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| | Post New Topic | | Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | Views: 282 | | Oct 29, 2009 9:47 am | | Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # | 
Kurt Schweitzer | | That's my misquote of the morning. (The actual quote is "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." - R. W. Emerson. Key word is FOOLISH.)
We all need creativity, the ability to try something new, to step outside our comfort zones every now and then. But a successful business needs to have something that CONSISTENTLY returns good results, time and time again.
We need a money crank. Turn the crank and make money.
What is YOUR "money crank"? What do you do that CONSISTENTLY brings in the bucks? What do you have down so cold that you could teach someone else to do it, and then the two of you would make twice as much money?
Would you care to teach us?
Kurt Schweitzer
Urban Village Scooters
Private Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Oct 29, 2009 12:19 pm | | re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # | 
Eileen Brown | | Holy Crapola Kurt!
Sounds like an MLM offer - LOL!
No, I won't teach anyone what I do as my skill set is too diversified to
be able to impart it, as through instructions to another person.
• Diversity.
• Infinite Knowledge Base.
• Experience.
It is almost impossible to teach someone to have an eye for color, art,
and mix in advertising knowledge to be able to crank out AD's.
Likewise, what I do most, web development, has more to do with
entrepreneurship than a skill set I can teach to someone else.
As each client's needs are different, the approach has to be defined
for each one on an individual basis. It is necessary to build a "template"
of services that is constructive for a client as it pertains to their
specific marketplace.
By the time we hit 50, we've accumulated a lot of life experience.
Probably work experience too in whatever industries we've been in.
All of this experience gives us greater insight into people and the
marketplace than a kid just out of college. And it's that experience
and insight, reflected in what we do, that makes over-50 freelancers
so valuable to clients.
Still better yet: there's no age discrimination in online freelance work.
So, as we look for services online, why NOT look at those folks we
know, who ARE consistently making a living at working online.
Or, at least, finding many clients online who are thrilled with our services.
I teach those who deserve to know. I no longer freely give away
information to just anyone. I've worked with some folks who, after
they've picked my brain, found out what they wanted to know,
moved onto others and began wringing them dry also...
I'm tired of being used, abused and left out when the money starts
to roll. I work for myself, Russ and our household, period.
IF I partner with someone, I am very choosy about who, what, where
and when. And then, the money has to come up front. I will not 'give
it away' to those who will take the knowledge, not admit to anyone
where the knowledge came from, and line their own pockets.
Been there, done that. I do help as much as I possibly can with
free articles and information here at ABHP, other networks on
Ryze and elsewhere on the web and locally.
Anyone who wants everything for free, is not an entrepreneur, but
a leech to those of us who DO make our living working in the service
of others, to the benefit of their business.
.02
Eileen: D
Tweet ME @SuperEB - http://twitter.com/SuperEB
Web Development - http://www.bekansas.com/
Web Site Graphics - http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/
ABHP http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ ~~~ JOKE http://todaysjoke-network.ryze.com/
Private Reply to Eileen Brown | | Oct 29, 2009 12:58 pm | | re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Kurt Schweitzer | | Apparently I wasn't too clear in my post.
Eileen, you've told us one thing you do to help drive the consistency in your business:
"It is necessary to build a "template" of services that is constructive for a client as it pertains to their specific marketplace."
To me that translates into having a form of some sort that you use to make sure you're covering everything the customer needs for this particular project. I hope you have a price sheet (or at least a quoting guideline) for each item on that form so that each customer is charged consistently, and so that you don't "forget" and wind up giving work away that the customer should pay for.
This is what I'm poking at - the SYSTEMS that you've put in place to keep your business running smoothly and profitably.
I'm inspired partly by Michael Gerber's "The E Myth Revisited" which focuses on establishing systems in your business, so that the business works to support YOU rather than you working to support the business.
What really got me going on this topic, however, is thinking about my marketing and advertising efforts over the past several years.
The basic profit equation is:
Number of Prospects
x
Percent of Prospects that Come Into Store
x
Percent of Prospects that Buy Something (thus becoming Customers)
x
Number of Sales Transactions per Customer
x
Price of Items Sold
x
Number of Items Sold per Sale
x
Profitablilty of Items
=
Gross Profit
We all tend to focus on one or two steps in the Profit Equation. The form I discussed above, for instance, focuses on the Number of Items Sold per Sale, and also helps improve the Number of Sales Transactions per Customer (because a satisfied customer is more likely to be a repeat customer).
Right now I'm focusing on improving the Number of Sales per Customer by developing a newsletter and sending it out on a regular basis. Consistently.
What are YOU focusing on, and what has worked well for you in the past?
Kurt Schweitzer
Urban Village Scooters
Private Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Oct 30, 2009 12:42 am | | re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # | 
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Kurt,
One of the things the Sirolli Institute teaches is that a small business stands or falls on three basic legs of operation:
1) Product or service
2) Marketing
3) Financial management
Now, the Sirolli Institute also recommends that you outsource two of the three legs and focus on the one leg of the business you do best. What leg do you suppose most people choose? It's the first one - Product or service. They outsource the marketing and financial management.
What I think a lot of Ryzers should be doing more of is "outsourcing." Don't do everything yourself. Set up your own network of helpers. Skype even has a way to put people on the contact list into special groups for such a purpose as this. You can easily bring as many as nine people in on a conference call.
But, I want to add this should not simply be about YOUR BUSINESS needs. There are times it should be about the business needs of others. In fact, the netweaving philosophy says it should be about the needs of OTHERS...first before yourself. The netweaving philosophy says if you become a "goto" person for other folks, other folks will begin to refer business your way. Even Twitter says, "follow someone." Of course, you cannot follow yourself. So, what you end up doing is becoming an audience for someone else in order to have an audience yourself. What's amazing about that is that it actually does work. People you do not even know end up following you. What you do about your followers is up to you. But, you can actually see that the "ethics of reciprocity" (better known as The Golden Rule) really does work when you take time to implement it properly.
The message behind the growth of such services as Google, Squidoo, Twitter and Aardvark is pretty much the same. Give the public an opportunity to benefit themselves and they will gladly play ball with you. But first, the public has to figure out that what is being done is actually of benefit to them before they will "play ball."
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Oct 30, 2009 8:08 am | | re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Kurt Schweitzer | | Lamar,
At some point you need to eat. What does your business do to consistently provide you with the funds that pay for your food?
A business owner can outsource many things, but there are a few things an OWNER needs to have a handle on if the business is to survive:
* Operations - the owner needs to know enough about operations to be able to tell when production and quality goals aren't being met, and to have some idea of how to correct the situation. Operations is actually the section of the business that the owner needs to know the least about.
* Marketing - the owner needs to know the target market. How to reach that target market can be outsourced, but the owner needs to be able to point marketing in the right direction.
* Finance - the owner needs to know the financial health of the business. Entering the data and crunching the numbers can be outsourced (and frequently automated) but without knowledge of how the money comes in and where it gets spent an owner can't make good decisions.
You, Lamar, are always going on about the power of cooperation among small businesses. Informal cooperation is great, but how do you quantify the results? I learned an acronym yesterday - WGMGD. What Gets Measured Gets Done. So how do you measure cooperation?
What I'm poking at in this thread is consistency. Do you consistently think of other businesses before your own? Do you measure how much thinking of others first costs you? Can you quantify how it benefits you?
How does cooperation help feed yourself and your family?
Private Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Oct 30, 2009 10:58 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Kurt,
I have people waiting for me to write articles about them in the San Francisco Examiner. The San Francisco Examiner does not pay a lot of money. But, it does provide exposure - similar to what Squidoo does. When people receive a benefit from what you do, they tell others about you. The third-party referral is the most powerful referral there is. That is what qualifies you to other folks.
When you are dealing with cyberspace distance is irrelevant. What matters is caring people. While I would be perfectly happy to have all my customers come out of my gated community of 6,000 people, we cannot get half that to show up for Middletown Days - a western festival that has been going on annually for nearly 50 years! I would likely starve to death if I had to rely on the locals to support me.
