In the middle of all the Obama hoopla, I’m quietly interjecting my own news…
I’m preparing for my own inauguration! Well, I’m hyped about the inaugural posts of my new blog theme and my new web site. I’m not sure when they’re going to be ready for the public but I’ve seen them and I’m excited!

Well…that’s all I had to say. I just really had to let you know that I am just days (I can’t contemplate weeks) away from doing my “New Look” Happy Dance. Believe it or not, though, there are a some ideas in this brief post that may have relevance to your business.

1. Don’t let your blog or any marketing lapse while you’re waiting for the next part to be ready. No matter what you’re going to do “when…”, don’t put your life, your business, your marketing, or your whatever on hold until the when becomes now. You may infer from the time since my last post that I am speaking from experience on this one. Note the good example, though — my new blog theme will have current blog posts because I started now.

2. Don’t do it if you’re not passionate about it. If you’re not excited about what you’re doing, if might be time to think about doing something else. My new web site design tickles me pink…and green…and purple…. You get the idea. I’m a writer, not a designer so I’m learning a lot about the little things that make a difference. Column width and theme-stuff doesn’t really do anything for me (my designer basically starts each meeting with a refresher on what I need to know to make decisions — I just don’t retain that stuff), but the overall look of the project thrills me. If your web site, blog, product, or service doesn’t excite you, how will you get someone else excited or even interested?

3. Don’t worry about sharing your mistakes (within reason). Even experts make mistakes. If your missteps can save someone else the trip, share what you did (and what you should have done). I’m not saying that you should stand before the world and tell them you’re totally clueless. I am saying that people generally relate to people who admit mistakes and learn from them (and that’s not just wishful thinking). If even the productivity guy (Dave Navarro) can admit to being less than productive, I can expose a few things I haven’t done to perfection. That goes for you, too.

4. Don’t think your ideas are the only ones that matter. Somebody, somewhere is discussing, selling, or giving away something that may be relevant to your customers (or your readers). If you’ve got that information, share it. You may not be thanked (or remembered) for it, but you’ll know you did it.

These tips fall on the negative side instead of focusing on the positive side as suggested by Chris Brogan in his post on 12 Things to Stop Doing in 2009. I just went back to re-read that post to find out if he’d used a specific term for “the positive side” (I read this post in December, details escape me). What I found is that either we think alike; I subconsciously co-opted some of his ideas; or he reads my mind. I’m not sure which of those realities should frighten me more.

So, do you see the relevance? Have anything to add? Think I’m out in left field? Let me know (please).

Hello Friends,

It’s Self-promotion Month! I didn’t make that up, but I wish I had. I’m trying to control my urge to self-promote because I missed “Shameless” Promotion Month. There’s a fine line between self-promotion and shameless self-promotion; you’ll have to let me know how I do.

My external editors are unavailable right now, so I’m relying on my internal editor and going with my first draft. The lower case “I’s” are intentional, if you find glaring errors in grammar, content, or spelling, though, please let me know.

Posting without editing is not my usual process, but I’m considering the “i’s” dotted well enough. If you’d like to know what that means, check out the “i specialist” blog next week. This week’s blog posts on all my blogs will provide useful information on incorporating Self-promotion Month into your marketing plan. You’ll find the URLs in the sidebar. Be sure to check in.

Well, enough explanation…let’s get to it!

ideas

If you need an idea, I’ll come up with one. If you have an inkling, I’ll help you flesh out the details. If you have an idea, I’ll help you with whatever steps are necessary to bring it into being.

illustration

I’m an idea person. Even better than that, I’m a creator. I can come up with an idea and make it a reality. I’m a whiz with a pen, a paintbrush, a sewing machine, a stapler, and a glue gun.

I’m a master of illusion. I can create something from nothing. I can turn something into something else. Blank paper becomes blog post, marketing copy, or some other illustration at my command. If you need a more physical illustration, I can do that, too, with construction paper, cardboard, and string if necessary. I can achieve the desired effect on a shoestring – and have a great time in the process.

implementation

I get the job done. I do work that I love and I’m willing to put in the time and effort to make each project a masterpiece. My ego doesn’t prevent me from wearing whatever hat or hats need to be worn to complete a project I’m committed to whether that means creating, planning, supervising, doing what needs to be done, or cleaning up afterward.

investment

My brother tells me that I shouldn’t use the word “investment” because people will think I’m giving stock advice. My money says you’re smart enough to know that I mean commitment, time, and caring.

I take a personal interest in every person and project I commit to. I really care – and not just about how much helping someone can help me, or how
I might benefit in the future. I invest in my work.

integrity

I don’t know how much description I need here. I practice personal and professional integrity. I won’t lie to, for, or about people or projects I’m involved with. I don’t steal – money, clients, ideas…or anything else.

I’m a firm believer in discretion. I guard all personal and business information as though it were my own. I don’t share information about a person, project, or product unless the job calls for it.

information

I collect information. If you need information about a business idea, career choice, or almost anything else (sports and politics…not so much), I’ve got you covered. If I don’t have what you need, I know where to find it. Beyond that, I know how to process what I find and give it to you in a form that you can use.

instruction

Do-it-yourselfers are welcome! If your spirit (or your budget) leads you to do things instead of having things done, I’m happy to work with you. You don’t need to wade through a lot of information and try to figure things out alone. Step by step, from idea-storm through implementation, I can provide as much or as little help as you need.

implication

This is an overview of my business and of my character. I have a couple of reasons for letting you know all about me: self-promotion and promotion.

