I’d like to take this time to express my gratitude for everyone who’s been a Marketing Melodie supporter and fan. Whether you periodically read my blog, regularly interact with me on Twitter and Facebook or are a valued client who invests in my services, I sincerely appreciate you!

To thank everyone for their support, I’m hosting another Social Media Swag Bag giveaway! I know Swag can often be clutter but I’ve taken the initiative to find things that are practical and useful. I’ve posted tips on Hosting Successful contests on Social Media and  have already given away fun Social Media Swag but since I’m very active in the social media scene, I’m constantly acquiring more goodies to share with you!

The winner receives the following plus a few other surprises:
1. Yelp Lunchbox complete with a Yelp Thermos, bottle opener and buttons. Yelp is one of the best resources for receiving authentic and honest feedback from consumers about any place you may consider trying whether it’s a restaurant, retail store or a service provider.
2. A very comfy PitchEngine t-shirt. PitchEngine is a great resource to accelerate your PR presence in Social Media.
3. Google Keychain that lights up in different colors. I’m not sure if this has a practical use but it’s always cool to have Google Swag!
4. Bing Pen and sticker
5. Rackspace stress relief cloud. Because we can all use a de-stresser and clouds remind me of being a carefree kid staring at the clouds while intrigued at all the animals and things I cold see in the sky.
6. Cool Twitter Conferences Lanyard
7. An assortment of Social Media Stickers
8. Hoovers Mobile Phone Couch from the Hoovie Robot
9. An assortment of Social Media stickers
10. iContact Cups that change color depending on the temperature of the liquid you’re drinking. Email marketing is a very targeted form of direct marketing because consumers have to opt in. iContact offers a free trial. I’ve personally used them before, very user friendly interface.

11. Everything comes in your very own Reusable Windows 7 Bag (Remember to bring your own bags to the grocery store). I’m finally using Windows 7 on my HP Netbook.

There are 3 ways you can win. You can enter up to 3 different times:
1. Leave a comment on this blog telling me what your favorite social network is and why
2. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this blog via the “Tweet” button on this post.
3. “Like” Marketing Melodie on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall about  how Social Media benefits you either personally or professionally.
I’ll choose a winner at the end of May. Good luck to everyone and thank you all again for supporting Marketing Melodie!

*Photo Credit: Photos taken by Marketing Melodie

In my last post, I discussed how to Grow Your Business Through Professional Speaking. In this post,  I’m here to share ways to enhance your speaking engagements through Social Media! If used strategically, Social Media is a powerful tool for Professional Speakers. It will drive attendance, create positive buzz, build trust and strengthen relationships with your audience even before you take the stage.

BEFORE THE EVENT

1. Offer a promotional code: Ask the event coordinator to provide you with a promotional discount code. This allows you to offer value to your network through a discount when inviting them to the event. This code may be shared by your friends to others outside of you network, therefore allowing your speaking engagement to gain publicity to new audiences.

2. Create buzz through a contest: Ask the event coordinator to provide you with a complimentary entry to give away. Whenever I ask, the event coordinator is more than happy to do this after I explain the benefits of hosting a contest. Follow my 6 Tips for Hosting Successful Contests on Social Media and you’ll be well on your way to not only gaining more visibility, but growing your network to those interested in your topic. You will supply a demand to those who want to attend,  increase the value of your business by creating a relevant promotion and showcase benefits of attending your speaking engagement. Here’s an example of a contest I created for DOMAINfest, a speaking engagement I participated in January: Marketing Melodie Socializes DOMAINfest 2010. Another example is a contest I created for Cool Twitter Conferences where I spoke last year: Cool Twitter Conferences World Tour in Full Swing.

3. Post Tips as teasers for your presentation: Take all of the main points of your presentation and turn these into  short “Tips of the Day”. Preferably 120 characters or less they can be tweeted and easily retweeted on Twitter.  Start posting these around 2 weeks out before your speaking engagement. These tips are designed to educate your following and also serve as teasers to hook them into wanting more information.

