How is it Going for You?

  

So how will your holidays be different this year?  Have you been able to visit with your family and friends?  Have you lost family and friends because of COVID?

It's been a different kind of year.  We've all had our challenges to deal with, some more than others.  I've seen many take it in stride and make the best of it and others are still wallowing in 'Oh ain't it awful and it's not going to get better until.......'  

As the holidays approach, are you making plans differently than you have in the past or will you celebrate as you usually do?

For those with a business, how is it going for you?  I've seen some thrive while others have closed their doors.  And yet others have used this opportunity to start new businesses.  

I believe our outcome is in large part to how we deal with things on an ongoing basis.  When life throws us a curve ball do we dwell on getting punched in the stomach or do we suck it up and move on?  Is the glass half full or half empty?  What difference does it make?  You can fill the glass to the brim and solve that question.

So, do you look for opportunity?  Do you look for the silver lining?  Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?  Things to think about.

One of the aspects of my business that I promote is keeping in touch with clients and prospects.  You never know when they might need your products or service or have the opportunity to refer you.  It's important to stay Top of Mind.  I've been fortunate in that my business has thrived during this time.  Which brings me to one of the reasons I am writing this newsletter....to share an opportunity.

SendOutCards recently announced there will be a new program coming in January which will offer six streams of income.  They are giving the opportunity to sign up for the pre-launch for free until 11/16 with the capability of adding others.  I've been with SOC since 2006.  They are a solid company with a great product that almost everyone can use.  If you're reading this, perhaps this is your opportunity knocking.  Sign up for free, see what the program is in January.  If you decide it's not for you, then no harm, no foul.  For a little preview, watch this two minute video.

Here are some additional resources for Working Virtually:

Seven Tips for Working At Home

Networking Online

5 Tips for What to Wear for Video Conferencing

The Gratitude Effect

Relationship Marketing 

To Your Success,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

'Helping You and Your Business Look Good'

Showing Clients Appreciation

The holidays are fast approaching whether we like it or not.  Thanksgiving is next week, and Christmas will be here in no time.  It is important to show our appreciation to our clients and prospects.   

Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite times of the year.  It's just all the preparation leading up to it that gets me in a panic, wondering how in the world I'm going to get everything done.

One thing I can check off my list is the task of sending my greeting cards. Since I found this wonderful greeting card system over 10 years ago, sending my holiday cards is a snap. After I decide on my theme and design, choose a photo, the rest is a breeze.  I can send a unique personalized card to everyone on my list and even include gifts or gift cards to those out of town that I won't be seeing over the holidays.  I love to receive and send cards throughout the year.  I also enjoy helping others with their card sending. 

Sending clients and prospects a card of appreciation builds the relationship, whether it’s for the holidays or throughout the year.  Not to solicit for business, but to express our gratitude for their business.  People are bombarded with so many buy, buy, buy advertisements this time of year.  So, it’s nice to open the mail and receive a nice card with a note of appreciation and gratitude.

Are you thinking of sending Holiday Cards?   I would love to help you take that task off your to do list or at least make it easier for you.  I invite you to log on and find out how to create, personalize, add photos, and mail your cards via the US mail with just a few mouse clicks.  Yes, these are REAL greeting cards that arrive in your mailbox, not ecards.  I invite you to try out this system and send a REAL greeting card with my compliments from SendingCardsMadeEZ.com.  And I would be glad to help you.

Sending cards is just one of my favorite things about the Holiday season. I love the music, the decorations, all the tasty food, and of course seeing and visiting with family and friends.

Now if the cleaning and organizing fairy will show up and get busy, maybe I'll be ready by the time all the family starts arriving.

I wish you and yours a very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

‘Helping You and Your Business Look Good’

Tips for a Stress-Free Christmas

From Woman's Day

It's the most wonderful time of the year-but also one of the most stressful! Make the season more enjoyable by stopping stress in its tracks with these 31 expert tips.

Here are five.  Click the link below to view the entire list.

- Make a change. Take one task that drives you crazy during the holidays and tackle it in a new way. A fresh approach just might make a difference. For example, if you dread having to send out holiday cards, enlist your husband and split the list.

 - "Don't always go for bigger and better," when planning your holiday, advises Loretta LaRoche, author of Life Is Not a Stress Rehearsal. "Does the tree have to be bussed in from the hinterlands of Alaska?" she quips. "Isn't a little bush enough?"