Consequently, I am thrilled to find customers wherever I can find them. And, the way to find them is not simply to tell them what you do and expect them to care. No, the way to find them is to demonstrate care TO THEM...first! Then, even if they do not personally need what you do, chances are very good that given the opportunity they will tell someone who does. I believe if people figure out that what you do is something they need or someone else needs, you will either get them as a customer or a referral by them.
I never would have thought of the Special Olympics as a marketing opportunity. But, the Atlanta Dental Association uses Olympic Town at Emory University during the Special Olympics Summer Games every year as a marketing opportunity for local dentists. And, of course, this is all about helping the local community...first! I personally witnessed this four years in a row when I lived in Atlanta.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Oct 31, 2009 8:00 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # | 
Scott Wolpow | | Lamar,
You do know taht when you get paid to write an article, that destroys the integrity of the publication and your reputation.
It means you are not reporting, but advertiising.
Now I know taht anything I read in the examiner is not news, but promtional dribble.
That is differant than blogs, which do not claim to be part of the fourth estate.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Oct 31, 2009 9:03 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Scott,
I a newspaper you have straight news, editorials, features - all kinds of of articles. Your comment that when you get paid to write articles destroys the integrity of a publication makes no sense. Do you think people who write news for a living - called reporters - should not get paid?
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Oct 31, 2009 9:31 am | | Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Lamar,
A reporter gets paid to write articles by the Newspaper, not by the subject.
Even if you are not paid cash by your subjects, the fact that they are waiting for you to write articles inplies that you are only going to write favorable stories. Therefore you are not reporting, you are marketing.
When I write my Tech Talk articles for the Chamber I will mention a product, but never endorse it.This includes when I wrote about Oracle, which is a major supporter.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Oct 31, 2009 10:01 am | | re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # | 
Teddy Towncrier | |
The Federal Trade Commission recently took steps to make product information and online reviews more accurate for consumers, regulating blogging for the first time and mandating that testimonials reflect typical results.
I'm sure reporters will also be required to adhere to this requirement. ..... The enchilada
Bestest.
Teddy Towncrier CPP Towncrier-Media.com Supercharging Your Visions.
 
Private Reply to Teddy Towncrier | | Oct 31, 2009 10:31 am | | re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Eileen Brown | | Hey Folks.
Hmmm... Columns in newspapers usually don't carry any
news, but there are syndicated columns in newspapers across
the country. There are comic strips, crossword puzzles,
artistic ads, classifieds, help wanted and much more...
recipes, gardening tips, political debates among local
candidates, public service announcements, announcements
such as wedding, births, who visited who, and who threw a
million dollar party for their five year old.
None of that's really news. REPORTERS report news but they
also publish human interest, fashion, and back around to
the food critic section, the movie critic section, and the
gardening tips section. All considered columnists and
journalists.
News only makes up about 5% of what a "newspaper"
publishes, all told. So it really comes around to, "What
do you consider news?"
I've been in the local paper for my community volunteer
work, my work with PLF, my work from home businesses, and
as an eye witness to crimes. It was the same reporter who
covered all those stories, took the photos and decided what
was news, what went in the human interest section and what
went in the public service section. Having the same
reporter was a coincidence, but obviously, she was quite
capable of coving all stories for lots of reasons.
I've have many articles published in local and regional
publications and newspapers. Some of those have been about
business, computer news, and PLF (Prairie Land Food). When
I write an article about PLF, it goes in the public service
section, it is not considered advertising, at all. But the
point of the article is to bring folks into the program, so
it IS advertising, and the participants pay fees each and
every month for their Prairie Paks. All the newspapers
around here consider the press releases to be a "public
service" announcement.
Advertising is when you buy AD space and have some media
group design an AD to be printed in the newspaper.
Companies around the world submit press releases to
announce all kinds of things about their companies and
those get printed on a daily basis in the "Business"
sections of the newspapers uh, everywhere.
I personally do not see any "rub" about what Lamar is
doing. It's business as usual for any newspaper, whether
it's online or in print.
There are "reporters" who have blogs online who don't write
for ANY print publications but make a darn good living
writing their blogs, just as if it WAS a print publication.
And plenty of those folks are paid by NEWSPAPERS to bring
people to their websites.
.02
Eileen :D
Tweet ME @SuperEB - http://twitter.com/SuperEB
Web Development - http://www.bekansas.com/
Web Site Graphics - http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/
ABHP http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ ~~~ JOKE http://todaysjoke-network.ryze.com/
Private Reply to Eileen Brown | | Oct 31, 2009 10:41 am | | re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Sorry, if a reporter is being paid to write a story by teeh subject, it is biased, plain and simple.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Oct 31, 2009 10:56 am | | re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Scott,
What do you think publicists and people in the public relations profession do? They write articles for their clients. Their clients pay them to write those articles and submit those articles to newspapers for publication. It's true that the newspapers do not have to carry them. But, if they choose to do so, is that somehow fraudulent? In fact, small businesses often write press releases about themselves and submit them to newspapers. This is nothing new, Scott.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Oct 31, 2009 10:59 am | | re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Eileen Brown | | It happens hundreds of times, every day Scott. I get paid
by PLF to be their online representative in three states
but my press releases are considered "public service"
announcements.
Not everything that turns into an article on the local
level can be considered advertising, even if that is what
it is, in the long run.
This has gotten way off topic. Let's see if we can bring
it back around...
EB :D
Tweet ME @SuperEB - http://twitter.com/SuperEB
Web Development - http://www.bekansas.com/
Web Site Graphics - http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/
ABHP http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ ~~~ JOKE http://todaysjoke-network.ryze.com/
Private Reply to Eileen Brown | | Oct 31, 2009 11:27 am | | re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Eileen Brown | | Hi Teddy and Folks.
Great article you listed:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/FTC-Bloggers-testimonials-apf-468964868.html?x=0
I had read some of this in a couple of other places.
Eileen :D
Tweet ME @SuperEB - http://twitter.com/SuperEB
Web Development - http://www.bekansas.com/
Web Site Graphics - http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/
ABHP http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ ~~~ JOKE http://todaysjoke-network.ryze.com/
Private Reply to Eileen Brown | | Oct 31, 2009 12:49 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Scott Wolpow | | There is a differance in submitting an article to a paper and hope they decide to publish and being a reporter for that paper.
You are confusing the two. This is why the quality of news has dropped.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Oct 31, 2009 12:59 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Eileen Brown | | There is no confusion here.
Sorry Scott, but you are wrong on that count. News has
gone south because reporters no longer report the news as
it happens. They report opinions, political rhetoric, and
biased pieces to further their own agendas and the agendas
of the newspapers they write for, and that is bringing them
all down. In they eyes of the populace, local publications
are no longer valid if they push only one side of any
issue.
EB
Tweet ME @SuperEB - http://twitter.com/SuperEB
Web Development - http://www.bekansas.com/
Web Site Graphics - http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/
ABHP http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ ~~~ JOKE http://todaysjoke-network.ryze.com/
Private Reply to Eileen Brown | | Oct 31, 2009 2:02 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Exactly, and that is what happens when people who claim to be reporting, already have decided beforehand what thay will say.
How is what Lamar doing any differant?
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Oct 31, 2009 4:53 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Eileen,
Amen to that! I think one of the reasons the Fox News Channel has become so loved in some parts of the country and hated in others is because it really does make an effort at being "fair and balanced." Some folks love that about Fox News. Others hate it.
While I am on record as being a "Fox News fan" (I even own the Fox News Coffee Mug. Roger Ailes, Fox News Chairman, sent it to me.), I think most folks in my area of Northern California are NOT Fox fans. Perhaps that is why when Fox's Adam Housley came here back in 2006 and spoke to the crowd at the Middletown Days Parade, the local newspaper did not bother to even mention his visit. Here Fox mentions the town's festival on the network and the local paper does not even acknowledge the visit. The newspaper reporter was there that day. Obviously, she did not CARE that Fox showed up. The fact Adam thanked the students for writing letters to the network did not matter. The fact he got the network's weather man to acknowledge the festival to the world in a big way all day long did not matter, either. How easy it is simply to "NOT CARE" about what is obviously a news event for a small town. You talk about bias, now that's BIAS! And, yes, that's one situation that needs to change BIG-TIME here in Northern California. You can count me in as one of the folks determined to change it!
