What’s your Brand?

Often small business owners think branding is for national or international businesses like those represented above. It is a short hand symbol that defies language differences and facilitates market recognition in places as far flung as Kazakhstan or the Maldives. We forget that Playboy started with $500 in the dining room of a rented apartment, that Coca Cola was a home remedy sold from the back of a wagon and that Microsoft was started by a college drop-out in a garage in Bellevue, Washington.

Small businesses become big business everyday. Those that succeed understand who they are; who their market is and the need they serve. To have a successful brand you need three things:

• An image or logo that represents your identity;
• A recognizable style, notice the distinct font style of each logo above;
• A tag line, sometimes called an elevator speech. http://www.taglineguru.com/sloganlist.html

Every Coca-Cola label is red and white. You can see Coca-Cola printed in other languages and know that it says Coca-Cola because of the font and if you hear someone say “the pause that refreshes” you know it is a reference to Coca-Cola.

Today we think of Harley Davidson as the premiere motorcycle manufacturer in the United States. Not so long ago they almost closed their doors and with it a significant portion of the economy in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Instead they regrouped and redefined their image and their message. The easily recognizable orange and black logo with the crisp, graphic fonts was both masculine and safely edgy. Their tagline: American by birth. Rebel by choice, states clearly their identity and stirs the emotions of their ideal audience.

A business that is unclear about who it is sends mixed messages to the public and by doing so creates confusion. Often entrepreneurs think branding is something they can do later. We argue that is a mistake. A business plan defines and shapes the internal and limited external definition of a business and its goals; branding is a public manifestation of what you bring to the market. When you convey your offering in a clear and consistent manor you build confidence and recognition. Dream big. Create the brand that reflects that you envision your business to be then live it!

10 Things Your Mother Taught You

We have all heard those famous sayings such as “because I said so” or “go ask your father!” But what about the motherly advice that actually taught us something? Keeping with the social media theme here are some tips that your mother should take credit for.

1. Everything has a home. On one of her many cleaning rants my mother would always pull a shoe out of the couch or a toy out of the Tupperware drawer and tell me, “Everything in this house has a home, put it there!” The same is true of your social media sites. Potential clients and business partners do not want to see pictures of last weekend’s bachelorette party any more than your mother likes to pick up dirty socks off of the living room floor. In the social media world, there is a place for everything. Keep your personal life and your business life separate.

2. Practice makes perfect. How many times did we hear this as children? Practice is the key to any success, large or small, in the social media world. As we try to figure out this new virtual marketplace, it is clear that there is no single “win-win” strategy for all of social media marketing. Instead there are smaller strategies combined with personalized business practices and trial and error to come up with a customized plan that works for both you and your business. There is no right and wrong way to market yourself on social media and it is up to you to find what fits best with your business’ mission and values. So in the words of your mother, “Try, try, try again!”

3. What is your plan? You always had to inform your mother what your plans were so why should it be any different on social media? Many businesses make the mistake of throwing themselves into social media marketing and pulling themselves in any route the keyboard takes them. Always have a plan. Without a plan a business can push itself in so many directions that all impact and effect on consumers is lost. Decide who your target market is, how you would like to reach them and with what source, and build from there.

4. Eat your vegetables. “Eat your vegetables, they are good for you!” Yes, well so is social media marketing, even if you don’t think so at first. Many people are skeptical to enter the ever evolving, fast paced world of social media, and because of this they give up before they even begin. The truth is that you may not like it, but it is good for you. So take a bite out of social media marketing like you did with your vegetables: one forkful at a time. Begin with a smaller portion until you can handle its taste, and gradually you will get used to its flavor and can pile more on your plate the next time. And just as your mother says, how do you know you don’t like it if you have never tried it?

5. Don’t talk with your mouth full, no one can understand you. Just as you learned to make a plan for social media marketing, you must also learn to market in moderation. Many businesses jump on the social media wagon and begin shooting millions of posts, ideas, campaigns, and promotions at consumers, hoping that one of them sticks. Slow down. Take smaller bites. Speak clearly. Think about what it is you are really trying to say and focus on getting this message out effectively. When we talk with our mouths full we lose influence and effect on potentially wonderful followers.

6. Treat everyone the way you want to be treated. Ah yes, the Golden Rule. It is easy to forget that we are dealing with real people on the other end of the screen, people that want to be treated with kindness and respect (just as you do). Without face to face interaction it is easy to be bold and to say things that you would not normally express in a live conversation. Yes it is ok to push the envelope, but remember that you are dealing with potential followers who may eventually turn into potential clients. Always follow the Golden Rule.

7. Use your manners. “Now, what do you say?” These were the words I would hear every Christmas Eve after frantically tearing through presents from aunts and uncles at our annual Christmas party. “Thanks!” Never forget to use your manners in social media. Make sure to thank your followers and show your appreciation for their support. Followers like to feel that they are valued (with good reason) so make sure you show them this by replying to their comments, thanking them for their support, and writing posts specifically tailored to their interests. Your followers should be a priority as they are the ones to share and recommend your business to others.

8. Don’t sit so close to the screen! Your mother always told you that sitting too close to the television or computer screen was harmful, so take a step back. Many times a business struggles with social media because they are too close to the action and they can’t seem to step away and view the work for what it is instead of what they want it to be. They get too caught up in all of the clutter and hype that their strategy becomes muddied and their influence lost. So bring in a fresh pair of eyes that can give an unbiased opinion. Distance yourself from the project and take the time to remind yourself of your mission, plan, and goals.

9. Don’t cry over spilt milk. The goal of social media is to get followers talking, but you might not like what all of them have to say. Criticism is a constant in the business world and is something that pushes us to work harder. Do not be upset if you receive a couple bad comments; instead use this as motivation to keep up the good work. Your presence online is being noticed and all of the commotion will only bring more traffic to your site and more followers to your business.