- That massive pile of holiday cards needs to get mailed ASAP, but just the thought of it gives you writer's cramp? "Refocus on what's most important to you," says life coach Linda Hedberg. "If you're overwhelmed with dozens of cards to send out, ask yourself, Which are the 10 most important ones?" Send those and put the rest on the back burner. Or just send cards electronically with a service like SendOutCards to everyone on your list. Bonus: It's eco-friendly!

- Donna Wallace of Shawano, Wisconsin, found that adding, rather than deleting, something from her to-do list made her Christmas feel less hectic. One year, she joined her church choir for the express purpose of singing with others in praise and celebration of the season. "It grounds you to acknowledge the spiritual side," says Donna.

- As you take part in trimming the tree or preparing the Christmas or Chanukah cookies with your kids, take a deep breath and savor the moment. Give yourself permission to forget about all those tasks still left on your to-do list.

Click Here to read the entire article and read all 31 tips. 

 
Your comments are welcomed and appreciated.  

Wishing You and Yours a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy Prosperous New Year,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

'Helping You and Your Business Look Good'

 

  Your comments and feedback and welcomed and appreciated. You may also provide feedback on our Facebook page

Spring Marketing Ideas

What do you think about when it comes to marketing this time of year?  There is so much to draw from for marketing ideas this time of the year for almost every business.  Using the seasons is a great strategy for developing marketing plans.  Be sure and plan your seasonal marketing strategy in advance so as not to miss a great window of opportunity.

Springtime typically plays on the senses of warmer happier times.  Here is a sample list of some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.  Please comment with your ideas and how you market your product(s) and/or service(s) this time of year.

• ·        The Time Change – Spring Forward – ‘It’s Time to Spring into Action’

o   Many businesses use the time change to send their clients and prospects a reminder to change their clocks and to ‘Spring into Action,’ i.e. Real Estate – To Sell their home and/or buy their Dream Home.

• ·        Talk about the Weather –

o   Example - Use gorgeous spring weather to help promote your business! Come up with deals that revolve around weather to attract customers. Weather can be particularly useful for restaurants with patios; these businesses can bring in customers by making deals on their meals and entice them with a nice patio table.  Also personal care products, businesses, or services, i.e. spas, weight loss, fitness – ‘Are you Beach Ready?’ 

• ·        Spring Cleaning – ‘Out with the Old and In with the New’ ‘Fresh Clean Start’  ‘New Inventory’

o   Example - Spring cleaning conjures up thoughts of getting rid of the old and bringing in the new, making the introduction of new products is ideal for this time of the year. Advertise an inventory sale to make room for the new stuff coming soon to generate interest. Another idea for a cleaning theme involves adding your company name, logo and website address to promotional cleaning materials, such as sponges, gloves or cleaning cloths, and handing them out or mailing the items to clients and prospects.

• ·        Using Holidays to Market – St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Passover, Earth Day, May Day, Mother’s Day, etc. 

o   Example - Tie your spring marketing campaigns to one of the holidays that fall during the season, such as Easter, Passover, May Day or Mother’s Day. Know your target market so the holiday you choose to tie your message to strongly appeals to prospects and clients, such as selling gifts for Mother’s Day or new clothing and shoes for Easter festivities. Implement promotional ideas to build traffic, such as if you own a floral shop, offer a “buy one, get one at 50 percent discount” on May Day bouquets.

• ·        Changing to Seasonal Colors - more pastel, spring like colors and/or using flowers, butterflies, etc.

o   Example - After a dreary winter, your customers are likely ready to see some bright, warm colors that will put them in a happier mood. You can use this to your advantage by posting social media statuses or pictures featuring brightly colored flowers or scenery and using in your email marketing.  Or if you have a storefront, re-decorating with spring colors and décor, flowers, etc.  Nothing is better than putting your customer in a good mood.  

• ·        Using Events like March Madness, Spring Break, April 15^th, etc.

o   Example - Create a marketing effort related to the annual celebration of Earth Day that takes place on April 22. Build your brand by sponsoring a road cleanup project or a tree planting event, and invite the community to join in. Design T-shirts with your company’s name, logo and the event name, and hand them out to everyone to wear while participating. Another green activity that’s ideal for spring includes sending your marketing message to prospects and clients on paper covered with seeds. After they have read your message, instead of sending the waste paper to a landfill, they can bury it and wildflowers will bloom.  Or send greeting cards with a packet of seeds with your springtime message.

We would love to hear your ideas for your Spring Marketing.