Progressive liberals and conservatives are going to have to start to work together. We need more women to be happy homemakers and more men to be role-models for their sons and daughters. There needs to be more quality "family time." While this is perhaps more a challenge now in this difficult economy than ever before, it is a challenge that needs to be met.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Oct 31, 2009 9:45 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # | 
Reg Charie | | News Hounds
We watch FOX so you don't have to.
http://www.newshounds.us/
Reg - NEW DEMO!! Turn photos into paintings http://FantasticMachines.com
All You Need is Dotcom-Productions and a Dream. http://dotcom-productions.com
0Grief http://0grief.com/special_hosting_accounts_for_my_ryze_friends.htm
CRELoaded websites http://RegCharie.com - SBTT http://thinktank-network.ryze.com
Private Reply to Reg Charie | | Oct 31, 2009 11:14 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Reg,
Did you check out the Newshound site? It's affiliated with Moveon.org - a leftist extremist group. Surprised? Probably not. One things is for sure. You are not going to get news "fair and balanced" from the Newshound.
The Newshound does not want the public to watch Fox News. They actually tell you that right on the site. What a surprise!
Yes, by all means, allow the Newhound to watch Fox News for you. People who want to know the truth should not watch Fox News. No, they should let someone who HATES Fox News watch it for them.
Obviously, the Newshound is only going to tell you the truth. Anyone with hunting experience knows a good hound always obeys his master. And, who's the Newshound's master? Moveon.org.
I encourage everyone on this network to go and take a look at the Newshound site. See what it has to offer. You deserve to see what "unfair and unbalanced" looks like.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 01, 2009 4:56 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # | 
Bobbi Jo Woods | | When I read Kurt's original post for this thread, my initial thought was marketing.
I think that everyone probably has at least one thing they do to market their business, something which is consistent and done every X number of days, hours, weeks, etc.
For example, I might post 2-3 new threads at ABHP per month. I check into Facebook every few hours, for 10-15 minutes per day, and respond to folks and/or post updates and links.
I do not have a consistent marketing plan or any methods that I do on a regular basis.
There are a number books on methods for communicating and follow-through in buiness, such as 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen Covey). Getting Things Done (David Allen), etc. I see blogs and articles about these things, but it's all overkill for me.
I, for one, would like to know if anyone else has any EFFECTIVE methods in running their business, whether they be related to marketing, communications/customer relations, sales, prospecting, managing projects/workflow, etc., and if they are willing to share them here.
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 01, 2009 7:03 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Bobbi Jo,
Here's a worthy goal - set up a program where you get other people to spread your message...without asking for it. How is that even possible? It's possible by making valued "third party" connections. The third party takes the message to a fourth party. The fourth party says the third-party's idea is great and helps spread it to his or her audience. And, who is the ultimate beneficiary here? If you are the person who originated the idea, it's you!
I sent out more than 500 Evite invitations to my local community telling them about a FREE grant-writing seminar I would be hosting. Only 5% of my Evites were even opened and read. And, I got nasty email for sending out those Evites. But, thankfully I also managed to convince two Chamber of Commerce groups to share news of this seminar with their membership.
Why should a Chamber of Commerce group bother to tell their members about a seminar that does not even involve them? Two reasons: 1) It provides benefits to their members at no expense to the Chamber: 2) It makes the Chamber of Commerce look good to its membership - whether anyone decides to attend the event or not. It's a "win/win" scenario for the Chamber. Well, guess what? The Chambers figured that out and helped to spread the news to their members.
But, that is not the end of it. The people who decided to RSVP to the event invited other people to attend. They did not all simply RSVP for themselves. In numerous cases, individual respondents RSVP'ed for other folks, too. Some even went so far as to promote themselves in the RSVP process. Want proof? Check it out for yourself at this Evite invitation link. That annual grant-related event has been packed with people two years in a row. Not one penny was spent on paid advertising. That's the power of mutual collaboration and the third-party referral at work.
Have you ever accomplished something you did not really try to achieve? Last Spring, I was trying to get Marty Keller, the Small Business Advocate for California, to attend a local shopping center festival. My efforts to convince him to attend did not succeed. So, guess what Marty decided to do? He sent me a letter written and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger endorsing the festival. Marty even called me on the phone to make sure I got the letter minutes after he sent it as a PDF email attachment.
Marty also signed my Squidoo lens guest book endorsing the event himself and drawing attention to his Small Business website for Gov. Schwarzenegger. Want proof? Visit Family Fun.
What you just read about in the previous paragraph is what I consider to be "game theory" in operation. However, it is not "my game" at work. It was Marty's game at work. Nevertheless, I benefited. But, by Marty using my event to help make Gov. Schwarzenegger look good to the people of Hidden Valley Lake through his compliment to them(which lifts them up to the entire State of California), I have more recently been granted the opportunity by Marty Keller to lift Governor Schwarzenegger's upcoming Small Business & Entrepreneurship Conference to the public. This will be accomplished by involving local high school students in a marketing effort for which they receive community service credit toward high school graduation. This all plays in to enhancing the credibility of the business services I provide. This time, its not Gov. Schwarzenegger endorsing the activities of Lamar Morgan. It's Lamar Morgan and high school students endorsing the activities of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. But, you see, "the buzz" is going to be good for all involved. It is indeed a "mutual uplift."
Design your marketing strategy with other folks in terms of a "win/win" mutual uplift rather than a solo effort and you may be pleasantly surprised by the results.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 01, 2009 7:18 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # | 
John Snyder | | Funny that you should ask Bobbi, when you do anything out of the ordinary, you are bound to get yourself noticed. That is why my Wordsearch Adz are so popular. If your Ad is like everyone elses, is it any wonder that it goes unread? While I have a Great solution, you don't have to avail yourself of it. You may come up with your own solution. How many Ads did you actually read yourself, today? Did you get a Newspaper today? Can you remember the Content of even one Ad? (Don't go back and Cheat) Somebody paid good money for that Ad and you and everyone else never read it. If anyone would like more information about my Wordsearch Adz they can P.M. Me.
Thanks,
John
Prof Wordsearch
Private Reply to John Snyder | | Nov 03, 2009 5:19 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Kurt Schweitzer | | BJ,
I balance on the line between a structured and an unstructured life. I thrive on variety, but have a number of habits that are very hard for me to break.
Those things that I need to do consistently, but are not ingrained habits, I make an effort to systematize.
For example, when I was in Corporate America, and later when I worked from home, I would naturally work late into the night and then sleep in the following morning. (For a time I was a regular presenter at my division's daily 7 am Sunrise Meetings. Torture!)
However, as a Retailer I need to open my store at the advertised time EVERY DAY. This has resulted in a change in me. I am no longer able to think complex thoughts after 10 at night. I wake before 7 every morning, without recourse to an alarm clock.
I have gone so far as to write down all the steps necessary to open the shop in the morning and close up at night. If I ever hire a staff I have the start of an operations manual ready to hand them.
I do have an employee in my Service department, and we are constantly looking at ways to systematize operations there so that customers are satisfied and money isn't left on the table. Things like having predetermined cost estimates for many repairs, so that customer expectations are set properly BEFORE the work starts and all our labor is accounted for.
I'm starting to systematize my marketing by putting together an Event Marketing Checklist. It is intended to include EVERYTHING related to hosting a marketing event, from coming up with a name, date, and location to what food and furniture needs to be obtained, what products will be promoted/sold, and where (and when) the announcements will be placed.
(By the way, I've been researching event planning checklists on the Web, and while there are a number of pretty good ones, the one I like most is this one: http://www.sua.umn.edu/groups/forms/event_planning.pdf. I'm incorporating lots of it into mine.)
I'm also developing a newsletter (mentioned earlier) as part of my marketing toolkit. Early results are quite encouraging.
