Amy's Biz Talk posts

Wanted: Austin-based website expert who knows Textpattern.

Please message me, need help w/my site (http://comboplatter.net). I can do most of the basic stuff but there are some formatting changes I'd like to make, a little bit of tweaking, etc., and can't figure it out.

Gain exposure by supporting Health Alliance for Austin Musicians Benefit Day!

Hi all -

The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is an Austin non-profit that provides free physical, mental, dental health and substance abuse treatment to local musicians. On September 22 they will hold their annual Benefit Day, where participating businesses donate that day's proceeds (or a portion, or just whatever you can spare) to this great cause.

Supporters themselves benefit from the event's marketing campaign, which could include logo inclusion in the event's marketing materials, website, email/social media campaign, even a live music performance at your place of business! Support levels range from whatever you are comfortable with all the way up to $5k.

Here is HAAM's website: http://healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org/

I have further details that I am happy to share if you're interested in this very cool and important local cause. Just ping me at Amy@ComboPlatter.net

Thanks!

Marketing Tools 101

Before investing your hard-earned money on marketing efforts, check w/your vast Biznik expert pool for advice. Then also try these sites and do a search on each for info on email, web, viral, direct, podcasting, and other general marketing ideas.

There are tons of marketing sites out there to help you find advice, tools, and how-to's. Here are some of my favorites:

http://www.marketingsherpa.com/

http://promomagazine.com/

http://www.marketingprofs.com/index.asp

http://www.btobonline.com/

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/

http://www.google.com/services/

These are general marketing sites, many of which offer regular emails to keep you updated on trends and such. You can likely find more info by doing an online search. Your particular industry will probably have it's fair share of trade publications with matching websites with add'l info.

And, in the Shameless Plug category, if you are a B-to-C business (Business to Consumer, vs. Business to Business), then check the link below for additional ideas. http://www.comboplatter.net/events

Hope this helps!

How to Podcast

I've noticed from time to time some Biznikers inquiring about podcasting. I just ran across this article and thought I'd share, and hope it's helpful. http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/00-podcast-tutorial-four-ps.htm

What's Your Theme Song?

We had some fun with this question on the LinkedIn forum, and I'm betting Biznik's can do a great job here. So, for you personally or your business (or both), what's your Theme Song....or, what would you like it to be? (See LinkedIn responses here)

Textpattern for Dummies? Help!

Anyone out there in Biznik-land who can guide a textpattern newbie thru some basic maneuvers? My designer - well, let's just say I have a great looking site that I can barely do anything with other than new blog posts. Now I want to add a new page and have no idea where to begin. I've trolled all thru the Textpattern main site, FAQ's, forum and some related sites, but the language is over my head. Any suggestions for books or websites or any other resource? Thanks in advance!

Anyone familiar w/Streamsend for email mktg?

I just stumbled upon this resource for email marketing a la Constant Contact, but much cheaper and it seems like a great option. Just wondering if anyone's tried it and any feedback. FYI, there's a free 30-day trial. http://www.streamsend.com/

Calling all Marketing Identity Experts

Go to FestMedia.com and Festivals.com and you'll get the picture. (Oy)

Soon (don't ask me how soon, but probably Q2) they'll be hiring a firm. Basic pieces are in place such as logo and currently the message and positioning is being refined. We are looking for an expert to put it all together in a compelling suite that will encompass a revamped website as well as DM, SEO, print ads, etc.

FYI, the guy who's heading this up is a Microsoft retiree with very specific ideas of how he wants this to happen. Interested parties, feel free to email with questions and / or inquiries and I will be happy to pass it on. Amy@ComboPlatter.net.

Organizing sources of info?

I often come across magazine articles, white papers, blog posts, etc. that have great advice or something that may be useful to remember and refer back to. But I have no idea how to keep track of where to go when the time comes to dig up advice that I might have found a couple of months ago.

Do you have an effective and efficient way to catalog, index, or otherwise organize these sources so that you can go back and refer to them by topic later on?

Creating Web Traffic - Free Expert Advice

Seth Godin is a nationally known marketing expert and I am a huge fan of his blog. He just released a free downloadable eBook on generating web traffic, which you can find here:

http://cobrand.squidoo.com/ebooks/uuuEbook.pdf

Calling all Virtual Assistants!

I received an email from Duct Tape Mktg, which is a highly regarded small-biz marketing services firm, seeking marketing-oriented VA's.

Go here for details: http://www.DuctTapeMarketingVA.com

Good luck!

