Where to Spend Your Entrepreneurial Dollars

Where to Spend Your Entrepreneurial Dollars...that's a conversation we have often here in the Relax Consulting office. Clients and potential clients are asking, and since I own my own business as does my fiance', we are asking that same question.

For marketing - Do you count on word of mouth? the internet? social media like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn? Or do you join professional organizations? How much do you push family, friends, existing clients for referrals? Do you simply have a free Facebook page, or do you pay for advertising?

For advice - Do you look for free resources? Take classes at the local college? Sign up for paid training and development with a coach/mentor? Do you buy someone successful lunch?

Relax Consulting is determined to use our money as wisely as possible. There are quite a few options and we've decided that the following are must haves:

**Top Notch Technology and Software Programs (fast computers, Office 2010, etc...)
**Top Notch Printer/Scanner (all in one)
**A paid website (designed and maintained ourselves)
**Education - Classes at Lakeshore Technical College, Online Training, Books, Success Magazine
**Affiliations - Women in Management, Chamber of Manitowoc County, SAIL, SCORE

We are not paying for advertising on Facebook since the majority of those we reach would not be ideal clients. We are spending money blogging and integrating social media because the outreach there can be great and only costs time. We spend time with people, because building strong relationships is the building block for success personally and professionally. This is our passion and the design of our infrastructure.

What are your thoughts? What works and what doesn't?