I would LOVE to get to a situation where I have a bunch of "Money Crank" tools - systems in place that I can reliably use to run my business, promote my products, and produce profits. Sort of like McDonalds or any other successful franchise operation.
How is Facebook working out for you? What sort of return are you getting for the time invested?
Kurt
Private Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Nov 03, 2009 5:38 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Kurt,
When you say you are sending out a newsletter, is that a physical (paper) newsletter, an online newsletter or both? If you have both a blog and a newsletter, why do you have both?
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 03, 2009 10:51 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Kurt Schweitzer | | "If you have both a blog and a newsletter, why do you have both?"
A newsletter is PUSH technology. The author (me) has control over when the reader comes across my information.
A blog is PULL technology. The reader has control over when they come across my information.
With a newsletter I have a list of people who I know will receive my message within a short time of me having sent it, AND who have already indicated (because they signed up for the list) that they are interested in what I have to say.
With a blog they entire world has access to my message, IF they happen to stumble upon it. Blog posts are indexed by the search engines, and tend to last forever.
As for online vs. physical newsletter, for my purposes there isn't much difference other than cost. I've had to change my system for collecting customer information in order to support the online newsletter - I've always collect customer mailing addresses, but only recently started collecting email addresses - but that's about it.
Kurt
Private Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Nov 04, 2009 12:17 am | | Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Kurt,
Since you are explaining the difference between an online newsletter and a blog, are you familiar with Ning.com? It's a free social network you can set up. In fact, you can create as many Ning networks as you want.
Every Ning network I have ever seen gives you the ability to set up blogs, forums, videos, pictures, etc. Just like Ryze, you invite folks to join. The idea behind this is to help you - the network moderator (owner) - grow an audience.
How to do yo grow and audience? You provide "value" to that audience. The next thing you know, the audience begins to return the favor. And, so it goes.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 04, 2009 8:24 am | | Re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Teddy Towncrier | |
Blogging must be Push technology. .... Publish and they will come is a pipe dream.
A blogger needs to "Push" his articles and many blogs that I subscribe to let me know when a new article has been published.
When I send a "New Blog Post" bulletin with an interesting headline; ... I get far more response than if I'm hopin' n prayin' that readers will arrive.
People have too many demands for their attention; ... A Blogger must employ a "Push" process if he wants his stuff read.
Bestest.
Teddy Towncrier CPP Towncrier-Media.com Supercharging Your Visions.
Private Reply to Teddy Towncrier | | Nov 04, 2009 8:42 am | | re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Lamar,
Have you ever looked at Ning's TOS and who owns all the content posted? I will give you a hint, it is not the creator.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 04, 2009 9:01 am | | re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Scott,
I never said anything about content ownership. I simply stated you could create the Ning network and post content there in various forms - including a blog. Of course, you can post content right here on Ryze. You simply cannot do it in the form of a blog like you can over on a Ning network.
Kurt wants to grow an audience of followers. A Ning network is just one tool for helping to make that happen. Of course, there are other tools. My friend, Charlie McFarling, is using Twitter to grow his audience of Thai cuisine enthusiasts. He is also using the online calendar 30 Boxes.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 04, 2009 9:28 am | | re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Lamar,
I was just stating a fact. Ning is not a good tool unless you do not want to own your work.Of course you can post on Ryze like a blog. Just start a network and do not allow others to post to one particular thread.
A Blog is not any differant than any other publishing tools.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 04, 2009 12:16 pm | | re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | Kurt
Thanks for the insight. I intend to have some real, functional systems in place, soon. With the help of my virtual assistant, I've many ideas that we can roll out, and together we'll do our utmost to keep them tight and working smoothly. For example, we have in the works, a customer relations management (CRM) system of sorts, I've already got an invoicing and collections method plotted out that we've been following, and it works well. Some Terms of Service language and information needs to be put together, but other than that, we're open to any ideas.
Scott is completely correct about Ning.com, but the same can be said of Facebook, MySpace and perhaps even here on Ryze. I would suggest, in the case where content might not belong to you, that, within those networks, one might simply link to something that was published or created, and possibly avoid any mess about that.
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 04, 2009 12:29 pm | | Kurt - re: Facebook (Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds) | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | I forgot to answer Kurt's question about Facebook.
I've made hundreds of connections via Facebook, but have only really gained one connection (locally) which *might* pan out into an actual paid project. Honestly, for me there are currently no social networking tools that are really paying off for me, in terms of ROI.
I have had a few connections here on Ryze (worked with Scott on a website, did some work with Kathy B., helped Eileen on her blog and put together some ideas and quotes for prospects in the past, Sherry has given me a significant amount of business through her graphic design clients and other networking folks needing web site work done).
Then again, I don't really "push" too hard on selling myself on any social networking channel or venue. I think that so many others do this (to the point of overkill) that it turns me off completely sometimes, and by their example, my reaction is to tone it down to just being social with folks.
I have this thing where I wonder about the success of other folks constantly "selling" on social networking, and I can't help but wonder, "Is that working for them? Or is it turning people off?"
What do you guys think? I really cannot stand seeing a Twitter profile page full of nothing but just advertisements and blog posts. Then again, I have to wonder, am I missing out on something by spending 98% of my time being social with folks and just being polite, and only intermittently publishing "promotional" Tweets, status updates, blog links, etc. on social networks the other % of the time?
I don't want to turn anyone off and lose my audience, but I also want to make sure I'm doing the right things to promote myself without LOUDLY HONKING my own horn.
-Bobbi Jo
Bobbi Jo Woods, Owner - B. Woods Design
Professional, Managed Websites for Small Businesses
"A good designer can do SOMETHING. A great designer does the RIGHT thing."
Twin Cities (651) 774-0811
Toll - Free (877) 99-MY-WEB
Website: http://www.bwoodsdesign.com
Website tips blog: http://www.webprospeak.com
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 04, 2009 12:51 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Bobbi Jo,
Kurt was sharing with me the difference between push and pull technology - "push" being likened to an emailed newsletter and "pull" being likened to a blog. I simply pointed out that Kurt could freely create a Ning network and start a blog. Contrary to what Scott said - and he should know better - Kurt cannot do "the blog thing" on Ryze without being a paying member of Ryze. And, that is a significant difference between Ryze and Ning.
Now, should Kurt want to "own his content" on Ning, he can do that. He can opt to remove the Google ads. Of course, to do that, he has to pay a monthly fee. The upside to doing that is that he can post his own ads. What Kurt could end up having by removing those Google ads is a network that is totally branded for toward his business 24/7.
Having your own network is better than simply having a website. Why? Because it gives your audience more options for connection and bonding. This is also one of the reasons I like Squidoo and have created so many Squidoo lenses. A network allows for more interactive conversation than a typical website. That is not to say a website is not important. Rather, the idea is here is to have BOTH working for you...not just one.
I am involved with numerous Ning networks. For the most part, I am simply a participant. Scott is right that I do not own the content. But, so what? Being able to put the content on the site is what matters most to me. I do not need to have everything I say and do trademarked and copyrighted. I just need to be able to share it. So long as I can SHARE the information, the opportunity to possibly make MAGIC HAPPEN exists. And, that my friend, is what is most important to me.
Now, I saw you have an interest in CRM (Customer Relations Management) software. If you have not tried Intellect, I highly encourage it. I think it is great CRM software - better than Act, Goldmine or Salesforce.com. In fact, you can take the full version for a trial spin for 15 days absolutely free and put the program through its paces.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 04, 2009 1:03 pm | | re: Kurt - re: Facebook (Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds) | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Bobbi Jo,
I could not agree more. It's a real turn-off to constantly read ads. But, if you take time to notice, not everyone does that. Some folks actually take time to tweet useful information. It could be a business tip or even a joke. I am particularly intrigued by the folks who share tweets of wisdom. More often than not, when I read a Tweet of wisdom, guess what I do? I retweet it. In retweeting someone else's tweet, I am attempting to do two things:
1) I am spreading someone else's message message to my audience.
2) I am sending my audience the message that I am not totally self-focused.
