The Art Of Marketing You - Seite 2 
Japan Earthquake/Tsunami... various ways we can help, resources and links
Hi guys... the tragedy unfolding in Japan in the aftermath of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake is a very scary sight, especially with the very real possibility of meltdowns at multiple nuclear reactors. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless watching what is going on so... I thought I'd share a few simple ways we can all do something with some excellent resources available to help victims to communicate, find family members, raise much needed emergency funds, etc... Dog Bless You is donating $1 to SearchDogFoundation.org (upto $100,000) for every person who clicks "Like" on their Facebook page to help send search and rescue dogs to Japan Fon Community is giving Free WiFi Access at 500,000 hotspots in Japan to help people connect after the Tsunami Google's People Finder: 2011 Japan Earthquake Your gift to the American Red Cross will support disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific. Please feel free to share these links and resources with your readers on your own blogs. The power of social media means we can all do something to help in our own way. Thanks! If you have additional topics you'd like to see covered or would like more information about custom graphics, themes or to book a 1 on 1 consultation to create or customize your WordPress or ActiveRain blogs, you can reach me here Later... For more info about how we can help you stand out from the crowd, contact GiselleStCyr@garaughty.com garaughty.com For more information about upcoming marketing partnerships, surprises for your clients, graphic goodies, giveaways and to stay on top of all the new tech stuff . . . You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn and by email... As well as . . .
Hi guys... like most people on the net, when it comes to marketing, advertising and branding I'm pretty jaded and it takes something really special to get my attention. This did... I'm always amused and impressed how the simplest things seem to grab me. If you haven't played the wildly successful game Angry Birds, you've probably heard about it. Ans if you visit the Angry Birds fan page on Facebook you'll see this welcome page... If you click on the "Like" button to become a fan, you'll see... How cute is that? It made me smile and I "Liked" it enough to want to share it. Maybe I'm just easily amused today but I thought this was a great example of really connecting with someone! To save you time, here are some of my favorite resources that I found on the web this week. Hashable... the ultimate networking app. Exchange business cards, make easy intros and 'check-in' with people to track meetings and calls. _________________________ Not just another url shortener, Trick.ly gives you an added layer of privacy for your links _________________________ dlvr.it provides bloggers, publishers and brands a way to instantly syndicate content and expand their reach on the social web and into new channels _________________________ Backup your Twitter account for free with TweetGuard... archive & export your tweets, favorites, and friends _________________________ Create instant screencasts for your Twitter followers with Screenr _________________________ Sorting thru and finding all the useful stuff on the web can be a major pain. To save you some time, here are some of my favorite reads from the past few days. LinkedIn unveils its social newspaper LinkedIn Today by Anthony Ha The NY Times in New Food Culture, a Young Generation of Farmers Emerges by Isolde RafteryAre Likes Poised to Replace Links as the Web's Primary Signal? by Steve Rubel If you have additional topics you'd like to see covered or would like more information about custom graphics, themes or to book a 1 on 1 consultation to create or customize your WordPress or ActiveRain blogs, you can reach me here Later... For more info about how we can help you stand out from the crowd, contact GiselleStCyr@garaughty.com garaughty.com For more information about upcoming marketing partnerships, surprises for your clients, graphic goodies, giveaways and to stay on top of all the new tech stuff . . . You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn and by email... As well as . . .
