Tomorrow (July 20th) is “Get Out of The Doghouse Day®” – a National holiday which my team and I created in 1999 – and one of the things that has become our CLAIM TO FAME.  Today got me thinking about some of the strategies we have used to get our name out there to become known in our community and to help others get to know about the products and services my company offers. In 2000 we created a survey to see how people got out of the doghouse (and what put them there in the first place) and in 2001 we created a logo and trademarked the holiday National Get Out of The Doghouse Day®®.   We had to create a logo to submit to the United States Patent and Trademark Office – www.uspto.gov.

Speaking of Surveys – did you know that more than 1,000 people actually responded to it? And that was before the advent of online surveys (as we know them today)! In fact, the question I am most often asked is just how we got more than 1,000 people to take the survey.  That was the easy part. Since I am and have always been an avid networker, I simply carried my clipboard with the surveys around every where I went. We also asked people when they stopped in my florist, and I even took the surveys on trips and asked people on plane rides, bus rides, at conferences, in waiting areas and let’s not forget the Ladies Rooms!  It was such fun meeting so many people.  Of course, today would be a lot easier because we could have done this totally online, but the experience would not have been the same for my staff or for me.

And the best part of all is that every year at this time I get dozens of calls from Radio stations around the country asking about the holiday which is the “famous” part. Being interviewed by radio personalities all over the US makes me feel sort of like a celebrity, so I guess you could say “I am famous” for creating this holiday. And yes, it’s still one of my greatest “claims to fame.”  In fact, my staff and I have also been quoted in countless newspapers and magazines over the years. So you see, this type of promotion can garner great publicity and you become known for something positive. And the “publicity” could go on for years afterwards.

Webster’s defines famous as: renouned, celebrated, well-known, prominent, legendary.

Each of us fits that definition to some extent. The amount of “fame” each of us achieves however, is only relevant if we use it to our advantage. Here are some ways you fulfill the definition of “famous.”

~ When you write articles and others read them, you are famous.

~ When you have a loyal following of customers, clients and friends, you are famous.

~ When you have written a book, you are famous.

~ When you have volunteered for a fundraiser or some other community service, you are famous.If you’ve ever received an award, you are famous.

~ If you’ve ever done a heroic deed, you are famous.

In what other ways could you be famous?

Actions and deeds that you perform on a personal basis make you famous such as given your heart to a small child or a senior citizen, you are famous. When you’ve mentored someone or helped her or him achieve a goal, you are famous. And countless other ways! And the best part is that you OWN the fame, it is something that can never be taken away from you.

So tell me, what’s your CLAIM TO FAME?

For the REST OF THE STORY, Read the post: MY BEST PROMOTION EVER

Read the article: Women Want Flowers Men Want Sex – Doghouse Survey Says

Have a great story to share? Take the Get Out of the Doghouse survey

Check out the Doghouse Survey Press Release and 2009 Contest   

Read Top Ten Ways to Stay out of The Doghouse

Take the Get Out of the Doghouse survey: http://tulipstalk.com/DoghouseSurvey.pdf

Read some of the FUN stories submitted by our survey respondents on the Tulips Talk Blog 

And Check out Quirky Marketing ~ 365 Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany & Non-traditional Holidays!

Today is Bastille Day

In honor of Bastille Day I thought it would be fun to showcase an event the *American Cancer Society hosts ever year called Jail & Bail. 

Jail & Bail is an annual fundraising event that brings together community leaders and ordinary citizens for a common cause… to help fight Cancer!

Jo Walters, David Singer, Sabrina Singer and Marilee Maddox

For many years I was an active participant in Jail & Bail, serving as a Parole Board Member AND a Jailbird! 

This year, the American Cancer Society’s annual Jail and Bail event, held recently at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel in Dania Beach, raised more than $150,000.

Here’s how it works: The fundraiser has community members “arrested” by local law enforcement officers and brought to the mock jail. While in custody, these “jailbirds” have unlimited use of a telephone to call friends, relatives, co-workers, business associates, etc…, to raise the bail in pledges to the American Cancer Society. The bail is determined by a “judge” at the “jail”. And, all donations are fully tax deductible contributions to the American Cancer Society.

