Brand Video Interview – Kathryn Rose, Social Buzz Club

September 26th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, Brand-Interviews | No Comments
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Brand Video Interview – Kathryn Rose, Social Buzz Club

I’m proud to feature this “Skype Video” Brand Interview.

Kathryn Rose - Social Buzz Club

How long has your company been in business? Please tell us a bit about your company, its mission, goals…
It started over year ago… we needed an outlet to get the word out easier, sharing one another’s content easier and we didn’t find what we wanted, so Laura Rubinstein and I created the “Social Buzz Club” last June. We now have 300+ members.

Our mission is to help people get the exposure for themselves or their clients, build more blog traffic, (some have reported a 62% increase)… to get the word out for each other, by each other.

We also created a learning center and every thursday we feature top experts, such as, Mari Smith, Denise Wakeman (the Blog Squad), Amy Portfield, and Lou Bortone. If you aren’t a member, on thursdays you can watch the Free webinar, but after the live event, the interview goes into the membership “learning center” section.


 

Do you donate to charities? Tell us about that also and why.
I donate “in-kind” of my time to many charities to help spread the word about their mission or special events. For the Social Buzz Club, a registered 5013C can submit information to us and we will load the “buzz” for free. It will be marked as a “2 point” share, so members who share the buzz gain double the points for charity buzz, whereas regular buzz from members is 1 point per share. When a member shares a post, because there are more than 300 members now, there is a chance of 3 million impressions.


 

How did you know what typeface (font) would be right for your company wordmark or logo?
I had worked with Erika Ruggiero in the past, so I engaged her. We knew we didn’t want a “bee!” We wanted the name to convey… an “electrified” feeling, so the parentheses around “buzz” was just right.

How did you decide on the right color palette to fit your company look and feel?
Many other companies go with blues, so we selected maroon and gold for excitement and buzz.

How did you decide which type of designer to work with, or did you design your own identity and web presence?
We just love WordPress, so Laura Rubinstein, my business partner did that part, but the actual full membership website was a custom build by a company out of Michigan, “itec.”


 

social buzz club logo and website design

How long after the launch of your company did you start pitching in social media?
We haven’t yet done a full launch. We built the platform and then reached out to influencers for press and features. Michael Stelzner of Social Media Examiner did a feature on us, which helped grow the membership. A new version of the site, “2.0″ will be coming out soon and then we’ll launch the full blown campaign! The social media plan is a combination of press releases, influencers, getting interviews and word of mouth.


 

Can you tell us about your Google Analytic stats since the soft launch and the stats now?
I have a search engine optimization and Google analytics background, so I love to look at the numbers. Both the readership and email list are growing and our bounce rate is under 20%. Visitors stay on the site an average of 3 minutes, so we know they are reading. Through the back end of the site we also have stats I can monitor and can see that a lot of the opt-ins are for “10 Keys for Successful Collaborations.” They come, they stay and they want to read what’s on the site.


 

Did you do research or study any software, take webinars, teleclasses, before approaching any area of your marketing or web presence?
We investigated other sites such as Ming, iGroup and other out-of-the-box membership sites, but we didn’t want it to be a social network. We looked at other sites and the way their sharing functionality worked. The system we built “pings” the network to be sure it was shared. On other sites you can click to share, but it may or may not work. Our system is accurate.

I would recommend that anyone who wishes to build a site like ours, should hire a visibility, functionality, and technical expert. Ours was a learning experience, but because we knew what we wanted, it works very well.


 

Do you advertise locally in newspapers and/or nationally in magazines? Do you advertise online using Google, Facebook or on other company sites? Are they effective?
Local newspapers and national magazines wouldn’t work well because our target audience is bloggers and social media experts. Once we launch “Social Buzz Club 2.0″ Facebook and LinkedIn ads will be in the works.

When you printed your products, packaging, business cards and other print marketing did you choose an online printer or visit a local vendor?
We used a combo, my neighbor happens to be a printer, so we used them for our coupons, but the business cards were ordered online.

