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Selling Services for the Price of a Tweet

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Traditional advertising is changing and fast.  Social media is a moving target and it can be challenging to stay on top of it all.  That said, if you can stay tuned in, add value and keep people coming back fore more, the payoff can be huge for your business. 

Stay tuned for some upcoming A Red Bench teleclasses on Facebook and You Tube, but in the meantime check out this interesting article called Selling Services for the Price of a Tweet.

For more information on social media and marketing check out our audio recordings on a variety of related topics.

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Posted in Marketing, social media | No Comments »

Last Day For Buy 2, Get 1 Audios

Monday, May 31st, 2010

Last Chance!   Buy 2 Audio Recordings, Get 1 Free
(2010 Conference Offer, even if you didn’t go to conference)

We’ve opened our conference offer to everyone in our database.  For three more days you can purchase 2 Audio Recordings and get 1 Free.   Offer ends May 31 at midnight and coupon code is Conference2010.
 
We have over 50 Audio Recordings to choose from and many may apply towards your continuing education credits.  Click here to see our audio library. 

Keeping Track of CEU’s? 
Depending on your services and scope of work, A Red Bench Audio Recordings may apply towards your continuing education units.  With each audio purchase you receive a certificate of attendance upon passing the class quiz.  Calls are 75 minutes long and may count as 1 CEU.  

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Posted in Continuing Education, Grow Your Business, Marketing, Teleclasses | No Comments »

Incorporating Social Media In Your Marketing Plan

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

I am now privy to some amazing marketing information and I can now share that with you, the small business owner.  A great opportunity for small business owners is social media.  It has amazing opportunities to take your brand to a new place for a very limited budget.  Click here for a great example of the little guy (Method) fighting a giant (Clorox) through social media:  http://votedaisy.com/. 

What causes do you stand for?  How could you incorporate this into your business.  For more information on social media, listen to one of our many Social Media Teleclasses.  Topics include How to Plan, Build and Promote Your Blog, Secrets To Leveraging Facebook, Turn Followers Into Fans (and Leads!) and Be On Top Of Google.

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The Most 100 Valuable Brands In The World

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Millward Brown Optimor has released its fifth annual BrandZ report(.pdf file) that shows the 100 most valuable brands in the world–and it shows just how integral technology has become in our lives. The top spot goes to Google, with IBM and Apple following close behind–and out of the top 10, there are just three non-tech brands: McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and Marlboro. 

Of the 16 categories, however, it was not technology that posted the biggest rise but, rather, financial institutions, with a 12% growth, compared to half of that for tech. Only beer and fast food, with increases of 10% and 1% respectively, showed positive, with the other 12 sectors dropping. It’s worth comparing the list with Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2010.  

The report–its methodology is explained here–has a lot to say about social media and how it affects a company’s brand–especially for those in the tech sector. The BrandZ list didn’t feature Facebook in the top 100, but it slipped in at 20th in the tech rankings. The site, however, featured large in the report, and is seen as a crucial tool in how the big firms will increase their reach using social networking sites. 

Its advice to budding Jobses, Brin/Pages, and Zuckerbergs is to forget about philanthropy (not something, whisper, that either Apple or Facebook is known for) and embrace responsibility, to see mobiles as the new billboards–RIP Don Draper–and that successful brands are built from the top down.

How does this relate to your small business?  If your branding was as strong as your organizing skills, you could drastically increase your revenue.   Once you create a powerful, compelling brand, business comes to you instead of the other way around.  To create a compelling brand purchase audio recording with fellow organizer and brand expert, Krista Green, called Get Noticed, Be Remembered.  You’ll learn how to communicate your values, personality, talents and unique skills to create your own personal brand and influence the way others perceive you.  Brand is not only for the fortune 500 company, perception is everything.

