Why so few posts? Moving to WordPress

I've had several inquiries why I have been posting as much as usual. The straight answer is that I've been planning and working on my blog's move to its own domain in Wordpress.

Although many folks assured me how "easy" it is, I somehow can't get out of my own way. Probably because I want the cake and eat it too... not just a simple blog. And I'm trying to do it myself so I can learn and understand what I did and how I did it.

It's just I'm not as patient with myself as I am with other people (or maybe I'm just not patient period!!)

Anyway, I've been spending my "blogging time" researching and moving things, making mistakes and undoing things.

Some of the headway:
1) picking out a domain name
2) picking out a host
3) registering it
4) uploading (or is it downloading) Wordpress
5) Backing up the blog
6) Watching a couple videos from other people who did it (oh, so easily!! click click!)
7) Reading a bunch '0 posts explaining how bad & frustrating Blogger is compared to the ease and flexibility of WordPress. (yeah, right)
8) Setting up a database (why do I need a database again? and what's a SQL server?)
9) Trying to figure out what page I go to to log in. That's where I'm stuck now. Seems silly doesn't it? I'll figure it out in another 10 minutes.

Seems like every decision has ramifications... and by luck I guessed a few of them correctly. As a marketing person, I've stretched my IT language about as far as it goes and back again.

I reminds me of playing tuba in the marching band in college. I started playing tuba in high school because I went to a small school and most of the boys were on the football team and the ones who weren't mothers wouldn't let them play because people got hurt on our team. We were in the wrong division I think... Some seasons were zero wins and there were always kids carted off in the ambulance. In 7th grade, one boy died on the field. but I digress.

Anyway I played tuba in high school but never learned to play bass clef. I was actually a tenor sax/ bari sax player. So I watched everyone else's fingers and memorized the music, thinking treble clef all the time. Tuba is pretty easy, carrying it is the hard part!

In college it caught up with me. The squad leader was a music major. Worse, a tuba music major. And wow, he was so serious. I was having trouble getting by during marching band season. There was a group of us that were taking band for "fun" and I remember him shouting at us, "NO!! Major Triads! Major Triads!"

That's how I feel today when I read and re-read the "Easy Installations: 5-minute install" -- It's like someone shouting Major Triads! Like that is clear as mud.

Yesterday I walked away from the computer in disgust and watched people working out to lose weight on tv... while I was laying on the couch being a couch potato instead of going to the gym to work off some of the stress incurred from trying to switch to wordpress. Grumble, grumble.

I have been planning this switch since last May when I went to SOBCon '07. Or maybe planning is the right word, I just decided, I didn't really plan. And when I saw that Terry Starbucker switched just recently... and of course Matt Collier switched a long time ago. Well that sealed it. I'm pretty sure Robyn at Brain Based Biz is thinking about it if she hasn't already because she's got a different program doing her comments in blogger (I hate how no one can seem to leave comments without some special deal in blogger.) Maybe everyone else got help.

Ok. Enough rambling. Enough top of mind reminiscing.

Oh yeah. The guy that died on the field, it was a brain aneurysm... not really anything to do with football, but we were all traumatized for a long time. He was a senior -- a star player -- and I was a 7th grader & he sat across the table from me in study hall. They ended up naming the football field for him.

Happy new year.

Rebranding to help Marketing the Message

Rebranding efforts help companies communicate their message better. Here's an example of a new version of old product that has been refreshed and rebranded its offering for 2008:

1) Valassis, one of the major FSI couponing companies, markets its mailbox coupons under the shopwise brand. After the first of the year, they will rebrand their product and bring it to an on line portal site: RedPlum.com. According to ClickZ:

The site will contain product information, coupons and ads for local and nationwide businesses, many of which will be updated by widgets built into the site. Unlike other widgets, the RedPlum versions will have a limited ability to be grabbed and replicated on a consumers Web page or social network page.

Sounds like they'll be looking for some nice strong blogs to carry coupons too.

What I don't want to forget about 2007!

This past year was one of learning for me and I don't want to forget it's many lessons! Here are just 3 things I don't want to forget about 2007:

1) It's never to late to just jump in: I've heard this over and over this year. Just start where you are. You can begin in the middle. We're all in Beta. Everyone had their first time.

