MEGAWATT AMPLIFIED

Smart Marketing Decisions; A Blog for the Clueless

2008-11-18T00:06:00.004-05:00

You know you need marketing help. You don't know where to start. Well, MEGAWATT is going to help you out with the ultimate blog for the clueless.

IDENTIFY YOUR PRODUCT - You would be stunned how many people think they are selling one thing but really aren't. Let me give you an example: MAKEUP. Yes, you are selling the physical item, but moreso you are selling BEAUTY. The latter is the essential to note.
IDENTIFY YOUR MARKET - Who wants what you sell? Do 6 year old girls buy beauty products? Are you high end or low end? Are you selling to 16 year old girls with their $50 paycheck, or lonely housewives with endless cashflows? You need to know your market before you take another step forward.
BRAND YOUR PRODUCT - Makeup by the name of 'Splash' or 'Putty'; or are you a 'Posh Delights' or 'Blaze'? When you figure out what you are, you will then need to develop a standard of color and style you want to use to market yourself. Is your logo in Helvetica or Girls Fiolex? Is it pink or chartreuse? Decide and stick to that decision.
DEVELOP A PLAN - Shockingly, this is probably a great place for your to bring in a marketing professional to help you develop a plan for YOU to execute. It isn't free, but the expertise and knowledge a marketing professional can provide you will save you thousands in mistaken marketing mishaps.
AVOID SPLIT DECISIONS - So they will give you 3 ads a day, prime, for a week, and it will only be $900? Is that a good deal? Is it a station your market listens to regularly? IS IT AFFORDABLE FOR YOUR NOW? Be smart.
TRIAL AND ERROR - Even marketing people make mistakes. Don't be afraid to acknowledge if a marketing concept isn't working for you. Give it three months or more to work; anything less is too short. But...
DEVELOP QUANTIFIABLE STATISTICS - You cannot be sure if your marketing is working unless you develop a method of gathering statistics. Set up a site or come up with a coupon code JUST for your marketing campaign. Some will come across your site accidentally; some will forget to mention a coupon code. But it will give you a fairly good idea of how you're doing.

Join. Get the word out. It's important.

2008-11-07T11:13:00.001-05:00

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47656980026

Wacky Wednesday

2008-10-22T08:34:00.001-04:00

So hectic...Need a nap already. How is everyone?

Palin Rap

2008-10-19T13:20:00.001-04:00

How friggin funny.

Drive-in Drive-by til May

2008-10-14T13:13:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite things about the Poconos is the plethora of drive-in establishments dotting our landscape. I hate when the season ends and away they go til May. Anyone else get the blues when the 'See you in the Spring' signs come out?

It makes me a sad panda. =(

It's that time again!!!

2008-10-10T15:41:00.002-04:00

GREEK FESTIVAL!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

OMFG Great idea! MUST SEE!!

2008-10-09T11:54:00.003-04:00

Click this link for bulk mailer-solving genius!!!

Sucky Stalkers

2008-10-09T10:27:00.003-04:00

You KNOW who you are.

It appears it is more stalking YOU TWO these days! What is going on? Fill me in. I miss you both, you lame ass stalkers!

Leave it to me to find stalk-less stalkers. =)

Alone on the blogosphere

2008-10-08T11:16:00.001-04:00

Does anyone even read this thing? lol

POLITICAL MAMAS: CHECK THESE OUT

2008-10-08T10:54:00.003-04:00

I am ordering one for my car and figured I would offer them to anyone else. Keep in mind they are large (and I designed one for the OTHER side of the political fence too!!)

The cost will be $30, including shipping! =) Let me know ASAP!

We the Savers of the United States of America...

2008-10-06T14:36:00.004-04:00

I clicked on my bank web site today and found this and thought it was something we should all read and heed. Please, be smart. Protect yourselves; the coming years will be doozies.

OUR DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE.

We will spend less than we earn. Saving a little out of every dollar we bring home is the foundation of independence. Without it, we can’t build equity in our home, we can’t invest for the future, and we can’t be ready for challenging times.

We promise to pay ourselves first, always.

