Brand Interview – Justine Lackey, Good Cents Bookkeeping

August 15th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, Brand-Interviews | No Comments
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Brand Interview – Justine Lackey, Good Cents Bookkeeping

Justine Lackey of Good Cents Bookkeeping

How long has your company been in business? Please tell us a bit about your company, its mission, goals…
I have been providing bookkeeping services for over thirteen years. I officially incorporated in 2008 and began hiring staff. My company’s mission is to provide high quality bookkeeping services to small businesses and self employed individuals. This year I started focusing on bringing financial and accounting education to entrepreneurs in a way that is fresh, fun and highly informative.

Do you donate to charities? Tell us about that also and why.
I personally donate to charities as often as I can, and very often I promote other people’s fundraising efforts using social media. As a mother, and someone who is very connected to her family, I give most to disaster relief funds and children’s charities.

One of my favorite charities is the Fresh Air Fund run by the NY Times; I give to them faithfully every year. My daughter is a budding animal rights advocate; this year together we set up a page on the World Wildlife Federation site and together we raised over $250 for the protection of endangered animals. It was a great lesson to teach her in terms of helping her world, and setting a goal and reaching it.

How did you know what typeface (font) would be right for your company wordmark or logo? If your logo has an illustration, describe why that art was the right thing, animal, place, object, etc…
I didn’t know which typeface to use; I left that to my designer Prim Chuesumran. Our goal has always been to keep the palate and design of Good Cents Bookkeeping clean, tidy and sophisticated. This is how much people want to feel about there money – they want things to feel “in order” and they want to feel “sophisticated.” Using the Cents sign in the logo was just naturally made “cents.”

Good Cents Bookkeeping Logo

How did you decide on the right color palette to fit your company look and feel?
I originally worked with Richard Pandiscio of Pandiscio Design Co which was well over a decade ago. He had the genius idea of keeping the green palette to match the color of accounting ledger paper. Most people believe the “Good Cents” green is connected to money, which of course it is, but the original inspiration came from accounting ledger paper.

How did you decide which type of designer to work with, or did you design your own identity and web presence?
I was working as Richard’s bookkeeper at the time so it was natural to ask him. He has an incredible professional history and was very well connected to my “target market.” It was perfect fit, and the project just unfolded organically. When I was ready to develop a web site, Richard had moved into a place of working with very large scale projects. This time, I turned to my close friend and one of Richard’s former employees, Prim Chuensumran to take on designing and building my web site. I have worked with Prim every since and consider myself very blessed to have such a synergistic relationship with my designer.

In what order did you present your company to the world? Did you start with marketing and products, or website, blog and social media?
I started with my service the old fashion way – through word of mouth and nothing else. By far my strongest method of marketing is the positive referrals I receive from clients and my close professional relationships to CPA firms.

How long after the launch of your company did you start pitching in social media?
I still find social media tricky to use for my particular brand and business. Money is an intimate issue and most people do not yet look to social media to find financial professionals.

This fall I am launching a bookkeeping webinar for entrepreneurs, virtual assistants, and self employed individuals. I am very interested to see the “return on investment” for marketing this particular service via social media.

Did you do research or study any software, take webinars, teleclasses, before approaching any area of your marketing or web presence?
I strongly believe in research and continuing education so I engage regularly and often in all types of webinars and teleclasses.

Do you advertise locally in newspapers and/or nationally in magazines? Are they effective?
No.

Do you advertise online using Google, Facebook or on other company sites? Are they effective?
As I said earlier, I find using social media and internet marketing a little tricky for my current bookkeeping business. I might have a different response to this question after launching my bookkeeping webinar which I plan to market using google ads, facebook and twitter.

When you printed your products, packaging, business cards and other print marketing did you choose an online printer or visit a local vendor?
I have worked with Phoenix Design and Print in PA starting with my first round of business cards over a decade ago. I have used only them for everything I have printed since: letterhead, envelopes, notecards, holiday cards, postcards everything. I value supporting other small businesses and believe in branding loyalty to the “little folks.”