4. Write your own blog entry about your speaking engagement: This doesn’t need to be a long post, but it’s an opportunity to direct people to your own website when posting about your speaking engagement on your different networks. Give a brief background about the event and organization. Link back to the event website where people can register to attend. If you’re offering a promotional code include this in your post. Here’s an example of a blog post I wrote for my speaking engagement coming up for AIGA:  Melodie Speaks at AIGA: Social Media Design Techniques

DURING THE EVENT

5. Promote your Twitter handle in the beginning: During your introduction, let people know they can follow you on Twitter. Many people will tweet facts, quotes and valuable information they learn during presentations so their followers who aren’t at the event can gain insight. By providing the audience with your handle, you’re empowering them to cite you in their tweet.  This provides more credibility to those reading the tweets and will prompt others to follow you if they’re interested in your topic.

6. Create a Hashtag: Create a specific hashtag for your speaking engagement. Promote this in the beginning along with your Twitter handle. This allows you to track buzz, tone and sentiment during your talk.  If you’re speaking at a large conference with many other speakers, this also allows the updates from your specific session to stand out to people following the general conference hashtag.

7. Tweet Questions: Encourage user participation by asking your audience to tweet questions during your presentation with the hashtag you created. This allows your audience to ask questions on the fly as they come to mind. Q & A is often reserved for the end of presentations. Many times, people have questions but forget to ask by the time Q & A comes up. By allowing them to tweet questions you get more people inquiring which allows you understand patterns of interest and areas where your audiences would like more explanation. Some conferences broadcast the tweet stream to their audience through services such as TweetWall.

AFTER THE EVENT

8. Offer incentives to connect: Provide incentives for people to join your Facebook fan page, connect with you on LinkedIn or follow you on Twitter with a valuable offer. Examples of offerings include: “Send me a Tweet after the event and I’ll email you my presentation”. “Add me on LinkedIn after the event and you’ll find a link to my SlideShare account where the presentation is posted”.

9. Immediate follow up: Many people will come up to you after the event to ask additional questions and leave you their card because they are interested in your service or product. Collect everyone’s contact information and send an immediate follow up thanking them for attending. This personalizes your audience’s experience and allows you to be top of mind.

10. Collect testimonials: Review the tweets that occurred during your presentation (which can be easily tracked by your hashtag) and take screen shots of posts that can serve as positive testimonials. Testimonials are a great tool to help you get hired for future speaking engagements.

It may not be necessary for you to use every single tip I’ve listed, but I trust you can apply at least a few to enhance your speaking engagements.  Stay tuned for even more posts that related to professional speaking!

Tonight I administer the final exam for my marketing class at Platt College.  I can’t say enough how grateful I am to have attracted this opportunity into my life. Teaching this course has provided me with such a strong foundation for being an educator and enhanced my professional knowledge and skills in many areas as described in my previous post about Social Media Education. This is the first final exam I’ve ever administered, but the word “final” definitely doesn’t describe my continued ventures in education.  Last April 2009, I had the privilege of attending  WeekendU’s Internet Power course.

Weekend University is an innovative educational institution focused on practical in-person and online digital skills education. Their courses deliver practical knowledge from experienced practitioners, providing students with real world skills they can use the next day in their professional and personal lives.

WeekendU is lead by Dmitry Shapiro, a pioneer in the tech industry and one of the most well respected leaders in the online space. I can honestly say that this course revolutionized the way I use the internet. I’m more efficient, organized and the information I want is coming to me.  During the course I had my laptop open and implemented many of Dmitry’s recommendations. I immediately noticed my productivity skyrocket. My enthusiasm for this course is conveyed in the WeekendU Internet Power Video.

In addition to improving my own skills, I was empowered with technology and information that allowed me to teach others the same innovations I learned. Many of the talks I give and classes I teach are founded on the principals from this course.  Since I’ve been an evangelist for WeekendU’s education for the past year, it is now an absolute honor to announce that I’ll be an Instructor at WeekendU, along with Dmitry and other experienced technology and online entrepreneurs.  Please stay tuned for upcoming webinars and in person classes I’ll be teaching. WeekendU has big plans in store for 2010 and beyond.