Happy Spring,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

“Helping You and Your Business Look Good”

Material from: (More ideas are also available from these sites).

Small Business Chronicle - http://smallbusiness.chron.com/springtime-marketing-ideas-64289.html

Stella PR Marketing - http://stellaprmarketing.com/fresh-ideas-for-springtime-marketing/

Traditions

I was in line at the grocery store the other day and overheard the clerk ask the person ahead of me if they were ready for the holidays.  Their response was, "I'll be glad when it's over with."  To me, that is so sad.  I don't know their reason for their response.  It could be something in their past that was unpleasant or painful that happened around the holidays.  They could have lost a loved one.  I know several people who are experiencing a loss this holiday season.  I know it's painful, I've been through that myself. 

I love the holidays.  As a child we didn't have a big celebration, a lot of presents, decorations, or big family gatherings.  As an adult I have embraced the holidays and go all out....decorations, getting together with family and friends.  I try not to go overboard on the presents, but try to be thoughtful in my selections.

The one thing besides being with my family that I cherish more are the traditions we've made through the years.  I think those time honored traditions are what makes the holidays special.  I'll share some of mine:

- My children could only open one gift on Christmas Eve.  The gift was a new pair of PJs.  After many years, one of my daughters asked me why they always got new PJs.  I told them it was so they would look pretty for their photos Christmas morning.  I have carried on this tradition with my grandchildren.

- When my children were little, I told them that if they quit believing in Santa Claus, that he would quit coming to see them on Christmas.  I also took them to have pictures made with a 'real' Santa, which when they were growing up there were not alot around with real beards, etc.  I think the last photo I have with them with Santa, the oldest was in high school.

- We could not open our gifts until Christmas morning.  It's over way to quick for me and I wanted the excitement and anticipation to last as long as possible.

We have a number of other traditions, like certain foods that are prepared, etc.  What are some of your traditions?  What is it about the holidays you like the most?  What do you look forward to?  Even if things aren't ideal we are far better off than most people in the world.  I am thankful to live in a country where I can celebrate the holidays and make traditions and memories for me and my family.

May you be happy and celebrate in a way that brings you and those you love joy.

Happy Holidays,

Annette

All Work and No Play

Labor Day serves as a day of rest and as a reminder that the summer is drawing to a close, but that doesn't mean you should relax your marketing efforts. This is a prime time for snagging holiday shoppers eager to get the last bit out of summer and/or prepare for fall and winter.
Consider using the theme of 'All Work and No Play' as a Labor Day theme for marketing ideas when planning your early September promotional materials.

Labor Day was originally set aside as "the working man's day," and you can still draw on these themes in postcards, brochures, and flyers. This is the day when your hard-working customers can enjoy a sizzling barbecue in the company of family and friends, so your marketing designs could include images that conjure the same feel good and break-from-the-workday emotions associated with family cookouts. Consider targeting your prospects' emotions: "You work hard to secure your family. Isn't it time to relax?" would be a great pitch for a life insurance or investment firm.

Labor Day itself isn't always enough to drive traffic to your footstep, but there are plenty of things associated with this time of year that bring in a lot of sales. Children are going back to school, for instance, and they need new supplies, clothes, computers, credit cards, cell phones and many more items. Try using  a postcard designed as a backpack brimming with whatever your company is offering or a screen shot of your website.

This is also the time of year when high school, college, and professional football teams head back to the field; opening plenty of opportunities to demonstrate how your company is the "winning team."  Even better, send a calendar that includes your local favorite local football team's schedule to help keep your information ‘Top of Mind.’  There are many other sport’s related promotional items that could be used for a ‘Winning Team’ theme.

Labor Day marketing doesn't have to be bland, and it doesn't even have to be labor related. When designing your next marketing postcards, brochures and flyers, be creative and combine some of these ideas with a great offer and persuasive call to action, and you'll be well on your way to whistling while you work this year.

 Happy Maketing,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

Refresh, Renew, Refocus, and Re-evaluate

It’s Spring time!  Finally!  Green is sprouting from the earth, bushes, and trees.  Beautiful blooms are popping forth.  Time to Refresh, Renew, Refocus, and Re-evaluate.  I saw a post on one of the social media sites that asked the question, ‘It’s the end of the first quarter, what have you accomplished?’   Hmmm….how many of your New Year’s resolutions have already gone by the wayside?  What about those goals you set at the first of the year?  