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Posted in Grow Your Business, Marketing, Teleclasses | 1 Comment »

Unique Closet Organizing Trick

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

I am the type of person who wears the same clothes all the time because I grab the same clothes from my closet.  Same clothes, same exact outfit every time I wear it.  Boring!  So even clothes I once liked, I now dislike, because I’ve worn them so many times the exact same way.  Last month we had an awesome teleclass (now available as an audio purchase) called Brand Yourself Through Your Appearance and since then I have wanted to implement what I learned on that call with expert Darcey Howard of LifeStyled.  Yesterday two friends came to my house and we went through everything in my closet.  We did get rid of some stuff that did not support my goals and style, but the best part was that we created about 50 new outfits from my existing wardrobe.  I am not kidding.  One pair of pants, I thought didn’t match anything in my closet, goes with almost every shirt I own.  It was amazing! 

It was one of the most fun days ever.  We went through all my clothes, drank wine, laughed and just had fun.  My husband is thrilled because now I don’t have to bother him every morning asking him how the same old outfit looks.  As if it looks any different than the 30 times prior I’ve worn it.  I have a few things I need to buy to complete the wardrobe, but I now with them help of our teleclass and my friends, I know how to put clothes together in a whole new way. 

Additionally, they taught me a little trick that is pretty helpful.  Since I always gravitate to the same item, they said instead of organizing my closet by clothing type and then color to only organize it by color.  So now all my black clothes, or brown or red, or blue, or whatever color are in one place regardless of whether they are a shirt, skirt, jacket or pants.  So the next time to go grab the same blue shirt I wear all the time, I will see the other 10 blue shirts with it and the pants opening my mind to many more outfits.  Its a pretty good idea.

So if you find yourself saying you have nothing to wear, give our teleclass a listen and apply what you learn to your closet.   Darcey says, “If you are your own brand then your wardrobe is your logo.”  Best part, as an organizer, using what you learn on this call you can help them project the image they want to portray and use this class as a CEU.

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Posted in Continuing Education, Marketing, Teleclasses | 1 Comment »

What’s Going On With Christa

Friday, April 30th, 2010

I wanted to make you aware of some changes going on in my career.   Prior to being a Professional Organizer, I worked at DDB Worldwide on the McDonald’s business.  This experience helped me greatly in launching my business.  I owned Savvy Solutios for almost six years and it was a thriving business I am very proud of.  But as the years went on I started to miss the hustle and bustle of the marketing world.  It’s truly where I belong. 

Effective March 1st, I went back to my marketing roots joining Nature’s Path Foods, an organic food company located in Vancouver, BC.  I joined their team as the Brand Manager for their “in the bowl” products.   That means granola and granola bars, toaster pastries, waffles, snacks, cookies, etc.  You can find their products at natural food stores, organic stores and many grocers like Safeway, Giant Eagle and Walmart.  I have had a deep passion for marketing and branding, which has helped me tremendously in my own business.  At the same time I feel I will be able to utilize my organizing skills to a much greater degree at Nature’s Path.    They’ve already asked me to organize the electronic documents, do a email organizing seminar and organize the product warehouse. 

I have enjoyed being a professional organizer for almost six years and have loved working with my clients and colleagues.  What does this mean for A Red Bench?   I will continue to have my partnership, with Angela Ploetz and look forward to bring my new learning’s to the business.  I absolutely love A Red Bench; it’s an amazing business model and I truly love my business partner.   We’ve had to adjust the Live Teleclass times to work within my schedule, but it’s working out and we are very excited about what tomorrow will bring.   I do plan to attend NAPO 2011: Angela said I can’t leave her alone at the booth again and I missed my conference roommates.  I look forward to seeing you there. 

Being an organizer is a special gift.   Thank you so much for all your support  and friendship over the years!

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Posted in Grow Your Business | 1 Comment »

What Does Your Appearance Say About You?

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

“Tired. Worn out. Out of date. Drab. Does this sound like your wardrobe?    How many times have you looked at your closet said, “I’ve got nothing to wear!”  I say it all the time, in fact I go through waves of hating all the clothes in my closet.  And then I contact my good friend and style expert, Darcey Howard of Lifestyled to come to my rescue. 

Style Expert, Darcey Howard

Whether you are dressing for a new consultation, a networking event, a date or taking your kids to the park, to create great style, and make the right choices for you, there  has to be a connection between identity and image.   

