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Obama wants banks to give more small business loans, but will that really help you?
by beth | 2/08/10 | 12:58pm
Small business loans are hard to come and very risky, if you are starting or growing a small business you as the founder have to put up something as collateral, in many cases your home. That means if your business goes bust you may loose your home.
If you ARE looking to get a loan from a bank this CNN article describes what you'll need before a bank even looks at you.
http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/03/pf/saving/Start-a-small-business/index.htm?section=money_latest&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Darn you Seth Godin, Now I Must Do It!
by beth | 2/05/10 | 9:37pm
I had the privilege to hear Seth Godin, author of Purple Cow, The Dip, Tribes and Linchpin speak at the Soho House on February 4th. Linchpin is about becoming indispensable, which is even more important today. According to Seth, and it is pretty obviously true, we’ve totally squeezed things out in terms of productivity, there is no cheese or financial return going down the path of less expensive or more productivity, you actually have to go big and bold to have a chance. The people who will be well paid going forward are the people who create “art” in whatever endeavor they embark upon, he defintes artit is that special something above the expected. That could be surprising customer service, a new and unique twist or just a gift for paying close attention. Seth went on to say that what holds people from doing this is the F word, fear. He pointed out that virtually every successful person, when they first started were laughed at or mocked, and we live in fear of that. Fear holds us back from “shipping enough” meaning we don’t get enough products, ideas, writing out the door to make an impact; in other words, we all have the talent and abilities, it is a matter of who gets it out there.
After hearing Seth I realized that so many of the members of Collective-E are linchpins, in fact several were in the room with me Peg Samuel Founder Social Diva, Michelle Madhock Founder SheFinds and Lara Paul Founder iKidNY, they and all our members are putting themselves out there, they are “shipping,” they are risking and they are going big and we must support each other to do more, create even more original “art.”
I can't possibly explain all I heard, so here's a way to start becoming a Linchpin, click here to buy the book and we’ll do it together!
Conan Reminds Us to be Thankful, and Optimistic
by katie | 1/23/10 | 1:08pm
Sabina sends us (Katie and Beth, her partners) daily links about articles she reads or videos that will brighten our day. This morning she sent Conan O'Brien's farewell address, and we wanted to make sure you saw in case you weren't watching last night. He reminds us of Tim Gunn's mantra "Make it work" by saying he will be able to build his show from anywhere, even if it's the 7/11, because they have a great product and solid team. Note the part on cynicism, as intense focus on criticisms can block your vision for seeing opportunities.
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Submitted on 1/23/10 | 2:18pm
As someone who has been "ousted," it is always for a good reason and always an opportunity to reinvent yourself in a better situation. It is a stepping stone, not a step down. Cheers Conan, can't wait to see what you do next...and enjoy a $30million dollar vacation, you deserve it.
Submitted on 1/23/10 | 2:18pm
As someone who has been "ousted," it is always for a good reason and always an opportunity to reinvent yourself in a better situation. It is a stepping stone, not a step down. Cheers Conan, can't wait to see what you do next...and enjoy a $30million dollar vacation, you deserve it.
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Wall Street Journals 2009 Predictions on Entrepreneurship, Did They Come True?
by sabina | 1/20/10 | 11:59am
While researching updated statistics on entrepreneurship, I stumbled across an article by Kelly Spors, a former blogger and reporter for the Wall Street Journal. The piece was entitled Predictions for Entrepreneurship in 2009, and in it, Kelly and the Wall Street Journal Independent Street team made some forecasts about what was to come in the world of small business and entrepreneurship in America.
Looking back on these predictions created in 2008 as a small business owner in 2010 is interesting....check out their predictions regarding the bumpy year they foresaw coming for all of us last year, while I look for their predictions they made for 2010!
Oh and check out Independent Street when you get a moment! We're big fans of writers like Raymund Flandez and other members of the WSJ team over there covering small business news nationwide!
http://blogs.wsj.com/independentstreet/2008/12/30/predictions-for-entrep...
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Collective-E & Members Give to Haiti Relief Effort
by sabina | 1/19/10 | 10:19am
The crisis in Haiti has made us face not only one of the worst natural disasters in years, but the best of compassion on a global scale. Over 200 million dollars in donations have been made so far, but the need for donations continues, as it will long after the television cameras have turned away from the aftermath of the earthquake.
