Archive for December, 2007

BrianGardner.com (WordPress Designer)

Our new site is just about to launch, and with it, the blog I’ve been so wanting to write! What was the holdup? Well, uh, I’ve got this teensy weensy issue with not liking cluttery, ugly or downright blah websites.

So one night I get the brain flash to look up “clean, minimalist wordpress template” and my whole word changed!

Enter Brian Gardner. We love his simple, elegant WordPress templates and they are just so easy to use! He’s just released a few more, and if you’ve ever been through the web design process (which can often take months and months), you will be delighted to hear that WordPress sites can be modified in short order – usually taking less than 10 hours tops! Simple changes can be made in less than 10 minutes. Even a novice can do it!

What’s not to love about people like Brian who make the e-world a less cluttery place to live? Plus, his themes are ridiculously affordable! Be sure when you check out the theme that you also look through the Showcase so you can get some ideas about how they can be modified. Bravo Brian – we love you!

Feeling the itch to get a blog moving…go with it!

WordPress.com

Goodness, is it just me that feels like I’m getting o-l-d? J When it comes to blogging, I think most people have a favorite blogging software. Ours is WordPress. It is AMAZING and so easy to use. The kid (and yes that is an appropriate label) who created WordPress is 23. Did I mention that I’m feeling old? And, get this, WordPress serves an unheard of 100 million unique visitors per month at the site! I guess we aren’t the only ones who love WordPress.

Although I work with techie things, I am NOT a techie. WordPress is made for us non-techies. It literally makes me swoon (even when I’m wrangling a wandering graphic). I LOVE it. I even added a page ALL BY MYSELF to a WordPress site we just created for an upcoming launch (want a sneak peak?).

I love WordPress because it is super easy to use and it has an amazing community that supports it and develops for it. My favorite template BY FAR is Revolution by Brian Gardner. If you go to his site, you can see a couple of versions – one is a straight version for a website and the other is a newspaper layout that is totally awesome. I noticed that he just added a new one for a magazine layout. Revolution’s clean design and easy navigation is a dream, and Brian has done all of the work!

We’ve already been getting rave reviews from those who have seen the site we just created, so if you want to get rave reviews too check out all of the WordPress free templates and Revolution.

If you know how to type in an email, you, too, can have a blog up and running in no time flat!

Mimeo.com

Besides being a GREAT example of direct marketing, Mimeo.com is a presenters and consultant’s dream partner. This company handles duplication of all sorts of products from manuals, notebooks and presentations to CDs and other specialty items.

This company produces over 2 MILLION PAGES a night – that’s a WHOLE LOTTA duplication. They serve some of the biggest (and smallest) companies out there, so I’m sure they can handle your needs, too.

Wondering what it might cost? Just fill out a form and they’ll send you a *FREE* sample of your job.

What makes them great direct marketers? No matter which way you go, you’ll have to enter in some info to talk to them! Want them to call you? No problem, enter your phone number? Want a free trial? Sure, just enter your information!

The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch

I remember when this show first came out. In my humble opinion, it was not that interesting…it was actually pretty boring. I was disappointed since Donny is a huge force in the advertising world.

I’m so glad to report that the show is new and improved. Not sure when the change took place, but it is a vast improvement and it is GREAT now! It is an action-packed, fast-paced hour of entrepreneurial power as Donny interviews many company owners about their ‘big idea.’

If you enjoy learning about other people’s successes and feeling like you, too, can make your dreams come true, then check out The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. This show is your roadmap to the American Dream. Each weeknight, Donny Deutsch, the maverick CEO who built a multi-billion dollar advertising and media business, introduces you to the men and women who have made BILLIONS with their Big Idea. The show airs weeknights at 10p/1a on CNBC. Set the Tivo!

December 17th 2007

Hi all-

Well, it’s that time of year again. It’s just about time for St. Nick and a whole host of other characters to make the rounds.

