Tribute magazine Women Changing Lives

Issue No. 3 May /June 2016

Editor’s Note Yea!! Summer is here! Great fun times! The kids are out of school and vacations are being planned! Camping, Barbeques, Swimming, Hiking, Biking, and getting outside after a long winter and wet spring indoors! So as we get into this fun time; as entrepreneurs we need to remember to schedule time for memory making.

Our families won’t remember our bank account balance, our business commitments or a long to do list. But they will remember the s’mores we made, the car trip to the Grand Canyon we took, or the lazy days by the pool! So be sure to carve out some time this summer to make memories and enjoy the reasons why we are working so hard!

Have a fabulous Summer filled with fun and love and family time!

Teresa Hawley Howard www.teresahawleyhoward.com

www.TributeMagazine.net

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Inside this issue:

Now Sharing Your Story

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Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

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Surrounded by the Sun

7

Special Spotlight

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Body Types

9

Protect Your Client List

12

Healthy Hair Tips

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5 Things You Need to Design a Rockin’ Résumé

16

Teen Scene!

18

The Reading Corner

19

“Breastfeeding in a Modern Day Society”

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Why You Need To Use Digital Media

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Calendar of Events

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ISSN 2381– 4667 (print) ISSN 2381– 4675 (online)

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Now Sharing your Story Teresa Hawley Howard As women sometimes we are hesitant to share our stories. We do not believe that others want to hear our story. We don’t want to burden anyone. We are under the assumption that our stories are not important or worthy of being told. Nothing can be further from the truth! Your words have power and meaning! Your story is important and needs to be told.

There is a woman out there waiting to hear words. She is in your shoes thinking she is the only one! And your story will give her hope, light and a glimpse of what the promise of tomorrow can hold. Our words hold power and love and can heal.

When we put them out into the world it will change things. Your story is beautiful, raw and unique. It is just as special as you!

My mission is to help 10,000 women to share their stories! It will change the world and create a better world for future generations! I want you to ponder the following: Courageous women change the world! Bold women make a difference!

Caring women create a movement! Loving women leave a legacy!

Now think about that statement! Choose which woman you will become! And then grab onto her and live life to the fullest! You can do anything if you put your mind to it! So choose your path and start on your journey!

Teresa Howard is a published author of several books. She has a foundation, Take Action with Teresa, which helps domestic violence survivors. Sharing her story of survival and triumph that will inspire and help other women to overcome any obstacles in their lives! All her books are available on her website www.takeactionwithteresa.com

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Getting your home ready to sell?

It's the time of year when the trees are green and flowers are blooming. Your landscaping is the window to your home.

But what about the inside or outside flaws that only you know about?

If you are thinking about putting your home on the market then it's time to think about repairs. Having repairs done beforehand will make the selling process a less stressful time for you and your family. Trust me I've seen the stress of clients that wait till the last minute. Not a pretty site I can say!

Doing needed repairs to your home will only add value. No one likes to go home shopping and find the home neglected. The buyer and buyers agent might just begin to wonder what else is wrong with the home that I may have missed during their visit. Not the image you want the realtor or buyers to walk away with. Instead let's give the buyers a great impression of your home. One that will have them telling their agent to put in an offer to buy YOUR home and not the one down the street.

So let's get busy and do some repairs that you have just been putting off doing anyways.

Remember not all handymen are carpenters, electricians or plumbers. Handyman qualifications and abilities are all over the map. So find the right handyman or contractor with the right qualifications to do the job correctly.

Ask for several references upfront. If they do not have a list to give to you say thank you and walk away. Remember this is your home!

When they do give you the references information then do your part and call the reference.

Do not be afraid to ask questions and lot's of them. The more you ask the more you will learn.

Here's a few questions to ask the handyman or contractor .

Are you local?

How long have you been in business?

Do you have a reference list that I can call your past clients?

Are you licensed, bonded and insured. If yes, can I see the insurance papers?

How do you price your work out?