We have been in direct contact with the CNN team in Haiti and their best description? Horrible. The worst, well, you can only imagine. At Collective-E, we've decided to pledge 10% of our new membership as well as our renewals through February 20th to Partners in Health, a very active non-profit in the crisis who have been on the ground in Haiiti for over 20 years. You can check out their founder talking to Katie Couric about the crisis here.
Many of our members are also giving portions of their sales to help various charities and their efforts in Haiti which has prompted us to begin compiling a list that we will soon house on our website as well as this blog, to inform conscious consumers about brands that are giving back.
We at Collective-E know that the power of community is what not only makes a business grow and flourish, but is also necessary to practice and exhibit on a global scale.
Magnolia PR Donates to Haiti
We will donate 15 percent of the first month's retainer for all new baby and lifestyle PR clients.
Organization Receiving Donation: Save The Children, www.savethechildren.org
Date Giving Through: 3/15/10
www.magnoliapr.com
NomieBaby Donates to Haiti
We will donate $5 to Haiti relief for every order placed between now and Valentine's Day.
Organization Receiving Donation: Red Cross or Doctors without Borders.
Date Giving Through: 2/14/10
www.nomiebaby.com
Royal Drama Donates to Haiti
Use the code Haiti at checkout at www.royaldrama.com and 10% of all proceeds will go to the Red Cross till 2/1/2010. In honor of your charitable contribution you'll get a 10% discount as well! Thanks for making a difference with Royal Drama!
Organization Receiving Donation: Red Cross
Date Giving Through: 2/1/10
www.royaldrama.com
It's a Glam Thing Donates to Haiti
We made a cash donation to: Save the Children on Behalf of It's a Glam
Thing. This is a one time donation. We will also make a cash donation to The Humane Society of behalf of It's a Glam Thing to aid the animals. This is a one time donation.
Organization Receiving Donation: Save the Children and The Humane Society
Date Giving Through: One time cash donation
www.itsaglamthing.com and www.lisacocuzzapr.com
Sweet Muse Donates to Haiti
Sweet Muse will be donating 10% of all February sales (brownies, gifts, etc.) to the Red Cross.
Organization Receiving Donation: Red Cross
Date Giving Through: 2/28/10
www.sweetmuse.com
Sugabell Donates to Haiti
Snugabell is donating $2 for each online sale.
Organization Receiving Donation: Doctors without Borders (and Canadian Government will match our donation)
Date Giving Through: 1/14/10 - 2/14/10
www.PumpEase.com
MyInspirationLounge.com Donates to Haiti
MyInspirationLounge.com is donating $75.
Organization Receiving Donation: ed Cross International and Hope For Haiti Now
Date Giving Through: One time cash donation
www.MyInspirationLounge.com
Sudz N Bubbles Donates to Haiti
Sudz N Bubbles is sending soap donations (from us), tooth brushes, tooth paste - this donation goes to Missionary Flights. For every bar sold, we are donating a bar to 'Clean The World'.
Organization Receiving Donation: Missionary Flights and Clean The World
Date Giving Through: February
www.sudznbubbles.com/store
If you are a Collective-E member and would like to be included in this list see the first opportunity below, and send us an email as soon as possible and we will include you in this list. To join Collective-E, click here.
It's times like these we realize how lucky we are, how much gratitude we have for our own good fortune and that we have both the ability & opportunity to give back. Won't you join us?
Comments
Submitted on 1/19/10 | 11:04am
Hi there Collective-e,
What you are doing is absolutely fantastic! I think that it is wonderful you are so committed to helping entrepreneurs and also the global community as a whole in a time of such tragedy. My shop La Bella Candela is also donating a portion of ALL sales to the Red Cross to aid the relief effort it Haiti.
For more details please visit:
www.labellacandela.etsy.com
Keep up the great work!
Chrissy/ La Bella Candela
Submitted on 1/19/10 | 8:08pm
Once again the "Collective" is inspiring and motivating. From now until Valentine's day, nomie baby will be donating $5 from every order placed to help the efforts in Haiti. Please enter "Help Haiti" when ordering from www.nomiebaby.com. Collectively we can make a difference!
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How to Get Your Product onto the Today Show with Kathie Lee & Hoda
by sabina | 1/18/10 | 4:39pm
How do you get your product on the Today Show? Practice, practice, practice! Wait sorry, that was how you get to Carnegie Hall.....instead, replace practice with the word pitch, and you should be good to go!