2) The only one standing in my way is me: I just have to remember to ask for help. This year I've learned more than ever to delegate and if I actually step back and let people do their job, they'll do a better job than I would. People want to help. It's hard to let go, but the results can multiply.

3) Time away helps to give better perspective: The last few years I've really be investing in the business and trying to get all the pieces in place to help it grow. That meant I hadn't taken a vacation in a while. My boardroom group helped me to realize a little space is a good thing and hoping on a plane to London gave me a whole different perspective. So much so that I took off in April and May to Chicago.

More end of the reflections to come... what do you want to make sure you remember about 2007??

The Warmth of Making a Difference

Drew reminds us of the difference the Age of Conversation book sales have made in his recent post

All the proceeds of this remarkable book were donated to Variety, the Children's Charity. Because we wanted the money to represent the international make up of our authors, we earmarked the money for one of Variety's programs, Lifeline.

Merry Christmas everyone!

David Airey Hacked?

Wow. Time to back up the blog and change all the passwords. If David Airey gets hacked, who is safe?

Practical Networking Etiquette Tips - Intro, Shake, Cards 101

Firm Grip & 2-3 Shakes
Flickr by oooh.oooh

When you network at an event do you try to sell everyone in the room on your services? Or are you on the shy side and prefer to talk to one or two people during the "mixer" time?

Here's some strategies that may help you -- and the others around you -- benefit more from the networking at business
events.

Try to move around the room and meet people in different areas of the room.

• Don't get into a deep conversation with the one person you already know -- that's not the point of a networking event.
• Limit your 30-second introduction to just that 30 seconds of your elevator pitch, commercial or what ever you want to call it. Don't spend 5 minutes telling someone about your business and forget to ask them what they do!
• Hand shake tips: the I See You Everywhere PR blog has some great tips on handshakes and introduction etiquette like:

"In terms of rank, clients are afforded higher status than your
colleagues, so address your client first and introduce your colleague to the client: “Ms. Top Client, I would like you to meet John Doe, the head of our litigation department.”

I've heard some recommendations of passing out at least 10 cards at an event. Or gathering at least 10 cards. I think it's better to focus on who YOU can help futher their business and look at networking as a reciprocating, team building type of event... rather than scoring goals. Networking usually builds over time.

One last word: in most probablility, the people you meet will not be a potential client. But they may know a potential client and be in a place to recommend your services. Your 30 second commercial/elevator pitch needs to be memorable, repeatable and compelling.

Have you worked on it lately??

Client Gifts - Marketing, Celebration or Thanks?

Allsorts by Ali
Originally uploaded by Vanessa Pike-Russell

The holiday season is the time when so many companies bestow their clients with gifts. Some go the logo route on a useful gadget, like an advertising specialty. Others do the cookies/candy, food, wine or restaurant gift card thing. Still others have an extremely creative, clever gift that makes everyone "ew and ah".

I often feel anxious about client gifts. Not because I don't have ideas, but I manage to talk myself out of the idea so easily. Or I "grade" my idea against the others and nothing seems right.

1) cookies/candies - many or most of my clients are watching their weight -- in fact one is a spinning instructor before work!

2) wine - red, white? Non-drinker? Beer drinker?

3) gift card - tacky, because it's like "$"?

4) logo on something - mug, notebook, etc. etc. Again tacky because it's "advertising?"

5) nuts - delicious, but what if they are allergic?

6) marketing book - used to do that, but found that rarely did a client want one or even read it.

7) homemade cookies - Festive, but a lot of work. And see comment 1 and 4.

As you can see, I stress way too much over client gifts. I should just close my eyes and delegate it, right?

I guess the whole point is to say "thanks, you're appreciated!" right? Not to get too hung up on the actual token gift.

Your thoughts?!

Stuck on a Marketing Challenge? Unlock Your Brain by Looking at Things Differently

Every so often I get stuck on a problem (or challenge!) and can't seem to get past it. I focus on it really hard but it won't budge. Don't know why I forget to take a look at the situation from a totally different angle. Someone else's perspective. An analogy. Another field, discipline or industry.

My best ideas usually come when I'm working on something else totally unrelated & then the puzzle unlocks. Why is that?

I've been working on pricing and process. Each session is another step forward, but the last couple of session I was just staring at the same numbers, same system, and not looking at it from a different perspective.

