tylie eaves, Author at Vertū Marketing

Freewriting for a Purpose

September 14, 2015 by tylie eaves

the eternal struggle. getting things from brain to paper.

When in search of discovering your true purpose in life and in business, most advice boils down to the same concept: introspection. This can be frustrating for people who already feel discouraged and uncertain if they even have a purpose at all.

Instead of churning through another series of questions or resorting to spending hours in a sweat lodge on the top of a mountain, a $2 notebook and a bit of freewriting could be the answer. What is freewriting?

Here I am freewriting just putting all of my thoughts on the page

not worrying about punctuation or grammar or misspellings just

my thoughts and my passions and oh dear did I miss that appointment?

I didn’t put it in my calendar now I’ll have to call and reschedule oh well.

At least I have good phone skills people practically drooll over my

voice on the phone I could talk the king of antarctica into buy ice from

the freezer bins outside the gas station.

Yes, it might look a bit silly, but the point is to not worry about what others might think of the words or the content (remember, this notebook is not for anyone else), but to help open up a bit of inner dialogue that has been hiding away for far too long.

Long utilized by authors, freewriting is an excellent way to let the words flow freely without stopping to think, correct, edit or erase. When seeking to discover your purpose, try to make freewriting a daily habit. Set a time for anywhere from five to ten minutes, turn off all distractions and then put pen to paper. After a few weeks, reviewing the notebook and freewriting entries should begin to show a pattern of passion, values and purpose.

3 Places to Work Outside Your Home Office (That Aren’t the Coffee Shop)

September 14, 2015 by tylie eaves

young woman at computer looking into camera

Faster Internet, more powerful computers and a change in attitude have all contributed to the shift toward working at home. Whether you work for yourself or for a telecommuter-friendly company, working from your own home often provides a number of advantages, including improved productivity and a drastically reduced commute.

However, going stir crazy is a real risk that all telecommuters face. While a home office is no doubt a vital necessity, this doesn’t mean workers can’t pack up their laptop or tablet, slide on their flip flops and hit the pavement in search of a temporary workspace. Here are three alternatives when working from home means you need to get out:

1.The Park – Most larger cities now understand the importance of nature and getting outside, and most people, regardless of where they live, are now within either walking or driving distance of a public park. With walking paths, benches and picnic tables, a brisk walk and picnic lunch can help rejuvenate work spirits. Bring along plenty of water and set up office at a picnic table. (Optional, pack some sliced grapes or leftover vegetable peels for the ducks.)

2.The Library – With access to Wi-Fi, public computers and air condition, community libraries offer the quiet distraction-free environment that some people rely on for work. Remember to take a break every now and then and peruse the stacks for a book to check out before you leave.

3.Outside – Okay, so this one could possibly done on the patio of a coffee shop. Even if there’s no park nearby, or if the squirrels at the local picnic area are a little too aggressive, switch directions and find a patio at your favorite café or restaurant. Order lunch, have a coffee and then get to work. The bonus to this option is that most restaurants have Wi-Fi available.

Even with morning routines like jogging or enjoying a cup of coffee before sitting down to work, working from home can be an isolating experience. Before the stir craziness begins to impact your ability to run your business, take the opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and work somewhere new.

A Little Disney Magic Can Go A Long Way

September 9, 2015 by tylie eaves

Millions of people, from the United States and abroad, visit Walt Disney World or Disneyland every year. For many people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip or one that will not be repeated for many years. But, for every “one-and-done” Disney vacationer, there is another who will come back year after year, braving the heat, crowds and humidity. Why would any person over the age of 12 choose to return to a Disney resort over the endless (and cheaper) alternative vacation options? The answer is simple… it’s the Disney experience.

The Disney experience is much more that just the “magic” of seeing childhood movies come to life. Much of the experience involves things that many people fail to notice: cleanliness, organization, well-trained staff and an impressive attention to detail that cannot be replicated anywhere else. These factors and more all combine to make an overall experience that often hooks people for life.

Disney’s marketing strategy and customer service approach provides the opportunity for business owners to glean many valuable lessons–and hook a few lifetime customers of their own. What does this mean for your business?

