MAY Marketing Calendar

1 Published by WUN Publications, Inc.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered at the time of publication. It is distributed with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional service. The authors and WUN Publications, Inc. shall assume no liability or responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in this eBook.

Every effort has been made to make this eBook as accurate as possible. However, there may be mistakes, both typographical and in content, which have not been verified. In addition, due to differences among user interfaces (browsers), cross-platform conversion processes can in some cases modify the representation of the information contained herein. This text should be used only as a general guide. The Internet changes as the “speed of light” which can render certain information to become obsolete or irrelevant. The purpose of this eBook is to educate and entertain. In some cases I found conflicting dates for the same holiday and therefore used my best judgment based upon what other sources cited the same day.

In addition, where a product or service has been recommended, the author may receive a commission if you purchase it. The author has made these recommendations based upon her own experiences and therefore have made these available to the readers of the 2012 QUIRKY MARKETING CALENDAR based upon that experience.

Permission is hereby granted to email, advertise and pass small excerpts of this eBook along to anyone as long as no changes or edits to its content are made. However, rights to sell the book in digital format, the rights to print, bind and sell it as a book are strictly reserved. 2012

QUIRKY MARKETING CALENDAR is the 6th EDITION in a series of books/eBooks and therefore is a protected trademark of WUN Publications, Inc., Heidi Richards Mooney and RedheadMarketing, Inc.

This eBook is a dynamic product and therefore updated versions are available as information and resources change. For the most current edition, visit: www.quirkymarketingcalendar.com .

E-Printing ~ 6th Edition

“This book is amazing and worth the money I spent many times over. The ideas here are fresh and have increased exposure to both of my online businesses, ExhaleToExcelJewelry.com and PinkGenieGiftBaskets.com I have new ideas and resources I never could have found on my own! I highly recommend this book!!” Dana Rankin

2 EditEditoor’sr’s NNoottee

Welcome to the 2012 QUIRKY MARKETING CALENDAR ~ 365+ Ways to GROW Your Business Using Zany & Non-Traditional Holidays Throughout the Year!

Special thanks to Gina Aronoff for the cover design. Every year you surprise me with a new and exciting look that befits the content of this book. Each year I give thanks to Suzannah Richards and Gina Aronoff for your tireless support of all the fun, silly, sometimes serious marketing ideas I get and for those that you inspire. In addition to special recognition of my former staff of Eden Flor i st for putting up with all the wild and wacky ideas Ishared with you during our 27 years together (that's where I got my marketing ideas and the beginnings of several books and speaches), I wish to thank the readers of Quirky Marketing Calendar for coming up with YOUR Quirking Marketing ideas and sharing them with me to share with my readers. Each year Quirky Marketing gets better because of your ideas and feedback.

Special thanks to all my marketing friends for your inspiration including Linda Pereira, Jay Conrad Levinson, Jim Barber, Bob Burg, Thom Scott , Nancy Juetten, Terry Brock, Annie Jennings, Shann Vander Leek, Mike Klassen, Heidi Caswell, Lisa Manyon, Paul O'Mahoney, Felicia Slattery, Raleigh Pinskey, Beverly Mahone, Kathleen Gage, Simone Kelly Brown, Karen Talavera, Mande White, Charly Leetham, Nancy Michaels, Tom Antion, Tracy Repchuk, Keith Fletcher, Jay Berkowitz, Bea Kunz, Jami Lin, Ellen Sue Burton, Shannon Cherry, Erin Curran, Walethia Aquil, Jacqueline Wales, Kristine Sheehan, Marty Marsh and so many others who continue to inspire me.

And finally, thank you to http://www.chases.com/ , and http://www.brownielocks.com/ for providing a great resource in your online calendars. Many of the ideas in this eBook resulted from the dates you researched and published in your online calendars.

If you would like to know how you, too can offer this eBook to your customers/clients and prospects, contact [email protected] m with eBook O ffer in the subject line. I love participating in joint venture opportunities and look forward to working with other authors and business owners to help you promote your books and companies. The 2012 Edition can be customized with YOUR Company name and sold to YOUR clients.

I would love to hear from you! Send your comments and marketing tips to [email protected] with “QUIRKY MARKETING CALENDAR 2012 eBook” in subject line – we may even include them in an upcoming edition and our Audio CD Program. With permission, of course!

If you would like to subscribe to be the first to hear about new holidays we write about throughout the year for 2012 that are not listed in this book: be sure to check out Qu i rky Ma r ket i ng Cale n dar Blog online. Here’s to your success… and then some!

Heidi

Heidi Richards Mooney, publisher, editor, author

3 Foreword

For many small business owners marketing can seem daunting, even overwhelming. It is something many of us leave until it is too late have any real impact on our business growth. In fact, so many of us are busy running our day to day business operations, we often overlook opportunities that are right in front of us. Holidays, Events, and Celebrations all listed on our daily calendars!

That’s why this eBook was created. To help you come up with a number of strategic, creative ideas to promote your business using quirky, zany and non-traditional holidays. The projects and ideas in this ebook will help you create your own unique marketing calendar that you can use year after year even build upon and improve as the years go by. What makes this book different is that it includes ideas for 365 holidays and at the end of each chapter is a comprehensive list of little-known national and international holidays that you can use to come up with even more marketing programs for your company.

“The 2012 QUIRKY MARKETING CALENDAR includes more than 365 Quirky Marketing Ideas to Grow Your Business using zany and non-traditional ideas throughout the year!” And this year we have expanded this manual to include forms necessary to implement your marketing strategies!

It is no accident that March is Quirky Marketing Month. In fact, we got the idea for Quirky Marketing Month when updating this edition. With this unique guide you don’t have to wait until the holidays to start creating a marketing calendar for next year. You can start where you are… TODAY! Right now! Once you create your marketing calendar, it will become one of the most important tools in your marketing tool box. They can be used year after year, as long as they work in your business. The dates may change slightly from year to year based upon when the day actually falls in the calendar, but they holidays themselves will continue on...

I not only loved "The Quirky Marketing Calendar", but since I teach Marketing Bootcamps, I always give out the link for my students to download (the first two chapters), too. It is filled with some great marketing ideas and really helps generate some idea creation groundwork when we need to come up with new ideas, too. Keep up the great work and please be sure to keep me on your email list! All my students adore you, too! Thankfully yours, Carmen Wisenbaker, "The Publicity Diva"

To make the most of this calendar, use these Eight Steps to Your Marketing Calendar Success: 1. Buy a blank annual calendar or use the one at the end of each chapter. 2. Choose two or three ideas each month to promote. 3. Begin where you are – whatever date this is for you. 4. Plug these ideas into your marketing strategic plan. 5. Layout your plan of action using the marketing calendar templates after each month’s chapter. 6. If you plan to send a media release on a monthly basis (I highly recommend you do) then make sure that is in your marketing plan of action. 7. Be sure you review your marketing calendar on a regular basis and schedule tasks to reach your goals. One hour a week is all it takes and you can adjust your plan as you go along. 8. Start Now! Read the chapter … Before You Begin and you will be ready to capitalize on any of the holidays contained in the Quirky Marketing Calendar 2012.

To Your success …. And then some!

4 Calendar of Events, Holidays & Celebrations

INTRODUCTION 6 BEFORE YOU BE G IN 10 January 16 February 36 March 64 April 102 May 134 June 160 July 185 August 206 Septem b er 231 October 255 Novem b er 277 Decem b er 296 Forms 318 Resources 333 About the Author 340

5 INTRODUCTION

Urban D i ctionary defines quirky as “not normal, but cool,” By the end of the year it cost $365 for him to wear your company's shirt. T h e Free D i ct i onary describes quirky as “an unpredictable act or event” In 2012the price has gone up (and so has the services). 2012days are and Yo ur Di ct ionary .c o m calls it a “clever turn of speech.” The M i r i am sold at +$5 per day. Just like 2009 and 2010, the price will start small and W e bs t er D i ct i onary defines marketing as “the process or technique of increase daily. January 1 is $5, January 2 is $10, January 3 is $15 and promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service.” the price continues to increase by $5 each day until December 31, 2011.

If we took all these definitions together to describe quirky marketing What do you get for your investment? You get 5 unique/fun/creative we’d get “The process of cleverly promoting, selling, and distributing a YouTube videos, 3 total hours of live video content, 5-15 photos and all product or service using an unusual, unpredictable act or event .“ of this content shared on 5 Facebook profiles, 5 Twitter profiles and an IWYS blog post. Find out more at http://iwearyourshirt.com . Quirky marketing is not about your run-of-the-mill everyday marketing tactic. It is more than that. It is a combination of the creative, zany and February 6-10th is International Networking Week ~ Local off-the-wall. It’s the ordinary marketing tactics taken to a new level - to Networking: Check your local newspapers or internet event site to find create a more inspired, fun and interesting process for marketing out what’s happening in your community. Meetup is also another products and services. In the Quirky Marketing Calendar you will excellent resource for finding local groups that are meeting. Find read about 12 months of quirky, zany and creative marketing ideas groups and events to attend that are slightly out of your comfort zone. from around the globe. Although Quirky Marketing Calendar is Online: The rising popularity of leveraging social networking services to updated each year, there are four things you should know about connect to a list of people who you wouldn’t otherwise have the this calendar. #1 Many of the holidays fall on the same date every opportunity to meet is making it increasingly easy to fill your Rolodex year. They are noted with a single *. #2 Some of the holidays fall with potential new clients, and new friends. Here are just a few social on the same day of the month such as the first Friday. These are networking sites where I like to hang out: T witte r , XING , Facebook , the ones we have updated for you so you don't have to look for L inkedIn , HER Mastermind Network on RYZE , Myspace , the correct date. #3 Some of the holidays are ones I have either eca d emy , and S econd Li fe . Would love to connect online! created for my own businesses or have been created by others which do not show on any National Calendars (yet). They are March is Quirky Marketing Month ~ That’s right and as you read on noted with two **. #4 The New additions to this calendar are you will also notice that March is also “make up your own holiday signified with three ***. month.” So we did just that. Now that you are reading the Quirky Marketing Calendar, you are sure to find ideas that will help you January 1st ~ I Wear Your Shirt Day Begins... for an entire year! market your company, and come up with a few of your own. In fact, I Jason Sadler started a company, IWearYourShirt.com, a service in suggest you get together with your Peeps (Peeps Day is March 15th), which Sadler and his team wears your company shirt for a day and but don‘t wait until then) and brainstorm ideas that are off-the- wall, out promote your business. In other words, they become a human billboard of this world, unusual. Things your competition would NEVER think to with a valuable social media following. As of this December 15, 2010 do. And devise your plan of action to “just do it today.” And if you have Jason has more than 26,000 avid followers on Twitter. an idea that you think others would be interested in, share it with me and who knows, your idea may show up in a future edition of His pricing schedule is just as quirky as his service: on the first day of Quirky Marketing Calendar. 2009, he only charged $1, on the second $2, on the third $3 and so on.

6 Quirky Marketing Calendar Introduction

April 28th is Top of Mind Day ~ Recently on one of my social networks customer/prospect database. You do this by creating an offer that would one of the members asked the question: “Six months ago I spent a get them into your sales funnel. To do that you would need to create considerable investment on advertising my business by “renting” space some sort of incentive (such as an information product eg. free report, or in a business card rack in a local chamber of commerce office and have a small gift they have to stop by for, etc.) that will encourage others to had anyone use my service from that advertising medium. So I am leave you their contact information, thus adding to your database for a looking for other ways to advertise my business that are less expensive time when they will need your services. That could be in the form of an and will bring RESULTS! Any suggestions?” ~ Maryella B. Travel Adviser offer, a free incentive or something that is of value (or perceived value) to the prospective customer. And please make sure that if the competition is Dear Maryella, I did this same sort of advertising years ago and got very doing something similar you do something different. If you are going to little out of it. One of the reasons it may not be working today is that advertise, find a way to STAND OUT from others in your field and from all typically Chambers of Commerce get little foot traffic. Most people who the others promoting their products and services. Creating a competitive participate in chamber activities do so at events and seldom see the advantage will help you stay top of mind when the time for your services inside of the chamber office (unless they host regular meetings there). is needed. And the fact is, Small Businesses cannot afford to spend tons on advertising in this way, because you may not be reaching your target *May 29th is Paper Clip Day ~ Kyle MacDonald a 26-year-old blogger market, rather the masses – which seldom works. from Montreal set out to barter one red paper clip for something and that thing for something else, over and over again until he had a If you want to promote your business using your business card, my house. Here's the YouTube Video about it. suggestion would be to create an impressive business card with an offer that people cannot resist such as a free consultation or a % off It began when MacDonald, an aspiring writer and salesman, something you can afford to give away to get new clients in the door. advertised in the barter section of the Craigslist Web site that he Make sure it says Receive $____ off your FIRST purchase (this will omit wanted something bigger or better for one red paper clip. He traded it those who have already booked with you). You may also create a travel for a fish-shaped pen, and posted on Craigslist again and again. He club and offer an incentive to join and use your business card to promote the exchanged the pen for a ceramic knob then a camping stove, a it. Find out what the competition is doing and do something different to generator, a beer keg and Budweiser sign, a snowmobile, a trip to the draw clients to your company. Canadian Rockies, a supply truck and a recording contract. The next thing you know he traded for a year’s rent in Phoenix. I have a retail florist and my offer is $5.00 off your first purchase – you will be amazed at how many call because they can save $5.00. I am not His adventure became an Internet blockbuster and he became and necessarily selling a high ticket item like travel. I have also used “stop in international celebrity appearing on TV in Canada, Japan and on for a free rose” which generated additional new traffic to my shop. 63% of “Good Morning America.” The story was featured last summer on those who come by for their rose, become customers – that’s a much ABC’s 20/20 which is the video you are watching. better return on my investment than the $400+ for the ad space in a sea You can read all about it at MSNBC . Check out the blog that outlined of other business cards. his project: One Red Paperclip

Your business card could also be used as a tool to increase your

7 Quirky Marketing Calendar Introduction

June 24th is Handshake Day ~ Time to get out and shake some communication between the leaders of the United States and hands – make sure you collect the business cards of those whose Russia. hands you shake and send them a note the very next day. Remember to follow up. A good follow up system could include Hotlines are a multi-billion dollar a year business. Today the following: “Hotlines” take on many forms. - Companies and organizations 1. A phone call to say it was nice to meet you use hotlines for a variety of things.They can be used as lead 2. A shout out on a social networking site generation tools. Hotlines can be used to support customer 3. A card or postcard in the mail service. They can be used as instructional lines for customers 4. A hand-written note looking for “quick answers” to simple challenges. They can be used to filter calls from advertising. Hotlines can be used as a tool 5. Sending a small gift to market your special services. Law enforcement uses hotlines 6. Stopping by and leaving a card and a cookie or donuts or new for people to call in to leave “tips” or leads about crimes that have magazine or book (or a tschotcke from your business) occurred. Hotlines can also be used as a direct connection to 7. An email message to include nice meeting the person with an people in an organization that clients want instant access to. invitation to something such as another networking event and/or a FREE resource the person might find of value. Several years ago, my retail florist created an information “hotline” that gave people directions to our place of business, current Make a game of it. See how many hands you can shake in a day… “specials” we were offering and answered frequently asked then the next day try to beat that number. Do this weekly and add up questions. This “hotline” saved our staff hours of labor because the number of hands you shake. At the end of the month, tally up the the common questions were answered before my staff got on the score. Start over next month and see if you can beat that score. line, leaving more time to find out what the customer wanted and Share your score with your circle. Invite them to “play.” Have an how we could better serve her or him. accountability partner. Someone you can share your goals with. September is Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month ~ Now is a July is National “Doghouse Repairs” Month ~ Dog treats may be great time to write to your favorite editors and writers and thank a hit with animal lovers. Give away cookies in the shape of a dog them for all they do – in fact, why not write a letter to the editor? bone… wrap them individually in cello with a little bow, add your Who knows, your comments could end up in the next issue. business card and pass out at networking events or in your Talk about subtle marketing…In addition to letters to the editor, establishment. I purchased the dog bone shaped cookie cutter at a here are eight more ways you can acknowledge be kind to editors local craft store, took it to my local grocer/baker and they made me and writers this month: 1,000 cookies for this promotion. I also took them on trays to local *Send them a card congratulating them on their special month. radio and TV stations delivered by a local actor in a “Scooby Do” - *Email your favorite editors and writers and wish them a great day. like costume. *Comment on a blog post she or he wrote (You’ll make their day). *Stop by their office and drop off donuts, bagels or cookies. August 30th is International Red Telephone Day ~ In 1963 The *Mention your favorite writers work in a blog post. “Hotline” telephone communications system linking the White How L*ike a story? Just Tweet it! Find your favorite writers and editors via National Military Command Center with the Kremlin during the on social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn and “follow” Cold War. The “Hotline” was designed to provide direct or “friend” them.

8 Quirky Marketing Calendar Introduction

October 21st is Split Advertising Costs Day ~ While base. researching what to write about today I came across this article in the Wall Street Journal about a how one barbershop partnered December is Write a Business Plan Month ~ Every business with Lone Star Beer for a local print and online advertising and needs a business plan. And even if you have an existing business marketing campaign. Here’s an excerpt: and have never put one together, now is a great time to start yours. In May, Birds Barbershop in Austin, Texas, launched an A good business plan will help you define your business goals, set advertising campaign with Lone Star Beer, which is owned by objectives, define your niche, get funding, describe your business, Pabst Brewing Co. The ads, which are running in local print and evaluate a new product line, create a timeline important to reviewing online publications, show a customer sporting a new hair-do and your goals, define any agreements you may have with partners and holding a beer. The ads list the price of the haircut and indicate set a value on your business either for sale or for legal purposes. To that the beer is complimentary. help you jump-start your business plan creation, I recommend you The barbershop has been serving a free beer to customers since begin with a business plan template. I can help you organize your 2006, says Michael Portman, who co-owns four locations. Lone thoughts, provide a guideline and show you the what is expected in a Star had already been supplying the barbershops with cases at a business plan (the general practices). It can be the perfect solution discount price, and was game to split the cost of the ads. to kickstart your planning process. Other companies are taking advantage of cost sharing for their advertising campaigns. Here are some the article mentioned: Quirky Marketing is just one great resource that will help you grow Math tutor Travis Macy, FirstBank Holding Co, ConnectMedia your business. There are a lot of FREE small business resources to Ventures and AssociaDirect Inc. You can read the rest of the help you create a business plan for any type business and one we article here: The Wall Street Journal . Who could you partner recommend to the readers of Quirky Marketing Calendar. with to share advertising/marketing costs and get more bang for You can find FREE Business Plan Templates at Score In their Retail your buck? Gallery here: http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html. These free business plan templates include a Business Plan for a Start-up November 26th is Small Business Saturday ~ Citizens Bank Business in both Word and PDF as well as a Business Plan for an wanted to promote good intentions by partnering with its employees Established Business (also in Word and PDF formats). These free and customers to volunteer in their communities. They do so by templates are good for any size business, small or large. inviting their customers to participate in “Join Us” a volunteer program they originally designed for their internal customers, their In addition to the more than 365 ideas in the all new Quirky employees. According to the bank “Asking customers to volunteer – Marketing Calendar, at the end of each chapter is a is a great way to align your company with a variety of worthwhile comprehensive list of monthly, weekly and daily observances causes and boost your brand identity.” Join Us uses the tagline which, had we turned every one of them into a marketing project, “We’ve noticed working in the community hardly ever feels like would have yielded more than 2,000 projects (enough to fill several work,” and is promoted on their website with a listing of local ebooks). They are included for you to peruse and decide which, if nonprofits and projects their customers can get involved in. The any your company can capitalize on. Use these and any of the program has garnered Citizens over a million hits as well as media hundreds of other strategies to create your own quirky marketing attention. Mudd Jeans does something similar highlighting the plans. community commitments of extraordinary teens and MINI has used similar campaigns directed toward its passionately loyal customer

9 BEFORE YOU BEGIN...

service? Why would they want or need your product or service It is important to think about the goals you have for your business. (their motivating factors)? Motivating factors could include price, With each idea you use in this book, you must decide what quality, benefits, service, compatibility with other products and outcomes you want to achieve, how much you want to spend on services, scarcity. Who is your ideal customer currently buying promotion of the project and the best media to use. In this case, from? media is the venue you plan to tap into in order to promote your project. Will you contact your local newspapers, radio or Once you answer all these questions it will be easier to tailor a television? Will you post a video describing your project on program that addresses the answers and fits your company’s YouTube, Blix.tv or other video sharing site? Will you use email mission. to promote your project or share your ideas with your social networking sites? Next you must determine where/how you will sell your product or service. What advertising mediums will you use? What type of There are so many ways to use the media and for most projects to customer support will your business require? How will your be a success, finding the right outlet and the right message are customers pay for products and what delivery mechanisms do you critical. And promotions generally begin with an offer. That’s need to have in place (such as mail order, digital product especially true of one-time projects, such as the strategies found in distribution, coaching, etc.)? Quirky Marketing Calendar. You promotion should be of value to your customers, relevant to your As you create your quirky marketing plan, each area and business and enhance your competitive edge. question should be addressed.

It is important to develop a marketing strategy based on the understanding of your clients, your completion and your strengths. Then you can plan your marketing activities and monitor the results. Monitoring is important so you can see what’s working and where you need to adjust your plans.

Developing your marketing strategy begins with identifying your target market. Within your target market is your Ideal Customer.

Who do you want to sell your products and services to? What does your target market want and need? What are their concerns, issues; what influences them? Where does your target market hang out? How does your target market research products ©Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com All Rights Reserved. and services? When are they most likely to use your product or

10 Quirky Marketing Calendar Before You Begin

In case you don’t know where to begin or are experiencing a challenge getting the creative juices flowing, here’s an exercise that Telephone I often use to get started. Grab a pad of paper and a pen and start Leave a teaser on you answering and on-hold messages. When writing. Write anything that comes to mind, write for about 30 talking with prospects and customers on the phone, minutes. Now stop. Look at what you wrote and pick one or two be sure to mention the promotion. words or ideas and think about how you can use them in the Ask current customers for referrals of people they think “Ask me marketing campaign you are about to embark upon. about “ (use 2 to 3 words to describe your promotion in a provocative, interesting way). Reinforce the promotion on your Once you have figured out what campaign or offer to make, you sales receipts. must promote, promote, promote. This is critical to the success of You can buy an inexpensive rubber stamp (or stickers or labels) ANY marketing program or project. And I’m not talking about taking for this or code them into the receipt. out a full-page ad in your local newspaper or a one-minute spot on Warm call those referrals. local TV. I am talking about inexpensive ways to begin promoting your project. Here are a few ways you can market your new project: Cold-call a highly targeted list of prospects (keep in mind telemarketing laws in your community) In-store In-store signage, at the entrance, strategically placed by the products you are promoting and at the register. Mention the promotion to all your customers at every stage of the sales cycle. Everyone should wear a button or sticker with the words, Promotional flyers can also be included in the bag with sold products.

The Internet Have a special button, banner or text created to be placed on the website’s main page. Create a special page on your website describing the promotion, link it to your home page and in your media section. Promote the project on Social Networking sites by enlisting the help of other social networking friends. Create a way to capture email addresses from your site from visitors who would like to receive messages and promotional offers from your company.

11 Quirky Marketing Calendar Before You Begin

Flyers organizations noticed. Distribute promotional flyers to your current customers, in the And it isn’t easy. Far from it! It’s one of the few efforts we do to mail, on a door hanger, in store and at any networking promote our business that we have little, if any control functions you attend. over -making it challenging and sometimes frustrating. Include flyers in statements, and other print materials sent to The following are a few media tips and a sample media customers such as newsletters and magazines. release template to use. When shipping merchandise to customers be sure to include flyer in package. Cross-promote with other local businesses to distribute one Look at each media and determine which one(s) will work for you. another’s promotional flyers. Each media has a variety of strengths and weaknesses for Post on community bulletin boards, information boards, and you to consider. Price versus value versus number of other places where the public can view. people who would actually respond to or pay attention to the Hand out flyers at tradeshows and other business functions. media you are considering are all important factors in determining your options. Media At this stage it is important to develop a Media BUDGET Include an article about the promotion in your newsletter, ezine − one you can live with and have a fair amount of and other media you publish that gets distributed to your certainty will pull the results you expect (return on prospects and investment). clients Send out press releases to targeted media. Mail postcards to existing customers and prospects. Cross-promote with businesses that court the same demographic of clientele. Test promotions with classified advertising in targeted media.

The important thing is to spread the word to customers and prospects in as many ways as possible. The bottom line is that even the best promotion will fall flat if not properly promoted.

The Media

The success of any quirky marketing idea hinges on getting the media’s attention. Getting media coverage is what every ©Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com business owner prays for. It’s the end-goal of all that public All Rights Reserved. relations stuff we do to get our companies, ideas and

12 Quirky Marketing Calendar Before You Begin

Here are ten tips to help you turn that frustration into reason my very first article was even accepted was because of my satisfaction and raise your chances of getting the coverage willingness to learn their needs and take the advice the editor gave you work so hard to get: me. Since then I have written articles for hundreds of magazines, newspapers and newsletters. 1. Make it easy for journalists to cover your story. Media professionals are often on a deadline and the easier you make 7. Be professional. I mentioned that the first article I wrote was their job, the more likely they are to return the favor by giving you rewritten. The article was grammatically correct, however, the exposure. thoughts did not flow well, until it was rewritten.

2. Do what your competition doesn’t. Most businesses just send 8. Make sure you are targeting the appropriate audience. Don’t a media release, cross their fingers and hope someone will pick it do what I have done; write just for the sake of writing. While it’s up and write about it. Go beyond that by creating more value. For good to hone the skill, it isn’t good for building relationships. You example you could write a tip sheet to go with the release or even a don’t want to waste the time of the journalists you are targeting by list of Frequently Asked Questions (include brief answers, and sending them things that don’t fit their needs or their target leave just enough to whet their appetite and want to know more). audience. Get to know the The whole point of media you plan to target. Find out what they want and need most getting the media to pick up the phone and call you … for the rest and fill that need. If you don’t know, ask them. of the story. 9. Be reactive. If you notice the competition getting coverage, call the journalist who wrote about it and offer ideas for the next 3. A picture is worth a thousand words - If you mail a time she or he writes about your subject or expertise. Ask about release, include a photo – if you email it, include a link to future story ideas and if they have any pressing needs or working photos. A photo can tell the part of the story words alone stories which you may be able to help them with. cannot. 10. Be proactive. If you can predict what your target media will 4. Have a media page on your website devoted to information be covering, you can help them by giving them the kind of stories the media would be interested in such as other coverage you they need. If you notice a recurring trend at certain times of year or have received, current and past news releases, audio interviews, seasons and you can address that trend either with a story or an Q & A, photos and more. event, your chances of getting coverage increase. For instance most companies plan their Breast Cancer Events and initiatives 5. Contact magazines in your topic or interest area and see if during October (Breast Cancer Month) when it has a greater they allow “outside contributions” from experts. Ask about writer chance of getting media attention guidelines, deadlines, editorial calendars, etc. And be sure and send something! The first time I did this, I was pleasantly surprised by the results. I had no idea how to write a good article, but I did have marketing expertise. The editor loved the ideas in my article and edited it to fit their needs (pretty much rewriting the article). Since then I have learned what they like and don’t like and have written for them on several occasions.

13 Quirky Marketing Calendar Before You Begin

business promotion tool as long at it contains information that is And finally, keep your promises! Submit your stories, articles and newsworthy, and interesting enough that people will read it and visit resources when you say you will. Better yet, be ahead of the your site. What is considered newsworthy? Have you recently deadlines and you will be a hero in the eyes and minds of the expanded your product or services offerings or changed locations? media. After all, you want that media coverage now, don’t you? Do you have a new product? Have you recently sponsoring a charity event? Have you or your company recently won an award? A few additional tips to captivate the media: All of these are examples of "news" that you can use to get some free promotion for your business. My friend Ponn Sabra wrote an ♦ Media training by a local professional will help you learn how to excellent book called “ How t o Crea t e a Search E n gine Optimized develop a key message to deliver to the media. This is critical in Press Release. Effe c t i v e Use of PRWeb ”. It’s a must- read if you learning how to act and what to say when talking with the media. want to make the most of your online press releases. This is especially important when you need to hold a press conference. On the next page is a press release template for you to use. ♦ It’s important to create an effective media list. You can build your list by visiting the media websites, reading print materials Press releases formats are standard in media so I recommend you and calling the media for their list of journalists. follow the suggested format and not deviate too much from it. You’ll have a better chance of getting the media’s attention with the ♦ Enlist the help of media professionals to get tips on contacting message and with the delivery than with a “cute” release they don’t the media, from writing a news advisory, a press release, a letter recognize. to the editor to writing an article about your event or project. Also, be sure to check out my special reports: ♦ Sign up for your local radio station enewsletters. This will keep you in touch with their programming and you may find an ♦ How to Increase Your Odds of Media Success at opportunity to be a guest. I did this with Clear Channel http://heidirichards.com/free-media-e-guide-special-%20report/ South Florida and was able to get on the air and plug “National Get out of the Doghouse Day” when I sent them some ♦ Smile, You’re on Candid Camera at feedback on a program they were doing. I sent a message to one http://heidirichards.com/free-report-smile-youre-on-candid- camera/ of the DJ’s and the programming director with my comments and included the above and a link to my website in my signature file. They called and asked me to do an on-air interview! I have been Additionally, at the end of this book is a list of media resources back several times since. you can use to tap into the right media. ♦ Brainstorm ways to make your event eye-catching to attract the media. Sometimes the very holiday itself will attract the media and other times it will take more.

♦ Make the media your friend… press releases are an excellent

14 Quirky Marketing Calendar Before You Begin

PRESS RELEASE TEMPLATE

MEDIA RELEASE

Contact: Name of Organization Name of Person Sending Release Address Phone Number Email Address

RELEASE DATE

Headline

THE LEAD: City, State (date you are sending release). This paragraph should elaborate on the headline. The “who” and the “what” should be included here.THE BODY: The next paragraph or two should include the “when,” the “where,” the “how,” and the “why” of the story. Expand on information provided in the lead paragraph. Include testimonials and quotes in the body.

The final paragraph should restate and summarize the key points of your media release.

Wrap up your story with information about your company or organization, your contact information, and the availability of any other supporting documents. You can include any pertinent Website addresses in this final section.

# # # (or MORE, if more than one page)

15 Quirky Marketing Calendar January Marketing Calendar

Did you know January is International New Year’s Resolutions International Creativity Month ~

Month for Business? “The keys to success with any resolution Did you know that less than 1% of are: believing in it, commitment to the outcome and confidence that coupons ever get redeemed? So you will succeed.” …Even if you find yourself with no time to plan, it says CMS, a coupon- processing is important you at least think about the coming year and start firm. So they came up with Scan Pas mentally making your marketing resolutions. Read my article – A – a personal coupon scanner that New Yea r , A New You – Marke t i n g Resolu t i ons th at w i ll Impro v e customers can use to redeem Your Image a n d Your Bo ttom Lin e . coupons. The process begins when a supermarket distributes ScanAps Personal Coupon USB Scanners Did you also know? to their key shoppers. These key shoppers represent 15 percent of January is Financial Wellness Month ~ In addition to setting your the store’s customer base, yet they generate 70 percent of the annual marketing goals, now is a good time to review your budget store's revenue. and look for areas where you have been spending money and have received little or no return on investment as well as those areas Key shoppers are also heavy coupon users who typically clip where it has really paid off. coupons from newspapers, magazines, direct-mail programs and

Make a note and start doing more of the latter. Download your free other sources. Scan Aps.com came up with a solution! The copy of GET RICH ~ T h e W o men’s eGu i de to Bu i l d i ng Personal Coupon Scanner! What can you come up with in your W e al t h for ideas to increase your net worth! business that is cool, fulfills a need, and could ultimately make you money?

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National Mentoring Month ~ who mentored you? Thank them during National Mentoring Month and pass it on – mentor someone International Hot Tea Month ~ Now is the perfect time to host a in business and help them achieve their goals. I have been a Mentor tea party! No matter what product or service you offer, a tea party on the Classy, Chic ‘N Elite Forum of Ryze and F ull C i rcle Global adds a air of elegance to the company. A tea party can draw the Mentor i n g Program , as well as one-on-one to women in my kind of customer you may not have had in the past. Host one for community. These programs were created to help newer business your top 10 or 20 customers. All you have to do is decide on a women get the help they need from women who are successful theme, create the invitation, mail it out, prepare the menu and business owners. review the types of teas to serve, shop for décor, set the table (or choose the location to have the party). make the sandwiches and Coffee Gourmet International other finger foods early in the day, welcome your guests, boil the Month ~ What do Starbucks, Dunkin water and make Donuts and McDonalds have in the tea! And enjoy! Or you can hire a caterer to do it for you. For common? They have millions of more ideas, read How t o Host a V i c t or i an Tea Par t y ,” and H i gh Tea coffee lovers flocking to their stores at Epicurean. every day to buy a cup o’ joe! What makes them so successful? Each company has a niche of loyal International Wealth Mentality Month ~ If creating a lifetime of customers who religiously purchase wealth is part of your long-range plans, check out the GROW A and drink their brands. Why? They have made it an experience the MI LL I O N DO L L AR B USI N ESS A U D IO P R OG R A M today. 17+ customer wanted, whether it be the surroundings, the ambiance, the experts and a 100 page manual are guaranteed to help you location, the speed of delivery or the cost, they have been able to grow your business beyond your wildest dreams. find the magic formula that keeps folks coming back. Study them and see if their tactics can work in your company.

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National Clean up Your Computer Month ~ Has your computer on your computer (the default is set at 10%) and you can also been running a little slow lately? It might be time for a little D & C for manually empty the bin. 4) Clean up Internet Explorer’s history your PC! That’s right, even a computer needs maintenance to run at and cache. You can do this from the start Menu – go to Settings, its optimum level. Here are a few tips to unclog the computer, get rid Control Panel, Internet Options, and delete those Temporary Internet of unwanted files, and have your PC purring in no time. 1) Get rid of Files and Clear History. 5. Toss your cookies! If you are a frequent the dust! The computer itself can gather dust over time, which will browser, you can make it slow down and even break down – and it usually happens at eliminate unwanted cookies from your cookie. 6) if you don’t’ want the worst possible time. The fan (which keeps the computer from to do all this yourself, hire an expert. Give a D & C to your PC and overheating) can be a dust magnet. Time to get out the canned air – increase your productivity immediately. shut down your computer, open up the case, and blow the dust off. BTW, there are vacuums made specifically for this task, but I have National Thank-You Month ~ Have a mid- found the canned air works best. Of course you could also hire January party and invite your raving fans someone to do this for you. 2) Delete unwanted files! If you have and staff. Let them interact and get to not done so in a while it might be time to check your temporary know one another. folder for files. If there are any, time to delete them. At one time I had over 500 files on my pc and when I deleted them, my computer National Rising Star Month ~ Partner with started running faster. To delete temp files you go to your Desktop, a local high school to recognize Rising and open My Computer, right-click your C: drive, select Properties, Stars in Academics, Sports, Music and Art. Create a Continuity and click the Disk Cleanup button. Make sure you only check the Awards program that schools could use to model every year. The box marked “Temporary Files” before deleting. 3) Empty your Do Something Foundation honors people 25 and under who are Recycle Bin! Your computer may be set to empty the bin at certain making a difference in their community ~ rising stars and future intervals however, when you delete a file, it doesn’t disappear right leaders. Check it out at: away. It goes to the Recycle Bin to be retrieved for whatever period http://www.dosomething.org/programs/awards of time you set it to. Items stored in the bin can take up space until you are prompted by Windows to permanently delete these files. You can change the settings so the recycle bin takes up less space

18 Quirky Marketing Calendar JANUARY According to Cliff, Sharples, CEO the campaign generated one of National Volunteer Blood Donor Month ~ Every year during the most successful response rates the company has ever January the local bloodmobile parked outside my retail shop and received from an email marketing campaign because most people in the community show up and give blood. Everyone who customers spent more than the $20 offered. In addition, it has does so, gets a free bouquet from my shop as a small thank you. reestablished relationships with dormant clients who have The bloodmobile does all the promotion ahead of time, including continued to purchase product since the promotion ended. sending media releases to the local newspapers and radio stations Weekly Observances: and postcards to past donor (approx. 5,000). They also create a January 1-7th is National Thank-Your-Customers Week ~ flyer for us to pass out to our customers prior to the event and to January is a great time for business owners to take time each year those who stop by the clinic as well. We generally get at least a to focus on thanking those who make their business possible. In mention in the “what’s happening” calendar in the 3 local papers addition to what you do throughout the year to thank your and have even had half page articles written about the event. it’s a customers, the extra effort will strengthen relationships and lead to media dream come true and we are doing good in the community. A increased business. You can pick up the phone and thank them or win-win. send them a postcard, letter or greeting card. What a great way to begin a new year. National Mail Order Gardening Month ~ Several years ago, Garden Escapes, in Austin, Texas (an online retailer of home and garden products) decided they needed to come up with a strategy January 2-8th is Someday We’ll to reactivate some dormant customers and Laugh About This, Week ~ Host a “Life’s Most Embarrassing Moments” sell more products to his current customer base. At the time the Contest and give prizes for the best website received about 370,000 visits a month. In order to story. Do this online and ask visitors to increase traffic to the site, the company launched an email vote for their favorite stories. Offer discounts to visitors and promotion offering $20 credit toward the purchase of anything contestants and create a grand-prize for the “Winner.“ from the site.

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*January 5-9th is Women’s Self Empowerment Week ~ How can can you learn from this? your product or service help a woman to feel self- empowered? Do If you have a product or service that is an everyday staple, offering you make it easy for her to buy from you? Do you educate her variety is the name of the game. One size does not fit all. During about your product and service (in a way she understands without Women in Blue Jeans Day you could tie in with the Women in Blue talking “down” to her). Do you give her respect? If your company Jeans Organization http://womeninbluejeans.org to cross promote wants to capture the market with access to most of the money – during their annual conference or other events or you could host the woman’s market – take a look at how your marketing is your own event. encouraging (or discouraging) women to buy from you. If you need help in this area, check out the Marketing 2 W om e n A udio FYI: Jean material was a blue twilled cotton cloth milled in Geneo, Italy. Jeans got their name from the French weavers who called Geneo "Genes." Blue jeans were Program created by the W E C A I Ne t work ™ invented by Levi Strauss during the Gold Rush of the 1850s when he was selling canvas to the miners, and then began making pants out of the canvas. In the *January 8-14th is Universal Letter Writing Week ~ Write a letter 1860s, Strauss replaced the canvas with denim. Although blue jeans were to your customers/clients telling them how they have made a originally worn as work pants, in 1935 a fashion model wore them in Vogue difference in your business and your life. Tell them it’s Universal magazine starting a trend that has lasted for 75 years (and still counting). Letter Writing Week and you’d like them to continue the tradition by writing to one person with a similar sentiment. *January 21-27th is National Creative Frugality Week ~ Nancy Twigg, Founder of the CFW – says to give yourself the “gift of January 19-20th is Women in Blue Jeans thrift” by doing the following: “Write it down – For at least one Days ~ Women, like jeans, come in all week, record every single penny you spend. This will help you shapes and sizes. Women love jeans and see exactly where your money is going and how you can cut hate them at the same time. The perfect fit back. Cut out extras - eliminate one or two of the non- can make a woman feel so good just as a bad essentials… (in your business). Put off spending - if you can do fit can make a woman feel miserable. In 2005 without for now, do. Lighten up – in addition to saving money, look Alison Barnard opened In-Jean-ious a jean for ways to make extra money. Enjoy free fun - do something fun boutique for women. What makes hers different? More than 800 this week that doesn’t cost you a “dime” pair of jeans line her walls. She has something for everybody. What

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*January 23-29th is National Handwriting Analysis Week ~ Want January 2 is $10, January 3 is $15 and the price continues to to learn more about the people around you? Want to be able to increase by $5 each day until December 31, 2011. quickly decipher if someone is introverted or an extrovert? It might come in handy in business. I recommend you check out this What do you get for your investment? You get 5 unique/fun/creative Portable Pers o nal i t y Tes t . It looks like a fun course online where YouTube videos, 3 total hours of live video content, 5-15 photos and you will learn "basic handwriting analysis principles and three all of this content shared on 5 Facebook profiles, 5 Twitter profiles writing traits: Size, Slant, and Baseline. By the time that you get to and an IWYS blog post. Find out more at http://iwearyourshirt.com. the end of the course you will have printed out 7 pages, and will have the tools and information to look at some handwriting **January 2nd is Get Over It Day! Today is devoted to letting go of samples and learn some things about the personality of the writer." the past and any other obstacles in your way – your mantra today is "Get Over It" and can be very effective when spoken every time you Daily Observances: look in a mirror and written down. *January 1st ~ I Wear Your Shirt Day Begins... for an entire year!

Jason Sadler started a company, IWearYourShirt.com, a service in In one of the original Chicken Soup for th e Soul Books (By Jack which Sadler and his team wears your company shirt for a day and Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen) there was a story about a promote your business. In other words, they become a human teacher who was tired of hearing her students use the phrase “I billboard with a valuable social media following. As of this December can’t.” One day she asked them to write down on paper all the 15, 2010 Jason has more than 26,000 avid followers on Twitter. things they thought they could not do. They then put their “I cant’s” in a box and the entire class went outside with the teacher carrying a His pricing schedule is just as quirky as his service: on the first day shovel. They each took turns digging in the ground until there was a of 2009, he only charged $1, on the second $2, on the third $3 and hole large enough to put the box in. That day they buried the box so on. By the end of the year it cost $365 for him to wear your and their cant’s along with them. Today is also Kakizome. company's shirt. In 2012the price has gone up (and so has the Kakizome is the Japanese word for "first writing" of the year. What a services). 2012days are sold at +$5 per day. Just like 2009 and great way to start the year by writing down all those things you want 2010, the price will start small and increase daily. January 1 is $5, to “get over” or overcome!

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In fact, you could do the same thing on a grander scale and help about ways to stay on top of your game, stay motivated and a lot of people start their New Year off right. One way is to host a achieve the success you deserve and desire. “Get Over it” picnic and invite all your customers to come to your place of business (or a public place like a park – with permission Three movies that inspired me were: Jerry Maguire, Remember from the proper officials of course) and have a great big box and the Titans and Pay it Forward. These movies each had several several shovels ready. Have each person put their problems of "life" lessons that apply to business. the past or obstacles into the box and when they are done, close the lid and get everyone to dig the hole to bury it. Follow that with I also read success stories of other business owners in my a picnic or festival of some sort. Get other businesses involved by industry. Nothing fuels the fire like knowing that it is possible to making them co- sponsor. be successful.

*January 2nd is also National Motivation and Inspiration Day Visualize the future. A vision board is a good tool to help you see “People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does the possibilities. bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.” Zig Ziglar Read my article "What's on Your Vision Board " to see how to One way I stay motivated is to read inspirational material, listen create yours. to inspiring tapes, watch inspiring movies practice positive thinking. Surround Yourself with Positive/Inspiring People. This will help Some of the books I read that helped me to stay on track include: keep you focused on your own goals as well as help you maintain The Art of the Start, The eMyth Revisted, The Magic of Thinking a positive attitude. Big, The Power of Positive Thinking and my all-time favorite, How to Win Friends and Influence People. These are a good start to And be sure to celebrate your successes, not matter how small. read or re-read. Sometimes you are the only one who knows about that small success and it's important to acknowledge the success and One of my favorite podcasts is the Morning Coach with JB celebrate! Glossinger. Every Day JB shares a few minutes with his listeners

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*January 4th is National Trivia Day ~ Main Street merchants in

th Flemington, NJ have created a trivia contest with a $1,500 *January 7 is International Programmers Day ~ Do you work merchandise prize, in an effort to get more foot traffic downtown. with programmers? Are you a programmer? If you have a website, Eighteen businesses sent out "Downtown Flemington's Trivia Tour" blog or other online presence chances are a programmer created it. game cards to 15,000 area homes. Players go to each business “Programmers are ultimately responsible for many of the listed on the Monopoly-style board to get a question. At the next conveniences we enjoy such as DVR, direct deposit, web surfing, business they can get the answer to the question and a stamp to online bill paying, cell phones, etc. Behind most modern day prove they've been there. convenience, there's a computer programmer. According to When all the businesses on the card are stamped, players put their In t ernat i onal Program m ers D a y w e bsi t e there are close to half a card in a drop box at the Union Hotel. Celebrate Trivia Day with million programmers in the US Alone! You can read about some of promotional games and puzzles that stretch the minds of your the contributions programmers have made to society here: customers. http://www.internationalprogrammersday.org/achievement s. php

th **January 5th is Take the Cake Day ~ A *January 8 is Show and Tell Day at Work - I use this date to great way to celebrate getting a new find out more about my employees (creating loyalty and a sense of customer is sending a King Cake. If you community). Each employee is invited to bring something to work are not familiar with King Cakes, these are that is personal to them and share why it is significant - or they can ring cakes associated with Mardi Gras. talk about a favorite vacation, etc. Much like show and tell when we They are decorated with gold, green and were children. This also helps us to find out one another's hobbies purple colored icing and the package always includes a mask, beads and collections and when the holidays and birthdays roll around and doubloons. There is also a small plastic baby hidden in the we can get more "personal" in our gift giving. You could also cake. Whoever finds the baby buys the next king cake and has a include customers and clients in the exercise. party. For more information about King Cakes go to www.kingcake.com or call 1-800-975-KING to order yours.

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January 9th is National Clean Off Your Desk, Day ~ A professional organizer could capitalize on this day by doing a Purchasing survey of executives to find out how often they clean up their √Buy office copy paper with at least 30% recycled content desks. She could then take the results and write an article of her √Print letterhead and business cards on 100% recycled stock findings, write a media release and submit to the appropriate √Purchase and use safer, more eco-friendly alternative(s) to media and quite possibly get an interview in a local paper or if she previously used products for janitorial, pest control, and/or facility has surveyed enough people, even get national coverage (as one maintenance (for example, Green Seal products) colleague of mine did). Energy and Water Conservation √Have a professional perform an on-site audit of your energy use h ***January 10t is World Cut Your Energy Costs Day ~ Is Yours √Track energy usage and share data with employees a GREEN Business? Would you like to get more GREEN? And √Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents add to your bottom line? Now is the time to have an energy audit Transportation of your work (and home). You could be spending hundreds of √Implement policies/practices to encourage employee walking, dollars on unnecessary energy costs, including fuel, electric, water biking, carpooling, transit and/or telecommuting and more. √Provide an incentive or reimburse employee travel on public transportation The Waco Chamber of Commerce has an excellent checklist to √Provide an incentive to employees that use alternative help you benchmark your carbon footprint and/or ecological transportation footprint. Here are some of the things it covers: Involving Stakeholders Waste Prevention - √Reduce copying: use electronic distribution √Involve employees in developing your green business plan; get to avoid unnecessary document printing, and set copier and their input printer defaults to two-sided √Establish a “green committee” of employees to make the green √Regularly update/purge your mailing list business plan and to regularly identify new strategies √Contact catalogue senders and others to reduce the amount of √Provide training for employees on implementing green business bulk mail and duplicate mailings you receive practices

24 Quirky Marketing Calendar January Operations January *January 12th is also Roller Skating Day ~ A Belgian inventor √Offer a green or sustainable product or service named Joseph Merlin introduced the first recorded roller skate in √Replace production equipment with energy or water efficient 1760. In 1863, James Plimpton, a businessman from models Massachusetts, invented a roller skate that could turn. It was √Install trees, bushes and other landscaping at local facility called a "rocking" skate -- the first one that really let people skate The Complete Checklist can be found here http://www.waco- curves and turn. chamber.com/EDimages2/GreenChecklist.pdf (PDF download):

*January 13th is Rubber Ducky Day ~ When you cut your energy costs, you become more profitable. In 1970,Jim Henson popularized rubber And if you become GREEN Certified, your customers and ducks, when he performed the song prospects know you care about the environment. Rubber Duckie as Ernie on Sesame Street. Did you know? The Rubber *January 12th is also National Pharmacist Day ~ to honor Ducky Song actually made Billboard's Top 40 Chart. The song pharmacists, and recognize their important role in medical care. A was first introduced on February 25, 1970 and it hit the Top 40 in Pharmacist must be knowledgeable about the chemistry of all August and stayed there for 7 weeks making it to #16 on the medicines. They are trained to inform you of a drugs' side effects, charts! and all aspects of prescription medicine. They also understand About Rubber Duckies: The popular rubber ducky bath toy was and recognize the inter-action of drugs together...many people first manufactured during the late 1800's with the goal of making take numerous drugs. Today could be a great day to become an bath time more enjoyable for toddlers and babies. Since that time activist and urge insurance companies and other representatives Rubber Duckies have become associate with bath time around the to work to improve prescription drug coverage so more people can world. afford to buy their medications and take advantage of the advice and counsel of local pharmacists.

25 Quirky Marketing Calendar JANUARY

The World's largest 25 feet (height) x 12 feet (width) x 72 feet Back in the 70′s my mother owned a photography studio in San (length), is listed in the Guinness World Record (UK) and is Diego and she had a team of sales people who would go door to estimated to have cost $118,000 to build. door in assigned neighborhoods selling “Memories Packages” to families and individuals. It was a great way to spread the word According to punchbowl.com: "during a Pacific storm on January about her company and create a new client base. As I recall the 10, 1992, over 29,000 rubber ducky bath toys from a Chinese packages were about 1/3 the regular cost. It got people into the company were washed off of a cargo ship? Months after the studio. At least 50% would buy more than the package. It became storm, the rubber duckies had made there way to the shores of her number-one strategy for new business. The sales people would Indonesia, Australia, and South America. Some of the ducks also get half of whatever the package sold for so we made a decent entered into the Bering Straight between Alaska and Russia and living most days. I do remember sometimes it was discouraging became trapped in the Arctic ice. In 2000, they were even spotted when I didn’t make even one sale. It was all I could do to stay in the Northern Atlantic Ocean. motivated. But then I would remember how many people loved the results and the good days always outnumbered the bad. What could you do in business during rubber ducky day? Give out So if your product or service lends itself to selling Door-to-door, rubber duckies, of course! Rubber ducks for bathing, rubber ducky here are my 4 tips to better Results: stress balls, or even a rubber ducky mug. Personalize them with your company name. 4 Tips to Better Door-to-Door Sales:

***January 13th is also Door-to- Start with Communities. If you can sell in communities all the Door Salespeople Day ~ Avon Does better. I would suggest you contact the leaders of the community it, Girls Scouts do it, Fuller Brush does such as their board. The people responsible for making decisions it, Bible Distributors do it, Pots and on behalf of the group. Ask if you can sell in their neighborhoods. Pans Peddlers and even Offer to do a demonstration in the common area or clubhouse. photographers do it! What do they all Give premiums for doing so. do? They sell door to door!

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Make them an offer they cannot refuse. If you get sanctioned There will be days that you don’t sell anything. It can be by them, it will be that much easier to sell to people. challenging. Remember it is a numbers game. The more doors you knock on, the better your chances of success. As long as you stay

Dress For Success ~ People are more concerned about opening positive. Make each call count. Don’t take the rejection personally. the door than ever before. Your appearance could be holding you It is not the easiest job, but it can be rewarding both from a back or making you more successful. Since you have only a few financial aspect and from an emotional aspect. One happy seconds to make a good impression, you must dress for success. If customer can carry the positive door-to-door sales person through your company or product lends itself to a suit and tie or business the day! attire, then by all means, you should wear that. You should always Did you know that in 1952 more than 2% of the workforce sold have a visible PICTURE ID on you, visible so the prospect can see door-to-door? And that it was the fastest growing industry of that it before opeing their door. Have a sign on your vehicle that time. For more on that, read this article on Door-to-Door Sales that identifies you and your company. If you don’t drive a company car, ran on April 1, 1952. buy some magnetic signs that clearly state the company name and

h a contact phone number. This will reassure people and you will find th ***January 15 is Champion of the Month Day ~ Champions of more opening the door for you. the month day was created by Eden Florist to highlight their BEST Your Pitch ~ In door to door sales, you have only a few seconds to customers on the 15th of every month. On this day, the shop/site put make an impression. Your opening line is critical to the end result. a sign in their window saying thanks to their top 5 customers for the Be prepared. Practice. Be sincere. Be ready to answer preliminary month. In addition a letter of congratulations along with a floral questions. Entertain them. Keep them interested. Keep track of arrangement is sent to each individual or company announcing they what works and what doesn’t. Change your opening until you feel are the Champion of the month along with a floral arrangement confident that the one you are using achieves the best results for thanking them for their business and or referrals. you. Your Attitude is equally important. Ask ANY successful sales person. You have to stay positive. There will be many people who will say “no” and even a few shutting the door on you.

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h January 15t is also Hat Day ~ A great time to make a statement We created a label on our computer and glued it to the plastic about what you do. You could have a “hats off to customers” sale. records. We incorporated the records into an arrangement which Give away sun visors or hats with wide brims and let them know the you can view at Tulips Talk Blog . Or just call your local station and gift is in anticipation of the warm weather and sunshine to come. Or say “Everyone at (company) wishes you a Happy National Disc initiate a BEST HAT contest at your local business association Jockey day.” complete with prizes. Recruit other businesses to join in the fun by t donated prizes to the event. *January 21s is Electric Blanket Day ~ In 1912, S.I. Russell invented and patented an electric heating pad for patients who had h *January 17t is Kid Inventor’s Day ~ January 17th was chosen tuberculosis. The electric heating pad mad of a small square of as Kid Inventors Day because it is the birth anniversary of fabric with insulated heating coils was designed to help them

Benjamin Franklin, who invented the first swim flippers almost 300 breathe and keep their chests warm. Amazingly the heating pad years ago at age 12! Chester Greenwood A grammar school sold for $150 which was really pricey for the time. In the 1930’s due dropout, invented earmuffs at the age of 15 and accumulated over to popular demand and lower manufacturing costs, the first electric 100 patents in his lifetime. Need a new product or service to offer blanket came to market. Today you can find electric blankets in your clients? Why not ask a kid (or several) to come up with a most department stores and online with a variety of features and solution. You could host a contest or a Day for kid inventors. Get options, making them a desirable addition to a cold winter night. the local community to donate prizes to the finalists and winners. What could your company do to capitalize on Electric Blanket Day?

Be sure to check out Kid Inven t ors D a y online for a list of activities, How about combining National Hugging Day with Electric Blanket etc. for kids. Day and have a Stay Warm and Cuddly Party? Or how about a h Teddy Bear/Pajama Party Fundraiser for your favorite non profit? *January 20t is National Disc Jockey Day ~ Do what we did in You get the publicity, and your charity gets the dough! Create my retail Florist, send your favorite disc jockeys a bouquet of buttons and pass them out to friends and neighbors and people you flowers. If you are creative you can do it yourself. Go to the party meet in the grocery store! store and buy some play records (you know the old- fashioned 45’s) and add them to a floral arrangement or plant and send to them with a note saying “Happy Disc Jockey Day.”

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***January 21st is National Hugging Day ~ “A hug is like a Create a “This Hugs for You” campaign boomerang – you get it back right away.” ~ Bil Keane, ‘Family Encourage Group Hugging at Networking events Circus’ - Did you know? Experts say people need more than 10 hugs Try a virtual Hug: Post a thoughtful motivational huggy message on a day to be emotionally well. National Hugging Day was created your social media sites. back in 1986 by founder Rev. Kevin Zaborney of Michigan as a way *January 23rd is National Pie Day ~ The American Pie Council “to encourage family and friends to celebrate the positive created this day simply to celebrate the pie. National Pie Day is a experience of hugging.” special day that is set aside to bake and cook all of your favorite According to the website nationalhuggingday.com, the most pies. On this day, you are also encouraged to bake a few new pie Huggable People of 2012were the Chilean miners and rescuers recipes. And most importantly, it's a day to eat pies! So what could (everyone in the town hugged them when they came out of the you do to celebrate National Pie Day? Here’s what one Savvy mine). And Anna Sebring who lived in a retirement home and Marketer Did: Lenore Nolan-Ryan’s Cooking School & Catering asked everyone she met for a hug. Company created a “Let’s Bake Pies Together Day at her cooking The site also reminds people to “always ask first and make the day school and invited her customers and prospects to Come bake with fun for everyone especially family and friends”—no sexual Lenore in her kitchen to honor those you love. In her marketing she harassment lawsuits, please. wrote: “Pie”triotism … Whether it's baking or buying a pie for a Did you know hugging makes you smarter? Yes, it’s true! Research has found that hugging stimulates brain cells. According to member of the military or their family, a local fireman, teacher or intelligence researcher Jay Gordon, M.D., co-author of “Brighter parent, the gift of the pie is the sincerest gesture of kindness. Give that certain someone, that hero in your life, a Pie! Baby,” new studies show that children who get some SUSTAINED Join in! Come early or come late, but don't miss out. Put on an form of touching, such as a LONG HUG EVERYDAY, are apron and roll out the fun or call and place your order for a pie and SMARTER. “ we will roll it, fill it, bake it, wrap and ribbon it for delivery or pick- Things you could do on National Hugging Day: up! Whichever way you slice it, love is the main ingredient! You Put a sign in your window that says “Free Hugs” can learn more about Lenore’s cooking school at Wear a Free Hugs badge or button www.LenoreNolanRyan.com Hand out squeeze balls with little arms that say “here’s a hug”

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January 23rd is also the first day of Chinese New Year ~ and the Take it one step further and invite your best clients to attend. Let year of the Dragon which begins on January 23rd will be marked by them get to know you (and your staff if you have one). It’s a great excitement, unpredictability, exhilaration and intensity. way to make them feel special and appreciated.

This Chinese New Year 2012 is symbolized by the Water Dragon. Give everyone on your team Water can help calm the Dragon’s innate fire. (and your customers) a copy of “ W ha t’ s Y our Dragon years are lucky for someone in the market to start a new Oc c uP L A Yt i on ™” – 149 Ideas business or new project because money can be easier to come by to Increase Job Satisfaction, whether it’s earned, borrowed or received as a gift. Which means Reduce Stress and Get More we can expect an easier year financially than we have experienced Out of Your Work and Your in the previous years and recent economic downturn. Fortunes can Life …. As a thank you for their be made and lost. As with anything else, all good things come to an loyalty, support and business ~ end eventually and at the end of the Year of the Dragon you will be You can get a copy for only $5 held accountable for unreasonable extravagances. for two or more copies plus shipping or 3 for $10 plus shipping.

h th **January 25 is Better Business Communication Day ~ The h *January 29t is Freethinkers Day ~ In 2009 Frito-Lay challenged next time you step out of your car, you may find your parking space people to make their own Doritos commercials – and they could end talking to you. Parking Stripe Advertising has placed vinyl-strip ads up in the Super Bowl ads! 5 finalists were posted for public viewing in lots on behalf of Ford Motor Co., Qwest, and others--with on Yahoo Video. Talk about free thinking! recorded-pitch versions coming soon. Some 80% of consumers say they remember the messages. Try that with a banner ad. (source – Fast Company July/August 2006)

h January 27t is Fun at Work Day ~ Do what they do at PlayFair - Invite a local Chef to your company for a demonstration/lecture during lunch – call it "fast meals for busy professionals."

30 Quirky Marketing Calendar JANUARY Her slogan is Think Love, Know Peace. h *January 29t is also Puzzle Day! Make yourself stand out. Instead of sending Her company is a full service painting company. Painting on all greeting cards during the traditional walls, floors and furniture. How does she promote her Works of ART? Through tradeshows, art classes, conferences and holidays, send greetings and gifts at odd virtually. holidays. Why not send a puzzle postcard in an envelope that your clients can put Today to commemorate Inspire Your Heart With Art Day, together and when they do, it’s a special message or discount Evelyn is inviting everyone to come by her studio in Boca or offering from you! Raton and get a free Love Token. Or if you are inspired, you can create one of your own… FOR FREE! ***January 31st is Inspire Your Heart with Art Day ~ Evelyn Ballin At her heart studio in Boca Raton, Florida Evelyn hosts is inspiring people with her art. She is classes called “Creative Playshop for children.” She calls it an transforming people’s lives through After-school fun time to create a perfect present for someone Heartfelt Art. All to spread the word you love , especially if it is yourself. Enjoy time at the studio that love is the answer. She has been where you will have the opportunity to design a treasure box, a doing this for the past 6 of her 16 clock or your own inspiration of your very own creation, using year career as an artistIn her own words: “I woke UP over 6 beads, baubles, paint and handmade paper. years ago, went to my studio and started painting hearts. I didn’t understand why for a very long time. Then it came to You will also find Evelyn often donating an original work of art me. I AM on a Mission. I feel, we as a culture are lacking in to support a cause or capture an event, such as she did in understanding that WE ARE LOVE. To me it is all so simple. In 2010 at the Total Woman Breakthrough Forum. fact, I’ve been told that I think too simplistically. One thing I know for sure, is that when you Love…Yourself, Your home, Your family, Your surroundings, Your Work, Your Play….Your You can learn more about Evelyn’s work at The Heart Painter YOU… Life is really good.” So true, Evelyn! Evelyn paints on anything that doesn’t move.

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OTHER OBSERVANCES IN JANUARY

Monthly Weekly Book Blitz Month Birth Defects Month Celebration of Life Week 1-7 Celebration of Life Month *Silent Record Week: 1-7 Cervical Cancer Screening Month *Diet Resolution Week: 1-7 Family Fit Lifestyle Month *Someday We’ll Laugh about this Week 2-8 International Change Your Stars Month New Year's Resolutions Week: 2-8 International New Year's Resolutions Month for Businesses Women's Self Empowerment Week: 5-9 International Quality of Life Month Home Office Safety and Security Week: 8-14 International Wayfinding Month *Universal Letter Writing Week: 8-14 International Wealth Mentality Month National Vocation Awareness Week 9-15 National Be On-Purpose Month National Soccer Coaches Week 11-15 National Get Organized Month National Activity Professional Week 16-21 National Glaucoma Awareness Month Healthy Weight Week: 15-21 National Lose Weight, Feel Great Month International Printing Week: 16-22 National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month Hunt For Happiness Week: 16-22 National Poverty in America Awareness Month National Hunt for Happiness Week: 16-22 National Skating Month National Sundance Film Festival 20-30 Oatmeal Month Kid Film Festival: 22-25 Resolve to Eat Breakfast Month *National Handwriting Analysis Week: 23-29 Thyroid Awareness Month No Name Calling Week: 23-27 Bath Safety Month Clean out Your Inbox Week: 23-27 National Clean Up Your National Medical Group Practice Week: 23-27 Computer Month National Take Back Your Time Week: 25-29 National Mail Order Gardening Catholic Schools Week: 29-2/5 Month National Cowboy Poetry Gathering National Soup Month Week: 30-2/4 National Rising Star Month National Self-Help Group Awareness Month

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DAILY

*New Years Day: 1 *Z Day: 1 Religious Freedom Day: 15 *Ellis Island Day: 1 *Nothing Day: 16 *Polar Bear Plunge or Swim Day: 1 World Religion Day: 16 Happy Mew Year for Cats Day: 2 *Martin Luther King Day(observed): 16 National Motivational Inspiration Day: 2 *Cable Car Day: 17 Thank God its Monday Day: 2 Judgment Day: 17 *National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day: 3 *Kid Inventor's Day: 17 *Drinking Straw Day: 3 *Winnie The Pooh Day: 18 *World Braille Day: 4 *Thesaurus Day: 18 Pop Music Chart Day: 4 *Pro-Life Day: 18 Trivia Day *Popcorn Day : 19 *World Hypnotism Day: 4 International Fetish Day: 20 *Bird Day: 5 *Inauguration Day: 20 National Second Hand Wardrobe Day: 5 *National Disc Jockey Day: 20 *Three Kings Day: 6 *National Hugging Day: 21 *Epiphany or Twelfth Night: 6 *National Handwriting Day: 23 I’m Not Going to Take it Anymore Day: 7 Chinese New Year: 23 *Harlem Globetrotters Day: 7 *Belly Laugh Day: 24 *International Programmers Day: 7 *National Compliment Day: 24 National English Toffee Day: 8 *Beer Can Day: 24 Fruit Cake Toss Day: 8 *National Peanut Brittle Day: 26 *Bubble Bath Day: 8 National Speak Up and Succeed Day: 25 *Midwife’s Day: 8 *Holocaust Memorial Day: 27 Full Moon: 9 Fun at Work Day: 27 *United Nations Day: 10 ***Data Privacy Day: 28 *Rubber Ducky Day: 13 ***Thank a Plugin Developer Day: 28 *Public Radio Broadcasting Day: 13 *Seeing Eye-dog Day: 29 *Organize Your Home Day: 14 *Freethinkers Day: 29 *Dress Up Your Pet Day: 14 *National Puzzle Day:29 Champion of the Month Day: 15 *Answering Message Day: 30 *Humanitarian Day: 15 *Inspire Your Heart with Art Day: 31 Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day: 30

33 Quirky Marketing Calendar My Marketing Calendar for January Special Dates I plan to promote: 1. 2. 3. How I plan to promote them:

Goals for Each Promotion:

Budget: Media 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Comments:

34 JANUARY 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

35 Quirky Marketing Calendar February Marketing Calendar

Did you know February is International Expect Success and February is American Heart Month ~ Get your staff or friends Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month? Ask yourself at the together and form a team to participate in a local heart walk during beginning of every week, “What can I do that will matter three years American Heart Month. Have shirts made with the team’s name or from now?” That's what Mark Helow, Founder of The CEO Project your company name and logo. Take a group shot and send to the suggests. After conducting 200 interviews of CEO'S of successful media. companies, including some Inc 500 and Fortune 500 companies, Spunky Old Broads Month ~ Congratulations to my friend, Dr. he concluded that too many CEO'S spend most of their time Gayle Carson, the founder of Spunky Old Broads Month and the working "in" the business, rather than spending time on big-picture author of the book “How to b e an S.O.B. – Spunky O ld Broad issues. In order to be great you have to plant the seeds of Who Kicks Butt.” You can also read more about the book and Dr. greatness by allowing others to work in the business while you Gayle at http://www.SpunkyOldBroads.co m – it’s a great book you spend your time working on the business. Stephen C. Harper, a can read and give to a Spunky Old Broad in your life – what a management professor at the University of North Carolina at great way to “plant some seeds of Wilmington and author of The Forward- Focused Organization, greatness.” says of long-range planning. "In the short run, all you can do is deal with what you have. If you have two to three years, you have the Need some ideas to help celebrate the month? Here are just two suggestions to celebrate Spunky Old Broads Month: lead time to retool." Harper recommends spending 30 to 60 minutes a week with your staff talking about plans for the coming 1. Go nude skydiving with ten friends. (don’t look up!) year…. If you expect success… you have to plan for it! 2. Break out the Harley and wear your purplegiant polka dot dress Did you also know? and red hat with birds nest and feathers to the grocery store. International Boost Self Esteem Month ~ If you need a shot of For eight more ideas, check out the Spunky Old Broads Top Ten motivation, check your local newspaper for a listing of business Ways to Celebrate meetings and seminars taking place or call your chamber of commerce and see who’s hosting a motivational seminar in town.

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National Time Management Month ~ Do you have find yourself Like money, books must be kept in constant circulation. Lend and daydreaming alot? Is it a challenge just to focus on one thing and borrow to the maximum -- of both books and money! But get it done? Do you have trouble reaching your goal because you especially books, for books represent infinitely more than money. are too busy doing things that distract you? Do you feel like you A book is not only a friend, it makes friends for you. When you are always juggling lots of ”balls in the air” and you cannot let go have possessed a book with mind and spirit, you are enriched. because if you do everything will fall apart? Maybe you need to But when you pass it on you are enriched threefold.’ Henry Miller – reexamine your workday and how you spend your time. And let’s You can read more of my favorite quotes on Reading at my blog - face it, in business time IS money. Used properly it can EARN you http://heidirichards.blogspot.com/ E heluhelu kakou! (Let's read money and if mismanaged, it can LOOSE you money. together.)

