http://twopaintersinapod.com The Original Faux Painting Podcast for new painting business owners. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:21:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 en hourly 1 copyright 2007 Two Painters In A Pod thepeas@twopaintersinapod.com () thepeas@twopaintersinapod.com() 1440 podcast,faux,business,painting,mural,finish,finishing,decorating,design,profitable,podcasting The Original Faux Painting Podcast These Two Faux Painting Business Partners are like Two Peas (Painters) in a Pod and are still the best of friends. Sharing all our Insider Secrets of the Faux Painting Business and also we will be interviewing other business owners and "want to be" faux finish business owners. Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady No no http://twopaintersinapod.com/Images/TPIAP-Logo-1x1.jpg http://twopaintersinapod.com 144 144 copyright 2007 Two Painters In A Podpodcast,faux,business,painting,mural,finish,finishing,decorating,design,profitable,podcastingBusiness/CareersArts/Visual ArtsGames & Hobbies/HobbiesTechnology/Podcastingdebra@twopaintersinapod.comDebra Conrad THAT Painter LadySubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with ODEOSubscribe with PodnovaPodcast for Faux Painting Business. Learn to Profit with your Faux Painting and Mural business. http://twopaintersinapod.com/common-business-card-starting-a-home-businessmistakes-from-a-dental-marketing-consultant/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/common-business-card-starting-a-home-businessmistakes-from-a-dental-marketing-consultant/#comments Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:21:05 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com//?p=199 Are you looking at starting a home business? Great, that is awesome. Starting a home business is an excellent way to achieve financial freedom. Starting a home business has created wealth for many individuals. In this article I will go over what I believe to be the keys to getting your home business running smooth [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/common-business-card-starting-a-home-businessmistakes-from-a-dental-marketing-consultant/feed/ 0 http://twopaintersinapod.com/easy-ways-to-get-your-company-noticed/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/easy-ways-to-get-your-company-noticed/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:42:16 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com//?p=196 Being an entrepreneur is more challenging than ever. It’s tough to compete as the little guy. Large corporations have access to marketing experts and big budgets while internet companies have lots of tricks to channel online traffic to their websites. But don’t let that discourage you. In addition to the tried and true methods of [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/easy-ways-to-get-your-company-noticed/feed/ 0 http://twopaintersinapod.com/have-you-discovered-retweeting-yet/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/have-you-discovered-retweeting-yet/#comments Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:15:15 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com//?p=200 Quite a few of us enjoy the real time advantages of Twitter and the immediate contact and feedback it gives us. The benefits with technology like Twitter continue to be seen in new ways everyday. For example, while tweeting is entertaining and connects you with the current news and information from across the world, retweeting [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/have-you-discovered-retweeting-yet/feed/ 0 http://twopaintersinapod.com/online-business-branding-strategies-free-helpful-tips/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/online-business-branding-strategies-free-helpful-tips/#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:05:33 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com//?p=114 Employing proper online business branding strategies could spell the success for your online business. Although it might be an intangible aspect of your online business, it is basically what convinces people to buy or avail of your products or services. And when you garner enough online business sales, then only then can your online business [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/online-business-branding-strategies-free-helpful-tips/feed/ 0 http://twopaintersinapod.com/tips-to-make-your-business-card-a-better-marketing-tool/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/tips-to-make-your-business-card-a-better-marketing-tool/#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:49:45 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com//?p=110 photo credit: Nicholas Hall If your current business card fails to impress potential clients or you are not getting increased business that your card is supposed to provide for you. Then you should improve your business card to make it into a great marketing tool. For more information refer to Business Cards The business card is [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/tips-to-make-your-business-card-a-better-marketing-tool/feed/ 0 http://twopaintersinapod.com/basic-models-used-for-online-business-branding-plan-free-useful-tips/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/basic-models-used-for-online-business-branding-plan-free-useful-tips/#comments