Dear Starbucks, We've been through a lot, you and I. But it's time for me to see other brands. It's not you, it's me. No, that's a lie. It's totally you. You swept me off my feet in my early 20's and taught me how to love coffee - for that I will be eternally grateful. Late Saturday mornings in Chicago. Stolen afternoons in Washington D.C. Even in Indianapolis - back before they actually … [Read more...]
6 reasons to thank your clients + how to do it
We all need to thank our customers and clients for making us successful. But if you're not sure when it's appropriate or how to do it with panache, take a tip from today's guest columnist, tech geek + website wonder woman Alison Monday of Tiny Blue Orange. Alison is my right-hand web woman and she has mad digital skills and signature style. Today, she shares 6 ideas for when you can say "thank … [Read more...]
Why small businesses need to pay attention to engagement
Today, here's a juicy guest post by small business writer Erica Bell about why engagement matters. Starting a business isn’t easy, I know. Small business owners wear many hats, from CEO to Marketing and HR Manager, and are constantly under a time crunch. While managing the business from sunrise to sunset may already be a challenge, small business owners can’t forget to pay attention to customer … [Read more...]
NO is not a dirty word
I think we’re programmed to see “No” as a dirty word from a young age. No candy before bedtime. No, don’t touch that outlet. No, you can’t have the car tonight. No, you absolutely cannot date that guy who’s ten years older than you and plans to pick you up on his motorcycle… Here’s the truth: Saying No is actually a gift. Why? It’s a gift for you because sometimes we need to say no in order … [Read more...]
“We’re not selling/writing for strangers anymore”
If you are a writer, marketer, content provider, or entrepreneur, please spend 26 minutes listening to this insightful interview with Seth Godin on the Zen Habits website. In it, he talks about not only the state of publishing today, but how to build an audience, what it means to fail and how to finally let go of trying to please everyone. From the publishing front, which is of particular … [Read more...]