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?
The coupons are printed on recycled paper, the business cards I’m not sure.


 

Is there anything you haven’t yet tackled, but will want to do soon?
I love to speak at events and recently opened for Rudy Giuliani at the Small Business Survival Summit in Baltimore. It was a fabulous experience. I will be speaking at Tori Johnson’s Spark & Hustle in December and also Lorman Education Services.

For the Social Buzz Club the plan is to continually improve the platform and grow the membership!


 

For more information about Kathryn Rose and Social Buzz Club, visit the links below:

Website: http://www.socialbuzzclub.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/socialbuzzclub
Twitter: http://twitter.com/socialbuzzclub (@socialbuzzclub)
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/katkrose
Google+: http://plus.ly/katrose
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/socialbuzzclub

Brand Interview – Julie Steelman, Effortless Affluence and author of The Effortless Yes

September 19th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, Brand-Interviews | No Comments
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Brand Interview – Julie Steelman, Effortless Affluence and
author of The Effortless Yes

Julie Steelman

I’m proud to feature Julie Steelman, Effortless Affluence, and author of “The Effortless Yes!” This is a Skype video interview.

How long has your company been in business? Please tell us a bit about your company, its mission, goals…
It’s Julie’s heartfelt mission to help women regardless of the size of their business find a path to profitability, so they can live that independent life they really create… become a woman of affluence… turn passions into profits.

Do you donate to charities? Tell us about that also and why?
Julie donates to two charities. One is the University of Santa Monica in L.A. where she received her masters degree in spiritual psychology. She says she wouldn’t be the person she is today… it lead to the life she has and wants others to have the same chances. She also donates to the San Diego Zoology Association, who takes care of animals and endangered species. She sponsored a Bongo while in Kenya last year.
 

How did you know what typeface (font) would be right for your company wordmark or logo? How did you decide on the right color palette to fit your company look and feel? How did you decide which type of designer to work with?
Julie says is all started with a color palette. The heart chakra is green, and money is green, and she wants to take businesses into the gold… so green and gold were the primary colors and she then added teal for playfulness and to add in the sky and water of Hawaii. She feels that she needed an experienced designer and that the power of a brand done well, gives the customer a viseral multisensory experience.

Julie Steelman website image
 

In what order did you present your company to the world? Did you start with marketing and products, website, blog or social media?
Julie saw a need for entrepreneurs who were struggling and couldn’t make the money they should, so she stepped forward and started with coaching services. Before writing her new book The Effortless Yes, she studied the market and soon will be launching an advanced program.

On social media, Julie started instantly, at the same time as the website, planting the seeds to generate interest.
 

Did you do research or study any software, take webinars, teleclasses, before approaching any area of your marketing or web presence?  Do you advertise locally in newspapers and/or nationally in magazines? Are they effective? Do you advertise online using Google, Facebook or on other company sites?
Not really. Julie has a background in advertising, marketing and sales. After a year she started researching how to make the time on social media work for her. She doesn’t advertise locally (Hawaii) because that is not her market. She’s looking into strategic advertising and will call Facebook to discuss this.
 

When you printed your products, packaging, business cards and other print marketing, did you choose an online printer or visit a local vendor?
She went online, because the Hawaiian people are on “island time” and it was easier and more convenient to click and buy online, have it delivered to her.

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?
Absolutely! Julie’s business cards are printed on recycled paper and used soy inks. She feels it’s totally worth the cost. She’s not sure if her book is “green” and will find out, meanwhile she has created the digital versions of her book.

Julie Steelman - The Effortless Yes
 

Is there anything you haven’t yet tackled, but will want to do soon?
She is going to have a live event and retreat in Hawaii, combining swimming with dolphins, and other experiential plans, so women can become the women of affluence they want to be!
 

