The Pink Ink Diaries

Do you need access to amazing, and affordable stock images for your newsletters and blog posts? Look no further than Fotolia!

Cottage Collections is a small web and graphic design business that does much of our own graphic work, but even we find ourselves in the market for stock photos, and images to create professional newsletterss, and blog posts. Recently I had an opportunity to try Fotolia, a new service (new to us) that offers millions of stock photos, and graphics. I have to be honest, I had some difficulty at first getting my account activated, and getting to the point that I could download images, but this minor glitch was treated with the utmost importance by Fotolia staff, and I was even awarded additional free time for my trouble.

I find Fotolia to be one of the most comprehesive and affordable service for stock images and photos. In the few short weeks that I have been a member, I've found many useful images that I plan to incorporate into my email campaigns. If you have a topic, they have multiple "perfect" images for your campaign.

Fotolia is an affordable and diverse stock photo house with over 12 million images, vector graphics, and HD videos.  They are the number one choice of designers in Europe and have expanded around the globe. Cottage Collections gives them a definite thumbs up for product, price and customer service. 

Give Fotolia a try today and come back and let us know what you think! 

Colors in Web Design: Choosing a right combination for your website

My Programmer Thomas, ran across this article in his recent web travels and shared it with me. I was really excited to see one of our websites ( Make Mine Pink ) mentioned. I appreciate the authors inclusion.

Color is undoubtedly the essential means to touch the emotions of your website visitors. It is a non-verbal communication and creates a physical and emotional reaction of the viewers. Colors are able to set the right tone and carry a necessary message for visitors. Colors can calm or excite, arouse plenty of feelings and stimulate to actions. Color is extremely powerful.

read more via www.1stwebdesigner.com

4 Tips to Better Manage Your E-mail

E-mail can be one of the biggest time wasters in our modern world, and although this has probably been said a million times before, the fact that it's still a problem today shows that we can't seem to deal with it effectively no matter how many tips we've read and advice we've received. So, we're writing today to share with you some of the things that we do to help organize our mail and get through all the clutter.

1. Gmail
   We use Gmail because it's simple, but offers a lot of features that are really useful. For the longest time, we used e-mail clients like Outlook and Thunderbird, but they all seem to be buggy in some way or another, don't synchronize well with other computers, and require a lot of technical expertise to get the most out of them. With Gmail, you just sign up and use it — no special customization necessary! We also love how Gmail uses labels instead of folders. Sometimes, you'll find yourself with an e-mail that would fit into two or more folders — for example, an e-mail from a client about a project that also contains billing information. With Gmail, you can add a "Project" label and a "Billing" label with no problem, but with the conventional folder method, you'd have to make a copy of the e-mail for each folder that you want to put it in.
   
   We've used Yahoo mail and Hotmail/Live mail before also, and while they're OK, they just don't compare with Gmail in our opinion. Oh, and if you don't want a @gmail.com address, you can use your own domain instead. Our cottagecollections.com e-mail addresses are hosted by Gmail, and it's much more reliable than the service provided by most hosts.
2. Filters
   Most e-mail clients let you apply filters to your incoming mail. What this means is that when you get an e-mail from a specific person or with certain words in the subject or message, you can automatically have the e-mail sent to one of your folders, marked with a star, or many other things depending on your mail client. We have many e-mail accounts, and instead of checking them all individually, use filters to automatically label them when they come in. For example, We regularly receive newsletters from sitepoint.com. With filters, those newsletters — along with many others — are given a "Newsletter" label, regardless of the account they were sent to. E-mails from our Cottage Collections clients also have labels, but of course, we check those right away :)
3. Canned Responses
   We often find ourslves answering similar questions in many e-mails, and it can be a frustrating trying to remember what you told someone else. Luckily, there's a "canned response" feature in Gmail (and other clients as well, I'm sure) that lets you save a response, give it a memorable name, and include it in any future e-mails. Now, when someone asks for instructions on how to clear their browser cookies, a reply just takes a few clicks! The problem is remembering to save the message as a canned response — one of these days remembering will be second nature.
4. Keep Your Inbox Empty
   When filters don't take care of organizing you mail for you, it ends up in the inbox. Most experts tell you to check mail only at specific times during the day and to resist the urge to read mail immediately. Unfortunately, that just isn't possible with some businesses (like ours). Some e-mails need an immediate response, so when they come in, we have to read them. Here's how we handle that.
   
   First, skim over the message to get an idea of what it's about. If it's something that can wait until later, star it, apply a label, and get it out of your inbox. If it has to be addressed right away, address it, reply to it, label it, and get it out of the inbox. You see the part about "getting it out of the inbox?" That's important! Once you start leaving mail in your inbox, you've messed up your whole organizational system. And eventually, you're going to have to go through all of that mail that has stockpiled and figure out what to do with it. It's best to spend the few extra clicks in the beginning than waiting until it has become a monumental task.