One of the tenets of a good netweaver - something I chose to be - is that you establish yourself as a "goto" person for other people. Retweeting is a tool which helps one to become recognized as a "goto" person.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 04, 2009 1:34 pm | | re: re: Kurt - re: Facebook (Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds) | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Of course it costs money to have a network. But you can have a 'blog' on Ryze not withstanding.
Magic happens when I have a positive balance in my bank account.
If you are in business you need to make money. If you a hobbist then you can have fun and help people without financial gain.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 04, 2009 3:17 pm | | re: re: re: Kurt - re: Facebook (Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds) | # |
Scott Wolpow | | I am about to start devleoping a CRM using Microsoft Dynamics CRM
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 04, 2009 4:21 pm | | re: re: re: re: Kurt - re: Facebook (Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds) | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | I already own a Ning.com network... I have not promoted it much yet though, because it's pretty dead right now...as it's just in the beginnings.
I'm very familiar with the differences between pull & push marketing.
I should have been more clear, I'm not looking for CRM software... unless it's Web-based, to allow access to both my virtual assistant and me.
I'm not really into Microsoft products, Scott, with the exception of the a couple that I must use to do my job (MS Publisher being one of them). Can you tell me more about it?
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 04, 2009 4:36 pm | | Kurt - re: Facebook (Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds) | # |
Scott Wolpow | | I was just saying I was starting a project, and yes it will be web based. It is my networking system.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 04, 2009 4:38 pm | | re: Kurt - re: Facebook (Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds) | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | Scott
I'd be interested in hearing more about it when you are ready.
Would you please feel free to add me to your list (if any) of folks for when it's in beta?
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 04, 2009 4:50 pm | | re: re: Kurt - re: Facebook (Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds) | # |
Scott Wolpow | | I will.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 04, 2009 5:30 pm | | re: re: re: Kurt - re: Facebook (Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds) | # |
Eileen Brown | | @ Lamar
"Having your own network is better than simply having a website. Why? Because it gives your audience more options for connection and bonding. This is also one of the reasons I like Squidoo and have created so many Squidoo lenses. A network allows for more interactive conversation than a typical website. That is not to say a website is not important. Rather, the idea is here is to have BOTH working for you...not just one."
I have to differ on this statement. Having a website for your company is THE number one
important moniker for any business on the web. Period. Once you have that, you begin the
branding process. EVERYTHING else is peripheral. Much of this depends on what
business you are currently in and the client base you are targeting.
Web 2.0 is about interaction; the social media playgrounds where you interact with the
general public. Interaction does not automatically bring clients. ONLY a well placed
website, designed to meet your business model needs is considered "web real estate."
Having that home base in place shows your business acumen is more savvy than just
commenting in ANY other venue.
Like being a traveling salesmen in times past, there was always a "home base" operation
that folks recognized and trusted. Otherwise you could not get your foot in the door.
.02
Eileen :D
Tweet ME @SuperEB - http://twitter.com/SuperEB
Web Development - http://www.bekansas.com/
Web Site Graphics - http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/
ABHP http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ ~~~ JOKE http://todaysjoke-network.ryze.com/
Private Reply to Eileen Brown | | Nov 04, 2009 5:55 pm | | re: re: re: re: Kurt - re: Facebook (Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds) | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | @Eileen,
Yes, everyone does need a "home base." And, online I suppose a good home base is a well-designed website. But, a traveling salesman is not a traveling salesman if he stays home all the time. He needs to travel.
You cannot expect to bring everyone who needs what you have to offer to your home base, first. A lot of the time, you have to meet folks on their turf rather than yours...or at least somewhere in between. That "in between" space in cyberspace can be places like Ryze, Ning, Twitter and Facebook.
I do not mean to negate the importance of a website. In today's exploding social media space, a good website is important. But, it's certainly not the ONLY SPACE that is important. It's a good foundation on which to build. Every house has one. But, there needs to be more to a house than just a foundation.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 04, 2009 6:07 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: Kurt - re: Facebook (Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds) | # |
Scott Wolpow | | What you want to do is get people to your website. That is how to capitalize on that asset.
But some people may not be able build sites and need to use prefabricated sites. Or they may not be business people and have no professional concerns.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 04, 2009 7:26 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Kurt - re: Facebook (Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds) | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Scott,
The fact you are here on Ryze is a testimony in itself as to the importance of having something in addition to a good website working for you. This is not to say a website is not important. Rather, the point is that simply having a website is no longer enough. You need to also reach out to your audience where you know they hang out.
Now, where folks hang out in cyberspace could be a lot of different place. It simply makes good sense to make an attempt to connect with your audience where you know they can be found - as opposed to expecting them to always find you (at your website). It does not matter how breathtakingly beautiful your website is if people who would qualify as your target market do not show up.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 04, 2009 9:09 pm | | re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Kurt Schweitzer | | Something else I have trained myself to do consistently is keep a record of activity in my shop.
Back in February I had a topic about door swing counters for measuring how many people come into my shop. When I installed mine I also started recording on a calendar in my office the count at the end of every day. The actual number isn't important, but the trend is. By recording it every day I can see whether the number of visitors is increasing or decreasing.
Not long after starting that I started recording the daily receipts on the same calendar. I highlight the dreaded "zero dollar days", and separate the vehicle sales from other sales.
Towards the end of the summer I created a spreadsheet to analyze the data from the calendar. I'm NOT to the point where I update the spreadsheet every day, but I will probably get there and maybe get rid of the calendar. (But the calendar is so USEFUL! It's GOOD to be able to glance at the wall at any time and see how well you've been doing!)
The spreadsheet, by the way, has really grown to a useful analysis tool. It does monthly summaries, which I can compare to previous years. It does day-of-week analysis, to let me know which days I can afford to be closed. It does 30- 60- and 90-day trend analysis and forecasting, which helps identify if a day-to-day change is simple blip or part of a larger trend.
It occurred to me that a web-based business has similar information already being gathered for it, usually with some good analysis tools already giving the owner similar analysis. But who really uses it?
I know I don't. Just a few minutes ago I called up my website statistics for the first time in several months. Very interesting!
Who would have guessed that "kick start scooter" (in several variations) would be my number one search term? Or that my unique visitors would be between 1500 and 1900 every month this year except for February, which only had 11? Or that my website visitors seems to track my revenues, even though I have never generated any sales to speak of from my website?
By the way, I agree wholeheartedly with Eileen's contention that a website is an absolute must for any business today. True, you can do an awful lot posting on someone else's forum, or contributing to someone else's blog, or interacting in someone else's social media site. But until you invest in your own website, on your own domain, with your own branding and your own statistics, you're not REALLY a business.
Anyway, back to consistency. One of the hard things parts of starting a business is forecasting things like revenues and expenses. I've found that having a track record that I update daily and analyze several times a month has made it much easier for me to make those forecasts and set (and meet) goals.
And it all started with a stupid little counter and a calendar.
Kurt
Private Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Nov 04, 2009 11:43 pm | | re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | Lamar
Kurt and Scott are absolutely correct. Getting traffic to your website is a crucial thing. If one has many places online at which they contribute content, aiming folks toward their website is a good reason to contribute in the first place, because people who enjoy reading something you wrote will often want to find more of that good content, or are intrigued enough to want to hire you/buy from you.
And where else would you want to land those folks, but right in your lap (website)? Where it's assumed, of course, that you have contact info, rates (if applicable), and other information readily available and minimal clicks away from the home page, which convinces them to take the next step--whether it's to add something to a shopping cart and make a purchase, pick up the phone and call you, or fill out a quote request.
Of course, having a website that does all these things isn't the easiest thing in the world, which is why there are tools out there such as WordPress and other tools, which can act as website systems.
Or, they can hire a good web developer to do all this for them :)
My portfolio of work:
http://www.bwoodsdesign.com/portfolio.html
PS - WordPress (and other website software such as Joomla and Etomite.org) have site statistical reporting tools available to add easily to your website, to track click-through rates, plus search engine and keyword data.
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 05, 2009 3:10 am | | re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Bobbi Jo,
I never said a website was not important. I simply said it was not enough. It's a good thing to be on social networks. It is good thing to have a blog. It's a good thing to have a phone and an email address. It's a good thing to have business cards and a Poken.