Did you know anything about different types of papers, when you wanted to print your marketing materials?
I looked at samples – on the advice of my fabulous designer. When the card stock I originally used became unavailable I printed a round of branded materials without reviewing the cardstock first. Never again. The card stock was too light and I had to reprint the whole lot to achieve my desired results.

Have you ever used “green” technology in printing, using FSC certified papers or recycled paper and if not, how likely are you at trying this on a next project?
Good idea for next time! But to date I have not.

If you sell products, are they produced in the USA or abroad?
N/A

Is there anything you haven’t yet tackled, but will want to do soon?
I am ready, and excited, to launch the educational services piece of my business.

 

To learn more about Justine Lackey and Good Cents Bookkeeping, visit the links below:

Website: www.goodcentsbookkeeping.com
Blog: www.goodcentsbookkeeping.com/blog
Facebook: www.facebook.com/itsgoodcents
Twitter: www.twitter.com/itsgoodcents

Got SEO? Even A Social Media Expert Should Know Better

August 14th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, marketing | No Comments
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Everybody that has a website or blog listen up! If your site has no Title, Description or Keyword tags, no one will ever see or find your website. I don’t know how to say this stronger, (without cursing)  but if I see one more website where the title of the homepage is “Home” I’m going to start contacting every site I come across and email them with a screenshot of their own site with a big arrow pointed at where the “title” should be.

Now you may be thinking, these are newbies, but you’d be wrong! I just came across a website for a pretty well known social media person, that lots of people follow and the homepage said “home.” Not only is there no title, but no other tags either.

A social media expert with no tags? UNREAL!

Many times I’ve seen this with celebrities, and I’m sure their thinking is, everybody knows me, I don’t need tags, but do you know what? Even celebrities need tags, why? Because lots of people create fake celebrity sites and you’ll bet that site has tags. So when someone is searching on Google for a famous person’s site, wouldn’t you prefer if the real site was listed first?

Here’s a little screenshot showing what I’m talking about.

website title is home and needs seo badly

 

 

Branding Wars: Why I love My Apple Computers and Hate My Dell

August 11th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, Branding Wars | 8 Comments
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Apple IIc computer 90s

Photo courtesy Wikipedia

My first Apple IIc computer was way back in the early 90s, and had a 500 mb hard drive. It was shaped kind of clunky then and I had a 13″ monitor to go with it. Loaded was all the software, fonts and I had lots of imagery on disk too! As I gained experience over the years, upgraded the systems and programs, so too did Apple. I’ve had G4s, ibook, macmini, itouch, and the gadgets get better and cooler, as the Apple brand really sets itself apart from the rest.

Today I work on a desktop Apple, a macmini and have great wide screen monitors to showcase the Apple technology in all it’s glory.

About 18 months ago I decided to buy a Dell PC so I could load Microsoft Office and assorted other software for Skype, and Camtasia for creating video tutorials. It really was just to see my client’s website design and development through Firefox and Internet Explorer on the PC (as well as the Mac).

Here’s the basic issue.

After working on macs all these years, with it’s ease of functionality, the simplicity of being able to do work I need to without any confusion, the simple and direct way it opens, shares, and just does everything the logical way, why would I even need another type of system? Of course it’s because there are others who are on the PC.

Well, of course this is the whole point of competition and branding wars. Someone always thinks they can create something kind of like what you have.

The Dell I have is so slow, and it’s so confused. It pops things at me constantly, updates without asking me, and is just so disorganized. Half the time I cannot find something I just downloaded or saved.

It’s time for PC companies to realize that Apple just did it right and if they cannot do something similar, just give it a rest.

_______

I needed to write again after the tragic loss of Steve Jobs this past week. I never met him but really felt like he knew just what I wanted and always seem to create the coolest gadgets and computers. When the Macbook Air came out, I thought, ahhh yes, nice and thin and light. When the iTouch came out, I thought that was the coolest of all the gadgets. In my pocket I had my portfolio, music, a book or two, a few videos, a movie, I could search the internet, get email, and more… it was the greatest “travel accessory” ever!

I’m so looking forward to chucking my Blackberry and getting an iPhone and can’t wait to video phone my family and friends, just like I use Skype now on my computers.

