This Month's Non-Profit - ASP!

We at Whiteboard Promotions work with a lot of Non-Profits, as we feel its our corporate responsibility to contribute to our communities in more than just an economic capacity. As a beneficiary of the good work done by a non-profit when I was sick, well to say we have a soft side for them is an understatement! So we have decided to highlight several of the non-profits that we work with currently, and this month we'd like to introduce you to one of our Favs - the Appalachia Service Project. ASP is an amazing organization, as each year it goes into the Appalachia area of our country and fixes the homes of those in need. Their goal is to make homes "warmer, safer and drier" for needy families. And for more than 40 years, they've done exactly that for thousands of families. Take a look at this video, for more information on ASP:


Also, go check out their website at http://www.asphome.org/

A Special Day!

Today is indeed a special day for the Wilson Family, it's our 2 year anniversary of my Kidney Transplant. It's also a very special day for my donor, Cristina Zakis, who saved my life, and transformed hers in the process.

Words cannot describe how blessed we are as a family, and how this journey has transformed our entire lives - both personally and professionally. For more information on this journey, go to my wife's blog at http://www.missinformationblog.com/ for her perspective on this. Next year, you will get mine! Thank you all for your support, and remember to be an organ donor on your Drivers License, your gift will save lives. Chris

Why We Voted Today

I hope that on Nov 6, many of you voted, and I'm sure many of you voted differently than I did.  However, when I look to see all of the people in my area and on social media proudly stating that they voted, it shows me how great this country is.  Yes, we vote on a partisan and self-interest basis, be we vote as Americans first and foremost.  We vote for our children, and yes, we vote for those who defend and die for us on a daily basis.  Please take a moment, and play this as you start your day, and remember why we have the privilege to Vote:

Monday Fun - Irony of a Business owner

Why is it?
That a person wakes up after sleeping under an Advertised blanket on an Advertised mattress and pulls off Advertised pajama,s bathes in an Advertised shower, shaves with an Advertised razor, brushes his teeth with Advertised toothpaste, washes with Advertised soap, puts on Advertised clothes, drinks a cup of Advertised coffee out of an Advertised mug, drives to work in an Advertised car and then...

Refused to Advertise believing it doesn't pay!  Later if business is poor, he Advertises it for sales!





Why is it?

I found this in a church bulletin this weekend, and I found it so funny, I had to Advertise it!

Have a Great Monday!

Fall is Celebration Time!

Chris Wilson | (678) 380-6869

Chris Wilson  |  chris@whiteboardpromotions.com  |  (678) 380-6869 All prices and product inventory subject to change. Set-up charges and/or rush charges may apply.

How YouTube Stars can help your brand!

Let's face it, the spokesmodel bit works.  From the George Foreman grills to the Thighmaster - a celebrity pimping your product will move stuff off the shelf.  But, well, celebutantes are expensive, so some brands are moving towards another media outlet - YouTube!  Here are 10 reasons why a "weblebrity" is a winner for your brand!

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Splurge.. or Save! New Products for Any Budget!

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Is your Brand Human?

A peculiar question, considering most of our brands are inanimate objects.  However, when it comes to promotion, personifying your brand does equate to increased sales, and in terms of the non-profit world - donations.

Take, for example, one of my favorite Brands - Apple.  Now, their products do rock, but you would think that an average consumer would be hard-pressed to drop $500+ on an iPad or iPhone.  However, with the way the Apple retail outlets are laid out, to the utilization of the late Steve Jobs, etc., Apple has been able to create a brand that has a humanistic appeal.

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Products for a Cause!

Check out our specials store at Whiteboard Promotions!

Zumba - How to build a brand off of Fun!

Everyone has heard of the Zumba experience - how Latin Dance rhythms are combined with cardio to create a fun-filled exercise regimen.  I'm sure you've seen the infomercials, or have gone to a class at your local gym to see what this is really all about.

But what is also interesting is how a re-focus on its branding, and a re-design of its website catapulted this brand to newer heights - and created raving fans

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Instagram - Add another site to the Social Media mix!

