How We Roll: Really Smart Men, Social Media ROI + Facebook Freebies

A few weeks ago, I gave early FANS ONLY access to our new Facebook Profile Cover Photos. I’m so excited about the amazing feedback we’ve received!

Mark is also a Marketing Professor in the MBA program at Rutgers University and is the owner of {Grow} a successful Social Media and Marketing company. 

 

He’s coming to my city (Austin) for SXSW this week to promote his new book:  Return On Influence: The Revolutionary Power of Klout, Social Scoring, and Influence Marketing

I can’t wait for him to get here because I love sharing ideas with him. If you can’t tell yet – I think Mark is brilliant and a total bad ass! 

 

Plus, he thinks I’m a savvy business woman, which obviously proves he’s very smart…and makes me ADORE him even more!!

 

So, anyway, this past October - after another lengthy pause from the social sphere due to my ongoing battle with multiple miscarriages and physically, financially, emotionally draining infertility treatments (notice how I just glossed right over that whole painful drama?) - I jumped back online yet again.

 

Mark made it easy for me to slide back into the mix and he got me thinking about new, innovative ways to use my favorite social media tools.

 

TALK NERDY TO ME

 

It’s true: I’m a total nerd. 

 

Maybe not by nature as much as by necessity, but nerdy nonetheless.

 

I know this post is supposed to be about social media stuff, but my fascination with all things web started awhile back…

 

Years ago I began teaching myself HTML, PHP and all the ins and outs of SEO.  

 

 

HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT?

 

It started back in 2004. 

 

Having just been laid off 3 months before my wedding – I told my husband, Bob Michaels, I wanted to start my own business, selling my art.

 

He, who knew full well of the sacrifice, hardship and struggles of being self-employed, still supported my decision and encouraged me from the start.  I felt so lucky…

 

Until the day I asked him to build my website.  

 

He said, quite matter of factly, to get his new company off the ground, he needed paying clients. 

 

WHATTTTTTTTTTTT? 

 

I’m your wife.  I don’t know how to do this!! How in the world am I supposed to teach myself this stuff and also design products and make art, and how am I going to make money if I don’t have a website to sell my work?

 

And WHYYYYYYYY don’t you love me??????

 

I’m not whiny about hard work in real life - but in my head – that’s TOTALLY how I felt. 

 

He reassured me that I was capable, that I was good at troubleshooting, and that these lessons would serve me well.  It took years of sleepless nights, but I armed myself with a priceless set of skills.

 

Believe it or not, his encouragement and belief in me that I could do it on my own is one of the greatest gifts he’s ever given me.  And do it, I did.  All of it.  From the ground up.

 

This is an area that tends to be a sore subject for a lot of aspiring business owners.  I donate a lot of my time assisting artists and entrepreneurs.  I answer inbound questions daily and try to help as many people as I can.  But when it comes to encouraging others to learn more about web development so that they are themselves empowered to leverage the online marketplace, my advice is often ignored, sometimes debated, or sadly…met with total disdain.

 

I totally get it. I felt the same way.

 

I wish there was an easy fix. I wish running a business wasn’t such hard work…but there’s a cost to everything.

 

Time or money.  If you don’t have the time, you must have the money.  And back then, we had neither.

 

MY HUSBAND, MY HERO

 

 

Few people realize what Bob and I have been through together or that we started out our married life with next to nothing. The few grand I had managed to save prior to being laid off, I used to pay for our humble little (albeit beautiful and fun) wedding.

  

Anyone who has ever taken the risk to start a business (let alone two) from scratch knows that it takes nerves of steel, sacrificing every dollar you make to put back into the business, and the willingness to work around the clock.  

 

That’s why every day I feel so proud of my husband.  He is, and always has been, my ROCK STAR!

 

During our time together, I’ve watched him work his butt off, earning every bit of his well-deserved success!

 

Can I brag about him for a minute?

 

He was awarded a U.S. Patent  (#7,373,346) for security software.

He’s a licensed U.S. Merchant Marine Officer (I ♥ Sailors).

He created the streaming media engine behind one of Mark Cuban’s first tech companies.

He caters to a high profile list of large enterprise clientele, like the DIOA and major universities.

He recently coded cutting edge iPad interactive display modules for the Veteran’s Museum Exhibit.

He developed the web infrastructure for InterSource, company of former Wal-Mart CEO, Bill Fields.

 

Plus, he’s always working on interesting projects, like the new one for The Alamo.

 

He’s just so cool and after all these years, he still makes me melt when he plays the guitar.

 

Bob is brilliant – and also a total bad-ass!

 

That’s why it was FINALLY time I became one of his clients, too.

