You’re absolutely right. Sometimes we need a break. Thanks for your comment.

I’m happy to be back.

Act on your dream!

JD

I agree with you that all I did was take a break, but, still, it’s nice to have friends who check up on me if I go “missing.”

I spent a lot of time, when I felt like it, doing just what you suggest: brainstorming and thinking.

Now, I’m looking forward to putting into action my new goals and plans.

Act on your dream!

JD

I never said I’d try to get them to understand cross promoting their competition.

While it is true, in one sense, that all other businesses are our competition, there are some very good reasons to cross-promote other businesses in different categories than their own.

That’s the reason that I’m working with only one business in each category.

For example, one local woman owns a bed and breakfast. Additionally, this incorporates a coffee house, bakery, art gallery, small classes, community activities, and massage therapy.

She works cooperatively with a local massage therapist who also sells essential oils and other related products.

They cooperate on cross-promoting each other and it’s working well.

Would they want to promote other bed and breakfasts or massage therapists? No. I’m sure they would not. That’s why I won’t consult with competing businesses.

Another example is a local photographer who has a great gift for portrait photography, especially with babies and children.

She’s been cross-promoting a women’s clothing boutique, and did a two-day photo shoot in the store.

It worked well for both of them.

As a result, the owner of the women’s clothing store is starting online marketing and is slowly developing her new website.

Of course, neither of them would want to promote other women’s clothing boutiques or photographers, but they would probably be willing to work with other non-competing businesses.

Does that clear it up?

Act on your dream!

JD

Local offline marketing consulting is something that I’m very interested in.

I look at small business websites and see many reasons why they are not producing the results the business owner wants.

Some of the things that are second nature to anyone in Internet marketing are virtually unknown to the average offline business owner.

At the same time, some of these business owners are very savvy in offline marketing and joint venture marketing with other local businesses.

One of the things I’ll be bringing to the picture is a combination of online and offline marketing.

Those of us with online businesses are virtually invisible in our local communities, especially when we live in an area where offline advertising is still be predominate method of choice.

I’m looking forward to finding ways to combine offline marketing in businesses with lots of foot traffic and online marketing with businesses with lots of visitors to their sites.

I’ll probably be talking about this more on JohnDilbeckAndFriends.com rather than here.

It’s been very interesting getting out and talking to people in their businesses. I’ve learned some things that I’ll also be applying to my business, as soon as I can make the time to do it.

Act on your dream!

JD

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It’s always interesting when real life interferes with blogging. (grin)

I hope you have a good week, too.

Act on your dream!

JD

Thanks for the kind words and support.

I have bad allergies that really knock me for a loop in the spring and fall. Some days I just don’t feel like doing anything but sleeping. It’s one of the reasons I’m much better suited to being my own boss and working at home. At least, that way, nobody else has to listen to me cough, sneeze, wheeze, and make other disgusting noises.

Of course, I’ve chosen to live in an area that is abundant with the pollens and molds to which I’m most allergic.

One of the nice things I discovered when I lived in the Phoenix, Arizona, area was that I went for several years and wasn’t bothered by my normal hay fever problems.

When I moved here to Murphy, NC, I quickly rediscovered the “joys” associated with allergies. What used to be mainly a six-week period in the spring and about three weeks in the fall has grown to longer periods as our climate is warmer. The warmer winters have confused the trees and plants and they’re releasing pollen over longer periods now than they were 20 years ago. (At least, that’s what I’ve read. I don’t know if it’s truth.)

Additionally, I have other health problems that I don’t want to discuss here. I’m just not as healthy as I was a few years ago, but I really don’t like to complain about it. There are many people who are much worse off than I am. I’ll take it a day at a time and keep trying to put one foot in front of the other.

I’m finding that I’m really enjoying talking to local business owners and I’m looking forward to some creative offline marketing this year. It’s a really pleasant change when compared to working at home all the time.

I think I understand what you mean when you say you are stagnating. I was feeling that way last year.

I’ve written a few blog posts and scheduled them for later publishing, but just don’t feel comfortable doing it. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, it’s just not for me. I don’t really know why.

Still, if it works for you, that’s a good thing.

Act on your dream!

JD

Have a good week!

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First, what’s this illness stuff? That keeps coming up, it seems; I hope you’re seeing a doctor for it.

Second, I need to get going on more offline marketing, because frankly I’m stagnating. I’ve done some things lately, hoping to make a dent in some fashion, but I can’t say it’s been overly successful.

Still, we do what we do. Lucky for me, I can write posts way in advance, so if I ever have a down period the posts will still show up. Sneaky, but it’s a nice blog saver.

You’re doing fine; good luck with it all.

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