Are you looking for a fun way to expand your network? Networking events can often be stale and boring, but the Silicon Valley Business / Technology EXPO is an exciting way to make new contacts in the Bay Area. The theme of this year’s EXPO is “Lifestyle, Luxury, and Travel” and there will be gourmet catering as well as live music, entertainment and prizes!

In addition to great food and entertainment, there will be an opportunity to meet clients, network, and grow your business, as well as a chance to create strategic alliances with decision-makers, entrepreneurs and professionals. This is a new model for business and technology mixers focused on vibrant and growing sectors, and more targeted towards sophisticated entrepreneurs, which makes it a more valuable experience for attendees.

Located at the Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose, The Silicon Valley Business / Technology EXPO is a portal designed for executives, decision-makers, professionals, business owners, and community leaders to network, earn revenues, and share information and resources. The Silicon Valley Business / Technology EXPO is designed to help you meet professionals, create alliances and expand your network.

The Silicon Valley Business / Technology EXPO will be May 31^st, 2012 from 6:00pm-9:00pm. For only $35 you can get a VIP pass, which will give you the opportunity to attend all 2012 everycircle.com Bay Area business and networking events. Tickets go fast, so buy them today!

As you can see in this infographic, over 3 billion hours of video are watched each month on YouTube, and more than 128 million people in the United States alone are among the site’s visitors. Its popularity and ease of use makes it the perfect place to begin your video marketing campaign.

How do you use YouTube for your business? Here are three ideas to get you started:

1. Do you ever have public speaking opportunities? Upload a video of a recent presentation you’ve given that shares helpful tips and tricks.
2. Is something out of the ordinary happening at your office? Take a quick video and share it on YouTube.
3. Did a batch of brand new products just come in? Record a video of your staff demonstrating the new line and showing how potential customers can use them.

Simply posting recordings isn’t a complete video marketing strategy, though. How do you get people to watch?

• Tag your videos with a variety of words that people might search for. As Mashable says, the more the merrier! For example, if it’s a recording of a recent speech where you shared tips for healthy eating, use tags like:

1. Healthy Eating
2. Food
3. Nutrition
4. Health Tips
5. Wellness Tips
6. Organic Food
7. Free-Range Food
8. Whole Food

• Post links to your video on your other social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
• Write a short blog post about the video and share a few “behind-the-scenes” fun facts. Then embed the video so readers can watch it right there!
• Keep an eye on your analytics – especially your “discovery” data. Knowing how people find your YouTube channel can help you refine your video marketing strategy.

Above all, be creative and keep trying different things! As with all promotion efforts, creativity and persistence can go a long way in video marketing. A slow and steady approach will get you much farther than a quick flurry of activity followed by nothing, so don’t be afraid to experiment and keep at it!

Special Offer: Three Girls Media & Marketing Inc. loves working with small and emerging companies to raise their brand awareness and name recognition. We offer a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation. Email info@ThreeGirlsMedia.com to make your appointment today!

Photo Credit: woodleywonderworks

Most business owners know the importance of a strong web presence, but many do not know the best way to go about strengthening their existing presence online. On the first day of this two-day event, entrepreneurs can learn how to use computers to build an online platform. This includes gaining the knowledge to increase web traffic on your blog, attracting millions of new visitors. You’ll also learn how to blog a book, establishing yourself as an expert in your industry, and how to use your new expert knowledge to get paid public speaking opportunities. Day one will also focus on the importance of search engine optimization, as well as how to measure the effectiveness of these new techniques using the benchmarks of success.

The second day of this event will focus specifically on “how to use the essential tools to become a successful entrepreneur and how to be the best CEO you can be.” These tools are the essential marketing activities that should be utilized by any thriving business, including public relations and social media.

The next Make America Prosperous symposium will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 19th and 20th at The Ground Floor Silicon Valley – 2030 Duane Avenue, Santa Clara, CA. Three Girls Marketing and Media is offering the Speaker’s Special rate for only $297 so reserve your spot in the Make America Prosperous symposium today!

