Small Business Musings

Upgrade Your RAM (Memory)

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:39:00 +0000

My laptop had begun to get sluggish with the installation of the latest version of Adobe CS3, so I decided to do a little memory upgrade.

I already had 1GB of RAM, but that just wasn't enough, so I upgraded to 2GB. Holy cow, it was the best $110 I've spent in a while (at least for work). All of my programs are now running leaner and faster than before and I can even have multiple programs open at one time!

So if your machine (especially a laptop), is a bit sluggish, then upgrade your memory and you'll be in great shape.

I used Crucial.com which also has a program that will scan your machine and tell you exactly what kind of memory your machine has, its capacity, and recommends the best fit.

And don't worry, it's easy to upgrade. Just take out a couple of screws and then pop-out the old and pop-in the new! It takes less than 5 minutes!

2 Websites Launched in 1 Week

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 15:02:00 +0000

I like to think of myself as a busy person, but last week, I felt like I was back in Boston working my crazy hours again.

We launched two websites last week! One of them, NH Adventure Boot Camp, was designed, developed and launched in 3 days! Additionally, their registration form was one of the longest forms I have ever created. It was also integrated with PayPal.

The other website, B.E.A. Associates, was launched on a Saturday, as their audience is international. Since we were switching web servers, we wanted to minimize the amount of down-time they would experience with email. The move went flawlessly.

I had (almost) forgotten how exhilarating those type of "firedrills" can be! I certainly did have a wonderful sense of accomplishment by the end of day on Saturday.

Anyhow, congratulations to the new site owners!

Keep Your Inbox Tidy

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:31:00 +0000

As I opened up MS Outlook this morning and found more than 1,000 emails cluttering up my inbox, I thought it was time to do some housekeeping. Here are a few of my secrets.

Create folders and sub-folders
There is nothing wrong with saving old emails. I save EVERY email (except spam) that I receive. I have every email that I have received since about the year 2001. Back in 2004, someone asked me for information on something from 2 years prior and I was able to go back to my folders and find that info. In some cases, it can prove someone is right or wrong! You can see the general hierarchy of my folders with the pictures on the right.

To create a new folder right click on the main folder and select "New Folder...".
Create Email Filters (RULES)
I have joined numerous email lists (since I've been in the email marketing industry) so I created filters to put the ones I don't read every day into a special folder. Then I can always go to that one for reference.

To create a new rule, go to TOOLS > "Rules & Alerts..." and follow the prompts.
Stay on top of it.
Every month, I create a new sub-folder under "To-Do's Done" and then archive last months. I then go through my inbox putting messages in their appropriate folder, until I have no more than 25 emails in my inbox.

Everyone has their own strategies, but this one has worked for nearly 7 years! Keep things tidy!

Cool Summer Camps for Adults

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Fri, 25 May 2007 04:17:00 +0000

I have found myself not able to sleep tonight, as I have been suffering from a bad case of bronchitis and a cough that has me banned from the bedroom.

Anyhow, after watching Nazi 101 on the History Channel, I flipped around and came across a special on the Travel Channel called: Cool Summer Camps for Adults.

I have been racking my brain to figure out what I want to do now that I hit the big 30 and what a perfect list. So I just may be taking a couple of weeks off to explore some summer fun!

These were my top favs:

Space Camp - I too wanted to be an astronaut growing up and my parents couldn't afford space camp, but now, for just $899, I can spend a week as an astronaut without all of the hassles. Certainly beats falling in love with a fellow astronaut and driving cross-country to revenge the love!
Skip Barber Race School - When my mother is in the car with me, she refers to me as "Mario A". Who wouldn't want to learn how to drive a race car (crash and burn baby).
Camp Winnarainbow - This is a camp for those wanting to learn the ropes of the circus business (oh sorry, performing arts).
Sankey Rodeo School - Well I am a Taurean Bull, so perhaps I should take the bull by the horns. But then again, I do bruise easily.
Aloha Surfer Girls - Did you see Blue Crush? Can I just be a spectator?

So, I now have additional options. I was originally going to go on a cross-country photography road trip, but frankly, I with the price of gas right now, I could go to TWO summer camps and still have money left over. Now that's what I call a bargain!

