POST FROM DONNY:

Today was a big day for a lot of reasons.  It’s the last day of work for me as I’m heading off on a long weekend to celebrate 10 wonderful years with my wife.  It’s the anniversary of an incredible speech that turned a dream for one into realities for many.  It’s a night marked with history as a nominee accepts his party’s nomination in an incredible venue under extraordinary circumstances for obvious reasons in this country.   Regardless of your personal opinions regarding politics, we all must admit this is a big night in our nation’s history.  It’s been a big day.

But today also marked the beginning of a 3-week trip that Randy is taking to go back to Benin, West Africa where he and his family spent almost 10 years serving as missionaries and teaching the Good News to Aja people in the villages most of us will never see.  Randy and his wife and two oldest children are in route even as I’m typing this post so please remember them and this journey in your prayers.   It will be a reunion with some old friends as well as a time of reflection for a people who loved Randy, Kelly, Tori, Timo, Jonathan and most certainly Lael (her birth mother died at childbirth and Randy’s family adopted her from the birth father, Ega, who still lives in Benin).   It’s been a big day.

In honor of Randy, I wanted to share with you a video blog he put together before he left.  It might take a few minutes to listen and watch, but I know you’ll be inspired not only for your business but also personally as you embark into a long, holiday weekend.   On behalf of the Marketing Twins, enjoy the Labor Day weekend and this video blog (CLICK HERE TO VIEW BLOG).

-Donny-

p.s.  Don’t forget to register for our next Double Take LIVE Broadcast on 9/9 with Sheila McDoniel!!

John Jantsch recently wrote another great blog post on the power of being DIFFERENT! Check out what he means by the “Sameness Test”!

Back a few months ago, we wrote a similar blog post on MarketingTwins.com - check it out here!

And whaddaya know, but I got a Google News Alerts (a great tool that you oughta be using!!) about “Duct Tape Marketing” and I found a real nice article from Mike Freeman titled, well, you guessed it …  “What’s the Difference?”
There’s a reason why we repurpose archived blog posts or include all these links to external articles on the same topic?  It’s because the message can’t get out strong enough! This is one of small business’ weakest areas - we want to compete head-to-head, but we end up looking like everyone else because we’re afraid if we’re too different, then we might miss out on marketing to someone. Somewhere in there is some bad logic!

Speaking of standing out in the crowd - when someone is Googling a solution to their problem, wouldn’t you like to stand out and show up in the Top 10 Google search engine listings? Or would you be content with blending in with #24 and #36. (HINT: consumers don’t typically go that far into the search results looking for you!!) Click over on the sidebar on the button labeled “GET TOP SEARCH RESULTS” - you’ll go to the website of our trusted friend and fellow Duct Tape Marketing coach, Ken Partain. Ken is an expert at search engine optimization and has plans of all levels for any size small or mid-size business. Want to get top search results? Who doesn’t!! Ken is also conducting a FREE workshop over in Dallas tonight (Wed, 8/27) - go to his website to check out where and when and how to register. You might even receive a FREE website analysis on-the-spot!

I’m leaving tomorrow for a 3-week adventure in French-speaking Africa! More on that when I return - stay tuned though - I’ve got a number of blog posts sitting in queue and Donny will publish them every few days (he might do some of his own, too).

À Bientôt!

-Randy

REGISTER FOR THE SEPT 9th DOUBLE TAKE LIVE BROADCAST!

Tell us your favorite Olympic moment from Beijing. If you don’t see yours listed, select OTHER and then make a comment and give us your personal vote.

If you own a small business today, wouldn’t you like to get your website ranked in the TOP SEARCH RESULTS? I hope your answer is “YES!” Savvy online shoppers and prospects have little use for listings that show up on page 2, 3 or page 5 of their online search. They primarily look for the Top 10 or so businesses listed! When your prospects are looking for you, where do you show up?