Photo credit: SpecialKRB

It’s true that social media is a critical component to any marketing plan, but it’s easy to get bogged down in your social media efforts. You know you need to keep the content fresh, relevant and interactive, but producing quality content day in and day out can be challenging. Here are 5 tips to help you keep your social media audience engaged.

1. Be timely. The calendar is your friend. Keep an eye on what’s new, not just in your world but in the world of your audience. Do you sell children’s clothing? Keep an eye on story times at your local library, share information about an upcoming event at the zoo or let your audience know when Sesame Street on Ice will be in town. Stay attuned to school holidays and time special events for days you know parents will be looking for amusement for their little ones!
2. Be relevant. Speaking of your audience, ask yourself what they are looking for. Why do they follow you on Twitter? Why do they like you on Facebook? If you own a fitness club, your followers likely have a shared interest in good health. Share a favorite healthy recipe or send out a “move of the day.” Highlight a local park that’s great for hikes, or let your audience know about an upcoming 5k run.
3. Be interactive. Don’t just post and run – social media is supposed to be a conversation. Read what your friends, colleagues and competitors are writing. Comment on their posts and share interesting information. Bring something to the table!
4. Keep a list. Inspiration strikes at the strangest times, so be prepared and make a note of ideas whenever – and wherever – you have them. If you overhear something funny on the bus, write it down! If someone gives you a great quote, ask if you can use it. Don’t forget to take pictures of brand new products and every company event– perfect for Pinterest!
5. Be Funny. Let’s face it; we all love a good laugh. And if the occasional funny video or silly picture isn’t exactly relevant, we forgive you – as long as it makes us laugh! Spend a few minutes now and then surfing for amusing clips or photos that might brighten someone’s day.

Savvy social media marketers know that while planning ahead is essential, you also have to stay on top of your social media efforts to keep them effective. Be flexible and ready to change course according to what’s going on in your business, your community or in the news, and let social media work for you.

Special Offer: Three Girls Media & Marketing Inc. loves working with small and emerging companies to raise their brand awareness and name recognition. We offer a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation. Email info@ThreeGirlsMedia.com to make your appointment today!

Photographs can increase your Marketing strategies Effectiveness

Marketing strategies that integrate pictures naturally attract us.  We are drawn to photos that have good proportion, lighting, and subjects.  From stunning landscapes to slapstick pranks, a picture can speak a thousand words and have a strong impact in marketing efforts. The bottom line is, with a photo you can better market your product to capture and hold someone’s attention much faster than with text alone – even with compelling content.

Just about every form of social media has taken care to make sure that photos are easily seen and shared on its platform, so it’s important to take full advantage of this. If your marketing strategies include compelling or funny pictures, chances are your photos will travel to hundreds or thousands of eyes before the wave stops. Social media platforms benefit from a visual marketing strategy and should include the use of interesting photos.

Here’s a few tips for photos to include in your marketing strategies:

•People love pictures of people.  The eye is immediately drawn to another person’s face.  We unconsciously study them.  We process how the faces make us feel.  There is an immediate emotional reaction.

•People love pictures of animals.  Because domesticated animals have been apart of our history for thousands of years, we have grown attached to the little critters.  For most people, when they see a photo of a dog or a cat, they have an emotional reaction that is similar to viewing a small child.  It engenders love, empathy, caring, and joy.  And since most of us like to feel these emotions, we tend to like looking at animal pictures.  (It is rumored that pictures of cats are the most popular animal subject within Facebook)

•People love pictures of architecture.  Beautifully designed buildings, interior spaces, and exterior spaces intrigue us.  We delight in seeing the genius of other people.  It inspires us and enables our mind to let go of the everyday and think in more expansive terms.  We love to dream, and uniquely designed and well-crafted architecture help us do that.

•People love natural landscapes.  We are awestruck by nature.  To see the organic and inorganic natural world twine together is fascinating to us.  We love to see the triumph of life in a sometimes-hostile world.  It speaks to our struggle to survive and to see such beauty come from the struggle gives us peace and solace.