Can I have a list of material and labor cost?

How do you handle problems that were found after let's say you tear into a wall and find a water leak?

How do you schedule the work to be done?

Are you running one job at a time or several?

How do you guarantee your work?

Will you be on the job site overseeing the project?

What's the best way to contact you?

And one of the most important thing to remember and follow: Do not pay a contractor up front. Pay when the job is finished to your satisfaction.

Gale Surratt Finding your front porch together REALTOR JP & ASSOCIATES REALTORS 469-964-8609 My mission: Helping others www.TributeMagazine.net

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Surrounded by the Sun

By Laura Henry-Pugh

I enjoy being outdoors, especially when the sun is shining brightly. The warmth of the sun beaming against your face is extremely relaxing. It’s as if God is smiling down at you filling you up with His love.

The sunshine can be your friend or your enemy, it is up to you which one it is. The sun provides a valuable vitamin your body needs, which is vitamin D. Vitamin D helps control the amount of calcium and phosphate which is needed for healthy bones and teeth. We need approximately 15 minutes of sun every day to receive enough vitamin D. But at the same time we must be careful not to get over exposed to the sun, which can damage your skin. We need to reach a good balance.

If you plan to be outdoors for an extended length of time, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., there are ways to protect yourself.

Wear a hat, scarf, or bandana on your head Wear sunblock minimum 30 SPF Reapply sunblock every two hours; more often if in water Wear sunglasses You may wonder why would I go to this much trouble to protect my skin from the sun. Over exposure to the sun causes the most damage to your skin, and your skin is the biggest organ of your body. It ages you faster and may cause skin cancer and too much UV rays to your eyes may cause cataracts. Even though you may not notice the changes in your skin immediately, over time you will, and wished you took better care of your skin. We know more now about skin damage than 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago. It is never too late to protect your skin from over exposure to the sun.

I offer several skin care products backed by the Skin Care Cancer Foundation and I will discuss with you your concerns to protect your skin from the sun, so you can enjoy the outdoors with less worries.

Laura Henry-Pugh is the founder and owner of LaBella Unique where great makeup begins with great skin. She is a skincare and makeup specialist and helps women find their own unique beauty to walk in confidence every day. www.labellaunique.com

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Spotlight of Laura Gray

Laura Gray is a 17-year-old girl born in North Carolina. She is an avid horseback rider, archer, and reader. In December, 2015, she took a hard fall off of a horse and onto her head causing a traumatic brain injury. This put her out of school for the next 12 months. In the meantime, she decided to create artwork and write an auto-ethnography on what it is like to live and grow up with autism.

Her artwork is inspiring and can be purchased! She is an overcomer! She is an inspiration! No matter what hands you do your best. When life hands you a detour; you can choose to complain and be disgruntled or you can enjoy the journey and make the best of it!

You can reach out to Laura! She is on Facebook! www.TributeMagazine.net

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Body Types Basic body types are described as fruits: apple, pear…these aren’t body types! They’re nutritious foods. Let’s make it easier to remember and call them letters for starters...

X – perfect hourglass, proportioned in the shoulders and hips, smaller waist T – wider shoulders in comparison to the hips A – wider hips in comparison to the shoulders I – straight up and down, hips and shoulders in line, little definition in the waist So there you have the body types. Also, no one talks about the tall vs short body types or the booty and the bust! There are countless combinations, so why stick to the classics? It’s time for a reinvention.

Here are the must have pieces for each body type with variations: Miss X, if you happen to be of average height and weight, what you need is a great arsenal of statement belts. These will define your waist throughout the year, and add a punch of glam or sass to any outfit. If you are her petite sister, you should have a great body con dress. Whether you are heavy set or small framed, a floor skimming maxi will elongate your lower half! If you are a tall girl, I recommend a great mid thigh skimming trench coat. A neutral colored trench in a mid weight fabric can take you from early Fall to late Spring and will keep your frame looking elegant and stylish! Throw a belt around it and tuck that sash in for extra flair.