Floyd the Office Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Wed, 23 May 2007 19:50:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, a cat mysteriously started lingering outside my office when Clementine and I arrived each morning. He would come up onto the deck and craved attention. I, of course, indulged him until Clementine got too close and scared him off. Well, yesterday, the cat became pretty ballsy and wandered right into the office!

I have affectionately name him Floyd (although I think he's a she). I made sure that Clementine gave him some space and he went around the entire office sniffing and jumping on everything. He climbed on the quilts, jumped up onto the bookcases, drank from Clem's water bowl and seemed quite at home!

It was beautiful outside so I kept the door open all day and Floyd came and went as he pleased. So, we now have two official mascots at WebGamut, our sweet Clementine and Floyd the cat! Come by and visit us soon!

Here are a few pics of Floyd's escapades at WebGamut:

Synchronization Software to the Rescue

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Fri, 18 May 2007 13:37:00 +0000

I recently had to send my laptop in for repairs. Fortunately, I found a great piece of software that allowed me to back everything up to my external hard drives quickly and easily.

The software is called GoodSync. I originally bought it to "sync" up my RoboForm Identities, but after using that, I started using it to back everything up.

And the great thing is that it will check both the original and the destination for changes so it is only going to change the file if it has been modified.

You can also do two-way syncs, so if you modified something on a USB key on another computer, you can then sync up that file to your computer.

Anyhow, GoodSync is the best synchronization software I have found and the price is ideal - $19.95! Get it!

New Website Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Thu, 17 May 2007 19:54:00 +0000

I am always fascinated by people who can speak more than one language (let alone multiple). I took a year of French in high school and could barely utter my name when I was in Paris a few years ago.

Where am I going with this? Well, we launched a new website this week for the Law Office of Daniel Satinsky. Daniel has been practicing law in the Boston area for over 20 years and assists clients in the areas of real estate transactions, creation of condominiums, formation of new businesses, and business contract preparation and review for existing small businesses.

Another part of his practice is devoted to assisting Russian-speaking clients, both residents of Boston and residents of Russia with legal matters.

Over the next few years, I predict we will see more and more niche companies like Daniel's that cater to specific foreign markets - especially those that have an interest in technology on American soil.

We are waiting for the Russian translation of the website, but this site eventually be multilingual (another service we offer). So, if you are need of a well-versed attorney who caters to the Russian-speaking community, check out this website at: www.satinsky-law.com

FreeToCompete.com

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:44:00 +0000

I have been using Vonage for the past couple of years now as my long distance carrier at my house which then feeds to my business. While, it is not perfect, I do appreciate the CHOICE. As most of you know, Verizon has been in some serious litigation to shut down Vonage. If the complete lawsuit wins (in appeals now), the decision would essentially put every VoIP provider and competitor out of business.

Vonage has launched a "grassroots" website called FreeToCompete.com. I'm not usually one to get sucked into this stuff, but I agree with the concept. I really do not want another Microsoft on our hands with Verizon. For once, I DO have a choice for phone service. Now if I could only have a choice for all of my utilities.

So check it out and support it if you want. If not, go compete somewhere else. LOL.

The Essential Child Safety Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 14:18:00 +0000

I know I have been a little lax in the blog posting department, but let me assure I've been keeping very busy. As of today, I'm back on the blog-posting-wagon as of today.

A client (and good friend of mine) has just published a new book on child safety that I thought I would share with my readers. While, I realize this is a business blog, many of you out there have little ones running around and this is a must read guide for those with tykes!

From Crib to Kindergarten: The Essential Child Safety Guide, is written by Dorothy A. Drago, M.P.H and is published by Johns Hopkins University Press.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
In childhood, the occasional bump or scrape comes with the territory. But serious injury is another matter, creating anxiety for even the most experienced parent. Fortunately, unintentional injury can be prevented. In this essential guide, an eminent child safety specialist explains how to reduce the risk of childhood injury at home — and beyond. Her tips help protect children from birth to age five—those who are most vulnerable to serious injury. She describes how to provide a safe environment during the daily activities of sleeping, eating, bathing, dressing, playing, and traveling. The major hazards and potential injuries associated with each activity are identified along with the age when the child is at greatest risk. Illustrations, checklists, and summary charts complement the text and put valuable lessons and critical information at parents' fingertips. From Crib to Kindergarten is an indispensable "how to" for parents, grandparents, teachers, babysitters, and daycare providers.