Well, that's our advice and how we, personally, choose to handle e-mail. How about you? What tips or "lessons learned" can you share with us?

The Pinque, Inc. Diaries blog provides information for building or improving your Web business.

The Pinque, Inc. Diaries helps compliment our website at cottagecollections.com by offering information as well as tips and advice for building or maintaining your own website or blog. We try to post articles that are helpful for small businesses that are interested in promoting themselves online. This can be through social networks such as Facebook and Twitter or through traditional advertising like magazines and newspapers. We're not all business, though; sometimes we post about interesting or entertaining events in our lives, and hopefully, they'llgive you a little insight into who we are.

We'd really love to grow our blog into a community and encourage conversation and participation among our readers.

Have you heard that Cottage Collections has a new referral program?

We're now offering a referral program so you can make some extra cash by recommending Cottage Collections to your friends! Here's how it works:

1. Tell your friends about Cottage Collections fabulous web design services
2. If your friend purchases a custom or pre-designed website and mentions that you referred them, we'll pay you! It's as simple as that!

Read more here...

Think Pink! Another New Design for Sale!

We've got another new pre-designed website ready for your business! With a Cottage Collections website, you can add your products and start selling online right away. For more information about this design or any others, visit our website at cottagecollections.com or give us a call at 804-524-0092.

Maintain Your Marketing Momentum.

I don't know about you, but I am most productive in the early mornings. I'm finding that it's a really good time for me to do some of my marketing. My mind is clear and I seem to be much more productive when I can think clearly.

When do you find is the best time for you to market your business? How do you keep yourself on task?

According to Chase's Calendar of Events, June is Entrepreneurs "Do It Yourself" Marketing Month. At Make Mine Pink, we've talked a lot about the different ways we can market our businesses by ourselves. You probably are already using some marketing techniques that are working well for you. Read More...

via blog.makeminepink.com

The same wonderful design service but a whole new look at Cottage Collections

As I'm sure that you've noticed, we're spiffing up the place around here at Cottage Collections. We'll be offering the same wonderful design service, but wanted a new look that would encompass all the wonderful design styles that we do. Our focus has changes somewhat over the years and we're now happily designing for more and more fabric and textile industry businesses. The one thing that we've noticed is that fabric artists love color! Our love of PINK remains, but we want all prospective clients to feel welcome. I hope you'll bear with me as we complete all of these changes.

In the meantime, if you'd like to take one of our sites for a test drive, please feel free to visit our retail or wholesale demo site.

 

It's great to have a website, but what's next? How do you promote your business?

Promoting Your Products on the World's Second Most Popular Website

Just recently, Facebook surpassed Yahoo to become the second most popular website on the internet.  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/02/facebook-beats-yahoo.html If you haven't started using Facebook for your business, maybe this is motivation to give it another look.
You probably already know that Facebook lets you share your blog posts, show off photos, connect with old customers and friends, and find new ones. Something else I've been doing on Facebook, though, is setting up fan pages to promote my businesses.  That's something you might want to do to for your business and your products too.
A fan page is like a public profile you can use to share your business and your products with other Facebook users. It promotes your business via word-of-mouth. When your "fans" interact with your page by leaving a comment, sharing a picture, or even by becoming a fan, it shows up in their news feed, which all their friends can see.
You might be wondering how Facebook fans become paying customers. After all, it's nice to be popular, but what we really want if we’re in business, is to build relationships with potential customers. I’d much rather buy from someone I know and trust, than doing a search on Google. I’d much rather give my business to other small businesses like myself and I’m sure others feel the same. This is your opportunity to connect on a personal level, just like any little shop in small town USA.
To make it easy for your fans to buy from you, you'll want to include all the details about your business on your fan page, especially where fans can buy your products. Then use your creativity to come up with ideas to keep fans returning to your page and learning more about your products.
Some ideas you can try are keeping your page updated with fresh photos of projects you're working on right now, holding contests just for your fans, giving away gift certificates for your products, offering weekly specials for fans only. Something that has worked well to keep my fans coming back regularly is genuine interaction. It doesn’t matter how many fans you have if you don’t get to know your fans and let them get to know you.

To set up your fan page, I've found the easiest place to start is http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php . Here you can name your page and choose a category for your business. After you've created your page, you can add a profile picture. Here you have an opportunity to add more than just a small image of yourself. Did you know that Facebook allows you to add a 200 x 600 pixel image? Do you realize just how much information you can get into a 200 x 600 image? Much more than just an image of yourself or your logo. On your page, you can upload as many photos as you want. There is a tab where fans can publish reviews of your products and a discussion board where they can get to know each other.
When your page is set up and ready for company, just click the "Publish this Page" link to share your page with everyone else on Facebook. Remember to become a fan of your own page!  Now it will show up in your profile so your friends can see it and become fans too. You can also "suggest" that your friends become fans of your page by clicking the "Suggest to Friends" link.
One way that has worked to get fans for my pages is to promote the page with a Facebook ad. It's a cost-effective way to advertise your business. You can choose exactly who will see your ad, and you only pay for click-throughs and new fans.