Dear Miss T, with your proud shoulders and narrow hips, we need to create volume down below, no matter your height or weight! For my little T’s, a great mini flare skirt with body in a seasonless fabric like a cotton/poly blend is perfect for you. Grab one in grey and pair it throughout the year with all of your slim fitting tops and sweaters. For my tall T’s, what you need is a great wide leg pant. If you can find a high waisted navy pair, you will be in business 365. Pair your palazzos with a bandeau and a cropped blazer and step out in a great wedge!

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For all my A’s – you have what every woman wants…hips! But don’t hide them – embrace your body by knowing what’s right for it. A general rule of thumb with disregard to height/weight is to stay clear of super skinny legs. We want to accentuate, not exaggerate! For my short A’s, you need a great fitting straight leg pant. Be it a jean or trouser, make sure you choose a medium or dark wash for year round wear! Pair these with a bold printed flowy top and make it a desk to dinner look. If you are a tall A, go out on a limb and try a flowy jumpsuit. Look for something in a tight knit poly/spandex blend for comfort. If you have a medium to small bust, grab one with a plunging neckline or back. This is something you can doll up for a holiday party or take on summer vacation with ease!

For my I’s only: I know you may have gotten teased in school because you don’t have womanly curves…well, I did anyway. Until they suddenly appeared over one summer break! If you still have a boyish frame, don’t fret. Your body type is the easiest to manipulate. If you are tall, an amazing structured blazer should be your bff. Grab one in a neutral color or black to wear all year to create a waist. Pair a bold shouldered blazer with a wide flowy pant and viola! Instant hourglass. For my tiny I’s, a great asymmetrical dress in a bold color (I’m seeing purple right now) that has movement will not only be season less, but will detract from your frame by providing the eye something else to gaze upon.

Stay tuned next month for some specific tips for above and below. If you have questions in the meantime, drop me a line at: style@mynimage.com Stay chic, Myaann

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Protect Your Client List One of the most important assets to any business owner is their clients. We work very hard to gain their trust and permission to send them e-mails, newsletters and promotional information. Their e-mail address along with the additional contact details and notes you have on them, needs to be protected so you do not loose this vital information.

I have a friend in direct sales and the company she used had a back office where all her client information was stored. She worked for this company for several years and had over 2000 clients in their system. This was a reputable company for several years and without any notice, they completely did away with all of their direct sales representatives and they were locked out of the system. She lost all of her client details and was devastated. She had to start all over and rebuild her client database.

To protect yourself, make sure you always have a copy of your client database. It’s fine to use the back office system with the company you work with, just make sure you have the ability to back it up and have a copy that you will have access to in case something happens. I recommend backing it up as an excel spreadsheet, this method makes it easy to upload into a new client relationship management system (CRM).

If you currently do not have a CRM system and are not utilizing the benefits of emailing your clients, I highly recommend getting one. If you connect with your followers and clients through social media, you are at risk of losing them. The social platforms can go away at any time, they can delete your account, put you in “Facebook jail� and your customers may no longer be on that social platform like they were previously. The best thing to do is use social media as a tool to get their email address. Once you have this, you will always have the ability to reach your clients.

Stacie Flowers www.LaunchIt.com www..StacieFlowers.com

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HEALTHY HAIR TIPS

www.HairRemedie.com

Healthy Hair = Beautiful Hair Damaged hair is difficult and hard to style. It is easier to prevent damage than repair.

Follow our Healthy Hair Tips to stop damage before it starts.

Buy Your Hair Remedie Frizz Eliminating Towel today at www.HairRemedie.com

Shampoo hair less often Washing hair removes all of your natural oils so shampoo less and use cleansing conditioners instead

Use as little heat as possible We all use styling tools but they damage hair. You can minimize the damage by using thermal products that protect hair.

Combs are your friends, not brushes Wet hair is vulnerable so be gentle. Wide tooth combs help stop breakage, especially when wet.