Here’s today’s questions for you:

1. Do you know how to optimize your website for top search engine ranking?

2. What is Social Media Marketing and what does it have to do with Search Engine Optimization?

3. How do I use Twitter for business?

4. How do you ensure your prospects CHOOSE YOU when they are ready to buy?

5. Is getting TOP SEARCH RESULTS all there is to great marketing? If not (and the answer is NO), then how do you integrate intentional SEO elements into an overall marketing strategy?

Ken Partain is a good friend and colleague and is YOUR answer to your SEO needs! He is a fellow Duct Tape Marketing Authorized Coach and in that infamous trio of DTM coaches in the DFW Metroplex (Ken’s in Dallas - Sandra’s in Arlington - and I am Fort Worth’s only DTM Coach). Ken has recently launched a brand new SEO site that will be YOUR resource for understanding the power of Search Engine Optimization! The answers to all the questions I just listed can be seen on Ken’s site - he’s a genius! Ken has helped clients all over the country in systematically raising their search engine rankings - and for most people, we know that means GREATER PROFIT and MORE CLIENTS!

Do you need some of that?

Go to Ken’s site from the promotional link (Get Top Search Results) over in the right sidebar under “Marketing Resources!” Be sure and tell Ken you saw this on MarketingTwins.com - if he gets enough business for all you guys, maybe he’ll buy me lunch!

* * * ATTENTION * * *

If you live in the DFW area, you will be interested in a FREE workshop Ken is presenting at the end of this month, Aug 27. Do y’all realize how amazing this is - an SEO expert in our area giving away FREE marketing and SEO advice! Here’s what Ken says about the event:

During this event you will learn:

• How to be found online
• What local search is and why it matters to you
• How people find you online
• The four major factors that determine your search engine ranking
• How to build relationships that matter - online and off
• How to build powerful incoming links to your website
• How you can dominate the search results for your primary keyword phrases

The first 45 minutes will include the presentation mentioned above. The following 45 minutes will be a site clinic where you can have your website evaluated live and in person and learn the most effective techniques for improving your search engine ranking.

Folks - it doesn’t get much better than this! A FREE SEO workshop - in this area - where someone will give you a FREE evaluation of your website in person on the spot! You can’t afford to miss this!! To learn more, go here and register for the event!

-Randy

FYI: We like our current TOP SEARCH RESULT: if you Google “small business marketing fort worth” - guess who shows up several times? That has taken alot of work from the Marketing Twins and feels good! Now if it were just that easy to stay in the top … more work ahead!

What a great week to learn from some great thought leaders!

ARE YOU REGISTERED YET FOR THESE EVENTS?

TO REGISTER FOR COVEY’S INTERVIEW WITH John Jantsch TODAY:

Go to the Duct Tape Marketing Webinar Registration Page HERE!

TO REGISTER FOR LYTLE’S INTERVIEW THE MARKETING TWINS on Thursday:

GO HERE!

UPDATE - Monday at 7pm:

Sometimes when you want to share something, it’s often easier to draw from the good ideas of others. I always tell our clients that when blogging, you are not necessarily trying to create the most unique, most clever, most amazing blog post every single time. Rather, you are simply trying to engage in the online community. And as in any community, who enjoys the guy who likes to act like he’s got the very best, most unique ideas every time? No one … we all prefer conversation and community.

As in all social media, consider yourself sitting around at the coffee shop or even your family’s dining room table and exchanging ideas. At times, you really do have an opinion or thought that has never been voiced before and is worth hearing (so that others can share your idea with others who can share it with others, etc…). But most often, we simply are sharing what we’ve heard from others. There’s nothing weak about that as long as you participate authentically in the community with correct attribution (not trying to claim every great idea as your own).

One of the greatest tools in my arsenal is my Bloglines. If you are not familiar, try on this definition: “a web-based news aggregator for browsing weblogs and other news feeds via syndicated feeds utilizing technologies such as RSS.” In simple terms it is your bulletin board that is automatically fed updates on a variety of blogs and websites that YOU are interested in hearing about. In the old days, you would click on your “Favorites” and peruse all your favorite blogs only to find out “nothing new there.” But with RSS feeds, you can subscribe and be alerted when new posts have been made. It’s been around for years, but I have only started using it within the past 12 months. It’s transformed how I stay in touch, radically improved my efficiency when I am reviewing 70 different “favorite” blogs (yes, 70 and growing!), and opened up an easy portal of information that I can then repurpose on my blog or share with clients.