Available in both hardcover and paperback from the Amazon.com.

Congrats to Selectman Buhrman

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 03:01:00 +0000

Just wanted to give a quick shout and congratulate Charlie Buhrman for his win as Selectman in the Town of Plymouth, NH. He won by a landslide.

We designed a couple of his promotional materials as he is a dear friend of ours.

And, let me go on record saying that I don't want to go into politics (and slap me if I ever do).

Search Engine Relatonships

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:01:00 +0000

I always learn better when I can "see" something in action. In addition to understanding what drives your motivation to optimize your website for a certain search engine(s), here is a pictorial view of how the search engines "talk" to each and share information.

This chart is from Bruce Clay who is one of the top SEO experts in the country. He has been tracking this stuff for years, so I figured rather than just recreating this graph, I'd show you his.

Search Engine Share

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:35:00 +0000

I love stats. I love graphs even more, so I thought I would share with you a pictorial view of the share that the major search engines have. These results are from SearchEngineWatch.com which is a great resource for the latest in search engine news.

The comScore Media Metrix qSearch service measures search-specific traffic on the internet. qSearch data is gathered by monitoring the web activities of 1.5 million English-speakers worldwide (1 million in the United States) via proxy metering. Proxy metering allows comScore to see exactly how those within its panel have surfed the web. From this data, the company then extracts activity that's considered to be specifically search-related.

The Nielsen//NetRatings MegaView Search reporting service measures the search behavior of approximately 500,000 people worldwide. These web surfers have real-time meters on their computers which monitor the sites they visit. This metered information is compiled to produce NetRatings results.

With nearly 50% of the share, you can see why much of the focus on search engine optimization is tailored to Google. I should also note that there are different demographics that use certain engines. I have worked with several clients where leads from Yahoo! convert better than leads from Google. It's always best to work with your SEO professional to find which engines to optimize for.

What is a SERP?

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:21:00 +0000

As one starts to research the terminology surrounding search engine optimization (SEO), you start finding even more abbreviated words. One of them you may have heard of - SERP?

Well, it's not short for serpentine, but for Search Engine Results Page. In laymens terms, this is the resulting page you get from a search engine after you type in your search query.

Why is this page important? Ultimately, you'd like to be on that first SERP and preferrably at the very top. Additionally, it shows you "organic" or natural search queries and paid listings.

In talking to numerous industry experts, it is pretty common that 30% of people will click on the paid listings (top and right side) and 70% will click on the organic listings.

That's a pretty good incentive to have your site listed in the organic section. On another note, with 30% clicking on the paid ads, that's a tremendous amount of opportunity, so if you aren't already placing ads, it might be something to look into. You can start your budget small and see how it works.

2007 DesignFirms Web Award

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:42:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, we launched our first website in 2007 for up and coming professional golfer - Angie Green.

We are extremely proud of this site as it was a complex and cutting-edge design. As most of you know, the more cutting-edge you go, the harder it is to make the underlying code work and still be search engine friendly. The site is 100% XHTML & CSS compliant. We also utilized XML and PHP to generate the schedule.

Our hard work paid off and we were awarded the 2007 DesignFirms Web Award. We received 92 out of a possible 99 points by the judges.

Angie leaves for South Africa in a couple of weeks to begin her busy tour schedule. We will be adding a journal to the site before she leaves, so check out her site and keep tabs on this shining star in the women's golf world. We wish her the best of luck.

Importance of Directories

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:01:00 +0000

It is not as simple as it used to be for search engines to find you. While, you can still submit your site via the "Add URL" link on most search engines, it's any one's guess where that goes. Personally, I think it's a fake form that goes into some spam box.

Therefore, if you want those search engines to find you, then you need to have other websites link to you. While I'll get into the importance of links in another post, the first thing you need to do is get listed in all of the "major" directories.

Since directories are usually monitored by us humans, search engines tend to give more "weight" to sites that are linked from reputable directories (not those link farms).

Here are the directories you need to get listed on:

DMOZ - Open Directory Project (which Google uses exclusively for their directory). YOU MUST be in this.
Yahoo! - Yes, you have to pay for this listing (for expediting), but just do it. It's worth it.
About.com - Find the right category and then email the editor. It can be hard to get listed here, but be persistent.

While it can take time to get listed in all of these, it is well worth the effort. Be patient, but also be persistent. If you don't see your listing up within a few weeks, submit your site again.

