March 17, 2010

One year of Neighborhood Networking, already?

Filed under: Networking — Tags: , — lidia @ 4:21 am

Join Neighborhood Networking next Tuesday to mix and mingle with fellow businesses at Katerina’s (1920 West Irving Park Road).

You can also help us toast Neighborhood Networking’s first anniversary! (can you believe it’s been a year already?)

Buy tickets in advance for $10 ($12 at the door).

Neighborhood Networking is hosted by Lidia Varesco Design and Elizabeth Lulu Miranda of Mercury Organizing Professionals, with BBR Chicago joining us as co-hosts.

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Northcenter businesses: promote your business by donating an item to our raffle! Contact us for a donation form and details.

March 15, 2010

Featured Project: Attorney Website

Filed under: Featured Projects — Tags: , , — lidia @ 9:26 pm

click to view website

We recently created a website for The Law Offices of R.D. Skelton, Ltd. in Geneva, Illinois.

Located just outside of Chicago, the firm, which specializes in business law, estate planning, and probate and trusts, wanted to establish a web presence that would set them apart from other attorneys without being overly complicated and sterile.

With the use of bold graphics and a brown/green palette, we created a website that was understated, yet strong enough to stand out and emphasize the firm’s experience and qualifications.

March 11, 2010

Referrals: it's better to give than receive

Filed under: Marketing & Promotion — Tags: , — lidia @ 8:29 pm

I first read about referral marketing campaigns in the book, The Designer’s Guide to Marketing and Pricing by Ilise Benun and Peleg Top of Marketing Mentor. Yesterday I listened in on an informative webinar hosted by Duct Tape Marketing called Building a Referral Engine that shared more ideas for successful referral marketing.

Below find the tips I found most useful from webinar panelists John Jantsch – Creator of Duct Tape Marketing; Bob Burg – Author, “Endless Referrals”, “The Go-Giver”, “Go-Givers Sell More”; Ivan Misner –  Founder & Chairman of BNI; and Ben McConnell – Principal, Ant’s Eye View.

Referral marketing tips:

  • Shift your focus from getting to giving
  • it’s not about you, it’s about them – take the focus off yourself
  • Add value to others – freely share your knowledge
  • Teach your referral partners what to listen for (“I can’t…” or “I need…”) – make it easy for them to give you referrals
  • Create visibility and credibility: tell people what you do and show them you are good at it
  • Establish relationships with new connections before asking for referrals
    • KNOW -> LIKE -> TRUST
  • A great networker enjoys helping others
  • Send a handwritten thank you note after receiving a referral
  • Make strategic referral alliances with fellow business owners who serve similar clients (wedding vendors are great at this)
  • Build relationships and the referrals will follow…

Do you have other great ideas for creating or maintaining a referral marketing program? Share your comments!

March 9, 2010

Have you given a referral lately?

Filed under: Marketing & Promotion — Tags: , , , — lidia @ 9:24 pm

Yesterday marked the first day of Make a Referral Week. The best way to celebrate? Why yes, by giving referrals.

A referral campaign should be part of all small business marketing plans. It doesn’t have to be complicated, it can be as simple as asking a client if they know someone else who might benefit from your services.

But it’s not just about getting referrals… we should also focus on returning the favor by giving referrals. Let’s see how easy it is. Grab a pencil and pad of paper. Jot down 5–10 businesses (or retail shops) that you rely on for their top-notch products, reliability, quality work, superb customer service or just overall fabulousness.

Now, here is your chance to sing their praises to the rest of the world: submit your referral to the Make a Referral Week website. It’s an easy way to help fellow small businesses (and perhaps improve your karma). And if you’re lucky, someone will write a nice referral for you too.

By the way, you can continue the referral love by participating in Make a Referral Monday on Twitter. Share your referrals each Monday using the hashtag #marm—or if you need referrals, just follow along.

March 4, 2010

Clean up your office—and help Creative Pitch!

Filed under: Community Outreach,Design & Art,Workspace — Tags: , , , , — lidia @ 7:46 pm

I’m betting that most of us (especially if we are artists or parents) have lots of art supplies that we don’t use. Now you have a chance to clean up your office… and help out local schools: donate them to Creative Pitch.

This Chicago-based organization collects art supplies (new or used in good condition) and donates them to local art teachers in need. The reality is that school budgets don’t always allow for basic art supplies—many teachers pay out of their own pocket for necessary supplies.

Let’s help them out by cleaning up our offices (or kids’ playrooms) and donating our unused art supplies. I have been participating in Creative Pitch for many years now, and I’m always delighted to receive an email from a happy art teacher.

Creative Pitch is currently seeking the following items:

  • markers
  • crayons
  • colored pencils
  • paper
  • scissors
  • stock photo/illustration books

Have items to donate? Email info@creativepitch.org to inform them of your donation items and/or to set up a drop off time. (NO OFFICE SUPPLIES, PLEASE.)

Learn more or make a donation to Creative Pitch here.

March 3, 2010

Take a break and stretch….

Filed under: Health & Wellness,Time Management — Tags: , , — lidia @ 4:49 pm

Most of us spend a good part of our day sitting in front of the computer. And I’m guessing we don’t always have perfect posture.

I realized this was taking a toll on my health, and I needed an easy way to remind myself to stretch throughout the day. I created a stretch book by making copies of fast and easy stretches I could easily do at my desk. I placed the stretches in sheet protectors and paired it with a cover that would stand out on my bookshelf—making sure I wouldn’t forget to take a break and stretch. It worked!

Another useful tool for good office posture is an ergonomic chair cushion, such as the Fitball Wedge by Ball Dynamics. It can be used as lumbar support or an angled seat cushion that encourages proper posture. (your grade school teacher was right: sit up straight, no slouching!)

And don’t forget to schedule a 30-minute to 1-hour  yoga or stretching session at least once a week. It can help prevent repetitive stress injuries, back pain, and bad posture. Personally, I have found that doing yoga and stretching regularly keeps aches and pains away. Can’t make it to a class? Try a DVD that focuses on upper body and back stretches such as my top picks, the RX: Yoga series and Back Care Yoga by Gaiam. There’s even an online yoga-at-your-desk routine at My Daily Yoga.

No more excuses.. and no more slouching!