Amazing how a new viewpoint helps to give a fresh start!

How do you get past a roadblock? I'd love some suggestions to get their faster!


Photo of 14 Zebras by Richard du Toit, Johannesburg, South Africa from National Geographic's Best Nature Photography.
This slideshow link gives the whole grouping for those with AOL: Natures Best Photography 2007 Award Winners.

Logos - The Face of a Brand

H
Originally uploaded by Trevor D.

In this age of more products in the US and the world than we ever knew we needed, it is increasing important to have a logo to quickly communicate your brand.

Call it consumerism, but I call it instant communication.

What emotions do these logos and icons evoke?

Do you immediately recognize them?

Does your logo have immediate impact?

What do you notice that is similar about each logo?

What is different?

What can you take away from these?

Do you have one logo or icon for your business? Do you use it constantly and consistently? How?

Thanks to the blogging community!

As the end of the year approaches & I do my annual take stock, review accomplishments and set goals for the next year, I wanted to thank some of the generous Bloggers who have made a difference to the Branding & Marketing blog this past year.

The Z-LIST from Mack Collier, SOBCon'07 in May, encouragement from Mike Sansone, Troy Worman, Terry Starbucker, Lolly, Robyn McMaster, Dauwd Miracle, Phil the Relationship Geek, Deborah Chaddock Brown at BizInformer, and Dave Rothacker. With each name I write, I feel I'm leaving 27 others off my list!

thanks to:

