Lip-Sticking

Jane's First Blush #2: W. Chan Kim's Blue Ocean

W. Chan Kim, co-author of Blue Ocean Strategy spoke about using innovation to "make your competition irrelevant." He advised us not to operate within boundaries, but to move them. Great advice.

But the thing he said that resonated most strongly with Jane? He said he learned a lot more from his readers' feedback and would have written a better book if he'd gotten the feedback before it was published.

Sounds like a blog-to-book project to us! We'll definitely have more to say about this.

Jane's First Blush #1: Sir Ken

Our first session this morning featured Sir Kenneth Robinson from the Getty Foundation. Aside from being funny and personable, he talked about key drivers of innovation, including technology and demographics -- especially the aging of western society.

Hmmm ... demographics, aging of society, the gender age gap ... We'll get back to this later.

Jane Reports: Live from New York ...

Here we are at the Fortune Innovation Forum ... with a Press Pass, no less. (Although we had to put on our best "persuasion" face to get the complimentary thumb drive out of the woman at the Pitney-Bowes booth, who seemed to question whether a member of the press really needed one!)

Lost and then found! We did arrive short one piece of luggage (with our give-away books and -- oh, my!-- Maryanne's shoes), but the good folks at JetBlue have already notified us they're delivering it to our hotel today.

Our plan is to post several short "first blush" reactions to the sessions we attend. Then, we'll give you more extended reports when we can.

Note to Bryan Link: Almost like magic, Scott Cook, Founder and CEO of Intuit, sat down next to us first thing this morning and we were able to deliver your note right away! He looked it over briefly and seemed to find both the name of your company, SimpliFi, and the concept of a Virtual Financial Planner like Sophie ... well, innovative!

More coming soon ...

Jane's Top Five Wants for Fortune's Innovation Conference

Here are the Top 5 Things Jane hopes to accomplish at the Fortune Innovation Forum Conference. We hope, dear readers, that you will bear with us. It's our desire to represent small businesses, women-owned businesses, and the blogosphere. This trip is not designed to create attention for Lip-sticking, though we expect that will happen. Our main hope is to prove that small businesses ROCK! And to get Fortune Magazine and all the top CEOs in attendance at this event to pay more than lip-service to Jane and all of our friends.[yes, we know you have a 'small business' section on your website - we want better representation - find Jane and ask how.]

To that end, we share our top 5 hopes, but encourage YOU to send your needs, thoughts, hopes, criticisms, and accolades - that we might share them with these giants of the corporate world.

First - we hope to talk to a number of folks, especially Chris Albrecht, Chairman and CEO of HBO, Minda Grainek, vp and creative director for Target, David Kirkpatrick, Senior Editor, Internet and Technology at Fortune, and all the other bloggers who were invited.

Second - we hope to represent our sponsors by giving away some books, handing out flyers with their logos and URLs and generally chatting them up. They are responsible for our being in NY - if we can get them some attention, we'll do so.

Third - we hope to rub shoulders with other bloggers, small business professionals, marketing managers, and more. The goal here: to find some talented writers with stories to tell. 

Fourth - we hope to discover why more businesses aren't blogging. Perhaps to show some newbies the value of blogging.

Fifth - we hope to forge friendships. Though we will only be there for two days, we plan on smiling a lot, listening a lot, writing a lot, and doing what women do best: building community.

There's nothing left to say except: what's not to like about that? NY here we come!

Jane Runs Hither and Yon

Monday is winding down already, dear readers. Jane and company is preparing for our trip to NYC, tomorrow night. We're so delighted that the weather is holding up so well. At this location (Rochester, NY) we have 64 degrees and sunny. Tomorrow is predicted to be just as warm but with showers. Same for NYC. Warm, but possibly wet. We'll take it!

Short post today - a simple, What's Working and What's Not. From Old Time Candy, a site that's been on our favorite list for a long, long time!

What's Working: Just about everything! Let's start with the header:

Old fashioned candy from the 50s, 60s, 70s or 80s... still available after all these years. What a great gift for any occasion!

That's an announcement that works. It's bold, it tells Jane exactly what this site has to offer, and...we're so delighted that it uses the proper form of dates: 50s, 60s, 70s or 80s... NOT 50's, 60's, 70's or 80's. The apostrophe has become an accepted use, but it's still incorrect, in Jane's book. When writing about decades in the plural, as this site does, no apostrophe is needed.

We truly LOVE the cartoon (remember the ® if you quote this, please) depicting "Candy You Ate as a Kid®"... it brings back those good, old days and makes us drool for Wax Lips, Necco Wafers, Atomic Fireballs and that holiday treat: Ribbon Candy.