By the way, regarding websites, I believe you are going to start seeing more and more HD videos on websites. But, that is not all. You are going to see more and more folks registering their business phone number as a domain name. Want to see an example of both a high-definition video that is located at a site that is an actual phone number of a business? Visit http://www.415-775-5600.
I don't see websites as becoming obsolete any time soon. On the contrary, they are going to become even more important...thanks in part to HD video production.
Now, I have a question for you. Earlier in this thread you included your signature. In your signature you included our phone number - even a toll-free phone number. But, recent posts do not have a signature at all. Is there a reason for discontinuing your signature?
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 05, 2009 6:49 am | | re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Kurt Schweitzer | | Registering a phone number as a domain name strikes me as another "mosquito bite" idea - not terribly expensive, but still removing a drop of your business' life blood (cash).
I always thought the idea was to have a phone number that was somehow memorable, because phone numbers are inherently hard to remember. Now you want to use a tough-to-remember number as a domain name?
I'd also heard that you can improve search engine results by using a search term in your domain name. Do people often search for "5600"?
How many domain names do you have? I happen to have two right now - urbanvillagescooters.com and uvscooters.com - that point to the same website. Additional domain names are usually used to bring different search terms to the website, but in my case uvscooters.com is really just a typing aid.
I don't see how using a phone number as a domain name does anything except put a little bit of my money in someone else's pocket.
Kurt
Private Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Nov 05, 2009 8:11 am | | re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Scott Wolpow | | If you have two domains that point to the same site, make sure you use a 301 redirect.
The phone number idea only wokrs if it is your brand. Like 1-800-Mattres
BTW they started right here in Queens.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 05, 2009 10:10 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | I also don't think a phone number domain is very effective.
Not sure how this topic got into videos... but I don't really care about HD videos, for the most part, because my computer cannot stand them. I often have to change the qualit of videos on YouTube just so that I can view them without it slowing down my computer. To do this, I put "&fmt=10" (or some other number, 22 is the highest quality) after the URL in the address bar.
My computer is not an entertainment system, it's purely for my business. While I might play a game or two on it, it's 99% devoted to working.
I also have a "vanity" phone number, a toll-free one. It's 877-99-MY-WEB. Don't know if it's the easiest to remember, but that was what I was aiming for when I bought it.
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 05, 2009 10:34 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Most people lack teh skills to make agood presentation in any event.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 05, 2009 11:06 am | | re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | If you see posts of mine lacking a signature, it is because I was using this POS (piece of ***t) browser called Internet Explorer :P
Sometimes Firefox hogs my computer's memory and I want to multi-task, so I have to fire up IE.
I do not have a gold account to be able to have Ryze save a signature for me, but in Firefox I have a multi-signature addon/extension, which allows me to set up and save many signatures for me to use, depending on what I'm emailing someone about, what forums/boards I might be posting on.
I can simply right-click into a text box and choose the signature I wish to use.
But with Internet Explorer, there's no such addon, and I don't plan to upgrade my Ryze account to allow for a signature. You may or may not see a signature in my posts here. Sometimes I type it up by hand, but mostly I get lazy - you Gold folks have no idea how much that signature feature can be taken for granted, I bet :)
So, unless Internet Explorer comes out with an add-on that allows me to place signatures online, and when Firefox is hogging my computer's resources, I will either have to hand-type my signature info or do without.
-Bobbi Jo
Bobbi Jo Woods, Owner
B. Woods Design - Professional Websites for Small Business
651-998-9125 Twin Cities
877-996-9932 Toll-free
http://www.bwoodsdesign.com
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 05, 2009 11:13 am | | re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Kurt,
Let me be clear. The phone number as a website domain name is not meant to be used to create the main website address. It is meant to be a "featured location" - like a blog. What's significant is what that location features on behalf of your business - professionally-crafted high definition video production. I think this is very clever and innovative approach.
What a video production house has done is crafted a way to provide its service by purchasing domain names that follow a specific formula for its customers - wwww.YourPhoneNumber.com. The production service comes to your place of business and shoots an HD video - complete with a production crew. I am talking complete with a scriptwriter, actors, cameramen and equipment. You talk about a good promotion being all about the design - Wow! You may end up with a video production that speeds up, slows down and pauses to emphasize an idea. Even the voice-over talent is impressive.
Does this sort of thing just happen in Hollywood, Los Angeles and New York? No! It could happen just about anywhere - even in Mayberry RFD Land. The trick is to be able to afford to do this in a cost-effective manner. And, how do you suppose that is done? Answer - mutual collaboration.
When the production crew comes to your neighborhood location, it had better be to shoot numerous videos for numerous clients at one basic location - such as within a shopping center. If the crew has to be flown or driven in and out of the location, that is going to significantly increase the cost of the production beyond what is reasonable.
Once a professionally-crafted HD video has been produced, where can you use it? Well, online you certainly have a lot of options - websites, blogs, networks, as a link in email, online newsletters, etc. If you own a mobile device like an Internet tablet, smart phone or laptop, you can include the HD video there as well. Keep in mind, as Youtube has taught us, videos can be a very good viral marketing tool. After all, what do all great ideas have in common? Answer - they spread.
This video production is TV quality. In fact, the production house is partnered with Comcast and similar commercial services. Since cable TV has come on the scene, the cost for airing a TV commercial has drastically been reduced. The increasing popularity of the Internet has reduced that cost even more. Believe it or not, you can air a 30-second TV commercial on ESPN for about $12.00.
Bottom line, no longer are we talking hundreds of thousands of dollars to get your business message to your target market - both online and on TV. Instead, we are talking about a few thousand dollars. Amazingly, most of that cost is incurred by the video production itself - not by its promotion online or on TV. Innovation and the ever-increasing options for promotion is driving the cost down and the quality up.
Marketing expert Seth Godin has said, "The TV industrial complex is dead." Why? Because it now has more competition. TV advertising is no longer the 300-pound gorilla it once was. It has been forced by the introduction of hundreds of cable channels and the ever-increasing popularity of the Internet to "morph itself" into a viable advertising tool for the small business entrepreneur. TV advertising is no longer the exclusive domain of major corporations.
If you are going to go the video route, why not take advantage of the best video format possible - the HD format? If you are going to take advantage of the HD format, why not pursue it in the most cost-effective and professional manner? Get a production house to shoot your video - and pursue that process in a collaborative effort with other businesses. Don't just bring the production crew to town for your business. Don't go the solo route. Bring the production crew to town for a group of businesses. Have them stay a few days and shoot ALL the necessary commercials. Think "better together." It really does work.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 05, 2009 11:57 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Lamar,
Do oyu have even the slightest idea how much it costs to shoot a production? Orthe fact that it requires permits in many cities?
BTW a phone number or one time site is called a vainity site.
Do you think all business would benefit for a HD video? And whats is the ROI? How does it compare to buying search terms,doing a mailing or attending a trade show?
When can we see the HD video about your town to attract tourists and visitors [and not the ones from space? I bet teh Casino has video's. They seem to really understand business, they must have very bright people running that business.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 05, 2009 12:52 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Kurt Schweitzer | | Back in my "stupid money" days (last year) I wound up experimenting with video. I have a buddy who does video production for a living, and he typically gets around $40,000 to script, shoot, and produce a video up to 30 minutes long. (Shorter videos are roughly the same cost.)
I got a deal! It only cost me half that, and I got some local air time thrown in as well.
Bottom line is that it didn't prove to be effective for my business. Yes, I got more name awareness, but it didn't translate into enough sales to cover the cost of the video.
"Believe it or not, you can air a 30-second TV commercial on ESPN for about $12.00."
The kicker is a) WHEN would that commercial air, and b) how many slots do you need to buy to get that ad rate?
"Bring the production crew to town for a group of businesses."
Suppose you get five businesses together on a "joint production" deal. Where's the savings?
* Five scripts need to be written.
* The shoots take place in five different stores (I assume each business has a store that they want to feature in their commercial). This means five lighting & sound setups.