In order to reach your goals it is important to eliminate unnecessary Condom Month ~ During the China activities ~ that includes the busy work you do every day that does Reproductive Health New Technologies & not help you achieve your goals. Think email – instead of checking Products Expo in Beijing, China Models email every few minutes try scheduling time during the day to focus parade in outfits made of condoms. Condoms only on email – make it during your less productive time. of all shapes and sizes were used to make dresses, hats and even lollipops. Models wore

Don’t say “YES” to anything right away – Take time to assess the tight-fitting wedding gowns, scaly-looking request. Then turn down any requests or opportunities that will not evening dresses, outrageous bikinis and other help you either achieve your goals, realize your purpose or garments made entirely of condoms. Guilin increase your knowledge. Don’t do projects simply because you Latex Factory, China’s largest condom feel obligated to do them. Pay attention to how you spend your manufacturer, organized the show to promote the use of condoms time. For more tips check out the article: Do You Ever Suffer From in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Lack ‘o Focus Disease ?

Library Lovers Month ~ and one of my favorite quotes about reading is: “A book lying idle on a shelf is wasted ammunition.

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Weekly Observances: those strings that bind you to people who only bring you down is such a freeing feeling. And it will open the floodgates to more th ***February 3-9 is National Future positive relationships that will help you thrive and feel alive. Business Leaders Week ~ Does a local organization in your community host a That also works in business. If you have high-maintenance clients National Future Business Leaders week that don’t pay or don’t pay in the long run, if they cost you more in awards recognition ceremony? If so, be a time than they actually pay for, maybe it’s time to reasses the co-sponsor and get the word out about relationship and ask her/him to take their business elsewhere. Don’t your company and future leaders in your community. If there isn’t know how to do this? Read: How to Fire Your Customers at one, create one and partner with a high visibility group such as your Entrepreneur Magazine online. local chamber of commerce or economic development group to So, Go Ahead ~ dump your significant jerk! (or should we say create the award. It could be a breakfast, lunch or dinner event, insignificant?) formal or informal. This is the perfect way to recognize future February 6-10th is International Networking Week ~ Local business leaders, collaborate with the local middle and high schools Networking: Check your local newspapers or internet event site to and get some good publicity for your company and the partnering find out what’s happening in your community. Meetup is also organization(s). another excellent resource for finding local groups that are meeting. Find groups and events to attend that are slightly out of your February 5-11th is Dump Your Significant Jerk Week ~ there’s still comfort zone. Online: The rising popularity of leveraging social time to Dump that Chump networking services to connect to a list of people who you wouldn’t during National Dump Your otherwise have the opportunity to meet is making it increasingly Significant Jerk Week easy to fill your Rolodex with potential new clients, and new friends. February 6-12th. If there is Here are just a few social networking sites where I like to hang out: someone negative in your life T witte r , X I NG , Facebo o k , L inkedIn , H E R Masterm i nd Ne t work you have been waiting to “let on RYZE , Myspace , eca d emy , and S econd Li fe . Would love to loose,” now is the perfect time connect online! to do so. You have a good reason and a reason to celebrate! Cutting

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February 5-11th is Publicity for Profit Week ~ There's a fairly well- account today: http://EzineArticles.com/submit/ kept secret among top PR agencies and major corporations. What’s February 6-10th is International Friendship Week - Check out the the secret? Most newspapers, and many other types of media In t er n at i o n al Fr i ends hip W e ek V i deo at Sl i deShar e .co m . You can create outlets, are understaffed and often have significant editorial gaps to your own slideshow, upload it to SlideShare and share it with your fill. They rely on free outside copy that arrives in the form of "mat" customer and clients. Be sure to include pictures of THEM in your releases, articles that are pre-written and ready for publication. You can take advantage of those gaps by writing articles and sending show. th them to your local editorial staff (the one that handles your topic February 6-12 is International Coaching Week ~ In honor of the area). Be sure to include your byline (signature file) – if it's good, celebration, host a coaching evening or coaching marathon-for your they may use it and it could potentially generate dozens of leads--or clients, prospective clients and their friends. Provide a meal or more. Make sure the article is filled with quality content, not just a snacks and an interactive discusson on a coaching related topic.. self-promotion piece. Your attendees will learn valuable information, meet new people ans see you in action!

By the way, a good byline (aka signature file or author resource February 13-19th is Random Acts of Kindness Week ~ Contact box) is written in the third person (about 3-4 sentences long) local Assisted Living Centers for Senior Citizens (this is different and includes your name, your website address, a one to 3 then a nursing home!) and see if you can come in & offer a sentence elevator pitch and a call to action or link to more shopping opportunity to their Senior Residents! Seniors can NOT information. Chr i s Kn i gh t , fou n der of Ez i ne A rt i cle s .com b yl i ne get out like they used to so they appreciate being able to shop from has a good exampl e: home. Since many of them don't own computers (or may not be About the Author: Christopher M. Knight invites you to submit particularly computer savvy) by offering a one-on-one shopping your best quality original articles for massive exposure to the high- experience to them – not only will they appreciate the opportunity to traffic http://EzineArticles.com/ expert author community. When shop, they also appreciate the adult company! (This tip was shared you submit your articles to EzineArticles.com, your articles will be with me by Shelly Hill – moderator of the Classy Chic Forum on picked up by ezine publishers who will reprint your articles with Ryze and a Tupperware Manager) your content and links intact giving you traffic surges to help you increase your sales. To submit your article, setup a membership

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February 13-19th is also International Flirting Week ~ Flirting is nd all about charm and charisma. It’s about getting the other person *February 2 is Teach Your Daughter to Volunteer Day ~ Find a interested in what you have to offer. A really good flirt is quite likely new cause or invite your daughter and her friends to also a really good salesperson. Time to go to “Charm School?” volunteer for one you are already involved in. Make it an event. #1Have a “birthday party” for a local childrens' hospital or non-

profit organization that is geared to children and families and invite February 19-25th is Build a Better Trade Show Image Week ~ all local business and civic organizations to participate. #2Have a Does your trade show booth look old, worn or worse, non- volunteer drive and contest to see who gets the most “new” existent? If you plan to participate in any trade shows in the future volunteers in a certain time period. #3Create an award that can go there are a few things you can do to make your event from organization to organization. Tell the media about the a success – start with your display- Emphasize class, not mass - According to BusinesssTown.com “A small, well-done trade show contest, before, during and after you choose the winner. #4You booth can look more attractive and inviting than a larger one that can also create an event for your small business and recruit looks less professional. Keep in mind that it is a lot easier and takes volunteers and their daughters to help you plan and present the a lot less money to make a small booth look attractive than a larger event to the public. one.” NOTE:Listen to this d interview with Linda Musgrove, The Tradeshow Teacher as she **February 2n is also Self-Renewal Day ~ Time to get rid of the shares her tips to Maximize Tradeshow Participation to add to tension and support your local Massage Therapist – get a massage Your Bottom Line! today! Get outside the office or outside yourself. Take a walk. Eat lunch in the park. Do what brings you joy! Like karaoke? Go out th February 26–28 is American Crossword Puzzle Week ~ One of and sing – or sing in the shower! In Fort Lauderdale we have an the things I love to do is create crossword puzzles and word event called Networking in the Park organized by My Biz Universe. searches around a specific theme or idea. For instance, in the very Attendees enjoy beverages, a great atmosphere and of course, first issue of WE m agaz i n e for W omen we included a marketing networking. What a delightful way to end a day or week. crossword puzzle. WE also created the W e al t h W or ds earch to help promote our Grow a Million Dollar Business Summit. Daily Observances:

40 Quirky Marketing Calendar FEBRUARY

d *February 2n is also Groundhog Day ~ On February 2nd folks heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S. ?You can anxiously wait to see if Punxsutawney Phil (The designated help combat that statistic when you share the profits of products Groundhog) will come out of his hole after a long winter sleep to and services you offer on this day. Mention to your look for his shadow. If he sees his shadow it is a sign that we will customers/clients that a portion (or specific %) of all sales on Go have six more weeks of bad weather, whereby Phil will return Red for Women Day will go toward the American Heart underground. If on the other the day is cloudy and shadow less, it is Association’s fight against heart disease. a sign that spring is just around the corner and Phil stays above ground. Did you know that this year Phil has gone high tech and is th *February 5 is Weatherpersons’ Day ~ Send your local making his his weather prediction via your mobile phone. To find out weatherperson a card or flowers or a plant acknowledging the day. Punxsutawney Phil's prediction simply "Groundhog" to 247365 In 2000 I did this for the first time and then during the 10:00 o’clock between now and Groundhog Day. Now that's what I call marketing! news the local weatherperson thanked me – on air! The following I just have one question: what are they selling????. year we sent flowers to the weatherpersons at all four February 3rd is Bubble Gum Day – Bubble gum was invented in February 3 is Bubble Gum Day local television stations and 1906 by Frank Fleer. But it didn’t get to market for each of them sent me a 20 years because the recipe was so sticky it was a real challenge beautiful thank you note and to remove it from skin (had to use turpentine). After 20 years and some included an several recipes later, it was introduced as Dubble Bubble Gum. autographed picture. Pink just happened to be the color of the gum because it was the only food coloring on Fleer’s shelf that day. Since then every other manufacture has used pink as the standard. What standards in business are you following and what can you do to improve upon them. Did you know you cannot buy bubble gum at any Disney property? They don’t sell it because they don’t want their streets lined with discarded gum.

February 3rd is also Go Red for Women Day ~ Did you know that

41 Quirky Marketing Calendar FEBRUARY

h **February 6t is Pay a Compliment Day ~ This is so easy to do. All you have to do is find something nice to say about According to the Vermonster Ben and Jerry’s actually chose a someone and say it to them! If she or he is not around tell others CEO from a headhunter firm who “participated” in the contest only how great that person is. Tell them too! Pay a compliment to all after being selected. Still the company got lots of much sought- your Facebook Fans, Your Twitter Followers, Your customers, after press, creating a stir AND adding nicely to their sales that Your clients, Your family members… See how many nice things year. Time ‘s Wall Street columnist was impressed at the ice you can say about another. If you cannot find something nice to cream maker’s savvy use of the press: Source: The Vermonster say about someone… come sit by me! Read what Tom Wolff th wrote about Charlie “Tremendous” Jones in his article “The *February 7 is Rubbles and Flintstones Power of a Smile,” at Unite Day ~ The marriage of Pebbles http://www.executivebooks.com/cjones/cj_TomWolff.htm l. Then Flintstone & Bamm-Bamm Rubble took remember to give someone a compliment and a smile! place on February 7, 1993! In the made-for- TV movie (which aired on ABC on February

**February 6th is also Yo! I Want to Be a CEO! Day! ~ In 1995, 7, 1993), Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm, now Ben and Jerry’s named a new CEO, Robert Holland Jr., after adults, decide to get married. But wouldn’t holding their Yo! I Want to be a CEO! search. you know it, Fred just lost all of his money The popular ice cream company, Ben & Jerry’s created a media on a sports bet. And in typical Fred fashion, his attempts to enlist blitz by holding a CEO search. Barney’s help resulting in Barney losing his nest egg too! To kick the campaign off the founders, Cohen and Greenfield appeared at a press conference dressed in Uncle Sam costumed topped with upside down ice cream pints for hats announcing their Yo! I want to be a CEO” contest asking entrants to promote themselves in 100 words or less. They received over 22,000 job applications and tons of free press.

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h **February 8t is also MOO COW Day ~ getting ready to nurse on their mothers entitled “Did You Think You The ”“GOT MILK “” advertising/public Could Ever Be This Happy Again?” I would assume it is geared relations campaign has to be one of the toward the male population. You can see the picture here: quirkiest marketing ‘branding’ campaigns http://content.funnyhumor.com/pictures/milk.jpg . You can check of all time! The Dairy industry’s “GOT out the Official “GOT MILK “ Website at: http://www.gotmilk.com/ MILK “campaign is considered one the most successful campaigns of all time. So what kind of slogan could you come up with in your business that could potentially go viral and hit the world by storm?

“Got Milk? is an American advertising campaign encouraging the consumption of cow’s milk, which was created by the advertising One way is to hire an ad agency to come up with your slogan. agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners for the California Milk Processor Board in 1993 and later licensed for use by milk Another way would be to create a focus group (or mastermind) of processors and dairy farmers. It has been running since October people who 1. use your product/service and 2. those who don’t but 1993. The campaign has been credited with greatly increasing who have people in their lives who do/could. milk sales in California though not nationwide.” (source: Wikipedia) Having a strong slogan or tag-line could brand your company and make it the dominant leader in your industry.

Their advertising billboards, print ads and television spots have So anyone “Got Quirky?” earned the slogan the reputation of being “an international icon h and the phrase has been parodied more than any other ad *February 8t is Laugh & Get Rich Day ~ A day for recognizing slogan.”From celebrities to children to senior citizens to the animal that laughter and humor are good for morale in the workplace and kingdom, the “GOT MILK “ campaign has covered a lot of ground. the fact that laughter has a positive effect on a business’ bottom line. Be sure to check out the book, L augh and Get Rich: H o w t o

In addition to the two pictures shown here, there are even a Profit from Humor in A n y Business by Rick Segel. couple of ‘bare-breasted’ campaign (okay, not porn) of babies

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h *February 8t is Disney Institute's Birthday ~ On February 9th, noticed amusement parks and state fairs were always littered and 1986 The Disney Institute began its professional development poorly organized, and the employees were generally rude and programs showcasing: the ‘business behind the magic’ through resentful. seminars, workshops and presentations, as well as programs for professionals from many different industries, including healthcare, His wife once asked, “Why do you want to build an amusement aerospace/aviation, government/military, food/beverage and retail. park? They’re so dirty.” To which Walt replied, “That’s the point. (source: Wikipedia) Mine won’t be.” From day one, Disney has focused on “the experience” as a key

Over the past 24 years, thousands of companies and individuals component to increasing the value of its have gone through their extensive and enlightening training parks. You can read the other 7 Secrets program. With have 32,000 employees of varies here: http://www.businessbrief.com/walt- backgrounds,Miami International Airport needed to create a long- disneys-8-secrets-to-success/ term strategy to work together cohesively with vendors, county employees, and federal employees. According to MIA’s director What training does your company participate in to be the José Abreau, “That’s one of the reasons why we turned to Disney BEST in business? … I think that going to the best gives you the best results.”

Do you provide training in house? Do you provide training to your The Disney Institute is just one of the many ways the Disney clients and customers? Do you participate in training outside your company has furthered the vision of its founder, Walt Disney, one own work environment? Constant learning is what keeps Quirky of the greatest business icons of the 20th century. Here’s just one Companies sharp, savvy and ahead of the competition… of Walt Disney’s 8 secrets to success:

Provide a promise, not a product: The legend goes that Walt Disney was sitting on a bench watching his daughters ride a carousel when he came up with the concept for Disney World. He

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***February 11th is Door Prize Day ~ Door Prize: At a party or arrangements themselves, plants, gift baskets, candy and more. gathering, a door prize may be awarded to one or more persons Some things to keep in mind when contributing to a door prize: attending, via a raffle or drawing. It should have a value or perceived value. If it’s something people Prizes can be small things such as can readily get for FREE it may not serve you or your company well pens, bookmarks, and buttons or they to give it as a door prize. can be larger, more expensive items like gift baskets, cash, tickets to If the prize comes in the form of a gift certificate, it should include concerts, or furniture. (source: Wikipedia) instructions for redeeming. Make sure your company name and contact information is clearly attached (that is if you want credit or Ever been to an event and won something? Or bought a ticket, put recognition for giving the gift). This could be your business card. your business card in a bowl with the hopes of “winning something?”

If you do a lot of networking you know how it works. Someone You could take it a step further and create a little “script” the brings a prize and others have a chance to “win” that prize. presenter could say about the gift so you have control over the “advertisement” to the group. And have you noticed that the person who “donated” the prize gets a free mini advertisement in the form of an announcement? It goes The gift should also have the value clearly displayed either in the something like this: And the next prize has been donated by XYZ script, on the prize or on your business card. Company. It is a 30 inch color television and it goes to (and the name is drawn). Giving a door prize is a great way to get extra attention at networking events and sometimes the host will even invite the giver Now you don’t have to donate a colored TV or anything that large, it up to do the drawing with her or him. could be as simple as a free consultation or some sort of tschotcke or give away such as a pen set, a mug, a journal or even a best And finally make sure you get the name and contact information of selling book. I have donated gift certificates for flowers, flower the “winner” so you can follow up with him or her.

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th *February 11th is also White Shirt Day ~ Time for a WHITE SHIRT February 14 is Valentine’s Day ~ Time to send flowers to your Sale – if you sell a product or service then advertise a “special” for Valentine’s – and that includes your clients and customers - send a anyone who is wearing a white shirt on this day. You could host a valentine card to your clients and tell them

how much you appreciate them – love their contest and give a prize to every 3rd shirt to come through your business. If you really love them, send them doors or order online - okay, may be hard to prove online – it would a heart shaped paper weight that looks like a have to be on the honor system. Make it fun and say, “Did you globe and tell them, “Your business means know that today is White Shirt Day? – if you are wearing (or the world to us! Happy Valentine’s Day from ABC Company.” own) a white shirt, click here” – then take them to a landing page You may have heard about the quirky marriage proposal on the with a special offer. Brooklyn Bridge ~ According to Jill "My brother proposed to his

girlfriend on the Brooklyn Bridge yesterday. The plan was to have *February 13th is Get a Different Name Day ~ Create a people hand balloons to her as they walked across the bridge, memorable title for yourself. One of my business cards says I’m the each with a note from my brother attached. It was so cute. We had “Chief Goddess” a name my staff gave me many years ago. It is a few friends help but mostly recruited strangers as they walked in amazing how many comments I get from that card. In fact, many their direction. She said yes!" For pictures visit: women I know were inspired to change their “titles” after seeing my http://adjix.com/9643 . Do you offer wedding, party or other event card. One of my friends, Teresa now calls herself “The Queen services? Help someone plan their "surprise" event and then blog Caterer” and tells me her clients love it! or write a media release about the event and let the "powers that be" know all about it. Be sure to send to your local media contacts How effectively are you using YOUR NAME to market your and if the story is nationally newsworthy send to national media business? Think about Cher, Oprah and Rachel Rae, three outlets. FYIthis story has made national fame being written about household names. When you develop a solid reputation, your name on thousands of blogs across the country. has market value. Use it over and over in all your marketing. Is it time to turn your small businesses into an empire? After all, when you sell your business, you still have your name which you can use again to build another empire!

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*February 16th is What's My Line Day ~ Today is the 60th Birthday of longest-running prime-time game show, “What’s My Line.” In And yes, taglines can even change from time to time with the celebration I thought it would be interesting to discuss Taglines. changing of a company’s direction or vision or product line. And Taglines are important to our business for a variety of reasons. A that too can be important if and when the old tagline is no longer tagline is one of the most effective ways to communicate our brand working or relevant. Some examples include: message to our prospects and customers. Taglines enhance the value of our brand, extend our brand’s reach, tell our audience UPS – Old taglines: “Deliver More”, There’s help in here. Real what makes us different than the competition and done correctly help,” “What can Brown Do For You?” and their newest tagline: can convey the solution to a need or want. “Synchronizing the world of commerce.” UPS may have an identity crisis because they seem to change their tagline every few years. Effective taglines communicate a single message that when done correctly will resonate with target audience. Taglines, also referred Even the United State Army changed its tagline! Old taglines: to as mottos or slogans, should tell your audience who you are, “Be All That You Can Be” and “Army of One” to their new tagline: what makes you special and why they should care in the first place. “Army Strong.”

While some experts insist that it’s okay to change taglines to go And still other companies are returning to their taglines of days with the changing landscape and demographic of its target past. Avis, the auto rental company has returned to “We Try audience, I believe that those that continue to have close variations Harder,” and Citi (formerly Citibank) resurrected its 1977, “Citi on their original tagline will continue to be memorable to the world. never sleeps” tagline. An example is Allstate’s “You’re in Good Hands.” They are currently using “Are you in Good Hands?” which still reminds What’s the point? if you have a great tagline, you should keep people that Allstate is not a fly-by-night or flavor-of-the-month using it, until there’s a really good reason to change. company. Or Nike’s “Just Do It.” People feel a sense of security in the familiar.

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Tips to create a good tagline: Kenner later acquired Play Doh, made it into a rainbow of colors. In ♦ Keep them short – 3 to 4 words make them repeatable, and no 1991 Hasbro toys acquired the rights. Play Doh comes in a variety of more than 7 words if you want to remain memorable. products and is sold worldwide! ♦ Make your tagline unique – it should fulfill a promise your Have you heard of Play Doh Marketing? According to Doug Hall, competition does not or cannot Author of “How to Jump-start Your Brain” getting the creative juices ♦ Make it relevant – companies who are bringing back their old flowing can be as simple as opening a can of play doh and what taglines are doing so because they are again relevant to today’s else? Playing with it! Remember when you were a kid and played audience. with this crazy clay and came up with all sorts of shapes. If you were ♦ Test your taglines – get a focus group or a group of current like me you probably even invented a few new “animals” like the customers to rate your tagline before you change all your corse (a combination cat and horse) or the allimonkey (an marketing materials alligator with long arms that swings from trees and eats people ♦ Make sure your deliver on the promise of your tagline. If Burger AND bananas. King says “have it your way” and you can’t have it your way, people loose trust in their promise and the company looses My brother and I would spend hours with our play doh market share. coming up with goofy shapes! Fast forward today. If you had a can Want to test your knowledge of Company taglines? Take the “Find of play doh in front of you right now, what would you create? And That Slogan! Wordsearch Challenge Today! what would it remind you of?

If you are having trouble coming up with “fresh ideas” in business, **February 18th is Play Doh Day ~ created take a drive over to Toys R Us or Target or let your fingers do the in 1956 by Joe McVicker from modeling clay walking online and buy some play doh! Heck, have a play doh out of wallpaper paste for his sister’s pre- party at work and see what happens! For more on Play Doh school students. Rainbow Crafts in products, go to http://www.hasbro.com/playdoh/default.cfm ? Cincinnati, Ohio distributed the off white page=pro d uct modeling compound known as Play- Doh to department stores and schools.

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**February 19th is Cracker Jack Day ~ Cracker Jack’s has been an sticking together. Louis gives the treat to a salesman who icon in snacking for more than 100 years. Did you know that today in exclaims, "That's crackerjack!" "So it is," says F.W. Rueckheim, 1912, the first prize was inserted into a Cracker Jack Box? What a who then has the words trademarked. marketing marvel that was! Every kid who got a box, waited in anticipation (or didn’t wait at all) as they “ripped open” the top of the In 1912 prizes were included in Cracker Jack boxes for the first box to pull out their prize. And Cracker Jack has become a symbol time. Since then, the toy prizes have been replaced with paper for many cultural aspects of our lives such as lyrics in songs, prizes displaying riddles and jokes. mentioned in movies and even used as a metaphor in books. Although Seth Godin’s book “Free Prize Inside ~ The Next BIG 1955 Cracker Jack begins advertising on Marketing Idea ” is not about Cracker Jacks, rather about giving television with the appearance of Cracker Jack on something “extra,” he certainly hit on the principles with his CBS-TV's "On Your Account" which is televised to examples of cereal boxes with prizes inside. 130 stations nationally. Source: http://www.crackerjack.com/home.ht m and So what could you “give” extra to add value to your clients today? Wikipedia What’s your Cracker Jack example? Feel free to share in the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracker_Jack comments section ~ be sure to include a link to your website or blog!

A few Cracker Jack factoids: According to legend, in 1894 a unique popcorn, peanuts and molasses confection that was the forerunner to Cracker Jack caramel coated popcorn and peanuts is introduced by F.W. Rueckheim and Brother, at Chicago's first World's Fair. In 1896 Louis Rueckheim, F.W.'s brother and partner, discover the process for keeping the molasses-covered popcorn morsels from © Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com All Rights Reserved.

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***February 19th is also Lagniappe Day ~ Lagniappe means “a or other parts of the world then you will need to calculate shipping small gift given with a purchase to a customer, for good measure“; into your budget. And finally when you have it all figured out, send ” an unexpected or indirect benefit.” Raise your hand if you like a card with the gift that says “Happy Lagniappe Day” ~ but don’t’ presents. Now think about the last time you were given a gift for tell them the meaning. Let them find out for themselves. That will absolutely no reason – or maybe just because someone wanted to be half the fun of it. say thank you or acknowledge you? How did you feel? And if the gift came from a vendor or someone you do business with, I bet it made you think about how you could “repay” the kindness. And you probably did so by buying from the company again. Your customers feel the same way. In fact everyone loves a free gift. Gift-giving is a great way to reinforce a relationship. This can also help build your brand. So what type of gift could you give to your clients today? First of all the gift should be of value (either perceived value or real value). It should be meaningful (oh no, not another fruitcake!). It should be personal to you and/or to the client. It should be useful (I’m not really talking about a advertising/promotions item such as a pen) and it also should be helpful. For instance if you are an accountant, you might give your clients a calculator and a caterer might give clients an apron or food magazine subscription.

Before deciding what to give, you should think about your budget. How many gifts do you plan to hand out today? How much do you think is appropriate to spend on a client for an “unexpected gift.” You also have to decide how you will deliver the gift. In person is best but of course if you work with people in other cities or states

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**February 20th is Sandwich Shop Day ~ On Men’s Health, chanced upon the article and after locating Jared (he February 20, 2001 Orlando Montagu (a was in Iceland on vacation) included the “Subway sandwich diet” in descendant of the fourth Earl of Sandwich and an article entitled, “Stupid Diets. . . that Work!” the inventor of sandwiches) opened the Earl of Sandwich shop in London, England. Trading In the article he wrote about how Jared had become obese by eating on the family name and heritage he did so to junk food and not exercising. Because his favorite place to eat was help support their country estate in Dorset, England ( a tourist stop) “Subway” and Jared was on a mission to shed more than 200 and also to support a few chosen charities. What started out as a pounds. He succeeded and lost 245 pounds in a year. This article small sandwich shop in London has grown into a large conglomerat caught the eye of Bob Ocwieja, a Chicago-are Subway Franchisee including partnering with Disney and airline terminals around the who read the story and shared it with Richard Coad, the creative globe. director at Subway’s Chicago advertising agency.

Another famous sandwich shop that has made a tremendous name They created a commercial including Jared as the “star.” The first for itself is Subway. Subway started out in 1965 in Connecticut and commercial aired on January 1st, 2000. The commercial was a has grown to more than 30,000 stores in 87 countries becoming the huge success because the day after it aired, the advertising agency world’s largest submarine sandwich shop. If you watch commercials began receiving calls from USA Today, ABC News, Fox News, and you may have seen the ones with Jared the Sandwich Guy from Oprah. Shortly after that, the national advertising director for Subway Subway . But you may not know the “back story” of how Jared came called and asked if the spot could be aired nationally. The results: to be known as The Sandwich Guy from Subway. Subway’s 2000 sales exceeded those of the previous year by 18 percent. In 2001, they rose another 16% making Jared a Celebrity It all started in April of 1999 when Ryan Coleman, a former dorm and Subway lots of money! mate of Jared Fogel wrote an article in the In the Indiana Daily (source: Wikipedia.com and Subway.com) Student about how Jared had lost weight by inventing his own diet which he called his “Subway diet.” Duane Swierczynski, a writer for

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**February 21st is Hot Air Balloon Day ~ On February 21st in 1995 American Businessman and Aviator Steve Fossett set a world record In 1950 Liberal Kansas heard of this 500 year old event and when he became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean began a tradition of their own. Since then, on Pancake Day Liberal in a balloon, taking off from South Korea, and landing in Leader, has had their own International running of the Pancake Race Saskatchewan, Canada. “A fellow of the Royal Geographical Society every year on Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday and the Explorers Club, Fossett set 116 records in five different aka Fat Tuesday). sports, 60 of which still stood as of June 2007.” (source: Wikipedia). Their race coincides with one in Olney England and at the end of What world records could you set? Not into setting world records? the race times of the winners in both Olney and Liberal are How about advertising your business on a Hot Air Balloon? Or taking compared by Trans-Atlantic telephone and an international winner people for a hot air balloon ride? Or hosting a hot air balloon race in is declared. your community? If you’ve got the “hot air” balloon, anything’s possible. **Today is also Backward Mile Day. In 1983, Donald The Pancake Race has become a symbolic event of peace and Davis ran a mile backwards in just 6 minutes and 7.1 seconds unity between the United States and England. In anticipation and setting yet another record. If your business could use a “boost” or a preparation for the Pancake Day Race, Liberal hosts a concert, kick in the pants try one of these ideas. amateur talent show, pancake eating contest, parade, community pancake breakfast, Kids races, Men's Pacer race, International February 21st is International Pancake Day ~ The Legend of Pancake Race, receptions and other special events provide for a Pancake Day began in 1445, when a housewife in Olney, England full schedule during the celebration. started baking her pancakes rather late. They were not quite It has also become customary for Liberal and Olney to send finished when the church bell rang. Because she did not want to dignitaries to each country, so that an official representative is leave her pancakes to burn, she hurried to the "shriving" carrying present at the race. At the end of the race, the dignitary her griddle and the pancakes with her. This began the start of the congratulates the race winner with the Kiss of Peace. annual sporting event in England known as the pancake race. You can watch a video of the event (2008) Since then, Pancake Day has become a traditional on Shrove http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4r008ea1_0 . Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday aka Fat Tuesday).

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More Ideas for Pancake Day: The original store started with just $300. Their long success was A local Kiwanis Club has a Pancake Breakfast and Race every due to offering discounted merchandise at fixed prices undercutting year to raise money for their causes. the prices of other local merchants (sound familiar?). Woolworths A local restaurant could host a Pancake Race and make the was also one of the first “American retailers to put merchandise out pancakes, charge an entry fee or get runners to get pledges for for shoppers to handle and select without the assistance of a sales distance run and enlist the help of vendors to provide prizes clerk. Earlier retailers had kept all merchandise behind a counter, including of course meals at their establishments, and customers presented the clerk with a list of items they wished to maybe a pancake making kit, themed gift baskets and more. Tie in buy.” When Woolworths began loosing significant market share they with a local charity and use their “volunteer power” to help manage closed their doors to focus on the Foot Locker division renaming the the event. holding company Venator Group. (source: Wikipedia)

nd **February 22 is Brother Can You Spare a Dime? Day ~ On The message here: Don’t loose sight of your original mission. If you February 22, 1879 Frank Winfield Woolworth opened the Great 5 are doing well and people are buying your products and services, it Cents Store in Utica, New York. His mission: to sell “nothing” that is a good idea to find out what THEY want before making big cost more than a nickel. Woolworths 5 and 10 cent store became changes like Woolworth did. Woolworth had a good formula for popular among consumers as one of the first to sell discount general success. KMart, Target and WalMart saw an opportunity to take up merchandise at fixed prices and saw a huge surge in popularity where Woolworths left off by offering general merchandise at expanding over the next 50 years to 1000 stores. So why did the last discounts. Some of them even have hourly discounts throughout the Woolworths shop in the United States close on July 17, 1997? Some store to further encourage consumers to shop there. say it was increasing competition with super stores, chain department stores and the like. Still other say it was because they changed their focus from what they were known for to something entirely different when they went from a five and dime to pursue specialty merchandise.

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**February 22nd is also Single Tasking Day. Is it time to set aside the multiple projects and focus on one??? Some Psychologists argue that it is not possible to Multi-task. That we can work on various projects at once but our focus must be on one thing at a time with several irons in the fire and go back and forth between tasks. Hence the term to multi-task. When we multi-task it appears we get lots done but in reality single-tasking can be more productive in the long run. You can see the results of one thing and then move on to others. If you are good at starting things (as am I) but have a difficult time completing something, maybe it is time to totally focus on one project to completion – to single task! Starting today.

**February 23rd is Little Lulu Day. Little Lulu is a cartoon creation of Marjorie Henderson Buell. Starting out as a single-panel cartoon in the Saturday Evening Post February 23, 1935 it quickly became popular among people of that generation and the Post continued to be feature the character weekly through 1945. Then during 1945 Western Publishing Company Little Lulu debuted in comic books, coloring and activity books, records, games, puzzles, dolls and sewing cards.Why not create a comic strip for your company or the ToonDoo is a cool, comic-creating tool from Jambav, You can now just launch of a new product or service? Here’s one I put together in about drag-drop or click to create comic strips that express your views, 20 minutes: opinions, angst or to just have fun, loads of it! (this is the one I used to create this cartoon because it was so easy to do and I could save to my desktop and share anywhere) You can also use *Comic Strip Generator *My Cartoon Creator has other cool features like sound effects and more. And then there’s Zwinky a very cool and cutting edge cartoon creator using avatars and more!

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*February 24th is Do Unto Others Day ~ Do Unto Others Day is a rolling a ball to knock down targets more than 7,000 years old, but time to celebrate those caring individuals who believe in the modern day bowling is a very American sport. The Dutch in New success-driven philosophy “If you give it up, you’ll get it back!” It is Amsterdam (New York) were bowling at ninepins in 1650. Their a day to thank those Compassionate Capitalists who pay forward a alley was a long plank only about a foot wide, so I imagine they had portion of their day- to- day earnings to those in need. It is a day for a lot of gutter balls *SMILE. For more on the history of bowling all those who find more pleasure in giving than receiving to join visit The International Bowling Museum . forces and share a portion of themselves, either monetarily, physically or spiritually to those who lives are less blessed than In 2008 between January 15 to 18, the 29th annual Icebox Days at theirs (in need?). Make a donation, mow a lawn, lend a shoulder for International Falls held four days and nights of brrrreathtaking someone to cry on. And at the end of the day, embrace yourself events and activities. Highlights of this cold weather festival (give yourself a hug?) for being somebody who truly makes a included frozen turkey bowling; snow sculpting; smoosh races; difference in this world. nighttime snowshoeing in Voyageurs National Park; the famous For more information visit Duo Magazine Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run (ten-kilometer and five kilometer Today is the perfect time to find ways to give to others in your races in extreme weather conditions); ice skating; snowmobile business, your community, your family, your life! Let us know how races; ice rink croquet; Texas Hold ‘em, darts and bridge you can promote DUO to others! tournaments; concerts; and a bonfire in Smokey Bear Park Splitsville in Tampa Florida is one of the most renowned bowling **February 25th is Go Bowling Day ~ alleys in the United States having served the likes of such Bowling has a long and rich history, celebrities Jenna Elfman, Susan Sarandon, DMX, and a Saudi and today is one of the most popular prince. sports in the world. In fact in the 1930′s A British anthropologist, Sir Flinders Petrie a collection of objects in a child’s grave in Egypt that appeared to him to be used for a crude form of bowling. It looks as though The Egyptians were

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Check out Scott Allen’s 5 Famous Bowling Alleys on of wearing a wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand was MentalFloss.com for four other FAMOUS BOWLING ALLEYS. started by the Greeks in the 3rd century B.C. What you may not know is that the third finger was chosen by View the slideshow: Famous Rapper David Banner goes mistake! Physicians of that time wrongly believed that a vein ran bowling … in Blaine And he wore REAL bowling shoes and didn’t from this finger to the heart. They referred to this the “vein of love” even require his ball be dipped in gold. Brunswick Zone bowling and considered this the logical place to wear a ring symbolizing alley hosted the benefit this weekend sponsored by B96. love. Interesting how once a custom starts it is difficult to change.

Bowling for Dollars was a television game show where people It got me thinking about how to the jewelry industry gets press for could play the sport of bowling to win cash and sometimes prizes their business. While I have used examples of jewelers and what based on how well they bowled created by Bert Claster of Claster they have done, these principles and ideas are really universal and Television, who also created the famous children’s show Romper can apply to almost any business. Room. Episodes of Bowling for Dollars were taped either in a local bowling alley, or on a pair of bowling lanes constructed right inside Find your Marketing GOLD and start the TV studio. (source: Wikipedia) Panning! Two ideas to add to your Marketing “jewelry” box: Also on this day in history: On February 25, 1862 Paper Currency Product Reviews – find and court was introduced in the U.S. by President Abraham Lincoln. Good publications that do product reviews. thing too, because if you want to bowl at Splitzville is costs $85 for Showcase your talent by offering to a Friday or Saturday night!It took more than 100 years for the 1st show them the latest color and design trends in your line. Most of Bank of U.S. to be chartered in 1771! People probably figured out the time they will ask to see the product so they can photograph it, stuffing money in their bowling balls wasn’t a good idea. maybe wear it, etc. Be sure to include a self-addressed stamped return package so they can easily send it back to you once the

*February 26th is Ring Finger Day ~ Did you know? The custom review is done. Check the publications for their product review guidelines. If they are not readily available, call them and ask.

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Celebrity Endorsements – think Oscars. If you have ever watched magazines. Television works on a 3-6 month filming schedule, etc. the Oscars, the Tony’s or other Televised Celebrity Awards Programs you know many celebrities are often seen sporting 5. Be patient. It takes time to build a business and a following. designer jewelry and clothing by big name artists. And the emcee will point that out either on the red carpet or as they approach the 6. Be professional. And responsive. NEVER make the press wait. stage. That’s because these designers have “lent” them the pieces NEVER. They are on deadlines and will just say “next” if you are just for the occasion in the hopes of being mentioned on air to not available millions of viewers.

7. I would also add to be persistent. Timing is everything and Peggy Li of Peggy Li Creations makes handmade jewelry that maybe today is not a good day for the person who makes those has been seen on TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Buffy, the Vampire decisions. Stay in touch and follow up (without being a professional Slayer”, “Private Practice,” in the pages of Lucky and Oprah and pain in the you know what). Ask if you can reconnect at a later date more. Her advice for getting celebrities to wear her jewelry: and when it would be good to do so. And do it! You can visit: Peggy Li Creations to learn more. 1.Do your homework. ~ Target TV and Press that fit with your design style. (Tips excerpted from “Getting Press For Your Jewelry Business ” )

2. Create a professional-looking press kit. By the way you don’t have to sell jewelry or clothing to use these strategies. Think about your own products and services and come 3. Tell a story. Share a little bit of yourself in your bio, why you up with a list of public figures you might tap into to help you design jewelry, what is your design inspiration, why you choose the promote your business. type of materials you use in creating your jewelry, etc.

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**February 27th Let’s Have a Parade former Portuguese Catholic colony, the Carnival is celebrated for Day! ~ In 1827 the first Mardi Gras three days culminating on Fat Tuesday. The Carnevale di Venezia celebration was held in New Orleans, (Venice, Italy) first recorded in 1268 is one of the most famous and Louisiana on February 27th. Mardi Gras is oldest Carnival celebrations in the world. (source: Wikipedia) French for “Fat Tuesday” (aka Shrove Tuesday) and refers to the tradition of the Is it time to have a parade in your neck of the woods? Local last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the community groups host parades for a variety of reasons. Lenten season, which started on Ash Wednesday. Laissez les bon Generally celebrating a milestone such as the birthday of the temps rouler, (Let the good times roll) is one of the popular town. I have participated in a number of parades both as an slogans of modern day Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans onlooker and as a participant. aka the “Big Easy” This year (2010) Fat Tuesday was on February Parades offer a great opportunity to gain visibility in your 16th. community as well as have fun and bond with other Parade Participants and Observers. For several years my company Mardi Gras has a long history that was recognized in ancient participated in the annual Miramar Days Parade, where Roman times. The celebration was called Lupercalia, a circus-like companies and individuals in the community were invited to festival similar to the Mardi Gras we are familiar with today. In parade and showcase their businesses and organizations. 1699 the French Explorer Iberville brought the custom to America. Mardi Gras has also been celebrated by the people of Paris since Parades are a great way for the community to “see you.” Your the Middle Ages. company looks larger than life, you can pass out materials to participants, such as brochures, magnets and give-aways. It can In Binche, Belgium the Mardi Gras festival is the most important also be fun for your staff (if you have employees). It can be a very day of the year where they host the Carnival of Binche. The cost-effective way to gain visibility that otherwise you would not. CARNIVAL is an annual pre-Lenten celebration in Brazil. Invite your family and friends to participate. Even your clients and According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Carnaval customers. Who knows, you might end up on the cover of the local of Salvador de Bahia is the biggest street party on the planet with newspaper! So next time the Chamber calls, raise your hand! more than a million people combing the streets. In Goa, India, a

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*February 28th is Romance on a Budget DAY! ~ Save money on romance today with the book “Romance on a Budget- 199 Cheap •#5 – Check out the Recipes for making Whippy Do – that can Thrills, Romantic Antics and Love Changing Experiences.” lead to Whoopie!

Host a Romance Sucks Contest – we asked our customers to •#138, 139 and 140 – Here are 3 Recipes for Love Potion #9 ~ “Tell us why Romance Sucks! In 250 words or less, tell us your Check them out at Valentine Horror Story!, And we http://speakingwithspirit.com/books/romance-on-a-budget/ offered prizes including a dozen roses a month for a year, the Did you know this is another one of the 5 Holidays I have created Romance on a Budget Book, and over the years? Not to mention all the made-up holidays on days dinners for two… and more. there are none that I have invented to promote my business :)

One of my clients is a financial *February 28th is also Floral Design Day ~ If you are a florist advisor and for one Valentine’s you could host a design day at your shop and invite your Day she ordered 50 copies and gave them to her top clients as a customers to participate. Or invite your local elementary, middle thank you with a little note to help them keep their relationships and/or high school to take a field trip to your shop strong in these economic times. GREAT IDEA! and show them how to make something simple like a corsage or a Here are some tips from Romance on a Budget: bud vase. If you are not a florist, you could partner with one and cross promote the day – by sponsoring the event, to help offset •#18 Spray the perfume or cologne you wear on a light bulb. the cost of the supplies and refreshments. Be sure When the light is turned on the scent of you will fill the room. to send a media release announcing your plans. Who knows, the media could show up – it’s a nice story for your local •#87 Celebrate Love Days every month such as March on over to paper. your love and celebrate Share a Smile Day (Mar. 1st), Call her up on Telephone Day (Mar. 10th), Lips Appreciation Day (Mar. 16th),

Flower Day (Mar. 21st ), & Make up your own Holiday Day (Mar. 26th).

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OTHER OBSERVANCES IN FEBRUARY Monthly Dump Your Significant Jerk Week: 5-11 Children's Authors & Illustrators Week: 5-11 Bake for Family Fun Month Boy Scout Anniversary Week: 5-11 Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month Jell-O Week: 6-12 Marijuana Awareness Month Freelance Writers Appreciation Week: 5-11 National African American History Month Publicity for Profit Week: 5-11 National Black History Month International Coaching Week: 5-11 National Cherry Pie Month Just Say No to PowerPoints Week: 5-11 National Children's Dental Health Month National School Counseling Week: 6-10 National Condom Month International Networking Week: 6-10 National Get To Know and Independent Real Estate Broker Month National Green Week: 6-11 National Laugh-Friendly Month Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week: 7-14 National Mend a Broken Heart Month *Risk Awareness Week: 7-14 National Parent Leadership Month *Love Makes the World Go Round; But, Laughter Keeps Us National Pet Dental Health Month From Getting Dizzy Week: 8-14 National Senior Independence Month National Family, Career & Community Leaders of America National Weddings Month Week: 10-16 Relationship Wellness Month Children of Alcoholics Week: 12-18 Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month Celebration of Love Week: 12-18 Spiritual Teachers Month Jell-O Week: 12-18 Sweet Potato Month Love a Mench Week: 12-19 National Time Management Month Random Acts of Kindness Week: 13-19 Wise Health Care Consumer Month *International Flirting Week: 13-19 Youth Leadership Month *National Condom Week: 14-21 International Boost Self-Esteem Month International Friendship Week: 17-23 Spunky Old Broads Month National Entrepreneurship Week: 18-25 National Engineers Week: 19-25 Read Me Week: 20-24 WEEKLY OBSERVANCES NBA All-Star Week: 24-26 National Second-Hand Wardrobe Week: 26-3/3 National Eating Disorders Awareness Week: 26-3/3 *Women's Heart Week: 1-7 Telecommuter Appreciation Week: 27-3/5 Intimate Apparel Market Week: 1-4 Peace Corps Week: 27-3/4 National Patient Recognition Week: 1-7 Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend: 1-7 National Consumer Protection Week: 3-9 National Future Business Leaders Week: 3-9 National Pancake Week: 3-9

60 Quirky Marketing Calendar FEBRUARY DAILY OBSERVANCES

*National Freedom Day: 1 *National Women's Heart Day: 14 National Girls & Women in Sports Day: 1 *National Call In Single Day: 14 *Hula in The Coola Day: 1 National Donor Day: 14 *Robinson Crusoe Day: 1 *Quirky Alone Day: 14 *Spunky Old Broads Day: 1 *World Marriage Day: 14 *Working Naked Day: 1 *Susan B. Anthony Day: 15 *Groundhog Day: 2 *National Gum Drop Day: 15 *Give Kids A Smile Day: 3 *Washington's Birthday: 16 Wear Red Day: 3 Innovation Day: 16 Bubble Gum Day: 3 *My Way Day: 17 *USO Day: 4 *National PTA Founders Day: 17 *World Cancer Day: 4 *World Human Spirit Day: 17 Weatherperson's Day: 5 *Battery Day: 18 Dump Your Significant Jerk Day: 5 Introduce A Girl to Engineering Day: 18 Super Bowl XLVI: 5 *Chocolate Mint Day: 19 African American Coaches Day: 7 *Iwo Jima Day: 19 *Ballet Day: 7 *Love Your Pet Day: 20 Pay a Compliment Day: 6 *World Day for Social Justice: 20 *Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbor's Day: 7 Presidents Day: 20 Full Moon: 7 Mardi Gras: 21 *Boy Scout Anniversary Day: 8 International Pancake Day: 21 *Laugh and Get Rich Day: 8 Single Tasking Day: 22 *Read in the Bathtub Day: 9 George Washington's Birthday: 22 Do You Think I'm Sexy Day: 10 *Taxi Drivers Day: 22 *Be Electrific Day: 11 Curling is Cool Day: 23 *Pro Sports Wives Day: 11 **Tootsie Roll Day: 23 *National Shut-in Visitation Day: 11 Open That Bottle Night: 25 *Satisfied Staying Single Day: 11 *Inconvenience Yourself Day: 24 Man Day: 12 National Chili Day: 25 *Lincoln's Birthday: 12 *For Pete's Sake Day: 26 *Safety Pup Day: 12 National Personal Chef's Day: 26 *Madly In Love With Me Day: 13 *Floral Design Day: 28 *Valentine's Day: 14 Spay Day USA: 28 *Ferris Wheel Day: 14 International Sword Swallowers Day: 28 *Library Lovers Day: 14 National Tooth Fairy Day: 28 *National Have A Heart Day: 14 Corporate Philanthropy Day: 28 *National Condom Day: 14 Bachelor's Day: 29 *League of Women Voters Day: 14 Leap Year Day(once every 4 years): 29

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My Marketing Calendar for FEBRUARY Special Dates I plan to promote: 1. 2. 3. 4. How I plan to promote them:

Goals for Each Promotion:

Budget: Media 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Comments:

62 FEBRUARY 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29

63 Quirky Marketing Calendar March Marketing Calendar

March is Quirky Marketing Month ~ That’s right! March is also new idea, it has become a new way of doing business and “Make up Your own Holiday Month.” So we did just that. When you achieving goals and success in life. grab a copy of the Quirky Marketing Calendar, you are sure to find ideas that will help you market your company, and come up with a To learn how to set up your own Mastermind Group, listen to few of your own. In fact, I suggest you get together with your Heidi’s session – “How a Mastermind Group Can Springboard Peeps (Peeps Day is March 15th but don‘t wait until then), and your Business,” at: www.HeidiRichards.com in the Free Audios brainstorm ideas that are off-the-wall, out of this world, unusual. section. To commemorate the day, do what the Walt Disney Things your competition would NEVER think to do. And devise company does – host or hold a “Gong Show” 2-3 times a year and your plan of action to “just do it today.” allow employees to pitch a concept or new product offering. Executives at Disney hit the gong if the idea is a dud – you could And if you have an idea that you think others would be interested allow other employees to do the same. in, share it with me and who knows, your idea may show up in a future edition of Quirky Marketing Calendar. National On-Hold Month ~ Did you know that the average on- hold time in America is 43 seconds? If your on-hold message isn’t March is also International Ideas selling something or providing your customers and clients Month ~ What better time than March to additional information, it’s time to do something about it. start your Quirky Marketing Plan and then Remember the Mantra, "The more you tell, the more you can sell." putting your Quirky Marketing PLAN into Implement this in your on-hold messages and see how much it MOTION! Imagine having your own board adds to your bottom line! For more tips on on-hold messages, of directors made up of people with read 10 Tips to On-Hold Profits: The First Five ~ The Next Five: diverse professions and expertise that could help your business grow – and it would not cost you a dime! Did you know that one of the best ways to generate ideas is by participating in a Mastermind Group? Mastermind groups are a growing phenomenon around the world. And although it is not a

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National Ethics Awareness Month ~ Committing to practice community. The businesses can even be your sponsors and you ethics in business is something every company big or small should can use them in your marketing. Create your own Holiday to do. Treating clients, employees, investors, vendors, distributors Celebrate the Month. Check out Virtual Woman’s Day ™ to see and anyone else involved with your company with honesty and what the Women in Ecommerce ™ does each year. respect is paramount to long-term business success, particularly these days. You can ensure a high level International Expect Success Month & Optimism Month ~ If of workplace ethics and proper conduct for your company or you want good things to happen to you in the New Year, expect research information on corporate social responsibility with these success and work like there is no other option. Start by focusing business ethics resources: The Center for Ethics and Business your attention on the power of your expectations to create a the and Business.com’s Business Ethics : Build Corporate desired outcome. It’s basic Law of Attraction in action. Read Responsibility with the Workplace Ethics Resource Guide motivational books, hang out with positive, optimistic people, create your BOARD and EXPECT SUCCESS! National Women’s History Month ~ In addition to celebrating Women’s History Month with traditional events and promotions Music in our Schools Month ~ Partner (dinner meetings, networking, breakfasts, luncheons, fashion with a school in your community to bring shows), try something different? Here are four ideas that worked in a few local musicians who play Latin for the WECAI Network™: 2. Tech ‘n Tell - hosted by a vendor music. Provide mini maracas (with your where the vendor is also the guest speaker and can give a logo on them) to each of the students so demonstration“. 2. Goddess Gatherings” - Small events hosted in they too can play along. Ask your advertising specialty company your home inviting women who are not presently connected with for other “musical” give-aways that you can pass out to the one another to network and get to know each other. You provide students or leave with the staff in the office (and teachers). the refreshments and have one or two vendors come to showcase Enlisting the help of other local business owners, offer to their products and services 3. Outdoors - Scavenger Hunt - Bricks sponsor a music program for March. ‘n Mortar companies with an Online presence - Give clues for guests to solve involving visits to various businesses in your

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Employee Spirit Month ~ Did you know that people who have fun Solicit workers’ input. Listen to their input and when possible act at work are more productive and have less absenteeism? If you are upon their suggestions. If that is not possible, explain why. looking for ways to improve Employee spirit and make work a “fun” place to go, here are some tips from Inc. Magazine: 1. First, identify Show employees how much they are appreciated. After all they people at your organization who share some common traits such as are giving part of their life to help your company be successful. having attended the same college, bike to work, or perhaps have The employee, employer relationship should be win-win. the same first and last names that begin with the same letter. Then, bring one group together at a time and see if they can determine the Offer fun and creative rewards to those who meet set goals. They common denominator. Doing spring cleaning in your office? Make can include a night on the town, dinner for two, a massage, a that fun too by offering prizes for the oldest or strangest or funniest favorite book or two, audio CD's and more. items to emerge from the clutter. The most fossilized food gets a special prize. For more ideas to have fun at work and lift employees spirit, request a copy of my book ~ W h a t ’s Y our Oc c uP L A Y tion (free while supplies last, you just pay the shipping!)

I read an interesting article by Harvey Mackay ~ Employee Spirit Month, a good time to boost morale.

Mackay recommends that Supervisors and managers should do everything in their power to try to improve employee morale and spirit. Mackey also offers this advice:

A positive company culture should start at the top.

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Here are some fun ideas companies are using to increase Similar to an “exit interview” except that instead of waiting unt a employee “spirit.” valuable member of your team leas, you meet with employess annually one on one to see how they feel about the company and You never know when the management of Blue Ball National their job. Key tip: Let your team members/staff know that nothing Bank will call one of the branch offices and ask employees trivia they say will jeopardize their position or standing with the questions. The questions they ask include bankproduct offerings, company. new services, and banking hours. Those Workers who answer the most questions correctly get treated to a nice lunch. National Craft Month ~ Are you in the crafts business? Tell the media about Durham Technology (iContact) has started “Karaoke Fridays. it! Host a craft show or fair in your Their goal: to keep employees excited about coming to work. community donating a portion of the They must be doing something right because despite the profits to a local charity. economic downturn, iContant is still expanding.

Restaurant companies have used Games, contests and competitions to emphasize procedures, improve skills and enhance teamwork as well as to boost employee retention and increase a restaurant’s overall performance.

Whataburger created a bienial contest to determine the best restaurant crew in the 626-unit fast-food chain “It has an amazing effect on our folks; it changes lives,” Bill Adams, training manager for Whataburger

Joyce Gioia, CEO of Employers of Choice, recommends that companies Conduct “stay interviews” with current employees.

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Small Press Month ~ Create a tips booklet for your company. *March 1 - 7th is National Write a Letter of Appreciation Week ~ People are more likely to keep a tips booklet than a brochure so Letters of Appreciation are one of the most thoughtful and they become an ongoing sales tool for your company. I have one beneficial forms of communication. They can strengthen a that is all about “Getting Organized“ that I’ve had for years. relationship, provide opportunities to work together again, Wedding planners could write the 49 tips to plan a worry-free acknowledge a job well-done, thank someone for their help in a wedding. A Chiropractor could write 57 Natural Remedies to Better specific matter, and encourage others to do reach even higher Health. A women’s boutique owner could write – How to Create 27 goals. Think about all the people you need to acknowledge, get Outfits out of 4 when You Mix and Match Your Wardrobe. One of that pen and paper out (or word processor) and start writing. the tips booklets I wrote is “Networking is More than Just Passing Out Business Cards.” March 4-10th is Celebrate Your Name Week ~ If you have a retail establishment you could use people’s names to draw Tips booklets have staying power. People are less likely to toss attention and get people through the door. For instance, a florist them out than they are brochures and other advertising media. might put a sign in her window “If your name is John or Julie, stop Make sure yours is filled with great information your target in for a bud” – Change the name every week and see how people audience wants and needs and you will see what I mean. I have start paying attention. one from a professional organizer that was given to me at least 10 years ago and I have referred to it on a number of ocassions as **March 4-10th is also Read an eBook Week ~ How many well as quoted from it and shared the ideas (and author) with my eBooks have you downloaded to your desktop in the past week, own circles. month or year? If you’re like me, probably more than one. Now is BTW, if you need help creating your tips booklet, check out my the time to read that book either online or print out and read at friend Paulette Ensign's site at www.TipsBooklets.com. Paulette your leisure. I find it much easier to print the book out and read at has sold well over a million copies of her own tips booklet, in 4 home when everyone else is watching television. You can read languages and various formats (so far!), without some (or all) of the ebooks I have written here: Heidi’s Free spending a penny on advertising! eBooks and The GET Series.

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difference in making the economy stronger! The question to ask **March 5-9th is Make a Referral yourself is: are you willing to give one referral? To participate in Week ~ Can your referral make a Make a Referral Week, go here: difference? We are all hearing the http://www.makeareferralweek.com/referralcounter/ negative talk about our economy! Many businesses, sales people, and In addition to sharing referrals, this year “the week long virtual entrepreneurs are complaining and event will also feature daily education programs focused on contributing to the negativity. But what if you can make a teaching small business owners and other marketers how to tap difference? What if you made one referral today? Could you the power of referral marketing. Featured guest experts include inspire others to do the same? Can this effort have a profound Ivan Misner, founder of BNI and author Masters of Networking, impact on your business as well as those in your business Bob Burg, author of Endless Referrals and the Go-Givers Sell network? The creators of Make a Referral Week seem to think so! More, Ben McConnell, author of Creating Customer Evangelists, The goal for Referral Week is to generate 1000 referred leads to David Meerman Scott, author of New Rules of Marketing and PR, 1000 deserving small businesses. Guy Kawasaki, author of Reality Check, Chris Brogan, author of Trust Agents, Rohit Bhargava author of Personality Not Included, Here are some simple steps to help you create your referral:Over Dan Schawbel author of Me2.0, Anita Campbell, publisher of the next few days think about the people in your business Small Business Trends, Ann Handley, editor of Marketing Profs, network. Listen to the conversations with your customers. What Lisa Barrone, Outspoken Media, Scott Allen, author of the Virtual are they looking for? What do your clients need? Simply match Handshake, John Jantsch, author of Duct Tape Marketing, Scott those customers and clients with someone in your businesses or Ginsberg of Nametag TV, Janine Popick, CEO of Vertical referral network. Response, and Pam Slim, author Escape from Cubicle Nation.” For more information visit: http://www.makeareferralweek.com/ Visit the Make A Referral Week Counter Page and tell them who today! you referred! Will you participate? Will you help one those people in your network and give them a referral? Will your referral start a chain reaction of more referrals? Each of us can make a

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March 19-24th is American Chocolate Week ~ Chocolate you also may not know is that In the beginning, FM radio primarily Company had been successfully branding chocolate both for aired elevator music. It later became a primary source for women and by using women in its ads to promote chocolate’s educational programming; featuring classical music, opera and sensual side. One of Cadbury’s most popular TV spots featured a jazz. Today, more than 80 percent of radio listeners in the United suave cat burglar scaling a building, fighting off danger, using States listen to FM channels. 007- like gadgets etc, all in an effort to leave a box of Cadbury’s Milk Tray chocolates on a sleeping woman’s night table. The spots Do you have ties with the local radio stations? Have you ended with the tagline, “And all because the lady loves Milk Tray.” developed media connections or professional working Nestle Co. got into the act and started the “It’s not for girls” relationships with them? If not, why not start now. Google the campaign, running spots of woman disguised as men in stations you would love to have your company mentioned on, and desperate attempts to buy a Yorkie. Of course the wily male candy find out who are the "powers that be." Find ways to become a clerk would trip them up, resulting in no sale. The Yorkie spots resource for radio personalities. If they blog, follow them, would end with a swarthy construction worker type manhandling a comment on their blogs and get to know them. Send them a note, Yorkie bar. Sort of a Brit version of Toffeefay’s old “Toffeefay, it’s offer your professional services (for free) and just see what too good for kids” campaign. What is your competition doing that happens. Since most FM stations play music as opposed to being you could “piggy back” on by giving the promotion a different talk shows, see if you could offer your products to them during twist? major promotions such as Mother's Day, Saint Patrick’s Day... and more. One year a local music station hosted a tulips and Heinekin Daily Observances: contest during the month of April in celebration of Springtime. *March 1st is Commercial Radio Day ~ Did you know that on this They gave away a dozen tulips and a case of Heineken to several date in history commercial FM broadcasting began in the U.S. listeners. My shop provided the tulips (free of charge) and got when station W47NV in Nashville, TN started operations on this some great publicity for it. day in 1941? W47NV was the first commercial FM radio station to receive a license, some 20 years after its AM radio counterpart, KDKA in Pittsburgh. In case you didn't know, FM stands for ‘frequency modulation’ AM stands for ‘amplitude modulation.’ What

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*March 1st is also Refired, Not Retired Day ~ This is a day for rehabilitative therapy of hand injuries. In case you were retirees (or those soon to be retired) to decide that this is the wondering, You can make a similar substance at home using a beginning of “Life, Part II,” and to make a commitment to make solution of borax and water mixed with white glue, but it won’t pick this an exciting adventure. For info visit www.refiredretired.com . up the funny pages.

*March 2nd is Silly Putty Day ~ Silly Putty, that wonderful pink So just how can you use Silly Putty to Promote Your rubber-like stretchy substance was introduced to the public on Organization? You could do what D.H. Hill Library did as part of an March 2nd in 1950. Developed as a possible rubber substitute for experiment during their annual materials summer camp for high the World War II effort. America needed rubber to produce Truck school students. If you ever wondered what would happen if you Tires and boot soles and manufacturers were asked to come up dropped 50 lbs of Silly Putty from the 7th floor of an office building with a synthetic rubber. James Wright, an engineer with General check out this quirky YouTube® video they Electric combined silicone oil and boric acid resulting in a goewy produced:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zez3v0fGi8 . You substance that when dropped bounces. They called it Bouncing can also see the Classic Original SILLY PUTTY TV Commercial Putty. Try as they might, GE could not come up with a practical here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxdfoJoWNE4 use for the substance. However, in 1949 Paul Hogdson, a toy store manager bought $147 dollars worth of Bouncing Putty, And if you are familiar with Blendtec Industrial blenders and how separated it into little colored eggs, called it SILLY PUTTY and they promote those blenders on YouTube® using quirky and then sold it through his toy store. unusual marketing strategies, you are likely familiar with their Will It Blend? series. Check out their Will it Blend Silly Putty here: In August of 1950, a writer for the New Yorker magazine discovers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTcIgu1o6N0 Silly Putty in a Doubleday bookstore and writes a story on it in The Talk of the Town. Within three days, Hodgson receives orders for And just in case you thought Silly Putty was totally silly, you might 250,000 eggs. be surprised to know that it was included in a Smithsonian Institute display in 2000, as part of an exhibit displaying objects Unusual uses for Silly Putty: Silly Putty can be used to pick up dirt, that helped shape American culture. lint, and pet hair. It is also used by physical therapists for

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**March 3rd is Old Rock Day ~ Fossils have been called “Mother me for including my card with an invoice. They have called to Nature’s diary” … they tell the history and secrets of life before us. place orders and passed the cards on to colleagues. The word “fossil” comes from the Latin word fossilis (which means “dug up”). Although most “old rocks” are are dug up by Where else can you distribute your business card? What other paleontologists, if you are lucky you might just dig up a few in your marketing ideas have you used in the past that need to be own backyard. So what can you do on Old Rock Day? In this day resurrected? Old Rock Day is the perfect day to do just that! One of WEB 2.0 and new media and social marketing, we often loose of the sites I recently discovered was MooCards. I love that you site of some of the classic, time-tested marketing techniques we can print multiple images in each pack. Check out their YouTube used effectively in the past. video and see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_kMEVymnifY Take the business card as an example. Business cards come in all shapes, sizes and materials these days. They can be a mini CD March 4th is March Forth, Do Something Day ~ Have you been or a traditional size or even a fold-over business card. How about lax in your marketing efforts lately? Now is the best time to march using your “old” business card in a “new” way. forth and do something about it. Look at your annual marketing plan. Modify it if necessary. Create a new plan. Don’t have one? To make it a marketing vehicle and not just a means of others Create one. It is never too late to start marketing as long as you contacting you. Say you have several products or services you have something to market. offer. Why not create a business card specifically designed to highlight each one (or your most popular, or slowest selling, or whatever – you decide). Find places to distribute your business cards. Such as your local chamber of commerce or if appropriate your local tourist information centers. Post them on billboards in high-traffic areas where allowed. Give extra copies to your best clients and ask them to hand out to someone who they know needs your services. Include them in the envelope when you mail a payment or invoice (if you still do that). I have had clients thank

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March 4th is also Bridge Day ~ The game of bridge evolved from Person’s Day Eden Florist sends a smiley mug dubbed “mostly a game called Trump played by the English in the 1500's. Trump sunny” to our local weather persons. Some years we get back a eventually turned into another game known as Whist and became nice thank you card, we have even received autographed pictures popular with the upper-class in the middle 1700s. After going and the flowers always end up on the anchor’s desk during the through many changes, and eventually became the contract nightly news. And some of the weather persons’ end up becoming bridge game played today. Want to learn to play bridge? Check customers. out Karen's Bridge Library at: http://home.comcast.net/~kwbridge/ . We congratulate them on “their day” and tell them to enjoy the If you are interested in more information or a complete history of “Mostly Sunny” Bouquet” compliments of Eden Florist . bridge go to: http://homepage.mac.com/bridgeguys/Conventions/HistoryOfBride.html . March 6th is Unique Names Day - Have customers call in about their names (their origin, why they were named that name, etc.) or How can you turn bridge into a marketing vehicle for your have them post them online and have a contest for the most company? Search for local bridge clubs and tournaments in your unusual name. While my name is not that unusual anymore community. Ask if you can sponsor their events. If they don't have (Heidi), growing up it was a real pain some days. Especially events other than their monthly games, offer to host a city-wide whenever the movie was aired. I would get teased unmercifully bridge tournament. Believe me, no one is doing this. The media the next day about it. My mom chose that name because she would love it because it would be like resurrecting nostalgia we loved the book by Johanna Spyre. A few years ago I met a man knew as kids (or our parents knew). It would be a fun way to teach named Twig and since I had never heard the name before asked the youth about the game. Maybe you could host an online bridge him how his parents chose the name. He told me it was because tournament where when he was born he was the smallest baby in the nursery and the players participate via their iphones, ipods etc. Now wouldn't the name “twig” just seemed to fit him. that be something?

*March 5th is National Weatherperson’s Day ~ you could send a note or FLOWERS to your favorite weather personality! You might even get on the nightly news (we did)! Every year on Weather

73 Quirky Marketing Calendar MARCH For more information visit their official Website . March 6th is also Jamaican Dogsled Day ~ Today I was lying in the sun listening to Radio Margarittaville on Serius Satelite when I About Dogsledding: heard about the Jamaican Dogsled Team and how they were beginning their 2nd start of their second participating in the Sled dog racing is one of North Iditarod. What, you say? A Jamaican Dogsled Team… In America ‘s oldest winter sports ALASKA? But there’s no SNOW in Jamaica! tracing back to the Eskimos and Northern Indians. They depend on Well that didn’t stop the Jamaican Bobsled Team from entering teams of sled dogs for faithful their first Winter Olympics back in 1988 and is didn’t stop Danny companionship, assistance in hunting Melville, founder of the Jamaican Dogsled Team from organizing a and as a sole means of transportation Dogsled Team to represent and bring publicity to Jamaica. during the long winter months.

According to their website: “Danny was in Edmonton, Canada In 1908, the first formal racing event shopping for dune buggies he needed for his Jamaican adventure the “All Alaskan Sweepstakes” was run from Nome to Candle and tour business when he tripped over this ‘metal frame with wheels’ back, a distance of 408 miles, with a winning time of 119 hours, 15 in the corner of a fabrication shop. He was told it was a dog sled minutes, 12 second. with wheels so it could be used in the summer when there was no snow.” The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual sled dog team race across Alaska, U.S. Mushers and teams of typically 16 dogs cover “In 2010, JDT musher Newton Marshall made international 1,161 miles (1,868 km) in nine to fifteen days from Willow (near headlines when he became the first Caribbean musher ever to Anchorage) to Nome. The race begins on the first Saturday in finish the famous Iditarod. (He bagan the race on Saturday, March March. (source: Wikipedia) 6th, 2010). This was after also completing the world’s toughest sled dog race, the Yukon Quest, in 2009. Meanwhile, the team’s Jimmy Bufffet’s Margaritaville is the official sponsor of the sprint musher, Damion Robb, won a race in Ontario and had two Jamaican Dogsled Team. second & two third place finishes in his other four races this year.”

