Lip-Sticking

Looking Forward not Backward

Tom and I are looking forward to the New Year. Can you say the same? What do you have planned for your business, come 2010?

This is actually late in the game to be planning for "tomorrow" or next year. We should have started this process several months ago. But, as many of you know, we were otherwise engaged several months ago (getting ready to put the old house on the market and preparing to move everything to Colorado, where we are now).That doesn't mean we weren't thinking about next year, and beyond.

My business is going into its 7th year as Windsor Media Enterprises. We've changed a great deal since opening our doors. Part of that change has been driven by our customers and clients, and by the online environment. We're an online business, primarily. We need to be current with new online tools and ideas. The other changes have been driven by our desire to create a lifestyle business, as opposed to a big business.

So, How Was Your 2009?

By Guest Blogger, Mary Schmidt, Marketing Troubleshooter

As we head into the "holiday week" (Seemingly nobody in my circle - or Albuquerque - plans to be working next week) I'm doing my annual evaluation - the good,the bad, the ugly.  And, you know what? Despite the economy, global warming, and the usual general stupidity of the human race...I had a good year. Partly because I looked at the bad and the ugly and tried to learn lessons or to let go.  Things about which I could do nothing, I did my best to let go - quit obsessing; stop reading ignorant, hateful comments on blogs and Facebook (the dark, depressing side of social media)..and so on and so forth. I'm not saying ignore the bad and ugly, simply put in context (and to work for you.) 

They Say it Ain't Bragging if it's True

This week Tom discovered that I was included in a list of the smartest people in social media. I thought it was a joke, at first. I mean, I've been doing this for over five years, I know a whole lot - and I'm smart, yes...but, to be added to a list of the 100 Smartest People in Social Media, along with the likes of Chris Brogan, Scott Monty, Toby Bloomberg, Peter Shankman, our own Lena West and many others...is an honor I was not expecting.

So, I say thank you to Smarter Social Media, and I thank all the good folks, like Lee Drake, who have sent congrats via the twitterverse. But, what does being on that list mean? A really, really good friend wrote and said the list wasn't worth the bits and bytes it takes up on the net, because the reality is... it's all selective. The folks at Smarter Social Media chose the people on the list according to some criteria we'll likely never know. And, they left a good many excellent social media professionals off of the list.

American Express promotes their Holiday Gift Cards on Twitter and gives back via United Way

By Guest Blogger, Donna DeClemente, Donna's Promo Talk

There's now only nine days left till Christmas and I've only had the chance to blog about a few of the great holiday promotions some brands are doing this year. I've especially been writing about those that I define as a Social Sweeps promotion which is an interactive promotion that integrates with at least one form of social media.

Well here's a pretty cool one that American Express launched at the beginning of December to help promote their new Gift Cards as the perfect gift this holiday season. Their ’Twis the Season Twitter promotion @americanexpress asked followers to tweet about any holiday gift they want, up to a $100 value, using the following format: Hey @americanexpress. I have _________ on my holiday list. Pick me! #amexgiftcard.

On each business day through yesterday, December 15, American Express randomly selected three participants who received a $100 American Express Gift Card.

Tuesday Link Love Because...it's Tuesday

I realized today I have not done any Link Love, lately. I love link love. I love sharing the sites of bloggers and friends and sites that will serve you, my readers. I don't think I do nearly enough of it. So, here goes... some Tuesday Link Love -

First up is Anita Campbell. I've mentioned Anita a number of times, but truth is - every day couldn't be too much. This woman has one of the top small business sites on the Internet and you should definitely subscribe. Today, the post on Small Biz Trends is from Lisa Barone discussing Google's latest. A read well worth your time. It involves managing social media, and that's all I'm telling you.

People Are "Squishy."

By Guest Blogger, Mary Schmidt, Marketing Troubleshooter

Illogical, unorganized, emotional, needy...and that has driven many a results-focused biz person nuts (of both sexes…not all us women are into group hugs and sing-alongs, at the expense of getting something done.)

One of the hardest lessons I had to learn in managing people is that others don’t think (or act) the way I do. In personality tests, my profile is “Dominator” and “Field Marshal” – fellow Ds and FMs include Margaret Thatcher and Napoleon (?!). I was somewhat heartened to see Abraham Lincoln on the list, but  despite the sainthood people have bestowed on him, he was most definitely un-squishy - a hard-ball politician and president. 

Back in my corporate days, I’d tell someone to – in essence – “go take that hill” and he’d end up wandering around cubicle-land, looking lost and unhappy, since I didn’t tell him EXACTLY what to do and how (and – sigh – why.) Me, on the other hand – tell me the outcome needed and I’m off. I don’t need anything else. I’ll call ya if I need air cover.