100 Bloggers, 37 Days, 3i, 43 Folders, A Clear Eye, A Daily Dose of Architecture, The Agonist, All Things Workplace, All This Chittah Chattah, Angela Maiers, Antonella Pavese, Arizona High Tech, Arun Rajagopal, AttentionMax, A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye, Badger Blogger, Bailey WorkPlay, Being Peter Kim, Brett Trout, Best of Mother Earth, Beyond Madison Avenue, Biz and Buzz, Bizhack, BizSolutions Plus, Blog Business World, Bloggers Showroom, Blogging for Business, Blogher, Blog Till You Drop!, Bob Sutton, Brain Based Business, Brain Based Biz, Brains on Fire, Brand Autopsy, The Brand Builder Blog, Branding and Marketing, Branding Strategy, Brand is Language, BrandSizzle, Brandsoul, Bren Blog, Business Evolutionist, Business Management Life, Business Pundit, Business Services, Etc., Busy Mom, Buzz Canuck, Buzz Customer, Buzzoodle, Career Intensity, Carpe Factum, Casual Fridays, Change Your Thoughts, Chaos Scenario, Cheezhead, Chief Happiness Officer, Chris Brogan, Christine Kane, Church of the Customer, Circaspecting, CK’s Blog, Come Gather Round, Communication Overtones, Community Guy, Confident Writing, Conversation Agent, Converstations, Cooking for Engineers, Cool Hunting, Core77, Corporate Presenter, Crayon Writer, Creating a Better Life, Creating Passionate Users, Creative Think, CRM Mastery, Crossroads Dispatches, Cube Rules, Culture Kitchen, Customers Are Always, Customer Experience Crossroads, Customer Service Experience, Customer Service Reader, Customers Rock!, Custserv, Craig Harper, ‘Cross The Breeze, Daily Fix, Dawud Miracle, Dave Olson, David Airey, David Maister, David S Finch, Design Your Writing Life, Digital Common Sense, Director Tom, Diva Marketing, Do You Q, Duct Tape Marketing, Empowerment 4 Life, The Engaging Brand, Essential Keystrokes, Every Dot Connects, Experience Architect, Experience Curve, Experience Matters, Experienceology, Extreme Leadership, Eyes on Living, Feld Thoughts, Flooring the Consumer, Flooring the Customer, Fouroboros, FutureLab, Genuine Curiosity, Glass Half Full, The Good Life, Great Circle, Greg Verdino’s Marketing Blog, Hee-Haw Marketing, Hello, My Name is BLOG, Holly’s Corner, Homeless Family, The Idea Dude, I’d Rather be Blogging, Influential Marketing, Innovating to Win, Inspiring & Empowering Lives, Instigator Blog, Jaffe Juice, Jibber Jobber, Joyful Jubilant Learning, Joy of Six, Kent Blumberg, Kevin Eikenberry, Learned on Women, Life Beyond Code, Lip-sticking, Listics, The Lives and Times, Live Your Best Life, Live Your Inspiration , Living Light Bulbs, Logical Emotions, Logic + Emotion, Make It Great!, Making Life Work for You, Management Craft, Managing with Aloha, The M.A.P. Maker, The Marketing Excellence Blog, Marketing Headhunter, Marketing Hipster, The Marketing Minute, Marketing Nirvana, Marketing Roadmaps, Marketing Through the Clutter, Mary Schmidt, Masey, Masi Guy, The Media Age, Micropersuasion, Middle Zone Musings, Miss604, Moment on Money, Monk at Work, Monkey Bites, Movie Marketing Madness, Motivation on the Run, My 2 Cents, My Beautiful Chaos, Naked Conversations, Neat & Simple Living, New Age 2020, New Charm School, Next Up, No Man’s Blog, The [Non] Billable Hour, Note to CMO, Office Politics, Optimist Lab, The Origin of Brands, Own Your Brand, Pardon My French, Passion Meets Purpose, Pause, Peerless Professionals, Perfectly Petersen, Personal Branding , The Podcast Network, The Power of Choice, Practical Leadership, Presentation Zen, Priscilla Palmer, Productivity Goal, Pro Hip-Hop, Prosperity for You, Purple Wren, QAQnA, Qlog, Reveries, Rex Blog , Ririan Project, Rohdesign, Rothacker Reviews, Scott H Young, Search Engine Guide, Servant of Chaos, Service Untitled, Seth’s Blog, Shards of Consciousness, Shotgun Marketing, Simplenomics, Simplicity, Slacker Manager, Slow Leadership, Socially Adept, Social Media Marketing Blog, Spare Change, Spirit in Gear, Spooky Action, Steve’s 2 Cents, Strategic Design, Strength-based Leadership, StickyFigure, Studentlinc, Success Begins Today, Success Creeations, Success From the Nest, Successful Blog, Success Jolt, Talk to Strangers, Tammy Lenski, Tell Ten Friends, That Girl from Marketing, Think Positive!, This Girl’s Weblog, Thoughts & Philosophies, Tom Peters, Trust Matters, Verve Coaching, Viral Garden, Waiter Bell, Wealth Building Guy, What’s Next, WordSell, Writers Notes, You Already Know this Stuff, Zen Chill, Confident Writing, Idea Sellers, Tune Up Your EQ, Know HR, Mission Minded Management, Managing Leadership, Matt’s Idea Blog, Black in Business, Design Your Writing Life Petrona Phil’s Proof Pingable Plagiarism Today Plastibag.org Polliwogs Pond Pothole on the Infobahn Practical Leadership Presentation Zen principled innovation pro Blog Design ProBlogger ProcessGeek [tag] Productivity Goal ProffBlogger Priscilla Palmer pvt guy Public Relations India Open Source PR Pure Blogging Purple Wren The Publishing Spot QLog QMusings zlythern QAQNA Questallia . . . Quick Online Tips Quipping Queen Qwerty Randa Clay Design Real Blogger Status Real Lawyers The J spot Real Estate Agents World Rebecca ThomasDesigns
ririan project Roberta Ferguson R Web Designs The Reign of Ellen Random Mangus Ramblings from a Glass Half Full Rothacker Reviews Random Good Stuff Reader Appreciation Project Ratcliffe Blog Rattle the Cage Reality Wired Redbank TV Re:Retro Revere Blog Rooms of My Heart Runners Lounge Ririan Project Rohdesign The Road Map Resonanace Partnership Rohdesign Remote Control CEO Rishiraj.info the-ripple-effect Robert Paterson’s Weblog sambharmafia Save Darfur Science and Politics Scott Hodge scribbit Sean’s Obsessions Seb’s Random Thoughts Semantic Drift Servant of Chaos Seth’s Blog Shai Coggins [tag] Shake Well Before Use Simplenomics Simplicity Sippin’ Whisky [tag] Six Sigma Companies Slacker Manager Slightly Mordant Small Biz Survival Snapup snook.ca SoVeg.com Sparkplug9 BizHack Spooky Action Spirit in Gear Straight from the Barrel Strategic Conversations Out of a Stormy Sleep Strategic Public Relations Startup Princess Stenstropedia Steve’s 2 Cents Stronger Teams Blog studentlinc Success Begins Today Success from the Nest Successful Blog Steli Efti Serenity Quest Small Business Blogging Scout Shirley Buxton 100 Bloggers. Six Degrees of Inspiration Small Business Enterpreneur’s Blog Scorpias Gaming Lair Scot Herrick Scott Free Thinking Scott H Young The Social Media Marketing Blog Search Engine Guide Selfish Giving Sensational Color Service Untitled Shards of Consciousness SHO( )OT MY BLOG! Sifry’s Alerts simplerich sirjoe Skinny Moose Media Small-business-Resources Small Business Transitions Small Dogs Paradise Smart Wealthy Rich The Smedley Log Social Patterns Search Engine Marketing Solo Business Marketing Soul Terminal Squibble Dr. Graham Hill Gia Facchini Geert Desager Gaurav Mishra Gary Schoeniger Gareth Kay Gavin Heaton Howard Lizdzon Ian McKenzie Jamey Shiel Janet Green Jessica Doyle Jessica Hagy Jim Kukral Joe Raasch [tag] John Curtis [tag] John La Grou [tag] John Moore [tag] Jordan Behan [tag] JP Rangaswami [tag] Julie Fleischer [tag] Kammie Kobyleski Kimberly Dawn Wells Kim Klaver Katie Chatfield Kristin Gorski Kris Hoet Karl Long Kent Blumberg Lewis Green Lisbeth Scott Lori Magno Luc Debaisieux Mark White About Mark White. Michael Morton Mark Earls Mark Blair Mack Collier Mike Sansone Mark Goren Mario Vellandi Martin Neumann Michael Hyatt Mike Sigers Nathan Snell Nick Rice Nick Wright Patrick Schaber Phil Gerbyshak Paul McEnany Peter Corbett Pete Deutschman Rishi Desai Robin Yap Roberta Rosenberg Ron Shevlin Roger Anderson Robert Hruzek Richard Huntington Roger von Oech Ryan Barrett Ryan Rasmussen Sandy Renshaw Sean Howard Steve Woodruff Steve Bannister Steve Roesler Stanley Johnson Spike Jones Simon Payn S. Neil Vineberg Steven Aitchison Susan Bird Scott Monty Tony D. Clark Tim Jackson Todd Andrlik Toby Bloomberg Tom Clifford Tom Watson [tag] Troy Worman [tag] ProcessGeek. Uwe Hook Valeria Malton Wendy Piersall