To learn more about Julie Steelman, and Effortless Affluence, visit the links below:

Website and Blog: www.juliesteelman.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WomenofAffluence
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieSteelman
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/juliesteelman
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/juliesteelman
Google+: https://plus.google.com/107023606432549833939#107023606432549833939/posts

 

YOUR Branding Success Story! I’m Featuring YOU!

September 14th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, marketing | No Comments
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The “Branding YOU Better” Brand Interview Series

Why is branding so important and why do I talk about it 24/7?

Without a unique and strong brand identity along with sincere messaging, how do you expect customers to “get you” and then do business with you? A successful brand is one that you can easily picture in your mind. You get a feeling and sense about that company as well as are able to imagine their logo and design look, color palette, immediately in your mind. If I said “Apple,” I’m sure you could describe their brand in great detail, not just their logo and color palette and the way their online presence looks, but their clever tv advertising, computers, iphones, ipods, and more…

A few months back I started a brand interview series, and to date have published 28 interviews. I enjoy reading each and every one, (as do others) including how they developed their brand, in what order, who they engaged to help them, whether they studied through webinars, what charities they support, and if they use “green” printing technology. The response has been wonderful. The readership of this blog has quintupled and continues to grow with each new one published and as a bonus, the bounce rate dropped to 1%, proving that content is indeed king, and people love reading other people’s stories.

If you would like to be featured, just download the pdf, fill it out fully, and email it back to me along with your online links, photograph of yourself (approximately 3″ x 5″) and any products, graphics, logos, screenshots, and video, you’d like included. If you would prefer a Skype interview, contact me and we’ll schedule it.

To see the other interviews, visit Brand Interviews.

Just a few of the Brand Interviews so far!

brand interview collage

Brand Interview – Payson Cooper, Transformational Jewelry and Easy Marketing Secrets

September 12th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, Brand-Interviews | No Comments
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Brand Interview – Payson Cooper, Transformational Jewelry and Easy Marketing Secrets

Payson Cooper

How long has your company been in business? Please tell us a bit about your company, its mission, goals…
My company has been in business for several years, since about 2005, but started out quite different than it is now. When I launched my first online business, PaysonJewelry.com, I was focusing on learning how to build an online jewelry company. That process evolved into a second, much more targeted jewelry site, called TransformationalJewelry.com where a collection that was inspired by my belief in Law of Attraction and personal growth is showcased. While I was working to build both sites, I learned a TON about online marketing, off-line marketing and just business building in general. And, it was through an effort to continue to build those businesses that I stumbled upon an even bigger passion than jewelry making (I love making jewelry, but that has almost nothing to do with building a jewelry business…). That passion is helping female, service based entrepreneurs leverage their businesses and market better, so they can serve more people, make more money and really live their passion.

Do you donate to charities? Tell us about that also and why.
Over the years I have donated to many different charities, some of my ‘regulars’ include The Smile Train, The Environmental Defense Fund and some specific Hospice organizations. As with so many entrepreneurs, giving back is a big piece of my vision for building my own business. The next area I plan to support, likely with both time and money, is to help teach adults to read. I can’t imagine what my world would be like without words, and I want to make sure that anyone who has the desire can access books and information and everything that they offer.

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…
My typeface and logo are still a ‘work in progress’, I try to find things that express the feeling of the project I’m working on, and I know very soon I’ll have something I feel expresses my brand very clearly. It’s a project I’ve wanted to wait on – putting together my colors, fonts and design elements, until I was really clear on what I wanted to express. That is coming together for me now. The things I know will need to be included? Something fun and familiar.

How did you decide which type of designer to work with, or did you design your own identity and web presence?
At this stage I have designed most of my own identity and presence, trying to keep it simple and unified. To me, investing in a designer is an important part of pulling all the pieces together, but you need to have clarity before going there, or you can’t help the designer get to the core of what you want. I’m arriving at that stage now, and I know, once I complete the design and branding phase, it will help me to grow and expand my business even faster.

payson cooper website screen

In what order did you present your company to the world? Did you start with marketing and products, or website, blog and social media?
For the jewelry business, I started with products and a website, then did live events, blogging and social media to help build traffic and awareness. With the marketing aspect of my business, it started very organically through the live networking I was doing, when I realized it was something I really loved and could help people with, I built a website, started blogging and doing social media around it as well.

