Aglow Marketing's Blog

Do Good For Indiana unveils its first project: Seeds of Hope Annual Report

Last October Aglow and Creative Roots teamed up and dreamed up the Do Good For Indiana program, where we would help smaller non-profits better define their strategies and messaging both visually and in written format.

Our first project was to help Seeds of Hope set the tone for 2011 with their year end 2010 Annual Report.  We began by Aglow taking updated headshots of Father Glenn and Executive Director, Marvetta Grimes.  We also took a new picture of the Seeds of Hope home.  Having clear, bright pictures really make a difference. 

Then Creative Roots established a color palette of green, orange and blue to complement the Seeds of Hope logo and new website.  These colors will also be carried through in all upcoming materials.  Their ability to both create a presence with color coupled with organizing dense content into a visually appeallng end result has been nothing short of miraculous.  (Coming soon are the 2011 Annual Campaign, business card, letterhead and brochure!)

Aglow was also proud to create new messaging alongside the Seeds of Hope logo. Across the top it now reads, "A Women's Drug & Alcohol Recovery Program".  Across the bottom the new tagline reads, "Where a life of addiction ends and a life of hope begins."

 

We are so honored to be trusted to help Seeds of Hope "find their voice" and to work alongside the passionate staff and volunteers that have brought this program to life over the past 11 years.  To learn more about the Do Good For Indiana program, visit our website at www.DoGoodForIndiana.com

 

Are you suffering from "Check In" addiction? And is mine going to get worse?

As I awoke dreary eyed at 2:30 am to stand (or sit, actually) in virtual line to pre-order the Verizon IPhone at 3 am (I actually ordered at 2:45 am so camping out early did pay off), I was killing time and caught up on some articles from http://the99percent.com/ where as they say, "It's not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen."

Their article on How to Control Your "Check In" Addiction was timely as I move away from the already aptly named Crackberry/Blackberry to Wonderful World of Apps IPhone.  Will my need to "check in" be worse than ever?  I'm already trying to be better at disconnecting myself both mentally and physically from my hell phone.  Now will all the shiny newness and more information to absorb will I have taken 1 step forward and 12 steps back?  Only time will tell I suppose.

If you're in the same boat and want to get more in tune to why we feel the need to "check in" so much, check out the How to Control Your "Check In" Addiction article.  (Yes, you can read it from your phone if you must.)  Here's the intro, which definitely make my face turn red as I felt completely called out on my "Check In" addiction.

"Have you ever been caught sleeping with your mobile device? Perhaps checking your email first-thing in the morning when you’re still in bed? Given what we know about the emotional voids that are fulfilled by our electronic devices - the search for thrill, the alleviation of anxiety and panic - our intense attachment makes sense. When we wake up we want to be greeted. When we fall asleep we want to do so knowing that all is well. The mobile phone has become the security blanket of the 21st century."  Read the full How to Control Your "Check In" Addiction article here.

Take care of your employees and you take care of your business. A lesson from John Mackey.

This morning I was reading my newsletter from the Harvard Business Review and a new interview title caught my eye, "What Is It That Only I Can Do?".  I took the bait and clicked.  The article highlights the co-founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods, John Mackey.  I watched the short video (included above) and really resonated with what Mackey has to say about management's job at Whole Foods.  Even if you're a solo business owner, this still applies to you!  Mackey says it's to:

- Hire Good People

- Make sure they are Well-Trained inTheir Work

- So That They Flourish in the Workplace and Give Great Customer Service

Seems like common sense. right?  I thought so until I recalled the traditional jobs I've had (working for someone else) where every time it was "sink or swim".  As in, you figure it out and see if you can make it work here.  Also, that it's up to you to determine what makes this place unique and better than our competitors.  Both of those, in hindsight, were a big no-no. 

One of our favorite tasks at Aglow is doing a strategy session for this very reason.  It gives us a chance to help businesses (of any size) really see who they are in the marketplace and what they plan to accomplish while there (and yes, you need to be specific).  Then we really encourage our clients to share and implement these ideas with their team.  When your team can better speak to what you do (and it should be the same message no matter who tells it) and know what you're looking for (rockin' clients that can't wait to use you), they can spend more time building your business rather than trying to figure out exactly what it is you do.

Have you heard the good news in Indy?

When I went to bed last night, it was with the joy of another Halloween behind us and too many pieces of candy in us.  Yet, I knew today the more than the sugar rush would be over.  Our chances of winning a $50,000 Pepsi grant for 4 Indianapolis non-profits would be gone along with the bags of Halloween candy given out last night. 

But imagine my surprise this morning when there were a couple more treats to collect on behalf of Do Good For Indiana.  Through all the amazing supporters last month we cleared the top 100 and landed in another round of voting through November.  Plus we made a big leap forward to #75!

