Mid-year sharing

Hsuan-Hua,

You always get us thinking, that is one of the things I admire about you!

One thing I have done is to try and introduce myself and my business to as many people as possible. I think when people can put a face to a name it is the first step in taking down our guard. It works both ways...people are less afraid of asking you questions about your business and you feel more comfortable with the process as well.

It's true that a website works for you 24/7. But I have found it is always that personal touch and human contact that really does it for me. Since I offer a service, I am my business! If you get to know me, you will, in essence, know my business. And it is alway great to practice your introduction and business "pitch"...that way it is always evolving and improving. So I will continue to introduce myself and my business wherever I go.

Oh, I hope this doesn't sound like a commercial because that was not my intention!

Thank you, Hsuan-Hua for asking the question.

Marlene

I am having an awesome year at my full-time job.

We successfully consolidated three predecessor companies into one master brand and are redoing every piece of collateral we've ever made in the same look, feel, tone, and manner.

We're building a new website and, three months in, we're on budget, on schedule, and our vendor PINT is totally on the ball. They've lessened my work by coming to the table with well-conceived strategies and wireframes.

EVC, our public relations company, is helping us with creative strategies to get the word out. (My account manager Steve DiMattia is one of our newest Biznik members.)

Audree DeAngeles, whom I found through a Biznik introduction, is helping me write tons of new copy. And bless her, Katrina Williams is the I-wouldn't-go-anywhere-without media planner and buyer. She has saved us tens of thousands of dollars and secured us better print placement than we ever could ourselves!

A very good half year, indeed.

We have been doing more presenting and giving workshops in marketing, which has helped us develop more interest in our marketing-focused membership subscription-based website, which we are launching at BizJam. Yay!

It is hard to fit the presentations in, but we get such a return on them, in terms of new e-tip subscribers, new connections and partnerships.

And, of course, joining biznik at the start of the year has added a whole new dimension to our networking.

Joe, your accomplishments are just amazing. Good for you! And Marlene, you go!

I'll keep you in my thoughts and let you know if an opportunity comes to mind, Hsuan-Hua.