March blog graphics... wallpaper/calendar, personal branding online
Hi guys, for those of you who've asked about using my artwork, wallpapers, etc... for branding purposes but aren't sure how to do it or if you don't have a decent image editor, I'm going to put together a new tutorial soon using a free online image editor I found that is easy to use but has some very advanced features. Until then, here is my new March wallpaper/calendar that you can use, edit or give away on any of your own sites / blogs. The image above is a preview of the March wallpaper/calendar we're giving away on my website It's a photo of my latest painting... If you'd like to use this image on your own blog or site, you can either download it and give it away as is or feel free to add your own text. As always... People do not download wallpapers to see advertising on their computer screens so... less is more, keep it simple. Here is an example... You can use just about any graphics editor to add your own text to this calendar/wallpaper. I wrote some tutorials about this back in August 2008 and I'll be doing more updated tutorials about graphics soon. The only thing I ask is that you don't edit my painting, name or domain. Other than that you're welcome to... - use it on any of your websites or blogs - as a give away by email or as a download directly from your site/blog - you can add your name, domain or whatever you like Enjoy!!! If you have additional topics you'd like to see covered or would like more information about custom graphics, themes or to book a 1 on 1 consultation to create or customize your WordPress or ActiveRain blogs, you can reach me here Later... For more info about how we can help you stand out from the crowd, contact GiselleStCyr@garaughty.com garaughty.com For more information about upcoming marketing partnerships, surprises for your clients, graphic goodies, giveaways and to stay on top of all the new tech stuff . . . You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn and by email... As well as . . .
How NOT to impress your Valentine in 2011
If you have additional topics you'd like to see covered or would like more information about custom graphics, themes or to book a 1 on 1 consultation to create or customize your WordPress or ActiveRain blogs, you can reach me here Later... For more info about how we can help you stand out from the crowd, contact GiselleStCyr@garaughty.com garaughty.com For more information about upcoming marketing partnerships, surprises for your clients, graphic goodies, giveaways and to stay on top of all the new tech stuff . . . You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn and by email... As well as . . .
Build a Better Blog... let's get naked
Hi guys and welcome to part 4 of the Build a Better Blog series where we're taking a look at design concepts related to every blog platform including ActiveRain, WordPress, Posterous, etc... In an earlier post, Minimalism... It's Not Just For Breakfast Anymore we saw how some of the most popular bloggers on the web (Seth Godin's marketing blog , John Gruber's insanely popular Daring Fireball and Leo Babauta's Zen Habits ) are using minimalism in their blog design. Today we're going to continue with that idea to see how minimalism can actually make your content really stand out from the crowd. Over on Facebook... Andrea left a comment about my site redesign (in progress) saying "I love the minimal style, the focus of my attention is drawn to your magnificent art work, I seriously love it! I loved it before, but now I really love it!"... and my reply was... "thx and exactly! People get so caught up with things like "what theme to use". Often a theme can be a distraction from the content. Not just for artwork but for homes as well. That is why minimalism is so popular with photographers, painters, architects, interior designers, etc... we want the work to be the focus of attention, not the technology." This is what she was referring to... If you take a close look at the image above you'll notice a few things. Even though I'm redesigning my site on WordPress, it has... - no header - no footer - no widgets - no navigation menu along the top (usually under the blog header) - and no generic, rectangular segmented areas like you see in most blog themes So why did I strip out almost everything from WordPress in my redesign? - by leaving out all the non necessary "stuff", the content becomes the focus - I'll still have all the functionality of WordPress like comments, a strong SEO platform, etc... - I prefer a clean, elegant look over a cluttered, everything in your face approach - a simplified menu makes things easier for people to use/find stuff I'll be writing more about this in upcoming tutorials to show alternate ways of using blogs (not just WordPress) to showcase your content. If you have additional topics you'd like to see covered or would like more information about custom graphics, themes or to book a 1 on 1 consultation to create or customize your WordPress or ActiveRain blogs, you can reach me here Later... For more info about how we can help you stand out from the crowd, contact GiselleStCyr@garaughty.com garaughty.com For more information about upcoming marketing partnerships, surprises for your clients, graphic goodies, giveaways and to stay on top of all the new tech stuff . . . You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn and by email... As well as . . .