Every transaction should be an experience. No matter how small or complex a transaction may be, every client should walk away having had a positive experience. That does not mean that business owners should meet every unreasonable demand from a difficult customer, but customers should alway feel respected, valued and perhaps offered an alternative solution if possible.
Go the extra mile. Disney characters and workers often go out of their way to make an experience extra special. These little efforts offer a personal connection and go a long way toward establishing a long-term relationship with a customer and client.
Add a little magic to your marketing. If you have ever seen a commercial for Disney parks, you know that they are designed to evoke an emotional response and reiterate the unique nature of a Disney vacation. Your business may not have commercials, but you have a website, a Twitter or Facebook account–perhaps even a Pinterest page. All of these platforms should communicate to your customers that the service or product that you offer is unique, and your level of customer service is unparalleled.

Disney is, like your business, a company with a vested interest in profit. The major success of this huge company can be largely attributed to the fact that Disney does everything extraordinarily well. As a small business owner, you can too. By adding a little Disney “magic” to your business, you may be on your way to establishing long-term relationships with your customers and clients.

Success – Mini Session

September 3, 2015 by tylie eaves

Success is not a “mold” we have to fit into — contrary to what
culture and society tells us, success is NOT how much money we have in
the bank. Is money important? Of course, but it’s a tool – a means to
achieve success, but NOT success itself.

Don’t let someone else
tell you what your success should be – God gave you a purpose, you’ll
find your success as you walk that path.

PS — Sorry about that “head in a bucket” audio thing — apparently, I was wearing my mic, but neglected to turn the pack on. Seeing as how the pack goes down my shirt, nobody noticed, nor would anyone dare to check. BAHAHAHA!

If You’re An Expert, I’m Oprah Winfrey

August 25, 2015 by tylie eaves

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“If You’re an Expert, I’m Oprah Winfrey”

In the digital world, there’s TONS of ways to learn, but there is a pandemic of people claiming to be experts in various areas, and going on to teach faulty methods and give bad advice — And, of course, hurting people in the process. It just makes me CRAZY!

So, I have developed this: The ‘Discerning’ Litmus Test for Spotting Psuedo-Experts

1) Does this person have social credibility? Are they active and engaged in the digital world? Are they a “real person” or hiding behind a fake name? Are they actually successful in the field for which they
claim to be an expert? For example, does your potential “Social Media Expert” have more than five likes, one of whom is his mama, on his Facebook page? Don’t be afraid to check up on people. If they’ll lie
about who they are, they’ll lie about how they can help you.

2) Have they “faked” their reputations? There are a ton of ways to “buy” likes these days. Sock-likes and some others… people do this and get big numbers, meanwhile they don’t know JACK about JACK and they take
people’s money and give them nothing of value in return. You can tell if someone has purchased likes and followers by scrolling back through their list of followers and look for profile names made up of nothing but symbols, or people who speak languages that aren’t the same as the “expert” (Twitter) and by checking their engagement levels (Facebook). If someone has THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS of likes/follows, but their news feeds get zero engagement, they’re probably not as awesome as they claim to be.

** Bonus Tip — DON’T buy follows. I’m not talking about getting likes through legit ads that target relevant
demographics, I’m talking about literally, “buy 20,000 followers for $39.99.” DO NOT DO IT, it’s algorithmic suicide. Engagement speaks way, way, way, way louder than numbers.

3) Are they adding value?
Has this person been putting out things that are of high value, useful, problem solving, uplifting, and generally helpful? Typically, expert-level knowledge comes out of a person on its own. If this person has genuinely given of themselves in service, and the other aforementioned boxes have been checked, you could be on the right path!
But, if they have never put out anything of value, I mean, for FREE, they might be full of it. If EVERYTHING they do is ‘pimp-ish’ and every other phrase is “pay me, pay me, pay me…” pump the brakes.

