Calling all business moms and dads

An article was recently published in the Arizona Republic about me being a mompreneur – juggling work, family and everything that comes with it.  Once the article hit, IT hit.  Moms emailing me all wanting to be a part of a networking group filled with other mompreneurs.  So, that’s just what I did – I created the Mom-e-preneurs Club.  

The first mompreneurs meeting will take place Tuesday, March 31, 2009 from 10:30am to noon in Gilbert, AZ.  I’ve teamed up with original Mompreneurs Ellen Parlapiano and Pat Cobe, founders of mompreneursonline.com, to offer moms and dads a place to meet and chat with other parents about business and life’s parenting adventures.   This ought to be fun!

Focusing on my niche

I’ve always known I needed to zero in on a niche as a marketer, but when you’re just starting out in business, you have a tendency to take on anything and everything you can.  Not only that, but I suppose I was nervous dealing with only one type of client and wondered if it would be a conflict of interest.  

After attending coaching sessions by Debbie LaChusa, the Career-at-Home-Mom, it finally dawned on me that focusing in on what I really love best, businesses that target moms like me and kids, was just the ticket.  I’ve done PR and marketing successfully for numerous businesses and non-profit organizations just like this, so why not?  And now, I fit the demo, too. 

So here I am, working hard to find the right type of client rather than whoever comes along at the time.  I know that once I focus in on my niche, the rest will just fall into place and I’ll finally begin to really LOVE what I do.

6-months and he already loves Mickey Mouse. That’s good branding.

Leave it to Mickey Mouse to make an impression on my son at such an early age.  Even before he was born, my sister and in-laws got him “Disney” gifts ranging from books, onesies and a personalized Mickey backpack, to Pluto, Winnie the Pooh and of course, the Mouse, stuffed animals. 

So it didn’t come as a surprise to me that the moment Mickey appeared on TV, Caleb’s face lit up, he stopped everything he was doing and smiled in complete awe.  Nothing could distract him.   Leave it to the Disney folk to get ‘em at such a young age. 

I’m sure when Caleb says his first words, “Mickey” will definitely be one of them.   Now that’s what I call exceptional branding.  Sure all you moms out there can totally relate - what kiddo doesn’t love Disneyland?  Better enter in his birthday for that free ticket ‘cuz there are going to be a lot of trips to Disneyland ahead.  Again, good branding.  Who can resist saving some bucks at one of the most expensive theme parks around?  Not me!   In fact, Disney’s already waiting for Caleb to come.  Check out this video in honor of Caleb, their special guest.

Pelletier’s Kingdom? Disney turns its world over to unknown  

Need I say more?  

My mind’s in overdrive for Red Means Stop

It’s midnight and I’m still working.  Just got back from a 3-hour Red Means Stop board meeting tonight where I serve as secretary and man oh man, was there a lot of energy in the room.  There were so many brilliant ideas flying from so many dynamite people that it’s exciting to see what lies ahead in 2009. 

I personally haven’t been affected like some other individuals in the room who have lost a loved one to a preventable red light crash, but I’m truly honored to be among some great individuals all trying to reach a common goal – to increase public awareness of the consequences of motor vehicle crashes that injure and kill drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

I encourage anyone out there to get involved and meet the real people behind the stories you see in the news.  If you’d like to get involved, the group’s seeking volunteers and would love to have you on board.

More information can be found at www.redmeansstop.org.

Have you mastered your mindset?

I’ve attended three teleseminars in the last two weeks and one common thread between all of them is learning how to “master your mindset”.  Sound complex?  It’s not.  It is by far the simplest way to get focused and stay focused.

How do you master your mindset?  My business coach, Debbie LaChusa of Career-at-home moms, gave this little tip if you’re looking to increase your income.  Write down how much money you want to make this year on a post-it and stick it right where you can see it every day.  Simple, right?  Right.

After doing this, my mindset has completely changed.  I’ve gotten rid of all the negative thoughts holding me back in business.  It has gone from thoughts like “I can’t do this, I can’t make that much, and there are other consultants better than me out there” to “I’m in this business and I’m not going to let a tough economy get me down.  The sky is the limit!”

Yup, it’s amazing what one little post-it can do for your business.   Mastering my mindset has already brought me closer to my goal in 2009.  Perhaps it can do the same for you.