So, we went social with MySpace and YouTube, and when that wasn't enough, we went to Facebook.  Shortly thereafter, we Tweeted, and FourSquared, and Yelped our way around the internet stratosphere.  We Pinned things, Google Plused, and LinkedIn to anything we could.  So, what's next you say?

Instagramming!  Yes, a quicker, kinder, gentler way to put your pics up quickly!  So, how does THIS one work for business you ask?  Well, Instagram is mobile - and unless you've been under a rock all these years, mobile IS the IT thing for, well, everybody!

Now more and more businesses are utilizing Instagram as yet another tool in their Social arsental:

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Janelle Nevins - Innovator and Friend

I wanted to share my thoughts on a friend who passed away yesterday, after battling illness for many months.  I know in my heart that she's in a much better place, looking down on us today.

Janelle Nevins was what I call a friendly competitor, and as we roamed the halls at the Coca-Cola Company for many years, I came to respect how she ran her business.  Janelle started part time in this crazy industry of Advertising Specialties working with her husband Art, and as a newcomer to this industry, she did what all new salespeople do - she called on the biggest buyer in town - Coca-Cola.  Her first order was for 50 lighters, which ended up being a long-term client for well over 30 years.

Janelle grew her business into one of the largest distributors in Atlanta, and as a result became one of the most respected women in the Industry.  I remember meeting her for the first time at Coca-Cola, and what struck me most was how open she was to talking to some newbie, and how over the years she would make a point to talk shop with me on a business and personal level.

When I was diagnosed with my kidney illness, Janelle reached out to me with emails, notes, and a get-well package - that alone sticks out as to the person she was - gracious, open, and giving.  We talked on the phone and via email while she was going through her medical journey, and she always maintained a positive attitude.  She also stuck to her business even when she was sick, she truly loved this industry, which speaks to her dedication to success.

I will miss Janelle Nevins, and my thoughts and prayers go out to Art, her children and grandchildren, as well as to all those who were touched by her.  Godspeed Janelle, you will be missed, but I thoroughly believe that Heaven received a good one yesterday.

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Can we survive without the Postal Service?

The US Post Office is in trouble, stating it will miss its next 2 benefit payments that were mandated by Congress.  With this news, the releases of tapering service, and of course the rise of the Internet and email - is the Post Office on the outs?

The US Postal Service is one of the few institutions that is written into the US Constitution, making it's demise a true constitutional crisis.  So, what can the Post Office do?  We all get mail in some way or shape - be it a circular, bills, cards, advertisements, etc.  And the founders set up the Post to essentially be the backbone of commerce.  But as Rand Paul suggests, it's bound to go bankrupt soon, so what's next?  Read the article below for more info...

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Friday Fun - USA Swim Team Video

Congrats to all of the our USA Olympic athletes who have sacrificed much to become Olympians. You may have seen this video already, but it is perfect for a Friday! The US Swim Team video has gone viral, and it truly shows the youthful spirit of our Olympians, and how affective video is as a marketing technique! Have a great weekend everyone, and enjoy!

When Publicity works!

It really is funny how all of those old sayings ring true, especially these days.  When it comes to the saying "there's no such thing as bad publicity", well I can honestly say that it is indeed a truism, especially when the PR is paired with social media.

We all have heard of the controversy created by Dan Cathy's remarks, and how Chick-fil-A has become a media firestorm with all major networks, websites, talk shows, etc blowing up the issue.  I have been a Chick-fil-A fan for years, and yes the company is a client of mine.  But I wanted to look at the after-affects of the remarks, and what it has done for the brand Chick-fil-A recently.

Yesterday was Chick-fil-A appreciation day, and supporters put together fan pages where people could sign up and state that they would come to a restaurant to show support for the company - over 500,000 people signed up!  All across Facebook, Twitter, and the blogosphere, the Chick-fil-A brand was prevalent all day yesterday, with pictures of long lines of raving fans coming out to support the company.  Locations literally sold out of food, with huge lines waiting to get in the door or through the drive-thru.

So, I ask who really is the "winner" in this debate?  It seems to me that the brand received a huge bump in recognition, as it was put all over the map in the past week.  The cash registers were in overdrive yesterday with the outpouring of support in their restaurants, and most importantly, Chick-fil-A could quantify their raving fans numerically with the fan pages, etc.