How long after the launch of your company did you start pitching in social media?
My company started before social media was around, but as soon as I started to get involved, I began experimenting with sharing things here and there that could have been described as ‘pitches.’ It is important to balance your social media accounts, remember that first and foremost, they are ‘social’ and you should be too. But I have gotten involved with so many things and purchased so many packages and products because of introductions and recommendations on social media that it would be silly for me not to use it for business. I’ve connected to prospects, clients, media opportunities and much more – it’s a huge part of how I get the word out about what I’m doing. My approach is to give great content, share great links to supporting or ‘complimentary’ content, interact and sprinkle in some promotional stuff. It seems to work very well.

Did you do research or study any software, take webinars, teleclasses, before approaching any area of your marketing or web presence?
Oh, yes! I love love love to learn. It’s one of my favorite things… and I’ve taken teleseminars, webinars, video classes, joined member sites, been to workshops and seminars on everything from social media to PR to marketing to project organization and management. I don’t see the need to recreate the wheel if there is someone I can learn from. A shortcut like that can save you thousands of wasted dollars and hours – it is well worth the investment. If you are interested in taking programs, be sure to ask around for referrals from friends – there are all kinds both online and off – people who really want to serve and people who aren’t as focused there. Take your time and chose what you feel will work well for you, then really dig in and don’t just ‘learn’, start to implement as well. It’s the implementation and action that will lead to a return on your investments in your education.

Do you advertise locally in newspapers and/or nationally in magazines? Are they effective?
I haven’t done a whole lot of advertising for my businesses in newspapers or magazines, although it is in my marketing plan for sometime down the road.

Do you advertise online using Google, Facebook or on other company sites? Are they effective?
Yes, I have advertised online with both Google and Facebook. In both cases there was some impact, and it was fairly effective with Facebook. I’ll be working on several new Facebook campaigns coming up soon.

When you printed your products, packaging, business cards and other print marketing did you choose an online printer or visit a local vendor?
For my jewelry packaging I have done all of it – purchased from local vendors, from jewelry catalog suppliers and from online vendors. For my marketing business I have stuck mainly with online vendors.

Did you know anything about different types of papers, when you wanted to print your marketing materials?
Not a whole lot, but for my business cards I knew I wanted a heavy weight and matte finish. It’s my preference as I wanted the cards to feel really good in the hand. I’ve gotten a great response to them.

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?
Yes, every chance I get – from jewelry boxes to business cards, I am 100% committed to using recycled materials whenever possible.

If you sell products, are they produced in the U.S.A. or abroad?
My jewelry lines are produced here in the U.S.A. with recycled/repurposed precious metals. Certain items, like chains, are sourced from suppliers and I’m not always sure where they come from.

Is there anything you haven’t yet tackled, but will want to do soon?
There is SO much! I’m working on a few different packages and online/virtual marketing workshops and mentorship programs. It’s really exciting to see my clients’ businesses growing and to watch as they create the success they set out to achieve, so I’m really looking forward to expanding my reach, so I can support more people in the process. We all have something unique and very special to share with the world, and it’s an honor to be able to support a few people to get their gift out into the world, and support them while they transform not only their own lives, but their client’s and customer’s as well.
 