That said, the Today Show fourth hour has become quite a showcase for interesting, unique or must-have products. Nearly daily, Kathie Lee & Hoda place different products from both indie brands to creations from international corporations on their table, and during their hour long segment they periodically pick one up, show it off, talk about what it is and where to buy it. This, my friends, is often product placement gold! The Today Show has a large, loyal audience and getting a plug by either of these two women can bring you instant validation (not to mention a spike in sales).
So how do you get your product on the Today Show? As with everything in public relations, because it's not advertising nothing is ever guaranteed. However, after placing products there, as well as talking (just this past week) to the producer of the 4th hour segment, we have a few tips that will make the road to Today Show fame a little less bumpy...
Find our insider tips from the pros and the producers HERE!
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Katy Perry's "Pregnancy Tweets" Show Power of Social Media
by sabina | 1/12/10 | 9:06pm
Today I was reading one of my favorite online outlets, Jezebel, and came across an article about singer Katy Perry, and the media and pop-culture loving demographic of the population going nuts over her Tweets lately, tweets that supposedly hinted at a possible pregnancy. (Back story: @KatyPerry recently got engaged to actor/comedian Russel Brand which she recently tweeted about in a cryptic message as well. As with many celebrities, much of her life has been tweeted lately and as of this posting her following was at 1,618,694).
Sure the story is on the surface about a celebrity and our country's frenzied need to know everything about famous people all the time (and their often feeding it to us), but to me it's also another great example of how Twitter allows you to connect with and grow your customer/ambassador/database and your brand's reach more than ever.
As Jezebel's blogger explains, "the peculiar world of Twitter, and the direct contact people feel they get with celebrities, will only lead people to keep reading between the lines in order to solve a mystery that may only exist in their minds." This is one effect of Twitter that is at times negative....but you can use this same power of Twitter and instant and intimate way the audience connects with your brand to propel it to new media opportunities, sales, visibility and get your message to spread virally if done correctly!
A brand's longevity is largely due to a loyal customer base and true brand ambassadors - especially during a recession when every sale counts more than ever. Knowing that, be sure you create a passionate base of followers on Twitter who really care about what you say - they probably won't tweet about a possible pregnancy but they may instead give your brand exponential reach!
Find out more about what Jezebel had to say about Katy Perry's tweets HERE!
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How to Pitch for Valentine's Day
by sabina | 1/12/10 | 10:47am
Well it's that time of year again, Valentine's Day.....WHAT ?!? You're probably thinking I've finally lost my mind because if you're reading this in "real time" it's only (barely) the second week of January....How could we be talking about Valentine's Day when we just finished taking down our Christmas tree?
The fact of the matter is, media has already begun planning their short lead Valentine's Day articles, segments and gift guides. (Note to your pr campaign: long lead stories in places like monthly magazines closed in fall 2009, because these publications work 3-6 months in advance). Sure short lead outlets like blogs, television, newspapers and weekly magazines work quickly and turn over stories on a daily basis, but when they know something big like a holiday or annual event is coming, they're sure to prepare ahead of time. They also want to be sure they have the best gift guides, experts, segments and topics squared away and available to us (the viewing/listening/reading public) prior to the holiday so that they can help us shop, prepare and get ready ahead of time.
Because this holiday is only about a month away, they're well under way with Valentine's Day preparation in most short lead outlets. This means as a small business or entrepreneur you need to be well under way with your outreach and Valentine's Day offerings asap. Remember - the early birds get the worms!
With that in mind, CLICK HERE to find tips for pitching products, services and experts, as well as pitching ideas and what you need to do to prepare....so get ready to take some notes and do some outreach!
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Our New Year's Love Letter to Entrepreneurs
by beth | 12/30/09 | 11:44am
As the New Year approaches and you prepare to toast in 2010, we thought this would be the perfect time to reflect on 2009, and look forward together towards a prosperous, fresh year.
First, we just have to say that this year we've been so proud of entrepreneurs - especially our Collective-E members. 2009 was a harrowing year for many, with uncertainty and a faltering economy; virtually everyone was hit in one way or another. Nevertheless, what we saw with our Collective-E members was resilience, creativity and innovation. We saw you change strategy on a dime, make tough decisions, take risks, experiment and invest in yourself and your business. We watched you work so much harder this year, build websites and receive great press recognition, become skilled members of the social media world and launch brand new businesses and products. We saw you hire and sometimes fire if that was the right choice, and we even saw some of you take on part time jobs, change your lifestyle and forego many luxuries just to keep your business going. We saw you pull together and collaborate, partner and share resources, ideas, leads and support. But what inspired us most is what we didn’t see: we didn’t see you quit, stop, give up or even complain excessively.