4) FINALLY – there’s no classy way to say this — most actual experts don’t call THEMSELVES experts. I mean, most people who are considered experts have been named as such by another verifiable source. They may
admit to having been coined an expert, but they, themselves, usually don’t jump up and down going “look at me, I am an expert!” If the only person who thinks they know everything is THEM, they’re probably not the one you’re looking for.

Good Luck — If you have questions, or you’ve been burned by a psuedo-expert, please comment and tell us your story!

Small Business, Big Pressure: Getting The Help You Need

August 25, 2015 by tylie eaves

Are you a small business owner? Are you an entrepreneur trying to establish a customer base and eke out a living from your passion? There is great pressure involved in running a small business. Issues such as paying rent on a storefront or hiring and training the right people can take priority over other issues that also deserve attention. The truth is, most small business owners cannot, singlehandedly, effectively manage every single part of a smooth, profitable operation.

In addition to pressing matters such as rent or payroll, there are a myriad of challenges facing modern entrepreneurs. For example, business owners should establish an online presence, both with a quality website and through social media. Building a website, managing profiles on Twitter and other sites, along with the day-to-day operations of a business can quickly become overwhelming. Burnout is a real possibility for the individuals vigorously pursuing the American dream, which is why it is important to get qualified and knowledgeable assistance.

At Virtue Marketing, we cannot order new merchandise or train your employees, but we can help with components that are vital to the success of your business. Our team can build an effective website, completely tailored to the needs of your company. We can also manage social media accounts, helping you to establish a comfortable, beneficial relationship with your clients and customers. If necessary, members of our experienced team can also provide counsel on certain business matters and help you get organized.

Tweets, blogs, website design, copywriting, SEO–who has time for all of this on a day-to-day basis? Allow us to free you from these tasks, provide you with a quality product and allow you to focus on what you do best–communicating your passion to your customers.

Small business, big pressure? We can help.

Not Living Your Purpose at Your Job? Build a New One!

August 20, 2015 by tylie eaves

Do you dream of finding that perfect career that exemplifies every aspect of your purpose? You are certainly not alone in that wish, but finding a ready-made job that truly fulfills a purpose is not the easiest task in the world. Why? Well, somebody else with a very different purpose created that job or opening.

Before giving up and settling for a less-than-fulfilling career, understand that living a purpose cannot always begin in the classified section. Instead of filling a position in someone else’s purpose, build a career with its foundation solidly formed upon your very own purpose. Many entrepreneurs and small business owners started out by searching to fulfill their own purposes, and what better way to live that purpose than to create the means to do so?

First, it is important to understand your personal definition of purpose and how it contributes to achieving various goals and milestones. Imagine the type of work you could ideally envision doing and the associated type of lifestyle you would have. Create a clear image of what you would be doing and how it would fulfill your purpose.

Now, get it down on paper (digitally or not). List all of the goals related to creating a purpose-filled business and then outline the steps necessary to get the ball rolling on your future success. Make sure you leave out the opportunity to procrastinate by including a timeline for each goal to be completed.

Reached the end of your list? Congratulations! You are well on your way to living the best possible purpose-filled life.

Are You a Business Hoarder?

August 20, 2015 by tylie eaves

Hoarders can come in all varieties, ranging from those who can never part with a single piece of clothing to the lady down the road with 20 cats roaming through her house. Some of the more common types of hoarders can be spotted by the contents of their homes, but there are still those who slip by unnoticed, including the business hoarder.

Unable to let go of any aspect of their businesses — even the unprofitable aspects — business hoarders hang on for dear life to even the most useless products, services and money-drains. Business hoarders are also less likely to succeed at growing a healthy and sustainable company.

Business hoarders might also try to grow too big, too fast by adding in as many products and utilizing every business service possible. Even when those things begin to steadily drag a business into the red, letting go can be too difficult and too painful for the business hoarder. When it comes to the 11th hour, there’s only one thing left to do…

Rip off the Band-Aid.

If hoarding unprofitable business practices and products has run a startup into the ground, there is nothing left to do but start unloading the dead weight as quickly as possible. The results likely will not be immediate, but slimming down and reworking the business model can give a company the boost it needs to eventually overcome the ill-effects of business-practice hoarding.