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*March 7th is National Be Heard Day! ~ Shannon Cherry, a company making the game pieces were giving the valuable ones Media expert and Co-author of GET MEDIA SAVVY! has created a to family and friends). Nonprofits and Chambers of Commerce special day to help YOU get the word out about your business, have created their own versions of Monopoly as fund-raising your products and services. It is National Be Heard Day. And it is events. When I was on the board of the Miramar Pembroke being celebrated on Friday, March 7th. Here’s what Shannon has Chamber we hosted a membership drive and the theme was to say about it: “What is it that makes you remember one business Chamberopoly. We sold the “property spots” to local businesses and not another? Regardless of what they did, they somehow as advertising spots. Here’s some Monopoly Trivia: The longest created excitement. They somehow got to your emotions and Monopoly game ever played was 70 days. Monopoly is in the created a buzz inside of you. They got heard! How can you create book of world records for the longest game ever played in a excitement for your business? Well, for one, you must avoid herd treehouse, which was 286 hours. In the 1970′s A braille version of (as opposed to heard) mentality. Just because something works Monopoly for the blind was created. Over 5,120,000,000 little for one, does not mean it will necessarily work for another. … green houses have been constructed since Monopoly was first National Be Heard Day is one of the holidays that appears in created. Chase’s Calendar of Events, has been recognized in New York State, and has gotten amazing media coverage including being *March 8th is Organize Your Home Office Day ~ If it’s time to get featured by the Associated Press.” In 2008 in celebration of organized, here’s a great book I National Be Heard Day, Shannon gave away more than $3,500 recommend: “Don’t Agonize, Organize worth of marketing tips and tactics for free. That’s right! FREE! Your Office Now!: Simple Solutions for Check out her site on March 7th (Startup Spark ) to learn more, Your Office Organizing Challenges” and to bookmark her blog. by Diane Hatcher. You can pick up your copy at Amazon: *March 7th is also Monopoly Day ~ In 1933 the Game of http://tinyurl.com/yuyj3g “Monopoly” was invented. Renditions of the popular Monopoly Game have been used in a variety of ways. McDonalds had a Monopoly pieces game in the late 1990′s (which ended up hurting McDonalds when it was discovered that several employees of the

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March 8th is also International Woman’s Day ~ In 1911 GirlsMakingMedia.com. This video entitled: International Women’s International Women’s Day is sponsored worldwide by the United Day (8 March 2010) – Message from UN Secretary-General Ban Nations. Women socialists and trade unions held an earlier Ki-moon tells a compelling story of equality. This video was made Women’s Day on the last Sunday in February, 1908. The focus is for the 100th celebration of International Women’s Day 2010. Girls upon women workers, and advancing women’s rights in the Making Media is funded by Woman Kraft Art Center, Earth Web workforce, politics and society. In 1980 President Jimmy Carter Media, and the American Association of University Women. (US), encouraged by the National Woman’s History Project (NWHP), devoted the entire second week of March in the U.S. to spotlighting women’s achievements. March 8th is also Nametag Day ~ Want some media attention? Do The United Nations and many organizations and companies host what Joe Porcelli from Neighbors for conferences during this time to further promote and address Neighbors did. Joe wore a nametag women’s issues and rights. The theme for the 2010 International every day for the entire year of 2007 Woman’s Day is “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for and got coverage which sparked other companies to jump on the All.” Nametag bandwagon. Wyndham Price Agency and the Norwich In the article: Five Ways to Celebrate International Woman’s Bulletin of Massachusetts provided free nametags during the week Day, the writers of Hello Ladies share these 5 ways to celebrate leading up to Nametag Day. People dropped by Wyndham to International Woman’s Day: collect their name tags and the Norwich Bulletin put a nametag 1. Support equal pay. ready to use right on their front page! There was a complimentary 2. Support a woman candidate. edition of the Norwich Bulletin delivered to all non-subscribers in 3. Support healthcare reform. Colchester. And the local Parks & Recreation hosted a wrap up 4. Help support reproductive rights for women worldwide. Nametag Day event on Tuesday, January 23rd at the Col hester 5. Support Yourself. Each of the five tips goes into detail about Youth and invited people to share their unique experiences of what we can do. wearing the nametag for a day and meet new people too. Read more at: Hello Ladies . Watch this Video About International Women’s Day by

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*March 12th is Girl Scout Cookie Day ~ Selling Girl Scout she was interviewed about her success (at age 14) she talked Cookies is a Leading Economic & Business Activity for Girls about how finding her customers all in one place helped her Today. The first Girl Scout group was started in Savannah, achieve her goals. She said: "I sell in lobbies at a lot of Georgia in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low - with 18 members. Her companies, and I try to find new companies every year." (source: vision was to provide girls with the opportunity to come together Wikipedia) and serve the community while enjoying the great outdoors. In In fact, in 1982, Walt Disney Productions made a 12-minute film 1915 Girl Scouts became a national organization and today are that featured Andrews and sold to businesses throughout the known for their annual cookie sales which run from January 10 country to help them educate their sales forces. Another Girl Scout (for door to door order taking sales) to March 15. And can they known as Ayazhia, sold 1,333 boxes in 2007. Amazing when you sell cookies! Although they were baking and selling cookies as think of it. When asked her advice was: “To be a good salesman, early as 1917, it wasn't until 1934 when the Philadelphia Council “You have to talk clearly, you have to look them in the eye. It of the Girl Scouts launched the first commercially- produced Girl shows respect. That way, they think you don’t care about anything Scout Cookie sale. What started out as a local fundraiser quickly else but them — GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!” became an American cultural tradition. Although fund-raising is a strong reason to sell Girl Scout Cookies, the whole process has She grabs them with a very simple pitch, telling the customer that evolved into an benefit for girls today. "they’re good for you and they’re only on sale once a year and they freeze well, so there’s never enough." And then there's Being a girl scout and selling cookies helps girls develop Jennifer Sharpe who at age 14 sold 17,323 boxes of Girl Scout leadership skills and practice resourcefulness and self-reliance Cookies in one season, more than any other Girl Scout has ever while generating revenue for troops and Girl Scout councils in the sold in the same time period. How did she do it? With her own United States. And many a young girl has taken the responsibility temporary Girl Scout Cookies booth! Every day of the week from and task of selling girl scout cookies to a level even their troop 3-7 pm (Monday thru Saturdays) Jennifer would be at her booth leaders didnt' expect. Take for instance, Markita Andrews who is and sell Girl Scout Cookies in the parking lot of Cherry Hill still considered the top girl scout cookie seller of all time holding Presbyterian Church in Dearborn. the world record for the selling most Girl Scout cookies ~ 60,000 boxes of cookies in her 12 years of scouting to be exact !When

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She staffed that booth 3-7 PM Monday through Saturday. And on Because once they find a company or person they like doing Sundays she was outside a local auto parts store selling them business with, they love sharing the resource with others. It makes from 11 am to 7 pm. (Source: Dallas News) Talk about dedication! them look like heroes.

What business lessons can we learn from these incredible young So just how do you cultivate those Champions? I suggest you women? Well for one, dedication to their mission, commitment to pick 15-20 of your top clients and start a Referral Campaign. their goals, passion for their product and a far greater vision of Develop a Stay-in-Touch program to cultivate those referrals and doing good for their organization. That and having great sales keep them coming. skills and doing things the other girl scouts did or would not! And lets not forget that they didn't even consider failure as an option. Here is a postcard I created that people tell me they keep long after they receive FYI Only 3 more selling days until they are gone... until next year! it. It is fun, kinda quirky and oh by the way, is me at 4 years old! For a troop near you go to www.girlscoutcookies.com

March 12th is also Send A Card Day! ~ In honor of the United States Post Office being established on this day in 1789, I thought it would be a great day to send out cards to thank customers and clients for their business and referrals.

Today is also the last day of Make a Referral Week so if you have received a referral from anyone in your sphere of influence, now is the perfect time to thank him or her for doing so.

Referrals are like GOLD. Once you find the person(s) who send a referral your way, the chances of them doing so again and again are quite high! In fact, I like to call these referral sources, CHAMPIONS.

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Here are three tips to get started: surviving jewelry was found in 1900 when archaeologists • Send greeting cards for all special events listed on the excavated the Egyptian tomb of Queen Zer (circa 5500 BC). On information cards previously filled out by attendees. Retailers her wrist they found a Turquoise and gold bracelet. might want to include a note for the recipient to stop by for the 25- cent tour and a small gift. I use SendOutCards for all my client From toe rings to belly button rings, to nose rings and more, appreciation programs. It is simple, automated, time-saving and jewelry (or jewellery)has been made to adorn nearly every part of perfect for my fast-paced life. You can actually go to the body. Jewelry is a fashion statement SendOutCards.com/Heidi and grab a FREE card of your own to and has been made from precious metals, try it out. Go ahead, its on me! gemstones and other unusual medium. • Send postcards a few weeks before each holiday or event listed Today the design and creativity are as offering a free consultation on other services you provide, valuable (if not more) as the content in discounts on purchases, or some other promotional item. It is which the jewely is made from. And lets important to keep you at the ‘top of their mind’ when they might be not forget costume jewelry which, because it is inexpensive, can planning another event or know someone who is. You can also be purchased for every outfit owned. use SendOutCards.com/Heidi to create first-class postcards that will keep you top of mind with any and all referral sources. Jewelery has been used for a number of reasons: • Fax, mail or email ideas for events two or three months prior to Monetary exchange or currency and as a financial investment their corporate, or milestone events. Offer a special consultation For its functionality as pins, buckles hair clips and more rate to help them plan a successful event. As a sign of status and display of wealth For protection such as amulets, stones and magical wards For more tips on how to cultivate your referral resources read: And as pieces of ART to be displayed and admired. HOW TO CULTIVATE FUTURE BUSINESS – FINDING CHAMPIONS AMONG YOUR FANS . While you are at it, be sure to pick up your FREE card at SendOutCards to get started.

**March 13th is Jewelry Lovers Day ~ The world’s oldest known

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Here’s how one company capitalized on jewelry to create a charity as a result. Check out this picture of the Million Dollar publicity frenzy for their company and products: In 2006, Lure . MacDaddy’s the company that carries a collection of solid gold fishing lures and flies created a campaign to promote their brand In August 2006 my retail florist celebrated our 25th anniversary in of precious flies and lures showcasing the various ways they can business. To show our appreciation to our customers we gave be uses such as adornment (worn) art (on display) or to be used away flowers and hosted a drawing of sorts. Everyone who called to catch fish. You don’t want to loose these fishing lures! in and placed an order, placed an order online or came into the store and either placed an order or registered for the drawing (we The company created a Million-Dollar Lure in their campaign too did not require purchase to enter), was entered into a drawing for attract media attention and that of the buying public. Manufactured sterling silver jewelry. In additon to all the “specials” we had, we by high-end jeweler Uneek, the Million Dollar Lure was lure gave away sterling silver necklaces, earring sets and key chains created from three pounds of 14k and 18k gold and platinum and to 25 lucky winners. Typically August is a slower month for the encrusted with 100 carats of diamonds and rubies. floral industry as people are either getting ready to send their children back to school or finishing up their summer vacations. The company enlisted the help of the governor of Baha, California However, we saw a 17% increase in business that year from our to actually use the lure at the world’s largest marlin fishing Anniversary Campaign. tournament, the 26th Annual Bisbee’s Black and Blue Tournament in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The event was covered by CNN, By the way, in my research I came across this FREE 99-page ESPN, Rocky Mountain Television, National Geographic, and jewelry retailing eguide offered by World Jewelry Confederation Mexico’s Televisa network. ESPN also did a feature segment on There is information on evaluating & improving a retail jewelry the lure for the Wanna Go Fishing show. business as well as handy forms & worksheets on everything from how to have a friend mystery shop your store to evaluating ad Along with all that media attention, the lure was featured in Maxim, media. Even if you are not a jewelry retailer, it has valuable ideas Forbes Life and other holiday gift guides. The company got and tips to help you in business. millions of dollars in media coverage and substantial revenue increase. The company also donated thousands of dollars to

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*March 14th is Pi Day ~ No, not the kind you eat, silly! This is a That also reminds me of the show NUMBERS. Even though I am numerical holiday. In fact, it is a day that math geeks around the not a math person, I have a great admiration for those who are. I world enthusiastically celebrate. If you have ever watched an love how Charlie can solve all the FBI’s problems with Math. episode of the Big Bang Theory you know what I am talking about. Looks like the FBI could use more Charlie’s on their team. Sheldon is such a math geek he probably has a parade even if its only around his living room. Ahhh…….. the wonders of math! I Did you know that each year MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of have to say I am clueless about anything beyond multiplying 12 X Technology) releases its admission decisions at 1:59pm on Pi 12…. I am more of a creative right brain person who would rather Day? solve deep philosophical puzzles than a math problem! In 2009, the artwork on their homepage showcased pi day However, March 14th (PI Day) is not about philosophy. Its greetings, and in 1994, as part of an elaborate prank, students put about Math. a campus police car number “Pi” on top of the “Great Dome”.

In case you were wondering, Pi is the It looks like MIT has figured out how to capitalize on PI DAY with constant number used to calculate publicity stunts! the area or circumference of a circle. It starts with 3.14159265 and For all the trekkies reading this, I found this really cool video of continues to an infinite number of Spock and Captain Kirk discussing PI to solve a problem. decimal places. Pi maniacs compete And the NerdGoddess on Etsy has some really cool Pi Earrings to see who can learn the longest for those of you who’d like to show off your inner mathematician string. According to Piday.com A and also your support of Pi Day. (Source: http://www.piday.org/stuff/ ). Japanese mental health counselor holds the world record by reciting Pi to the 100,000th decimal place. The symbol for pi was Oh, and today is also Albert Einstein’s Birthday! Order calculators first used in 1706 by William Jones, but was popular after it was with your logo to give away to some of your best customers. adopted by the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in 1737. Learn more about Pi. Crazy, inspiring stuff!

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March 15th is Companies That Care Day ~ an annual national someone calls to tell us she or he is a WINNER! event that encourages employers to highlight and expand their employee and community initiatives, and recognize the people **March 18th is Spin a Yarn Day ~ Today is a day to “spin a who make their companies successful. Companies That Care Day yarn,” or tell a tall-tale (story). “Yarn’s” refer to those long, drawn is celebrated on the third Thursday of every March, with out stories and myths that were handed down through generations organizations encouraged to jump-start and expand their activities and people are not quite sure of its origin. that reflect the 10 Characteristics, foster a people-supportive work environment and strengthen the local community. (source: Civilizations have been passing their heritage to future Companies-That-Care.org ) generations through narratives or stories handed down through the years. March 17th is Saint Patrick’s Day ~ Time to serve up some Irish

Coffee ~ Invented by the a chef at Foynes Airforce Base, Irish And people have been “making up” stories about others for just as Coffee was intended to warm up passengers during long waits long. In fact, people make up stories about companies sometimes between flights. On one occasion when a flight to America had to I think they start because they don’t know or cannot find out the suddenly return to the base, the chef brewed a pot of coffee, truth so they start rumors. sweetened it and added some Irish Whiskey. Little did he know it would spread from the Atlantic to America. Here’s the recipe: In a Take Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie Myth: Story has it large mug or goblet, pour in one jigger of Irish whiskey. Add one that a woman and her daughter visited Neiman Marcus and had spoonful (to taste) of lunch in their cafe. They ordered cookies for dessert and enjoyed sugar and fill the cup with strong black coffee (leave one inch of them so much they asked for the recipe, which they were told the brim to add sweetened whip cream). Stir until the sugar is would cost “two fifty.” Assuming that meant $2.50, they gladly dissolved. Drink through the cream. Yummy! Buy some scratch-off accepted the recipe but when they received their credit card lottery tickets (void where prohibited) and include with monthly charges, they were shocked to find that it meant two hundred and statement that say’s “In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, try your luck fifty dollars! That story is not true. It never happened and the with the enclosed ticket. May you win big!“ We have done this with women never paid $250.00 for the recipe. our customers and have had great response. We love it when

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However, because of all the hoopla, Neiman Marcus has created That firestorm ended with the return of the original formula, now their own reply to the myth by creating a website with the recipe called Coca-Cola classic®, a few months later based upon (which they freely give a way). You can find it here: consumer demands.” (source: The Coca-Cola Company ) http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/service/nm_cookie_reci pe.jhtml . It would be interesting to find out if the myth helped or If you’d like to know about more “yarn’s” or myths that have hurt Neiman Marcus perpetuated and if they are true or not, check out Snopes.com for the real scoop. And then there’s the marketing stories that are true…. Take New Coke as a good example. April 23, 1985, was a day that will live in **March 19th is Virtual Woman’s Day ~ Each year during Virtual marketing infamy. Woman's Day™, women have several opportunities to increase their own circle of influence via the WECAI NETWORK™ day-long That’s the day The Coca-Cola Company took a big risk in celebration using our Web Conference Platform. Women are able consumer goods history when they announced they were to promote their products and services, show off their websites changing the formula for the world’s most popular soft drink, and and learn 'best practices' from women who found great success spawning consumer angst the likes of which no business has ever online during showcases, participate in a Song-writing contest, get seen. their businesses listed on the blogroll and more!

“The Coca-Cola Company introduced reformulated Coca-Cola®, often referred to as “new Coke®,” marking the first formula change in 99 years. The company didn’t set out to create the firestorm of consumer protest that ensued; instead, The Coca-Cola Company intended to re-energize its Coca-Cola brand and the cola category in its largest market, the United States.

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**March 19th is also Make People Laugh Day ~ They say that features an actor dressed in a chicken costume who performs laughter is the language of the world. No matter what your native visitor’s commands. The campaign featured a viral marketing tongue, everyone speaks laughter. The late great Victor Borge website, television and print placement and a one time pay-per- said that “laughter is the shortest distance between two people. view program. That being the case and the fact that laughter has been proven to be good medicine (laughter reduces stress, is good for your lungs, With more than 450 million hits to date the Subservient Chicken improves your immune system and strengthens your heart), then it campaign resulted in a significant increase in chicken sales since seems to me it would also be good for business. the campaign first went live. If that is not a Quirky Marketing Idea, I don’t know what is! So why don’t we laugh more? I think its because we don’t look for the funny. Children laugh as much as 400 times a day and as we mature, we laugh less and less. In fact studies show that adults only laugh about 15 times a day. Life can be busy and stressful so what better way to stave off the stress than to laugh.

Companies who have figured out how to do that not only create a name for themselves, some even become iconic legends and its also been proven that laughter can add tremendously to a company’s bottom line!

When I was doing research for this article I immediately recalled In fact, the website is still available for all to see. Just go to: the campaign Burger King did in 2004 that went viral seemingly Subservient Chicken . There are more than three hundred overnight. Burger King hired The Barbarian Group and Crispin, Porter + Bogusky to create a campaign to promote their commands that you can get the chicken to “PERFORM” for you. TenderCrisp chicken sandwich and their “Have it Your Way” campaign. The result: The Subservient Chicken – a web site that

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So what can you do to Make People Laugh and increase your March 20th is the First Day of Spring ~ Spring is the season of sales? In the article: Get a Laugh and Make the Sale, authors Ron flowers, spring fever, outdoor celebrations and more. Spring is Sathoff and Kevin Nunley offer this advice: usually when flowers bloom, animals are hatched or mating 1. Use Observational Humor. A quick quip or witty observation begins. The first day of spring is also known as the vernal equinox done in good taste will go a long way to ingratiating you in the (Equinox means "equal night") - the time of year that symbolizes eyes of your customers. the change to spring. With the center of the sun positioned right 2. Make fun of yourself. over the equator, the day and night are about equal in length 3. Be very careful about who your humor makes fun of. around the world. (Equinox means "equal night".) From now until Almost all jokes and one-liners are at the expense of someone. September, there will be longer and warmer days in the Northern You don’t want to seem insensitive or accidentally insult a person Hemisphere. or group your customer cares about. 4. Reconsider old favorite jokes before retelling them. A line Here's Some Spring Trivia: The that was hilarious in the 1980s might be inappropriate today. A ancient Greeks celebrated Mother's joke that worked fine in Oklahoma City could get you stared at in Day in spring. The ancient Greeks San Francisco. celebrated Rhea, "Mother of the 5. Read Humor and share it. Readers Digest is full of everday Gods," with honey-cakes, beverages, humor that can be shared. and flowers at dawn--the earliest 6. Remember funny lines you hear on TV and in movies. known Mother's Day celebration 7. Memorize half-a-dozen good one-liners that you can use in Four-leaf clovers are thought to bring everyday conversation with customers (where appropriate). good luck, but there's no scientific evidence to support that claim. Cut out some green four leaf clovers (or buy them at a specialty Need some help with your humor? I recommend the book, store such as Michaels crafts) and put "lucky sayings" on them. Winning with One-Liners: 3,400 Hilarious Laugh Lines to Tickle Include them in your business correspondence and statements. Your Funny Bone and Spice Up Your Speeches (Paperback) by Pat Williams

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*March 22nd is International Goof-off Day ~ Now here’s a day and bad. I know that often times when we are busy, we forget to that just about everybody can relax and enjoy. It’s a day to do market we just think the business is just going to keep rolling in. anything and everything…..except what you’re supposed to do And when the tough times hit, its like coming down really fast from today. A few years ago, Nintendo did a survey to identify the most the top of the ride. You hold on tight and just hope you make it to popular activity for goofing off. They discovered that those the next hill. surveyed chose playing video games ad their # 1 “goofing off activity. Gee, what a surprise! Looks like they were working when So I thought I’d share a few ideas to keep you busy when times they should have been goofing off! are tough:

Which reminds me, if you really want accurate results from Create a preferred customer event and showcase your surveys you host, I recommend a split test with your list and with products. A local gift basket company has a gift basket open an outside list. This way you can compare responses to see if the house each year and showcases her latest line. participants agree. Zoomerang , Survey Monkey and Question Pro are all great tools to create your surveys. Try classified ads – they are cheaper than graphic ads and can sometimes generate more traffic. People are looking for **March 23rd is Roller Coaster Day ~ Do you feel like running opportunities in classifieds these days more than ever. If you your business is sometimes like riding on a roller coaster? Lots of have what someone needs your phone will ring. In fact, you can ups and downs and wild turns and your going so fast that at times find a list of classified ad media on WE Magazine for Women it feels as though you are going to hit the bottom of the hill and website. It is called “Getting Classified 100 Places to Promote just keep going. If you are like many small business owners today Your Business .” you have likely been experiencing some level of ups and downs for the past 2 or so years. And when the times were good you had plenty of business, so much so you may not have actively ©Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com All Rights Reserved. marketed your business as much as you are today just to stay afloat. That is why it is so important to continue to market in good times

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Wear Your Company on Your sleeve – or chest or purse or people expect a discount and then they make up their minds not back…. Logo wear is coming back in style and if you are proud of to buy until or unless another “sale” is going on. your company wear it! You never know when you will be in the supermarket and someone will strike up a conversation and ask I suggest that instead of discounting your services you offer a “gift you about it. I have found my Shaklee distributor, my Mary Kay certificate” to your top clients as a thank you for their business and consultant, my dentist and my dog groomer this way….. Think of or a thank you for referring others to you. Or send them your McDonalds – it is no accident that everyone in the company wears product as a thank you. When they get a “gift” they will feel a McDonalds attire. Its branding – brand recognition is especially stronger need to repay the favor. Its quid pro quo – something for important in a down economy because you want people to something. remember your name. I have had it happen more times than I’d care to admit, when people have met me and forgotten the name For more ideas, listen to an Interview I had with Michelle Waters of of my company. So they called someone else. Don’t let that the Product Sellers Summit about how to market in a slow happen to you. economy. (Download the mp3 for best listening quality)

Remember to focus on the long term. Things that are important And in case you were wondering about roller coasters, here’s today may not be a year or six months from now. Look at the some Roller Coaster Trivia: news as an example. See what interests you today and if you can look into your crystal ball see what will even have an affect on The oldest roller coaster in the world is has a wooden track that is your business and in the lives of your customers six months from 1,452 feet long (442.6 meters) and 48 feet tall (14.6 meters). It is now. While it is important to be ready to market quickly in a down called Leap the Dips, built in 1902 in Lakemont Park in Altoona, economy it is equally important to think strategically about how our Pennsylvania. For several years it was unused and abandoned marketing today will affect your business in the future. until it was completely restored and reopened in 1999. Because Discounting is a perfect example. So often companies will roller coasters were a risky business in the early days, those who discount their services to get folks to call. designed them often took a chance with their entire life savings.

But that can hurt them in the long run. When it is done too often,

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*March 24th is Ada Lovelace Day ~ Today has become celebrated as an international day of blogging to draw attention to If you’d like to know more about women’s history, be sure and women excelling in technology. Ada Lovelace was one of the check out this list of Top 100 WOMEN IN HISTORY world’s first computer at About.com . You can go there and add your suggestion as to programmers, and one of the first who should be on the list! Remember when you leave comments people to recognize and on blogs and sites, it is great for the site and for you. understand computers as more than just a machine for doing *March 24th is also Harry Houdini Day ~ Born Erik Weisz on sums. She wrote programs for March 24, 1874 in Budapest, Hungary, Harry Houdini is the most Charles Babbage’s Analytical famous magician in history. His family emigrated to the United Engine, a general-purpose States when he was 4 years old. From a young age, he loved computing machine, which by the way was never built. magic and became a master at escapes which lead to his worldwide fame. Starting with his earliest routines of getting out of Ada has gone down in history for writing the very first description straitjackets and handcuffs, he ended his career and his life of a computer and of software. According to the site performing the world famous Underwater Escape where he was FindingAda.com , “Women’s contributions often go shackled with irons, placed in a box that unacknowledged, their innovations seldom mentioned, their faces was locked, roped, and weighted – and rarely recognized. We want you to tell the world about these then submerged under water. unsung heroines. Entrepreneurs, innovators, sysadmins, Abracadabra! programmers, designers, games developers, hardware experts, tech journalists, tech consultants, etc. The list of tech-related careers is endless.”

One of the ways WE Magazine has promoted women blogging is by creating our popular list of Women Bloggers to Watch Channel .

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**March 25th is National Letting Go of Stuff Day ~ Human some things that you need to let go. And for some people, this is a beings are natural “hold-onto’ers.” We tend to hold onto things and bigger challenge than the actual act of “letting go.” ideas and even people because we either don’t want to admit that we have outgrown something (and I am not necessarily talking What have you been holding onto that needs to be let go of? size). We no longer “need” the thing we once found so precious Perhaps you are holding onto old marketing ways because you and important. are comfortable with them. If you are guilty of this as I was, how’s that working for you? I know because when I moved my retail florist from a 3,000 square foot space to just under 600 square feet, I had things in my If these strategies are still effective, I am not suggesting to let go storage room that had been there as long as we had (28+ years). of them. I am referring to those that you have been doing so long It was pitiful. So much ‘stuff’ we didn’t need, didn’t use and you could do them in your sleep. Maybe your “elevator pitch” is couldn’t sell. Letting go of that stuff freed me to take stock in tired and passe’. Maybe it just needs to be tweaked. whats important to my business, and what is really important to a thriving business such as getting lean and working smarter in the I just read an excellent book called Go Givers Sell More by Bob current economy. Burg and John David Mann and they talk about elevator ”pitches” being passe’ in their original intent. That if you can come up with a In going through this process I realized that there are “steps” we way to articulate what you “do” that helps others get what they need to take to move through the emotions of letting go. Phillip want and need, then you are providing value. Say so. Moeller, from usnews.com wrote an interesting article about how our “stuff” is part of our identity we are not willing to let go of yet. I came up with a new phrase for my florist which goes something He says, “”If you have walls and walls of books, you might have to like this. “When You have something important to say, Let our let go of the possible self that is going to read all those books.” To flowers second that emotion.” successfully downsize, he says, “something in the individual has to change, and that’s the elusive thing we’re trying to look for.”

The first step towards letting go is to acknowledge that there are

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The benefits? People often send flowers to magnify or strengthen Stuff Day, by Doing it! a message they are sending. Its a simple statement, true and easy to remember. . **March 26th is Sing Out Day ~ “Band on the Run,” Bum Rush the Charts was a viral social media experiment of a different kind. What else are you holding onto that needs to be let go? Do you The experiment conducted by citizens around the world on one have outdated inventory that has not seen the light of day for day (March 22) used the internet to help a Black Labeun signed years? Get rid of it. Sell it on Craigs List or donate it to an band race to the top of the iTunes Charts with the song “Mine organization that can and will make good use of it. Again” . The song reached #11 on the iTunes chart for US, #10 in Canada and #2 in the Netherlands from promotions via podcasts, What about habits? Do you have little habits in business that are blogs and other social networking platforms and websites. The holding you back? If so, create new habits that will make you good news – the money raised (through affiliate commissions) is prosper. being used to build a scholarship fund that will be co-funded (in part) by The Student Loan Network. Are you holding onto fear of some sort? Fear of failure or worse, fear of success? Mike Koller, a marketing coach says “the fear of *March 26th is also Make up Your Own Holiday Day ~ Creating success is much more subtle, harder to spot and also harder to your own holiday can an excellent way to get recognition, locally, eradicate” … than the fear of failure! One of the telltale signs of nationally and even internationally. We have made up a few of our the fear of success is when you settle for less than you feel you own. In addition to Virtual Woman’s Day™ (March 16th ) we have deserve or are capable of achieving. To find out the other signs Get out of the Doghouse Day™ which is celebrated the 3rd visit his blog MikeKoller.com http://www.mikekoller.com/are-you- Monday of July; International Women’s eCommerce Day,™ which afraid-of-success/. is celebrated on the 3rd Monday in September; and International Romance on a Budget Day™ which is celebrated on February The fear of success may be yet another emotional tie that keeps 28th. us from “letting go of stuff.”

So today, you have permission to celebrate National Letting Go of

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But our all time favorite and most successful holiday in terms of Years ago I purchased packets of seeds with imprinting on them to getting media and customer attention is Get out of the Doghouse promote my Flower Shop . The imprinting had a poem and my Day™ . We advertise the holiday as the time for those who find contact information. WE included these packets in with a thank themselves in the doghouse to find ways to make amends and you note. We used these promotional seed packets to thank new minimize their stay with “old scruffy.” International Women’s customers for their business, to thank customers for referrals and eCommerce Day™ is a day celebrating women doing business on to stay top of mind to current customers by sending them once a the WEB. To read more visit: Woman'sDay . To read more about year with a gift certificate for a discount on their next purchase. Romance on a Budget Day™ check out the Romance Calendar These were one of our more popular promotions and at a time when the world was not quite as environmentally aware they were Want to get recognition for your “special holiday?” Check out very different from what other florists were doing. Chases Calendar of Events and follow their instructions for submitting new holidays. Considering the state of our world and all the environmental concerns we have, today this can be a wonderful way to **March 28th is Garden Seed Day ~ Have you ever thought of showcase your company while not adding to your own carbon using seeds to GROW your business? What a wonderful, footprint. environmentally friendly way to showcase your products and services to your prospects and customers. If you would plant for days, Plant flowers. If you would plant for years, Plant trees. If you would plan for eternity, Plant ideas.

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And there are so many choices when it comes to seed promotional products. One of my favorites is the seeded Interested in Gardening? Check out the Burpee Garden School bookmark (see graphic). FarFromBoring.com offers a whole line filled with great resources, lessons and more. of seeded environmentally friendly promotional products including seeded name badges, business cards, seeded CD Covers and On this day in 1921 A local Oklahoma publication printed a short seeded programs and more. They can even print books made of description of the importance of advertising a business in the form seeded paper. of a short poem. The first line of that poem: “The city that gets the publicity gets the business.” Promo Garden also has a full line of popular Postcard Seed Packet to send your message with style! Select from Butterfly Mix, **March 29th is National Mom and Pop Business Day ~ Do you Forget-Me-Nots, Stocks, and Wildflowers. Three areas of imprint have a BEST OF listing in your community? It’s a recognition are included (top front message, bottom front area, and back). program generally sponsored by a local media such as a Use as a self-mailer for customer appreciation letters, service newspaper. If so, nominate a Mom and Pop Business you reminder notice, direct mail piece, or advertising campaign piece. patronize. Don’t have such a list in your community? Start one! You can take nominations online or in person and have people They also sell standard seed packets, organic seed packets, seed “vote” for their favorites. Great way to generate media attention! kits and more. Fully customizable!

Another favorite of mine is the Plant-A-Shape Flowers Seed Bookmark . They come in many shapes. Realtors can use the house bookmark as a thank you for a referral or for showing houses to a prospect. You can find them at 4imprint.com

Tip: One of the easiest seeds to grow are COSMOS. What a ©Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com All Rights Reserved. wonderful way plant seeds of greatness and grow your business or organization…naturally!

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*March 29th is also Some Like it Hot Day ~ On March 29, 1959 in the movie Some Like it Hot, featuring Marilyn Monroe and Jack Create a “hot tips” for your company or organization and give the Lemmon premiered. tips away on your website or in print. You could use the online version as a lead generator. How can you capitalize on Some like it Hot Day? Instead of a regular phone line, why not install a “hotline” maybe a second *March 30th is Jeopardy Day ~ In 1964, the “thinking person’s phone number and tell your best customers that the “hotline” is game show,” “Jeopardy,” aired for the first time. And it is now one there direct connection to YOU. Or give them your personal cell of the longest-running TV game shows of all time. phone and tell them that is their hotline to you. Jeopardy is defined as “hazard or risk of or exposure to loss, You could also sponsor a Hotline for a non-profit organization and harm, death, or injury.” In the game show Jeopardy, the real let the non-profit espouse your company’s virtues. jeopardy the players experience is not knowing the answers and leaving the show after only one episode. Which, by the way 2/3 of Joe Polish president of Piranha Marketing and creator of the all jeopardy players do each and every day the show airs! Genius Network interviews well-known entrepreneurs and celebrities about their business success. He offers these What does all this have to do with marketing? If you play your interviews to his members when they join the Genius Network . As game right you could create your own form of jeopardy and up the an added bonus he also gives members a “Hot Tip Sheet™, which odds of participants “success,” create some goodwill in the highlights all of the major points of the conversation. It is like the community and stand head and shoulders ahead of the footnotes for a book.” “competition.” Just by playing a silly little mind game. Well, not really silly. Millionaires have been produced on the popular If you are really adventurous and you know your customers would television show. appreciate something different, you could send a bottle of hot sauce sporting your company’s customized label and the slogan: “We’re hot for your business” or “To XYZ Company, you are hot stuff!”

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What does all this have to do with marketing? If you play your jeopardy of overspending on energy. Here are the top ten ways to game right you could create your own form of jeopardy and up the save energy (create your list). Check out this eHow article: How odds of participants “success,” create some goodwill in the to ~ Top 10 ways to Make Your Home Green for some community and stand head and shoulders ahead of the inspiration. Tie the postcard or bookmark into your new Jeopardy “competition.” Just by playing a silly little mind game. Well, not game by adding a call-to-action phrase about participating in your really silly. Millionaires have been produced on the popular Jeopardy GAME. television show. Here are a few ideas to use Jeopardy Day in your marketing strategies: Some Jeopardy trivia: Ken Jennings currently holds the title for most wins on the show. He has won 74 times in a row. The Host a Jeopardy Street Party dollar values of the categories were doubled in 2001. The lowest value was $200 in round one, the highest $1000, and the lowest in Partner with the Chamber of Commerce to have a Jeopardy round two $400 and the highest $2000. On March 16, 2007, for Game with fabulous prizes from local merchants (yours being one the first time ever, the final question resulted in a three-way tie of them) among the contestants (Jamey Kirby, Anders Martinson and Scott Weiss). They each won $16,000 after correctly identifying Bonnie Have customers participate in a month-long jeopardy challenge. Parker, of the infamous Bonnie and Clyde, to a question regarding women of the ’30s. On the 19 January 1993 program, then Air Post daily answers to questions online and have your audience Force Lt. Col. Daryl Scott won a game with only $1. either fill out an online form with the questions or have a drop box in your establishment that they can stop by and leave the For more Jeopardy trivia visit The Internet Movie Database . questions.

Create a top ten ways the client/customer can be in jeopardy if they don’t do XYZ (something pertaining to your business). For instance if you are in a green business such as solar power you could create bookmark or postcard with the header: “Don’t be in

94 Quirky Marketing Calendar 8. What is the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh? ***March 31st is National Farmworkers Day ~ AKA Cesar 9. How much of the world’s grain, milk and eggs are produced in Chavez Birthday - the organizer of the National Farm Workers the U.S? Association. So I thought it would be interesting to post some trivia Did you know? questions about agriculture to test your knowledge. Ready? While the total number of farms has been declining for many years, the number owned and operated by women is increasing. Here are a few trivia questions about agriculture that you may With modern methods, one acre of land in the U.S. (about the size or may not know. These questions are to raise awareness of of a football field) can produce: National Farmworkers Day in honor of the Father of the NFWA. . 42,000 lbs. of strawberries So here goes: . or 11,000 heads of lettuce 1. Which fruit bearing trees are evergreens? . or 25,400 lbs. of potatoes 2. Of all the vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own . or 8,900 lbs. of sweet corn for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be . or 640 lbs. of cotton lint replanted each year. What are the only two perennial vegetables? So, what are you doing to raise awareness about your Industry? 3. Which fruit was called the Love Apple during the 18th Century in Trivia answers: France – the tomato 1. citrus 4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside? 2. asparagus and rhubarb 5. Which vegetable was refined by an Italian Horticulturist with a 3. tomato connection to James Bond 4. strawberry 6. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear 5. broccoli inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is 6. The pear grew inside the bottle. (The bottles are placed genuine; it hasn’t been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside over pear buds when they are small and are wired in place on the the bottle? tree. The bottle is left in place for the entire growing season. When 7.What did the Egyptians believe that Osiris, the god of Agriculture the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stems.) taught humans how to make? 7. beer 8. lettuce 9. 20%

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2006, The National Honor Society/National Junior Honor Society *March 31st is CRAYOLA CRAYON DAY ~ Binney & Smith, Inc. recognized The Miramar High School’s chapter (in Florida) with an put Crayola Crayons on the market. On this day in 1903 the Outstanding Service Project award for its Crayons for Kids project. company began selling their Crayola Crayons to the public. They Students created Crayons for Kids as a way to give children from came up with the brand name Crayola when they put the French low-income families the items needed to begin school. “They Words Craie (chalk) and ola (oily) together. The first Crayola spent 25 weeks collecting material,” said David Cordts, associate crayons came in a box of 8 and sold for 5 cents. Today, Binney & director for the national group. Smith produce about 7 million crayons every day in 120 colors. “They collected boxes of crayons, pencils, composition books and The average American child uses 730 crayons by his 10th colored folders.” These items were then distributed to first-grade birthday. It’s no surprise that a study shows the smell of Crayola students from lower-income families, he continued. (Source: Sun- crayons is one of the twenty top scents recognized by adults in the Sentinel)

U.S.(source: http://www.crayola.com/ ) So how could your company use crayons to promote your brand?

CRAYON AS ART: Herb Williams is one of a handful of Become an artist? Create an event such as an art contest? recognized artists that use crayons in their work. But he does it on a large scale (using hundreds of thousands of crayons in his If you’ve ever eaten out with your kids you know that many original sculptures – similar to the one shown). In fact for his work restaurants give crayons away to children accompanied by which has appeared in as America, China, England, Canada, parents – not only a great way to keep the little tykes busy, it could Belgium, Germany, Australia, Croatia, and Japan, Williams has be a good branding opportunity for a restaurant who purchased received National and International recocgnition including The custom imprinted boxes the kids took home. Now there’s an idea! Joan Mitchell Foundation Museum Purchase Grant in 2004 and the Next Star Artist Award in 2008. You can visit The Design To learn how Crayolas are made, visit the Crayola Factory Inspiration website to see more of Herb Williams Crayon Sculptures.

CRAYONS IN THE NEWS: Crayons project gets high marks ~ In

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OTHER OBSERVANCES IN MARCH

MONTHLY

Deaf History Month (3/13 to 4/15) Play The Recorder Month Expanding Girls' Horizons in Science & Engineering Month Poison Prevention Awareness Month Honor Society Awareness Month Red Cross Month Humorists Are Artists Month Save Your Vision Month International Listening Awareness Month Spiritual Wellness Month International Mirth Month Supply Management Month Irish-American Heritage Month Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month National Athletic Training Month National Youth Art Month Caffeine Awareness Month Employee Spirit Month National Cheerleading Safety Month International Ideas Month National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month International Woman's Month National Clean Up Your IRS Act Month National Craft Month National Color Therapy Month National Ethics Awareness Month National Craft Month National Eye Donor Month National Ethics Awareness Month National Frozen Food Month National On-Hold Month National Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month Optimism Month National Kidney Month Small Press Month National Nutrition Month Women's History Month National Social Work Month Holy Humor Month 3/30 – 4/30 National Talk to Your Teen About Sex Month National Umbrella Month

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WEEKLY

National Ghostwriters Week: 1-7 Sherlock Holmes Days: 16-18 Universal Human Beings Week: 1-7 National Bubble (blowers) Week: 19-27 National Cheerleading Week: 1-7 National Agriculture Week: 11-17 Return The Borrowed Books Week: 4-10 Act Happy Week: 19-25 Celebrate Your Name Week: 4-10 American Chocolate Week: 20-26 Save Your Vision Week: 4-10 Wellderly Week: 21-27 Read an eBook Week: 4-10 Passiontide: 25-4/7 Teen Tech Week: 4-10 Consider Christianity Week: 25-31 Women in Construction Week: 4-10 World Folk Tales & Fables Week: 21-27 National Procrastination Week: 4-10 National Protocol Officer's Week: 25-31 National Consumer Protection Week: 4-10 National Cleaning Week: 26-31 Newspaper in Education Week: 5-9 Telecommuter Appreciation Week: 7-13 National Professional Pet Sitters Week: 7-13 National School Breakfast Week: 5-9 National Sleep Awareness Week: 5-11 Girl Scout Week: 11-17 Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week: 10-17 Wildlife Week: 12-18 International Brain Awareness Week: 12-18 Campfire USA Birthday Week: 13-19 National Animal Poison Prevention Week: 18-124 National Spring Fever Week: 16-22 National Money Week: 17-19

98 Quirky Marketing Calendar MARCH DAILY Beer Day: 1 *Peace Corps Day: 1 Daylight Saving Time Begins: 11 (to November 4) *Plan a Solo Vacation Day: 1 *Good Samaritan Involvement Day: 13 *Refired, Not Retired Day: 1 *Girl Scout Birthday: 12 World Compliment Day: 1 Napping Day 12 Wear Blue Day: 2 Earmuffs Day: 13 *Dr. Suess Day: 2 International Fanny Pack Day: 13 Employee Appreciation Day: 2 *International Ask a Question Day: 14 *American Hall of Fame Day: 3 *Pi Day: 14 *American Negro Academy Founded: 3 *Ides of March: 15 *I Want You To Be Happy Day: 3 *True Confessions Day: 15 *National Anthem Day: 3 Peeps Day: 15 *Courageous Follower Day: 4 *World Consumer Rights Day: 15 *March 4th Do Something Day: 4 *Lips Appreciation Day: 16 *National Grammar Day: 4 *Freedom of Information Day: 16 *International Scrapbooking Industry Day: 4 Absolutely Incredible Kid Day: 17 *Fun Facts about Names Day: 5 National Quilting Day: 17 Multiple Personality Day: 5 *Awkward Moments Day: 18 *Namesake Day: 5 *Forgive Mom and Dad Day: 18 Female Jockey Day: 6 Companies That Care Day: 18 *National Be Heard Day: 7 Great American Meat Out Day: 20 Full Moon: 08 *Kiss Your Fiance Day: 20 Organize Your Home Office Day: 8 *Bed-in For Peace Day: 20 *Barbie Day: 8 *Proposal Day: 20 Day for Women's Rights & International Peace: 8 *National Agriculture Day: 20 Genealogy Day: 8 Mailbox Day: 20 Girls Write Now Day: 8 *Memory Day: 21 International Working Women's Day: 8 *International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: 21 Nametag Day: 8 Kick Butts Day: 21 Unique Names Day: 6 *As Young As You Feel Day: 22 Shrove Tuesday: 8 *International Goof-off Day: 22 Good Year Blimp Day: 8 *World Day for Water: 22 Daytona Speedway Day: 8 *Near Miss Day: 23 Ash Wednesday: 9 *O.K. Day: 23 Get Over It Day: 9 *World Meteorological Day: 23 Learn What Your Name Means Day: 9 Legal Assistants Day: 26 Panic Day: 9 *Make Up Your Own Holiday Day: 26 Barbie Day: 9 *Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day: 27 Geneology Day: 10 *Harry Houdini Day: 27 Check Your Batteries Day: 11 *Knights of Columbus Founders Day: 29 *Doctors Day: 30

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My Marketing Calendar for MARCH Special Dates I plan to promote: 1. 2. 3. 4.

How I plan to promote them:

Goals for Each Promotion:

Budget: Media 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Comments:

100 MARCH 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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April Marketing Calendar

April is National Humor Month ~ founded in 1976 by best-selling and have fun at the same time. Her ingenuity and humor has humorist Larry Wilde, Director of The received media attention from a variety of Jewish publications as Carmel Institute of Humor. Steve Wilson, well as Time Magazine. Joyologist and Founder of World Laughter Tour, is the new Director of National Today Sarah has a successful Marketing Communications and PR Humor Month . Consulting Firm and is the founder of G_DCast a weekly web- based Jewish cartoon podcast for teens and young adults that Funny Sells! Just ask Sarah Lefton! Her quirky sense of humor debuted in Fall ‘08, and her Jewish pride were the impetus for a successful home based business. As the marketing director for a Jewish summer Her work has received media attention in the New York Times, camp at Yosemite National Park, Lefton discovered that by The San Francisco Chronicle and dozens of other national changing the emphasis of the word Yosemite she created “Yo publications. Semite”. She silk screened the term on a few T-shirts for herself and wore the Yo Semite T-shirts around the streets of San Share 30 Ways to Add Humor to Your Life in 30 Days with your Francisco. People started coming up to her and asking her where colleagues, friends and clients (PDF). they could buy one. Two days later, she had taken orders for 36 shirts and her Internet based business, Jewish Fashion Check out The Humor Project started by Joel Goodman and Conspiracy was born. Margie Ingram. They host a national conference each year in Saratoga New York featuring international celebrity comedians Her Yo Semite shirts took off and Lefton has now added additional and well-known humorists. designs to her product line. They include Chanukah panties, and a “Jews for Jeter” shirt to honor the New York Yankee’s star Derek Jeter. She created her designs as a way to celebrate being Jewish

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Check out the World Laughter Tour. They offer a Certified National Car Care Month ~ A recent article published by Fast Laughter Leader Program which will tickle your funny bone and Company discusses a popular viral marketing campaign ?he Art of maybe even garner you some local and national recognition. I got the Heist” employed by the carmaker Audi. The Art of the Heist my CLL in 2000 in Columbus Ohio. premise was that two agents were trying to prevent the largest art theft in history at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence; the master plans Happy April Fools DAY! Last year on April 1st I posted more were embedded in SD memory cards planted in several A3s just in than 100 resources using Social OOMPH to publish them during from Germany. The sleuths-- actors playing the parts of Nisha and the 24 hours of April fools day. It was lots of fun, I had some great her partner/boyfriend, Ian--were requesting the help of the public conversations with people AND more than 100 new people in tracking down the SD cards. Unlike traditional product followed me that day. If you are on Twitter, be sure to check out all placement, where a product is jammed into a storyline, the A3 the great and zany resources that will be shared today. Follow me would become a central character. The payoff for Audi? Two @HeidiRichards million unique visitors to its site, and 4,000 test-drives within two months. These remarkable figures translated into sales with Audi April is also International Customer Loyalty Month ~ Want to selling more than 5,000 cars in the A3's first seven months on the improve your customer loyalty? Get back to the basics. Be a market and 75% more dealership leads than on any previous problem solver. Be flexible. Be on time. Be real. Use Common model launch. The effectiveness behind such a mysterious and sense. Know what your customers want and give it to them. And sexy campaign is that it can elevate a brand to a whole new watch your sales soar! level. It enables customers not just to interact physically with the brand, but to live it, thus creating a Lovemark-like emotional Celebrate Diversity Month ~ Invite a group of people from attachment. diverse backgrounds and walks of life to join you for lunch. Ask In 1973 The World Trade Center project was completed. New them to bring with them one story to share about their culture. You York’s World Trade Center The twin towers of the World Trade will enrich the lives of several people at one time. You can do this Center rising 1,350 feet above Manhattan officially became the once a week for the entire month and offer to be the conduit for world’s tallest buildings. In 2001 the World Trade Center became a further communications. part of history as it was destroyed by terrorists.

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National Decorating Month ~ Phil Chrysler, a vice president with April 15-21st is National Coin Week ~ Did you know that the Error! Hyperlink reference not valid., is showing people how to put Military rewards good behavior with commemorative coins? On a a unique spin to traditional home and office decorating. With the recent trip to several military installations (see Joint Civilian furniture customization Web site by Orientation Conference) I witnessed this first hand and was Team National Factory Direct (TNFD) the first company in the actually the recipient of several of those coveted coins as a token United States to offer customized furniture that can be ordered of gratitude for visiting the troops. Why not create your own online. Customizing furniture isn't the only contribution National signature COIN and give it to special Companies is making to the furniture design and decorating clients/customers and prospects? industry. The company has a sponsorship with Help1Up, which is Pictured: Joint Chiefs of Staff a Military a national consumer awareness campaign that encourages Challenge Coin created by the Americans to donate gently used home furnishings to a local Northwest Territorial Mint . furniture bank. Foreign coins and banknotes can help you promote your business. Weekly Observances: Find a coin or banknote whose image compliments your product or service - use it to get the word around. Whether its Admirals or *April 10-16th is National Inspirational News Week ~ Have you Adornments, Zebras or Zodiacs, we have a genuine coin or heard about the minister who has started the Complaint Free banknote that sends an unforgettable message. After all, no one World movement? According to their website, you take a vow not throws away money. Use your monthly statements as a direct mail to complain for 21 days, which is about how long it takes to piece. Over stamp your envelopes "MONEY ENCLOSED". Make change a habit. And you can have a visual reminder with the sure your mailing gets opened. Use large-window envelopes to bracelets they are giving away online. Imagine the impact of that! allow a preview of the enclosed money. Use a response letter that The rule is ... if you complain you have to move the bracelet from the recipient fills in and returns. one arm to the other and start your 21 days over. People can go to the http://acomplaintfreeworld.org/ and order a bracelet in honor of the movement (more than 2 million people have already done so).

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Why use genuine money in a mailing piece? It's simple. Money dozens of FREE blog applications available online, in less than an talks, & nothing talks louder or clearer. It is among the most hour you could be blogging. There are also a number of software effective attention getting devices. Genuine world coins and packages that let you add a blog section to an existing Web site banknotes cost very little to buy and often cost nothing to mail. It such as Wordpress . Here are some tips to get started: illustrates your message, utilizing a most powerful combination of 1.know your target audience (your customers), 2. Write with some touch, sight and emotions. The mailing will not get thrown away. frequency (daily, weekly) and consistency, 3. Build traffic with Much higher response rates result. Check out Educational Coin keywords, 4. Get in the habit of blog-rolling (a group of links on Company for a variety of promotions. your blog site that lists and links other sites on the Internet) 5. Keep the information flowing one of the downfalls of blogs is not Last year I received a card in the mail in a clear envelop with a adding content on a regular basis. Any traffic you might have dollar bill inside. It was a plea to support our military troops. gained will be lost if they visit and don? find new information. 6. Normally I don't bother to look at these types of campaigns Make it relevant if your blog is about marketing, make sure the because of all the causes I already support. But this caught my content relates in some way to marketing. See Resources section eye. I read the enclosed letter which was heart-wrenching and for list of links to more blogging tips. they got me! They got my attention with the dollar bill and kept it with the stories. It is one of the few direct mail fundraising April 22-28th is also Administrative Professional’s Week ~ Host campaigns I have responded to in the past 5 years. It works! an Administrative professionals contest. Invite the “Boss” to nominate her administrative professional for AP of the year. Send April 20-29th is National Dance Week ~ Feeling ambitious? Why a certificate to all nominees. Have an outside group of respected not host a local dance contest? Invite local celebrities to business owners judge the entries and vendors and other participate and create your own “dancing with the stars” event. companies donate prizes. If you can, give prizes to all nominees, Check out National Dance Week Website for more ideas. at the very least make a certificate made acknowledging the nomination. Have a plaque made for the Winner. Write a press April 22-28th is Electronic Communications Week ~ Have you release (with pictures) and send to the media. considered “blogging” for business? If not, now might be the right time to get on the blog wagon with

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Daily Observances:

*April 2nd is International Children's Book Day ~ Plan to spend just knowing you have done something good for someone else. an hour or two at a local elementary school, reading to the children. At the end of your visit, give each child a book. Inside *April 3rd is National Cleavage Day ~ National Cleavage Day is the book, put your brochure and 2 business cards. Or you can an annual celebration in South Africa held in the month of April give each child a bag to take home that includes a new book, and and sponsored by Wonderbra (the brassiere marketer). Started in any other information you would like to give their parents. 2002, “to solemnize women’s independence and power in all facets of life, from their careers to their relationships to their own This is a great way to develop a new area to promote yourself at – destiny” National Cleavage Day is held at the beginning of April a specific school (or schools) in your area! For examples of every year. The event is co-sponsored by Cosmopolitan magazine places where you can get larger quantities of books at a discount, and 5fm, a SABC radio station mainly based in Johannesburg. try these websites: Book Closeouts ~ www.bookcloseouts.com/ According to Anita Meiring, public relations consultant for Bigger Books ~ www.biggerbooks.com/ Wonderbra, “It is a day for women to realize that their cleavage is BooksaMillion ~ www.BooksAMillion.com/ something unique and that they should be proud of it.” Paterson eBay’s Half.com ~ www.half.ebay.com/ explained “It gives women a chance to be beautiful and glow in the furtive, yet appreciative, glances their cleavage evokes from Or you could just read to the kids because you want to but then men”. She also explained “It gives men a legitimate reason to this is a marketing blog so the ideas are designed to market your stare at boobs.” (source: Wikipedia) business.

*April 2nd is also Tangible Karma Day - Spend at least one hour contributing your time, love and talents today focusing on the needs of others close to you and what you can do for at least one ©Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com All Rights Reserved. person in need - what you give will come back to you tenfold in

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What could you do to promote National Cleavage Day? *April 6th is World Marbles Day ~ Marbles have been made for Restaurant Owners could have a cleavage 2 for 1 (no pun thousands of years and games with marbles are popular in intended) special and of course bars could also go back to the countries around the world. once popular “wet t-shirt contest” to draw attention to their establishment (and its patrons). The earliest marbles were made of flint and stone and baked clay. Examples have been found in archaeological sites around the One woman decided to use her cleavage to store things! Laura world. Examples of some ancient marbles which came from Rome McClaren, inventor of the Cleavage Caddy™ created it because it and ancient Egypt, are on exhibit at the British Museum. as a way for women to keep small items handy without carrying a purse. Listen to an interview I did with Laura at Romans considered “marbles” a popular form of entertainment InventingWomen.com and frequent references to marbles can be found in Roman literature. Here’s another great idea for International Cleavage Day: If you wear slinky dresses, check out the The Racktrap™. The Popular Marble Games can be found at Racktrap™ is an undetectable personal bra pocket that holds http://www.centralconnector.com/games/marbles.html everyday essentials including license, cash and credit cards conveniently in your bra. Another cool idea! So what can you do with marbles? How about having a jar of marbles on your countertop and ask your customers to “guess” the Also on this day… In 1860 The Pony Express, a new faster mail number inside? Offer prizes. Have fun. You could also have an service using riders on a horseback relay instead of the traditional electronic version on your website with a picture of marbles in a stagecoaches, begins service between St. Joseph, Mo., and jar and ask visitors to “guess” the number via an online form. Sacramento, Calif. The Pony Express reduced the time for mail to travel from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to around ten days. Unfortunately after only 1 year The Pony Express Company ceased trading.

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*April 7th Empowered Women Entrepreneurs Day ~ The When doing them yourself, you can keep costs down as you only Empowered Woman Entrepreneur is smart. She has business need to print those you need as you need them. savvy. She knows how to build lasting relationships. She knows what she wants, how to get it, and she? just a mouse click away. Flyers are much more effective when they are if used to support And she has choices hundreds if not thousands of them. If you your other sales efforts. want to get her attention, you have to engage her. Marketing to Women is not just a trend, it is a way of life in business today. You can use a flyer as a leave-behind marketing piece (be sure to With women making more than 80% of most buying decisions, it is attach a note and business card) when you make those in person important to understand how your product and or service fits in her cold calls. life (not the other way around). Market with her and to her – not at her. And you will be successful. You can also attach a flyer to an email when you follow up on an initial phone conversation with a prospective new client. For more information check out the Marketing 2 Women Audio Program today. They can be used as a mailer follow-up to those who have requested “more information”. **April 10th is Flyer Distribution Day ~ Flyers can be an effective way to promote your business if done correctly. The purpose of They can be designed as an incentive or offer to entice prospects your flyer is to get your prospective customer to take a specific, to “try out” your services. desired action. It is no longer effective to just blindly mail or deliver flyers to people in hopes they will need your products and Just as with your other sales and marketing efforts, a flyer can services at the time you need their business. Show prospects how your service will solve their problem.

With all the new technology today, you can inexpensively produce your own flyers or go to your local printer (or online print company) and have them designed and printed.

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How and where to distribute your flyers: 3.Add graphics, to grab their attention. If you are only using black · Distribute to current customers, in-store or on their doorstep ink or one-color ink (the least expensive way to go), make the · Include your flyer with mailed invoices, statements, or words the visual impact. Color can be expensive to produce newsletters unless you do so in great quantity. · Include in the package or bag at check-out · Include in the package or mailer when you ship merchandise. 4. Keep your “COPY” succinct and to the point. Considering the · Find ways to Cross-promotion with other local businesses and limited space and limited attention span of the reader, the more hand out or distribute one another’s flyers you can say with less words the more impact your flyer will have. · Post your flyer on community bulletin boards, information boards, Give the reader enough information to get them in the door. and other venues that permit such flyers · Hand out flyers to passers-by 5. If you are using your flyer as part of your “offer or discount” · Hire students to Distribute door-to-door in targeted be sure to state it on the flyer. Create a coupon or “box” on the neighborhoods (on the door nob – not in the mailbox) flyer that people can cut out, tear or just bring with them.

How to create Your Flyer: 6.Once you have designed your flyer (or had a professional do it for you), Print it! And start distributing. 1.Choose the color and quality of paper you want to use. White, blue, bright pink canary yellow. Glossy, satin finish, plain. Note: Sales people have discovered that flyers done on a goldenrod paper with black ink tends to get the highest sales response rate when promoting a product or service.

2.Lead with a GREAT HEADLINE ~ Because this is your chance to grab the reader’s attention it is important to sum up your product or OFFER in a few, well-chosen POWERFUL words.

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*April 11th is Submarine DAY! ~ A submarine is a floating (powered) vessel designed for underwater operations that can In 2006 Singer Katie Melua entered the Guiness Book of Records also sail on the water’s surface. Aristotle described a submersible by performing the world’s deepest underwater concert. Melua and vessel used in 332 B.C. by the sailors of Alexander The Great. her five-piece band played two gigs for workers on a gas rig 303 There is also evidence that a very primitive sub was built around metres below sea level. The concert took place at the bottom of 200 B.C. in China. The first real sub was built in 1620 by a one of the four shafts of the Statoil Troll A Platform rig in the North Dutchman (of wood encased in leather). At least two inventors Sea. Melua later described achieving the record as “the most obtained Patent’s for Submarines designed in the late 1800's but it surreal gig I have ever done”. (source: Wikipedia) wasn’t until 1900 when the U.S. Navy’s 1st submarine made its debut. Learn more about Submarines at In 1976 possibly the first couple in history to get married http://www.ussubmarines.com/ underwater at a man-made reef in SeaWorld located in Orlando, Florida earned a page in the history books. The story was published in “Peoples Magazine”, “The Times” in a Jacques How can your company capitalize on submarine day? Publicity Cousteau article, “News Week” as well as newspapers all over the Stunts like the following are country. The National Enquirer even wrote about the wedding examples of going some 15 years later. “underwater” such as a government did to showcase You can read more at My Holistic Health Shop . an historic event, a singer who took a dive for a live performance and a couple in Florida who’s story was published in People magazine and more when they got married underwater! In October of 2009 Members of the Maldives’ Cabinet (donned scuba gear and used hand signals at an underwater meeting staged to highlight the threat of global warming to the lowest-lying nation on earth

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**April 13th is Scrabble Day ~ “Playing bop is like Scrabble with all the vowels missing.” Duke Ellington 100 million Scrabble sets in 29 different languages have been sold in 121 countries, making it the world’s biggest-selling word game. In 1998 the world’s biggest Scrabble game was played at London’s Wembly Stadium covering a playing field usually There are around 4,000 Scrabble clubs around the world. reserved for rugby or soccer. Using letter tiles the size of dining tables, some of Britain’s best Scrabble players commemorated Each hour, at least 30,000 Scrabble games are started. the popular American-invented board game’s 50th anniversary by hosting the Giant Scrabble Game. You can read about it and see If all the Scrabble tiles ever produced were placed end to end they the picture at CNN.com would reach the equivalent of eight times around the earth.

Scrabble is a word game in which two to four players score points Today is also: by forming words from individual lettered tiles on a game board *Blame Someone Else Day ~ If you loose at Scrabble, you can marked with a 15-by-15 grid. The words are formed across and blame someone else today! down in crossword fashion and must appear in a standard dictionary (no made-up words please). You can check out a list of *Rubber Eraser Day ~ The first patent for attaching an eraser to a permissible words in The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary. pencil was issued in 1858, but many pencils are still sold without erasers. Erasers were originally called “rubbers” because the tree Held annually around the end of June or beginning of July The resin used to make them “rubbed out” marks made by pencils Thailand International is the largest tournament in the World. (they are still called “rubbers” in Great Britain) Too bad you can’t use an eraser when you miss-spell a scrabble word. The Internet Scrabble Club (ISC) which is free of charge, is frequented continuously by thousands of players, including many of the game’s most renowned experts.

Scrabble Trivia:

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*April 14th is National D.A.R.E. DAY ~ In 1983, the Los Angeles the Videotape Recorder was introduced. Ampex Corp. Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District demonstrated its first commercial videotape recorder the VR- developed a drug abuse prevention program entitled D.A.R.E. 1000, which was the first of Ampex’s line of 2 inch Quadruplex (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) for presentation to elementary videotape recorders. CBS was one of the early TV companies to school students. This training was designed to offset the negative adopt the technology which allowed a one hour long program to peer pressure that students face in junior high and senior high be recorded on one reel of tape. In 1956 One reel of tape cost schools. $300, and the recorder cost between $75,000 to $100,000.

The “international education program seeks to prevent use of In fact, here is what one company has done with video advertising illegal drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behavior. that is cutting edge and I am sure will be an international success D.A.R.E., which has expanded globally since its founding in 1985, before long. But first, the back-story: is a demand-side drug control strategy of the U.S. War on Drugs. Students who enter the program sign a pledge not to use drugs or One of the guests was also a presenter During a recent South join gangs and are taught by local law enforcement about the Florida Business Connections luncheon. Alvaro Gutierrez dangers of drug use in an interactive in-school curriculum which introduced the audience to an exciting and a truly unique digital lasts ten weeks.”(Source: Wikipedia) signage network called Fiestatempo , a growing network of electronic screens operated by Supervista in Weston, Florida an What can you do to support the D.A.R.E. Program in your up-scale, residential community in South Florida. community? Fiestatempo features a “fun & fashion” monthly digital magazine Sponsor a local drug-education program. Get involved, raise about Health & Fitness, Hair, Beauty, and Fashion tips and other money and awareness. Drug addiction is a global problem which topics of great interest to select audiences. hurts the economy, tears families apart and adds to the taxes people pay just to enforce laws, convict criminals and house drug dealers. *April 14th is also Video Taperecorder Day ~ On this day in 1956

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When it first hit the marketplace it was considered a unique and when I am in my office I use a Logitec webcam and free- concept because these screens are positioned in businesses that standing mic (the webcam and microphone cost around $100 have a captive audience – Upscale Beauty Salons. Think about it, together). So the cost to creating a video is relatively inexpensive patrons (primarily women) who go to these salons spend an and the results can be outrageously successful. What I like is that average of one hour getting beautified. They are repeat customers you can edit most of these do-it-yourself videos with Windows generally visiting the salon up to once a week. Movie Maker (for PC) or Final Cut Pro (for Mac) among others.

Which makes the advertising message hit a home many times in My good friend, Terry Brock, Marketing Coach produces video an unobtrusive, informational way that women remember. And messages for his followers. In fact he has 178 videos on You who better to target than women? After all Women control 80% of Tube! Here is one he produced in his office called Getting the family budget in most households. And as the saying goes, Business through Relationship Marketing . have access to the other 20%! This type of “advertising message delivery vehicle” is more effective & less expensive than Here are some video resources compiled by Women in magazines and newspapers. Ecommerce:

So how can you use video in your business? Did you know that Commercial Creation Center ~ As a Commercial Creation YouTube is the second largest search engine (next to Google)? Center member, you can quickly, easily and AFFORDABLY market With so many people searching for information it makes sense to your business online with the simplest and most effective have a presence there. I have the beginnings of a YouTube multimedia tools available, and more importantly, retain an expert Channel which I use to promote women in the community via in multimedia and social media marketing to personally help you… interviews. http://www.camtasia.com/ ~ Record your screen simply. Add My videos are simple, information pieces that I share with my professional polish. Produce stunning videos of any size. Delight readers. They are not designed to showcase my video acumen, viewers on the Web, CD, or portable devices. Train. Present. rather the women and information. When I am at meetings or Persuade. FREE 30 day fully functional trial. events I used a Zi8 Kodak Video Camera to produce the video

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Other Video Resources:

Jing ~ FREE software that adds visuals to your online wild guess” day in celebration of hunches, guesses, and gut conversations. Use Jing to snap a picture or make a quick video of feelings. You could spend this day taking a wild guess that anything on your computer screen…then share it instantly! Pro something good is going to happen, or you can MAKE IT version $14.95 a year. HAPPEN! Start by infusing some fresh marketing ideas into your marketing plan. Even the Law of Attraction Flixtime turns your photos and videos into stunning and unique needs some intention behind it! videos in just minutes! Sign-up for a free account, and upload your images, videos and music. Then, sit back and watch your *April 15th is also TAX RETURNS DAY ~ masterpiece come together! Do what one Staffing Agency did have a pink slip networking party. Violet Nikolici of Tube Mogul is a free service that provides a single point for A-Plus Resumes partnered with Junior deploying uploads to the top video sharing sites, and powerful Achievement to host the party. People analytics on who, what, and how videos are being viewed. looking to hire wear a blue bracelet and people looking for a new opportunity wear a Vimeo is a respectful community of creative people who are pink bracelet. Neutral people wear a green passionate about sharing the videos they make. bracelet. Its a win-win because all money raised goes to Junior Achievement and those who find new employees or employment YouTube® is the leader in online video, and the premier WIN too! destination to watch and share original videos worldwide through a Web.

*April 15th is Take a Wild Guess Day ~ (it's also file your taxes day in the US and “That Sucks Day!” interesting, don't you think?) My good friend Jim Barber (TheBarbershop.com ) created “take a

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*April 16th is International Stress Awareness Day ~ Stress is: “The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or Give away imprinted stress balls, eye masks and copies of All other types of demand placed on them.” This means that stress is Stressed Out and Nowhere to Go ~ 33 Ways to Reduce Stress not good for you. Stress is an unhealthy state of body or mind or and Increase Your Life Expectancy . (Feel free to imprint on your both. own letterhead to share with your customers).

So what can you do? If you aren’t sure if you are having an *April 16th is also Guitar Picker's Day ~ Invented by the people adverse reaction to stress, check out this stress questionnaire by of Malaga, Spain in the 15th century The first guitars were very the International Stress Management Association . And the small and strung with four pair of strings. Each pair was called a How to Identify Stress Chart . course. As the guitar later changed into a larger instrument, this "four course" guitar became known as the ukulele. During the Numerous studies show that job stress is the #1 source of stress Renaissance the guitar was not taken seriously as a musical for American adults and that it has escalated progressively over instrument, because the lute was the instrument of choice by the past few decades. If you want to know HOW MUCH JOB musicians of that day. STRESS YOU HAVE visit the American Institute of Stress for their online questionnaire : Can you name a famous guitar player? How about George Harrison, lead guitarist for the Beatles or Keith Richards of the So how can you help others during International Stress Awareness Rolling Stones. There's also Carlos Santana and of course who Day? Here are a couple of ideas: could forget Elvis Presley..... If you are in the music business you could host a world's largest guitar concert” in the world. Call your In an oversized (or different shaped) envelope send a single bag local musicians union to contact guitarists. Go to local night clubs, of tea or coffee, with a note that says “Have a cup of tea/coffee on lounges and of course look in the phone book and even Google us – relax and enjoy“. Be sure to include other stress reduction local guitar players to get your band on... Contact other local tips. If you have a store-front or office, invite a massage therapist music outlets to co- sponsor your event. in for the day to give neck/shoulder massages to your staff and your clients/customers.

