You may read this “List of 10 reasons I don’t think you should stay at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara” and think….quit complaining, we all have bad hotel stays.  That is true, but I am still angry because I just dealt with 3 days of Hyatt Regency hell. You can check my track record, I have never posted complaints about a hotel in my life, in fact I would be much more likely to compliment a hotel for a job well done. This situation is much different, I think people planning stays (or conventions) at this hotel should be aware of the problems we faced this week and look elsewhere. Overall this trip does not change my overall perception of the Hyatt brand, they have been great to me in other locations.  As for the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara… here we go

1)In over two days of staying here, we can count the friendly staff members on one hand. Actually we can count them on 2 fingers. (One Waitress and one bellman)

2)The hotel bar closes way to early, even when people are still there trying to enjoy themselves. They actually had the nerve to ask everybody to leave the bar area after they closed down the bar. This was a great way to kill any sort of business discussions that were taking place. The bar staff works at such a snail pace I think my credit card almost expired before I got my first beer. They are nice guys, but not energetic enough to handle the crowds of a lively convention.

3)There isn’t a single restaurant, convenience store, sign of retail life within walking distance from the hotel. Be prepared to feel the pain of total isolation from the real world unless you rent a car or cab it everywhere. Don’t the suits at Yahoo and Mcafee ever go out for lunch? If so, they must take their limo’s into San Fran to get a decent meal.

4)The hotel rooms attempt to be trendy, but it is more of a cover-up then a complete remodel. Two sliding frosted glass bathroom doors? Interesting idea to cover up the tiny bathroom. I have been on several cruises that had comparable bathroom spaces. The sink had a faucet on the right hand side (akward), and the actual porcelain sink space is so large you barely have any counter space.

5)The front desk staff may not know how to smile and be helpful… They are also unfamiliar with the surrounding areas. Seriously how hard is it to smile and welcome people to your hotel after a long day of traveling? This hotel is not quite nice enough to get away with an elitist attitude.

6)There is really only one restaurant in the hotel. They attempt to pass this off as 3 or 4 separate ones. They should just say “Our restaurant serves American, Sushi, Bar Food, and Fine Dining all in one”. The food we had was fine, so I can’t say the quality was poor. Just expect typical hotel prices and typical hotel fare. Don’t be fooled on their website by thinking there are multiple dining options.

7)Santa Clara, CA may be the most boring city in all of America. I know this is more of a town to conduct business, but seriously would it kill them to open a few restaurants near all the hotels? As for its neighbor city San Jose, lets just say it made a day in Oakland seem somewhat more appealing. Even the waitresses around town kept saying they couldn’t wait to leave the San Jose area.

8)(Probably more of hygienic pet peeve, but still worth noting) The “Sushi” chef can be seen outside the pool smoking cigarettes. I would like to think he went right inside to wash his hands, but letting food service staff smoke ciggs outside by all the guests and them telling him serve up some California rolls is just disgusting. (This is more of a knock on management for letting him do this, I’m sure he is a fine employee and a darn good sushi roller)

9)It took 3 phone calls to the hotel staff to get the right form emailed to me for a credit card authorization. Also, when a staff memeber had to retrieve a fax for me, you would have thought I was asking her to do me a favor, and not her job.

10)Try enjoying a nice break by the pool when all you hear are jets flying overhead from San Jose airport. I realize this is not a tropical paradise resort, but just realize the pictures of the pool from the website may be deceivingly peaceful.

There you have it, 10 reasons why the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara is below par. Hopefully you all had a much better experience at this conference hotel.

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Are you buried in the search engines? Are visitors having a difficult time finding your website? Or maybe you’re not even listed in the search engines. Maybe you’ve heard about search engine optimization but not exactly sure where to start. These search engine tips will give you a good starting point to get your site noticed on the major search engines. Much of the SEO involves changes on a regular and constant basis but these tips are timeless and will provide you with a solid search engine optimization framework for your website.