These are some of the major building blocks for pictures.  Take a photo and put a memorable quote with it.  Create a funny explanation for the photo.  Be creative and have fun.  If you take these major themes integrated in your marketing strategies and then use them in novel ways, people will inevitably be drawn to your objective.

At Three Girls Media & Marketing we use photographs in a many different ways. In what ways have you found that integrating photos has drawn more attention to your marketing outlets?

Photo Credit: Richard Trethewey

Special Offer: Three Girls Media & Marketing Inc. loves working with small and emerging companies to raise their brand awareness and name recognition. We offer a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation. Email info@ThreeGirlsMedia.com to make your appointment today!

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What Is It? iLuv Drawing is a series of interactive “learn to draw” applications for iPads & iPhones specializing in education for, and retention by, children. Developed by a mother for her young children, these apps are step by step programs with a user friendly and kid capable interface, as well as a child soothing voice for instructions. Children and adults alike can learn to draw people right on their touch screen in a few easy and memorable steps.

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The series of apps includes iLuv Drawing Animals and iLuv Drawing People among others. All of the apps are:

Educational: The app promotes artistic and creative skills in addition to right brain thinking that will benefit the child in future learning environments. The iLuv Drawing apps lay the basic building blocks of a drawing and assists in learning how to follow simple directions. iLuv also teaches fine motor skills for younger audiences.

Customizable: This application allows artists to create a masterpiece that is completely their own. Each drawing can be different and individualistic by using the simple tools included in the program. Tools include a vibrant coloring pallet to color the finished drawing, many custom backgrounds and textures and editing tools such as eraser, redo, undo and start over. New to the apps is a set of stickers for full customization. These stickers can be used to dress up drawings with gender specific clothing and accessories or can be used to turn the drawings into a greeting card with special phrases.

Creative: iLuv Drawing embraces the idea of creating a proud piece of art and encourages artists to be creative with the drawings they are bringing to life. Every artist has 20 drawing scenarios to choose from and can customize them with the handful of tools within the program. Stickers and colors can be changed and drawings can even be saved, printed and turned into cards for loved ones. The possibilities are endless.

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Where Is It and How Much? The iLuv Drawing apps are available for download in the iTunes app store ranging from free to $4.99. Find out more about Learn With Fun Apps at www.learnwithfunapps.com.

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Story Ideas:

1. Jumpstart Your Child’s Learning Curve: The transition from toddler to elementary school student can be a tough adjustment for some children to handle. Using the iLuv Drawing People app with young children will teach them what it means to be a learner and will in turn create a sense of ease when they transition into formal education systems, or even as they go back to school following summer break.
2. iLuv Drawing App is Medically Helpful: Occupational and physical therapists using interactive apps to promote fine motor skills in patients, and have found the iLuv Drawing apps to be a helpful resource.
3. iLuv is a Perfect Tool for Parents who are Homeschooling Their Children: The iLuv Drawing series of apps will supplement and enrich kids’ at-home education with tools and activities that may not be available in socially integrated educational systems like public or private schools.
4. Great Activities for Summer Time: Can’t afford an art teacher? Get ‘iLuv Drawing’ apps! Kids will learn the basics of drawing in few easy steps. This is the first app that actually teaches users how to draw so many drawing step by step!
5. Great Apps for Traveling with Kids:Parents won’t feel guilty if their kids are using iLuv Drawing apps while they travel, because they are learning how to draw and being creative on the go!
   

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Three Girls Media & Marketing Inc. (408) 871-0377
Stefanie Burger, (253) 334-7741
stefanieburger@threegirlsmedia.com,

What is it? HEATHER ON THE HILL, a Conservative Talk Show for TV, is a show that will fulfill the niche for informative needs of America’s Conservative Youth. With a youthful and conservative perspective, Host Heather Bachman uses hard hitting interviews and commentary to examine issues and objectives of both political and society factors with the point of view that will appeal to younger audiences. This program will create its own 18-30 year old audience while tapping into existing audiences of popular political shows.

Who is it?

