September 2010 ~ Rags To Stitches Productions

New Web Site: Wesley Christian Preschool

5:14 PM Author: RAGS

I recently finished up a quick web site for Wesley Christian Preschool which is a perfect example of how a small business can use WordPress as a do it yourself tool for managing your online presence. Although WordPress was designed for blogging, when utilized correctly it can be a great platform for creating a fully functional and effective website.

I've been recommending WordPress to clients who have the need for maintaining their own web site for several reasons. The benefit of maintaining the site themselves clearly eliminates the need for calling me - and paying me - to make any changes when necessary. It also provides them with the tools to post current news about their business, keep their customers informed, blog and connect through their social networks.

In this particular case, Karen and her administrative assistant were having issues with editing and maintaining their web site through their previous setup. As you can see below, their WordPress dashboard is as easy to use as a word processor. Now Karen and Nikki can spend their time doing what they do best at Wesley Christian Preschool and easily keep their web site up to date through this new method.

Feel free to contact me if you're business is ready to go online in a affordable and reliable way, creating a web presence that you can take over after development and drive from the seat of your own home or office.

Getting OUT of the CafePress Marketplace

1:37 PM Author: RAGS

CafePress Shopkeepers will no doubt recall their decision to change the marketplace. I recall the chaos in the forums as I was very active there at the time, and my advice to everyone was simple. Opt out of the marketplace.

This meant making sure none of you images were tagged at all, and that you had opted out through your shops settings. As it happens I've discovered there can be a flaw so I wanted to bring it to shopkeepers' attention.

I left one - just one - bumper sticker tagged which made it available in the marketplace. The bumper sticker includes mydartshirts.com under the design, so I thought maybe that would be some way of reaching the marketplace without actually being in the marketplace. Ever since I've removed all the tags from my images and opted out of the marketplace things have been fine. Until this week...

Two straight days this week I received notification for sales from the marketplace for a total of 11 shirts. The designs were NOT tagged nor am I opted into the marketplace. I just don't know how I'm going to spend the $18 and change CafePress seems to think my work is valued to be. I sell 11 shirts and I get less than a Jackson?

How can this happen? Naturally I went off to investigate...

To see if any of your designs are tagged at all, type in your shop URL with the following modification:

http://www.cafepress.com/sk/yourshop

By doing that I discovered that visitors shopping the marketplace can easily wind up on that page, and even if you only have one design tagged they can discover your shop and purchase anything. Armed with the discounted CafePress marketplace cookie that pushes then through as a marketplace sale.

So... Shopkeepers check your status by using the URL with that /sk inserted and double check your designs. You may think you're unreachable from the marketplace and find out otherwise.

Free Workshop: Getting Started with Constant Contact

9:50 PM Author: RAGS

Constant Contact guru and Regional Development Director Lisa Sparks will present "Social Media Marketing Made Simple" in a free two-hour workshop coming to Florida.

For Those with 60-Day Trials Only! "Getting Started with Constant Contact"

Note This workshop for ONLY for those people who already have a Constant Contact FREE 60-day trial account. If you don't have a trial account, please set-up here before you register to attend this event.

Getting Started with Constant Contact (Learn how the system works!)

More than 350,000 businesses use Constant Contact to help grow their business! This workshop will help you create and enhance your first email marketing campaigns - we'll provide tips, techniques and guide you through the tools and features in the Constant Contact system.

You'll learn to:

Set up your account options

Build and manage your contacts

Create great looking emails

Brand your emails to match your website

Work with images

Analyze email reports to maximize results

Text editing

Other great shortcuts and tips!

NOTE: You do not need to bring a laptop, though you are welcome to for note taking.

Miami Beach (choose either the morning or afternoon session)
Tuesday, September 21
10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $0 (Please bring your business card.)

or

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $0 (Please bring your business card.)

The Mondrian Hotel
1100 West Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139-4760

Parking: Valet discounted to $15. Parking garage on corner of 10th and West just across from the Mondrian Hotel and on-street parking.
Click here to register

Fort Lauderdale
Tuesday, July 27
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Cost: $0

Hampton Inn Downtown Fort Lauderdale
250 North Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Click here to register

Holiday Marketing

3:11 PM Author: RAGS

Printwear Magazine, September 2010.

As we approach the last quarter and feel the Holiday season approaching, now is the time to begin planning your Internet Marketing strategies for the 2010 Holiday season. This issue of Printwear suggests a few ways to approach your marketing plan and includes a calendar of events to follow and kwwp your campaign on track.

Read This Article Online
Subscribe to Printwear Magazine

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