No worries.  Don’t beat yourself up.  Take a deep breath and get out your list.  Do some accessing and refocus.   Sometimes we get over zealous when making our goals for the New Year.  Sometimes life happens and throws us a curve ball.  Instead of just throwing the list away, now is a good time to take another look and re-evaluate our priorities.

Here are some tips to get back on track.

·         Self Renew - Self-renewing people seem to get a lot done, and still not act harried or talk irrationally.

·         Pace yourself - There are only so many hours in a day to accomplish things, so focus on the main thing.  Don’t burn the candle at both ends.  Don't sweat the small stuff.

·         Keeping the first things first – Be value-driven, and determine what is important.   

·         Single Task – Give your undivided attention to the priorities first.  Trying to multi-task takes the focus off what is truly important.

·         Get support – Focus on what you do best and delegate or hire someone else to do the rest.  Re-evaluate and cull out those tasks that are no longer helping you reach your goals.  Remember the definition of insanity, ‘Doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results.’

·         Seek advice – Find the expertise from those who are successful in your field and find out what works for them.  Good networking opportunity.

·         Pause – Take some time away from it all.  The time could be to think about what are your priorities, to reflect on all for which you have to be grateful.   Sometimes we are so busy that we get side tracked from what our real priorities are/were.  Pausing is important, and if you need a weekly reminder, sign up at www.pauseworks.com for Pat Katz’s pause e-zine. We are all just one heart attack away from a disaster, so let’s learn to refresh and renew .

·         Find time to be playful and creative – We all know the saying, ‘All work and no play…..’   Stepping away from it all can often times provide that renewal we need to get back on track with our goals again.  Often times it can also bring forth new fresh ideas.

·         Keep in touch – Take time to spend quality time with family and friends.  This time can also provide a new and perhaps a different perspective on our priorities.  We certainly don’t want to get a call one day and then beat ourselves up because we didn’t take the time to go have lunch with an old acquaintance. 

"Common sense is uncommon practice.” Many of these tips are not new.  We all need a reminder.  Sometimes when we stop to reflect we realize that we are not as off track as we thought we were.  Refocusing can get us excited again so we can make those small steps towards those big goals that initially looked so huge.  How do you eat an elephant? – One small bite at a time!

For April’s Holidays and Celebrations, check out these websites.  

Holiday Insights
Brownie Locks
Web Holidays
Earth Calendar
Wellcat - Quirky Holidays

Celebrate the lives of those you love Everyday! Show them you care. Send them a
H.U. G. - A Heartfelt Greeting.

Also check out the Fan Page on Facebook ‘We Have a Card for That.’

In gratitude,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

“Helping You and Your Business Look Good”

*The inspiration for this blog came from www.ElaineFroese.com who is a catalyst for courageous conversations and intentional life design.

Lessons from the Irish

One place that's on my bucket list is Ireland.  Besides the scenery being so beautiful, it seems to be such a laid back relaxing place to visit.  The people exude a warmth and playfulness.   When it comes to building meaningful relationships I am reminded of the Irish.  They have such a strong tradition and culture which you can sense in their many blessings and inspirational poems.  Just think what a difference it would make if we treated our business relationships with the same care as our personal relationships.



For one thing, Irish blessings are about welcoming, warmth and turning a negative situation into a positive one.

Here are some examples of Irish Blessings:

May the roads rise to meet you,
May the wind be at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

May you be poor in misfortunes,
and rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness,
from this day forward,
May good luck be your friend,
In whatever you do,
And may trouble be always,
A stranger to you.

May you always have work for your hands to do,
May your pockets hold always a coin or two,
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane,
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain,
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way. May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.

May the sun shine all day long, everything go right and nothing wrong.  May those you love bring love back to you, and may all the wishes you wish come true.

May the friendships you make be those which endure and all of your Grey clouds be small ones for sure. And trusting in Him to Whom we all pray, may a song fill your heart every step of the way.

Any of these would make a wonderful greeting to send someone in a greeting card.


We usually think of St. Patrick's day when we think of Ireland, but many of the holidays we celebrate today comes from the Irish.  Even 'spring cleaning' comes from the Irish Easter celebration.

For a list of holidays for the month of March, check out these sites:

Holiday Insights
Web Holidays
Earth Calendar
Brownie Locks
Wellcat - Quirky Holidays

Wherever you go and whatever you do, May the luck of the Irish be there with you.

In gratitude,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

Source for some of the above information:  YourIrish.com