Email Marketing Tip: Timing can make a big difference! When you send an email is almost as important as the message itself. Is it best if your email is the first email your audience sees as they get started in the morning, after they get back from lunch, or maybe right before they start off for home?  There are many factors and no right answers, but experiment a little with your delivery times then track open rates and click-throughs to see what works best for your strategy! E-Mail marketing tip is courtesy of Paul Spinak at The Marketing Machine www.themmachine.com. Contact Paul Spinak at paul@theMmachine.com.      Marketing & Branding Tip - Graze Where Your Clients Graze The best way to keep tabs on what your clients are doing is find out where they spend time when not at work. What restaurants do they frequent? What hobbies do they have? Do they attend sporting events? Even if you do not share all these activities with your clients, you will want to investigate how you might cross paths. In order to find out where your customers spend time, simply ask them. Marketing tip is courtesy of the Authenticity Marketing team at Convey Ink, www.conveyink.com . We do branding work, marketing and also write business plans. Contact Drew, Strategic Marketing Advisor at conveyink.com.

Find the information you need quickly and easily Each business name is a link to its website. Products and services are listed alphabetically by category. Email and phone contact information is included in each listing.

ADVERTISING - Monthly newsletter by email Triangle Business Connections Comments: "A great service - an affordable way to reach business owners when they are online and able to access my website with one key stroke. I love it!" - Sheyenne Kreamer, Triangle Solutions Alliance Special Offer: $25 off on your first month of service. View details here, call 264-9868, or send email.

BRANDING & MARKETING Convey Ink, Inc. Comments: "I have high expectations for my vendors. Drew at Convey Ink has met this expectation and has clearly exceeded it. Convey Ink was an essential part of my journey to define Split Screen Consulting. What was most important to me was his success in helping me capture the unique 'essence' of Split Screen Consulting without putting words in my mouth or forcing fancy jingles on me. An incredible job of listening, interpreting, feeling then directing so I could move my business to its next level." - Steven Alston, owner Split Screen Consulting Special offer: New One half-hour session to discover your marketing/branding needs.   Call (919)264-9868 or email for an appointment.

BUSINESS COACHING Inspire, Inc. Comments: "The coaching produced immediate results. Positive changes started within an hour of first meeting with my Inspire coach Now I am living what I only dared to dream."  Special offer: Call 518-8322 or email to receive $20.00 off a Business Coaching Package.

COMPUTER AND SERVER SERVICE Morpheus Rising Comments: "Morpheus Rising has consistently delivered exceptional results and support on every project no matter how large or small. Whether its e-commerce, database programming, server configuration or network solutions, Morpheus Rising can not only complete the project on time and on budget, but can answer complex questions that may arise in the process." - SP, 211 Design Special Offer: Call 919-465-4379 for more information

EMAIL - Permission-Based Newsletters and Marketing The Marketing Machine Comments: "The Marketing Machine's email program was easy to use and all of the Bank of America Pavilion's VIP clients loved the clean look! Paul Spinak is great to work with." [email marketing client] Chris Elias - Director of Premium Seats Sales Additional customer testimonials. Special offer: $200 OFF one-time set up fee.

MAID & CARPET SERVICE The Maids Comments: Residential & small business cleaning service...3-4 Maid Teams in company vehicle...22 step detailed cleaning. Carpet (quick drying crystal process) cleaning also available. Jill C. says she loves her team & said the house always "sparkles" when they are finished. Jill C. (West Raleigh) Special offer: $15 Off 1st Time Cleaning with 2 hr minimum. Call 828-8400 or send email for details.

PAYROLL PREPARATION Complete Payroll Services, Inc. Comments: "We are especially satisfied with the local ownership and the reasonable fees." United Way If you are interested in Payroll Online, Pay-as-you-go Workman's Comp, or saving yourself tax dollars with employee paid insurance--call us at 919 845 7055. or email. Special Offer: Start using our services and we will waive any setup fees.

SEMINARS AND NETWORKING EVENTS Attend these events - learn, make new contacts, and watch your business grow. See list below. List your seminar or business event here.

VIRTUAL OFFICE PLANS Your Office USA Comments: "Virtual Office Plans have a low monthly cost and are great for those who work from an office at their house, for small companies, or for company representatives on the road that are looking for professional business services and support without the overhead of office space or additional employees. We offer a full range of virtual office plans covering mailboxes, telephone service, virtual reception services, hourly offices/meeting spaces and more!" - Joe Floyd, Your Office USA Special Offer: Call Joe at 863-4100 or send him email for more information. Tell us that you heard about us on Triangle Business Connections and receive 50% off your first month's service fee!

