Dear

Bling and Baubles at the Atlanta Contemporary Jewelry Show! This is one of my favorite shows and this year was no exception. It is small with less than 50 jewelers exhibiting and one of the most imaginative openings I've seen. From multi-hued glass creations to corrugated metal twisted into earrings and stackable diamond rings, it really does take your breath away.

Blogwell Atlanta, What the BIG BOYS are doing in Social Media! I attended this event yesterday and had the opportunity to learn firsthand what Coca-Cola, Newell-Rubbermaid, Turner, and Home Depot are doing to leverage the power of social media. It was both entertaining and educational. I've shared some critical details about the latest FTC regulations that will keep your company safe in today's article.

Huntington Beach, here I come! By the time you read this, I'll be immersed in the first day of Adam Urbanski's Attract Client's Like Crazy Bootcamp. I'm excited to connect with internet marketing and creativepreneur colleagues from near and far. Looking forward to networking for future Tele-Summits and programs. Together we really do all go farther!

Together we all go farther,

Melissa
www.twitter.com/prosperbydesign
www.facebook.com/melissagalt
www.linkedin.com/in/melissagalt

"Isn't everyone a part of everyone else?"

~ Budd Schulberg, 1914-2009, Screenwriter/Producer

ID DIGEST

I've been honored in this month's www.id-digest.com with one of my interior projects showcased in the Editor's Choice Awards! Oh and, be sure to check out the feature article with a stunning slideshow of 28 international artists. ID-Digest is an online publication serving artists, design professionals, and decorative painters from around the globe. I am always delighted to help you with an introduction to this opportunity, just ask.

Know the Rules to WIN at Social Media

With the advent of social media has come the introduction of FTC rules and regulations on the right ways to handle it for your company. The rules are simple and allow a good deal of creativity in interpretation. But, they are rules and when broken can result in stiff penalties and heavy fines, the first meted out so far was for $300K. Here's what you need to know. To comply, your social media communications:

#1 Require disclosure and truthfulness in social media outreach.

In other words, you can't pay someone to blog about your brand without disclosing that. There must be a clear distinction, authentic and transparent, between advertising and advertorial and someone's unpaid, unsolicited opinion and feedback.

#2 Monitor the conversation and correct misstatements.

You have a responsibility to maintain awareness of what is being said particularly by those who work for you and correct any misstatements that they make.

#3 Create social media policies and training programs.

By doing this you have protected yourself and your brand. If a rogue player jumps in and starts making statements, you are immune from punishment as long as you have policies and training programs in place.

This is about being aware and tuned in to the social media activities and communications that your brand generates, whether you are a company of one or hundreds. One of the most profound comments made is that it doesn't matter what you think your brand is, what matters is what you audience is telling you it is. Companies are now being guided by the consumer, instead of the consumer being dictated to by the company.

Coca-Cola understands this well with their Expedition 206 campaign that has three brand ambassadors chosen by their online fans, taking a trip around the world in 365 days to spread the joy of Coca-Cola. These are not celebrities but regular people who have garnered the support of tens of thousands of fans and been voted on to have this adventure in promotion. Interestingly and suitably the top candidates all speak multiple languages and carry dual citizenship to facilitate such an endeavor. This means that more often these people aren't going to be American because we don't promote and certainly don't require more than one language and rarely do we allow dual citizenship.

Newell Rubbermaid tackles their social media outreach one brand at a time. With Sharpie markers for example they have "Sharpie Sue" who is the voice at their blog. They found that once she began blogging and inviting Sharpie experiences from around the world, the content simply flowed in. It has proved to be a loyal creative following and pushed the brand forward with its own unique momentum. (Check out the real life images here, a Lamborghini completely graffitied in Sharpie then clear coated to protect the art, and a pair of sunglasses, Sharpiefied!)

What will you do to harness the power of social media, play inside the rules, and move your business forward?

Want to use this article? You can, just include the text here: For more simple, easy, and quick tips on social media success check out www.todaybydesign.com. And when you are ready to take your business farther simply and easily, go to www.sixfigureprofessionals.com for your fre< strategy session.

Be Interested, Not Interesting

Like many professionals, I don't love networking. After all, too often, it is one letter away from not working! But I have learned how to make it easy and effective over the years.

First, what networking isn't about:

• Collecting business cards, only to put these in some box in your office never to be looked at again.

• Free food, since you really need to keep your hands clean and available for meeting others and taking notes.

• A chance to catch up with colleagues you see rarely, save that for lunch or coffee.

• Getting more names to add to your ezine list, you only get to do this if you have actual PERMISSION from each person. Don't assume it.

• Trolling for a date (fortunately, I've never experienced this, but I hear it is somewhat popular today!)

Instead what networking is about:

• Being interested in others first and finding out how you can serve and support their success.

• Making selected connections that you follow up on soon after and repeatedly. Success depends on your ability to be consistent and persistent.

• Scheduling coffee or lunch with both those colleagues you want to catch up with and new associates whom you want to get to know better.

• Paying it forward. When you support others in their success whether that takes the form of you providing valued connections for them, or even becoming a benefactor of their service or product yourself, you create the opportunity for RECIPROCITY. They have an unspoken obligation and in most cases desire to do the same for you.

When you network, imagine that you are at your own party and certainly at your own gathering you wouldn't make it about you (would you?) Instead you'd focus on everyone else, and how to make them comfortable. Ask what connections they are looking for? Who is their ideal prospect? What target market do they work with? You aren't grilling them, this isn't an interview. You are finding out their key points of connection and then you'll introduce them to someone else and keep moving.

Networking can be anxiety causing when you think it is all about you. Focus on the other person long enough to learn relevant facts and consider how you can connect them. When asked (and you will be asked) share your key points and let them know what a good connection for you is. Be interested first, then interesting.

Want to use this article? You can, just include the text here: For more simple, easy, and quick tips on social media success check out www.todaybydesign.com. And when you are ready to take your business farther simply and easily, go to www.sixfigureprofessionals.com for your fre< strategy session.

Hi! I'm Melissa Galt and as a successful business creativepreneur and business owner of the last 15+ years I learned that the key to a profitable business is all in the marketing. I was spoiled at the start because corporate America had done it for me so when I jumped into the wild blue yonder of owning my own business I had a lot to learn, and learn it I did! And I've gone from wasting thousands on advertising, direct response mail, expos and more to creating a finally honed marketing machine that regularly delivers perfect prospects whom I convert to ideal clients for lifetime demand. Can I show you how to do the same?

As entrepreneurs we all have the dream of designing a business that is both profitable, passionate, purposeful, and gives us the lifestyle we deserve and want. That means:

But too often that dream gets buried in 15 hour days, 6 days a week, years without vacation and missing friends and family. Marketing makes the difference and from mindset to strategy, Twitter to Facebook, blogging to article marketing, passive revenue products to your own teleseminars I've got the solutions.

Please consider me your marketing success resource to move your business forward and become the thriving profitable opportunity you dreamed of! I welcome and invite your emails, Tweets, Facebook posts, LinkedIN connections, and even phone calls. I'm old fashioned but learned how to harness today's marketing tools for real success. You can too!