Transition to the Cloud

As your traffic safety education curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) is constantly working to optimize the functionality and reliability of its information technology (IT) systems to ensure a premium experience for you and your students. In service of these efforts, we are currently transitioning our systems to a cloud computing service provider in the hopes of further improving access and availability.

The bulk of the transition has been completed, and we are anticipating finishing up the process in the next week or two. Our IT team performed extensive planning and testing prior to the start of this project, and we do not expect any service interruptions. However, should you experience any problems with your sites or services, from now through approximately March 17, please immediately alert us to the situation by calling 800-341-5554.

We thank you for your patience during this transition period, and look forward to delivering an improved traffic school experience!

Get Better Customer Service!

As your full-service traffic safety education curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) wants to ensure that you receive fast and effective assistance with any problems you might have running your school. Toward that end, we ask that you contact your affiliate support representatives with any requests, including those for website/IT help.

Please contact Chris or Erika, and they will pass along your service request or direct you to the appropriate party to help with your needs.

Mr. Chris Kalili
800 . 487 . 1699
chris@trafficeducation.net

Ms. Erika Sharkey
800 . 259 . 0898
erika@trafficeducation.net

Please note: Chris will be out of the office from April 28 through May 4, 2022. Please contact Erika with any inquiries.

 

We thank you for your cooperation with this situation, and look forward to serving you!

TSC Affiliate Program Contact Information

Happy New Year to all of our affiliates from Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc. (TSC)!!!

This blog post is just a reminder that we're here to help! If you require assistance with any of the traffic safety education programs (traffic school, driver education, mature driver, practice permit tests) that you license from TSC, our Affiliate Program staff are here to guide through any difficulties. With any questions you might have, or for updates to your TSC-managed websites or technical assistance with your affiliate management software, please feel free to contact:

Mr. Chris Kalili
800 . 487 . 1699
chris@trafficeducation.net

Ms. Erika Sharkey
800 . 259 . 0898
erika@trafficeducation.net

All voicemail and email messages will be returned
within 24 hours during regular business hours.

We thank you for your business, and look forward to a successful 2022 with all of you!!!

Address Change – TSC Corporate HQ

Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) is pleased to announce that we are relocating our corporate headquarters in California. We have been at our present location for over a decade, but find that it no longer serves our needs and have acquired new office space nearby.

Effective June 1, 2021, TSC's new office address will be:

Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc.
8215 Van Nuys Boulevard
Suite 310A
Panorama City, California 91402

Please update all of your materials and physical correspondence accordingly.

(All other contact information remains the same.)

Information Technology Systems Update

As your curriculum provider, and a leader in technology solutions for the delivery of online education, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., is always working to ensure that our systems reflect the best-available equipment and software. Toward that end, we have upgraded the security of our systems to conform to the newest Web best practices and the latest technology requirements of many regulatory agencies.

Part of TSC's most recent round of updates involved a reconfiguration of components that interact with online payment processing. As always, updated systems were thoroughly test prior to rollout. However, should you encounter any problems with your traffic safety education website(s), please contact Donna via email or by calling 800 . 252 . 9951.

Important Notification: Affiliate Accounts

Just a reminder that any inquiries or requests regarding your account—including issues with or edits to your TSC-designed and -maintained website(s)—should be directed to the account representative with whom you normally communicate:

Chris (800 . 487 . 1699 or email Chris) or
Tara (800 . 863 . 2590 or email Tara).

Thank you for your cooperation with this policy.

Celebrate Responsibly This Holiday Season!

Calendars fill with social engagements this time of year, and traffic swells with distracted drivers running holiday-related errands. Remind students to be extra cautious when they're on the road—no one wants their holiday marred by a car crash, or worse yet, an injury or the loss of life!

Holiday festivities almost always include alcohol, which makes an exceptionally dangerous partner with motor vehicle operation. Stress to your students that, as is repeatedly noted in your lesson plans, the most dangerous and most irresponsible thing they could as a motorist is to drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs!

