One place you should never look for free stuff. June 8, 2008

Today I came across yet another request for free work. (Not from me) I see this all the time, unfortunately, and everyone who tries to score free work off of someone else is doing it wrong.

This particular sin was committed by a gal on a networking site. She wanted a web designer to punch up her page but not charge her anything. She was cash-strapped, see. But to sweeten the deal, she’d tell anyone who asked that he made the page and she’d even let him put his company name at the bottom of the site. Needless to say, she got flogged right off the board. People don’t take too kindly to being asked to perform “spec” (free) work. And the industry affected most by these requests is the marketing and advertising industry.

Free Resource! Post your job ad for free, and keep your home office at home. June 5, 2008

So I stumbled across a website that’s been in the news lately, called HireMyMom. It’s exactly what you think it is–job ads for stay-at-home moms or moms who need to work from hom at least 50% of the time.

This is a good resource for those of you who need help but don’t have/want a storefront. PLUS, and here’s the cool part, businesses can post their job ads for FREE. Yup, no cost to find your next Gal Friday, and you don’t have to find larger space to expand. There, I just saved you $300. I haven’t used them yet myself, so let me know if you use it and how it went.

WellthyLifeStyle.com moves into Phase 2! May 9, 2008

I’m so pleased to announce that we are now in Phase 2. Namely this means we are doing a soft launch and engaging in initial publicity to promote the site. We are also now charging for memberships. Our goal is to do a hard launch this summer. That’s not too far from now!

If you haven’t already, please finish your listings and get them polished and spiffy!

We’re also looking at the possibility of holding a launch party downtown, with booths for our members to promote their services. How do you feel about that? Let us know.

 

Marketing to Women April 15, 2008

GET REAL
If you want to market to women, ground your message in reality.

When women look at your advertising, do they see themselves? For decades, advertisers have depicted an idealized version of a woman. But now, women are looking for their true selves mirrored in the message. So abandon outmoded and unattainable ideals and positively portray real women. Also, understand that female shoppers approach the buying process differently than men. It’s not about dumbing down the message or coloring the campaign in shades of pink, it’s about creating a campaign that reflects women the way they see themselves, plus following these important guidelines:

1. SHOW REAL BENEFITS TO REAL WOMEN. Women consumers are not monolithic, and an effective marketing campaign must be based on a clear understanding of your female prospects’ unique characteristics. Look beyond basic demographics and discover their hobbies, their habits, and how, where and what they buy. Women make purchases based on the relationships they develop with your company or brand, so listening carefully and fostering an exchange with women customers is vital. Uncover what they really want from companies or products and services like yours, and then communicate with them based on the issues or selling points they care about most.

2. DEVELOP WOMENCENTRIC MARKETING. There are important characteristics that define a more feminized shopping experience. Value and price are critical, but they’re often merely opening salvos in the decision-making process. Women tend to require more detailed information than men when considering a purchase, and that information is best received if presented on a peer-to-peer level, so address women from a ‘we’ point of view. Expect women customers to look for deep content on your website, thoroughly examine the benefits of your products or services vs. those of your competitors, read product reviews and seek input from family, friends and co-workers.

3. GO FOR A COMPLETE MAKEOVER. Integrate these women centric marketing methods into all your campaigns and materials. It’s not enough to just add deeper content to your site or produce a few ads that target women. The best campaigns integrate their marketing messages across multiple channels and feature an equally fine-tuned sales effort. Work with your salespeople to incorporate this attitudinal and contextual change into day-to-day sales activities for a completely integrated approach.

source: Entrepreneur Magazine, April 2008. by Kim T. Gordon