Quick question – have you noticed how busy it is? I’ve talked to a lot of people recently that are asking about where all of this business is coming from around the holidays. Apparently a lot of us have gotten used to have several weeks of slow days during the holidays and now that clients are a clamoring, there’s just no time to get it all done!

The good news in all of this, is, of course, that business is good. Despite the almost daily reminder about all that is not going well in the world, there are lots and lots of opportunities for us to tap into.

The opportunity with just a smidge of downtime around the corner is to think about and consider all of the ways you can automate things around the office. From the questions that you answer over and over again to the marketing items that slip through the cracks.

Invest a few hours to relax and consider the myriad of ways you can cut the work load in 2008!

Hugs-

Tina

P.S. What is your one nagging issue? How often does it pop up in various areas? Usually, there’s one pressing challenge and it shows up in many, many ways. Figure out what it is and you’ve got a fix that can really spell relief!

Holiday Marketing: Dos and Don’ts

Every year clients ask me what they should give their very best clients. Every year there’s a struggle between something old and something new, something edible and something material, something memorable and something forgettable.

Which is what got me thinking… Just why is it so hard to gift our clients?

WARNING: I have very strong opinions about what works, what doesn’t and why. Keep reading only if you really want my truth as I see it!

To me, a gift says a lot about the giver. In all relationships – personal and otherwise – the gift selection says a lot about YOU! I believe this may be what causes so much of the fuss around this time of year.

What to do? Well, let’s look at the DOs!

DO give gifts that match the RECIPIENT. Give the gift that speaks to THEM. Match loves and passions to something that says, “Hey, I know who you are and I like it!”

DO give gifts that are memorable. Why waste money on something utterly forgettable? For years I gave away food for gifts. People would say to me, aren’t you afraid they aren’t going to remember you gave them something? I would think… But I’m not thinking about ME, I’m thinking about them and what they might like! I can tell you that if you have every wondered about giving food items for a gift, the key is to get something SUPER MEMORABLE! One year I gave 6 lb. apple pies. Since most of my clients are outside of Texas, the comments came flowing in! Notes like… “They sure do make everything bigger in Texas!” and “I will never forget the look on my wife’s face when she saw that pie!” Now THOSE are memories, folks!

DO give the gift and then detach from any expectation! No one wants to get a gift with strings attached (read this like: Did you get my gift, huh? Huh? What did you think?)

Do give gifts that reflect the value you have for the relationship. Many people believe a million dollar client might require a million dollar gift. While it doesn’t have to be dollars to dollars, you certainly wouldn’t want to send a $15 wood car with chocolates to a client that you are billing $500,000 a year with! Often, high-wealth clients care more about the sentiment than they do the actual gift.

Do give gifts that show how much you know the client. If a client, for example, lost a mother or father during the year, you might make a donation to a charity in that person’s name. The card might say… We are thinking about you this holiday season and have made a contribution to XYZ organization in your father’s name. Sincerity goes a long way and people can feel the intent behind a gift.

DO make it personal. Anytime it is possible, match the gift to the person. It may take a little more time, but it’s often worth the extra effort! If you have a client who is from New York, why not gift a Junior’s New York Cheese Cake?, for example.

Now that we’ve discussed DOs, let’s discuss DON’Ts.

DON’T make the gift about YOU. I believe giving gifts with your name printed on the side is tacky. It’s like gifting advertising. Ewwww. ‘Nuf said?

DON’T be cheesy and DON’T be cheap. It’s better to not give a gift at all or give a simple card than it is to give a cheap gift that speaks volumes (in a very bad way) about you!

DON’T give a gift for the wrong reason. If the only reason you are giving someone a gift is because it’s on the to do list or because someone else is or because someone gave you one, then don’t give one at all. People know the difference and if you think they don’t, then you are missing the boat! People can tell when care was put into the gift selection and when it isn’t!