When my identical twin brother and I are interested in going out to lunch, it’s rare that we don’t end up at a Chinese food buffet. We love the choices and variety and I love to get something different each time. I look at my Bloglines in the same way when wanting to hear a variety of ideas. So when from time to time, I simply open up my Bloglines and look through the buffet of choices! Ideas are everywhere and it’s hard to choose, but there are some that just stand out. Today, I share these few with you:

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If social media hasn’t caught on with you yet, read Adrianne’s blog over at Tornado Marketing. I think she lays out pretty well some good reasons (ROI!!)

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David over at Marketing Integrity shows why he took up blogging. If you’re wondering why you should blog, see what David has to say.

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Are you out of ideas for blogging today? Need a jolt in the creative department of your brain? Chris Brogan offers 50 blog post ideas for anyone marketing their company.

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Copyblogger gives all of us bloggers a dose of reality: why saying “content is king” is NOT the way to drive traffic to your site! Find out what will do the trick (some great nuggets of information for everyone blogging and wondering why their Google Analytics is not smokin’!!)

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Austin creatives over at the Church of the Customer blog share this video for you to marvel at people’s ability to amazing things with video. Funny stuff!

-Randy

Here’s an interesting article … what are your thoughts?  It raises an issue that’s been wrestled about in churches for years.  As Marketing Twins who are all about doing GREATER THINGS, we believe in giving back.   Not sure if I’ll ever win the lottery (guess I have to play more than once a year to increase my chances!) but if I did, I certainly wouldn’t hesitate in giving back to my local church or to local charities who could benefit.  But how would I react if they rejected my donation?  How would you? 

Let’s dialouge … shall we? 

Donny Vaughn - guest blogger

The Marketing Twins at 1429 Creative

p.s.  Don’t forget that ONE WEEK FROM TODAY, we will be interviewing Dr. Rick Lytle from ACU’s College of Business.  Register to get the FREE CALL-IN INFORMATION:  www.1429creative.com/doubletake

I was at a local restaurant recently. As in many retail establishments, they offered a comment card for me to give my opinion. They questions were pretty typical (“how was our service?” , “how was the quality of our food” , “was our facility clean”, etc…). But one question stuck out to me. I had not seen this question asked in this way on other cards:

“Compared to __________________ restaurant, our restaurant is:

__ Not as good __ About the same __ Much Better

Our lives are full of choices and as consumers, we make a thousand choices a day. But as small business owners, we often want people to rate us (I’m a strong advocate for promoting online reviews through sites like InsiderPages, Yahoo Local, Yelp, etc…). But do we allow our customers the right to tell us that COMPARED TO OUR COMPETITION, HOW DO WE MEASURE UP?

I think this is a strong statement from the management of this restaurant that they know that their clients shop around and eat at other eateries. They are not so arrogant or naive to think customers are 100% loyal. So in allowing their clients to rate them in comparison to their competition, not only do they get a window into what consumers prefer at various establishments, they communicate trust and reality. We’re not just islands where people come to us because there is no choice. We live in a fast and furious culture where consumers are picky and they most definitely compare us to our competitors. How novel it is to ASK your clients how you stand up against the others. You might try asking!

Don’t forget 2 upcoming FREE events:

Monday, Aug 18 - Stephen MR Covey - Coaching Excellence Series - FREE CALL - ENROLL at Duct Tape Marketing site

Thursday, Aug 21 - Dr. Rick Lytle (ACU College of Business Adminsitration Dean) Talks with The Marketing Twins about Faith and Leadership in the marketplace! REGISTER FOR THIS FREE CALL - CLICK HERE!
 -Randy

The Marketing Twins are launching a new series of conference calls called “DOUBLE TAKE LIVE BROADCAST.” We are scheduling one or two FREE conference calls each month with special guests who will talk about their business or organization and the role that faith plays in their lives. We anticipate it being an encouraging time for people who dwell in the marketplace to find strength to persevere and be a bright light of faith. Whether you are an entrepreneur, own your own business, work in a cubicle, or somewhere in between, please dial in to this FREE 45 minute conference call. You can dial in from your home, your office, or even on the road.