So, if you voted for us last month, thank you.  A huge and sincere THANK YOU! because we wouldn't even have this second chance without you.  If you'd like to keep helping us this month, here's all the details you'll need:

1. Sign up for a daily voting reminder (short & sweet every day!)
2. Vote online on Pepsi's Refresh Everything site
   
3. Send text to: 73774 with text message of 103035. (You send the text, they send a confirmation text back.)
4. Vote via Facebook by installing the Pepsi Voting App

We look forward to seeing how November plays out - hopefully with a big win for CanINE Express, Indy Reads, Jameson Camp and Seeds of Hope!

Best way to handle a potential issue? Shed some light on it.

When Laura and I picked out a promotional item for our business we knew we wanted a particular kind of candle.  It needed to look great, smell great and be environmentally friendly.  After extensive searching we settled on a personable small soy candle business based out of California, SoyCandles.org.

Recently we ran out of our custom candles and I contacted Claudia Davenport for a re-order.  What I love about Claudia is she is so thorough and makes me feel like each order is the only one she is dealing with.  She promptly got our canisters and scents together and shipped us our order.  Each scent even had a test candle, which is something I never would have considered.  Even though it's more product for her, it gives me peace of mind and allows me to enjoy the product, too.

Then Claudia sent me an e-mail alerting me to an issue with one of our scents.  She was right in that I didn't feel comfortable in the way the scent was burning off.  She asked how I'd like to handle the concern and promptly suggested a similar scent, re-made the candles and sent them to us.  I just got them and they are fantastic.

More often than not, there seems to be a tendency to hide when there might be an issue with your product or service.  Most employ the tactic, "If they don't bring it up, then don't mention it."  However, I tend to feel better when a trusted vendor alerts me to an issue beforehand rather than waiting for me to figure it out.  Building a relationship of trust with your clients is key.  By being open & honest with them, it will go a long way in building customer loyalty.  Thank you Claudia at SoyCandles.org for this great reminder!

Benefit of being an entrepreneur: Loving the people you work with!

Yesterday I was on my way to pick up a camera lens rental from Roberts Imaging downtown and thought it would be a good time to listen to a new podcast. I had downloaded a series titled Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders from Stanford University which I thought sounded intriguing.  I scrolled through the titles and settled on 5 Must-Haves of an Entrepreneurial Career featuring eHarmony CEO Greg Waldorf.

Waldorf was a good speaker and easily engaged me along my ride back and forth.  Even more, his very first point in the lecture really hit home with me.  It was along the lines of loving the people you work with and that the rest would figure itself out.  I couldn't agree more.  Working with Laura is both challenging and a joy.  We push each other to be better and lean on each when we need to.  We know that together our possibilites are endless.

Our latest possibility involves starting a marketing education program for non-profits called Do Good For Indiana. It's a project we dreamed up togther with Alan & Anna from Creative Roots Design Group - more people it's a joy to work with!  We hope to start our pilot program supporting the following four organizations that positively impact our community: CanINE Express, Indy Reads, Jameson Camp and Seeds of Hope.  The full Do Good For Indiana website launches September 30th.  In the meantime follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest happenings!

Finding a great accountant is key to small business success...

First, a little story about serendipity and accounting before I launched my photography business.  It was Father's Day weekend, and typically I wouldn't do a shoot that day because I would be off to see my own father.  However, a very nice woman named Nancy McClelland had contacted me to do a shoot very close to my house at Rick's Boatyard Cafe.  She was coming in from Chicago so I decided to take the work.

As we were wrapping up somehow we got on the topic of me launching my business officially and that Nancy had worked with several other photographers and their business.  Little did I know how this one shoot would literally take my business to the next level.  Having Nancy's accounting and business expertise even before I began was instrumental because she knew my issues before I did.  She knew the right way to set up my books using QuickBooks Online.  The online version was ideal for us because when I had questions Nancy could log herself in and take a look.  Also, Nancy did (and still does!) a wonderful job training me how to manage the books yet can take the reins as needed.

Then, as Laura and I launched Aglow Marketing LLC I knew we'd be out of the business partnership starting block with a bang with Nancy behind us all the way.  A business partnership has different implications than a sole proprietorship and it was key to have her help us navigate the set up and accounting process.  I always feel more at ease knowing that Nancy is there to answer any questions that might arise for us. 

Whether you're starting your business or looking to grow and expand it, I highly recommend having an accountant who has experience in your area of business.  It instantly adds to your own experience by learning from them what has worked (and not worked!) with their former clients.  I am forever grateful that Nancy and I were fated to meet that Father's Day many years ago!

If you'd like to gain some accounting knowledge from Nancy McClelland LLC, then you can check out some recent tax tips she's sent out on the HIRE Act here:  Download Taxtips-HIRE-Health. Also read Nancy's summer newsletter with information on new health care laws, employer provided adoption benefits, business deductions for a starting a new business and much more here: Download Taxtips-small biz

The firepower of having a partner - in business and across it...

