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Relaxation & Connection

Like many Pacific Northwesterners, my family of origin were pioneers that travelled the Oregon Trail. My family has relics and journals that memorialize the treacherous journey. They settled in the Oregon Territory and became judges, teachers, builders and farmers. The one thing my family members all had in common - they worked extremely hard. And, when it was time, they enjoyed the "fruits of their labors."

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Tsunami of Social Media

Social media combines three things I love - marketing, technology and, best of all, being social. I've been using social media for business since the late 1990's (yes, back when forums and instant messaging were brand new) and I've learned through experimenting and sharing with others as we explored the new horizons of marketing on the internet.

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WordPress Hacker

WordPress was attacked last week by an internet "superbot." Several hosting providers such as CloudFare and Host Gator discovered the attacks, which targeted at least 90,000 IP addresses.

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The Social Web

Expanding your social reach may seem a daunting task. There are so many details when it comes to social networking - blogs, website content, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube - the list goes on and on. How do you generate leads using social media besides just publishing more links to your landing pages?

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Blue Heron that lives on the bank facing my houseboat

Every day is Earth Day for me. Living in a houseboat on a wildlife refuge has it's glory moments - and some nusiances (i.e. midges.)

But one thing is for sure - I always feel close to nature here. Living right on the water I notice the the way the water constantly changes in color, speed, density, temperature and direction. And how much garbage it transports. 

So how are we doing when it comes to protecting the environment?

Here's a wonderful article written by environmental experts. Please take a moment to inform yourself - and then do something to help make things better. 

Whatever Happened To... Earth Day?

In what ways are you more aware or do you participate in helping to care for the environment than you were in the past? Are you a "green business?" Would you like more information on becoming green certified?

Happy Earth Day, everyone!

Kathleen Gage, Power UP for Profits

"Gaining trust and establishing your credibility takes time, commitment and effort. Truth be told, most people (and yes, I mean most) may try the following ideas for a while, but get sidetracked with the next bright shiny object, discouraged with how long it can take, and wonder why they don’t have success faster than they are experiencing so they give up" says Kathleen Gage, Power UP for Profits.

Blogwriting is a specialized type of writing. Quality writing is of the essence because top-notch writing can translate into higher revenues.

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It took us a long time to get here (we've been so busy with client services) but we've finally launched our new website redesign. Inspired by the beautiful sites of our clients, we've known for some time that ours just wasn't cutting it.

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Everyone’s talking about it – the internet has forever changed the way we advertise and interact with customers and each other. In order to maintain your business in the future, you WILL need to have and sustain an attractive, user-friendly, easy-to-understand online presence.

As technology changes and internet use increases, certain trends emerge. Here are the trends that we are starting to see in 2013:

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Who doesn't love a cup of hot tea, especially during the cold of winter? I love this offline marketing idea and just had to share it with you!

Americans love tea - check out this wiki on American Tea Culture. 

I'm planning to use Peppermint for this activity because I've never met anyone who didn't like Peppermint tea!

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The experience of savoring fine wine, especially with those whose company you relish, is one of life’s great pleasures. So too, finding a brand that you truly love can be a satisfying experience. Comparing a company brand with fine wine is a way to grasp the complexity, essence and style of a well-designed brand.

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Social media marketing is a revolutionary marketing trend that is shifting advertising funds away from traditional marketing avenues such as print, television and radio to social media and other digital outlets.

When you consider that the last major technology invention to revolutionize marketing was the telephone in the 1940’s and 50’s, it is truly mind-boggling to realize the impact social media marketing has – and will continue to have - in our global economy.

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Thinking About YOU, Dear Reader

Yes, I know. I’ve been absent from this blog for a while. Yes, I know, I encourage all of you to post regularly. Yes, I know, not blogging is missing out on an important marketing opportunity.

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Don't Be a Business No One Can Find

It is undeniable, the internet has changed the world of business.  The advent of the smartphone and its wide adoption has been a part of the information revolution.  People - customers - no longer use the phone book as the main source of locating products and services. They turn to the internet to find and learn about local businesses.  If your business is not present, it can't be found.

A business without a strong online presence is a ghost business because it isn't visible to online search and it's future may be in jeopardy.

What constitutes a "strong online presence?" 

In order to maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace, every business needs...

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Social Media Marketing Made Easy

Once you've made the effort to reduce the petty annoyances that were once cluttering the landscape of your worklife, it's time to build a strong foundation for your social media marketing program.

The place to start is, of course, with a social media audit and marketing plan. 

Once you have developed your road map you can start your implementation phase.

There are ten basic activities that, if implemented daily, will build momentum for your online presence. Select three fifteen-minute time segments that you can spend online. Ideal time-segments are 1) early morning, 2) before lunch and 3) evenings.  Evenings are the most popular Facebook time.

