Friday, September 19, 2008

CNN.com gives ETSY shoutout...

A big thanks to CNN.com for highlighting the handmade revolution!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/09/18/craft.revival/index.html


If anyone at Etsy reads this, I am among thousands of your members who would very much prefer to pay a little more to list if you would do some advertising!! I do what I can and I am committed to always doing so, but there are cost effective methods that you could use to give us the collective power to reach millions of people for pennies each!!! PLEASE, PLEASe, PLEAse, PLEase, PLease, Please, please!!!!!!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Unusual Marketing Ideas

Here's an idea for anyone who:
Remembers what a public library is...
Donates used books to friends/relatives/charity...
Finds themselves in any waiting area that contains books/periodicals for public perusal...

Business Card Bookmarks! Either your standard business card (remember, get them to take/keep it by adding a calendar on the back!!), or design postcards, flat invitations, etc. so you can cut them into bookmarks ~ here: http://www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=324673777415! Just leave your promotional bookmark in any reading material and spread your message!!

You'll get regular emails with all kinds of great 'free' marketing materials that allow you to be creative with your advertising on a shoestring budget. Sure, you pay a processing fee and shipping charge but it's still a great variety for less than your local print shop! I have
ordered a dozen times ~ always the cheapest 21 day processing ~ and have never waited more than 10 days for delivery!!! (...or paid more than $25.70 processing/shipping for up to 10 "free" types of marketing
materials!!!!!!!!!!) ☺

Bypass all the partner marketing offers... some folks claim to have had strange billing on their credit cards after clicking on the partner offers. Of course, they agreed to automatically enroll by signing up for the partner offer, but it's easier to place blame elsewhere! This is a GREAT business resource!

Order now for holiday shopping season!!!
Business best,
~Moon



Tuesday, September 16, 2008

How do you make them take/keep your business card?

That's easy... make it a handy calendar too! Check out this link

http://www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=324673777415

I created 250 matte premium full color business cards with a black and white calendar on the back for $5.24!!!! (plus processing/shipping)

You'll get regular emails with all kinds of great 'free' marketing materials that allow you to be creative with your advertising on a shoestring budget. Sure, you pay a processing fee and shipping charge but it's still a great variety for less than your local print shop! I have ordered a dozen times ~ always the cheapest 21 day processing ~ and have never waited more than 10 days for delivery!!! (...or paid more than $25 processing/shipping for up to 10 "free" types of marketing materials!!!!!!!!!!) *update: I did find an old order with $25.70 in processing/shipping charges... so I guess that should read: ...or paid more than $26!) ☺

Bypass all the partner marketing offers... some folks claim to have had strange
billing on their credit cards after clicking on the partner offers.
Of course, they agreed to automatically enroll by signing up for the partner offer,
but they conveniently forget that when they want to trash a
great business resource!

Order now for holiday shopping season!!!
Business best,
~Moon

Monday, September 15, 2008

The last minute addition...

I'm a very organized person (someday I'll tell you how the clutter is actually part of that!!!). Having never planned a wedding before (or in Mum's case not since dinosaurs roamed LOL!) we did a great deal of internet research. As the wedding drew near, I was pretty sure we had all the details organized, spreadsheeted (my sister is a project manager) and everything was falling neatly into place. My sister went for her trial run with Tara, a makeup artist she found recommended on the Knot, and we loved how she looked! As an aside, Tara happened to mention she did 'day of coordination'. We had never heard of this in all of our travels and research as we all worked so hard to plan every tiny detail. Having not budgeted for such a service, the rates we found when we looked into it were a bit surprising. Mum ultimately decided it was a fantastic idea to have someone on the day to help with all the little things that have to be just so. She hired Tara to do our makeup and the day of coordination.

We all looked beautiful! Let me tell you folks, if you don't live in New England, I highly recommend twisting her arm and paying Tara's flight and hotel in addition to her makeup and coordination fees. This spitfire was in no less than 5 places at all times! She organized, oversaw and managed everything we discussed ahead of time. Not having planned those details herself, I can only imagine how challenging that can be. Beyond that, she noticed EVERYTHING that happened on the day and coordinated things we hadn't even planned on heaping on her. Our officiant had been delayed. Tara asked us if we had a backup. I don't think she noticed the dumbfounded looks on our faces because she was already looking up a number in her mobile phone!! Fortunately, we didn't need to punt, but if we'd had to ~ she'd have had it covered! Who thinks of a backup officiant???? WOW! She thought of little details we never even considered. Grandma was SOOOOO very impressed when Tara took our pocketbooks for us as we were about to be introduced into the reception. They were at our tables by the time we got there and we never saw her! She should charge extra for the cloaking device!!!

We had a guest with a medical emergency at the beginning of the reception. Without anyone beyond that table knowing, Tara was able to escort the guest out of the event and into an ambulance. She sent her assistant to the hospital so our guest would not be alone and none of us would feel we had to leave the event. With her assistant gone, Tara was still able to do more than any three people could. Because of them, we were all able to experience and enjoy my sister's wedding. Without them, we would have been focused on things and details.

I obviously can't say enough about Tara (and her amazing assistant Christina!!!) so I'll just say here's her website, she's worth at least 5 times what she charges!!!!!
THANK YOU TARA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!