and Oh so many more!

Using Mind Mapping for Your Marketing Plan

World biggest mind map?
Originally uploaded by saar*

Have you heard of Mind Mapping?

Kathy Krisher, a good friend of mine, introduced me to it a few years ago when we were working on some strategic planning for the business.

It's a great way to combine the creative and the analytical parts of yourself. Instead of trying to outline something very analytically, it combines pictures, sketches, words and arrows.

At first it seemed kinda random to me, but after I saw Kathy make some really great Mind Maps, I really got engaged with the idea.

I enjoy using mind mapping techniques when brainstorming new ways to approach a marketing problem, trying to get to the essence of the message or map out a plan.

Here are some other resources:

Mark Pinto Group - Mark Pinto is in the Cleveland area. I met Mark at the COSE workshop this year and again at Akron Bloggers Community.

Tony Buzan's books are quite interesting.

Trade Show Help: The Marketing Checklist You'll Need Before You Go

When you exhibit your company's products and services at the annual trade show for your industry, you don't want to forget anything! Trade shows are filled with details.

Trade shows are a golden opportunity to make an impression on your target market. With experience and preparation, you can make a GREAT impression.

Download and print this PDF for a handy checklist for Marketing your Business at a Trade Show to help make your experience cost effective and relatively stress free.

After 14 years of Toy Fair trade shows and helping clients at the 7 or 8 years of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association trade show, the hardware show, the RVIA show, and other shows, I have had my share of "war stories," My best advice: prepare and plan. It's the best way to save money and have a good show that drives business.

Do you have trade show advice to share?

Branding with Color; Consulting with Color

I've talked about the use of Color in Branding several times.

