Search Results for: blog is your message messy

Sharing a Specific Message

While writing earlier today about how dissent and debate can create energy and interest around our businesses, I also started thinking about how there are times when we really need to share a specific message—we have either a marketing message or a piece of information that we need to get out to our customers and clients and we need to make sure that it is clear, obvious and delivered to the people who need to hear it. Sharing a specific message can be challenging unless we know how to keep it clear and simple. It is important when you have … Continue reading →

When You Really Hate to Sell Yourself

Sales and marketing go hand-in-hand with business ownership but that does not mean that all of us are thrilled at the prospect of having to constantly go out there and sell ourselves and our products or services. In fact, I think many people quit their businesses for this very reason; they just get tired or hate to do the selling. How can a person stay focused on building a business when he or she is just not in to having to be a salesperson? Many years ago, when I started my first consulting business, one of the most aggravating and … Continue reading →

Is Your Message Messy?

We have talked before about the importance of creating a solid mission statement and a business message. Many people think that mission statements are for nonprofit organizations or charities, but a having a guiding mission statement is important for businesses of all sizes. Once your mission is in place, you can decide what your slogan or message is that you want to put out there into the world. One of the areas where small, start-up businesses run into trouble is that their message is not clear—it is convoluted and confusing and downright messy—customers have a hard time figuring out what … Continue reading →

Disney Redefining Princesses

Disney’s gotten a lot of criticism, from me and from plenty of others, for its dedication to princesses.  But today I’m here to give Disney some serious kudos for its latest Princess-related ad.  You can watch the clip on YouTube. It’s just awesome.  If you’re not able to watch it at the moment, the ad features a variety of girls, from all ages, races, and backgrounds, and the voice over repeats that “I’m a princess.”  But in between saying that, the narration says other fantastic things as well, such as “it’s important to stand up for myself.  It’s more important … Continue reading →

Meditations on Mud

Do you like mud? I mean, really? Would you jump in a mud puddle? Are your clothes ever dirty? Do you garden with gloves on? Me, I like mud. My daughter, not so much. My husband is actually the fastidious one around here, which is excellent because he does most of the floor sweeping. I would be living in a thick layer of mud if it weren’t for my more fastidious family. I’ve been thinking about mud and dirt the last few days. By dirt I mean messy things, not just soil. I work with preschoolers, and I work outdoors. … Continue reading →

My Personal Scrap Space

Every scrapbooker dreams of having their own space to sit and create. Some are lucky enough to have a dedicated space, and some have to be content to use closets, share rooms or simply pull it out every time they wish to scrap. Once upon a time, in a land far away. Okay, well only about two and a half years ago and not really so far away, about two miles up the road. I lived in a house where I truly had my own dedicated scrap space. It was spare bedroom and I had it painted all pretty and … Continue reading →

Fun With Watercolors

Watercolor paints are a favorite with a lot of parents because they aren’t as messy as regular paints. There are a lot more reasons than that to love them. Watercolors are actually a very versatile paint. The trouble is that most watercolors sold for children, like the kind attached to coloring books, aren’t very good paints. You can get some nice basic paints from the craft store that cost a bit more, but aren’t expensive, and will last a long time. Also, coloring books aren’t a very good surface for watercolors. Artist quality watercolor paper is very expensive, but you … Continue reading →

Watch Out for Words that Put People Off

Words can have a lot of power and I have written a little already about choosing the right words to use in your marketing materials, web site and other written communication. While you are looking out for the right words to use, you can also beware of some of those words that just seem to put people off or send the wrong message. Of course, there is a certain amount of taste and personality involved–some people will react negatively to a word that you think is just dandy. But, as a rule, you should watch out for using words that … Continue reading →

Consider Using Scents

We have talked about so many different ways to get your business to stand out in the market place, and various ways to use marketing and promotions to spread the word about your products and services, but recently someone told me about a tactic that I haven’t really written about–scent. Seems this person uses her version of “aromatherapy” to make her marketing materials stand out in the crowd. As it was told to me, she spritzes her postcards, invoices and other card stock and mailing materials with a little diluted essential oil. She said she uses a citrus-scent since she … Continue reading →

Come Up with Engaging Names for Things

Boredom can be the downfall of many a small business, as can dullness and lack of pep and excitement—one way to keep things interesting and engaging is to put some thought into what names you give things in your business. Whether it is the pages and section of your web site, your company newsletter or even your products—catchy names and titles can boost your business while dull, typical or boring ones can do just the opposite. Think over some of the newsletters and web sites you have seen lately…would you be more interested in reading something called the “Hope and … Continue reading →