So, like it or not, the controversy created by publicizing a private company's belief system really shows how powerful the multimedia platforms of today are in creating a raving fan base and, most importantly generating revenue to a brand.

So I say, winner, winner, Chick-fil-A sandwich dinner!

Embracing SWAG!

It's sometimes very hard to describe what we do for a living, and all of our clients have different monikers for what we provide - ad specialties, trinkets and trash, tchotchkes, giveaways, or Swag.  Some people in our industry cringe when they hear these terms, but for me, I always say that I play with toys all day, its a great gig!  We don't really get a whole lot of respect, let's face it, we are kind of a shadow industry in and of itself, but last week the Wall St. Journal had a front page article on Swag - please read below:

The Sultan of Swag

Gen-Y Marketing Tips

Yes, the youngsters born between 1982 and 1993 got the best of technology - they had the better computers, that crazy thing called the Internet, and were already accustomed to social media before we Gen-X'ers knew what hit us.  So how do you market to this demographic, the one with 80 million consumers and a spending power of over $200 BILLION?  Here are 5 tips to accomplish just that!

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What is Agile Marketing - and Why do I care?

Since communication has now jumped into hyperspace in terms of the speed information travels, marketers must now move just as quickly in order to stay ahead of the game.  So how does a savvy marketeer become a quick-on-the-feet mover and shaker?  By becoming best buds with your development IT teams!

Here are several key ways to implement and sustain an Agility marketing program:

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Positive Friday: Marvel Comics' New Superhero

This story came across my desk the other day, and really showed what an impact a company can have on  just one life.  When a four year old, who is hearing impaired, told his mother that Superheroes don't wear hearing aids, it prompted his mother to write Marvel Comics.  Well, Marvel Comics took this note and created a Superhero that answered this boy's complaint.

What's remarkable is how quickly Marvel took to this cause simply out of responding to one of its customers remarks, and yes showing real empathy and emotion, which is rare for a company.  The result is a PR coup for what is seen as an "old school" media.

Read more about this, and see how empathizing with your customers can pay off for you.

Marketing - The Classical approach

Sometimes, as marketers we get too gimmicky or enthralled with the latest technological trends.  But, just like in fashion, you can never go wrong with the classics!  Here are four tried and true marketing approaches for your next campaign!

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Winning tips for Pinterest

Hey, we all know that Pinterest is huge, we've talked about that before.  But how can brands, especially brands who are targeting women, utilize this social tool to drive business?  Here are 4 tips that will do just that!

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Honoring - and helping - a Hero

Today I wanted to talk to you about heroes.  We all have heroes in our lives - ballplayers, action figures, parents, etc. - however it's sometimes goes without saying that there are everyday heroes out there, especially those who protect us in the military.  Now, we all know that Cristina Zakis, my living donor, is my personal angel on Earth, but there is one other that I want to recognize, and request your help about.

SPC Justin Lansford was severely injured in an IED attack on April 23rd in Afganistan.  Yes, another Wounded Warrior, big deal right?  Well, not exactly.  Justin was injured coming to the aid of his fellow soldiers engaged in a firefight.  He was getting out of the Humvee when the IED went off, flipping the vehicle onto his legs, where he lost not only his leg - but almost his life.  Today, he's at Walter Reed, still fighting for his life, but is on the upswing which is good.

The compelling part of this story is the outpouring of help from the Gwinnett County community, and the unbelievable power of prayer which has helped the family and Justin get through this ordeal.  Justin is the nephew of a friend of mine, and to watch a family go through the agony of this is hard at times, but a community effort to assist this family really shows the goodness of our souls as human beings.

I ask that you all visit Justin's Facebook site, and continue to send positive thoughts and prayers his way.  And remember, Captain America is not just a comic book character, he is the epitome of every Soldier and Wounded Warrior that fights for our freedom every day.  Pray for our troops.

Facebook an Organ Donation Sponsor!

So Mark Zuckerberg, the guru of social media and founder of the Facebook (yes, that's what it was called originally folks) has taken on a new challenge - that of increasing the awareness and availability of organ donations.