The tips below can help drivers to avoid alcohol-related hazards:

If You're Attending a Party

• Designate a driver, who will not consume alcohol (at all!), who will be responsible for driving home the other members of the group.
• If no one in your group wants to assume the responsibility of designated driver, or if you're attending an event on your own and intend to consume alcohol,…
• prearrange a safe ride home from a friend or family member.
• summon a taxi or a ride-sharing service such as Lyft or Uber.
• call 800 . 400 . 4222 at the time you need a ride to take advantage of AAA's Tipsy Tow program, which offers a tow home from your point of pickup (free for up to 7 miles) from 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 to 6 a.m. on Jan. 1.

If You're Hosting a Party

• Provide guests a varied selection of nonalcoholic beverages.
• Help to arrange transportation home for impaired guests, or arrange for them to have a place to stay.
• Give a gift to guests who volunteer to be designated drivers.
• Take the keys away from guests who have had too much drink.

It's never safe to consume alcohol or drugs and operate a motor vehicle, and it's easy to avoid the dangerous consequences. Do your part, and help to keep everyone safe this holiday season. Whatever you do, it's far less expensive than a DUI; and you might just save a life—including your own or that of a love one!

Website Changes

This is just a quick reminder that any requests for changes to your TSC-designed and -maintained website should be made in writing (email) to the affiliate director with whom you normally work (Chris (email Chris) or Tara (email Tara)).

Please do not approach TSC's IT Department directly with these requests.

By helping us to streamline this process, you allow TSC to respond to your requests more quickly and efficiently and you enable us to develop more great curriculum products for your school to offer.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Marketing Using Themed Promotions

Marketing research suggests that themed promotional campaigns tend to have higher conversion rates than non-themed campaigns. Themed promotions, then, represent an excellent opportunity to attract attention—and customers—to your traffic safety school.

Holidays present an obvious opportunity for a themed campaign, and many businesses take advantage of these occasions. But because the competition for attention is fierce around general holidays, your ad may get lost in all of the noise. This isn't to say that you should avoid running promotions around the holidays, of course. But other events might provide just the opening you need to get your message out in a way that ties in nicely with your product.

A number of events relate very nicely with the theme of traffic safety education. Consider these opportunities to promote your school:

• Distracted Driving Awareness Month - April
• National Impaired Driving Prevention Month - December
• Global Youth Traffic Safety Month - May
• National Teen Driver Safety Week - third week of October
• Bicycle Safety Month - May
• National Pedestrian Safety Month - June

A number of events could also be associated with specific modalities:

• Online Courses
• International Internet Day - May 17
• Internet Day - October 29
• Booklet Courses
• National Book Month - January
• National Literacy Month - September
• International Literacy Day - September 8
• General/Classroom
• American Education Week - mid-November

The events noted above are national or global affairs, but many local jurisdictions hold similar happenings to promote traffic safety or other worthwhile initiatives.

Be on the lookout for any tie-in opportunities that you can use to get the word out about your business!

Welcome, Virgil!

Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc. (TSC) would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Virgil Palitang, who has accepted a position as our new Director of Information Technology. Virgil officially joined the team a few weeks ago, and has been onboarding with the help of his predecessor, Justin Miller.

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps (five years active duty), Virgil holds a master's degree in Information Systems and was formerly employed by a firm providing teleconferencing services. He is an enthusiast of embedded systems (computer systems with a dedicated function within larger mechanical or electrical systems), such as quadcopters, Wi-Fi^® modules, and ultra-small computer systems. He notes that he's disappointed in himself if he fails to solve a Rubik's cube in under 90 seconds.

Virgil's problem-solving and technical skills are an excellent match for the demands of this position, and he will be a strong asset to TSC and our affiliate program. Virgil will be working out of TSC's corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, and can be reached by telephone at 877 . 644 . 0117 or by email at virgil@trafficeducation.net.

Please direct any IT/Web development inquiries to Virgil. And please join us in welcoming Virgil to the TSC family!