We feel truly optimistic for 2010! We know that there will still be challenges, but we strongly believe the worst is behind and that small businesses are well positioned for growth. We see you heading into this new decade running smarter businesses with even more determination and drive. We think that you are among the great heroes of our country and its economy and we are proud to know you.
We want to thank you for making Collective-E a part of your success strategy and assure you that it makes us all the more determined to create more great products, services, events, workshops and features to help you nurture your ideas and build your brands in 2010...so stay tuned!
WORKSHOPS/EVENTS COMING UP
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NATIONAL - January PR Tuneup (FREE) A half hour lunch time pr teleclass that will cover what you should be doing in January in terms of your pr campaign to prepare for short leads and long leads. A must-listen for product, service or expert base brands currently running their own publicity campaigns. DETAILS & REGISTRATION  |
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NATIONAL - Retirement Planning for Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs can be good with money, but who is telling us how to plan and save for retirement? What is our plan for colleges if we have children? How will we live comfortably and save money at the same time? These questions are crucial to every entrepreneur, and we don't have HR departments to guide us. We're on our own. That's why we went to our trusted friend, Galia Gichon of Down to Earth Finance, to bring her financial program, Simply Money, as featured on CNN and the Today Show, to Collective-E. What's best - she is tailoring it to entrepreneurs and you can attend online! Space is limited so that she can focus on you. You do not need to share any financial data, and she is not selling anything. You will come away with an action plan to implement in your home with your family so that you can think comfortably about IRAs, money markets, budgets, and more. This is yoga for your business, and peace of mind. DETAILS & REGISTRATION |
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NATIONAL - Virtual Tea Party with Collective-E (FREE) The Virtual Tea Party with Collective-E is free and open to members and non-members to learn how membership with Collective-E benefits your business strategy, online strategy and PR strategy. Learn how to get featured on our website, and be on the other side of an entrepreneurial marketing vehicle. We will walk you through all the online benefits that come with membership and you will learn how you can start using our website as a tool to increase awareness for your brand. DETAILS & REGISTRATION |
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NATIONAL - February PR Tuneup (FREE) A half hour lunch time pr teleclass that will cover what you should be doing in January in terms of your pr campaign to prepare for short leads and long leads. A must-listen for product, service or expert base brands currently running their own publicity campaigns. DETAILS & REGISTRATION |
Onward and upward,
Beth, Katie & Sabina
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Lessons in branding and packaging from Lady Gaga, The New York Times talks style & the lessons apply to entrepreneurs
by beth | 12/27/09 | 4:51pm
Standing out in the crowd is important in any industry, but especially the pop music world. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, otherwise known as Lady Gaga, has managed to launch herself into the pop culture with a bang selling over 8 million albums in 2009. Lady Gaga is the personification of personal branding, and the lessons of Lady Gaga can be applied to any industry or brand.
Get inspired. Lady Gaga is inspired by everyone from Grace Jones to David Bowie of the Ziggy Stardust era. Who do you admire? Whose career inspires you? Your inspiration can come from any area or industry. Don't be afraid to take multiple inspirations or borrow bits and pieces from those you love.
Go bold. There isn't an industry that isn't competitive, so it is only a question of how bold are you willing to go? Lady Gaga walks around without pants in the winter in London, what are you going to do to stand out? What is going to make you unforgettable and intriguing?
Commitment. You really get the feeling from Lady Gaga that she willed this all into existence, it was pure commitment and dedication with a clear vision of her success. She had some talent, but by all accounts, she isn't an over the top singer or songwriter, she is a singer of average talent who writes catchy pop music; it is all the rest, including her drive and determination that has launched her to the stratosphere Are you willing to do whatever it takes for your dream?
Thanks Lady Gaga, your ascension to the top has been a pleasure and inspiration to watch.
To read more about Lady Gaga in the New York Times click here >
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Collective-E is a worldwide collective of women entrepreneurs who have come together to achieve faster movement, exponential increase in resources and abundant support. We (and by "we", we mean founders Katie, Sabina and Beth) blog about tips in the four principals that drive Collective-E: business strategy, pr strategy, online strategy, and community. Plus, we have special guest bloggers share their wisdom.
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