One of the great things I get to do each week is write a column for Media General that gets published in multiple outlets in the SE United States.   This week’s column is good one for everyone to use.

It was not the first time retailers tried to reach consumers beyond brick-and-mortar stores – catalogs had long offered the chance to shop from the comfort of home. But technology to make shopping easier was growing, and now anyone could go online, click from store to store and find products and services in a sea of Web pages.

But the Web lacks an overall organization of information, which can lead to wandering around. Today, with online shopping being a way of life, the key is navigating quickly through a wealth of information to find what you are looking for, at the best possible price, and for it to be delivered as soon as possible. Here are some suggestions:

• Step 1: Have a general idea of what you are seeking. If you know what you need, you are likely to stay focused and home in on the right item. Specific items are good, but you also can broaden searches to categories such as apparel, home, shoes, etc.

• Step 2: Use a search engine to narrow down ideas. Everyone knows Google, but other search sites exist and could lead to better choices. Check out Yahoo.com, Ask.com and Bing.com (Microsoft).

• Step 3: Look for deals; they are not always apparent. Narrowing your search by adding terms such as “coupons,” “promotional codes” and “deals” to your primary search terms can yield a wealth of savings.

• Step 4: Check the home pages of retailers. Sites like to show storewide offers on the home page but may not refer to them again at other parts of the site. This is where you may be able to find promotional codes for savings at checkout.

• Step 5: Pay attention to purchase details/requirements. Make sure you understand what is needed to get the best deal – “buy one, get one free” (BOGO’s), gifts with purchase, quantity price breaks, etc.

• Step 6: Be alert at checkout. If you did not do step 3 above and the site has a box that says “Promotion Code” or some other coupon input, open a new browser tab, go to a search engine and do a search for that store name and the term used on the site (e.g. Buy.com and Promotion Code).

• Step 7: Always look for free-shipping offers. Other alternatives include shipping to a local store for pickup or shipping directly to a recipient to save the cost of reshipping (many retailers offer gift wrapping and split shipments). This is a great way to save.

Online shopping is a great way to save time and money. Use the medium for its primary strength – information. Consumers today are more informed than at any other time in history. That knowledge is the best advantage to have when shopping.

Along the way, you may find other steps. Share those with me and your friends so everyone can save.

As I have done from time to time on this blog, I recount customer service experiences (good or bad) to highlight companies that either get it or don’t. This time, it is Taco Cabana (a place I have enjoyed for close to 20 years now – OK, now I feel a bit older). This particular location was in Frisco, TX.

Craving TC’s queso (it is real cheese, unlike others who are less than cheese), we drove thru last night to pick up some dinner to take home. We placed our order and were given a large single bag of multiple items. I never seem to learn to check my order at the window and usually face the consequences. We get home and the one thing missing from the order is the bowl of 8 oz. queso. I figured “oh well” and called the number on the receipt to just ask them to refund me the amount for the missing item and avoid driving all the way back over there. However, noone answered the phone. At that point, I decided I might as well go back and get the queso and ask for a discount for the trouble.

When I get there, the assistant manager was receptive to fulfilling the order, but confounded me when I suggested it would have saved us both a hassle had someone just answered the phone. He responded by saying “we don’t answer the phone between 6-8. We need to focus on the customers”. Not really the answer I expected – I was a customer and my order apparently did not get the “focus”. So, I saw this as two negatives – not handling the initial order correctly and not answering the phone to help a customer.

Luckily the manager was there and she quickly suggested not only fulfilling the order correctly, but also providing a full refund for the order. I did not expect the latter (a “nice to have” would have been a refund for the item and then a complimentary order of queso). Therefore, Taco Cabana went above and beyond and has now successfully retained me as a customer. This ended up being a bad initial experience with a good ending.

Awesome!

Happy Baby is an organic baby food company for which a good friend of mine works – Natalie Allen.  She is a passionate entrepreneur and I love the way she works hard for this company and the quality product they deliver.  They are currently up for the NBC/American Express Shine a Light Competition.  Please go to the site, read their story, and cast a vote.  All the babies will love you for it!!

The company which I run – DealTaker.com – released a new product this week to provide a unique way to find deals on individual items in a fun and interesting way.  The concept is called NewatNoon.  The premise – a new product, each and every day, at noon eastern time.  Why eastern time?  Our parent company is based on the east coast and it is easier to start with the “first noon of the day” in the US.

Soon, more categories will be added to continue to make the shopping fun.  We are shooting for a “oh my gosh” factor where people will find the items so interesting that they will forward to more and more friends to share.  Come along and enjoy the ride

Having been mostly focused on a secondary blog to update daily event related to the Avon Walk, it is time to share a very positive update here on MindCradle.  BTW, the other blog is located at http://kstrawwalks.wordpress.com.  The support I have received has been overwhelming.

