Yellow Dog Consulting

Sales & Marketing Consulting for solo-preneurs.

November Pop Culture Round Up!

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serial-social-logoWell, November was an unstoppable Pop Culture Machine it seemed! I’d love to hear what’s keeping you entertained this month, here’s what kept me happy this month! Hopefully it helps keep you busy and entertained this holiday weekend!

Listening

Serial Podcast – Is there a more captivating podcast, or TV show for that matter, out there right now? Each Thursday morning a new podcast is delivered to my ear balls and my morning walk goes a little longer as I listen to this incredible story of a high school student’s murder and potential wrongful conviction. It’s RIVETING folks.

i, Kendrick Lamar- Since most of my music suggestions come from my dad, I shouldn’t be surprised when he LOVED the new Kendrick Lamar single, and now I can’t stop playing it.

Stevie Wonder- this is your friendly reminder I get to SEE STEVIE WONDER in concert in December and I couldn’t be happier!

Reading

Yes, Please – Amy Poehler’s book is so much fun! It was the perfect book for the plane, and I’m looking forward to finishing it this holiday weekend!

Entertainment Weekly- I love this magazine and probably don’t talk about it enough. Every Saturday morning with my cup of coffee in my big red chair, I get caught up on the week in pop culture. The 11/21 issue included Pitch Perfect 2, which made me VERY excited for the May movie release!

Watching

Homeland – Wait now, what just happened in that CRAZY episode this week? I don’t know who’s making it out of Pakistan alive, but it sure isn’t everyone who went in. And why the heck was Lockhart not blown up for being such an ass?

The Walking Dead– I know it goes without saying that I’m loving the show, but this season has been awesome, and I love the creepy hospital cop.

Christmas Vacation- Every year on Thanksgiving my in-laws watch Christmas Vacation, and I always love a chance to catch up with the Griswolds!

If you get my newsletter you know that my husband, dad and I went to Disneyland and California Adventures a couple weeks ago. It was SUCH A fun vacation- and here’s my top 3 rides:

  1. Star Tours– I’m such a Star Wars nerd, this is and always will be, my favorite ride!
  2. Radiator Springs Racers– This ride was a BLAST! And I’m so grateful for the Fast Pass so we didn’t have to wait in 2 hours lines to ride it! But that would’ve been worth it!
  3. Indiana Jones- This ride is SO FUN, and one of the few rides we rode twice. It holds up with age and makes me miss Indy!

Ask Yellow Dog: Facebook Marketing Rut

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UnlikeI recently received an email from a mom-prenuer asking for some marketing help…

I am finding it hard to get my name out there, and to get in front of people, and I’m kind of getting stuck in the “Facebook Marketing” rut as my only bit of marketing.  It has been told to me that I do well in front of people – so I’d REALLY like to get out from behind my computer – but I don’t want to just accost people over the Avocados at Whole Foods!

Any other suggestions for getting in front of people that does not make me look like just another pushy direct sales girl who needs to be put on the “blocked” list on Facebook? 

Here’s what I would suggest for you so you aren’t pushy and it feels like harassment on FB or at Whole Foods…

I’d send out an “announcement” email. Something like…

Hi Friends & Family,

As many of you know over the past couple of years I have left corporate America to work from home and be a mom to (daughter, whatever you want to say about her there). But, to fulfill my entrepreneurial needs, I wanted to share with you two very cool products that I have decided to represent. 

Product One: 1-2 lines about why you sell it, cool stuff it does, etc.

Product two: same thing

I promise not to start selling to you any time I see you, but these are two great companies I am excited to be representing. I’d love to share more information with you if you’d like, or if you need help with holiday gifts, I’m here to help!

If you want to keep up on what I’m doing you can find me on Facebook (link to your page/s here)!

(signature)

That’d be my first step. I always say (a lot of things, but this one) I can’t help you if I don’t know what you need! Making sure your network knows what you’re up to is REALLY important, and this is the PERFECT time to tell folks what you’re up to!

Finally, it’s the Northwest. Showing up consistently is QUEEN in this town. If you’re at any event monthly people will start to anticipate it and KNOW you’re going to be there and that YOU are the “insert your product name here” gal, and it’s “probably time I realize I need it.” It’s not the easy answer, but it’s the one that will make the most impact, being consistent.

As far as accosting folks at Whole Foods, you obviously know better than this, but hey, make sure you are using your products and comfortable talking about it so when people ask, you can share with them (also keep brochures/etc in the diaper bag or your purse in case!)

The majority of my success has come from networking and consistent communication. Letting folks know who you are and what you do and that you aren’t going anywhere goes a LONG way.

Hey Experts: Show Don’t Tell

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imgresA friend of mine tweeted a question the other day about a new fad in Social Media she’s seeing. She said social media “experts” were doing it and she wondered if it was working. And it got me thinking, if you have to put EXPERT in your title, you probably aren’t.

If you truly are an expert in your industry, show me, don’t tell me. Share quality content on social media and give me helpful information that will guide me. Don’t tell me that I should hire you because you’re the best, show me what it’s like to work with you and how your mind works.

The reason my newsletter has 3 things in it every month is so folks get an idea of how my mind works. And it usually gives them something that they can work on. Of course I’m here to help (and that’s the goal right?), but some of that work they can do on their own. I am not the kind of person who hires people site unseen. And when I do, it doesn’t usually work out great.

Next time you see “expert” next to a name or in a social media description, check to see if they show you, or tell you.