Do you see how easy it can be to promote your products on the second most popular website? As your fans spread the word about how much fun they're having on your page, their numbers will grow and so will your business.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Cottage Collections
Make Mine Pink

Facebook Pages:
Make Mine Pink
Cottage Collections

Where to find inspiration for your business blog.

It seems that every internet marketing and business expert I hear these days is telling us that we need to blog more often. Even the publicity experts say that keeping our blogs updated might be more important than sending out press releases. Are you listening to the same voices I am?

So, you probably don't need to be convinced that it's important to blog for your business. But do you know what you should be blogging about? Sometimes it isn't that we don't know what to do; it's that we don't know exactly how to do it that holds us back.
If you aren't blogging yet because you don't know what to say, I've put together a short list of some places you can always look for inspiration and ideas. Even if you are blogging regularly, you might find these suggestions helpful too.
First of all, you can always blog about your business. This is a business blog, after all. But that doesn't mean you have to come across as formal and boring.  To keep your readers interested, you can write about topics like how customers use your most popular products. Or highlight some differences between you and your competitors, and then show why your products are better. Are you showing your products somewhere soon? Blog about it! Let your readers know your business is growing and you're doing exciting things.
Let your workspace inspire a few of your blog posts.  I know I'm not the only one who is fascinated by watching artists at work. It's exciting to watch the creative process in action. Give your blog visitors a peek into your studio to see what really goes on. Show off what you're working on right now. If you're feeling brave, you can even make a video of yourself hard at work, or give a virtual tour of your studio. Don't worry about the mess – it only makes you more approachable.
Spotlight some of your customers in your blog, though you may want to ask their permission first. Answer a commonly asked question or two. Share customers' comments or testimonials about your products and your outstanding customer service. Post a few pictures of how your customers are displaying your products in their homes.
You can give your blog visitors a glimpse of your personal side too. Have you read a good article lately, or one that made you angry? Blogging about it will encourage your visitors to comment and start a conversation with you. Have you achieved something you're really proud of? Even if it's not business-related, brag about it on your blog. Engage your readers and customers by letting them get to know another side of you.
Finally, remember that you don't have to blog all on your own. Go ahead and invite a business colleague to guest blog for you. Maybe you can do the same for her when she's stuck for ideas. Post a video or a photo that made you laugh, just for fun.  Hold a contest or a poll for your blog readers, then blog about the results.

We can all agree that blogging for business is important. But once you discover how easy it is to find new ideas for your blog, I think you'll agree it's enjoyable too.

Happy Blogging!
Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink & Cottage Collections

Cottage Collection's latest web re-design of Bunny Hill Designs.

I've been really horrible at keeping up this blog! I vow to do better in 2010. I just wanted to share our latest website re-design. Of course it helps that it's one of our favorite clients! Bunny Hill designs.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to redesign your site Anne!

If you're looking for an easy, intuitive web site, please visit us at www.cottagecollections.com.

Choosing a Web Designer for Your First Website

Maybe you've been working on your business for a little while now. Or perhaps you're still in the initial planning stages of your new business.

You know one thing for sure though – you're going to need a website in order to get your business online and see the success you really want.  It can't be just any website, either. It has to look pretty and function like it should. Hopefully, even better than it should.

Getting the website you need hinges on finding the right website designer. This is especially true if you don't know anything about coding or website design. You have to know you can trust the designer you choose, and feel confident she will do what she says she can.

When you begin looking for a designer for your first website, start by looking for someone who offers references. If the designer you're considering doesn't explicitly offer references, don't be afraid to ask. If she is an experienced professional, she'll be prepared to offer them.

Then follow up with those references and ask questions about their experiences with the designer. Take the time to visit other websites the designer has created and browse through them. Check if everything runs like it should, and see how each page looks.

Before you hire a designer, you also need to find out if she believes in putting the power of managing the website back into your, the business owner's, hands. Does she expect you to wait for her (and pay her) to update your new site every time you need to make a change? Or does she provide a way for you to control your own website? Paying a web master to update your site for every little change is going to waste a lot of your time and money in the long run.

The good news is, finding a designer for your first website isn't as daunting as it used to be. At Cottage Collections (www.cottagecollections.com), most of our clients are just like you. They're women who are in the beginning stages of building a business, or they might be thinking about starting a business. Like you, they realized that choosing the right web designer is an first important step in creating the perfect website for their business needs.