* Five sets of costumes and props need to be prepared.
* They require five editing sessions.
Admittedly you save on the travel costs and probably on personnel costs, but I don't think you'll save all that much.
A better idea is to hook up with a production company that has a large collection of stock footage. That combined with some voice-over talent and a few business-specific shots will really cut down on your production costs.
You know, when you're throwing up random ideas like this it really helps to present some numbers to help readers evaluate the idea. Since we're supposed to be talking about CONSISTENCY in this thread, I'd appreciate it if these ideas are ones YOU ACTUALLY USE and not just "ooo! so cool!" notions. Of course, if you're using the idea I expect you have some notion of how well it's been working for you.
Kurt
Private Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Nov 05, 2009 2:13 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Kurt,
Did you check out my phone number website link above in a prior post? If not, go back and take a look.
You said you "got a deal" because the initial cost was $40,000 and you were able to get an ad for half cost. Well, congratulations on the production savings. Even so, the video you produced did not deliver as you anticipated. Question: What was wrong? If video commercials work for some, but not for others, what do you suppose is the reason? If the produced ad was a bad one, no amount of exposure is going to help. But, given you spent $20,000 on a good ad production, there is certainly a lot of mileage you could have gotten out of it in a wide range of venues. So, what venues did you use? What venues could you have used that you did not?
When a video is shot today - even if it is not HD quality - there are numerous places where you can showcase it absolutely free 24/7.
Question: Do you know how much OmnivisionLive in San Mateo, CA charges to shoot a professional video - complete with script, and production crew? Answer: $3,300.00. This includes placing that video on a web page that has the domain name of your phone number. The domain name is owned by OmnivisionLive, not you. But, they have designed a very nice display package for all of their clients.
Keep in mind that the produced video belongs to you - not OmnivisionLive. What you can do with that video yourself once you have it is tremendous. Do you even know how many FREE video display sites there are on the Internet? An impressive number. There is even a free service called TubeMogul that will track your online viewership per location. Yes, you can freely receive marketing feedback on your video's exposure per each display location. Did you by any chance do that with the video that cost you $20,000 to produce?
If OmnivisionLive were coming out to my community to shoot a series of videos - and my business was included in a shoot - I would make darn sure this event made it into the local newspaper. And, I would make sure the news made it into the paper BEFORE the crew came to town and AFTER they left. But, that is not all. I would solicit personal friends to be involved in the crowd scenes to reduce the cost of the production and simultaneously increase the "buzz." Yes, I would create as much "buzz" around this event as I possibly could. Now, is that what you did?
Today, a talented script writer should be able to write a script for a commercial without having to first pay you a personal visit and take a tour of your location. More than likely the script writer has a video library at his disposal. He can also research your business on the Internet to help become properly inspired. And, of course, he can simply call you on the phone to receive further guidance and inspiration.
Although quite a few newspapers have shut down across our nation, I seriously doubt the printed page will ever disappear. I doubt TV and radio will ever disappear. I doubt movie theaters will ever disappear. But, I do believe what you are seeing right now is that all these forms of media are innovating and collaborating with each other in some fashion. When I watch TV, I often see a commercial for a radio station. When I listen to the radio, I often hear a commercial for a TV show. When I read the newspaper, I often see a display ad for both a radio station and a TV network. Is there a major newspaper, radio or TV station that does not have a presence on the Internet? I doubt it.
Well, what do you say we not simply watch the parade, but find a way to participate? By seeking mutual collaborative efforts I believe we can make that magic happen cost-effectively. Why do things the more expensive way and still end up disappointed? Think "better together." It really does work.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 05, 2009 3:07 pm | | re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Kurt Schweitzer | | Here in Rochester it's very easy to find a local video production company.
* The local PBS station has an award winning group that's available for hire.
* My buddy has ITI Productions (http://www.itibusinesssolutions.com/itimagazine/).
* Two of the local commercial TV stations do video production work.
* Another local video production company I've worked with (for sports videos) is SEVideo (http://www.sevideo.biz/).
* A photographer I know has branched out into video production.
* The local community college has several video classes that are always looking for project ideas.
* I'm also aware of several other local video production companies.
Here, at least, there's no reason to bring someone in from out of town, and the locals will generally charge somewhat less.
"there are numerous places where you can showcase it absolutely free 24/7"
This is the Internet! You don't NEED numerous places to host your video. Put the thing up on YouTube, and then "showcase" it in your blog!
By doing this you leverage your advertising. For example, I can promote my video and give this URL: http://urbanvillagescooters.com/blog/2009/10/02/my-lame-commercial/
When someone goes there to look at "My Lame Commercial" they are on MY website, and are encouraged to look at MY other blog posts, FAQ articles, and promotions. Likewise when I promote my "Scooter of the Week" offer (see it at http://urbanvillagescooters.com/scooter-of-the-week/) they are encouraged to check out the other stuff there, including "My Lame Commercial".
Please keep in mind that the point of a video, or an article or blog post, is to attract people to YOUR products and services. You want to work it as a funnel - attract people to your website so that it can sell them on your products and services. Simply putting a video on multiple hosts isn't doing much to leverage your online efforts.
Kurt
Private Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Nov 05, 2009 3:45 pm | | re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Kurt,
You can not only put your video on Youtube, you can freely create your own video channel there as well. But, for goodness sake, why stop there? Why not also use Photobucket, Vimeo, MetaCafe, Yahoo! and Google Video - to name but a few? Plus, why not use TubeMogul to track your visitors? Don't you need to know if anyone is paying attention to the produced video?
Keep in mind, people who see your videos on those sites can do much more than simply watch them. They can also rate and comment. When people decide to comment, this often gives you the opportunity to respond and connect with your audience - just like a blog.
Why do you think OmnivisionLive came up with the idea to create websites based upon phone numbers for their clients? Because the phone number represents a unique identifier for each client. This is an example of a "win/win" strategy. It's a good way for Omnivision to keep track of client websites that need video updates. It's a good way for Ominivision clients to share videos about their services with potential customers. You cannot always purchase the domain name you want. But, your phone is a unique identifier you already own. Why not maximize your use of it?
Since you have video production crews readily available in your area, there is no need to fly folks from California into your area of Rochester. More than likely some of the folks right there in Rochester are affiliated with OmniVisionLive. But, don't take my word for it. Ask around and see for yourself.
The difference between the various production companies there in Rochester is probably how they package what they do for you. No doubt, all of them would shoot HD video. But, they are not all going to provide you with the same script, voice talent, etc. And, all those little "exceteras" matter. If you can find nicer work in your area available online than what OmnivisionLive
does - and it's produced for less money by Rochester folks - show it to me. If you cannot find better work at a better rate, what does that mean? It means you have found the best solution for your video production needs - especially if no one needs to catch a plane to make that magic happen.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 05, 2009 3:59 pm | | re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Lamar,
Where is your HD video? I would love to see it.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 05, 2009 4:30 pm | | re: re: re: re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Scott,
I wish I had a professionally-crafted HD video to show you. Unfortunately, I do not even own an HD video camera. What I do own is a webcam and a Hi-8 video camcorder(Back when I purchased it, that was high tech). However, if you would like a little demonstration concerning what I am talking about, visit Yellow Pages Live. I think this represents where more and more websites are headed. What do you think? Please note this is not simply something of value for restaurants. This video orientation for websites I believe is of value to just about any business - large or small.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 05, 2009 5:00 pm | | Re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Teddy Towncrier | |
OmnivisionLive has a nice package that certainly seems scalable.
A few stills and a bit of economically created video topped by an in house voiceover.
I'm wondering how they're covering the releases for all the patrons shown in the vids.
There's a guy up here creating "Page Walk-ons" by the owner, that pop up once only on the first time a visitor arrives.
Last time I looked he was getting $500 each and doing over 4 per day. .... That's a price point most businesses can afford.
I recently purchased a Canon SD1200 IS. ... Fits into my pocket and will record one hour non stop video. ... I love it. .... Price point under $200
Same day I grabbed a tripod for $12. ... Not a bad day's shopping.
Bestest.
