This TED Talk video really helped me understand what makes for a great, viewer-engaging, presentation. Ever wonder why your great idea got passed over, while another mediocre one got snapped up? Watch this video, seriously.
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. 
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheA whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: 'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.'" ~from The Scottish Himalayan Expedition, by William H. Murray
There are so many ways to market your products and services: Websites, SEO, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, blogging, email blasts, direct mail, presentations, events, workshops, teleclasses, videos, postcards, business cards, brochures, newsletters, seminars, shopping carts, advertisements, and many more.
Each of the items listed above comes with its own set of "rules" on how to use them to best advantage - you know, the stuff you read about in all the marketing newsletters and books, best practices that tell you how to set it up, what it should looks like, how many and when... Advice everywhere, good advice, time-tested and very helpful.
However, there is one rule that overrides them all and that helps make marketing decisions sooooo much easier. It's a rule that we follow in everything we do for you because it's the very most important one of all: PEOPLE FIRST.
Of course, it's important to know those best practices and to incorporate them into your marketing so that you maximize your return by following time-tested guidelines. But always, always remember this first: It's about connecting with the person on the other end. What problem do they have that you can fix? Put yourself in their shoes and view all your marketing as if you were them.
Then structure your marketing. If connecting with your audience violates one of the marketing "rules" then ignore the rule.
Unnamed climbers on a hard-glazed Rulten. Lofoten, Norway. MARKO PREZELJEntrepreneur Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia built his business by following that one most important rule of putting people first.
Yvon loved climbing, didn't love that all those pitons got left in the rock, so he decided to make reusable climbing hardware. He was 18 years old, he set up a shop in his parent's back yard. By 1970, Chouinard Equipment had become the largest supplier of climbing hardware in the U.S. In his catalogs Chouinard broke every direct mail catalog rule because he designed his catalogs to help people become better climbers and not to just sell them merchandise. The rules said do this many images to that much text, have an 800 number for orders, and so on. Instead he had oodles of pictures, and a 14-page essay on "clean climbing."
In his book Growing a Business, author Paul Hawken (of Smith & Hawken) profiled Yvon & Patagonia and mentioned how (in the beginning) they had an 800 number, but only for talking about climbing. If you wanted to place an order, you had to pay for the call.
He knew it was the right thing to do, he knew it was more important to connect with his readers than to follow rules.
Go out there and break some rules.
All our best to you and yours.
Robin & Harry
A feast for your eyes this holiday season, wonderful photos from photographer Chris Scott in this article on the National Public Radio website about the anonymous artist who left ten stunning pieces with messages in libraries in Edinburgh, Scotland: "...in support of libraries, books, words, ideas..."
Photo by chrisdonia
Photo by chrisdonia
For the entire article go here.
As always, all our best to you and yours.
Robin & Harry
Try scanning this QR Code with your smartphone scanner, it'll take you to our website!
QR Codes: I'm starting to see these little square codes all over the place lately, although they've been around for a while now. They're called "QR Codes" which stands for "Quick Response."
Printed on ads, book covers, postcards, business cards, and flyers, even seen on TV or other screens, they can be scanned with a smartphone or digital device with a camera. Instantly, the viewer is taken to your website, FaceBook page, LinkedIn profile, or a specific sales page on any website. Instant gratification.
Look around, you'll see them on books, magazine ads, flyers, postcards, business cards and more.
Here's a useful article about it on the OvernightPrints.com Blog. To get one just do the following (takes just a minute or two):
Fonts: If you do any design work and love fonts like we do, you know that it can get expensive to add to your collection. Here are some very nice artists who make their fonts available for free. Do donate something to them if there is a link for that. With fonts often costing $20-$40 each, it's nice to be able to support the artist directly with a donation. Again, thanks to the OvernightPrints.com Blog for the links. Click here to see the fonts and download them.
One of my favorite publications is from the Foundation Center. It's called "Arts Funding Watch," a newsletter devoted to arts-related topics. You should subscribe. Go here.
Here are some highlights from the September issue, their deadlines are soon, and check the Foundation Center website for more. If you're serious about pursuing some grant money, it's worth doing a month's membership online to collect info. Or, use one of their 450 free funding information centers in libraries and nonprofit organization across the U.S. and in seven other countries.
Queens Council on the Arts Invites Artists and Arts Organizations to Apply for Arts Fund Grants
$1000-$5000 for Queens-based artists and arts organizations working on projects and capacity-building initiatives designed to benefit the citizens of Queens. Dealine 10/5/11
Tribeca Film Institute Invites Submissions for Narrative and Documentary Filmmaker Grant Programs
Grants of up to $40,000 as well as professional guidance and other resources will be provided through the TFI Documentary Fund, the TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund, the Tribeca All Access program, and the TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund. Deadline 10/10/11
Association of Performing Arts Presenters Accepting Applications for Cultural Exchange Fund Awards
Subsidies of up to $2,000 for individuals and $10,000 for groups will be awarded to Association of Performing Arts Presenters members traveling to build partnerships and collaborations with international artists. Deadline 11/4/11
Media and Performing Artists and Nonprofit Organizations in Northern and Central California Invited to Apply for Collaborative Project Grants
Grants of up to $40,000 will be awarded to nonprofits, religious institutions, and public agencies working on collaborative projects with media and performing artists in Northern and Central California. Deadline 11/8/11
If you need help, feel free to contact me. I've helped artists do the research, find appropriate grants, assemble required info, and complete grant apps.
All my best to you and yours!
Feb 9