Check out our NEW
Blue Plate Special

What's a blue plate special? It's an inexpensive meal that's traditionally served with a meat and three side dishes. Quick, easy, no substitutions and offered at a great price.

At Good Idea Cafe, we offer our own version of the blue plate special. It's the perfect "starter site" for the new small business. More...

 

On the Web ... but Why?

If you don't want to do it on your web site, don't offer it as an option. This month's "web tale" involves a car repair shop that offers to talk with customers online ... but then telephones them instead.

For the complete story and more tips on small businesses using the web, please check out our Small Business section.

Bill Flowers, Chief Cook & Bottle Washer

Bill Flowers is president (aka "Chief Cook & Bottle Washer") of Good Idea Café ("Sorry, no coffee, no croissants" as Bill always says. Like we haven't heard that line a thousand times).

Working in the Information Technology field for over 20 years, Bill was one of the early innovators of online classes at Virginia Commonwealth University. As Director of Web Development at the University of Richmond, Bill brought pioneering technology to campus including interactive campus tours, web cams, and web casts of campus events, guest lectures and class sessions.

Bill has designed and taught in-person classes in Web development at University of Richmond and VCU as well as presenting a series of online classes for Academic Impressions.

Bill is a speaker at the monthly SCORE First Step Workshop. In addition, Bill has presented workshops on effectively marketing your site, conducting usability tests and focus groups, and creating audience-driven Web sites. Bill currently serves as vice president of BNI Group Synergy in Richmond, Virginia.

Bill is currently writing a book on how small businesses and nonprofit organizations can optimize the Web to get their message to their customers and supporters.