 
To learn more about Payson Cooper visit the links below:
Website: http://www.PaysonCooper.com
Blog: http://www.PaysonCooper.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EasyMarketingSecrets#!/MarketingYourBusiness
Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/PaysonCooper
YouTube: http://www.YouTube.com/PaysonCooper
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/paysoncooper
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/109881325468383769309#109881325468383769309/posts

Brand Interview – Dawn Catherine, La Bella Vita Cosmetico & La Bella Vino

September 5th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, Brand-Interviews | No Comments
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Brand Interview – Dawn Catherine, La Bella Vita Cosmetico & La Bella Vino

Dawn Catherine Portrait

How long has your company been in business? Please tell us a bit about your company, its mission, goals…
I created La Bella Vita Cosmetico a little over two years ago so everyone could savor a taste of the Italian lifestyle, the lifestyle of truly living beautifully. La Bella Vita Cosmetico is my vision, come to life, where I am able to share a part of my heritage, my passion and experiences of my travels in Italy. I explore Italy’s rich history, art, food, and wine by providing products and goods that represent the quintessential superior quality of Italian craftsmanship.

Inspired to fill the void in natural and organic cosmetics, I set out to create products with superior standards of efficacy and quality. I chose an Italian manufacturer whose cosmetic artisans handcraft and package each and every product on a batch by batch basis. Undeniable product integrity, using only certified all natural and organic phyto-pharmeceuticals, the purest concentrations of plant and botanical extracts, known for their soothing and anti-aging properties, Bella Vino and Bella Organico luxury lines combine age defying science and luxury something rarely seen in the industry. Bella Vino is an award winning luxury organic Vino Therapy skin care line. Simply stated, Vino Therapy is skin care infused with the botanical power of the grapevine. Vino Therapy, transforms skin with powerful, age defying anti-oxidants harvested from the by-products of the wine making process.  Bello Organico is a luxury organic line made in exclusive cooperation from the Tuscan farm Montagnano in Arezzo, Italy. The line includes facial and body lotions, body oils and shampoos infused with honey, goat milk, lavender & wine , mint & chamomile, olive oil all cultivated organically and ethically from the farm. Spring of 2012, will bring the launch of the Bella Vino Make-up line, bath and body collection and I am currently working on creating a signature fragrance.

Having infused the Bella Vino line with the by-products of the wine making process is where I truly learned in depth about the actual wine making process. It was then I developed more than just a taste for wine, wanting to be part of the process and having my own brand of wine was something I thought was just a dream. Partnering with Fattoria La Striscia Vineyard in the Chianti region of Arezzo, Tuscany, I developed my  own line of wines called “La Bella Vino”. Three different red wines will bare the “La Bella Vino” label; Chianti, Toscana and Merlot and white wines will be coming soon as well. The wines were created to be used in various treatments in conjunction with my Bella Vino skin care and spa line. La Bella Vino will also be available in wine stores around the country. To be involved in the process of wine making is an amazing experience. I honestly don’t think anyone has any idea what kind of passion one must have to make just one bottle of wine.

Bella Vino

I possess a love of Italian traditions, and it was during my extensive travels through Italy that I developed an appreciation for those craftsmen who painstakingly continued to create goods – despite advances in technology that could clearly make it easier or faster. There is no comparison when you go into a maschere (mask) shop in Venezia, where Carnivale maschere are made as they were hundreds of years ago as opposed to those mass produced. These craftsmen of woodworking, paper making, pottery, and ceramics among many others should be embraced and celebrated. It is this reverence of Italian old-world techniques which inspire a passion for traditional craftsmanship. “Bella di Lusso” my luxury goods line, will include a collection of Gifts, Collectibles and Home Decor. Bella di Lusso honors Italian artisan heritage unlike any other.

If that doesn’t keep me busy enough in May of this year- I launched my own weekly radio talk show “Living La Bella Vita.” I talk about a myriad of topics, beauty, fashion, wine, luxury lifestyle and more all with an Italian flair! You can listen in on Wednesdays nights at midnight eastern time and nine pacific or download the podcast from Itunes. www.toginet.com/shows/labellavita

Do you donate to charities? Tell us about that also and why.
My main charity is the San Damiano Foundation. La Bella Vita Cosmetico donates 10% of its sales to the foundation. It is an amazing foundation that recognizes the power of film and social media to touch and inspire people, making it a perfect medium to communicate Franciscan spirituality and concern for the poor, social justice, peace and nonviolence. The vision for San Damiano films is twofold: to raise funds for charities aiding the world’s poor, and to awaken the hearts and minds to the plight of the poor, hopefully inspiring viewers to serve those in need through acts of compassion and mercy.