WELLNESS Harmony Life Comments: "Your products definitely improved the quality of my life. I sleep better and feel great. Just got results of my blood test: cholesterol is down. My doctor took me off my pills :-) Amazing.-- E. Pinsky (age 70+), Cary, NC Special Offer:  Pollution Within Test (PWT) for Home or Office is $50 (regularly $80) for all TBC readers - just bring printed e-mail. See what is lurking inside your home or office, what causes you to feel tired, sick or stressed all the time. Take action, make changes, feel better, and get your life back. Contact Marina Lando through email.

COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE COLLABORATION Universal Access Now Comments: With the need for new leadership in turbulent times, the world needs small businesses with new ideas like never before. Align your business plans to relevant customer needs and common concerns with inclusive marketing, universal design and proactive risk management. Help bring the community back into the enterprise and the enterprise back into the community. - George Buckner, Integrated Collaboration Consultant. Special offer: Call 787-0854 or email for a no-cost initial consultation.

SEMINARS & NETWORKING EVENTS Events with structured networking provide an opportunity for a short infomercial about your business. Events with informal networking give you time to "mingle and meet" other attendees. Attend the events listed below Learn, meet people, and watch your business grow! FEATURED EVENTS: JUNE WEDNESDAY 18th Event Name:   Marketing Is Where the $ Is  Sponsored by Marketing Depot USA Details:  Craig James of Preation Web Experts will speak about Strategic Approach to Internet Marketing Location: Business Networking Center  649 Walnut St. Cary, NC 27511  Time:  11:30 AM- 1:00 PM Cost:  $10.00 charge to attend includes lunch. Contact:  To RSVP for this event go to: smallbiz.meetup.com/483 FRIDAY & SATURDAY 20th and 21st Event name: The Purpose-Powered Professional Details: A 2-day dynamic workshop to improve success in your business and you life. Come experience how you can achieve greater success by aligning to your purpose and improving your focus to attain personal and organizational goals. Still a few seats available!   See website. Location:  Clear Horizons, Horizons 1200 Trinity Road, Raleigh Time:  9:00 AM- 6:00 PM both days Cost:  $429.00 before 6/18;  $495.00 after. Contact:  Drew Becker at 264-9868 or email  TUESDAY 24th Event Name:  Seven Essential Practices to Effective Southern Networking Details:   Gary Davis, author of Networking in the South, will run a workshop: If it isn't what you know, but who you know, how do you get to know more people? Whether a native or a newcomer, if you need help connecting this is your opportunity.  Location: Business Networking Center  649 Walnut St. Cary, NC 27511   Time:  11:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Cost:  $47 in advance - Includes Lunch! ($57 at the door) Contact:   To RSVP for this event go to: smallbiz.meetup.com/483 WEDNESDAY 25th Event Name:  Enhancing and Maintaining Self-Confidence Like Winners do! Details:   Martin Brossman Presentation:   We can all improve our lives-personnel and career performance- with strengthened Self Esteem and Confidence. The training and presentation offers real-world tested techniques to strengthen your core Self-Esteem & Confidence. Martin Brossman has developed these methods by exhaustive self-testing and successful utilization with 100's of clients over the past 10 years. The techniques will make you more effective in any situation.  From this presentation you will gain valuable lifelong skills.  You can walk away with something that will enhance your life today and tomorrow. Location: Business Networking Center  649 Walnut St. Cary, NC 27511  Time:  11:30 P.M. Cost:    $10.00 charge to attend includes lunch. Contact:  Call 342-0833 Event Name:  Professional Women's Networking Luncheon Details:  Featuring professional speaker, Linda Shields, President of Speaking With Authority, Inc.  Creating a vocal image is a key factor for professional success. Learning how to use your voice can make a dramatic difference in your daily life.. Location: Bistro 64, 103 Edinburgh South in MacGregor Village, Cary, NC Time:  11:00 A.M. - 1:30 P.M. Cost:  $20 for current members and $25 for guests/prospective members. Contact:   RSVP and pay in advance no later than June 23rd.  Space is limited.  Call 362-6456 to make your reservation. THURSDAY 26th Event Name:  Wake-Up Fuquay-Varina Breakfast Details:  The speakers for June will be Candace Broadie and Elizabeth Wilson of NBC 17 who will give insight into and a demonstration on www.MyNC.com, the new and exciting website which focuses on local news right here in Fuquay-Varina. Location:   Fuquay-Varina Golden Corral Time:  8:00 a.m Cost: $5.00 including breakfast. Open to Chamber Members and Guests Contact:   RSVP by 6/23/08 to 552.4947 or barb@fuquay-varina.com. FRIDAY 27th Event Name:  Fuquay-Varina Business After Hours Details: Village of Charleston Location:   Fuquay-Varina Time:  5:30- 7:00 p.m Cost: Open to Chamber Members and Guests Contact:   Call 552-4947 Event Name:  Final Friday Sponsored by Dancing Elephants Achievement Group Details:  "The Corporate Maze: Get Zeal Back Into Your Work Life" will be persented by Brandon Hensinger, Founder and President, Ascent Adventure Consultants, LLC Location: Business Networking Center  649 Walnut St. Cary, NC 27511  Time:  11:30 A.M. Cost:  Only a small $10 charge to attend and a light lunch will be served Contact:  To RSVP for this event go to: smallbiz.meetup.com/483 MONDAY 30th Event Name:  Apex Chamber Networking Event  Details:   Baseball "Extra Innings" Location:  USA Baseball National Training Complex, 200 Brooks Park Lane, Cary, NC 27513. Time:  Gates Open at 5:30pm; First Pitch at 7:30pm. Cost:  No Admission for Chamber Members & Family! Contact:  Spaces are limited, so please RSVP as soon as possible!  Register for USA Baseball.    JULY TUESDAY 8th Event Name:  Apex Chamber Event: NBC 17 Studios exclusive "Demo & Tour"! Details:  Join NBC 17 for a night of education and fun!  You'll get a chance to see how things operate in a live studio setting and NBC 17 Representatives will give a brief presentation on using the new community website Apex.MyNC.com. Location:   WNCN NBC 17 Studios, 1205 Front Street, Raleigh, NC 27609 Time:  Tours will begin promptly at 6:30 PM Cost: No cost; seating is limited to 20 Open to Chamber Members Contact:   RSVP to Courtney Smith at 919-830-1478 (csmith@wncn.com) or Candace Broadie at 919-830-1472 (cbroadie@wncn.com) by Tuesday, July 1. RECURRING MEETINGS EVERY TUESDAY Event name: Apex Leads Group Type of Event: Networking Location:  Carrabba's Italian Grill (1201 Haddon Hall Drive Apex 27502 Time:  10:30 A.M. Contact:   Call 387-6336 EVERY THURSDAY Event name: Western Wake Leads Group Type of Event: Networking Location: Business Networking Center  649 Walnut St. Cary, NC 27511  Time:  8:30 A.M. Contact:   Call 342-5251 Event name: Cary Leads Group Type of Event: Networking Location: Business Networking Center  649 Walnut St. Cary, NC 27511  Time: 10:00  A.M. Contact:  Call 342-5251