Attend our next live teleclass with Personal Style Expert, Darcey Howard of Lifestyled and we’ll help you bridge the gap between how you feel and how you look.  Don’t worry. This isn’t about bright orange suits, $3,000 hand bags or dresses that require tape to stay on.  LifeStyled is about you, your own personal style, the life you want to lead and how you want to wear it.   The facts are you have about 6 seconds to make an impression so from calm and casual, to slick and stylish, to professional and powerful, we’ll teach you how to identify the personal style that plays to your strengths, increase your self confidence and make you feel like the person you’ve always wanted to be.

On the call, we will talk about how todevelop your own style, how to create a fantastic capsule wardrobe you can grow from and share some do’s and don’t of the pros.  Best part, as a professional organizer, many of us work with clients on closet organizing project so you can share what you learn on our call with your clients.  How many clients have held up a sweater with shoulder pads and said, “Is this out of style?”   Using what you learn on this call you can help them project the image they want to portray and use this class, called Brand Yourself Through Your Appearance, as a CEU.   Click here for more information and to register for this April 5th class. 

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Posted in Continuing Education, Marketing | No Comments »

Social Media Habits

Friday, March 5th, 2010

The Retail Advertising and Marketing Association (RAMA), a division of the National Retail Federation (NRF), yesterday unveiled the results of a survey on the habits of social media users, at NRF’s Retail Innovation Marketing Conference in San Francisco. Comparing social media users to the average U.S. adult, RAMA’s survey, “Social Media: An Inside Look at the People Who Use It,” examined differences in demographics for each group, including male and female usage, as well as age differences in social media users vs. other adults.

Highlights of the survey include the following:

  • Seven out of 10 social media users between the ages of 18 and 34 regularly use Facebook more than such other sites as MySpace, Twitter and Classmates
  • 71.8 percent of social media users said that after an online search, they tell others about a product or service through face-to-face communication
  • More people who use social media prefer to give advice about a product or service rather than receive it
  • Social media users are more likely to use other new media, compared with average adults age 18 and older
  • 70.6 percent of female social media users regularly use Facebook, vs. 61.0 percent of males
  • More men than women like to communicate with others via cell phone conversation after searching for a product or service online

Click here to review the full report.   This is interesting stuff, social media is changing the way we market ourselves.  For more information on how you can use social media in your business, check out our Social Media Teleclasses.    These classes, which feature will answer your most common social media questions for both new and seasoned users.   We had a Facebook expert, a Twitter expert, a LinkedIn expert and an expert to talk about time management and social media.  We wanted the goods, no fluffy stuff; if you are a social media beginner or Tweeting several times of day, you want to learn how to maximize your social media results through questions, examples, case studies and tools, you can start using immediately.  No one needs one more thing to do; but everyone wants and needs new clients.  By listening to our social media audio recordings you will finally understand how this marketing phenomenon can expand your clientele to a place you have not imagined.

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Posted in Marketing, social media | No Comments »

Managing Client Expectations

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Very excited that our March 1 continuing education call will be called Managing Client Expectations.  Stay tuned to register for this amazing call withexpert organizer Mindy Godding, of My Space Matters.

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Keep Paper Organizing Simple

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Paper from bills driving you crazy? What’s most important is to keep paper organizing simple and to be consistent.  Here is a simple tip to manage all the paper.  Get an accordion file labeled January thru December. Pay your bills and place the bill only (not the envelope or advertising) in the month paid. You are all set come tax time. At the end of the year, if you don’t need it for taxes, toss it!

To set up a paper filing system in your home or office, we recommend FreedomFiler.  Its the best paper organizing system we’ve found and we’ve used it with hundreds of clients. 

For more help Conquering Paper Clutter, attend our next teleclass on February 17th.  As a follow-up to our January call called Helping Clients Manage The Paper Crisis (available to download on our website,) we want to have a more specific class on paper that tends to cover the desktop, the dining table and kitchen counter.  We call this action paper and there are so many different ways to help your clients deal with their action paper.  Join us on our continuing education call, where we will we will take you through a step by step process to create action files that will Conquer Your Clients Paper Clutter forever.

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Posted in Continuing Education, Grow Your Business, Organizing Skills, Teleclasses | No Comments »

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