Marketing Growth Strategies

Successful businesses know that they have to keep up with the latest trends to maintain their competitive advantage. Small Business Trends shares some marketing growth strategies that could help your school to prosper:

1. Mobile dominance. Over the past few years, mobile has overtaken desktop in usage and search—especially among younger users. As a result, there was a big push in 2016 for small businesses to ensure that their websites were optimized for mobile browsing. (Note that, as your traffic safety education curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., develops sites and courses that are mobile-friendly!) You might also consider looking into alternative payment methods, such as Square, to help you collect tuition from students of your classroom-based courses on-site at the time of the class.
2. Data-informed decision-making. Much has been made lately about "big data" and the need for business to become "data-driven." But most organizations—especially small ones—lack the sophisticated and expensive tools needed to fully embrace this strategy. But data doesn't always know best; insights from data analysis should be paired with your existing knowledge base and the opinions of experienced team members. You should, however, always track the effectiveness of your efforts, and be willing to make changes as needed to ensure success.
3. Better blogging and social media. You may already regularly be generating content for your website and/or social media accounts. But audiences are starting to notice the difference between noise and valuable posts. If your content isn't helpful and exciting, you'll have trouble getting customers and prospects to engage. And don't forget to monitor the data on the effectiveness of your marketing and advertising activities to improve the performance of your next campaign.

The original article offers some further tips. Check it out to learn how to get your school on the path to marketing success!

100 Deadlist Days for Teen Drivers

Ah, summer! Temperatures rise, schools let out for the season, and motorists hit the highways for vacation road trips. Students might view it as the optimum time to fulfill their driver training requirements. And teen drivers look to exercise their freedom and newfound driving privileges by taking to the streets. But the extra traffic and inexperienced drivers can prove tragic.

A recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that there are an average of 10 fatalities due to injuries from a crash involving a teen driver every day between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year. Worse still, the study notes that 60% of teen crashes involve driver distraction—and were, therefore, likely to have been easily preventable!

Make sure that you're reinforcing the following points to your students:

• All vehicle occupants should always wear their safety belt. It's required by law in most places. But even in jurisdictions where the seat belt laws are a little more lax, it's still a good great idea! Safety belts are quick and easy to use, and they are the single most effective way to save lives and reduce the severity of injuries in motor vehicle crashes. Statistically, wearing safety belts doubles the chances of surviving a crash and more than doubles the chances of avoiding serious injury.
• Don't be tempted by distractions. A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that drivers who text message while driving are 23 times more likely to get into a collision or a near-collision than undistracted drivers. And research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that even hands-free technology is anything but risk-free. Furthermore, many states now prohibit any mobile device use by young drivers. Of course, those are just the tech-related distractions; there are plenty of other things to divert drivers' awareness. Some activities require our full attention—and driving is one of those activities.
• Keep your speed under control. Driving at speeds in excess of posted limits accounts for most traffic citations. And, aside from driving while impaired by alcohol or other drugs, about the most reckless thing a driver can do is drive too fast for the existing conditions. Speeding nearly triples the likelihood that a driver will be involved in a crash or near-crash. It reduces a driver's ability to steer safely around curves or obstructions in the roadway, extends stopping distances, and increases the distance traveled while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation. Worse yet, when speeding is a contributing factor in a collision, the bodily harm and property damage is frequently more extreme than average. Always obey all posted speed limits and be mindful of the Basic Speed Law, which states that a vehicle may never be driven faster than is safe for the prevailing conditions.
• Don't be reckless behind the wheel. When you're out of control, you're…well, out of control. And it's always good to be in control when you're behind the wheel. Whether you're trying to show off for your friends or just enjoy the "rush" of driving at the edge of your vehicle's performance envelope, driving recklessly is extremely dangerous!
• Never drink (or use other drugs) and drive. Perhaps the most dangerous—and most irresponsible—thing you could ever do as a motorist is to drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Roughly 10,000 lives are lost in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes each year in the United States—about a third of all traffic fatalities annually. Moreover, it's against the law for teens to consume alcohol, whether they're driving or not. Most states have some sort of Zero Tolerance law, and these regulations are strictly enforced. Unless you want your driver license to be short-lived, stay sober and safe behind the wheel!