1. Choose Your Keywords Wisely: Before you start your SEO strategy, you must first pick keywords and keyword phrases that relate to the core of your site. You must be careful in choosing your keywords as competition is fierce in many industries.For example, it will be much easier for a website to get ranked higher in the search engines with the keyword phrase, “arizona used car dealers” than it would be for the keyword phrase “car dealers”. The more specific your search terms are, the easier it will be to get ranked higher for those terms. We obviously know that there are many more “car dealers” listed than “arizona used car dealers”. Right now there are over 18,000,000 results for “car dealers” on Google and there are only a bit over 1,000,000 for “arizona used car dealers”. Focus your keywords and keyword phrases.
2. Content Is King: No matter how many times we say this, content is the key to your websites success. If you don’t have quality and unique content, why would visitors want to come to your site? Write unique copy for your website and write it as often as you can. The search engines love fresh content. They will reward you time and time again if you feed it to them on a regular basis.
3. Link Building Strategies: This is arguable the most important aspect of search engine optimization. It’s essential that you have other sites point to your website with a link. There are right ways and wrong ways to create a link building campaign. The wrong way is to just have any and every website out there link to you. This will do no good and you could be penalized or possibly banned from the search engines. Also, it doesn’t do much good to have another website link to you with the incorrect anchor text that doesn’t relate to your website. Anchor text is the link that the other website is using in order to direct people to your website. For example, if you have a site about dogs and someone is linking to you using the anchor text “animals”, then this is not going to be very relevant. You ideally want someone to link to you using the keyword “dogs” or a related term such as “big dogs”.Also, when creating a link building strategy try and get people to link to you without having you link back to them. This shows that someone is linking to you on their own will and that your website has relevant information and content. If it’s a reciprocal link, the search engines think that the link trade was done as a deal and that the websites involved might not actually be that important. If you provide relevant and unique content as described in Tip 2, people will want to link to you on their own.
4. Customize Your Title Tags: Title tags are the little phrases and terms located in the top left of your browser window such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. The search engines love title tags that are customized for each page of the website. So, if you have a website that is 5 pages, you would create a custom title tag for each individual page relating to the content on that page.For example, if you are writing about dogs and have 5 different web pages about different dogs, you would write a new title tag for each page. The title tag on the page about Labradors could be something like: “Labrador Retrievers are great pets”. The title tag on the page about Westies could be: “Westies are a great breed full of energy”. Try to use your main keywords for each page in the title tags. The search engines love to read the title tags to find out the relevancy of that specific page. Don’t bury yourself deep in the search engines by not having customized and relevant title tags for your website.
5. Create A Sitemap:Create both a human readable and an XML sitemap for your site. The human readable sitemap will allow users to see every page on your site within one page. The XML sitemap will tell the major search engines when you update your website with content or make changes. Both are important and should be added into your search engine optimization strategy.
6. Internal Linking Strategies: As we discussed earlier, link building campaigns are essential in creating a popular website for the search engines. This also holds true for linking within your own website to other pages on your website. For example, you could link from your homepage to an article that is deeper within your website. This is a great strategy and should be used to create interlinking between pages.
7. Keep Your Coding Clean: When you are programming your website, be sure to keep you code clean. The search engine spiders need to be able to get to the actual content on your site and if the code is messy and not organized the spiders will have a hard time finding that unique content and they might leave the page before they spider it. When possible, use external .css and .js files and link them to the pages that need the code.
8. Web Page Structure: When you are creating each individual page of your website be sure to be consistent in setting up the structure of the page. This includes a website template that is the same for all pages, page headings such as H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, and H6 tags, using bold tags and having a consistent navigation menu that is easy for users. If your website is set up with no rhyme nor reason, you will lose visitors due to sloppiness of the pages. Keep everything clean and organized and your visitors will come back for more…..that is, if you follow Tip 2 and provide unique content on a regular basis!
9. Submit Your Site To Relevant Directories and Search Engines: Make sure you submit your website to all relevant directories such as Yahoo and all major search engines such as Google and MSN. There are many others but these are the main players. If you’d like to find more, do a search on Google. Also, before you submit your site to these directories and search engines, make sure your website is 100% complete. Don’t submit a site that is under construction or needs more work. The search engine spiders don’t like sites that are not up and running 100%.
10. Create Your Website For The Visitors, Not The Search Engines: While it is very important to execute an SEO strategy, it’s also very important to not go overboard implementing SEO tactics. Make sure your site is developed with the user in mind. If it doesn’t make sense to your visitors, the what’s the point in having it ranked high in the search engines? Always please your visitors first and the search engines second.

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We deal with a lot of small and medium size businesses and many of these ventures start out as a one-man/woman shop with a flare of entrepreneurial spirit. Everyone at some point of their life wants to live the American dream and be their own boss. It comes down to the big question. Do you have the traits of a successful entrepreneur?

Many have them and don’t even know it. Many don’t have them but develop them over time. It really depends on your professional goals and objectives. Some enjoy working for a corporation with thousands of employees and taking a piece of the pie. But many want the whole pie for themselves and branch out into the world of small business.