Never use terry cloth to dry hair Hair is never more susceptible to damage than when it is wet. Don’t dry it was rough terry cloth, ever. Use soft fabric to gently dry hair. Hair Remedie Frizz Eliminating Towel is made from 100% Cotton and has three layers. Both outer layers are made from super-soft t-shirt fabric with the inside made from absorbent terry cloth.

It protects while drying for stunning hair with less effort and fewer products.

Heidi Wicker President HairRemedie.com 817-320-9521 @HairRemedie 13

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5 Things You Need to Design a Rockin’ Résumé

I know it’s not easy talking about yourself, either in person or on paper.

However, in today’s job market, you have to consider how talking about yourself will help you land the job of your dreams. There’s simply no way around it. Let’s face it. Competition is fierce and you need to effectively compete.

You can hire a professional (like me) or you can go it alone. Whichever route you choose, designing a rockin’ resume can definitely put you above the competition.

Here’s 5 tips to make your résumé rock and stand out from the competition Format. Look for a layout and font that is not only pleasing to the eye, but also functional. Use fonts like Times New Roman, Cambria, PT serif, Arial, or one very similar. The font should be no less than 10pts and your margins all around should be no less than .65. I’ve seen less, but it can be tricky.

Summary. This is a short introduction highlighting the skills and abilities you can bring to the potential employer. If you have a varied background, you may want to create a few summaries so you can tailor the resume to the job you are applying for. If the summary list too many job focuses, the hiring manager will get confused.

Content. Don’t be fooled into thinking a pretty resume will land you an interview and job. It will get noticed but if there is no substance to it, it’s just another pretty piece of paper to decorate the trashcan. A good resume should boast the best of your skills, abilities, competencies, results, accomplishments and achievements. This strategy allows your resume to be “results driven” as opposed to “tasks driven”. Task driven pretty resumes=trash can.

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Keywords. Your resume will need to have keywords and/or phrases that match the industry or job that you are applying for. This allows the potential employer to see a relation of your skills to the job they have available. Think about what kind of transferable skills you have that will fit and word them to fit the job. This is where a thesaurus will come in hand.

Credentials. The typical resume will always list out your education but what about credentials? Do you have any certifications, licenses, or certificates of that you’ve earned through your employer or on your own?

These add to your ability to show continuous learning, learning agility, and even possibly expertise in an area. Don’t forget about these gems as they can differentiate you from your competition.

All in all, designing a rockin’ resume is not impossible. For professionals like me, it can take 6-8 hours to complete so block out some serious time, put a little effort into it and I guarantee it will pay off in the end.

All my best to you!

Nickquolette Barrett iRockResumes.com

Career Development Strategist – Expert Resume Writer – Interview Prep Coach

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Teen Scene!

Summer Fun? Welcome back to the Teen Scene! The spot for you the teenager and her caring adult! Last month was all about connections, who did you connect with? Remember I am always here to answer any questions, or support you in your difficult times. I invite you to reach out to me aime@inchbyinchempowerment.com this goes for the caring adult too! If you are wanting help to empower your young girl in your life, then reach out! Don’t do it on your own!

It’s summer! Well almost, here in Calgary, Alberta Canada….we have weird weather, we can get snow even in May! Let’s talk about summer, and all the parties and gatherings you may be going too.

What are you going to wear? Do you even want to go to the party? Are you more of a social butterfly? Or want to stay home? Take a breath for a moment. Are you being pressured to go to this party?

Sit still and listen to what your heart is saying. If your heart wants to go, then awesome! Go! Be yourself, and wear something that you feel good in. Is there going to be boys and girls at this party? How many people do you know? A cautionary tale though for you….

A girl gets invited to a party one sunny summer night. She’s excited, and also nervous.

There’s going to be lots of friends there, boys and girls. It’s at someone’s house, the parents will not be there. People bring beer, and start drinking. The girl who so wants to fit in, with her friends, drinks beer. Even if it tastes gross to her. She feels woozy, starts to forget what is going on around her, and is picked up by a hot boy she has a crush on…..yet forgets what took place, if she went somewhere with him, what they did. Did they kiss? Did they do more than just kiss? The girl forgets.

