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So Where’ve I Been for the Last Year?
So Where’ve I Been this last year? Two years ago this week we were practically standing at the door ready to roll on our trip to Vermont I was writing here 3-4 times a week, a regular contributor to CBC Parents and Content Coordinator at Neighbours of Sunningdale. But the pandemic upended a lot of that. Travel ground to a standstill two years ago this week and that was that. What is a travel writer without the ability to travel? I pivoted fast to writing about pandemic parenting and that worked for several months. Frankly, that first year just being able to keep paying the mortgage was a big accomplishment.…
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Spectacular Email Fails – Seven Reasons I Ignored You Today
Spectacular Email Fails are my new specialty. Why? Because so many people send them to me. There are many reasons people and businesses fail at this basic task, and one of them right now is automation. Automation can be great when things work and you actually invest in a product that does this well. But sadly, I have not seen a single automated email or outreach product this year that has worked properly. SO STOP buying. Email marketing and blogger outreach is actually social. It is also a skill. My Blog and Social Media Consulting business relies on authentic social interaction, so I get super annoyed when I see people…
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Build a Better Blogger Outreach Program in 2016 – Influencer Marketing and the Changing Landscape
You cannot stand still in the world of social media, or influencer marketing. Smart blogger outreach coordinators and businesses are at once, business people, marketers, and cool hunters too. They are always on the lookout for new trends, ideas, people, events, tools, and content that resonates. This is one of the things I love the most about the field I work in. It is ever evolving and dynamic. This is not a post about me gazing into a crystal ball and telling you what’s the hottest trend for 2016. I’m not interested in that right now and in fact I have seen a few too many of those social media prediction posts…
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Work It Like a RockStar! Six Business Lessons From Gene Simmons
Lately I have been thinking a lot about business and how we function as business people. Every entrepreneur out there in 2015 knows that the economy and workplace have changed dramatically in the last 10 years. The digital economy, email, the workplace and the business of social media have all changed the nature of work. The fact that I have a social media consulting business, as owner of Thrifty Mom Media, and a blog here in this space, is proof of how the market has changed. The culture of technology has given me a space to build and operate a successful business. This spring I attended the Art of Marketing…
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Three Brands That Got Social Media Right This Week
I haven’t done one of these in several months. But today I am all ideas and scattered creativity and I can’t seem to focus on what I need to get done, so I felt like reflecting instead. Sometimes getting these things out of my head helps me organize my brain. Anyhoo…I have seen a lot of great outreach this week and that makes me happy. But I wanted to take a minute reflecting on just a select few brands who hit the right note on Mother’s Day. These are my social media wins this week. Carter’s: Sometimes it’s the simplest things that make the biggest difference. Mother’s Day is…
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The Art of Marketing Conference Coming To Toronto May 25 and a Promo Code #TheArtOf
Last year around this time, I had the opportunity to attend The Art of Leadership for Women. I spent the day hearing from a talented and diverse group of women who excelled at marketing and business. Hayley Wickenheiser was a real show stopper for me and Martha Stewart is always interesting, to say the least. Last year my personal, and business philosophy, was all about growth. I grew in a lot of ways last year and the social media consulting business at Thrifty Mom Media flourished as well. Growth took me to places I never knew I would be. I worked with World Vision Canada to tell some important stories about their…
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Best Business Stationery – My New Year’s Cards
I was a tiny bit late with Christmas cards this year. But I didn’t want to give up on my idea of sending cards out still. Last year I chose Minted.com to make a fun family photo into a business-y post card to send to contacts and former clients. I kind of loved the idea still and wanted to make a business holiday card. In 2014, I think that business postcard was really well received and I enjoyed sending it. There is obvious merit in thanking former clients for their business. It’s nice, classy and it also serves to remind people I am still available to help with social strategy. This…
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Five Reasons Your Blogger Outreach Program Is a Fail
Blogger Outreach is one of the biggest parts of my marketing business. Call it influencer outreach or paid media. In fact, blogger outreach can significantly elevate your game and your message on line and in real life too. An authentic ambassador for your brand tells a story well and is sought out for their opinion. They are impactful and trustworthy and they have an audience. This collage is a sample of a few of the clients I have worked with in the past year. I have been blogging here and writing on line for almost 5 years now. Thrifty Mommas Tips has grown exponentially and my experience has grown with…