Notice how everything of importance is CENTERED on the page. Notice how the site displays its HackerSafe logo and the BBB logo and shows shipping costs right there, highlighted in yellow?

This user-friendly page has everything a visitor needs - right in the prime real estate. All before clicking in to the store to shop.

We love the way the site offers enlarged pics once you click in to the store. There's no guessing about what you're going to get. Donny and Karen spell it out to the T!

Notice the "Tell a friend about us" link. This is an excellent, cheap, useful way to get the word out. Let your customers do it for you!

If there is anything we don't like, something that doesn't work - it's the too small type on the navigation bar to the left, that comes up once you click into the actual store. We're still able to read it just fine, and more and more sites are adopting this tiny writing...but, just one point larger would make such a big difference. Especially here - on a site that is designed to attract the baby boomer crowd.

Boomers want navigation we don't have to squint to read. At Aging Hipsters, they offer a way to fix this issue by showing different font sizes in the upper right hand corner of their site. A very good solution.

But, other than that, this site rocks! Right down to the About Us page, with its black and white photos. Note how they say they are "actually in the 'memory business.' " This is a twosome who know how to get at the heart of their sales.

So, what's not to like about that?

Jane Spotlights Innovation

The attention being given to the term 'innovation' - as it applies to business - seems pretty belated, to Jane. By its very nature, business needs to adapt an innovative style of operation. Without innovation, business becomes stale and ordinary, so much so it risks losing its ability to attract new clients and/or customers.

Today, Jane pays tribute to innovation in preparation of our upcoming trip to Fortune magazine's new Innovation Forum conference being held at the end of the month, in NYC. We like to think that other's attention to the promotion of innovation is a result not so much of the prevalence of this term to make it into MSM and blogs, but a result of CEOs finally adapting, and adopting, the kind of creative mindset that encourages and rewards innovation in the workplace.

That's what Jane thinks of when the word 'innovation' pops up in the conversation. We think 'creative.' We think 'out of the ordinary.' We think 'focus on being remarkable (thank you, Seth Godin).'

[Please take a moment to visit the links in our righthand sidebar. These are innovative folks from all over the U.S. who have stepped up to help Yvonne aka Jane get to NY for the Innovation Forum conference. We are indebted to them all - innovative small businesses on the leading edge.]

Here are a few remarkable, innovative ideas that might spark creativity at your end, in your quest to approach marketing to women online successfully:

1. Dogs that serve as reading tutors. As noted in this USA Today article, "Kathy Brake, a principal at Washington Grove [says], "For schools to raise reading scores, children must improve in pronouncing and comprehending words." What better way to do that than to have the children read aloud to a non-judgmental audience made up of - dogs? Inspiring.

2. Our good friend and Smart Marketing to Women professional, Andrea Learned, over at her blog, has a post on the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health -- citing its female-friendly design and layout. As Andrea so rightly points out, "Community development, commercial environment and interior design are greatly influenced by women - both in their involvement as professionals in those fields, and perhaps moreso in the likelihood that women will be the end consumers as retail or service customers/patients, office space securers or residential owners." There is innovation there, beyond the lines and angles in the architecture of the building. Learn more at this link.

3. If ever we have saved the best for last, it's now. We have been anxiously awaiting the right time to write about Natascha Yogachandra and that time has finally arrived! Natascha is 11 years old, and she's already accomplished more in her young life than anyone else Jane knows. This outstanding young woman is not only talented and full of innovation, she is supported by a father and mother who define innovation in ways the rest of us can only marvel at!

Natascha is the founder of Project Book Angels "based on the belief that all humanity are the children of God; they belong to the same family, to the same original race." She and her father, Nat (a personal friend, we admit it) and her mother, Debbie, feel so strongly about reading and books and providing these remarkable tools to children in underdeveloped countries, that they are living overseas...opening libraries, passing out books, and actively doing something to combat illiteracy, worldwide.

Would that more of us were so talented, innovative, and full of charity. But, since we're locked within our limited mindset of how to be truly innovative, Jane hopes those reading today will visit Natascha's site and buy a bracelet in support of her so innovative efforts.

There is nothing not to like about that.

Smart Man Online: George Kittredge

Today Jane is bringing you an interview with a professional sales and marketing manager who has all the inside advice on how to be successful at those two extremely vital tasks. Our Smart Man Online interview is with George Kittredge, author of the book There's a Fine Line Between a Groove and a Rut. He's also the Marketing Advisor at WME Books, our parent company.

