Small Business Boomers

Shopping online isn’t simply for seniors and boomers. 
Those with health issues have found this method of shopping very handy, as one of my readers explained.  It’s also interesting to note the reaction of her “senior” father, too.
I’m 44 and have a health condition which is starting to limit my mobility. Online shopping rocks! No long walks just to get from the parking lot in the door. No standing around while the salesclerk gets done discussing his love life. No painful treks through thousands of square feet of floor space to find what I want.
 (That said, my 80-year-old dad does not believe …read more

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Seniors and baby boomers do much of their shopping online these days. 
 It’s far different from the early era of online shopping when many were wary about giving their credit card over the Internet.  Also, many were concerned about paying shipping charges for the items they ordered.
As I surveyed the statistics and wrote the post, Seniors & Boomers Have Become Avid Online Shoppers, I wondered, “Why the change of attitude?”
Looking at my own situation and talking with others in this category, I can give the following reasons:

Convenience
Saving time
No more danger to credit card than having it disappear at a restaurant or …read more

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According to statistics, seniors (particularly those over 65) are rapidly becoming some of the most avid online shoppers on the Internet.  Boomers aren’t far behind. 
Check out these articles:
Stats: Grandma Online Shops More Than You
How Web Savvy Are Online Seniors?
This is of interest to Small Business Boomers for their main market, depending on products and services, might be seniors and boomers.  Generally we’ve thought that young people, in their teens, 20s and 30s, are the online target consumers.  However, these statistics seem to prove otherwise.
So…don’t disregard these older age groups when you’re deciding what to sell in your online shop, or …read more

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As a member of the Boomer generation, are you using Facebook and similar social media tools to promote your small business or for your personal enjoyment?  When I first started using Facebook it was for my writing business and to keep in touch with writing colleagues. Then I discovered it a great way to keep in touch with my grandchildren and my younger non-Boomer friends and relatives.
It was interesting that a year ago I couldn’t find anyone in my high school class on Facebook.  Now three of us are corresponding.  Gradually friends my age, in business and church, are becoming …read more

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Satisfied customers mean repeat business and great PR. (In these days of the Internet and social media, dissatisfaction and satisfaction spread quickly.)  However, no matter how hard we try, there will always be someone we don’t relate to, who is having a bad day anyway, miscommunicates, misunderstands, so gets really angry.  Sometimes it isn’t even your fault but you happened to be the person “in range.”
Dealing with upset and angry customers is something we must master if we’re to stay in business.  In some businesses, particularly online ones, we generally don’t deal with customers face to face.  (Although with Skype, ooVoo, and …read more

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A bill in Congress (S.773) proposes to give President Obama control of the Internet and our service providers.  Supposedly this is for emergency situations only, as a way to protect our national security against hackers and others wanting to shut down government and military institutions and interfere with the nation’s affairs.
Yes, this is a concern.  However, there are far reaching implications that could greatly affect your business and life.  Is this simply a ruse for Obama and those surrounding him, including key Democrats, to gain control of our lives, our businesses, our communications and our freedom? 
Some considerations:

What happens to purely …read more

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The importance of good customer service can never be downplayed.  A satisfied customer can never be downplayed.  Creating good customer relations, when there has been a negative experience, is imperative, too.
This is important in these days of social media, when poor customer service can be touted all over the Internet, on blogs and in social groups.
I found a very informative article on this topic, The Customer Service Oxymoron, by Chrysty Beverley Fortner at Women on Business.  You might find this thought provoking as you consider your customers…and being a customer.
What tips do you have for maintaining good customer relations?
(Image: sxc.hu)

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To remain in business, boomers must be very knowledgeable about their customers’ needs and learn (if they haven’t already) how to deal with customers and being diplomatic.  I’ve written two posts at Home Biz Notes that would apply to small businesses of most any type, in addition to home businesses.
Concentrate on Customers, Not Yourself
Remembering the Needs of Your Customers
Do you have any thoughts about postive and effective customer service?

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If you are a Baby Boomer selling to Baby Boomer consumers, take note. A friend (mid-50s) has been on FaceBook for over a year, but in the last few months she has received several invitations to connect from people she knew in high school  Turns out a lot of Baby Boomers are now on FaceBook.
I receive many invitations to join “networks.”  Some on LinkedIn, which seems to be a big deal with the students and new grads I know.  But many are on FaceBook.   As you might guess, the majority of people on connection sites like these are people in …read more

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I write professionally, and I spend my life online.  Most of my work is done through online websites and blogs.  But for anyone who uses the web for their business, there are some websites you need to know about.  I couldn’t live without them. And the best thing about each of them is that they are free.
#1 – TinyUrl – I do a lot of Tweeting (posting) on Twitter and, like most people on this site, I like to send urls.  Since most are huge, they don’t fit in the constraints of 140 characters.  So I use TinyUrl to get …read more

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