Lip-Sticking

Women and Hollywood: My Take on Sex and the City

I am not a fan of Sex and the City. I just don't get it. No, really... four women out of control in NYC, are not representative of the whole. These four are just... too outrageous for me.

Okay, I have to admit that I've never watched the show. I've HEARD so darn much about it, it makes me nauseous! (and I don't think Sarah Jessica Parker is any great actress - put her next to Katherine Hepburn or Julia Roberts or Susan Sarandon and, well, you get good acting from the three of them and...play acting from SJP)... Meanwhile, the whole world is caught up in Sex and the City fever.

What the heck...???

I'm SOOOOOooo glad Donna wrote about it on this blog, Wednesday. And, I'm so glad she took the approach she did...because I'm beginning to understand a bit better. After reading about the sweepstakes from Bag, Borrow or Steal (gotta love that name - it rolls off the tongue so nicely, and...hey, I'm a big 'gotta have a new purse' gal) and after hearing Donna tell me why she watches the show and will be seeing the movie, I started to rethink my position.

The fact that so many people are in love with this show and eagerly anticipating the movie (my local radio station DJ said a friend of hers was flying to NY for the premier!), I began to wonder if I should give in and see the movie.

Then, I got an email that showed me another perspective...

As Customers, We Always Have A Choice!

By Guest Blogger, Mary Schmidt, Marketing Troubleshooter

Trap: Companies thinking they've got a captive customer, with no choice, so they treat those customers like walking magic money jars. 

Example:  Airlines.  Their customers have to fly, right?  They've got NO CHOICE!  Hmmmm...not so fast there, fellas. 

Headline:  Less flying costs American economy $26 Billion.  "Many travelers believe their time is not respected and it is leading them to avoid a significant number of trips," says Allan Rivlin, a partner at Peter D. Hart Research Associates. "Inefficient security screening and flight cancellations and delays are air travelers' top frustrations.

Question:  Have you ever tried to travel for more than a couple of days with only 3 ounces of anything? Even us less frou-frou femmes need things like hair gel and hand cream. And, I've got contacts so that means another bottle.  And so on and so forth.   So, if it's more than a weekend trip, we're probably going to have  to check at least one bag, maybe two if we've got multiple types of events to attend. (After years of travel, I'm a super power packer, but three ounces is - well - three ounces in a little plastic bag.  Not much I can do with that. You can't roll up a plastic bottle of saline solution.)   

Which brings me to the announcements that the airlines are starting to charge for everything from checked bags to pillows. Most recently, American Airlines announced it's charging $15 a bag for one checked bag.

Of course, the airlines are assuming that we'll grumble and keep flying.  We've got no choice, right?

WRONG!

1. We can decide the face-to-face meeting really isn't needed.  Sure, face time is important - but if you're already working with the other people and have met before, you can handle the discussion via some phone calls, emails and file sharing.  I've done full-blown multi-million product launches using the good old-fashioned telephone and email. If you're working with seasoned pros, it doesn't matter if they're sitting across the table from you or are across the world.

2. We can choose to handle the meeting via videoconferencing.  If it's a small group and you've all got Macs, this is as easy as enabling your nifty little camera.  And, there are more options every day for PC screen sharing and webinars.  So, we can choose to stay home and save both money and aggravation. 

3. We can choose to drive. Yes, even with the rising gas prices.   For example, by the time I drive to the airport, pay for parking, go through security, get on the plane, fly, get off the plane, take the shuttle to the rental car agency, check out my car, and drive to my Mom's house...I might as well just drive, period.  Takes about the same amount of time and while it may cost a bit more at the pump, I've also saved a lot of aggravation.  And, I control my schedule and can stop whenever I want to along the way.

4.  We can choose to just not go. Sure, the kids would love to go to Disney World, but I'd bet there are plenty of things to do within 50 miles of your house.  And, you can sleep in your own bed at the end of the busy day. 

So, remember - your customers always have a choice!  It's not even a matter of competition.  They can simply choose to not buy from anyone.

Sex and the City "Purse-onality" Style Contest Promotes Online Retailer

Now Memorial Day weekend is traditionally known as our unofficial start of summer here in the U.S. Us women can now feel comfortable wearing white pants and shoes again. Those of us living in the northern part of the country can rest at ease taking our houseplants outside and planting annuals. It is also begins the release of a flurry of summer movies all trying to break box office records.

This past weekend we had the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull which drew in a huge audience that put the film on its way to become the second-biggest Memorial Day movie opening ever, just behind Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End which was released this time last year. Major brands get behind these films with huge promotional budgets hoping that the film will be a hit and that their investment will pay off. I've been writing on my blog about the new Indy movie release and the big brands that the film has partnerships with which include Burger King, Dr. Pepper, Expedia and Major League Baseball to name a few. This is big business!