Self-promotion

If you’re trying to build or market an owner-run small business, I would like for you to contact me.

If you’re trying to market yourself into a new job, or your company into a new employee, I’d like for you to contact me.

If you know anyone who needs marketing help, I’d like for you to contact me.

If you were ever in a job situation that didn’t fit and you’d like to share your story, I’d like for you to contact me.

If you’re tall, male, and single…just checking to see if you’re still with me (that’s a different web site).

Request for Help (Promotion)

The second reason I’m glad you stuck around this long is that I need your help. I’m not asking you to lie or to wax poetic, but if you have seen evidence of any of the work or character traits I’ve described or any I’ve forgotten, please take a moment and write a recommendation for me. You’ll find my LinkedIn profile here. If you’d prefer to recommend me in another manner, please leave a comment or contact me.

Self-promotion can only take me so far. Care to help me take the next step?

Customer service counts…and so does its child, the freebie.

My housemate and I ::gasp:: ran out of coffee. We had a lot to do yesterday, and thought we’d save a trip to the local (10 minute drive away) coffee dealer by just walking over to the neighborhood “mart” – which is actually a liquor store, but that’s another post. We took a casual stroll to the mart, eagerly anticipating caffeine, only to find that the machine was out of order.

Bummed, but not deterred, we decided to check out the nearby restaurants to see if we might find coffee. Picture the small “strip mall” next to the mart with revolving restaurants on either end. To clarify, the restaurants don’t actually revolve; each space has been home to several different restaurants during my tenure (but that, also, is another post). At any rate, we were standing outside one (the other was definitely closed), checking the hours and watching the wait staff arrive for work.

Needless to say, the staff was just arriving; they weren’t open yet. The manager noticed us lurking outside the door and came out to talk to us. After we explained that we lived in the neighborhood and were looking for a caffeine fix we were told that they weren’t open, but we could definitely have coffee to go. In fact, he’d just made a fresh pot. The server who prepared the coffee for us was really nice; in fact, the whole crew came across as a friendly bunch. They don’t normally do coffee to go, so they (apologetically) only had paper kid-drink cups. They told us that next time we could bring our own mugs for a better experience. We were offered milk and sugar and wonderful hospitality – and then we were charged almost six dollars and sent on our merry way.

$6 doesn’t buy as much as $0.

You don’t have to be a coffee dealer (oh, yeah, it’s a drug for sure) to know that 16 ounces of coffee does not cost $6, not even if you throw in the cost of the paper cups. We looked around the restaurant while we were waiting; we got our coffee; and we left. Next time, we’ll jump in the car and go get some. Even including the cost of gas, the coffee dealer would give us more – for less – and we don’t owe the restaurant anything.

What free buys for your business.

A few years ago when I found myself in a similarly coffee-less situation, I tried the restaurant at the other end of the mall (that has since undergone a revolution). They weren’t open yet either, but they were getting set up and could definitely do coffee. Did I want regular, espresso, or a cappuccino? I had a cappuccino, in a real cup, while sitting at one of the tables and was told to come any time. Another time, my son and I were walking by on our way home from the beach and the owner recognized me and waved us in for a cappuccino (for me, and a soda for my son). They had been sitting out on their patio having lunch, and invited us to join them. Total cost for two cappuccinos, two plates of pasta, and a soda — $0.

What $0 buys that $6 can’t.

I liked those friendly people. I thought it was really nice that they’d treated us like neighbors. I was not a customer; I was a neighbor; and I was obligated to be a good neighbor. I took my son again, for food that I paid for. I told my housemates about how great the place was – how nice the people were, and they went. I took my family for dinner. We all told other people about the place and took them to eat there. I don’t know about you, but I tend to be a little more willing to spend money to help people that I know, and people that I owe.

All told, we spent a lot more on them than they spent on me. That place got a lot out of their little bit of customer service. The new place, well, they got $6.

There are two morals here:

• Always keep in mind your actual costs and what you can comfortably give away to add value to your business.

• Develop relationships with customers and clients. If you treat them like friends and neighbors, they’ll be more likely to support you as friends and neighbors would.

Have you had similar experiences (either as the business or the consumer)? Please share.

On a side note, I came across another post, on Big Bright Bulb, along the same lines after I had saved mine. I guess great minds think alike — and my thoughts aren’t way off base. Also check out this one from IttyBiz on deciding what you can (and shouldn’t) give away.

Taking breaks won’t cost any valuable time if you just make a habit of paying attention to the world around you during your off hours (Thinking isn’t really work, is it?). When you assume the couch potato position, for example, really tune in. Pick a channel that airs programs aimed at your target market and check out the shows. Take a look at the commercials – local and national – and analyze what you see. If a commercial impresses you, figure out why and what you can use from that to build your own publicity. If you’re running TV commercials, watch them objectively during the shows. Do they fit with the other ads running during the same time frame? Are they running during the best time to reach your target market?

This quick tip was sponsored by two local commercials I’ve been seeing recently. The products are similar, but the ads…. Let’s just say that one looks good and gets the product line across, and the other one makes me crazy.