Welcome to the first issue of the AlephMEDIA e-newsletter. If you're receiving this, it means that you're either a client, a friend or someone I've met at a networking event or meet-up. Monthly issues will have a little news, notices of upcoming networking or cultural events, a personal recommendation on service providers in the area and best of all, a tip to help you grow your business, in a regular column called Marketing 101.

Even if you're doing fine and have more business than you can handle (does such a person exist?!?!), for someone you know who doesn't receive the newsletter, this could be just the idea they've been waiting for; please do them a favor and forward it on to them. If you don't want to receive the newsletter, just click on the "Unsubscribe" button at the bottom and my feelings won't be hurt. Honestly. But if you think that maybe, just MAYBE, it would be worth it to take a few minutes once a month and scan it, then just do nothing. You'll get a new issue about the first of the month.

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy this first issue.

Marketing 101— Paper or Pixels?

Pixels! No, Paper! Hmm, both? Yeah, in this digital age, paper still has its place so it's really both.

When to go with Paper

There's no substitute for a well-designed business card. Please don't mosey over to Vistaprint, pick one of their five or so photos, forget to proofread and miss the typo in Indianapolis and get your free cards in the mail that say Vistaprint on the back. Nothing says "I'm not really serious about my business" more than not taking a little time to invest in a good card. Even getting them professionally designed and printed, they're still pretty inexpensive and will say loads more about you and your business (good stuff, not bad stuff). So inexpensive that when you meet a potential client, don't give them a card, give them five cards. They'll pass the other four on and who knows where it'll end up?

Also invest in a well-designed printed piece that can be handed out to someone. You're standing in line at the grocery store, it's taking forever and you chat with the person in front of you. Your business comes up and sure, you can hand them a card to give them the basic details, or if you have one, you can pull out your iPhone and bring up your Web site, but wouldn't that just be weird? If they're really interested, make sure you have a larger piece that gives them more information. It could be a trifold brochure but doesn't have to be. Maybe a half-page postcard, with information on both sides? That would save a lot of money and still give you plenty of room for details, photos and all contact information. Better yet, go creative. Choose an interesting shape, like a square or long rectangle. If it's unique, attractively designed and well printed, it'll stand out.

When to go with Pixels

If you have a business or sell a product, a well-designed Web site will be one of the best investments you'll ever make. (Are you sensing a trend here?) Unlike the printed page, the size is limitless, though it should follow the rules of good design and usability. It's your 24/7/365 salesperson. Why do you think Zappos.com is THE place to go for shoes? Yeah, ok, so shipping is free and it only takes a day to get to you and if you return it the shipping back is free too and they have alllllll those great shoes and... Well, you know. But the fact is that it's there, at 3 a.m., when the kids are asleep and you can't get to sleep and you can order a pair of Naot slides that you've never seen in any store. Is Stout Shoes open at 3 a.m.? Yeah, I didn't think so.

The other must-have in pixels is an e-newsletter. After pleading, entreating, badgering and bullying my clients that they really need to keep their clients informed of what's new with their businesses, I decided I'd waited long enough and had to start my own. The brilliant thing about them is it's a perfect way to let clients know of new products or services you're offering, keep them abreast of changes in contact information, new hours, new policies, send coupons, link to new features on your Web site, inform them of upcoming workshops, the list is endless. Just make sure that you're making it worth their while, something that they'll want to see in their inbox. And unlike a print ad or mailer, they can click "Forward" and send on to others. It costs you NOTHING to reach new, potential clients.

There are other ways to utilize the digital world like online social networking such as Twitter, Facebook, Smaller Indiana and more but I'll save that for another issue.

New!

Sometime back, I surveyed my clients on whether they would find it helpful to be able to pay their invoices with a credit card or bank card. Since I work with a lot of non-profits, most of them have an invoicing and P.O. system so they wouldn't need it, and my for-profit clients said that writing a check was just as easy. So I put it on the back burner for awhile and decided to revisit it again later. Well, the Recession is officially over (according to economists) but we're still feeling like we've been worked over by Luca Brazzi. As a small business person, sometimes balancing your cash flow can be tricky, and some clients have asked to revisit the idea. So, if you'd rather take care of your invoice with a credit card, just let me know. I can send a payment request through PayPal and it's as easy as clicking.

Welcome New Clients!

AlephMEDIA would like to welcome its newest clients, Center Grove Montessori and Clearing a Path. CGM is a wonderful Montessori school in Greenwood, IN, run by Directress Indu Agnihotri. As a Montessori school, they have a fantastic philosophy that children are naturally curious and, given the right environment, support and guidance, there's no limit to what they can learn and enjoy.

Clearing a Path is my good friend Shoshana Harper's new company that specializes in organizational services for home or business. Whatever your mess, she can help you tame the beast!

AlephMEDIA Recommends...

...Glenn Roesler with Ivy Creek Stoneware. I was going to a bridal shower and the theme was "Around the Clock" so I picked 4 p.m., for Tea Time. Of course, the bride didn't register for ANYTHING tea-related, so with just a couple of days before the shower, I decided to get her and her groom a matching pair of his and hers tea mugs, handmade, something unique. I found Glenn's shop on Etsy and when he learned that I lived here, he suggested we meet, he'd bring several sets for me to choose from, and I'd have them in time for the shower. Not only did he come out on a very rainy day, he brought three sets of lovely mugs. I got one set for the couple and couldn't resist getting an additional one for myself!