The moral of this story, listen to your heart, not other people. Even if it is your friend. If you really do not want to drink, say so. I did in high school was offered drinks at a party and said no. I remembered what took place all night, had fun friends without drinking beer. Be yourself, choose wisely this summer, have fun, and create awesome memories!

Aime Hutton 403-830-9689 Empowerment Leader 3 Time International Best Selling Author/Compiler Transformational Speaker/Workshop Facilitator www.inchbyinchempowerment.com www.inch-by-inch-book.com “Empowering tween and teen girls to believe in themselves, when they think no one does” 2015 Finalist at eWomenNetwork International 2015 Femtor Awards – Business Match Maker of the Year Category, Dallas Texas 2015 Finalist in the Association of Professional Coaches, Trainers, and Consultants (Courage to Change Award, and Speaker of the Year Award) ~ England 2015, and 2014 Finalist in the Damsels in Success Women Empowering Women National Awards (Overcome Challenges Award) ~ England 2013 International Ambassador of the Year for the Freedom & Empowerment Campaign ~ England

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The Reading Corner Book Reviews by Teresa Howard Doing Business Roller Derby Style by Stacie Flowers.

This book is a great read. It’s a must read for every entrepreneur. If you are just starting your business or if you have been in business for years; you will get a lot from this book! Stacie Flowers gives great tips and help to women choosing to launch their own businesses. It is available on Amazon.

Chocolate and Diamond for the Woman’s Soul Celebrating the Majesty of Motherhood complied by Hot Pink Publishing.

This is a great book! It is 40 women sharing their stories on Motherhood! You will cry, laugh and be truly touched by these stories! It is available on Amazon!

You Were Born for This by Bruce Wilkinson This book is a wonderful and inspiring read! It will encourage and uplift you.

It’s a must read for women! It is available on Amazon.

His Masterpiece the Making of a M.A.D.A.M.E. complied by Loranda “Elle” Thomas.

This book is a beautiful collection of women’s stories. Of overcoming, healing and believing! You will be touched, inspired and moved by these women’s beautiful stories. It is available on Amazon.

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“Breastfeeding in a Modern Day Society” One of the most exciting times in a woman’s life is when she is expecting a baby. Women want the best for their baby and one of the most important decision she will ever make is to breastfeed. Research shows breastfed babies have less ear and respiratory infections, reduced incidence of allergies and asthma, and a decreased chance of developing Diabetes, just to name a few. Mothers who breastfeed have a reduced incidence of ovarian and breast cancer, less postpartum bleeding and faster weight loss as compared to non-breastfeeding women. Families benefit financially by not having to purchase formula, having less sick child visits to healthcare providers and an overall decrease in days missed from work.

Breastfeeding is the natural way of feeding infants and human milk is made specifically for human infants. Formulas made from cow’s mild or soybeans are only superficially similar and formula advertising may be misleading. Although breastfeeding is natural, without proper support it can be challenging. Getting off to a good start helps to ensure that breastfeeding can be an enjoyable experience for both mother and baby.

Almost all mothers are perfectly capable of breastfeeding their babies exclusively (baby receives only breastmilk) for about six months or longer with complimentary foods as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.

In fact, most mothers can produce more than enough milk. Often times outdated routines based on bottle feeding still predominate many health care institutions and make breastfeeding difficult for many mothers and babies. For breastfeeding to be property established, a good start in the early days is crucial.

Below are seven ways to improve breastfeeding success: 1. IMMEDIATE SKIN TO SKIN CONTACT follow ing the bir th is very important. Most babies breastfeed within minutes of birth and have the ability to crawl up the breast from the mother’s abdomen, latch on and start breastfeeding all by themselves. Babies who “self-attached” have fewer breastfeeding problems. Studies show that skin-to-skin contact between mothers and babies keep the baby as warm as an incubator. But if your baby does not latch right away, don’t worry they still benefit greatly from the skin to skin contact.