The first course I’ll be teaching is Internet Power this Saturday February 27^th at UCLA. Dmitry will lead the class on finding information faster, organizing and managing information flow, leveraging power tools and I’ll be teaching a section on Social Media.

I’m giving away one complimentary pass to attend the course and as always offering you 3 ways to win. If you participate all 3 ways, you’ll be entered 3 different times. The winner will be chosen Thursday evening so you have a couple days to plan for Saturday.

1. Join my Facebook page and leave a comment my Facebook “Discussion”  about WeekendU

2. Retweet this blog post with the Tweet button on the top left of this post and make sure to include my Twitter name @MyMelodie in the tweet.

3. Leave a comment on this blog post telling me your biggest challenge with managing your internet use (ie: overloaded email inbox, difficulty finding relevant information, etc)

Additionally I’m offering my entire network $100 off this Saturday’s course.  So please let me know if you’d like a promo code.

Whether you’re a novice internet user or an online industry leader, I guarantee you will learn something valuable from this class. In fact we’re so confident  we offer  “100% Satisfaction Guranteed – Or We Will Refund Your Registration Fee” I look forward to seeing you on Saturday at UCLA!

If you’re reading this post you’re probably a professional in marketing, public relations, social media or have a sales role of some kind. Or maybe you’re an entrepreneur, a small business owner or a combination of the listed occupations. No matter what your background, you’re extremely busy running from appointment to appointment and back to back conference calls. You haven’t booked your flight for your business trip next week or even looked up a hotel and still need to pick up a birthday present for a party that night. I’ve got great news for you! You’re now one step closer creating a more productive and stress free life with your very own Personal Assistant. Who wouldn’t love even an extra hour a day to read, meditate, work out, cook, enjoy time with friends and family etc.?

You may think Personal Assistants are just for the rich and famous and cost a fortune. You may also be an excellent multitasker and see no need for a Personal Assistant. BlackBerrys and laptops have definitely improved our efficiency, but even the most organized business professional can appreciate a helping hand. I’m grateful for my helping hand and Personal Assistant, AskSunday. I began using the AskSunday 24/7 Assistance almost 2 years ago and can confidently say they’ve significantly increased my productivity by helping me accomplish tasks that are important and urgent but don’t require my specialized skill or knowledge.

AskSunday is a service that provides Virtual Personal Assistants. They offer various packages for their 24/7 Assistance that begin as low as $37/month. They accept requests via email, phone, and even Twitter! They also offer Dedicated Assistants that provide help at a higher level. I’d like to share personal examples of how AskSunday has helped me optimize my valuable time.

1. Reservations- Reservations may seem simple but when I need a specific type of environment for a business meeting that has tables and chairs set up a certain way, a specific location in the room, various food preferences, want to prepay the bill and don’t have a restaurant in mind because the meeting is in a location I’m not familiar with, I AskSunday and they deliver. They do the research and provide me with various options.They also provide alternatives and let me know if there may conflicts with my request. I get back to them with my choice and they confirm the reservation by telling me who they spoke with in case anything comes up.

2. Price Comparisons- There are many times when I want to buy a product and know I can easily spend 20-30 minutes price comparing online but don’t because I’m busy working on a more important task. Same goes with booking travel. With AskSunday I can find the most cost effective solutions for purchases and travel without investing any extra time. They look things up, send me the options then go through with the actual purchasing, always making sure to send me a confirmation.

3. Booking Appointments and Cancellations- There are many appointments we put off booking because it’s on the bottom of our to-do list. AskSunday will book health appointments, spa treatments and other personal appointments. Many often put off cancellations more than booking because we already went through the hassle of setting it up. We know it may take a while to get through and confirm the cancellation. AskSunday has also helped me cancel other things that are necessary but not priorities. I somehow get on mailing lists for many magazines and catalogs that I don’t wish to receive. They help me help the environment by canceling these extraneous subscriptions.

4. Data Entry- Have a stack of business cards that need to be entered in your address book? Evernote your business cards and AskSunday will enter them for you. Have other data that needs to be organized in an excel spreadsheet? No problem! AskSunday does this in your sleep!