We will use our home as a savings account. Besides shelter and comfort for our family, the role of a house in our financial life is to build equity. We will have a healthy down payment when we buy. We’ll choose the mortgage that lets us pay down the principal fastest. And then we’ll leave that equity safe where it is instead of spending it on things that don’t last.

We will take care of our money. It’s not enough to have money in a bank. We will put it where it will grow. We’ll keep track of it. And we’ll check every account we have every year to protect ourselves against fraud or escheatment.

We will defend our credit worthiness. Good credit is going to be precious in the years to come. We will pay our bills on time. We’ll borrow only when we need to and in amounts we can comfortably pay back. And then we’ll do just that.

We will ignore unsolicited credit card marketing. We decide when we need a credit card, not some marketer. And mostly, we probably don’t need another one at all. We won’t even open those solicitations. We’ll shred them.

We will know the cost of borrowing. The interest lenders charge us is real money, too. When we buy a mortgage or finance a purchase, we’ll figure out what that interest is really going to cost in dollars, add it to the purchase price, and ask ourselves if it’s still worth it.

We will invest for the long term. Futures are built out of patience and prudence, not luck.
We will not put off being a saver because we think there’s a lottery win in our future, in Vegas or on Wall Street.

We will take care of the things we have. We work hard for our money, and it’s disrespectful to waste it – or the planet – by treating our possessions as disposable.

We will remember what matters. We are not the things we own. If we have to spend and spend on bigger, more impressive things to keep up with our friends, then they are not our friends at all.

We will be heard. Our representatives in government and the corporations we deal with need to know that we are paying attention. If we’re silent, we’re accepting the status quo, and the business practices that got our country into this situation will continue. We are not going to accept that.

Biden, Biden, He's MY MAN!

2008-10-03T09:22:00.004-04:00

Many of you know I wanted Biden for president. When he was out of the race, I was left in an unpleasant situation and lost some of my fervor on this election.

THEN OBAMA CHOSE HIM FOR RUNNING MATE! WOOT!

Well, last night's debate is exactly why I love that man. After the debate, 98% of those watching felt he was knowledgeable, compared to 63% for Palin (and that was a GOOD score for her!)

The choice is clear:

Stormy Weather

2008-09-25T09:38:00.002-04:00

Another weird night of strange, tumultuous dreams. This time, the subject matter was tornadoes. WTF?

Hawaii Five-O

2008-09-23T11:54:00.004-04:00

A convo about photography reminded me of some pics I loved that I took in Hawaii, so I thought I would share a few. Hope you like.

The calm after the proverbial storms.

2008-09-23T09:14:00.003-04:00

Well, I think the silly mom group drama calmed down and I am feeling positive about my 'followers' again. I think I may call them that from now on. It makes me sound more powerful. I will need to stand protrate when I say it, like Consuelo Vanderbilt. She must have been quite beautiful in her day.

Anyway, the drama there has passed, and I am devising a plan for how to deal with the ex, which reminds me, I need to call my lawyer. =-)

BRB.

K...so anyway, keep your fingers crossed, all and resolution may be ahead on all fronts.

2008-09-20T00:07:00.003-04:00

Update on the deadbeat

2008-09-19T12:40:00.003-04:00

Apparently he moved to another state without notifying us...soooooo involved in his kids' lives that they don't know where the hell he lives.
Nice, ASSWIPE.

Cuz some shit is just too funny....for words even.

2008-09-19T11:41:00.002-04:00

This says it all.

I love my family. LOL

2008-09-18T16:55:00.004-04:00

Everyone, say Hi to my young and emotionally-charged cousin, Brian.
It doesn't matter your political beliefs; this is funny =) Don't you wish you could retain all that fervor your whole life through? I am still young, but when you have kids and work and everything else, sometimes it feels like you just can't express it this way anymore. So kudos, youngun, and may you keep your passion...and become a journalist like Cousin Meg. =)

Adult friendships, and the troubles inherent in them.

2008-09-18T11:17:00.007-04:00

As many of you know, I am VASTLY happy with my NEPAmamas group. They take up a lot of my time, and I don't mind. They're wonderful women, and I feel like I perform a service by facilititating their growth and development. That not withstanding, as I progress into the thirties, I find that friendships are inherently different.

Why?