WordPress in Plain English... lessons learned the hard way
Hi guys, and welcome back to the next part of the WordPress in Plain English series If you've followed this series up to this point, we've done everything from installing the WordPress software on a webhost to setting up your WordPress blog Before we go any further, I wanted to go over a few things that will make your life much easier whether you're thinking of using WordPress for your blog, your website or both. In the past few years I've designed, customized, consulted on and created graphics for more sites and blogs than I can count. Along the way I've learned a lot of valuable lessons, both from my clients and a bunch of stuff by trial and error. These short, to the point "lessons learned the hard way" will save you a ton of time, $$$ and frustration Nothing... and I mean NOTHING will give you more headaches and problems than bad web hosting. Building your blog or website on a bad web host is like building a luxury home on quicksand. I wrote in detail about quality web hosting in an earlier post in case you missed it. People are often scared away by some of the prices they see out on the web to create a custom WordPress site/blog. The fact is, you don't need a Ferrari to drive to the grocery store! You can start a WordPress blog with a simple theme framework like Twenty Ten that I mentioned here, add some custom graphics and have a very decent, professional looking blog without going broke. You can always tweak, pimp and add more customization later. The reason I wrote the WordPress in Plain English series was to help people who were trying to do it themselves but struggling with the details or got stuck along the way. I was not encouraging people to do something they're not comfortable with. At some point most people realize that stuff like this is usually best left to someone who really knows what they're doing. In the long run it's less expensive to set things up properly than to hire someone to undo all the tech boo boos and start all over again. If you need help, find a reputable geek with references, preferably from people you know, can talk to and can see live examples on the web. You can use WordPress as a standard website, not just as a blog. One of the best things about WP is that once it's set up, you can easily update the content yourself so there is no need to pay a "web guy" every time you want to add or change something. Even if you're not using the blog aspect of WordPress, using it as a standard website gives you the option to turn comments on or off each individual page of your WP site which is a great way to interact with clients, visitors and for example, collect additional feedback and testimonials on a references page. People love to give their opinions on things so be sure to turn comments on pages where it's appropriate. Whoops, never mind... this lesson was just for me. ;-) In the coming weeks we're going to take a closer look at how I turned the default WordPress theme... into a highly customized blog theme... And then we'll also take a look at how I turned one of my WordPress designs into a custom Rain blog theme on my outside AR blog If you have additional topics you'd like to see covered or would like more information about custom graphics, themes or to book a 1 on 1 consultation to create or customize your WordPress or ActiveRain blogs, you can reach me here Later... For more info about how we can help you stand out from the crowd, contact GiselleStCyr@garaughty.com garaughty.com For more information about upcoming marketing partnerships, surprises for your clients, graphic goodies, giveaways and to stay on top of all the new tech stuff . . . You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn and by email... As well as . . .
February blog graphics... wallpaper/calendar
Hi guys, this post is a day late because AR was offline most of yesterday afternoon so I wasn't able to post this until today. Better late than never? Also, I've received a lot of questions about my WordPress in Plain English and Build a Better Blog series that I'll answer sometime soon. Until then, here is my new February wallpaper/calendar that you can use, edit or give away on any of your own sites / blogs. The image above is a preview of the February wallpaper/calendar we're giving away on my website It's a photo of my latest painting... If you'd like to use this image on your own blog or site, you can either download it and give it away as is or feel free to add your own text. As always... People do not download wallpapers to see advertising on their computer screens so... less is more, keep it simple. Here is an example... You can use just about any graphics editor to add your own text to this calendar/wallpaper. I wrote some tutorials about this back in August 2008 and I'll be doing more updated tutorials about graphics soon. The only thing I ask is that you don't edit my painting, name or domain. Other than that you're welcome to... - use it on any of your websites or blogs - as a give away by email or as a download directly from your site/blog - you can add your name, domain or whatever you like Enjoy!!! If you have additional topics you'd like to see covered or would like more information about custom graphics, themes or to book a 1 on 1 consultation to create or customize your WordPress or ActiveRain blogs, you can reach me here Later... For more info about how we can help you stand out from the crowd, contact GiselleStCyr@garaughty.com garaughty.com For more information about upcoming marketing partnerships, surprises for your clients, graphic goodies, giveaways and to stay on top of all the new tech stuff . . . You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn and by email... As well as . . .
