OneCon 2015

Takeaways from OneCon 2015

I attended Constant Contact’s OneCon in Las Vegas from October 4-6th, 2015. This time I was much better prepared to take advantage of all that was on offer – great keynote sessions; product updates; panels; and lots of time for networking. I learned a ton – some is evident through the pictures and captions below, but some will have to wait until I gather my notes and go a bit deeper. I think one of my main takeaways was that I’m on the right track. Listening to email marketing expert/guru, Michael Katz speak a couple of times, reminded me that I’m doing a lot of what he does – and what he does works. He’s himself. He tells stories. He has a relaxed take on things – very refreshing in the world of business. And, he’s a solopreneur, just like me!

I also have been moving to a more philosophical take on what I do. Reviewing the situation… And, I think I’m figuring out a way forward that works for me. Working with great clients who are doing interesting things and taking the time to get things right. I’m not rushing and I’m being more careful and considerate as I go. And, what a great bunch of people I’ve decided to join up with (both within Constant Contact and my current client mix). I’m more convinced by this year’s OneCon that email marketing is THE way forward for small businesses who want to reach their audiences in an easy and inexpensive and REPEATABLE way. Hearing peoples’ challenges in quantifying value from social media was refreshing. Here are some photos and some ideas – enjoy! Your feedback (a gift, thanks Ron Cates for reminding us of that) is welcome in the comments section, below.

If you’d like to get started working together, start by signing up for a Constant Contact account. As one longtime solution provider clearly stated: “If you don’t have $20/mo. to spend on marketing, you’re not really in business”. Take yourself and your efforts seriously and invest in email marketing!

Brandon Klayton of Conscious Commerce in Canada. One of my mentors. Learn more about him here: https://www.cc94.com/

On the left: Brandon Klayton of Conscious Commerce in Canada. One of my mentors. Learn more about him here: https://www.cc94.com/

A brilliant panel about ways to make what we do pay off

A brilliant panel about ways to make what we do pay off

All of the new features delivered this year. I'm going to do a blog post just on this slide. Or, perhaps a short video. Next week, I promise!

New Constant Contact features delivered this year. I’m going to do a blog post on this slide. (Can you say AUTORESPONDERS?) Or, perhaps a short video. Next week, I promise!

Constant Contact making a point by turning off the screen for a moment (clever!)

Constant Contact making a point by turning off the screen for a moment (clever!)

More brilliance from experts on client relations

More brilliance from experts on client relations. Michael Katz, moderating.

A great panel with Michael Katz discussing good clients and how to keep them. Bad clients and how to fire them :)

A great panel with Michael Katz discussing good clients and how to keep them. Bad clients and how to fire them 🙂

2015-10-05 14.36.58

This was a slide shared by Michael Katz that outlines his strategy for running his business. I think I’m going to move towards this model. Lunch, anyone?

Close-up of donut!

Close-up of a donut! Who is in your network?

Great info presented clearly.

Great info presented clearly by Michael Katz.

Michael Katz. Simply. The. Best. Here's what I wrote to the Solution Providers post event: Also, one person who continues to inspire me is Michael Katz. Maybe it’s the way he wears his heart on his sleeve. Maybe it’s the fun stories that are always teaching me something. Whatever it is, if you’re not on his email list, join it and you’ll soon see what I’m talking about. If we all did more of what he does, the world would be a better place (and you’d find those clients you wish you had :) https://bluepenguindevelopment.com/ I also like his “Today I…” series… You can sign up for it, here. https://thetodayiblog.com/

Michael Katz. Simply. The. Best. This is one person who continues to inspire me day in and day out. Maybe it’s the way he wears his heart on his sleeve. Maybe it’s the fun stories that are always teaching me something. Whatever it is, if you’re not on his email list, join it and you’ll soon see what I’m talking about. If we all did more of what he does, the world would be a better place (and you’d find those clients you wish you had 🙂 https://bluepenguindevelopment.com/ I also like his “Today I…” series… You can sign up for it, here. https://thetodayiblog.com/

Corissa St. Laurent, Carol Infranca, Don Richardson, Debbie Rinckey and Kathy Day. My fellow PNW ALEs (and Corissa, my Regional Development Director for Constant Contact)

Corissa St. Laurent, Carol Infranca, Don Richardson, Debbie Rinckey and Kathy Day. My fellow PNW ALEs (and Corissa, my Regional Development Director for Constant Contact)

The Team from the Pacific Northwest: L to R: Twanda, Carol, Moi, Debbie, Lisa, Kathy, Don and Corissa

