February 2008

Register now for "Integrated Ad Campaigns" 05 March
Cairril Mills, principal of Cairril.com Design & Marketing, will present "Integrated Ad Campaigns that Work for Web" at Internetworking on Wed, 05 March, at 8:30am. The meeting is in the IU Research Park (north end of Showers Building at 501 N Morton) in suite 100B. There is no charge for new visitors. Register now!

Learn specific steps for creating effective campaigns to drive traffic to your site and convert browsers into buyers. Make the most of your marketing budget, no matter what its size, by learning how to:

• Choose your campaign focus
• Select the right marketing channels
• Develop creative for print-Web crossover
• Integrate print, broadcast, and Web messages
• Follow-through for maximum results

We'll look at how targeted campaigns build your online brand, especially how best to integrate your online and offline presence. Feel free to bring samples of your current marketing materials for discussion!

Internetworking is a monthly meeting of business professionals looking to maximize their Internet marketing ROI from industry leaders and experts in the field. Learn more at their website. Your first three meetings are free of charge, so this is a great opportunity to learn how to get more from your marketing while checking out a great monthly event!
Register now!

Mills to speak at apartment association luncheon
Cairril will also be the featured speaker at the upcoming monthly meeting of the Monroe County Apartment Association on 27 Feb. Her presentation will focus on differentiation in a crowded marketplace and techniques to reach the 18-24 year-old market.

Surprising truth about sticky notes
Sending out a survey or business solicitation letter? Research shows that including a yellow sticky note with what looks like a personal greeting increases response rates. And it's not enough to include a greeting on just any ol' paper: it needs to be a yellow Post-It® or similar brand of sticky note! Researchers believe that people interpret the handwritten note as a request for a personal favor, which provides a compelling reason to comply with the appeal.
Get the complete study at Social Science Research Network (scroll down and click on Chicago GSB)

This month's winner: Bridget O'Keefe!
Bridget wins a digital print featuring this one-of-a-kind design. Have a favorite quote or saying? Send it in! If your quote is chosen, you'll receive a digital print of your custom design, suitable for framing! Check out your competition here.

See the creative process for the design above

Cairril.com featured in The Entrepreneur Story
Cairril.com is one of 70 businesses profiled in the new e-book, The Entrepreneur Story. The brainchild of Carolynn Duncan, the book's goal was to be a collection of stories from 100 entrepreneurs, published with a $100 budget within 30 days.

Seventy entrepreneurs, 35 states, 5 continents, 10 months, & $49 later, The Entrepreneur Story is that book! A crash course in the realities of being an entrepreneur, The Entrepreneur Story helps you cross the divide from just having a great idea to starting a profitable business.

The book includes stories from more than 70 current business owners; 7 brainstorming worksheets; relevant information on biz plans, funding, and more; and business info, advice, and tips from entrepreneurs who have been there, done that. At only $9.95, the book is a bargain!

Ryan Byrd, University of Utah MBA, declared the book to be “a goldmine of entrepreneurial wisdom—not from sheltered academics, but from seasoned, successful small business owners working in the trenches.” 

“There are a slew of books about establishing and operating a business; however, learning first-hand from individuals who have actually been through it makes this book a truly valuable resource,” said Danielle White, freelance consultant for the Utah Small Business Development Center and co-founder of The Cancer Crusaders Organization.

The Cairril.com story is told from a personal viewpoint, describing the unexpected twists that brought Cairril to found a successful business instead of becoming a star on Broadway. Learn more; heck, buy a copy!