Small Business Should Be Recognized and Supported Which means, WOMEN Should Be Recognized and Supported, in Small Business

The economy is a favorite subject of business and political pundits, today. The economy is an ever-present issue in our lives - all day, every day. Hence, it baffles me why it only gets attention -- major attention -- during an election year. I will openly admit here, on this blog, that I am clueless on the whole, "I'll fix the economy," promises made by our politicians. They seldom say how...and, when they do offer what they consider solutions, those solutions do not meet with the reality of life as I know it. In other words, their solutions are not well-thought out. I challenge them to bring together a group of small business owners, and ask US what they can do to help.

Since this is not a political blog, it's a blog about marketing to women online (and off), I'll not venture further into the flapping tongues of our current crop of presidential-wanna-be's. However, I do want to touch upon the small business topic. Because, as we all know, small business is the backbone of this country. Without small businesses, this country would flounder on all fronts; employment, goods and services, training, travel, you name it, small business owners are vital to it.

Why then, are small business owners - women small business owners (who make up the majority of small businesses in the U.S.) - treated poorly by banks, ignored by government, and given the cold shoulder by big business leaders - especially WOMEN in power positions in big business? Women like Anne Mulcahy (Xerox), Susan Arnold (P&G), Brenda Barnes (Sara Lee), Indra Nooyi (PerpsiCo). I'd like to know when any one of those women, or the other 46 noted in the Fortune Mag's 50 Most Powerful, went out of her way to help a small business owner secure a loan, get marketing support, or find a reasonable location to do business from?

Why don't these women take one day, two hours of one day, once in a while, to invite a group of women small business owners to a free luncheon with a good business advice presenter? When they're busy doing all of their keynotes to other big business executives, why can't they sponsor just ONE small business owner to attend whatever high-level, expensive conference they're speaking at? The "Why" questions abound... 

I don't have the answer. I only have two places YOU CAN GO to learn more, to be part of the solution (by buying from women in small business), and to make a difference. THIS is how you market to women...by sharing educational opportunities, by recognizing their issues (they talk about them all the time), and by meeting them where they hang-out, whether that's on their neighbor's deck, at their local coffee shop, or on the net.

Why Aren't There More Big Women Businesses?

By Guest Blogger, Mary Schmidt, Marketing Troubelshooter

Liz Hamburg at Huffington Post, ponders, A Million Dollar Business - What Does It Take?

Here's my take:

1. We’re still making up for lost time. As Liz notes, women couldn’t get even get loans by themselves until the 1970s.  And, in reality, we still often have difficulty - particularly in smaller cities and towns.  (It  remains Mayberry 1958 in some places.)  No victim statements here - just the facts, m'am.  We're a creative crowd though, so if we really want to get funding, we usually manage to do so.  (You can work miracles with a good credit rating and 0% APR credit cards, however, I don't recommend it as a first-line strategy.) 

2.  We’ve got different definitions of success.  As Seth Godin wrote, "small is the new big."  Big revenues doesn't necessarily mean big profits or long-term sustainability (as the headlines show us every day.)  And, I know lots of “big women” who own businesses with revenues of less than a million.  In New Mexico, that is big business.  They’re supporting their families, contributing to the local economy, and creating jobs – and if that's not success, what is?  We should stop considering revenues and size as the sole measures of enterpreneur success (for men and women.)    

3.  Following the Passion.  Unfortunately, following your passion doesn't always mean a viable business. You could have a great idea and be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  As LIz notes, "That's the key I think -- follow your passion. And make sure you have something that someone else besides you would want to buy."

Happy Friday! And whatever your company's revenues - if you're not happy, no amount of money is going to make a difference. 

Happ

LX.TV The Claim to Fame in Your Name: Update

I'm not happy about this but...it seems the info I was fed was incorrect. See changes below...I will think carefully before posting for this PR firm again.

Now that American Idol is over, again...let's move on to something everyone can be part of. This is a great marketing to women idea, it's a new media way to conduct a campaign, and I think it's worth sharing because I believe all of you, dear readers, are stars.

Maybe one of you could be the STAR of this...KNBC/LX.TV 1^st

KNBC/LX.TV 1^st Look is on the look-out for a host. In short, entertaining videos, they show you the newest and most exclusive (so they say) destinations in food, nightlife, art, shopping, fashion, wellness, weekend escapes and family living (whew, you can catch your breath now!). This is one more case of allowing user-generated content to drive marketing. Here's what the press release I received said:

KNBC/LX.TV is looking for an enthusiastic and talented professional who wants to host KNBC/LX.TV 1^st Look Los Angeles. The perfect candidate should demonstrate the ability to enunciate, pace, vocalize, and emphasize points effectively.  The one winner will become a host of the online show. "And/or, be a foodie, a style hound, or always the first to know," according to the video on the site.

