Today’s posting will be fairly brief. I have been way to busy to dedicate some solid time to writing a full article lately. I promise, one is coming down the pipe soon.

I just wanted to share with you all how things are going so far for Bratface Marketing. There is no doubt that 2009 was a challenging year. Both financially, mentally and emotionally. As an entrepreneur, you have to go through and deal with the struggles of getting a business off the ground. With that, comes emotional moments, hard times and challenges that sometimes make you want to quit and go back to the day-to-day, 9 to 5 grind. Not for me. I had to talk the talk. Quitting was not an option for me because I (a) hate quitting and (b) felt that I had not really given my business the opportunity to get itself out there, put in the solid hours and thrive.

In an article I recently posted on trendsetters, influencers and connectors, I talked about how important it is to connect with people who believe in what you are doing and to believe in those who you influence you in a positive way. For both yourself, your well being and your business because you want to have a solid balance.

Well, I have done exactly that and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

Yes, I’ve had obstacles. Even this year and we are only in February, but I try not to let them get me down (anyone ever had a horrible interview where you come out going “what the heck was I thinking??”). I decided to get out there and connect with people I haven’t seen in a while, people I recently met and people who believe in my work who have been friends for a long time. I knew that everyone was in vacation mode even in early December before the holidays even hit. So I casually met with them over coffee to just keep them informed on what Bratface Marketing was up to and where I planned to take the company in 2010. (side note: in person is the best way to connect with people. It’s more personal and up front). I even connected with many women/business bloggers around North America to see if I can write for them. It’s amazing the responses and feedback you can get from total strangers. My attitude has always been “you never know unless you try” and I firmly believe that I would not be where I am today, with all my successes behind me, had it not been without trying and not being scared.

I followed up with them in January and I am now on a roll because I was able to (re)establish those relationship. What does this all mean? I am talking the talk and I plan to keep it up for the rest of the year because the relationships are important to me.

As a businesswoman, more importantly, an entrepreneur, I have come to learn that there are 3 very important people you must surround yourself with in order to help your business grow and make it successful: trendsetters, influencer’s and connectors. Why? Because these are the people who are going to believe in you, believe in what you are doing and will want to help you grow your business as ferociously as you do.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t something I learned yesterday. Or even 3 years back when I started my first business, the Smart Cookies. I learned this from my parents believe it or not. I watched how they connected with the people around them, how others influenced them both personally and professionally and how they nurtured those relationships to help them get to where they are today. Of course, not without offering the same in return. No, my parents are not celebrities, people in the media or savvy politicians. They are just your average people who have made a difference to others around them, have done the right things all their life and succeeded in doing so. I admired that and I certainly took it to heart as I got older and because I am now a businesswoman.

Throughout my career, I have been able to connect with some amazing people who have helped me get to where I am today (professionally speaking). Now that I am busy running 2 businesses, Smart Cookies and Bratface Marketing, I have come to learn how important these people are to me, my business and how key they are to my success in this fickle world.

In simple terms, here is how I define the difference between all three. You can agree with me or not, but mark my word, you will agree with at least some of what I have to say and I guarantee that you will be able to have 1 if not all 3 of these people in your life to some capacity.

Trendsetters – you probably have heard this term commonly used in the fashion industry. A ‘fashion trendsetter’ can be used to describe Patricia Field, Sarah Jessica Parker and Lady Gaga, but when it comes to business, trendsetters are the ones you want to watch out for, listen carefully to, ‘follow’ if you are an avid Twitter user and trust when it comes to their instincts. These people are the ones who are always on the cutting edge of business, politics, and social media – you name it. They can often be risky and stray from the ‘norm’ (but really, what is classified as normal anymore these days?) but will often take the most risks because they believe in something, and believe in what they are doing and more importantly, don’t care as much about other people’s opinions. Talk about standing by your convictions! Others don’t sway these people easily because they are truly authentic and are not afraid to fail (although, they rarely do). You have to get on the bandwagon early with these folks if you want to be cutting edge and be a part of the trend.