• Color on the web.
• Graphic Design Resource for Colors on the Web
• Branding with Colors: A Look at Color Trends in Marketing
• Tricks to use better use color in branding.
• Color in Your Marketing Program

This month BrandingWire's project "The Color of Money" is to help Rachel, a color consultant and author of the Hue Consulting blog, learn how to better market her business. Most of the suggestions focus on targeting the right client. Although I believe that color is an important factor in the building of a brand, I know for a consultant, having the right client who really values what you bring to the party can make all the difference.

She is targeting small business owners. That may work if the small business has a strong color component. Design graphic or interior. A business that focuses on fashion and trends. Maybe certain restaurants or retail establishments. Maybe working as a consultant to other consultants. One problem with color is that many people consider themselves "expert" in it. It's hard to tell a fashion designer or graphic designer that their color choices are not on trend, because they often feel they too are color experts.

As far as getting the word out there, I think having some statistics that small business owners could sink their teeth into would be helpful. Like how this item in this color outsold the other item in this color two to one. Or how patrons in a restaurant painted this color will stay on average 10 minutes longer and order desert taking their average meal price up a certain percentage.

Getting powerful testimonial style research on the difference color makes gives the potential buyer something to get behind. I suggest that Rachel get testimonials from her clients to post on her website before she moves so she can build on her successes.

Flickr photo courtesy of creative commons license, some rights reserved, by SleepyKisser

Branding -- Learning Something New Every Day

This recent question posted on LinkedIn by Jee Sunny Art Director/Senior Graphic Designer at G&G Advertising / Renderings.com and Owner, Sunny Design Inc. got me thinking about learning about branding:

How do you educate people about the Branding Process?
The goal of branding is to discover, articulate and present your organization’s personality—its resources, expertise, modus operandi, style and aspirations. The process requires many stages—all enlivened by our passion to help you enunciate and market your organization’s unique strengths and identity.

Branding is a strategic marketing component that requires a small business owner's time, commitment, and patience. It should be treated as a critical part of their daily routine. However, many entrepreneurs don't understand the branding process and avoid at their own peril.

Many large corporations spend millions of dollars influencing their brand and have entire staffs dedicated to the management of this process. For most small companies the “brand manager” is the owner or a key employee.

Not understanding that everything they do contributes to the branding process and their eventual success or failure.

There are only 3 answers there right now, but I think if you check back throughout the month, more and more brand building experts will lend their opinions.

I love to learn something new every day about branding and marketing.

Elf Yourself -- Viral Video from Office Max

There is no doubt that a fun flash video of dancing elves that you can customize with faces and audio voice makes a powerful viral video.

If you haven't seen this yet, it's worth the upload.
http://www.elfyourself.com/

Power 150 -- the top Branding, Marketing, Advertising and PR blogs

Ad Age updated how they measure the blogs, so I'm dangerously close to having mine fall off the top 150 chart:


So, you'll probaby see the generic badge without the ranking on my site soon...

Marketing Beyond the SEO and Click Thru

Search engine optimization (SEO)and search engine marketing (SEM) are terms that are so prevelant in marketing, they've almost become a field all on their own.

Regardless of how clever you are to get into the top 10 of Google results with your key words and key word phrases, you've got to deliver something to the human who is viewing your website.

Ask yourself these 5 questions:

1. Do you persuade?
2. Do you inform?
3. Is your site full of benefits or just features?
4. Do you insist that the viewer sits through 15 seconds of flash as your website opens up?
5. Can your reader find what they want quickly - a phone number, an email and other important contact information?

It doesn't make sense to spend thousands of dollars each month on SEO or SEM if you don't work on conversion!

Second Step in Branding: Awareness.

What do you think your customers would say when asked the question by a market research firm:

"What do you think of when I say (fill in your company name here)?

You may be surprised!

The Second Step in Branding is to determine your current position in the market place. Often this starts with an awareness study with an unaided, then aided questions about naming companies in your industry and next (the fun part) -- questions about the precepts or factors.

What do people think of your company and those companies who are your competitors? You should have a variety of people surveyed too: People like your potential customers, former customers, current customers and the folks who quoted with you but never bought.

This can be extremely powerful information for your marketing program.

I contend that the first step in Branding is TO BE THE BRAND.