The Art of Marketing YOU... it's the little things
Hi guys, I hope everyone had a fun New Year's eve and that your 2011 is off to an awesome start. A post this morning by Andy Sernovitz about Cookies on an airplane reminded me of how the little things we do can make such a BIG difference to our clients, friends and relationships in general. As we begin a new year filled with enthusiasm and all kinds ideas we want to try, I think it's important not to get overwhelmed with stuff and to remember that little things can have a long lasting impact. A few examples... Andy's post talks about how Midwest Express Airlines bakes fresh chocolate chip cookies on every flight. Can you imagine the amazing aromas on those planes!!! Another example... At a favorite restaurant of mine, La Caverne Grecque... Peter (our usual waiter) on more than a few occasions has filled my friends' wine glasses with complimentary house wine after their bottles were empty. And many years ago, my real estate agent Arvin Thomas from RE/MAX surprised me with a nice set of wine bottles a few days after I moved in. I don't really drink but I appreciated the gesture and remember it to this day. For those of you who think closing gifts don't matter, think again! The point is, it's often the little things that people remember and talk about. This image has been in my head for almost a year now and finally I got it onto canvas. It's also available to download as this month's wallpaper at http://garaughty.com/calendar.html If you have additional topics you'd like to see covered or would like more information about custom graphics, themes or to book a 1 on 1 consultation to create or customize your WordPress or ActiveRain blogs, you can reach me here Later... For more info about how we can help you stand out from the crowd, contact GiselleStCyr@garaughty.com garaughty.com For more information about upcoming marketing partnerships, surprises for your clients, graphic goodies, giveaways and to stay on top of all the new tech stuff . . . You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn and by email... As well as . . .
Happy Holidays... the Santa Claus edition
Hi guys, we're all kind of crazy busy this time of the year so I'll keep this post short and sweet. 2010 was another extra special year for me in more ways than I can begin to list and I want to thank each and every one of you for being such a BIG part of it. You guys rock in so many ways from the insightful comments and your awesome blog posts to the amazing friendships and connections we've made here in the Rain. And for those of you who have kids or if you're just a kid at heart, here are a few ways you can connect with Santa before the BIG day arrives... Get a phone call from Santa Claus... http://www.sendacallfromsanta.com/ Get a personalized email from Santa Claus... http://www.emailsanta.com/ Take a tour of the North Pole at... http://www.northpole.com/ You can track Santa's trip around the world at NORAD... http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html On that note, I have coffee to brew and cookies to taste so we wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a very Merry Christmas! Stay safe, warm, be kind, reach out to someone who needs a friend and we'll see you all back here in 2011. For more information about upcoming marketing partnerships, surprises for your clients, graphic goodies, giveaways and to stay on top of all the new tech stuff . . . You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn and by email... As well as . . .
Wanna test drive Google's Chrome OS notebook?
Hi guys, here's a quickie for you while I'm taking a break from an insanely busy week. Enjoy! If you're 18 or over and living in the U.S... Google is looking for a few thousand people to test out their new Chroms OS notebook. If you're interested you can check it out at... https://services.google.com/fb/forms/cr48basic/ Finding all the cool, useful stuff on the web can be a major pain. Here are some of my favorite reads from the past few days. Rivals Say Google Plays Favorites by Amir EfratiGive me a reason to “like” your Facebook page by Andy SernovitzHOW TO: Make a Successful Marketing Video for the Web by Scott GerberStop Talking About Yourself, Start Talking as Yourself by Dan Zarrella6 Reasons Why Social Games Are the Next Advertising Frontier by Sarah Kessler Showcase Of Beautiful But Unusable Websites by Daniel Eckler, Glenn Manucdoc When’s the Best Time to Publish Blog Posts? by Dan Zarrella _________________________ If you have additional topics you'd like to see covered or would like more information about custom graphics, themes or to book a 1 on 1 consultation to create or customize your WordPress or ActiveRain blogs, you can reach me here Later... For more info about how we can help you stand out from the crowd, contact GiselleStCyr@garaughty.com garaughty.com For more information about upcoming marketing partnerships, surprises for your clients, graphic goodies, giveaways and to stay on top of all the new tech stuff . . . You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn and by email... As well as . . .