By keeping up with the latest technology and listening to the needs of clients like you, we have been able to offer websites that work with you, not against you. Gone are the days of having to wait for your web master to update your site for you. We've put the all the control back in your hands, where it belonged in the first place.

A well designed and programmed site means you won't have the frustration or the wasted hours spent trying to figure out how to use your site. Instead, you'll have the time you need to devote to building your business.

If you're ready to make the dream of owning your own business a reality, we'd love to talk to you

Joyce Lucas, CEO

http://www.cottagecollections.com

Email: Info@cottagecollections.com

It's a great time to be a small business owner!

Why It's a Great Time to Be a Small Business Owner

Have you been watching all the media coverage about the threat to small business? There's so much of it, it's pretty hard to miss. But, it's also important to remember that the media's job is to sell newspapers and attract viewers.

Despite what they've been telling you, it's a great time to own a small business.

If you're a small business owner, you knew going in that this wasn't going to be easy. If you wanted easy, you wouldn't have listened to that little voice that told you could do something better than what everyone else was doing.

Instead, you believed in your talents and your creativity. You knew you could use them to accomplish something better. And now you can.

This is the opportunity you've been waiting for.

As a small business owner, you don't need to be afraid of getting laid off, or not getting a raise this year. Your position is secure, and how much money you make next year depends only on you.

You're actually in a perfect position to take advantage of this economic downturn. Unlike large companies, you're easily able to adapt to what your target market needs, and make sure you're meeting those needs.

That's right - your target market still needs you. That fact hasn't changed. Exactly what they need from you may be changing, but they still have goals they need your help to reach.

What does your target market need from you right now?

If you're not sure, you need to find out. Start connecting with them in the places where they spend their time and discover what their concerns are right now.

Then come up with ways you can help them solve those problems. You have the flexibility and the creativity to come up with solutions that meet your market's changing needs.

Make sure your market knows how to find you.

If they're in a panic too, your clients and potential clients are probably not going to seek you out. This is why it's more important than ever to make sure your business is visible to them every day, in multiple ways.

Begin connecting with your market on social media sites, if you're not there already. Write articles that solve your readers' problems, and publish them in places where your potential clients will read them. Launch a business blog that helps you establish an ongoing dialogue with your market, so they know you're still there and that you're listening to them.

Strengthen relationships with other small business owners. (This is where MakeMinePink comes in!)

The most powerful thing you have going for you is your relationships with other small business owners. Instead of spending energy lamenting our economic troubles, we need to encourage each other and work together to stay the course.

Have an idea but not sure how to make it work? That's what we're all here here for, to bounce ideas off of and help each other come up with a workable solution. When you're feeling frustrated because nothing seems to be working, your support network can offer a new perspective, and encourage you to try again.

This is a great time to own a small business. It's the opportunity you've been waiting for. Use your brains, your talent and your creativity, and let your business shine.

Please join us as we launch our new series of Webinars by Social Media expert Lena West.

Please click here for webinar schedule and registration!  

Joyce Lucas, Founder
www.makeminepink.com    
www.cottagecollections.com    

Please excuse our appearance..

typepad is experiencing technical difficulties and can't seem to pinpoint why my blog will not load my style sheet. They assure me that they are working to get this issue resolved. In the meantime.. I think I will suspend posts until this issue gets resolved. I realize it's difficult to read and to post like this.

Thank your for your patience.

Spoonflower anyone?

I ran across this amazing blog/beta company a few weeks ago and I am so excited to share this with you! It's called spoonflower! http://blog.spoonflower.com/

Spoonflower in the beginning stages of printing custom fabric. Their beta site lets you design and upload your own designs and they in turn print your fabric. You can order up to 5 yards of one design. If you want to see if you'll like the fabric, you can just order a swatch.
Well, I didn't waste a minute! I've already got my designing shoes on! I've uploaded 2 of my own designs already this week! 

In order to use their beta program, you have to apply to participate.It took less than a week for me to get accepted. So, please head on over to spoonflower and get in on the ground floor of this exciting opportunity! Just imagine the possibilities for us creative souls!

And The Winner Is...

Thank you all for visiting my blog today! As you can see, Lily is SO happy to present you with your Prize! And the lucky winner is... Gail! Congratulations Gail. Please send me your address and we'll ship your salt water taffy out tomorrow!

It's show and tell Monday!

But perhaps today I'll just SHOW my progress. Words can be so over-rated!

Show and Tell Monday!

One of the lovely MMP Ladies suggested that the members of www.makeminepink.com do a show and tell Monday! We'll start blogging on Mondays to show what we have been working on the previous week. I thing it's a fabulous idea. Especially since I designed a few pre-designed websites this weekend! Thank you Kathleen or Set To A Tea for a fabulous marketing idea.

