Please use this link to register for the webinar.

Our apologies. We have updated the post with the correct link to register for the webinar.

### Copied From The Original Post ###

As we gather up documents to complete our taxes (in the US), it’s a great time to look at our business and make plans for 2012. This hour-long webinar will walk you through what figures to include in your plan and provides some basic workheets to create a quarterly or a yearly plan.

Date: March 6, 2012
Time: 6pm CST (4pm PST, 5pm MST, 7pm EST
Duration: 1 hour or a bit longer
Cost $10 (proceeds to go to pagan packs)

About the presenter: Mary Wilson is the owner and admin of Pagan Packs and runs Jupiter Gardens, LLC. She is a big believer in planning and goals and finds using these methods help her in her own business. Planning can take your business from “hobby” to “business” status, and can help you achieve your dreams. She hopes that those who attend will find her methods easy to understand, helpful, and a way to help all attendees achieve their goals!

Please click this link to go to paypal and register for the webinar. Thank you!

Paypal registration link.

Hello Everyone! I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Kimberly LoSavio ~ aka Gypsy Rose. I’ve been a member of the Pagan Packs yahoo group since July of 2006 and I’ve been part of the moderating staff since 2008. I’ve been blogging since 2007, starting with Blogger, than discovering WordPress. I’ve not used any other blogging platform since.  And I would like to tell you why I use WordPress.

The WordPress blogging platform officially began December 26th, 2003! And, to date, it’s been installed over 22 MILLION times … 22,000,000 — that’s a big number. HUGE! I’m biased and subjective, but this easily shows that WP is more popular than all the other blogging platforms. You can read more about the history of WordPress at http://wordpress.org/about/.

But, Gypsy, WHY are you biased and subjective? Why is WordPress your favorite? Here are my top 5 reasons:

• I can self host WordPress on my own domain — my hosting service has this awesome “One-Click Install” so all I have to do is click on WordPress in my list of goodies, tell it where I want it to go and within a few minutes I get my happy welcome email to set up my new WP install! Woot!
• The WordPress software is FREE! — really?? Who doesn’t LOVE free??
• It;s is completely ready to go, literally out-of-the-box, in about 5 minutes — I suggest using your hosting service to install WP to your domain, especially if you have absolutely NO coding experience at all! However, you can install it yourself — at your own risk, of course. And here’s a great link to help you: http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress#Famous_5-Minute_Install
• It’s completely open source, licensed under the GPL (General Public License).
• WordPress is THE BEST way to build websites dynamically without hiring a web developer/designer! — Of course, I’m a designer so I have the know-how to tweak any theme how I want.

Here are some other good reasons to use WordPress:

• It’s so easy to change with your own growth and changes — you can add and remove so many things so easily. You can change your theme to  fit your style. You can brand it for your business! But WordPress grows with you! I love that!!
• Plugins … Plugins … Plugins — for anything and everything! And if you can’t find a plugin that suits your needs, find a developer who can create one for you … or better yet, if you are a coding nerd, write one of your own
• The WordPress Codex (http://codex.wordpress.org/) — “the online manual for WordPress and a living repository for WordPress information and documentation.” — quoted from the site itself.
• There are huge amounts of resources all over the internet about WordPress, including free themes and how-to written and video tutorials all about WordPress.
• It’s been around for over 8 years — I personally don’t see it losing popularity any time soon!
• There are so many themes on the web for WordPress, both free and premium, one can have their blogsite look however they want without tweaking the design in any way!

I can’t tell you what platform to use, or even to use CMS (content management system) software for your website. All I can do is tell you about what I use and why I use it. Do your own research and do what is best for your business; choose a platform that will grow you and with your needs. WordPress has everything I need for all my venues, and it will grow with me as I move forward into my many adventures!

Don’t miss my next post about Free vs Self-hosting your blog — the pros and cons!  Coming soon!

Like this post? Want to use it for your next ezine or repost it to your own blog? No problem. Just attach the following blurb to the end of my post and you are good to go! ~ “Kimberly LoSavio ~ aka Gypsy Rose ~ owns, writes for, and runs Blogging w/ Gypsy @ Gypsy’s Treasures and GRT Web Design. She’s a full-time mom to 5 great kids ~ 2 adult children (22 & 20), 2 teenagers (18 & 16) and one infant; a full-time wife of 2 years; solopreneur ~ web designer, WordPress Geek, Social Media Butterfly; Crafty candle-maker, seamstress, and so much more. If you enjoyed this article, please visit her site at http://www.gypsystreasures.com.“

Talk to many different business owners and you’ll hear most of them say that they want to build their business. Very few people are happy where things are in their business, and if they are, then they still should probably look and see if there are ways to grow. We should always be moving, always be growing because stagnation leads to a lack of forward movement and eventually a slow decline.

But what are you doing to build your business? What educational opportunities are you taking advantage of?