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*April 17th is Ellis Island Family History Day ~ If your family came into the United States through Ellis Island and told you how So how would you market “stained glass…” or any of the “arts” for they landed, how much (or little) money they had and how they got that matter? their humble beginnings, then you know the importance of Ellis Island Family History Day. Arrow Shirt Company ~ The Authentic You can market stained glass like you can an artists studio, a yoga American Brand created the “We are Ellis Island” campaign which store, a dance studio and other “learn by doing” businesses where is raising money to restore dilapidated buildings on the south side you are selling “lessons” so your customers can learn a new skill or of Ellis Island. Through association with Save Ellis Island, the craft. One way is to educate the community by holding free or low Arrow brand is committed to preserving Ellis Island with the help of cost seminars and workshops. This can leads to many the National Park Service. Arrow launched the website opportunities to share your knowledge of your industry, give people www.WeAreEllisIsland.com for visitors to post their family stories, the history, background and “steps” to do it themselves. It also share inspiring stories of hope, courage and perseverance, all in helps to raise awareness in your community about what you do the name of living out the great American dream. When you visit and how you help others. We Are Ellis Island you can read these stories and donate money to the causes Arrow committed to donate 1% of its wholesale sales Another idea is to put samples of your work in other to the project. complementary businesses. When I had a retail florist one of the ways I marketed was by putting flowers in highly visited places *April 18th is Stained Glass Day ~ The first Stained glass dates close to my store. I would have a bowl and ask people to either back to about the 9th century. In France during that period, window drop their business card or fill out a form. At the end of the week I art was developed around the Christian Church which became would collect all the cards in the bowl and draw one person to known as stained glass. This new art form became very popular receive a fresh flower arrangement Complements of Eden Florist. with the Gothic building of great cathedrals as forms of spiritual It’s a great way to get local attention, be popular with other local expression during the years 1100 – 1300. They were popular businesses AND add to your database. It’s such a good idea, we because many of these windows told a story in images – which are going to do it again! was considered very important since few people during medieval times could read.

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*April 18th is also HAM RADIO DAY ~ Amateur radio is a is the Wireless Institute of Australia(formed in 1910). Other community of people that use radio transmitters and receivers to notable societies include Radio Society of Great Britain, the talk to each other. They are called ham radio operators, "hams" American Radio Relay League, Radio Amateurs of Canada, the and even CB?s. But, it's more than just a high-tech hobby. Ham New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters and South African operators very often play a vital role in emergency Radio League. communications. Ham radio has been used for years as a way to get messages out during national disasters such as floods, Some Ham Radio Lingo you should know: hurricanes, earthquakes and other life- threatening incidents that “Copy” indicates how well communications are received. "I have a happen when normal means of communication are lost. Ham radio good copy on you" also used as a question, as in "did you copy?" operators use their amateur radio station to connect with individual (means to understand all) hams as well as participating in round table discussion groups or “Come back” means to say again or your turn to talk. Hamfest is a "rag chew sessions" on the air. In fact, some participate in ham festival, a social and commercial event at which hams meet regularly scheduled on-air meetings with other ham radio to buy, sell, and swap equipment. “Roger” or “Roger that means ? operators. Interestingly these meetings are called "Nets" (short for understand that.“Handle” is someone? personal or ham radio Networks). These meetings are generally moderated by a station name. referred to as "Net Control" “Mama Bear~ female police officer. “Smokey (Smokey Bear)” ~ State police officer who generally Many people start their involvement in amateur radio by finding a wears a Smokey the Bear style ranger hat. local club. Clubs can provide information about licensing, local “73” is Best regards “88means Love and kisses“807is the ham operating practices and technical advice as well as educational radio operator's term for beer. programs. New operators can study independently by purchasing For more Ham Radio Jargon visit h ttp://www.ac6v.com/jargon.htm#C books or other materials, sometimes with the help of a mentor, Check out this guide to new ham radio operators teacher or friend. In addition, many countries have national www.eham.net/newham For a great Q & A on Ham Radio, visit amateur radio groups or societies which encourage newcomers www.hello-radio.org/hello/whatis.html Tie in with or become a and work with government communications regulation authorities Ham Radio Operator and you have a whole new group of people for the benefit of all radio amateurs. The oldest of these societies to share your knowledge, expertise and resources with.

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*April 18th is also Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day ~ The RUN for April 19th: unofficial U.S. national holiday created to offer stress relief the day after taxes are due. The PajamaGram Company believes that 1. Subscribe to FAST COMPANY magazine so you can see what Americans need a break, especially the day after cutting-edge companies are doing to promote their brands and income taxes are due. That's why they are promoting “National gain market share. Wear Your Pajamas to Work" Day. According to PajamaGram, wearing pajamas to work can be relaxing and can actually help 2. Always, always carry business cards. Don’t give them out! employees be more productive. David Allen, author of The Art of What? Don’t give them out, you ask? Don’t be quick to give your Stress-free Productivity, promotes relaxation to increase cards to everyone you meet. Instead when someone says “I have productivity. "Our ability to be productive is directly proportional to been looking for a new “(fill in the blank profession here)” May I our ability to relax," said Allen. "Only when our minds are clear have your card? it is perfectly okay to hand them a card. In fact, and our thoughts are organized can we achieve stress-free when someone asks for it, be ready with it. The important thing is productivity." I wonder if the boss would mind if I wore my pink to be discriminant in how you distribute them. Better to ask for the negligee and boa slippers… other person’s card, follow up with them and then MAYBE send yours. **April 19th is Marketing on the Run DAY ~ In 1897 the Worlds oldest annual marathon run in Boston, Massachusetts, United 3. Instead of those paper stick-to-everything-but your suit States races for the first time. The Boston Marathon ranks as one name badges, Create your own personal nametag or pin with your of the world’s most prestigious road racing events with an average company name and logo on it and wear whenever you attend a of 20,000 taking part. The marathon is one of five members of the meeting where you will meet people and network. If you make it a World Marathon Majors which include the cities of Boston, conversation piece … (different than the rest) it may even help London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City. you strike up a conversation or two…

What does this have to do with marketing? Well if you don’t want to enter a marathon, sponsor a marathon or volunteer to be on a committee for a marathon, here are my 5 marketing ideas on the

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4. Contact your local business school or college and see if they encourage a relationship or discourage a potential sale.” have programs that offer a marketing interns. Volunteer to be their “guinea pig” and test out their marketing ideas on your Whether you are looking for a mate or planning a marketing company. campaign, it’s all the same. Color affects our moods. It affects how we react to people, places and products. And using the right 5. Appear on a radio or TV talk show. Contact your local radio colors in the right ways can encourage a relationship or stations and see if there are opportunities to talk about an area of discourage a potential sale. Color surrounds us in all aspects of expertise you just happen to specialize in. Contact local cable our lives, it’s everywhere! Think of clothing, cars, decorations, television shows that interview local business people and get logos, websites and even food. yourself “booked.” Before you appear be sure and read my FREE SPECIAL Report You may remember the M&M campaign to choose the next new “SMILE: You’re on Candid Camera. Grab your copy here: permanent color of the candy shell. The company wanted to http://speakingwithspirit.com/pdf/Smilereport2.pdf create excitement on a global scale and kicked off the campaign with three colors asking consumers to choose their favorite among Do these five things and you will cross the finish line first! Or the 3 choices. The purpose of the worldwide public relations should we say “starting line?” campaign – which ran from early March to mid-June 2002 – was to raise awareness of the product as well as to drive traffic to the *April 19th is also Pink Think Day ~ Pink Think Day was named M&M’s website to vote for their favorite. By voting, people had a for Jayne Mansfield in honor of her birthday – she was known as chance to win cash prizes. With nearly a million votes cast from the Patron Saint of Pink Think, think pink! According to author 200 countries, purple won. The winning color was announced on Lynn Peril, “pink think is a set of ideas and attitudes about what June 19 to coincide with the new candy choice being available in constitutes proper female behavior.” stores that very same day.

In honor of Pink Think, Think Pink day… here is an excerpt from my article: Think Pink, or Red or Blue! The Art of Using Color to Attract Attention “Using the right colors in the right ways can

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Color is a universal language (for the most part) and has a lot to best if you are wearing company logo wear. do with how people perceive one another, how we attach ourselves to sporting teams and yes, even how we feel about *April 22nd is Earth Day ~ “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do countries (based upon the colors and symbols of their flags, no without.” Unknown. Something we should do EVERY day, not just less). on Earth Day. Here is an inspiring video called The Secret – Planet Earth . It is beautiful beyond words! Color can influence our decisions and buying choices. In celebration of Earth Day 2008, WE magazine hosted a Green Color can encourage loyalty, convey authority or create a sense of Commerce Survey and invited women and men all over the world playfulness in people. to participate. For their time, WE gathered more than 100 resources to share with them as a special gift. WE magazine also Color is a powerful vehicle of symbolism and connection, creating focused their entire Spring 2008 Issue on Going Green issues. a sense of togetherness, color can instantaneously communicate We also compiled a list of Green Resources. your personality or your brand. To read what the colors mean, You can also read the results of the survey here: visit: http://bit.ly/ba3ahD http://wemagazineforwomen.com/WECAIGreenSurvey.pdf In celebration of Earth Day 2008, WE magazine hosted a Green April 19th is also Get to Know Your Customers Day ~ According Commerce Survey and invited women and men all over the world to a study by the Promotional Products Association, to participate. For their time, WE gathered more than 100 consumers have a better reaction to promotional products than to resources to share with them as a special gift. WE magazine also other forms of advertising. 25% of respondents said they were focused an entire Spring 2008 Issue on Going Green issues. more likely to purchase products when they receive or see promotional products (as opposed to 17%) and 26% were more likely to refer the advertiser to another person (versus 16%).

April 19th is also High-Five Day ~ Give everyone you meet today a High-Five (and say today is High-five Daypass it on). It works

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*April 22nd is also National Jelly Bean Day ~ On October 15, from Coke drinkers, and a significant drop in sales, less than 6 1999, the world's largest jar of jelly months later they returned Coke to the original formula). beans was unveiled. It weighed 6,050 pounds. Did you know that each year, Looks like they took a chance and it did not pay off! Watch this U.S. manufacturers produce more than Pepsi Commercial talking about New Coke 16 billion jelly beans for Easter -- that's enough to completely fill a plastic *April 24th is Hubba Hubba Hubble Day ~ Today is the 21st Easter egg 89 feet high and 60 feet anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope into wide (about the height of a nine- story office building. Time for orbit! The use of Hubble technology has resulted in amazing high another world's largest jar of resolution photos of objects in the universe. Hubble has sent back jelly beans? Today is also Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work stunning photographs of deep space, and revolutionized thinking Day ! about the universe which has lead to ground-breaking research in astrophysics. *April 23rd Take a Chance Day ~ So many of your prospects are just waiting for the right moment to jump in the water and buy or So what can you do on Hubble Day? Blog about it! Share this sell. Well, Take A Chance Day may be just the ticket they were historic day with your blog fans and readers. Include one of waiting for! This is a great day to hold a seminar on home buying dozens of YouTube videos in your posts, go to one of the photo or selling. To get a different spin on your seminar, hold it at a sharing websites like Flikr and grab a couple of creative commons restaurant (like Denny’s or Bob Evans) with a small buffet photos, maybe even host a Hubble Party complete with telescope! available for attendees. But be careful with your chances. Make If you are really adventurous and your pocketbook can handle it, sure what you do is what your buying audience either wants, buy some mini telescopes to hand out to your best clientele in needs and more importantly will pay for. honor of Hubble Day. Just call up your favorite Advertising If you were around in the mid-eighties you may remember the Specialties company and order your telescopes or other cool Marketing Faux Paux made by Coca-Coal: astronomical delights. The Coca-Cola Company announced it has changed its formula for Coke and will now be known as New Coke (After public outcry

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**April 24th is also Circus Circus Day ~ Circuses are the most town. Have a pre-show cocktail party and invite some unusual enduring form of entertainment in the world. In the Roman days, guests such as snake charmers, alligator wrestlers, jugglers and they featured wild animal duels and chariot races. During the maybe even an elephant for folks to ride! For more information, middle ages, a circus meant traveling troups that stopped in the visit: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Wikipedia. marketplace with trained animals and acrobats. The kind of circus we know today began as a way to show fancy riding. Clowns were Here's a fun quiz: Cirque Du Soleil Madness For all people who added to fill the time between riders, and the modern circus was have been touched by Cirque to the point of obsession here is a on it's way. Founded in 1884, and GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, quiz that hopefully you can have some fun with! Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus is perhaps the most well- known Circus in the world. The Ringling Bros. Circus earned **April 27th is Scratch Your Niche Day ~ Finding your niche and the reputation for being a fair, clean, and family orientated show. sticking to it is the way to success on the net. But not just any Unlike many of the other circuses of the time, Ringling Brothers niche. You want one that will make you a profit. Finding a did not allow ticket seller to short change or cheat solution to a specific customer need or want will earn you more customers. Games of chance found in other circuses, such as money. Think specialist. Doctors who specialize typically earn Three Card Monte and the shell games were not allowed at the more money than those with a general practice. Why? They can circus venues. The use of profanity by circus employees was charge more for their specialized knowledge. They may have a strictly prohibited. small but loyal following. They have a patient base that goes to them because of their expertise – and likely because they were Funambulists perform one of the more popular of circus acts. referred by their general doctor. What do they do? (Answer: walk the tight rope). Traveling Circuses are dwindling fast and will soon become just a part of the Think lawyers. If you were involved in a criminal case, it is highly history books. Today with all the reality shows on television and in unlikely that you would go to an attorney that did not have some our communities, it is quite the challenge for a circus to compete. specific experience with trials. Niches then translate to expertise. With YouTube? and Virtual Reality, we have just seen it all! What could your company do to "bring the circus back to town?" Maybe partner with a museum and bring the Circus exhibit to

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Think Network Marketing. In the network marketing industry the successful leaders tell their down-lines to go deep before you go Internet Marketing ~ If you sell on the internet you are an internet wide. Why? When you build a strong down-line, each of those marketer. Think eBay or Amazon.com or Ten Golden Rules or people has the potential to “branch out” and go wide for you. Linkshare – the list is endless.

Take the floral industry. I have been in business for 30+ years and Parenting ~ products and services to make a parents job easier have 3 distinct niches. They are educators, fortune 1000 are a booming market – iVillage and Parenting.com are just two to companies and professionals (such as lawyers and accountants). check out. Do I have customers outside those niches? Yes – but the majority of my customer base falls into one of those 3 categories. Why? Craft/hobby sites sell ~ two examples: food and scrapbooking – Because I market to them. I woo them and earn their business. iChef and Scrapbooking.com are two sites doing BIG Business on And because these are tightly knit communities, they tell their the Net. friends, colleagues and circle. And the customer base expands. Health ~ people are going in droves to sites that “sell” good So let’s talk Niche Markets on the Net. According to Excellence health. For a long time, eDiets was the industry leader. Smaller Magazine, the top 10 most profitable Niche Markets are as sites that sell information products, nutritional supplements and follows: workout equipment are going strong too like The Complete Running Network. Relationships Sell ~ there’s a reason social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter ore even dating sites like eHarmony Sports is BIG Business ~ Think auto , gaming or golf. Everyone and Match.com are attracting people in the millions. Relatinships wants to improve his or her handicap. are big business. Everyone wants to have one. Whether it is a friendship, love interest or business relationship, people crave connections. Think about how you can capitalize on either using these sites or creating one of your own to foster relationships among your own followers/customers/clients and friends.

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Real Estate is still hot even if certain markets are upside down, Why would you want to be all things to all people in business? have tapered-off or gone flat. Think real estate turnover (often Unless you are the only game in town or have a product no one referred to as flipping) buy low, sell high and reinvest wisely. The else can offer, finding a niche market is essential to your success. Naked Investor is one sight worth investigating. You will find your business grow quicker and deeper.

Travel is hot ~ especially if you can provide a client base with a April 27th is also Administrative Professional (AKA different experience that those of typical travel agents. Think Secretary’s) Day ~ Administrative professionals are often the African Safaris or Space exploration. Pure Galactic (for all your backbone of an office environment. They are the gatekeepers, the outer space travel needs) and Escape Artist (a portal for anything record keepers, the appointment schedulers and much more. you are looking for travel related) are not your typical travel sites, According to the International Association of Administrative and Women’s Travel Club for Women. Professionals: “Since 1952, the International Association of Administrative Professionals has honored office workers by Investments ~ money still sells. And if you can establish a track sponsoring Administrative Professionals Week. Today, it is one of record of helping others make money, people will flock to your site the largest workplace observances outside of employee birthdays by the hundreds (or more). Charles Schwab and eTrade are two and major holidays. industry leaders. In the year 2000, IAAP announced a name change for Business Success ~ sites that do well are those that provide Professional Secretaries Week and Professional Secretaries Day. real proven solutions to business owners such as time The names were changed to Administrative Professionals Week management, financial management, and more. Consulting and and Administrative Professionals Day to keep pace with changing Coaching are two great examples and in fact in 2010 are in the job titles and expanding responsibilities of today’s administrative top 5 fastest growing professions in the United States. If you are a workforce. software developer, selling software to help the business owner do their job better, more efficiently, less expensively can bring in big rewards. Think Microsoft or Intuit.

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A couple of years ago on Administrative Professionals Day a new **April 28th is Top of Mind Day ~ Last year on one of my social customer called to order flowers for his two assistants. He called networks one of the members asked the question: Six months ago my shop because I had sent him a small flower arrangement and I spent a considerable investment on advertising my business by a note welcoming him to the local chamber of commerce. To show “renting” space in a business card rack in a local chamber of his gratitude and give business to a local company (instead of one commerce office and have had anyone use my service from that of those large “order gathers” that simply take the order and then advertising medium. So I am looking for other ways to advertise send to a local shop anyway. my business that are less expensive and will bring RESULTS! Any suggestions? ~ Maryalla B. Travel Advisor When he was through placing his order, we were chatting a bit and he mentioned he was involved in a lot of organizations and Dear Maryella, I did this same sort of did we work with events. I said yes and also mentioned that we advertising years ago and got very little out have several attorneys we worked with and oftentimes they will of it. One of the reasons it may not be call to order flowers to thank clients who refer their services to working today is that typically Chambers of new clients. He said, what a great idea “I have this one commerce get little foot traffic. Most people condominium company who has referred several new clients and I who participate in chamber activities do so have not yet properly thanked them.” He immediately gave me at events and seldom see the inside of the another order and said he would be calling back with others later chamber office (unless they host regular meetings there). And the this week. Had I not mentioned some of the areas we serve, we fact is, Small Businesses cannot afford to spend tons on would not have received another order, nor a new steady advertising in this way, because you may not be reaching your customer. target market, rather the masses – which seldom works.

So, be sure and let your clients and customers know the array of products and services you offer. Talk to customers and clients to find out what their other needs are that you might be able to serve.”

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If you want to promote your business using your business card, adding to your database for a time when they will need your my suggestion would be to create an impressive business card services. That could be in the form of an offer, a free incentive or with an offer that people cannot resist such as a free consultation something that is of value (or perceived value) to the prospective or a % off something you can afford to give away to get new customer. And please make sure that if the competition is doing clients in the door. Make sure it says Receive $____ off your something similar you do something different. If you are going to FIRST purchase (this will omit those who have already booked advertise, find a way to STAND OUT from others in your field and with you). You may also create a travel club and offer an incentive from all the others promoting their products and services. Creating to join and use your business card to promote it. Find out what the a competitive advantage will help you stay top of mind when the competition is doing and do something different to draw clients to time for your services is needed. your company. April 27th is Arbor Day ~ Arbor Day is generally celebrated on the I have a retail florist and my offer is $5.00 off your first purchase – last Friday in April however the date can change to allow for local you will be amazed at how many call because they can save climate changes. The very first Arbor Day was established on April $5.00. It’s all relative because I am not necessarily selling a high 10, 1872 in Nebraska. Nebraska, being a barren plain at the time ticket item like travel. I have also used “stop in for a free rose” was in dire need of trees so local pioneers decided to plant them which generated additional new traffic to my shop. 63% of those for firewood, shades and to keep the wind at bay. Towns that who come by for their rose, end up becoming customers – that’s a planted the most trees on that day were offered prizes and much better return on my investment than the $400+ for the ad recognition and it is estimated that lead to more than one million space in a sea of other business cards. trees being planted. Since then, Arbor Day has been adopted around the country and the world with many communities taking Your business card could also be used as a tool to increase your part in Arbor Day celebrations, events and of course tree planting. customer/prospect database. You do this by creating an offer that would get them into your sales funnel. To do that you would need to create some sort of incentive (such as an information product eg. free report, or a small gift they have to stop by for, etc.) that will encourage others to leave you their contact information, thus

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Want to get involved in Arbor Day in your community? Why More Arbor Day trivia can be found at not plant a tree or several? Get your staff or a group of volunteers http://www.idahoforests.org/img/pdf/trivia.pdf together and sponsor a tree planting in a community park. Be sure TreeHugger.com has more interesting reading about Ecology and to send a press release announcing the event and a post press saving the planet at http://www.treehugger.com/ release with photos. Go before the city council or commission and see if they will do a proclamation for the dedication. Ask Public **April 29th is Pay it Forward Day ~ Pay it Forward Day is a servants to join in the festivities and end with a ribbon cutting brilliant initiative. It embodies the power of giving which is the ceremony. If you have other “Celebrities” in your community, get cornerstone of my book. It is amazing the difference a simple idea their involvement too. Get your local high school/colleges to be can have in changing the world – one good deed at a time. I hope involved. Even invite grade school children and their parents to everyone can join with Blake on April 29, 2010 and Pay it Forward. help plant small shrubs, bushes and even seedlings. Join Check out PayitForwardDay.com . ArborDay.org and get 10 FREE trees with your membership. Buy Give-A-TreeCards. Every card plants a tree. Bright and beautiful **April 30th is Three-Minute Rule Day ~ If you have not heard of Give-A-Tree Cards from the Arbor Day Foundation help bring the three minute rule you may be surprised at what it is. America's National Forests back to life by planting a tree in honor of the recipient. Sponsor an Arbor Day Essay or Poster Contest in Anthony Tjan, CEO, Managing Partner and Founder of the venture local schools and award your product and service or monetary capital firm Cue Ball wrote an article for the Harvard Business prizes to the “winners. Invite your local library to display the Review and here is what he says about the Three Minute Rule: posters. “You can learn a great deal about customers by studying the broader context in which they use your product or service. To do Read the history of Arbor Day this, ask what your customer is doing three minutes immediately Check out these Arbor Day Crafts before and three minutes after he uses your product or service.” http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/arborday/ Play the Arbor Day trivia game http://www.arborday.org/kids/treetrivia/

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Interesting concept. If you think about it, when you connect with the client at that level the perception of your product may increase Read more about the Three-minute rule at Harvard Business significantly. If you are willing to put yourself out there by making a Review connection BEFORE she or he uses your product and then AFTER, what does that say about your company products and services?

In addition to gaining valuable feedback, the three minute rule can also help you showcase unique cross-selling opportunities. Here’s another example by Anthony Tjan: “Many years ago, I remember doing some ethnographic research on female drug-store shoppers. One fascinating pattern we saw was that a significant number of women picked up a disposable camera after putting newborn diapers into their shopping carts. Follow-up interviews confirmed that snap-happy moms were often new moms. Placing disposable diapers close to inexpensive disposable cameras furthered this purchase pattern and would not have otherwise been an intuitive merchandising or cross-selling strategy.”

The three-minute rule can give you insights to not only get to know your customers, it can also help you see how user-friendly your ©Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com All Rights Reserved. product or service is, and what if any improvements could be made to make the experience better for the user.

So how can you apply the three-minute rule to your business or organization?

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OTHER OBSERVANCES IN APRIL

MONTHLY

National Garden Month Alcohol Awareness Month National Humor Month Amateur Radio Month National Kite Month Autism Awareness Month National Knuckles Down Month Cancer Control Month Car Care Month National Landscape Architecture Month Celebrate Diversity Month National Occupational Therapy Month Child Abuse Prevention Month National Poetry Month Couple Appreciation Month Physical Wellness Month Emotional Overeating Awareness Month School Library Media Month Fair Housing Month Straw Hat Month Financial Literacy Month Stress Awareness Month Frog Month Workplace Conflict Awareness Month Holy Humor Month World Habitat Awareness Month Home Improvement Time (April-Sept.30) Informed Women Month International Customer Loyalty Month International Twit Award Month Jazz Appreciation Month National Child Abuse Prevention Month National Card and Letter Writing Month National Decorating Month

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WEEKLY

International Pooper-Scooper Week: 1-7 Holy Week: 17-23 *Laugh at Work Week: 1-7 *Consumer Awareness Week: 18-23 *Golden Rule Week: 1-7 Cleaning For A Reason Week: 18-23 Medication Safety Week: 1-7 International Whistler's Week: 18-22 National Public Health Week: 1-7 National Park Week: 18-24 Holy Week: 1-7 National Crime Victims Rights Week: 18-24 National Blue Ribbon Week: 1-7 Fish Fry Week: 18-24 National Window Safety Week: 1-7 *Police Officers Who Gave Their Lives In The Line of Duty Week: 18-23 Explore Your Career Options: 2-7 Turnoff Week: 18-24 National Women's Nutrition Week: 5-11 National & Global Youth Service Days: 20-22 Passover Week: 7-14 National Dance Week: 20-29 National Networking Week: 8-14 Money Smart Week: 21-28 National Library Week: 8-14 Preservation Week: 22-29 Passion Week: 10-16 Administrative Professionals Week: 22-28 National Inspirational News Week: 10-16 National Playground Safety Week: 22-28 National Karaoke Week: 11-17 National Pie Week: 23-25 National Personal Training Week: 11-17 Safe Kids Week: 23-28 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Week: 11-17 National Dream Hotline: 27-29 National Crime Victims Rights Week: 12-18 International Whistler's Week: 14-18 Coin Week: 15-21 National Volunteer Week: 15-21 National Environmental Education Week: 15-21 National Paperboard Packaging Week: 16-20

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DAILY

*April Fools or All Fools Day: 1 National Be Kind To Lawyers Day: 10 *Boomer Bonus Days: 1 *Salvation Army Founder's Day: 10 *National Fun Day: 1 National Library Workers Day: 10 *Poetry & The Creative Mind Day: 1 *Barbershop Quartet Day: 11 *Sorry Charlie Day: 1 *Licorice Day: 12 *US Air Force Academy Day: 1 Walk on Your Wild Side Day: 12 *Hospital Admitting Clerks Day: 1 International Moment of Laughter Day: 14 *Ice crème Cone Day: 1 Dictionary Day: 14 *Scale Day: 1 DNA Day: 15 *Hairstylist Appreciation Day: 1 Trivia Days: 16-18 National Honesty Day: 1 Teach Your Daughter to Volunteer Day: 16 *International Children's Book Day: 2 *Blah! Blah! Blah! Day: 17 *National Love Our Children Day: 2 National Stress Awareness Day: 17 *Reconciliation Day: 2 *National Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day: 18 *World Autism Day: 2 *National Hanging Out Day: 19 *Tangible Karma Day: 2 High Five Day: 19 Radar Day: 2 Get to Know Your Customers Day: 19 *World Party Day: 3 Husband Appreciation Day: 20 *Pony Express Day: 3 National Pot Smokers Day: 20 Paraprofessionals Appreciation Day: 4 Auctioneers Day: 21 National Fun at Work Day: 5 Record Store Day: 21 National D.A.R.E. Day: 5 *Kindergarten Day: 21 Good Friday: 6 National Teach Your Children To Save Day: 21 Passover: 6 *Earth Day: 22 *Drowsy Driver Awareness Day: 6 *National Jelly Bean Day: 22 *Teflon Day: 6 *World Book & Copyright Day: 23 Full Moon: 6 20-Something Service Day: 25 In't'l Pillow Fight Day: 7 *Red Hat Society Day: 25 Link *Metric System Day: 7 *Richter Scale Day: 26 *National Day of Hope: 7 Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day: 26 *No Housework Day: 7 Arbor Day: 27 World Health Day: 7 *Workers Memorial Day: 28 Easter: 8 National Rebuilding Day: 28 National Pie Days: 8-10 National Dance Day: 29 *National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day: 9 World Healing Day: 30 Baby Massage Day: 10 National Honesty Day: 30 Equal Pay Day: 10 National Sibling Day: 10

131 Quirky Marketing Calendar My Marketing Calendar for APRIL

Special Dates I plan to promote: 1. 2. 3. 4.

How I plan to promote them:

Goals for Each Promotion:

Budget: Media 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Comments:

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8 9 10 11 12 13 14

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MAY Marketing Calendar

Did you know that May is Gifts From the Garden Month? ~ May is Business Image Improvement Month ~ Could your People like to do business with people whom they have a company or organization use a Business Makeover? Enter one of relationship. They tend to trust people they meet outside of the hundreds of online makeover contests held annually via websites business setting. So how about it? Do you network in line at the such as the one Dell held for $10,000 in IT products . If you are grocery store? Do you take every opportunity to meet people and hosting an online contest or sweepstakes, you can list yours at listen to their problems so that you can offer a solution? Here's SweepstakesLovers.com . The site (with an Alexa rank of what my good friend Bea Kunz of Sage Hill Farms and Vintage 34,000 ) lists daily, weekly, monthly & unlimited entry contests. Store does: “I have two sets of business cards, one is my regular website with product for sale. The other is a card inviting you to May is National Scholarship Month ~ Did you know that May is join us for a introduction to "cooking with herbs." This is the card I National Scholarship Month? ~ Create a Scholarship in your name hand out to those I meet in grocery stores and other places where or the name of Your Company and create an essay contest to we are both strangers. I pay attention to what others are putting in choose a scholarship recipient – great way to do good and gain their carts, this gives me an opening to a conversation. I can valuable publicity for your company. In 2008 the Florida Direct access the areas people might want or need help in by seeing Marketing Association (FDMA) approached me about doing a what types of food they buy. I'm also aware that many are a bit scholarship for students of marketing and offered to help promote sensitive to having a stranger or anyone interject their ideas on my company during Mother’s Day in exchange for a portion of their choices. When offered something that is fun and free, it's sales going to the FDMA. I thought it was a grand idea and much easier to then introduce them to something better. Sage Hill agreed. We called it the Blooming Marketer Education Scholarship Farms has gained more than a few small accounts just through Fund . The FDMA promoted the Scholarship at meetings, in their this medium. Small accounts make large accounts when tallied up email newsletter and on their website. We did the same. We also at the end of the month!” created an affiliate link on the website to keep track of sales originating from their efforts.

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Clean Air Month ~ Add plants to your environment – not only is it 1933 Tourit captured the imagination of the public, doubled the healthy, according to the Society of American Florists plants circulation of L’Auto and put its rival paper Le Velo out of business. improve your emotional well-being. (source: Wikipedia) And millions of people follow the tour de France every year, as publicity has been heightened by Lance Creative Beginnings Month ~ Keep an idea journal handy and Armstrong, World Record Winner of the Tour (a record seven carry it everywhere you go. Divide it into different categories such wins). Since then bike "races" have become a norm around the as media, promotion, customer service, word of mouth, give- world; and a signature event for many charitable organizations. aways, specials, etc. As you get inspired with ideas, write them in For information on Bike Month visit MayisBikeMonth.com the journal. Be sure and review the contents at least once or twice a month. Implement those ideas that you feel are feasible and Personal History Month ~ Think of ways to create memories for timely. those you love, research your family tree, create a scrapbook. Interview family members, record the interviews, make May is Bike Month ~ More than 100 copies for those who would appreciate the information. years (1903) ago Henri Desgrange came up with the idea of a bike race around Young Achiever's Month ~ Know some great young achievers? France in order to raise the profile of Now? the time to acknowledge them and thank them for all they L’Auto, the newspaper he worked for. do. Or host a contest to find out what the young achievers in your Although the road conditions were community are doing. How about a young inventors contest? terrible, the riders hardly got any sleep as they were expected to ride through the night, that first race was a huge success, exceeding the paper's expectations. The goal of the race was to raise the profile of the newspaper and increase its readership. It did more than that. In 1903 L'Auto's circulation rose from 25,000 to 65,000; by 1908 it was a quarter of a million, and during the 1923 Tour half a million. The record claimed by Desgrange was 854,000 during the

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Motorcycle Awareness Month ~ The perfect time of year to shift into summer by learning to ride. And that's what Harley Davidson Weekly Observances: does with their Rider's Edge popular rider education program. They help students "get comfortable on a motorcycle and improve May 7-14th is Teacher Appreciation Week their riding skills, and almost 40 percent have been women." ~ OfficeMax partnered with Marvel Entertainment and Teachers Count in a In fact, Harley Davidson the American motorcycle manufacturer nationwide contest to find the “OfficeMax created a whole culture around their bikes and riding and garb and Super Hero Teacher of the Year.” Of the more. Every year in the fall, Harley Davidson hosts Toys For Tots 4,200 entries submitted, six winning middle Ride around the country to raise awareness of children who might school teachers and the students who not otherwise have anything under their holiday tree. And what a nominated them were announced in June, great way to market the Harley Brand. And... 2008. The 12 winners are now featured as illustrated characters in the new custom comic book. Did you know? Gottlieb Daimler (who later formed the Daimler- Benz Corporation) built the first motorcycle in 1885. It had one May 7-14th is also National Wildflower Week ~ Time to plant wheel in the front, one in the back plus spring- loaded outrigger some wildflowers... or pick some! OR BOTH! wheels on each side. It was made mostly of wood with iron- banded, wooden-spoked wheels. It was powered by a single- cylinder engine, and probably had a spray-type carburetor. Rumor has it that the bike provided a "bone crusher" ride.

Check out the Motorcycle Museum Online which tells the exciting stories of American motorcycling and the National Motorcycle Museum home to "over 225 vintage and collectible motorcycles including the original documented authentic Captain America Bike from the movie Easy Rider."

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May 7-14th is also National Postcard Week ~ An excellent time Family and friends of WAHM’S can send a note of appreciation. It to redo your postcard marketing campaigns. We use is a great day to send referrals to those wonderful WAHM’S too. SendOutCards to send postcards to our customers, clients and people we meet. In fact, every time I attend a networking event, I If you are a WAHM, be sure to list your business in online upload the information of the people I met into the SendOutCards directories so potential clients can easily find you. Some of them database and then create a simple,” nice to have met you” include: WAHMZONE and At Home Moms . campaign. Every single person I send a card to has either called or emailed me a thank you. I do not sell them anything, just tell Join WAHM Communities like WAHM Zone Wahm I AM , Wahm them it was nice to meet them and ask “what you can do for Break Cafe and more! them.” May13-19th is National Women's Health Week ~ If you are in the I might also offer a link to a special report or other free digital item healthcare or holistic healthcare industry, now is a great time to I know would interest them. Not only is this a great way to stay in offer a "free screening" or even an "encourage a friend to get a touch with prospective clients and customers, it also is a great checkup" drive. Create a tips booklet about your topic area and way to keep track of where and when I meet someone. You can give it to your clients and patients. Tips booklets are an excellent make notes in the SOC database, create specific campaigns for informational premium that people do not throw away. Better yet, each event, even customize the cards with a picture or logo (or ask your clients and patients to give you names of their women both). friends and offer to send the booklet on their behalf.

By the way, if you click on this link: SendOutCards you can go to *May 15-21st is World Trade Week ~ If you are not involved in the my page and get a FREE postcard to try it out! Go ahead… its local World Trade Organization in your community, now is the FREE on ME! perfect time to do so. You can expand your contacts and expand your mind while you are expanding your reach. May 7-13th is Work at Home Moms Week ~ WAHM’S might send clients a note announcing the week-long celebration and include a special offer every day or for the week.

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May 17-21st is National Effectiveness Week ~ take a look at your *May 6th is Nurses Day ~ Also known as National RN Recognition goals and the progress you have achieved with them.. Day, is always celebrated on May 6th and is the day to kick-off National Nurses Week which begins Daily Observances: each year on May 6th and ends on May *May 1st is Executive Coach Day ~ If you are a coach, why not 12th, the birth date of Florence host a Spontaneous Open House or offer a Free Coaching Nightingale. Session to your Clients?” Partner with other coaches and have a "coach-a-thon." To learn more about Florence Nightingale, visit the Florence May 5th is Make-up Junkie Day ~ Host Nightingale Museum online. a dress for success day with your local Chamber of Commerce or Women's How do you recognize Nurses Day? See how you can sponsor or Organization. Enlist the help of Arbonne, partner with your local hospital or health-care facility to recognize Mary Kay, Avon, Beauti Control, Jafra or nurses. Send a flower or gift basket to the nurses in your doctors one of the other lines of personally office with a note and business card. In my retail florist we use delivered beauty products, to co-sponsor. coupons to honor the nurses during Nurses Day. They can use Tie in with a nonprofit that helps women "dress for success," such them toward a purchase or can redeem them for cut flowers (no as Suited for Success, My Sister's Closet or Dress For Success. purchase necessary).

In 1921 Coco Chanel introduced the most expensive perfume in the world: “Chanel Number 5? to some of her friends. To market the new perfume,it was given to preferred clients for free at her boutique.

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MAY *May 6th is also Hoagie Sandwich Day ~ How did the hoagie sandwich get its name? It all started on Hog Island – a shipyard in *May 8th is also No Socks Day ~ in Florida we call that No Philadelphia. During World War 1, Italian immigrant workers Pantyhose DAY - which is most days.... If you are in retail you brought giant sandwiches made of cold cuts, spices and the like to could reward anyone who comes into your store sans socks, work. The workers were called Hoggies and thus the sandwiches stockings, etc with a free gift! If you do not have a retail were named for them and later changed to Hoagie Sandwiches. establishment, partner with one and offer your services or products as the PRIZE for anyone who comes in. Be sure to get May 8th is Teacher's Day ~ On National Teacher Day, thousands the list of prize winners to follow up with them. (Did you also know that of communities will take time out to honor their local educators May 15th is Nylon Stockings Day?) and acknowledge the contributions they make to our lives. Our th Teacher Day annual theme has been replaced with a standing May 9 is Receptionist's Day ~ Otherwise known as make tagline, "Great Teachers Make Great Public Schools," and draws friends with the gatekeepers’ day. What kind of things can you attention to the crucial role Teachers play in making sure every think of for the Gatekeepers of the World? How about dropping by child receives a quality public education and conveys the hard and saying Hello! If you have been trying to get past a gatekeeper, work they do each day to make public schools great for every and doing so by phone, showing up in person can really be a child. Together with the Parent Teacher Association, NEA is bonus. Make sure you don? arrive empty handed. A small token of collecting thousands of teacher thank you cards and combining some sort can go a long way. Movie tickets, a box of cookies, a them into a larger-than-life mural. Be a part of this one-of-a-kind single flower… project! Visit www.teacherthankyoucard.org and add your card.

*Today is also Tuba Players Day ~ Tuba (Latin for “trumpet”) is the lowest pitched of the brass wind instruments. It was made “famous” by John Philip Sousa who commissioned a tuba for his march music that is now called the sousaphone. While the basic design remains the same, the number of different types of tubas today is amazing.

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***May 10th is Bike to Work Day ~ In celebration of National parents biking their kids to school; doctors, lawyers, architects, Bike to Work Day, Conklyn’s Florist in Alexandria, Va., and waiters riding to work; and neighbors visiting their local stores encouraged locals to submit photos of their environmentally sound by bike,” and healthy commute. Along with TEAM CHALLENGES, the coalition held a raffle, a Their goal: to put "petals" on the minds of those whose feet are on fashion show and sent ecards promoting the day. the pedals. The contest, open to residents of D.C. and Baltimore, runs through Sunday, May 23. **May 10th is also Trust Your Intuition Day ~ Microsoft is one of most well-know success stories in business and marketing history. It all started when Bill Gates (famous for being the richest man in The store offered gift cards to the first 200 entries and a $100 the world, a co-founder of the software company Microsoft, and for gourmet basket for best snapshot. Contestants must register with being one of the world’s most generous philanthropists) had a conklyns.com to enter. “Our primary goal with this is PR and “hunch” about the future of computers and software which lead to building our e-mail database,” said Paul Brockway, Conklyn’s co- forming the company Microsoft with his college friend and partner owner. “Contests are a great way to generate goodwill without Paul Allen. They envisioned that there should be a computer on spending a lot of money.” Brockway added that the contests help every office desk and in every home. A vision that later became a the shop click with consumers year-round through “events not reality. You can read more about Bill Gates and Microsoft at typically associated with florists.” Woopidoo.com

And the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition held their 17th annual Read 4 Ways to Tap Into Your Intuition for some great tips to Bike to Work Day - according to Leah Shahum, Executive help you listen to your hunches and act on them (or not). Director of the 12,000-member San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, the lead organizer of San Francisco’s Bike to Work Day "An unprecedented number of local political and business leaders joined tens of thousands of San Franciscans bicycling today for the 17th annual Bike to Work Day. This is another sign of the growing popularity of bicycling in San Francisco, including

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**May 12th is also Donate a Day's Wages to Charity Day ~ Let *May 12th is Limerick Day ~ Host a limerick contest that them know ahead of time you are going to do this and ask the showcases your company? virtues. A limerick is a five-line poem charity to let their circle know. with a strict form, originally popularized in English by Edward Lear. Limericks are frequently witty or humorous, and sometimes May 12th is World Fair Trade Day obscene with humorous intent. I hosted a contest on RYZE social ~ “Fair Trade” promotes and networking site and received several entries. Here? one of the empowers poor farmers in remote winning entries by Marilyn Jenett of Feel Free to Prosper about areas to participate meaningfully in Bea Kunz, a member who sells Teas: the global economy and lead to a better life for all. Another Ryze member named Bea Join the BIG BANG!! BEAT Will have you cravin’ her tea, She's POVERTY BEAT CLIMATE witty and cool CHANGE BEAT FINANCIAL CRISIS BEAT A DRUM 2010 by And nobody's fool, buying from companies that practice Fair Trade. Go to the Fair And reigns as the Sage of Tennessee Trade Resource Network for a host of resources including where to buy, how to make a difference and how to promote World Fair And one she wrote about her work with the Laws of Trade in your community. Visit: World Fair Trade Day online. Attraction: I found this YouTube Video made for a project on the school, There's a Ryzer who teaches the "laws" O.R.S Lek en Linge in Africa. It was made to promote Fairtrade, With posts that may give you pause, an organization that supports farmers and craftsman in the third Doesn't mean to alarm ya, world by giving them reasonable prices for their products and Would rather disarm ya teaching them how to write or work with a PC, so they can lead With effects and their probable cause. their own company. … and when all else fails *May 13th is BLAME Someone Else Day!

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May 13th (U.S.) is Mother's Day ~ In addition to sending flowers, marketing plan should a part of your overall business plan and be why not send this MOTHER OF THE DECADE Award video in alignment with your core goals. You have to measure the created by CNNBC for MomsRising. Check out the one sent to me success of those plans, activities, strategies and programs you on CNNBC Video implement. Forecasting is an absolute necessity in increasing your chances of success and of course, have a strong public You can customize the video to send to Your favorite Moms here: relations campaign in place to support every marketing effort you http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/taf.html? work on. id=&nid=QEyFG0yOuakNtSa.0qXXwDE1MDAyMTY2&z=yes On the artistic side, it’s all about your message and how you This definitely qualifies as a Quirky Marketing idea! And a great convey it to your clients, customers, prospects and the world in way to get tons of traffic to your site. You can send this video to general. Its how you tell the story, how you grab your audience, ANYONE with email. And the company creates them for other how you get the media’s attention. Quirky Marketing is all about occasions, events, celebrations and special dates. ART. Its about creativity and ingenuity and being different than the pack, the other people in your business. **May 13th is also Let it Be Day ~ Today in 1970 the Beatles So, if you have not tried some of our Quirky Marketing Movie Let it Be premiered. Just as the song suggests, when you Tactics, now may be a good time to get started. find yourself in times of trouble, “let it be.” Sometimes in business we just have to take a step back and “let it be,” let things be as **May 15th is Getting Ink Day ~ Today is How to be your own PR they are, and other times we have to take control and make things Person Day - In the media “getting ink” simply means to get the happen. media’s attention and ultimate coverage in their media sources. Today there are so many ways to get publicity beyond So what will you do today? Is it time to re-evaluate the marketing newspapers, radio or even local TV. In fact, you can be your own you have been doing up to now? I believe that marketing is part media company. HOW? With your own website, social media and science and part art. On the scientific side you want to have a more! You can build your brand around anything with the greatest formal written marketing plan (if you don’t already have one), you marketing tool ever, the Internet. need to update your marketing plan at least annually. Your

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You can get mentioned on blogs that journalists and editors read. to follow. You can get your articles “tweeted” and shared on Facebook by building a number of people who also share your interests and Start posting creative, interesting compelling content 140 want to follow you because you have answers to their own characters at a time. Find other resources and ideas to share with challenges, problems and needs. With all the opportunities on the you followers. Use video links because video is a great tool that internet you can share ideas and see what works. The most very often goes VIRAL and is passed along on all the major social important thing to remember with social media is to be authentic, networks. be real, be honest and be accessible. With the vast resources on Create your own video and upload to YouTube or Vimeo so that the Internet you can be your own PR person and get attention that your followers and customers will be more likely to embed the before now was much more difficult, cost prohibitive and time- video into their own sites, blog posts, and social networks. Video consuming to get. Follow these tips and you will have a greater will create BUZZ in a way other online medias don’t. shot at GETTING the INK you deserve: Get involved locally. Online social networks are great for building a database, and local communities will help you create Be Social - Social media is one of the best ways to to get people local buzz that also gets passed on via social networks. Attend to find out about you, and are a lot less costly than paid conferences, networking events, fundraisers anything that will put advertising. There’s Twitter , FriendFeed . Facebook and you in front of YOUR Client prospects. LinkedIn . Use the Tools at Your Disposal - There are so many online do-it- yourself websites that let you literally “expose yourself” for little or Twitter should be on top of your list for getting ink. Its as no money. Press Release sites are a good example. PRWEB , simple as creating an account for your company or organization, Business Wire , and PRNewswire are just a few that you can use create a compelling 160 character bio that includes keywords and to post your press releases. With PitchEngine (the social network YOUR NAME. Add a REAL picture (people do business with for journalists and PR Professionals) you can build branded social people, not logos). Then you follow people who have similar media releases which also include social sharing options and needs or interests to your product, follow people you know and video and image assets. PitchEngine offers both free and fee some of the people they follow. Mr. Tweet is a great resource for based plans. following recommendations. Also use Twellow to find journalists

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BuzzGain gives you a comprehensive do-it-yourself dashboard to ***May 15th is Done for You Day ~ Want to get exposure to a monitor and measure buzz across the Web. LOT more potential clients, get hundreds of targeted leads, generate a lot of good feelings around your business and have There’s also YourPitchSucks a site that lets you submit your press fun! Each year professionals collaborate to give away more than releases to PR pros for review. $250,000 of ACTUAL "done for you" products and services as part of this exciting giveaway. Sign up for Haro ~ Help a Reporter Out, Reporter Connection WHAT IS THE "DONE FOR YOU" GIVEAWAY? and PitchRate to follow what PR persons are looking for, the kind The giveaway is just what it sounds like: business owners who of stories they want to cover. provide "done for you" products and services joining together to give away products and service packages. It is hosted by Linda Read this article by Kim Roach of SEO-News called “Getting into Claire Puig, of Ready2GoArticles.com, and Kim Clausen, of Google and Yahoo News ” Ready2GoMarketingSolutions.com. The objective is to expose their services to greater numbers of people who can benefit from CONNECT With the Right People them, to grow their contact lists, to collectively generate lots of industry buzz and good feelings, and to serve the industry in If you are going to go to all the trouble of writing press releases, unique ways. articles, blog posts, etc. the key is to connect with the right Targeted traffic is directed to www.doneforyougiveaway.com , audience and then to follow up. By using the tools suggested where people choose the “done for you” services and/or products above and following up you will increase your chances of Getting that interest them, from among 40-50 participating hand-picked Ink and becoming your own PR Person. service providers. It's important to note that contributors are NOT giving away EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS, COACHING OR For more information on getting PR, check out this FREE Special CONSULTING, but instead giving away actual DONE-FOR-YOU Report: Creating A BUZZZZZ ~ Developing Your Brand in the PRODUCTS or SERVICES that help make our target audience’s Marketplace (15-page report) day-to-day operations easier.

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If you participate in, or create your own Done For You program, *May 16th is Wear Purple Day ~ Today is Wear Purple Day! Why you can expect your lists to increase, gain additional exposure to was purple worn by royalty? Mainly because a new audience of prospects and ultimately increase your client purple dyes were so hard to make. Using base your business offers "done-for-you" products or provides lichen, the plant had to react with ammonia actual services to coaches, consultants, authors, therapists, (this meant urine in ancient days) and sit out psychologists, speakers, trainers, wellness professionals, similar in the air for 2 weeks. Then it was mixed with service-based professionals (frequently solo-professionals) you pot ash to be used as a dye. This was much could even contact the organizers and see if they would be harder than just boiling berries or leaves for interested in sharing your offerings with their list. You must apply other colors, so purple dye was only for the to join the giveaway and there is a cost involved in participating. wealthy. Today, all you have to do is spill some grape kool-aid and everything turns purple. Go here for more information: http://www.doneforyougiveaway.com/ It is probably no accident that Seth Godin named one of his bestsellers Purple Cow. Purple, in addition to being a color of The event runs for one month beginning on May 15th each year. royalty, it is one of those colors that stands out, gets attention. And in Purple Cow the whole point is to get noticed in a field of competition by being different.

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What could you do to promote Wear Purple Day to your clients by purchasing a photo from Fotolia or Dreamstime (images are and prospects? How do you stand out in a crowd? Today is a good approx. $1 to $5 each). day to consider additional ways you could get noticed by your target audience. “Google” FREE greeting cards and clip art for other ideas. BTW, if you prefer real cards delivered the old-fashioned way via mail, be It is no accident that Seth Godin named one of his national sure to check out SendOutCards . The first card is FREE on me! bestsellers Purple Cow. Purple, in addition to being a color of royalty, is one of those colors that stands out, gets attention. And *Today is also: Senior Citizens Day… “Tuesday, May 18th is in Purple Cow the whole point is to get noticed in a field of designated as Senior Citizens Day, a day set aside to celebrate competition by being different. What could you do to promote and honor the many contributions older adults make to their Wear Purple Day to your clients and prospects? How do you stand communities. Senior Citizens Day provides a special day for out in a crowd? Today is a good day to consider additional ways activities and celebrations which promote positive attitudes toward you could get noticed by your target audience. aging and recognize the active, healthy, and independent lives many older Ohioans lead.” (source Area Agency on Aging) *May 17th is World Telecommunications Day ~ Send someone a note in a bottle :) or via email. How about using it as email Did you know that Senior citizens now make up more than 20% appreciation day for your clients? of the users on the internet. and that number is growing daily as older people get their first computers. So today is a great day to May 18th is Send an Electronic Greeting Card Day ~ One of celebrate Seniors both online and off! two Electronic Greeting Card Days (the other is November) … May 18th is also NASCAR Day ~ Increase your market reach. There are so many great electronic greeting card companies Join a niche social networking site. You can find literally thousands online. I like Jackuie Lawson Cards the best! It is very of social networking sites and social tools at Go2Web20.net reasonable to be a member for a year and she has many from which to choose. I like these for their traditional down to earth look. You could always make your own electronic greeting cards

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If your company markets to Seniors or if Seniors make up a part of share. A trademark thus popularized puts its legal protection at your demographics, today is the perfect day to give something risk, as unless the owner of an affected trademark works back to them. You could host a special event such as a luncheon sufficiently to prevent such broad use its intellectual property and recognize local seniors, you could volunteer at a local senior rights in the trademark may be lost.” center. If there are senior events in your community, tap into them I wonder what Johnson & Johnson thinks about everyone calling by sponsoring a part of the event or purchasing a vendor table. adhesive bandages “band-aids.” ??? And don’t forget to give them a Senior Citizen Day discount in Some “genericized” products include the words Yo-yo, Aspirin, your establishment and Online! Zipper, Escalator and kerosene among others.

*May 19th is Band Aid DAY ~ “The Modern Transparent Bandage Band-aid marketing ideas: That Blends With Your Skin” - Put your ad on your customer and let them spread your marketing message with custom bandaids bandages and Where did Band-Aids come from? Earle Dickson, an employee dispensers. These dispensers are available in a variety of vibrant, of Johnson and Johnson developed the Band-Aid® in 1920 for his eye-catching colors that will get any company ad or logo noticed accident-prone wife, Josephine. At the time Johnson and Johnson and can be purchased by your local promotional products produced germ-resistant sterile cotton and gauze dressing that company. Give them away at health fairs, fitness centers, sports remained sterile until the packaging until opened. His “invention” events, outdoor club activities or add them to first aid kits, goody earned him a token vice-presidency and later a seat on the Board bags, and in direct mailings. of Directors. - Host a Band-aid art contest. Give prizes for the most creative, One hundred billion Band-aids are produced annually. original works of art made from bandages. − Host a Band-aid design contest. Have your audience Band Aids have become the generic name for all types of create a toy made from bandages, clothing made from bandages, adhesive bandages. In marketing that can be a good thing or not. containers and more. Gear the contest to your industry and make According to Wikipedia: “A trademark typically becomes sure EVERYONE knows about it. ‘genericized’ when the products or services with which it is associated have acquired substantial market dominance or mind

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- Get in the Guinness World Records by doing something with almost any type of admin support service you require on a remote Bandaids (I looked and no one has yet). basis from their own office using their own equipment and - Cover a building with band-aids and send to Johnson & Johnson software.” or your local media outlets. Sounds like news to me! What else could you do? So what can you do to honor a Virtual Assistant today? Host a virtual event inviting your circle to meet your virtual assistant. *May 20th is Care to Air Day ~ Levi Strauss & Company, the Interview him or her about what types of projects they work on, world giant Jean manufacturer announces their “Care to Air” how they can help small business and more. Post the interview to contest that took place June 1st, 2010. The company was looking your blog and promote your VA in your for the next generation of air drying design ideas to improve or newsletter, on your website and in emails. replace the typical clothesline. Design ideas were accepted from June 1- July 31, 2010, and winners will be announced on August If you are a virtual assistant, host a virtual 16. The grand prize: $1,000. conference for VA’s inviting them to share Winner will be announced in August. their stories with guests. Each VA can help promote the event to their local media and Levi’s is making their mark in the environmental movement to garner some publicity for them and you. In save our planet by showing how consumers can reduce the 2008 the Online International Virtual Assistants Conference took environmental impact of clothing on the world. According to Levi’s place and VA’s from around the globe participated. It was a great about 92% of U.S. Households have a dryer and if we move to way to raise awareness of this emerging profession. More drying our clothes on a clothes line, we can reduce our carbon information can be found at the Online Virtual Assistants Day imprint on the planet through less energy consumption. Full Conference Website. contest details can be found at www.levi.com/care .

May 20th is also International Virtual Assistants Day ~ According to A Clayton’s Secretary” in Australia “A VA is a self- employed professional business services operator providing

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*May 21st is National Wait Staff Day ~ a great day to go to your business card, a piece of candy, some other marketing material favorite restaurant and "double your tip" for your favorite wait staff. such as a mini flyer, discount coupons, etc. Have these handy to Be sure and leave your business card and let him or her know you give out when you go to the bank, grocery store, salon and appreciate referrals everywhere you go!

**May 22nd is Free Marketing Day ~ Today is Free Marketing **May 23rd is Body Painting Day ~ Race car drivers do it, sailors Day. What does that mean? It means you are free to market your do it and so do motorcycle riders. What do they do? They have business any way you like. tattoos painted on their bodies or their automobiles. Tattoo Here are 3 ideas to get you started: advertising has been around for years on cars, and in 2003 No. 1 ~ Print out flyers with your contact info, your website & became a popular advertising medium on body parts. That’s when email address along with any current specials you are offering. Dunkin’ Donuts became the first U.S. company to tattoo its logo on Contact local communities that have a central office such as the foreheads of people, and the first to bring them into a sporting apartment complexes, mobil home parks, rental offices, housing arena. developments etc. asking them if you can leave fliers in their office, hang on their bulletin boards or distribute to the residents. Fans were asked to wear the company’s logo on their heads for As a thank you give the office staff a small token of appreciation three hours around or inside the FleetCenter in Boston, for the such as one of your product samples, a plant or flowers. first-round games of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. In No. 2 ~ if you travel at all then this idea is perfect for leaving a exchange they were paid minimum wage or more. Other fans in marketing trail: When you stay at hotels, motels or bed and attendance were also handed Dunkin Donut tattoos and many of breakfasts, leave a mini catalog, your business card & a discount them put it on for fun. coupon and “piggy bank, beaded coin purse (can be purchased at a local dollar store) or coin canister” (with tip inside) for the maid! If the maid cannot use your products or services, she may just pass these on to someone who will. Of course, she will keep the “tip.” No. 3 ~ Fill a small zip close baggie (snack size) with your

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In 2008, this company was paying 5,000 British Pounds for people **May 25th is No Money Down Day ~ In 1980 Robert Allen, to sport a tattoo on their foreheads. You can watch the YouTube author of Nothing Down was challenged by the Los Angeles Times Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcLcn7o8v7w to prove his theory that he could be dropped into any city in America with $100 and 72 hours later own several pieces of In fact, tattoos have been around for thousands of years since the property without paying ANY down payments. He pulled off the Pharaoh's of Egypt first used them for cosmetic purposes. fete and was featured on the front page of the Times.

And Tattoos are used fun, for attention and as part of tradition Publicity Stunts like that and others have garnered publicity from such as when brides in India paint henna tattoos on their bodies in the media for years! Some of them a success and some not so celebration of their new life as a bride. successful. Especially when you expect the media to cover the story and they get pulled away to more pressing late-breaking But you don’t have to just paint a tattoo on a body part. If you news that impacts more than just a local community. prefer something that does not last as long and is just as effective, Publicity stunts when covered can get priceless publicity for a get a friend (or hire someone) to tattoo your company name or fraction of the cost of a full-page ad in the local paper or a full- logo on the back of their head. They do that by shaping/shaving page ad in a magazine that may or may not be seen by your target the hair to the likeness requested. audience. What kind of stunt could your company orchestrate to get media attention? *May 24th is Tiara Day ~ I will be wearing mine to work that day! *May 26th is Hands Across America Day ~ In 1986, more than 7 And giving them out to my staff, million people, including President Ronald Reagan, joined hands clients and passers by. You can get in a human chain across sixteen states to raise money for the paper tiara's at Oriental Trading (or hungry and homeless in the United States. How did they raise make your own). If you want money? Participants paid ten dollars to earn their place in line. something nicer, consult your local advertising specialties company for a quote.

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*May 27th is National Sunscreen Protection Day ~ Did you get About Sunscreen: your BURN NOTICE today? Sunscreen was invented by Benjamin Green to protect soldiers in the Second World War from Sunburn. It worked so well, Green With summer just around the corner, we are bound to see tons of went on to create the Coppertone Company, one of the best- ads for sunscreens of all makes and protection. And did you know known Suntan Lotion companies in the world. there is actually a job for people who are interested in earning a little summer cash while enjoying the summer sunshine? That’s Sunscreens either block or absorb ultraviolet light. They are all right! The French resort town of Les Sables d’Olonne has posted a labeled with a Sun Protection Factor. To understand SPF, just recruitment notice seeking two “creamers” with winning multiply. If you would normally be fine in the sun for 10 minutes, personalities to…apply sunscreen to tourists’ bodies. you can apply a SPF-10 sunscreen and be fine for 100 minutes. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that we all Here’s the position (described as “the job of the summer”): Spend use a SPF-15 or higher and apply it to all areas of the body that six weeks in July and August with your “toes in the sand,” applying are exposed to the sun. Reapply the sunscreen every two hours, tanning lotion to the shoulders and back (only) of anyone who even on cloudy days. wants it, handing out samples, and dispensing safety tips. According to John Lichfield in Britain’s Independent, the job is a lot “The Higher The SPF, The Better The Protection” like lifeguarding ” instead of saving people from drowning, [the Sunscreen SPF numbers can range from four to 100, but products creamers] will save people from burning.” (source: TheWeek.com ) with higher SPF are not always better. “A SPF 15 sunscreen can protect you from 92 percent of UVB rays. SPF 30 blocks 97 BTW, the job starts at about 1,100 a week! percent,” says Dr. Seth Forman, a Tampa dermatologist. “The key The French resort is known for it’s publicity stunts! For instance to sunscreen is to reapply often. You want to apply sunscreen last year, it guaranteed vacationers sunshine and offered refunds fifteen to twenty minutes before going outdoors, then reapply – to tourists whose trips were hampered by bad weather. using a shot glass worth of sunscreen – every two hours.” Read this Sun Tanning article on Livestrong.com

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Summer Promotional items ideas: experiment failed. This was a very dangerous experiment because Sunblock lotion he flew a silk kite (more durable than paper) with a line of hemp Aloe packets held by a silk ribbon into an approaching storm over Philadelphia. Suncare kits Attached to the end of the line was a brass key and a wire was sunblock packets attached to the top of the kite. The purpose of the experiment was sunblock sticks to conduct electricity. After a few attempts and being knocked spray sunscreen unconscious on at least one occasion, Franklin proved his theory mini sun kits and the rest, as they say is history. sport sunblock keyring baseball caps So what kind of Publicity Stunt or marketing tactic could you use sun visors today?

**May 28th is Kite Flying Day ~ According to Wikipedia: “Kites were used approximately 2,800 years ago in China, where materials ideal for kite building were readily available: silk fabric for sail material, fine, high-tensile-strength silk for flying line, and resilient bamboo for a strong, lightweight framework.“ Since then, over the centuries, kites have been reproduced around the world. In Asia, kites became symbolic of mystical and religious ceremonies and in the United States kites were used in scientific experiments in the US. Not to mention all the fun children and adults have flying kites.

In 1752 Benjamin Franklin, a renowned kite flyer, conducted his Check out this Airhogs Stunt Kite Flying Video big experiment in secret with only his son as an assistant because he loathed the ridicule that he would have to endure if the

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May 28th is Memorial Day: (U.S.) ~ Honor those who have served on ABC’s 20/20 which is the video you are watching. (observed on May 28th) Hand out flags to everyone you meet You can read all about it at MSNBC . Check out the blog that everywhere you go. Put 2 small flags in a bag or envelop and a outlined his project: One Red Paperclip thank you note asking the recipient to keep one and give one away to someone who has served their country and/or in honor of The History of Paper Clips: Memorial Day. In 1899, Johan Vaaler, an inventor in Norway, patented the paper clip – and it’s been used for more than just trading for a house or *May 29th is Paper Clip Day ~ Kyle MacDonald a 26-year-old holding papers together. Check out the 149 things to do with a blogger from Montreal set out to barter one red paper clip for paper clip chat on FACEBOOK . During the five-year Nazi something and that thing for something else, over and over again occupation of World War II, Norwegians weren’t allowed to wear until he had a house. Here's the YouTube Video about it. buttons imprinted with the king’s initials. Loyal Norwegians wore paper clips to symbolized solidarity and oppose the occupation.

It began when MacDonald, an aspiring writer and salesman, th advertised in the barter section of the Craigslist Web site that he *May 30 is The History of Copyright Law Day ~ Copyright law wanted something bigger or better for one red paper clip. He dates back 300 years, when the British parliament enacted the traded it for a fish-shaped pen, and posted on Craigslist again and first copyright statute, the Copyright Act 1709, also known as again. He the exchanged the pen for a ceramic knob then a Statute of Anne… Copyright has grown from a legal concept camping stove, a generator, a beer keg and Budweiser sign, a regulating copying rights in the publishing of books and maps to snowmobile, a trip to the Canadian Rockies, a supply truck and a one with a significant effect on nearly every modern industry, recording contract. The next thing you know he traded for a year’s covering such items as sound recordings, films, photographs, rent in Phoenix. software, and architectural works.” (source: Wikipedia)

His adventure became an Internet blockbuster and he became and international celebrity appearing on TV in Canada, Japan and on “Good Morning America.” The story was featured last summer

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But did you know that the moment a work is put into a tangible 5. Respect the work of others format such as a book, an article, a song, a video, a teleconference or other format that can be accessed by others it is To read the entire article and the other 5 tips go to considered copyrighted? The important thing to remember is that AllBusiness.com . even though it is considered copyrighted, it is not legally protected until a person obtains a legal copyright from the US Copyright *Note: I recently interviewed Nancy J. Flint, an Intellectual Office www.uspto.gov. When you obtain a copyright, you then Property Attorney who shared a lot of facts about copyrights. For have legal standing should you have to defend your work in a more information check out the Women’s Writing Series court of law. session: Legal Issues for Authors .

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Website : The intellectual property (IP) generated by U.S. companies is critical to America’s prosperity and leadership in the global economy. America’s IP-intensive industries employ nearly 18 million workers, account for more than 50% of all U.S. exports, and represent 40% of the country’s growth (Department of Commerce).

AllBusiness.com offers Ten Tips on Protecting Intellectual Property.

Here are five of those tips: 1. File for Protection 2. Invest in Legal Counsel

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OTHER OBSERVANCES MAY

MONTHLY

ALS Awareness Month National Military Appreciation Month Better Hearing & Speech Month National Moving Month Family Wellness Month National Older Americans Month Get Caught Reading Month National Photo Month Go Fetch! Food Drive for National Physical Fitness & Sports Month Homeless Animals Month National Salad Month Haitian Heritage Month National Salsa Month Heal the Children Month National Smile Month Healthy Vision Month National Stroke Awareness Month International Audit Month National Revise Your Work Schedule Month International Victorious Woman Month National Vinegar Month Jewish-American Heritage Month Personal History Month National Arthritis Month Prepare to Buy a Home Month National Barbeque Month Teen Self-Esteem Month National Bike Month Tennis Month National Correct Posture Month National Family Month (5/11 to 6/18) National Egg Month National Foster Care Month National Good Car Keeping Month National Hamburger Month National Mental Health Month

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WEEKLY

*National Fairy Godmother Week: 1-7 National Correction Officer's Week: 7-13 Update Your References Week: 1-7 *Universal Family Week: 10-16 Astronomy Week: 2-8 National Tourism Week: 12-19 Be Kind To Animals Week: 6-12 National Return To Work Week: 13-19 Drinking Water Week: 6-12 National Women's Health Week: 13-19 Flexible Work Arrangement Week: 6-12 National Nursing Home Week: 13-19 Choose Privacy Week: 6-12 Reading is Fun Week: 13-19 National Family Week: 6-12 National Etiquette Week: 14-18 Kids Win Week: 6-12 National Bike to Work Week: 14-18 National Hug Holiday Week: 6-12 National Hospital Week: 14-19 National Pet Week: 6-12 National Police Week: 15-21 National Wildflower Week: 6-12 National Transportation Week: 15-21 *National Nurses Week: 6-12 World Trade Week: 15-21 PTA Teacher Appreciation Week: 6-12 National Backyard Games Week: 21-25 Teacher Appreciation Week: 7-11 Cover the Uninsured Week: 21-28 Work At Home Moms Week: 7-13 Bread Week: 23-30 Dating and Life Coach Recognition Week: 7-13 Black Single Parents Week: 29-6/4

156 Quirky Marketing Calendar MAY DAILY *Executive Coaching Day: 1 National Night Shift Workers Day: 9 *Free Comic Book Day: 1 *Eat What You Want Day: 11 *Join Hands Day: 1 Military Spouse Appreciation Day: 11 *Law Day: 1 Stay Up All Night Day: 12 *Lei Day: 1 National Miniature Golf Day: 12 *Loyalty Day: 1 Letter Carrier's Food Drive Day: 12 *May Day: 1 World Belly Dance Day: 1 National Dance Day: 1 World Fair Trade Day: 12 National Homebrew Day: 1 Become Someone Else Day: 13 *National Scrapbooking Day: 1 Mother's Day: 13 *New Homeowner's Day: 1 *National Chicken Dance Day: 14 *School Principals' Day: 1 *International Day of Families: 15 *Stepmother's Day: 1 *National Chocolate Chip Day: 15 *Roberts Rule of Order Day: 2 *Peace Officer Memorial Day: 15 *Public Radio Day *Biographer's Day: 16 *World Press Freedom Day: 3 National Employee Health & Fitness Day: 16 National Teacher Day: 3 *Turn Beauty Inside Out Day: 16 National Day of Prayer: 3 *World Telecommunications Day: 17 *Cartoonists Day: 5 *International Museum Day: 18 *Cinco de Mayo: 5 *Visit Your Relatives Day: 18 International Midwives' Day: 5 Nascar Day: 18 National Day of Reason: 5 National Bike to Work Day: 18 Full Moon: 5 Armed Forces Day: 19 Nop Pants Day: 5 *Boys Club Day: 19 Space Day : 5 National Defense Transportation Day: 20 Join Hands Day: 6 Neighbor Day: 20 No Diet Day: 6 *I Need A Patch For That Day: 21 No Homework Day: 6 *National Wait Staff Day: 21 World Laughter Day: 6 *Brother's Day: 24 No Pants Day: 6 *National Missing Children's Day: 25 Nurses Day: 6 National Wig Out Day: 25 National Infertility Survival Day: 6 National Senior Health & Fitness Day: 25 Children's Mental Health Awareness Day: 7 Scripps National Spelling Bee: 26-27 Letter Carrier's Food Drive Day: 7 International Jazz Day: 26 National Babysitter's Day: 7 Victoria Day: 26 World Fair Trade Day: 7 Indy 500: 27 Child Care Provider Day: 8 Prayer for Peace Memorial Day: 28 V E Day: 8 What You Think Upon Grows Day: 31 World Red Cross Day: 8 World No-Tobacco Day: 31 Donate A Days Wages to Charity: 9 National School Nurses Day: 9

157 Quirky Marketing Calendar My Marketing Calendar for MAY

Special Dates I plan to promote: 1. 2. 3. 4.