These are just a few of many requests AskSunday has assisted me with. Additional resources I have learned from are two books that have tremendously enhanced my knowledge on first prioritizing my tasks- Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity and then outsourcing certain tasks and knowing how to determine which items to delegate – The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

Now that you’ve read all about the possibility of having a Personal Assistant and how they have immensely increased my productivity I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that I’m giving away an entire month of AskSunday’s 24/7 Assistance’s Gold Plan! I’m very grateful to now have an opportunity to share my positive experience with one of you.

Here’s How you will win a complimentary month of AskSunday’s 24/7 Assistant service:
First you Must be a fan of Marketing Melodie’s Facebook Page to qualify. Once you’re a fan you can enter 3 ways. If you participate in all 3, you will be entered 3 different times.
1. Leave a comment my Facebook “Discussion” telling me how AskSunday will make your life more productive.
2. Retweet this blog post with the Tweet button on the top left of this post and make sure to include my Twitter name @MyMelodie in the tweet.
3. Leave a comment on this blog post with insight on what you personally do to increase productivity.

I will choose 1 lucky winner on Sunday December 13th, 2009. I’m choosing this date because it’s my birthday so there’s no better day to give away something very valuable to me! I wish everyone the best and success to increased productivity!

Congratulations to the lovely Jennifer Mitchell of JMPR. She is the winner of Marketing Melodie’s Social Media Swag Bag!

If you’re wondering where I got my enthusiasm for hosting contests and giveaway here’s a little background. I began my career working in radio promotions. You will hear me say this over and over again but I’m so grateful I had an opportunity to work in the Radio industry. Successful contesting is one of the things I learned in Radio which is an industry known for hosting contests that receive the most hype and having the hottest giveaways in town! Working in radio gives you the keys to the city and access to all major events, concerts and funky swag meaning there’s a lot of fun stuff to give away!

I always enjoy seeing people  happy because they received free tickets to our next event, an awesome prize pack for summer, music to their ears concert tickets, etc. Giving people what they want makes you a valuable resource and sought after commodity. When I entered into the professional online industry I decided to take contesting to the next level and incorporate elements of social media. Here are six great things to keep in mind to host a successful contest.

1.  Supply a Demand- Give something away that’s not easily accessible by everyone. If you give something away people can’t get anywhere, your giveaway is more likely to be highly perceived as a valuable promotion. When deciding what to give away do some research, which in this day and age means listen to the Social Media space to see if there is a high demand for something you plan to give away.

2. Increase the Value of Your Business - It’s important not to confuse giveaways and contests with giving away your product  for free. Giving away your product for free may devalue it into the eyes of your consumers.   Why would I want to pay for something that I once was able to get for free? My friend Chris Brogan shares great insight on the Audacity of FREE. With contesting you aren’t giving away your product for free. You’re creating a promotion that provides value, showcases all the benefits and perks of your product and giving one lucky person a chance to win. Make sure to highlight important features in your giveaway. If giving away tickets to an event emphasize the benefits of winning the tickets. Perhaps you’re giving away VIP access or the chance to meet and greet a celebrity. What are you providing that’s not readily available?

3. Make it Viral- Utilize social media to incorporate viral elements into entering your contests. This increases the awareness and reach of your promotion. There are several ways I generally allow people to enter my contests. They include retweeting my contest on Twitter. This promotes my contests to networks far beyond my own. Joining my Facebook page which grows my fan base so more people receive the content I put out and subscribing to my YouTube channel so my videos are viewed by influencers in my industry and so on. Take this even a step further by encouraging contestants to enter by submitting user generated content. Ask people to create blog and vlog entries. Social media is a powerful tool in contesting and can create a lot of buzz in a short period of time. Take advantage of it’s power.

4. Keep it Simple- While it’s fine to have multiple ways to enter your contest make sure the rules and conditions of your contest are very easy and clear. Having too many restrictions may cause confusion with people who don’t read your rules carefully because it’s too long. In our fast paced society almost everyone, myself included skims long instructions. Be succinct when you define the rules and what the winner receives so there’s no confusion.

