I was never one of the cool kids. I grew up a nerd, with big ears and coke bottle glasses and a better grasp on science and math than sports or fashion. In grade school, I attended a private Catholic school where we wore uniforms every day. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t have Abercrombie…
Category Archives: Business
5 Steps to Great Customer Service
I am a terrible sales person. There’s really no disputing this fact. When I was in college, I worked in a retail store where I got paid commission. A customer who was eager to purchase a $300 leather jacket stared into the mirror while she hemmed and hawed over the decision. She finally sighed and…
How to Spam Potential Clients
Traditionally, direct mail has a low rate of return and marketers are constantly looking for a way to spice it up. They hope to gain attention and as a result, additional sales. I recently received a letter in the mail that proves how very wrong these efforts can go. When I opened the letter, it appeared…
Monkey Business
My son is in a Curious George phase right now. Fortunately, a few years ago we found a George collection for his older sister at a used bookstore, so we’re well equipped for bedtime stories. The book includes several original stories with plot developments today’s publishers would balk at. In the very first story, George……
How to pick the right social media platforms for your business
It is hard to be everywhere at once. It’s also hard to do things to the best of your ability when you’re stretched so thin that you can’t remember if you’ve accomplished everything on your To Do list. So, it may make sense for your business to decide which particular social media platforms are best…
Your Business is Boring. Your Blog Doesn’t Have to Be.
We all know which business are inherently “sexy”: web design, coffee shops, movies, interior decorators and the like seem to have a monopoly on interesting content. How in the world are “boring” businesses, like accountants, lawyers, contractors and others supposed to compete in the flashy social world? It’s actually surprisingly easy. Here are a few…
Knowing Yourself Keeps you from Getting Lost
I recently had the great fortune to visit Amsterdam. My husband was ending a whirlwind business trip there and I met him in the city for a few days. Before the trip, I sought the counsel of a friend who had lived there for years. She strongly urged me to take a train to our…
Because There’s More to your Website than your Dashboard
Discussing topics like online privacy and internet security is never fun, although it has become absolutely necessary to do so. We all know basics like creating and using secure passwords and the importance of periodically changing our login information. But when it comes to your website or blog, do you know all the places you…
Lessons from Knoxville: A City’s Brand Ambassador
Knoxville is a beautiful city. Pretty landscapes, nice people, good vibe. And fun taxi drivers. On a recent trip, I arrived about 11 pm and found one taxi waiting outside the airport. So I hopped in and was greeted by a cheerful man with a heavy foreign accent who was delighted to take me downtown….
Deleting Emails Improves my Business
It would be surprising to no one if you found me in front of my computer with 8 or more tabs open in my browser. I run a business that focuses on digital marketing and we’re doing well. So it’s not surprising that I need a plethora of online resources to help me conduct my…