SEO, Blogging, and Overall Marketing Info

There are about a squillion websites that offer advice and tips on SEO, Blogging, web marketing, and marketing in general. Here are a few that I frequent and recommend. Hopefully you'll find some of them helpful as well, and I'd love to hear your favorites if you have any.

Seth Grodin's Blog: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/ Excellent food for thought and advice that applies to marketing just about anything.

Duct Tape Marketing Blog: http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/ The website has lots of info on SEO and is specifically geared to small business. He does a lot of product recommendations, but the last one I tried as a result of his plug turned out to be terrible, so I take those w/a grain of salt. Overall good info, tho'.

Marketing Sherpa: http://www.marketingsherpa.com/ They have lots of free "how to" guides.

Excess Voice: www.excessvoice.com Bi-weekly newsletter all about writing for the web (your site, blogs, etc.).

Marketing Profs has a good blog that has a few new posts every day. http://www.mpdailyfix.com/

And I can't resist a little shameless self-promotion. Here's my business blog: http://comboplatter.net/blog (Hope it's ok to plug here.)

Resource for finding new clients

Guru.com might be worth checking out for many Bizniks. I have seen many opportunities looking for SEO-type help and Virtual Assistants, for example. They have listings for IT/tech, web design & marketing, legal, advertising/PR/marketing, etc. Admittedly I've yet to land a gig from them, but I wanted to share anyway.

In a web-hosting pickle, need help!

Heya Bizniks, I'm having a lot of trouble getting my website online for a variety of reasons. My designer - hired B.B. (Before Biznik) - has taken his sweet-ass time. It was promised to be done about a month ago, which was already later than I wanted.

I originally had the site registered and hosted w/Go Daddy - another mistake. My designer recommended switching to Dreamhost, which I did - sort of. This is totally foreign territory for me, so the transfer process has been confusing and frustrating, and had I known so ahead of time I would have had my designer just do it for me, and I'm a little annoyed that he didn't offer to do so in the first place but I'm not sure if that annoyance is warranted or not.

Anyway, the latest is that according to Go Daddy, the "name server" was recently changed, but they couldn't explain to me what that meant in a language I understand. With this name server change, it means the transfer is delayed by another 60 days. At which point, I finally asked my designer to please take over the process since he could speak their language and I cannot. That was over a week ago. So far, nothing. He tells me he gets no response from Go Daddy, but I have a feeling he is not really being very proactive.

So, my dilemma is that I have been needing this site to be launched for about 3 months now and my head's about to explode. Are my expectations unrealistic?

And, most importantly - IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN TAKE OVER THIS PROJECT? I am willing to pay. The design is mostly done, I just need a final version to be live on the web; and I want something that I will be able to maintain once it's up.

Any advice and assistance is greatly appreciated. Interested parties can contact me directly at Amy(at)ComboPlatter(dot)net and offer a time frame and estimated cost, and of course I'm happy to answer any add'l questions to help you figure that out.

Thanks!

Dreamhost or no?

Anyone have feedback on Dreamhost for web hosting service? Do you recommend another? I did a search here on Biz Talk for this subject and found a couple of things but would love more input if anyone has any.

Thanks!

E-marketing resource

I just stumbled a website which I thought might be helpful to those who rely on or are looking into email marketing. As I say, I just stumbled on it so I can't say yet if I endorse the site but I did find these pages potentially useful.

Here is an article on their top 15 tips: http://electronicretailermag.com/info/os07s_fifteen.html

Here is info on their resource book: http://www.electronicretailermag.com/frontEnd/cm_catMainCategory.jsp

WANTED: eco-friendly printer of biz cards

Hi all. I know there are about eight million printers in the Seattle area, but of course I prefer to use a Biznik! It's only for biz cards (right now), but I'm specifically looking for a printer who can do it on 100% post-consumer recycled content, soy-based ink, and any other eco-friendly attributes. Oh, and economical pricing is a bonus! They are standard size, full color/full bleed, f/b. I would like a quote for 500 and 1000. Thanks!

Laptop experts?

As a newly-working-full-time-from-home Biznik, I have quickly discovered what a drag it is to be chained to a dinky desk with no view out the window while spending hours at the computer. So I want to explore laptop options, but have no idea where to begin looking and figuring out what would be best for me. I also wonder if trading/selling my desktop PC is worth it, or is it better to have both? Thanks in advance for any input.

Last-minute Happy Hour this evening?

Red Door in Fremont? 5:30-6:00?

Anyone up for last-minute Happy Hour tonight?

I was thinking maybe Red Door in Fremont? Lovely outdoor patio....Say around 5:30-6? Any takers, please respond asap.