Please enjoy a glimpse of two of the newest pre-designed websites offered for your convenience at www.cottagecollections.com

Cottage Collections is proud to be a trend-setter for unique and feminine web design for small businesses.

Visit Make Mine Pink for your premier shopping and networking site on the web.

Happy New Year to our cherished friends!

Happy New Year to all of my treasured friends at Cottage Collections and Make Mine Pink!
As I sit having my morning coffee today, I can't help but reflect over this past year. It's been an amazing journey for me the web designer, meeting so many wonderful women just getting their web business started. I'd like to thank you for putting your trust in me to design the website you envisioned for your business. I've enjoyed working with each of you and wish you success beyond what you dream of.

As I further reflect back on this year, I'm in awe at the talent and strength I am surrounded by every single day at Make Mine Pink. What started 4 years ago as a small network of women with a common vision, a vision to own our own business and to realize success through networking with other women in business...is now one of the most amazing networks on the web! You might argue that I'm biased, after-all I am the founder of Make Mine Pink... But what I am is proud and humbled by the women that surround me.  Women that are smart and funny, loyal, supportive, amazingly talented and and have a dedication to succeed compared to none. I know Make Mine Pink was started as my vision, but has become the vision of hundreds of other women willing to share the journey to success. So thank you all for helping to make Make Mine Pink what it is today. As we go into 2008, we are united, excited and ready for all the wonderful things waiting for us!

Last but not least, a big thank you to the patrons of all the Make Mine Pink Boutiques. Your continued support has contributed to the success of each and every boutique that makes up this wonderful group. We promise to continue to offer you products, services and customer service beyond compare.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy Holidays to our Pinque Inc. friends

Happy Holidays to our Cottage Collections and Make Mine Pink friends and family! We wish you all the blessings of the Holiday Season.

Cottage Collections is taking part in the Spectacular Make Mine Pink Christmas Extravaganza!

I know it's been a while since I've update this sad sad blog! Life has a way of taking off on it's on. We've been busy designing web sites AND trying to get all of our holiday events at MMP planned and executed. I know it sounds easy but I am here to tell you "It just ain't so!" I do promise to try and make more time to share though. I love the Holidays. I love everything about Christmas. Every year I promise myself that I'll take the entire month of December off and just partake in Christmas festivities. Well maybe next year!

So.. our first bit of news is..Cottage Collections is participating in the Make Mine Pink CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA that is being held December 3rd - 9th. We will be offering 50% off of all standard predesigned websites. Please mention code MMPEXTRA50 when you call to receive discount.

Please drop by and see all the fabulous deals offered by some of the finest Make Mine Pink Boutiques! Remember.. mark your calendars! December 3rd - 9th!

Our second bit of news.. we'll also be participating in the the MMP Blog Cookie Recipe exchange. If you know ANYTHING at all about me.. you know I am all about cookies! Well cookies and chocolate!

More info coming VERY soon!

Creatively marketing your business through newsletters.

Make Mine Pink had their weekly MEMBER'S MARKETING CHAT last night. It was hosted by myself, Joyce Lucas. The founder of Make Mine Pink and Cottage Collections. We had a great group and a great discussion about creative marketing through the use of newsletters. I'm really excited about the group of experts that we have that are willing to share their tips, quips and techniques with all of us! So much information in one place!

Do you want to join us at Marketing Chat to help grow your business? It's easy to become a make mine pink member! JOIN MAKE MINE PINK

Hi-lights of the MMP Tuesday October 16th Marketing Chat.

Newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with your potential customers or clients. If done correctly they should:

1. Capture your target audience’s attention – why did they sign up for your newsletter in the first place?
2. Keep your target audience’s attention.
3. Establish yourself as an expert in your field. If you have an area of expertise, use this opportunity to give short but interesting demonstrations. Even a series of useful business, collecting or restoring tips that will keep readers interest and increase the potential for more click throughs. ( A click through is a link clicked in your newsletter, perhaps to a specific area on your web site) Offer additional information as a follow up on your site to get them clicking!
4. Establish credibility – In addition to branding yourself with a professional business identity, make your ads and or features work for you. If you have been featured in a national publication or have advertised in any national publication, a copy of your ad included in your newsletter can help you establish credibility.
5. Give useful information about your products or services. Use this opportunity to show your audience why they need YOUR product. If using pictures to aid in your campaign, use clear, bright images.
6. Be fun and interesting – a short human interest story, a make over project, something that will connect your reader with you on a human level. Don’t get too involved or too personal. Just enough to let them see a human being (but a professional human being) is writing the newsletter they’re reading.
7. If available, include a new testimonial in each newsletter. Remember to get their permission first.
8. If offering give-away or special on your site, be sure and include clear information about how they should proceed and what they’ll receive.
9. Keep your writing style informal and friendly. Making you approachable. Make it easy for your readers to contact you. Offer email address and phone number if available.