Influencers – these people are who I find to be some of the most important. I have been influenced my many people in my life from parents, grandparents, former employers to good friends. They inspire me and they can often inspire you to do the things you are scared of in life. Taking the leap of faith to quit your high paying job and start your own company; taking a year off to travel and experience the world while leaving behind your security. Whatever it is, influencers will be some of the most amazing people (and best storytellers) you will surround yourself with and if you really want to succeed in life or business, they are the ones that will take you to the next level. If you need a little push in the right direction, start making a list of the best people who can influence you to make that move.

Connectors – from a business perspective, these people will literally rock your world. Ok, well they did for me anyway! This is one lesson I learned fairly early on in life: the people, who are good at connecting you with people you should know, are the people you should befriend and get to know really well. Don’t be afraid to get out there and introduce yourself. Doesn’t matter if you know them or not. One of the best ways you can succeed in business and connect yourself with others is to put yourself out there. Plain and simple. It’s very important in business because as you grow and succeed (whether it be as an entrepreneur or not) these are the people who will connect you with other influencers or people they believe will help you get to that next level. They are the ones who believe in you and have confidence in introducing you to others. One important note I want to mention is to make sure you connect with people who are worth connecting with. Don’t waste your time meeting people just for the sake of meeting people and getting out there. You want to make an effort in finding the right people who have your best interest at heart and will have some sort of a positive influence to your bottom line.

A final note, I wanted to leave you with this interesting point of view. A close friend of mine sent this to me when I asked her opinion on this topic. I agree with her 100% because it nicely sums up what this whole article is about. What do you think? Email me at andrea@bratfacemarketing.com and share your thoughts. You can also check out this article on one of my favourite blogs/websites, at design*sponge.

“The most important thing is to be seriously interested and curious about other people, believe that everyone has something of value to offer and that each one of us has qualities and/or talents that can assist someone else. Once you realize this it is easy to bring people together.” – Karen P.

As I am writing in my latest article for www.designspongeonline.com, I am the biggest advocate of finding (and working with) connectors, trendsetters and influencers.

One of the best connectors I know is a former boss of mine, Cameron Herold (www.backpocketcoo.com). When he hired me as a marketing manager at 1-800-GOT-JUNK? back in 2004, he told me something that no one else had told me, which I think every boss should say to their employees working directly under them: “you’re not good at numbers or excel spreadsheets – you’re awesome at marketing, so stick to it. That’s why I hired you”. In a nutshell, my ego went up about 10 notches…and it was only my first week at the company! Here is the point I am trying to make: employers focus too much on trying to improve certain qualities in their employees they want them to have and do not highlight the qualities they are already awesome at. Finally, I knew someone understood me….professionally. Thanks Cameron (pat, pat on the shoulder). Oh and as a side note, every time I see Cameron, he ALWAYS reminds me of what I wore to my interview. The dude is smart and has a photographic memory.

So, where am I going with this? First off, you should follow him on Twitter (@cameronherold) because he is full of amazing (and sometimes) humorous information on how entrepreneurs can grows leaps and bounds (he coaches them). Second, I wanted to share his top tips on how to use Twitter tools. In the words of Cameron, “I will make you go from 500 followers to 5,000″. So lets put it to the test, shall we?

The Basics
1.  www.twitter.com – you sign up for the account here (but who isn’t on Twitter yet?).
2.  www.twitter.com/andreabaxter – you can follow me here if you’d like, but I highly recommend it:)
3.  http://twitter.grader.com/ – great place to see where you rank, to find others to follow etc. – Add some from the Twitter elite who interest you such as your favourite brands, influencers, newsworthy publications, politicians etc.  You can also search terms here and add people who rank highly on those terms as well.
4.  http://socialtoo.com/ – you can use this site to automatically follow people who follow you (this is the fastest way to start adding followers) but it’s not for everyone. If you choose to keep your follow list low, then this is not the app for you, but why wouldn’t you?