Teddy Towncrier CPP Towncrier-Media.com Supercharging Your Visions.
Private Reply to Teddy Towncrier | | Nov 05, 2009 5:25 pm | | re: Re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | @Teddy
Those pop-up video people on websites? Next to muzak that loads up on a website without aking me first (and I can't turn it off), those are THE most ANNOYING fargin' things in existence, online!
I say, whoever offers these pop-up people for sale, should also automatically include a hand grenade or firearm, so I can kill those bastards! Nothing makes me leave a website faster than muzak and those darn annoying-as-hell pop-up people!
Ask anyone else you know, who has seen them...to get a similar point of view.
-Bobbi Jo
Ask BJ - free website advice & tips
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Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 05, 2009 7:04 pm | | Re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Teddy Towncrier | |
Can't speak for anyone else but .... My customer is king and when he's handing me $500; My No1 concern is not what someone 500 miles away in another country may be thinking.
Were my comments on the OmnivisionLive package or my review of the Canon SD 1200 IS in my earlier post, of any value? ..... Anyone?
Bestest.
Teddy Towncrier CPP Towncrier-Media.com Supercharging Your Visions.
Private Reply to Teddy Towncrier | | Nov 05, 2009 7:12 pm | | re: re: Re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Teddy,
I have to agree with Bobbi Jo. I don't like those "pop-up" videos on websites and muzak automatically playing when you visit a site online. Now, those little video-in-video things you do, I think are very clever. Because it is not forced upon me, I like it. I like having the option to choose.
However, I predict you are going to start seeing more-and-more professional quality HD video productions online. This is not a venue that is reserved for restaurants and resorts. This is for every business - large or small.
I do not know exactly where the "tipping point" is, but I think it is definitely on its way. It used to be that what hit the Internet followed what you learned on radio and TV from professional news sources. Now, professional news sources are looking to the Internet to report the news on radio and TV. The news media actually goes to the Internet...FIRST.
Indeed, the way the world works is changing. And, if we as a people do not change with it, we will be left behind. You can go solo with your promotional efforts or you can choose to collaborate. You can form win/win strategies with small clusters of people that seek to benefit all involved or you can simply focus on growing your own private garden. But, you need to make a choice. If you don't make a choice, someone somewhere will likely end up making a choice for you. And, you probably won't like it.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 05, 2009 9:48 pm | | re: re: re: Re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # | 
Heidi Caswell | | Teddy, I agree that there is a market for less expensive video. Not sure I'd have it as a pop up but that would be the client's choice what to do with the video.
We have a local business man who did many high end video jobs around the country, his crew filming events etc. Yet he still had be be careful how he quoted work, etc or he'd lose money on an event. He is scaling down now, wanting to travel less, finding smaller local work.
My kids watch internet video of some kind or another often. A couple of my out of the house kids don't even have tv or land line phones. High speed internet and cell phones. Their TV watching is online.
------
So far from original topic. I like eMyth revisited. Too many small business owners have their business own them.
Heidi Caswell
http://connectsimply.com
Private Reply to Heidi Caswell | | Nov 05, 2009 10:59 pm | | re: re: re: re: Re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | Teddy
I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend...I didn't realize that was something you offered. To make it worse, I haven't made the effort (as a fellow networker in this group) to even learn that about your business.
But I think I might be confusing the videos I hate, with whatever you are referring to...
Are these what you offer?
Because I don't care how much money my clients pay me, I wouldn't want to be the one they come crying to, when folks turn away from their website because of one of THESE fantastically horrific not-alive-yet-not-dead spectors start spouting sales drivel to them on their computer screen:
http://stellarconcepts.com/video/Virtual-Video-Spokesperson.php
Or one of these:
http://www.customdemonstration.com/demos/B2oSrUd2pS
(this is a demo link, it may or may not be expired, since I was to enter my website URL to try it out)
Or worst yet, one of these robotic monstrosities:
http://www.sitepal.com/
Just my $.02
Bobbi Jo Woods, Owner, B. Woods Design
Professional Websites for Small Business
877-996-9932 Toll-free
http://www.bwoodsdesign.com
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 06, 2009 5:49 am | | re: re: re: re: re: Re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Kurt Schweitzer | | So what do you think about this portion of the Post Office's website?
http://www.usps.com/holiday/welcome.htm
If you go ahead and order some Flat Rate boxes he "helps" you fill out the form.
I have mixed feelings about these avatars. They are kind of entertaining, but it's kind of irritating to have one "helping" you do something when you don't need any help.
I also have to look at the expense involved in keeping it "fresh". If you go to the page mentioned above you'll find the guy munching on some Halloween candy. When I went there before Halloween the intro scene was different.
Kurt
Private Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Nov 06, 2009 8:30 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Eileen Brown | | @ Teddy
"Were my comments on the OmnivisionLive package or my review of the Canon SD 1200 IS in my earlier post, of any value? ..... Anyone? "
YES! I looked up the camera immediately as I am looking
for a new video camera at an affordable price. One thing I
learned is that the model you mentioned is compatible with
Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit) with no mention of Vista. Which
means my new computer (in the works) would need to have
Windows 7. Which IS what I was looking at anyhowsen.
I've decided not to buy anymore desktop computers and
reconfigure the newest (about a year and 1/2 old) revamped
with either Vista or Windows 7. I had Windows XP put on
that one as I did not want Vista at the time. NOW,
everything is going to Windows 7 compatibility.
I'm setting out now to look at the OmnivisionLive package!
NOTE: I always check out what you have to say and what you
may be using and/or recommending! I trust you DUDE!
YOU should know that by now... right?
Eileen :D
Tweet ME @SuperEB - http://twitter.com/SuperEB
Web Development - http://www.bekansas.com/
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Private Reply to Eileen Brown | | Nov 06, 2009 10:15 am | | Re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Teddy Towncrier | |
@Bobbi Jo. ... I don't require an apology. .... We each have our own style.
@Lamar. .... IMHO It's immaterial what we like .... The only yardstick is; .. Does it work and a once only video welcome sets the tone and engages the visitor who sees who they're dealing with. ... (Use the intro as a reminder to subscribe to your list for ....... ).
It doesn't have to be a pop-up. ... A high energy, "Special Welcome. Click here" button can be employed.
@Heidi ... Information delivery is changing at a feverish pace. Isn't it? More
We'll be seeing many more Interactive videos with embedded live links, within a year. ... (Including single click "Tweet This" buttons).
@Eileen ... "The Dude" EH? .... Is that a compliment? Buy that Canon camera. .... Great pix & battery life. 120/240 Volts, records for an hour. (Possibly more), goes in my pocket. You won't be disappointed.
FWIW My pals & I are staying with XP Pro for another year. ... Being Guinea pigs is not our favourite party trick.
@Kurt .... I'm not too keen on Avatars, either. I suppose they have their place but much prefer a real person for emphasising a point.
Thanks all; For your imput.
Today's smile. ..... I was recently upbraided in a UK Twitter forum for using "Ur" & " 'puter" in 140 character Tweets. ... (He even sent me the citations). .... Get a life!
Bestest.
Teddy Towncrier CPP Towncrier-Media.com Supercharging Your Visions.
Private Reply to Teddy Towncrier | | Nov 06, 2009 12:33 pm | | re: Re: Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | @Kurt
I thought this guy at the USPS site was well, frankly, a fun alternative to the boring ones I mentioned before, mainly because the actor brought some pizazz to his character as opposed to the standard, "Welcome to my website. Here you will find blaaaahhh blahh blabbity blah..."
But I still wanted to click the "turn sound off" button. Only because stuff like this makes me want to have a seizure, regardless of how cute/fun/etc. they may be.
@Teddy
Thanks, I feel better now :)
Speaking of Windows 7, anyone tried it out yet? I'm buying a new PC before the end of the year, and the ones I'm looking at are being bundled with Vista anyway, so it will be a while before I hump on that bandwagon.
-Bobbi Jo
Bobbi Jo Woods, Owner, B. Woods Design
Professional Websites for Small Business
877-996-9932 Toll-free
http://www.bwoodsdesign.com
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