One Important thing to keep in mind when planning to offer a newsletter:

1. You need to choose how often you’ll publish your newsletter and stick to that schedule. It’s more difficult than you think to create a useful newsletter that will actually get read. Rather than repeat information from newsletter to newsletter, choose a schedule that will allow you provide interesting content in each newsletter. If you don’t keep your readers interested, your newsletters will not bring the results you hope to bring. Quarterly or Bi-Monthly are often used for small business newsletter schedules.

Our Pink Studio Space.. at Pinque, Inc.

You've seen pics of our pretty pink offices at Cottage Collections and Make Mine Pink, but one thing lacking was a pretty work space that wasn't all about work. I needed a space to move away from the desk and still be surrounded with all the PINK things I love. In the rush of the day, when a quick e-mail hello seems to be the norm, I've missed sorting through my stacks of greeting cards, and handwriting a note to friends and family. Or when ispiration is missing, a place I can pour over old Victorias and a cup of tea.This new "Oh so pink" space will be the perfect fit for me. The best part, it was all lovingly designed, built and sewn by my best friend A.K.A. my husband. Isn't he amazing? He measured every single pleat on the custom kidney shaped desk. He lovingly painted my most treasured antique frame "cotton candy pink" without a complaint and the best part? He designed a pattern for and created the most awesome pink slip cover for my new chair. Of course we'll never know if his willingness to create this PINK space at the office was his way of keeping it from being at home! We'll never know because I'm not asking. Instead I'll be grateful for such an amazing and talented man in my life!

Creatively Marketing your business.

Creative Marketing:

Are you looking for ways to market your business in ways that will make your business stand out above the crowd? Are you an expert at what you do or sell? Then think outside of the box when it comes to marketing. Think about what You can do for the public that will cause them to be interested in you and your product.

Why not give a public demonstration at one of your local Fall craft shows? Once you've captured the publics interest, follow up with a visual web demonstration every month on your web site. You're the expert. Let your experience guide you.

For this demonstration...Instead of being ALL about sales, be all about creating excitement and buzz. From this excitement and buzz will come sales.

Since there are SO MANY Fall and Holiday craft shows….some with entrance fees are as low as 10.00 for a table, Why not give demonstrations? Just short, simple demonstrations. I.E.

If you sell mosaic art.. How about a demonstration on how to cut safely cut china. Have a few finished pieces for display only. (They can purchase later from your website) sell packets of broken china and patterns.

If you do scrap booking, How about a scrap-booking demonstration? Then sell scrapbook packets for the project you’re doing. Send them to your website for the rest.

If you Sew.. Do a sewing demonstration of a pin cushion or a simple tote or a sachet.. And then sell the kits. You could include the pattern and fabric. Of course finished products can also be ordered from your website.

If you sell tea and tea products… what better way to promote your business than to host a huge “how to throw a tea party” demo? Set up using your pretty china tea cups and tablecloths. Use all the things that you have for sale on your website, your shop or in your tearoom.

Be ALL ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATION… all about giving.. NOT selling. From this will come sales.

Don't forgetto send a press release to all local papers telling everyone where you will be giving your “FREE” demonstrations. Also place a call your local radio station. Everyone likes a free demonstration! Use all resources to get the word out about YOUR demo.

Investment: 10-20.00 and 6 hours of your time. Use this opportunity to pass out business cards, web flyers.. And Samples.

The girls are back from the Victoria Bliss Event!

Well the girls are back from the "Bliss" event that was hosted by Hoffman Media, celebrating the return of Victoria. Please visit our Make Mine Pink Blog for all the exciting details.

We're all about the money... Aren't you?

I once heard a business acquaintance say I was "all about the money" when I refused to negotiate my rates. What I didn't expect was a personal attack because I refused to follow the practices of an on-line auction business. At first I was indignant. Who would want to be thought of in that light? Yet on the other hand, I'm not an on line auction service, offering my products or services to the highest bidder. I offer a professional service. I pay employees and have overhead just like any other successful business. This careless observation did however make me reflect on my business practices, and do you know what I found? It's OK to be "all about the money" if you're in business. We all know there is so much more to business than the income aspect, BUT If I didn't mind my finances, I wouldn't be in business. While admittedly I absolutely love the social and creative aspect of my business, that aspect alone won't pay my bills and keep my business afloat. My business, your business and all successful businesses need income to continue. It's OK to set fair prices for your products and services and it's also OK to expect to get them. Can you be flexible? Sure! How you run your business is YOUR BUSINESS. Can you offer layaway? extended payments? Again, a personal business choice. One that you need to be prepared to live with. With that said, we have been asked many times to accept payment plans for our services. We've actually made a few exceptions along the way and done just that. But as a regular practice, we just weren't sure that this would be the best practice for us. After meeting with my staff and very careful consideration, we have made some pretty amazing changes to our pricing and payment structure. We'll be announcing those changes soon.

