The Spark

Leverage!

2012-04-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

Having an integrated approach in marketing is important. A stand-alone project or campaign can be successful but in order to leverage the results, an integrated approach should be taken. The combination of traditional marketing, public relations and social media is very powerful!

What worked? What didn't?

2011-12-23T03:41:00.000-08:00

As we are wrapping up another year, now is a good time to look back and think about what worked this past year and what didn't. Since we tend to be our own worst critics, it is hard for some to look in the mirror. But, this is an important exercise for both people and companies of all sizes. I am not a big fan of New Year Resolutions, but I am a big fan of always looking for ways to improve both yourself and your business. It is important for all of us to have goals - whether they are small or large -- something for us to reach towards and help us grow.

If you are disappointed how this year turned out, the good news is that a new year is starting soon and fresh beginnings are always welcome!

Keep it Simple

2011-11-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

Marketing campaigns do not always have to be complex. Sometimes, simple is best. Many of us spend too much time over thinking and analyzing things. Last night as I was reading my young son a joke book, I was amazed at how many jokes he guessed the right answer to. It wasn't because he heard the joke before, it was because he used common sense to answer the question. This got me thinking because I'm an analytical type of person and I like to analyze every situation -- even those out of my control. So the next time you are racking your brain about an idea, take a deep breath, open your eyes and look around. Your great idea may be a lot closer than you think!

Entrepreneurs Come in All Sizes!

2011-07-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

I love talking with entrepreneurs that are filled with passion about their ideas. Even if they are my own children! This morning, my kids decided that they wanted to have a lemonade stand to help them raise some 'arcdade' money for an upcoming trip to Disney. They came up with the idea amongst themselves... we have been talking about the importance of working hard for your money and saving for things that you really want. To them, having extra money to visit some arcades in Disney is important.

Within an hour, "Lemonade Stand" signs were made, lemonade and fruit punch containers filled the refrigerator and business negotiations have been finalized. They decided to offer a few different cup sizes. "We want to give people options. Let's start with small cups, but some people may choose to upgrade," said my eight year old. Wow- I'm very proud- even at eight she knows that for a company to be successful, customers need options and the company itself needs ways to up-sell to customers.

Every month, I gather with hundreds of other entrepreneurs at Mass Innovation Nights (http://mass.innovationnights.com/). Every event is different but I always leave feeling energized about the amazing innovation taking place around us. Some of the attendees have a concept and idea in mind, while others have successfully secured funding and are well on their way to financial success. Regardless of how old a person is, we are all filled with ideas! We just need to make sure that we use our energy and passion to execute on those ideas!

In the meantime, the kids have set up shop! Here's to a successful day and great learning experience!

Disappointments and Negotiations from a Five Year Old

2011-05-04T05:36:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how young we learn how to negotiate! Throughout our lives, different experiences contribute to our overall persona. We need to embrace and learn from those experiences.

Last night, my 5 year old son declared that it had been an awful day and possibly the worst day he had ever had! Things were just not going great for him.... he had two incidents yesterday that were stepping stones in the lessons of life. First, as he was playing with the automatic baseball thrower we have in our backyard, instead of using a ball, he decided to place his yo yo in the machine and slightly turn the machine towards the house. The next thing I heard was broken glass! Although frustrated, I didn't get mad. He's just a kid....

The biggest moment of sadness for him was when he realized this his fish "Rainbow" was not moving. He had just gotten Rainbow a few days ago and now he was gone! For a 5 year old, losing a fish is somewhat traumatic. He couldn't understand why Rainbow had gone to Heaven already.... After an emotional hour and finding out that we would go to the pet store to get him a new fish, things looked brighter for the little guy.

As he was starting to fall asleep, he perked up and started to explain why he should really get a few fish this time.... I realized he was negotiating with me! This is a little boy after my own heart... aim high! Since we don't know what life is going to throw at us, we need to live in the moment! Disappointments come in all shapes and sizes. But, we need to try to be as optimistic as we can and experience the life lesson that is being thrown at us.

Good bye Rainbow! Thanks for teaching my little guy about disappointments and negotiations!

What type of finish line do you have in sight?

2011-04-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

I ran my first 5K race last night! It was far from a marathon, but it was a personal accomplishment for me. I have never been a runner...but am always looking for new 'escapes' to release some stress in a healthy way. As I started running, I didn't know what my finish time would be like, but I knew I would at least be able to finish the race. While I was running, there were no moments that I ever considered stopping... this was a new challenge for me and I thrive on challenges! As I ran across the finish line, I felt amazing... I had accomplished something new!

Like running a race for the first time, embarking on new PR and marketing efforts can be intimidating. But as long as you are well guided and know what to expect along the way, they can be exciting and insightful. Although I have completed my first 5K and am planning to run another next week, I am far from ready to run a marathon. There are a lot of companies that need to take the initial steps towards PR and marketing campaigns. Small steps are okay... small accomplishments are what helps make up our larger goals. So, what type of finish line do you have in sight?

PR and Marketing for Entrepreneurs

2011-04-16T07:25:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite things to do is to speak with entrepreneurs. I love hearing the passion in their voices as they discuss their products and/or services. I love listening as they explain their revenue model, their go-to-market strategy and the challenges that they are facing. Although every entrepreneur has a unique story to share, there are usually some consistent trends in each story… a passion has led them to where they are today or there is a need in the marketplace for a particular product/service... and many are seeking independence. Many entrepreneurs face the same challenges – mostly around funding and market exposure. No matter how small a company is, most can benefit from some degree of PR and marketing to help build brand awareness and thought leadership. With the existence of social media, “traditional PR and marketing” has changed forever. Companies of all sizes are trying new ways to gain exposure. PR and Marketing professionals are being challenged. But some of us thrive by challenges, do you?

The pressure is on!

2011-03-23T12:26:00.001-07:00

The pressure is on… I have to start blogging! Let me correct that…. I have to start a PR and marketing blog! I started a personal blog last year when my son took sick and couldn’t keep up with the inquiries from family and friends. A blog was a great way to keep everyone updated. A blog is a great tool for so many reasons. The reason that it worked for me and can work for so many others is because:

It’s convenient – it can be updated when you have time. Day or night- at home – at the office or on your mobile.

It’s interactive – a great way to get out information and have others comment as well.

It’s flexible – there are days that you really feel like writing and want to be expressive and thorough – while there are other days that you just want to get a quick thought or point across so your blog post may be a few sentences rather than a few paragraphs.

Blogs are great for both personal and business reasons. From a business perspective, blogs are a great way to promote yourself as a thought leader and market your services or products. It’s a great way to connect with others of similar interests and have interactive conversations. In today’s fast-paced world, a blog is a great tool to get across information in a mass distribution method. In the coming posts, I will be providing thoughts, recommendations and things to think about in the world of PR and marketing!