Take A Walk With Us

The Field: Part 1

I looked up from my desk at about 4:25 yesterday and realized it was still light! This is reason for celebration as far as I'm concerned.  I looked at the dog, he looked at me and before I could say 'do you want to go for a walk?', I had my wellies on and he was at the door.

Lo and behold, I'd been at my desk all day, and although I let Lucan in and out a few times, I didn't realize just how nice it was out. 51 degrees! Another reason for celebration. It's February and I didn't even need a coat and gloves. Just a sweatshirt. Talk about making a girl and her dog happy.

Off we went with the sun shining bright. We walked from one side of the field to the other. There was only snow at the bottom of each side. The oddest Winter ever, but I'll take it.



Part Two: The Sky

I had just taken the shot of the barn roof, walked a little further and found the snow heart and then I looked up. I gasped. The huge 'snow' moon was resting on the barn roof.

It was really something. I made Lucan sit for a minute just so I could take it in.

Simply breathtaking. 

Eventually I had to pull myself away, but there were still things to be seen.

This plane had a good view and was reflecting the sunset.

This plane was much higher, but its trail was also reflecting the sunset.

When we stopped at the little cemetery at the top of the field, I found this awesome lichen on the stone wall. The texture and the mustard colored bits were awesome.

Then I caught the moon one last time through the trees before we headed back across the street.

The snow moon is so bright, it woke me up for the second night in a row.

Sunset Meadows

As I peeled myself away from the sight of the moon, I turned as was greeted by the sun going down.

Lovely.

This morning after Gar started his truck, he came back in and said, "You should see the sunrise at the end of the road." So I stepped out and said I didn't see anything, to which he replied, "You have to go to the end of drive and look East." I did as instructed.

The sky was on fire.

It's not as warm today, but the sun is shining and it's nice enough for another walk in the field. That's what we're planning on here..........well, if I can rouse the dog from his nap on the couch.

Have a great Tuesday.  By the way, not a lot of entries in the giveaway so far.  You're all giving the current entrants a really good chance of winning. Just throwing that out there. Of course, they'd might prefer that I just clam up.

Tomorrow, the second installment of Marketing 101.

See you on the flip side,

So, you want to be a star?

Marketing 101, Part 1

My 'manifesto' for 2012 included sharing business promotion advice on Mercantile Muse. You see I've owned a PR/Marketing/Advertising firm, Speakeasy, for 17+ years. I work with other small businesses. I'm a one girl show and I wear many hats. Any given day may find me designing a logo, creating a marketing plan, placing advertisments, or writing a press release. I think it's time for me to share some tips with Muse followers, especially since a lot of you operate your own online businesses and offline/3D businesses.

Let's start with a few things anyone can employ, for no cost, to gain a larger share of the marketplace.

#1.  Start from wherever you are. See the sign?

Pay attention to it. You can't go back and change what you've done with regard to your business. Regretting how you've gone about things doesn't move you forward. Start from wherever you are. Assess where you stand at this moment and where you want to go. Write it down. It makes it more real.

#2. Listen to your customers wants and needs.

Today I sold my first large print because a customer asked for what she really wanted. It was something I was planning on doing anyways, but she gave me the reason to buy the larger art paper. (Now, I have to update my shop to offer this option to all my customers!) I'm really excited that the first large print is off to Austrailia simply because I listened and was willing tweak my offerings based on my what my customer wanted.  This also applies to customization, something else I offer my customers. If you have a product or service that can be customized, do it. It gives people one more reason to choose you.  It also indicates to potential customers that you are willing to do what it takes to get the sale. A pretty good vibe to sending out. Afterall, who are you going to buy from.......the person who says flat out- 'no I don't offer customazation' or the one who says 'let me see what I can do'. 

via ArtfulMusicianPRTLND

#3. Be kind. Live by the golden rule.

You may have a customer who pushes your buttons with questions. Even if you're not willing to answer any more, or can't help them in the way they need, there is a nice way to say no. People appreciate being treated with kindness. Think about how you would want to be treated in a certain situation, and treat your customers the same way. Remember this in your shop policies as well. It can speak volumes about who you are, not only as a business person, but as a person. I don't know about you, but I don't care to do business with nasty, mean, negative people. I work too hard for my money to give it away to someone who can't treat me nicely. It's not that hard and it's free.

#4.  Answer inquiries promptly.

via stampoutonline

When a potential customer contacts you, let them know you've received their email or convo as soon as you can. Even if it's a short note that simply says 'I've received your inquiry and will get back to you later today in more detail'.  This shows you're interested in their business. It's also just good manners.

#5. Know that emails and convos can come across completely different than a real conversation.

Before hitting the send button, are you shouting at your customer in all CAPS? Have you said something that can be mis-construed? Re-read your messages. Twice for that matter. You can't take back how something sounds once you've hit the send button.