Thu, 28 May 2009 04:22:17 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com//?p=115 Branding is a product of intense planning and conceptualization. To come up with innovative marketing ideas and an effective way to brand your products, you need to carefully laid out the steps you need to get there. Doing so will also enable you to take note of the vital aspects involved in the creation of [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/basic-models-used-for-online-business-branding-plan-free-useful-tips/feed/ 0 http://twopaintersinapod.com/marketing-your-small-business/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/marketing-your-small-business/#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 16:38:21 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com//?p=152 Small business marketing may be the most important part in owning and maintaining a successful small business. A good portion of the marketing effort is determining the needs of your target market and then explaining that you provide solutions to meet those needs. Contrary to popular belief, it is a lot more than posting a [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/marketing-your-small-business/feed/ 0 http://twopaintersinapod.com/why-advertising-is-crucial-for-your-business/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/why-advertising-is-crucial-for-your-business/#comments Tue, 19 May 2009 13:54:40 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com//?p=133 Any businesses survival is dependent on two key factors A. The product or services being offered and B. A healthy supply of interested customers wanting that product or service. Advertising is the only way to bridge that gap between your business and your potential customers. Go to Giant inflatables for more information. Some will say that they never advertise [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/why-advertising-is-crucial-for-your-business/feed/ 0 http://twopaintersinapod.com/managing-a-business-from-home/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/managing-a-business-from-home/#comments Wed, 13 May 2009 00:56:58 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com//?p=153 photo credit: Orin Optiglot One of my favorite things to any time I visit a place is check out the local shops.  They always have so much character, and usually awesome products!  This type of business can be a lucrative career choice if managed effectively.  It requires a good understanding of Business strategy and business [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/managing-a-business-from-home/feed/ 0 http://twopaintersinapod.com/how-to-use-business-cards-to-market-your-business/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/how-to-use-business-cards-to-market-your-business/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 12:41:57 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com//?p=93 You’ve had 1,000 of the finest, most eye-catching business cards printed. Now, what do you do with them? Networking with business cards is one of the most cost effective means of marketing your business–and yourself. Don’t leave them sitting in the box, they do you no good there. Get them into the hands of your prospects! [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/how-to-use-business-cards-to-market-your-business/feed/ 0 http://twopaintersinapod.com/put-some-color-back-into-our-homes/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/put-some-color-back-into-our-homes/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:04:46 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com//?p=106 Chili hot red! Burnt orange! Pea green! Sky blue! Its time to put some color back in our homes. Gone are the 1990s when interior design was all about neutrals and soothing pallets. Dreary safe schemes just don’t do it for us any more. So here’s a guide to putting some “va va voom” back in your room. For [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/put-some-color-back-into-our-homes/feed/ 0 http://twopaintersinapod.com/starting-a-faux-painting-business/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/starting-a-faux-painting-business/#comments Mon, 19 May 2008 02:19:04 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com/starting-a-faux-painting-business/ If you found this page expecting to listen to new “Two Painters In A Pod” Podcast… you won’t find anything new! Why? Because, I just don’t do podcasts anymore… no more audio for me… nooooo. I’m on to video! Be on the lookout for new video faux painting business tutorials. Soon I hope. I have [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/starting-a-faux-painting-business/feed/ 2 http://twopaintersinapod.com/baby-nursery-mural-cow-and-moon/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/baby-nursery-mural-cow-and-moon/#comments Wed, 14 May 2008 05:59:09 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com/baby-nursery-mural-cow-and-moon/ Okay… here is another mural from Dawn. She is so talented I can hardly stand it. If I only lived close to her… we would have such fun painting murals together. Sigh… This mural is soft and subtle… Cow