Well, firstly, many of the friends you have, you've had FOREVER. New friendships are a different story. As Brandi said the other day, you don't just lean over the cafeteria table and say, "Hi, I'm Meg".

Challenge 1: Finding likeminded individuals

So how do you find the elusive 'friend' in your thirties? Some people find them at clubs, or at the gym. Moms often find them in PTOs or playgroups. But this is a limited pool. I mean, you can't really select your IDEAL friend this way, and you only have limited interaction in the hour your club meets, or the 15 minutes before you pick up little Johnny. And for whatever reason, women are especially self-conscious and shy about meeting new people in adulthood.

This poses an even more significant challenge if you MOVE in adulthood, as you lose the ties you already had and have to start fresh.

Challenge 2: Weeding out the sheep from the wolves

So now you have found a group. In my case, I am lucky. I have lived in the same place since high school, so I have a readymade group. But for the locationally-challenged, or those with limited access to the outside world, I started the NEPAmamas group. Initially, it was small, but in the last year, it's grown exponentially to over 100 mothers.

Does every mom in this group like one another? I imagine not. But I can almost guarantee everyone has met SOMEONE that they can bond with, socialize with and otherwise connect with on some level. And because it is primarily online, instead of 15 minutes or an hour, these women interact daily, thus picking up on one another's likes, dislikes and interests. Over 40 mom? We have those. Moms with tattooes? Got 'em. It's a veritable treasure trove shopping mall of friendship.

The greatest part? You can CHOOSE with whom you interact. It isn't work. It isn't the PTO. You don't have to be everyone's buddy, but you can be NICE to everyone and become close to those you choose.

So why, then, should I get messages that are derogatory, nasty and otherwise defaming to some of these women? It isn't that you have like everyone, but don't PRETEND to be everyone's friend, and then start groups to discuss them behind their backs. Don't send me comments like this:

With out mentioning any names there are a few mamas in your nepa group that I do
not care for at all for certain reasons, and of those few some happen to
be either close or somewhat close to you. I know more than likely
they will try & follow you into my group just to lurk & be nosey.
I don't want to have to decline them, bc I really don't like doing that and so I
would much rather prefer to avoid all those headaches.

The reason said person joined my group was b/c we are in the same circle of mutual friends and therefor they are on her friends list and she feels comfortable posting . Please know that said person's concern is not really with YOU but who follows you or hangs out with you (again same here), not sure if you are getting this but understand I am not the type of person to call out names. I personally think you are a good & kind hearted person and as far as the nepa group goes you are a great group owner too but this said person is a great person as well ( to me i think) therefore I honestly wouldn't want to see her leave my group.
Are we, or are we NOT adults? You could be in the same PTO with a mom you don't like but you can't be in an online GROUP with one? Worse yet, you remain in the group you claim is harboring people you don't like, but start another group to discuss them? I feel like I did when I was 8 and the kids on the block would form 'clubs' and keep out one or two people. We aren't children anymore. ACT LIKE ADULTS.
To conclude: you have credit cards, mortgages, kids, car payments...howza bout you develop a friggin backbone while you're at it?

The Deadbeat Dad Strikes Again!

2008-09-18T11:17:00.004-04:00

For those who don't know, my exhusband DANIEL JOSEPH ELDRIDGE didn't pay child support for most of the girls' existence. He hasn't seen them in 5 years, hasn't talked to them since July, etc. Anyway, about a year and a half ago, he was ordered to pay from his social security benefits. WELLLLLL, yesterday I received notification that he no longer has to pay me.

The clincher? He owes me over $19k and they are holding him to that! LOL

So you know what I have to say to you ASSHOLE? IT STARTS WITH F AND ENDS IN UCK YOURSELF!!

No words necessary.

2008-09-15T16:51:00.001-04:00

License to Drive

2008-09-05T17:38:00.002-04:00

I have one.

More specifically, I have a shiny new one, complete with my married name. I figured after two years it might be nice. Initially, since so much was in my old name, it was easier. Then, well, I hate the DMV.

So yesterday, I wanted to go and get it done. Sadly, they could take my picture but not change my name on the license. The quandary: get it done with my old name or come back AGAIN today...so I came back.

I looked like crap, but I guess what can you expect? Worst of all, I look 400lbs heavier than last time. It sucks.