Check out the current entries, make one of your own (and let me know so I can vote for you) or share with friends. I think this is a kewl idea and after some thought, I decided I had to write about it. (for a very short few seconds I even considered entering, but I think they need you to move to or live in LA, and...that's not for me.)

The contest launched on May 17th - you'd better get moving to catch up! It ends, June 14th. Videos are only allowed to be 2 minutes in length. File Format is noted on the contest website. 

In the end, it looks like fun. It's an opportunity for someone (could be your boyfriend, son, husband or father...it's gender neutral - but, really now, shouldn't a woman be the host of this show?) to get "found."

Kind of like Betty Grable...who was discovered, back in the day, on a barstool at an ice cream shoppe. (oops, it wasn't Betty Grable, it was Lana Turner, sorry!) Anyway, both of those ladies would easily have won a new media contest like this, hands down. I know you're their equal in every way...okay, maybe not 'every' way...but you're smart, talented, and you can win this.

Go for it! Ah, to be able to say, "I knew her when..."

Do Women Spend Too Much Time in Front of the Mirror?

So, Meredith Corp, the huge group that publishes all the women's magazines like Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, Ladies' Home Journal, Family Circle, More, etc, etc, sent me a press release that I had to share. It just goes to the inner core of women's perceptions of themselves...and the whole Dove Beauty thing.

My question is: if this is true (facts to follow from a survey Meredith conducted with NBC Universal)... what's changed in thousands of years...and what's likely to change in a thousand more? I'm worried the answer is: nothing.

Okay, here are just some of the facts shared in the press release which details "the findings from the nationwide survey conducted among more than 3,000 women":

• When it comes to health, women are more concerned about diet/weight (56%) and eating right (36%) than they are about cancer (23%), cardiovascular/heart health (20%), and diabetes (18%). Ummm... I have to plead guilty.



• Many women are skipping important medical examinations, including annual physicals and cancer screenings. Me? Not so. I have fibromyalgia. I do the the Dr. regularly. However, I wonder sometimes if my Dr is really paying attention. Most Drs just don't care, IMHO.


• 62% of women regularly give themselves a breast self-examination, while only 14% of all women get a skin cancer screening at least once a year. Me? I asked for a cancer screening. I was dismissed. I went to a local center for women's health and...was apalled at the lack of care, lack of attention, and sour faces on the employees. Won't be going back there any time soon.


• Four in 10 women report that they are more than 20 pounds overweight. Hmmm...guilty.

There is really way too much to share. So, I'll end with this note...

Oprah's Blogging?

Oprah has a blog. At least, she thinks she has a blog. She has a page on her site where there is content, supposively writing by Oprah. I don't know. Comments are non-existent (one does understand why - Oprah could do nothing all day but answer comments, were she to open her blog to them), and trackbacks are nowhere, also.

But, I guess Oprah is trying. The question is...without giving readers the ability to respond to her writing, why is she doing this? Surely she could have a staff member check comments. I don't know. It just feels like Oprah wants to be with the "in" crowd. (I thought she invented the "in" crowd!)

I don't know. And, I actually don't care (about Oprah blogging). The truth is - blogging has become so commonplace, I'm wondering what's going to become of it. If people write content that is not meant to create conversations, and call it blogging - that troubles me. If blogging has become just something people do because "they can"...without any thought into its purpose, that troubles me. And, if people create something they call a blog, that sort acts like a blog, but it isn't really - it's just a way for them to pontificate online - well, what are the real bloggers supposed to do?

The other day as I was driving to a client meeting I was listening to my favorite radio station and the 3  DJs were talking about their blogs. But, what they were really talking about were their blog posts.

It was obvious they did not and do not know a thing about blogging. There was discussion over what to write in a blog and how great it was that they could delete "blogs" they don't like, the next day. When I hear talk like that, it really annoys me. These are just people jumping on the blog bandwagon because someone else at the office did...and management thought it was a good idea.

It is a good idea. I should congratulate them -- especially Weslea, who is the only one who really knows how to blog. After all, they get the "conversation" part - they have open comments. But, when they say things like, "I did a blog today," and they mean a blog post... I'm wondering if I should call them up and educate them on the finer aspects of blogging.

Here's the thing. If you're going to participate in the conversation, shouldn't you know the lingo? Shouldn't you express yourself properly? Shouldn't you ASK a blogger how to do it...first??? 

Well, enough of this chatter. I had to get that off my chest. Oprah blogging... not really. 

