Susan Sogaro of Trumbull, Texas writes: I am an Italian Diorama artist, and my hand-made, three-dimensional Nativities include town scenes which have homesteads, vendors, shops and market scenes. Our art and gift shop caters to Italian art lovers in the U.S. Crafts range from the Diroamas to small travertine coasters and ceremic boxes and … [Read more...]
Artists, don’t let ‘the bad economy’ paralyze you
I absolutely refuse to wallow in all the gloom-and-doom talk from naysayers who spend more time complaining about the bad economy, and how lousy business is, instead of doing something about it. Whether my business is good or bad (and right now, it's very good) … [Read more...]
Web video is easy with free tips from Mike Stewart
Entomologist Hal Coleman of Alpharetta, Georgia has been using web video for a little more than a year to sell his exterminating services, and it gives him a huge advantage over his competitors. Let's say a company discovers its offices are … [Read more...]
Comment on popular videos with your own video comment
Here's a clever tip from Tom Antion's teleseminar last week on "How to Get Instant High Rankings on Google Using Short Videos." Find very popular videos at video-sharing sites like YouTube. Then create your own video commenting on that video. Lots of people who care enough to watch the … [Read more...]
YouTube video creators: Provide written content, too
Publicity Hound Meryl K. Evans reminds us not to use YouTube or podcasting as a replacement for any written content we currently provide. "If you do, you could neglect a small but important audience-- those with disabilities. The deaf, like me, … [Read more...]
How to sell 15,000 CDs in 18 months
My friend Bob Baker, an expert at marketing for musicians, created this neat YouTube video about how singer-songwriter Terry Prince, at left, has sold 15,000 CDs in only 18 … [Read more...]
Website for young designers needs promotion ideas
Rebecca Witek of Buffalo Grove, Illinois writes: I created a website for young designers that focuses on the soon-to-be or newly graduated. I was in their shoes not too long ago, and I've realized as a graphic designer that it's important to understand and learn skills that … [Read more...]
Social media: How to measure your marketing efforts
Shel Holtz is moderating the afternoon brainstorming session at Ragan's "Unconference" in Chicago and we're talking about how to measure whether social media marketing efforts is effective. Some ideas we're discussing: --Use social media to drive traffic to your website, then capture email addresses and start building an opt-in list of people who … [Read more...]
Great lobbies, receptionists worth bragging about
Does the receptionist at your company make visitors feel welcome by offering a bowl of M&Ms?
Or a dry towel for people who walk in a torrential downpour from the parking lot into the lobby?
Is there a TV in your reception area so visitors who have to wait can enjoy the Three Stooges on DVD?
I've been reading ideas on … [Read more...]
YouTube videos build buzz for raunchy book for men
What's a publisher to do when the content of a new book is so racy and offensive that newspapers and magazines won't touch it?
Build the buzz online by spending only $10,000 to create three short, risque, sexist videos about the risque, sexist book. Then post them at sites such as [Read more...]