The local ACS sends media releases with Parole board members names and companies and also provides volunteers with their own press release Template to send out to their own media contacts. This is also a great way to stay top of mind in the media when they are looking for a story or resource.

One of my good friends David Singer (an attorney in Hollywood, Florida) has been the local Jail & Bail chairperson for years. And he and his law firm have received prestigious placement in all the major media outlets in the tri-county area including print, radio AND TV.  He works tirelessly to recruit Parole Board members who in turn find people to “arrest.”

And it’s a fun event. 

What does Jail & Bail have to do with Marketing? It’s called Cause-related marketing. Whenever businesses support a cause that has potential to reach a lot of people in the community, it helps them not only create goodwill in the community, it often will gain incredible media attention.  And that’s the kind of attention most businesses want. Because we don’t have to pay for it and we can feel good about giving back. As a “sponsor” you get visibility on marketing materials, mentioned during planning meetings and in media releases and much more. As a participant you get to work closely with other like-minded volunteers AND maybe even see YOUR name in the media.

Here are 5 tips to help you plan and execute a successful Cause-related Marketing Campaign:

1. Find a cause you can get your arms around. Something that feeds your soul AND does good in the community. You will find it more worthwhile and you will be able to relate better to the people who also believe in the cause – the volunteers, staff and supporters. Organizations are also looking for partners with similar agendas, those who can achieve their goals by partnering with the right businesses and individuals in the first place.

2. Set realistic, measurable goals for your program.  Like any other marketing plan, you need to know what outcomes you hope to get from your participation.  Include how you will achieve those goals.

3. Create a “partnership agreement” that both parties understand and agree to.  A clearly defined agreement will include both “partners” obligations, rights and expectations. Remember this is like any other partnership and if you can add a little formality to it, then the chances of success increase and it creates a sense of comfort knowing in black and white what each partners responsibilities include.

4. Be an ambassador for your Cause.  Let everyone in your own circle know what and how you are supporting the organization. You will be pleasantly surprised by how many people will give you a thumbs up and also will want to “help you in your cause.”

5. When all is said and done, do a thorough review to make sure the campaign met your goals, your needs and the expectations of all concerned. Remember that while you want to support a cause you believe in, the bottom line is your support should create awareness of, interest in and customers for your company.

So next time you are trying to decide what community event to support, look at your calendar and see what’s going on and find a local charity to align yourself with.  And then let me know what you did. Maybe your story will end up in the next edition of Quirky Marketing ~ 365 Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany and Non-traditional Holidays.

*The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem—by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer— through research, education, advocacy and service.

Grab a FREE copy of my ebook: GET MEDIA SAVVY!– The Ultimate eGuide to Promote Your Products, Services and Ideas to the World at: http://www.womensmediasummit.com/get-media-savvy/

In July 2004 just before the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Formula 1 cars parade through central London giving ans and families a chance to see the cars up close and personal as they zoom around Picacilly Circus and Regent Street. This was the “photo seen round the world”

Let the Goodtimes Roll (or Sail)
If you have a “famous name” you could join the Goodtime III for a really good time and rub elbows with other “celebrity namesakes”  Seen aboard this Ohio cruiseship were “Kevin Bacon,” “Julia Roberts, “Samuel Jackson” Anita Baker” and “Terry Bradshaw” to name a few. For the rest of the story, Celebrity namesakes enjoy publicity stunt aboard Goodtime III http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/celebrity_namesakes_enjoy_publ.html

Here’s a few Race-Ready Tips for July 4th Races
In the world of road racing, the Fourth of July is about more than just fireworks, picnics, and backyard barbeques.  Independence Day is also one of the biggest racing days of the year. No matter where you plan to be this holiday, there is a good chance you can find a nearby race.  Visit  Active.com’s listings for Independence Day races at http://www.active.com/running/fourth-of-july/ and see for yourself. And if you’re running in your first race ever this weekend, here are some tips and advice http://running.about.com/od/racetraining/tp/racedaytips.htm so you know what to expect.

