What Encourages Creativity...

I have to say for me its boredom. When I get bored, creative juices start flowing and they don't stop. At the end of a very boring day, I have a laundry list of to-dos. :)

We all get inspired in different ways but for most, music tops that list. There's not much a good song can't do. Here are some tips I've put together to encourage creative thinking...

1. Wake Up Early. You might be tired and lazy at first but the realization that you are getting a head start on your day soon kicks in and off you go.
2. Take a blank journal with you on your commute. Train, ferry, bus...those are all creative hot spots. Combine an iPod with that journal and magic is made.
3. Be part of an online community. Watching others and their interaction on various topics can stimulate ideas. Sharing those thoughts encourages creative energy that you didn't even know you had.
4. Movie Night. Movies are a major inspiration for people. Make an effort to watch a new type of movie or classic you know have inspired others that you just haven't gotten around to yet.
5. Make "Me" Time. It's hard to do some days but allowing your thoughts some freedom to be heard can stimulate thoughts you already have but haven't been able to really listen to.

And don't make me say it...eat breakfast, get plenty of rest, drink water and exercise...because those are givens...I mean, get creative here!!

...Creatively Yours...Kristen

A Social Gathering at ETC in Providence with Women Consumers in Mind

Just as 2009 ended, 2010 started...with the constant chatter of social media and utilizing it for your brand. At the ETC Conference in Providence, RI last week, there was a special emphasis on the importance of reaching women in the social space. 42 Million women in the US use blogs and are part of social media. We (women) are spending less time watching TV and more time online than ever before. Women also report that they are significantly more likely to make a purchase decision based on customer experience reported on blogs. I can say that I relate more so than ever. I won't purchase anything that I can't read a review or see a star rating for online. I might also stop shopping when I'm somewhere to find a review online for a product before I buy it off the shelf.  This is a huge factor I think gets missed by marketers too often. Women make the majority of purchase decisions and that goes for a HUGE array of products and travel plans. And it's more than just "skewing women." 2010 is going to be a landmark year for so many reasons...we are starting to see some relief from economic downturn, travel is not considered more of a luxury than a necessity anymore and for a lot of companies this year is do or die. Brands that have been on the brink, have a chance to pull out all the stops with women consumers especially. I'm giving some tips to marketers that come from the "buyer" part of my brain. :)

1. Relate, don't just skew. We need to relate to the message and what you have to say.
2. Offer up reviews for anything you are asking us to buy online. We want to know what others have to say about it. That to me sometimes means more than the cost of an item.
3. Don't forget forums and message boards. They may be old school when you look at the bigger picture, but women still use these areas for the "real story."
4. If you are marketing a destination, think blogs. Blogs are more likely to be used for travel research and planning than any other form of social network.
5. Reach out to women bloggers with a reason to write about you or your product. Relate to that particular blogger and offer up value to her and her readers. Bloggers have a following that they need to relate to in an effort to keep those readers. Know what she values in information for her readers.

It's 2010! The Year of the Unknown...

I am really confident when I say this...trust me. 2010 is the first year that I feel I don't have it all planned out and really don't want to! I'm enjoying the flow of life in the city and a fast paced career that keeps me on my toes and having no time to ask life questions.

I have great goals and aspirations for the year ahead but no rules or boundaries. My new motto...making no excuses for never having boundaries. :)

I'm kicking off the year with a very exciting event tomorrow night, the Food for Healing New Years Resolution Kickoff Event. Preparing to take away some great tips on living the best life I can in 2010. Very excited about that event. Then making my way on Wednesday night to the W Hotel to meet some fabulous women in the interactive industry and have a cocktail or two. :) Next week I am attending a Lecture and book signing by the fabulously happy and inspiring, Gabrielle Bernstein. Can't wait for that...I am halfway through the book. Plan to finish before the event. :)

And to top off an exciting month, my "partner in crime" is headed to the city at the end of the month to take on a workshop put on by Ladies Who Launch where we will learn best practices for planning, achieving and manifesting our 2010 vision!

An excellent webinar I think will be amazing: Life Changing Strategies presented by Michael Roizen, M.D. Sign up soon...it's Friday!!

Happy 2010 Everyone!! Let's make it the best year yet!!

Inspired by a Feeling of Inspiration...

Who said It Can't be Done?? That was my motto for 2009...and now I want to start 2010 fresh. I'm working on a new Motto. :) New. Brand New. With an enthusiasm for inspiration and motivation to make it the best year yet.

Some new found inspiration stems from meeting amazing women over the past eight months in NYC. It has meant so much to me to connect in many ways and with women of all personality types. I feel inspired to be free, express myself however makes me a better person and truly dig deep to find what keeps me going everyday. A passion for the new and exciting has kept me going and not to mention, working with agencies and creative gurus who make no excuses for never having boundaries.

Here are some goals I have for 2010...

• Stay Out of the Box
• Don't be Intimidated...I am Just as Intimidating to Some I'm Sure
• No Regrets...No Decision is Worth Muddling Over
• Do What Feels Right
• Volunteer More of My Spare Time
• Inspire Others
• Conquer Everyday with a Freedom to Go Beyond

Happy Holidays and Here is to an Amazing 2010!!

Find the Great Deals...Get Social!

This Holiday Shopping season is heating up the social network scene...family and friends are passing along some great deals, coupons, free shipping codes and even exchanging this year's ideas on the best gifts. Carve out some time to get connected socially on Facebook and especially Twitter this month. Web marketing forecasters expect Twitter traffic to rise in December despite a recent decrease in traffic in October. Users are posting links and retweeting those deals like crazy.

Remember to use your network to drop those holiday wish list hints!!

Twitter & Facebook Exposure

Twitter and Facebook exposure on ads, billboards and biz cards is getting bigger. While out this weekend at the Garden State Plaza Mall, they have enormous billboards and whole wall imagery throughout the mall that displays only two things: "Follow Us on Twitter" and "Fan Us on Facebook" with the Keyword Hint. This is something that was made popular with AOL users and followed with to TV commercials and online advertising. It's smart if you have a long brand name or a new brand name that doesn't provide instant results when searching. Twitter is really bad at providing the appropriate results for their search sometimes...you really need to know the username to find a user on Twitter. That's what GSP Mall did, they provided the user name as their keyword for Twitter and their Fan Page title as the keyword on Facebook. Didn't even mention their web site URL. And why would they when the mall is catered to younger web users still in their teen years. Very smart on their part.

It's Fall!!

So excited to feel the Fall weather! I feel like I rushed Summer in NYC waiting for my first real Fall in the Northeast. I kinda miss the heat. :) JK. It really does SMELL like Fall outside. Maybe the wind that carried those falling leaves, carries with it a smell of foliage changing...maybe it's a breeze from Upstate NY where those Pumpkin Patches are overflowing. It's great...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Fall here!

I'm going to be attending some Fall Fashion Shows this month and will be turning my posts a little more in that direction so look out for FUN, FABULOUS posts about Fall fashion trends. Here is a link I found that is cute, and a little funny. Models falling on the runway. :)

Given that October is now in full swing, Halloween is inching closer and the Christmas season is around the corner, I am so anxious to see what new and exciting ad campaigns are going to be released this year. Not to mention the start of 2010 and the Superbowl Commercials!! Those were so much FUN last year.

Happy Fall Everyone!!