Here are the top ten traits of a successful entrepreneur:

1. Entrepreneurs have a different mind set. Their brains are always spinning for new ideas and new ways to create innovation amongst their competition. They want to be the leader and not the follower and they will do what it takes to get there, no matter how much failure comes along the way. Sooner or later, they will find their pot of gold.
2. Entrepreneurs have a broad knowledge of business. When you run your own business, you might be the one who does payroll, sales, cleans the office, does the actual business work and anything else that keeps the company up and running.
   Entrepreneurs learn a lot on the job and by default gain a broad scope of the business world.
3. Entrepreneurs are not afraid of risk (at least they won’t admit it!). They can’t be. If you want to make millions, you must be willing to put yourself on the line. You know the old saying, “You can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket.”
4. Entrepreneurs like to drive innovation. They love to differentiate themselves from the pack. Whether it is a niche product or service, entrepreneurs keep their brains churning for the next big idea. Their minds never sleep. Sooner or later, after enough trial and error, something sticks and when it does, it can be one huge payday.
5. Entrepreneurs know their industry/market. The do the necessary research about the industry they are in and the industries that are involved in the line of business they do. They are well-informed on market trends and the behavior of the people who do business within these markets.
6. Entrepreneurs know their competition. They have scoped out their local competition and beyond. In order to innovate, an entrepreneur has to know what his/her competitors are doing in order to build a successful business. By studying your competition, you can gain valuable knowledge on how surpass what they are doing.
7. Entrepreneurs know their strengths and more importantly their weaknesses. All entrepreneurs have certain business strengths. Most entrepreneurs are unique in the skills they possess. They know how to utilize their strengths to maximize their productivity. Entrepreneurs also know their weaknesses and know that it’s important to get help in their areas of weakness. If you are not competent in the area of research, outsource it. If you don’t know about accounting and payroll, hire someone to do it. Focus on your core strengths and not your weaknesses.
8. Entrepreneurs have a plan, kind of! Entrepreneurs know exactly what they want when they set up in the business world. They have a broad scope of how to get where they want to go and how to be successful. This plan often changes due to the nature of the entrepreneur’s mind always spinning and new ideas coming into play. Entrepreneurs often have the thought of, “we’ll take care of it when it happens.” Often they don’t plan for the short term and things can become stressful and hectic but their end goal of success is always in mind.
9. Entrepreneurs know when to step out or sell. When things are not going well, entrepreneurs know when to fold the cards. They know indicators of selling a business and cutting their losses and they also know when to just shut down shop and move onto the next venture. Many people keep thinking things will turn around with a business. Entrepreneurs know when the market is dry and their idea has fizzled.
10. Entrepreneurs have a passion for business. They love the idea of business and creating a sense of need in the market. Entrepreneurs also love to keep themselves informed in the business world and they make sure to keep up on the latest trends, research, products and services as well as strategies. They love the challenges of business and this is what motivates them to keep working until they hit their huge payday. They love what they do and they will make sure they are successful no matter what circumstances arise. They are leaders.

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We know that most people dream of working from home for some reason or other. Whether it’s having no commute, working in your pajamas or being able to have the freedom you want, working from home and creating a home-based business requires effort, motivation and patience. Learn how you can help maximize your chances for success.

