While attending college in the Philippines, I did some part-time modeling. It was probably my most eye-opening experience to date. Being a freelance model also meant that I was my own CEO, CFO, CMO, and CIO.

1) Perception rules

Modeling: As a model, it was all about how people perceived you. Casting directors didn’t care how nice of a person you were (for the most part). If you looked good, you got the job.

Business: In business, it’s how people perceive you is what matters. If you site is ugly but has great products, they may not stick around long enough to find out.

Lesson: Make a great 1st impression. Don’t release a product that’s not extraordinary.

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Photo source

With the business environment to fragile, it’s never been more important to setup a website. It can be done with a very low budget and fast. While it’s now totally acceptable to use free web applications such as Youtube and open source programs such as Wordpress to run your business, here are some things to watch out for when setting up a website on a budget.

1) Bad domain name
This is probably the 1st and most important thing you need to do. If your company name is not available, find out why. Find out who owns it and try to get it back if you have a legit argument to do so. If you have to register a new domain name, try to stay away from THEyourbrand.com. Not only is it confusing to customers, people may miss typing THE in front of your domain. THEcoolapps.com sounds weird. Register a .com. Stay away from .info, .cc, .biz, and .mobi. You don’t need them unless your bigime and need to protect your brand name.

2) Hosting your site on Blogger
If possible, try to host your own site on your own server. Stay away from free hosts such as Blogger and Wordpress.com. These free services are not flexible enough if you grow your business. It may be difficult to implement ecommerce and other upgrades. Also, it makes you look cheap. These sites usually have a footer message “Get a FREE site”. If your still under a buget but need flexability of a self hosted package, check out Weebly.

3) Comment spam
Watch your comments. If your articles are overwhelmed with viagra and cialis ads, it looks like you don’t A) Have the proper technology to filter spam or B) Don’t care.

4) Inconsistent brand
Don’t do the Dr.Jeykle and Mr.Hyde with your online/offline business. If you have a professional tone offline, then you need to keep that same tone online. Would you talk in slang or swear in the “real” world? There should be no surprises when you lead visitors to your website.

For over a year, I pretty much had a monopoly for my translation and design services on PinoyTattoos.com. Recently, I’ve come across a young go-getter that I’m treating as a possible threat. While I was initially a bit annoyed due to the “talking shit” nature of the callout of my business, I also found it flattering. Finally, I have some external pressure to get my ass in gear. OK, it’s perceived pressure that I’m probably overstating it as “competition” but nonetheless, I’m using the situation to be innovative. If there was no competition, it would be good to shadowbox to keep in tip top shape. Here are some things I’m exploring to react:

1. Additional products
I’ve been thinking of expanding my product line for a few months now. The challenge has been how to keep the buying experience simple since with custom art, there can be loads of options.

2. Wider profit margins
I have/had the advantage of being the only one doing what I’m doing, so I’m able to keep my prices and not go down the price slash route that’s been so prevalent during these challenging times (yuck, sounded like a newscast). The problem with my products is that it takes time for me to draw. Sometimes I’m definitely  in the red for a “fully engaged” client   So what’s a good product that has high margin? Knowledge. Create it once and that’s it.

3. More personalization
Customers want to be put up on a pedestal. With tattoos, they have to be 100% confident in what I’m designing for them is the best and will not look like anything else. The essence of tattoos is uniqueness. Even though I’ve done “strength” dozens of times, it must be uniquely  fashioned towards my client.

4. Show off
I need to do a better job promoting myself. That means asking my clients for more photos of art I’ve done for them as well as testimonials.

Paul Boutin has a great article on The Standard regarding those Facebook “Stimulus” ads. They are usually with some guy holding a check or showing off a roll of cash with a tagline of  “Get your Obama check” or “$12,000 Stimulus Checks”.  Sound too good to be true? Trust your gut.

Get the money that the government owes you. Each year, the US Government gives out billions and billions in Grants to people just like you. No one ever thinks they can really get a grant,which makes it easier for the few people who actually try!

You can search for grants yourself on Grants.gov. No need to pay $1.99. Check for yourself if you qualify for individual grants. I couln’t find anything.

Organic pharmacy, Elephant Pharm closed all their stores in the San Francisco Bay Area on 2/3/09. Below is a letter sent to mailing list subscribers.

February 3, 2009

It is with a heavy heart that we bring you this news:

Elephant Pharm, which has served over 1 million customers in four Bay Area markets, has closed indefinitely.

As a small business, we’ve been hurt by the terrible turn the economy has taken and the tightening of the credit market.

It’s been a very special six years since we started this drugstore revolution, and we certainly couldn’t have made it as far as we did without you—our customers. We hope that you will continue your pursuit of a good, long life, well lived.

Please check our website, www.elephantpharm.com for further details.

To have your prescription filled, or re-filled, please contact your doctor.

We deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause you.

In good health,
The Pharm Team

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In response to some of the comments on my 5 reasons why “Get the bar” will fail, here’s a visual for you. I received this by some lady at an festival in December. Is this honest?

This is from Facebook

Recently, I caught wind of someone talking smack online about my artwork on a couple of posts of a somewhat competitor. While this person is unknown in the online landscape, I take this seriously as a possible business threat. While I’m proud of what I’ve done with my PinoyTattoos.com project over the last year, I’m under no delusion that someone can knock me off the top.

1. Take screenshots of the offending content
It may come in handy if a confrontation happens or if they delete/deny it.

2. Do a SWOT (Strength.Weakness.Opportunities.Threats) analysis of your competitor
You need to see where this person stands in your industry and compared to yourself. Is this person a legit threat?

3. Don’t write a post about the situation or link back to them
It will very tempting to do so but you must hold back unless it’s necessary to do so. Linking back may give them Google juice.

4. Don’t leave comments on the offending post
Don’t even think about doing it under a false name. If you do, that means someone is listening and may add fuel to the fire. No comments is worst than a negative comment because that means that it’s possible nobody is listening.

5. Research about them on Pipl.com
Getting to know your competition is important. It may give you ammo if needed.

6. Be honest with yourself
Does this person have a point? If you have more than a few haters, maybe they are right and you should change or adapt.

7. Spy
Subscribe to their RSS feed. Pose as a potential customer….ask questions.

8. Take it as a compliment
Some folks need to try to drag people down to help them move up. It’s an old tactic. Talk crap about the top, get mentioned by them, and get legitimized in the process. There are a lot of haters of Michael Arrington of TechCrunch and PerezHilton because they are at the top of their industry.

There will always be someone that’s smarter and hungrier than you. If not now, there will be a time. Use this as motivation to create a better product. I’ll admit that it does bother me a little but it only added fuel to the fire. If I didn’t receive any smack talk, I wouldn’t have redesigned my site last month. Now I’m in the process of developing 2 now products. Take that!