2. PROPER LATCH is the key to successful breastfeeding. B r eastfeeding m ight be uncomfortable, maybe sore, but severe pain is not normal! If you are being told your tow day old baby’s latch is good despite continuous sore nipples, be skeptical, and ask for help from someone else. Before you leave the hospital, have someone show you that the baby is properly latched and the baby is actually getting mild from the breast.

3. MOTHER/BABY STAYS TOGETHER. Dur ing th e fir st few days follow ing bir th mother and baby need not be separated if for short periods of time. Mothers need to be available to watch and listen for infant feeding cues (signs the baby is ready to nurse). Also, there is no evidence that mothers who are separated from their babies are better rested. On the contrary, they are more rested and less stressed when they are with their babies. Breastfeeding should be relaxing, not tiring.

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4. DISCOURAGE ARTIFICIAL NIPPLES (bottles and pacifiers). There seems to be some controversy over whether “nipple confusion” exists. Babies will take whatever gives them a rapid flow of fluid and may refuse others that do not. Thus, in the first few days, when the mother is normally producing only a little milk (as nature intended), and the baby gets a bottle from which he gets rapid flow, the baby will tend to prefer the rapid flow method.

5. BREASTFEED ON DEMAND. Babies br eastfed on their own schedule and mothers need to prepare to nurse at infrequent times and for different lengths at each feeding. No two feedings are exactly alike and one day may differ greatly from the day before. Keeping your baby with you will help you be more successful with demand feedings.

6. SUPPLEMENTS ARE RARELY NECESSARY. Most supplem ents could be avoided by getting the baby to take the breast properly and thus get the milk that is available. If you are being told you need to supplement without someone having observed you breastfeeding, ask for someone to help who knows how they can best support you.

7. SUPPORT SYSTEM. B y far the last recom m endation can help im pr ove your overall breastfeeding experience. Read, attend an informative breastfeeding class, join a breastfeeding support group, meet with a lactation consultant before you give birth. Having your support team in place prior to birth is comforting. If you are having concerns following your birth contact the nearest IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant”. This person is specially trained in breastfeeding problems and can provide further assistance nd support for your unique situation.

Written by Tracye Byars RN, BSN, IBCLC Modern Day Wellness, LLC http://moderndaywellness.net/

Reference: Jack Newman, drjacknewman@sympatico.ca<b>drjacknewman (AT) sympatico (DOT) ca</b>/addr MD, FRCPC. © 2005

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Why You Need To Use Digital Media And Ho w To Sho w Up In T hat Space

By Susan Hamilton It never fails. Get five companies offering the same thing side-by-side, and some will be making BIG money, and others will be struggling. I believe in abundant living, offered by a more-than-enough Jesus. It makes no sense to me that there are only enough customers to support one or two of these companies. Competition? Really? On the surface, that’s what it looks like. Truth is, there are enough customers and there is enough money out there that if you can support what it takes to be the top dawg - you can have as much as you want.

Did you know that when a business is going through tough economic times, the first thing 80% of them cut is the marketing budget? I’m not convinced that’s a smart call, but when we’re looking at all of the expenditures we’re making, often, we can’t justify the money we’re spending on marketing. That’s because while we ‘get’ that we need to show up in our markets, we fail to understand how. And no, I’m not talking about how pretty your logo, website or brochure is.

Although those things matter.

Let me run a scenario by you. Say you ’re driving down the highway, passing billboards the whole way.

After about 50 miles or so on say a 200 mile journey, you decide you want to eat or use the facilities. You start looking for exits, hoping you’ll get a good selection. Pretty soon you take an exit and stop at a location that may seem random. Or you may even be looking for something you have in your head you just have to have NOW. You may or may not have had the radio on. If I asked you why you stopped where you stopped or bought what you bought, you would probably answer, “Because I wanted to.” In reality, you were subject to advertising the whole time, part of a very effective marketing campaign. While you probably don’t remember the sign or the company or the radio commercial that convinced you before you pulled in, make no mistake, marketing made the difference - even if it took you four gas stations to find what you were looking for.

