On the same day I was wondering if money spent on AAA and Backblaze was worth it; I found out both were. They both saved my butt, just when I needed them. AAA is American Automobile Association. Backblaze is an automatic online backup system. Fortunately, AAA is available to help you resolve simple issues like Locked Keys, Out of Gas, Jump Start, replace Tires, local towing, etc.  I have only one key for my car & I accidentally locked it in my car.  Of course it wasn’t smart to do that.  I don’t know what I would do if AAA wasn’t around to help.  At least the...

Don’t spend too much time on Facebook. Some people think all you have to do is post frequent status updates on Facebook in order to develop your web presence.  While it may be possible to use Facebook to get onto page one of your search engine results for a brand name or a unique name, that doesn’t mean you’re going to compete for other categories in your industry.  In order to develop your Web Presence you need to spend more time sharing information on other Social Media. There’s more than Facebook: LinkedIn (Sharing with your professional networks) Twitter...

I recently became aware of an business searching website that helps people find trusted businesses near their location. The name of the service is called Thumbtack.com. Their business uses a trust based point system using various trust criteria such as verification of email, phone, website, background checks, customer recommendations to name a few. They also provide a platform for  businesses to share about their services and what differentiates them from other businesses providing the same service. I was so impressed by their service that I decided to list my business with them.  The...

My Business Card Journey Most people know they need a business card to help their contacts remember who they are and what they do.  Many times, they get the help from an online business card service like  www.vistaprint.com because it’s FREE or virtually free for their basic designs.  Usually, you end up paying more for some extras like double-sided printing, glossy finish, card stock, etc. My first batch of business cards I ever did was 250 personal business cards.  I started out with their standard template, then I customized it.  Some people might say I went a little overboard...

Most organizations create a monthly newsletter to share recent activities, resource needs and upcoming schedule.  They usually create their newsletter as a pdf file to ensure their audience will be able to read it on whatever computing platform they’re using. PDF stands for Portable Document Format. Most people will recognize these documents since you need Adobe Reader installed on your computer. Once a newsletter has been created the organization needs to get the word out to their audience.  That’s where many organizations turn to an email marketing solution like Constant...

It’s January, the beginning of a new year.  It’s the time of year when many people all over the world reflect on their achievements; what they did or meant to accomplish. They talk about making New Year’s Resolutions.  For a month they talk of dreams, goals and plans to achieve those goals. Before you go making any resolutions yourself, make sure you have proper focus. What you should know: My Vision – Where I want to be. My Mission – Who I am and the goals to help achieve my Vision. Questions to ask yourself: Do I have a clear Vision of where I want to...

It’s funny the reactions I get from people when I ask if they’re on Facebook.  I either get “HECK NO!!!  I’ll never be on Facebook it’s a complete waste of time” or “I love Facebook, I can’t image life without it.” or “I’m not on Facebook anymore.” In previous Personal Marketing Workshops I used to share Facebook as an informal network that allows friends & family to connect.  It wasn’t until just a few months ago that my viewpoint has expanded to see the big picture Facebook plays in Customer Relationship...

Due to the recent release of iOS 4.2 my iPad was automatically updated by iTunes when I reconnected it to my MacBook Pro. I thought it was really cool to have Multi-tasking and Folders to aid in management of all the apps on my iPad. It was nice to finally have both iOS devices, iPad & iPhone, use the same user interface. The biggest surprise was AirPrint.  This feature that allows you to print from your iOS device to a shared printer. My printer wasn’t on the approved list, so initially I wasn’t able to find any printers, but after following the directions to re-enable...