5. Collect Information- Make sure you have a way to collect contact information so you can reach out to contestants in the future and contact the winner. I do recommend you make it mandatory to enter contact information but please disclose to the contestants if they will be entered into an email list or receive future information for entering your contest. Respect privacy for any contact information given. You want everyone to feel safe when entering your contests.

6.  Have Fun!- Get creative and add fun elements to your contest! This increases the chances hype you’ll receive. The best way to do this is to ask contestants to create user generated content as mentioned above. This really engages your audience and gives them an active way to participate in your community.

Check out successful contests I’ve hosted in the past. I’m a marketing professional and educator so you will notice I give away prizes that relate to marketing education and tie in marketing insight to all of my contests. I have yet to participate in a Blog Carnival which I’ve heard is another great promotion. Please leave your comments about contests you’ve won, cool contests that are currently happening, information about blog carnivals, ideas for future contests and anything else you’d like to share.

If you’re a business that would like to provide a prize for me to give away, please contact me and if you’re a fit lets discuss ways to create a mutually beneficial contest.

This blog post is dedicated to all of my Facebook Fans! Since I launched Marketing Melodie’s Facebook Page a couple months back I’ve received an incredible amount of positive support, Facebook “likes” and helpful insight on how to be the best marketing resource for my fans. I promised when I reached 300 fans I would do another giveaway, so here we go! I’m giving away another SOCIAL MEDIA themed SWAG Bag (Stuff We All Get) because I want to inspire creation of more powerful networks through social media and spread the abundance of fun Social Media SWAG I receive.

The Lucky Winner receives:

1. GOOGLE Silly Putty

2. Blend Tec Will It Blend DVD (made themselves famous on YouTube)

3. BING Sticker

4. TWITTER Koozies from @nbcsandiego

5. Central Desktop WIKI T-shirt

6. Sun Cloud Pen/Bottle Opener with magnet!

7. DIDDIT Beanie, Notebook and Pen

8. Resuable Kodak canvas bag to carry all of your SWAG

Watch my video to check out all the cool Social Media SWAG.

To WIN you must be a fan of Marketing Melodie’s Facebook Page. Once you are a fan you can enter several different ways for a total of 3 entries.

1. Leave a comment my Facebook “Discussion”

2. Retweet this blog post AND post a comment letting me know

3. Subscribe to Marketing Melodie’s BRAND NEW YouTube Channel

I have not decided on the exact date, but I will choose a winner soon! GOOD LUCK!

The Cool Twitter Conferences World Tour is in full swing! Making it’s debut in Washington DC and now to the west coast in San Diego where I’m currently live tweeting and blogging at the conference. What makes The Cool Twitter Conferences standout is that the event highlights industry leaders in all different fields such as Green, Non- Profits, Customer Service and how they specifically use Twitter for their industry.

Although I’m well versed in social media I embrace the opportunity enhance my knowledge. I have yet to walk away from a conference where I did not learn a piece of valuable information that I will actually integrate into my marketing strategies. At the Cool Twitter Conferences in San Diego I’ve already gained insight on:

1. How to distinguish between different types of green consumers from Maryanne Conlin’s presentation. From a marketing perspective this gives me great insight on how to communicate with different audiences in the green market.

2. I learned more about the power of photo sharing and it’s ability to enhance and strengthen relationships with a personal touch from one of my favorite leaders to follow in the Social Media space, Rodney Rumford of TweetPhoto. He has definitely encouraged me to participate more in photo sharing. I loved his analogy of saying “No one cares what you had for lunch, but they do love seeing photos of your lunch”

3. In addition I learned some important ways to craft your message if you’re strictly using Twitter as an e-commerce tool from Mirna Bard.

The next Cool Twitter Conferences event I’d like to highlight is taking place in Los Angeles on Friday July 31st, 2009. I’m honored to be one of their featured speakers. My topic is: Authentically Build Your Credibility as a Subject Matter Expert on Twitter.