Our first call is Thursday, August 21, 2008 at NOON (CST). We are so thrilled that our first guest is Dr. Richard S. Lytle, Dean of the College of Business Administration at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. His topic is “Building a Distinctive Brand of Leadership with Power to Change What Really Matters.” This is going to be great! Dr. Lytle is a good friend and has been a mentor to the Marketing Twins since we were Marketing majors at ACU (we get to claim that we were in his very first marketing class at ACU!) Dr. Lytle leads COBA with intense Christian convictions and strong academic excellence and has been a favorite of COBA graduates for 18 years! We are blessed that he is taking a few minutes out of his busy schedule to share a word of encouragement for YOU. Won’t you join in and dial in from wherever you are? It’s FREE and only 45 minutes!

You’ll enjoy listening to what Dr. Lytle has to say about FAITH LEADERSHIP in the marketplace. Dial in and listen to Dr. Lytle share important principles important to anyone living out their faith day in and day out in the marketplace!

The call is FREE! Join us on Thursday, August 21 at Noon for the first DOUBLE TAKE LIVE BROADCAST!

You must register in order to obtain the dial-in # and passcode: REGISTER HERE

Randy & Donny Vaughn
The Marketing Twins at 1429 Creative

Today’s a special celebration!  

John Jantsch does a nice job on his blog explaining viral videos (I even made a comment in which I offer some of my own opinion as to the elements that make great viral marketing stuff …feel free to add to it over at John’s blog). You can also go to our site’s FREE REPORT page and download another helpful resource on viral marketing. Viral marketing are those images or videos that get passed around through emails, blogs, Facebook messages, Twitter, etc…and millions of people watch it. For examples and a good post from a while back, go here.Speaking of millions, John McCain gets a rebuttal from Paris (and she’s nabbing 1.8 million hits already at the time of this writing).

While not as many hits as Paris (yet), I’m a bigger fan of these guys! Talk about funny!

You got any good viral stuff worth sharing?

-Randy

If you missed it, local North Texas hero Melissa Lawson won NBC’s “Nashville Star” last night - she’s 32-year old mother of 5 boys and lives in Arlington. Congratulations on a great success story! And it’s always the full story that makes it an inspirational story!

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And don’t miss the upcoming MARKETING COACHING EXCELLENCE series with Stephen M.R. Covey - son of the well-known author of “7 Steps to Highly Effective People” - it’s a FREE call. Check back FRIDAY for details on how to register!

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At 1429, we offer a ONE-on-ONE marketing audit. This audit provides you up to a 2-hour assessment of your marketing strategy and materials in order to establish a comprehensive marketing strategy. By the end of our time together, we will help you see clearly a path of strategic marketing solutions for your business or organization! *** In 2009, this popular marketing audit will go to $350, so contact us soon to schedule this 2-hour assessment. We have only 4 timeslots available each month - we only have one time remaining in August and 2 slots left in late September. Schedule yours before the price increase in 2009! Save $150 if you schedule your ONE-on-ONE in 2008!

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Finally, as John Jantsch typically does, we are introduced to “How To Use Twitter for Business.” John creates this FREE eBook and you can go his blog and download it. It’s very simple to understand and I think you can get some pretty good ideas there.

By the way, if you are Twittering and want to follow the Marketing Twins, go over to the right sidebar and see “Get Connected” - Donny’s Twitter handle is “donny1429” and I am “MarketingTwins”. Follow us and maybe we’ll follow you (for you non-Twitters, this probably sounds like bizarre stalking language but it’s really pretty cool - get in the game!)

How have you used Twitter? Is it working for you? Please share any ideas so that others (including myself) can learn how to use this powerful social networking tool.

-Randy