Marketing to Women Online: What's Changed?

Essentially, nothing has changed. After all, women are still women. We still control over 85% of the spending in this country, or influence it, and we still like to talk about our shopping.

The difference is - it's far easier to do that, today. We are seeing some fundamental changes in the way advertising is done, prompted by the huge acceptance of social media, primarily Twitter and Facebook. And, the "kids" who were in college when the world wide web took off, when blogs became a powerful connecting tool, when the connective ability of being online became more about them and less about brands, are now either working in the industry of their choice, or looking for work. And, they're carrying iPhones, iPods, Smart phones, whatever device they can fit in their back pocket, with them. All the better to text their friends.

Women are a big part of all of this. Women are now connecting to each other all day long, moment by moment - and sometimes, we're talking about what we want to buy, what we've bought, or asking for help buying something important. Other times, we're just talking - about how to get together face-to-face.  

Iams Home 4 The Holidays & Hilary Swank Aim To Place 1.5 Million Pets Into Homes This Holiday Season!

By Guest Blogger, Donna DeClemente, Donna's Promo Talk

Last week I started my annual blogging related to holiday promotions with this post about the Sephora Claus Twitter promotion. So as promised I'm continuing with the holiday theme, however, the program I'm blogging about this week takes on a much more serious tone. Iams is back with their Home 4 the Holidays (IH4TH) program and needs help to place 1.5 million pets into loving homes by January 4, 2010! With many pet lovers as readers here I thought this would be a great place to spread the word.

Last year, the program’s goal of helping 1 million pets get adopted within three months was outdone when 1,202,701 pets were placed in homes — including Rumi, adopted by two-time Academy Award® winner and 2009 IH4TH ambassador Hilary Swank. You can watch an appearance of Hilary Swank on Ellen speaking about the program here on YouTube.

I'll Get Over It...Right After this Blog Post

by Guest Blogger, Lena West, Chief of Social Media Strategy at xynoMedia

There's something that' had my mind in a question-mark-state for the past few weeks. It's definitely all about the ego - MY ego to be exact - and I figured, why should I try to figure it out alone when I have you good people?

I'm sure some of you will comment that I need to "get over it", and you'll probably be right. I'm also prepared to get over it once I have a bit of dialogue around what's bugging me.

You've probably guessed by now that I wasn't the most popular person in school when I was younger. I had friends, but I was decidedly NOT a part of the hip crowd.

So, without overly tooting my own horn, I've become sort of well-known in my career. I still prefer to blend into the background and make my moves from behind the scenes, but it's safe to say that people know who I am. Many people who now know who I am, knew me before, but didn't know they knew me because I wasn't someone to know. Am I making sense?

Now, people who snubbed me in the past, call me and send me email. They want to go to lunch and they want to "connect". It's not that I'm not flattered or whatever you want to call it. But, am I limited in my scope to think that this kind of behavior is highly opportunistic? I mean we're all opportunistic a bit, at least I'll speak for myself, but what I'm experiencing is...odd. Now all of a sudden people have time and energy to be bothered.

I am someone who treats everyone the same - quasi-celeb, celeb or not. Maybe I'm expecting people to be/do/act like me?

I've heard other stories about The Facebook Effect, a phenomenon that takes people back to high school with cliques and hurt feelings. That's not really what I'm talking about here (although I have been known to riff on Facebook about how ironic it is that the same people who wouldn't speak to you in high school, want to be friends on Facebook). I'm talking from a purely professional perspective.

For the record, it's not something I'm angry about and I certainly don't loose sleep over it, but I must admit, I am puzzled by this shift in interest. It's also been my experience that social media and social networking in particular enhances out-of-the-woodwork friend requests.

Is this just a matter of people wanting to know if you've "paid your dues" or what? What am I missing? Have you experienced this? Is there an alternate way for me to think about this? Is there an alternate way for me to view/consider these "opportunists"?

Why A Bad Economy Is Good For Business

By Guest Blogger, Mary Schmidt, Marketing Troubleshooter

You've probably already got the answer: Because it forces people to get creative, work together, think way outside the box. (and, yes, being laid off could end up being the best thing that ever happened to you.)

Last night, I did the Nob Hill Shop 'n Stroll here in Albuquerque.  Nob Hill is a historic stretch of the old Route 66 that is chock-full of locally-owned shops and restaurants. 

The main reason I was there -  on a cold, shivery night - was because the owner of Que' Bonita (a make-up boutique) offered to help us raise money for Duke City Civitan, giving us a table on which to display bed linens we're selling.  Another local woman biz owner is giving us a deal so she sells more sheets and we're raising $ for causes such as Roadrunner Food Bank. (Every dollar we raise - they can turn into $9 worth of food.)