We contemplated for a very long time before asking George to give us an interview. The worry we had was that this would be seen as self-promoting. But, nothing is farther from the truth. The fact that George is a part of the WME Books team has nothing to do with our desire to bring you this interview. We bring it to you because it's relevant, it's timely, and the raves we're hearing about his book convinced us that others would benefit from George's insight into sales and marketing. Enjoy...

Lip-sticking: We're especially impressed with your book, George. And it has nothing to do with the fact that you brought it to us to publish. Tell us how long it took you to think of your title, since titles are really critical in the promoting of any publication.

George: Perhaps surprisingly, the title of my book came to me very early in the book’s development. Over many years I have occasionally used the phrase "There’s a fine line between a groove and a rut" as a comment when discussing how difficult it can sometimes be to maintain an extremely high level of performance.

As I thought about my book, I searched for a theme that I could weave throughout the chapters. The groove and rut phrase seemed to fit nicely with business and sales success. Also, I tend to use sports analogies when I explain things. Phrases like, "you can’t hit it if you don’t swing at it," is another way of saying that you can’t get the order if you don’t ask for it. The introduction to my book offers a good illustration. On the very first page I start talking about the ups and downs of a professional golfer. As any business owner can testify to, there are lots of ups and downs in business as well. So, once I started with the groove and rut theme, it seemed to fit very well as I negotiated through the book.

Lip-sticking: Why "Fine Line Rules"? What does that mean?

George: Success in building a client base is not an exact science. However, I think most of us agree that there are some basic principles and practices that tend to produce positive results on a more consistent basis. I also think that in order to stay in a business groove, there are some things that you have to do. Hence I identified them as rules. If you don’t follow them, you’re going to get penalized one way or the other. And since we are talking about staying above the fine line, I called them fine line rules. By the way, there are only ten of them so readers can add their own if they wish.

Lip-sticking: If you could choose just ONE Fine Line Rule to talk about, which one would it be, and why?

George: I could give you stories about each of the rules, but since you are pinning me down to just one, I’m going to pick Fine Line Rule #9: "Customer testimonials are powerful selling tools that are easy to obtain. Just ask for them."

I picked this rule because I feel so strongly about it. I’ll bet if you walk into a room filled with 20 sales professionals and asked them to pull out five testimonials, the vast majority would not be able to. I’ll bet if you asked the same number of small to mid-size business owners the same thing, they would have trouble also. The point is that testimonials are not only powerful selling tools, they are the most powerful selling tool you can have. They are tremendously effective. And so easy to obtain. Every satisfied customer is a testimonial just waiting to be asked for. And for those people wondering how they should ask for a testimonial, just have them read page 93 of my book. That one page will tell them everything they need to know.

Lip-sticking: One of the compliments we've heard folks give your book is that you not only tell people WHAT to do to be successful, you SHOW them how to do it. That seems like a successful seminar approach. Do you do seminars on the Fine Line Rules?

George: The answer is a qualified yes. Initially it was almost the reverse. I developed the Fine Line Rules and the book from material I prepared for my early seminars. Now that the book is published, I am doing seminars on various aspects of the book. Some include the Fine Line Rules. In other seminars I discuss the "eight critical steps in developing your next customer."

Lip-sticking: Give our readers an outline of a seminar -- just a description, please. If they're interested in more information, where can they reach you?

Jane Misbehaves X 5

It's early for Jane, this fine Monday morning. We've already walked the dog and we're waiting for our turn in the shower. If that's too much information for you - well, we're not sorry. That's just how we are.

We popped over to the outstanding Misbehaving blog today. Obviously we've been away much too long! Those ladies have it going for them. Jane is compelled to present five of their most powerful posts, to show you how it's done. What is 'it'? Blogging. That's what.  We wish we could generate the content the Misbehaving ladies do. But, to their credit, there are many, many of them and only one of Jane (at least only one of THIS Jane.)

See if you agree with our assessment:

1. This post on Women and Girls blogging blew Jane's mind! If only we'd been paying attention, we would have had some words to contribute. What do YOU think, dear readers?

2. Writing about girls and gaming, this post says it all. To quote:

"It's so different playing with girls because you can talk about everything," said Sofie Sandager (code name: Zelena). "You can have a really good relationship outside the game. Everybody understands you. It's like having sisters."

3. In this interview with techie Tiffany Brown, we learn that women should be 'brave,' we should 'speak up' and not be afraid to ask questions. The only stupid question is -- the one unasked, of course.

4. "See Jane Compute." Need we say more? This is one link you must not ignore!

5. This final post (not final as in last in a series, but final as in one Jane wants you to read because of its importance) tells an all too familiar story in the men vs. women arena. Is there a bridge, somewhere? We hope so.