jumping over the Moon mural is a good baby room choice. It will last several years… and [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/baby-nursery-mural-cow-and-moon/feed/ 0 http://twopaintersinapod.com/really-cool-faux-painting-pictures/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/really-cool-faux-painting-pictures/#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2008 03:59:19 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com/really-cool-faux-painting-pictures/ Do you remember the podcast I did with Dawn Papandrea-Khan? She is the New York State Faux and Mural Painter that owns Surfaces With Paint. I just checked out her blog… and she is posting some amazing faux painting pictures and pictures of her murals. I have been in the business for years… and [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/really-cool-faux-painting-pictures/feed/ 1 http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-16-website-is-getting-business-for-faux-painter/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-16-website-is-getting-business-for-faux-painter/#comments Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:43:30 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-16-website-is-getting-business-for-faux-painter/ Have you ever wondered if you really need a website? Do faux painters and mural artist get new customers from websites?   The answer is Yes and Yes!     Part 2 of my interview with Dawn Papandrea-Khan of Surfaces With Paint in New York proves it.  Dawn took several months to learn to build her own website, [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-16-website-is-getting-business-for-faux-painter/feed/ 3 46:20 Have you ever wondered if you really need a website? Do faux painters and mural artist get new customers from websites? #160;The answer is Yes ... Have you ever wondered if you really need a website? Do faux painters and mural artist get new customers from websites? #160;The answer is Yes and Yes! #160;#160;Part 2 of my interview with Dawn Papandrea-Khan of Surfaces With Paint in New York proves it.#160; Dawn took several months to learn to build her own website, and boy did she do a fantastic job. You have to remember that Dawn has two small children ages 2 and 3 and she is painting of course... so for her to have learned everything that is needed to put up such a professional looking site is downright amazing.#160;I share an advertising secret I have used when painting at businesses. You have to use this simple idea... you will be amazed at the calls you will get.Should you charge for client consultations? Dawn and I discuss the pros and cons of this sticky issue and why she has switched from free consultation to paid consultations.#160;Do you charge for samples? You should... Dawn tells us why and we share a tidbit on copyrights for your sample boards.#160;Have you checked out the MuralsPlus forum yet? Dawn shares one tip she got from this forum that has helped her weed out lots of potential clients that aren#39;t really serious. She shares it with us in this interview.#160;Can you take Credit Card Payments for your Faux Painting and Mural work? If not... find out how Dawn does this.... so easy! I was stunned at how easy she makes it for her and her customers.#160;Oh... and how about a discussion on hiring assistants? Yep... we go into that as well. I describe my perfect assistant and how I wish I could clone her... yes, she was the perfect assistant.#160;The biggest question for all of you that do have websites? Have you submitted yours to any directories? Dawn has done some of the legwork for you and listed many of the faux painting directories for you... check it out in this interview. You will also find out why it is so important to have your website linked in these directories.Visit Dawns Website:#160; http://www.surfaceswithpaint.com/ Click on the Blue Arrow to play or the tiny orange mp3 logo to download. Podcast thepeas@twopaintersinapod.com no No http://media.podango.net/R/180/1821/TPIAP16.mp3 http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-15-marketing-ideas-from-a-new-york-faux-painter/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-15-marketing-ideas-from-a-new-york-faux-painter/#comments Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:06:39 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-15-marketing-ideas-from-a-new-york-faux-painter/ A successful faux painting business requires a constant stream of returning and new clients. Most decorative artists find that advertising in the local newspaper is a waste of time and money… so how about a few new twists on some old ideas? I met Dawn through my newsletter and blog. We have only met in cyberspace [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-15-marketing-ideas-from-a-new-york-faux-painter/feed/ 9 19:57 A successful faux painting business requires a constant stream of returning and new clients. Most decorative artists find that advertising in the local newspaper is ... A successful faux painting business requires a constant stream of returning and new clients. Most decorative artists find that advertising in the local newspaper is a waste of time and money... so how about a few new twists on some old ideas?I met Dawn through my newsletter and blog. We have only met in cyberspace and on the telephone, but Dawn had such enthusiasm and great ideas that I just had to get her on a podcast. After a bit of schedule shuffling we finally got together and boy did I get some cool ideas! Dawn Papandrea-Khan and I had a fantastic interview. In fact it lasted so long... I had to cut it into two different sessions.