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"Likes" on Facebook

The Facebook "Like" is an important strategy for promoting web content via your Facebook Business Page.  A Facebook "Like" is today's equivalent to signing up for a "listserve."  When a customer "Likes" your Page, they are agreeing to receive content via their news feed and giving you permission to send them future updates. A "Like" will show the user their connected friends who "Like" your Page also, thus encouraging social networking. Facebook "Likes" give a Page owner the opportunity to increase engagement, target referrals and invite recurring traffic to their page.

The Facebook Like function is essential for a business website.  A Like button is a convenience for consumers who can "Like" your Page right from your website; it also promotes trusted referrals via social networking.  There is a current debate about the value of a Facebook

There is a concept in the practice of zen that can be very helpful when applied to one's practice of social media marketing.  This concept is called the "beginner's mind." 

A beginner's mind is to approach life - and social media marketing - with an open mind, an empty mind, with the attitude that one has much to learn. When we believe we are an "expert" we think of ourselves as an "achiever" and we become over-confident.  As a result, we experience a closed mind.

In social media, as in life, there is always much to learn, always new understanding.  Social media marketing is a dynamic, new and exciting way in which businesses can interact with their stakeholders - clients, potential clients, brand advocates, suppliers, staff, investors, distributors, affiliates and anyone one else with a stake in the business.

You’ve gotten your new Facebook (FB) Business Page set up. You have designed a cover (851 x 315 pixels) and a profile thumbnail (180 x 180 pixels) and uploaded them. You’ve set up Permissions, Settings and an Info page. You have a few “Like’s” from your friends and family but aren’t really getting much response from your fans.

You’re ready to build your Facebook fan audience and (hopefully) convert some of your fans to customers. How do you get started getting your target customer groups to find and “Like” your FB Business Page, thus becoming Facebook Fans?

Here are some of the strategies (and secrets) the social media marketing professionals use to build FB Business Page audiences.

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Overwhelmed?

Everyone has them.  Most people have between 60 and 100 of them.  Petty annoyances; those burrs that get under our skin and wear us down more than we realize.  It's the little things that we know need to be taken care of and bug us every day that are the worst annoyances.  Like the hum of a washing machine in the background, you don't realize how loud it really is until you turn it off.  Lots of petty annoyances drain our energy everyday.

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April Fool's Day

Happy April Fool's Day!

Microsoft Streets & Trips Map

Smartphone usage is on the rise.  Half of mobile phone subscribers (49.7%) use smartphones, up 36% from last year. (USATodayTech) Of these, 87%  report that they access the internet or email on their device on a daily basis. (PewInternet) I know I do. 

This  represents a HUGE opportunity for businesses of all kinds, especially for local businesses.

Your business can only be found if it is registered with search engine mapping systems such as Google Maps, Yahoo! Places, MapQuest and Bing Maps.  A surprising number of businesses haven't yet figured out the importance - the NECESSITY! - of being found on internet maps.

There are two basic approaches to getting what you want in life. Whether you are seeking love, money or attracting clients to your business the principles remain the same.

Basic Principles of How to Achieve Success (in life, love, business and marketing) 

Principle 1. Set goals and pursue them.

Principle 2. Attract your goal to you.

These are the basic equations. Most of us are trained to use the first method but it doesn't always work to try to force things to happen.  The more we try to will things to happen the more frustrated and stressed we become.

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In the Plex Book Cover

"These days people seek knowledge, not wisdom.  Knowledge is of the past, wisdom is of the future."

~Vernon Cooper

The wise part of ourselves seeks wisdom.  It is in our nature to seek wisdom and yet, just by the action of seeking wisdom we are wise. The wisdom is in the attitude, the willingness, the humbleness of admitting there is more for us to learn.

I am currently listening to the audio book "In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works and Shapes our Lives" by Wired editor Steven Levy. 

The book chronicles how Larry Page and Sergey Brin revolutionized the internet with their brilliant approach to algorithms, and how they built Google from the ground up.  One of the themes of the book relates to the company's guiding principle "Don't Be Evil" and the conflict that ensues when determining the future of Google Search in the Chinese communist world.

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Social Media Relationships

Social media marketing is about relationships. The journey of becoming and being a social media marketer is unique for each marketer and yet depends on others. It involves seeking, constructing, and reconstructing meanings about our individuality as human beings and how this is expressed in our work and lives as marketers. This process calls on us to know our personal and professional identities. It is about developing our personal and professional identities, which we know are both real and true for us.

Have you considered using social media to help take your business to the next level in sales, revenue and growth? Social media marketing is the latest evolution of internet communication. Incorporating links, texts, photos, videos and other media, social media sites allow people to connect more easily than ever before and share content in new ways. The ever-evolving social media channels include social networks, blogs, photo-sharing sites, status-based communications, professional networking and social bookmarking.

Starbucks' Red Cup Christmas Promotion

The holiday season is all about friends and family connecting and reuniting with each other.  Social media marketing can help your business be a part of people's holiday traditions and memories.  Many successful businesses recognize the rich opportunity for connecting with their fanbase during the holidays. Here are some tips to help your business get into the holiday spirit.

Questions?

Here are some things to consider before you start a social media campaign that will maximize your results. Afterall, isn't increasing your bottomline the end objective?