How I plan to promote them:

Goals for Each Promotion:

Budget: Media 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Comments:

158 MAY 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5

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JUNE Marketing Calendar

Did you know that June is Entrepreneur's ‘Do it Yourself’ Marketing’ Month? Consider this: Self-Marketing is the key to Here are some tips: success in many small businesses; time to look at your current Take a look at how other companies market their products and marketing strategies and create ways to optimize your success for services. Then take a look at all the copy in your current marketing the remainder of the year by planning ahead. campaigns and find ways to tweak it, improve it, make it more benefit-driven. Check out some of the crazy and zany observances in June and use this as the impetus to get your creative juices flowing”. Remove the clutter in your messages. After all, effective Here’s a FREE resource for your Do it yourself approach: Self- communication is about removing barriers, it’s about taking the Marketing Directory ~ This Glossary of Sales & Marketing other person into consideration – in business that means your Commonly Used in Bricks & Mortar and Online Businesses ~ clients and customers. Includes Internet Marketing Definitions and Acronyms Widely Used Today. (215 pages in total). Ask your clients questions about your products and services.

June is Effective Communications Month ~ Effective Use “their words” in your messages. Get to know what their needs Communication is more than taking an order, listening to your are and find ways to fill those needs. Even if it means to refer customers or talking on the phone. It’s also about how you present them to someone else. yourself to your clients and how they perceive your company. Its all a part of your image or reputation. Its your marketing message and so much more. There are some things you can do to keep your message true to your mission and help your audience better understand what it is you do and how you do what you do will benefit them.

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International Men's Month ~ Have a product or service strictly for National Rose Month ~ Send roses to men? Tell them about it! Offer a discount to get prospects to your best customers (Eden Florist become your customers. At the Marketing to Men Conference, delivers around the corner and around you can learn innovative strategies to build the world). During the month of June I relationships with your male audience through traditional and new bring roses to many of the networking media platforms. events I attend. I include a business card and a message. People who see Lane Courtesy Month ~ It could also be an inspiration to find me more than once during the month ways to be more courteous than usual if that? possible. Since of June remember me as the “rose lady.” The flowers speak for courtesy is almost non-existent in some areas of the world today, themselves showing people how much I value their connection. being the first to put your best foot forward will Why not plant a rose bush in honor of someone. Or an entire park! capture the attention of those who are not used to it. Have a rose planting day with your local community. Contact your political leaders and see how you can help promote Rose Month in National Candy Month ~ Send your message with candy. It could your neighborhood. Read a brief History of Roses. be in the shape of a candy business card. If you own or work for an advertising agency you could buy a few $100,000 bars and Professional Wellness Month ~ time to take care of #1 need a give them to your current and prospective clients and say massage? Get one. Host a wellness breakfast and invite local something catchy like "Ask How my company can help you make wellness professionals to be on a panel and talk about the (or save) $100,000 on your next advertising campaign. Make your benefits of a wellness program at work. Invite your best customers own candy bar wrappers. Download candy bar-sized templates, to attend this special event. You can ask local businesses to instructions, and supplies for making your own personalized candy participate by helping to underwrite the cost of the event. bar wrappers with your computer. Use candy wrappers as unique gifts or your next marketing campaign. (Microsoft publisher has templates just for these messages). Visit: Custom Candy Wrappers Today!

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Weekly Observances:

June 4-10th is Telemarketing Awareness Week ~ Call your customers just to find out how the service/product was when they 3. Stay away from topics that could stir too much controversy last purchased. As an incentive to answering your questions, offer (especially in business situations). Those topics include religion, them something free or a % off their next purchase. End the money, sex and diets. conversation with a request for a referral - if they appreciated and liked the service as who they know that could use your products 4. The sweetest sound to an individual is her name. If you and services. Be sure to follow proper etiquette when calling such use it at least 3 times during the course of your conversation as identifying yourself and asking if this is a good time to call. Tell (when being introduced, during the conversation and when saying them how long the questions will take. Don't call during dinner! goodbye) you will not only have an easier time remembering it, And make sure they are not on the do-not-call registry. you will endear yourself to the other party.

June 3-9th is National Business Etiquette Week ~ Here are 5. Your business card represents you. Make sure you have them, some tips Success Magazine shared with their readers: they are professionally done (no phone numbers crossed out and handwritten) and that they are clean. If you do need to write on 1. Remember that email is never private. It lives in the card make it something the recipient will remember you by. cyberspace long after the conversation. Before responding make Good business etiquette is about projecting a professional image sure your “tone” is professional. Because you do not know who that builds your credibility. Want to learn how to develop and the sender had BCC’d play it safe. Don’t let your emotions show, sharpen your verbal and written business communication skills, be sure to use spell checker as well as the “right words.” understand business meeting etiquette guidelines, and get tips for proper attire in all business situations, meal tips, and/or conflict 2. Business meals can be a challenge for those who don’t resolutions? Check out the Emily Post Institute today at know their bread plate from their water glass! Remember B – M – http://www.emilypost.com/business-etiquette . W (left to right) which stands for bread, meal, water and you should be okay.

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June 18-24th is Meet a Mate Week ~ You are probably asking up to $25,000 in prizes. Check out this YouTube video that yourself, what does this have to do with marketing? Well, if you captured the are a relationship coach, own a restaurant or author of a book on excitement: romance, why not have a party and invite single friends to meet Daily Observances: other single friends. Or host a speed dating event at your place of business. Or be a sponsor of one already taking place. A local **June 1st is Flip a Coin Day ~ Heads grocery store in my community used to have Singles Sundays or Tails? Julius Caesar is credited with complete with specials, cooking demonstrations, and give-away starting the practice of flipping a coin to tickets to local events. The local radio stations caught on and ran make decisions. His own head was on PSA’s about the event each week. It was featured on local TV and one side of every Roman coin, so in the local papers. GREAT PR! . “heads” determined the winner in each flip. People thought “heads” meant that *June 22-25th is Ebay Times Square Publicity Stunt Day ~ In Caesar agreed with the decision. The coin flip was used in serious 2009 , eBay tried their hand at their very own Times Square litigation involving property, marriage and even criminal guilt. Just publicity stunt, enlisting the likes of the actor Mario Cantone of think how many lawyers would be out of a job if we went back to "Sex & the City" to host a fun-filled Game show called Let's Make flipping a coin as a form of justice. a Daily Deal. And on Tuesday, June 23rd, the original “Lets Make And while it’s an interesting concept, probably not a good way to a Deal” host Monty Hall joined Cantone in running the show. The make business decisions. Imagine if your clients used the flip a "Good Morning America" studio in Times Square was transformed coin method to decide if they should do business with you or not? into a live game show set for eBay. Participants selected from the You’d either have twice as many customers or half. However, you masses of tourists trolling around Times Square had the could flip a coin for other things such as deciding on which opportunity to win prizes whose average eBay price they had to strategies to start with in the Quirky Marketing Calendar ~ after all, guess based on the standard retail value. Consumers also had a marketing is all about TESTING to see what works and what chance to play a mobile version running outside on the NASDAQ doesn’t. digital billboard in Times Square by texting their answers or online playing the game at ebay.com/dailydealgame for a chance to win

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June 1st is also Norma Jean aka Marilyn Monroe Day ~ for Professional Development, Facebook to have conversations “In Hollywood a girl’s virtue is much less with your following and Twitter to become a Thought Leader by important than her hairdo. You’re judged sharing bits of your BEST STUFF. Remember to interact with by how you look, not by what you are. others, listen, share and promote them too. Hollywood’s a place where they’ll pay 3. Stand Out. Marilyn Monroe said, “Imperfection is beauty, you a thousand dollars for kiss, and fifty madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than cents for your soul.” Marilyn Monroe absolutely boring.” Don’t be boring! There are a lot of YouTube Celebrities that became BIG STARS because they were willing to Today its pretty easy to be a Star risk the ridiculous over the boring. Online: 4. Find out who your customers are. There are a number of “How you appear (are perceived) online is often more important tools to help you understand who your customers are and what than how you really are. Just as Norma Jean became Marilyn makes them tick. Tools like Compete.com, Google, Nielsen and Monroe to her fans,small companies can be celebrities to their comscore allow you to learn more about your audience such as fans on the Internet . The Internet is a place where you can look gender, age, marital status, household income, and locale. like a Big Star even if you are small midwest gal working out of 5. Connect and Reconnect. “Girls will be your friends – your home (or home office).” Heidi Richards Mooney they’ll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some Here are a seven tips to help you stand out online and be that go. The ones that stay with you through everything – they’re your BIG STAR you were destined to become: true best friends. Don’t let go of them.” Marilyn Monroe. Connect with people before you need them. Reconnect with people you 1. Be Yourself. “Wanting to be someone else, is a waste of the have not talked to in a while such as old friends, colleagues, person you are.” Marilyn Monroe. Even online people can spot a classmates. Build the relationships before you actually NEED fake. Or a copycat. Being yourself is so much easier. And less them. When you leverage those offline relationships you grow tiring. your brand and your reputation online. 2. Build Your Brand Online with Social Media. Today it is easier than ever to leverage social media to get noticed. Use LinkedIn

164 Quirky Marketing Calendar JUNE *June 7th is Trial Technology Day ~ Today’s the day to try a new 6. Promote Others online. When you promote others online its technology for your small business. Have you been Blogging, do like being a really good listener. People who listen well are you do teleconferences, do you carry a blackberry? What about a generally thought of as great conversationalists. Why? Because webinar? Go ahead, give it a try! Commercial Creation Center they let others do more of the talking than they do. Believe me offers ways to add new technologies to your marketing toolkit. when you promote others, their friends, fans and followers notice th and want to get in on the action. Let them! ***June 7th is also Midnight Special Day ~Today I was listening 7. Don’t do what everyone else is doing online. Marilyn Monroe to the radio and the daily trivia said that on this date in history in said, “I just want to be wonderful.” Be different. If your competition 1973 Helen Ready first appeared on the hit show “Midnight is having a contest, have a race. If your competition is giving Special.” So I thought it would be interesting to talk about midnight something away, sell something. Be unique. Anyone can be specials as they relate to business and marketing. different, but to be Unique you are “one of a kind.” Marilyn Monroe said it best: “We are all of us stars, and we Walmart Does it. Bars Do it. Department Stores Do it. deserve to twinkle.“ Restaurants Do it too! What? They host “midnight specials.” Over the last two decades or so, midnight specials have become less

June 3-4th are Donut Days ~ The idea for Donut Day began on frequent as so many establishments are open regularly past the battlefields of France during World War I when Salvation Army midnight. But some merchants still feel the urge to host a midnight workers served coffee and doughnuts to soldiers in the trenches. special to lure their customers out at the witching hour. In fact, Rations were poor so the doughnut idea was conceived as a department stores have been known for holding annual clearance means of bringing the soldiers cheer. Call your local Salvation sales beginning at midnight and running until the next morning. Army and see how you can support Donut Day, for instance with a Only to close for an hour or two before “regular hours” resume. donation or through volunteering, you help The Salvation Army keep its food pantries, meals on wheels, senior citizen feeding WalMart is notorious for Black Friday midnight specials and programs and childcare nutrition programs alive and well. If you people often line the sidewalks waiting patiently (or impatiently) for can give a few dollars or a few hours of your time, you will help the doors to open. provide meals to the hungry in your community.

165 Quirky Marketing Calendar JUNE powerful tool you can use to spread the word about your Midnight Stores host a Halloween Eve midnight special complete with Special. costume regaled sales clerks, refreshments and spooky sounds playing in the background. And let’s not forget Social Media. Be sure to spread the word on your Facebook page, LinkedIn events page and Twitter. Who New Years Eve is another special opportunity for merchants to knows, you might just meet some phone or internet customers host their own midnight specials. When the clock ticks to 12:00 who have never set foot in your establishment before. AM people can go to their favorite store and preview the “new Merchandise for the new year or take advantage of “last year’s” *June 8th is Upsy-Daisy Day ~ “People travel to wonder at the stuff that has been heavily reduced for clearance. height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the But why wait until Black Friday, Halloween or New Years Eve? circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves You can host a midnight special just about anytime and it can be without wondering.” St. Augustine. What does “upsy daisy” mean? even more successful because “everyone else” isn’t doing it at the According to YourDictionary.com up you go: used playfully or for same time. Create a VIP party and invite your best customers via reassurance, as in lifting a small child. How did the word a well crafted, quality postcard campaign. To easily track your originate? As best as I could discover, Upsy Daisy originated in campaign success, ask your customers to have to bring the England around 1861 as upsa daisy and later was used as an invitation to gain admittance. expression to give people a helping hand such as the definition Other tips: above for lifting up a small child *Use email to remind them. How can you use it in business? When you Wake up with a *And complement your invitation with flyers, sales letters and smile on your face you can conquer the world. You can share posters. your talents, make someone smile and make a huge difference in *Use mobile marketing to get their attention. the lives of others. Today I am sending some of my favorite customers Daisies in When planning your Midnight Special direct-marketing campaign, honor of Upsy Daisy Day. What are you doing to reaffirm a having a current mailing list of your customers, is the most relationship or start one? What could you do to lend someone a hand and make their life just a little bit better?

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*June 10th is Natural History Day ~ New natural history TV successful Coney Island fast food eatery Feltman’s when he Channel Eden hired Taylor Herring Agency to come up with an decided to go out on his own and open his own Hot Dog Stand. attention-getting large-scale visual stunt to draw attention to their But things were not easy for the start-up. Nathan tried to compete launch day. Here is a YouTube Video showcasing Natural on price, tried to hire folks to stand around and look like they were History Day . customers and all sorts of black-hat marketing that can go awry if/when the public finds out. The story goes that he would give free The main goals were to showcase the channel launch in the UK food to doctors and nurses in uniform. Nathan capitalized on the and communicate the mission and message of the channel. The fact that they ate there by putting up a sign that read “If doctors channel also needed to show that the efforts would drive traffic to eat our hot dogs, you know they’re good!” This lead to customers Eden’s website and highlight the Fragile Earth series being shown and prospects believing that if hospital workers ate at Nathans’ it across the channel using a massive structure of an iceberg and must be Good and good for you. polar bears. What a great way to honor In 1793 the 1st public zoo Obviously that worked because Nathans is still standing and opening in Paris that took place in 1793 selling about a million hot dogs a year and the competition… well let’s just say they are LONG GONE! You can read about the “stunt” that got millions of viewers and So who could you enlist to “sample” or use your product to garner political attention from France and around the world at attention of your target audience? And could you get them to offer TaylorHerring.com you testimonials about the product to get media attention? (source: Fast Company ) *June 11th is Famous Hot Dog Day ~ Fast Company Magazine Other “hot dog” news: CNN Falls For 140-Year-Old Hot Dog ran an article on their site entitled Ten Outrageous Marketing Hoax in this article you can read about how Coney Island “tricked” Stunts. The following one about Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs the public with a FAKE 140 year-old hot dog found underground . caught my eye: The company claimed that Nathan’s famous The amazing thing is they and several million other people fell for hot dogs were Doctor-Approved: One of the best known hot- it until the “truth came out.” dogs in America is Nathan’s Famous originating from a single restaurant in New York’s Coney Island. The founder, Nathan Handwerker, was an employee at the very

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*June 12th is Red Roses Day ~ Did you know that June is ROSE water to market your business? Do what Wall Drug did! GIVE it Month? And that today is Red Roses Day? away… Fossil records of roses date back 3.5 billion years. In the 1600s, In fact, Wall Drug gets 2 million visitors a Year through their stores colonists brought the rose to America making it the oldest using a simple marketing tactic. Giving something away. But not European plant grown in the US. “Modern” rose hybrids appeared just anything! Something people want and NEED. in 1867, and by 1920 hybrid tea roses dominated the market and During the Great Depressing (in the early 1930's) Wall Drug was still remain the most popular variety today. Red roses, the national strugling like other companies of the time. But that didn’t US flower signify love and respect. stopDorothy Hustead. She decided to be proactive to get people How could you use red roses in your marketing to get the attention through her doors. You see she was a stop on the way to for your company? Yellowstone Park and instead of people either passing by or I belong to several organizations including two chambers of stopping in for one or two items before reaching their destination, commerce. Each month the chamber publishes their new member she wanted Wall Drug to be a place for people to congregate and list. I go through the list and see who I might like to introduce to take a break. So had a brainstorm and that was to put up road my company. And then I send them either a long-stem red rose in signs along the nearby highway offering free ice water to weary a vase or a vase of orchids. This has been a great marketing travelers on their way to the Black Hills and Yellowstone. strategy because several of these companies have become my Wall Drug gave shoppers a reason to linger. And by lingering, customers. The chambers average between 20 and 40 new travelers fell in love with the place. members a month and we average about 4-5 new customers a That simple, yet well-thought out advertising campaign made Wall month from those lists. Drug a legend in marketing and an international icon. What once I also recently joined a local woman's group that does the same was simple a roadside stop along the way to the “main attraction,” thing to welcome them to the organization. I sure did enjoy has become a to a must-visit tourist destination that has spread receiving the rose ~ it was a warm and inviting Welcoming far and wide through word-of-mouth. message. By the way, when you do stop, they still have that free water. Along with a Wall’s own brand of bottled water for $1.09! (Good **June 13th is Like Water for Marketing Day ~ How do you use idea!) (source QuisenBlog.com )

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June 13th is Spill the Salt Day ~ Salt was our first food June 15th is also Work@Home seasoning. It also purified water, preserved meat and medicated Father's Day ~ (Father's Day is June wounds. It was so highly prized that spilling it became a bad 19th) Have an essay contest and ask omen. The Sumarians, Egyptians and Greeks all used the gesture Dads to answer the "Why I Work @ of throwing a pinch of salt over the left shoulder to ward off bad Home: A Dad's Perspective." Invite luck. The Romans gave their soldiers special allowances for salt work-at-home dads to submit a 100 to rations called salarium (meaning "salt 250-word essay on why he chose to money"). This is the origin of our word "salary" today. work at home and how his choice has improved the balance between his family and his career. Then **June 15th is Fly a Kite Day ~ Is it time to tell certain customers celebrate them with a prize or mention on your website, in your to "go fly a kite?" Did you know that in many companies 30% of marketing materials, on your social media site. customers are not profitable. And two thirds of those won't ever be. That means that you could be spending time and spinning *June 16th is Recess at Work Day ~ Take time out with your staff your wheels on the customer that costs you money. Maybe you and do something fun. Do what Ben and Jerry? do and host a are offering them discounts to get them to continue to buy. Maybe Sundae Party on Thursday. “At Sprint headquarters in you are giving away too much of your time. The point is that now Kansas City it was Beach Day, as a parking lot was transformed is a good time to look at your customer base and see if its "worth into a beach, with sand trucked in, live music, and sunglasses and doing business" with certain individuals. It is far better to invest plastic leis” for a recess all the employees could sink their toes in. time and money in those that invest in your company and you. Or you can simply go to the beach – be sure to bring plenty of Remember that sunscreen! 80% of your revenue comes from about 20% of your clients. Spending time with the top 20% can reap greater rewards in the long run. So is it time to tell someone(s) to "Go FLY a KITE?"

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**June 17th is also Power of One Day ~ “Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will The Power Of One Video presentation is about individual leaders not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry.” Bill who have changed the world through their individual effort and Drayton, CEO, chair and founder of Ashoka. vision. Millions have already viewed and been moved by the essence of its message. It is meant to inspire you to spread the We call these people heroes, visionaries and social entrepreneurs. message of the power of one throughout your local community to The Power of One is a person who leads for change, and has a truly make a difference. The Power of One begins with the Power vision a passion, inspiration, no-holds barred, take on any risks to of You! reach the goal of the vision mentality. The Power of One individual is someone who feels an urgent sense of what’s Check out the Power of One Organization . According to their important, that something must be done and the knowledge that website: “Our vision includes solutions pavilions/domes that they have to do something, they have an inner impatience that provide immersive media experiences, tells them that if they don’t do something now, who will? interactive dialogue, and connectivity through internet, radio, TV, and cell phones that will The Power of One becomes a Social obligation, religious or inform, educate, and inspire people and spiritual obligation, something that is greater than one person, organizations to be and act as ONE as part of even though one person may begin the “movement” for change, an interconnected energetic web of life charting new courses and discovery the ONE understands that it enabling a peaceful, sustainable, and will take a HUGE following to accomplish the goal and reach the harmonious global society.” vision. The ONE recognizes the problem, and through their vision discovers the solution and leads the charge to reach the solution And take the Are You the Next New Hero? QUIZ through ACTION.

You can recognize and honor THE Individual POWERS OF ONE in your communities by simply thanking them, hosting an event around the person, the idea and the vision.

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**June 18th is also Amusement Park Day ~ Do you remember when you were a child and an amusement park or theme park Give people what they want. Fantasy and heroes and rags to would open up? You could not wait to go and ride the rides, eat riches stories are still popular. The public craves it. What’s your the candy and see all the strange and wonderful sites to behold. Business STORY? Amusement parks are loved by children and adults alike. Think Disney. I LOVE DISNEY so its not too difficult to convince me to Amusement and theme parks from the 1950's through today can go from time to time. be found at http://www.themeparkbrochures.com

Amusement Park history: *June 18th is also National Splurge Day ~ Splurge on something Originating in Europe Amusement Parks started in the mid 1500's you’ve been wanting for a while. Is it a new pair of shoes, a new and were called “pleasure gardens.” Pleasure Gardens offered laptop, new software or even a new Ferrari? (If you do buy the games, music and amusement rides. The world’s oldest Ferrari, can I go for a ride in it?) amusement park is ’Bakken’, located north of Copenhagen, Denmark. *June 21st is Baby Boomer Recognition Day ~ My good friend Beverly Mahone created the Baby Boomer Diva Web of Fame Amusement aka”theme” park attractions begin with a mythology, and then started contacting celebrities to be inducted. She has or established story, and are designed around that theme, to connected with and got the Green light from dozens of celebrities include theatrics, architecture, design, engineering and marketing to allow her to use their name and picture on the Web of Fame. and advertising graphics. How can you weave a STORY into your marketing message? Maybe its how you started in business or why? Maybe its a story of a customer or client who had amazing results from using your products/services. Or maybe its a story of how you have made a difference in your community.

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*June 21st is also World Hand Shake Day ~ It’s a great time to Or win a prize. get out and shake some hands – make sure you collect the business cards of those whose hands you shake and send them a *June 20th is Summer Solstice ~ HELIOLATRY (hee-lee-OL-uh- note the very next day. tree) ~ Meaning: Worship of the sun. Heliolatry stems from the Remember to follow up. A good follow up system could include the Greek helio-, “sun,” and -latry, “worship.” following: 1. A phone call to say it was nice to meet you The first day of summer began today 7:28 a.m. ET, the beginning 2. A shout out on a social networking site of the summer solstice and the longest day of the year— in the 3. A card or postcard in the mail Northern Hemisphere (it’s the first day of WINTER in the Southern 4. A hand-written note Hemisphere). 5. Sending a small gift 6. Stopping by and leaving a card and a cookie or donuts or new The summer solstice is a result of the Earth’s north-south axis magazine or book (or a tschotcke from your business) being tilted 23.5 degrees relative to the sun. The tilt causes 7. An email message to include nice meeting the person with an different amounts of sunlight to reach different regions of the invitation to something such as another networking event and/or a planet. FREE resource the person might find of value. Make a game of it. See how many hands you can shake in a Today the North Pole is tipped closer to the sun than on any other day… then the next day try to beat that number. Do this weekly day of 2010. The opposite holds true for the Southern and add up the number of hands you shake. At the end of the Hemisphere, for which today is the winter solstice, the shortest month, tally up the score. Start over next month and see if you can day of the year. beat that score. Share your score with your circle. Invite them to “play.” Have an accountability partner. Someone you can share Today at high noon the sun appears at its highest point in the sky your goals with. Do your best to meet those goals. Its even okay —its most directly overhead position—in the Northern to exceed them. Or not. Make it a contest. Give away a prize… Hemisphere.

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What can you do to promote your business during Summer sure you Solstice longest day of the year? Have a sale! or a Sunshine communicate in their desired way. Some don? like calls while Day… Promote sunlight, the beach, picnics. If you are a personal others prefer email above all else. Congratulate the media on trainer and live near the beach, you could invite your clients and their special day! prospects to join you for sunrise workout. If you live near a park, do the same. Choose a place outside where people can **June 23rd is WORDS THAT SELL! Day ~ Any good copywriter congregate for FREE and enjoy the longest day of the year, and will tell you words sell products (and services). Many times people start their week on a positive note to gear up for the lazy days of will look at a picture and have the desire to achieve an outcome or summer ahead. be like the photo portrays but it’s the words that get most people to hand over money for your product or service. Words tell the You could offer a 21% off sale for June 21st. Encourage the use of story behind the picture. Words will make your copy stand out, get solar energy as a power source… “A new survey conducted by noticed and more importantly get results! Before you publish a Applied Materials, Inc. reveals that two-thirds of Americans believe single word, here are 4 tips to jump start your copywriting … solar technology should play a greater role in meeting the and get your audience to buy more of what you have to sell: country’s energy needs. In addition, three-quarters of Americans 1. Take a look at your product or service from the customer’s feel that increasing renewable energy and decreasing U.S. perspective. Make a list of all the benefits (what the customer will dependence on foreign oil are the country’s top energy priorities.” gain from using your product) and features (the reasons or Source MarketWatch.com justification for buying the product). Prioritize your lists in order of importance. June 22nd is National Columnist Day ~ Is your product or service unique or different in a significant way from the competition? Write 2. Now look at what makes your product different or superior a press release about it and sent it to your favorite columnists (the to your competitor’s products. What do you offer that your ones most likely to write about you) Positive media coverage may competition does not? This is called positioning. Positioning will not make you an international or overnight celebrity, but it can help you develop the right strategy to sell. make you more well known to those you serve. Today is a great day to reach out and touch the media by phone, fax or email make

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“Customers don’t want to be befuddled by specialized language What else do you need to let go of? any more than you want to be hit with all medical lingo when you go to the doctor. So, speak, write, and present in a language and *June 25th is Soap Opera Day ~ Soap Operas got their start in manner the audience will understand.” Dave Green Radio as did the advertisers who promoted their products to the 3. Who is your target audience? What are their needs, wants and housewife and stay-at-home moms of the day. The term ”soap motivations to buy? Are they rich, poor, educated, young, older, opera” was coined by the American press in the 1930s partly professionals, blue collar workers, etc.? because of the strong support of companies promoting household 4. Create your plan. What do you need to say to get your point cleaning products and the fact that the actors “dramatized” their across and how many words or “copy” will you need to make your lives on the screen through dialog. point. While it is not always the case, a general rule of thumb is In fact, Soap Operas, or daytime dramas as they are now called, that the greater the investment in a product or service, the more have experienced immense popularity over the past fifty years and copy you will need to convey the message. Keep in mind, there has even moved to prime time television with the likes of are exceptions to this rule. Simple products/services with well- Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters (in the US) as well known (evident) benefits will require less explaining than those as other countries around the globe via chronologically serialized that are more complicated. programs. * These tips were reprinted from WORDS THAT SELL! Finding Of course, Soap Operas are not just for housewives anymore. The The RIGHT Words or “WRITE” Words To Get Your Point daytime drama audience now includes professionals of both sexes Across, Get Your Reader to Take Action and Get Your Info who unwind after a hard day at the office by watching their Products Noticed! And more importantly Sold! Including 229 prerecorded soaps when they get home. And College Students Words & Phrases that PAY! This special report is available when watch “Soaps” in their dorm rooms with their roomies and friends. you sign up for Cashing in on Info Products by Heidi Richards Learn more about Soap Operas by watching this brief informative Mooney video on the History of Soap Operas .

*June 23rd is also Let it Go Day ~ if the marketing you have been doing isn’t working let it go!

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From the 1950s to present day as the world turns you are taken to a Screaming O Vibrating Condom Pack giveaway, games and far away lands, or someplace in your neighborhood, where the prizes, educational information, out-of-the-box safe sex tips, a live dishes never need to be washed, and all my children never cry. It’s DJ and The Screaming O’s very own Scream Team! MTV’s Kenny the ultimate escape from reality that appeals to the viewing Santucci even stopped by to support the cause. The Screaming O audience. Vibrating Condom Packs also included invitations to an exclusive Soap Operas rely on advertisers and advertisers rely on the after party that followed at West Hollywood’s MI-6 night club. The success of the the show to sell more products. It is the perfect Scream Team passed out condoms and vibrating rings, ensuring blend of “art” and “commerce.” Companies appealing to the that partygoers were well-protected on their wild night out. The daytime drama audience “Own the Show.” night proved to be a great success, showing that safety and pleasure are a match made in heaven. Where could you hang your “advertising hat” and “own the show?” Today is also: Boardwalk Day. On June 26, 1870 the beginnings of the Atlantic City boardwalk was opened to the ***June 26th is Play Safe, Stay Sexy Day public. Alexander Boardman, a railroad conductor, came up with ~ As part of a national campaign to the idea of constructing a boardwalk as a means of keeping sand promote safe sex in a fun, fresh way, The out of the railroad cars and hotels. The eight-foot-wide temporary Association for Safe Fun Sex (ASFX) wooden walkway from the beach into town was used for tax launched the first “Play Safe, Stay Sexy” revenues during the summer months and then dismantled the safe sex awareness event in Los Angeles walkway during the winter. over the weekend. On June 26, 2010 the Association for Safe Fun Sex (ASFX), The *June 27th is Decide to be Married Day ~ Sixth Annual Toilet Screaming O, and Hustler launched the Paper Wedding Dress Contest Rolls Out in Boca Raton. first “Play Safe, Stay Sexy” safe sex awareness event with a pre- If you can make a beautiful wedding dress from rolls of toilet paper party in the heart of Hollywood. Hundreds of Angelinos gathered you could win $1,000! NEXT YEAR! at the iconic Hustler Hollywood store to celebrate safe, FUN sex. Aiming to promote safe sex in a fun, new way, the event featured

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Roxie Radford, Laura Gawne and Susan Bain owners of the Official contest rules along with lots of other wedding cost saving popular website www.cheap-chic-weddings.com hosted their tips and information can be found at www.Cheap-Chic- sixth annual “Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest” based on the Weddings.com . classic wedding shower game where contestants create a gown That’s taking Cheap weddings to a new level… And what a way to made of toilet paper. The contest ran from April 5, 2010 to May advertise your business – if you are in the wedding dress business 15, 2010. Winners were announced on June 4, 2010. And the that is! winner was… Galit Zeierman of Ramat Gan, Israel! As the Grand Prize winner, Zieirman received $1000, Ericka You can Sponsor the 2012Cheap Chic Weddings Toilet Paper Andrade of Winnetka, CAmthe second place winner received $500 Wedding Dress Contest! Click here: http://www.cheap-chic- and Bailey Bickford also from California and the third place winner weddings.com/ for details. received $250. The rules: Create your design using toilet paper and make it stay together with tape, glue or a needle and thread. Then take pictures of your “creation” on your model or mannequin. Videos and photos welcome.

There was no entry fee. All judging was done by The Official Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Judging Panel at Cheap Chic Weddings from the photos submitted.

Want to see photos of some of the winners? Check it out at Cheap Chic Weddings

Cynthia Richards from Marietta, GA used 20 rolls of Toilet Paper, Duct Tape, Hot Glue, Mod Podge Glue and Fabric Glue for this entry

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**June 27th is Follow-Up With Clients Day ~ Most of us have a A letter with a special offer, such as a thank you for your good idea how to follow up with people we have just met business, here’s a special we are having for our preferred clients. http://quirkymarketingcalendar.com/2010/06/24/ , but do you A letter requesting referrals/ endorsements/ testimonials (this letter have a system in place for following up with those that already can be combined with one or more of the above). support you by purchasing your products and services? Equally A letter asking what other services they need that you may not important if not more so, are the steps we take to keep our have thought of but could offer. companies top of mind with our clients. Not only will it solidify a Birthday/milestone letters, cards and postcards are also great to relationship, you will also find out about any problems they are celebrate an annual event such as their birthday or the birthday of having before the problem gets out of hand and when you can do one of their family members or an anniversary. And really any the most good. Not to mention you are much more likely to benefit letter of congratulations is great acknowledgment that you know from ongoing referrals when you follow up on a regular basis. what is going on in the lives of your clients and customers.

Here’s a simple “letter-writing /communications system” to Other follow up strategies: keep those precious clients in your business life: Pick up the phone and just ask how the client is doing? Don’t sell The letter can be a “how are you doing,” letter. just say “Hi!” A “how are WE doing letter” to find out how you are measuring up BTW, if you are invoicing clients for work done, it is perfectly to the clients expectations. acceptable to include the letters in your invoices. The only A letter listing other services you provide; many times clients use exception would be the Birthday or milestone letter. Send that us for one thing not having any idea how many other services we separately. offer. A letter asking what other services they need that you may not have thought of but could offer. A letter updating them on happenings in your company. A letter with “changes in the industry” that might affect them or the services you provide.

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If a customer/client stops using your services, that is perhaps the most critical time to follow up. Send them a letter telling them you To jump-start your quirky ideas or un-marketing mindset, here are are sorry to see them go (provided you are) and hope that if their twelve activities you can employ each and every day to get those circumstances change they will consider your company for their creative juices flowing: needs in the future. If you do not know why they left, a phone call 1 Plan your networking calendar for the week. with a follow up letter is not only common courtesy, it can sometimes repair any damages done and even get the customer 2 Write a thank-you note to a prospect or customer. back! Never burn bridges! Consider keeping them on your mailing list to send something once a year or more. 3 Enter customer or prospect names into a database.

Read my article on the Bank Atlantic Blog Want to Grow Your 4 Brainstorm some quirky new tag line ideas – ask for input from Business? Follow up and Follow Up Tips to Build colleagues and friends. Relationships and Referrals 5 Visit your main competitor’s website and then someone in your ***June 28th is Un-Marketing Day ~ industry that is not in direct competition with you. “Marketing isn’t so much about original creation as it is about using 6 Write an article to pitch to your local business magazine or old ideas in new ways, new newspaper. combinations and new places.” Heidi Richards Mooney 7 Make a list of quirky press release topics and headlines.

While all businesses should be marketing every day, today is the 8 Create a survey that you can use to garner information from day to PLAN. To lay the groundwork, to write down your ideas. To your prospects and customers. touch people without marketing to them. Call this your “Un- Marketing Planning Day.” It is a day to lay all those Quirky Ideas 9 Which products do you offer that can use a facelift? Start by out and plan for how you will implement them. renaming them.

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10 Work on quirky new product ideas. 1. Have a Barbeque for your clients and prospects. Give away private label barbeque sauce which you can buy at your favorite 11 Visit a few marketing-related websites such as association promotional products company. Give away aprons with your websites and marketing professionals. company logo on them. Have a hot-dog eating contest and give away prizes. 12 Look at the list of benefits your company offers and compare to it to your competitors’ benefits and offerings. 2. If you have a retail store or a business that gets “foot traffic” give away bottled water. June 29th is Strike While the Iron is Hot Day! ~ Okay, so I made that up. But its the 3. Set up a Lemonade Stand outside your business and “sell” the heat of summer and so I thought it would lemonade with the proceeds going to a local charity the be fun to share some HOT summer community recognizes and supports. promotional ideas with you. Strike While the Iron is HOT! 4. GET Social! With the slower summer months now is a good Everyone loves summer! In the summer people tend to be happier time to “get your feet wet” and test it out. and walk with a lighter step. A lot of that has to do with the extra amounts of Vitamin D we are getting when we are exposed to the 5. Host a luncheon for your best customers. This is a good sunshine. And more people are in “vacation mode” so if you cater way to create a focus group and get valuable feedback from to people who are traveling or simply taking life a little easier, your people who do business with you. You can learn valuable lessons summer months are probably better than some industries who’s and find out what you are doing right AND Wrong! Or take a business revolves the “buying season.” customer to lunch.

Here are a seven summertime promotions to get your marketing started:

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6. Check out all the interesting and fun promotional items Everywhere . available such as sunglasses, beach bags, totes, sunscreen, They go on to say: “Because we can’t be everywhere, we visors and more. Find one or two that best represents your encourage you to attend or organize a meetup in your community company or marketing message and order them for your business. using our Meetup Everywhere page.” 7. Have a sale! Not a novel idea but how about a HOT SUMMER SALE like the old fashioned side-walk sales and give away those You too can celebrate Social Media Day by attending or “hot” summer items that you just ordered. organizing a Social Media Day Meet-up in your city. In 2010 there were more than 200 Meet-ups held around the world including the *June 29th is also Waffle Iron Day ~ Did you know? Waffles were U.S., Ecuador, Australia and Belgium. They expect that number to sold on the streets of Paris during the 12th century. They gradually at least double in 2012with the word spreading far and wide spread across Europe and became very popular in Germany and using... what else? Social Media! Holland. The Dutch brought waffles to American during the founding of New Amsterdam (now known as New York City). Why waffles? Those little indentions kept the syrup from running off the edges. Slurp!

**June 30th is Social Media Day ~ Peter Cashmore and the folks at Mashable declared June 30th (Wednesday) to be the official Social Media Day 2010 (the first social media day of many to follow). They said, "We invite you to celebrate the revolution of media becoming a social dialogue by attending or organizing a Social Media Day meetup in your area on June 30. What better way to celebrate social media than connecting with other enthusiasts in your area?” On Wednesday, June 30, they organized meetups in cities where they have staff using Meetup

180 Quirky Marketing Calendar JUNE OTHER OBSERVANCES IN JUNE

MONTHLY

Celibacy Awareness Month National Ice Tea Month Child Vision Awareness Month National Lady Lawyers Month Children's Awareness Month Dairy Alternative Month National Rose Month Fireworks Safety Month National Safety Month International Men's Month National Soul Food Month Dairy Month Potty Training Awareness Month Great Outdoors Month Professional Wellness Month Smile Month Rebuild Your Life Month Women's Golf Month Skyscraper Month Lane Courtesy Month Student Safety Month Turkey Lovers Month Vision Research Month National Accordion Awareness Month World Infertility Month WEEKLY

Black Single Parents Week: 2-8 Men's Health Week: 11-17 International Clothesline Week: 2-9 Nursing Assistants Week: 14-21 National Sun Safety Week: 4-9 Universal Father's Week: 17-23 National Headache Awareness Week: 3-9 Meet a Mate Week: 18-24 Superman Week: 7-10 Watermelon Seed Spitting Week: 21-24 National Flag Week: 10-16 Special Recreation Week: 29-7/4 National Automotive Service Professionals Week: 11-17

181 Quirky Marketing Calendar JUNE DAILY

*Heimlich Maneuver Day: 1 Recess At Work Day: 16 *Say Something Nice Day: 1 World Juggling Day: 16 Leave the Office Early Day: 1 Family Awareness Day: 17 *National Running Day: 2 Father's Day: 17 Drawing Day or Pencil Day: 2 Ride To Work Day (Motorcycles) : 18 National Cancer Survivors Day: 2 Juneteenth: 19 National Trails Day: 2 *World Sauntering Day: 19 Audacity To Hope Day: 4 National Daylight Appreciation Day: 20 National Go Barefoot Day: 4 Summer Solstice: 20 Full Moon: 4 *World Handshake Day: 21 *World Environment Day: 5 *Stupid Guy Thing Day: 22 *Hot Air Balloon Day: 5 Take Your Dog To Work Day: 22 *Drive-in Movie Day: 6 *Let It Go Day: 23 National Tailors Day: 6 *Public Service Day: 23 *Upsy Daisy Day: 8 *Celebration of the Senses: 24 *Ball Point Pen Day: 10 *International Fairy Day: 24 Ride The Wind Day, Ride For Wind Day: 10 Descendants Day: 24 Race Unity Day: 10 America's Kids Day: 24 *Loving Day: 12 Please Take My Children To Work Day: 25 *Raggedy Ann & Andy Days: 12-13 National Columnists Day: 26 *(World) Blood Donor Day: 14 *Decide To Be Married Day: 27 Career Nurse Assistants Day: 14 *"Happy Birthday To You" Day: 27 *Family History Day: 14 Library Advocacy Day: 29 *Flag Day: 14 Social Media Day: 30 *Nature Photography Day: 15 *Fudge Day: 16 *Bloomsday: 16

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My Marketing Calendar for JUNE

Special Dates I plan to promote: 1. 2. 3. 4. How I plan to promote them:

Goals for Each Promotion:

Budget: Media 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Comments:

183 JUNE 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

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JULY Marketing Calendar

Did you know that July is “National Doghouse Repairs” July is Cell Phone Courtesy Month ~ Ever wanted to compose Month? ~ Dog treats may be a hit your own ringtone? Tampax feminine products made it easy fun with animal lovers. Give away and free with their new downloadable ToonTones™ You will need cookies in the shape of a dog the special code found on the promotional packages of Tampax bone… wrap them individually in Compac to read more about this program visit: cello with a little bow, add your http://tones.beinggirl.co.uk/ . Talk about a really unique business card and pass out at marketing concept! FYI, Did you know that games are second only networking events or in your to ringtones for desired mobile downloads by women? Remember establishment. I purchased the to be courteous when you are in a restaurant or during a meeting dog bone shaped cookie cutter at and turn off your ringer. a local craft store, took it to my local grocer/baker and they made July is also Tour de France Month ~ Pedal around town me 1,000 cookies for this promotion. I also took them on trays to advertising your company or hire someone else to do it – get local radio and TV stations delivered by a local actor in a "Scooby creative and have her or him in a costume that represents your Do” - like costume. product or services (unless of course your run a nudist colony).

FYI: Did you know that Heidi Richards Mooney is the brains Family Reunion Month ~ Check local papers or contact local behind this holiday established in 2000? She used the holiday to high schools and colleges to find out their schedule for class market her retail florist EdenFlorist.com Check out the Top 10 reunions then offer to purchase a small ad in their program. A Ways to Stay OUT of the DOGHOUSE . study by the printing industry (I believe) discovered that people have a tendency to keep programs that have nostalgic value. Your advertisement's shelf life just went up.

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National Grilling Month ~ Have a barbeque and invite your Best Customers. Have a retail store in a high-traffic area? Why not set Have a just for kids section in your establishment or on your up a barbeque at work and give away “hot dogs? to your patrons. website – Eden Florist has “ educational themed coloring books” You could do what Home Depot does and sell them with a drink at which visitors can download for free. Go to our Downloadable cost. Take a picture of the event and send it to the media with a eBooks Section and grab them. media release that says “ ABC Company has gone to the dogs? or even send it out before the event letting your local community ***Take the Ice Cream know about. Personality Quiz During National Ice Cream Month ~ In 1984, Social Wellness Month ~ Hmmmmm…. Offer your services as a President Ronald Reagan consultant to a non-profit organization or community association. designated July as National Ice Contact community organizations, libraries or industry-specific Cream Month and the third Sunday events about volunteering your services as a speaker – great way of the month as National Ice to practice your public speaking skills. Cream Day. The President recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed National Purposeful Parenting Month ~ Polaroid and Scholastic by a full 90% of the U.S. population. created a teacher in-service education program called the Polaroid’s Visual Learning that gave early childhood practitioners You may already know that ice cream was invented by the Italians, the opportunity to earn a continuing education unit (CEU) and/or but did you know that Dolly Madison is the person credited with 10 contact training hours…. Educators could help parents and popularizing it in the US? When Thomas Jefferson first offer to do the program through the guide they received in Early experienced the wonderful taste on one of his trips to France he Childhood Today Magazine or through the online course on wanted to introduce it to Dolly. She loved it and when she became Scholastic.com and Polaroid.com ” (Source: Scholastic.com) What first lady, she served it often at White House dinners. However, it could you offer parents to make it easier for them to be purposeful wasn’t until 1946 that it became popular with the masses. parents?.

186 Quirky Marketing Calendar JULY You’re a traditionalist who believes that “if it ain’t broke, then don’t In fact, by that time an average of 20 quarts of ice crème were fix it. Butter Pecans & Pistachio types get along with anyone consumed per person each year, making the United States the ice who will listen. crème capital of the world. If you chose Banana, You are easy going, well adjusted, For those of you who love ice cream and in honor of National Ice generous, honest, and empathetic. You love all warm fuzzy items. Cream Month take our Ice Cream Personality Quiz… Banana personalities love to cuddle. To a Banana personality, nothing beats a cold winter night, a blazing fire and a warm body

If you chose Vanilla or French Vanilla, You are colorful, and to get close to. impulsive. You set high goals and have high expectations of yourself. You also enjoy close family relationships. A vanilla If you chose Strawberry, You are shy, idealistic, detail-oriented, personality is looking for someone to spend the rest of his or her sometimes opinionated, introverted, and even self-critical. The life with – but will go through a lot of relationships to find that born skeptic, you tend to be a private person. Strawberries like perfect someone. anyone who will build his or her esteem and make them feel good about themselves.

If you chose Chocolate, You are lively, creative, dramatic, charming, enthusiastic, and the life of the party. Chocolate fans The chocolate chip and cookies and crème personalities are enjoy being at the center of attention and can become bored with generous, competitive, and accomplished. You are charming in the usual routine. Chocolate personalities look for social partners social situations, ambitious, and competent. A conqueror, the to have a good time – just don’t try to take the limelight away from chocolate chip personality enjoys being catered to, a go-getter, her or him. and is intolerant of defeat. You are also a romantic, warm and loving. You care about other people and can be counted on in a

If you chose Butter Pecan or Pistachio, You are orderly, a pinch. perfectionist, careful, detail-oriented, conscientious, ethical, and fiscally conservative. You are also competitive, and have a take- charge type of personality.

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If you are the Double Chocolate Chunk type– You are Sexy, Fun-loving, sassy, humorous, you love to spend money, and always ready to give and receive, you very energetic, and really usually have plenty of your own. You go after a man or woman of like to get into life. means as you want to stick to your own kind!

The opposite sex is always attracted to you. You’ll recognize the Peanut butter personality types like to be helpful, you are patient, Chocolate Chunk Hunk or Hunkess as he or she is Seductive, thoughtful and generous with your time, so friends often come to well-dressed, extroverted, intuitive, and enjoys intimate you when they have problems. Smooth and articulate, you are an relationships. excellent after-dinner speaker and a good teacher. But don’t try to walk and chew gum at the same time. You don’t have to worry Neopolitans aren’t satisfied with just one flavor. They say variety about relationships because people will stick with you through is the spice of life and this shines through in your Ice cream of thick and thin. choice! Neopolitan personalities surround themselves with a very eclectic group of people and you will recognize them because they Coffee Ice Cream your favorite? If so, you have confidence in are the friends with the most one night stands. your ability to get things done. You are a leader among friends, and a good one too. You are responsible and like to challenge Mint Chocolate Chip personalities are smooth and creamy with a yourself by taking up difficult tasks–and you usually succeed. You few rough bits mixed in. You are very popular amongst your want a relationship that stimulates all your senses, but doesn’t friends. You are a risk taker, often living on the edge. Mint keep you up at night. Chocolate personalities are born leaders and visionaries. As a realist, the Mantra of a Mint Chocolate Chip personality could be If you just cannot make up your mind…You are a negotiator. You’ll “opposites attract” as you are attracted to romantics. do anything you can to avoid open conflict so you never start quarrels. You will give in when you think it’s appropriate but you Chocolate Chip Cookie Doughs and Rocky Road types are can be very persistent when you know that justice is on your side. fancy shmancy! You like bling bling and your sense of self is You make a good friend, sharing your unique perspectives on things, strong. You never feel pressured to try anything you don’t want to. and you are able to have fun without winding up in jail or something.

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Weekly Observances: South Florida - a directory of black professionals. On several occasion, the local newspapers featured her directory and when *July 4-10th is Freedom Week ~ Get some inexpensive flags she died wrote a glowing tribute to her and the service to the from a dollar store or local distributor or party store hand them out community her directory provided. It was the impetus for my team with your business card attached to the handle and give away at creating the Who's Who Among Women in Ecommerce Directory networking events. to promote women who do business on the web. You can check it out here: http://www.wecai.org/whoswho.htm What kind of July 9-15th is Nude Recreation Weekend ~ Advertise at your Who's Who Directory could you create featuring of a specific local nudist colony… Give out business group of people or organizations in your community? (BTW, I cards to the guests . No place to put created this holiday because I could not find one that focused on the cards? How about giving them a this topic). hang around the neck name pouch to put your card in or better yet, make July 15-21st is National Independent Retailers Week ~ A great sure your logo is on it. Get several of time to come up with a new campaign for your business or host an these so you will have them after the event is over. You can give open house. If there? a National Retail Federation in your area, them away to people with clothes on Remember the suntan check out the events they have. lotion? Order little sample packs as an advertising specialty item and give them away during Nude Recreation Weekend. If you?e really brave (and it'S not against the law in your area), why not do what a local donut shop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida did? Serve donuts topless...

*July 13-17th is World Who's Who Week ~ Want to gain local media attention, exposure for your business and to become the Go-to person in networking? Do what the late Pamela M. Hutchinson of Davie Florida, the creator of Who's Who in Black

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Daily Observances: July 2nd is also I Forgot Day ~ this is a good day to start a “reminder program” for your company. *July 1st is Zip Code Day ~ Did you know that you can check the demographics of the area surrounding your business? You can go July 3rd is Compliment Your Mirror Day to http://www.melissadata.com/lookups/index.htm and type in ~ Bloomingdales 59th Street Store in New your zip code in the Home sales (Get the monthly home sales and York brought the power of the web into its selling price by ZIP Code) and Locations/Demographics sections store to support customer sales. How? By (eg. US Demographics lists census info for almost every US City). implementing a great new service to Once done, you will receive an instead report which includes how attract teens and young adults. It is an many people in your area are married, their ages, how much interactive sales-floor mirror. The mirror homes sold for during the year. This tool is a great way to keep lets shopper view themselves in outfits as well as allowing images abreast of economic changes and trends in your marketplace. of different garments to be sent to the mirror by online friends. If Also, if you want to do local direct marketing it will help you narrow the shopper likes the look of the garment the friend suggests, she your target and spend money where it would make a difference can touch the mirror and Viola! instead of putting an ad in something like a local newspaper and wondering if anyone sees. The image becomes life-size and she can then stand in front of it and “virtually try it on. The “magic mirror” is produced by Icon *July 2nd is Freedom from Fear of Speaking Day ~ If you are Nicolson the technology encompasses multiple mirrors and afraid of speaking in public, now would be an excellent time to includes video cameras that transmit images of the shopper over check out your local Toastmaster? Group or Dale Carnegie the Internet to a designated web site, allowing friends to view real- Course. time moving images of the shopper in different outfits. If you liked Bloomingdales before, you are

going to love it even more now! (source: Internet Retailing)

190 Quirky Marketing Calendar JULY A chocolate lounge, with their overstuffed couches and an *July 4th is Independence Day (in the US) ~ Have a Christmas in atmosphere that invites its patrons to linger, feels more like a July event instead of, or in addition to the usual December holiday coffeehouse than a candy store. How can your company get on greeting send a 4th of July card to your clients and customers. the bandwagon with this current trend - advertise in your local You can order patriotic or holiday colored flip flops or sun visors chocolate café, create a chocolate café corner in your retail with your company logo on them. Special thanks to all the men establishment, hand out chocolate business cards or logo-sporting and women who serve in the military to keep America FREE! chocolates.

*July 6th is Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day ~ and she or he Also on this day: In 2007 In Portugal Seven Wonders of the will be impressed that you know this and touched by the gesture. Modern World were announced! Watch this video about the A sure way to get a quicker response nominees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzGuagiytlM from those with whom we trust our online endeavors (oh, by the way, if your webmaster/webgoddess is not in *July 8th is Wall Street Journal Day ~ 1889 Formerly known as the same locale as you, Customers’ Afternoon Letters, the Wall Street Journal begins send a pizza…) publishing under it? new name. The Wall Street Journal is a special paper for people in the business and economic communities, yet it goes far beyond that designation in its treatment of the news. The Journal gives precedence to stock *July 7th is Chocolate Day ~ Chocolate cafes or lounges have market tables and other financial news, but it also prints become the rage all over the US , presenting themselves as a personality profiles, sociological background articles, and other sweet and cozy alternative to corner coffee houses and bars. "The items on the edges of the "hard" financial news. (Source: whole concept of a place to go and just be with your chocolate TriviaLibrary.com) and celebrate the experience of chocolate is ... wonderful." said Joan Steuer, president of Chocolate Marketing.

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July 10th is Smile Power Day ~ Just in case you’ve ever doubted Did you know: The fictional character’s name may have derived the power of smiling… It takes twice as many muscles to frown as from a real-life Tom Sawyer with whom Twain was acquainted in it does to smile. Smiling is the most recognized form of beauty, San Francisco, California, while Twain was employed as a friendship, acceptance. and goodwill. A smile can lower the blood reporter at the San Francisco Call. The character himself is an pressure of everyone who sees it. And studies have shown that amalgamation of three boys Twain knew while growing up (source: smiling can even lengthen your life. What could be simpler than a Wikipedia). smile? And it’s good for business. When I first went into business, I took a sales course and one of the tips the instructor Here are some events happening in honor of Tom Sawyer gave was to put a mirror by the phones. He said that when you Day: answer the phone you will see the expression on your face. He In Hannibal Missouri every year they have an July Annual National also said that when we answer the phones with a smile, our Tom Sawyer Days in downtown Hannibal. Join customers can sense it. He is right! in activities as the fence painting, frog jumping, Tomboy Sawyer competition, Arts and Crafts Show, mud volleyball, bingo, live Last year on Twitter I posted dozens of “smile power” notes in entertainment and more. honor of Smile Power Day. A fireworks display is held at the riverfront. Tom Sawyer and Becky And my favorite, this video by Michael Jackson singing "SMILE": Thatcher are also selected. Also includes the Hannibal Cannibal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiKJmBgAfFE 10K Run. Source: Mark Twain Lake

July 12th is Tom Sawyer Day ~ The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” In celebration of Mark Twain’s Life the Westville Public Library was Mark Twain’s first novel. When it was first published in 1876 (Westville, Illinois) officials celebrated the author by holding Tom Tom Sawyer was a failure but it led to other great books which had Sawyer Day on Saturday. The event was free and open to the a better reception during Samuel Clement’s life (Mark Twain was public. Activities included a frog jumping contest. Kids could bring his Penn name). Twain went on to write the great “Huckleberry their own frog or toad, with a few loaners on hand for those who Finn” and other stories of childhood or the Mississippi Valley. Tom don’t. Note: All of the amphibians were released back into their Sawyer became an American classic and today is the most natural habitat after the contest. (source The News-Gazette ) popular of all his books today. What are your plans for Tom Sawyer Day?

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*July 13th is Embrace Your Geekness Day ~ “The future of (seeing who can do it the quickest) and offer a prize to the advertising,” says Charlie Jones, chief marketing officer of person who completes the puzzle. RedPeg, an Alexandria, Virginia based agency, “will be about creating unexpected connections to memorable, real- world Rubik's trivia: The World's experiences in ways that bring brands to life. So how about Largest Rubik's Cube can be electrical outlets in airport terminals? Bradley and Montgomery's found at the Knoxville new campaign for Chase Commercial Banking includes ads just Convention and Exhibition above 90 outlets around Indianapolis International Airport. When Center. The cube was a gift from you plug in your laptop, you see the ad. the Hungarian government for the 1982 World's Fair. he ***July 13th is also Rubik’s Cube Day! ~ "All persons are puzzles motorized, ever-changing Cube until at last we find in some word or act the key to the man, to the is ten feet tall and weighs 1,200 woman; straightway all their past words and actions lie in light pounds. It was left to rot for 25 years, but in 2007 (the 25th before us." Ralph Waldo Emerson anniversary of the Knoxville World's Fair) it was restored by Brittnee Robinson, a junior in electrical engineering and Today is the birthday of Erno Rubik, Hungarian inventor of the chairwoman of the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineers Rubik's Cube, the most popular puzzle in history. Did you know at the University of Tennessee. there is only 1 correct way to solve the puzzle and 43 quintillion ways to get it wrong? (picture source: Flickr Joelk75

Since the invention hit the stores in the 1980's more than 300 million Rubik’s Cubes have been sold worldwide.

I have seen speakers use them on stage to make a point, ask audience participation to get up and solve the puzzle

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Also on this day in History: year, the American Cancer Society’s annual Jail and Bail event, In 1985 the first Live Aid Concert Was held : The Live Aid Concert held recently at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel in was a series of rock concerts held to raise funds for famine relief Dania Beach, raised more than $150,000. Here’s how it works: in Ethiopia around the world in cites including London, The fundraiser has community members “arrested” by local law Philadelphia, Sydney and Moscow. enforcement officers and brought to the mock jail.

While in custody, these “jailbirds” have unlimited use of a *July 14th is Bastille Day ~ In 1789 the telephone to call friends, relatives, co-workers, business French Revolution begins with the fall of associates, etc…, to raise the bail in pledges to the American Bastille resulting in Bastille Day, the French Cancer Society. The bail is determined by a “judge” at the “jail”. national holiday, celebrated on 14 July each And, all donations are fully tax deductible contributions to the year. In France, it is called Fête Nationale American Cancer Society. What does Jail & Bail have to do with (“National Celebration”) the anniversary of the Marketing? It’s called Cause-related marketing. Whenever storming of the Bastille fortress-prison was businesses support a cause that has potential to reach a lot of seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern nation, and of the people in the community, it helps them not only create goodwill in reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy the community, it often will gain incredible media attention. And which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution. that’s the kind of attention most businesses want. Because we (Source Wikipedia). don’t have to pay for it and we can feel good about giving back. In honor of Bastille Day I thought it would be fun to showcase an event the *American Cancer Society hosts ever year called Jail & Bail. Jail & Bail is an annual fundraising event that brings together community leaders and ordinary citizens for a common cause… to help fight Cancer!For many years I was an active participant in Jail & Bail, serving as a Parole Board Member AND a Jailbird! This

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My friend David Singer (an attorney in Hollywood, Florida) has “We have a lot of artists in Granite Falls,” said Bonnie Cosentino been the local Jail & Bail chairperson for years. And he and his an artist and the volunteer-coordinator of the event. “The opening law firm have received prestigious placement in all the major of our much anticipated public restroom occurred during our media outlets in the tri-county area including print, radio AND TV. annual ‘Art in the Park,’ so the artists did toilet-themed artwork,” He works tirelessly to recruit Parole Board members who in turn she said. “The festival drew people from miles around.” find people to “arrest.” And it’s a fun event. So next time you are Raffle tickets were sold to determine who would perform the first trying to decide what community event to support, look at your flush of the new restroom. A 21-month-old boy was the winner. calendar and see what’s going on and find a local charity to align The Toilet Festival also featured a toilet-paper cutting ceremony yourself with. And then let me know what you did. Maybe your and a toilet-themed art exhibit. Wearing a crown and cape made story will end up in the next edition of Quirky Marketing ~ 365 of Kleenex Cottonelle toilet paper and holding a toilet plunger/toilet Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany and Non- paper scepter, Mayor Rella Morris presided over the Granite Falls traditional Holidays . * American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide (Wash.) Toilet Festival. community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer My favorite story is one with eBay’s PowersellingMom.com , as a major health problem—by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing Danna Crawford who created a Traveling Toilet Paper Roll suffering from cancer— through research, education, advocacy and service. Publicity Stunt on eBay to garner attention for her eBay store, AskDanna.com . The roll sold for $128! *July 15th is is Toilet Festival Day ~ You might remember the Charmin’ advertising campaign of the That’s right! In 2000, the people of ’80's and ’90's featuring Mr. Wiffle. The slogan “please don’t Granite Falls, Washington, hosted a two- squeeze the charmin” became a household saying… day Toilet Festival to celebrate the And finally did you hear about the 5 stars Sofitel in Queenstown, opening of its first public restroom. New Zealand’s publicity stunt (in 2005) to get attention for its boys Instead of a ribbon-cutting ceremony the room? Models were painted on the walls above the urinals to look community of Granite Falls, Wash., celebrated the opening of its at guys while they do their stuff. Some people complained, but the first public restroom in mid-July by staging a “Toilet Festival” positive buzz far outweighed the “bum rap” the negative featuring toilet-themed projects by local artists. comments received.

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July 15th is National Ice Cream Day ~ Give away ice cream I attended a charity event hosted by Jolie’s Place and the caterer today, buy ice cream for your team members, staff and co- was Fit 2 Go. They donated the lunches for attendees and also workers. If you want to send all your customers ice cream this gave out business cards. On the back of the cards was a FREE summer, partner with someone like Baskin Robbins. I bet Baskin Meal Gift card. The card said “visit www.fit2gomeal.com . Click Robbins Marketing Department would gladly provide coupons to on: Activate your Gift card or call 305-718-3858. Enjoy a healthier their stores in return for you mailing the coupons to your lifestyle today. What a great way to get people to try your service! customers. By partnering in this way, you made your customer happy in a fun way and Baskin Robbins reached a lot of potential Personal chef’s market their business to executives & new customers. And both of you did it in a very cost effective professionals, busy families, expecting mothers, surgery recovery manner. Thanks Scott Swedenburg of Mail Enterprise in patients, elderly, people who need to lose weight or improve their Birmingham Alabama for sharing this idea. health, spas, gyms, private schools, businesses, churches, organizations, etc… How could YOUR company take that list and *July 16th is National Personal Chef's Day ~ Watch this market to the same clientele? Youtube video featuring Ferran Adrià as he discusses his philosophy and vision during a cooking demonstration for CIA July 18th is National Get Out of the Doghouse Day® ~ In the students. Highlights of his visit to The Culinary Institute of doghouse with someone? A customer or client perhaps? Now is America, March 25th, 2009. the perfect time to send a bouquet of fresh flowers. Make them smile and get back in their good graces. Contact former clients The Culinary Institute of America is the world’s premier culinary and find out if YOU are in the doghouse. What could you do to get college. For more information about their cooking school, please out? Read the TOP TEN WAYS TO GET OUT OF THE visit www.ciachef.edu . Host a food demonstration at your place DOGHOUSE of business or other venue and invite your clients and prospects. You can find chefs and chefs-in-training at local culinary schools, and restaurants.

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July 20th is Special Olympics Day ~ Volunteer at the Special of readers in to the doby mater of a “people-mover” advertisement Olympics in your home town. As a firm believer in volunteering, I and ultimately built an empire. practice Cause Related Marketing more than any other marketing 2. “A Little Mistake that Cost a Farmer $3,000 a Year” because I know that when a group of like minded people get Quite a bit of money was spent in farm magazines on this ad together for a common cause, great things happen in life and in using this headline. According to the resource, “People will fight business. And it feels good. much harder to avoid losing something they already own than to Also on this date: gain something of greater value that they do not own,” according In 1969 The Apollo 11 astronauts made history when the first man to Walter Novath (author of Six Successful Selling Techniques)… is landed on the moon by the United States and Neil Armstrong 3. “Advice to Wives Whose Husbands Don’t Save Money – By a and Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin became the first humans to Set Foot on Wife the Moon leaving the first human footprints in its dusty soil. This ad far out-pulled the advertiser’s previous best ad “Get Rid of Money Worries.) People may say they don’t want advice but what **July 22nd is is 100 Most Profitable Advertising Headlines they want is to know that a problem can be fixed. Ever Written Day ~ The three secrets to a headline that gets To grab a copy of the entire report go to: EXPATWorld.net results are: #1. get the readers to read the headline #2. read your entire article/ad AND #3. take action by promising them a reward for reading it. I came across this great resource offered by EXPATWorld.net and thought I’d share it with you today. It is the Advertising Headlines ~ the Best 100 Ever Written Here are the First Three: 1. “The Secret of Making People Like You” Almost $500,000 was spent to profitably to run keyed ads displaying this headline which drew many hundreds of thousands

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And here’s another resource which has different headlines but *July 24th is Amelia Earhardt Day ~ this marks the anniversary of arguably has equally great headline value: her 115th birthday. Amelia flew her first plane at the age of 24 (in The 101 Greatest Advertising Headlines Ever Written! Here 1921). In 1932 Amelia became the 2nd person to fly solo across are the first 3: the Atlantic. In 1935, she was the first person to fly solo across the 1. They laughed when I sat down at the piano – but when I started Pacific. Her next flight was set to circle the globe at the equator. to play! On July 2, 1937, she and her navigator disappeared at sea just 2 2. They grinned when the waiter spoke to me in French – but their days short of finishing the trip. Neither she or her plane were ever laughter changed to amazement at my reply. found! 3. Do you make these mistakes in English? Read the rest here: 101 Greatest Advertising Headlines “To celebrate, an exhibition of 65 recently discovered or little-seen Did any of these inspire you? photographs of the aviator’s time in Hawaii went on display at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, where Earhart once stayed. The photos July 22th is also Parents Day ~ Offer a discount to parents of the come from the archives of the Matson Navigation Company, two (or four) legged variety if they bring their kids to your business owners of both the S.S. Lurline, which transported the pilot and (or pictures of kids). her Lockheed Vega to Hawaii, and the Royal Hawaiian. The photos will be on view in the hotel’s Coronet Lounge through the *July 23rd is Gorgeous Grandma Day ~ Last month I talked end of the year.” (Source: San Francisco Chronicle – women making about Creating Your Own Holiday Day and this month wanted to history, first in flight). share another example of how someone took an idea and created a holiday out of it. Alice Solomon, Author, Columnist, Radio Host, Speaker decided to turn her best selling book FIND THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE AFTER FIFTY into a celebration of women who want to *Date, Mate, and Age with Style* She created Gorgeous Grandma Day and has been on radio, television and print all over the US and Canada. ©Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com All Rights Reserved.

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*July 26th is OneVoice ~ Consensus for Conflict Resolution, Buy an Ad in a local theater program. Local theater offers a wealth Mobilizing Against Violent Extremism. Think you cannot change of opportunity to direct your advertising dollars to local people and the world? Check out OneVoiceMovement.org and read about people who attend the arts are often in a higher financial their work to amplify the voice of the overwhelming but heretofore demographic. silent majority of moderates who wish for peace and prosperity, “empowering them to demand accountability from elected Buy an ad at a local bowling alley – the score sheets and the representatives and ensure that the agenda is not hijacked by marquis over the alleys are often great places to put your name in forces of militant absolutism.” front of hundreds of the same people every week.

Also on this date: Buy an Ad in a local school newspaper or newsletter. In 1996 IBM was granted a contract by the Department of Energy to build the worlds most powerful custom supercomputer Buy an Ad at a local athletic field or to support a local team.

**July 27th is Buy a Local Ad Day! ~ Supporting local groups and Buy an Ad in a student directory at a local college or university. organizations is a great way to get your company’s name out there and build relationships with the community.

Here are just a few places you can buy inexpensive ads and show your support.