Back to business.. Back to school specials at CC.

If you missed our newsletter today...

By now the kids are back to school and summer vacation is over.  It's never too soon to start thinking about getting your web business started! Have your business up READY TO GO before the holiday season begins. Call or email today for a free estimate. 
Phone: 804-524-0092
E-mail:
info@cottagecollections.com

Need a website in a hurry? 
Do you need your web business up and running fast? Cottage Collections can help!   

View our available pre-designed sites.

Cottage Collections turnkey websites are complete website packages that are ready to be customized with your name, ready to add your products and you're in business! No HTML knowledge or software is required. Our websites are intuitive making them easy to use and update. This not only means you can have your website up and running in a matter of days, it also means it gives you more time to concentrate on building your business! You don't have to wait for your webmaster to make changes and additions for you. We've made it easy for you to do them yourself right from your own user interface.

Get 300.00 off all pre-designed web sites plus 500 free matching business cards!
Hurry...Sale ends Friday September 14th and does does not apply to previous purchases.

Good news and bad news about our print services.

As you know, Cottage Collections has offered extended print services in the past. Little by little we have eliminated some of the products we offered due to poor print quality. Recently we've had a rash of poor print jobs and a company that does not back their services. As a company that prides itself in superior customer service, this is not acceptable for us. Because this has been a gradual decrease in quality, we've been in negotiations with a new printer for some time now. We're excited that we'll be switching over soon.  The bad news is.. that while we're switching over to our new printer, we'll be temporarily suspending print services. The Good news? We will once again be offering extended print services. If you need it, we can print it. We're confident that our new company has the same high standards that we do and together will offer you exceptional products and services. Thank you for your patience and understanding. The wait will be worth it!

New Scrapbook Design.. hot off the press!

If you are looking for the perfect scrapbooking design for your website, you've found it.

This scrap-book style turn-key website package is ready to add products and start selling. Only your PayPal account is needed for your customers to start paying (no complex merchant accounts necessary). Your website can be easily customized with your text and images and will require no special software or programming knowledge. In addition to selling your products, you can announce sales, add links to your favorite website, share your photos, and even create your own customizable pages. All of this is done from a streamlined administrative interface that anyone (even the computer illiterate) will find easy to use.

Preview this design or any of our other designs at our demo website.

Business Card Design at Cottage Collections

Cottage Collections is now offering pre-designed business cards as an alternative to custom design. Each pre-designed card can be customized with your business information. If you don't have a design idea in mind, don't worry! You can choose one of these pretty designs and have your cards in 7-10 days. If you'd prefer customer design, that's ok too! We're happy to help get your business off the ground in any way that we can. Please click here.

A professional business identity is vital to the success of your business.

I think we would all agree that a professional business identity is vital to the success of any business. But more importantly, to YOUR business. Whether it be your business name, your business colors, logo or web design, all of these things individually and collectively are vital to the "believability" of your business. Being a creative and environmentally conscious person myself, it's tempting to write a thank you note on a recycled card, use a box that I received my own merchandise in and use recycled packing materials. But I resist. I've been on both sides of the fence. I've been the recipient of beautifully packaged and presented products as well as products in recycled, beat up boxes and I made a judgment. I'm not proud of that fact, but I'm being honest. I made a judgment based on the packaging. Despite the fact that the merchandise was equally beautiful, I based my opinion of that business on their business identity and presentation. I freely admit that I gave my repeat business to the company that seemed more professional to me.
Your web site design, your business card design, your letter head and note cards all speak volumes about your business. These simple elements make up your business identity. They are the first impression that you make on a new customer or client and you only get one first impression. So my advice is to make that first impression work for you not against you. Remember, your customers and clients will only take your business as seriously as you take it. If you don't believe in your business enough to invest in building your reputation, why would your customers?

If a Cottage Collections custom or a pre-designed website is out of your budget, there are many build your own website companies on the market. You can start to build your business identity one step at a time. Start with your logo design/identity. Once you get your colors and branding behind you, the rest will follow. You can use your newly designed identity to design your website, business cards, stationery and newsletters. All the while you will begin to build the "good reputation" of your business.

Interview with Amy Arnaz at Make Mine Pink

We were so excited to introduce Amy Arnaz, also known as “Miss Amy” as the Make Mine Pink Successful Entrepreneur for August. In addition to being an author of children’s books, Amy is a ballet teacher by profession. Her husband Desi Arnaz Jr. is the son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.  Together they run the children's non-profit Boulder City Ballet Company and Historic Boulder Theatre.  All proceeds from Amy’s new book The Magic Tutu go directly to help fund their non-profit ballet company.