DON’T just pick something. See the memorable part above – choose something that reflects what you and your client share together. Many of my clients are adventurers, so I love to gift them with adventurous food, crazy toys, interesting and off-the-beaten path books. What do you represent for your clients and how can you share that message in your gift. That way, you are thinking of them and gifting a piece of yourself too!

DON’T be a bah humbug. Oh, you know the types. Bah! Holidays! No one says you have to wear a necklace made of mistletoe, yet there’s something to getting into the holiday spirit. Is this an opportunity to take a client to lunch. Cut out early and hit the links? Whatever the urge – explore it!

DON’T stress and overextend. Do what you can and do what is best for you in the long run. Our world is full of consumers with more ‘stuff’ than they know what to do with (another reason why food works well). If cards are it for you, then choose another holiday to play up client delight – Valentine’s Day, St. Patty’s Day, Spring, Spring Break. Let your creativity take you away!

If you have specific questions about holiday gifting, feel free to email me! I would love to share your question and my response via this ezine or in our new blog!

What’s New

10 Crazy Gift Ideas

I just love the holidays, don’t you? I love to see crazy gift ideas that I can share with everyone. I’m telling you… if you have a person on your list that is hard to buy for, this is the list for you!

Number 10 – Crazy Illustrated Dancing Bobble Heads – There are lots of site out there that allow you to take a photo, cut your recipient’s head off and attach to an illustrated body that dances to the beat. Some of my favs are www.jibjab.com  and www.boogieheads.com. OfficeMax has a clever little viral version that you can do too at http://www.elfyourself.com/!

Number 9 – Singing, Dancing Toys – Okay, now this is really crazy, but I have to say it is a huge phenomenon. If you aren’t privy to the singing, dancing toy phenomenon then, trust me, there is one! It started many years ago with the Boogie Bass. Remember the ‘mounted’ bass on a wood backboard that would sing to you? As crazy as that little gadget seems, it and others like it have sold millions and millions worldwide!

Number 8 – Any Food Item That is Outrageous – Hmmm, how about a 8 lb. cheesecake, a 6 lb. award-winning apple pie that takes two hours to bake/reheat (that comes prebaked), or a dozen $3.25 cupcakes? Mix in a little geographic flavor, some exclusivity (you can only get those pies from Neiman’s and a couple of other retailers) and you’ve got a winner!

Number 7 – Stupid Gifts – I bet you didn’t know there are sites dedicated to selling ‘stupid’ gifts. Well, if you are on the search for gag gifts, the completely inane, or the downright wacky, look no further than Stupid.com. Stupidiotic.com sells Be Unseen glasses for those A-listers who would rather be unseen – there’s a little craziness for every generation out there. Or entertain your inner child or someone else’s with gifts from the Perpetual Kid. And, if that’s not enough, I just heard about a little boy from Wimberley, Texas who has taken Fart Gifts to a whole new level! This is a budding entrepreneur!

Number 6 – Electronic Gadgets and Goodies, Oh my! For the electronic gizmo-lovin’ guy or gal in your life, look no further than Engadget.com for crazy electronic holiday gifts. There are holiday gifts for him and holiday gift ideas for her. Don’t forget Apple, Newegg.com, Amazon.com, and Sharper Image.

Number 5 – Anything Extreme from the Neiman Marcus Catalog – Oh, you know you know all about this year’s crazy gifts that cost an even crazier amount of money! This year, the Dallas retailer boasts the news-getting really crazy gifts, and if you go to the site you can click through the Top 100 in your PJs! Anyone for a $615 bath set?

Number 4 – Adventure Gifts – What about giving an adventure that creates memories? Horseback lessons cost about $40 an hour, I’ve heard a couple of people report that you can get a flying lesson for as little as $10 for the first one. Incentive travel packages can be found for as little as $250 for three days and two nights. Use your imagination and go where the adventure is! And if you really want to give your client an experience that is out of this world, check out Zero G.

