Monday Morning Marketing

5:00 a.m. I'm waiting for the emails with clients' weekly coffee, breakfast, lunch or dinner specials from three different time zones. Daylight savings time and the fact that the espresso has not kicked in is making it a bit confusing. Weekly posts were written and scheduled Sunday. As the caffeine awakens brain cells, I began to panic about the scheduling times. Each clients' audience is different and I worry that I've posted the wrong pic and contents.

It is my obsessive compulsiveness that makes me good at marketing strategies. I write daily blog posts for our marketing and business consulting websites, but they do not represent the realities of marketing. Friday (I think that was Friday) we started our day at 5:30 a.m., firming up the day's schedule and going over the strategies for clients'. After researching a group of artists' who had approached me, I had made the decision that I could not market their work. By 8:00 a.m. we were in the middle of nowhere, in a town with a post office, 10-12 houses and an abandon school that now housed an artist colony. (no directions needed).

By 9:00 a.m. I had agreed to develop and market their social media presence.
Five towns - nine clients later - 8:00 p.m. we are sitting in the lobby of a Victorian Inn in the Victorian Capitol of the Midwest getting information for the website and social media (80 miles from where we started).
 I can add "Cow on a Plate" and the "Bulls, Beer, and Balls" event to my resume.

5:30 a.m. Saturday - searching for coffee. 7:30 a.m next town, next client - only espresso machine for 100 miles. OMG! the locals know my name and are posing for pictures for the fanpage.

8:30 a.m. on the road to Fairbury.http://www.fairbury.com/

Updating, answering emails, the winery accepted our bid, the body shop accepted our bid........putting together a booth for an Autism fundraiser at 6:00. I met a woman at one of our workshops who designed a simple yet awesome tool to teach her autistic daughter task management and we are test marketing it at the event.

Loud music, clowns, disco ball, sugar cookies with sugar frosting, cupcakes with sugar frosting, sugar candy, soda and 50 kids under ten - and a product they can't keep their hands off of. The things my nightmares are made of. (One of my clients is a health food store, after writing about sugar I believe it should not be consumed by children or adults).

Time to check for updates on the Chicago American Beauty Show and my Colorado clients are getting up. Biz in Colorado moves quickly and there are April 1 deadlines. Can't wait to get back home. I'm craving Loxs and looking forward to meeting with my favorite graphic designer and artist, Dennis Dunn, and Joan. The Wild Eye Galleryhttp://thewildeye.com/ He understands image and branding for businesses. Dennis' business experience has enabled him to produce effective logos for my eclectic client base.

Marketing is not a post it's a strategy. Having a fanpage does not mean it will magically bring you customers.

Rediscovering Evergreen, Colorado

The last three years have brought a change in the businesses and people of Evergreen. Many of the people that gave Evergreen its personality, energy, and "sparkle" have moved on. The unique businesses have been replaced with new ventures. The beauty and quality of life has not changed or faded. It is time to rediscover Evergreen, Colorado.

Postcard to My Friends

I do not believe life teaches us lessons: Life gives us opportunities to be our best self. The last three years have been filled with loss for so many people. With loss comes grief for the lifestyle, business, homes, and in some situations even spouses.  I embrace and encourage change in my life, but some changes create intense grief. I am involved in the experience of being with my brother during his transition from this life. One never knows the strength and tenacity of the human spirit. There is always hope. But when does hope become denial? My grieving has already begun. I grieve for his lack of health and quality of life. I grieve for my mother's heartbreak.

My dearest friends, I know that I should call. It is taking a great deal of focus and energy to balance all aspects of my life. Time seems to be an issue I'm struggling with. This experience has made me value my friendships. I've been blessed with amazing people in my life. I miss you all, I miss Saturdays in Evergreen, I miss King Soopers, I miss walking around Evergreen Lake, I miss the Library, I miss the Brook Forest Inn, I miss Saturday shopping at ECHO - I really, really miss Starbucks! Big Hugs when I return! Linda

The To Do List..........

