New Media Mavens

Thinking Bigger about Your Business

As business owners we can get mired into doing things the same way we've always done them for the simple reason that it works. But it's not a bad idea to evaluate where we are now and challenge ourselves to reach new heights.

In this video, Donald Trump, author of Think Big among other books, gives 10 solid tips about how to think big in your business. Watch the video below:


As you market your business, using your website, e-zine, blog, podcasting or social media apply the sound principles from this video to supercharge your marketing.

For the rest of this month I'll be examining how to think bigger using each of your new media components. How big would you like to go?  Let us know in the comments below.

Regards,

Lena Claxton

Independence is Happiness

Happy July 4th!

As I watch the Boston Pops on TV playing patriotic songs ... like "God Bless America" ... the crowd singing joyfully, and fireworks lighting up the night sky, it brings to mind a quote from Susan B. Anthony: “Independence is happiness."

As we embrace our national independence today let's also take a minute to be grateful for the independence that our businesses give. Despite the down-turned economy and the obstacles that inevitably comes with the territory the ultimate goal is happiness.

What steps are you taking to maintain that feeling of freedom in your business?

Regards,

Lena Claxton

Celebrities Use Ghost Twitter Writers

It was only a matter of time before the PR machine took over social media to use it for evil and not for good.

My favorite new media news pick from the Sunday papers comes from the London Times where it was revealed that several celebrities, including rapper 50 Cent and Brittney Spears, were using or are looking for staff to help them write their Twitter posts. Read more here.

What do you think about ghost twitterers?

Alison Woo, Chief Media Maven

It's Not Business As Usual

Within us is an all embracing light overflowing with love from God that illuminates a divine path mysterious and beautiful. If we acknowledge that light we create a new humanity of divine unity and everlasting bliss.

Source: Micheal Teal - Poet, Philosopher and Shaman

Sometimes we make great plans for our lives but life has other plans. For example, today is a sad day in the Mavens' camp. Alison's beloved brother, Michael Woo, passed away this morning. He was 31 years old.

Mike's beaming smile, and sunny, positive personality was an all embracing source of light, overflowing with love. His spirit was filled with generosity, kindness and playfulness.

In our own lives, we must remember it's not all business as usual. We must live fully while we're here. That means pursuing our passions, giving to others and having fun.

Regards,

Lena Claxton

Vision Board Your Success This Year!

 

In the past few blog posts we've talked about resolutions and what you must do, and making lists to jumpstart your marketing and even making more than one list. But what if making lists just isn't your style?

You know the sinking feeling of looking at that unending list and every day it gets longer than the day before. Well, what if you don't have to do that anymore? I came across an intriguing article that gives an alternative: It's a way to visualize your goals by painting a picture of it. Read the article here.

But what if I can't draw? That's the first question that popped in my mind while I read the article. My drawings just wouldn't motivate me, actually they would have the opposite effect -- so back to listmaking!

Fortunately there are many sites that offer high-quality stock images. My favorite is Picapp where you can search by keyword and choose creative or editorial images (of live-coverage photos).

Another image site is stock.exchng however, not all images are free, but search until you find one without the embedded logo. And then there's the old reliable Microsoft image site -- make sure you choose photos only. The clip art, like my drawings, won't motivate.

So at last you've found the perfect image that represents your goal, but if you're anything like me, you may have many goals. Wouldn't it be fun to have them all in one place to view everyday?

Yes, I'm talking about a vision board. Oprah and The Secret recently made vision boards popular again for manifesting our desires. You can learn how to make a vision board from scratch. I prefer to do a Google image search and printing the images out and pasting on a poster board. You can see examples of finished vision boards here.

While you are busy adding all aspects of your life on your vision board -- don't forget to add what you want to achieve for your business. Use a globe with people around it to represent a global audience for your business or for your book!

Use a number, like 500, to represent the friends you want to have on your Facebook site or Twitter. Use Alt+prtScrn on your computer keyboard to take a snapshot of your website and paste it on a blank page in Word. Add tons of arrows representing incoming links. Or better yet a traffic jam next to your website's image. Be creative and have fun.

What are you putting on your vision board for 2009? Click on the comment link below to share  your vision.

Regards,

Lena Claxton
Co-author of "How to Say It: Marketing with New Media ..."

Remembering to celebrate the holidays

Alison and the Real Santa, at Macy's Herald Square in NYC.

Photo courtesy of the elves

With so much going on in the world -- work, the economy and people throwing shoes at the President of the United States -- it can be very easy to forget the simple pleasures of the holiday season. And while we generally talk about tips and tools to use new media with savvy, it feels like a little levity is in order.

With that in mind I stopped in to see Santa. That's right Santa Claus is on the eighth floor of Macy's Herald Square. The last time I had visited their fabulous wonderland was when I was 9, so dare I say, it's been a few years since then. I went late in the afternoon on a weekday and walking through the winter wonderland and talking to those ever cheery elves, made me feel like the magic of the holiday was real once again.

I told Santa what I really, really wanted this year (sorry I can't spill, I'm hoping hard it comes true!). He remarked about me wearing his favorite color and that I should continue to wear my favorite giraffe pin, "It reminds us all that it's worth sticking our necks out for one another," said Santa. It's just the kind of lovely thing I could imagine Santa saying and it made me misty.

The elves took our photo and then they gave me a magical token of our trip, a pin that says "Believe!" Visiting Macy's made me believe that anything and everything is possible. It brought me back to my roots and made me feel like a kid again, but better. Now I can drive! And it was a simple reminder of holidays past that we carry the magic of Christmas in our hearts.

Try to stop in and see Santa if you are in NYC. But if you can't make it , visit their site by clicking here.

What's one thing you're going to do this holiday season that is going to be fun?

Alison Woo, Chief Media Maven