10. Be yourself. While struggling through adolescence and the perils of growing up you mother always told you one thing: be yourself. Social media is all about getting to know and trust the organizations we do business with. Consumers now like to become attached to not only the product but to the brand as well, and will not be easily fooled by advertising schemes. So don’t try to change who you are online. Talk as you would in a face to face conversation, and don’t be afraid to discuss things other than business. Being yourself is what got you this far, so why stop now?

Email Dead? Not Quite!

The COO of Facebook recently announced that email is dead. Why, because only eleven percent of teen-agers use email on a daily basis. They prefer Facebook and Twitter. Today’s teens have been conditioned to over share. Their every thought, every picture and every experience is on the internet in seconds of the occurrence. With youth often comes indiscretion and subsequent regret. In our teens we have yet to filter what is appropriate, maybe not appropriate, but what can be shared with trust. Items shared with a few friends can soon become viral and instead of a joint laugh or romantic exchange can become a huge embarrassment. Social media is in many ways the high school of the internet. Is anyone volunteering for a do-over of those four years?

Forget what is exchanged on Social media but remember who controls it. As an example Facebook can drop you from its rolls at any time without warning or reason. It currently only allows personal profiles though savvy business owners have learned to use it to their limited advantage.

There is no point in denying that in time email will be replaced or will evolve into another medium but much must happen before that will take place. Email is a trusted and timely tool that allows businesses to set rules for use in their own environment. Until technology offers something that can be used with security and business driven, not personal, guidelines email will continue to be the workhorse of daily business.

Do not take this as a get out of jail free card. Watch what the kids are doing and how they communicate. You don’t have to be ahead of the technology curve but it pays to know what is on the horizon. The only certainty is that technology is driven by change and that change happens at a rapid pace. The technology writer for the Wall Street Journal said he expects a bold new technology announcement to occur at least every six months. Think about that. Human generations are timed at about twenty years but technology generations are timed at six month intervals. You can perhaps afford to be two or three generations behind but you will limit your business if you are more than six generations behind. This doesn’t mean you personally have to be technology savvy but you do need to have someone on your team who is. Isn’t it better to manage the curve than to have it manage you?

The Buzz is Social Media

Every business owner on the globe has been told social media is the answer to his marketing needs.  If you're not on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc the buzz says you and your business are dinosaurs.   But buzz is a funny thing.  It’s a lot like the Platte River a mile wide and an inch deep.  When you try to dig deep you find a muddy bottom rather than clarity or direction. 

Would you invest in a stock you know nothing about?  Would you give the guy around the corner hours of your business week because a stranger said he was a good guy?  The probable answer to both questions is no though the stock and or the nameless guy could prove to be valuable assets.

Buzz is also similar to stereotypes.  Though overplayed and under-thought there is usually a core kernel of truth.  So bottom line can social media become a tool in your marketing arsenal?  YES!  Is it the silver bullet?  NO!  It will not benefit your business or your customers if it is used passively.  It requires tending, like your garden.  There are also things social media are not.

Social media is not a replacement for a marketing strategy.  It is not a stand-alone substitute for a holistic consistent marketing plan.  An effective program should include social media elements, but the launch of a Facebook page or a Twitter account is not enough on their own.

You will not achieve instant success by setting up social media accounts.  If you set up a Twitter account and send a few tweets it is unrealistic to expect an immediate herd of followers. Social media is a marathon, not a sprint; it takes time, consistency and patience to cultivate a presence and following. Be patient with social media and work at it diligently.

You believe that your business, product or service has something special to offer your customer base.  You may be certain your offerings are far superior to your competitors.  It is your job to convince others that your beliefs are true.  Again, social media is a tool that can help communicate that message but not without that dreaded diligence mentioned above.

Social media is not a lifeline.  If your business is in trouble the implementation of a social media campaign will not make a valiant rescue.

Social media is not a monologue directed at potential customers.  It is a dialogue and you might not like some of the responses.   Honesty is key with social media. Your reputation can be tarnished in hours if you fail to be transparent. The good news is that in a dialogue you have a rebuttal stream but keep it professional not personal.

When your business is actively involved with social media, each employee becomes a potential ambassador.  It’s up to you to train everyone on your staff to promote your brand.     

Social media isn’t a miracle, a cure all, a silver bullet or the single pill that will allow you to lose twenty pounds without diet or exercise.  Is it worth the effort?  YES!  But like diets it’s the work that makes you succeed not the buzz about the latest fad.

del.icio.us Tags: social media,marketing strategy,business strategy

Challenges

As my intern and I enter into our final week of the grueling Body Quest Boot Camp, we are both anxious for the sweat and ache that is waiting for us on the field. Each morning we arrive at 6 o’clock to fight against the bugs, the mountain, the elements and ourselves in a battle for fitness. From the loud (sometimes tough) encouragement of our instructors and fellow boot campers we push our bodies past exhaustion to a brink that we did not realize we could reach. Just when we cease to believe that we can muscle through the last push up, sprint the last lap or hold the last plank something inside pushes us to the end -- a powerful determination from within. With our teammates cheering us through the last exercises, we find a second wind to battle on. By the end of the strenuous hour we stretch our sweat covered limbs with a smile, somehow energized and strengthened for the coming day.

We all face tough patches in life. Whether it is our health and wellness, our relationships, or our work it is inevitable that we feel frustrated at some point. Sometimes rough moments can be avoided and sometimes they can’t, but it is how we push through these difficult times that make us who we are.

Greek philosopher Epictetus once said, “the greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.” We are measured by our ability to weather the storm and our resilience and focus to push towards the other side. Without difficult times to drive us forward how can we be challenged to grow? How can we become stronger as a friend, a parent, a co-worker, a business owner or as a person?

