There is a place. Like no place on Earth.

A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger!

Some say to survive it: You need to be as mad as a hatter.

Which luckily I am.


~The Mad Hatter



Sunday, February 22, 2009

It’s a Miracle! It’s a Miracle!



It’s a Miracle! It’s a Miracle!

If this can happen then ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

What is so miraculous?

Did I see the Holy Virgin in my oatmeal?

No.

Did I win at Power Ball?

No.

So what is so miraculous?

My Bougainvillea has Blooms on it!!

BFD, you say, Oh No, my Friend this really IS a Miracle!


You see, five years ago, I gave my Mom a large potted Bougainvillea for her Birthday. While you Floridians have them growing crazy in your backyards, this is not the case in the Northern states. We are lucky to have them grace our decks and porches for a few months.

Anyway, at the end of the season, my Mom split the Bougainvillea and gave me one half.

I would water, feed and care for this lovely tropical beauty, but my little lovely refused to bloom again!

I never gave up. I moved it from location to location, and window to window. I tried varying the amount of water and I tried different fertilizers, but still no blooms.

Until today.


I went down to feed my cats and out of the corner of my eye, I see something pale on the plant.

I thought, OH No I forgot to water it and the leaves are dying off!

But no, wait! What is that?

So I put on my glasses and Behold!

It was a delicate pale pink, not a dried out khaki

It’s a Miracle, A MIRACLE I say!

My poor little Bougainvillea was blooming! OK so it’s only one small branch, but nonetheless it still blooms!

It’s a Miracle!

Or was it Tenacity?

I kept at it. I KNEW that the blooms on this plant were not only possible, but when achieved, were just Stunning! When something wasn’t working I changed one thing until I found the right combination of Light, Water and Fertilizer.

If I can get blooms from that plant, I believe that Anything Is Possible and I if I can get this old Bougainvillea to bloom again then I can do ANYTHING!


Finding the right combination to your marketing mix is no different than getting a tropical plant to bloom in Pittsburgh, PA. When something doesn’t work, then changed one thing until you find the right combination. History has proven over and over that Great Marketing Will Produce Great Results.

This economic downturn is NOT the time to cut back on Marketing, but rather, you should step it up and become more focused and targeted. Referrals are the least expensive way to grow your business.

Referral Gurus, Michelle Donovan, David Frey and Bob Burg, all agree, that your existing clients are easiest and least expensive to sell to, plus they are the best source of new referral business.

A great place to start gathering more information on Referral Marketing is: www.MadHattersTeapot.com. I have found some awesome resources and tools to maximize your results with minimum investments of time and money.

Growing your business in this downturn is possible - If you are Tenacious and Creative!



Come see what’s brewing at the MadHatters Teapot!
~Rosemary

Friday, February 20, 2009

How Can We Add Value To Our Online Networks?

So how can we add value to the people we want to join our networks? What need do they have that you can fulfill?

First you need you identify who your target market is. Who are your best clients? What are their other concerns? Then start listing things that typically interest them.

One way to add value to my target market is to provide them with some tips and links to other resources that can help them. Don’t just continually plug your product but offer solutions to related concerns or interests. This is just one way to open the door to building an online relationship.

For (shameless) example, my primary target is Entrepreneurs and Commission Professionals. They are looking for a better way to stand out from their competition. They are interested in out of the box ways to market & grow their business. They are looking for efficiencies or an Edge. I created www.MadHattersTeapot.com as a resource site of out of the box solutions that may help you grow your business.

What are you doing to add value to your network?

I hope you take the time to see what's brewing at the MadHatters Teapot

~Rosemary
www.MadHatterTeapot.com

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

What's the difference?

I am new to this phenomenon called Social Networking. In my quest to learn how this whole thing operates, I have made some interesting discoveries.

On Twitter.com, Mike Klingler asked the question "What's the difference between providing value to attract business, vs. pitching your affiliate program, opportunity, or products?"

I'd would like to comment on that great question.

Online social networking is proof positive that most people are looking to build real relationships. They seek out like minded people. They want to connect with others that echo their interests, thoughts and feelings. They are reaching out to fill a void in their lives

As marketeers, we must first connect with our audience by adding some value to their quest. I made the mistake of trying to rush into the promotion of products without really building any relationships first. I know better now.

Just like in regular face to face networking, we must form relationships first. Online is no different. People want to do business with the people they Know, Like and Trust!

So how can we add value to the people we want to join our networks? What need do they have that you can fill?

I'll address that question in the next post . . . .

Best Regards
~Rosemary
www.GreetingCardsB2B.com