This has become a nightly habit. I'm about to fall asleep and remember a pic I forgot to post or a blog post that needed to be written. So I sit in bed with computer on and write myself a note which turns into a list. And each night as the hour slips away, I wonder how I can use my time more efficiently. It's not the writing or the posting that is time consuming. It is the gathering of the information. My clients are businesses interested in results which translates into an increased customer base and revenues. Their customers are interested in the services and products they offer - it's my job to make them interested enough to buy. Potential customers seek out my clients' social media real estate because they want to know about the company, the people, services and products. They are not interested in cut and paste or UTube videos. I spend most of my time talking with my clients and their customers, and researching their products. I have become Norm (from Cheers). I have a wealth of assorted information and begin sentences with "did you know that the.....". Note to Self: turn off the computer and go to sleep!

HBO Special on Women in Small Businesses

Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to be part of a HBO Special about women in small businesses. When I was contacted about allowing HBO to film the Women's Breakfast my first thought was, "how did I get so lucky." But, it wasn't luck. It was long hours of agressively promoting my clients' products and services. It was not my intentions to be on camera. I was interviewed because I was the organizer of "the movement."  (I have to admit that during the interview my thoughts were on Candice from Skintique - I was thinking - "I need Candice to do my eyebrows and my makeup", "I'm going to look like crap on camera." ) Until that moment there was no "movement".  By the end of the breakfast there was a women in business movement and another documentary opportunity. I wasn't excited about being on TV. I was excited that the way I approach marketing works and produces results (sales) for my clients. If you are selling clothing don't promote sunrises and coffee or share music videos. Share your expertise and the quality of your merchandise and services. Your potential client is not interested in bullshit or fluff. 

Life outside of Evergreen!

Food Network Ghost Story Cakes' Premier Viewing



Actually this post should be titled "A Gluten-Intolerant Woman's Hell". My weekend was filled with amazing cake. The most amazing was by Rachael Teufel and Avalon with Intricate Icings Cake Design. This year's Food Network Ghost Story Cake Challenge was Rachael's third. She placed second in the 2010 Cake Challenge. This year Rachael WON! A picture is worth a 1000 words, but one bite of her cake leaves you wordless.
http://www.intricateicings.com/



Great Garage Sale in Morrison

COLLAGE IS CLOSING ON AUGUST 31ST. WE ARE HAVING A HUGE
SALE RIGHT HERE ON SATURDAY AUGUST 27TH AND SUNDAY
AUGUST 28TH. FROM 8AM-5PM. IN MORRISON.

WE ARE LIQUIDATING OUR RETAIL MERCHANDISE, MUCH OF OUR
FURNITURE, AND ALL OF OUR DISPLAY FIXTURES. EVERYTHING MUST GO, SO COME SHOP AND MAKE US SOME OFFERS!  IT'S REALLY GOOD STUFF!!!!!!!

SOME OF THE ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT BARGAIN
BASEMENT PRICES ARE:

COMPUTER, PRINTER, ALONG WITH OTHER OFFICE SUPPLIES,

GLASS DISPLAY CASE AND OTHER DISPLAY FIXTURES

BOOKCASES, SEVERAL 6 FT BANQUET TABLES, FOLDING CHAIRS,

UPHOLSTERED ARM CHAIRS, AREA RUGS, A GLASS/IRON, AND

MIRRORED DRESSING TABLE, CHRISTMAS TREE, SEASONAL DECORATIONS CRYSTALS, SPIRITUAL STATUARY

WHITE VINTAGE METAL OUTDOOR ROUND TABLE AND CHAIRS

WE EVEN HAVE FRAMED SIGNED POSTERS OF SOME OF THE
AWESOME MUSICIANS WHO HAVE GRACED US WITH THEIR
PRESENCE AND FABULOUS MUSIC!!

PLEASE COME BY BETWEEN 8AM AND 5PM ON SATURDAY AUGUST
27TH AND SUNDAY AUGUST 28TH.