By following these simple tips, we can help to prevent senseless crash-related deaths during the 100 Deadliest Days, as well as the rest of the year!

Develop a Marketing Plan

Companies don't just stumble upon customers—at least, not a lot of them. If you'd like to see your business increase, it's time to put some thought into attracting more prospects. Having a successful marketing plan will help to ensure that you're allocating your resources wisely and growing your client base to enhance profitability. Bloomfire offers the following tips based on the latest marketing trends:

1. Increase your social media advertising budget. Paid advertising on social media is hardly a new concept; it's possible you’ve been doing it for years. But changes in the world of social media—particularly Facebook—have led those networks to limit the effectiveness of organic reach in order to grow their paid advertising efforts. 2017 is expected to see a year-over-year increase of a whopping 33.5% on social media advertising spending. Keep up with the trend by boosting your social media budget, because you can bet your competitors will be doing so.
2. Produce more niche content. More content is published on a daily basis than ever before. This makes it nearly impossible for small companies to compete when it comes to broad content topics. There's just too much of it out there. But the key is the decline in the caliber of that mass-produced content. You can still reach prospects by identifying a narrow, more targeted crowd and producing high-quality content with their interests in mind.
3. Make more videos. Excellent video cameras are now available in many smartphones, making video production easier and more cost effective than ever. And four times as many customers would rather watch a video about a product than read about it. Moreover, one in four consumers actually loses interest in a company if it doesn’t have videos, and customers are nearly 50% more likely to read email newsletters that include links to a video. As you develop your marketing plan, give some thought to what content could be (better) delivered through a video.

The original article offers some more suggestions for more aggressive marketers. Check it out! But these tips will get your started toward a more successful operation.

Great, Low-Cost Guerilla Marketing Ideas

Put gorilla guerrilla marketing techniques
to good use and boost your sales!

We understand that, as smaller businesses, traffic schools don't have the marketing budgets of huge, multi-national corporations. But drumming up business doesn't have to be expensive, time-consuming, or difficult—if you get creative. To inspire you, we wanted to share this excellent article on Cost-Effective Guerilla Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses!

Guerilla marketing is about mesmerizing your audience with beauty or curiosity while delivering a strong message.

Put your imagination to work and drum some business for yourself this new year! (And please feel free to share in the comments section any successes you've had attracting new customers!)

How to Promote Your Small Business Event

Every small business wants to draw a customer-friendly crowd to an event it's hosting. The key is to match your time and energy with your needs. It takes time and effort to plan an event, so make sure you have the resources to devote to its planning and execution. You'll also want to pick a time that's appropriate for your customers. Once you have the basics figured out, it's time to send out the invitations. Here are a few tips and tactics to spread the word quickly and easily.

Use the Appropriate
Social Media Tools

These days, social media offer a free and easy way to let your customers know about an upcoming event. You can create a Facebook event; or if you have a paper invitation you're going to send in the mail, take a picture of it and post it on Instagram or Pinterest. You could also try Twitter-based tools such as TweetVite or TweetMyEvents.

Don't Ignore Traditional Media

While many people now gravitate toward social media, don't overlook the traditional newspaper or local radio and television stations. Not all of your prospects use social media, so it's important utilize several information channels. Many media outlets have "community calendars" in which you can list your event for free. You could also send a press release to local journalists who might be interested in covering the event.

Create a Calendar Invitation

Speaking of calendars…

Once your event details are set, you'll want to send an email to your loyal customers reminding them to attend. By sending out a calendar invitation (via Google or on your iOS device), you can ensure the event will automatically go directly into your customers' daily schedule.

Let's Party!

So, what are you waiting for? Host the bash of a lifetime and show your customers and prospects what you can do to help them!