The moral? Diet hard before you need a new license pic.

All I really need to know, I learned in kindergarten: Sarah Palin and my kids

2008-09-04T10:28:00.006-04:00

Let me introduce you to my children. This is Lorynn and Olivia as they embarked on this year of school:

Lorynn and Olivia go to school to learn not only their three Rs, but also decency, kindness, loyalty, honesty...all the CHARACTER we should instill in our children from Day I. They started in Catholic school this year because I felt that even the teachers in our local district have forgotten that part of their job is to teach children to be the best people they can be-not through prayer but through ACTION. Children need to learn from everyone around them and guiding them that how we interact with one another is what decides our fate.

In fact, ever read this? I used to have this poster on my dorm room wall. Robert Fulghum, who wrote this, is a very smart man.

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.These are the things I learned:
-Share everything.
-Play fair.
-Don't hit people.
-Put things back where you found them.
-Clean up your own mess.
-Don't take things that aren't yours.
-Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
-Wash your hands before you eat.
-Flush.
-Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
-Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
-Take a nap every afternoon.
-When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
-Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
-Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
-And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

My kids have been raised to understand these things as UNIVERSAL TRUTHS. They have always been reminded that they are NOT alone in this world and that everything they do changes the world down the line. They are learning every day to respect themselves and others. Someone else needs to learn these basic truths.

Sarah Palin came on the scene last night. The fact that she was a woman and a relative Washington unknown actually made her an appealing figure to me. However, some of the reading I'd been doing left me curious as to McCain's strange choice.

Her daughter's pregnancy and the implication that perhaps her youngest son was in actuality Bristol's 'oldest' child left questions, but none that took her out of contention. No, in fact, she needed no political hype or dramatic story to do that. It was her speech last night that truly caused me to dislike her.

Firstly, this 'mother' chose to blatantly attack Obama without supporting comments, though she avoided ANY attacks on Biden (since they would be very hard to produce). She chose to accuse Obama of being a 'celebrity' and 'sensationalizing', yet he very specifically said he would fire anyone in his camp who attacked her family (sensationizing fodder for sure). She said he wanted to raise billions in taxes, yet she wants to tap our oil reserves and spend more on a war we are most certainly NOT close to winning. She told war stories about 'the Maverick' but forgot about his involvement in the Keating 5.

She attacked Obama's celebrity but she is more popular these days than Britney Spears. Pregnant unwed teenage daughter, special needs son, spouse with a criminal record. Perhaps cleaning out her own closet would be best before accusing others of anything. In truth, she exemplified EVERY bad behavior that I have avoided in my kids. Revisiting our list from above-

-Share everything. Well, apparently she shares kids with her daughter.
-Play fair. If fair involves double standards.
-Don't hit people. Below the belt counts.
-Put things back where you found them. Like babies with their mothers.
-Clean up your own mess. Not your sister's. You can't fire someone because they upset your sister.
-Don't take things that aren't yours. Like babies.
-Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. I'm waiting.

Palin, you lost any hope of my vote with your speech last night and your obvious disregard for the general rules of living. Go back to Alaska.

The Right Stuff...and Dunkin Donuts

2008-09-03T08:26:00.003-04:00

OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH ya...

that's right. This blog is about my favorite Beantown boys...

Now men, no one who didn't love them THEN can understand liking them now, but even Danny is good looking in his late thirties. Look at that!

Back in the day, my friends and I were HARDCORE fans. I have the pictures to prove it. My WHOLE room was PLASTERED with images of primarily Donnie and then the whole group. Now, as a woman, I can dish the sexy with my fellow ex-worshippers...(LIKE THE TWO SARAHS!! My SIL and old friend both understood then; I bet they still do now).

Another old love that remains true:

Time doesn't diminish my fond memories of the Dunkin' on Laurel Road near Foodtown. I remember walking past Salvatore's as a kid and heading to the spinning stools to sit down and have a yummy chocolate honeydipped. Now 'chocolate glazed', the flavor isn't quit the same, but the nostalgia remains. I love that they have kept the logo very similar to what it was so long ago...

SO WHO IS WITH ME?? A Dunkin' Donuts NKOTB tour complete with coffee and lots of Beantown lovin!?