Organ donation saves lives, as it did mine, as it did with Mark's friend Steve Jobs, who had a liver transplant from a deceased donor.  This transplant extended Jobs' life, and think of the things we may not have had if he wasn't given that gift of life - the iPad, iPhone 4, etc.  Okay, so maybe a reach, but I do admire what Zuckerberg is doing - utilizing his social platform as a way to save lives.  You've seen some of my other posts where social media has helped save people through organ donation, but Facebook is taking this to an entirely different level.

Anyway, I encourage you all to look at adding Organ Donor to your Facebook pages, and if you aren't registered as an organ donor at your local DMV, please do so - be it through Facebook's interface (very cool!) or with your DMV.

Read the article and let me know your thoughts on this.  Organ donation does save lives, and in the process will redefine yours.

Thanks for listening, and Donate Life.

Chris

One kidney, two transplants!

I am constantly surprised at the accomplishments of modern medicine, particularly in the area of transplant.  Of course, I'm more aware of these things nowadays, but this article is just another leap forward for the kidney transplant world.

So, the gist of the story is that a young guy gets a transplant from his sister - no big deal there, happens all the time, right?  Well, unfortunately, the new kidney gets rejected early on in the process, so... the perfectly good kidney is then re-transplanted into another person!  Yes, one kidney has now been inside 3 different people!

Read more here!

Not just another Social Media post...

Yes, we've heard that we need to have Facebook and Twitter accounts for our businesses.  We all know that we need to post consistently - hence, this post..

However, why is it important, other than a different way to show what you do/sell/provide?  Well, it's called a social media for a reason - Facebook and Twitter are social.  It's great to be able to interact and collaborate with your customer base - social interaction humanizes your organization, and creates a personal brand vs. a product/service.

This article really describes what social media can do:

Read More

Friday! Great Kidney story

So, it's friday, and I wanted to post this as a reminder of how important organ donation is, and how a truly selfless gift can indeed bring new life to a family.  This was brought to my attention by my wife, who had the hardest part of the job in 2010 - being the one taking care of me and the family while I was sick with end stage renal disease.

I ask you all to read this article, and look at being a living donor, or at the very least check the box on your driver's license to be an organ donor - you will save a life.


A Kidney for Ken

Techy T-shirts

It's monday, and taxes are due, so why not have a little fun with some quirky tech tees!  Take a look at this slide show found on Mashable this morning, right up this promo guy's alley!

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Do you + ?

So Google is launching a re-designed Google+ to compete with some of Facebook's Timeline features.  So my question is this - is Google+ a useful tool for you, or is it just another site to keep track of?

I admit, we're not on Google+ yet, but as far as SEO goes, I think it's a must, especially when building a brand following or marketing a new product.  However, Google is re-designing merely months after launching this platform, so are they just putting lipstick on a pig or what?  I'd like your opinions on if Google+ is a relevant medium for marketing and branding.  Here's the article on the re-design:


http://mashable.com/2012/04/11/google-plus-redesign/

Facebook for Business

Facebook has gotten a bum rap at times when it comes to its use as  business tool.  Sure, it's a great social format - meet friends, post pictures, keep up to date with people - however for most businesses, it's not utilized correctly, including us!

Can Facebook be a revenue generator?  The answer is yes, but not in a traditional, direct way.  Take a look at this article on how best to utilize Facebook as a fan generator and run social campaigns that do bring in revenue!

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Pinterest and Copyrighting

Great article on copyright laws and Pinterest. 

Law, as learned for the bar exam, is different from law, as it affects everyday life. The current hubbub over the terms of service of Pinterest, a popular image-driven social network, provides a perfect "fact pattern" to illustrate the difference.
First, the creator of an original work (or the person who commissioned the work, if it's a "work for hire") automatically owns copyright in it, whether or not she registers the work with the US Copyright Office. Registering your work, of course, has its benefits, some of which are especially significant in the Pinterest example... but we'll get to that in a moment.
Copyright comprises several exclusive rights and powers pertaining to creative work. Often referred to as a "bundle of rights," copyright means the owner has exclusive rights to do the following:

1. Reproduce the copyrighted work (make copies).
2. Prepare derivative works.
3. Distribute copies to the public.
4. Perform certain kinds of works publicly (e.g., plays, dance routines, movies).
5. Display the copyrighted work publicly (e.g., sculptures, paintings).