By facing these daily challenges both large and small, we fortify our core values to become stronger as individuals. Although it may take a large amount of effort and determination, the pride we feel for our accomplishments at the end is undeniable. From these testing experiences we learn from our mistakes, challenge ourselves and others, to flourish.

What is your rough patch? Maybe it is a difficult client, a hard decision, a scary opportunity or business venture. Face these challenges and know that the experience will provide for growth within your business and its surrounding marketplace. And remember that no matter how ominous a problem may seem there is always someone cheering you on from the sidelines.

Collaboration not Competition

Baby boomers were raised to compete. They vied for everything from spelling bees to who could be the coolest. Today’s children are raised to believe that showing up is enough. Every child on a team gets a ribbon or trophy regardless of effort. As in all things, reality lies somewhere in the middle.

The Boomer’s competitive focus on their perceived competition was about winning but not about excellence. A competitive focus is outward directed. Everything the other guy does is a threat, something to act against. There are inherent problems with this mind set. It presumes that you have nothing to learn; winning is everything; and the other guy has the potential to beat you.

In spite of a Quaker upbringing Richard Nixon was the poster boy for professional competitiveness. He had a successful first term as President. He was a shoe-in for re-election. But during the campaign season he took his eye off of his strengths and weaknesses. He turned his focus on George McGovern. It wasn’t enough to beat him; Nixon wanted to annihilate McGovern. When annihilation became the goal principles and ethics fell by the wayside. A smart man with unparalleled skills threw away his legacy to compete against someone who had little chance to win.

Collaboration is cross-focused. It presumes that that someone in your market or others with a similar business offering might have something to proffer that could enhance your business. It presumes that by joining forces you could enhance both of your businesses. We have many wonderful collaboration models in our market. The Historic Inns of Rockland work together to drive calendar events and to promote their businesses. Maine wineries sponsor a state wide wine trail that features all of the wineries. Our art galleries do simultaneous openings to maximize viewing of shown artists’ works. The businesses mentioned collaborate to minimize costs and to maximize exposure. They join forces to set quality standards and customer satisfaction levels. They learn from and teach each other.

It’s about everyone winning but unlike the trophies for everyone crowd it’s about more than showing up. It means doing your best and sharing your knowledge. It’s an exchange of ideas and constructive criticism. It’s about being an individual and a team player. It’s about winning in a new way.

Change is always in the air

A beautiful spring turned into summer last Monday; I was reminded of the eternal changes of the seasons. Four times every year we experience a change in our surroundings and ultimately, our lifestyle. Warm summers spent outside in the bright sunshine never fail to turn into cold winters where we retreat to the warmth of home and shelter from the elements. We accept these changes as part of life and adapt to live in these four different seasons accordingly. So why are we afraid of change outside of this universal lifecycle?

We live in fear of change. Change deals with the unknown, a territory that is an uncharted challenge. We avoid unknown because it is comfortable and safe within familiar borders. But if we never venture outside of our boundaries, how can we improve? If we stay safe within the known, we may miss precious experiences and opportunities that we did not dream possible.

Fear of change applies to the business world as well. In today’s uncertain economy, a safe harbor is hard to find. We can’t rely on familiar business practices and customs as the world shrinks with globalization and a shifting marketplace. The only familiar aspect of today’s fluctuating environment is change itself. As individuals and business people, we must use change as a tool to better ourselves and our community. Yes the unknown is scary, but it is inevitable. If used as a weapon of choice rather than a preconceived hindrance it will foster improvements to the struggling economy.

Just as we adapt to the turning of the seasons, we must adapt to our shifting marketplace. The only thing we can count on is change; embrace it. The challenge of change will open doors to improvement and growth. Conquer that fear and step into the unknown, you might be surprised by what you find.

Expand Your Bucket List

Bucket list has been added to our vocabulary in recent years. What’s on your bucket list is a question that elicits ready answers. Parachute jumps, hang gliding, a specific mountain trek or a romantic trip to an idyllic place with that one special person are among the common answers. Yes, even bucket lists can be common.

But, what is your bucket list for your work, your business, your career? Is there a business goal you want to achieve that would give you the same rush as jumping out of an airplane? Is there a client you could attain that would give you the sense of satisfaction that you might achieve from a successful, but arduous mountain climb?

Look at your work goals with the same ardor you make a list for your personal goals. You might be surprised to find they will feed each other and you. You might find that one will give you the resources to fulfill the other. You might push yourself to achieve things you had not previously considered. Dreams apply to all aspects of your life. Take a shot.

Fear as a Virtue

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear. Mark Twain

Like most emotions fear runs on a continuum from mild discomfort to terror. It serves as a warning in all of its forms. Some fears are irrational, some can be terrifying and some are indications of opportunity. In life threatening situations fear drives our response mechanisms and triggers adrenalin levels that enhance our survival skills. But what role does fear play in our business life?

The answer depends on how willing you are to listen to fear indicators, respond to them and most importantly to overcome them. In business fear most often arises when we are faced with opportunity. We might experience butterflies, anxiety or more than normal doubt. Many of us make the mistake of focusing on the fear rather than the opportunity. Focus on the fear echoes all of the reasons to avoid change.

The opportunity might be the pursuit of a client that is more of a challenge than you are used to; it might be an option to partner with someone new, to launch a new aspect of your business, or move to a new location. Any opportunity is a challenge to the status quo and that challenge is manifested in the mild discomfort of low range fear.

Those butterflies are telling you something, but are you willing to listen? To listen is to analyze your confidence in your ability to grow your business. To listen to the fear or your instincts is review your goals and confront the courage necessary to fulfill them. How many times have you heard someone say, “I could have ……” That opener is to frequently the encore to regret. As in your personal life view every opportunity in the context of how sorry will I be if I don’t do it?