Searching & Tracking Stuff On Twitter
1.  http://search.twitter.com/ – you can use this to see what’s happening on Twitter – think Google for Tweets (messages people send out).
2.  http://www.twitscoop.com/ – another great way to see what’s buzzing on Twitter.
3.  http://www.twhirl.org/ – a good desktop client for Twitter – personally I use Seesmic Desktop but TweetDeck and Hootsuite are other great apps.
4.  http://www.twitterhawk.com/ – a great way to search for keywords – and send replies to people – i.e. those talking about your company or product. Great tracking tool!
5.  http://www.twibs.com/ – this is where you register your company – so people can find you if your twitter name is your personal name, you can also find companies to follow here too.
6.  http://live.tweetmeme.com/ – one of @cameronherold recent favs where you can see what’s hot on Twitter (think Digg for Twitter).

Advanced Stuff
1.  http://www.twitpic.com – you can upload photos to Twitter from here – great way to share your story…in images to add something extra to your tweets.
2.  http://tweetstats.com - for the advanced tweet-a-holic and if you really start getting into it, you can see tons of stats. Five years ago I wouldn’t have gone here, but now that I am better with numbers, I love it (thanks CH).
3.  http://tweetmic.com/ – how to upload an audio tweet. @smartcookies use this if we want to upload a recent radio interview we appeared on.
4.  http://www.adjix.com/WebObjects/Adjix.woa/ and www.tinyurl.com are both great ways to automatically a) shorten URLS and b) send them out as tweets. A MUST have tool to fit into the 140 character count. You should also have these features available on your desktop application (Hootsuite, Seesmic Desktop and TweetDeck).
5.  http://retweetist.com/users – see if people are re-tweeting your stuff – if you don’t have the reply feature on your desktop app, this is a great tool to use.
6.  http://twittercounter.com – basic stats

PR People on Twitter (from Cameron Herold)
1.  http://muckrack.com/ – journalists on Twitter if you’re a bit of a media junkie.
2.  http://www.mediaontwitter.com/
3.  https://twitteringjournalists.pbworks.com/Media+People+Using+Twitter

So, give me a bit to put these in action and see if I can increase my follow list by 5,000. Cameron, I’m holding you accountable:)

Thanks for sharing and I would love for you all to share and comment on some of your favourite Twitter tools with me as well.

I use the term ‘expert’ because I hate the word ‘consultant’. The city of Vancouver (and world for that matter) is saturated with consultants and I fear I may become one of those many minnows in the large ocean of self-employed ‘consultants’. So, expert it is. Better than using ‘guru’ as well – another overly-used term which really doesn’t mean anything. I mean, what is a guru anyway? Its like the modern day version of ‘consultant’. So there, just had to get that out of the way.

I haven’t posted a blog in quite some time. Mostly because I have been fresh out of ideas on what to write about but also because I have been traveling feverishly for my other company, The Smart Cookies. Radio campaigns, advertising, and commitments have kept me away from my blog. Ever try to keep two companies afloat during a recession? It isn’t easy but it is fun and challenging and I like challenges. Oh and just to clarify, I am not complaining.

I am now back to square one…sort of. I have made some amazing connections in this little metropolis I live in and things will probably pick up in the new year, once new budgets are freshly created and executed. In the meantime, its a bit of a dry spell. I don’t feel ashamed about admitting that because I know I’m not the only one feeling the hit, so why not write about it? I think the best way to vent your thoughts and ideas is on paper (or on a computer as well all do these days) and share what you are going through with others.