How do these tips relate to promoting your business? As I've already said, who wants to give their hard earned money away to people who can't manage a little common courtesy  or to people who won't treat them like they are the customer? (Pet peeve alert: I just hate it when I go into a store and I'm the one that says hello, how are you today- not the person behind the counter! I usually leave without purchasing something). Who wants to purchase something from you if you don't respond to their emails/convos? 

If you are mismanaging these aspects of your business, it will hurt your bottom line. If you're dong them right, it will make a difference in the long run. Try to put yourself in your customer's shoes at every step of a transaction.

As far as 'start from where you are' goes, you can't get to point B, unless you know where point A is. 

Are you doing these things right or haven't you even considered them as part of your overall marketing?

Tomorrow begins the next shop and blog link up, so be sure to stop by. Talk about free promotion. Be sure to join the fun.

Gotta fly.

Have a great day,

Mantle Tease and Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Party

Welcoming White

As promised, I am finding a spot bring the season alive in white this year.  My mantle.

Now, I usually deck it out full of color with holly in my pretty chinoiserie vases with orange and ginger tones, so this is really different and so far I'm happy. I'm just not done yet.  Here's a small peak.

I've done a little crafting for this too, which I'll share in the near future. 

Hopefully when I take the reveal shots, I'll have better lighting and will capture a better picture to do it justice.

I admit, it won't be all white. There will be some touches of silver and gold and some things from nature. It's all good.

Will Someone Get The Door?

It's party time and the Christmas music is playing.

Really, it's playing. I can smell the mulled cider. A dash of Flag Hill Winery's maple syrup liquer, makes it the perfect cup o' the season.  It's time to mingle and get to know each other. If you have online shop or blog link up so we can take a look around. If you don't, do a little window shopping at the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Up Party.

It's pretty easy. READ THIS before linking:

*After you've linked up, take a look around Mercantile Muse. We'd love you to follow if you're so inclined. 

*Post one link. Two if you link one under Gotta Have It (for shops, crafters, artisans, vintage sellers) and one under Gotta Blog It (for bloggers).

*Be kind and check out other's links that catch your eye. You never know what may come back to you for supporting fellow shop owners and bloggers.

*Share a link tothe party. If we all share, the party will get more traffic which benefits us all-- blog, tweet, facebook, etc. If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button (from Mercantile Muse's button page)  and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome. 

*Leave a comment and be sure to check back Friday when I feature some things I've found through the link up. It could be you!

First up, shop owners:

Now all of you bloggers link up:

This link party will be open to links for one week, instead of the usual two.  That way we can have more parties during the holidays. 'Tis the season, afterall.

Have a great Wednesday and thanks for stopping by the party.

You're Invited to a party!

RSVP: Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Free Promotion Party 

Hi Guys, it's time for our 2nd link party, after a very successful first. This party is now scheduled to take place every other Wednesday.  Good news.........Mercantile Muse's free promotion link up party will now not only be a place to link up your online shop, but also a place to link your blog.  Please be sure you're linking your shop/product under Gotta Have It and your blog under Gotta Blog It! As links are added, you may have to scroll a little further down to reach Gotta Blog It. 

In case some of you don't know, I've run my own adv/pr/marketing firm (Speakeasy) for 17+ years in the 3D world.  Combine that with a personal mission to pay it forward, my love of all things artistic, crafty or vintage and this is what you get: a place for etsy shop owners, crafters, artisans, vintage sellers and bloggers to promote what they do. It's a natural extension of my 3D and online business, Bates Mercantile Co. So take advantage of it and add your link.  Today on the Muse, it's about you!

Here's all I ask:

*Keep it to one link under Gotta Have It (for shops, crafters, artisans, vintage sellers) and one under Gotta Blog It (for bloggers).

*Please take a moment to click on links of other participants that catch your eye and see what they've got. You never know what you might find, perhaps something you've just GOTTA HAVE.  You also never know what may come back to you for taking a moment to support fellow participants.

*If you can share a link to this promotion party, the more traffic the link ups get, the more it benefits us all! So it is greatly appreciated if you blog, tweet, facebook about the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It free promotion link up party.

*Leave a comment and let me know if this is working for you (or how it could work better) and how you found the party.  Did you get traffic from the last party?

*If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button for this free promotion link up party from Mercantile Muse's button page and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome.  Thanks to those who already have!

*Consider following the Muse if you like this free promotion opportunity. Check out the right hand sidebar for ways to follow!

*While you're here, check out and enter our current giveaway. Click on picture in upper right hand corner. It's just for fun!

Did someone bring the champagne, because it's time to party!

If you liked this free promotion party, don't miss Stacey's link party at A Sort Of Fairytale tomorrow! And if you missed her tutorial here on Mercantile Muse yesterday, be sure to check it out.

Thanks for coming to Mercantile Muse's Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It party! Come again.