But was it the color? The language? The image? Traditionally, these things are studied and analyzed until a great marketing company can tell which factors register highest results. Once they know what works - they blast it everywhere. And that, my friends, is what I want you to understand. Not the color, not the language, not the image - though they matter, too.

Brand familiarity is the key. Do I recognize you? And based on w hether or not I r ecognize you, do I trust you? If I trust you, you just sold me. But I will not trust you if I don’t recognize you. It’s the difference between a $2 sale and a $20 sale. I m ig ht need the ba r e m inim u m beca use of m y cir cum stance and your proximity, but I’ll pull out my wallet if I believe you have everything I need and that I’ll be in good hands.

Today social media remains a large emphasis in marketing circles. People use their phones and tablets for everything from connecting with their friends to researching companies to reading or listening to media - it’s foolish to ignore. Social is easy on those devices, and we love easy. We befriend people we are familiar with before we ever meet them, based on seeing their name or face in the social streams of our friends. (I don’t recommend that, but we do.)

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Think of digital marketing (social media, articles, podcasts, branded images) as billboards along someone’s journey. If the headline answers the questions they’re asking and the content is easy to consume and you’ve built a strong network of supporters, you will begin to see your content influence your bottom line.

If we’re smart, we’ll leverage all the free marketing we can get. Social m edia doesn ’t have to cost a dime, but it will cost you HUGE in brand reputation if you don’t know what you’re doing. I suggest having a plan in place to make sure you’re familiarizing as many people as possible with your brand, and making it super easy for them to feel like rock stars just to know you.

Here are 4 ways you can make a bigger impact with your brand using digital media:

Consistent overall message. Don’t be afraid of repetition; that’s how we learn. Remember, you’re teaching people why you’re the go-to, right? This is your broad brush.

Use ‘Tier 2 Thinking’. The people who see the messages you post or listen to your podcasts or videos are probably not your customers. They are probably your peers. Give THEM something that stands out, something that’s bold - something others are ignoring or discounting - and watch your peers start sharing the heck out of your content. Those shares become concentric circles you can’t buy! Don’t be concerned that someone will take credit for your ideas, just get them out there. Regularly. By being focused on making your peers look awesome with the way you solve customer issues, you’ll be known for leading other business owners. That’s credibility that will equate to dollars, my friend.

Do the same for other businesses. It’s true. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is a pretty great way to become a trusted brand. That’s why an automated approach to social media is only PART of your arsenal. You must get in there and engage for 5-10 minutes once and awhile, too. Don’t live there, but don’t neglect such a powerful brand development tool. Interact.

Become endorsed by a 3rd party. Get your gr eat podcasts, videos and articles on another platform. Find opportunities to write for magazines and make guest appearances on what you may have previously thought were competitor’s (but now recognized as peers, right?) production tools and become recognized for real solutions. This is not advice just for marketers!! Plumbers, HVAC, roofers, maid services, caterers - every single company will benefit from strengthening their brand familiarity in this way.

Don’t lie, you know you’ll think of this article next time you take a road trip …

It’s time American micro and small business owners started dominating the digital space. Be aggressive with your brand; we need you.

Susan Hamilton is the owner, host and editor-in-chief of The OffBeat Business Show & Magazine, a business for business digital media resource for strong brand development. Contact Susan at Susan@OffBeatBusiness.com or call 214-714-0495 to discover how digital content can work for you.

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Calendar of Events July 31st 1:00pm 5th Jade Simone & Tyler's Natural Hair Expo & Wellness Expo Rose Garden Center , Tyler, TX Venders welcome contact person Gwen Gitchuway 903-570-0938

August

List your event for free. Send details to info@tributemagazine.net www.TributeMagazine.net

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