Number 3 – A Taste of the Best – The home of one of the world’s most expensive chocolates – Noka Chocolate – is right around the corner from where we live. At $854 a pound, it isn’t the most expensive chocolate, but it might be fun to see what $20 bucks will get you. Other items that you can gift for a fraction of the full cost – rent a luxury car for the day, a small portion of fine caviar, a smaller portion of a fine wine. For high wealth clients and those aspiring to high net worth, consider a subscription to The Robb Report, the Global Luxury Resource. Let your creative juices run wild.

Number 2 – Unique and One-of-a-Kind – How can you place a value on unique gifts? You can’t! As Mastercard would say… *Priceless!* Name a star or planet after the recipient, or create a blog (free!) for the writer in your life, secure a web domain for the budding entrepreneur you know.

Number 1 – DNA Artwork – For the really hard-to-buy-for person, here’s the intersection where biology meets art. It’s called DNA11. This really cool site allows you to take a swab of the recipient’s mouth and turn DNA into artwork. Talk about a gift that is personal AND memorable!

December 6th 2007

Hi all-

I really have to be in awe of how things work with the world. I wrote about iJustine.com last week and THIS week she was on the front page of www.TalkShoe.com where she is being boasted as the largest TalkCast EVER! If you want to get to know this really cool, truly talented young woman a little better, pop in to hear her live (next Sunday evening)!

Every year clients ask me what they should do for holiday gifts. Is food a good idea? Should I get something with our name imprinted? What about holiday cards? Will my gift get lost in the shuffle?

This week I combined a few holiday topics into a nice soufflé of holiday marketing advice. Enjoy!

Hugs-

Tina

P.S. This holiday season, consider breaking out of the mold – the jello mold, that is!

Games for Marketing Creativity Problem Solving

So you want to think the way I do. Be able to tackle any problem or issue that may come your way. From a very young age I have been able to figure out just about any situation or problem. You can say I was born that way. I am one of those people that people go he can do anything. Well the truth is, I can do almost anything because of one main reason.

I know my options!

You can start doing the same thing in your life with just a little help. If you are already an expert feel free to email me your ideas for being more of a creative problem solver.

Here is a simple little exercise that will help you expand your brain and how you look at the world, so that no matter what the situation is you will be able to creatively come up with a solution. The game is called bubble gum and is the key to heading down the road to unbelievable problem solving.

Bubblegum

Rule 1 – there are no set rules only guides to help you.

Rule 2 – Have fun and keep it positive. Once you start thinking this way automatically, your brain some times can show you all the options in a negative fashion. So, please don’t think of options to harass your neighbor or that.

Get out a piece of paper and pencil\pen or if you have a good memory you can use it as well.

Now imagine you have a piece of gum.

Think to yourself all the things that you can do with the piece of gum. Limit your self to only your body right now. Write down every answer you can think of.

How many did you come up with?

Expand your mind to include anything you can do with the piece of gum; including with other objects around you. Write these down in another list on your paper.

How many more did you come up with?

I will provide some of my quick thoughts below. Please try it yourself before you clog your brain with my thoughts. To increase your ability let your mind find things to do with other items you see every day as well (cars, chickens, cows, toys, food, checkbook). Practice often and enjoy your growing skills. In no time you will automatically be able to see solutions without thinking at all. Email if you have questions about this process. I am trying to keep blog entries shorter.

Few of my answers.

Just me and the gum.

• Chew it
• Blow bubbles
• Pull it out with my fingers
• Stick it in my hair
• Stick it up my nose
• Stick it in my ears
• Put it under my arm
• In my eye…ouch
• On my chest
• Swallow it. Kind of ends the game LOL
• Throw it
• Bite it in half
• Stuff it in my cheek
• Stick it to the roof of my mouth.
• Stick it in some crazy places. Use your imagination.

You get the idea…..

The Gum and my imagination.

• Freeze it and shoot it out of a sling shot
• Stick it on the window
• Stick it on neighbors window
• Put it under the desk, in the couch, under the sink, in the microwave, on and on.
• I wont put everything because it would take a long time. You know I am an expert

So the next time something comes up in your life remember “Bubblegum.”