 When I started my own photography business, LBS Photography, 6 years ago I was so excited to be ON. MY. OWN.  No more bosses to answer to and no more obnoxious co-workers to deal with.  I was free to pursue every idea I had and work whatever hours suited me (I love the middle of the night!).  But after a while I was surprised to find myself BORED. STAGNANT. and UNINSPIRED.  How could this be?  I thought working for myself would keep me from every feeling that way again.  WRONG-O.

Around this time, I had finally nailed Laura down for lunch - mainly a reason to get out of the home office for me.  I thought it was a chance to catch up with a good friend. (Aglow Fun Fact: Laura and I met at our first jobs at Centerfield Marketing downtown.)  But the Laura I saw that day was not the fun-loving, go-getter I had always adored and admired.  She had picked the more corporate career path and had enjoyed great success, too, but was feeling much the same way I was - Now What?

What was born from an innocent lunch among good friends turned out to be a powerful partnership.  Laura brought the strategic and sales mastermind skills to the table I didn't even realize how badly I  needed.  I brought the creative firepower and operational know-how to showcase our talents.  And it's been more fun and challenging that I could have every imagined.

And, now a year into it, we are learning this lesson all over again.  Through Laura's involvement with the IndyAMA (She's the Prez, actually.), someone suggested we meet with a design firm called Creative Roots.  The first meeting was a bit like a first date, a touch awkward as you're trying to get to know each other.  But once we really started talking about our business dreams and how we run our businesses (from the heart!) - it was instant chemistry.  And each time we've gotten together I feel more energized to be around Alan and Anna who share the same passion for helping clients grow their businesses.  By teaming up, it allows each of us the opportunity to focus on what we each do best while knowing we are supporting each other along the way.

So, if you're feeling like your business is losing a little luster, get out there and start asking (and looking !) for who might be a great partner to you.  You can define the terms - whether it's just a chance to talk shop, work on certain projects together or really seal a deal.  Chances are you'll come away with a renewed excitement and fire for getting down to business.

Feel the love for your vendors, too.....

So often we are worried about clients, getting them and keeping them, that we forget that we have many business relationships to handle as marketers, project managers and business owners.  The one I have often felt is under appreciated is our vendors, the ones where we are their clients.

I didn't really truly come to appreciate my vendors until I started running my own photography business 6 years ago.  A photo printer would suddenly start putting out shoddy work and I'd be left scrambling to find another one with projects and deadlines looming.  However, once I found the right one (usually via referral), I came to truly admire how they took the time to make sure I was on board, understood their process, were available and friendly when I had questions and always delivered in a timely manner.  They gave me piece of mind that while I was out shooting that I'd be able to produce the final product according to my schedule.

As Laura and I have been creating Aglow, we still deal with these issues.  This time a local printer I had trusted with one client's work suddenly started giving me terrible customer service and basically told me that Aglow wasn't a big enough client to spend his time on.  So, I moved on from this terrible experience and asked other trusted designers for their referral.  I was hesitant that being a "small" marketing firm that, again, we might be shooed away for lack of size.  However, we were welcomed with open arms at Faulkenberg Printing.

Jim Faulkenberg and Brian have been nothing short of phenomenal since day one.  Our first project we did with Faulkenberg Printing took several weeks with lots of little details to address.  They took endless amounts of time working through them with me and never made me feel like I was wasting their time.  I was impressed with their extensive experience and ability to answer my questions without going over my head.  And as we continue to work with them, I am continually impressed with their prompt communication and looking out for our client's best interest.  Jim even goes out of way to keep me updated on new orders my clients place after the initial set up to keep me in the loop.  I know he's a busy man and he doesn't have to do this but the fact that he does makes me appreciate them all the more.  It exemplifies customer service at its finest.

In closing, remember to love on your great vendors like Faulkenberg Printing.  They are an essential piece to keeping your business running smoothly.  Just like the rest of us, they appreciate hearing what a great job they do for you, too!

Value added services can keep client care from going flat.....

Not long ago, I walked out of a meeting to find my front right tire was flat.  Not low but completely F-L-A-T.  And even though my older brother insisted I learn how to change a flat, this is definitely not a woman's favorite situation.  Especially when she's in dressy clothes and heels.

However, I wasn't too worried about it because I already knew I could take it back to Discount Tire on Lafayette Rd. and have it fixed for free.  When I bought the tires just weeks before I didn't really think that much of this service even though I knew it was available.  Yet as soon as the situation presented itself, it gave me instant piece of mind knowing my problem was solved for me.  Once I got there, they found the problem and repaired my tire in less than an hour.

This is a great example of client care and a value added service.  They built trust in my mind and gave me a reason to come back - with no extra cost to me.  And it definitely worked, as my family has purchased at least 3 sets of tires there in the last few years and I know that's where we'll go again in the future. I also love that the Discount Tire online store locator will send the store information of your choice straight to your cell phone!  Another great detail that keeps the client in mind. 

So, today take a moment to think of how you can keep your client care from going flat, too!