• Host:  Heather Bachman, highly recognized political analyst and strategist, is known for her behind-the-scenes and no-nonsense approach to political discussion and debate. Her dynamic work ethic and insatiable appetite for knowledge landed her opportunities leading directly into a promising career in the political arena. As a current adjunct professor for the Helms School of Government, she is well versed in The Republican Agenda, Domestic Policy Agenda and its effects on our nation, youth in politics and much more. See her full bio here.
• Audience: The demographic of this program differs drastically from already existing conservative political programming, as it will directly cater to the youth ofAmerica. So often overlooked in the political arena, youthful voters deserve programming that is relevant to their lives and how current administrations affect them.
• Guests:  From Congressmen to Political Correspondents, the youthful edge of HEATHER ON THE HILL, a Conservative Talk Show for TV, will host a wide array of guests.  Further, the view of the issues discussed will be attractive to many who may have been silenced by other venues from the House floor to the editorial desk

Story Ideas

1. Youthful experience brings political commentary to a new demographic: Heather Bachman has a youthful essence about her that is not commonly seen in political programming. Her exuberance and extensive knowledge base is exciting youth who are desperate to have a platform in the political arena to effectively voice their opinions.
2. Concept for HEATHER ON THE HILL, a Conservative Talk Show for TV, set to bring groundbreaking programming to the realm of political commentary: The concept of HEATHER ON THE HILL, a political show for young Americans, is a political breakthrough – the first show of its kind.
3. Age is just a number; new programming for new and politically intelligent voters: The so often overlooked voters (those 18-30) are coming out in full force for elections. Heather Bachman sets out to change the persona of these voters by bringing relevant programming about the effects of our political system on the youth inAmerica to the forefront. HEATHER ON THE HILL, a Conservative Talk Show for TV, gives sound to the often-silenced voices of young Americans.

What else?

With her political experience, journalistic background and already exemplified radio host experience, Heather Bachman is able to carry out a program whose magnitude even in beginning stages will be at the level that many programs only attain with years under the belt.  With a sharp tongue, reporter mind and political knowledge, she will be able not only to keep up with the older competition but surpass them as having a high level program and a loyal and youthful viewer following.

Photo Credit: Meghan OMalley

Pinterest is quickly becoming an obsession among social media users. This pin board site is reaching far beyond the realm of recipes and do-it-yourself projects and is being utilized by business owners and entrepreneurs in cutting edge and revolutionary ways. You may think that Pinterest is useless to your business brand awareness but with a few easy tricks, you can create and strengthen web presence to reach a whole new demographic of followers.  Follow these tips and make them your own; it doesn’t take much effort to spark an online conversation for your business.

Do your research- Find relevance for your business in the Pinterest boards. Look at what your audience will be interested in. If you are a kitchen remodeling business familiarize yourself with the do-it-yourself sections along with interiors and design themed boards.  Find out exactly what it means to “pin” and become well versed in the process that is Pinterest.

Be Interactive, NOT strictly self-promoting- Be an active presence on Pinterest and DO pin your followers’ content to your own boards – even if you create boards that aren’t always geared towards your product. Create a discussion with your followers and be conscious of how your content can be relevant to them. Boards that are one-dimensional and very self-promotional often fall flat and lose followers at a rapid rate.

Be Creative- Use Pinterest as a vessel for infotainment. Use your imagination and find ways to use the platform as a resource to reach fans 1-on-1. For Example, if you are an athletic shoe company- encourage fans to pin a photo of them doing athletic activity and award an at random winner a new pair of tennis shoes. This is a low budget giveaway that will get an online discussion sparked and can be linked back to your website for a noticeable traffic increase. Consider doing a daily pin promotion or pinning contest with your followers.

As a business owner, your possibilities are endless. The new and creative social media platform that is Pinterest has taken off with speed, and by using these tips you and your business can spark a discussion and entice a following of new fans. Good luck and happy pinning!

“‘Housing can make or break a rewarding study abroad experience,’ says Sheryl Hill, Founder of the ClearCause Foundation, a non-profit committed to keeping students safe during study abroad programs.”