Besides this entire blog, there are many great sites with lots of awesome posts about blogging, branding, marketing, and selling. These are great resources and are perfect to follow.

But sometimes, we need to step out a bit, join a group, become part of an industry organization, take classes.

You should always find classes that appeal to you and that will help you with your business. Not sure about marketing? There are classes for that. Not sure about business planning?

Funny you should ask. Pagan Packs will be hosting a business webinar on March 6 talking about using the numbers you’ve gathered this tax season to begin to plan your next twelve months. All the details are here and I hope to see you there.

A question was posed to me last week and it made me stop and think. It probably shouldn’t have, but I bet if someone asked you that you’d have to stop and think too.

If you could do anything in the world, what would you do to make you happy?

Think about it…. make a list if you have to….but then cross off all those things on the list that you do for others or to sell to others and make sure you’re left with what you do for you….

Do you still have a list?It’s one thing for a sole proprietor to think “I sell candles.” (Or whatever…. this is just what popped into my mind, possibly because I was talking with someone about candles the other day) And it’s quite possible, in fact very likely, that this person loves making candles. There’s a lot of satisfaction in getting the wax, the fragrance, the color just right, label it, and watch someone’s eyes light up as the smell the candle and love it as much as you do. And that’s awesome. It really is.

But looking beyond the “I love making candles to sell” what makes this person happy. It could be many things.

Staying home with kids to take care of them or home school.
Setting her own hours.
Working part time and working from home.
Creating something.

Ahh….creating something…now we’re getting somewhere.

It’s important for each proprietor to drill down and find this core belief, this core thing that makes him or her happy. Why? Because when the going gets tough, this is what will get you through. All the planning, all the spreadsheets in the world won’t mean the pixels used to create them or the paper they’re printed on when life sucks and you need to find an inner core of strength to continue.

So spend some time thinking about what makes you happy and how that relates to your chosen business. For me, I love using my skills and gifts to help others. The helping others makes me happy, but more importantly to me, it’s using the skills and gifts without reservation or censure. It’s doing what I want to do, reaching out in my own way, that is what makes me happy. And that is a strong foundation on which to build a business. Once you find your happiness, you’ll have your foundation, too. Happy happiness hunting!

Since our community can be such a close-knit one there are times when we will do work for those close to us. If we’re a trades-person, then perhaps we’ll do work for a family or a friend. We might seal the deal with a handshake or trust that the other person’s word is good. And most times everything happens without a problem. But, sometimes, such as during a construction project, unforeseen things happen. Projects get more involved, or life interferes, or the lines of what should happen get blurred, and what then? As any good business person knows, it’s always good to put things in writing.

One of my “guilty” pleasures is watching Holmes on Homes on the DIY network. One of the reasons why I love his show is because he goes in and “makes it right.” He fixes an oftentimes horrible situation with contractors and work not done properly (or safely) and makes a beautiful resolution, generally ending the show with much appreciation and hugs. I’m a home improvement show junkie anyway, and something like this, where there is always a happy, positive ending thanks to the generosity of Mike Holmes and is crew–well it’s just feel good TV. One of the things he says is “did you have a contract?” “was it in writing?”

Putting things in writing as a business person does not mean that bad things will happen. Quite the contrary, putting something in writing means that the transaction has set boundaries and will come out positively for those involved. If you say “I will reside your house for $X and do it in Y number of weeks,” then both parties know what’s expected. Expectations are good when set properly.

You don’t need a long, legal contract. If you have concerns, obviously you should consult with the appropriate professional, but even an email chain that spells things out is good, so long as both parties agree. Part of being a professional business person is being willing to put contracts to writing. That’s part of protecting yourself, your business, and your client base. The other party shouldn’t see your request as wanting to protect yourself, because in all honesty, that contract protects the customer, too.

We all do things “being nice” or “as a favor.” There’s nothing wrong with that. But the next time you do, think about putting a little something in writing. Your business will be glad you did.

As we gather up documents to complete our taxes (in the US), it’s a great time to look at our business and make plans for 2012. This hour-long webinar will walk you through what figures to include in your plan and provides some basic workheets to create a quarterly or a yearly plan.

Date: March 6, 2012
Time: 6pm CST (4pm PST, 5pm MST, 7pm EST
Duration: 1 hour or a bit longer
Cost $10 (proceeds to go to pagan packs)

About the presenter: Mary Wilson is the owner and admin of Pagan Packs and runs Jupiter Gardens, LLC. She is a big believer in planning and goals and finds using these methods help her in her own business. Planning can take your business from “hobby” to “business” status, and can help you achieve your dreams. She hopes that those who attend will find her methods easy to understand, helpful, and a way to help all attendees achieve their goals!

Please click this link to go to paypal and register for the webinar. Thank you!

Paypal registration link.