Are you a mompreneur? I am

On Monday, I attended  a Moms’ Club meeting in my neighborhood at Power Ranch in Gilbert, Arizona.  While I enjoyed the company of the other moms and learning about hospitality at the meeting, it dawned on me that there are two classes of  mom – the stay-at-home and the mom entrepreneur.  It was then I realized, “I” am a mompreneur, a work-at-home mom with a lot of business ideas floating in my head that I can’t wait to get started on.  

Case in point, I just agreed to head up the Phoenix chapter of the BizMoms group.  Seems like a big committment for a mom who has a marketing business www.simplyputmarketing.com, is getting ready to launch an event planning business Details Event Management, LLC, is in the middle of writing a romantic comedy about her sister-in-law’s love what if moments, is secretary of the Red Means Stop Traffic Safety Alliance  all while holding down the fort and taking care of the little one during the day.

Yup, that’s a mompreneur for you.  So many ideas, so little time, but still managing to get it all done.  Are you a mompreneur, too?

‘Tis the Season to Give and Save

If you’re looking to start a new project in 2009 or could use some marketing help, count on us and save a little, too!  Simply Put Marketing is offering a 25% savings (up to a $100 value) on your next project.  Use it for things like public relations, graphic design, Web design, copy writing or even to write your 2009 marketing plan.  Offer expires December 31, 2009.  Just mention the word “holiday” when redeeming.

Happy holidays!

Keep your name out there

With the downturn in the economy, I’m realizing more and more how many businesses are ceasing all marketing activity with the hope that once the economy is on the up and up, things will resume like before and everything will be peachy keen.  All I can say to that is please don’t stop what you’re doing completely.  It will take a lot more time, money and resources to re-educate and re-introduce yourself to the marketplace later.  Instead, keep a presence out there as much as you can, even if all you’re doing is incorporating social media or guerilla marketing into advertising your business.  What you do now will surely help your business later.

Need ideas on how to keep up with your marketing in a down economy?  Check out books like Off-the-Wall Marketing Ideas and Guerilla Marketing for Free  or contact me and let’s brainstorm some ideas together.

Good networking groups make a BIG difference

Since starting my business I’ve been involved with a lot of different groups such as the Arizona Small Business Association, Ad2Phoenix, American Marketing Association, Alliance of Technology and Women and countless others.  But one group that particularly stands out to me is IABC’s Phoenix chapter.  Talk about a dynamic group!

Just attended the holiday mixer yesterday and met so many wonderful people, re-connected with others, and made some great business contacts, even got some leads.  Also scored some awesome silent auction items!   What I love most is the intimacy the group presents.  Everyone welcomes you in like family.  I’ve been to a few of their lunches and love that everyone in the room gets to take :30 to introduce themselves.  This is something I find to be very beneficial to business owners.  Helps when you can talk to everyone in the room over a select few sitting at your table.  Within :30 seconds, 50 people know what I do!   This group definitely has it going on!

Check them out at www.iabcphoenix.com.

See you at the next event!

It’s a good day for some PR.

While I do PR for clients, it’s not the thing I focus on most, but when I do, watch out!  What I love most about it is under promising and over delivering to clients.  I never guarantee results, but you should see the clients’ faces light up when I tell them their story ran or they’re going to be on TV.  It’s priceless.  

In fact, my first stint at PR was when I was back at ASU.  I was hired on by a small company called AZeats to launch their business, an online restaurant dining guide in Phoenix.  When I sent the press release, I had no idea what type of response the client would get.  It ended up getting them a full-page profile in the Phoenix Business Journal, coverage in various restaurant magazines, and a full-year of coverage every Friday morning on KPHO channel 5 reviewing their client’s restaurants!  Talk about great coverage and value, not to mention more sales for them!  They could now go after more restaurants with the power of the media behind them.  Their media value was estimated at over $30,000 off one release.  I got paid $50… Go figure.

Anyway, PR can work for any business if executed properly.  It takes a lot of time to build connections and of course, there are no guarantees like advertising, but hey, it works and can really make a huge difference for your business.  

In fact, today I got coverage for my client, rsvpBOOK, in some national event trade publications.  Now that’s what I call a good day for some PR.  Woohoo!