#160; In Part 1, Dawn shares some interesting ideas for easy, inexpensive marketing (advertising) your faux painting business directly to the most likely potential clients.The name of Dawn#39;s company is Surfaces with Paint which is located in Westchester and Putnam Co., New York.#160; She has done an amazing job of creating her own business websites.#160; #160;#160;Website: www.surfaceswithpaint.com Blog: http://surfaceswithpaint.blogspot.com/On the call we discussThe issue of sales tax. Loosing your business partner. How to learn professional finishes without classes.Why I recommend an accountant for every small business.Dealing with competition and why you should be friends with them.The only difference between a good painter and a great painter might be the way the floor looks when the job is done.Why you should have several finishes that you could do in your sleep.The challenges of being a full time mom and owning a business. Dawn tells all of us what her biggest faux painting challenge has been. It required tiny brushes and the Catholic Church. You will have to listen to the call to find out what the challenge was.#160; Here are some of the business marketing ideas we discussed for faux and mural painters :#160;Signs on your carSigns for the job siteDoor-to-Door salesConstruction site advertisingJoin a business networking groupof course... Word of Mouth, Business Cards and Flyer#39;s #160;Be sure to check back next week for part two of my interview with Dawn Papandrea-Khan of Surfaces with Paint.#160;Her website is filled with many great ideas for a faux painting artist#39;s website.#160;#160;Dawn is also very interested link exchange with other artists...Click on the Blue Arrow to play or the tiny orange mp3 logo to download. Podcast thepeas@twopaintersinapod.com no No http://media.podango.net/R/180/1734/tpiap15.mp3 http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-14-how-to-start-a-faux-painting-website-step-1/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-14-how-to-start-a-faux-painting-website-step-1/#comments Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:16:31 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-14-how-to-start-a-faux-painting-website-step-1/ Patricia Hansen of Carolina Custom Interiors… the newest faux painter in the North Carolina area, has begun learning how to set up her new website. She knows that this will be a great marketing tool. Showcasing her work online will allow her to share her talents and ideas with many more potential clients.  By displaying [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-14-how-to-start-a-faux-painting-website-step-1/feed/ 17 36:38 Patricia Hansen of Carolina Custom Interiors... the newest faux painter in the North Carolina area, has begun learning how to set up her new ... Patricia Hansen of Carolina Custom Interiors... the newest faux painter in the North Carolina area, has begun learning how to set up her new website.She knows that this will be a great marketing tool. Showcasing her work online will allow her to share her talents and ideas with many more potential clients.#160; By displaying her website and email addresses on all her marketing materials, she has expanded the #39;net#39; for attracting new clients.The cost for setting up a new web site? Good hosting plans with plenty of room for expansion and a ton of tools, should only cost about $7 -$8 per month. This is an inexpensive use of limited start-up business funds. #160;The hosting services Patricia decided to use is LunarPages.com#160; LunarPages has a 1 month guarantee, so if you#39;re not happy you can cancel and get your money back!#160; What have you got to loose?For more helpful tips for choosing website hosting click: Web Hosting Tips#160;This podcast/call is an actual conversation Patricia and I had while I am instructing her during her LunarPages.com set-up, which included all the little tidbits of information you must enter while signing up for website hosting.The website does not show up instantly... as we haven#39;t uploaded any files yet, so Patricia and I moved on to the discussion of web design and web software and templates for web sites.I helped Patricia review several different websites, and we discussed what she liked and didn#39;t like about each one. I tutored her on the faults as well as the great ideas we could find on each web site. This bit of research is necessary when beginning to design a new website...#160; you must always have a plan, even if it is bare bones, before starting any project.The format for Carolina Custom Interiors website will be a Wordpress blog, installed on a server at LunarPages.com using Fantastico.You can find the#160; WordPress Software to install at WordPress.orgNever use a free hosting service for hosting a website such as blogger or Wordpress.com:You do not have any customer service You do not have any control if your website is canceled for unknown reasons.You#39;re website name will never look professional.The WordPress #34;software#34; is easy to install at LunarPages.