Misbehaving is THE place to get inside the techie woman's brain. It's also the place for discourse, conversation, and support. Jane is embarrassed we having not been misbehaving more ourselves! We're getting a cup of java and settling in for a good read.

What's not to like about that?

Jane Reveals: What's Working and What Isn't

In keeping with our focus on demonstrating rather than just reporting, on marketing to women online, Jane has chosen Monday as "What's Working" day. We will review one blog or website and tell you what's working - AND, we will also have some "What Isn't Working" reviews. Since it isn't our intent to pick on anyone - the "What Isn't Working" section may be sparse, unless YOU, dear readers, offer suggestions on sites you would like critiqued.

If you do offer suggestions (of your site or another's - be that a website or blog) remember that we will be totally honest. Not insulting. Not rude. Not flip. Just honest. That means - if a site is working, we'll say why. If it isn't, we'll also say why.

This decision also follows on the heels of a visit to Amazon to check on our book. We discovered two new reviews of the book. Reviews that were pretty critical. While we admit feeling a twinge of dismay at hearing uncomplimentary remarks about Dickless Marketing, after re-reading the reviews, we wish to offer thanks to the writers. Their input is very valuable - it's vital, as a matter of fact, in helping us focus and concentrate on our next book.

And, it convinced us that THIS blog should have more concrete content in the form of reviews. Let's get started:

What's Working

Jill Fallon over at Estate Legacy Vaults has a good deal going for her. This blog covers a lot of territory, quite efficiently.

Here's what we think works: Design - Jill has chosen a simple but powerful header in the image of  seashells on a beach. The color is a soothing peach on our monitor (it may appear otherwise on yours). Beneath the title of her blog is the purpose of it: The Business of Life and Legacy.

Ah! So, that's why this blog covers so much territory in its content! Jill brings a multitude of information to her readers, from Turnkey Blogging Systems to Online Banking news to information on the Women's Market. Her style of writing is smooth but informative, with an occasional personal touch. Perfect for a blog.

Jane Creates Opportunity

Dear readers - Jane has news, and a request.

Let us start at the beginning - if you will bear with us - once upon a time, when the world was young... no, perhaps that's too far back. We'll jump ahead to present day.

Today, in this gigantic world of immediate communication, a world of on-demand technology, those of us who blog know that blogging exists as the voice of the customer. But, more than that, blogging exists to bring people together. Jane is quite proud of Lip-sticking - and the numerous connections we have made via this blog. Our readers are delightful, intelligent, personable, and thoughtful - as well as informative. We are eager every day to log on to the 'net and visit all of YOUR blogs, dear readers, to learn more about life, family, business, and connecting in an increasingly disconnected world. Without blogs, we'd be swimming upstream, all by ourselves.

We hope you have noticed of late that we were lucky enough to be interviewed over at the new Fortune blog, Business Innovations. But wait! There's more! Jane (well, really...Yvonne and an 'assistant') has been invited to attend the Innovation Forum conference at the end of this month - as a guest blogger! Yes, Jane will be in NY blogging away about innovation and creativity and business, with - Gosh!- only the best in the business.

But wait! There's more!

Jane is always open, direct, and honest with you readers. We offer the links to the Fortune blog and the conference not only because we are flattered to be included in their list of outstanding interviews, but because there is a wealth of creative thought available on the blog. And, we expect the conference to fling open the doors to innovative thought processes...for us but also for YOU! as we blog away while there.

Hence...Jane wonders...if anyone out there is interested in getting noticed by the men and women - yes, WOMEN - Fortune gets it, unlike OTHER conferences that repeatedly ignore women - who will be speaking and attending this conference? We are openly soliciting sponsors.  To cover our travel expenses.

Yes, we have press passes for the conference, but...we are responsible for our own travel and lodging. Jane, never one to hog the spotlight (just listen to our sister Maryanne...now that she's finally gotten over all those silly sister things we did to her way back when), would like to hand out your literature in addition to our own company information. In short, we would like to help you get noticed.

Make us an offer! Suggestions are welcome. We are eager to show off the power of small business. YOUR small business. Contact Yvonne and let's talk. Please consider at least $100... but don't stop there. Visit the conference link and tell us which speakers are important to you. Tell us who you want to hear about. Tell us what you want us to report on. 

Imagine your logo on our blog for a month! And more!

Be innovative! Step out of your comfort zone and stand in the spotlight.

Jane is ready to shine it on YOU at theFortune Innovation Forum, November 30th-December 1st.

What's not to like about that?