Read more: http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2012/7442/pinterest-and-copyright-lessons-in-life-and-law#ixzz1qyosumsW

Pinterest - How to use this new phenomenon

By now, we all know what Pinterest has become - a huge posting space for hobbyists, cooks, housewives, etc.  I know from my own experience that my wife is addicted to this site, and has integrated it into her own blog.  Now, the big question is - how can corporate America benefit from the high level of users at Pinterest, and also how NOT to be a blatant sales channel:

When dealing with the ever-evolving world of social media, marketers must be nimble and adaptive if they're going to keep up with the migration patterns of their audiences. In that sense, newly ascendant social network Pinterest has much to offer marketers.
Harnessing our fascination with images, relatively new social network Pinterest allows users to display pictures and videos for the whole digital world to see and share.
Users create online pinboards on Pinterest and collect images and videos to pin on their boards—much like old-school bulletin boards.
Now, marketers are also using Pinterest to tell their stories via pictures and extend their reach. By pinning product images, infographics, how-to information, designs, bits of inspiration, and more, businesses are appealing to the human proclivity to look when there's something to see.
The following infographic from Maxymiser on ways that marketers, online retailers, and others can use Pinterest, offering concrete tips. It also touches on Pinterest users' activity on the site and motives for using it vs. other social networks.

Read more: http://www.marketingprofs.com/chirp/2012/7478/pinterest-the-who-what-and-where-and-how-you-can-use-it-infographic#ixzz1qECLlJIv

Is Humor lost on Small Business marketing?

Big brands use jokes to market their products all the time. But, sadly, many small and medium-sized (SMB) marketers have lost their sense of humor.
Why is that? Maybe SMB marketers sense they have too much to lose to throw it all away with a joke. "We're running a business here" may be the kind of thinking that squashes their sense of humor. Not to mention... smaller marketing departments are juggling an awful lot of balls. What happens when you complicate things by adding a rubber chicken?
But running your marketing department—and your business—with a smile can increase your conversions, give your public relations (PR) a lift, and humanize your business. So, let's bring back the funny!


Read more: http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2012/7296/in-defense-of-fun-humor-is-serious-business-for-smb-marketers#ixzz1pevpI4Rr

The new Blog!

The new and improved Blog is up and running now! Many thanks to Kelley, who developed it and it looks sweet!

Students help to find a kidney donor

It's amazing what people will get behind and push these days, especially our youth. This is a movement near and dear to my heart. Richard Bland is a student at Kennesaw State University here in GA, and his kidneys are failing, so he's in need of a transplant. What's so different about this you ask?

Well his fellow students did what they know how to do - started a social media movement, and well its working! The started the hashtag #SaveRichard, and have gotten that to trend on twitter, had an MTV cast come to a rally, and went national with an article on Foxnews.com: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/03/14/georgia-students-turn-to-social-media-to-help-classmate-in-need/

You know I love a good kidney story, but what's more is the way that people have bonded together to help one another. As I have said time and time again, if you have ever had doubts about humanity, take a walk in my - or Richard Bland's - shoes and see the true essence of giving in people. It's humbling and uplifting at the same time.

I say GO For It! to Richard Bland and his crew, Bless you all for what you are doing. And to those out there who don't know about organ donation, go to www.donatelife.net or to www.kidneyregistry.org, being a living donor is a life-changing experience. Yes, you donate one of your kidneys, but what you gain in return is the understanding that you have saved a human being's life, and unlike the fruitcake you get every year at Christmas, this gift is the essence of a gift that keeps on giving!

Thanks to you all, have a great weekend, and Donate Life!

Chris

Can ANYONE be Creative?

Great article on the Wall Street Journal on creativity. Everyone has heard the phrase "he/she's the creative one" or "I'm just not creative", well I believe as is in this article that creativity is not an ingrained trait - its a skill. And creativity can come from anywhere - from an office desk, article, random thought, etc.

Please read and let me know what you think!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203370604577265632205015846.html?mod=rss_mobile_uber_feed

Apple and iMarketing

My Father-in-Law lent me the Steve Jobs biography, and as is so typical with me, I became obsessed with this book!  What amazes me about Steve Jobs - and Apple for that matter - is how much that brand has ingrained itself into our society and daily lives.