PS. Nothing in your life will happen if you know all your options but make no decision. Remember, you get there faster in a row boat when you actually row.

What can Celine Dion Teach You About Marketing

What do you think a woman who has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide might be able to teach you about marketing?

She could teach all of us a lot. In all marketing, there’s a formula.

If you’ve made the rounds on the talk show circuit in the last few weeks, by now you know Celine Dion has a new CD (Taking Chances) out. In showbiz, there’s a marketing formula. It looks something like this:

1. Create CD, Movie, etc. (this could be your program or product)

2. Set up tour or movie launch date (this could be your launch date)

3. Set up PR interviews on television, radio, newspaper, web – anywhere the customer is (this could be how you let others know about your launch) and other marketing tactics

4. Promote like crazy (show up for those press interviews and such) and let your customers get a ‘taste’ of what they can get with the actual product

5. Launch Tour (launch product or program)

So many people think marketing is a ‘one-off’ item that needs to be done ‘until’ you’ve made it. When in reality, marketing is never done. It is never over. It is always something that will require your attention. Experts like Dan Kennedy suggest that marketing IS your business. That would mean that Celine is a marketer who just happens to have a talent for singing! When you follow this line of thinking, you realize that no matter how talented you are if marketing doesn’t happen, people will not know about what you are doing, and if people don’t know what you are doing then they can’t buy what you have.

Celine is a great example of this. In 2004, she was presented with the Chopard Diamond Award from the World Music Awards show for becoming the “Best-selling Female Artist in the World.” In April 2007 Sony BMG announced that Celine Dion had sold more than 200 million albums worldwide. If Celine must promote each CD and each tour, then so do you!

Celine does what she loves when she markets, so on Oprah she mixed and mingled with fans and made some lucky individual’s wildest dreams come true. She also sings and shares a taste of her product. She performs with all of her heart and gives 100 percent on each show.

You can do this too! If you love to gab, go toward radio appearances. If you prefer to be flamboyant, try some outrageous marketing promotions. Go where your customers are and give it all you’ve got by planning the steps and then carrying those out!

Mojo Belated Thanksgiving Gift!

Okay, so I shared with you in the last ezine I was working on a really cool giveaway. And here it is!

If you’ve never heard of either of these, that’s cool, just realize you are being given a pretty cool gift.

I’m on a lot of the experts and internet marketing guru’s lists, and all of a sudden I started seeing talk about getting Camtasia (retail value about $300) for FREE! And if that wasn’t enough, also getting SnagIt for free, too! Woo hoo, it was holiday gift-giving come early!

Camtasia Studio is the tool used by the most experienced marketers for making screen capture videos. It’s an extremely powerful piece of software (AND SO EASY TO USE), and you can get a fully functional, licensed version direct from the manufacturer, for zilch – I love this!

SnagIt is a great screen capture program, with loads of options. It will even grab entire web pages, regardless of length.

What’s the catch? None, really. Though the versions are slightly older (and the version I still use), it’s more than you’ll probably ever need to get started. The manufacturer, Techsmith, is hoping you’ll take advantage of the half-price upgrades to their latest versions. This is what is known as an upsell (more on those in future Marketing Mojos).

Want to get these? The process is simple. Grab the downloads and install them.

Then go to the links mentioned for the license keys, give them your email address, and they’ll email you the key needed to unlock the software. (These are not limited trials, they are full licenses).

I’ve include Internet Marketer Paul Myers links for you to use! Enjoy!

Camtasia Studio download:

http://www.talkbiznews.com/r/camdownload.html

Camtasia Studio Key:

http://www.talkbiznews.com/r/camkey.html

SnagIt Download:

http://www.talkbiznews.com/r/snagitdownload.html

SnagIt Key:

http://www.talkbiznews.com/r/snagitkey.html