It's Not What You Say, It's Your Voice

by Guest Blogger, Lena West, Chief Social Media Strategist at xynoMedia

One of the things that I love about marketing is that it encompasses so many aspects of your business; like, for example, answering the telephone and leaving voice mail messages. It might not seem like your telephone mannerisms and messages have anything to do with your business, but it does.

Right now, our outgoing message is a bit crappy (to say the least) so we've hired professional voice over talent to re-do it. Thankfully, two of my colleagues cared about us enough to tell me that it sounded like garbage needed work.

A few years ago, I did a teleclass with a well-known marketing expert and she barked coughed into the telephone throughout the teleclass - as if there's no mute button. What do you think that said to me about her business and how she treated her clients?

Here are a few pet peeves of my own:

1. If you sound like you just woke up, don't answer the phone. I'm the first person to understand if you have a sensitive voice. If I don't talk for several hours, I begin to sound like a transvestite (not that there's anything wrong with that, mind you, I'm just not one). I can't tell you how many times I've been called "sir". That said, if I ever feel like I sound like I'm just waking up, I'll let the caller know that I'm prone to a scratchy voice. No one wants to feel like they're dragging you out of bed.

2. If you have an attitude, don't answer the phone. It's not my fault that you're mad at the world/wishing you had never started a business/secretly hoping for another job. What matters to me is that I feel welcome when I call. I don't want to feel as if I'm imposing a death sentence on you just by picking up the phone. And here's a newsflash, if potential customers stop calling you won't have a business for long.

3. If you're busy and/or running out the door, don't answer the phone. Voice mail is a neat invention, use it. If I wanted to hear out-of-breath/heavy breathing, I would call a different number. Again, I don't want to feel as if my call is unwelcome or as if I'm rushing you. I also don't want to hear about how you have to pick up the kids, go take your walk or feed the dog. Just let the voice mail grab the call and call me back when you're free.

4. If you're leaving a voice mail, don't do other things at the same time. Recently, we got a voice mail from a woman who was trying to connect with me based on some media coverage we had received. Her voice mail was about 45 seconds and 20 of those seconds she spent losing her train of thought and rambling. It was clear that she was doing something other than leaving me a voice mail. It was annoying for me and I'm sure it wasn't the impression she wanted to make.

5. If you're leaving a voice mail, don't hit the gas pedal. You know your name and number. I don't. If you speed through your name, company name and phone number, I have to listen three or four times to get all the contact information correct. Slow down. Say your name twice and try writing out your phone number as you're saying it, this will encourage you to speak at a rate that's helpful for the voice mail recipient.

6. Have some inflection. Listening to someone drone on and on about their company and their capabilities is B-O-R-I-N-G. Add some lilt and base in your voice at the appropriate times. Please don't make me feel like I'm talking to a robot.

7. If you know you have a squeaky (or otherwise grating voice), invest in coaching. I have a tendency to speak loudly (no? really?). This works well when I have to project my voice or when I'm speaking and the audio equipment fails, but, if I'm not careful, can kill a person's eardrum when talking to them on the phone. I know this about myself and I worked with a coach to change this. Instead of speaking from the top of my voice, I relax my neck muscles and speak from my tummy...it works. It turns "HEY! HOW ARE YOU!?" into "Hey, how are you?"  I'm not asking you to change who you are...I'm just pointing out that your speech might be more effective if you worked on making it a bit more palatable to the ear.

8. Don't blather on and on. I had a conversation with a lovely woman the other day. She was very personable, smart, really funny and my brand of crazy. The only thing was she just wouldn't come up for air. Resist the temptation to tell everything you know during the first conversation. A good rule of thumb is, if you haven't heard the other person's voice in over 2 minutes, you're probably talking too damn much.

P.S. If you're going to be at the Executing Social Media conference this week in LA, look for me. I'll be speaking and leading a roundtable discussion on Day 1.

Link Love Sharing: Six Foot Six and Counting

I could never share everything that comes across my desk, on a day to day basis. So many wonderful people write to me to tell me about new projects, family, books, and the things they're doing that they think might be interesting to you, my special readers...that I am quite buried in content.

This is not a bad thing. I enjoy hearing about the new and exciting things everyone is up to. I'm often inspired by these talented people. How could I not be? The world is teeming with innovation, new products that support the environment, new ideas to make life easier, better, more productive, and opportunities to improve inwardly - by meditating or looking for your Inner Samurai, as my client, Susan Reid will say.

The only way I can really share all of this, is through a Link-love post. And so... here you are:

Suzanne Falter-Barns of Blast O' Joy wants the world to know her Taos Writer's Spa is in its 7th year. That's a celebration worth shouting about. Of course I had to mention her and the spa... after all, writing is my joy. (have you taken our writing conference survey yet?). The spa is in late July, and being held at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House. Looks tres' inviting.