Buy an Ad in a local weekly paper. They are often much less expensive and more targeted demographically

Buy an Ad in a school calendar, athletic program, fine arts ad (such as theater)

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*July 28th is Singing Telegram Day ~ what a great way to get the Will you offer a 25% discount on Rain Day? Will it be for only one word out about your company! With “acts” to fulfill any item or several, a group of products or services? imagination, you could hire a singing telegram company to gain the attention of customers and prospects. How will you let people know about it? Will you promote in your newsletter, on your business cards, in your store window, during *July 29th is Rain Day ~ What a perfect time for a Rain Day networking events, or take out an ad in some local media? Marketing Strategy! Not raining in your part of the world today? That’s okay. This idea will probably take some time to get off the The important thing about Rain Day Marketing is you come up ground. However once you do it, you could become known for it with a catchy title and include your company name. Maybe even and every time it rains someone might think of your company and walk around with an umbrella that is imprinted with your company just buy something! Now wouldn’t that be nice? Of course if you name and says something to the effect of: live in a place like Seattle where it rains almost ALL THE TIME you “when it rains you save” or “don’t let the rain get you down.” Get might like to reverse this strategy and call it a Sun Day Marketing 25% off next time you come to town at (insert name of company). Strategy. The point is, you could become known as the Raining Queen, or But I digress… King of (insert industry here) ~ no pun intended.

Okay so now you have a name for it. How are you going to implement your Rain Day Marketing Strategy?

First of all you need to know what you want to “offer” on Rain day. You need to decide if you want to make this a once a year event or a once a week or every time it rains program.

Then you need to decide how you are going to promote Rain Day.

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*July 30th is Father-in-Law's Day ~ (Created by the card companies), Regardless of his personality and charms, this 2. Ask Employees for feedback. Asking employees for their input day is dedicated to your spouse's Dad who certainly deserves on ways to improve your company and its operations will elicit recognition. Encourage your clients to recognize Dear Ole Father surprising results. If they truly on “the front lines,” it is likely they In Law” in creative ways. Create a write-in campaign on your know best what works and what doesn’t. Remember an website, inviting guests to share stories of their empowered employee feels more loyalty to a company and 99% Father's-in-Law. Here's a wonderful story I found when of the time will do a better job than you even imagined or hired researching Father in Law's day ~ Happy Father-In-Law's Day them to do. When I Married the Brady Bunch By Dave Konig . I think it should be forwarded to all Fathers and sons in law! 3. Find ways to increase the quality of life at work for your employees. If their quality of life at work increased, their overall **July 31st is Invest in Employees Day ~ If you have employees life satisfaction increases. They become better employees and then you need to invest in them today (and every day). They are turnover is less likely. Turnover costs companies billions of dollars often the first contact with YOUR customers and can make or a year. And most employees state that they leave because of job break a company. Your best defense? Treat them like GOLD. dissatisfaction. Find out what they love about their jobs and what Make the feel important. Give them a feeling of autonomy. Allow they don’t love. Create opportunities that allow them to do more of them to make decisions. what they love and those things that they are not particularly fond of doing become less of a chore. Here are three tips to invest in your employees: 1. Provide your people with the skills they need to do the job People want to please. They want to improve and mostly they properly. Don’t just give them an hour training and then let them want to feel important. loose on your customers (and other staff). And make it ongoing. Promoting a culture of learning will let your staff know you care When you hire right, make your employees feel important and give about their growth as much as that of your company. Check out them the recognition they deserve for a job well done, you will find these TEN Employee Training Tips from Dunn & Bradstreet your company thrive even in the worst of times. Small Business Solutions

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OTHER OBSERVANCES IN JULY

MONTHLY

Air-Conditioning Appreciation Days National Home Inspector Appreciation Month Blueberries Month National Horseradish Month Cell Phone Courtesy Month National Hot Dog Month National Bikini Month National National Make A Difference to Children Month Black Family Month National Share a Sunset with Your Lover Month National Child-Centered Divorce Month National Recreation & Parks Month National Culinary Arts Month National Wheelchair Beautification Month National "Doghouse Repairs" Month Sandwich Generation Month National Ice Cream Month

WEEKLY

Be Nice To New Jersey Week: 1-7 National Therapeutic Recreation Week: 13-19 *National Unassisted Homebirth Week: 1-7 *Rabbit Week: 15-21 *Freedom Week: 4-10 National Independent Retailers Week: 15-21 International Chicken Wing Week: 6-8 National Parenting Gifted Children Week: 15-21 *World Who's Who Week: 6-10 National Ventriloquism Week: 18-21 Sports Cliché Week: 8-14 National Baby Food Week: 18-21 National Farriers Week: 8-14 Scrabble Week: 25-30 Nude Recreation Weekend: 9-15 Single Working Woman's Week: 29-8/4

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DAILY

*Canada Day: 1 Global Hug Your Kid Day: 16 *U.S. Postage Stamp Day: 1 National Hot Dog Day: 16 *I Forgot Day: 2 Get to Know Your Customers Day: 19 International Day of Cooperatives: 2 Woodie Wagon Day: 21 *Stay Out Of The Sun Day: 3 National Ice Cream Day: 20 Full Moon: 3 National Lollipop Day: 20 *Boom Box Day: 4 Health, Happiness With Hypnosis Day: 22 *Fourth of July or Independence Day: 4 *Gorgeous Grandma Day: 23 *Bikini Day: 5 Hot Enough For Ya Day: 23 *Chocolate Day: 7 National Drive-Thru Day: 24 *Father-Daughter Take A Walk Together Day: 7 Parents' Day: 22 Tell the Truth Day: 7 *Tell An Old Joke Day: 24 *Global Forgiveness Day: 7 *Cousins Day: 24 International Town Criers Day: 9 All-American Soap Box Derby Day: 26 *Teddy Bears' Picnic Day: 10 *Take Your Houseplant For A Walk Day: 27 *Don't Step On A Bee Day: 10 *Walk on Stilts Day: 27 *World Population Day: 11 System Administrator Appreciation Day: 27 Chicken Day: 11-12 National Talk in an Elevator Day: 27 *Embrace Your Geekness Day: 13 *National Milk Chocolate Day: 28 *Gruntled Workers Day: 13 *Rain Day: 29 Baby Food Day: 15 Lasagna Day: 29 Gummi Worm Day: 15 *Cheesecake Day: 30 National Personal Chef's Day: 16 *Father-In-Law Day: 30

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My Marketing Calendar for JULY

Special Dates I plan to promote: 1. 2. 3. 4. How I plan to promote them:

Goals for Each Promotion:

Budget: Media 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Comments:

204 JULY 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

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AUGUST Marketing Calendar

Did you know that August is National Inventor's Month? If you so we can Network on the Course while learning a new sport and are an inventor, think about some of the creative ways you can exercising Fresh air, exercise and meeting new people, what market your new product. How could you get noticed by the could be better (except maybe being served a Margarita on the media, by your community and most importantly by your target beach by a handsome hunk?). We both met some great women market? How about Tryvertising your new product? According to and each of us got business from it. TrendWatching.com , Tryvertising is, "a new breed of product placement in the real world, integrating your goods and services Coffee Month ~ Saatchi and Saatchi, the NY Advertising Agency into daily life in a relevant way, so that consumers can make up developed a clever ad campaign for Folgers Coffee. They took their minds based on their experience, not your messages." Photographs of a tempting cup of coffee from a bird?-eye view Hotels, bars and restaurants make good use of Tryvertising their and then printed the image vinyl. These photos were then placed products to build a customer base and instill loyalty in their on top of steaming manhole covers with holes cut into the vinyl to marketplace. allow the steam to rise. The effect was one of giant, hot, cups of coffee. I had the opportunity to interview the grand-niece of Thomas Edison last year. You can listen here: Meet Sarah Miller Today is also the National Night Out: Designed to heighten Caldicott, Co-Author Innovate Like Edison crime prevention awareness and to promote police-community partnerships. See www.nationalnightout.org Also read my post Inventors Unite and Share Ideas featuring the author of Gadget Nation ~ Steve Greenberg .

August is Golf Month ~ Last year my daughter and I took up golf

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What is Your Legacy Month ~ is it time to take an inventory of Federal Express. your business and your life? Are you on track, heading in the direction of your goals? Are you still passionate about what you Martha Stewart changed homemaking and entertaining when she do? Or is it time to make a change? Since August is What is Your started her company Martha Stewart. Legacy Month I thought it only fitting to share just a few business leaders who left a legacy that changed more than their own lives Oprah Winfrey changed talk television, magazines and a host of and that of their employees, they shaped the future of business. other things with her company Harpo. Here they are: Tim Berners-Lee got the World Wide Web off the ground when he Sam Walton left a legacy when he started WalMart and then designed and built the first Web browser, editor and server. Sam’s Club with their low priced and warehouse shopping environments. Jean Nidetch, the founder of Weight Watchers created a diet program that worked and lead to dozens of other companies doing Howard Schultz changed how coffee was marketed and sold when the same. he purchased his first coffee store in Seattle and created Starbucks. Bud Paxson realized the potential of home-based commerce when he founded the world’s first shopping channel, Home Shopping Walt Disney changed how families vacationed when he opened Network. Disney Land. Not to mention all the technology companies and their Walter A. Haas Jr. changed fashion when he invented Levis. inventions…. I could go on and on, but this would then be a book and not a blog post. Ray Kroc changed fast-food restaurants when he started McDonalds.

Fred Smith changed mail and parcel delivery when he founded

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The point: is it time to take an inventory of your business and your remember her favorite flavor of tea and have it stocked and ready life? Are you on track, heading in the direction of your goals? Are in the room when she arrives and the next morning a newspaper you still passionate about what you do? Or is it time to make a from her hometown is waiting outside her door. How can you change? Will you leave a legacy in your industry, your community, sweep your customers and clients off their feet this month? and/or for the people who work for you? National Hair Loss Awareness Month ~ So, what’s your legacy? Are in a business that could capitalize on this day (such as a doctor, specialist, wig Hug Month ~ Heard of the Free Hugs Campaign? Juan Mann, the vendor, milliner “hat vendor”, or even a originator of the campaign of You Tube? fame is a real life story of psychologist)? If so, then you will love this a man whose sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to example I received about August being brighten up their lives. His campaign was video? and since it has National Hair Loss Awareness Month. been on You Tube? has received several million views. The media got wind of it and Juan has been on Oprah, the Today Show and In my In-box was this article inviting me to share it with my other high profile shows. His Hug” marketing is the best! You can readers. And I thought, why not? After all, it could be a great public send a hug via mail, email or even give a hug in person depending service announcement. It might educate some people. And it on your audience. His Video, Free Hugs Campaign has been certainly may even help others. Special thanks to Tara of CA viewed more than 65 Million Times Communications for sharing this article.

Romance Awareness Month ~ Remember the key in marketing You can read the article here: Tips for Treating Hair Loss By and sales - people make their buying decisions based on emotion Leonard Stillman . and back up their decision with facts. One man I know told me that every time he gets his car detailed there is a thank you note on the steering wheel of his car. And a woman who does a lot of business travel loves to go to a certain hotel because they always

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Weekly Observances:

August 1-7th is Simplify Your Life Week ~ Simplify your life - August 6-10th is Exhibitor Appreciation Week ~ Host a trade Hire a Virtual Assistant to do all those things you either don? want show for your target market. Invite vendors and companies who to do or are just not really good at have the same market (and not in competition with you). Give remember that the most successful away prizes such as “Best of Show,” “Most creative display,” “best people ?ork from their strengths.” I use a use of space,” “smallest display, Biggest display,” “Most popular” virtual assistant for flyers, Power Point (best traffic) “Best give-aways,” etc. Contact your local high-school Presentations, email marketing and other or public library to host the show in their gymnasium or auditorium. administrivia that I don? want or have time to. Put systems in Also check out the Worlds Largest Billboard of Post-it-Notes place that help you be more productive such as software tools that (an original design created by the winners of the Post-it Brand save time. I use aweber to for email management, RoboForm to 30th Anniversary National Student Design Contest) and Student auto-fill websites and passwords, Short Keys (a text replacement Art Exhibit which will be on display tomorrow (August 3rd) at utility, and YouSendIt to send Grand Central Station’s Vanderbilt Hall in New York City, NY. large files and documents to clients August 6-10th is also Psychic Week ~ Time to predict the future August 1-7th is Clown Week ~ Hire a clown and have them stand of your business. Take a good look at where you are today and at the entrance of your business or beside the street where traffic where you want to be next month, next year, and 5 years from is passing by. They should be holding a sign advertising your now. Use psychic week to get inside your customers’ heads by business or passing out flyers and brochures to passers by asking them what you are doing right and how you could improve inviting them to your store after they have enjoyed the upon your products and/or services. entertainment. Tie a discount or offer into the day such as ?uper Saver Day,” or a similar special sale day. Take pictures and post to website. Send a postcard with a caption that reads “When it comes to business, we don't clown around (much).” ©Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com All Rights Reserved.

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August 13-17th is Weird Contest Week ~ Frank Warren, started August 31st Begins Waffle Week (thru Sept. 7) ~ Waffles, which a collective art project that has grown into a highly-visited blog. Thomas Jefferson is credited for bringing How? By asking people to mail him a postcard with a secret they to America were made popular by street have never told a soul. Frank could use this week to host a vendors, who sold them hot, covered in contest for the weirdest postcard - Check out the site Post Secret . molasses or maple syrup. The Dorsa (Disclaimer some of the cards are a bit over the top and graphic!) brothers commercialized them by selling their Eggo Waffles to restaurants. Then in *August 15-17th are Woodstock Days ~ Imagine the stir Michael 1950 changed their business model and Lang, John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, and Artie Kornfeld, co- began producing frozen waffles and even though they were creators of the original Woodstock Festival, (a music festival, producing 10,000 waffles an hour - they could not keep up with billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music", held demand. In 1968 they sold to Kellogg?. Is it time to think BIGGER at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm near the hamlet of White in your business? What processes could you change to maximize Lake in the town of Bethel, New York) created in 1969 around the the return on your time, talent and product? If you have not yet country! If you were there, you probably don't remember and if you read The eMyth Revisited by Michael Gerber, I highly recommend were a parent of someone who was there, you might remember you do. Gerber suggests that business owners should work on the insanity of it all. Check out this Woodstock Festival video on their business with the intention to one day sell it at a substantial YouTube which only tells a part of the story profit. It offers one of the best examples of working on your business to maximize your returns. You can read Chapter 1 for For a collection of Woodstock Facts, Figures, Stories, Photos, FREE. Is it time to “Let go of your Eggo?” Current Happenings, Memorabilia, Links, and Assorted Tidbits go to: http://www.woodstock69.com/ .

August 20-26th is Friendship Week ~ Create a promotion inviting your clients and customers to ?ring a friend.” Offer discounts for your products and services during “Bring a friend day” or “week.”

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Daily Observances: How could you market your product or service during the Full *August 1st is the Full Moon ~ Full Moon Drives Creativity for Moon? Kraft Foods… Did you know that the instant powdered orange- flavored breakfast drink, Tang was used by some early NASA How about a moonlight sale one day of the year or every month manned space flights? Engineers at NASA were looking for a during the full moon? With so many people no longer working just lightweight powder that could provide nutrition, stored and traveled 9-5 jobs, it is much easier to attract a crowd when the sun goes well and would not take up much room on missions and Tang down than ever before. seemed the perfect choice! So in In 1962,Tang was included in the menu of some of the Gemini flights. What a marketing “coo” In fact, according to ChaCha.com the Q & A site powered by for Kraft! people: it is estimated that a more than 50% of the buying public loves to shop at A NASA engineer working on Gemini explained how and why it night and since it would attract a group was used: “… There was a particular component of the Gemini life who typically does not have time to shop support-system module which produced H2O (water) among other during the day, a late night sale would be things. This was a byproduct of a recurring chemical reaction of great for business! one of the mechanical devices on the life-support module. The astronauts would use this water to drink during their space flight. The problem was, the astronauts did not like the taste of the water And as a nice alternative, host a Full Moon Party! Instead of because of some of the byproducts produced, which were not Halloween in October, get your bat costume, witches broom, and harmful of course. So, they added Tang to make the water taste black caldron out early... and have some fun! better …” (source: Wikipedia)

Here’s the Tang Commercial that ran (via YouTube) Tang Trivia: The inventor of Tang, William A. Mitchell, also invented Pop Rocks.

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*August 2nd is Take a Friend to Lunch Day ~ Since I have been *August 7th is Professional Speakers Day ~ Could you use a busy writing this chapter today, I am going to take a friend to little inspiration? Today is a great day to go hear a professional dinner tonight. How about you? speaker in your community. And while you’re at it, make sure you acknowledge that this is his/her day. August 5th is Sister's Day ~ have a sister's day promotion such as 2 for one or 3 for 4 etc. (depending on the number of sisters) Of course, you could become a professional speaker. It is not only Call it Bring Your Sisters and Receive (the product or service you a great way to promote your business, it can help you gain more offer) FREE DAY! confidence, become a celebrity in your community AND increase your bottom line both in more sales for your company and fees for *August 6th is National Kid's Day ~ Do you run/own a website speaking about a topic you are an expert in and passionate about. development company? Do what the Publicity Hound suggested For more information on becoming a professional speaker (or to in her latest newsletter – create a “how to keep kids safe on the hire one) go to the National Speakers Association Website. Internet” list and circulate it to your database – ask them to forward to their own family and friends using a forward to a friend Also check out Speaker Services for tons of resources on the technology in your email messages. Leave information flyers & topic of Professional Speaking including a speakers directory, give-aways such as pens, highlighters, notepads in the staff videos, audio programs and community. Go to: lounges of local schools to promote your partnership. Leave your http://www.speakerservices.com/ business card & a note announcing that you’re available for classroom presentations. Also post to your website and write articles around the topic, directing traffic to the list, also great to promote during Friendship Week.

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*August 7th is also Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day ~ Companies are running streaming videos in their establishments Did you know that shoppers make seven out of 10 purchase in their waiting areas to showcase their products and services. decisions in a split second as they scan the products and services Hotels are using video to showcase their properties online. they want? What? your packaging like? Does your marketing Realtors are using videos as tools for “looker reaction.” Retailers material need a makeover? Does the product you sell need a new are using video to monitor customer behavior (not just shoplifters, package. When Chinese Laundry (a brand mind you). And the list goes on… of women? shoes) first hit the marketplace, their sales were flat. Once they figured out the perfect formula for packaging their One company is doing something quirky with their “candid product, sales soared. camera” approach to video marketing. The new Frooti (one of India’s largest selling mango drinks) campaign, created by *August 10th is Candid Camera Day! ~ In 1948 the original Scarecrow Communications in India (an advertising agency), reality show Candid Camera, first “uses a candid camera approach where the ads capture consumer debuted on ABC staring Allen Funt. The reactions when accosted by a giant mango which literally falls show aired for 55+ years and was one from the sky or comes rolling down a hill at them.” Frooti, wanted of the most viewed prime-time to reiterate that it was made of real, juicy mangoes. It is popular televisions shows of its day. Today we across socio-economic segments from small towns to big metros have America’s Funniest Videos (but in India. The company had to find an engaging idea that cut that’s for another post). across target segments and could be enjoyed by all. The ad while being creative may have defeated the purpose. I mean who wants You might be asking what Candid Camera Day has to do with to be chased by giant mangoes? But still it makes you stop and Marketing. I think it has everything to do with it. Think about it. think (or run…). And it is QUIRKY! Watch it here: Businesses are being promoted using Videos uploaded to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1MXIjCwUfk YouTube and other video sharing sites.

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So what could you do to promote your company using a video My friend and colleague Simone Kelly-Brown started the Give ‘N camera and video sharing account online? You could interveiw Take Network several years ago and there are thousands of satisfied customers. You could do on the spot product people of all industries willing and eager to “trade” their goods and demonstrations. The ideas are endless. services for yours.

I love to interview people whenever I attend an event or meeting *August 12th is New Recreation Day ~ Why not take up a new where there are experts who share specific topics my clients physical hobby... like GOLF? August is Also would be interested in knowing more about. For instance, last Golf Month ~ In 2009 my daughter and I week I attended the Online Marketing Summit event in Hollywood, took up golf (a new recreation for both of Florida and interviewed 3 of the speakers and one attendee. Here us) so we can Network on the Course while is the video I did with Jeff Saas of Myxer.com . Special thanks to learning a new sport and exercising – Fresh Jay Berkowitz founder of Ten Golden Rules.com who graciously air, exercise and meeting new people, what agreed to be our cameraman. (BTW, I also interviewed Jay ) could be better (except maybe being served a Margarita on the beach by a handsome For Candid Camera Trivia visit: Crazy About TV SMILE, you’re hunk ?). We both met some great women and each of us got on Candid Camera! business from it.

**August 11th is Barter is Smarter Day ~ Barter (bahr-ter) “The Prefer not to golf? Sponsor a golf tournament. Get your name on act of trading goods and services without the use of money.” If you the greens. Golfers are generally of a higher income bracket so have ever considered bartering or becoming part of a barter its a good way to tap into a more affluent clientele. community, check out this YouTube Video. You will be amazed at all the benefits of belonging to a Barter Exchange both personally and for business.

Check out this YouTube Video on the Benefits of Barter

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wonder! To promote healthy feet day, call your local nail salon or August 13th is also National Underwear Day ~ National spa and ask if they would be interested in cross-promoting the day Underwear Day event evokes the care-free attitude of Sixties with you. Ask them to supply you with gift certificates for ‘happenings’, when free spirits took control of public spaces as discounts off their services and you will do the same for them. venues for their art, their message. The folks at Freshpair believe Then come up with a plan to let your customers know about the that underwear deserves a lot more recognition than it gets. promotion. Americans spend more than $13 billion on intimate apparel each year and for that kind of money, Freshpair.com feels it is their duty to tell the world. With National Underwear Day, they’ve taken August 16th is Computer Marriage Day ~ On August 16, 1995, underwear out of the dresser drawer and into the streets – by Sandra and Scott Grusky were married online via computer as an sending twenty male and female models out clad only in their NBC documentary filmed the ceremony at both sites. The couple finest undergarments. On August 7th, National Underwear Day met online and joined to write a novel about an took Manhattan by storm for the sixth year in a row. online love affair before they decided August 14th is Healthy Feet Day ~ Did you know that your foot to get married. contains 26 small bones, over 150 What a big kind ligaments and a big network of muscles, internet. nerves and blood vessels? The average person walks about 4 miles every day – or about 115,000 miles in a lifetime. If you’re wearing high heels, you are putting enough force on your heel to dig a hole 4 miles deep every month.

Everybody says when their feet hurt, they hurt all over. No

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Each of them put me in touch with groups of people I don’t **August 17th is 3 Marketing Tips DAY ~ My good friend Allison normally network with and from these connections I have gained Blankenship (co-author of Upside: How to Zig when Life Zags) new customers and more importantly new referrals. called me today to chat about Quirky Marketing ideas. She was giving a presentation to a group of professionals and wanted to find out what type of marketing ideas I would share with a group if I only had 3 ideas to share. Here are the three marketing tips that came to mind during our brief chat:

#1 Get out of your Networking Comfort zone. If your usual style of networking is to attend the typical Chamber of Commerce Business card exchange or One-of-a-kind industry specific networking group try something new. Look in the paper for groups you have never been to and “check them out.” I use the local calendar section of the Business Journal and Miami Herald for a listing of weekly business/professional events. I find out if guests are welcome and if so, what the criteria for attending is. In most cases if you are in business or work for a company as their representative, you are welcome at these groups. I have attended the following “out of the box groups” ~ PRSA – Public Relations Society of America, South Florida Business Connections, ASTD ~ American Society for Training & Development, HSMAI ~ Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association, Biz to Biz Network, Florida Lawyers Association, Business Journal Rise & Shine Breakfasts, Level Up Networking, The Millionaires Investment Group and several non-profit networking events.

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#2 Find out who the “new businesses” are in your community. You If you sell audio programs for instance, then your magalog should can do that by looking in your local newspaper (I use the South have articles about the topic of your audio programs alongside the Florida Business Journal) for new business licenses, name products you are selling. Add stories, interviews with your current changes such as DBA’s and relocations of companies to the area. customers about how they use the product or something relating You can then go to your state division of corporations website and to the topic and you have a magalog. Sony for instance, created do a search for the company to get full contact information. I follow Sony style – their new lifestyle magazine. Ken Dice, Sony’s up with a note or with a floral arrangement welcoming them to the director of corporate marketing communications says “our ultimate neighborhood. Another great way to increase business. goal was to evolve our old catalog into a new publication that would help readers understand today’s technologies. Catalogs #3 And finally, use the ideas in this edition of Quirky Marketing depict products. Manuals demonstrate the basic operations. But Calendar and tell your friends about it. As you have seen for nothing out there today brings to life the possibilities of today’s yourself, there are great ideas for almost every day of the year products and tomorrow’s technologies. Sony style attempts to fill listed. Be sure to subscribe to the Quirky Marketing Blog for the that void.” Sony style is divided into four parts: short profiles, newest ideas. showing creative uses of technology; new products and longer stories, often with a Sony theme; a “Manual for digital living”-tips **August 18th is Mail Order Catalog Day ~ If you have not tried on using Sony products; and a catalog selection. catalog advertising yet, now may be the perfect time. You could create a slim, sleek catalog to promote your products or contact Catalog marketing, direct mail catalog companies who reach your target audience. For a marketing and quirky comprehensive list of catalogs go to Catalogs.com . If you’d like marketing ideas rolled up into to try your hand at or enhance the catalog you currently have to one big day ~ mail order increase Your Catalog Results – Turn it Into a cross between a catalog day! catalog and a magazine aka Magalog. A magalog is typically filled with articles and ideas that complement and support the products and services in the catalog.

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**August 20th is Build Your Vocabulary for Success DAY ~ read. Read books that stretch your mind in a way that you may not “Not enough people realize that it is our ability to use our language be used to. For my birthday, my husband gave me a great book that will determine our place on the social pyramid – and that will called “A Whole New World: Why Right-brainers will rule the also control, to a great extent, the amount of money we will earn world.” What I appreciated about this book (in addition to during our lives.” Earl Nightingale confirming what I already knew about right-brain function), is that it introduced me to new words that I was not yet familiar with. I was Want people to look up to and respect you more? Become a able to figure out the meanings of most, and those I did not know, polymath (A person of great or varied learning). Consider this: the looked up in the dictionary. average English-speaking person knows roughly 800 words. Do 4) Use the Dictionary – open the dictionary to any page and you want to be AVERAGE all your life or would you like to be choose a word you are not familiar with. That becomes your word known as Above Average? You can do it! How? By increasing your of the day! Use it in a sentence, write it down. Commit it to vocabulary! memory. Repeat this process daily or at least once a week. 5) Subscribe to a word a day email lesson via Webster’s Online Here are seven simple tips that can help you increase your Dictionary, Dictionary.com or Wordsmith.org . vocabulary by as much as 45% a year! 6) Google “word of the day” and see what comes up. 1) According to The Stevens Institute of Technology studies 7) Keep a journal of each new word you learn and review them about what made people successful, “The best single measure of once a week or monthly. Once you have used them a few times, success is how a person speaks, particularly the words they used. they will become a part of your vocabulary and voila! You have In the simplest terms, it is your vocabulary.” (Thanks to fellow substantially increased your knowledge with very little effort. Okay, Toastmaster friend, Paul Spiewak of Reunion Friendly for sharing maybe some effort, and doesn’t it feel good? this). Building your vocabulary may not seem like a “quirky marketing 2)Pay attention to words – when you hear a word used by idea,” but how many actually practice this step to success? And someone that you don’t quite understand, try to figure out what it let’s face it some of the words we learn will seem a little quirky to means by the context in which it is used. you (and others) when you start using them when you speak to 3) Read – the single best way to increase your vocabulary is to others. Happy Build Your Vocabulary Day!

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***August 20th is also Tattoo Day ~ According to historians, even made it to the No. 2 spot on eBay's list of most watched there's evidence that Humans have marked their bodies with items. I'd say that’s pretty cheap for this type of promotion! But tattoos for thousands of years, dating back as far as 4000 BC. then, Karolyn will have to live with that on her head for EVER. when women had tattoos on their bodies and limbs (as found in Maybe not such a great deal after all. figurines, ancient tombs and mummys). A ccording to Smithsonian Magazine , "These permanent The Melt Bar and Grilled in Cleveland Ohio did and still does a designs—sometimes plain, sometimes elaborate, always personal similar promotion. They give patrons a 25 percent discount for life —have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, for anyone who gets a tattoo of their logo anywhere on their body. signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of Doesn't sound like much of a deal but considering that by the end punishment. Joann Fletcher, research fellow in the department of of 2011, 315 customers got tattooed, I'd say that’s not bad archaeology at the University of York in Britain, describes the exposure. Matt Fish, owner of the establishment says, history of tattoos and their cultural significance to people around "Customers really like to be recognized as members of an the world, from the famous " Iceman," a exclusive group. Even the few who have been negative about the 5,200-year-old frozen mummy, to today’s promotion can still be fans of the restaurant. Whether it's positive Maori." or negative excitement, it's still excitement about the business."

But did you know that some people actually To keep the excitement going they post a photo to their website make money selling or auctioning off "body and Facebook page each time a new customer gets inked. And parts" to companies who want their names the Melt Bar also has specials just for this group to reward them on these "walking/talking billboards? Here's for their support and patronage. You can check out their a story of a woman in Utah who auctioned Facebook page to see some of the facinating ways customers off her forehead to the highest eBay bidder. The price she put on sport their tatoos.And while you are at it check out this video of the the space was $10,000. Talk about prime real estate. HER Worlds LARGEST tattoo EXPO . and the World's LARGEST FOREHEAD. That's right! Karolyne Smith only charged the tattoo COLLECTION GoldenPalace.com $10,000 (winner of the bid). Her forehead appeared on national news, was on radio and this auction item

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I’ve created Seven Simple Steps st *August 21 is Poets Day ~ When you To get the most out of your time create a rhyme or a phrase that people can That empowers you to use social media remember and repeat ~ Oscar Mayer was/is And add more to your bottom line really good at this ~ people will remember you, your company and more importantly what you “sell.” I use this to promote my businesses Redhead Marketing & And the “catchier” or quirkier the phrase or poem the more likely it SpeakingWithSpirit is to be repeated. Quirky marketing ideas include poetry. Try one of your own on for size. Test it at meetings. When you introduce yourself in networking events share it. Do this often enough and pretty soon people will remember the poem and YOU! In fact, you may find them saying it along with you (like a song).

Here’s one of mine:

Roses are Red Violets are Blue Is Social Media baffling to you?

If Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter Have you Confused Call Heidi Richards Mooney The Social Media Muse….

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*August 22nd is Be an Angel Day ~ This is a day on which people *August 25th is First Parachute Wedding Day ~ which Took around the world are encouraged to be like the angels - God's Place in 1940 …at the New York City World’s Fair. The site of the selfless servants - and 'do one small act of service for someone; first parachute wedding was the World’s Fair, New York City, on be a blessing in someone's life.' The 1st Annual BE AN ANGEL August 25, 1940. “Reverend Homer Tomlinson of the Church of DAY was celebrated August 22, 1993. Be an Angel Day motto is: God, Jamaica, Long Island, N.Y., performed the marriage DO ONE SMALL ACT OF SERVICE FOR SOMEONE; BE A ceremony for Arno Rudolphi and Ann Hayward. The minister, the BLESSING IN SOMEONE'S LIFE. married couple, the best man, the maid of honor and 4 musicians were all suspended in parachutes. Since that day many couples *August 23rd is Hair Dye Day ~ People have been dying their hair have gotten married by parachute, and they actually jumped out of for 3000 years, but the first commercial hair dye company wasn't the plane! started until 1909 in France. And yet women didn't really start dying their hair until in the 1960? when Clairol did their “Does she Here are a few ways companies could capitalize on this day in or doesn't she” campaign. Hair dye sales climbed almost overnight history by creating their own parachute wedding event. and today 75% of American Women dye their hair at one time or A Florist could offer to do the flowers for the wedding reception (it another. Do you have a product or service that you are having a is unlikely the bride would hold a bouquet during her fall unless it hard time getting the word out about? Is it because people don? is strapped around her waist (but you never know). A really understand it or because its ahead of it? time (like hair dye was)? creative floral designer could “sew” flowers into the jumper the Now is the time to gather people together who? opinions you bride must wear during her fall admire and brainstorm ways to spread the word. Some A Wedding gown designer could design a gown made from suggestions could be forming strategic alliances with other parachute material that could be worn under the “jumper” in flight companies with the same customer demographic, or an event, or A wedding planner could be a big help in coordinating all the key advertising or direct mail. Is it time to look at your offers and elements of the Big Day change course? Don? let a bad hair day (or dye) get in your way A banner plane could be flying nearby to congratulate the couple of success. when they land A jeweler could offer to create a one-of-a-kind wedding ring for the couple to commemorate the event

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A photographer and videographer could offer to jump with the another company, organization or group. Celebrate the women in couple taking pictures and video (if that is possible while falling) or your life send flowers! Acknowledge your female customers on at least take pictures from the plane. And of course there should this day with a “Special promotion” or discount. be another videographer and photographer on the ground taking pictures of their safe landing. *August 26th is also Horseshoe Day ~ A caterer could be on the ground having prepared with a full Horseshoes were invented by the reception for the friends and family waiting for the couple when Greeks and discovered by Western they land. culture in the 4th century. In addition to A Destination company or Travel agent could help the couple find shoeing horses, the horseshoe has their perfect honeymoon destination become a universal symbol for good A baker could make a cake in the shape of a plane (or parachute) luck. One popular practice was nailing a A Public Relations Firm could be hired to help promote the big day horseshoe over the front door of a house - pointed upward so the The media should also be invited along for the ride to record the luck wouldn't fall out. Have a “This is Your Lucky Day” Promotion event or event to celebrate Horseshoe Day. If you use the horseshoe Who else could help out on this big day and get attention of the theme, you could have pony rides for the kids, a country western media? Maybe Skydiving and parachute weddings are where the dance contest or if you are near a rodeo arena, sponsor one of the saying “Weddings are a BIG JUMP for some couples,” originated. events.

*August 26th is Women’s Equality Day ~ Instituted by **August 27th is Customer Education Day ~ In the email Representative Bella Abzug and first established in 1971, the date newsletter Business Insights, Cole Taylor Bank shares the commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Woman following: “Customer education is one of the most cost-effective Suffrage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave U.S. avenues you have to dramatically strengthen your competitive women full voting rights in 1920. Raise your hand if you think you position.” Business and Marketing Experts agree that customer are equal? I personally think we are the superior sex *WINK. Host education increases loyalty and ultimately the bottom line. a celebration for women in your community or sponsor one with

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And in fact, when you educate your customers and prospects you can measure how many people actually take advantage of them! differentiate yourself from others in your industry who may or may T ~ Take your prospects and clients on a Tour ~ Give your clients not be effectively educating their customers and potential and prospects a “behind the scenes” look at your company either customers. in the form of how you arrive at your solutions, how you create your products, where you do your work, etc. Here are some of the ways you could educate your E ~ Educating your customers will give them more information to customers: make better informed decisions. E ~ Emphasize the benefits and unique selling advantages of your product or service to build value against price comparisons. You would not buy a car without a “test drive” or knowing more D ~ Demonstrate your product ~ If you are a consultant, do a free about performance such as mileage per gallon, warrantees and mini consultation. If you are a masseuse offer free mini massages. service offers. Do the same with your products and services. Let Nothing like a hands on demonstration to peek their interest and them “kick the tires,” ask questions, do online research, peruse desire for your product your brochures, then take them for the “test drive” so they can U ~ Uncover the clients true needs by asking questions that reveal make better informed decisions. the prospects needs, expectations and preferences. Doing this will attract more qualified prospects to your door and C ~ Create marketing materials that are more educational and convert more prospects into paying customers. informative. If you consult on parenting, you could create a brochure with the top ten tips to effective parenting Make today the starting point of creating a happy customer A ~ Add value to the transaction ~ Be a resource of information. experience when you educate them, you inpire them and instill You could do this by having an Ask Hotline, offering free ebooks confidence in them about you, your company and your products and tutorials. Stay in touch with your clients via a newsletter. A and services. company newsletter is an opportunity to showcase your expertise and emphasize the value that your products and services provide. Provide educational audio and video downloads. Most of these resources are affordable to produce, and easy to track and you

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*August 28th is Radio Commercials Day ~ Did you know that in GET Media Savvy: The Woman’s eGuide to Promote Your 1922 the first radio commercial was broadcast? Queensboro Products, Services and Ideas To the World by Shannon Cherry, Realty received 10 minutes of air time on New York station WEAF Rhonda Day, Catherine Franz, Dina Giolitto, Paul Hartunian, for $100. Penny Haynes, Michelle Howe, Annie Jennings, Nancy S. Juetten, Meredith Pond, Lori Prokop, Heidi Richards Mooney and Rosalind In the article 4 Keys to Effective Radio Advertising, Kim Gordon Sedacca outlines the following: Download your copy by clicking on the title above 1. Know who your audience is. Get qualitative demographics from the listeners so you know you are targeting YOUR right audience. **August 29th is Vendors Demonstration Day ~ Take advantage 2. Know what you are buying ~ what is the reach (how many of vendor opportunities to add to your own and your staff’s people will potentially hear your message), know the frequency expertise. When I had my retail florist, one of the vendors we (how often your “ad” will be played and at what times) and know purchased from was a company that sold the components to make what the cost per point is (which is what it will cost to reach 1 gift baskets. They offered a new product called “shrink wrap” but percent of your target audience) we did not know how to use it. The company came in and gave a 3. Look for Sponsorship Opportunities! These can include on-air one-hour hands on how to create beautiful baskets using their mentions, giving products away to listeners, to events hosted by shrink wrap, heating gun and tapes. the station that will put your company in the spotlight. 4. Be sure to entertain the listeners. You radio spots should My staff loved it and so did the company, and it lead to us entertain the audience. You can do this with sound, music, purchasing much more than I had originally intended to. If they unusual voices, humor. had not provided that service we would have taken a lot longer to 5. learn to use the product and we likely would have purchased from To read the rest of the article visit: Entrepreneur.com other vendors more.

Listen to a radio commercial about Mothers Day produced for my florist. Check out the FREE ebook by Women in Ecommerce™

224 Quirky Marketing Calendar AUGUST

*August 30th is International Red Telephone Day ~ In 1963 The questions. This “hotline” saved our staff hours of labor because “Hotline” telephone communications system linking the White How the common questions were answered before my staff got on the via National Military Command Center with the Kremlin during the line, leaving more time to find out what the customer wanted and Cold War. The “Hotline” was designed to provide direct how we could better serve her or him. communication between the leaders of the United States and Russia. The RED Telephone has often been used as a symbol for *August 31st is Eat Outside Day ~ In 2006 New York City broke the “hotline.” the Guinness-certified world’s record for the largest picnic. The picnic took place in Bryant Park in the heart of New York City. Hotlines are a multi-billion dollar a year business. Today Although they did not make it into the Guinness book (they never “Hotlines” take on many forms. submitted documentation) they still managed to make it on the Companies and organizations use hotlines for a variety of news. things.They can be used as lead generation tools. Hotlines can be They partnered with City Harvest and several other organizations used to support customer service. They can be used as to gather people, promote the event and create a buzz. instructional lines for customers looking for “quick answers” to Guinness World Records offers a unique PR opportunity. Their simple challenges. They can be used to filter calls from Team “works successfully with companies every day to break advertising. Hotlines can be used as a tool to market your special world records, helping them to promote their brands, their goods services. Law enforcement uses hotlines for people to call in to and their services. From large-scale events involving thousands of leave “tips” or leads about crimes that have occurred. people to adrenaline-pumping stunts by individuals, we adjudicate hundreds of record attempts around the globe each year.” Hotlines can also be used as a direct connection to people in an Register and apply now to get your achievement recognized by organization that clients want instant access to. Guinness World Records

Several years ago, my retail florist created an information “hotline” that gave people directions to our place of business, current “specials” we were offering and answered frequently asked

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Here were the RULES from the Official Picnic Organizers: 3. All participants should bring their own mats/rugs to sit on for the 1. A head count of people taking part must be taken before the picnic. event, either by turnstile or by some other accurate method of counting. This is essential and must be done efficiently. The 4. All participants should be attending the picnic simultaneously – method to be used must be pre-approved by Guinness World claims will not be entertained for a ‘rolling’ picnic where Records. participants arrive and leave at various intervals throughout the day. 2. It should be a proper picnic with food and beverages with all participants Watch the Video of the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch? bringing a picnic meal, either v=JRsuWXd1MfY individually or as a group. As a minimum each person should have two ‘courses’ (e.g. a sandwich and fruit or cake) and a drink.

226 Quirky Marketing Calendar AUGUST OTHER OBSERVANCES IN AUGUST

MONTHLY

American Adventures Month Motorsports Awareness Month American Indian Heritage Month National Immunization Awareness Month American History Essay Contest Audio Book Appreciation Month National Inventor's Month Black Business Month National Panini Month Cataract Awareness Month National Water Quality Month Children's Eye Health & Safety Month National Win With Civility Month Children's Vision & Learning Month Neurosurgery Outreach Month Get Ready for Kindergarten Month Psoriasis Awareness Month Golf Month Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month Happiness Happens Month What Will Be Your Legacy Month

WEEKLY Psychic Week: 1-5 National Hobo Week: 9-12 Simplify Your Life Week: 1-7 Elvis Week: 10-18 Intimate Apparel Market Week: 2-5 Weird Contest Week: 13-17 National Resurrect Romance Week: 5-11 *National Aviation Week: 15-21 Assistance Dog Week: 5-11 World Money Week: 16-20 Exhibitor Appreciation Week: 6-10 Minority Enterprise Development Week: 19-25 World Breastfeeding Week: 6-10 *Be Kind To Humankind Week: 25-31 National Fraud Awareness Week: 6-10 National Safe at Home Week: 27-31 Single Working Women's Week: 6-10 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week: 25-31 National Clown Week: 7-13 *Waffle Week: 31-9/6

227 Quirky Marketing Calendar AUGUST

DAILY

*Girlfriend's Day: 1 Betty Boop Day: 9 *Aviation Day: 19 National Minority Donor Awareness Day: 1 Elevator Day: 9 Men's Grooming Day: 19 Respect For Parents: 1 Take an Aspirin Day: 10 Hug Your Boss Day: 19 *US Air Force Day: 1 Screw Cap Day: 10 Cupcake Day: 20 *World Wide Web Day: 1 *Smithsonian Day: 10 *Virtual World's Day: 20 *Sister's Day: 1 Sit in a Tub of Ice Day: 10 National Homeless Animals Day: 20 Full Moon: 1 *S'mores Day: 10 *Poet's Day: 21 Mailbox Day: 2 President's Joke Day: 11 *Senior Citizen's Day: 21 Roller Skating Day: 2 National Garage Sale Day: 11 World Daffodil Day: 21 1 cent Day: 2 *IBM PC Day: 12 *Valentino Day: 23 *Watermelon Day: 3 *International Youth Day: 12 *National Waffle Day: 24 National Mustard Day: 4 *Sewing Machine Day: 12 *Kiss and Make Up Day: 25 *Coast Guard Day: 4 *Vinyl Record Day: 12 *National Second-hand Wardrobe Day: 25 *National Chocolate Chip Day: 4 *Blame Someone Else Day: 13 Telescope Day: 25 National Underwear Days: 5 *Int'l Lefthanders Day: 13 *National Dog Day: 26 Friendship Day: 5 Kool-Aid Day: 13-15 *Women's Equality Day: 26 *International Beer Day: 5 Printed Book Day: 14 Global Forgiveness Day: 27 *Hiroshima Day: 6 *V-J Day: 14 Oil and Gas Industry Appreciation Day: 27 *National Fresh Breath (Halitosis) Day: 6 *Best Friends Day: 15 Just Because Day: 27 *Lighthouse Day: 7 *National Relaxation Day: 15 Banana Lovers Day: 28 National Night Out: 7 Angel Food Cake Day: 15 *I Have a Dream Day: 28 *Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day: 7 Bratwurst Festival Day: 16 *Radio Commercials Day: 28 *Professional Speakers Day: 7 Siamese Twins Day: 16 Chop Suey Day: 29 Computer Chess Day: 7 *Sports Illustrated Day: 16 Alfa Romeo Day: 29 *Purple Heart Day: 7 Pencil Day: 17 Frankenstein Day: 30 Seasurpent Day: 7 *Ringo Star Day: 17 Toasted Marshmallow Day: 30 Twins Day: 7-9 *National Thrift Shop Day: 17 National Holistic Pet Day: 30 *The Date to Create: 8 Bad Poetry Day: 18 Get a Slinky Day: 30 *Happiness Happens Day: 8 *Mail Order Catalog Day: 18 National Trail Mix Day: 31 *International Day of The World's Indigenous Moot Point Day: 18 Eat Outside Day: 31 People: 9 *Serendipity Day: 18

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My Marketing Calendar for AUGUST

Special Dates I plan to promote: 1. 2. 3. 4. How I plan to promote them:

Goals for Each Promotion:

Budget: Media 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Comments:

229 AUGUST 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

230 Quirky Marketing Calendar SEPTEMBER Marketing Calendar

September is International Strategic Thinking Month ~ September is Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month ~ Now is a Thinking strategically means to think great time to write to your favorite editors and writers and thank about how you have run your business in them for all they do – in fact, why not write a letter to the editor? the past, the things that have worked Who knows, your comments could end up in the next issue. well, those that have not, what you can do differently to maximize your business Talk about subtle marketing… strengths and ultimately add to your In addition to letters to the editor, here are eight additional ways bottom line. Here are my 5 tips for you can acknowledge be kind to editors and writers this month: successful strategy: Send them a card congratulating them on their special month. 1. If your Advertising isn't working think about why it isn't and Email your favorite editors and writers and wish them a great day. change it. Comment on a blog post she or he wrote (You’ll make their day). 2. Only use Direct Response Advertising. Most small businesses Stop by their office and drop off donuts, bagels or cookies. cannot afford to launch a large branding campaign so be strategic Mention your favorite writers work in a blog post. in your marketing by maximizing all your advertising with direct Like a story? Just Tweet it! response get people to take action in every ad you run. Find your favorite writers and editors on social media sites such 3. Advertise on the right hand side of a page – that's where the as Facebook and LinkedIn and “follow” or “friend” them. eye goes first. Post Happy Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month to your Wall and 4. Stress the benefits of using your products and services. link back to this article . Brainstorm with others ask your customers and clients what What else could you do to acknowledge Be Kind to Editors and benefits they are looking for. Writers today? 5. Advertising isn't for every one or every business. Make sure it's right for you before you spend tons of cash on a campaign.

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Shameless Self-promotion Month ~ “If you don’t’ toot your own horn, you can? enjoy the music.” Debbie Allen (Founder of National Skin Care Awareness Month ~ Time for a virtual Shameless Self-promotion Month). How about trying your hand at holiday makeover. In 2008, Sephora, the beauty and skin care Podcasting? In July, 2006 Speedo, (the swimwear brand) “dipped company launched a holiday makeover initiative at their toe into the social media water during their inaugural Podcast MistletoeMakeover.com where women (or daring men) could get when they interviewed Olympic swimming champion Michael a virtual holiday makeover using advanced photo- realistic Phelps. Their new Podcast “Speedo Make Waves” has featured technology to try out the season? hottest holiday makeup trends Olympic and other champions from across the international and share with like-minded friends. Mistletoe Makeover was swimming world. Each Podcast has been accompanied by created by digital marketing firm, EVB San Francisco, in awareness- raising web advertising as an integral part of the partnership with virtual makeover company, TAAZ.com. “Mistletoe overall communication. Interviewing experts in fields your target Makeover” exploded online with hundreds of thousands of women market is interested in is a great way to get media attention for creating holiday makeovers. you AND your guests. You can also submit your RSS Feeds to FeedBurner so that in a few weeks or months your site will be ?n National Coupon Month ~ A few years ago a customer called the radar” of advertisers and other content sites. about a coupon he got in the mail. The coupon was for cut flowers Self-improvement Month and Library Card Sign-up Month ~ and the value was $5. He called to READ, READ, READ! Chances are your competition doesn't, so ask if we honored other this will put you miles ahead of them by reading all you can about companies coupons. I immediately your industry and your community. said yes! Why, you ask? The other company paid good money to advertise his product and the National Organic Harvest Month ~ Promote the use of “green customer called my florist. I was closer geographically and he did products.” For a list of green resources, check out Tree not have an allegiance to any shop (up to that point). By honoring Beginnings ... while you are at it, you can “plant a memory” when the coupon, not only does my company gain a new customer, we you buy personalized “party favors” for an event. Great for probably gain one for life! And it only cost us $5… not bad. tradeshows too!

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According to marketing experts it costs up to six times to get a family can save $1,000 to $5,000 a year by spending just 20 new customer as it does to keep the ones you currently have. So minutes a week clipping coupons. when one “falls in your lap” with little effort on your part, it's a GIFT. After all, if grocery stores, pharmacies and other retail According to the Coupon Factory: “The easiest way to get an establishments can honor other companies’ coupons, why couldn't economy to start functioning properly again is to increase a smaller business do the same? And you don’t have to be retail, if consumption. However, when everyone is afraid to spend money, you provide a service and you are looking for new business, what there aren’t many avenues open to the average retailer. Unless a great way to encourage people to give your service a try. they understand consumer psychology and the fact that most people can’t resist a discount, especially when it’s for something Unless you have been living under a rock (or don’t own a they are really interested in purchasing.” computer) you likely have heard about the growing trend in coupons, specifically ONLINE Coupon sites like Groupon, Living If you don’t get the newspaper or magazines, not to worry you can Social, Crazy Good Deal and many, many others. Why? Because go to most retailers online sites and find coupons each week on a they work! People use them. In fact, a recent study shows that 89 variety of items they are promoting. You can even buy discount percent of Americans used coupons when shopping (2010). coupons.

According to eMarketer, digital coupons have become so popular Here are four sites that offer coupons for “sale”: Retailmenot.com, that by the end of 201288.2 million shoppers are expected to have SuperCouponing.com, Couponmom.com and Coupondad.net used them to make a purchase (both offline and online). And here are three other sites that “report” on coupons and tell Did you know? More than 175 billion coupons were offered by you where the deals are: ClipperGirl.com, Couponing.com and retailers in the first half of 2012for a total of 2 billion dollars saved! The Krazy Coupon Lady and by the end of the year that number is expected to double.. and then some! With the decrease in consumer disposable income, clipping coupons have become a way of life for many Americans. According to the Promotion Marketing Association, an average

233 Quirky Marketing Calendar SEPTEMBER

Although coupons have proven to be a highly effective marketing 5. Have a call to action – “stop by, visit the website, pickup the strategy, resulting in increased sales, coupons do come with a phone, order today …” price. For business owners. Once you get into the coupon producing/offering market, it may be difficult to go back. Once According the the Nielsen Company (global leader in company in particular comes to mind. Bed Bath and Beyond. measurement and information): “The better educated and more When they started offering their $5, $10 and $15 dollar coupons in affluent consumers are much better at looking for deals, as they the mail, people were really excited. In fact, it got to the point that recognize the value of money.” If you cater to the more affluent consumers would not even think about making a purchase without consumer and are thinking about offering some sort of coupon their coupons. I know because I have saved them for weeks to discount, now is one of the best times in history to do so! use when I need something from B B & B. I wonder how many other retailers experience that same issue? International People Skills Month ~ How are your people skills? Could you use a refresher course? Would you like to learn If you are going to offer coupons as part of your marketing how to read people better? Are you as confident as you? like to strategy, here are 5 tips to maximize your success: be? Dale Carnegie said there are 5 essential people skills every person should have for business and personal success. And I 1. Offer a discount, bonus or premiums such as trial offers and have added two more - They are: 1. Knowing how and when to FREEBIES to get them in the door or on you website. assert yourself. 2. Knowing how to listen to others. 3. Knowing the keys to conflict resolution. 4. Knowing how to separate emotion 2. Make Your Headlines Stand Out! ”Buy two, get on FREE” from business goals 5. Knowing how to recognize, evaluate, and eliminate self-defeating habits and actions so you can focus on 3. Sell the benefits – “save money, time, improve your health, your specific issues 6. The ability to adapt well to change. 7. The increase your bottom line…” ability to build lasting relationships.

4. Use captivating graphics to catch their attention and increase desire.

234 Quirky Marketing Calendar SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 5. Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper or magazine of your Weekly Observances: choice expressing your opinion on an issue. 6. Find out how to send e-mail to the President or another ***September 1-7th is Self-University Week ~ lawmaker of your choice. See if you can get a dialog going. The purpose of Self-University Week is to remind adults (in or out 7. Investigate one or more newsgroups on the Internet, and check of school) that each of us has a responsibility to help shape the in at least once a day. future by pursuing lifelong education. 8. Attend an open meeting or public forum each noon hour or evening for a week. According to Autodidactic Press , sponsors of Self-University since 9. Sign up for a night course, workshop, or seminar. 1989: "…Traditional education in America has caused millions of 10. Take photos of ten things (places, objects, people) that best people to conclude that education is something you can "finish." symbolize who you are. Then take ten more of things that Answers to our most pressing problems are found in self- represent your dreams. (Use a digital camera) Put the photos education and the willingness to use reason in reaching equitable together in an album, montage or a web page. solutions. The external push for degrees in order to qualify for For 42 more ways visit: Autodidactic.com . high-paying jobs often blinds us to the fact that education is as necessary for our general well being as it is for economic September 1-8th is International Enthusiasm Week ~ Have a opportunity…" cheerleading contest or promote cheerleaders of local schools – maybe have a "Create a Cheer" contest and give prizes for the Here are Ten Ways AP suggests Celebrating Self-University Week best, most unusual and most humorous CHEERS (complete with 1. Look up a new word every morning and figure out three prizes). ways to use it during the day. 2. Read that book you picked up months ago and haven't *September 13-20th is Habitat for Humanity International opened yet. Building of Faith Week ~ Raise the Roof for HFH just as 3. Listen to audio books or language tapes while you drive. thousands of people all over the country do during this week. You 4. Watch only informative TV shows (no sitcoms, soaps, help a family in need and you get to feel good about doing good. sports, giveaways, movies, MTV or QVC).

235 Quirky Marketing Calendar SEPTEMBER

3. How does your website grow? Is it keeping up with the times nd September 16-22 is Build a Better Image Week ~ How does and modern technology or has your website been around for 3 your image compare to that of the competition? Is it better, worse years or longer? When prospects visit your website is it portraying or about the same? If its worse or about the same, its time to take the professional image you desire? It it showcasing your a look at how you are perceived in the marketplace. You can do expertise? Does you clearly show professionalism. Is it simple and that by taking a look at all your aspects of your business during easy to navigate or confusing? If not, it is probably time or an Build a Better Image Week. overhaul (or redesign).

5 Tips to build a better image: 4. Do you practice proper Email Etiquette? The rules of writing 1. Dress for success is the number one key to building a better are just as important in email as they are in regular mail. Proper image. People who dress for success, who look professional build grammar and punctuation are important to build a professional more confidence as they are perceived and valued as a image. Do you answer your emails in a timely fashion or let them professional. Avoid extreme or trendy clothing as more often than site in your inbox indefinitely until you can “find time” to get to not it goes out of style and you are left with a closet full of clothes them. Just like answering phone calls promptly is important, so is you cannot wear again for 10 or more years. answering email. You never know when that email can turn into your biggest client. 2. Take a look at all your marketing materials. Does your

Logo properly represent your company? 5 Voice Mail Messages can make or break an image. When leaving a message for someone, leave a complete message Choosing a simple, unique and memorable logo is important for including your name and phone number, speaking slowly. Repeat branding value and recognition. Assess all your marketing your phone number twice so the person receiving the call does not materials for ways to improve them. Do they need a face-lift, a do- have to replay your message to get the number. over or tossing out?

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September 16-22nd is Balance Awareness Week ~ Are you (almost) nude to raise money for charity. Their idea? A calendar spending too much time behind the computer, at work or (at the featuring real women posing in the flesh. The original calendar beach!)? IF SO, maybe you need to reevaluate your activities and caused quite a stir in the UK as it featured women who's only see where you time is currently being spent. camouflage were food and flowers. That calendar sold 800,000 Find ways to BALANCE your time you will be amazed at how copies worldwide. The calendar in 2000 resulting in the filming of much better you feel when you take care of all the other aspects a hit movie, starring Julie Walters and Helen Mirren. Since then of your life. calendar sales have resulted in raising close to 2m for leukemia research. In 2009 the women again posed in honor of the September 17-22nd is National Love Your Files week ~ Now's calendars 10th Anniversary. You can buy the calendar here . the time to go through all your old files and discard the things you no longer need or use. *September 4th is Newspaper Carrier Day ~ We always give our Newspaper Carrier a tip during the September 24-28th is International Women's eCommerce Days holiday season, and decided that this ~ Host a contest and give prizes for the customer who spends the day we would do something different most money online that day (at your site or any site for that our carrier is a grown man (they all matter) or do what Women in Ecommerce™ (www.wecai.org) drive now) so we are making him a does and host a contest for the members who sell the most online basket with beer and pretzels and that day. Be sure to have prizes and awards for the most sales, chips to take home and enjoy. In the basket are coupons form the least sales and the most unusual requests. local purveyors and vendors who want to tap into this client base. How do we get the coupons? We ask! Daily Observances: *September 5th is Be Late for Something Day ~ for some of us, *September 1st is Calendar Adjustment Day ~ And some people this is not difficult for others it could require some forethought. really had to "adjust" to this Calendar! In 1999 a group of eleven members of the Women? Institute (in Yorkshire, UK) posed

237 Quirky Marketing Calendar SEPTEMBER

September 6th is Do It! Day ~ “We should be taught not to wait employees offering to shave their heads if their fundraising goal is for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates met. inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.” ~Frank Tibolt Now is the day to begin or complete a project you have been *September 10th is Swap Ideas Day ~ If you don’t currently putting off for some time. Time to get off your duff and out of belong to a “mastermind group” now is the time to consider it – the planning stages and start acting on your plans… Go Masterminding is a great way to share ideas and build on your ahead… Do it! TODAY! own ideas. You can use swap ideas day to get your clients involved in your business. Offer to swap ideas for your business *September 7th is Google Commemoration Day ~ If you’ve by suggesting ideas to help them improve and they in turn do the never tried 'Google alerts’ now is a great time to do so Google same for yours. Not only will they appreciate your interest in what Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results they think, your willingness to help them, will help you both come (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. Go to out winners while improving your relationships. http://www.google.com/alerts and start getting your own alerts- 5 Reasons to Be a Part of a Mastermind TEAM: It is a great way to know what others in your industry are doing, 1. To seek the advice of people you know, like and trust. Being what your customers are looking for and getting the latest around those people gives you energy and creates the impetus for information on things that interest you. success. 2. To seek new outlets for revitalizing your endeavors. Your *September 8th is Bald is Beautiful Day ~ If you are a barber marketing ideas are flat; you need the help of a TEAM to reinvent you could host a “Bald is beautiful contest” and have prizes for the your message. roundest head, the shiniest head, the most interesting head … - In 3. To create an atmosphere of harmony to accomplish a definite May 2001 Harrisburg Senators partnered with the American purpose. Cancer Society (ACS) for a special fundraiser at Commerce Bank 4. To develop a form of accountability. When you work alone, Park. The Senators raised money for the ACS Hope Lodge in There’s no one to check on you to gauge your progress or to keep Hershey, a place where cancer patients and their families can stay you on track. free of charge while patients are receiving treatment at Hershey 5. To unlock or unblock ideas that will create profound success for Medical Center. Bald is Beautiful Day consisted of players and achieving your goals.

238 Quirky Marketing Calendar SEPTEMBER

September 9th is National Grandparent's Day ~ Acknowledge Speaking of Lemonade stands, in 2008 my retail florist signed up for the your favorite grandparents with flowers or volunteer for or create Sunkist Lemonade “Take a Stand” created for Kids who want to raise an adopt-a-grandparent association. Honor those who honor money for their favorite charities. We went online and requested one of their lemonade stand displays to raise money for a local charity. We children (of all ages) in a special way. Have a grandparent? day chose “Here’s Help” a drug and rehabilitation facility located in Miami, sale or special offering. Visit a nursing home or assisted living Florida – one we have been a long-standing supporter. My grandchildren facility and read to or just talk to some of the residents. and office manager’s children “managed” the stand raising $43 for the organization. September 10th is Price Increase Day ~ Doesn't sound like a day It taught them about commerce and the power of giving (because they that one would celebrate (except maybe business owners). could not keep any of the profits).

You may remember Lucy Van Pelt, This is an excellent way to raise awareness of a cause as well as your (of the Peanuts gang fame created business. If you are in a high traffic area, placing the Lemonade Stand by Charles M. Schultz) and her outside for passing traffic to see, also demonstrates to the community that Phychiatric Help Stand (similar to a you are a caring and giving business. classic lemonade stand). In fact, in one episode ti was a big deal when “Since 2004, Sunkist’s tradition of encouraging and recognizing kids’ she raised the price of her services support of charity across the country has activated more than 65,000 kids from 5 cents to 47 cents. If you from every state in the U.S. and every province in Canada to sign up to recall, one day she took a marker Take a Stand for a charity close to their heart. The award-winning cause- and simply crossed out the old marketing program encourages young people to give back to their price on her booth, and raised her price for her advice. community by donating their earnings from a good old-fashioned lemonade sale.” This is just one example of how a cause-related Even mythical children can feel the economic sting of inflation! marketing plan can work for your company – and that of the organization you support. If you are interested in doing a lemonade stand for a cause, visit the Sunkist “Take a Stand ,” Progam today.

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Did you know (Popcorn Trivia)? th September 10 is also National Boss/Employee Exchange Americans consume 1.12 billion pounds of popcorn a year. Day ~ The Monday after Labor Day, bosses and employees switch Popcorn was the first food to be jobs so they can understand each other better. microwaved deliberately. The oldest ears of popping corn *September 11th is Patriot Day ~ In 2002, President George W. were discovered in a bat cave Bush proclaimed September 11 as Patriot Day in honor of those in New Mexico; they are over who died the previous year in the terrorist attacks on the World 5,500 years old. Trade Center and Pentagon. Popcorn was used as a festive decoration (as garland for Today is a day of reflection, of prayer and of peace. Christmas trees) but it was not eaten as a snack until the 1800s. So I thought instead of the usual quirky marketing article, I would Indiana is America’s popcorn capital. There’s even a town called share one of my favorite YouTube videos ~ IMAGINE by John Popcorn. Lennon . In an average bag of popcorn, the number of yellow kernels will outnumber the white ones by 9 to 1. *September 12th is Popcorn Day ~ Did you know that without the extra revenue from popcorn stands, many theaters would have gone under during the Depression? Americans eat more than 15 billion quarts of popcorn a year. Now that’s an industry!

What product or service does your company rely upon for the majority of it’s revenue? According to marketing and sales experts 80% of your sales are generated by a mere 10-20% of your product line. If that’s the case for you, would it make sense to find ways to sell even more of that 10-20%?

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September 12th is Programmer Day ~ Programmer Day is a day time, in 1999. to celebrate Programmers and thank them for all that they do. Burger King was the first fast-food restaurant to offer patrons 20 Programmer Day is the 256th day of every year, September 13th free minutes of Internet time or the 12th on leap years. That day was chosen because A byte Bill Gates appeared on a 1995 cover of Time headlined as can have 256 possible values, bytes are very important to “Master of the Universe” programmers. (source: www.programmerday.info/ ) Did you know that the the letters “MS” in MSNBC stands for Microsoft? FYI: Computer Programming is the ability to arrange 1's and 0's in The ctrl, alt and delete combination that will reboot the computer if such an order that an x86 processor can actually interpret and it is held down long enough is also called the “three finger salute.” execute those commands. September 13th is Fortune Cookie Day ~ Give everyone a Programmer trivia: fortune cookie today – you can buy them at a Chinese restaurant, In 1954 Fortran, the first higher level programming language, was Asian Market or special order them online and include your own invented by IBM. messages – go to Fancy Fortune Cookies or Good Fortunes. BASIC stood for “Beginner’s All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Even the Census Bureau uses Fortune Cookies to Market. In Code.” It was developed in 1963 at Dartmouth College, but really February 2010 the Census Bureau hired Tsue Chong Co., a took hold with the home computer explosion of the late 1970s and fortune-cookie factory in Seattle’s Chinatown International District, early 1980s. One of the first versions of BASIC for a home to insert five different census messages into 2 million cookies that computer was Altair BASIC, written in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul were then shipped to restaurants and groceries across Allen, the founders of Microsoft. Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The first commercially available portable computer was the Osborne 1, which debuted in 1981. Nevada provided WiFi for all residents, earning it a Yahoo “Most Wired City in America” award Apple’s computer outfit’s ad 1984, run only once during Super Bowl XVIII, was named by TV Guide as the best commercial of all

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Some of the messages included in these Fortunes were: ”Put Tilt the sheet to move the batter into round shapes about 3 inches down your chopsticks and get involved in Census 2010,” reads in diameter. Be careful to make batter as round and even as one message. “Real Fortune is being heard,” reads another. The possible. Because the cookies have to be really hot to form them goal was toe spread the word about the population count that took into the crescent shape, do not make too many at one time. Once place beginning April 1. (source: Seattle Times) they cool it is too late. Start with 3 or 4 to a sheet and see how many the pan (and you) can manage. Fortune Cookie Recipe for Business Success 4. Bake for 5 minutes or until cookie has turned a golden color 1/2 Fortune cookies are a great way to promote your business. And if inch wide around the outer edge of the circle. The center will you have ambition to make them yourself, you can customize the remain pale. Get a second batch ready to pop in the oven while message to suit the occasion or project you are promoting. Here’s the first one is baking. your fortune cookie recipe for business success: 5. Remove cookies from oven and using a wide spatula quickly moving cookie, place upside down on a wooden board. You will need: Quickly place the fortune on the cookie, close to the middle and • 1 egg white fold the cookie in half. Place the folded edge across the rim of a • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract measuring cup and pull the pointed edges down, one on the inside • 1 pinch salt of the cup and one on the outside. Place folded cookies into the • 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour cups of a muffin tin or egg carton until firm. Some Fortune Cookie • 1/4 cup white sugar Trivia: Although it is true that Ancient Chinese warlords sent DIRECTIONS messages hidden inside cakes, fortune cookies are not Chinese, 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a cookie sheet. Write they were invented in Los Angeles around 1920. The actual your fortunes on strips of paper about 4 inches long and 1/2 inch inventor is unknown as several have claimed to be the inventors. wide. Generously grease 2 cookie sheets. Fortune cookies , served at the end of a meal in Chinese 2. Mix egg white and vanilla until foamy but not stiff. Sift the flour, restaurants in United States and a few other countries, are not salt, and sugar and blend into the egg white and vanilla mixture. available in China. 3. Place teaspoonfuls of the batter at least 4 inches apart on one of the prepared cookie sheets.

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*September 13th is also International Chocolate Day ~ another preparing the meal and have more time to spend together during great day to do a chocolate promotion - carry around gold the meal with their original “fast-food” messages. Do Something chocolate coins wherever you go and hand them out with your Newsworthy that will get the media’s attention. And make sure the business card (I use those glue dots to attach the chocolate to my RIGHT media knows about it. business card and use this as another way to spread the word about my company in a delectable way. A chocolatierre in Florida Step Two: Identify Your Stakeholders - those stakeholders include makes chocolate coins and gives them to prospects wherever he current customers and potential customers (prospects). When goes, a great way to allow others to offer a sample and promote identifying stakeholders, look beyond your own backyard. Look at his business. other industries or media or groups of people who might be likely customers that you may not have thought of. Is there an industry **September 15th is Do-it-yourself PR DAY ~ Today is the or profession you would like to tap into for market share? Now is a perfect day to create your own public relations campaign. It can good time to test your DIY PR campaign on them. Start small and be as simple as sending a postcard to your local media contacts, as you see positive results expand to other markets. visiting media websites and making online connections, reaching out in the social networking world and introducing yourself or Step Three: Solicit Feedback from Stakeholders – how would picking up the phone and offering your services as a resource to they like to receive information? Do they prefer social media such the media. With do it yourself pr your goal should be to build as blogs, social networking, etc.) or is their mode of publicity awareness of your company through the media—online, offline delivery print media, television or radio? and social media. The exposure gained from mainstream and Dell Computers created its own feedback tool in the form of a online media channels can create public recognition that builds social networking site called IdeaStorm.com . Visitors to the social trust and adds to your bottom line. site can submit ideas for computer and technology development, Step One: Create a Compelling Story - tell a story that will which are then voted on and commented on by other users. Dell resonate with your intended audience. Include examples and can use this information to get inside its customers heads, when possible people. Human interest will grab your audience and improve products and create products based upon user feedback. keep their attention long enough to know who you are. IdeaStorm.com has become an effective and inexpensive PR tool McDonalds started out by showing how families could save time for them.

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You can do the same with a blog once you find a way to get group financial statements. We want the process of billing your interaction and feedback. You can also participate in social customers and paying the bills from your vendors every month to networks where your customers and prospects “hang out” and wind up making you money, instead of giving you continual offer tips, advice, ask questions and solicit feedback. unprofitable headaches.” Feedback will help make your do-it-yourself PR Day Campaign a Study the “pitches” of local companies both large and small and greater success. see how you would perfect them. Ask others for feedback on yours and work on it until it makes sense to people and they don’t have **September 16th is Elevator Pitch Day ~ The perfect day to to ask you what you mean. Instead they will ask you, “tell me perfect your “pitch” or 15-30 second commercial so that others more” or “I have a referral for you,” or “I have been thinking of know precisely what you do when you say it out loud. It should be hiring a ______and am so glad we met.” succinct, interesting and make the listener want to know more. These are all good signs that your pitch works. When you say it This YouTube Video gives a good example of how to create your often enough out loud in public, if its working you will find others elevator pitch. repeating it almost like a mantra.

A few examples of an elevator pitch: *September 16th is also Collect Rocks Day ~ A day to enjoy and My retail shop Eden Florist ~ “When you have something to say, add to your rock collection. Kids collect rocks because it is a fun let our flowers second that emotion.” thing to do. They even trade rocks among other rock collectors. From a Life Insurance Company: “The life insurance you don’t There are no books on what rocks to collect, or how much each have to die to use“ rock is valued at. Rather, rocks are selected for a collection based From a landscaping company: “I own a landscaping company upon a wide range of attributes. When it comes to rocks, beauty is specializing in the installation and maintenance of large estates.“ in the eye of the beholder (or owner). Of course when women From an SEO Firm: “I help business owners get their website grow up we collect more expensive rocks like turquoise and ranked in the top position on Google for keywords people would emeralds and topaz. Oh, and diamonds! Promote Collect Rocks use to find their business online.” Day by giving out pretty rocks or rocks with messages on them. From an accounting firm: “We make sure you understand your

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*September 18th is Do It Day ~ Everyone's Doing it Day, the big *September 22nd is also American Business Women's Day ~ day each year when South Africans join forces to paint, plant, The first American Business Women's Day (ABW Day) was clean, read, teach and empower their communities. This year we? celebrated in 1982. It is a national day for American to recognize e calling for a 'National Strike’ not to down tools, but to pick them the achievements of not only ABWA members but also the millions up to fight poverty and underdevelopment around the country. of employed women in the U. S. It's observed on September 22nd With the backing of celebrities, business, civil society and the anniversary of ABWA's founding. thousands of ordinary citizens, Do It Day 2010 was amazing! **September 23rd is 3C Day ~ Connect, Communicate and *September 22nd is International Day of Peace ~ "PEACE is Close More Sales. Here are five do just that... during 3C Day: more than the absence of war. It is about transforming our societies and uniting our global 1. Learn to use email more effectively. Email marketing is still community to work together for a more peaceful, alive and well and when done right can significantly increase the just and sustainable world for ALL. Check out all your customer loyalty and bottom line. the ideas on the International Day of Peace website. You can sign their pledge, host a peace 2. Connect on social media sites like Facebook. Take a lesson day party, observe a moment of silence, ask your from business models such as Starbucks with more than 7 million local politicians to issue a proclamation, and issue fans/followers. Study them and model the behavior that you know a media release announcing your company? will benefit your own fan-base. That can include offering exclusive involvement and promote peace. Facebook Discounts, contests and more.

3. Introduce people to each other. Make profitable connections for others and in turn they are likely to do the same for you. Be a people/business connector.

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4. Blog. Did I mention to blog? Blog is both a noun and a verb. A Psalm Book.” (source: National Center for Biotechnology blog is an online journal and to blog is to create/submit content to Information) a blog. Smart marketers have their own blogs AND blog on other Here are a few ideas to celebrate printing press day: blog sites that cater to the same demographic or target audience. If you are a Printer you could run “specials” offer tours of their 5. Look for potential referral partners. This is more than the facilities, have an open house. introduction mentioned above. Find people to strategically partner with specifically for the purpose of referring one another business. Support a local printer! Do these five things to connect, communicate with your target audience and referral partners and you WILL close more sales. Showcase your expertise by writing articles and having them published, then get copies of the publications to show off at your *September 25th Birth of the Printing Press in America ~ In place of business. If the article is in an industry publication or a 1693 the first printing press in local publication your customers read, FRAME IT! America was established at Cambridge, Massachusetts, Create a brochure about your company and hire the expertise and and was under the control of services of a printer to print for you. Harvard College. Order printed items that you can distribute in your community via The first publications were the stores, libraries, other businesses, chambers of commerce, etc. “Freeman’s Oath” and “An Order letterhead and envelopes to use when writing formal letters. Almanack,” which appeared in the same year. In the following year the first book published in the Colonies appeared: “The Psalms in Metre, Faithfully translated for the Use, Edification, and Comfort of the Saints in public and private, especially in New England,” commonly called “The Bay

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September 26th is National Women's Health & Fitness Day ~ leave your name and number and they will get back to you." Close to a beach or the water? Host an Early morning workout on My husband's goes like this: "Hi, how YOU doin?” (with an Italian the beach,” or at the Lake Day. Partner with other health care accent). So often people will call and think he is actually speaking professionals to promote the day Create some fun workouts and until you hear the next line (after a pregnant pause) - Please leave maybe even have a contest. How about a Sack race in the Sand a message after the beep.” or hula hoops on the lakes contest? Not close to the water? Have a “mall walkers day and promote walking in your local shopping “Greetings, you have reached the Sixth Sense Detective Agency. center. You can even use a local college campus, nature trail or We know how you are and what you want, so at the sound of the park to host the event. Invite the media to attend. If they cannot tone, please hang up." show up, take pictures and send to them along with a media release or story of the event. You may be surprised when they use But seriously, a little well thought out message will increase the your story hey, even local newspapers have slow news days and messages others leave for you. If you have a website, you could really appreciate this sort of "good news.” say, “Hello, you've reached Morning Marketing. We are glad you called. If you are calling during business hours we are assisting September 27th is Answering Machine Day ~ According to a other customers and will get back to you shortly. Check out our marketing research company, over 2/3 of American homes now website www.morningmarketing.com for our latest offers and be have answering machines. So I thought I'd share some sure and leave a message after the tone.” fun/interesting/humorous answering machine messages with you: If you'd like to download messages to your answering machine, check out The Answering Machine ~ They have movie themes, "Hi. Now you say something." comedy, music and more for you to choose.

"Hello, you are talking to a machine. I am capable of receiving messages. My owners do not need siding, windows, or a hot tub, and their carpets are clean. They give to charity through their office and do not need their picture taken. If you're still with me,

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September 28h is National Good Neighbor Day ~ Although You can promote Office Olympics Day by posting a notice on the Good Neighbor Day was started by Mrs. Becky Mattson in office bulletin board. Include an invitation in the weekly pay Montana with Congressional correspondence to The Honorable envelope. Recruit team captains to help create order for the event. Mike Mansfield in 1971, it wasn? really capitalized on until Brooks Think of interesting and sought-after prizes such as dinners for Jabobs of Jackson, Mississippi decided to promote the day by two, spa days, shopping gift cards and more. handing out a dozen roses to each of his patrons – the catch? Have a prize for those who come in “last.” This shows good They were asked to spread the news of the day by giving away 11 sportsmanship and will encourage people to participate the next to people they encountered during the day and keep one for time you have an Office Olympics Day. This can also be a great themselves today the holiday is promoted through a well-known motivational tool to get people to work together and look forward international wire service with several thousand florists to coming to work (especially in this economy). participating each year. Want more ideas to promote GND visit: At the end of Office Olympics Day be sure to pass out “gold,” http://www.natgoodneighborday.org/ideas.html “silver” and “bronze” medals to the “winners. You can usually get these at a local trophy merchant. *September 28th is also Office Olympics Day ~ Want to have some fun with your staff? Invite your customers and clients to join **September 29th is Online Coupon Day ~ Everybody’s doing it. in… Here are some ideas: Water Break Relays, Toss the Boss, Well almost everybody! At least savvy businesses with a vision to Memo Mania, Beat The Clock, Human Post-It-Notes, Musical get in front of new prospects are… What are they doing? Office Chairs or even Copy Machine Gymnastics. Participating in local online coupon strategies to promote their This year The United Way hosted an Office Olympics to raise business via local shopping sites like Groupon , Deal of the Day money for the Center County United Way that took place in and Crazy Good Deal . August. Last week I participated in an online coupon promotion for my Staff and faculty from across the College formed teams to floral business via Crazy Good Deal . I did it to “test the waters” to fundraise for the United Way and to compete in the office-themed see how many people would buy the deal and how many people Olympic games. This year, the teams raised a total of $3,782 – the would respond in any way at all. largest amount raised to date.

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While it was not wildly successful in terms of sales, what it did do If your deal qualifies, your DEAL is promoted to thousands of local for my shop was give it online visibility to an audience I would not area residents. You get instant sales and instant cash deposited have had the opportunity to get in front of otherwise (more than directly in your bank account. 5,000 potential new customers). And in fact, participating in online coupon promotions are good for a variety of reasons: How it works for the consumer: ●You get to feature your business on the shopping site for 24 Customers buy the deal (a new deal everyday with discounts on hours often as the only deal of the day! local business for 50-80% off)! The deal only lasts 24 hours, so ●The site promotes your business to thousands of local you have to act fast!, print a voucher and redeem before the consumers via their email strategies! expiration date. ●You get immediate results – at the end of the sale day you get a Coupons build loyalty and your customer base. Why not create report with all the sales and how much money you made (after the your DEAL TODAY! commission to the company). ●Best of all it does not cost you any money up front to participate. Savvy companies understand that the sale is really just an The online shopping site creates the coupon, the promotional incentive to get people to become your customer and may not piece and sends to THEIR LIST of subscribers. result in actual profits from the individual promotion. I still think it ●You only pay a commission to the shopping site when they make is an excellent way to market your business because it helps a sale. Commissions vary from site to site but the standard seems brand your company and give local name recognition. And coupon to be 40-50% to the site. advertising and marketing is really hot these days with consumers. There are rules to participate. For instance you have to offer a Go ahead, try it out! DEAL or incentive that will make people want to click and learn more and ultimately make a purchase. Most sites requires the Note: In February 2012 a new site is launching. It is called offer be a 2 for 1 or 50% off (or more) incentive in order for them BogoBuys and will be the newest Coupon site to hit the to promote your company. internet airwaves. Be sure and check it out!

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OTHER OBSERVANCES IN SEPTEMBER

MONTHLY

Baby Safety Month National Potato Month Children's Good Manners Month National Preparedness Month College Savings Month National Rice Month Happy Cat Month National Skin Care Awareness Month International Self-Awareness Month One-On-One Month Library Card Sign-up Month Pleasure Your Mate Month Metaphysical Awareness Month Reunion Planning Month National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month Healthy Aging Month Menopause Awareness Month Self-Improvement Month National Chicken Month Self-University Month National Honey Month Subliminal Communications Month National Mushroom Month Update Your Resume Month National Piano Month National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)

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WEEKLY

Self-University Week: 1-7 Deaf Awareness Week: 16-22 International Enthusiasm Week: 1-8 National Clean Hands Week: 16-22 National Waffle Week: 2-8 Prostate Cancer Awareness Week: 16-22 Play Days: 4-8 National Love Your Files Week: 17-22 National Payroll Week: 6-10 National Constitution Week: 17-23 Suicide Prevention Week: 9-15 Child Passenger Safety Week: 19-25 National Historically Black Colleges & Universities Week: 9-15 National Farm & Ranch Safety and Health Week: 19-25 National Assisted Living Week: 9-15 National Rehabilitation Awareness Celebration: 19-25 Dating & Life Coach Recognition Week: 9-13 Banned Books Week: 22-29 Line Dance Week: 10-15 American Massage Therapy Week: 23-26 National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness: 14-20 National Keep Kids Creative Week: 23-30 National Singles Week: 15-21 National Dog Week: 23-29 Pollution Prevention Week: 15-22 International Women's eCommerce Days: 24-28 Turn Off Your TV Week: 16-22 National Chimney Safety Week: 25-10/1 Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week: 16-22 National Adult Immunization Awareness Week: 26-10/2 Balance Awareness Week: 16-22 Great America Beer Week: 26-10/1 Build A Better Image Week: 16-22

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DAILY

*Building and Code Staff Appreciation Day: 1 National Seat Check Saturday: 17 National No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day: 1 *Air Force Birthday: 18 *Toy Tips Executive Toy Test Day: 1 *Chiropractic Founders Day: 18 *Calendar Adjustment Day: 1 *Hug a Greeting Card Writer Day: 18 Beanie Babies Day: 1 National Respect Day: 18 Lexus Day: 1 World Water Monitoring Day: 18 *World Chess Champion Day: 1 Mickey Mouse Day: 19 *V-J Day: 2 Laundromat Day: 19 Pop Top Day: 2 *National Women Road Warrior Day: 19 Labor Day: 3 *World's Alzheimer's Day: 21 *Newspaper Carrier Day: 4 National POW/MIA Recognition Day: 21 *Be Late For Something Day: 5 *American Business Woman's Day: 22 Cheese Pizza Day: 5 Autumn Equinox: 22 Housekeepers Day: 5 *International Day of Peace: 22 Fight Procrastination Day: 6 *Dear Diary Day: 22 *Google Commemoration Day: 7 *National Centenarian's Day: 22 National Lazy Mom's Day: 7 *National White Chocolate Day: 22 *Neither Snow nor Rain" Day: 7 R.E.A.D. in America Day: 22 *International Literacy Day: 8 *Celebrate Bi-sexuality Day: 23 Pardon Day: 8 Innergize Day: 23 *World Physical Therapy Day: 8 *Punctuation Day: 24 *Wonderful Weirdoes Day: 9 National Hunting and Fishing Day: 22 Ellis Island Day: 9 Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Kids: 24 *Swap Ideas Day: 10 National One-Hit Wonder Day: 24 *Libraries Remember Day: 11 National Five-Day Workweek Day: 25 Tweety Bird Day: 11 Family Health and Fitness Day USA: 25 *Patriot Day: 11 National Museum Day: 25 *Remembrance Day: 11 FTC Day: 26 *Video Games Day: 12 *World Maritime Day: 26 *International Chocolate Day: 13 *Ancestor Appreciation Day: 27 Big Whopper Liar Day: 15 World Tourism Day: 27 Responsible Dog Ownership Day: 15 *National Good Neighbor Day: 28 Beer Days: 16-18 Ask a Stupid Question Day: 28 Mayflower Day: 16 Love Note Day: 28 *Stepfamily Day: 16 World Heart Day: 29 Wife Appreciation Day: 16 VFW Day: 29 *Citizenship Day: 17 National Health & Fitness Day: 29 *Constitution Day: 17 Full Moon: 29 Rosh Hashanah: 17 Confucius Day: 30 *VFW Ladies Auxiliary Day: 17 International Eat an Apple Day: 17 International Coastal Cleanup Day: 17

252 Quirky Marketing Calendar My Marketing Calendar for SEPTEMBER

Special Dates I plan to promote: 1. 2. 3. 4. How I plan to promote them:

Goals for Each Promotion:

Budget: Media 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Comments:

253 SEPTEMBER 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

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254 Quirky Marketing Calendar OCTOBER Marketing Calendar

Did you know that October is National “Gain the Inside and getting to know about the people who participate. Also, join a Advantage” Month? ~ To gain the inside advantage in your local group to get some face to face time with those of various marketplace, it? time to come out of your shell and start speaking! cultures. One group I recommend is Sister Cities. Join a local Find opportunities to speak before groups that can hire you. chapter of Sister Cities and get to know about other cultures. Speaking is an excellent way to gain credibility and visibility. Rotary clubs, Kiwanis clubs, Lions clubs and About Sister Cities: Sister Cities International is a nonprofit Chambers of Commerce meetings are good places to start. Speak citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens about something you are passionate about and that directly partnerships between U.S. and international communities. The relates to your business. Provide everyone with a take home organization strives to build global cooperation at the municipal (handouts) that includes your contact information so your level, promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic audience can contact you later. Because first impressions are very development. important, I also recommend you read Overcoming Presentation Anxiety National Book Month ~ Host a book fair, invite a local author to do a book signing, Last Month was International Strategic Thinking Month – This collect books for a local school or library. Read Month is International Strategic Planning Month ~ Time to put all a good book in your industry and write about it those good ideas you had into your marketing action plan. in your newsletter. Have a recommended reading section of your newsletter and on your Diversity Awareness Month ~ If you don’t have the opportunity website and announce your picks for the latest books. Or you can to travel to far off lands, get involved in a community organization do what my friend Susan does and be a volunteer reader for a where the participants are ethnically or spiritually different from book critic for a local newspaper. You get to write a brief summary you. You can do that by finding social networks and groups and of what the book is about and rate it. forums online and getting involved by watching the conversations

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Right Brainers Rule! Month ~ The goal of Right Brainers Rule - include pictures (with permission). The media loves a good Month is to bring awareness that although we may do things human interest story and you could end up in the news when you differently than most of the world (who are left-brain dominant) we least expect it. are highly creative, exceptionally innovative and wonderful just the way we are. Sadly, right-brainers are often ridiculed and Emotional Intelligence Month ~ BNET describes Emotional reprimanded for their unorthodox ways of doing things. The month intelligence as “The ability to perceive and understand personal of October is a chance to show how the right-brained person can feelings and those of others. Emotional intelligence means survive and thrive in a very left-brained world. Check out recognizing emotions and acting on them in a reflective and CreativeLee.com for more information. And while you’re at it rational manner. It involves self-awareness, empathy, and self- read: Daniel Pink’s book “A Whole New Mind- why right brainers restraint. In the workplace, this ability can greatly enhance will rule the world.” interpersonal communication and people skills.” Emotionally And Check out my article: Money Management and the Right intelligent people have good people skills, can cope with pressure Brain Entrepreneur in WE Magazine for Women . and stress, make better decisions, and have better job satisfaction. Take the Emotional IQ Institute? Free Emotional IQ National Cookie Month ~ Contact cookie bouquet and send a Course that will help you to easily develop new skills in the areas cookie bouquet to your favorite (best) clients. If you sell cookies, of relationships and feelings. Thriving Emotionally has to do with use your product to promote the month. You could host a cookie "Laughter from the belly, feelings from the heart, sacred bake-off contest and ask the local city officials to come and judge experience for the soul, and an unburdened mind that thinks for the event. Award ribbons for various categories. Another great the whole.” media draw. National Reading Group Month ~ Join a local reading group. National Go on a Field Trip Month ~ Invite the schools in your Call your library or local bookstore to see what groups already community to stop by your business for a field trip. Have meet. When you find one that fits your needs, chances are it will refreshments and activities appropriate to the age of the kids be professionally diverse and you will have a whole new group of present. Send a media release announcing the event after the fact people to learn from, share and network with.

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Global Diversity Awareness Month ~ Find ways to celebrate women in my community. I then became a “Triple Touch Training diversity in your community. Instructor” to train the trainers to teach triple touch to the Here are some ideas: community. Although it is not meant to be a marketing ploy – by Assign days of the week for different ethnicity’s and gender being involved in a community organization that appeals to many, celebrations or recognition. not only do we make lifelong friends – people learn about my company and quite often become my customers. Partner with your local Chamber of Commerce to host a “Celebrating Diversity Awards Luncheon” and recognize Want to raise awareness of breast cancer? Host a bra decorating leaders in your community who represent specific group. Find a contest like Adriennes flower garden in New Jersey did. 24 local business organization that caters to a diverse group or ethnic entries and 1,300 votes later, the shop has increased traffic, her background different from your own. Work with the group to bottom line and more importantly raised awareness of breast create an event to include a variety of cultures in the celebration. cancer in her community. Go for inclusion, bringing these cultures together.

Organize and host a fashion show with fashions from different Positive Attitude Month ~ to be a good marketer you have to cultures and instruct the emcee to share a brief history of each of have a positive attitude and believe that your efforts will achieve the cultures. the results you desire.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month ~ Volunteer with the American Cancer Society (ACS) or Gilda’s Club (or other similar organization whose purpose it to raise awareness of and to help women with breast cancer). How does this help you market your company? Well, I have been a volunteer with ACS for 17+ years now and started out in fundraising, moved on to programs and services and then began teaching their “triple touch” program to

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Women's Small Business Month ~ Do what the Women in October 1-5th is Customer Service Week ~ Make appointments Ecommerce™ did and host an event in celebration of Women. It to visit customers this week and make sure you call and confirm was the Women’s Internet Marketing Summit (a teleconference those appointments. No matter what service business you are in, and Webinar event). The program featured experts in email, if you are not confirming appointments you may be losing database, affiliate, information, WEB 2.0, content, surveys, business. Busy customers and clients often double book (they contests and more! don't have their calendar handy) or they have to rush off to another meeting. Confirming your appointments at least the day Contact experts you know (or have heard of) and invite them to before you will notice less wasted time, more productivity and participate in your event. Most will jump at the chance because increased sales. Check out the Customer Service Week Website they will get great publicity for their effort and they will add credibly for tips on how to plan a successful customer service week at to your event. For more information visit The Women‘s Internet work! Read my article Creating a Marketing Audio Program TODAY! Customer Centric Culture .

WE Magazine for Women offered advertising in our online October 7-13th is National Work from magazine at half price in our Fall 2010 Issue. WE also offered Home Week ~ Working too hard? It? time discounted rates of up to 70% off in the Annual Gift Guide which to get out of the house and treat yourself. will be offered again in 2011. During National Work from Home Week you could reconnect face to face with the Check out the CONTEST hosted by Postcard Mania, public. Go shopping, network, visit clients, ShoeDazzle.com Shoes & Rebecca Minkoff in honor of get a massage, manicure or pedicure or facial (or all of the Women’s Small Business Month. above). Join a forum and chat with other Work from Home Professionals. Find out how they run their businesses while they Weekly Observances: manage their lives. Check out Yahoo Groups for starters.

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Attend an event in your community geared toward the Work at host a networking teleconference or webinar. Have everyone who Home Industry. If there isn't one, why not host a luncheon and participates sign a guestbook. Give away prizes! Have fun… send invite other Work at Homers’ to attend? Call some companies that certificates of appreciation and thank-you notes afterwards. If you would benefit from getting in front of this unique market and ask if don? have a home-based business… and have always wanted they would like to co-sponsor the event or have a "table" to one, if not now, when? showcase their products and services. It just might be a great opportunity to make some money for your time and efforts. October 14-20th is Getting the World to Beat a Path to Your Door Week ~ Personalized stamps are a great way to get noticed. **October 9-15th is also Build Your Business with Business Have stamps of your company logo, your new book, your Cards Week ~ Put a baby photo on your business card and ask products, even yourself made and use the stamps for promotional people to visit your website to see if the matching photo is mailings. It? a very creative way to catch someone's eye and featured. If it is, they win a prize. Variations: put pictures of make a lasting impression. Have them made for your best clients employees or products on your cards and on a special page on and use as a thank you gift for referrals and their business. Go to your site put stickers in a variety of shapes on your cards – they www.stamps.com forpricing. win if the image matches the graphics found on your Website. Put trivia questions about your product or company on your site and October 25-31st is International Magic Week ~ some marketers the answers on your business cards and give prizes if they answer think that marketing is an illusion. That it? as easy as Magic. Well the question correctly (or vice-versa). if you spoke to a magician, you would know that they often spend years working on their craft of perfecting a “trickand the same is October 10-16th is Home-Based Business Week ~ Did you know true of marketing. There are really no magic bullets effective that the average home-based business person commutes almost marketing takes time, practice and effort (and yes, sometimes 30 minutes per day, or well over 100 hours per month? That? the even money). However, just one great idea can make the time it takes to go from the kitchen, to the home-office, to the difference between success and failure. So how long are you bathroom, back to the home-office and outside for some fresh air. willing to practice, to achieve success? Check out Sell More With Celebrate home-based business week by inviting clients into your Magic by Avi Frier ~ Go to SellMoreMagic.com and get the first home-office for a luncheon or tea or if you have an online event, lesson for FREE.

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Daily Observances:

*October 2nd is Eyebrow DAY ~ My good friend Linda Stein of the latest issue of Seventeen Magazine, but the rest of us…wild Linda Stein Getting Personal, wrote and sent this to me in honor tweezers in hand, learned the bitter lesson that once tweezed of Eyebrow Day.October is such a busy month with the ever- most eyebrow hair often disappears forever. One hopeful friend popular National Dessert Day on the tenth, Mother-in-law day on deduceded that if shaving makes leg hair grow in thicker, why not the 27th and Halloween on the thirty-first. But today, October eyebrow hair. She applied her trusty lady Gillette to her face and second, is really special it’s Eyebrow Day. I’m Linda Stein and this a week later, like magic the same lonely stragglers grew in. I is Getting Personal. Ah the eyebrow, comprised of those little wonder if Rogaine would work! Be kind to your eyebrows, today’s wisps of hair, gracefully sitting atop each eyelid. Did you ever their day. wonder why eyebrows don’t grow and grow until they cover your entire face? Men don’t concern themselves with the shaping and *October 5th is World Teacher’s Day ~ Remember to thank the contour of their eyebrows. teachers in your life for all they do for you and those you love to help us learn about the world around us. Often men don’t even have eyebrows, but rather one brow, originating on the outer reaches of their eyes and like the building To honor a teacher I would like to share with you what Mac of the railroad jointly from the east and west, the two sides of Anderson, The Founder of Simple Truths sent to me: many men’s brows simply meet in a crescendo of hair across the bridge of the nose creating one continuous line of hair dividing the forehead from the rest of the face. For women, eyebrow styles come and go. Evolving from the pencil-line brows of Hollywood’s golden age to the the fluffy , full look popularized by Brook Shields, eyebrow awareness begins for most females in their teens.

Fashionable adolescents safely follow the tweezing guidelines in

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An Excerpt from Heart of a Teacher: child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an “A Parent’s Note to a Teacher” instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In by Anonymous all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will I’m the voice of a grateful parent be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or whose child was in your class… dehumanized. the one who needed help to find his way You’ve been a special blessing Paula Fox has written a beautiful as you helped my child succeed book that captures the essence and I’m thankful for the part you had to play of the Heart of a Teacher . Paula You gave him so much more has a degree in special than just the lessons in the books education and 35 years you gave him wings…so he could learn to fly experience teaching all ages You ignited a flame within his soul from preschool through adult. a passion to learn and grow… There are inspirational stories to never give up and always be willing to try about teachers who made a Your encouragement inspired him difference, beautiful photography, quotes and Paula’s beautiful and your kindness was so real original poems. This is a gift that any teacher will treasure forever. but the thing that thrills my heart the most is this… By building his self-confidence you changed his life this year he believes in himself…and a brighter future is his!

“It’s Up to Me” by Haim Ginott I’ve come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a

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*October 9th is World Post Day ~ I love what Frank Warren an Please Don’t Squeeze the ______artist from Germantown, MD did with postcards. What started out I Can’t Believe I Ate the Whole Thing ______as a collective art project has grown into a highly-visited blog M’m ! M’m! Good ______called PostSecret. He asks people to mail him a postcard with a It’s Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature ______secret they have never told a soul. The anonymous cards are then I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up! ______posted on his site. It is amazing what people feel compelled to Hey, Mikey! He Likes It! ______share when they can do so in total anonymity. You will find A Little Dab Will Do Ya ______shocking, tragic and even silly secrets divulged on the site. I would Silly Rabbit ______Are for Kids. also venture a guess that some are even made up. It is an Ring Around the Collar ______interesting look at human nature. The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection ______World Post Day would be the perfect day to start a postcard Silly Rabbit ______Are for Kids. marketing, stay in touch and follow up campaign to your clients Ring Around the Collar ______and prospects. In fact, you could use SendOutCards to do so. The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection ______Go to www.SendOutCards.com/heidi and check it out. Go “Yo Quiero” ______ahead! The first one is free on me! Just Do It! ______It’s the Real Thing ______**October 13th is NAME THAT PRODUCT DAY ~ Okay, it’s not a Time to Make the Donuts ______“real” holiday so I thought it would be fun to share some current The Un-cola ______and ”vintage” company slogans and marketing messages and see You Deserve a Break Today ______how many you remember… are you ready? (Don’t worry, you can You’re in Good Hands with ______find the answers at the end). Name That Product! When You Absolutely, Positively Have to Get it There on Time ___ Below are list of advertising “Jingles” for National Brand Products Hang on to your Bud Vases ______and Services. Please name the product or company associated For answers visit: Quirky Marketing Calendar with the phrase or slogan. Keeps Going, and Going and Going ______Where’s the Beef?______

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*October 16th is Dictionary Day ~ Build Your Vocabulary for be used to. For my birthday, my husband gave me a great book Success! “Not enough people realize that it is our ability to use called “A Whole New World: Why Right-brainers will rule the our language that will determine our place on the social pyramid – world.” What I appreciated about this book (in addition to and that will also control, to a great extent, the amount of money confirming what I already knew about right-brain function), is that it we will earn during our lives.” Earl Nightingale introduced me to new words that I was not yet familiar with. I was able to figure out the meanings of most, and those I did not know, Want people to look up to and respect you more? Become a looked up in the dictionary. Polymath (A person of great or varied learning). Consider this: the 4) Use the Dictionary – open the dictionary to any page and average English-speaking person knows roughly 800 words. Do choose a word you are not familiar with. That becomes your word you want to be AVERAGE all your life or would you like to be of the day! Use it in a sentence, write it down. Commit it to known as Above Average? You can do it! How? By increasing your memory. Repeat this process daily or at least once a week. vocabulary! 5) Subscribe to a word a day email lesson via Webster’s Online Dictionary , Dictionary.com or Wordsmith.org . Here are four simple tips that can help you increase your 6) Google “word of the day” and see what comes up. vocabulary by as much as 45% a year! 7) Keep a journal of each new word you learn and review 1) According to The Stevens Institute of Technology studies about them once a week or monthly. Once you have used them a few what made people successful, “The best single measure of times, they will become a part of your vocabulary and voila! You success is how a person speaks, particularly the words they used. have substantially increased your knowledge with very little effort. In the simplest terms, it is your vocabulary.” Okay, maybe some effort, and doesn’t it feel good? 2)Pay attention to words – when you hear a word used by someone that you don’t quite understand, try to figure out what it means by the context in which it is used. 3) Read – the single best way to increase your vocabulary is to read. Read books that stretch your mind in a way that you may not

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**October 17th is Shoe Size Day ~ And who has bigger shoes to October 16th is National Bosses Day ~ Do you like your boss? fill? If someone were to ask you what company comes to mind Want to recognize her or his day? You can with a gift that is not when you think of shoes, what would you reply? Did you reply, ? too expensive but conveys the emotion you are feeling. Why not Probably… Since Zappos is now the largest online retailer of send flowers or a plant to your favorite boss. Host a BEST BOSS shoes (and now other products) that is likely to be most people’s CONTEST – if your clients are not the boss, ask them to nominate answer. their boss in the BEST BOSS contest – they could write an essay or simply submit her name. Send a BEST BOSS certificate to all Zappos is Now (and has been for a couple of years) Selling nominees (I put them in an inexpensive frame and hand-deliver Products With Online Video. In this video Grant Crowell the certificate with a flower). interviews Zappos.com’s Video Product Manager, Laurie Williams. According to Williams, “The idea behind the videos is that we also October 18th is No Beard Day ~ Host a World Beard and want to show off the Zappos quirky personality. We want these Moustache Contest during NO BEARD DAY. Give prizes for the employees to know the item really well, and be a sincere sell to best of the best with the culmination of shaving it off at the end! Be the customers. We want the customer to first trust them before sure to take pictures for social proof the contest and contestants they purchase the item.” exist. In a nutshell, their strategy is to achieve higher conversion rates According to the World Beard Championships website , World by giving people a visual description of their products online.” Beard Day began in Germany in the 1970's. Held every 2 years, Zappos produces short to the point, videos for all of their products, the championships have been in Germany, Norway, the United presented by actual staff members who talk about the products as States, and England. However I could not find out the origins of they show them off. NO BEARD DAY!Also according th WBC, the US is now the worlds new facial hair “super power” having captured 12 titles out Online video marketing is now one of the fastest growing online of 18 (in Anchorage Alaska on May 23, 2009). Prior to that marketing strategies for people who do business on the web. So Germany had dominated the competition. in honor of Shoe Size Day, here's the Zappo's Video Interview.

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**October 20th is Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day ~ Find ways to get involved by volunteering on a committee, The barbershop has been serving a free beer to customers since working the information booth at an event, taking registration at a 2006, says Michael Portman, who co-owns four locations. Lone function or social, answering the phones an hour a month, Star had already been supplying the barbershops with cases at a contributing a prize for a local fundraiser, and even recruiting other discount price, and was game to split the cost of the ads. members to join. Other companies are taking advantage of cost sharing for their In 1999 I received a plaque from my local chamber when I advertising campaigns. Here are some the article mentioned: Math recruited my 100th member. The local chamber offers a variety of tutor Travis Macy, FirstBank Holding Co, ConnectMedia Ventures opportunities for you to stand out in the community and get and AssociaDirect Inc. You can read the rest of the article here: recognition for your efforts in addition to giving other members the The Wall Street Journal . Who could you partner with to share chance to get to know you! These can include trade shows, table advertising/marketing costs and get more bang for your buck? top expos, business card exchanges, monthly breakfasts or lunches, special events, community involvement and committee **October 22nd is Eat a Pretzel Day ~ Did you participation. know? The largest pretzel ever baked weighed 431 pounds and was 12 feet across. One of the **October 21st is Split Advertising Costs Day ~ While Auntie Anne’s franchisees from Lake Charles, researching what to write about today I came across this article in Louisiana created the pretzel. the Wall Street Journal about a how one barbershop partnered with Lone Star Beer for a local print and online advertising and Pretzels have a long and interesting history dating back to A.D. marketing campaign. Here’s an excerpt: 610, when an Italian monk rewarded students by serving them In May, Birds Barbershop in Austin, Texas, launched an baked scraps of leftover dough. According to legend, the monk advertising campaign with Lone Star Beer, which is owned by created the “pretzel shape to resemble his students, who folded Pabst Brewing Co. The ads, which are running in local print and their arms across their chests when praying. He called his bread online publications, show a customer sporting a new hair-do and treats “pretiolas,” Latin for “little rewards.” holding a beer. The ads list the price of the haircut and indicate that the beer is complimentary.

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According to the history books, in 1510, (just before daylight) Forbes, editor in chief of Forbes magazine didn't return his calls, bakers in Vienna, Austria were getting ready to make the popular he bought a cell phone at Radio Shack for $100 activated it and pretzels when they heard a noise that alarmed them. It turned out Fed-Ex'd it to Mr. Forbes. As soon as he received the receipt that to be the sound of the Turkish army invading Vienna. The quick the package had been received he started calling the cell phone. thinking pretzel bakers ambushed the invaders thus saving their Imagine being Mr. Forbes, a box is ringing in your office, what do Vienna from being overthrown by the Turkish! you do? Open it and answer it of course! Hughes made an Did you also know? The wedding phrase “tying the knot” impression, got Forbes attention and ultimately ended up getting originated from a pretzel being used to tie the knot between two what he was after… an endorsement on a book he had just prominent families. completed. You could send the phone to your favorite talk show Pretzels are thought to bring luck, prosperity, and spiritual host and see what happens. wholeness. In the following 9-minute Video Michele Perella, a trainer at **October 24th is Buy ‘em a Beer Day ~ Before you spend big Auntie Anne’s Pretzel University, demonstrates the many uses for bucks on the solo campaign, consider what some smart marketers the Auntie Anne’s At-Home Baking Kit. are doing to share the spotlight: buddying up. Recently, Austin’s About Auntie Anne’s: Birds Barbershop teamed with Lone Star Beer for a local print and online campaign. The ads feature real customers showing off their In July 2006, Auntie Anne’s sold its billionth pretzel. That’s new hair styles and a fresh Lone Star (which is complimentary 1,000,000,000! with each haircut).

In 2005, Auntie Anne’s sold enough pretzels that if they took each The lesson: If you’re going to spend the money on an ad, look for unbaked, untwisted Auntie Anne’s Pretzel and laid the strips tip-to- ways to partner with a non-competitor who shares the same tip, it would circle the world two and a half times. (Source: Auntie customers. Anne’s )

Read the rest of the story at The Wall Street Journal **October 23rd is National Talk Show Host Day ~ Do what Mark Hughes, marketing consultant did. He says that when Steve

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**October 25th is Outside the Box Marketing Day ~ In honor of But most non-professional marketers are confused by what is Outside the Box Marketing Day (aka Quirky Marketing Ideas) I’d “sizzle” and what is steak or in other words, what are the like to share a YouTube Video from my friend Craig Duswalt , “features” of your products and what outcomes can I expect from one of the leaders in Outside the Box Marketing Ideas. purchasing it? Features are the facts about your product and In this video Craig gives the audience ideas on how to use services. Such as what it is made of, how it was made, how long it outside-the-box marketing techniques he learned while touring will last, etc. Maybe even what it does. But what does it really do with Guns N’ Roses and Air Supply to help entrepreneurs grow for your customers? their businesses. Today smart marketers are substituting the word BENEFITS for Some of the Craig's Quirky ideas include: RESULTS because people really want to know what outcome they ● Picketing your own business will have from using your product or service. Will they be richer, ● Logo on Bank Stamp – go into Banks and stamp your logo healthier, thinner, prettier, happier, smarter…? Those are in all the deposit slips at your bank RESULTS. ● Rockstar Homeless Guy (holding sign for company instead of a tin cup begging for money) October 27th is Make a Difference Day ~ Make a Difference Day ● Rockstar Doctor Visits - slipping your business cards inside is the largest national day of helping others -- a celebration of all the magazines in the doctor's office. neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone can participate. Coast to ● How to Run for Office (and not win - but win great publicity) coast, citizens braved rainy weather, the aftermath of massive ● And so much more! wildfires and cooling temperatures to spruce up their surroundings and perform countless acts of good will.

**October 26th is Sell the Results Day ~ “You don’t buy coal, **October 27th is also Bungled Marketing Day ~ Today is you buy heat. You don’t buy circus tickets, you buy thrills. You **October 27 is also Bungled Marketing Day marketing gone wrong day… Here are just a few examples of don’t buy a paper, you buy news. You don’t buy spectacles, you bungled marketing campaigns or marketing gone wrong from buy vision.” Anonymous some well-know companies and organizations. Its funny but the People buy outcomes, not promises. You’ve likely heard “sell marketing couldn't be all bad if we are still talking about it today…. the sizzle, not the steak.”

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Bungled Marketing: The Last Days of Disco... as you will see In 2005 Sony hired graffiti artists to design and spray paint from this YouTube Video (Countdown with Keith Olbermann various pictures of their PlayStation Portable at several locations interviewing Disc Jockey, Steve Dahl) a publicity stunt can go around New York City. Lots of locals who saw the ads hated them wrong when you are not prepared for the response. In 1979 the and others thought Sony was exploiting cheap labor by hiring the Chicago White Sox partnered with a local radio station to promote teens. People started an online petition to get Sony to “Stop their Last Days of Disco event. Bring a disco record and get a cynically exploiting graffiti artists.” It was not “cool.” discount on the game. What they thought would bring maybe (Source Entrepreneur Magazine ) 5,000 spectators received an overwhelming response with more th than 75,000 showing up. That was not so bad but the night ended **October 27 is also PET ROCK in a riot and several thousands of dollars in destruction to the Day ~ Raise your hand if you stadium, injuries to fans and players and a game forfeiture! This remember the “Pet Rock?” YouTube Video tells it all! In the mid-70s a brilliant marketer decided to launch a quirky item in

Snapple has a meltdown in Union Square Park in New York City. time for the Christmas holiday In 2005 the popular natural drink, Snapple had the idea to create called the “Pet Rock”. It was simply a rock with an owner’s the world’s largest frozen juice pop in New York City. Their 17.5 manual. The booklet was the hook because it was well written ton “popsickle” melted too quickly flooding streets and sending the showing examples of how to care for and play with your pet rock. locals running to save their shoes. Not to mention the minor As an example, your “pet” rock could be an attack rock – with a injuries and the cleanup that ensued. (Source: Fast Company ) graphic showing an arm throwing the rock. The booklet, while very well written and fairly entertaining, was simple and short. So,

In 2002 Vodafone was held responsible for streakers interrupting why did a rock and a small booklet sell millions of units? I a rugby match between New Zealand and Australia. Two streakers would argue because of product/market alignment. This was a wearing nothing but the Vodafone logowere arrested, and one of time when the nation was facing a poor economy, gas rationing, a the CEOs of Vodafone was forced to apologize for encouraging president on the brink of impeachment, and many other significant the streakers to break the law. issues.

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As Christmas approached, the notion of such a simple, *October 29th is Happy Birthday Internet Day ~ Did you know inexpensive, and quirky gift appealed to the masses. The product that today was the day the Internet was created? Well, it was! In aligned nicely with the needs of the market. Yes, there was 1969 the first connection on what would become known as the unique marketing and several items that triggered a “tipping point” Internet was made between computers at that all contributed to this national phenomenon. However, timing UCLA and the Stanford Research Institute. played a key role. Here are some suggested activities: **October 28th s Name That Town Day ~ In 1950, NBC’s quiz Have a virtual “Open House” page show Truth or Consequences was one of the most popular shows designed. Give away prizes and run Web on radio (and later television). So when the show’s host, Ralph specials. Invite everyone you know and encourage them to tell Edwards, announced on the air that he would broadcast from the their friends. Advertise the Open House in the newspaper. Or how first town willing to name itself after the show, he got a taker in about sending an email greeting to someone (or someone’s) you New Mexico. Edwards made the town famous by returning the first have not chatted with in a while? weekend of May for the following 50 years. Its unique naming Comment on your favorite Blogs. Bloggers love to know you are history also spawned an art photography book and a Hollywood reading them and more important that what they say has value. movie starring Kiefer Sutherland and Martin Sheen. When you comment on other blogs, it sets a chain reaction in Today, New Mexicans affectionately call the town of 7,000 “T or motion. It is called relationship building. In fact, you could start by C.” It may have also set a precedent: In 2000, radio personality sharing your thoughts on this one. Don Imus sold the naming rights to his non-profit New Mexico Here’s a great idea from my good friend Shannon Cherry from cattle ranch for kids with cancer to Reader’s Digest, as in Cherry Communications: Pledge to support the Communication Reader’s Digest, NM, for one million charity dollars. Shutdown on November 1 where you shut down your social media for a day. I’m doing it and giving away a free month of Penny Pinching Publicity if you join me. Find out how at my blog at The Power Publicist .

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**October 30th is Checklist Day ~ Checklists… hmmmmm! We all have them. And yet, how effectively are we using them? My Event Timeline tells me what needs to be done when. It can Checklists can simplify your life, make tasks easier to perform, include securing a location, a speaker, dates for creating, printing help you remember important people, places and things and can and sending invitations and a whole host of other things. be big time-savers. And my Friends Checklist is perhaps the most important. I use a. What types of checklists do you use? that to remember who to invite to what events, who has been at the last one or two, maybe what roles they b. Do you create a daily checklist of things you need to played in the events, when their birthdays accomplish? are to remind me to send a card or flowers or a gift and more. c. Do you use checklists for performing routine tasks? Sometimes a checklist is just as important for those things we do on a routine You can find my event checklists in One basis because we may forget an important step that when not Great Event That Leads to Another and done, means we have to back-track and redo… Another and… which you can download the report for FREE . It’s my free special report that helps me plan and implement I love checklists! Three of my favorite are My Event Planning seamless, worry-free events and parties. Checklist, My Event Timeline and My Friends Checklist.

My Event Planning Checklist is great for remembering what needs to be brought every time I host an event. Things like pens, paper, name badges, business cards, raffle tickets, signage, gift certificates, money etc.

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*Halloween is October 31st ~ Send customers a card with the model of one of their fighters. This is one business that will never following: "Don't let (whatever problem you can help with) scare die. you! We are here for your any time you need us" attached to a small scarecrow, or other Halloween item. Trick or Treat for a Cause on Silent Night Since 1999, volunteers Dress up in your favorite costume and take the opportunity to visit have "spooked up" more than 1,000,000 pairs of used eyewear on some of your customers. Hand out candy with your business card. Sight Night! Started by LensCrafters in 1988, Give the Gift of Sight Have a costume contest with your co-workers or clients. Give is a family of charitable programs providing free vision care and away prizes to everyone who participates. eyewear to underprivileged individuals in North America and in Did you know that the sale of masks of presidential candidates developing countries around the world. Sponsored by Give the have predicted election results in the past 13 years? According to Gift of Sight Foundation and Luxottica Group. In 2007, Trick- or- the Spirit Halloween Presidential Index which measures sales of treat for eyewear on Halloween will benefit Give the Gift of Sight. the masks, in 2004, sales were 65 percent to 35 percent for All George W. Bush over John Kerry. In 2000, more revelers the collected eyewear will be cleaned, repaired, and hand- purchased Bush masks, with Bush sales at 57 percent to 43 delivered to underprivileged individuals worldwide who cannot percent for Al Gore. In 1996, Bill Clinton masks were snapped up otherwise access or afford it. You can promote your participation 71 percent to Bob Dole's 29 percent. And Barack Obama, masks in Sight Night – How? Three or four weeks before Halloween, outsold those of John McCain by 54% to 46%. contact your local or community newspaper, radio or TV station to promote your used eyewear collection by asking the community to Vic Fearn and Company is the Founder of Crazy Coffins a 160- join in on Sight Night . For more information, visit: Give the Gift of year-old English business that makes coffins. That doesn't sound Sight terribly exciting, but recent customers may make you think twice. They’ve been coming in asking for exotic caskets to be buried in to reflect their passions in life. It started with an odd request from a woman who was a big fan of the Royal Air Force? acrobatic team the Red Arrows. She wanted to be interred forever in a

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OTHER OBSERVANCES IN OCTOBER

MONTLHY

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month National Crime Prevention Month Apple Month National Dental Hygiene Month Fair Trade Month National Depression Education & Awareness Month Financial Planning Month National Disability Employment Awareness Month Blindness Awareness Month National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Celebrate The Bilingual Child Month National Ergonomics Month Children's Magazine Month National Family Sexuality Education Month Church Library Month National Go On A Field Trip Month Church Safety and Security National Kitchen & Bath Month Month Class Reunion Month National Medical Librarian Month Co-op Awareness Month National Orthodontic Health Month Domestic Violence Awareness Month National Physical Therapy Month Eat Better, Eat Together Month National Popcorn Poppin' Month Emotional Wellness Month National Reading Group Month Energy Management is a Family Affair-Improve Your Home Month National Roller Skating Month (10/1-3/31/08) National RSV Awareness Month Gay & Lesbian History Month National Sarcastic Awareness Month German-American Heritage Month National Seafood Month Global Diversity Awareness Month National Window Covering Safety Month Head Start Awareness Month National Work and Family Month Health Literacy Month Organize Your Medical Information Month Pastor (Clergy) International Strategic Planning Month Appreciation Month Photographer Appreciation Month Long Term Care Planning Month Polish American Heritage Month National Animal Safety and Protection Month Positive Attitude Month National Bake and Decorate Month Spinach Lovers Month Stamp Collecting Month National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Vegetarian Month National Caramel Month Workplace Politics Month National Chili Month World Menopause Month National Chiropractic Month

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WEEKLY:

National Newspaper Week: 1-5 Freedom From Bullies Week: 14-20 Customer Service Week: 1-5 National Food Bank Week: 14-20 National Work from Home Week: 3-9 Freedom of Speech Week: 15-21 Financial Planning Week: 4-10 National School Bus Safety Week: 17-21 Great Books Week: 5-10 International Credit Union Week: 17-23 Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend: 6-7 National Infertility Awareness Week: 18-24 *Physicians Assistant Week: 6-12 National Character Counts Week: 21-27 Mental Illness Awareness Week: 7-13 National Forest Products Week: 21-27 National Carry A Tune Week: 7-13 National Chemistry Week: 21-27 Fire Prevention Week: 7-13 National Massage Therapy Week: 21-27 National School Lunch Week: 9-15 National Save for Retirement Week: 21-27 Emergency Nurses Week: 10-16 *Pastoral Care Week: 23-29 Home-based Business Week: 10-16 *Peace, Friendship and Good Will Week: 24-30 National Metric Week: 10-16 World Hearing Aid Awareness Week: 24-29 World Rainforest Week: 10-16 *International Magic Week: 25-31 Fall Astronomy Week: 11-17 Give Wildlife a Break Week: 29-11/4 Getting the World to Beat a Path to Your Door Week: 14-20

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Child Health Day: 1 Clergy Appreciation Day: 14 *Rodomontade (Bragging Rights) Day: 1 *Be Bald and Be Free Day: 14 *International Day of Older Persons: 1 National Boss's Day: 15 *National Lace Day: 1 *National Grouch Day: 15 *World Vegetarian Day: 1 I Love Lucy Day: 15 *Guardian Angels Day: 2 Sewing Lovers Day: 15 *International Day of Non-violence: 2 Wolf Awareness Day: 15 *Techie's Day: 2 *Eastman Kodak Day: 15 World Card Making Day: 6 Get to Know Your Customers Day: 18 Alternative Fuel Day: 3 *Dictionary Day: 16 World Habitat Day: 3 *Department Store Day: 16 Country Inn, Bed & Breakfast Day: 3 World Food Day: 16 Ten-Four Day: 4 Medical Assistants Day: 17 Improve Your Office Day: 4 Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce: 17 *World Teachers Day: 5 World Menopause Day: 18 *Ecological Debt Day: 6 *Evaluate Your Life Day: 19 Balloons around The World: 6 Get Smart about Credit Day: 18 Etch-a-Sketch Day: 6 International Credit Union Day: 18 National Diversity Day: 7 Sweetest Day: 20 Intergeneration Day: 7 Mammography Day: 19 World Smile Day: 7 Make A Difference Day: 22 World Communion Day: 7 *IPod Day: 23 Change a Light Day: 7 *United Nations Day: 24 Astronomy Day: 8 *World Development Information Day: 24 Yom Kippur: 8 Worldwide Howl At the Moon Night: 26 National Kick Butt Day: 8 Cranky Co-workers Day: 27 *International Newspaper Carrier Day: 10 *Navy Day: 27 National Cake Decorating Day: 10 National Forgiveness Day: 27 *World Mental Health Day: 10 *National Chocolates Day: 28 Emergency Nurses Day: 10 Mother-in-Law Day: 28 International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction: 10 *Internet Day: 29 National Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work & School Day: 10 Full Moon: 29 Columbus Day: 11 (Observed) *Checklist Day: 30 National Coming Out Day: 11 *Create A Great Funeral Day: 30 *World Sight Day: 11 *National Candy Corn Day: 30 Native Americans' Day: 11 Haunted Refrigerator Night: 30 National Face Your Fears Day: 11 *Books for Treats Day: 31 International Moment of Frustration Scream Day: 12 *Halloween: 31 Columbus Day: 12 (Traditional) *National Knock-Knock Jokes Day: 31 Free Thought Day: 12 *National Magic Day: 31 *Navy Birthday: 13 *National UNICEF Day: 31 Universal Music Day: 13

274 Quirky Marketing Calendar My Marketing Calendar for OCTOBER

Special Dates I plan to promote: 1. 2. 3. 4. How I plan to promote them:

Goals for Each Promotion:

Budget: Media 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Comments:

275 OCTOBER 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

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276 Quirky Marketing Calendar NOVEMBER Marketing Calendar

Did you know that November is Military Family Appreciation November is Family Stories Month ~ Take this opportunity to Month? ~ What can you do during military appreciation month to interview the elders in your family and or that of your clients and honor our men and women in the armed forces? Here’s what my get those great stories on audio (or video). You can create a retail florist is doing. In honor of the Men and Women who serve in script with questions you want to ask and schedule a Quirky United States Military, our retail florist, MarketingCalendar time with your loved ones to do the interview. Eden Florist is inviting all members of One thing I have found it that if you schedule one hour, it will be so the Armed Forces and their families to interesting, that it becomes two hours or more! Do this in a local order flowers online, on the phone Senior Center and offer to send the recording to the family of the and in person during the holiday residents interviewed. season and pay absolutely no service or delivery charges when you do. National “Inspirational Role Models” Month ~ Now is the perfect time to thank all the Role Models in your life. You can call When you order online simply mention what branch of the military them, send them a letter, or even flowers! Do it today! you serve so you can take advantage of this offer. This offer is good for deliveries anywhere in the United States and Canada . National Family Caregivers Month ~ Why not have a special In addition, if you are a service man or woman and want to send promotion just for them? If it is appropriate, invite your customers flowers to a loved one in South Florida, during the month of to honor those family caregivers with a purchase from your November we will send a single rose decorated with red white business and you will donate your time, talent or treasure to a and blue ribbon absolutely FREE with our compliments. VISIT: local senior center. You can even create a page on your website http://www.edenflorist.com/ TODAY! listing “caregivers of the Month" (or year) and send them a certificate and a small gift as a thanks for all they do.

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National Blog Posting Month ~ Did you know that November is Showcase it. Be sure to expand on the benefits having your National Blog Posting Month ~ Do you have a blog? Thinking products. about starting one? If you answered yes to either of these If you are really brave and adventurous join a month long blog questions then November is the perfect time for you. Blogs, once challenge. The challengers will give you daily ideas of what to post considered just for writers and politicians have gone mainstream on your blog and you will receive support and encouragement over the past few years and corporate America and small from other bloggers taking the challenge. Darren Rouse from businesses around the world have blogs. Problogger is a great resource for a 31 day blog challenge . Don’t know WHAT to write about? Here are 8 ideas to jump start Check it out. your blogging that you can blog about right now: Millions of people around the blogosphere are gearing up for National Blog Post month. Don’t get left behind. 1. Share ideas about your business that help you get more business MORE ON BLOGGING: 2. Share articles and resources you have found online. Use Read this article on Blogging called: Just how Popular are You ? excerpts and link to the full resource. Check out the Blogging for Business Audio Program featuring 3. Comment on things happening around the globe and in your 15 experts sharing their best advice on blogging for business. own community. 4. Share industry news that your audience might find interesting such as the origin of things. 5. Showcase a customer review, and how you solved her problem. 6. Blog about local news and how it is relevant to your readers. 7. Ask others what they do in their business that you could use in yours and comment on it. 8. Share product and service news. Have a new product?

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National Scholarship Month ~ Why not start a scholarship in your success. You could interview staff members, managers, even honor of a favorite cause, best customer or organization. customers. Create one question that everyone could answer and Eden Florist partnered with the Florida Direct Marketing put the answers on video together to showcase the talent you Association and created the Bloomin’ Marketer Award. The have in your company. FDMA helped us promote the scholarship in their newsletter, on their website and in their invitations. All monies raised went into Sole proprietor? Then share something about yourself. Answer the the scholarship fund to help students further their education as following questions: Why did you go into business? What were well as provide “student” members with a free membership in the your goals when you started? Who are your ideal customers? organization. What do you like about your profession. These all make for You can read the Press Release about the Blooming Marketer interesting viewing and get people to know you better. Award and Scholarship (which Eden participated in in 2006). Once created, upload to YouTube and share with your customers, Looking for a Scholarship: Check out WE Magazine for Women clients, friends, vendors and lists. Post to Facebook, LinkedIn and for a list of 100 Scholarships, Grants and Loans for Women . Twitter (and other social networks). Who knows it may even go viral! Add a link to your video in your ezine or weekly email Weekly Observances: communications. Put a link in your signature file. Embed the video on your blog and website. Invite your audience to send your

November 1-7th is World Communication Week ~ Yesterday message to their circle. Give them an incentive for doing so, such began World Communication Week (November 1-7th) ~ Time to as a discount or FREE gift. “step up” your communications in business. If you have not Then tell me how it went! Lots of people read Quirky Marketing recently created a viral marketing campaign now is the perfect Calendar so feel free to include a link to your video in our time to do so. I suggest you film a YouTube Video different from comments. those you have done in the past. For instance if you generally send educational videos, why not do one about the people behind Quirky Marketing Calendar NOVEMBER

279 November 8-17th is World Kindness Week ~ Citizens Bank away in exchange for local testimonials. Most companies make wants to promote good intentions by partnering with its employees the foolish mistake of trying to make sales before they make and customers to volunteer in their communities. They do so by friends or build relationships. inviting their customers to participate in ?oin Us” a volunteer Once you have developed a few loyal customers, begin a program they originally designed for their internal customers, their testimonial advertising campaign -- letting your customers speak employees. According to the bank ?sking customers to volunteer for you. (source: Jeffrey Gitomer Sales Caffeine) is a great way to align your company with a variety of worthwhile causes and boost your brand identity.Join Us uses the tagline ?e? November 18-24th is also National Game and Puzzle Week ~ e noticed working in the community hardly ever feels like work,” the Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter created “Game Plan” a locally and is promoted on their website with a listing of local nonprofits developed Red Cross educational card game about preparing for and projects their customers can get involved in. The program has and responding to disasters and emergencies. When players garnered Citizens over a million hits as well as media attention. answer questions correctly, they receive resources to survive Mudd Jeans does something similar highlighting the community disasters. Earthquakes and tsunamis are two of the 15 disasters commitments of extraordinary teens and MINI has used similar highlighted in the game. What kind of game could you create to campaigns directed toward its passionately loyal customer base. help your community and draw attention to your company? Check out The Million Minute Family Challenge - an annual event November 18-24th is National Cookie Week ~ When Debbie sponsored by Patch Products, the company that publishes Blurt!, Fields opened up a new cookie store in any city, the first thing she Malarky, Tribond, Talkin' Tango and others. The goal of the event did was give cookies away. People liked them, began to talk about is to encourage families and friends to spend more time together them (and the experience) and ultimately returned to buy more playing board games. For some great game ideas, visit: Games cookies. She was not the only cookie store in town. She was not Kids Play - Has 250 rules for games you played as a child. the only bakery in town. But she ended up being the most successful in town. There are two things you need to do: 1) Bring testimonials from existing customers in video format to your new city. Testimonials are proof that your product is great, that your service is great, and that you deliver what you promise. 2) Find one or two great prospective customers and give your product

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Add links. The Travel Channel created KIDNAP, an interactive *November 3rd is Cliche Day ~ cli·ché also cliche (kl-sh) A trite or virtual game designed to engage customers and build brand overused expression or idea. …”you can say that again!” loyalty on Facebook via their Fan Page. Consumers could kidnap their friends on Facebook and hide them in their favorite hide-out How many times a day (or an hour) do you find yourself “grasping city using the application found on the Travel Channel. Kidnapped at straws” to find the right words to use? Is using cliche’s in victims were required to answer travel trivia questions using a everyday speech “all over the map“? How about your writing? Are “Cheat sheet” found on the Travel Channel site. The results were you writing about “the business at hand” or are you doing a “brain that the game led to an average of seven page-views per person dump?” Well if you are bothered by the overuse of cliches by you and created lots of publicity for the Travel Channel including or anyone for that matter, remember “the buck stops here” and DMNews Magazine and more. you can use all the cliche’s you want to today!

November 19-25th is Better Conversations Week ~ Have them That’s right! Today is Cliche Day and it is perfectly acceptable to talking about el baño (toilet)… Clients such as Viacom's Country “beat the street” “knock it out of the park,” and “think outside the Music Television and Molson Beer are spreading the word via the box,” for the next 24 hours. If you are looking some ways to add Wizmark, which fits inside a urinal and delivers sound and images cliches to your everyday patter, you can subscribe to Cliche of when it senses a new, uh, customer. "We feel we have the most the Day. captive audience," says Richard Deutsch, director of Healthquest

Technologies Inc., Wizmark's proud parent. This should get them The cliche for today is to “go through the roof” which translates to talking! (Source: Fast Company) become very upset or angry. The cliche or saying originated in the United States. Daily Observances: To “sweeten the pot” I have added a few other cliche sites you can visit and learn more.

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Instead of “waiting for your ship to come in,” visit ClicheSite.com Center, usually in January. Each year the show begins with press for the largest list of cliche’s around the globe. Need just the right preview days, industry preview days and a charity preview event. cliche? Visit Cliche Finder for your next great phrase. It is estimated that the show generates a revenue of over $500 million to the local economy. Old cars, new cars, art cars, And yes, there is “a light at the end of the tunnel” for cliche day is muscle cars, hot rods, trucks, vintage cars, cars of the only 24 hours long. “Tomorrow is another day!” You can “wipe the future… the list of auto shows is endless…. slate clean,” but for today, “the ball is in your court!” Just be careful how you use cliche’s in your marketing messages. Good So what does this have to do with marketing? If you or your marketing messages are “few and far between.” Remember “if at customers drive a vehicle it can have a lot to do with marketing. first you don’t succeed, try and try again!” Getting involved in an auto show has many benefits.

***November 3rd is Auto Show Day ~ On November 3, 1900 the First of all its a great way to promote yourself to the local first U.S. automobile show opened at Madison Square Garden in community. Hundreds and even thousands of people visit local New York City. An auto show is “a public exhibition of current auto shows each year so you have the opportunity to get in front automobile models, debuts, concept cars, or out-of-production of new faces and likely run into your current clientelle, which by classics. It is commonly attended by automobile manufacturers. the way would be pleasantly surprised to find your company Most auto shows occur once or twice a year. They are vital to car represented. manufacturers and local dealers as a public relations exercise, for advertising products, and for increasing publicity(source: Zoom Zoom - You can get immediate AND long-term buzz for Wikipedia) your participation.

Since that historic day in automobile history, there have been Signs on Wheels - You can turn your car into a moving thousands of Auto Shows around the world. Among the largest advertisement for the auto show and generate interest for your and most famous is the North American International Auto Show business and the show. (NAIAS), the annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo

282 Quirky Marketing Calendar *November 10th is Sesame Street Day ~ In 1969 the children’s TV show Sesame Street debuted on PBS. Over the past 41 + Rev’ing up the Media - You can sponsor the auto show and be years Sesame Street has taught children many lessons. And some seen in all the print materials and online public relations the show even us adults can learn from. They would sing: participates in. “One of these things is not like the others, One of these things just doesn’t belong, Can you tell which thing is not like the others Making the Marketing Engine Hum - You can be a vendor at the By the time I finish my song ?” auto show (if you sell a product that makes sense to attendees). If you sell diapers or jewelry, unless the diapers or jewelry have Of course the object was to pick the one thing in the “crowd” that “auto themes” it is unlikely you will get much resulting business. stood out from all the others. Similar to those puzzles you were But if you are a pr or marketing firm that specializes in a auto given as a child where you were to pick the one that was related industry, that might be a good fit. “different” from the other pictures. This holds true with Marketing too. With 27 different types of tissues and hundreds of toothpastes Following the Leader - At the very least you can attend the Auto and thousands of business coaches, how can a business be Show and make some good contacts to later follow up with. Talk different enough to make a difference? To Stand Out? It used to about reverse marketing. Most trade show vendors follow up (or be that customer service made businesses stand out. Not so should) but think about the impact of follow up from someone has today. With everyone vying for market share, good customer who was an attendee and not an advertiser, vendor or sponsor. service just levels the playing field. You have to be different from the competition. From your marketing message to your service to Ahead of the Curve - By participating in an auto show in any your product to your delivery. capacity, you can be ahead of the curve in your industry. The marketing lesson here is to be creative and solve specific *November 4th is Chicken Lady Day ~ In recognition of Dr. needs in the market place. The simple marketing concept for small Marthenia 'Tina’ Dupree, the day was created to celebrate her business today is to be different, stand out and you will be noticed. motivational program It's time to Invest in Yourself. It is never too Stand out from the crowd or be lost in the crowd. late to invest in yourself. Get started today before another year passes you by! Does YOUR business pass the Sesame Street test?

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November 10th is also Forget-me-not Day ~ Send a pack of candidates and their family members who have endured the Forget- Me-Not seeds with a message reminding them to hardships of deployment in the best way we know how. We plan remember you during the holiday season. to pamper them and to make them feel great about themselves. We know from experience, that professional salon makeovers November 12th is Veterans Day ~ Volunteer your time at a local bring people closer to their full potential and will help to give them VA club or hospital. Have a Veteran’s day special promotion, a fresh start!” discount or give something away for free to everyone who orders from you today. Check out what Paul Brown Hawaii is doing to Operation Makeover Candidates: Three Operation Makeover honor Veteran’s Day: winners will be selected each month from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard and Navy. Recipients Paul Brown Hawaii Launches Operation Makeover will be named the first week of each month and will have 30 days Paul Brown Hawaii continues to support many charitable causes in which to sign up for their special day of indulgence. At the including its most recent endeavor, Operation Makeover. This recent kickoff event hosted by flag and general officer spouses, newly created program, dedicated to honoring troops who have Paul Brown personally announced their first recipients. recently returned from serving overseas, was recently launched in Hawaii by Paul Brown himself. In collaboration with other Operation Makeover Partners: Paul shared the Operation businesses, Brown’s Operation Makeover offers a complimentary Makeover concept with a select group of local and national day of luxury and beauty for military veterans. business people who also wanted to do something for our hard- working service members, especially those who have endured a Paul Brown notes, “I know that helping our returning troops to feel more challenging experience. While they are still seeking partners rejuvenated and refreshed while enhancing their image and self- willing to collaborate on this project, the first participating esteem will make a positive impact on their lives. We are very companies feel as rewarded as the makeover candidates. grateful for their service to protect America and the freedoms we all enjoy. We want to provide a service that would help deserving

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The special day of pampering includes a $250 shopping excursion design uses 4.8 million dominoes. 4,345,028 dominoes were at Guess and a complete hair and beauty makeover from a Paul needed to be toppled in order to break the standing world record. Brown Salon and Spa. The will also receive dinner for two from Even though part of the final section of the piece did not fall, and Roy’s Hawaii and a complimentary overnight stay at the Waikiki three builder’s challenges failed, the number of dominoes toppled Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. The Armed Services YMCA is was 4,491,863 and the record was broken. From September to coordinating all of the arrangements for Operation Makeover, November, it took 89 builders and 12 coaches have been working inclusive of managing the selection process, which is currently in the WTC Expo Center in Leeuwarden to get those dominoes based upon recommendations from armed services company standing on time. commanders, chaplains or other social service providers as well as others who are familiar with personnel and their challenging *November 15th is I Love to Write Day ~ Created by Delaware experiences from deployment. author John Riddle, I Love To Write Day For more information about Operation Makeover contact Paul is an opportunity for people of all ages to Brown’s office in Hawaii at 808-591-1881, EXT 228 or or visit write something: a poem, an essay, a www.PaulBrownHawaii.com . letter to the editor, a short story, start a novel, finish a novel…etc. On the first I *November 12th is also Domino Day ~ Domino Day (a Dutch Love to Write Day, 11,328 schools all Holiday) is a world record attempt for the highest number of across the country held special writing toppling domino stones, organized each year by Endemol events and activities. Last year, the site Netherlands. Together with Weijers Domino Productions of Robin signed up 15,123 schools. Help ILTW spread the word: tell Paul Weijers, also known as Mr. Domino, parties team up to set a schools, libraries & bookstores in your community about . I Love new world record. The production is organized at the WTC-Expo To Write Day in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. (source: Wikipedia) The 2009 event is entitled ‘The World in Domino – The Show with the Flow’. It was the 11th edition of the show; it showed different aspects of the world with the display moving from continent to continent. The ©Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com All Rights Reserved.