#160; I hit the highlights in the podcast.The websites we visited and discussed:#160;#160;#160; www.victorialarsen.com#160;#160;#160; www.artoflivingonline.com#160;#160;#160; www.designamour.comSome websites we visited after the call. These are the sites Patricia found interesting:http://www.jenniferrebeccadesigns.com/http://www.artisansbythesea.com/http://www.unfauxgetable.com/http://www.roomerhasit.com/index.asphttp://www.paintinthetown.com/portfolio.htmTheme sites we visited:#160;#160;#160; http://themes.wordpress.net#160;#160;#160; www.onehertz.com/portfolio/wordpress #160;Follow the progress of website installation and design by visiting#160;www.CarolinaCustomInteriors.com#160;#160;#160;#160;My copy of this book has cornered pages, notes and post-its on so many pages it really needs to be replaced. I love how easy it was to learn to use Wordpress and all the options it gives when setting up your new website.#160;Click on the Blue Arrow to play or the tiny orange mp3 logo to download. Podcast thepeas@twopaintersinapod.com no No http://media.podango.net/R/180/1573/TPIAPShow14.mp3 http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-13-build-your-own-professional-faux-painting-portfolio/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-13-build-your-own-professional-faux-painting-portfolio/#comments Wed, 01 Aug 2007 21:24:28 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-12-build-your-own-professional-faux-painting-portfolio/ Set up your Professional Faux Painting Portfolio… It' a Photo Album. Use binders from the office supply store, you will need several eventually… so stock up. Get 1 inch or 2 inch binders with a sleeve on the outside to slip in an 81/2 x 11 sheet of paper. Stock up on the inserts also.  Plastic sheet [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-13-build-your-own-professional-faux-painting-portfolio/feed/ 0 11:27 Set up your Professional Faux Painting Portfolio... It#39; a Photo Album.Use binders from the office supply store, you will need several eventually... so stock up. ... Set up your Professional Faux Painting Portfolio... It#39; a Photo Album.Use binders from the office supply store, you will need several eventually... so stock up. Get 1 inch or 2 inch binders with a sleeve on the outside to slip in an 81/2 x 11 sheet of paper.Stock up on the inserts also.#160; Plastic sheet protectors is what they are called. You will need the full sheet size as well as the ones that hold 4 photographs on a page. Seperate the binders into categories:Childrens RoomsKitchensBathroomsBedroomsLiving AreasUse your logo and your colors to design the outside covers of your portfolios.These binders do not hold your sample boards.Include photos of your own work as well as magazine pictures of faux finishes.Create your marketing materials in a consistent fashion.#160;I#39;m off on my Vacation! Yahoo.... talk to you next week.#160;#160;Click on the Blue Arrow to play or the tiny orange mp3 logo to download.Technorati Tags: portfolios, professional, faux painting, photo albums, marketing Podcast thepeas@twopaintersinapod.com no No http://media.podango.net/R/180/1118/TPIAPShow13-Aug012007.mp3 http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-12-who-is-going-to-keep-the-irs-happy/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-12-who-is-going-to-keep-the-irs-happy/#comments Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:05:14 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-12-who-is-going-to-keep-the-irs-happy/ What Are Faux Painting Business Bookkeeping and Accounting Issues? Show Notes are in the article placed below or in the right hand column click on Transcripts under Categories. This will give you a list of all the show notes. Click on the Blue Arrow to play or the tiny orange mp3 logo to download. http://twopaintersinapod.com/tpiap-show-12-who-is-going-to-keep-the-irs-happy/feed/ 0 26:09 Bookkeeping and Accounting Ideas, Tips and Tricks for your new faux painting business. Keeping records for your business is painfulhellip; I know, I have been doing it for years and isn\'t any easier today than it was 12 or 15 years ago. But I have special tips and tricks that I use to make it less painful. thepeas@twopaintersinapod.com no No http://media.podango.net/R/180/1071/tpiap12.mp3 http://twopaintersinapod.com/record-keeping-for-your-decorative-painting-business/ http://twopaintersinapod.com/record-keeping-for-your-decorative-painting-business/#comments Thu, 26 Jul 2007 23:58:43 +0000 debra@twopaintersinapod.com (Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady) http://twopaintersinapod.com/record-keeping-for-your-decorative-painting-business/ Looking for the audio podcast?  Click on the link to the right called Podcast under Categories. That will take you to all our podcasts! Or… look for the link at the top called Podcast Archives, that will get you to all the podcasts as well. I know your going to love this subject! NOT!  Keeping records [...] http://twopaintersinapod.com/record-keeping-for-your-decorative-painting-business/feed/ 0 Debra Conrad THAT Painter LadynonadultThe Original Faux Painting Podcast