These three examples tell the story.

Business A regularly stays in touch with customers. This business has staying power.

Business B occasionally talks to a few friends. This business stagnates.

Business C does nothing. She waits for a customer to call or stop by. This business declines.

To increase your business’ staying power, look for opportunities to send your customers a personal note.

Consider getting fresh business cards along with postcards, note cards and postage. Assemble and update your list of customers with the mailing address, phone number and other information such as the email address. Keep a record of what she has purchased.

Here are some ideas on when to send note.

• At the start of each new fashion season, send a note announcing the season describing a new catalog or a new group of merchandise.
• In the middle of the fashion season, send a note about particular style she might like.
• Before each holiday, send a note describing a style or brand that would be perfect for her event.
• After she has bought something, write a thank you note, and ask how she likes it.
• Prior to a big sale, send a note offering a preview of the sale.
• Always send a birthday note, unless she says she doesn’t have birthdays any more!

Option 1. No website. Maybe this is right for your business. Not every business needs a website. It’s more important to get started on your regular personal contacts with your existing customers. They will help you expand your business through good word-of-mouth publicity. For more information, see: Personal Contact with Customers.

Option 2. Listings in free Internet business directories. The top free Internet business directories are Google Maps, Google Places and Yahoo Local. For more information, see the article, Tip #1 for Your Business on the Internet.

There are other directories that have free listings, though they encourage you to upgrade to a paid listing. The free listings are best for most small businesses. See Hot Frog and Manta.

Option 3. Your own Marketing Website. It showcases your business with photos, a description of your business, your location, and contact information. One of the best and free options for a marketing website is a Facebook Business Page. This is a specialized type of Facebook that is designed for a local business. When Facebook uses the word, Page, with a capital P, it means a Business Page. If you already have a personal Facebook profile, look along the bottom for the link titled: Create a Page.

Option 4. Your own Selling Website. It has shopping cart software to accept payment for specific items. Very few local or family-owned apparel businesses need a selling website.

Before deciding on a selling website with shopping cart software, ask yourself these questions. Do I know enough about Internet software to maintain and update products and to handle technical problems? Do I have time every day and every week to write unique content so the website is fresh? Do I own the products in inventory so I can promptly ship? Do I accept the legal and financial responsibility for accepting payment and promptly shipping? If you answered YES to all four questions, check into services like GoDaddy, Yahoo Shopping or Ebay. If you answered NO to any of the questions, don’t waste your time trying to do a selling website. Instead use Options 1, 2 and/or 3 above.

Try it out for your business. Use the Google Search; type your business name and city. Do you see your business as a listing with a small map? Next, do another Google Search. Type your business’ keywords, such as prom dresses or church suits, plus the city. Do you see your business as a listing with a small map?

If you don’t see your business, type the keywords, immediate resource dallas, to see an example of a Google Map listing. It has information about the business, the address, plus a red pointer on a small map.

To create a listing or to edit your listing on Google Maps, go to maps.google.com