He was such an iconic genius and I feel like I’ve lost a friend who has stood by me for the last 20 years. The Apple products have been a part of my life that long and I don’t know what he would have come up with next, but I know I would have wanted it.

He changed our lives and the way we communicate forever. My sincerest Thank You for all that you did and for caring.

_______

It’s official, the Dell Inspiron laptop has died as of February 6, 2012. The system has failed on a not yet 2 year old laptop. Pretty sad considering my Apple computers are still running smoothly year after year. So what to do now? Try to repair it and spend even more money on it? Buy a used one from a friend, because I sure would spend the money for a new one. Ideas?

_______

Updates on idiotic Dell Inspiron since last posting:

I had to spend more $ and a brand new hard drive had to be installed, the old one fried up, nothing could be retrieved… along with anti virus software and spyware.

Everything seemed all right until Friday, March 9th, when I have a meeting scheduled with a new potential client, turn on my Dell and it won’t start. Says it cannot find the Windows operating system and I now need to call them on the phone for ID verification. Just unbelievable. Went back to repair and he helped me get it back running.

Today! It’s Thursday, March 15th, and now Skype and Super Tin Tin have stopped working. After downloading Skype again, and twice, it’s sometimes working, sometimes quitting. Super Tin Tin won’t work at all. It’s back to the repair shop again today!

Brand Interview – Bonnie Stern, Cupie Loves, LLC and Sex Butter

August 8th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, Brand-Interviews | No Comments
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Brand Interview – Bonnie Stern, Cupie Loves, LLC and Sex Butter

Bonnie Stern

How long has your company been in business? Please tell us a bit about your company, its mission, goals…
Cupie Loves, LLC, which owns the product Sex Butter, began in 2008.  Sex Butter was in the research & development stages until the end of 2010 and the product just became available for retail consumption in January 2011.  August 2011 will be our first actual promotional launch.

Cupie Loves, LLC – Visions/Missions

The Alchemist’s Vision:

“My personal vision is to see women as the iconic symbol of love, respect, potential, and equilibrium. Their sensual being divinely inspired to live life to its fullest. Women have long been in a place of sensual disrespect. Time for that to change.

Placed within this product is the true reverence for the feminine and masculine… the balance of sensual performance, the burst of joy and ecstasy, which produces the healing chemistry for a healthier body.”

Bonnie’s Vision:

“My vision behind Sex Butter and Cupie Loves is to create and market products that are loving, sensual, healthy, healing, empowering, and make people and animals feel their best.”

Joli’s Vision:

“My vision for our products and company is to stay tuned into the desire for organic, clean, wholesome products that actually do what they say they will do free from side effects to the human, animal, or planet. I have long wanted to make a difference in the organic world and this takes me to that difference.”

Cupie Loves’ Goals are to make a positive difference in the lives of couples worldwide so that they spread the love around while the company and owners are positively abundant and successful.

Do you donate to charities? Tell us about that also and why.
Yes, we have already donated to several charities over $1,500 each to: Abused Women and Relay for Life (Cancer) even though we are not currently making money.  All of us feel that it’s important to help others less fortunate to make a positive difference in the world and hopefully set an example for others to do the same. It’s important to give back.

How did you know what typeface (font) would be right for your company wordmark or logo? If your logo has an illustration, describe why that art was the right thing, animal, place, object, etc...
Joli A. Campbell, our designer, went for artwork and fonts that felt feminine, flowing, beautiful, simple, elegant, felt good and pleasing, since those are the qualities of the product.

How did you decide on the right color palette to fit your company look and feel?
I wanted colors that were feminine yet a man would not be turned off too so I focused on deep raspberry with black font and we will have silver on our travel packets coming soon!

Sex Butter by Cupie Loves, LLC
How did you decide which type of designer to work with, or did you design your own identity and web presence?
Joli is part of our company as of May 2011.

In what order did you present your company to the world? Did you start with marketing and products, or website, blog and social media?
Website, blog and social media.

How long after the launch of your company did you start pitching in social media?
I’m just about to start so it will end up being 8-9 months.

