The Buzz About
Team HALO

One way I have benefited is that I have much more confidence as a business owner. Why? Because I feel I know more about what I'm doing and where I'm going. The plan thing - it's key!"
Cheryl Fletcher, owner, Forrest Paper Company

"Thank you for all your hard work, time, and determination. You are an inspiration and remarkable in the info you absorb and process."
Becky Lawrence, President, Becky Lawrence Design Group Inc.

"She is very refreshing. She listens and then she tells you what she thinks. I think she would be a great asset to any business. All I could think about was calling all the businesses that are in downtown and telling them that we need to get Marianna here as quickly as possible!"
Rebecca Davis, Pascagoula Main Street, Pascagoula, Miss.

"Marianna speaks from the heart with confidence to genuinely help help customers to gain a knowledge - and has loads of enthusiastic motivation! I was throughly pleased - loved her enthusiasm. Marianna is a GENUINE PERSON!"
Brenda S. Ashworth, West Side Main Street, Charleston, West Virginia

Recommendations

This page contains Marianna Hayes' recommendations for reading (both books & blogs). It also lists HALO Business Advisors' trusted list of business resources (technology, design and other vendors). Finally, there are links to miscellaneous other small business information or resources (like reports, white papers, e-books, articles, etc.).

Note: Please let us know if you have trouble with any links or have another link, blog, book or resource to share.

HALO Business Advisors' List of Trusted Small Business Vendors & Resources:

  • For graphic design, web design, illustration & web site hosting consider Fox Web Company at www.foxwebco.com or Blue Clover at www.blueclover.com.
  • For the leader in community branding, contact Ben Muldrow at www.arnettmuldrow.com.
  • For the leader in community retail market analysis, contact Tripp Muldrow at www.arnettmuldrow.com.
  • For other graphic designers, contact us for recommendations.
  • For great short run and digital printing as well as small business friendly, try www.vistaprint.com.
  • For other printers, contact us for recommendations.
  • Manage the blogs you read with www.bloglines.com
  • For on-line networking, try www.LinkedIn.com or www.facebook.com. Marianna and Andy have profiles on both, so please join us!
  • For great small business project management, to-do lists, file sharing, etc., try 37signals at www.37signals.com. HALO uses their Basecamp product for all of our client project management.
  • For e-mail marketing management, try www.myemma.com. For discounts and help, contact us at HALO.
  • Need a fax number but don't want a second phone line? Try www.myfax.com.
  • A great calendar system that allows easy collaboration with others (and free) is Google Calendar (www.google.com).   
  • Our very favorite blogging system, especially for small businesses that want to measure and have all the extras, and get great search engine optimization and traffic, all for a low price - use www.typepad.com.
  • Cool online coupon system - www.zixxo.com
  • For customer loyalty programs that are automated and easy to manage, try www.loyaltylab.com.

Blogs that Marianna Reads & Recommends:

“For lots of great ideas on a daily basis and to stay current in the world of business, blogs provide a big bang for the buck. I read a number of small business marketing related blogs on a regular basis, and I try to pass on the cream of the crop to my readers on my blog. However, I encourage you to become an avid reader of the vast resources available on the web. This list is constantly changing, but it’s a good starting place for today.” --Marianna

Books Marianna Recommends: