I hope you had a chance  to view me and and the other Dime a Dames Internet TV, produced by S2Oproductions every Wednesday night, 8:30pm EST. The show is interactive and listeners login to the chatroom with their questions.

www.s2oProductions.tv Check out the show archives by going to this link, scroll down to Dime a Dames.

This is the second show and I’m having a blast! Dime a Dames  features four Fabulous / Glamorous / Sassy and Smart business women that talk about business, politics, relationships, dating, sex…pretty much everything that happens in life.

Hosts consist of  me, good friend Denise Jackson( owner of the Emerging Art Scene art gallery), Zelda Pittman ( dentist/owner of Grant Park Dental Group )

Our surprise guest was good friend Michelle Doyon ( painter, alternative health/holistic expert, master networker)!

This show, we discussed being called the b.i.t.c.h word, men being faithful, and indecent proposals. I’m teasing you I know,you will have to check out the video link above to hear what we said.

Feel free to post your comments!

Watch the video

Excerpt from Arabian Horses.org Click on link for more history

From the ancient deserts of the Middle East evolved the oldest known breed of riding horse, the Arabian. Now one of the most popular breeds in America, the Arabians’ incredible energy, intelligence and gentle disposition allow riders to excel in most equine sports and activities. Today, Arabian horses spend as much time on the trail as they do at horse shows and other competitive events.

I love books!

Most of you know don’t know that I am A hardcore NERD, an avid and voracious reader. I have more than 2000 books in my library collection. I consume books like eating food or drinking water. I typically read four or five books at one time. I read first thing in the morning before I meditate and start my day. Then at night I read before meditating and going to sleep.

As a writer, reading is a part of constantly connecting with the energy of words—they are my best friends. They feed my spirit, nourish my soul and make me feel alive. Good writing makes me reflect for days on end and inspire me to write poetry and other types of writing. Currently I am working on a book of poetry and a book of essays.

The books on my bed right now, folded open with their spines sticking out, with many folded over bookmarked pages are:

Guns, Germs, and Steel (fascinating and informative read)

David Copperfield (oldie but goodie)

Mythology (I am crazy about Greek mythology)

365: Daily Advice From the Heart by the Dalai Lama

The Essence of Buddhism (I study and deeply respect Buddhism)

Word Power Made Easy (This book is on my lap in the picture here. I have read this book since high school, at least 100 times!)

I also am reading two other books dealing with human sexuality that I won’t mention here, in case some of you are prudes. LOL.

Review of The Grace of Guilt

Author: Gareth Young

Paperback book

Dogear Publishing 2009

284 pages

I recently met the multi-talented author while doing a radio interview for High Velocity Radio. Gareth is a  businessman, a writer, (and get this) a Zen priest. Quite a combination for sure.

The Grace of Guilt is a series of stories that form one big story, with guilt as the theme. He uses religion to illustrate this and it is not done in overbearing preachy way.  The book weaves the tale of Jessica Jackson, a young teenager raped by the pastor’s son and turned away by her family, friends and church. Simon Cassell is a homosexual racked with guilt over his sexual orientation.  Gareth expertly weaves a descriptive tale where desires, lust, friendships, fall and rise. There is even some suspense and crime drama towards the end involving the FBI looking for a criminal in the small town where Jessica and Simon live. A quick and easy read with highly relatable characters makes this first time novel a good book o add to your collection.

Check out part 2 of my interview with Brian Berg of Berg Information Technology , he is an IT expert specializing in Data Warehousing. Brian really knows his stuff.

Data warehousing, the extraction of hidden predictive information from large databases, is a powerful and necessary technology to assist companies focus on the most important information in their data warehouses. Data warehousing tools track trends and behaviors, allowing businesses to serve clients better. Think: sales increasing, operations being streamlined, and costs being reduced. Just imagine having a large amount of data without knowing the meaning of it. You can’t run your business that way.  Knowledge is power for a business, which is why data mining is so valuable.

Data warehousing is typically used by large companies. It is automated, detailed and goes beyond the analyses of past events provided by retrospective tools typical of decision support systems. Data warehousing saves time ad can offer answers to business questions that traditionally took to much time to solve.

Some business people are master networkers and are naturally good at meeting a lot of people. They go to events constantly and meet tons of business people, but are they really being productive? Networking only works if you connect and establish great relationships with quality people. You should always make connections in your business life that lead to growth. Connect with people that truly can help.

Top Ten Tips for Networking

1. Focus on building quality relationships FIRST. When making Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter connections and immediately send out emails pitching your business. I hate it when people do that to me on Facebook! First, I get more than 50 emails a day on Facebook. Second, these people don’t even introduce themselves and find out about me and what I do. People know when you are not sincere and you are just trying to sell em’ fast. Just like if you are looking for a mate, you don’t meet for a first date and have the wedding planner sitting at dinner making plans for the church and honeymoon. You focus on building a quality relationship first.
2. Connect with people outside your industry that offer complimentary services to what you do. This way you pass referrals to each other without competition. For instance, an insurance company can team up with a wealth management firm to get leads or form a join venture deal.
3. Attend the right networking events. Some networking events are more targeted and charge money, but you get good contacts. Don’t worry about the amount of people attending, it is the quality of people. Example: You are in B2B sales and need to reach C level executives but you attend an event where entry level sales people are attending. That was a big waste of time.
4. Not all free networking events are good. There are some events that charge a fee and connect you with quality contacts. In Atlanta, Susan Knox puts on Corporate Connections.
5. Go to tradeshows to meet people, consider getting a booth to showcase your services.
6. Go to business award events to meet key people.
7. Join a group through Facebook. Linkedin, Twitter, Meetup or Ning. They have hundreds of groups to select.
8. If you volunteer for a charity approach businesses about joining your cause. You are helping your charity and getting the business to know more about your company. My favorite charity is Cancer Warriors.
9. If you own a small company network with a bigger company to get projects. It may even lead to a long-term consulting gig.
10. Join organizations catering to entrepreneurs which include ALL of the following: networking, learning new information, marketing opportunities for your business, and coaching. All of these components are essential. CEO Space is a great example.

All These Originated from Simple Ideas

Simple is Best

By Dee Doanes

http://www.deedoanes.com

Some of the best business ideas and inventions are based on simple ideas, making something complex simpler for the consumer. There are many examples where you can see this process in action with many benefits to consumers.  The washing machine, Facebook, and dating crazy people all came from simple ideas. You are thinking, what is she talking about?  But you have experienced most of these things, and it will become clear how the importance of simplifying your business and personal life can have awesome benefits in your life.

Washing Clothes Made Simpler

Simplicity is my state of the art LG front loader washing machine with fancy electronic controls. I especially love that the washer is big enough to wash all the neighbor’s clothes, even though I just wash for myself. But I could never imagine washing clothes with rocks and sand in a stream like my great, great grandmother did. I have friends that grew up washing this way in small villages, then coming to the US to use a washing machine the first time thinking that clothes were still dirty!

From the washing board being invented in 1797, to the first washing machine with  an electric motor invented in 1908, these  inventions came about because its was a difficult and long process for women to wash clothes. Inventing a way to wash clothes in shorter periods of time made housekeeping a little easier.  Now, a company called Xeros has invented a washing machine that uses almost no water and nylon beads to wash clothes.

Social Media Simplicity

Simplicity is using Facebook and other social media to do business and build my brand, while I sit at my computer at home drinking green tea with a clay beauty mask on my face. I use Facebook to connect with friends and clients. With a couple of clicks I will post this article to several sites using an article submission service, making it easier for me to concentrate on other work. I use YouTube and Traffic Geyser to submit my videos all over the Web.  I would be working 17 hours a day if I didn’t have these resources available.

Simplify And Avoid Dating Crazy People

Before dating sites, you had newspaper/magazine personals to rely on getting introduced to the next crazy you would later marry. Or, you were introduced to someone by clueless but well meaning friends or your delusional Auntie Emma that never married and talked to her cat non-stop. With business work schedules and time being crunched to virtually nothing, dating in the modern world has become a complex situation for busy people.  Now you can meet all the crazy people until you heart is content, by simply logging on to a popular dating website. If you really want to simplify things and avoid crazy people you can hire a matchmaker to meet someone that is screened and qualified, something you don’t find on regular dating sites. Matchmaking companies like Valenti International cater to upscale people looking to simplify the process of looking for love. These businesses are profitable with companies such as Match.com pulling in millions of dollars a month.

Ways To Simplify Your Life

So, how does all this relate to your life? There are many ways to simplify your business and personal life.

For business, it could be something simple as, putting a Q & A section on your website to cut down on calls to your 800 number, cutting that bill in half. Or, hiring an experienced sales person who brings in 50 percent more sales, so business is more profitable.

For personal, you can break off relationships with negative people that make you feel bad about yourself. Surrounding yourself with positive people benefits you mentally and is good for your health. Or, walking for 20 minutes each day to lose weight so you don’t have to go on blood pressure medication.

Simplifying both parts of your life will keep you balanced. When you work on one part it will spill over into the other part. Taking small steps lead to bigger steps, and that is why simple is best.

Me at the High Velocity Studio

I did a great interview on High Velocity Radio, Monday November 16, 2009 at 10am EST. Special thanks to Lee Kantor, he is the producer of the show. Stone Payton and Todd Schnick are the hosts and it was a blast talking about my marketing and communications business, using video to market businesses, PR, social media marketing, and improving business websites.

Here is a brief excerpt:

Or listen to the full 22 minute interview:

Here is the post video interview that was funny!:

Gareth J.Young also appeared on the show with promoting his new book the Grace of Guilt. He is a mergers and acquisitions consultant and a Zen priest. That is quite a combination! I will be posting my review of his book within the next few weeks.

Internet marketing is always changing with new ways to promote your business.  You need to track emerging trends to keep the competitive edge. Putting forth quality free marketing tips on the Internet will make you money by showcasing your expertise, company values, and your Internet marketing savvy. Giving free marketing  tips creates trust with people making it easier to sell your products and services. Free marketing Tips always make you money when implemented with proven marketing strategies.

In order to get maximum benefits from Marketing efforts, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do I have a good marketing team that are experts and deliver great results?
2. Do I continually get training to improve results?
3. Do I come up with creative concepts to attract new clients?
4. Do I invest time to research what my competition is doing so I can stay one step ahead?
5. Am I consistent with my marketing goals and are set every quarter?
6. Do I regularly attend industry related conferences to network and meet potential clients?
7. Do I form joint ventures with strategic partners to maximize my exposure to new clients, cut my advertising expenses, and share profits?
8. Do I send out emails and newsletters to existing clients to market new products and services?
9. Do I track the changing needs of my target clients to fine tune my marketing campaigns?
10. Do I have six detailed marketing campaigns to implement in case my main campaigns stop getting great results?

Marketing is like baking a layered cake: you start with one layer and then add more to create something really good and substantial. This creation is made up of all the quality ingredients mentioned above. And remember that while one layer can make a good cake, many layers are more to enjoy. The benefits will be increased by the  layers you add to your Marketing Cake. Sounds Yummy to me!

More questions to ask yourself about Internet Marketing:

1. Do I use an Internet marketing strategy to go along with my other marketing efforts?
2. Do I have social media sites dedicated to my business, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and others?
3. Have I done an in-depth website analysis to make sure I attract clients?
4. Do I consistently interact with customers on my social networking websites?
5. Am I a member of several online Internet Marketing support groups to share and get ideas on strategies?
6. Do I have a blog set up to give out marketing tips to prospective clients?
7. Do I promote other businesses to encourage reciprocal behavior?
8. Do I dedicate at least 10 hours per week to do Internet marketing for my business?
9. Do I use social media sites to generate an email list?
10. Do I use videos to market my products and services on the Internet?

Give Free Marketing Tips to Make Money for Your Business

You may think that giving away free marketing tips can’t make you money. Giving away free marketing tips is a great way to gather tons of clients.  Free is a currency in this society. Check out: Free: the Future of a Radical Price, by Chris Anderson to get more details about what I am talking about. Everyone likes something free, especially if it is QUALITY and has no strings attached. The more you teach, the more potential customers trust you.  In fact, when I consult with a potential client I give them more than two hours of free advice. What does this accomplish? It shows that I know my stuff and  they need help with their business. They will more than likely hire me since I took the time to give them these free marketing tips.

Okay, so here are my Free Marketing Tips to help your business:

1. This is geared towards consultants: when meeting with a potential client give 50- 100 ways to help their business. Even if they don’t hire you for the entire project, you can always work on specific areas or be hired to oversee the entire project being done by their staff.
2. Send out weekly newsletters announcing recent company awards and recognitions, special offers, announce new products available.
3. Conduct client customer satisfaction surveys using an outside company to get real customer reactions to your services. Especially, if there has been a change in company leadership and change in your products. Even if you have customers that are loyal they may not tell you what they are really thinking, but will feel more open telling a company the real deal.
4. Use Facebook and Twitter to do product research for new product development, especially if your company deals with new technology, this technique can save you millions of dollars .
5. Upload press releases on inexpensive sites like PRWeb and PRLog. Hire a PR intern to set up radio and magazine interviews.
6. Have Facebook Contests to generate Website traffic and increase brand awareness. Example: If you publish books, have a book jacket design contest for a  new book. Then, require participants to have friends signup for Facebook to vote and join your email list.
7. Conduct video interviews of businesses about what they do and distribute this on Tube Mogul (free) or Traffic Geyser.
8. Free up time to run your business effectively AND have lots of personal time by  outsourcing  work and staff. This will cut payroll in half or eliminate it completely.  Elance or Craigslist are good for finding contractors.
9. Give away free products to reviewers to get great testimonials.
10. Write eBooks to give away for free, then upsell other eBooks and products.