The Team from the Pacific Northwest: L to R: Twanda, Carol, Moi, Debbie, Lisa, Kathy, Don and Corissa

Corissa & Stuart Atkins

Corissa St. Laurent & Stuart Atkins

Ron Cates, fellow ALE - Don Richardson, and Gail Goodman, the CEO of Constant Contact. learn more about Don @ https://www.digitalpopcorn.net/

Ron Cates (watch for him on the stand-up circuit, btw), fellow ALE – Don Richardson, and Gail Goodman, the CEO of Constant Contact. learn more about Don @ https://www.digitalpopcorn.net/

It was gray and rainy... wait, it's not Portland! you can tell by the palm trees. But we did have flash flood warnings on Saturday night!

It was gray and rainy… wait, it’s not Portland! you can tell by the palm trees. We had flash flood warnings on Saturday night!

Marsha Pearson a fellow ALE from Philadelphia. One of my highlights was hanging out together on the ride in. Learn more about her @ https://emailmarketing.guru/

Marsha Pearson a fellow ALE from Philadelphia. One of my highlights was hanging out together on the ride in. Learn more about her @ https://emailmarketing.guru/

When this event comes to Portlandia, we will not have any bottled water. I will see to that!

When this event comes to Portlandia, we will not have any bottled water. I will see to that!

One of my favorite slides. Straightforward and correct.

One of my favorite slides. Straightforward and correct.

Zachery Barron, our area director

Zachary Barron, our area director

Hanging out with my fellow PNW ALEs over drinks in the lobby

Hanging out with my fellow Pacific Northwest Authorized Local Experts over drinks in the lobby. From left to right: Carol, Lisa, Don and Twanda!

My fellow Pacific Northwest ALE team!

My fellow Pacific Northwest Authorized Local Expert team!

Another amazing chandelier

One amazing chandelier

This chandelier was sparkly

This chandelier was sparkly

The chandeliers at the Red Rock Resort are really eye-catching

The chandeliers at the Red Rock Resort are really eye-catching

First panel of the day

First panel of the day on Sunday

Some words about one of my favorite clients, Gaealana Healing Arts: https://www.gaealanahealingarts.com/

Some words about my work with one of my favorite clients, Gaealana Healing Arts

https://www.gaealanahealingarts.com/

There was a nice poster about my work with Gaealana Healing Arts in Portland, Oregon near the front of the room: https://www.gaealanahealingarts.com/

2015-10-04 14.32.24

Thanks to everyone at Constant Contact for hosting such a great, inspiring event! Until #onecon2016 (in Portlandia, ok?)

The graphics were really nicely done

The graphics were really nicely done – sharp and clear – makes a big difference!

2015-10-04 13.07.58

First session on Sunday – everyone was pumped up and enthuiastic

One of the opening sessions featured Richard Israel who leads the Solution Provider Program for Constant Contact

One of the opening sessions featured Richard Israel who leads the Solution Provider Program for Constant Contact

Comfy!

Such a comfy bed – I could get used to living like this!

View from my amazing room at the Red Rock Resort

The view from my amazing room at the Red Rock Resort

#OneCon2015 in Las Vegas - Constant Contact's annual convention for solution providers

#OneCon2015 in Las Vegas – Constant Contact’s annual convention for solution providers – Thanks again! See you at #onecon2016!

Albert at #OneCon2015

See you next year!

LAST CHANCE to Save 30% on Constant Contact and a Free Subject Line Webinar 9.15.15

Constant Contact

Hi there,
I hope you’re having a great Summer. I’ve been having a nice mix of vacation and work and I’m looking forward to helping you and your business thrive this Autumn. If you’d like to get started with the best tool I know of for online marketing, you have until 9pm PST to sign up for a Constant Contact account – the offer is 30% off for the first three months and ends tonight.
In addition to this offer, I will spend at least an hour with you setting up your account – making sure you have a sign-up form on your website and Facebook fan page; helping you upload your email list(s); create a mobile-friendly template, and work with you to get your first email sent!  It’s an exciting process that often yields great results the first time you do it. Sometimes the results are not what you expect they’ll be! Clients often write back happy to hear from you. Some unsubscribe. Some share your news with their friends and referral business comes your way. You won’t know what you’re missing until you try it, and I can help make the process easy and effective!

