On Meeting Chris Brogan…. and a Sneak Peek at Microsoft NERD Center, Boston

Last night I had the opportunity to meet Chris Brogan at #MeetChrisBrogan event at the Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge, MA. The event was graciously put together by Keith Griffis of ifSimply.com.  Thanks Keith!

Chris Brogan is an interesting guy with lots of experience in keeping customers happy in business. He gave us a few tips on making a commitment to your business as an entrepreneur that I'd like to share with you.  Nothing earth shattering but a great reminder of ….

WHY YOU'RE AN ENTREPRENEUR AND HOW TO STAY ON TRACK & COMMITTED:

1.) COMMIT:  Make a commitment to yourself by making a decision and doing it!  Write it down and follow up with yourself.  Make it happen, no matter what! Do not be afraid to fail, in fact, fail a lot.  It's how we learn.

2.) INVEST: You must invest in your commitment and pour yourself into it.  If you don't, no one else will. This is your baby, get it done.

3.) ACT: Do not sit idle and think, "oh, I'll get to that" or let other things take priority.  Act upon your commitment and GET IT DONE!

4.) COMMUNICATE: Communicate your commitment to everyone you know. Let them know what you're doing.  Bounce ideas off trusted partners along the way to make sure you're on the right track.  Take their advice or don't, but communicate it to everyone.  This will hold you to your commitment.

5.) CONNECT: Connect with people and share your final commitment with people.  Email, Tweet, Facebook, Instagram, Call, Connect in Person.  Whatever it takes.  Get your message out.  Plant seeds with people, don't just throw your message out there, connect with people and follow up. (Make sure it's clear, concise and consistent! - HC)

6.) SERVE: Now that you've got your message out there, commit to serve your clients with your business. Your business will not go anywhere if you do not serve your clients…. ALL, THE, TIME. Also, don't forget to serve your connections.  Check in on them often and see what they're up to.  Keep those connections fresh.

So as you kick off the new year, stay committed to your business and your clients! And, thanks for the advice, Chris Brogan.  He recently launched an online magazine for entrepreneurs, Owner Magazine.  You can check it out here and see if it is for you.

Stay tuned for other posts on some interesting people I met last night.

SNEAK PEEK! Microsoft NERD Center, Cambridge, MA. Below are a few snapshots of the Microsoft NERD Center.  It reminds me a lot of Hasbro & Black & Decker office; lots of creative space for creative meetings. Check out the interesting lighting, clean cabinetry and meeting spaces.  My favorite was the "Pebble" room, as I called it.  The furniture in the room looks like pebbles and the carpet is green like grass. The view of the Charles River and city line is stunning with the tall floor to ceiling windows.

Why you should share your Egg Nog .......

As 2011 begins to wind down we'd like to take a moment to thank all of our valued clients and partners for their support. Between celebrating New York state heritage, sailing with SailQuest Mystic, working with financial companies, in-home care companies, partnering with airlines, digital media companies and philanthropic causes and more it's been a great year!

While we have had a wonderful year, we understand many across the nation and world have not. Please take a moment to help those in need this holiday season; food pantries, toy drives, hospitals and more. Even a small donation of $5 can help a person have a warmer holiday whether figuratively or literally. It is so important. Why you should share your Egg Nog: So instead of buying that extra carton of Egg Nog, think about donating that money to someone who is really in need. It WILL make a difference.

We look forward to a successful 2012 and a prosperous new year for all!! Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Colby Strategic Marketing, Bruce Barber, Marchetti Design & Illustration and Shoreline Out and About bring Forward-Thinking Business Leaders Together

On a beautiful evening in Guilford, CT business leaders got together at Ballou's Wine Bar to network and discuss how to use today's new marketing media. Guest speaker and radio guru, Bruce Barber, of Barber Productions, spoke of this event, "It's a great group of people . . . . getting together in real time with each other. It's not just facebook or twitter it's us." Colby Strategic Marketing was one of the event hosts. Heather Colby, President, Colby Strategic Marketing commented, "As a group we need to work together to forge authentic partnerships that will drive the success of each partners' business. There is a wealth of talented marketers and business people here tonight who will certainly reap the rewards of building their businesses together via networking, partnerships and new inbound marketing strategies."

Ballou's set the stage for the event with appetizers for the group and Marchetti Design & Illustration offered discounted drink tickets for an enjoyable evening. Several prize winners left with free content marketing from Shoreline Out and About, twitter training from Colby Strategic Marketing and gifts from M!X Design Store. Keep an eye out for the next event by this up and coming group of business and marketing leaders.

Email hcolby@colbystrategicmarketing.com to be emailed of details for the next event.

Business Leaders in photo above from left to right: Tom Davis (North Sails), Wendy Walden (M!X Design Store), Andy Stephens (Page-Taft Real Estate), Karen Stephens (Page-Taft Real Estate), Jennifer Cowie (M!X Design Store), Betsy Gribble (M!X Design Store), Ed Bartlett (Shoreline Out and About), Susan Schimler, Nace Schimler (Eli's on the Hill), Mary Stager (ReThinc, LLC), Steve DePino (Stevedepino.com, photography), Frank DePino (mediaBoom), Bruce Barber (Barber Productions), Eric Emamian (Prolific Interactive), Kelly Marchetti Grasso (Marchetti Design & Illustration), Jason Wieringa, Heather Colby (Colby Strategic Marketing), Pat Lore (Headline Productions). Photography by Gary@connecticutwebsites.com (Not featured in photo: Patti Urban (Comfort Keepers), Linda Harvey (Liberty Bank), Nikki Rassmusen (Yolo aesthetic boutique & med spa)).

Welcome . . . . to Colby Strategic Marketing.

Hello. My name is Heather Colby and I am the President of Colby Strategic Marketing. If you don't know me or my company, you will. I've been in the business of marketing products and services for 17 years. Not just any products. Children's products, for Hasbro, Inc., household products like Black & Decker (R) Household products and shavers for your body from BIC Coporation. I've also managed several strategic alliance programs and promotions for Edible Arrangements International. Well, that's enough about my corporate resume.

Colby Strategic Marketing has been in business for 8 years and has experience with New York State tourism agencies, worldwide sailing companies like North Sails, building strategic alliances for Walt Disney Home Studios Home Entertainment and many publishing companies.

I know I'm not supposed to "promote" my services on a blog, but if I don't, how will you know who I am and what I represent?

I represent building honest, custom integrated marketing strategies that will increase brand awareness and revenues for companies. Check out my website for more information about Colby Strategic Marketing. I look forward to catching up with you soon! Stay tuned for a blog post about our latest marketing event.