Sex Butter website header by Joli Campbell

Did you do research or study any software, take webinars, teleclasses, before approaching any area of your marketing or web presence?
Yes, LOTS! Shopping cart software was important, I’ve taken several teleclasses, and in person classes as well as individual and intensive coaching on several occasions.

Do you advertise locally in newspapers and/or nationally in magazines? Are they effective?
No.

Do you advertise online using Google, Facebook or on other company sites? Are they effective?
Not yet on advertising… Starting this month, August 2011.

When you printed your products, packaging, business cards and other print marketing did you choose an online printer or visit a local vendor?
I used two vendors online for printed material like business cards and labels.  Both companies I have worked with before so I trust the quality of their production.  Packaging was also found online through various vendors.

Did you know anything about different types of papers, when you wanted to print your marketing materials?
Yes, it is very important to pick quality paper that holds up. I picked our business cards to be on a nice silky stock that is larger than a standard business card so that is stands out in a stack.

Have you ever used “green” technology in printing, using FSC certified papers or recycled paper and if not, how likely are you at trying this on a next project?
We have not to date, but if we are ever presented with the options to do so from our vendors, we will always consider the planet in our choices.

If you sell products, are they produced in the USA or abroad?
Both USA and abroad.

Is there anything you haven’t yet tackled, but will want to do soon?
Get the marketing going.. we are in process.

More social media connecting and spreading the word.

Television talk show connections.

Getting out there and speaking.

 

To learn more about Bonnie Stern, Cupie Loves, LLC and Sex Butter, visit the links below:

Website: www.sexbutter.net
Blog: www.sexbutterblog.com
Facebook:Bonnie Stern
Facebook:Sex Butter on Facebook
Twitter: sexbutterbabe
YouTube:  Sex Butter on YouTube

How Well Do Your Social Media Clients Know You? And You Them?

August 4th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, marketing | No Comments
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This week I have been thinking a lot about my clients. Those first phone calls where you are just getting to know each other and how those calls are solely focused on the client’s needs. As they should be.

After you’ve worked together successfully, moved forward with other projects, and become more familiar with each other, do you think your client truly knows you as a real person, or all that you can do for them? Do you know them? This can only be true if both parties are willing to share and open up.

I realized recently the huge difference between those who really don’t take the time to learn my core values and those clients who I have worked with more closely, and know me as an individual.

So, how do we turn a new client into someone who will want to know us more fully, gain them as a brand advocate, or even a friend? Some may argue that we shouldn’t want a client to be a friend? I know that when I know someone better, I can help them with what I know and willingly pass along. I know that I design better when I know more about my client’s needs.

There needs to be a solid connection of understanding. We need to have that moment when we reach the all important point… we now respect, confide, and just get the other person. We place our trust in them and feel we have moved in the right direction. From that moment on, the relationship becomes one of integrity and honesty and will continue to grow.

Social media has opened up that arena for us to be ourselves and it’s supposed to give those interested (when they see your posts) a better understanding of us, but let’s be honest. Direct contact is really the only way to feel someone’s presence. In person get togethers and meetings can build substantially to a relationship like no other way. I do feel Skype helps, because the face-to-face is so much more than a phone call or posts, photos, audio, even video. Anything other than direct contact will always be just scratching the surface.

Brand Interview – Sarah Shaw, Entreprenette

August 2nd, 2011 | Posted in Blog, Brand-Interviews | 2 Comments
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Brand Interview – Sarah Shaw, Entreprenette

Sarah Shaw Entreprenette

How long has your company been in business? Please tell us a bit about your company, its mission, goals…

I have been coaching through Entreprenette for 3 years. I work with women entrepreneurs to help them develop their product line, teach them to manage their manufacturing, get it to celebrities, into stores, find showrooms, work with sales reps, sell on-line and get PR.

Sarah’s early business expansion:

“I came through this experience with an amazing realization: that Sarah Shaw, me, wasn’t just some name on the door of a building. I realized that I was the BRAND.

And I realized that being the brand was way more important than having one.

I felt inspired to do something new. I was empowered.

