Is 2009 really coming to an end already? It’s hard to believe that the year has gone by so fast, especially with all that has happened here at Go Smart Solutions! We have been able to grow our member base, even throughout these tough economic times. And while we know this is due to the value and results that our services deliver, we know that it is also due to our loyal customers. We are so very thankful.

We are excited about 2010, as we have no plans of slowing down! We will be launching even more valuable services soon, but here’s a quick look at a few notable milestones from 2009:

• EmailFlyerAds has grown to 21,600 members. Over 17,000 email flyers have been sent totaling 45,307,716 real estate emails!
• ClassifiedFlyerAds now has 23,800 members who sent out 120,000 ads in 2009!
• RentShout was launched in June this year, and since then has grown to 1,300 members who have sent out over 1,500 ads!
• RealShout is our latest reveal, launching earlier this month. This service will use Geo-targeted technology and proven Go Smart marketing systems to deliver leads to real estate brokers, MLS’s, and mortgage brokers.
• TwitBacks was a fun side project that took on a life of its own in 2009. With more than 152,000 members and 166,700 Twitter backgrounds created, TwitBacks was a fun success!

We hope your year has been as great as ours, and wish everyone the very best for 2010!

Read our newsletter for a more in-depth look at 2009.

Photo credit: Optical Illusion

Let me start of by declaring that I once provided full service, custom development and web design for small businesses.  Now that I provide self-serve business solutions through the Go Smart Solutions brands, I can speak confidently from both sides of the table.   Most small businesses do not need a custom developed website.  There are so many self-serve tools online that empower small business owners to create their own online presence (WordPress, ClassifiedFlyerAds, Squidoo, Social Networks, etc.) without paying big bucks for custom work.  All small businesses really need is to be educated on how to use these tools.  Once they learn about the technology and how to “serve themselves”, they will be able to take their business to a whole different (and higher) level.

Here are the three main reasons why I feel small businesses should learn to serve themselves:

Empowerment

Nobody knows your business like you do.  Using self-serve online solutions for your business puts the power in your hands.  You have the control and can make decisions on what is best for your business.

Education

You might be surprised at just how much you can learn when you start using tools that are readily available.  You will learn about online marketing, SEO, advertising, technology and so much more that your competitors don’t know about. It will take a little time and patience, but the payoff will be huge.

Economics

You will save BIG.  And when I say “big”, I mean thousands of dollars or more.

In order to make “self-serve” work for your business, all you need is initiative, a plan, and determination. The effort you put in to learning to effectively “serve yourself” will pay off in more ways than one, and lay the foundation for a lasting change in your business.