Posted on 22nd October 2010 by suem in What's New
The New Hartford Business Council announces the launch of their new website www.NewHartfordBusinessCouncil.org. This is their latest initiative to support the retention and growth of New Hartford area businesses. Since 1987, the NHBC has worked tirelessly to promote networking and community activities among their members and neighboring businesses with the goal of fostering a positive business environment and creating opportunities for people to spend their dollars locally.
Through the combined efforts of the Business Council’s website committee members, Philip Havens, Tina Rice and Dawn Whalen, the website was created to further promote their 23 year mission. The site will contain a member directory and NHBC members will be profiled on a rotating basis. www.NewHartfordBusinessCouncil.org was built on a content management system allowing the council to keep site visitors updated on the latest news and events.
“The New Hartford Business Council initiated this effort because we understand that the success of our local business owners affects us all,” said Dawn Whalen, New Hartford Business Council President. “For New Hartford to continue to be a great town for families and businesses, we all must take responsibility and show our support.”
The NHBC’s Board of Directors, along with a variety of volunteer committees, works diligently to provide their members business visibility, networking opportunities, marketing support, member-to-member discounts and much more.
They have recently joined efforts with the Canton Chamber of Commerce to boost the number of business contacts and offer membership discounts through both organizations. In 2010, the NHBC was proud to announce they had reached their 100th member and are currently accepting applications. Downloadable applications are available on their website as well as information about fall networking events.
If you’d like more information about the New Hartford Business Council, or to schedule an interview with Dawn Whalen, please call (860) 238-7142 or e-mail NHBusinessCouncil@yahoo.com
Posted on 13th October 2010 by suem in Free Range Friday
It’s that time of year again in New England. The trees sport Autumn hues and drop their leaves and the chill in the air reminds you to put an extra blanket on your bed. Being a Connecticut native, as much as I enjoy fall with it’s warm days and cool evenings, it is a reminder of our inevitable winters. Like many Nutmeggers, the signs of fall compel me to “be prepared” as the Boy Scouts would say. Aside from canning, stocking up on wood or pellets, and changing windows from screen to storm, the winter wardrobe comes out of storage.
I am not one of the fortunate ones with a closet large enough to hold every season’s cloths and shoes. So this weekend, it was time to organize my fall and winter gear. Capri pants and cute summer tees gave way to long pants and cozy sweaters. While deciding what to pack and what should go where, my thoughts turned to the correlation between this activity and business websites. I may just be in need of a vacation, but it made perfect sense to me at the time.
With a husband, three boys and a part and full time job, time is one of my most precious commodities and most Americans are in the same boat. I want to be able to walk into my closet and find exactly what I want at my fingertips. It must be orderly and logical. Digging through piles of cloths to find what to wear is a sure way to change my mood from cheerful to nasty.
No matter the business you’re in, your website is usually not the only one offering the products and services you provide. Having a reported 9-second window of opportunity, first impressions are everything. You may be the best in your field but your website should not feel like a scavenger hunt. If visitors feel you are wasting their time, they will find another website that won’t.
So if you feel visitor to your website have to dig through a pile of minutiae to find out who you are and what you do and the next logical step, whether that be contacting you or purchasing your products, it is time to organize your “closet”. It is a sure way to attract new business and create happy customers