 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA ROI

 

For my fellow entrepreneurs, the actual makers of stuff, the brave self-employed, the battle-scarred small businesses – we must find creative ways to bridge our time spent on social media to the places (our own sites) where we can produce results.

  

There are companies who offer social media marketing type apps, but they can get insanely expensive (Wildfire) or they’re really basic and limited (Pagemodo).

 

No one offered what I wanted most – the ability to seamlessly integrate and authenticate Facebook Fans with a redirect to the Sugarluxe website for hidden (to the public) freebies with access granted only to those who liked my page. 

 

“Like Gates” out there now only deliver content directly within Facebook or they take you to an external source whereby both users and your assets aren’t protected.

 

Why does this matter? Because I don’t use social sites for direct selling, that’s why I have a website.

 

I believe social sites are for being social, educating, offering incentives and rewarding those who support you.  

 

With that reality in mind - my company, Sugarluxe and my husband’s company, Cascade Factory - joined forces for the first time.  It’s a perfect marriage of Art and Technology.  

 

 

APPRECIATION  APP + FREE FACEBOOK COVER PHOTOS

 

On the surface it may look like other landing pages, but I promise, it’s not.  It’s the guts of it (behind the scenes) that make it remarkable.  I’m so impressed with what the Cascade guys achieved and it does EXACTLY what I needed it to (which was NO small task)!  

 

If you’ve not yet “liked” the Sugarluxe page – you will see this new Welcome Page:

Brand New Facebook Custom Design Fan Access Application

 

If you’ve already “liked” the page, you’ll see something similar, EXCEPT…

 

A link is embedded inside the code that delivers you to a hidden page on the Sugarluxe site that offers FREE DOWNLOADS for the new Facebook Profile Cover Photos.

 

Over the last month, people have been asking for permission to use my art and designs on their (personal) profile page.  I love that! 

 

Problem was, none of my images were optimized for the cover photo size needed to maintain the aspect ratios and resolution required by Facebook; this distorts the output.  And I don’t want you walking around town with distorted output!

 

So try it out! 

 

1. If you’ve already liked the Sugarluxe Page (go here) and click the FREE GOODIES button.
2. It’ll take you to a secret page giving you access to Sugarluxe Facebook Profile Cover Photos.
3. All downloads are accessible and you just have to click and save the zip file to your desktop.
4. The image of your choice can then be unzipped and uploaded to Facebook.
5. These images are for personal use only. No commercial use please.

 

That’s it!

 

If you use one of the photos on your page, let me know by commenting here, through Facebook or leave me a link to your profile page so I can see it. 

 

And there ya have it:  the guys who inspired me, a super cool Facebook app, and some FREEBIES for you – because that’s just how we roll… 

  

——————————————————––  ABOUT THIS POST  ——————————————————––

This post looks longer than it really is…I promise (there are just a lot of pretty pictures). 

And I’m writing this for those who will invariably scroll to the bottom first. 

 

Go back up.  Check it all out. 

 

And if you want to be in the know on all things Social Media from one of the TOP industry experts - be sure to read Mark Schaefer’s new book – Return On Influence: The Revolutionary Power of Klout, Social Scoring, and Influence Marketing! 

 

 

 

 

 

Pick Your Favorite Modern Sugarluxe Art Print | Holiday Gift Giveaways

Have you heard the news?  It’s our LAST day of the Pick Your Favorite Art Print Holiday Giveaway! 

If you follow Sugarluxe on Facebook or Twitter, you’ve likely seen that all December long, we’ve been giving away great gifts.  It’s just my way of saying THANK YOU for all the years of support and friendship.

For me, nothing feels better than playing Santa.  It warms my heart to be able to reach out, give FREE goodies and show you how much I appreciate your business.

The drawing of the WINNING name will take place right before midnight tonight – December, 18th, 2011.  So, if you have yet to participate, you still have just a bit of time left.

Entering is super easy, too.

Simply comment, like, share, RETWEET, place on Pinterest, blog about it, or do what you can to spread the word. 

In the face of so many businesses who have not survived, all of the overseas outsourcing, and the competition posed by big box stores, your help in talking about Sugarluxe with your friends and family goes a long way in supporting a business with manufacturing in the USA, a female owned and operated company, further job creation, and our economy.

I just can’t say it enough, it means everything to hear your feedback, make your orders, and read your comments.  It helps me grow, both as an artist and business woman, and for that, I try very hard to exceed your expectations at every turn.

So let’s get to it:

PICK YOUR PRINT -

I want someone to win a SIGNED SUGARLUXE ART PRINT right before Christmas!  The best part is – you get to choose your favorite!

Head on over to the Sugarluxe Archival Art Print Gallery to make your selection.

Patience, Pickles, and Piggin’ Out

My dependency on dill pickles is nothing new. But if a picture is worth a thousand words, then this one to the left probably says it all. 

