I’m back to work in full swing having spent part of last week in NYC on business and the weekend enjoying the city. I’ve not been to Manhattan in three years and was amazed at how much it has changed: New buildings, new shops, more Times Square (If that is even possible!). I posted the article by Mariela Dabbah just before I left for all those Mujeres who took time to visit this site during their long weekend.

Today, I’m ready to get back to MCAE business having just received ‘enjoy!’ in the mail. This book written by Gini Graham talks about ways (101 to be exact) to put a little spark into our every day work routines. I will be interviewing Gini Graham later this week for Mujeres Chat. Speaking of which, don’t miss the posting of Mujeres camino al exito on the Minority Business Development Association site (click here) where I interviewed Linda Marmolejo, regional director.

Also, I recently interviewed Luis Eladio Perez, former senator of Colombia who spent seven years sequestered by the FARC in the company of Ingrid Betancourt, the former presidential candidate from Colombia. During our interview it was clear that this horrific experience has changed him in many ways and that living, family and the small pleasures of life is something he will never take for granted. I was honored to have this survivor share his time with me and I will share our chat with you as well.

In less than three months the Mujer Latina, un Dia para Ti event will take place in Chicago. This year, Neida Sandoval from Despierta America will deliver the keynote. I’m hoping she’ll chat with MCAE prior to the event so stay tuned.

I pulled a quote from a featured guest who said the office of the future will not involve a 5 x 5 cube space but rather the freedom to be anywhere.

Technology has evolved to the point where we must take active steps to become incommunicado vs. the other way around. Think about it, the world is right there in your blackberry or Palm in my case, but same thing. We can’t escape an email, a phone call, an alert, news update, etc. It’s like a business appendix. So crazy is it in fact that workaholics don’t know when to stop, during a recent vacation my friend lay in the next bed at 3:00 a.m. emailing back and forth with parts of the world on business hours. She works in global mergers and acquisitions so for her there’s literally no boundaries. But my point is, the office of the future is you and your gadgets, punto.

Working from home makes perfect sense: no expensive space leasing, office equipment, parking costs, etc. This will also allow employees to better balance their life since being at home allows them to manage things they’d need to take time off to do like meeting the plumber to fix that leak or the pest control.

There will be things to miss like office potlucks and borrowing someone’s stapler when yours gets stuck but the pros outnumber the cons. I believe in productivity and it does not matter how or where that happens, if you come to the table with a good idea, a solid execution, or a viable solution why shouldn’t you be sitting at your desk in your wonder woman PJ’s and bunny slippers when you’re presenting it?

Today as I put gas in my car at a gasp inducing $4.12 a gallon a man with a very long stick was replacing the 1 and the 2 on the sign with a 2 and a 5. Within minutes of my fill, gas was $4.25. I drove away, like many other Americans, feeling despair the ever expanding pinch in my wallet.

So what’s a small business owner to do when economic factors force us to stretch our dollar even further? This is part two of my post on promoting a small business on a limited budget. Yes, it can be done and done well. In this post I want to focus on the new trend that is Internet and social media coupled with good old networking.

1)      Website: I won’t lie, managing a website can become a nightmare if you don’t have the right person, appropriate application and management system. I hear it all the time: My web developer is MIA, my website has not been updated in months, I can’t get my web designer to deliver on time, etc. etc. Despite these hurdles having an online presence is one of the most effective and low cost ways to get the word out. Sites like Blogger, Wordpress, and Blogspot allow you to create your own template and manage your own updates.

2)      Online social networks are great ways connect and make key contacts. Check out: MySpace.com, LinkedIn.com, Facebook.com, Plaxo.com,  and Flickr.com all of which have been recommended to me by their users.

3)      If you like to write consider blogging and guest blogging on people’s site. This is win-win all around. Sites like this one are always looking for experts that tie in with their theme to contribute in return for free publicity. So for example, if you have a story to share about your journey to success Mujeres camino al exito wants to hear it. This approach is true for many other sites (see our blog roll for ideas). So go on girl, toot your horn and get the support of all from us in return.

4)      Community presence on behalf of our company is a great way to build credibility, support our community and make some valuable contacts. Non profits are always looking for volunteer, or volunteer committee members.  It takes time and commitment but worth every second and ounce of effort. If you’re in Chicago we’re looking for new members on for the March of Dimes committee. Any takers?