Sarah talks about moving forward from 2005:

“Towards the end of 2005, a friend referred me to Ladies who Launch, a national women’s networking group for entrepreneurs. I took their Incubator class, hoping it would redirect me with the Handbag Hanger and get me back to my manufacturing roots.

I was so inspired and encouraged by my launching buddies that I created Simply Sarah in early 2006 and grew the company to be profitable in less than 10 months. Simply Sarah sells the Handy Hold All® (AKA the Handbag Hanger), Cosmetic Bags and Organizing Baskets. It is now sold in over 400 stores nationwide with exclusive distribution deals in Australia and Japan.”

Simply Sarah Hanger Pattern

Simply Sarah Hanger design

Giving back to female entrepreneurs:

“Had it not been for my years of hard work and mistakes, I would not have been able to create my latest passion, Entreprenette.com.

It is my gift to share with all of you, my fellow female entrepreneurs. It is your opportunity to learn firsthand from all I have been through without having to experience it yourself.”

From a feature article on Sarah Shaw from American Express Open Forum, Powering Small business Success

read the full interview “5 Secrets To Getting Celebrity Love For Your Products“ by Rieva Lesonsky dated: May 26, 2011

“In the 1990s, Sarah Shaw’s line of Sarah Shaw handbags became a hit with celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts and Sarah Jessica Parker, and were featured in the pages of People, InStyle, and Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine. The resulting publicity helped Shaw grow her business to a $1 million company, with Sarah Shaw bags sold in over 1,200 boutiques and department stores nationwide…”

 

Do you donate to charities? Tell us about that also and why.

Not at this time.

How did you know what typeface (font) would be right for your company wordmark or logo? If your logo has an illustration, describe why that art was the right thing, animal, place, object, etc…

I didn’t actually have any idea to be honest.  I have a graphic designer, Nicole Lennol, Nic Norman Studio I work with a lot and she came up with the font with the polka dots which I loved.  It felt whimsical yet professional.

Entreprenette branding typeface design

How did you decide on the right color palette to fit your company look and feel?

Again, my Graphic Designer picked the colors and I just helped tweak them a bit.

How did you decide which type of designer to work with, or did you design your own identity and web presence?

I have known and worked with Nicole my graphic designer for years. The web designer was Josh Schuyler from Every Angle Media.

In what order did you present your company to the world? Did you start with marketing and products, or website, blog and social media?

I actually started coaching first through word of mouth and then realized I needed a website and logo!  I created the website and social media platforms first, then marketing and sales and only started my blog about  27 months ago.

How long after the launch of your company did you start pitching in social media?

Right away.

Did you do research or study any software, take webinars, teleclasses, before approaching any area of your marketing or web presence?

I worked with a business coach for 6 months to learn about marketing online for service based businesses and then brought on a partner who specializes is that.

Do you advertise locally in newspapers and/or nationally in magazines? Are they effective?

Nope, I don’t do any advertising.

Do you advertise online using Google, Facebook or on other company sites? Are they effective?

I do some google ad words and find it to be up and down as far as sending traffic.

When you printed your products, packaging, business cards and other print marketing did you choose an online printer or visit a local vendor?

I used both.

Did you know anything about different types of papers, when you wanted to print your marketing materials?

Yes, I am quite familiar with paper but don’t believe in spending a lot on paper for cards, stationery or line sheets.  I have never found it makes a difference is sales.

Have you ever used “green” technology in printing, using FSC certified papers or recycled paper and if not, how likely are you at trying this on a next project?

I have not, but am planning to look into it for next time.

If you sell products, are they produced in the USA or abroad?

My product line is made in China but I do use a lot of local sewing factories with my clients and some of my own smaller lines.

Is there anything you haven’t yet tackled, but will want to do soon?

Find a ghost-blogger that can really write like me!

Sarah on Extra from Obsidian on Vimeo.

 

To learn more about Sarah Shaw, Entreprenette and Simply Sarah, visit the links below:

Website:  http://www.entreprenette.com

Blog:  http://www.theentreprenettegazette.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/entreprenette

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/entreprenette

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedIn.com/entreprenette

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