A Race by Any Other Name

You can take the name out of the race but you cannot change the spirit of what once was known as the Firecracker 400.

Tomorrow in Daytona Beach Florida, 43 drivers will embark upon a 400 mile race once known as the Firecracker 400. In the early 1990′s my then boyfriend (now husband) invited me to that race.  Two things I remember about that day.  No three.  It was unbearably hot, so noisy even the earplugs needed earplugs and sitting 2 rows in front of us was then president, George Bush!  That was the last race I attended!  Since then, we have had three other presidents, Bill Clinton, George W and President Obama and the race has changed from the Firecracker 400 to the Pepsi 400 and now the Coke Zero 400. But it will always be the Firecracker 400 to me.

 My Independence Day Tweets

This year just for fun (and because I found these interesting articles) I thought I’d list some of the Tweets I have planned in honor of America’s Independence. Enjoy!

American Independence and Beer Go Hand in Hand http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/2009/7/2/american_independence_and_beer_go_hand.htm

Independence Day Comes With a Whimper, Not a Bang, as Cash-Strapped Cities Ax Fireworks Shows  http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/2009/7/1/independence_day_comes_with_a_whimper.htm

July 4 Hot Dog Contest: The Superbowl of Eating http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/2009/7/2/july_4_hot_dog_contest_the.htm

WE The People ~ http://www.connectsimply.com/blog/we-the-people/

Wishing everyone a happy 4th of July! Enjoy your day of celebration, family, food and fun and sometime throughout the day I hope you take time to remember what our forefathers sacrificed to ”win” this freedom we enjoy today.

That’s right! February 18th is Play Doh Day ~ created in 1956 by Joe McVicker from modeling clay out of wallpaper paste for his sister’s pre-school students. Rainbow Crafts in Cincinnati, Ohio distributed the off white modeling compound known as Play-Doh to department stores and schools.

Kenner later aquired Play Doh, made it into a rainbow of colors. In 1991 Hasbro toys acquired the rights. Play Doh comes in a variety of products and is sold worldwide!

Have you heard of Play Doh Marketing? According to Doug Hall, Author of “How to Jump-start Your Brain” getting the creative juices flowing can be as simple as opening a can of play doh and what else? Playing with it!  Remember when you were a kid and played with this crazy clay and came up with all sorts of shapes. If you were like me you probably even invented a few new “animals” like the the corse (a combination cat and horse) or the allimonkey (an alligator with long arms that swings from trees and eats people AND bananas.

My brother and I would spend hours with our play doh coming up with goofy shapes!  Fast forward today. If you had a can of play doh in front of you right now, what would you create?  And what would it remind you of?

If you are having trouble coming up with “fresh ideas” in business, take a drive over to Toys R Us or Target or let your fingers do the walking online and buy some play doh!  Heck, have a play doh party at work and see what happens!

Feel free to share your play doh memories below. I’d love to read about them.

Happy play doh day!

For more on Play Doh products, go to http://www.hasbro.com/playdoh/default.cfm?page=products

For more ideas like this, check out my new Quirky Marketing Calendar at www.QuirkyOffer.com.  More than $2,000 worth of bonuses when you get your copy.

   You can test your detective skills and your patience with this all-new Social Networking Wordsearch puzzle. If you want to know the answers, please leave a comment on any one of the posts at Redhead Marketing then send me a message with “Social Networking Puzzle Answers” in the subject line. I will send you the link to the KEY.

If you are not participating in social networking either by blogging, being on forums, taking advantage of social networking sites and platforms, you may be missing out on an untapped audience of prospects and customers.  Social networking is a great way to share your own resources, find resources and learn from others and oh yes, do some business.

In fact, you can learn a lot about Blogging and Social Networking when you listen to the Women’s eCommerce Association Blogging for Business Audio Program.  You can save $20 when you purchase the program before September 15th!

Looking forward to hearing from you!