Winter Driving Tips

Driving in severe weather can be physically and emotionally trying as well as dangerous. If the conditions are too treacherous, it's far better to postpone the trip, if possible. Motor vehicles can easily handle less severe wintry conditions, however, as long as drivers slow down and proceed with caution.

Remind your students of these tips for handling winter weather driving:

General Tips for Winter Driving

The following tips are good general advice for handling winter driving conditions. In fact, some of them are good advice year-round!

• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage, where carbon monoxide and other dangerous exhaust gasses can accumulate. (In fact…modern engine control computers allow vehicles to run amazingly well even when cold, and idling a vehicle for 20 minutes accomplishes very little beyond converting fuel into pollution. A short warm-up of 30 seconds or so may be a good idea; perhaps even a minute or two if it's really cold.)
• Never mix radial tires with other tire types.
• Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet roads, snow, ice, sand).
• Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle!
• Avoid driving while you're tired. Stay generally well rested before operating a motor vehicle and, if fatigue sets in while you're on the road, pull over in a safe place and take a break (even a short nap) before resuming travel.

Tips for Winter Road Trips

Remind students who are planning long-distance trips in winter weather:

• Check weather reports prior to a long-distance trip or before driving in isolated areas. Delay trips when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination, and estimated time of arrival.
• Make sure your vehicle is in peak operating condition by having it inspected at a reliable repair facility.
• Pack a smartphone, blankets, gloves, hats, food, water, and any needed medication in your vehicle.
• Keep at least half a tank of fuel in your vehicle at all times.
• If you become snowbound, stay with your vehicle! It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don't try to walk in a severe storm. It's easy to lose sight of your vehicle in blowing snow and become lost.
• Don't overexert yourself if you try to push or dig your vehicle out of the snow.
• Run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill and to conserve gasoline.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe remains clear of snow, ice, and mud. A blocked exhaust system could cause deadly carbon monoxide to leak into the passenger compartment when the engine is running.

Tips for Driving in the Snow

If a vehicle must be operated on snowy or icy roads:

• Drive slowly. Give yourself time to maneuver on slippery surfaces.
• Accelerate and decelerate smoothly and gently. Don't accelerate aggressively, and take time to slow down/stop for traffic controls and road hazards.
• Increase your following distance, beyond the normal three-second spacing, to up to eight or even ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes.
• Always apply firm, steady pressure when stopping a vehicle equipped with anti-lock brakes.
• If you're vehicle lacks anti-lock brakes, the best way to stop is threshold braking: Keep your heel on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply pressure on the brake pedal just shy of the point where the wheels lock up.
• Don't try to power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slowly as possible.
• Don't stop when going up a hill. Traction limitations could make it very difficult—if not impossible—to get the vehicle rolling (uphill) again.
• Stay home. If you don't really have to go out…don't. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can!

Great Event Ideas That Attract Customers

If you're looking to connect with local customers, a hosted event is a great way to create excitement and attract new prospects and loyal customers alike. But what kind of event would people like to attend? Here are some great suggestions for customer-attracting events that you can actually use:

1. Learning Event: You operate a traffic/driving school, right? Why not make use of this "how-to" type of gathering to show off what you do and maybe teach your community a thing or two? A driving school might show off its new simulator or training vehicle (you might even take people out for a short drive around the block). Or you could work up a short video that you play on a loop or other traffic safety demonstration that you present periodically.
2. Interactive/Hands-On Event: Like a learning event, a hands-on event takes education and literally puts it into the hands of an attendee. It allows guests to roll up their sleeves to learn and do at the same time. Perhaps you own a performance driving school and are willing to give a brief lesson on safe driving in extreme situations. Or maybe you help participants to properly adjust their seats/mirrors/etc. or winterize their vehicles. Anything that provides a service and allows people to participate will be remembered long after the event!
3. Charitable Event: Events that have a cause tied to them are brilliant at attracting customers because of the "do good, feel good" element. Shopping or spending for a cause is something people can take pride in, and these sentiments help to make these types of events successful and memorable. You could even partner with a driving-related non-profit or service organization in your area. You can hold a charitable event any time of the year, just be sure to connect your theme/cause to something that's relevant to your audience and something they care about.
4. Special Guest Event:A special guest host or emcee for your event can be an excellent draw. Many local athletes will lend their name and presence to causes they support—and if it's driving-related sport (e.g., a NASCAR), so much the better! Or, perhaps a local custom shop celebrity can make an appearance. People love to have special, out-of-the-ordinary experiences, and these events deliver on that.
5. VIP Event: People love exclusive offerings, and a VIP event for your most loyal customers (e.g., seniors who take your mature driving course like clockwork every few years) will be a great attraction. The key to doing VIP events well is to keep it small and manageable so you can offer only the best experience—since these are your best customers.

