Toluu

Real Life Marketing

These are the do's and don'ts of marketing your business using examples from real life. Everyday things like jungle gyms and letter carriers can offer tremendous value when it come to understanding that anything and everything can be an example of good marketing - or bad marketing. I don't hold a PhD in business, nor do I have "agency experience", but what I do have is a grasp on how everyday, "real life" experiences can give us great examples of what you should and should not do in marketing.

Make it Black Friday EVERY DayDecember 2

Well, it's official. According to a post at CNN.com:
"The National Bureau of Economic Research said Monday that the U.S. has been in a recession since December 2007, making official what most Americans have already believed about the state of the economy."

And yet, despite the horror stories and deep discounts, retail sales were still up 3% over last year on Black Friday.

Where's the disconnect? And how can we apply that to Real Life Marketing?

The day after Thanksgiving in the US signals the beginning of the end - the mad shopping frenzy that beats a path to Christmas Day and leaves a trail of exhausted shoppers in it's wake.

For most Home Party consultants, however, the holiday season is quickly winding down, and many consultants find themselves in a slump from around December 9 through the end of the year. In fact, many consultants - and some companies - close their doors for the last two weeks of the year - despite the potential for additional sales, parties and possible recruits.


Black Friday shouldn't be a one-day-of-the-year occurrence. Retailers pin their profit dreams on the single biggest shopping day of the year - and many find their dreams dashed on the rocks if

First Annual Backwards Gratitude ListNovember 26

Every year, millions of Americans take this time to sit down and think about the things for which they're truly grateful.

I'm not to be left in the dust here. But I didn't want to be like everyone else.

God says that we are to praise hime and be grateful for even our troubles. So I'm starting my own tradtion - things that wouldn't appear on a "normal" gratitude list. can you think of a few to add?

This year, I am grateful for:
Having to yell at my oldest to stop playing around every time he takes a shower - because it means he can hear me, we have running water, and the time in which to enjoy it - maybe even a little more than he should.

Burning the macaroni and cheese - because it means we can cook our dinner in the comfort of our home and not over a campfire - although my oldest would think that's cool.

For having no door on my office - because it means when my baby wants to come bug - I mean visit - me while I'm working, he can just climb up in my lap and say "come on, Mommy!"

For having a quiet, shy husband - because it means I can do all the talking sometimes - okay, most of the time.

For the check engine light that keeps coming on in my car - because that means there's still hope for this one!

For my teeny weeny itty bitty office - because it means I get to work from home every day, and enjoy the perks of being a mom and a business owner.

For the deaths of my Mom and

Real Life Strikes Again: How NOT To Brand YourselfNovember 19

My oldest is a handful.

That's being polite.

He's struggled with ADHD and behavioral issues since he was small. Until last year, his issues were somewhat controlled with medication, although I never felt convinced that his Psych was really conerned about his well being, and more concerned with the drug mill he was pushing people through.

I think my suspicions were confirmed today.

I'll skip the intervening time and many personal details, but since my Mother's death in March, my son has not been the usual cantankerous kid we've grown to love. He's been more voilent, reclusive, explosive and difficult to manage. Add to that a request to return to regular school (I homeschooled last year), and it's been a combustible year, to say the least.

A school incident got us involved with our local Community Mental Health department in an effort to get him expedted service and treatment for what is looking more and mor like it might be high functional autism or a form of Asperger's, due to some new symptoms now presenting. So an appointment was made for a "full psych eval" to be held today.

Here's where I scratch my head in disbelief. the exact same psychiatrist that had been seeing him once a month for 3 years walked out, called him by the wrong name (again), and ushered us into an office.

Once in the office, my oldest said "Hey, I Know you!" and the Doctor put his oot in it royally.

"No, I don't thi

Dave Lakhani, Small Business, The BIG "R"November 14

It must be that time of year, where I have time to read ther's blogs and think hard about them. Here's another post, this time, in respnse to Dave Lakhani's post regarding the current economic trends - you know, the recession - and how it affects small business.
This is the revised, expanded edition:

Bravo Dave!
It is true that you can set yourself up for failure by creating a failure oriented mindset - that is, believing that you're doomed to fail just because the economy sucks.

But you are essentially sticking your head in the sand - leaving your butt ripe for kickin' - if you put all your eggs in the "mindset" basket.

And I teach on mindset, so this is critical.
Whether you think you can or can't is only part of the equation. If you think you can't, you've given up before you've even seen the equation. Thinking you can, is the first step - but not the only step.

The Little Engine that Could (i.e. small business) can't just say "I Think I Can". You have to keep moving down the track. Heck, you have to be ON the track in the first place. You also have to know where that track is heading, or you could end up on a one-way path to nowhere fast.

You can't just think positive thoughts, or wish something away. YOU MUST TAKE ACTION, PLAN AND PREPARE for success.

To do otherwise is what got us in this mess i

Brand Yourself First: The Promo VideoNovember 12

So this is how I spent the last few hours of work yesterday and today. My new laptop comes stocked with Windows Movie Maker, so I thought I'd try my hand at it.

I still needed to convert the final video with Camtasia, but it turned out pretty spiffy. I'm working on a second, very similar version for my new website: brandyourselffirst.com. The idea is to take viral video to the home party market.

We'll see how it goes. Consider this the first draft!