MEETING SPACES Raleigh *Crossroads Business Center | 424-3801 | up to 15 people 5540 Centerview Drive, Suite 200 Stratis Business Center | 719-2700 | up to 16 people 4030 Wake Forest Dr. Your Office USA | 863-4100 | up to 15 people 2501 Blue Ridge Rd, Suite 150 *This facility has more than one room. Capacity of largest room is listed.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Enjoy Summer Take Care to Cover Up!   The TBC Staff Survey Results  Last Month's survey was about networking.  Virtually all the respondents said they use networking as a form or advertising and marketing.  Most belong to a Chamber of Commerce and a Leads Group of some type. Nearly half network with others in the same field and a majority belong to a Mastermind group. This Month's Survey This month our survey is about Personal Development.  Business Listings List your business events without cost! As a service to the business community, you may now list business events in a limited format without cost. Go to www.tbiz.com/ and follow the link. Note that unpaid listings may not appear in the newsletter but will be visible on the website the week they are occurring. You will be subscribed to this newsletter when you enter an event. Remember for only $35.00 you can have a Featured Listing that remains on the website all month and is included in the newsletter.

iContact's Co-Founders, Red Hat's Szulik Take Home E&Y Entrepreneur Awards WRAL Aaron Houghton and Ryan Allis, co-founders of e-mail marketing firm iContact, and Matthew Szulik, chairman of Linux software developer Red Hat, took home Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year for the Carolinas. Positive Report on NC Manufacturing News 14 Carolina More North Carolinians are opting for public transportation, according to transit system data. Some riders say they're taking the bus more because of high gas prices. GSK Layoffs Leaving Scientists in Limbo Raleigh News & Observer Layoffs at GlaxoSmithKline's research and development center in Research Triangle Park are expected to unleash a wave of job seekers. Downtown Bustling with Development WRAL Whether it's the skyline or on the ground, it seems like there's always something new to see in downtown Raleigh these days.   GOP Blocks Windfall Profit Oil Taxes News 14 Carolina Senate Republicans blocked a proposal Tuesday to tax the windfall profits of the largest oil companies, despite pleas by Democratic leaders to use the measure to address America's anger over $4 a gallon gasoline.

1. Do you participate or encourage your employees to participate in Personal Development courses and workshops? Yes, It is important No Sometimes, when convenient Only half-day courses One-day courses More than one-day courses 2. Does your company pay for Personal Development opportunities? (Check all that apply) Yes, we invest in our people Yes and we offer a certain number of hours in this area Yes but we share costs with employees or pay based on grade No, we do not offer that benefit 3. If you have a cap on training hours, how many hours? 1-5 6-10 11-20 21-40 Over 40 4. What is the average number of training hours your employees devote to personal development? 0 1-5 6-10 11-20 21-40 over 40 If you do not receive a confirmation page after clicking submit, please click here.