Brainy Tidbits - Issue #40
Ain't Technology Grand?

Welcome to all our brainy new subscribers!


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


MarketingIdeaShop BRAINY Tidbits

The ezine with brainy ideas & resources
for marketers & small businesses


This newsletter brought to you each Tuesday by
Lois Carter Fay & The Marketing Idea Shop
http://www.marketingideashop.com
mailto:lcf@marketingideashop.com


Issue 40 - March 2, 2004
Reading time: 10 minutes

Circulation:  1358


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


IN THIS ISSUE

1.   Ain't Technology Grand? The Four-Day Work Week
2.   Quote of the Week
3.   Marketing 101: Planning
4.   Resources for Entrepreneurs and Marketers
5.   A Little Marketing Fun
6.   Smell the Coffee


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


1. Ain't Technology Grand? The Four-Day Work Week

Remember when everyone was talking about how we would soon
come to rely on computers and technology because it would
save us so much time that we'd only have to work four days
a week? I don't know about you, but that's never panned out
for me.

Sure, word processing has saved me from having to retype
entire letters and proposals when my fingers hit the wrong
keys, and my database is a great tool for keeping track of
all sorts of information, but I still have to type the
documents and input the data. And the little time I save
with these tools is quickly eaten up by all the other
activities I do in my daily business life. As the saying
goes, "The activities will expand to fill the allotted
time."

But one thing about that four-day-work-week prediction is
true. I have come to rely on technology in my business. So
much so that I have an awful time writing anything without
using a keyboard. Earlier today I was in a panic because
the server that holds my website crashed last night and my
website has been offline since early last evening. Yup.
Here it is Tuesday, the day I send out my weekly newsletter
and I couldn't update anything on my site. Nor could I send
you to it to read more about the many tools you can find
there to help you with your marketing. And, in fact, until
a little while ago I was only sporadically receiving
emails.

In the meantime, maybe this means I'm supposed to take
today off and make this week a four-day work week. It's a
beautiful day in the mountains. :-)

The site is up and going again, so do me a favor, will you?
Take a cruise around it, find something interesting, and
send me an email telling me what you like about it. I'll be
happy to hear your suggestions for improvement, too! Send
the email to: mailto:lcf@marketingideashop.com

Visit the site here: http://www.marketingideashop.com


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


2.  Quote of the Week

A good time to save a copy of your website to your own hard
drive is BEFORE the web host server crashes. Too bad I
didn't think of that a couple of days ago. (Yes, they back
up, so it is okay.)

~~Lois Carter Fay


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


3.  Marketing 101: Tip #29
     Why Have a Plan?
     By Robert Grede
     © Copyright 2004
     Reprinted with permission

Many entrepreneurs believe they alone are responsible for
the success of their company. They have a vague idea of the
need for a long-term strategy, but often they neglect to
put their Marketing Plan down on paper.

Here are some of the benefits of writing down your plan:

==> Encourages thinking ahead in a systematic manner

==> Sharpens the company's focus

==> Prepares for unforeseen developments

==> Leads to better coordination of company efforts

==> Helps develop performance standards

==> Inspires a sense of commitment to the company's
       long-term goals

==> Helps to make the company (and you!) more profitable


What's stopping you from writing your plan?


Robert Grede is the author of NAKED MARKETING - THE BARE
ESSENTIALS (Prentice Hall) and an acclaimed speaker.  To
find out more: http://www.thegredecompany.com or order his
book through Amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0735201129/ref=nosim/marketingidea-20


or http://tinyurl.com/yrhzl


There's no better time than now to write and implement your
marketing plan. MARKETING PLAN ESSENTIALS: ONLINE AND OFF,
an ebook by Lois Carter Fay, is a great place to start.
Read more about it or download it here:

http://www.marketingideashop.com/MarketingEssentials.htm


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


AND NOW, A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSORS...

Good salespeople keep learning. They listen to tapes and
CDs, read books and avidly read newsletters that teach them
new sales techniques or remind them of things they know
they should be doing but have forgotten. If you're like me,
you're always looking for new ideas to help you increase
your sales.

Whether you're a salesperson or the sales manager,
you're going to love Marketing Idea Shop's ebook,
52 READY-TO-GO SALES MEETINGS. It's filled with strategies
and techniques to make your sales explode. How great is
that?

Read more about what you'll learn, or buy the ebook and you
can be reading it in just minutes. To find out more, visit:
http://www.marketingideashop.com/52RTGSalesMeetings.htm

And watch for Marketing Idea Shop's new sales teleseminar
series, coming soon!



