Adding Focus to My Blog

September 7, 2010 By Mike Leave a Comment

I’ve been blogging about pretty random topics. Very random. After further review I’ve decided that this blog needs to focus in on a few specific topics.

I stepped back and looked at my life and thought “what am I an expert in?” Not trying to be cocky, but just wondering what do I know a lot about. I narrowed it down to three things.

PUBLISHING

Seeing as I’ve spent the last 7 years in publishing I figured I know quite a bit about it, specifically Christian publishing. I’ve worked at Zondervan and now David C Cook in multiple roles at each. I’ve spent time in Finance, Sales, and now I’m the Director of Internet Marketing at David C Cook, which brings me to my next area of expertise.

INTERNET MARKETING

I can’t claim to be an expert in this field, but I do know a lot and I’m always learning more about it. I figured this is one area I can focus in on and give back.

FOSTER PARENTING

My wife and I have been foster parents for a little over a year now, which does NOT make us experts, but we did learn a TON. I’m always getting asked about ‘why’ and ‘how’ of fostering so why not make that another level of focus on the blog.

So there you have it, my three areas of expertise. I will however post about random things that happen in my life that may or may not have anything to do with either of those topics. This blog is a good spot for me to vent, so I may will use it to vent. I apologize in advance for those.

Filed Under: Foster Parenting, General, Marketing, Parenting

10 Ideas: Pikes Peak Library District

August 17, 2010 By Mike 2 Comments

pikes peak library district logo 10 Ideas: Pikes Peak Library DistrictI’m starting a new series on my blog called ‘10 Ideas’. The idea is that I give a business/person/something 10 Ideas for itself.

The first place I’m going to list 10 Ideas for is my library system, Pike’s Peak Library District. First off I LOVE our library. I mean L-O-V-E it. I just think these could do a few things to make it even more awesome.

10 Ideas: Pikes Peak Library District

  1. Newsletter – What’s happening at the library – Include a coupon for the coffee shops. Embed Video clips (YouTube) in the newsletter.
  2. Put a coffee shop in each library (only a couple have them).
  3. Make it fun to donate. Some cool change contraption thingy that kids can play with (much like Cheyenne Mountain Zoo).
  4. Leverage Meetup.com – Look for meetups around town and invite them to use your facility.
  5. Used Book Drop Off Bin – Like Goodwill…but for books. Give people tax write off.
  6. Figure a way to integrate with the school system. Mabye work with the art classes and put pieces of art that kids made all throughout the library.
  7. Free Book Room – Let folks come in and take a book…for FREE
  8. Add point system – Check out a book = 3 points, Magazine = 2 points, Movie = 1 point. When kids get a certain number of points they get a prize.
  9. App – Let me view my holds, check out books, read my digital library on my smartphone.
  10. Movie Theater – Put a movie theater in each location. Show local films.
  11. (Bonus Idea) – Delivery system for senior citizens.

So there is my first 10, well 11, Ideas. Stay tuned for more.

Filed Under: Marketing Tagged With: , ,

Buy From Me or Don’t, I Don’t Care

May 7, 2010 By Mike Leave a Comment

I came across this sweet commercial last week. For a company that sells mobile homes. It’s brutally honest, and brutally refreshing. I wonder what commercials were like if more people told it ‘as it is’.

Filed Under: Marketing