Fear’s role at this level is to maintain the status quo not to provide the adrenalin necessary to move forward. The status quo is comfortable but it does not provide the challenges needed to grow, develop and achieve the next level of success. Fear complacency not opportunity.

2010 Penobscot Bay Business Expo

The annual business expo is on the horizon. Local businesses will be on exhibit at the Samoset on May 26, from one in the afternoon to seven in the evening. Whether you are an exhibitor or an attendee there are key ways to maximize the experience. As an exhibitor you want to be sure to do the following:

• Look your best;
• Have adequate booth staffing for the entirety of the event;
• Have adequate booth staffing for the entirety of the event;
• Commit to speak to every person who approaches your booth;
• Deliver a consistent, unified message regarding your business;
• What are the three images you want your visitors to walk away with;
• What are the three things you want to know about each visitor;
• Identify the type of visitor:
• Possible Customer
• Possible Business Alliance
• Possible Networking Opportunity
• Follow-up with each visitor
• Handwritten note
• Email
• Facebook
• Phone Call
• Capture visitor data in your database, Constant Contact, etc; and
• Schedule regular follow-ups including a reminder sixty days prior to next year’s expo to stop by and see you.

Visitors have the option of a precursory walk through of the event, stopping only long enough to pick up a giveaway. However, if this is your normal pattern we encourage you to give the expo and its exhibitors a few minutes of your time. Consider the following:

• Visit any booth that has the remotest interest to you;
• Introduce yourself and your business;
• Identify the possible relationship to your business:
• Possible Vendor
• Possible Customer
• Possible Business Alliance
• Possible Networking Opportunity
• If any of the above offer to follow-up in the next ten days;
• Capture the businesses information in your database, Constant Contact etc.; and
• Communicate with them and follow their business fan page in Facebook.

Whether you are an exhibitor or a visitor, remember to get the most from the expo. You will garner the most value from it if you treat it as an interactive rather than a passive or reactive event. Learn about the businesses in our vibrant community. Put faces with names. Network. You never know how it might benefit you or one of your customers in the future.

del.icio.us Tags: business expo,penobscot bay regional chamber of commerce,networking,Facebook,follow ups

Because You Can Blog, Doesn't Mean You Should

Every business owner is told you must have a website; you must be on Facebook; you must Tweet and you must blog.

Your website is a virtual representation of your business. Everything about it is a reflection of how you want your business to be perceived.

Facebook is a thumbnail extension of that image and Twitter is regularly updated sound bytes that keep your customers apprised of news and where to find the related detail.

A blog is a platform to educate, inform, entertain or amuse your readers. You can do all of these things regardless of your business. But let’s be honest, some of us do not have the time to commit to regular blog updates. And if we are going to be really honest some of us still live in fear of the seventh grade teacher who assured us we should never write anything but a check.

A blog is important. It is a way to educate your customers, inform them of new trends and if you have the knack to amuse and entertain them as you would favorite guests at a dinner party.

You can be the best in your field but that does not mean you would design your website, sketch your logo or layout your ad content. If you do not have the time or feel it is the best use of your time to make each of the components of your business to be the best consistent image of your brand and message, there is a simple solution. Define an update schedule and hire someone who can help you achieve a consistent, professional image of your business including the regular composition and update of blog entries. Let a writer, compose your blog entries. You can have editorial control while you can be confident that your site is update at regular intervals with professional posts that provide the best professional image for your message.

Forty-eight hours in Rockland

The current issue of Maine magazine has a six page spread about Rockland. It highlights thirty-seven businesses around town. That’s impressive by anyone’s standards. It is another indication of the vibrancy of the mid-coast. The vibrancy is a year round trait, not one that is fueled only by tourists for a brief season. Yes, the businesses listed profit from tourists but a healthy business environment has to serve its residents as well as its visitors. The restaurants, shops and inns are open all year. The business owners are active members of the community. Many are members of the Downtown Alliance, most are chamber of commerce members.

A key factor to local success is collaboration. Take the historic inns as an example. They work together to plan events, offer promotions and set a standard of quality to ensure customer satisfaction. They do so without losing their own identity or uniqueness. When you see businesses in the community who offer comparable services to yours try to view these business owners as possible alliances who with you can better serve the community. Through collaboration you can work to raise the bar for your customer base and improve your contribution to the vibrancy that is the mid-coast.

Creatures of Habit

We are creatures of habit, and as such we often run on auto play. Take spring 2010 as an example. We are used to a spring that is cold and damp. Instead it got warm early and everything is in bloom weeks ahead of schedule. Regardless of the reality of the spring we have had scores of people have been heard to complain about the weather. They complain out of habit. It's something to say.

We talk about the economy in the same way we talk about the weather. It has been doom and gloom for two plus years. Instead of celebrating signs of recovery we fall into pattern and complain. We don't notice the number of houses that have sold recently or we prefer to view the sales as an anomaly. We stop looking for business opportunities. Once true and dire economic indicators have become rationalizations for inertia. Just as the forsythia has bloomed and the tulips have come and gone don't ignore the indicators that bode well for you and your business. Stop and listen to your own comments about the economy, your business and our Main Streets.  Don't run on auto play. Seek out the upticks and take advantage of them. If you don't the season will soon be over and you will have missed it.

Great Blogging Advise

Great site with great social media advice. Check this one out, 11 Ways to Create Great Blog Content

How to eat an elephant?

I have a love hate relationship with my garden. I hate to commit to working on it. It seems like such a big feat that I have to talk myself into it. We have 10 acres and while the gardens are well established that is a lot of work, especially in the beginning of the season. But the love part of it comes shortly after my gloves are on and I am digging in the dirt, pulling up weeds, slowly but surely making progress. Today I was in the garden, not having crossed the line from hate to love yet when a thought crossed my mind. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Each weed was a bite of that elephant.