To show you that San Damiano’s vision and how the power  of social media works – it was this very video that inspired me to align myself & company with this foundation. I ask to anyone who watches this video, if it moves you please consider making a donation to the foundation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v7ZQUzr0yo

We also contribute to the American Cancer Society and several conservation societies.

I donate to charities because I believe that mankind has an obligation to do so. If you cannot contribute monetarily, do it with your time and talents. Everyone can make a difference in changing this world for the better!

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 think the font we choose gave me everything I was looking for, flowy and elegant. We use golden grapes in our logo which represents our “gold standard” and the use of wine in our products.

La Bella Vita Logo

How did you decide on the right color palette to fit your company look and feel?
My color palette happens to be one of my favorite colors, royal purple and color combination, royal purple & gold. The colors represent royalty, luxury and richness. This is exactly how I want my customers to feel when they see and use my products.

After I had chosen my palette, I read an article regarding branding through color. It said that royal purple was one of the colors that consumers most indentified as being associated with a luxury brand. Also, those same consumers tended to trust brands using royal purple almost immediately and historically were found to be the most loyal consumers. I am very glad that my favorite colors translated so perfectly into the world of color branding and loyal consumers!

How did you decide which type of designer to work with, or did you design your own identity and web presence?
I am a highly creative and artistic person and I will admit to being a little bit of a control freak!  I designed my company logo, product logo and my entire web site design layout. My graphic and web designer was able to execute my vision.

Bella Vino logo

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 officially launched my product lines and web site in tandem at an industry trade show a year ago.

How long after the launch of your company did you start pitching in social media?
So I will admit that I am not perfect with social media! I am learning more everyday and trying to make it more of a priority.

Did you do research or study any software, take webinars, teleclasses, before approaching any area of your marketing or web presence?
Yes, I did a lot of research and took many webinars and tele-classes. I still participate, as I am always open to learning new ideas of marketing and how to utilize them to grow my business.

Do you advertise locally in newspapers and/or nationally in magazines? Are they effective?
Not at this time, although I am hoping to place one in a national magazine the near future.

Do you advertise online using Google, Facebook or on other company sites? Are they effective?
I am just starting to use Google and Facebook and it’s too soon to tell their effectiveness.

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 a printing company from my home state of Rhode Island for my labels. www.quicklabel.com  and I have used a local New York City company for my business cards and marketing materials.

Did you know anything about different types of papers, when you wanted to print your marketing materials?
Yes, I was aware and made certain that we took the most eco-friendly approach.

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?
La Bella Vita Cosmetico is very eco-friendly and uses recycled paper and packaging whenever possible.

If you sell products, are they produced in the USA or abroad?
All of my skin care products are handmade and packaged by cosmetic artisans in the heart of Tuscany, Italy.

Is there anything you haven’t yet tackled, but will want to do soon?
I’m planning to go live in Italy for a couple of months to write a book about “Living La Bella Vita”. A coffee table sized book, full of photographs and anecdotes of the quintessential Italian lifestyle.
Then of course there is the continuous tackling- to building my brand into an empire and refusing to sell my soul in the process!

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.” ~ Edward Everett Hale

 

To learn more about Dawn Catherine and La Bella Vita Cosmetico, and La Bella Vino, visit the links below:

Website: www.labellavitacosmetico.com
Podcasts: www.toginet.com/shows/labellavita
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/LA-BELLA-VITA-COSMETICO/124288304281732
Blog: http://labellavitacosmetico.wordpress.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dawncatherine
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dawn-catherine/b/28/5a3
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LABELLAVITACOSMETICO