Search Engines vs. Directories

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 19:40:00 +0000

Before I even get into the process of search engine optimization, let's get back to the basics first.

What is a Search Engine?

Huge databases that help people find relevant information on the Internet.
Search engines rely on computer programs called "robots" or "spiders." These programs "crawl" across the web by following links from site to site and indexing each site they visit.
Each search engine uses its own set of criteria “algorithm” to decide what to include in its database.

What is a Directory?

Typically are categorial listings of websites that can be searched by a visitor.
Internet directories generally do not use software programs.
Compiled by humans who review and organize web sites by subject into categories.

Search Engines vs. Directories

Search engines use robots
Directories use people
Top search engines have both robots and people
Different factors are used for search engines than for directories

Seems simple enough you say. So, why do you need to know all of this? Well, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out!

Search Engine Optimization

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:18:00 +0000

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) seems to be a buzz word that is finally (thank goodness) hitting the small business world. My clients have started coming to me for my thoughts and recommendations on SEO. While I do offer a full search engine optimization service, I am usually more than happy to gush on about the seemingly simple, yet definitively complex process.

I have been doing search engine optimization since I started building web pages back in 1997. Of course that was when you did all of your optimization in the code (Title & META Tags). Today, the search engines have complex algorithms that evaluate hundreds of factors. This is great for web searchers as this ensures we get the best possible results. However, it is a nightmare for those of us trying to get our clients ranked on their desired keywords.

I now attend several search conferences a year (and have spoken at a few) and subscribe to numerous publications just to stay abreast with the latest changes. Google, for instance, changes its algorithms slightly several times a month (some say even daily).

So, over the next few weeks, I'm going to explain the entire process from soup to nuts. Additionally, I will also discuss the differences for brand new sites and sites that have been around for some time. I will try to keep it mostly high level, but I'm bound to get into the "weeds".

2007 Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 19:11:00 +0000

Happy New Year everyone. Hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and are ready for a fantastic 2007.

Other than fighting off another cold, we have been busy with several new clients, which I'll introduce to you over the next few weeks.

First, I wanted to share some of my 2007 business resolutions (it's always good to have some goals).

1) Make sure my desk is clean before I go home every night (I'll settle for every Friday).
2) Get new business cards printed (yes, I'm slacking on that).
3) Get my photography portfolio printed and hung in the office.
4) Attend more local business networking events.
5) Begin introducing Buckley to the office enivironment (Clementine is too bored)!

HP Photosmart C6180

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:24:00 +0000

Last week, I had the luxury of doing a wee-bit of shopping and I got the office a new printer!

I have been researching printers for the past couple of months and was just waiting for the right time (holiday sale-time) to buy one.

My requirements:

All-in-One (Print, Scan, Copy, Fax)
Print decent photographs
Fax
Multiple inks (usually better quality)
Easy networking

Pluses:

Document feeder
Separate tray for photo paper

So off I went in search of a new printer. I have always been partial to HP printers, but I have always hated their networking capabilities. After reading some reviews in my photography magazines and Cnet.com, their best best choice was the HP Photosmart C6180 (Retail $299).

I had already received discounts from HP (their price was $269) and Bestbuy had it for $239. WELLLL, I got it for a whopping $219 at Staples. I don't normally get great deals at Staples so I was pleasantly surprised to get such a good deal.

I even told a friend about it and they promptly went out this weekend and bought one which of course I got suckered into installing it for them.

The setup was relatively easy at the office. Took about an hour total to install and then another hour to install the software on each of the other computers. I will note that when I installed it at my friends house, they had a Mac and a PC. The setup took a little longer, but it was successful either way! I didn't care for all of the built-in image editing software, but that's mostly due to the fact that I use other software. I found that it tried to edit the photos when printing and made them fuzzy. So just be cautious and cognisant of that fact.

You can check out all of the details of the printer at Staples. Not sure if it is $219 on-line, but it was at our local store in Tilton, NH.

Password Manager & Form Filling Software

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 18:40:00 +0000

One of my goals of having this blog is to feature software that is useful to small businesses. I'm always looking for tools that make my job a little bit easier. Time = Money. So, I usually jump at the chance to save even a little bit of time.

If you are like me and visit many sites, more often than not, you will be required to create a username and password or fill out lengthy forms just to get their special email newsletter.