I have been working in the technology field for 20 years now and most of that time was creating one of a kind custom database applications for customers that couldn't get their needs met with off-the-shelf software. I started my database career with my dad and he had The 10 Rules for Database Development. One the 10 rules was this same question, How to eat an elephant? One bite at a time. I find myself uttering this frequently these days. I have an incredibly full plate. This is a blessing and not a complaint as it sometimes sounds like when someone asks how I am and I then say "busy." Well... I am busy. Busy good. But busy to the point of being overwhelmed. Busy to the point of thinking about blowing off this amazingly beautiful day from gardening to work at my desk inside.

I am now grateful for the decision I made to dig in the dirt. While being momentarily overwhelmed at where to start digging in the yard one of the ten rules came to mind and put my anxiety at ease. Continuing to dig in the dirt, slowly seeing progress I was able to maybe more importanly put my work anxiety at ease. I am now tackling my 3 page to do list "one bite at a time."

Are you busy to point of being overwhelmed? Take a deep, cleansing breath and approach your list like eating that elephant.

Inspiration

What inspires you? It is different for each and every one of us. These days I am inspired by extended daylight and stunning green lawns... and the following:

Spring/Growth/Green/Pink/Pale Yellow
Talent
Creativity
Entrepreneurship
Passion
Nature
Novel Ideas
Collaboration
Personality (of my clients)
Genius
Apple (yes, the company)
Personal Strength
Dedication
Perseverance
Community

I am sure there is more but above is what drives me daily. What is your inspiration list?

Clients Converging

 

I feel lucky in that I LOVE my clients.  I get to work with talented, driven, and focused entrepreneurs.  Maybe it is that shared entrepreneurial spirit and experience that makes me fond of them.  We all work hard toward making our businesses known, respected, and trusted.  Every day is a challenge.  Every day is new.  Every sale is exciting.  Every product or service delivery is rewarding.

It is especially interesting and fun for me when my clients get together and do something together.  That is happening, and has been happening with two of my favorites, All Aboard Trolley & Limousine Co. and Meandering Maine. 

All Aboard is Jim Gamage’s baby – a full service transportation company with vehicles that are “like no other.”  I guarantee it.  You will not find vehicles like these anywhere else.  They are great for weddings, proms, birthdays, special events, airport trips, sporting events, and more.  Wouldn’t you want to travel in luxury with the responsibility and safety in someone else’s hands?  And in All Aboard’’s hands you can trust.  Jim is a blast to work with, so motivated, so creative, full of great ideas, hard working, a friend, and a great person to know.

And then there is Meandering Maine.  MM has a special place in my heart, not only for a business but for the person that owns/operates it, Rachael Umstead.  She is a special someone with a great vision.  MM is a wonderful business that  brings the specialness of Maine to all those people that love Maine, want to love Maine, or think they should visit Maine (and then they will love it for sure).  Even though I provide web and design services to Rachael she often inspires me and drives me to be better in my business. 

Now Rachael and Jim are working together.  First All Aboard became one of the first Meandering Maine members.  Now Meandering Maine is “producing” this incredible wedding at French’s Point in September and All Aboard will be the transportation sponsor for the event.  It is a great fit.  And I am so thrilled to know them, their businesses, and to see them collaborate on cool events that will do well for both of their businesses. 

Strategy vs Tactic

Are you running your business with a strategy in mind or following a bunch of to dos that really come down to tactics? We often face every day doing what we must do to get the job done. To do that we often operate tactfully, completing tasks that get us through the day. A strategy makes us more thoughtful as to the who, what, where, when and why; often dictating the tactics to make the strategy successful.

I like to work with clients on their strategy. The most important thing to understand is who you want to be and what you want to accomplish with your business. From there you can assign the how you do it, when you do it, and why you do it.

If you are confused about Strategy vs. Tactics let Little Harbor Technology know. We will gladly help you lay out a plan that accomplishes all of your goals and in the right order. LHT offers business solutions with a particular emphasis on website, graphic design, database design, and social media planning. With the right strategy we can make you more profitable and work less hard.

What is in a Color

Color and like or love of color is so subjective. But we can agree that certain color works for websites and certain colors don't. I am on a color path for a client that has a "cool" logo (in terms of color) but wants a warm color palette for the website. So in doing a little research I came across the following from a website: http://www.pepfx.com/

Food for thought...

red - strength, boldness, excitement, determination, desire, courage

orange - enthusiasm, cheerfulness, affordability, stimulation, creativity
yellow - attention-grabbing, comfort, liveliness, intellect, happiness, energy
green - durability, reliability, safety, honesty, optimism, harmony, freshness
blue - depth, stability, professionalism, loyalty, reliability, honor, trust
purple - power,nobility, luxury, mystery, royalty, elegance, magic
gray- conservatism, traditionalism, intelligence, seriousness
brown - endurance, relaxing, confident, casual, reassuring, earthy
black - elegance, sophistication, formality, strength, mystery
white - cleanliness, purity, newness, virginity, peace, innocence, simplicity

Be Open to Something New

I have had, knock on wood, a lot on my plate lately. Work is bustling, opportunity keeps knocking, new clients coming to the table, existing clients asking for more. I feel very fortunate for these opportunities. But I had a social opportunity that I was looking forward to but didn't really have the energy. The thought of staying home in PJs, eating a home cooked meal, snuggling next to my husband on the couch was all good. And... the party was people I knew (and didn't), not people my husband new. But surprisingly he nudged me and said we should go. A complete role reversal, the homebody wanting to go out and the social butterfly wanting to stay put.