I think the one thing I struggle with is standing out in the crowd amongst all of these other marketing ‘experts’. What makes Bratface Marketing unique? Why would a company use my services? What can I do that no other company can do? I believe I have the answer to some of these questions. People tell me they enjoy working with me because I am up front, honest, educated, smart and fun to work with. I have been fortunate to have most business come through referrals and if I had it my way, I would get all of my business through referrals and not have to make cold calls. Who likes cold calling (or cold emailing) these days? It has never been fun but it is a tactic I believe every entrepreneur should try out to see just how hard it is. Through cold calling, you learn how to sell. Sell yourself, your business and your skills. Most people don’t really want to listen but for every 10 calls you make, I guarantee at least 20% of them will listen and take you up on your offer to work with you.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with a sr. marketer at a very influential and well respected property/real estate marketing company in Vancouver. Never in a million years did I expect a response but I got one…a personal one. I may not have come out with a job per se, but I had the opportunity to meet with them face-to-face and sell myself in a way that is, to me, much easier than doing over email or phone calls. I know my strongest selling point is meeting people in person – to see the personality and vibrancy behind the emails. I know everyone who has hired me in the past will agree with that.

I know one of the smartest moves I made as an entrepreneur was hiring an intern (pro bono of course). Finding someone who is just as passionate about learning all the in’s and out’s as I was when I was 23 and paving way towards my dream career. I have enlisted the help of someone who reminds me…..of, well, me. Driven, hard working, and understands that in order to make it to the top, you have to pay your dues.

So here I go. Into the (slow) Winter season, busting my little tooshie to drum up business and make some money. Wish me luck!

Oh, and if you know of anyone who is looking for a marketing ‘expert’, you know who to call:)

Its been a while since I posted to my blog, but I have been on the road for the past few weeks and heading back to Vancouver later this week.

A while back though, I posted a blog about the power of networking and how it can certainly pay off…in the long run. Well, I am here today to prove my point.

Although we are still in the thick of summer holidays and spending time with our families, business is still drumming and starting to pick up more now that September is looming. Labour Day will be here before we know it. I spent my entire summer getting Bratface Marketing up and running (actually, I still am) and networking the crap out of myself (again, in a good way). It’s amazing that in a city as small as Vancouver and even with numerous contacts, it can still be slow and take a lot of time before something actually ‘happens’.

To that, all I can say is when it rains…it pours. Four inquiries in 1 week. Not bad (pat, pat on the shoulder) considering I am still a one-woman-show. My hard work and get-out-there-attitude is paying off and I feel that I am now in a better place…with the business that is. I think every entrepreneur feels a bit down when you start a business because you never know if it will take off the way you want it to or take off at all. It’s one of those risks us risk takers take…and it’s all worth it.

My word of advice: Keep at it. Stay in the game. Don’t be too impatient. Nothing happens overnight.

Just my 2 cents.

I really have been slacking off lately. I haven’t written a post in over a week. Maybe its the heat or sunny weather we’ve been having lately. Or the fact that I try to get away most weekends in the summer. Or maybe its just pure laziness. Either way, its tough to stay motivated in the summertime, especially when you are self-employed. You have a million distractions at your disposal, unfortunately.

Lesson #1: How to Stay Motivated Even in the Summer Months.

How do I do it and persevere regardless of the weather? I allow myself equal work and play time. Its the only way not to go mental and stay cooped up inside. If you are efficient enough with your time, you will be able to get some play time I there somehow. I make sure I get a Pilates class in or go for  run at some point in the day and my schedule allows me to flexibility to do so. But its a break from my work and it allows me to come back refreshed and feeling a heck of a lot better! Remember, the Europeans have been doing this since the beginning of time. Allowing themselves a 2-3 hour ’siesta’ in the middle of the day. How brilliant.

Lesson #2: Connect with People Even if You Think They are on Vacation.

Traditionally, most people take off during the summer months with their families, therefore leaving little room for business or connecting with others. I have made an effort to connect with people regardless of the time of year. What do you have to lose? They may get back to you in 2 or 3 weeks but  you still have to keep on the ball because there is that 10-15% of the working population that is still working and will still respond. Case in point: I recently connected with a big local charity to donate my services in their silent auction. I was told their big annual event had already passed, but I persisted anyway.

End result: I am meeting up with them this week to discuss contributing to another event held this fall. Mission accomplished.