I’ve been anxious and incredibly excited just thinking about the moment that I could finally share the news that I’m eating like a little piglet because…

I AM PREGNANT!!!

As women all over the world get pregnant every day, this might not seem like a particularly special achievement.  But if you know me personally or possibly ever read between the lines on this blog – then you know for me – it is.

Can you believe it’s been almost seven years?  Yes, SEVEN long years of trying, hoping, crying, waiting, praying, and yet, NEVER giving up hope.  Out of all the dreams I’ve aspired to make come true, realizing my dream of becoming a MOM has been one of the most difficult challenges I’ve faced.

JUST A LITTLE PATIENCE

If you’ve ever struggled with fertility issues, then you understand firsthand the sadness that comes from not being able to conceive. Couple that with all of your closest friends having babies during this time and a brother who, without seemingly any effort whatsoever, had FOUR girls…no doubt, there have been days when I could barely handle the heartache.

Although I am pretty good about not showing my internal struggles, perceptive friends could sense my emotional turmoil.  Especially because I’m one of those girls who has always pictured myself as a mom.  I’ve been thinking of baby names since I was five and I think my friends and family would agree – kids respond to me.  Kinda like horses do.  It’s hard to explain, but they both seem to know and trust instinctively that I love them.

It’s why I could never, ever wrap my head around the idea that I wasn’t meant to have my own children. 

Perhaps after waiting that long, most people, or at least less determined ones, would have called it quits.  But I’m a business woman, an entrepreneur, an artist – to make a living this way – means I depend on my self discipline, persistence, creativity and vision to make things happen.   So it was out of the question for me to accept that I was unable to have kids.

Despite appearances, I’m a bit rebellious and always have been. Not in a bad way though (so says me)…but in a way that makes me go against convention, encourages me to be different, never listening to anyone who told me I couldn’t do something, who pays no mind to naysayers, who has been out to prove to the world (and most likely myself) that I could do WHATEVER I set my mind to. 

All it takes is a tremendous amount of faith and just a little patience.

FULL OF POSSIBILITIES

Never think in terms of limitations, only see the possibilities.

Years ago, after I was struck by the hit and run driver who ripped my leg apart from my body, left me lying in the middle of the road, and bleeding to death – I was told, after two life saving transfusions and a nine hour surgery to try to put all the pieces back together – that I would never walk again.

With all due respect to the doctors – I didn’t believe them.

I guess that’s how I felt about infertility, too.

Not to mention, the clinical aspect removed the whole romance notion out of how I always thought I would conceive.  I actually preferred to adopt. Maybe because IVF would have solidified that I had a problem, I don’t know.  Morally, I’m not the least bit opposed, but emotionally, I couldn’t admit that I might need some help.  My extreme independence has always been a bit of a double-edged sword.

So, at the beginning of this year, a new decade, a fresh start full of possibilities – I made a commitment to myself, my husband and my entire family.  I would finally ease up on the 80 hour work weeks and seek the expertise of a Fertility Specialist.

PURPLE BOWS

The first appointment at the Texas Fertility Center was standard issue stuff.  Family history, medical history and my sex life.

The next objectives were to:

1. Get a transvaginal ultrasound.
2. Take antibiotics in preparation for the labs.
3. My husband, Bob would have semen analysis done.
4. I would have blood work done on day 3 of my next period.
5. Then an HSG – a hysterosalpingogram – which I still don’t know how to say.  This was scheduled for day 10 of my next cycle.

The ultrasound was first. 

It was a cold winter morning, so I wore my tall black leather over-the-knee boots.  I also had long over-the-knee socks with teeny purple bows peeking out of the top of the boots.  This is what I had on with my hopsital gown.  Up in the stirrups with my boots and bare naked butt hanging over the edge of the table, holding Bob’s hand.

I mean, c’mon, what could be hotter more romantic than that?

Looking at the screen, the doctor notes that my left ovary had released the egg approximately two days ago.  Yay for my left ovary.  It RULES.

My right ovary, on the other hand, is twisted.  Hanging out in the back of my body with my kidneys, it has a mind of its own.  My uterus is also situated on my far right hand side…being pulled by scar tissue. My right leg is the one that was tortured in my accident too.  I had surgery on my right boob in October, my GOD, my right side sucks!

I swear…my left side of my body belongs to me.  The right side is like it’s inhabited by my evil twin.

PREPARATION

Never before have I been so anxious to get my period.  It was only a mere two weeks away since I had just ovulated. 

I was more than ready to get things moving and my next step was to get day 3 blood work done.  In fact, I think I was making myself sick with worry about all the upcoming tests.  I was immediately nauseated and completely exhausted.

I couldn’t concentrate.  I promised to repair and complete the INSPIRE painting and name the winner.  Which I still haven’t done.