So after a beautiful day, 62 degrees, sunshine, shorts, t-shirt, gardening, raking etc we got cleaned up, hit the road and went to the party. It was a post St. Patty's Day fete, all the beer you can imagine. Immediately walking in I saw who I was expecting there but then others I wasn't. All in all Dan and I had a great time talking with different people, learning about house rennovations, energy audits, business opportunities, life with 2 month old babies, and more. We even through natural conversation talked about Crate to Plate, how we were approaching it, our new yet to be released press release, and more. And while new business connections were made I think more importantly new friends were made or aquaintances were strengthened.

I am glad Dan encouraged me to go out. I had a great time and look forward to opportunities like this again, including keeping an open mind to go out when the easy thing to do is stay in.

Dad's iPhone App

Most of you know I am working on an iPhone app. It is related to Maine and I have a really great feeling that you will see my iPhone app advertised in an Apple app commercial or on the back of the Sunday NY Times. This isn't pie in the sky optimism but a gut feeling on how cool I believe this app to be.

I work on it in my spare time (ha!), getting help from an amazing designer (Jessica Keteyian) and an amazing researcher (Lee Heffner). Oh... the initial idea came from my husband (Dan Cosby). He managed to dream up something that isn't actually one of the 160,000 apps already.

But while I have put my app on the back burner for paying client work my dad, with the help of a talented young Italian programmer has submitted his app to Apple and been accepted. It is called textStream. It is a "cute" app that allows you put a stream of text across your screen, playing with color, speed, flash, etc. The exercise for dad was to get something submitted and accepted, not to write the best app in the world. He submitted the app on Monday and it was up and available on iTunes on Wednesday. For you iPhone or iPod users please go download textStream. It is free. Try it out.

Between this movement on the app front for my dad, and a recent chat at the Maine Women's Network that received a lot of interest and encouragement in the app, I have a renewed interest and sense of "urgency" to get my app up. Look for updates here. I do have a deadline of 3/31. That is 20 days away. Not sure I will make it, but I sure am going to try.

10 Great Tips for SEO

Found great, easy to read/understand, and recent article on search engine tips. Read, educate, call for help. We can help you.

Timely Material

Do you know what is a major and immediate turn off to your website? Dated material. Whether an old copyright date, i.e. (C) 2008 or your last blog posting is from 6 to 18 months ago. If someone lands on your website, no matter how interested they are in your service, product, or information, they will immediately be turned off thinking your site is old and out of date.

Be sure to keep your site fresh. Quarterly reviews at minimum are good. Be in control to make changes to date references or work with your webmaster for changes. Stay on top of blog entries. Be an expert in your field. Write what you know and bring more interest to your website through your knowledge.

How is week old bread? Stale! How is an old or seemingly old website? Stale! Keep it fresh. Update it. Make it your priority.

20 Tips for Writing on the Web

Tips from our friends at Webdesignerdepot - 20 Tips on How to Write for the Web.

Spending Time Where it Matters

Time management is tricky. Commonly we think we can do it "better and quicker" than if we delegate. I am going through some business development exercises and I have to get better at delegating, or letting go, Monday will be a big test. But what is more interesting is dealing with clients that have no time to invest in their own business but try to write/maintain their own websites. I have had a few instances of this during this past week, someone just walking out 10 minutes ago. She was almost apologizing for the fact that she had issues. I just sat back waiting for her to breath so I could tell her how I could help. In the end she thanked me for explaining what I could do and how it would help.

I know a key factor in seeking a professional for a skillset outside of our own is money. Often the I can do it better/quicker is really a falsehood. We almost certainly don't perform better than the expert in the field and because we have less expertise it is either taking longer or we really aren't getting to the right information for our need. A core piece of my business success is "I am the expert at what I do, you are the expert at what you do, so together we will succeed." It has worked for databases, web design, and more.

Next time you try something that you know a professional can help you with don't just think about the money. Think about the time you will gain, the accuracy of the information you will obtain, and the fact that the resources will all be used where they are used best.

Food for Thought

The Perfect Logo

We have had this request. Thanks Webdesigner Depot.

Good to Know

From one of my favorite sites, Webdesigner Depot, a little advice about blogging.

All Aboard Trolley & Limousine Co.

And I thought I was busy. Check out what Jim Gamage, Jr. of All Aboard Trolley & Limousine Co. has been up to. He has recently expanded his business by purchasing 4 limos, 2 trolleys and a passenger coach. If you are looking for new ways to impress your date or your friends or are just looking for some pampering via chauffer Jim has the vehicle or excursion for you. He will be making regular trips to the casinos, sporting venues, or planning a trip just for you. Think of upcoming parties, celebrations, girls night out, etc.





He has added to his original fleet of 2 trolleys that have more of a vintage feel. With the additional vehicles he is bringing on a new name, a new look, and soon a new website. Stay tuned for updates. We look forward to assisting Jim in this transition.

Perfection

Does Perfection exist? Depending on your definition, of course. Here are some things that come to mind for me. My grandmother's rice pudding or macaroni and cheese; my mom's pink topped cup cakes; Dan's lobsters; Lola's tail wagging; a child laughing; a blooming dahlia; a Colin Page painting; a voice saying "i love you Auntie Amber"; a meal prepared with love; a logo that hits the mark. Perfection isn't easy and it shouldn't be strived for. To try for perfection is almost aiming at failure, to make perfection without it being the goal, may be possible.

As a firm offering design, to make a client happy and have them hark "perfection" is incredibly rewarding. More so than I could have realized. We work very hard for our clients but are always pleased when we hit it out of the park. So we continue to strive... to hit perfection. Knowing we won't always hit it, but be so pleased, for our clients, when we do.