I remember my first computer - the Apple II, which I thought was an amazing machine.  I didn't know that it was developed in a garage from a hippie drop-out and a self-taught hacker.  But from that beginning, the Apple brand - it's logo, advertisements, etc - became as big as Coke, IBM, Marlboro, McDonald's, etc.  The attentiveness to design - simplicity and utility are critical to every Apple product - message, and positioning that are so associated with Apple really stem from the fanatic attentiveness to every detail that so exemplified Steve Jobs.

From the Apple II, to MacIntosh, iPod/iPhone/iPad/iCloud - Apple revolutionized the way we communicate, socialize, and in effect the way we do business.

For those of you who enjoy the integration of product design, fabrication, placement and advertisement, this book is definitely a must-read.  Yes, Jobs had some serious eccentricities and personality flaws, as many who worked for him will agree.  However, when it came to the brand Apple and its product lines - he was right nearly every time.  The message was clear to me - make things the right way, marry innovation and design in a simple, intuitive way, and always protect the Brand.

I hope you get as much out of this book as I have, please email me your thoughts or post on our Facebook page, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.

Happy Secret to Better Work!

Yes, we live in a world where we work - for money, survival, etc. However, it is often said that in order to succeed, we need to love what we do! How many of you say, "i love my job!" or, even worse "I HATE my job!" Here's a video on happiness, success, and the workplace. Let me know what you think of it!

Instagrams!

A peculiar lunch-box sized device called Instaprint popped up at insider events from the Grammy Awards to South by Southwest last year — spitting out Instagram photos into the physical world. Now its creators are working on bringing the box to the masses.

“Holding a physical photo in your hand is something that’s been lost over the last years,” explains Michael Lipton, the co-founder of Breakfast, the four-person agency that created Instaprint. “Nobody probably wants a shoebox of 1,000 of these things, but if they’re at party and can walk away with one, then it’s a nice keepsake.”

Breakfast calls itself a “physical-digital interactive agency.” You may be familiar with some of its projects: It built the blimp for Conan O’brien that automatically checked into Foursquare venues as it floated over them and a tweeting bike for Livestrong. As a side project, Instaprint fit with Breakfast’s agenda perfectly.

The wall-hanging box prints Instagram photos from events as they’re posted. It finds photos using the event’s hashtag, includes likes and comments when it prints, and uploads the collection to a website for browsing later.

It has a similar effect to handing out disposable cameras at a wedding — everyone takes photos, but they get pooled in one place. Meanwhile, guests walk away with a physical artifact.

Read More

Abundance is our Future

So, it's friday people, and we've had our share of bad news this week - tornadoes ripping through the country, gas prices rising, kids shooting others in schools - not one of our top 10 weeks! However, I watched this video, and I have to believe that we as humans have the ability to adapt, improvise, change, and innovate our way to success. Watch this and let me know what you think!

Great Video on Branding

This video was produced in 2011 by the MSc Brand Leadership team at Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia. The course was the first of its kind in the world and has attracted students from 23 countries including Japan, USA, Singapore, Taiwan, UK, India and China - to name but a few.

Positive Fridays: Largest Paired Kidney transplant to date!

You know I’m a sucker for a good transplant story, especially since I have been blessed with such a tremendous gift of a transplant from my living Angel on Earth Cristina Zakis!  So, I have to share this story, that is the epitome of Paying it Forward, and most importantly, the true goodness in humanity!  Donate Life y’all, it is truely the gift that keeps on giving – not like a fruitcake!

Rick Ruzzamenti admits to being a tad impulsive. He traded his Catholicism for Buddhism in a revelatory flash. He married a Vietnamese woman he had only just met. And then a year ago, he decided in an instant to donate his left kidney to a stranger.

In February 2011, the desk clerk at Mr. Ruzzamenti’s yoga studio told him she had recently donated a kidney to an ailing friend she had bumped into at Target. Mr. Ruzzamenti, 44, had never even donated blood, but the story so captivated him that two days later he called Riverside Community Hospital to ask how he might do the same thing.