I was supposed to do two interviews in the press.  I missed them both. 

I sort of disappeared from Facebook and Twitter, hadn’t talked to any of my friends in weeks and postponed my upcoming Atlanta A La Mode show because I just didn’t have the energy.  The fumes in the studio were making me sick.  I couldn’t sleep at night.  I guess the idea that I was getting ready to go through in vitro had me so nervous that I just wasn’t functioning like my normal workaholic self.

I felt weird. Scared even. I had no idea what was wrong with me.  That is…until I noticed my GINORMOUS boobs.  Not the, I’m about to start my period big boobs…but huge swollen boobs (that on my then 93 lb frame) looked ridiculously gigantic.

But could it be? Almost seven years later, Bob and I go to our first fertility appointment together and BAM get pregnant before we even begin treatment?  I’m an overachiever and all, but really, this is unreal. 

For years, pregnancy tests have been brutal.  Anticipation had led to so much disappointment.  So, it’s hard to convey the joy of seeing those two pink lines. When I did – I dropped to my knees and bawled like a baby.

The longest day of my life was that day, waiting for Bob to come home. 

I can hardly believe it – I’m going to be a MOM!!!  In May, around Mother’s Day, we will find out if it’s a boy or a girl.  OMG!!  I can’t believe it.

PRAYERS PLEASE

Just shy of two months, it’s probably too soon to share with the world. Ideally, I’d love to wait until the 6 month mark to make sure everything was fine. 

But my whole life had to change in an instant.  My business, my manufacturing, the ability to make our products, to use the chemicals and solvents that I use every day – it has all come to a screeching halt.  The finished products are completely non-toxic, but all the steps that go into making them, all of the elements that have to come together to create those little works are much more hazardous than one might assume.

I have so many decisions to make.  I have to figure out what I’m going to do.  We make everything in house.  It’s always been with utmost pride when I tell people we make everything right here in the Sugarluxe Studio.

Over the last five years, I’ve tried three different factories in the US.  None have been capable of mass producing our card cases and compacts because they are very labor intensive, the materials are expensive, and they are time consuming to complete.

So, I’m at a crossroads.  The decision to stop all accessories production in the studio has been an easy one.  Like beer, coffee, and sushi, I stopped immediately. The truth is I can’t breathe, I get lightheaded and that’s simply not healthy for me or the baby.  I can’t wear a respirator because it makes getting oxygen in too difficult. 

But how I’m going to continue…or possibly not continue making Sugarluxe accessories…is something that is still undecided.

That’s why I’m sharing the news now.

For those stores and customers whose orders we’ve had had to cancel, I’m so sorry. 

Until some time in the forseeable future, production of any new accessories not in stock (not including art) is on hold.  I’ve waited WAY too long for the opportunity to have a baby.  I’m not taking any chances. The sacrifice of everything I’ve built, the possibility of losing future business…none of that matters right now.

This is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life.  I can resume with my product manufacturing and development later.  And if history has taught me anything – it’s that every challenge I’ve faced in business has created an opportunity for me to figure out a solution that – in the long run - always makes everything better.

So, my hope is that you will continue to follow me on my journey, however it may unfold.

I’ve dedicated my life to trying to live as an example of the philosophies I teach.  Where would I be without gratitude, hope, faith, confidence, kindness, and a bit of rebelliousness thrown in for good measure?

Sticking to these principles, talking about them constantly, incorporating these beliefs into all of my art is a huge part of the reason I’ve never given up.  I made myself accountable to walk the talk.  It’s not that I’ve never been stricken with doubt, depression or despair, I have. But my work and faith helped to fuel my hope.

I can attest to the fact that both professionally and personally, the most cherished things in life are certainly those for which you’ve worked the hardest.

Please send us good luck wishes…we are so excited for this next SWEET chapter in our lives.

Z Gallerie Unveils Exclusive Sugarluxe Collection

I can’t believe it’s been less than 3 years since launching Sugarluxe from my small loft.

Having already outgrown two studios and earning my stripes as a real risk taker (trust me I have the entrepreneurial scar tissue to prove it) – I’ve arrived at a marker in my career that I’ve been dreaming about for years.

This particular dream started when I walked into Z Gallerie.

Over a decade ago, my mom discovered this great home decor store and thought it was the perfect place for me to find things for my first home. By nature, I tend to be pretty eclectic, so she knew I’d love it. The moment I walked in, it was more than love. I was overcome with a feeling, that to this day, I can hardly describe.

I muttered to my mom, “My stuff will be in this store someday.” After all – born July 22nd, I’m on the cusp of Cancer & Leo, which might explain why I thrive on the duality of business and art.

But the feeling, or vision, or whatever it was that day has remained crystal clear.

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