Lesson #3: Change of Scenery

One of the best things to working for yourself is having the ability to work in various spaces. Cafes, coffee shops, art gallery stairs, balconies. You name it – the best way to mix it up during the day so you don’t go stir crazy is to choose a different place to work at a few times a week. There is nothing worse than ending your day and only realizing that you haven’t even left the house! I have done this many times, and have now made it a habit to get out and work elsewhere. Someplace that is motivating and inspiring for you.

Oprah coined the term “live your best life”. To me, this embraces a lot when I think everything life has to offer. I have tried to live by this philosophy as much as I can. My love life. My career. My family and friends. These are all components of my life that I try to live with the fullest and best of intentions.

As all of us Smart Cookies have, our vision board has become a true representation of what we desire out of life and how we can live our best life. Whether it be the dream house you’ve so desired; the fancy car, the amazing wardrobe, the extra time we wish we could all spend with our loved ones. You name it – its up there. I have added a new quote from the O Magazine that I recently stumbled upon (after decluttering my apartment and going through countless old editions of the magazine) and I wanted to share it with you all. It really has nothing to do with marketing at all, just a little inspiration from me to you.

But what I love about this quote is that it truly represents ‘me’ as a whole. The crazy side of me, the private side, the fabulous side, the scared side, the humorous side, the flaws and many more. It also teaches us to love ourselves…no matter what. All in a nut shell. Enjoy.

“I must learn to love the fool in me – the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many changes, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries. It alone protects me against that utterly self-controlled, masterful tyrant whom I also harbor and who would rob me of human aliveness, humility, and dignity but for my fool”.

- Theodore I. Rubin MD

Over the past three years, I have been fortunate to launch my own start up company. Most recently with Bratface Marketing. Once I had the bug in me, I couldn’t stop. Why? Because there was this amazing sense of accomplishment and growth that I had never felt before when it came to my area of business (marketing).

But no matter how experienced you are starting up a start up, there are always the trials and errors that you can’t avoid. Let’s face it – you may have been a senior level executive at the company you used to work for but when it comes to launching your own company, you find out quickly that you have very little experience in all other business areas.  You are playing ALL roles necessary to run the company: administrative, financial, creative, marketing, public relations, media, business development, legal. Everything! And it doesn’t stop there. No one told me the amount of hours it takes to get your company off the ground. I now miss the days when you could close your laptop at 5pm, walk away and not think about work until the following morning. Now its normal for me to be working at ANY hour of the day or night. There is no quitting time here. You work until the work is done.

That being said, there is a fine line between knowing what your limits should be and when to stop. Discipline is the key word here, especially for a person like me who tends to have a little ADD now and then…

But would I look back and regret anything? To quote Mr. Big, abso-fucking-lutely not! The past 3.5 years have been the best if you ask me, good or bad. I am learning more now, working for myself, than I ever would have working for someone else. The learning curve is ever changing, always challenging but always worth it.

So for all of you wannabe entrepreneurs our there, sitting on the edge of your seats, dying to break out from our cubicle in the corporate world: I say go for it. What do you have to lose?

I have always been a firm believer in the power of networking. Getting out there, showing your face, meeting new people and drumming up business. Its amazing what it can lead to.

With Bratface Marketing just starting up, its important for me not to just nurture the existing relationships I have but to start new ones. This past week I met with 4 different people in various businesses. Some people I had never met, some who followed me on Twitter because they had heard about my other business ventures and some who are just out there doing the same thing I am: networking. I think it’s amazing that two complete strangers can meet face to face, discuss business and leave with a new business relationship established. It’s as simple as that.

I encourage all entrepreneurs to do the same. What do you have to lose? You soon realize that even a small city like Vancouver has tons of new possibilities….even for us small businesses:)

It’s really important for women entrepreneurs to support each other in their new ventures. So I was thrilled when the two lovely women of LoadedBow wanted to interview me again for my new company, Bratface Marketing.

Genevieve Ennis and Zoe Pawlak are entrepreneurs themselves and their main goal is to explore the experiences and accomplishments of the female business founder, and to facilitate her growth so that she may approach her business with confidence and conviction. I’ll toast to that!

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