Confessions of a Social Networking Junkie
My addiction to social networks started like many addictions with casual use. I created profiles on Plaxo and LinkedIn and started connecting with friends. I slowly moved on to creating my own content on Squidoo and Blogger and sharing images on Flickr. I enjoyed the interaction, and with a profile on SmallerIndiana, I discovered how social and face-to-face networking worked together. I was hooked. Profiles on FriendFeed, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube followed in rapid succession. Just a few minutes a day to update or check in on each of these sites started to add up. Suddenly I realized...
read moreAt the Front of the Pack
It’s May, my favorite month in Indy. The temperature is perfect, the rain has stopped, the flowers are in bloom, and the cars are on the track. Yes, it is true, I am a race geek. I love the cars, the drivers, the back story and the history. I have a favorite spot high in turn one for qualifications, and there is nothing quite like the feeling when you hear Mari Hulman George squeak out, “ladies and gentleman start your engines!” Watching the race each year, one thing is obvious: winning teams can’t sit on their laurels. If Ganassi Racing assumed that since they won...
read morePut It Back in the Oven
I love working with entrepreneurs. Excited and enthusiastic, their energy is contagious as they talk about their next great idea. But sometimes I have to tell these amazing people that I can’t help them, because excitement and energy is not enough to make a business successful. Usually it’s because their idea is only half baked. There is a good concept, but they haven’t done their homework. Typically the shortfalls occur in one of several categories: Not enough experience in an industry – There was the woman who wanted to open a shoe store because she loved...
read moreDesign by Committee
There is a saying that a camel is simply a horse designed by a committee. I often think of that saying as we begin a web project for an association where the design project is being run by a committee. I warn the client that gathering input from multiple sources will generate great ideas, but it can also force compromises which result in something with lots of interesting features, but a lack of cohesion in the overall look and feel. This is especially challenging when we work with associations with volunteer boards. So how do we help our clients so they don’t end up with a camel...
read moreSpring Cleaning
The last of the snow is finally gone and the flowers are starting to bloom. If you are like me, the next few weekends will be spent cleaning out closets and cupboards, taking flower pots back outside for the spring and maybe painting a wall or two. Just like your home, your marketing plans are probably a little cluttered or a little dusty. Here area few things you can do to give your marketing a fresh face for spring: Give yourself permission to let go. Just like that dress hiding in the back of the closet that you haven’t worn in a few years, there are elements of your marketing...
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