Mine's Secure ~ Is Yours?

It’s obvious that I’m a HUGE Word Press advocate. So, moving forward as a featured Guest blogger at Pagan Packs, please assume that when I blog about plugins, themes, tips and tricks and anything directly related to a blogging platform, I am writing about self-hosted Word Press blogs.

Today’s post is about blog security. This post was originally published at Blogging w/Gypsy @ Gypsy’s Treasures on January 5th, 2012.

Keeping Your Blog Secure

Blog security is very important. Here are a few tips I’d like to share and some WordPress plugin suggestions that I use myself. I use WordPress for all my blogging needs, so moving forward, all my tips, tricks and advice will refer to WP unless otherwise noted.

TIPS

• Make sure you set your username to something other than “ADMIN” — be creative here, as well. Using upper and lower case letters as well as numbers will make your username and password all the more “hackproof”.
• ALWAYS keep your blog up to date. It’s okay to wait about a week or so with updates to the latest versions, as sometimes there are some tweaks and issues that come up and another new version becomes available. I update plugins and themes immediately when there are notifications to updates, however I tend to wait about a week or so with the WP version updates.
• When you are choosing plugins, check their last update and if they are compatible with the version of WP you are using. Most often popular plugins are kept up to date with new version releases. But if it hasn’t been updated in a very long time, odds are you don’t want it. All the plugins I use for my blog are recommended by trusted sources.
• Did I mention, ALWAYS keep your blog up to date? I did? Okay … just making sure 
• Back up your blog regularly. I have added a reminder in my phone’s calendar (I love my MyTouch Q LOL) that tells me to back up once a month. It is wise to back up your blog every time you add a new plug-in as well … just in case. (Knock on wood) You can choose to back up more or less often. It really depends on what you are using your blog for.
• NEVER share your username and password with others! One of the awesome things about Word Press is that you can add new users with different roles, including Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor and Subscriber — all with different levels of access to your dashboard. As far as I’m concerned, the ONLY person who should have access to this information is your spouse/significant other.

Most of this is common sense, it is just nice to have a reminder.

PLUGINS I USE

• Secure WordPress and WP Security Scan by Web Defender – One of the things I like best about these 2 plugins (they work in tandem) is that I get alerts about suspicious hacker activity, and it tells me when I’ve made any updates to my plugins, themes and WP version. Web Defender’s blog also has great articles that helps you keep your blogsite secure.
• Better WP Security by Bit51 – the biggest reason I chose to use this plugin was to change my user from “admin” … yep, I fell into that trap. And this plugin saved me from having to delete my entire WP and start over, as you cannot change your admin name once it’s in place. With this plugin, you CAN! The only downside was that when I went through the settings, I did not realize I locked myself out of being able to edit the php files. That caused a brief headache, but after going through everything, I unchecked the option and now have access to “Editor” under “Appearance” LOL

Please keep in mind that you don’t have to do everything each plug-in suggests. And some options I would leave alone if you have no clue about coding. I’ve been coding sites for over 10 years and there was stuff I left alone so I don’t screw up my site. HAHA

*** BACK UP BACK UP BACK UP — before you apply each new plugin. Just a friendly reminder ***

Do you have some favorite plugins or security tips you would like to share? Please use the comment box below! I would love to read about them!!

image credit: http://mrg.bz/mkHwjk

** If you would like to repost this article on your blog, please visit Blogging w/ Gypsy @ Gypsy’s Treasures FAQ page for more information. **

Do you have direction? When it comes to getting from point A to point B with your business, or getting through the quarters and the years, do you know where you’re going?

It’s a simple, and yet very complex, question at the same time.

Do you really know? And if you don’t, how do you find direction?

People have written books, volumes, and reams on this topic, because most business professionals will tell you that you have to have direction. And if we take this into the realm of metaphysics, then you need to have a vision, a mental image of where you want to be, if you are going to get there. And you have to hang onto it like a teething baby hangs on to his or her teething ring (and his or her mom hangs onto the baby orajel, LOL!), if you’re going to make it manifest.

So do you have direction?

I can tell you that you do have direction if the following things happen:

1. You can picture yourself working your business five years from now and you know exactly what you will be doing.

2. You wake up with new ideas for growing your business or connecting with new customers

3. You are passionate about your business when you talk to other people about it.

If you don’t have direction, how do you get it? Well that is the subject for another post.

What can you do with your direciton? Honestly, you can do anything.

Are you blogging for you business?

** This article is republished by Gypsy, owner of  Blogging w/ Gypsy @ Gypsy’s Treasures. **

I’ve been blogging on and off since roughly around 2007, but over the past 2 years I have discovered just how important blogging CAN be for any business. It’s amazing how it falls right there along side using the social networks as well. With the internet being as vast as it is, every business owner MUST find ways to get their business out there and in front of people. And blogging is one of those ways.