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


4.  Resources for Entrepreneurs and Marketers

==> If, like me, you would like to save a copy of your
website to your own computer hard drive, the program WS_FTP
Pro by IPSWITCH can help you do that. Here's a link to the
product:

http://www.ipswitch.com/Purchase/Products/ws_ftp.html


==> Are you looking for a good marketing forum/discussion
group? Try Marketing Profs. They also have an informative
newsletter. You'll have to become a member, but it's free.
Go to:

http://www.marketingprofs.com


==> The U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Small Business
Administration and the Center for Entrepreneurial
Excellence are co-hosting another summit entitled "Women's
Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century" on March 10th in
Cleveland, Ohio. You can find out more and register here:

http://www.women-21.gov


==> Thanks to Don Crawford at Shickel Corp.
http://www.shickel.com for this website. This site offers a
wealth of information about companies located outside the
U.S.

http://www.corporateinformation.com


==> Amazon: 2 for the Price of 1

Here's a special deal from Amazon on Shel Horowitz's
marketing books. Those of you who joined my list before
September may remember Shel Horowitz and his successful
one-day "virtual book-signing" for his new book,
"Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First." Now
Amazon is offering quite a deal if you buy that one
together with his practical low-cost marketing how-to book,
"Grassroots Marketing: Getting Noticed in a Noisy World."

Visit the link below and then scroll down a bit to "better
together," and you can get both these wonderful books for
$28.32 including domestic shipping. Considering that Shel
sells "Grassroots" for $28.45 including domestic shipping,
it's like getting "Principled Profit" as a no-cost bonus.
How do they do it?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0961466669/ref=nosim/marketingidea-20


Or if the link is broken, use this:
http://tinyurl.com/36mxl


==> Success Secrets of Women Entrepreneurs

Getting quoted or profiled in a book is a great way to get
publicity for yourself and your company. Here's a way to
secure long-lasting, positive PR for you and your mentors
or friends.

In my new ebook, SUCCESS SECRETS OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, I
will have profiles and words of wisdom from a cross-section
of women business owners around the nation (and possibly
the world). Many people have nominated truly outstanding
women for inclusion in the book. Thank you!

However, I still need more nominations. If you know a woman
business owner who you think is amazing, please email me at
mailto:lcf@marketingideashop.com?subject=WBO and tell me
her name. I'll send you the nomination form. If your
nominee is chosen, your name and website will be included
in the book as well.

Although I can only profile 30 to 50 women entrepreneurs in
this ebook, you have another opportunity for fame. In
addition to these in-depth profiles, I will include
succinct quotes about success from many more women
entrepreneurs.

What's your definition of success? Email your comments to
me at
mailto:lcf@marketingideashop.com?subject=Success_Quote

Don't miss out! This is a fabulous chance to get publicity
for yourself and your company. I will, of course, include
your name and website in the book if your quote is chosen.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

5.  A Little (Internet) Marketing Fun

Thanks to http://www.w3schools.com for this one:


Customer: "I can't send an email. Is the Internet full?"


Help keep the smiles coming...please send me your
marketing, PR or sales jokes. I'll be happy to give you
credit and list your website! Email me:
mailto:lcf@marketingideashop.com?subject=marketing_joke


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


6.  Smell the Coffee...

The birds have discovered our new bird feeder, and I'm
avidly reading my bird book to figure out what kinds of
birds we have. We've seen mountain chickadees, Carolina
wrens, tufted t**mice, white-breas*ted nuthatches,
cardinals and a purple finch. Unfortunately, today the
squirrels also discovered the feeder. We didn't think they
could get to it, but they are surprising little varmints.
They are keeping our dog, Lulu, busy.

My husband and I are taking a little road trip later this
week so I'm sure the squirrels will have a great time in
our absence.

We're headed to the Midwest and it's both a sad and a happy
occasion. We'll be celebrating the life of his former
mother-in-law who passed away on Saturday. We'll also be
able to visit our two oldest kids and our lovely
granddaughter.

I hope y'all have a good week.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


MORE PRODUCTS

I encourage you to visit the Marketing Idea Shop website
for lots more information. Plus, you'll find a lovely
picture of me there! There are f~ree articles, past copies
of Brainy Tidbits, resources, ebooks and special reports.
Remember, we are constantly adding brainy ideas and
information to the site for you.

http://www.marketingideashop.com



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

THE FINE PRINT

© 2004 Marketing Idea Shop. All rights reserved.
This publication is registered with the
Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
ISSN 1545-035X


THANK YOU!
We appreciate your business.


PRIVACY STATEMENT/COPYRIGHT
We will not distribute your email address or personal
information to anyone. Period.


PERMISSION TO REPRINT
You may reprint any items from "MarketingIdeaShop BRAINY
Tidbits" (except those with a copyright listed from another
source) in your own print or electronic newsletter. Please
be kind and send us a copy so we can see it in print. Also,
please include the following paragraph:

Reprinted from "MarketingIdeaShop BRAINY Tidbits," a F~REE
ezine from Marketing Idea Shop and Lois Carter Fay
featuring brainy ideas and resources for marketers and
small businesses. Subscribe today at
http://www.marketingideashop.com and receive F~REE by email
"67 Ways to Promote Your Business."


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Published by:
Lois Carter Fay, APR
Founder, Marketing Idea Shop
411 Rainier Road, Massanutten, VA  USA 22840
Voice 540.289.3840 or 800.203.8660
lcf@marketingideashop.com
http://www.marketingideashop.com

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~