Now that the seed for an event has been planted, it's time to start making preparations. Check out our upcoming blog post for some tips on how to get the word out, so people actually know about and show up for your soiree!

Winning Through Great Customer Service

Attracting customers is one thing. Keeping them happy is another undertaking entirely! Even when you have the best of intentions and do your best work, things somehow manage to go wrong on occasion. How you respond to customer complaints can make or break your business in the long run.

In a previous post on this blog, we've discussed how to handle bad online reviews. While this is an increasingly important skill as ever more financial and social transactions move to the Internet, there are a few invaluable customer service guidelines that apply no matter your product/service or where the customer interaction takes place.

How to Talk to Your Angriest Customers is an excellent article that outlines in detail steps you can take to deliver exemplary customer service to your most problematic patrons. (Don't forget to follow the numerous links within the article for even more in-depth coverage of various points!) And, hey, if you can placate your angriest customers, imagine how easy it will be provide great service to those making simple requests!

Oftentimes, a client's negative experience can be salvaged and turned into an opportunity. Righting something you've done wrong—or even providing extra assistance to help more smoothly resolve a situation that's ultimately out of your control—can go a long way toward retaining disappointed customers. You might even get a referral out of it. So, get out there are make happy those students you've worked so hard to attract!

Be Prepared for Roadside Emergencies

Having a Breakdown

AAA recently released a study highlighting the most common calls for roadside help. Unsurprisingly, that list was topped by battery failures, flat tires, and key problems.

Breaking down on the side of the road is never fun, but equipment failure in a remote location or inclement weather can be downright dangerous. Encourage your students to prepare for emergencies by carrying the proper gear. Remember: Even brand new vehicles or those that are in—seemingly—good condition can experience problems without warning!

General Emergencies

Cones, Flares, Reflectors, LED Flashing Lights

Take a tip from truckers and carry cones, flares, a reflective triangle, or LED flashing lights to warn other drivers of your presence. Oftentimes, drivers fail to give adequate space to vehicles stopped along the side of the road; don't give other motorists an excuse by failing to let them know you're there.

First Aid Kit

Whether you need it for general boo-boos (those kids just won't settle down in the back seat!) or you injure yourself working on your broken down vehicle, a good first aid kit can be handy. The Red Cross suggests that an automotive first aid kit include bandages and gauze, antibiotic ointment, non-latex gloves, and more.

Fire Extinguisher

Vehicle fires can be extremely dangerous, and the best advice is to get away from your car as fast as you can if one breaks out. For a minimal fire, though, an extinguisher can easily prevent a small flame from getting out of control.

Handy Tools

Flashlight

It seems no one ever gets a flat on a dry, warm, sunny afternoon. But even if you're weather-fortunate, you might need to see into a shaded area of the engine compartment or wheel well. Make it easy on yourself by carrying a flashlight with good batteries.

Work Gloves

Some folks wear a single glove when they pump gas, in order to keep the smell off their hand. Add its mate and you'll have a pair handy for working on your vehicle.

(Paper) Towels

A few shop towels or a roll of paper towels can be helpful to clean up messes.

Screwdriver(s) and Wrench(es)

A multi-tip screwdriver (or straight and Phillips screwdrivers) and an adjustable wrench (or a small set of wrenches) are great for quick, on-the-road fixes. A utility/pocket knife and a general purpose spray lubricant could also be useful.