If Architects had to work like Web Designers

http://modxcms.com/forums/index.php/topic,39664.0.html

A Job Not for Me

Based on a visit to the dentist recently I was reminded of a favorite show "Inside the Actor's Studio" with James Lipton (see photo). Toward the end of the interview he asks the actor a slew of questions, one of which is "if you weren't an actor what job would you absolutely not want to perform." The answers can be funny, honest, and surprising. Well I just figured out what job would not be for me and that is dentist.

I went to the dentist last Monday for a cleaning and to have two teeth fixed. One had a hairline crack and another needed the cap replaced. Although I was never in pain I was in constant discomfort, feeling like I must have looked like Hannibal Lector form Silence of the Lambs. They used things like a dental dam to make the experience better but it sucked. And this is not a reflection of my dentist. His operation is wonderful. They are thoughtful, quick, constantly aware of you and your discomfort, etc. But it made me realize I couldn't stand having to do work where I had to repeatedly say "are you ok? are you in pain? can I do anything to make you more comfortable?" because you know these questions are being asked because they know they are torturing you.

So I will let dentists be dentists and continue to keep my eye on the IT field. I truly like helping my clients and I don't think I inflict any pain or discomfort during the process.

What job would you abosolutely not want to do?

A Quote

"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."

Douglas Adams

Air Companions, the new kid in town

I am so excited for the launch of our newest website for the business Air Companions. And my excitment is over its owner, Sonja Burns. Sonja is truly one of a kind and a dream client. She come to us by way of her daughter, Rachael Umstead of Meandering Maine, another amazing woman and client. Sonja had an idea to explore based on her years of nursing care and time as various facility adminstrators. She was excited about her idea but unsure of the path to take. She came to us with an open heart and mind. We discussed her vision, talked about steps she should take, and worked on a logo that fit her vision. That logo (see above) turned into business cards, business cards to website, and now we are putting the finishing touches on a brochure.

In brief Sonja is "your guardian angel in the air." She will travel with someone from point A to point B, anywhere in the world, for those that need physical assistance, mental assistance or are afraid of flying and cannot be accompanied by a loved one. I know you would see as soon as you met Sonja that your loved one could not possibly be in better care than with her. So think of her next time you have someone or know someone needing company, for whatever reason, during air travel.

For more information please go to: www.aircompanions.com

Collaboration is Key

I had a meeting today in Augusta on behalf of Midcoast Magnet with our partners for Juice 2.0. This was our wrap up meeting to identify success but maybe better opportunities for improvement. The meeting started off with a bang with Donna McNeil from the Maine Arts Commission (MAC), a true whirling dervish of a force, said "we are in for Juice 3.0 with the same resources and financial commitment." What a great way to start our meeting.

In attendance was a good crew from Midcoast Magnet, also a good crew from MAC and then the Maine Development Foundation or more specifically Ed Cervone. We talked about what worked with Juice 2.0 and where were the opportunities to make the next Juice even better. We focused in on goals, opportunities, quality, and direction. Excellent points were made as to how to hone in and produce a better quality conference in 2011.

As much as I suspect we all need a break from Juice, the positive energy around the conference was such that we are all willing to jump on board now. That is amazing to me. And even if we don't each have the drive personally right this second, together Juice 3.0 will be more than amazing. That is energizing, rewarding, and something to look forward to.

Thanks to our Juice partners. Thanks to successful collaborations. Time flies, look for updates for November 11 & 12, 2011.

A Talk

So my mom and I had the opportunity, thanks to a kind request from Mary Bumiller, to speak at the midcoast chapter of the Maine Women’s Network.  Mary asked us to speak about our technology backgrounds, how we got to Maine, and how we came to collaborate. 

The talk was a great opportunity for both me and mom.  I won’t speak for mom, but for me personally, it makes me nervous to talk in front of others.  This seems strange because I did years of training for groups of people from 5 – 40.  But it has been a while and when you are out of practice you are out of practice.  This became clear when I had to be on stage for a very short while during the Juice 2.0 conference.  I thought I would throw up.  But I got through it.

During the talk mom and I both spoke how we came upon technology, her via a serendipitous move to Seattle and me through an out of college job with dad.  We talked of influences, experience, and impressions.  I did prepare a Power Point that had old family photos of 2 influences each for me and mom.  But my mom was uncomfortable sharing them with the group, she felt maybe it wasn’t appropriate.  But after the talk, that seemed well received, I had many requests for the photos, especially the one of me and my tutu.  So here I share the photos with you. 

My mom and her grandmother, Ruth Buys. 

Me and my brother! 

My parents, Roy on the left, Lee on the right.

Me in my tutu.

Thank you to Mary and Maine Women’s Network for hearing our story.  It was a great experience that we both enjoyed and are extremely pleased to have had.

Networking Your Business

A goal of any business, regardless of size of community, city or county, should be to network, and network often.  There are so many great ways to do this and many are free (and easy): blogging and getting followers, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, chambers of commerce, networking groups/meetings, board participation and many others.  At LHT we have many conversations about networking and try to divide and conquer.  The great thing is it isn’t a chore, at least not in a small community like mid-coast Maine. 

This morning I was at my twice monthly Camrock Network meeting.  Camrock is a group of women, only one woman per profession, that meets to get to “know, like and trust” one another because you are more likely to work with people you know, like, and trust.  The group was started over 2 years ago by some entrepreneurial women looking to start a group in complete support of women.  We are 19 women strong meeting on Tuesdays in a local coffee shop, sharing elevator speeches, asking for referrals, hearing one of our members speak for 15 minutes or so about their business, and then talking about the referrals we made for other people’s business.  As I left the meeting today, a group of elderly gentlemen meeting for their morning coffee said they wanted to join the fun because we were laughing and carrying on.  I guess that is a good sign of our meetings.