For some great tips on networking tactics visit Mujeres Chat and listen to  my interview with author Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias.

During a recent conversation I was presented with a sponsorship package for Mujeres camino al éxito. The event was good the price tag was not. During my career in advertising and public relations when I managed top brands from Chase Home Finance to Unilever and at&t I would have matched the cost against a designated budget that often ran in the millions. However, as a small business owner I have very few digits in my advertising budget and most of the time it’s only one: $0. This does not mean small business owners are destined to languish on the underground tunnels of the unknown it only means we look for alternate, low cost promos that yield high returns. Here are five things that have worked for me and some of my fellow entrepreneurs:

- Brand yourself: A visual way to stand out is imperative to allow your clients to tell you apart from the clutter. Once they get to know you and have a good experience with your service/product  they’ll associate you with a “good thing”. Think of those “good thing” triggers in past experiences you’ve had. Is it that Starbucks or Gamesa logo? It is target’s red and white?

- Make a simple statement of who and what you are: I often find websites or companies that seem interesting but become frustrated when I don’t quickly know what they are about. It’s like meeting someone at a networking event and not getting a straight answer as to what industry they work in. This leads to questions like “So, you design furniture covers? No? Oh, is it furniture then? No?”

- Offer subscription to a free newsletter: This can be electronic with many companies like Constant Contact, Emma, etc. that offer turn-key services. What you include is: Tips that tie your product with the needs of your clients, for example if you are have a dry-cleaning service include a pieces on 3 best products to keep that red wine stain from setting in. Then you can either sell the products at your store or send them to where they can buy them. Also news about your business: What new offers are you running, upgrades, innovations, new staff? It helps you add a personal touch like a message from the owner, editor, manager, etc. include a memorable sign off.

- Create a community among your customers: I once read about a store owner who posted photos of his single customers looking to be matched with other single customers. This created media buzz for the store and a community of customers that kept coming back.

- Remember special occasions: Many people don’t want to share too much personal information but we're willling to tell you about our favorite color or food, what city we like to travel to etc. find ways to tie this to your product so special promotions can be more relevant to your customers.

Which leads me to the special promotion: Give your customers reasons to visit your site/business/contact you. The offer should be relevant or it just ends up annoying them. For example, the salon I used to go ran pretty weak promos that usually involved a 10% discount on their overpriced products with any purchase of $100 or more worth of services. Why would I spend more than I had to to get a 10% discount on something I don't need? Sorry, I’m not a client anymore for other reasons but that didn’t help keep me there either.

Beginnings are always good, they hold promise and optimism. Relationships are always great at the start: loves, friendships, etc.; Vacations are so good when it’s just the beginning with a full itinerary to be explored. With new jobs, the “honeymoon” period is great and most conversations begin with “We’re thrilled to have you join our company!”

Being an entrepreneur, however, at the beginning of our journey is quite different. We’re at the very bottom of a very tall mountain, sometimes with make-shift equipment and a small or no team. Funds are limited or non-existent and we become something of a small business MacGyver making tools out of safety pins and rubber bands. Sheila Marmon, founder of Urban AdServe assertively exclaimed “entrepreneurship is not for the faint hearted” during a Mujeres Chat segment. Her sentiment is echoed in the words of the late Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop who talks about the entrepreneurial mindset as being “obsessive”. Precisely, that obsession drives those of us who are just starting out to overcome the many obstacles we encounter.

The good news is that today, more women of color are making huge inroads in small business with 2.4 million small business owned 50% or more by a woman of color. In this week’s Mujeres Weekly we meet two women who give shape to this statistic. Sheila Marmon and Monica Flores are taking their passion online with businesses that focus on the endless potential of online technology. Both are incredibly smart women who are pairing their passion with ethical entrepreneurship.

The thing about doing “your thing” is exactly that, it’s yours and though the beginning is a challenge the rewards go far beyond the monetary remuneration. I sometimes pick up a trade publication and read about a former colleague who has launched his/her own business. They tell me they work twice as hard but love it ten times more. Much like a mountain climber, some see the impossible steep incline and prefer an alternate route, others see a pinnacle waiting to be conquered. There really is no right or wrong path only a destination that is where you want to be.