Posted by Elizabeth Blakely on Apr 12, 2017 in marketing, news, planning, social media
One of the services we provide clients it social media support. This great article: A Six-Hour Social Media Management Schedule talks about some of the key management considerations for anyone providing social media expertise and support. Some of the time allotments are worth a little debate, for example, we tend to plan on a monthly, not a weekly basis. For a thought provoking combo, take a quick look at the article Social Media Usage over a lifetime. The amount of time that social media can absorb from our lives is signficant whether that time is spend creating or accessing...
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Posted by Elizabeth Blakely on Oct 27, 2016 in marketing, news, planning, websites
I recently had the opportunity to make a presentation to the Thursday morning Connections Meeting for the North Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce. In the spirit of the Halloween season, I decided to pair pictures with ideas to take a humorous look at the challenges of marketing. The presentation also covers some issues often discussed when talking with business owners. On the lighter side, the presentation pays homage to some Halloween traditions and two great Halloween movies, Young Frankenstein and a local favorite, Night of the Living dead. Enjoy! If you have any questions about the ideas or would like to meet to talk about your marketing plans and activities please contact us by phone at 724-473-5543 online web form We would be delighted to talk with...
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Posted by Elizabeth Blakely on Mar 31, 2016 in Photography, planning
I have plenty of leg room, complementary beverages, a fascinating view, free wifi and I don’t have to worry about traffic. An added bonus, this trip includes a view of the Pennsylvania’s Horseshoe Curve. Yes, I am on The Pennsylvanian, the train that runs from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. As we gently rumble across the landscape I am reminded that the best path to any destination may not be the most obvious one. Most people fly due to time constraints but when you add up the time to get to/from the airport, checkin/security time, air time (not including inevitable delays) the difference is less than you would think. To my delight my train trip is proving vastly more comfortable, relaxing and productive than any recent flight. Better than a movie, my train window offers me an endless selection of scenery which include cities, industrial sites, small towns, farms, forests and winding rivers. Early spring sunshine makes the rivers sparkle, encourages the first green on trees and highlights the first flowers on trees and shrubs. Swept along by the hectic elements of daily life it can be easy to forget about the journey or savour it’s details. Finding balance and perspective (while juggling time, family, clients, and personal needs) seems to be the real holy grain of modern life. Maybe we need to look at the more of the options available instead of taking the obvious route. Just like my train ride, the routes/decisions which require a pause and extra thought really might enrich our journeys in addition to better using our time. In addition to trains I have always loved the poetry of Robert Frost, the last lines from one of my favorites (The road less traveled) reads Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Taking the train reminded me to make sure I at least pick the road and that will make a...
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Posted by Elizabeth Blakely on Feb 23, 2016 in communication, marketing
Because I have a right to be heard! I have a voice! This quote, from the King’s Speech, was made by from George VI as played by Colin Firth. The King’s Speech is one of my favorite movies because it sports an excellent cast, contains quite a bit of history and tells a excellent story. Americans love following the adventures of the British Royal family but I wonder how many Americans appreciate how deeply revered and loved George VI and Elizabeth were. George VI overcame personal challenges and faced the rising menace of Hitler by personal courage and the support of his wife Elizabeth, known to most as the “Queen Mum”. He found his voice and became a symbol of wartime strength. Though the story focuses on the Royal family I firmly believe that it has a message for us all. We all have voices and stories that need to be heard. It is just the medium that differs. As a marketing professional I try to learn what stories my clients need to tell and find the best way to give voice to those stories. If they are heard and can make a connection with clients then their businesses will prosper and grow. Our duty as business professionals is three-fold. First, we need to accept the challenge to selectively find and promote useful voices and stories. Second we need to sift through the growing cacophony of noise to help both colleagues and clients. Third, we need to make sure we don’t add the to noise. Think about all the places voices can be heard: elevator speeches, one-on-ones, networking events, websites, blogs, journal articles, seminars, etc. Consider all the stories you have heard. The more genuine the story, the more resonance we feel. Personal stories with useful information, (e.g. those that move beyond the corporate standard line/agenda) are far more likely to draw us in an engage us. Sometimes those stories are very personal. At the Chamber Meeting last Tuesday afternoon we heard from Julia, the first person to complete LifeSteps’ Transitions program. LifeSteps provides services and programs for individuals and families with special needs. Julia is a young woman with Down’s Syndrome. Just like George VI, she overcame personal challenges and she has a voice which needs to be heard. Julia told us of her plans for the future, I wish her the all the best as she works to make them come true. What story do you need to...
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Posted by Elizabeth Blakely on Jan 29, 2016 in communication, marketing, Photography, websites
Do you ever have a conversation and an idea sharpens the focus of you thoughts and lingers in your consciousness? Like a bobber on a fishing line or a weather vane, the idea reminds you to make sure you have your bearings and be sure you understand what is happening. This summer I was part of a panel discussion about building better websites and one of my colleagues raised the issue of authenticity. It was not a new notion to me but sometimes you just hear the right thing at the right time. A few years ago my career changed course; I switched from working in the marketing department of a large multinational firm to working with small businesses. Making sure that my work was authentic in a more diverse and changeable environment is critical to my clients and my business’s success. The word authenticity focused the element of my consciousness that always wanted to make sure the work we did was personalized for each client and their business. Authenticity is not a hugely common or pervasive element of modern society, especially during election years. Moreover, while there are many ethical and honest marketing professionals it is not the first term associated with our industry. Personally, if I think about the purchases I have made and been happy with, much less the things I enjoy or are proud of they are all based on authenticity. Authenticity can apply to many elements of life, both personal and professional. For example, on a personal level I would rather kayak down an Adirondack Lake than go on a beach holiday I love the smell of coffee, I can’t stand its taste and prefer tea or hot chocolate On a professional level it is includes: trying to always use local images instead of stock photography; if I have to use stock photos making sure the photos have a theme and aren’t just appropriate shots for the page’s content. making sure conversations with fellow business people are about more than just getting business. I firmly believe that real growth, personal or professional, comes from authenticity. We seek it and will return for more if we find a source. Though I work in the digital realm I readily admit to an addiction to books, a favorite is Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations. Just for fun I look to it for inspiration and was surprised they only have one quote for authentic, but it is a good one: But as when an authentic watch is shown, Each man winds up and rectifies his own, So in our judgements –Sir John Suckling,...
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