Today I, representing DealTaker.com, passed the initial goal ($5,000.00) set for the fundraising portion of the walk and am now sitting at $5,287 and looking to go higher.  Our Affiliate Marketers Give Back team is also doing great, on the whole, at just over 50% of our $50,000 goal.  We have an auction ending tonight that should raise well over $10,000 in additional funds.

For me, the fundraising has been a blessing, but the training has also been amazing.  Knowing that I am walking for such a substantial cause has kept me motivated to train each and every day (well, I am taking off one day a week to recover after long walks).  Knowing that I just walked 10 miles each day for the last two days (on top of the weeks of training before that) is incredible.  I am looking forward to the 40 mile walk in two days to see just how far I can push myself.  Two weeks from this Sunday I will know.

Thanks to all those that have supported me with the kind words, the encouragement, and the donations.  I know that I do not walk alone.  Finally, I build my support through Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

I have been so busy focused on getting updates to a new blog, posting information on DealTaker, and tweeting that I overlooked MindCradle.  I am participating in the Los Angeles Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.   I started training 17 weeks ago (just walking to get into shape again to start playing indoor soccer) and about 8 weeks ago the opportunity to participate in this walk came up.  I am joining the Affiliate Marketers Give Back team which consists of affiliate marketers from the affiliate side as well as the merchant side.  The walk is 40 miles over two days and will be quite a challenge.  As part of the walk, I am also working to raise awareness and money.  If you are interested in helping out with a donation of any size, please go here -  http://tk2.us/donate4AvonWalk.  To see more of my updates on a blog I have dedicated to this event, please go here – http://kstrawwalks.wordpress.com.

Thank you for your support.

I love Sharpie Pens.  I have used them as long as I can remember (and have left a few marks in places when the ink bleeds through the paper – that is frustrating).  It is a standard.  An old world tool.  An old dog with new marketing tricks? 

Amazing, but true.  Sharpies now come in multitudes of colors and there is a whole community being built around creating art with the pens.  The site is called Sharpie Uncapped and it is a true testament of breaking the mold and trying new and interesting ways to attract people.  Forget Terrell Owens and his grandstanding.  This is the real users getting a chance to show off!!

Being an entrepreneur that has started a few businesses, I am often asked “What are the things that need to be done when starting a business?”  Obviously that is a pretty broad question – many answers on which I will not elaborate now.  However, in this time of focus on taxes, it is important to make sure that things are correctly set up for the benefit of not giving the IRS reason to come knocking.  Here is a brief, high level list that I know of.  Be sure to consult a tax professional when starting a company - 

1. Decide what type of business entity you want to establish. The type your business takes will determine which tax form you have to file. The most common types of business are the sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation and S corporation (and LLC).
2. The type of business helps determine what taxes are to be paid and how they are paid. The five general types of business taxes are income tax, self-employment tax, employment tax, sales and excise tax.
3. An Employer Identification Number is used to identify a business entity. Generally, businesses need an EIN. Visit IRS.govfor more information about whether you will need an EIN. You can also apply for an EIN online at IRS.gov.
4. Good records will help you ensure successful operation of your new business. You may choose any recordkeeping system suited to your business that clearly shows your income and expenses. Except in a few cases, the law does not require any special kind of records. However, the business you are in affects the type of records you need to keep for federal tax purposes.  Usually, Quikbooks is a pretty good choice.
5. Every business taxpayer must figure taxable income on an annual accounting period called a tax year. The calendar year and the fiscal year are the most common tax years used. 
6. Each taxpayer must also use a consistent accounting method, which is a set of rules for determining when to report income and expenses. The most commonly used accounting methods are the cash method and an accrual method. Under the cash method, you generally report income in the tax year you receive it and deduct expenses in the tax year you pay them. Under an accrual method, you generally report income in the tax year you earn it and deduct expenses in the tax year you incur them.
7. Visit the Business section of IRS.gov for resources to assist entrepreneurs with starting and operating a new business.

Loyalty programs are something that have always intrigued me.  Sometimes it seems like the sheep follow a little too closely instead of actually looking at the price of what is being paid.  For example, is it better to fly RT to a place you want to go for $199 on an airline you never really use, or pay $239 for the airline you always use just to get miles in your loyalty program?  I know people who are so loyal and determined to get the miles that they will (gladly) pay the extra $40.  Let’s say that trip is from DFW to ORD (Chicago).  Having flown that route about 150 times, I am very aware that it is 802 miles each way for the purpose of calculating FF miles.  Even if I am platinum, that is 3,208 miles.  If I am paying $40 for those miles ($.0125 per mile) I am valuing them at even less than the airlines do (they accrue $.02 per mile on their books).  To look at it another way, 3,208 miles is roughly 1/8th of a “free ticket”.  $40 x 8 = $320.  What could you do with $320?  Buy another $199 ticket to Chicago and have a really good dinner at Shula’s…gives new meaning to the phrase “Dollars and SENSE”.