The Collective-E Blog

We are always looking for business models that work, and to me this is good news--it is a way to compete with the big guys if you have a special skill or talent for creating customized products...or even experiences.  It seems that consumers, who may have less money to spend, would rather spend their money on something really special.  This article in the WSJ explains, from Chocolate to furniture to barbies, people are having fun creating something especially for them!

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This post is a long time coming - and I'm really excited to profess my love for Google once again! Ready?

I'm always talking about Google and why it's so amazing... and why Google Business has made my business so much better by increasing productivity - and simply keeping me (and my team!) organized. Awhile back I wrote a blog post for my partners and members at Collective-E - on basic Google Mail and how their filtering rocks. And now I'm going to expand and explain that there is life after the free Google Mail (aka Gmail). And it gets much, much better than the basic Gmail. Brace yourself!

First, let's start with your business domain. I'll use http://www.ChelseaMoser.com for an example.

A good business practice is to use an email platform that is branded to your business. It's just good business practice in general. But, like most of us, we're hooked on how awesome Google Mail/Gmail is. We love how it works, the bells and whistles... the whole kit and kaboodle. But, of course, you don't want your business email accounts to end in @gmail.com. It just looks a little shady. Especially in this crazy spam world. Who knows if you're real - or if you're really running a REAL business.

I know there are ways around this by still being able to use your free Gmail account. But they are quick fixes. You want the real deal, trust me.  I'm sure you get my drift.

Well, if you haven't heard already, Google has a solution. Google Business Apps allows you to take your domain (http://www.ChelseaMoser.com) and utilize the Google Platform for your email. Same look and feel as Gmail, you can use your own domain - and SO much more.

I run multiple business platforms - and all of my domains are connected with Google Business. So when you see Chelsea@TheNodak.com or Chelsea@ChelseaMoser.com or Info@SolamarMarketing.com - yep, all Google Mail. And it's not because I set them up in the basic Gmail - it's because I'm using Google Business Apps. The Cadillac of Gmail.

Today, more than two million businesses run Google Apps.

Why?

Well, their features. Moreover, the power behind their applications - and how they allow you to run a business by being organized and efficient through your inbox. Just to name a few gerneral things that make Google worth the switch:

1) It can work with any size business
2) The power behind the applications (I'll get to this in a second)
3) Cost savings - look ma! no hardware or software! All web-based. Ah, a dream.
4) Storage, storage, storage (more than 50X the industry average)
5) Security and Trust
6) And best of all - 24/7 customer support
7) The whole platform is on a completely different server than regular basic Gmail. Nope, you won't have any problems with Gmail being down any more!

Okay, I could go on and on and on...

Now, to tell you what makes my head really spin - and makes me a HUGE fan of Google Business Apps...

The power of the intuitive applications like Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Docs. How they all work together (especially in a virtual team environment) while creating a seamless and painless experience for all. It not only helps reduce costs, but it helps my team and I to collaborate more effectively.

If you've ever used the regular free Gmail, Google Business Apps is like Gmail on crack. ;-) Do you get my point?

Envision this with me for a second. (This is how my business is setup when it comes to using Google.)

I login to my inbox which is web-based (yeah, baby - I can access it anywhere!) and right away I see my regular inbox, and then a chat window on the right which includes my whole team and Solamar clients. On the left is my calendar and what's coming up for the day, along with another gadget that shows all our past google docs that were most recently updated by my team. At the very bottom, I'm reminded of security - as it shows me if I'm signed in anywhere else and that IP address, along with storage and a few other tid-bits of info. Here's a quick and dirty screen shot. I know you can't see much, but take my word for it. It rocks!

And here's my calendar (which I'm in love with, but I now have my assistant be in love with it!). Oh, and excuse the insane-ness:

And lastly, how amazing it is to share Google Docs?! No more attaching and reattaching, and revising and the reattaching. You share a Google Doc, that person edits it and then you can edit, all without sending an email (and being able to use chat while editing a doc or while other people are looking at it, too! Amazing!):

Now, are you ready for my favorite?! Google Labs - they rock my world! I have so many favorites that I can't even begin to list them out and explain why I love them and how they help me in business. You need to check them out for yourself! A-mazing!

Jeeze, what will Google think of next. Thrilled.

Okay, I'm off my Google soap box now. But I'll leave you with this. If your business isn't using Google Apps, you need to make the switch. I've saved money from an internal perspective, created a better work flow, and a centralized way of working with a virtual team. There's really no reason why you shouldn't use it. Truly. Make the switch. You'll be much happier you did. Promise.

You may be thinking "oh my, it's a lot of work to switch over". That's a lie. Just sayin'. And there's a free trial - only $50 per user every year thereafter. Brilliant, right?

Go for it. Report back to me. I'd love to hear how it goes!  And if you still have reservations, comment here and I'll help you out!

In a front page article of the Business section in The New York Times, journalist Stephanie Clifford covered how Target not only just opened its first store in Manhattan, but donated unspecified amounts of money to the local area it was planting its roots. In our quest for everyone to Buy Entrepreneur, it's good to see the big corporations supporting the communities they are in (at least at first).

Harlem is the lucky area to have such large convenience, and Target didn't just pop up there overnight. According to the article, Target wooed Harlem residents for 10 years in the form of philanthropy, "dinner parties", refurbished a school library, and agreed to carry exclusive gear designed by neighborhood starlets.

We agree with our friend Dan Otero from Launch Collective, a fashion and retail consulting firm, who was quoted in the article: "Whether they're effective or not, at least there is change taking place in how big businesses like Target are approaching their consumers."

Most importantly, we see it as the arrival of the acknowledged importance of the local consumer, that while this may be dubbed as bribery, supporting local was a tactic that Target opted to take. According to the article, Target has donated more than $187 million to communities overall in 2009.

Remember, small businesses and entrepreneurs are carried in big stores like Target. So while one might think that all products carried by them are just mindless mass produced pieces of plastic, it isn't so, and we encourage you to seek out the independent brands at these stores, like Hanky Panky, The Bella Band, and more as you make choices on where to shop.

Read the full New York Times article >

Whatever business you are building, even if it isn't a startup, we agree that we see these 5 characteristics in our members that are thriving.   I really like the one that says hope is not a strategy, the members we see that are taking off have a plan...even if they adjust that plan, they have a clear vision and strategy to get there.    As for the test test test characteristic, I don't think anyone does that better than Michelle Madhok, founder of SheFinds.com, she never ever makes a move without testing first; it might slow things down, but you know that whatever she is choosing to do gives her a significant ROI.  However, the one that hits home the most is execution, there isn't a business that will succeed without execution, there is a certain hustle (and I mean that in the best way) that we see in our members that are making it happen.

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