Yellow Dog Consulting

Sales & Marketing Consulting for solo-preneurs.

Entrepreneur University 2013: School is in Session

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226x226If you know me, you know I love NWEN, the Northwest Entrepreneur Network here in Seattle. For the past 6 years I have been on the committee for their largest event, Entrepreneur University. This year we’re changing it up. Instead of breakout sessions we’re keeping you all in the same room all day- where we’ll have panels on retail & education and 3 CEO to CEO conversations. Sit in while CEO’s from companies like Concur, Vitanna, and Buddy.com talk about how they got where they are and what they wish they’d known then. It’s going to be an AWESOME day, and if you’re a startup at any stage, this is the day for you!

Even better- if you’re student (yes that includes grad school folks!) it’s just $35 with a fantastic scholarship from the Herbert B Jones Foundation.

Step 1: visit the event page

Step 2: download one-page interest application (this is just 3 questions about your interest in entrepreneurship – easy peasy)

Step 3: send to NWEN to claim the $35 ticket. An instant 80% savings!

You  can’t afford not to miss this!

And that’s not all – if one of these sessions isn’t for you, we’ll have eDate going on upstairs all day where experts from Legal, Accounting, Marketing (yes that means me!), HR, and more will be there to answer your burning questions about how to get your company to the next level! Plus more secret sauce up our sleeves, you’ll have to register to hear more!

Want to attend and wish you could get a special discount code? Email me for that rate and code…

See you there!

Why Best Kept Secrets Aren’t

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imagesWhen someone tells me their product is “the best kept secret” my initial thought is “oh, you suck at marketing.” I mean seriously? WHO wants to be a secret in their business? No one! And if you do, you’re not doing it right. When working with clients, we figure out how to promote yourself without feeling like a sellout. Here’s a few ideas to get you going…

1. Make sure your network is educated, and knows what you’re doing. This can be a newsletter, email to friends & family, social media posts, or some 1:1 meetings. Educate them!

2. Get out and network– Out of sight out of mind. If I never see you, I won’t remember what you’re selling or who you want to work with. If I run into you everywhere I go, I’m bound to start asking questions.

3. Share– if you have a product you can share samples of, SWEET! Don’t push them on me, but let me check it out. If you have a service, share your knowledge. YES give ideas and content away for free, you know, kind of like this blog post…

4. Follow up. With EVERYONE. No, don’t add them to your newsletter list or start spamming them, but if they asked you for more information, or asked you to check in with them in a few weeks, DO IT. Setup a schedule and make the time to do it. No lead is too ridiculous when it comes to growing your business. They may never actually hire you or buy your product, but they’ll remember you were AWESOME at getting them what they asked for in a timely manner.

How about you? how do you keep from being a “best kept secret”?

September Pop Culture Roundup!

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imgresIt’s that time of the month again folks, time to share my favorite pop culture finds from the past month…

Reading

I finally finished Someone to Run With and I LOVED it! Such a great story about two teens and a very cool dog, plus it takes place in Jerusalem, which is an awesome city (fun fact: I went in 2001).

I’m now reading Where’d You Go, Bernadette? which is a book I’ve had on my short list for the past year it seems. I got a Kindle for my birthday this summer and I am finally using it, which is AMAZING. Why did I take so long to get a Kindle? It’s awesome! And so is the book. I’m about half way through. Fun fact: the book was written by an Arrested Development writer!

I’m also still reading the Lazarus graphic novels and really enjoying them.

Watching

During the summer I often find myself marathoning a TV series. Sometimes I catch up on a series that’s part of the way through (yes I did that with Gossip Girl), and sometimes it’s an old series (Six Feet Under, United States of Tara). This summer I have been sucked into Scandal. It is the soapiest, most ridiculous show, but I can’t turn away. I’m half way through Season 2 and trying to finish before the new season starts!

We’re thankfully almost ready to return to fall TV shows. I’m excited for the return of Parks & Recreation, my favorite show! I also can’t wait for New Girl, The Walking Dead, Homeland and a new season of SNL.

This summer I’ve been keeping busy with The Bridge (love it), Under the Dome (it’s so bad, but I’m in too deep) The Newsroom (it’s better than last year!) and the final season of Dexter (am I the only one who liked the Colin Hanks season?)!

Listening

I’m listening to the usual podcasts I mention here (The Nerdist, WTF with Marc Maron, Pop Culture Happy Hour, Grantland’s Hollywood Prospectus) and the occasional one off interview I hear about.

I’m going to see The Lumineers this weekend so have been keeping them on rotate lately!

What about you? What are you reading, watching & listening to this month?