Halfway across the country, in Joliet, Ill., Donald C. Terry Jr. needed a kidney in the worst way. Since receiving a diagnosis of diabetes-related renal disease in his mid-40s, he had endured the burning and bloating and dismal tedium of dialysis for nearly a year. With nobody in his family willing or able to give him a kidney, his doctors warned that it might take five years to crawl up the waiting list for an organ from a deceased donor.

Read More!

The rise of Pinterest as Brand engagement tool

Pinterest, with its 10 million users has quickly become a force in the Social Media world.  Yet, how do brands utilize this platform to engage their consumers on such a unique level?

Here’s an article that gives 5 tools for brand engagement on the Pinterest platform:

The surprise smash-hit social networking site of 2011 wasn’t Twitter, Tumblr or Google+. In fact, it was a site that, even today, is still an invite-only social network. The Palo Alto site Pinterest has skyrocketed into the top ten most visited social networks of the past year and continues to gain traction and popularity.

The image-based platform is a simple enough concept: Users create and name Boards anything they like (Places I’d Like to Visit, Pretty Dresses, My Cookie Creations, etc.) and post relevant photos on corresponding Boards, while categorizing Boards under one of the 32 general Pinterest categories. Users follow one another based on interests, and photos are displayed in a pin board-type feed that is simple, yet visually stunning.

But how can brands and companies utilize this platform to their advantage? Here are five ways to jump on the Pinterest bandwagon to reach an already established female audience and a rising male audience.

Read More!

Super Bowl Ads

Hey, its Super Bowl weekend, the most expensive day in Marketing and Advertising on TV!  My favorite was the sequel to the Star Wars’ Volkswagen ad from last year:

What was your favorite?

Inspiring Moments of 2011

I find it awesome how resilient we are as humans, that when facing adversity, we as a race stand up and find a way to succeed. Be it natural disasters, defending comrades in battle, or rocketing to space – we as a race are inspiring. Take a few moments to watch this video of what we have endured – and succeeded – in 2011.

Positive Friday: Nurse Donates Kidney to Patient

As most of you know, I received a kidney from my new sister, and Angel on Earth Cristina Zakis on Nov 12, 2010.  I see that day as a new birthday for me, and is part of the Why in what I do.  It also means I’m a sucker for a good transplant story, and this one is amazing.  It speaks to the true essence of selflessness, and shows that yes Victoria, there are good people out there.  If you know of someone in need of a transplant, or even if you have a calling to be a living donor – I ask you to consider it.  There is no greater gift than saving someone’s life.

To the people at the Emory Transplant Center – you are inspiring in your dedication, and are creating new hope in the lives of those who come to you – I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/atlanta-nurse-donates-kidney-hospital-patient/story?id=15378726#.TxlxfvnYjEY

Video You Should See

When we re-launched Whiteboard Promotions in January of 2011, we made it a goal of ours to help promote non-profits that make a significant, positive impact in our communities.  We also wanted to help raise awareness of key issues that affect our lives, and are dear to our hearts – that of transplant, and of Autism.

Here is a video I was sent today that was done for Autism Speaks, and it raises awareness of how prevalent this is in the children of today.  I ask you to learn about Autism, as it is affecting our youth more and more these days.

Have a great weekend!

QR codes and Trade Show Marketing

If you've attended a tradeshow, you've probably left with a bag packed full of promotional products, business cards, and sales collateral.

We all have the best intentions when we add something to our swag bags, but the reality of our busy lives sets in the second we walk out of the tradeshow and get into our cars. Materials collected at a tradeshow often get thrown out immediately or discarded after sitting in a corner of our office for months.

If your company uses tradeshows as a marketing tactic, QR (quick response) codes can help you avoid the inevitable doom of the tradeshow-bag black hole. QR codes are the square-shaped, (usually) black-and-white barcodes that we've all seen popping up on billboards, in magazines, and in commercials. When a QR code is scanned by a smartphone, it typically opens an informational Web page or video.

QR codes are catching on quickly in the US now that more than 35% of American adults own smartphones. In fact, QR code usage shot up 4,549% in Q1 of 2011 alone, with 9 out of 10 scans being done to find more information about a product or service.

So, how can QR codes help you make an impact at a tradeshow?

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