Binding Elements

Make sure you have a few bungee cords and some duct tape to keep things together when they fall apart.

Spare Parts

Don't load up your vehicle with a bunch of dead weight. But a stash of a few spare bulbs/fuses or other small parts might prove invaluable if there's a problem on the road.

Tire Pressure Gauge

A properly inflated tire not only gets better gas mileage and provides better traction, but is also less likely to be punctured. A good standard gauge is the Accu-Gage 60 PSI Dial or the Accu-Gage H100X.
A fun (though potentially less accurate) alternative is this set of four tire valve stem caps from Victor that change color when tires become low on air.

Jumper Cables

Cold-climate motorists don't leave home without a good pair of jumper cables. But they can be helpful in all conditions, whether you need a jump or you're trying to provide the helpful hand that someone else needs.

Cold-Weather Items

Always remember to clear snow/ice from your vehicle's windows and lights before driving. And if your vehicle becomes stranded in a snowstorm, stay with it; most deaths occur when motorists wander away from their vehicle and get lost!

Also make sure to carry a winter survival kit that includes warm clothing/blankets, matches and candles, and high-energy foods. Beyond that, these items can help you to get out of situations where traction is poor:

Shovel

If you drive in a climate or terrain where you might get bogged down in snow or mud, a shovel can be a necessity. A durable, foldable shovel stores neatly and can get you out of tough spots when needed.

Traction Enhancers

Sand, salt, or kitty litter can help to improve traction if you get caught in snow. Traction mats (plastic troughs that you can lay down in front of your wheels to provide traction) are also good.


Few things are as frustrating as having car problems on the road and being stuck without the right tools or supplies, and these suggestions are merely a good start. Take a few minutes now to make sure you're equipped to handle whatever your vehicle can throw at you!

Branding Your Small Business

Get your branding right and you'll score customers just by "being you." You certainly can't afford to do nothing, but small businesses can't bear the costs—time or money—of hiring a flock of consultants and ad agencies. So, how do you proceed with this critical business management task without breaking the bank or the clock? The Guardian offers A Guide to Branding Your Small Business. Check out the full post for the details, but in short…

1. Know Your Audience

Don't invest time or money developing your brand without first knowing your target audience and their needs. You must know what will resonate with your customers in order to talk to them effectively.

2. Use Your Knowledge Carefully

Know your market to carefully tailor your design and pitch, and deploy these tools consistently in your sales and marketing activities across all channels so the brand becomes easily recognizable.

3. Embrace Failure

It seems counterintuitive, but a great deal can be learned from branding failures. The marketplace is crowded and it can be difficult to know where you fit in. Each failure is a guide in the right direction.

4. Don't Think Like a Small Business

Thing big from the start. Act as if you're operating across multiple territories—you never know when that might actually happen, and you'll be prepared when it does!

5. Color and Design Matter

Visual identity, including your logo, is often a consumer's first encounter with your brand, so it must create the right impression. Unless you're a designer, avoid the DIY approach and hire a professional; services like Fiverr.com or PeoplePerHour.com can help you to find a freelance designer who suits your style and budget. And keep your identity consistent across media channels by creating a set of brand guidelines with detailed information about the color palette, fonts, and tone of voice to use.

6. Go Beyond Your Logo

Many small businesses make the mistake of confusing their brand with their logo. A logo is merely a symbol or other design adopted by an organization to identify its products, property, etc. A brand, meanwhile, is the public personification of your company, conveying everything you believe and hold dear about what you do. As the saying goes, people buy a product but they join a cause—make your brand memorable.

7. Choose Your Brand Name Carefully

Don't ruin great branding by giving your brand a bad name. A brand name must reinforce the key elements or objectives of your business. Remember: The more it communicates to your audience about your business and what it provides, the less effort you'll expend trying to explain it. (If you need some help, a recent article in Inc. talks about How to Come Up with the Best Name for Your Brand.)


These are the basics, but you can always read the original article (and its linked material) for more information. Happy branding!