To purchase Amy’s new book The Magic Tutu, please click here.
To learn more about Amy and The Magic Tutu, please visit www.themagictutu.com

Amy’s warm and generous spirit is evident in the interview she so generously agreed to do for Make Mine Pink. We hope you enjoy getting to know Amy as much as we did.

To read amy's entire interview, please visit Make Mine Pink

Sneak Peak..

  I just thought you'd like a little peak of one of the sites we're working on. This fun and whimsical site will be available this week on Cottage Collections. Check back often.. It's sure to go fast. AND the features... wait until you see the features! This site will have more functionality that we've ever offered.

Email us if you'd like to know when this site ready to go! And ready to go it will be. This is one of our fabulous new turn-key sites. This means it can be yours and ready to just add your products and go in just a matter of days. Ask us how!

We've got our pink designing shoes on for August!

What a month August is going to be here at Cottage Collections! We have our PINK DESIGNING shoes on and have lots in store once we get our site moved over to our new and OH SO WORTHY hosting!
We have been at the drawing board this past month and have some surprises in store. So, if you think we only design for the shabby crowd..... it's just not so!

Call Me...

We are experiencing TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES with our email once again! Even the people that are supposed to be the techiest have problems it seems! Our current hosting company is being blocked for allowing too much spam on the Comcast network. They are currently in negotiations with comcast to lift the ban but in the meantime..our valuable customers and clients that happen to have a comcast email address are blocked. After much anguish (afterall.. moving hosts for us is a BIG DEAL) we are moving to what we hope is a more dependable hosting solution. In the meantime, if our comcast customers need to reach please give us a call! We'd love to talk to you!

New and improved website technology!

I know I said I had news yesterday but I got sidetracked and never made it back to share. As you know, over the past few years Cottage Collections has been a trend-setter in offering unique and feminine web design services to women getting started in business. Add that to our Make Mine Pink community of networking with other women in business and you have a complete package! We can help you make the dream of owning your own business a reality. Well, now our services are getting even better! Our technology, you guessed it.. is even BETTER than before! Thomas (our resident programmer) has been working hard over the past few months to improve our already fabulous PINK CADILLAC web sites! You wanted more features, we've added them. The absolute best part of owning a Cottage Collections web site? No technical knowledge is necessary! You can maintain your own site right from your browser window. We've taken the work out of having a website and made it fun and intuitive. Just add your products, personalize your site and you're in business! You no longer have to depend on your webmaster to make costly changes to your site. You can do it yourself. Ohhh.. did I mention that we have also spent a great deal of time focusing on website technology for fabric shops/quilters? We have and we're excited about it.

Here are some of the new optional features: (and I know I'm forgetting a few!)

User accounts: Customers can now store their information, even save the contents of their cart to purchase later. It makes checkout a breeze!
Your own blog hosted on your site if you prefer
Create your own pages and add them to your website directly from your administrative interface. You can even edit your meta tags.
Our sites work with your PayPal, Authorize.Net, or LinkPoint accounts, or process orders using your own credit card terminal (credit card information is encrypted in the database for security)
Use UPS or USPS shipping rate estimates or your own custom rate table
Offer coupons and gift certificates
Offer a design board where customers can compare products before making a purchase, and much more!

To get a better idea of how our web sites function, visit our demo site www.cottagecollections.net and give our sites a test run!

Sorry I'm so late...

I know I should have listed our Summer Doldrums Sale here in my blog but to be honest, blogging is so new to me I simply forgot! It's not too late though, so I'll tell you about our fabulous sale on pre-designed sites. I'm pretty sure we've never offered our sites at such an affordable price before. You might want to check them out. Sale ends Friday July 27th.

What is a pre-designed site you ask? Well I'm happy to explain. While we love to do custom design and specialize in custom design and programming, we also like to offer affordable solutions to women just starting out in business. Our pre-designed sites may not have all the features of our latest PINK CADILLAC sites, but they're awesome, affordable and you can have your business up and running in a day or two! Here is an example of one of our deluxe pre-designed sites!

 

Welcome to Cottage Collections!

Hi everyone! This is Cottage Collections first venture into blogging! Our sister site makeminepink.com has been blogging for months now with the help of our fabulous Blog Diva Sharon of C'est Chouette. But this is all new to me.

Through a combined effort, Thomas, Katie and myself (staff at Cottage Collections) will try to keep you up to date on the latest happenings at Cottage Collections. Please be patient with us as we get our feet wet in blog land!

I almost forgot to mention.. we'll be offering free graphic sets soon. You won't want to miss them. As a matter of fact, we have a few sets on our site now for the taking at Cottage Collections.