Now, for some sites - online banking, credit cards, PayPal, email, eBay, etc - this is essential. But for all of the others, it is just annoying and tedious. In enters RoboForm!

Essentially, RoboForm will save all of your usernames and passwords for you (called passcards). No more writing them on a sticky note slapped to your computer monitor (that's just bad). And don't just keep using the same password. RoboForm can generate one for you.

Additionally, you can create Profiles that will automatically fill out forms for you. For instance, I have one that is "Personal" that stores my home address, phone, and other information. My for "work" profile, stores my office address, work credit card, and other miscellaneous information.

So why is all of this better than using the built in browser form filler and password saver? It's secure! You have a master password that allows you unlock everything, so no prying eyes will be able to get at the information.

I have been using RoboForm for well over 3 years now. They even just launched RoboForm2Go, which allows you to load the program onto a USB stick and then you just carry your passwords around with you. It has been wonderful since I have multiple computers and for when I'm on the road. I just insert the USB stick on any computer and a popup will ask if I want to install RoboForm. Once you remove the stick, it removes the program and ALL of your information from that computer.

So how much is this amazing software? It's actually FREE (for up to 10 passcards). But if you are like me and visit a ridiculous amount of sites (I have more than 400 passcards), then just upgrade to the PRO version for $29.95. The portable version (which is what I use now), is only $19.95.

You can view addtional features (there are several) and download the software by visiting: http://www.roboform.com/

Phew, okay, I'm done selling you on this software. More software recommendations to come!

Keep those Deposit Slips!

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:29:00 +0000

After logging into my online bank account to pay bills today, I realized that a deposit from LAST WEEK was not showing up - at all! It wasn't even in the pending status. It was as if I never made the deposit, which of course put me into a mini state of panic.

I know it was a busy week, but I was positive I must have gone down to the bank. Could I really have forgotten to deposit money?

I knew I had enough money in the account to cover all of the bills, but money is money. Where the heck was it?

For the most part, I'm fairly organized (as I say that with a smirk), but finding receipts can be a challenge. Fortunately, I had not cleaned out my wallet yet, and I quickly found he bank deposit slip. I also found the photocopy of the actual check and the carbon copy of the actual deposit slip.

With that in hand, I called the Customer Service line. After going through numerous prompts, I simply pressed "0" which surprisingly still works to actually speak to a live person. The woman on the other end was quite pleasant, but she too had no record of the deposit and told me to go down to my bank where I made the deposit.

So, off I go down to the bank where dogs are allowed to come in! They do that in NH! Since it was noon-time, I again waited in line. Finally, I speak to the lovely teller and she says "Oh, yes, all deposits made last Thursday and Friday will not be posted until tonight." She kindly checked to ensure that this deposit was on that list, and it was.

The funny part was that she told me I could have saved a trip down here if I had called customer service. To which I replied, "I did call them. They sent me to you." Apparently, corporate customer service didn't get the memo!

LLC Formation

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 18:01:00 +0000

It's official, we are now legally WebGamut LLC! When I started this company nearly 10 years ago out of my dorm room at Nichols College, each year I would have a little line on my tax-return for DBA WebGamut earnings.

Though, cosmetically there is little difference, I will be saving money in taxes and my personal liability is now limited. When I decided to start WebGamut back up full-time, I should have just formed the LLC right away, but I kept it as a DBA as I was still working out of my house and there was just little old me.

When I went to get my business insurance that prompted the conversation about employees and interns. The insurance agent nearly insisted that I form an LLC if I was to hire employees (which we are planning to do in 2007).

So just after I moved into the new office space in August, I started the process of forming an LLC. I researched the process and it can get quite costly and cumbersome. I found an online service, LegalZoom, that was reasonably priced and handled all of the paperwork. While, their customer service was knowledgeable and friendly, they do have a few communication holes in their process. It turned out that my "order" was on hold, but I didn't realize that until I called to find out what the hold up was. They then told me that I had to "dissolve" my WebGamut DBA with the State of NH and then they could submit the application. Easy enough. I did that and everything has gone through now.

Now my challenge will be accounting for the year. I typically have done my own taxes (I was originally a double major in Accounting and Finance), but I think this year, I may have to seek out some accounting help with my added complexities. The last thing I want is to be penalized by the IRS (and we all know that happens).