Here is a preview of my presentation. I will focus on building your credibility as a subject matter expert in your industry with an authentic voice.  I will provide tips on how to be portrayed as an authority and resource in your area of expertise so potential clients and customers will know to contact you in time of need. This will include details on how to stay top of mind with your customers, how to present information so you are seen as a positive influence in your area rather than someone who is strictly promotional, how to reach out to those seeking your service and how to engage in conversation regarding your specific area of expertise in a way that allows people to understand your business and how you  will really solve one of their needs. The main message I will resonate with the audience is how to be a true resource and authority in your industry that people are eager to follow, retweet, recommend and work with.

I am looking forward to the Cool Twitter Conferences in LA and as always I want to provide my readers opportunity to attend on my behalf so it’s contest time!

The winner receives a complimentary pass ($295 value) to Cool Twitter Conferences in LA

There are 3 ways you can enter. You can enter once from each option to be entered a total of three times.

1. Blog Entry: Leave a comment on this blog answering the question: How were you introduced to Twitter?

2. Facebook Entry: Add me on Facebook . Click on the discuss box and reply in the discussion about The Cool Twitter Conferences.

3. Twitter Entry: Retweet this blog post with the Tweet button on the top of this blog. Please add the hashtag #CTC.

I will choose a lucky winner on Monday July 27th, 2009. Good luck and I look forward to connecting with you both at the event and on MyMelodie’s Twitter.

The title of this blog is literal. Referral Rewards Hooks You Up with PurseHooks! Referral Rewards is a fancy name for Affiliate Marketing. I like the term Referral Rewards better because it’s easier to comprehend and it implies a mutually beneficial relationship. Referral Rewards programs are becoming more popular as businesses and individuals realize it’s an efficient way to generate passive income. Many people are still unfamiliar with what exactly the term Affiliate Marketing or Referral Rewards means.

Je'Marie Fumi PurseHook

Affiliate Marketing (Referral Rewards) is an online based marketing strategy where a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate’s marketing efforts. Affiliates often use Internet marketing strategies such as SEO, PPC and email marketing to promote the affiliate program.  Affiliates are beginning to play a significant role in e-commerce revenues.

If you read my blog often you know I’m not just going to leave you hanging after an explanation of Affiliate Marketing (because most of you reading are Internet Marketing experts and ALREADY know this info). I like to add an element of fun into my posts  so going back to my opening paragraph: Referral Rewards Hooks You Up with PurseHooks!

Je’ Marie PurseHook and Accessories is a company founded in San Diego by Rich Shamlian and his two daughters Nichole and Natascha Shamlian.  They design and manufacturer the highest quality, strongest and most beautiful Purse Hooks, Handbag Hangers and Purse Accessories to keep your purse safe and clean up off of the dirty floor. All of their products have their own positive message. From working with this family team for the past few years I’m always inspired by the passion they bring to work each day and their desire to always be ahead of the curve in both their products and marketing strategies. They recently created a Referral Rewards program through Web Wizards offering affiliates 10%-20% of sales. I know everyone always asks me where I got my PurseHook. I send them to my personal link to buy a PurseHook from Melodie.

Signing up for the program is simple. Click here for details. And now to the fun part! Featured in this post is Je’Marie’s innovative Fumi. It’s a PurseHook, Purse Charm and Bracelet all in one! The functionality of the product is what makes it unique. I’m giving 2 lucky Marketing Melodie readers their very own Fumi!

Fumi PurseHook Glamorous

Each Winner Receives: 1 Je’Marie Fumi PurseHook

Contest Rules:
1. You must be following me @MyMelodie Twitter (This also means you must have a Twitter account)
2. You must RETWEET this post by clicking on the “Tweet This Post” button on this blog. *Please note this is how I’ll be tracking your Retweets.
3. You must leave a comment answering at least 1 of the two questions. If you answer both you will be entered twice.

• Please briefly describe your experience with Affiliate Programs. Have they been a success? a hassle? etc.
• Please tell me why you would be a great person to win a Fumi. (Men qualify too!)

You must do all three things on the list to be eligible. 2 winners will be randomly chosen on Monday June 22nd, 2009 because I love giving out prizes on Monday’s!

Bonus: Good luck and even if you aren’t the winner, you can still purchase a PurseHook through Melodie’s PurseHook Link .