Here are MY 5 Reasons for blogging for your business

1. Builds Relationships ~ Whether you include personal things in your business blog or not, readers get to know you and as they read more of your posts and keep coming back to your blog, this in turn builds trust.
2. Expands Your Reach ~ If readers like what you posted, can relate to it somehow, or feel emotional attached to your subject matter, they WILL share it! (Do you have social sharing buttons on your blog? If not, I suggest you install them. Stay tuned for my post about social sharing later this week. Better yet, use that “Subscribe” box over there on the top right and you won’t miss a post ever!)
3. Grow Your List ~ One of your biggest goals is to build your mailing list. The more subscribers you have, the more chance you have of your readers to buy something from you. This is why a newsletter is so important … I better get on that! LOL
4. Shows Expertise ~ Sharing with your readers what you know and what you can do helps show you are an expert in your niche. What’s your niche? What do you do? Share it, teach it … but get it out there.
5. Establishes Credibility ~ With this comes the trust and loyalty you build with your expertise and customer relationships. (These would be my #1 and #4 reasons.)

Hmmm .. funny how most of these same reasons hold true for having a social media presence such as a Facebook Page, a Google+ Page, or a Twitter account. But I’ll save that for another post

What are your best reasons to blog? If you don’t blog yet, I’d like to hear why. Have any questions about blogging for your business? Use the comment box below! I will answer them for you!

** If you would like to repost this article on your blog, please visit Blogging w/ Gypsy @ Gypsy’s Treasures FAQ page for more information. **

Business Name:

Blogging with Gypsy at Gypsy’s Treasures ~ A Place to Find Treasures of ALL Kinds!
GRT Web Design ~ It’s Like Magick!

Business URL:

http://www.gypsystreasures.com
http://www.grtwebdesign.com

Facebook/Twitter/Other Social Networking Sites:

FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/bloggingwithgypsy
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/grtshoppe
Google+: http://plus.google.com/u/0/102303419325283486659/posts

What is your primary line of business?

Blogging with Gypsy is my blogging outlet. There are so many Pagan businesses out there that think they need to have a shop set up right away to start selling their wares and then they wonder why their website/shop is not making sales. Blogging is a great way to help potential clients/customers get to know you, to build a relationship with you, as well as getting to know the products/services you are offering.

I share tips and tricks about using Word Press. I write about crafts I am doing and will be offering. I sew, crochet, make candles, design blogsites among other things. I share resources, websites and other goodies. I also share my own experiences, in hopes that it will help inspire other Pagans to find ways to share their knowledge with others.

GRT Web Design is primarily to build a working blogsite for personal use or for business using WordPress for clients. The beauty with WordPress is that you do not need to have the blog if you do not want to, although I strongly encourage blogging to help get more traffic to your site. I design logos, custom design WP themes to match logos, as well as help clients set up their social network.

What can you offer customers that others cannot? Or how can you add value to your customers’ orders?

On my Blogging with Gypsy blog, I share the knowledge I have to encourage other Pagans, whether in business or not, to blog or start a blog and get their words out there. I like to share my own experiences and resources with making my own crafts to encourage others that it can be done. I want to let people know that you can be a mom, be a wife and work at home doing what you love.

At GRT Web Design, I encourage others that WordPress is not just for blogging; that it’s a fantastic content management system that can be used for websites only and as an eCommerce option as well. I help set the foundation to a solid social network and provide the tools or resources to help use that foundation to grow and build on.

When/How did you get started? Tell us a bit about your history.

I got into graphic design and website design in 1999 when I got my first computer, with no formal education. Just surfed the net and learned J I used drag and drop programs, but I really preferred hard coding them myself. In 2005 I began my own online business called Gypsy Rose Treasures and discovered shopping carts. I learned how to totally redesign my own cart. But I was never really happy with it because it still was such a static site, except for when I added new pages or products. Then I discovered the “art” of blogging and WordPress! This opened a whole new world for me. At the time I started taking web design classes and received my certificate in Web Design in the fall of 2009! Yay!!

By fall of 2010 I was heading down a new path – steering away from static sites and sites using shopping carts. I was discovering how easy it was to use WordPress for more than just blogging sites. I was just beginning to start building up my web design business and my husband and I found out we were having a baby. Life sometimes has a way of putting things on hold. LOL After baby William was born in July of 2011, I got back into designing and started blogging regularly again. Now you can find me at Gypsy’s Treasures blogging and helping clients through GRT Web Design.

Do you have any specials you’d like to share?

Please visit http://www.gypsystreasures.com and sign up for my newsletter “Blogging with Gypsy”.

Do you have any upcoming plans or exciting things coming up in the future for your business?

I am excited about being a regular guest blogger at Pagan Packs (http://www.paganpacks.com). I will be adding hand crafted one-of-a-kind items to Gypsy’s Treasures.