1. Set a Schedule and Stick To It. Sometimes our lives are so busy we are unable to stick to our designed schedules. In order to create a successful home business, you need to create a plan for each work day, and stick to it. The flexibility of working from home is great but you must create discipline in your daily life. If you are unable to create discipline in your home work life, you may want to re-think this whole business idea.
2. Reduce Distractions. Working from home creates a whole new set of distractions you never thought existed. Everything from the home phone ringing, dog barking, to workmen trying to fix a leaky pipe. Use tip #1 to help reduce distractions. Schedule all non-business related work during a designated block of time. As the boss, you have the power to cancel unnecessary home appointments whenever you want. Also, don’t hesitate to tell solicitors to take a hike.
3. Create a Positive Work Environment. Just because you do not have to drive 30 minutes to and from an office does not mean that you should not create a comfortable working environment. Do your best to keep your surroundings comfortable and professional. Your work station should resemble one of a professional office but with a few extra luxuries of being at home. Working from the sofa (while it feels great) is not ideal for a successful home business.
4. No Underwear Please. Studies show that workers who have professional dress code requirements tend to work harder during the day. Casual dress usually results in an overall casual mind frame. Very casual dress, meaning your boxers, tends to create a very casual and unproductive work environment. This is something important to remember when working from home. Start your day off the same way as if you were coming into an office building. You will notice that your energy level will rise and you will get more accomplished during the day.
5. Reward your Boss (You!). When you work in the typical office environment, accomplishments tend to get recognized by your coworkers. When you work from home, you can only pat yourself on the back. Write down a list of rewards (within reason) as you accomplish your goals. Make sure you reward yourself for your achievements, otherwise you will find yourself getting burnt out very quickly.
6. Shut People Out. Work time is work time and family time is family time. Don’t be scared to shut the door and tell people not to bother you for a few hours. Set these boundaries early on and you will find it easier to shut out the rest of the world. You are free to go against this rule in the cases of smelling fire or hearing excessive crying.
7. Don’t Argue with the CFO. In a typical office all your expenses get redirected to the CFO. In a home business, you are your own CFO. This is why you must do everything necessary to keep your expenses down. To cut expenses, try using open source (free) software or doing whatever it takes to find the best deal available for appreciating technology. Sharing software licenses is an option, although technically an illegal one. Try creating an expense spreadsheet that covers your next 3-4 months. This way you know exactly how much you need to make in order to cover your expenses.
8. Web Credibility. A home office may only be a small desk in your studio apartment but your image should show a Madison Avenue Office. This easiest way to fool the average consumer is a professional web appearance. Use a professional web marketing agency and work with them to create a website that builds trust in your potential customers.
9. No Clutter = No Problem. When you work from home, your office custodial responsibilities fall on you. Make sure you end each day with a cleaning of unnecessary paperwork and garbage. Treat your home office with the same respect you would treat any other office. You will feel that much better when you show back up to work tomorrow.
10. Plan for Growth. You must always plan that your business will exponentially grow. Plan on how you may fit another one or two co-workers in your home within the next 6-12 months. If your home office does not allow for this growth, you should start saving some money for a larger location. Growing the number of employees is what will ultimately grow your wallet. Don’t be afraid of success!

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Pay per click campaigns can bring in targeted traffic when you need it. A PPC strategy should be included in your web marketing plan. Here are 10 pay per click tips to get you going:

1. Be Creative: Using the obvious keywords might get you impressions but it will not be easy to stand out from the pack. Try being creative and picking keywords that are more narrowly focused. This technique will get you cheaper clicks and a more targeted consumer.
2. Know Your Clients: To target the ideal searchers, you need to think like them. What would you type in a search engine if you were that person? Try removing yourself from your position and putting yourself in their shoes. Think like an advertiser and try to understand how the general public thinks.
3. Test, Test, Test: A great pay per click campaign is always evolving. Just when you think you have the perfect campaign, you start to see your click through rate (CTR) drop. That’s why always shooting for a better ad copy is crucial. Test them side by side, if it works… GREAT! If not… try again.
4. Split Test Landing Pages: Optimized landing pages are important for getting high conversions rates. As an example, minor changes such as altering the color of your submit button can result in double the conversions. Run split landing pages over the series of a few weeks. Keep the one that converts the best and test a new landing page against the winner. Keep doing this until your conversions are through the roof. Don’t forget once again, think like the consumer. What would you like to see when you click on an ad?
5. Benefit the Reader: Why should the consumer click on your ad? Make sure you post the benefit of your service right away in the first line of ad text. Give them the benefit first and then some bonus information on line two. Following this format can result in double the CTR.
6. Grouping: Group your ad groups in a logical way so that your headline makes sense for each keyword. If you are selling baseball equipment and your headline is titled “Sports Equipment”, you will most likely not entice many shoppers since the searcher will be unsure what type of sporting equipment you sell. A way around this is using dynamic text so that the headline reads whichever keyword the searcher has entered.
7. Budget Wisely: Set a daily maximum if you are worried about spending too much money on pay per click campaigns. You need to know how much you are willing to spend on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and plan accordingly. Your budget should obviously be tuned for maximum ROI. If you find yourself losing money on pay per clicks, you need to scale back and re-evaluate your techniques.
8. Monitor But Do Not Obsess: There is no right answer for how much attention you should give a pay per click campaign. The best advice we can give is to give it the attention you feel it needs without driving yourself crazy. A new campaign is like a baby, it will require a little more attention until it grows to its potential. Make sure you give each campaign ample time to grow before editing or deleting.
9. Google is King, But Yahoo/MSN/Ask.com/etc. should Not Be Overlooked: We all realize that Google has made a gigantic imprint on the pay per click community but this does not mean that you cannot make money using other search engines for pay per clicks. Make sure you try some other platforms to see if you can pick up cheaper clicks. It is like your mom always told you; don’t put all your eggs in one basket!
10. Have Fun with It: Yes, there is a lot of money on the line but just remember that pay per click campaigns are a great chance to get creative and have some fun. It is also a great chance to test different aspects of your products or services to find out what grabs the most attention. Have some fun with this and you will find it to be an enjoyable and profitable venture.

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