I heard about the Weekend U Networking/ Introduction event that took place on March 16th and decided to stop by after work. All I knew is that Weekend U was a class to educate people on the internet. At first I wasn’t sure I was the right candidate for Weekend U since I already work in the Internet industry but I quickly learned that the course empowers internet users of all levels.

After a bit of networking, Dmitry Shapiro, an Internet Entrepreneur who most notably founded Veoh Networks took the stage and immediately captured my attention with teasers of powerful information he’d reveal during Weekend U. I was impressed by the myriad of topics he touched on that are essential to our internet success yet ignored by many.

Just a few of the many tools Dmitry will help you master:

• Use Google search differently to pinpoint detailed answers instantly on the web, without wading through pages of search results
• Always be the first to know about industry and competitive news as soon as it hits, before your boss, co-workers and partners
• Ask for, and receive, virtually instant help from 10s of thousands of people using social networks, for referrals to a prospective customer, input on selecting a vendor, references on a partner and other daily business challenges
• Immediately have an unfair advantage through information, speed and productivity over your co-workers, competitors and even your friends

By the end of Dmitry’s presentation I was eager to learn more and couldn’t wait to start sharing this opportunity. Going back to my new year’s career resolution to incorporate Online Marketing Eduction to help others I’m empowering 1 lucky Marketing Melodie reader with a complimentary pass to attend the Power Internet Marketing course.

Details: The full Internet Power course is on April 18, 2009, from 8am to 5pm, at Hotel Solamar

Winner Receives: 1 Pass to Weekend U in San Diego on April 18, 2009, from 8am to 5pm, at Hotel Solamar. This prize is valued at $499.

Contest Rules:
1. You must be following me @MyMelodie Twitter (This also means you must have a Twitter account)
2. You must RETWEET this post by clicking on the “Tweet This Post” button on this blog. *Please note  is how I’ll be tracking your Retweets.
3. You must leave a comment answering the following question:
What internet tool do you wish you had a mastery of to improve productivity? (Examples, Twitter, Facebook, Search Engines, LinkedIn, Email management, etc.

You must do all three things on the list to be eligible. A winner will be randomly chosen on Wednesday April 8th, 2009.

Bonus: Even if you aren’t the winner, you still win because I’m also giving you  $100 off the regular $499 price ($399). Just use the discount code SD37 and tell them Marketing Melodie sent you!

I don’t have concrete statistics to prove this statement but I’m pretty confident when I say that theme park attendance is down! With the economic crisis in full effect families are coming up with more cost effective leisure activities. Paying $50-$70 per admission ticket to any theme park is no longer an option. Theme parks are fully aware of the recession and most are doing their to best offer annual membership specials, birthday promotions and adding new attractions to draw in visitors. This is the time for their Marketing Department to step it up and utilize the power of the internet to increase exposure, gain publicity and showcase their attractions. If you work at a Theme Park and are reading this then please feel free to contact me for ideas!

I commend Legoland for doing a great job launching their Presidential Inauguration exhibit just in time to correspond with the Inauguration in Washington DC. In honor of the new President I’m giving away a pair of Legoland tickets so you can go see the inauguration exhibit for yourself!

Winner Receives:
2 Tickets to Legoland California. Each ticket is worth $63 for a total prize value of $126. Tickets are good for Adult or Child admission. Tickets must be used on or before March 31st, 2009.

Contest Rules:
1. You must be following me on Twitter (This also means you must have a Twitter account)
2. You must retweet this post by clicking on the “Tweet This Post” button on this blog. *Please note this is important. If you do not Retweet this from my post then there is no way for me to keep track of who has Retweeted it.
3. You must leave a comment with your email address and one of the following comments:

• Marketers: 1 Marketing/Promotional idea you’d recommend to a Theme park
• Share your favorite theme park and let me know why it’s your favorite

Remember you must do all three things on the list to be eligible. A winner will be randomly chosen on Monday February 9th, 2009. (I decided to choose Monday because Monday’s aren’t known for fun and exciting things happening but how cool would it be to win on a Monday?) Good luck!