/open source web server software.
Some of the software that I will be discussing over the next several months will include some you may have heard of, and others that will likely be brand new to you. (Read More)
Disclaimer:
The opinions and reviews expressed are based on the personal experiences of the author. The Small Business Centre makes no warrants and shares no liability with respect to the quality of the products and/or services identified in this article. |
|
Advertising Section 
===============================================
Reach over 1,000 Small Businesses,
| |
|