In other news, I’m planning to offer a free webinar on September 15th on the art and science of creating fantastic subject lines. Have a look at this free “headline analyzer” to get a sense of some of the possibilities in this area. When your subject line is improved, your open and click-through rates go up – thus, bringing you more attention and prospective business. I hope you’ll tune in.  Everyone who participates will receive a link to a recording of the session and slides, too!
Have a great rest of your Summer and I look forward to hearing how things are going for you and if there’s any way I can support your efforts.
Take care,
Happy Labor Day!
Albert Kaufman
Summertime
My Summertime Look

 

Note to Clients 1.14.13

Note to Clients

1.14.13 – Here are important updates about how I communicate with you, what I’m offering, and a change in my rates.Constant Contact
First
off, since I’m a Constant Contact (email marketing) business partner – I am going to start sending my emails to you: someone who has taken my classes, and those who have expressed interest in my work – via Constant Contact. This will mean sharper – hopefully, richer emails for you the next time you hear from me. If this does not interest you, just let me know.

2. I will offer a one-hour free consultation to anyone (anywhere) who uses my affiliate link to sign up for a Constant Contact trial account. See the attachment for advantages to using email marketing. The first 2 months of the trial are free (you have to stay at a low contact count..) It’s a good way to see if email marketing/newsletters are a good idea for your business.  They also offer free accounts to non-profits or organizations that work with children.

Here’s the link

If you want to share this link I won’t stop you! 🙂  Also, if you find Constant Contact is not for you, I have links to all of their competitors @ https://albertideation.com – take your pick!

Due to the changes that Facebook has made = limiting Facebook fan/biz pages’ ability to organically (ie, free) reach their audiences the importance of using email marketing has increased in my opinion.  Here is an article detailing some predictions for this area.

That being said, I still think that social media is important when we think about small business marketing.

On another note, in the area of Groupon-like services, Constant Contact offers something called SaveLocal. I’ve watched one client have quite a high success rate with this. SaveLocal offers go out via email and their charge for organizing your coupons/offers is very low.  For more on SaveLocal feel free to ask me more or check out

https://www.constantcontact.com/savelocal/index.jsp?pn=albertkaufman

I have raised my rates. Social Media classes are now $30 (last year they ranged from $11-$30)  I will continue to work with established clients one-on-one @ $50/hr. New clients who work with me for the first time = $60/hr.  If you’ve worked with me in the past, I hope that you agree that this is a very good deal – I pack a lot into an hour – combining teaching as well as making actual changes to clients’ online presence which are valuable. I have also started to work with clients via Skype and google hangouts. If you haven’t tried this yet – it’s a great way to meet sans commute time!  Via sharing screens just about everything except me serving you tea can take place!  Also, I offer a more complete package of running small businesses’ social media/email marketing/WordPress sites on a monthly basis – get in touch if this sounds appealing.

I’d like to ask you a favor.  One way that future clients decide to work with me is via recommendations on Facebook, Yelp! Or LinkedIn.  If you would be willing, please visit https://facebook.com/albertideation and create a recommendation. I would be very grateful.  Also, if we have worked together in the past and you’d like to see your name/business name on my client list below, please respond with information about your business and I’ll add you! The more websites that link to your website the better your search engine optimization (SEO) is. = a good thing 🙂

I hope 2013 is treating you well so far. Let me know if there is any way I can help you thrive this year. I’m a huge networker – even if it’s not on a topic you’d typically think to turn to me, you’re always welcome to throw me a question and I’ll answer to the best of my ability.

With Gratitude,

Albert Kaufman
albertkaufman@gmail.com

I can help you get your social media and email marketing into cruise mode!

Constant Contact Affiliate link

Sign up for my monthly e-letter, The Eleven @ https://tinyurl.com/signupforthe-eleven

Client List:
https://albertideation.com/clients/

Free class on Constant Contact – Friday, 3/23

Free class on Constant Contact
– Friday, 3/23/12

I’ll teach what I know about Constant Contact in a free class at my house on Friday 3/23 from 11 am-2 pm

We’ll discuss

  • whether Constant Contact is right for you (cost vs. benefit)
  • how to upload emails into your account
  • segmenting your lists
  • how to pick a good template for yourself/business
  • how often to send updates
  • what content makes for a great newsletter
  • setting up your first newsletter

and all the ins and outs of using Constant Contact that I’ve learned over the past 4 years.

to RSVP for the class, all you need to do is register for a free trial account via the link below and let me know you’ve done this @ albertkaufman@gmail.com

https://pdx.be/cc-ak

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Albert Kaufman
Albertideation

Albertideation: Welcome!


albertkaufman@gmail.com