Highlights from my February 8, 2010 appearance on FOX Business News’ Your Questions, Your Money, including details about the Teleflora Super Bowl ad and discussion of the behind-the-scenes footage with Don Rickles.

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Good morning, Lynda,

Greetings from beautiful Australia. I am a Canadian ex-pat who lives in Bendigo, Victoria. We have the only regional ice rink in Victoria, and I am a volunteer with the rink. We offer figure skating, ice hockey, curling, and recreational skating at the rink. Last year, we started a new under-13-year-old ice hockey team called the Wildcats. We are organising to host the first (more…)

Dear Lynda,

A close friend recently suggested I read Rubies in the Orchard to supplement my Communication Studies classes at Northwestern University. Needless to say, I loved it! I am currently a senior at NU and believe product branding is a thrilling field and am passionate about incorporating consumer insight to build and transform a brand across trends and time. The advice, anecdotes, and accessibility (more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Zoomerang
Why It’s a Gem: Traditional methods of market research get tossed out the browser window as the Internet offers cheaper, faster methods

Not so long ago, businesses had to shuck out tens of thousands of dollars to learn what their customers thought of their product or new idea. Not only that, but it could take months – even years – before they saw results.

In recent Ruby Tuesdays, we’ve seen how the Internet is making the marketplace a level playing field by introducing technologies that are affordable to businesses of all sizes. From legal documents to customer service, businesses have a wide array of options to replace the antiquated methods of the past. This week, we see how one company has helped revolutionize the way businesses do market research. (more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Ning
Why It’s a Gem: Creating an online community used to cost a small fortune; now it’s affordable for businesses of all sizes

Value. Unique selling proposition. Community/transparency. I refer to these three concepts as the Three Gems, the pillars on which any business must be built if it hopes to grow and survive.

When most people think of the third gem, the first brands that spring to mind are Twitter and Facebook – both wonderful tools, but they comprise only two pieces of the social-networking puzzle. Ning brings the picture one step closer to completion, with an affordable solution that has helped millions of small businesses build social networks that are big on community and small on cost. (more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Shmaltz Brewing Company
Why It’s a Gem: Creating a story – with humor – that appeals to all faiths gave an added boost to a craft beer of divine quality

Even before the Great Recession, small businesses knew that if they were to compete against the big guys, they had to stand out. One way to do so was by telling their story – of the company’s creation, their philanthropic ties, their unique ingredients – in order to appeal to an audience that might otherwise have been lured away by the big-budget marketing campaigns of larger competitors.

That’s precisely what Shmaltz Brewing Company did. By creating a brand tied to a heritage, Jeremy Cowan’s brainchild tapped into a ready-made tale thousands of years in the making – and they do it all with a hearty dose of humor.
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Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Zipcar
Why It’s a Gem: Harnessing cutting-edge technology has allowed one green-minded company to overtake – and take over – its competition

As the national zeitgeist begins to embrace both environmentalism and thriftiness, Zipcar finds itself at quite a profitable intersection. The rent-as-you-go car company has developed a business model so successful that they’ve convinced some Americans to give up their most prized possession: their cars. (more…)

Dear Lynda,

I’m an adult ed teacher for Photoshop and photo classes. If we don’t get a minimum number of students, we’ll get a vacation instead. Curious if you might have suggestions for promoting my classes. (more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Get Satisfaction
Why It’s a Gem: One website helps both companies and their customers with an improved customer-service experience

Many small businesses put customer service on the back burner not because they don’t believe in it, but because it’s just too darn time consuming. But one website is changing that. Get Satisfaction is using technology to build communities that save both companies and customers time, money, and a whole lot of hair-pulling.

Any entrepreneur who has ever lamented the time spent performing redundant customer-service tasks needs to examine Get Satisfaction’s wide range of tools – or stop calling himself an entrepreneur. (more…)

When money is tight, the first thing consumers cut from their budgets are “luxury” items (the $4 after-lunch latte, a new iPod) and services they perceive they can do themselves (hair coloring, car washing). But with a simple tweak in pricing options, service-oriented businesses probably won’t see much of a drop in business.

In this week’s Ask Lynda, a masseuse looks to readjust her pricing plan to keep clients — and even expand her customer base. (more…)