(Written by guest contributor Sarah Beek) There is nothing worse than sitting down to work on a project only to find that what you attacked with exhilaration the day before now seems about as appealing as a box of rocks. You check your email again, waste a little time on your favorite time-wasting blogs, think of something that needs buying, and then proceed to spend precious time researching and buying it. What is this kind... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Sarah Beek) Sometimes the simplest idea is also the best. The winner of the BetaCup Challenge was announced this week. The BetaCup Challenge was a contest sponsored by Starbucks (along with others) to find a sustainable alternative to the ubiquitous disposable paper (or worse) coffee cup. The winning idea wasn't a coffee cup at all, but rather a very simple tool with the goal of motivating people to bring their own... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Sarah Beek) Meetup.com is the perfect confluence of online social networking and in-person social networking. Social networking websites are great, but they really can't compete with the power of meeting and connecting with someone in person. Actual social networking solidifies relationships and often seals real business deals. That is why we recommend conferences so highly. But if you don't have a couple of grand lying around to attend a conference right... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Sarah Beek) It's no secret that certain types of jobs (read: manufacturing or factory) in the United States are disappearing or have already disappeared, never to return. So what will our future economy be based on? Part of the answer just may be: something that doesn't exist yet. And some of the people who have the potential to start those new and future successful businesses are currently in a different country... Continue Reading

Last month, two of my team members had an opportunity to go to Monrovia, Liberia to work on a project intended to save lives of those in the malnourished and HIV-stricken country. Chris Harper, my Video Producer, and Sarah Jane Griesemer, VP of Project Management, accepted the call to go to Liberia and meet the needs of people through a project called The Peanut Butter House. What they experienced during their week-long trip was undoubtedly... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Sarah Jane Griesemer) WOMMA stands for Word of Mouth Marketing Association. The association was founded in 2007 to create ethical guidelines for word-of-mouth marketers, as well as offer educational resources, information, networking, and support to the industry. Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Sarah Beek) It's no secret that Twitter and Facebook can be huge time sinks. Tweeting, keeping up with the tweets of others, keeping an eye on what people are saying about you, it goes on all day (and night, depending on your market). So how do you actually get any work done? And if you are using social media to promote a cause or a business, how do you make sure... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Sarah Jane Griesemer) These days, there is a long list of ways to avoid having to talk to someone in person: email, Facebook, Twitter, chat, blogs, and text messages are just a few. With all these alternative methods of communication, why bother with real-life meetings at all? The answer is that face-to-face meetings and interviews are still the single best way to get to know someone reliably, quickly, and in such... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Chris Harper) Last week, when faced with a pretty tight deadline and a creative block the size of Rhode Island, I was in serious need of some inspiration. The normal tricks of getting out of my office or getting hopped up on caffeine and sugar were useless. So when it looked like all was lost, I popped open my iTunes library and started looking for the perfect song that would carry... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Sarah Beek) Chances are, you do the same few things on the Internet each day. You probably check your email account(s), update your various social media sites, and catch up on your favorite news sites and blogs. Lifestreaming services or social media aggregators are designed to be one-stop shops for these activities. And then can in fact make your online life much easier. (They can be life-savers if you haven't been... Continue Reading

(Written by guest contributor Sarah Jane Griesemer) Having an idea, product, video, or marketing plan go viral is something of a holy grail for online marketers. Sure, everyone wants it to happen to them, but how do you do it? What is the magic formula for a successful viral marketing campaign? The answer, unfortunately, is that there isn't one. You know a good viral campaign when you see one, and since by its very definition... Continue Reading

Me and my family traveled to Steamboat Springs for fall break this year. This has always been my favorite place to ski, but there is no skiing taking place here... yet. Pretty soon the snow will fall and the slopes will be crowded. As it turned out, we were here for Halloween. And Halloween in Steamboat Springs is a big deal! They shut down the main street going through downtown, the merchants all have a... Continue Reading

With all the speculation that John McCain would select Mitt Romney to be his running mate in the 2008 election, I find it rewarding to see that he has chosen far wiser. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has been thrust into the limelight as McCain has selected her to be his Vice President should he be elected in November. I am very pleased with this selection for a number of reasons. Continue Reading