Long story short, if you're starting out a business, save some headaches later on and form an LLC from the get-go.

Going Local

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:36:00 +0000

I have to admit that I LOVE a great deal and the convenience of buying everything online. However, having moved back to a small town and running a business that semi-relies on local patrons, I have to say that supporting local businesses has become a priority for me.

I can't say that I will always use local businesses, but in recent months, I seem to be reaching out to the locals for everything from signs to wine making to buying cheeses.

In addition to going local, the viral aspect has been wonderful. I do tend to be a chatterbug, but when talking with the local business owner about who I am, they may not need my services, but more often than not, they have referred someone else to me (without even really knowing me). Now that is pretty powerful!

Importance of Contact Management

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:37:00 +0000

Tis' the Season...This weekend was spent putting up the Christmas tree, decorating our house, and writing out Holiday Cards to all of our friends and family. As I began to populate the list for my business clients and associates, I realized that I did not have everyone's mailing address.

Historically, I have always sent a a holiday e-Card that I design. I will of course still continue that tradition, but I made a New Year's Resolution last year to send physical holiday cards. So, today, my task will be to rummage through my very large stack of business cards and start adding them to all of email records.

I am currently using MS Outlook for my Contact Management. I have thought about moving to something a bit more robust like ACT!, which is the only one that comes to mind right this very moment, but with any new tool that takes time. My other option is to buy a card scanner for $100 to read all of my business cards so that I can just push a button after it has digitally scanned them in.

Another choice I could use is to utilize an online business networking/contact management services like LinkedIn, Plaxo or Ryze. I am currently a member of LinkedIn and Plaxo and it has been great for business networking and getting updates from old colleagues who change companies. Unfortunately, I still think that as a full contact management software, going online is still a bit cumbersome and not something that fits my workstyle just yet.

Nonetheless, I have learned and am sharing with you that it is very important to keep your records curent no matter what business you are in. It will make your life that much easier. Perhaps that should be YOUR New Year's Resolution!

5 Creative Business Holiday Gift Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Gina) — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:51:00 +0000

As a child, I loved being the center of attention and standing out from the crowd. Being an entrepreneur in a relatively overcrowded field, being unique has been a tremendous asset.

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been jotting down some creative holiday gift ideas to send to my clients. Here are my top five ideas:

Custom Labeled Homemade Wine
This is a gift for your best customers or clients. It will really wow them and keep them talking for months. If you've never made your own wine, the process is surprisingly easy and relatively cheap. Even with buying a kit from your local store and the base ingredients, the cost per bottle is roughly $4-6 and each batch yields roughly 30 bottles. You can then make your own custom labels to include your logo and other information. The actual time from fermentation to bottling is roughly 4-6 weeks and then depending on the kit you buy, the wine will be drinkable in 2-6 months. Don't have the time to make your own? There are retailers that will sell their wine and you simply slap a label on it!
Homemade Rootbeer or Gingerale
Following on the same theme, if you know your client or customer doesn't drink alcohol, opt to make your own rootbeer or gingerale. The process only takes a few days and can be made with items around the house. Again, the personal time you put into this will surely impress your client.
Chocolate Bar with your Logo
At my wife's company holiday party, at each seat, there was a handmade bar of chocolate with the company's logo on it. While waiting to get served, we all decided to open it up and it was surprisingly good (and I'm pretty fussy about my chocolate). You could also easily make this yourself if you had a mold created from your logo or a stamp. Otherwise, look for a local bakery or chocolate maker.
Movie Tickets or Theater Tickets
One of the best gifts I received from a vendor were movie tickets. Nearly everyone enjoys going to the movies. The only thing the vendor did wrong was that they sent two tickets for two employees. Send enough tickets to EACH contact at the company so they can bring their loved ones.
Donate to a Charity in Their Name
Unless you know of a local or focused charity that your customer supports, I would suggest donating to a larger national organization. Either way, this is a great way to give a present without cluttering up their desk with a bunch of trinkets.

These are just a few of the ideas that I came up with. Hopefully these will come in handy or at least get your creative juices flowing. Also, if you have any ideas, please leave a comment for other readers.

Just remember...whether you simply send a holiday card with a personal note or go all out and brew your own wine, taking the time to give thanks to your client, customer or vendor will leave a lasting impression for the year ahead.