In our 19 strong we have very talented and lovely women that include: a banker, insurance agent, an architect, a structural engineer, doula, day spa owner, unique Maine tourism site, website/database designer, dog care specialist, photographer, nutritionist, cloth diaper service with laundry mat, building manager, car wash owner, jewelry shop owner, finish carpentry business, copier/supply service business, realtor, acupunturist, and accountant.

I welcome you to check out the Camrock website and the talented women involved.  And I encourage you to check out networking opportunities wherever you are.

The New Year Begins

I am very excited to start the new year tomorrow. 2010 is here! Now I realize it is the 4th of January, not the 1st, but I have always viewed the first day of the work year as the new year. I think this is primarily because for better or worse, a lot of my life is around work. I have been fortunate to own my own business for several years now and as the owner I spend time thinking and planning for a more successful next year. This year is no different.

A2 and I spent a little time talking last month about how to make 2010 more successful for LHT. And from that ideas continued spilling out from pen to paper. We have had the great fortune of gaining clients and respect for our work in the community but still have to figure out how to turn that into being a profitable business. Not an easy task. But I have set some goals, dreams, and desires that we will work on toward our success.

I also set some personal goals. I guess you can call them resolutions but I view them as goals. Resolutions seem to have a negative connotation, i.e. easy to break a resolution so I stick with goals, personal and professional.

I should list them here as a marker to check on January 3rd of 2011 but I will keep them in my handy dandy notebook for my reference.

I wish everyone peace, love, success, and prosperity in this year of 2010!

Fernandina Beach 2009

We took off from Georgia to Florida early afternoon on December 28th.  We had a 3.5 hour drive to Fernandina that turned into slightly over 4 due to construction on I-95.  But we drove over the bridge onto Amelia Island and into Fernandina without significant issue. 

We stayed at a hotel right on the beach.  Below is the view from our balcony.  It was an ok hotel, probably wouldn’t stay again, in a great location.  We did take advantage of the location and walked to the end of the island and back each day.  It was a little over 5 miles round trip. 

We took it easy in Fernandina.  Toured the downtown, the island, tried restaurants, did window shopping, walked, napped, read, and the celebrated new year’s with Eric and Suzy who came down for a few days of respite.

We also played miniature golf.  It was a fun game, Dan ahead on the front 9 and me ahead on the back for a tied game.  Dan wanted a play off.  Maybe tomorrow (not!).

There is interesting vegetation on the island.  The trees are incredible. 

We found an old cemetery on the  island.  I love old cemeteries.  They are fascinating, creepy and captivating.

  

 

 

 

 

 

The beach walk daily was freeing.  Wide open beaches, tons of shells, many varieties of birds, and sharks teeth.  Yes, sharks teeth. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had the good fortune of having Eric and Suzy in Fernandina for New Year’s.  Here is me and my bro after dinner:

We are both hams. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone.

Georgia 2009

After a few days in Alabama we drove 6 hours to Georgia to see my brother and his family.  They just moved from Leavenworth, Kansas to Garfield where he is now stationed at Fort Stewart, what they hope to be their last base until retirement.

The good news with this transfer for them is it puts them at Suzy’s family farm in Garfield.  It is a 400 plus acre farm, 70 miles from Savannah, with the next biggest town being Statesboro.   The farm was left to Sue, Suzy’s mother, by her grandfather.  It has been in the family since the 1800s.  Sue and Al, Suzy’s parents, make great use of the land by raising quail & goats, harvesting pecans, using part of the land for personal vegetable growing, fishing, and rental of land to others for steer and cotton.  It is breathtaking property from the moment you turn onto their road.  Great big oak trees with Spanish moss failing, pecan trees, ponds, livestock, and charming houses for the family. 

Eric and Suzy are now living in a house that has been on the property for some time that Sue fixed up for their arrival.  In the next year or so they will be building their dream home on the farm. 

See Eric and Will at play in front of the house, and their charming living room decorated for Christmas.

 

 

 

The beauty of being on so much land is the ability to take advantage of the great outdoors.  And we had perfect weather to take advantage of that.

Top left is Will on the way to see the quail.  Al raises them in a “bird farm” for sale to hunting organizations.  They are also a staple at Cox/Heffner family meals.  My brother is one mean quail griller.

  

Above - Eric looking toward the cotton fields.

Me and the boys, my boys.  Can you tell how happy I was to be there?

 

While at the farm I had a perfect day.  Now, I don’t have to complain about in life, and many of my days are great, but I am not sure how many are perfect.  December 27th was perfect. 

We awoke with a knock at the door from Ben wondering where we were.  This got our lazy butts out of bed and over to their house to see what the day had in store.  It was a day of family time, perfect family time.  We played basketball, football, nerf darts, Sorry Sliders, went to feed the goats, chase the steer in the golf cart, go fishing, pick & crush pecans to eat them raw, have dinner as a family with Suzy’s good cooking, and have battles on the Wii of Mario Carts and Galaga.  I went to bed with a HUGE smile on my face with a day well spent.  It made me wish we were going to stay there for a week. 

The new Christmas golf cart, perfect farm transport.

Pecan tree (to right). The goats.

Ben with a freshly cracked pecan.

The start of fishing.

Will concentrating.  Big winner of day!  Will caught the most fish.

Dan and his “big ole fish”.

While we stayed with Eric and family we stayed in the cottage that has been on the property since the late 1800s. 

This cottage belonged to a family that became very special to Sue’s family.  They were like family to Sue and when her family couldn’t find her, she was down at this cottage.  The family passed on and the cottage sat vacant down the road.  As a surprise Al moved the cottage up near their house.  Sue has maintained the history of the cottage, filling it with pieces from the period and maintaining it.  Yet, it is an extremely comfortable place to stay and Dan and I enjoyed it very much! 

I can’t wait to go back to the Cox Farm to spend time with my brother and family.  I had a tear in my eye when I left, a tear of joy.