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November 14th is Spirit of Excellence Day ~ In 2000 the November 15th is Guinness World Record Day ~ World's American Business Women’s Association held its first Spirit of Largest Pink Ribbon in Times Square An ongoing 3M campaign Excellence Awards honoring women who Through their individual captured the fastest growing Website at-work and the second efforts, these special women have made Broward County Florida fastest growing site at-home during the week ending August 29, a better place to live, work & play! according to Nielsen/NetRatings. The campaign sought to build the World's Largest Pink Ribbon in Times Square constructed of The Spirit of Excellence awards ceremony was established to 75,000 pink Post-it Super Sticky Notes, which was revealed in honor unsung heroines, to showcase the professionalism of October 2006 during the first week of Breast Cancer Awareness women in our community and to provide a venue for business month. "We've seen many companies... use the Web as an women in South Florida to come to and share and achieve their effective communications tool with consumers," said Heather personal and professional career goals. For a list of this year’s Dougherty, senior analyst, Nielsen/NetRatings. The campaign honorees visit: http://abwasobroward.org/ provided two ways of participation, via phone and Website. The site drew 1.1 million home users during the week ending August

In the past 11 years, The South Broward Chapter has honored 29, rising 105 percent from the previous week. There were 120 women and today will honor 12 new women. Some of the 950,000 office workers who visited the site, growing 98 percent professional categories recognized are firefighter of the year, from the week prior. police officer of the year, educator of the year, business owner of the year, direct sales leader of the year, medical professional of And then there's Joe Girard who is listed in the Guinness Book as the year, health and wellness leader of the year, leader in the arts, the “World's Greatest Salesman.” Why? During his days as an social media leader of the year and many others. If you are part of automobile salesman for 12 straight years, Joe sold more cars any local or national organization where an awards event would and trucks than any other salesperson. In fact, as an individual, he showcase your expertise while honoring others, put this on your sold more cars than most dealers sell in total, and all of them marketing plan and start planning. retail. If you asked Joe how he did it, he would tell you he built his business on referrals. Joe kept his name in front of his clients by sending cards every month.

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Joe kept a file on all his clients so he could send out cards for birthdays, anniversaries, or any special occasion he thought of. Rumor has it that Joe sent out over 13,000 handwritten cards a *November 18th is Mickey Mouse Day ~ month!!! That's why I too am a big fan of sending cards. But I like Have a Mickey (and Minnie) Mouse Open to do it the “easiest way, possible.” How? By sending them via a House complete with costumes and more. website that captures and saves all your important contacts in Have food, fun, prizes and even a trivia their database so you can send to one or all of them any time you contest to commemorate the day. Sell Mickey want with just the few pushes of a button. It is really simple, Mouse giftware (retail) or give away tickets to one of the Disney inexpensive and easy to do. properties (consultants).

November 15th is also Use Less Stuff Day ~ It could also be November 15 is also Use Less Stuff Day *November 18th is also Play Monopoly Day ~ Parker Brothers called useless stuff day, because often we buy things thinking it launched Monopoly Today in 1935. The most expensive Monopoly will be useful only to find out it is pretty much useless. If it was not Set was created by jeweler Sidney Mobell of San Francisco in expensive we may toss it out (adding more garbage to the 1988. The $2-million dollar set is 23-karat gold and the dice have environment). In fact, during the five weeks between Thanksgiving 42 full cut diamonds for spots. In 1996 my local chamber of and New Year's, Americans produce an extra one million tons of commerce created Chamberopoly to promote the benefits of trash per week, compared to any other time of the year? So, to membership in the local community. We sold spots on the board to help trim the trash while trimming the tree, The ULS Report offers local business people to help defray the cost of designing and a challenging checklist of simple things you can do to reduce printing the board and then recruited members to ?ell” waste while you eat, drink, and make merry this holiday season membership to other businesses who had not yet joined. It was called 42 Ways to trim your holiday Waste Line . . Help promote one of the most successful membership efforts the chamber had the day with a media release telling what your company is going to done in their 25+ year history. do to use less stuff.

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***November 19th is Pay-Per-Click Advertising Day ~ Just in With Pay-per-click you can obtain immediate results. From time to plan your pay per click advertising for the holiday shopping research to implementation the campaign can be set up in a a few season (of course if you have already done so, that is even better! days easier working your way up in natural search engine results. Track your ad in real time. With the right metrics (generally According to Wikipedia: “Pay-per-click (PPC) or Cost-per-click provided by the search engines, you can see how well your (CPC) advertising is an Internet advertising model used to direct keywords and key phrases,are doing, including how much traffic traffic to websites, where advertisers pay the publisher (typically a you are getting, how many are converting to buyers and any other website owner) when the ad is clicked. With search engines, metrics you need that would be important to measuring your advertisers typically bid on keyword phrases relevant to their return on investment. generated, per ad conversions, and many target market. PPC “display” advertisements are shown on web more measurements provide campaign. With real-time tracing you sites with related content that have agreed to show ads. can quickly quickly ads that are underperforming or overperforming and make adjustments based on immediate results. The benefits of PPC:

With pay-per-click you can target the ad to your audience using There is generally a small initial investment. You only pay for geo-targeting, the right keywords and demographics. the users that click thru on the ad.

You can enhance your branding with pay-per-click advertising Pay-per-Click campaigns are good for any size business and on Google, Yahoo or Facebook and get known quickly in the can even level the advertising field for small businesses, if you do marketplace. your homework which includes knowing what your customers or target audience are searching for (keywords). This can put you in the same game as the competition, even resulting in a page-one With pay-per-click you can widen your reach in the result for the right keywords. marketplace and obtain specific, targeted and more motivated buyers once you have done your research and due-diligence.

288 Quirky Marketing Calendar Anne Geisel (originator of the holiday) encourages us to pause in When planning your PPC campaign use caution & due diligence. A the preparation of our own bounty, wrap a loaf of bread in an poorly run campaign can drain your coffers before you see any apron, tuck a prayer or note of encouragement in the pocket, and results, can also give you worthless leads if you don’t have the tie one on...an apron, of course!, and deliver the wrapped bundle right keywords, and can drain your pocketbook. Start small, test to someone in need of spiritual or physical sustenance. often. It should be part of your strategy not your ONLY strategy! November 22nd is Thanksgiving ~ Want to stand out from the *November 21st is World Hello Day ~ Anyone can participate in crowd this holiday season? Here are a few ideas: 1.Instead of World Hello Day simply by greeting ten people. This demonstrates sending Christmas cards, send your customers/clients/patients the importance of personal communication for preserving peace. "Happy Thanksgiving" cards. 2. Know someone who is alone for People around the world use the occasion of World Hello Day as the holidays? Invite them to your home for Thanksgiving. 3. an opportunity to express their concern for world peace. Beginning Volunteer in a soup kitchen or your house of worship and help with a simple greeting on World Hello Day, their activities send a feed those who come for a warm meal and some company. 4. message to leaders, encouraging them to use communication Have a “turkey raffle(void where prohibited). Create raffle tickets rather than force to settle conflicts. As a global event World Hello to sell to your circle. Use the money to buy food for homeless Day joins local participation in a global expression of peace. In shelters, etc. Or donate turkeys and trimmings to families less fact, 31 winners of the Nobel Peace Prize are among the people fortunate. 5. Be a drop-off point for a local food drive. who have realized World Hello Day's value as an instrument for preserving peace and as an occasion that makes it possible for November 23rd is Black Friday ~ the day after Thanksgiving Day anyone in the world to contribute to the process of creating peace. in the United States, one of the busiest shopping days of the year. (source: http://www.worldhelloday.org ) Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer door-buster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their November 21st is also Tie One on Day ~ While you're making stores. Although Black Friday, as the first shopping day after plans for your holiday feast, here's a way to share your blessings - Thanksgiving, has served as the unofficial beginning of the participate in National Tie One On Day. Tie one on day is a Christmas season at least since the start of the modern Macy's celebration of the humble apron and the spirit of women of earlier Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the term "Black Friday" has generations who have worn it. The day before Thanksgiving, Ellyn been traced back only to the 1970s.

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”Back Friday" was originally so named because of the heavy traffic public and private organizations have already joined American on that day (see below), although most contemporary uses of the Express OPEN, the company’s small business unit, in declaring term refer instead to it as the beginning of the period in which the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday . retailers are in the black (i.e., turning a profit) What type of Join the movement, spread the word! Learn more and register promotion are you doing for Black Friday? (source: Wikipedia) your American Express Card for the 2012 event.

November 24th is National Salesperson's Day ~ National November 26th is Cyber Monday ~ Cyber Monday refers to the Salesperson Day was established to recognize professional Monday immediately following Black Friday, the ceremonial kick- salespeople and how they contribute to the workforce and the off of the holiday online shopping season in the United States that bottom lines of small, mid and large size companies. Have a kind falls between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. “Cyber Monday” word and a smile for the local grocery, department, or is meant to encourage consumers to make purchases online they convenience store, door to door sales people, Insurance agents. could not make during the previous weekend which started with Loan officers and mortgage brokers, manufacturer? reps and on Black Friday. Cyber Monday sponsored by the National Retail and on... Purchase a dozen ribbons with “VIP” or “You're Terrific” Federation’s Shop.org division, has evolved into a significant written on them and hand them out to every salesperson you marketing event, in which online retailers offer low prices and come into contact with. promotions. (Source: Wikipedia) In recognition of Cyber Monday, I too have a “special offer” for my November 24th is also Small Business Saturday ~ You may or readers. You can get a complete audio program called Grow Your may not have been a part of the insanity of Black Friday as a Business Audio Program for only $19.95! ~ Regular price is $97 prelude to Cyber Monday, why not take part in Small Business now only $19.95. Sign up for How to Grow Your Million Dollar Saturday? 2010 marked the first ever Small Business Saturday, a Business Audio program, now only $19.95. The complete audio day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the program includes 20 interviews, a 90+ page workbook and economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small several bonuses. Business Saturday is a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S. More than a dozen advocacy,

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You don’t want to miss these! card? You see that and forget about all the other mail. All you want Here’s what one person had to say about these sessions:- Heidi I to do is tear that envelop open to see what? inside. Real cards are was blown away by the huge names that you managed to gather no longer a lost art. Not since SendOutCards came on the together on the one teleseminar series. Just one of these scene. Try it out! See what I mean. Way better than Electronic speakers would have made the entry price a great deal. I have Greetings because people can keep these cards, post them on learned so much from these speakers (and how wonderful is it their bulletin board or refrigerator. And if you like what you see, that most of them are female!) I feel that they have opened my you can sign up as a distributor. What a wonderful way to add to eyes to a big new world and I am implementing right now some of your monthly income stream. I’d love to have you on my team! the suggestions that I heard. Very inspiring! Now what shall I spend my first million on…? Katherine Reschke, Business Coach. *November 30th is Computer Security Grab your copy www.GrowaMillionDollarBusiness.com today. Day ~ Started in 1988 to help raise awareness of computer related security *November 29th is Electronic Greetings Day ~ Post Free Funny, issues. The main goal of Computer Edgy Video e-Cards On Social Networking Sites & Blogs with Security Day is to remind people to RattleBox. Or send a traditional ecard for free from several sites protect their computers and information. including Smilebox.com , DoozyCards.com or American The idea is that for security to work, we must all take part. Each Greetings . individual plays a part in the group responsibility for protecting information assets and resources. These include: Viruses, PC Prefer the real thing but don't have time to go to the post office or security, Firewalls, Using strong passwords, Social engineering, local card store? You can sign up online for SendOutCards and Physical security of information resources and assets. Computer send a REAL CARD that gets mailed to your recipient the very Security Day Association created a list of 53 ways to participate in next day! SendOutCards are a wonderful stay-in-touch method Computer Security Day. They include: a) Back-up your data. (after to let people know just how much you care. You know that feeling being certain that it is virus-free.) b) Delete unneeded files. c) you get when you go to the mailbox and in between all the direct Initiate a computer security poster design contest for next year. mail solicitations, and bills is a beautiful hand written greeting For the other 50 ideas visit ComputerSecurityDay.org

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OTHER OBSERVANCES IN NOVEMBER

MONTHLY

American Diabetes Month National Home Care & Hospice Month Aviation History Month National Impotency Month Celebrate Empty Nester Month National Inspirational Role Models Month I Am So Thankful Month National Life Writing Month MADD's Tie One On For Safety Holiday Campaign, Military Family National Novel Writing Month Appreciation Month National Peanut Butter Lovers Month National Adoption Month National Pet Cancer Awareness Month National AIDS Awareness Month National Pomegranate Month National American Indian Heritage Month National Roasting Month National COPD Awareness Month National Scholarship Month Prematurity Awareness Month National Family Caregivers Month Vegan Month National Georgia Pecan Month Moustache Month

WEEKLY Intimate Apparel Market Week: 1-4 American Education Week: 11-17 National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: 1-7 National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week: 11-17 Give Wildlife a Break Week: 5-9 National Global Entrepreneurship Week: 12-18 National Patient Accessibility Week: 1-7 National Farm-City Week: 16-22 World Communication Week: 1-7 National Family Week: 18-24 National Nurse Practitioner's Week: 4-10 National Game & Puzzle Week: 18-24 National Rad Tech Week: 4-10 National Bible Week: 18-24 National Young Reader's Week: 7-11 Better Conversation Week: 19-25 *Pursuit of Happiness Week: 7-13 National Teens Don't Text and Drive Week: 21-27 Dear Santa Letter Week: 7-13 National Deal Week: 21-28 Fraud Awareness Week: 4-10 *Church/State Separation Week: 22-26 World Kindness Week: 8-14

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DAILY *All Saints' Day: 1 *Use Less Stuff Day: 15 *National Authors' Day: 1 Guinness World Record Day: 15 *National Family Literacy Day: 1 *America Recycles Day: 15 *Give up Shoulds Day: 1 *I Love to Write Day: 15 *National Men Make Dinner Day: 1 *International Day for Tolerance: 16 *All Souls Day: 2 *Homemade Bread Day: 17 *Plan Your Epitaph Day: 2 Great American Smokeout: 17 *Traffic Directors Day: 2 National Adoption Day: 17 *Cliché Day: 3 *Married To A Scorpio Support Day: 18 Use Your Common Sense Day: 4 *Mickey Mouse Day: 18 *Sadie Hawkins Day: 3 *Push-button Phone Day: 18 Daylight Saving Time ends: 4 *Have a Bad Day Day: 19 *Saxophone Day: 6 Children's Day: 20 National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day: 7 *Name Your PC Day: 20 Zero Tasking Day: 4 National Family Volunteer Day: 20 *Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day: 8 *World Hello Day: 21 *xRay Day: 8 *World Television Day: 21 *National Parents as Teachers Day: 8 Thanksgiving Day: 22 Election Day: 6 *Fibonacci Day: 23 World Orphans Day: 8 Black Friday: 23 *Area Code Day: 10 Maise Day: 23 *Marine Corps Birthday: 10 Small Business Saturday: 24 *Sesame Street Day: 10 International Aura Awareness Day: 24 *Origami Day: 11 *Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day: 24 *International Tongue Twister Day: 11 *Shopping Reminder Day: 25 *Veterans Day: 11 Buy Nothing Day: 25 Domino Day: 12 Cyber Monday: 26 National Donor Sabbath Days: 9-11 *National Day of Listening: 27 *World Kindness Day: 1* Full Moon: 28 *Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day: 14 *Electronic Greetings Day: 29 Spirit of NSA Day: 14 *Computer Security Day: 30 National American Teddy Bear Day: 14 *Stay Home Because You're Well Day: 30

293 Quirky Marketing Calendar My Marketing Calendar for NOVEMBER

Special Dates I plan to promote: 1. 2. 3. 4. How I plan to promote them:

Goals for Each Promotion:

Budget: Media 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Comments:

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December 9-16th is Hanukkah, December 25th is Christmas and December 26th – January 1st is Kwanzaa Happy Holidays to all!

December is the time when many businesses send products For many of us it’s a time when our perfection gene kicks in. After around the globe to fulfill customers’ orders or offers in their all, who doesn’t want it to be perfect! We want to make the perfect personal letters to their client base/leads list. If you do this, do recipes, give the perfect gifts, plan the perfect party and find the you remember to use a “lift note” in your packaging? A “lift note” is perfect clothes to wear (well some of us do). The holiday season a note you include in your letter/package designed to lift the often needs weeks of preparation and with all the planning we can response of your mailing. loose the spirit of the season because we become overwhelmed with the hectic pace and the planning we must do to make it Here are 5 tips to make your “lift note” more effective: PERFECT for those we love. 1. Have a big, bold headline like the front page of New York Times 2. Use a customer testimonial in your message To get the most out of your holidays read 13 Ways to Reduce 3. Include a guarantee Stress During the Holidays 4. Put it on brightly colored paper or something that would “stand out” in the packaging 5. List the benefits to your customer – the WIIFM (what’s in it for Me – them) for doing business with you.

December is National Stress-free Family Holidays Month ~ The holidays are officially here – a season of giving, living and loving. A time for sharing and spending time with family and friends. And somehow it can be stressful.

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December is Bingo's Birthday Month ~ Why not host an online National Write a Business Plan Month ~ Every business needs Bingo contest? As part of the promotional campaign, Women in a business plan. And even if you have an existing business and Ecommerce ™ hosted the Women’s Internet Marketing Summit have never put one together, now is a great time to start yours. A featuring a BINGO Game – (BINGO stands for Bookmarked good business plan will help you define your business goals, set Interactive Network Games Online) the Internet based version of objectives, define your niche, get funding, describe your business, BINGO using randomly selected Internet marketing terms (Bingo evaluate a new product line, create a time-line important to Lingo) in each of the 25 boxes contained on the card. reviewing your goals, define any agreements you may have with partners and set a value on your business either for sale or for People who signed up received a Bingo card via email and every legal purposes. day new words were posted to the Summit site and an email was sent also announcing the words of the day to participants. WE To help you jump-start your business plan creation, I recommend played blackout Bingo (every card had 2 free spaces somewhere you begin with a business plan template. I can help you organize on them) and the first person to totally complete a card received a your thoughts, provide a guideline and show you the what is prize. We also had a 2nd and 3rd place prize for the next two who expected in a business plan (the general practices). It can be the won. WE did this for a month leading up to the event and had perfect solution to kick-start your planning process. several players participating in the “game.”

Women in Ecommerce™ used aweber autorespond system (FREE TO TRY) to facilitate the emails and sign-ups to create a new “list” in which to share the game information and promote the event. 101 women and men from around the world participated in event (U.S. Canada, Iceland, France, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, Netherlands and England were among the countries represented). You can learn more about the Summit Experts and the Audio Program here: http://bit.ly/WIMS07 ©Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com All Rights Reserved.

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Quirky Marketing is just one of the great resources that will help *December 25-31st is It's About Time Week ~ It's about time to you grow your business. There are a lot of FREE small business get that calendar out and start planning next year? Calendar resources to help you create a business plan for any type Marketing Campaigns. business and one we recommend to the readers of Quirky Marketing Calendar. They include: Daily Observances: You can find FREE Business Plan Templates at Score In their Retail Gallery here: December 2nd is my birthday and so I wanted to find something http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html . These free to GIVE you something you can use in your businesses as my gift business plan templates include a Business Plan for a Start-up to you. Here are two audio interviews (mp3) with small business Business in both Word and PDF as well as a Business Plan for an experts that will help you save time and make more money: Established Business (also in Word and PDF formats). These free templates are good for any size business, small or large. Check How to Makeover Your Business with Michele Scism (mp3 out the Business Plan Guide as well as a free business plan download) and You CAN Grow Your Business to a Million tutorial on the SBA Site. There is no time like the present to write Dollar Enterprise with Nell Merlino I suggest you right click and or re-write yours. save these audios to your desktop for best listening quality.

Weekly Observances: In case you haven’t already done so, feel free to download our latest ebook called “Your Step by Step Guide to Making Money

*December 1-8th is Recipe Greetings for Online ” ~ There are literally dozens of quality affiliate programs the Holidays Week ~ send a recipe post listed in the book . What could you create and give-away on your card or email post card to your customers. Or birthday? use a play on words and go with something like What? the perfect recipe for a great holiday season? You + (my business) = a recipe for success… Have an open house this week and invite your clients to stop by for your “recipe for success” or other fare.

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*December 4th is Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day ~ *December 5th is also International Volunteer Day for Be sure to recognize people on your team who make it possible Economic and Social Development ~ Find a new cause or for you to do what you do. volunteer for one you are already involved in. Celebrate other volunteers with a thank you note or pizza party. Create an event *December 4th is also Chase's Calendar of Events Birthday ~ for your small business and recruit volunteers to help you plan and check it out for more Calendar Marketing Ideas or to submit your present the event to the public. Habitat for Humanity has created own “holiday.” a wonderful Economic and Social Development program called Woman Build Program where they take volunteers to help build *December 5th is Bathtub Party Day ~ homes for people in dire need of housing. Time for a bath! How about a bathtub race for charity? It can bring your company **December 6th is First You Gotta Give Day ~ “To attract good great publicity while doing good for the fortune in business, first you gotta give.” – Heidi Richards Mooney community. “Each year teams of stalwarts, idiots, call them what you will, leap into You can get more business by giving first – cast iron bath tubs and row like mad down giving your time and sharing your resources the River Adur from Bramber to Shoreham, in a race against the makes people feel glad to do business with elements and each other, all with the aim of having fun and raising you. People like to know that they have good funds for local charities.” The modern race began over 30 years judgment in business. Good judgment ago when a member of Shoreham and Southwick Round Table, includes knowing that those we do business Clive Thorpe, had a bright idea to liven up proceedings for the with are good business people. We enjoy reading about year. The first race had eight teams, with all the men dressed as companies that do good, especially companies that we support. It women, complete with stockings and suspenders; and a lot of fun makes us feel good about our decision to do business with them. was had by all contestants, culminating in a party. For more information on this historic British event, visit: http://www.bathtubrace.co.uk/

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The saying that “People do business with people they know, like rate at getting to the Powers that Be. and trust” has never been truer. When businesses do things without expecting something in return, they usually get “something 3. Share resources. Know of a resource the client or prospect in return.” They build goodwill in the community and among their could use? Write it on your business card before you clients and customers. How can you build goodwill? hand it to someone, email it to them, send them a note and tell them. Here are six ways: 4. Be a people connector. Become a matchmaker. Find ways to 1. Be the first to offer help. A guy called me up the other day about connect contacts for mutually beneficial results. an event the American Business Women’s Association was Doing so without expectations of anything in return will usually hosting. The problem: it had already passed and he had called to bring great rewards. People want to (and even feel attend. The media had referenced the event in their calendar with obligated to) return the favor. a date that was incorrect. After chatting with him, I discovered he wasfairly new in business and was looking for opportunities to 5. Send greeting cards to show you care. Use your Daytimer network. Instead of just telling him there was a mistake and or Palm Pilot or contact program to remember special days like hanging up, I asked him some questions about his company so I birthdays, anniversaries, and special holidays. Send them cards. I could find just the right organizations for him to network with. I write cards ahead of time and when the Big Day approaches, I gave him four ideas he could use to follow-up. I will let you know mail them. People really do appreciate that special touch. what happens! Remember “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” 2. Food (or flowers) are often a better calling card than a business card. One of the most successful florists I know drops off bagels to local funeral homes every Friday. When they have a family in need of flowers, they send them to his shop. Another business person takes donuts on all his morning sales calls. He has a 90% success

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6. Stay in touch. Call someone up to just say HI. People won’t cause. As candles are lit at 7 p.m. local time, creating a virtual expect it, and yet they will remember it long after they hang up the wave of light, hundreds of thousands of persons commemorate phone. Don’t talk business, just say HI. “Making new and honor the memory of children in a way that transcends all acquaintances is not nearly as important as solidifying the ones ethnic, cultural, religious, and political boundaries.“ we have.” Remember – it costs at least six or more times the effort to get a new customer as it does to keep the ones we have! The Started in the United States in 1997, the Worldwide Candle same holds true of all relationships. Perhaps more so because all Lighting is considered the largest mass candle lighting on the relationships require the investment of time! globe. ”The Compassionate Friends, creates a virtual 24-hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone. Hundreds

December 8th is International Shareware Day ~ Shareware is of formal candle lighting events are held and thousands of computer software developed for the public domain, which can be informal candle lightings are conducted in homes as families used or copied without infringing copyright. Programmers typically gather in quiet remembrance of children who have died, but will get paid a small one time fee from users who find the software never be forgotten.” Watch the video featuring last year’s event . useful. If your company develops shareware, it is a great day to start a shareware blitz around the world. If you don’t you can still find some online and pass it along – ask friends and colleagues Find a Worldwide Candle Lighting Service in Your Area . for suggestions before doing so as some of the stuff out there is of If you plan to host and event, list your Worldwide Candle Lighting poor quality or doesn’t do all it says it can. You can find lots of Service at CompassionateFriends.org Shareware on Cnet.com , Tucows.com and Snapfiles.com or There has been much publicity surrounding this event including you can simply Google the shareware program you are looking for. being featured over the years in Dear Abby,Annie’s Mailbox, Ann Landers column, Parade Magazine, Guideposts magazine, and

December 9th is Worldwide Candle Lighting Day ~ “The literally hundreds of U.S. newspapers, dozens of television Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting unites family stations, and numerous websites and hundreds of personal blogs. and friends around the globe in lighting candles for one hour to honor and remember children who have died at any age from any

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th **December 13 is You Had Me at Hello Day ~ On December I have had this happen on more than one occasion with my retail 13th, 1996 the Movie Jerry Maguire was released. In that movie florist introduction. When my store was in Miramar, I would say: was the famous line ”You had me at Hello” (spoken by Renee “I am Heidi Richards Mooney, Chief Goddess of Eden Florist in Zellweger’s Character). In honor of You Lovely Downtown Miramar.” It would get a chuckle not only Had Me at Hello Day… I thought it because of the fun title I gave myself, also because there really would be fun to write about The Art of isn’t a “downtown” in our city. When people would introduce me at the Introduction (that’s the self- meetings they would often say that for me. So it worked because it introduction). became an anchor for my business. Now I say the following: “ ”I am Heidi Richards Mooney, Chief Goddess of Eden Florist & Gift How well do you capture your audience attention when you Baskets. When YOU have something to say, let our Flowers introduce yourself? When you are at a networking event do you Second that Emotion.” This too gets a similar reaction because the know how to “pack a punch” into a few words? Introducing ones tagline reminds the audience faintly of some song they heard self is an art that can be learned. All you have to do is apply a few years ago. I did this on purpose… and you can too. simple techniques to your own business/organization and you could be on your way to having a memorable and repeatable Here are a few other ideas you can implement into your introduction. introduction, especially if you are like me and want to “mix it up” a bit: Here’s what I mean by repeatable: When you get up at an event Use Poetry and consistently share the same introduction, it not only flows If you have a butt, from you, but something interesting begins to happen. People Big or small around you who have heard it a few times, will even start to repeat I have a chair it. And if you want to test this out, say part of your introduction and That will fit them all. pause… see if anyone says it for you. Hi, I’m Barbara Brad and I sell chairs and other office furniture.

302 Quirky Marketing Calendar DECEMBER Use a Creative Job Title ~ such as the example above I used as Use the Day “Chief Goddess” Your calendar can be your best friend. If you were introducing yourself to a group today you could share that today is “You had Use Props. A friend of mine dresses in a poodle skirt with a shirt me at Hello Day” and tell the reason why… then lead into your that has her company name on it. She sells advertising introduction. Just make sure it is either relevant to the audience or specialties and it works for her. relevant to what you do professionally.

Use Humor/riddle Make a Promise/guarantee Here’s what my dear departed friend Sid Weigner used to say: “Want to stamp out boring, dull meetings and conventions?” My “What says everything it hears to others around? It’s not an animal name is Patricia Fripp and I guarantee to keep your audiences or part of the human race – it will immediately repeat after you; but awake!” only if it’s tail is in place – My name is Sid Weigner and the answer to the riddle is Microphone. I specialize in helping speakers and Use Something Unique to You trainers become proficient with technology tools such as “My name is Connie Gordon and I hold the world record for microphones, digital recorders and others.” teaching the most people to paint, 16 million! Some of my students have included Former President Jimmy Carter and First Play on Words … If your last name was Bell, you might use the Lady Roslyn, David Letterman and Arnold Swartzeneger. I have phrase “clear as a bell…” even taught the blind and I can teach you….”

Share a Startling Fact about your industry or a related topic to Use a Famous Quotation Relevant to Your Niche lead into your introduction. Derek Bok said “If you think education is expensive, try “Did you know that 13 billion dozes of Prozak and other related ignorance.” Hi, I’m Jim Keenan, I’m the author of “Ignorance is tranquilizers, barbiturates and amphetamines are prescribed Risk, What Wall Street Doesn’t Want You to Know” and I show yearly by doctors in the United States, alone? business owners how to make wise investments. Hi, I’m Brooke Peterson, your life coach and I work with people to reduce their stress and get high on life instead of drugs.”

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Share a Benefit of Doing Business With You Have a kind word and a smile for the local grocery, department, or My name s Gina Carroll and I help people present themselves convenience store, door to door sales people, Insurance Agents, attractively on paper, designing brochures, newsletters and press Finacial Advisors, Loan officers and mortgage brokers, releases. manufacturer’s reps and on and on… Purchase a dozen ribbons with “VIP” or “You’re Terrific” written on them and hand them out to Other ways to introduce yourself include: every salesperson you come into contact with. Issue a Challenge Use a Short Story Read what The US Census Bureau posted about National Comment on the Environment/News Salesperson Day With Christmas Eve just two weeks away, the Ask a “Thought-provoking” Question…“What if? Did you know?” nation’s retail stores certainly will be crowded for the weekend, as shoppers get into high gear to check off the names on their gift Self-introductions can be a challenge. And they can also be fun. list. It’s a time for goodwill and patience on the part of all Make a game out of it. Test a few out. find out which ones get the concerned. In our rush, we may overlook the good work of the best response from your audience and then … go for it! salespeople who staff the country’s 1.1 million retail businesses, ranging from furniture to auto parts to sporting goods, and without If you have a really interesting or different way of introducing whom shopping would be impossible. Whether part time or career, yourself, please share it in the comments section. I would love to there are close to 16 million employees staffing these businesses, use it in my next edition of Quirky Marketing Calendar. You can most of them sharing their expertise and providing service with a email me at [email protected] with quirky marketing smile. You can find these and more facts about America from the idea in the subject line. U.S. Census Bureau .

December 14th is National Salesperson’s Day ~ National Salesperson Day was established to recognize professional salespeople and how they contribute to the workforce and the bottom lines of small, mid and large size companies.

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Without salespeople, buying decisions would be more difficult and predicting several world events including the French Revolution, would take longer. Salespeople help their customers make the The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, the death of Princess best buying decisions by educating us and cutting our “learning Diana and many other historical events. Whether or not you curve” about products we are interested in buying. No one can be believe in his works is beside the point. Because we are talking an expert in everything and so we rely on these sales experts to about marketing your business, this article includes steps that can help us with their knowledge and expertise by being a resource for help you predict the future of your own business. our purchasing decisions. These experts filter information providing us with the most While innovation is extremely important in business there are also important and needed information in which to make these buying other strategies that will help you predict the future in YOUR decisions. We don’t need to know what the user manual says we BUSINESS. One way is by studying the past. History has a only need to know that the contents are there should we need tendency to repeat itself. Look at your own life and think about them. Salespeople help consumers make more informed events that happened to you and those around you and see if this decisions much quicker than if we had to learn everything on our holds true for you own. How can we celebrate National Salesperson Day? Thank the folks in your life who sell things for a living, take a sales When you look at your past you can see patterns forming and if professional to lunch, talk to a salesperson you are good at putting pieces together you can use these (instead of screening your calls) and most patterns to create new plans in business. Watch trends in your importantly BUY SOMETHING! business and in the world in general to see how they might affect your future. December 14th is Nostradamus Day ~ “The best way to predict the future is to Here are 5 other things you can do right now to predict the future invent it.” Alan C. Kay former fellow at Apple in your business: Computer

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Conduct a Reality Check innovation magazines.

A part of looking at the past is to review your business practices Embrace Change and processes to see how they can be improved, altered, enhanced or discarded. One way to do that is through customer Remember that Change is uncomfortable but often necessary to satisfaction surveys and interviews. In these surveys/interviews stay in business. Think about the major changes in your industry you can find out valuable intel to help you plan the future of your in the past 10,20 and 30 years and how your business would be business. different without those changes.

Some of the questions to ask include: Plan for Uncertainty

Why customers buy from you instead of the competition? What do Plan for those things you have no control over such as natural customers like about your business practices, products, disasters, website down time, potential economic challenges such performance? What products/services do they favor? Don’t like? as the current situation facing many people in business today. Do they refer others to your business? If so, how often? Have When you do this you have a better chance of protecting your customer buying patterns changed over the past year? Are they assets and surviving, even thriving in any economy. buying more/less? Take a Chance These and other questions specific to your industry/company will help you with that reality check. Sometimes you have to go out on a limb in business and do something outside your own comfort zone. Don’t let fear of failure Educate Yourself or change paralyze you to experience new and exciting opportunities that could help your business grow. Find out what companies outside your industry are doing? Who is innovating? What trends are they following/promoting in their own Follow these six strategies and people will be watching what YOU businesses.? Read magazines that speak to innovation in do in business! business such as Fast Company, Trendwatching and other

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***December 15th is Fiverr Day ~ Fiverr is a place for people to profile or by traditional registration, you can post your service that share things they’re willing to do for $5: Funny and Bizarre, Social you are willing to offer or buy a service that another user is Marketing, Graphics, Advertising, Technology, Business and more. offering.

Fiverr.com is a micro-job website where anyone with any kind of Things people sell on Fiverr.com : skill can post random jobs they are willing to do for $5. Fiverr is free to join, takes only about a half hour to set up, and you only Carve a message in a tree need a PayPal account to accept payment. Tweet your message to their followers Teach you how to sew (or another skill) The “thing” or service that you offer on Fiverr is called a “GIG”. Paint you a picture of anything Gigs can be any service that the seller is willing to offer in Create a video for you exchange for $5. Gigs typically range from business services such Do a voice-over for your business as setting up a WordPress template, creating a video to promote a and many, many others. service, leaving positive blog feedback, or sending out Twitter How could you promote your business on Fiverr.com? And what tweets to large amounts of followers. There are also many bizarre would you be willing to do for $5? gigs that can be something as simple calling a buyer daily with affirmations of love to writing your name in the sand on the beach and sending the buyer a picture of the writing.

Posting a gig is free and you can offer as many gigs as you like. You can also request a gig if there is something that you are looking for and it is not already offered.

Once you have joined Fiverr, either by linking your Facebook

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*December 16th is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day ~ How about a contest inviting customers to come up with the most I have a friend “Bud” who read an article about flowers and their original or zaniest "Recipe” covered in chocolate? Be sure to spell emotional impact on others. While he is not in the floral business, out the “Rules” and include a RATED PG clause, (unless of course he knew someone who was and thought enough of me to send it you run an exotic dance club). to me! I loved it and even blogged about it and of course sent him a nice thank you. Maybe we should call this National Pass-this-on December 17th is Underdog Day ~ Host an Underdog Award in Day. your community. Invite your clients and customers to nominate Today I “regifted” several great resources that have been shared their favorite UNDERDOG. with me by my online friends. In fact, it was a dozen valuable tools Send press releases to the local media. Create a prize for the to help you in business. Underdog and finalists (or have several winners). Celebrate Underdog Day with a community event. Ask your local chamber of Here’s what I posted on the Women in Ecommerce™ blog: a civic organization to partner with you and co-host the event. Make it a breakfast or lunch. Invite local officials to participate. Ask To celebrate the season of giving, The Women in Ecommerce™ for a proclamation for the winners. Hire a college or high school team and I are sharing a dozen special holiday resources we have drama student to wear a costume to help promote the event. received from our friends. Feel Free to share these with your own circles too! Check out all 12 of the resources shared here: *December 20th is National Re-Gifting Day http://wecai.org/4022/dozenholiday-gifts-from-women-in- ~ What have you received in business that ecommerce/ you’d like to give to others? Think of some of the things that came across your desk, in your inbox or in the mail that perhaps you were not yet ready for or able to use. Could someone else in business use it?

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December 20th is also Clean Air Day ~ Marking the 1967 December 20th is Chocolate Pizza Day ~ Pizza isn’t just crust passage of the U.S. Clean Air Act, a set of laws enacted to and sauce with your favorite toppings! You can make one for protect the nation from air pollution. It was the first law to place dessert and wow others with your talents. This chocolate pizza is pollution controls on the auto industry. This is a day set aside to especially good for holiday guests – and it just takes 15 minutes to honor our clean air and to raise awareness of the many make. Or take it to the office as a holiday surprise. But watch out! environmental issues that are changing our climate on earth. This You might end up eating the whole thing yourself. is one of several official days to pay attention to your environment and the air we breathe. However, we should pay attention and do Have this on the counter or a table at work so everyone can partake. our part EVERY DAY. Did you know that flowers and plants freshen the air? And it’s getting close to Christmas and Kwanza. Send flowers to honor the holidays and the environment.

Marking the 1967 passage of the U.S. Clean Air Act, a set of laws enacted to protect the nation from air pollution. It was the first law to place pollution controls on the auto industry. This is a day set aside to honor our clean air and to raise awareness of the many environmental issues that are changing our climate on earth. This is one of several official days to pay attention to your environment and the air we breathe. However, we should pay attention and do our part EVERY DAY. Did you know that flowers and plants freshen the air? And it’s getting close to Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza. Send flowers to honor the holidays and the environment.

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Here’s a recipe for Chocolate-covered Pizza that’s a crowd- *December 21st is World Peace Day ~ Time to give thanks for pleaser: our fortune and work to “keep the peace” around the world. Send - 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips an electronic greeting card to your friends far and wide. Some of - 1 cup butterscotch chips (or peanut butter chips) the best ones I have found online are by 123 Greetings – Free - 3/4 cup miniature marshmallows Greetings for the Planet located at: http://tinyurl.com/26mf7z . - 3/4 cup peanuts - 3/4 cup crushed potato chips (rippled/wavy type) *December 21st is also Humbug Day ~ Why not have a Humbug - 2 tablespoons coconut Hotline and invite those who aren't in the spirit to call in and vent - 6 maraschino cherries about what they don? like about the holiday. Be sure and get their - 2 square of white almond bark name and address if possible and send them a greeting card - 1 teaspoon shortening wishing them a Happy Humbug Day after wards. - M & M’s Container: Round platter (approximately 12 inches diameter) *December 21st is also Crossword Puzzle Day ~ On December Prep Time: 1 hour 21, 1913, the first crossword puzzle appeared in the Sunday Cook Time: 5 minutes edition of the New York World. Arthur Wynne had been asked to Source: RecipeTips.com devise a new game feature for the newspaper. He remembered a child's game called "Magic Square" where words had to be BTW, I was searching for a World Record Holder for the Largest arranged to read across and down. He changed this by giving Chocolate Covered Pizza and could not find one. This might just "clues" instead of the actual words, and the crossword puzzle was be a good opportunity for some company, organization or born. What kind of crossword puzzle could you create to promote individual to be THE WORLD RECORD HOLDER! If you do, be your business? I have created crossword puzzles for my digital sure and let me know about it so you too can end up in Quirky magazine ~ WE Magazine for Women, to promote events, to Marketing Calendar! There are several food record holders you promote holidays and to just have fun. Here are some of the can check out at JunkFoodNews.Net . online puzzle makers I use: PuzzleMaker.com , CrosswordPuzzleGames.com and EdHelper.org (all free).

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AND.... December 21st is Winter Solstice ~ the shortest day of *December 26th is also Whiner's Day ~ If you didn't do the the year – Have a Winter Solstice Sale. Or have a Winter Solstice Humbug Hotline on December 21st because you were just too project - Discover Stones (excerpted from: Celebrating the Great busy running your business, why not have a whiner's hotline or Mother, by Cait Johnson and Maura D. Shaw) “All matter whirls at online forum where people can go and VENT about “whatever.” incredible speed, atoms in constant, breathtaking motion. But the Remember to send them a greeting card thanking them for rock people are seemingly still. We are all of us surrounded by the participating in this little known quirky holiday. stillness of stone; if you dig in any patch of earth, you are likely to find bits and pieces that are unimaginably old and likely to outlast *December 26th is also National Thank You Note Day ~ us by countless lifetimes. Just as trees may be intuited to have Remember to send Thank You notes to your clients and individual spirits and personalities, so the humble rocks beneath customers, thanking them for their business. Ask for stories of our feet may be known and their energies felt in ways that have what types of responses they have received from sending thank much to teach us.” you notes to others.

Have a "Rock collecting or decorating contest” with your *December 28th and 29th are National Chocolate Days ~ Again customer? or clients children. Invite them to bring in their with the chocolate! How about a bake-off with a local youth decorated rocks or stop by your “place of business and give them organization. Invite the local culinary school or college to a rock you can even get a river rock or granite stone imprinted participate and host the bake-off. Solicit prizes from the with your logo on the bottom. Visit your local promotional products community. Create categories such as cakes, cookies, pies and company. candy. Buy ribbons for first, second and third place. Invite local dignitaries and community leaders (such as *December 26th is Candy Cane Day ~ commissioners and chambers of commerce board members) Another excellent opportunity to use to be the “judges.” custom imprinting. Check out Extra Mile for a list of available products.

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*December 29th is Tick Tock Day ~ Did you know that most of us are a business owner who wants to get to a new level of success experience on average one interruption every 8 minutes? That's in the New Year, hire a coach to help you get there. approximately 6-7 interruptions each working hour. That means that in an 8-hour workday, we can have between 50 and 60 *December 31st is also No Interruptions interruptions. Did you also know that the average interruption is Day ~ a good day to fine tune that about 5 minutes in duration? Think about it, 50 – 5 minute Business Plan of yours. Turn off the interruptions each day adds up to 250 minutes! That means that in phones, shut down your email and work an 8 hour workday, 4 hours are spent addressing interruptions on your plan! It is also a good day to use (unplanned events). No wonder we sometimes feel as though we Voice Broadcasting to wish your have not accomplish anything. customers a happy New Year - It's very easy to do. You record your message; upload it to the voice Here are just a few ways to manage those interruptions: 1). Write broadcasting service (along with your customers phone numbers) down all the interruptions you have in a day… see what category and decide on the date and time you want the message sent. The they fall into and work on ways to avoid or manage them. 2). Look Service sends the message on your requested day - a good for patterns to those interruptions. This way you can decide if service I have found is DialMyCalls.com which only costs pennies these are interruptions you can control or not. 3). Establish your per message. You record it, they send it! own priorities. 4). Schedule those known interruptions such as emails, phone calls, setting aside time each day to check email and return phone calls. For more ideas on time management read my article entitled: “Managing Interruptions .”

*December 31st is Make Up Your Mind Day ~ If you are a coach, today is a good day to promote working with coaches to help clients achieve their goals in the New Year. If you

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*December 31st also New Year's Eve! ~ Need some luck in the Marketing Calendar... Stay tuned for the 2012 Edition coming New Year? Many countries have traditions that they believe will soon! bring good luck by participating in certain activities. For instance, in Puerto Rico children throw pails of water out the window at midnight to rid their home of any evil spirits!

In Spain when the clock strikes midnight everyone eats 12 grapes to represent each month of the year. Switzerland believes good luck comes from letting a drop of cream land on the floor New Years Day.

In France people eat pancakes for luck and good health. Belgium farmers wish their animals a Happy New Year blessing.

Armenian women cook special bread kneaded with luck and good wishes before it is cooked for their family.

In Northern Portugal children go caroling from home to home singing old songs or "Janeiro's" which are said to bring good luck. They are rewarded with treats and coins.

And in Bolivia families make beautiful little wood or straw dolls to hang outside their homes.

May you have luck, love, peace, good health and happiness in the coming year. And Thank you for purchasing Quirky

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OTHER OBSERVANCES IN DECEMBER

MONTHLY

World Aids Month Spiritual Literacy Month Bingo's Birthday Month Universal Human Rights Month Colorectal Cancer Education and Awareness Month Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month National Drunk & Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month Choose A Summer Camp Month National Write a Business Plan Month National Rising Star Month National Tie Month Take a New Year's Resolution to Stop Smoking Operation Santa Paws Safe Toys and Gifts Month

WEEKLY

*Cookie Cutter Week: 1-7 Halcyon Days: 14-18 *Tolerance Week: 1-7 *Posadas: 16-24 *Recipe Greetings For The Holidays Week: 1-8 Gluten-free Baking Week: 16-22 Clerc-Gallaudet Week: 2-8 *Saturnalia: 17-23 National Handwashing Awareness Week: 6-12 It's About Time Week: 25-31 Chanukah (Hanukkah): 9-16 Kwanzaa: 26-1/1 Human Rights Week: 10-17

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DAILY

*Cat Herders Day: 15 *National Chocolate-covered Anything Day: 16 *Day With(out) Art Day: 1 National Re-gifting Day: 20 *Special Kids Day: 1 *Zionism Day: 16 Skywarn Recognition Day: 1 Asarah B'Tevet: 25 *World Aids Day: 1 *Wright Brothers Day: 17 *Special Education Day: 2 International Migrants Day: 17 *International Day of Disabled Persons: 3 *International Human Solidarity Day: 20 *National Cookie Day: 4 *Crossword Puzzle Day: 21 *National Dice Day: 4 *Forefathers Day: 21 *AFL-CIO Day: 5 *Humbug Day: 21 *Bathtub Party Day: 5 Underdog Day: 21 *International Ninja Day: 5 *National Haiku Poetry Day: 22 *International Volunteer Day for Economic & Social *World Peace Day/Winter Solstice: 21 Development: 5 Yule: 22 Coats & Toys for Kids Day: 6 Christmas Eve: 24 *Miners' Day: 6 *A'Phabet Day or No "L" Day: 25 *National Pawnbrokers Day: 6 *Christmas: 25 *St. Nicholas Day: 6 *Boxing Day: 26 (Canada) *National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: 7 *National Thank-you Note Day: 26 *International Civil Aviation Day: 7 *Candy Cane Day: 26 *National Cotton Candy Day: 7 *National Whiner's Day: 26 Day Of The Horse: 8 *Holy Innocents Day: 28 International Shareware Day: 8 Full Moon: 28 *International Anti-corruption Day: 9 *National Chocolate Day: 28 & 29 *Weary Willie Day: 9 *Pledge of Allegiance Day: 29 Worldwide Candle Lighting Day : 9 *Tick Tock Day: 29 *Dewey Decimal System Day: 10 First Nights: 31 *Human Rights Day: 10 *Leap Second Time Adjustment Day: 31 *Nobel Prize Day: 10 *Make Up Your Mind Day: 31 *International Mountain Day: 11 *New Years Eve: 31 *Poinsettia Day: 12 *No Interruptions Day: 31 National Salesperson Day: 14 *Universal Hour of Peace Day: 31 *Bill of Rights Day: 15 *World Peace Meditation Day: 31

315 Quirky Marketing Calendar My Marketing Calendar for DECEMBER

Special Dates I plan to promote: 1. 2. 3. 4. How I plan to promote them:

Goals for Each Promotion:

Budget: Media 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Comments:

316 DECEMBER 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

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FORMS Simplified Marketing Plan Form

Marketing Plan Sample Outline

Top 10 Checklist to Maximize my Marketing Plans

Marketing Self-Assessment

Measure Your Advertising Effectiveness

Marketing Mix Goals and Strategies Worksheet

Simplified Marketing Budget

10 TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD PRESS RELEASE

Donation Application Request Form

Overall Public Relations Checklist

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Simplified Marketing Plan

This is a one-page marketing plan you can use for individual strategies or your overall plan. Use this outline to guide you in assessing your needs and developing the process to follow. Name of Project Date

My short and long term goals and objectives:

Target Market Characteristics: What is the age, gender, income levels, etc.?

My Target Market Needs:

My Strengths, Weaknesses, and Opportunities:

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities of the Competition: How I Plan to Compete in the Marketplace:

Budget for Marketing and Advertising: Action Plans:

Strategies to Achieve Goals and Objectives:

Project Completion Schedule

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Marketing Plan Sample Outline

There are a variety of styles and formats used for marketing plans. The following section headings will help you organize your plan. The content of the plan is much more important than rigid adherence to a specific format. I. Executive Summary

The Executive Summary highlights the main goals and recommendations of the marketing plan. It should also briefly address budget requirements and how success will be measured. II. Business Overview

This section is sometime referred to as the Situation Analysis segment. In a typical marketing plan, it contains relevant background on the market, product, pricing, and distribution situations as well as on competitors. Information Centers can describe their business in these terms as well. Assuming the planning process takes place at the end of a fiscal year, this section may be a recap of the business for the past 12 months. Consider describing your customer base, services required by your customers, and environmental factors affecting your operation. How has the Internet affected your business? Who else in the company is responsible for content? Include any hard or anecdotal data on ROI available to you.

Some marketing plan templates include the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis in this segment. Others insert a separate segment devoted to the SWOT Analysis. In the light of the business situation just described, you must now reflect on strengths and weaknesses of your operation, as well as opportunities and threats to be dealt with in the coming year.

III. Target Market

How well do you know your target market? How well do you understand their information needs? Can you articulate what your customers and potential customers need as opposed to what you offer? Are there groups to whom you should be selling who are not now buying your services? Are there ways to segment your market so that you can offer highly specialized products and services to various groups, reflecting their business priorities? What kind of products should be offered to a broad base of users? Answering these questions will help you define your target market.

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IV. Goals

What do you want to achieve? The goal statement(s) should be challenging and yet, attainable. Is it important to increase the number of departments served? Which departments? Do you intend to provide more training programs? Sample goal statements might read:

1. Establish relationship with key internet influencers (such as bloggers) in first quarter. 2. Reduce staff time spent on Internet searching by outsourcing trivial or mundane tasks that take away from the big picture and bottom line goals.

V. Marketing Strategies

Here strategies and programs are outlined which will help us reach the goals outlined above. For the two goals suggested previously, strategies might read as follows:

1. Provide an overview of what I can bring to the table and how I can be a resource to help the influencers also achieve their goals. 2. Review steps to complete mundane tasks and outsource those that cost more to do in-house than to outsource.

VI. Implementation Tactics

Tasks required to implement and monitor each strategy are listed in this section. With each task, the person responsible for the task, and a completion target date are indicated. Having a plan of action with specific tasks ensures that the details are clear and that specific persons are accountable.

There's an example on the next page ~ (notice how there is a specific % increase stated in the strategy):

321 322 Top 10 Checklist to Maximize My Marketing Plans

1. I will develop my Unique Selling Position (USP) and use it in all my Marketing efforts.

2. I will TEST, TEST, TEST. And monitor the results of the variables.

3. Every Advertising program must use Direct Response, focusing my communications on my prospects’ interests, not my own. I will stress benefits, not features (WIIFT- what? in it for them), and I will give complete instructions for prospects to do, the how and the why.

4. Build a solid foundation with my customers through integrity, communication and good (fair) business practices.

5. Know what my customers and prospects really want and need by: a. asking them questions, b. shopping the competition. c. asking patrons of other businesses why they do business with my competitors, and d. why they did business with them in the first place. Knowing this information will help in determining those wants and needs.

6. Make it easy to do business with my company.

7. Educate my customers to understand and prefer the value and benefits my products/services offer.

8. Move my customers to action by telling the why...why my products/services will help them, why we price things the way we do, why things are done a certain way for their benefit. Stress the benefits!

9. If it ain’t broke, don't fix it. In other words, successful marketing campaigns should be used until they are no longer successful (remember my coupon story, I?e used basically the same coupons for 12+ years- to new markets....they work).

10. Focus on my intended market (customers) in all my advertising efforts (print, radio and television). Identify my prime target audience and design my programs around those targets, instead of trying to be all things to all people.

I will use this checklist for all my marketing programs. I will evaluate marketing campaigns I have used in the past to see which areas were weak (lacking) and which ones I used effectively.

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MARKETING SELF-ASSESSMENT

Answering the following questions will give you the outline to develop simple marketing programs for your business.

1. What type of business am I in (manufacturing, merchandising or service)?

2. What is the nature of my service(s) or product(s)?

3. What market segments does my company serve? (Describe the age, sex, income level and life-style characteristics of each market segment.)

4. Budget for marketing & advertising?

5. What strategies will I/do I use to attract and keep customers?

Product/Service

Price

Place/Location

Persuasion (personal selling)

6. What is my unique selling proposition (USP)?-strengths, opportunities

7. Who is my competition....?

8. What have I done (am I going to do) to control my share of the market? How do I plan to compete in the marketplace?

324 Quirky Marketing Calendar Measure Your Advertising “Effectiveness”

How do I know my ads are working?

Do I qualify leads generated from my advertising? What percent (%)?

Do I convert those leads into customers? What percent (%)?

What are the costs to run the ad campaign versus the value of the business it generates?

What, if any different approaches do I use to increase the $ value of the business I receive?

What steps do I take to convert a prospect to a customer (follow up)?

Which of the following do I test?

Price Offer Copy Graphics Headlines

Media Size of AD Position in Publication(s)

325 Quirky Marketing Calendar Marketing Mix Goals and Strategies Worksheet

Year ______

What are my business goals this year?

How much money do I want to make? Profit Margin?

Who is my target market?

What is my unique selling position (USP) in my target market’s perception?

What is my time frame for achieving these goals?

What resources will I use to implement my strategies?

What (if any) are the legal requirements for my products/services (permits, licenses, patents, trademarks, etc.)?

326 Quirky Marketing Calendar Simplified Marketing Budget

Name of Marketing Campaign Date Started

Expense Item Budget Actual Cost

Direct Costs of Sales Salaries $ $ Commissions $ $ Travel $ $ Entertainment $ $

Indirect Costs of Sales Market research $ $ Training/Education $ $ Subscriptions $ $ Dues $ $ Statistics $ $

Advertising Design $ $ Consulting Services $ $

Public Relations In-House Efforts $ $ Contracted Services $ $

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Simplified Marketing Budget (pg. 2)

Shipping/Mailing Order Processing/Packaging $ $ Postage $ $

Credits/Collection Administrative costs $ $ Bad Debt Expense/Allowance $ $

Other (Define)

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Date completed ______

NOTES:

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10 TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD PRESS RELEASE

1. TYPE, never hand-write, double space and use BIG margins. Leave lots of white space. Editors use the white space to EDIT.

2. Avoid BIG letterheads. They take up space on the page and can shout ?y message is weak, but look at my credentials. There’s nothing wrong with using plain white paper.

3. Indicate the source. Upper left hand corner should contain the name, address, and phone number of the person or firm sending the release.

4. Name the contact. Skip a few lines below the source and list the person to call for more information. Listing a home phone ( or cell phone/beeper) in addition to the business number indicates your willingness to be helpful

5. Provide release instructions...Either FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE or FOR RELEASE MONDAY JUNE 8TH. Don? leave too long a hold time, though, or your release will likely be buried or forgotten

6. Headline optional. Editor may wish to add their own headline, so leave about a 2" space so the editor can pen something in.

7. Dateline?our Town, USA. It? called a dateline because the date is the important part. If you include a place, it should be the place where the story originates. And if you include a date within the story, use the whole date.

8. Write concisely. The first paragraph should answer the 5 W?: who, what, when, where, and why.

9. The mechanics. Try to keep the release to one single page. If you need more than one page to complete the release put ?more? at the bottom center of the page and be sure the pages are numbered. The succeeding pages should be “slugged” that is, tagged with an identifying headline or subject reference. My example would have said WUN Publications, Inc. - 2.

10. When you reach the end of your press release, use four # signs centered in the page or -ND- centered in the page

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Donation Application Request Form (to use when someone requests a donation/contribution from your company)

Name of Organization

Address ______City ______State ______ZIP ______

E-Mail______Phone ______Fax ______

Name of Person Requesting Donation ______(relationship to organization eg.: board member, volunteer, staff)

Contact Phone Number ______

Today's Date ______Date of Event ______

Nature of Request (please describe what type of donation you are looking for and what it will be used for)

Form Completed By ______Date Submitted ______

Phone ______E-Mail ______

Approved by ______Date ______Manager, owner of company

Note: if denied, why? ______

Return to: company contact info, address, phone, fax, email, website

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Overall Public Relations Checklist

Look for Publicity Opportunities that are:

_____ Informational

_____ Interesting or entertaining

_____History-making or important firsts

_____ Timely

_____Human Interest

Set Publicity goals

_____ Organize an Event Calendar

_____ Maintain a Clipping File

_____ Create an Idea File

_____ Subscribe to and read target publications

Develop Media Contacts

_____ Newspaper Editors, Publishers and Journalists

_____ Local/regional/national/international Magazine Editors

_____ Television Directors and Reporters

_____ Radio Directors, Reporters and Personalities

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Overall Public Relations Checklist (pg. 2)

Things to Keep in Mind

_____ Have you checked submission dates/deadlines

_____ Have your read and followed submission guidelines

_____ Have you written a letter to the editor(s)?

_____ Is it news or is it advertising?

_____ Is it true?

_____ Did you send it to the correct person(s)?

_____ Will your story interest a broad range of readers or is it tightly focused?

_____ Did you follow up?

_____ Did you write a thank you note for any publicity you received?

A Few Don'ts

DON'T pressure or beg an editor to get a story printed and DON'T go over his head to the editor-in-chief or publisher in an attempt to get a rejected story printed.

DON'T rush in with a routine story and hand it to the editor just before deadline. Most material must be in the hands of the editor at least 24 hours before its intended date of publication.

DON'T invite members of the press to a special function and then ask them to pay an admission fee. Members of the press should always be treated as special guests.

DON'T give up. Try and try again. Sooner or later you will succeed.

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RESOURCES

Trend Watching ~ Global Consumer Trends, Ideas and Insights. In addition to monthly Trend Briefings, they also publish an exclusive annual Trend Report. Www.Trendwatching.com

Spring Spotters ~The Springspotter Network consists of more than 8000 global business and marketing-savvy spotters, who recognize a new business idea when they come across ~ www.springspotters.com

World Future Society ~ The World Future Society is a nonprofit, nonpartisan scientific and educational association of people interested in how social and technological developments are shaping the future ~ www.wfs.org

ALERTS

CyberAlert ~ www.cyberalert.com/ Yahoo ~ http://alerts.yahoo.com/ Google ~ www.google.com/alerts

ASSOCIATIONS

Public Relations Society of America ~ www.prsa.org Center for Media and Democracy's PR Watch ~ www.prwatch.org International Association of Business Communicators ~ www.iabc.com Society for New Communications Research ~ www.sncr.org/ American Marketing Association ~ http://www.marketingpower.com National Newspaper Publishers Association ~ www.nnpa.org/ Corpwatch. Environmental monitoring ~ www.corpwatch.org Public Relations Student Society of America ~ www.siu.edu/~prssa/ Public Affairs Council ~ www.pac.org

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The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press ~ www.people-press.org/ Business Marketing Association ~ www.marketing.org Association for Women in Communications ~ www.womcom.org Museum of News ~ www.newseum.org/ The institute for PR ~ www.instituteforpr.com Southern Public Relations Federation ~ www.sprf.org/ Investigative Reporters and Editors ~ www.ire.org Society of American Business Editors and Writers ~ www.sabew.org/ Poynter.org ~ www.poynter.org Inland Press Association www.inlandpress.org/ Non-profit TV News Laboratory ~ www.newslab.org/ International Newspaper Marketing Association ~ www.inma.org/ New York Newspaper Publishers Association ~ www.nynpa.com/ Council of Public Relations Firms ~ www.prfirms.org/ Interactive Advertising Bureau ~ www.iab.net/ League of American Communications Professionals ~ www.lacp.com/ National Press Club Online ~ http://npc.press.org/ Direct Marketing Association ~ www.the-dma.org/ Society of Environmental Journalists ~ www.sej.org/ Women Executives in Public Relations ~ http://www.wepr.org Women in Ecommerce™ ~ www.wecai.org WE Magazine for Women – www.wemagazineforwomen.com

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AUDIO EDITING

Audacity by Sourceforge - http://audacity.sourceforge.org Wavepad - http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/

CLIPPING SERVICES

NewspaperClips.com ~ www.newspaperclips.com ClippingService.com ~ www.clippingservice.com Biz360 ~ www.biz360.com

DIRECTORIES & MEDIA CONTACTS

Alternative Press Online Directory ~ www.altpress.org Computer/Internet Media Directory ~ www.online-pr.com/prcmpmed.htm Kidon Media-Link Magazines Directory ~ www.kidon.com/media-link/index.php Medical Media List ~ www.online-pr.com/prmednws.htm US Newspaper List ~ www.usnpl.com/ Internet Public Library: Newspapers ~ www.ipl.org/div/news/ PR Museum ~ www.prmuseum.com/ Profnet ~ www.profnet.com NewsUsa ~ www.newsusa.com NewsWise ~ www.newswise.co Cision MediaSource ~ http://premiumres2.mediasource.com/ Pitch Engine ~ www.pitchengine.com/ Techwire ~ www.ezwire.com Canada newswire ~ www.newswire.ca Rush PR News ~ www.rushprnews.com/ National Press Club ~ http://npc.press.org North American Precis Syndicate ~ www.napsnet.com Audit Bureau of Circulation ~ www.accessabc.com Gebbie Press All-in-One Media Directory ~ www.gebbieinc.com Hispanic PR Wire ~ www.hispanicprwire.com/ BusinessWire India ~ www.businesswireindia.com/ Reporter Bios ~ www.newsbios.com/

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I Need a Great Story ~ http://ineedagreatstory.com/ Fashion Wire ~ ww.FashionWireDaily.com ClickPress ~ www.clickpress.com/releases/index.shtml Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire ~ www.csrwire.com/ UsPRWire ~ www.usprwire.com/ Online Press Releases ~ www.onlinepressreleases.com Market Wire ~ www.marketwire.com/ Family Features ~ www.familyfeatures.com/ News Cactus ~ http://newscactus.com/ Prime Zone ~ www.primezone.com/ Worldwide media guide ~ www.mondotimes.com/ Ascribe ~ www.ascribe.org/ Help a Reporter ~ www.helpareporter.com/ Media Max Online ~ www.mediamaxonline.com/ Reporter Connection ~ www.reporterconnection.com/ Journalists on Twitter ~ http://journalistsontwitter.wetpaint.com/ Just Tweet It!Journalists on Twitter ~ http://justtweetit.com/media/reporters-press/ Journalist Tweets ~ www.journalisttweets.com/ Media on Twitter ~ www.mediaontwitter.com/

EBOOKS

GET Media Savvy ~ The Ultimate eGuide to Promote Your Products, Services and Ideas to the World http://bit.ly/getmediasavvy GET MORE BUSINESS -The Women’s eMarketing Guide to Promote Your Products & Services on the Internet http://bit.ly/getmorebusiness Self Marketing Dictionary - A Glossary of Sales and Marketing Terms Commonly Used in Business http://bit.ly/selfmarketingdictionary Public Relations eBooks www.ebooks.com

PHOTO-SHARING

PhotoBucket ~ www.photobucket.com EchoPic ~ http://www.echopic.com/ Care2Connect ~ http://www.care2.com/community Flickr ~ www.flickr.com iPhoto ~ http://www.apple.com/ilife/iphoto/ Kodak Gallery ~ http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/welcome.jsp SmugMug ~ http://www.smugmug.com/ Snapfish ~ http://www.snapfish.com/

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PODCAST RESOURCES

Apple's iTunes - http://www.apple.com/itunes/ Digital Podcast – http://digitalpodcast.com Podcast Alley - http://podcastalley.com Podcast Pickle – http://podcastpickle.com Cool Websites - http://coolerwebsites.com Podcast Fast Pass - http://www.podcastfastpass.com 121 Podcasting - http://www.121podcasting.com 1st Podcast Publishing - http://www/1stpod.com

PRESS RELEASE DISTRIBUTION

Click Press - http://www.ClickPress.com Power Home Biz - http://www.PowerHomeBiz Free Press Release - Http://www.Free-Press-Release.com PRWEB – http://www.prweb.com ExpressPress - http://www.xpresspress.com/ Ereleases - http://www.ereleases.com/index.html Media Post - http://www.mediapost.com/ Market Wire – http://www.MarketWire.c om 24/7 Press Release - http://www.24/7PressRelease.com MediaLink – www.medialink.com CorporateNews.com – www.corporatenews.com Mass Media Distribution LLC – www.massmediadistribution.com Press Box - http://www.pressbox PR Leap – http://prleap.com PR.com – http://www.PR.com Press Release Network – www.pressreleasenetwork.com Xpress Press – www.xpresspress.com EWorldWire – www.eworldwire.com I-Newswire – www.i-newswire.com Send2Press – www.send2press.com Major Newswire – www.majornewswire.com WebWire – www.webwire.com ©Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com All Rights Reserved.

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Burrelles-Luce – www.burrellesluce.com PR Log ~ www.prlog.org/ Press Xpress ~ www.xpresspress.com Business Wire ~ www.businesswire.com PR Newswire ~ www.prnewswire.com URL Wire ~ www.urlwire.com EWatch – www.ewatch.com Bacon’s Information – www.bacons.com CustomScoop – www.customscoop.com Metro Monitor – www.metromonitor.com Universal Information Services, Inc. – www.universal-info.com NewsLibrary.com – www.nl.newsbank.com VMS InSight – www.vmsinfo.com PR Inside ~ www.pr-inside.com/ Online PR News ~ www.onlineprnews.com/ PR Source Code ~ www.prsourcecode.com/

RADIO

Blog-talk Radio www.BlogTalkRadio.com Radio-Locator ~ www.radio-locator.com/ Talk Radio Directory ~ www.talkradiowaves.com/

VIDEO SHARING

YouTube® ~ www.youtube.com Bright Cove ~ http://www.brightcove.com/ Google Video ~ http://www.video.google.com/ Blip TV® ~ www.bliptv.com Daily Motion ~ http://dailymotion.com/ Gawwk ~ http://gawkk.com/ Vimeo ~ www.vimeo.com Flixya ~ http://www.flixya.com/ Photo Bucket ~ http://www.photobucket.com/ Tubetorial ~ http://tubetorial.com/

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Misc. Books & Resources

Chases Calendar of Events - Find out what's going on any day of the year, anywhere across the globe! Visit www.Chases.com

Rose Marketing on a Daisy Budget - How to Grow Your Business Without Spending a Fortune by Heidi Richards

Advertising Age Newspaper http://www.adage.com/

Inside PR http://www.prcentral.com/

Gallop Poll http://www.gallup.com/poll

Google Trends http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends?sa=X

Link Popularity Checker http://www.marketleap.com/

Free Press release grader http://www.pressreleasegrader.com/

Alexa www.Alexa.com

PressWiki http://www.presswiki.org/

MatchPoint http://www.prmatchpoint.com/matchpoint.html

NewsCertified Exchange http://www.newscertified.com/

AwardSync http://www.awardsync.com/

Media Kitty http://www.mediakitty.com

Regional Magazines http://bookmarket.com/regmags.htm

WE Magazine for Women http://www.wemagazineforwomen.com

339 About the Author

Heidi Richards Mooney is the Founder of the WomeninEcommerce™, President and CEO of Eden Florist & Gift Baskets, Publisher Editor-in-Chief for WE Magazine for Women, social media consultant, and author/co-author of eight other books including:

Rose Marketing on a Daisy Budget: How to Grow Your Business Without Spending a Fortune http://bit.ly/rosemarketing The PMS Principles: Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business http://bit.ly/pmsprinciples Romance on a Budget: 199 Cheap Thrills, Romantic Antics and Love-Changing Experiences http://bit.ly/romancebudget The South Florida Network Directory of Women’s Business, Civic and Professional Organizations http://bit.ly/sfndirectory Career Compass for Women: The Indispensable Guidebook for Women in the Workplace http://bit.ly/careercompass Life Compass for Women: The Indispensable Guidebook on Life Management for Busy Women http://bit.ly/lifecompass What’s Your OccuPLAYtion – 149 Ideas to Increase Job Satisfaction, Reduce Stress and Get More Out of Your Work and Your Life http://bit.ly/occuplaytion 'Yes’ Is Only the Beginning: The Ideal Wedding Planner for Your Big Day! http://bit.ly/yesbook2

Heidi is the co-founder/President of The Alexis Project, BogoBuys.com WomenofWisdom.com and FuneralFlowersNow.com. Heidi is the author of eight blogs, several ebooks, tips booklets and special reports. She is a frequent contributor to several magazines including Bloomin’ News in California, South Florida Business Journal and Solutions Magazine. Heidi has nearly 30 years experience in running and owning her own small businesses. She travels the globe talking about social media marketing, entrepreneurship and leadership and is available to speak at your event. You can learn more about Heidi at http://www.HeidiRichards.com http://redheadmarketinginc.com or http://www.wecai.org . You can also email her at [email protected] . ©Heidi Richards Mooney ~ http://www.HeidiRichards.com All Rights Reserved.

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