Do you know what Twitter is? The best way to describe it is a text message for the internet. You write something in 140 characters or less, and send it out. It is then transfered to everyone who “Follows” you, which means every time you write something, they can read it instantly.

Well, this medium has been booming. Everyone it seems is using it. From online entreprenuers to CNN. And now the Paper Bin does too.

To follow me, http://twitter.com/paperbin

I’m super excited because I have another project that I plan to start in the summer. The summer?! Yes, its going to take a lot of planning, and I like that part the best.

This Depression 2.0 is doing every bit of good for the note industry as it is bad for the rest of the economy, I’m getting peeved.

A lot of our clients own notes as a symptom of what happened during the housing boom- corruption. Now these same people, the smart ones anyhow, are selling that note. Cool with me. But why should the bandits get away with it? Let them deal with the consequences of their actions- selling a $300k house to someone who makes less than $35,000 a year and wondering why they cant pay for it.

Changed the style of the blog. I do this quite often so don’t be surprised if it happens again soon. But for now, I like the blog how it is. It gives more room to roam and view past posts and goodies like that. [The same thing was on the other blog style but most missed it because it was located at the bottom of the page].

Also, you will see a poll to the right. Go ahead and vote. You won’t see the results because I am using them in an article, coming soon! After 100 votes (or until I’m tired of it) a new poll will appear. Have fun!

There is a new marketing system out there that can get you high numbers on direct mail campaigns. Of course, no one in the note industry has used it yet, not that I know of anyhow, so I am not so sure if I want to believe all the hype. So I am setting up a mini test run to see if I should invest my dollars into it. It also requires a lot of other things on your part to even implement it, like a website that allows for a lot of space. So a 5-pager won’t work.

I will keep you updated.

I went to a seminar a couple months ago. It was mixed with new and seasoned brokers, one who commented she closed 50 deals last year. The host was impressed and I was too.

So this has set a new goal for me as a green broker. I know once I pass that 50 in-a-year mark, I am on a roll. The problem I face is what to do in the meantime?

I’m just finishing a brand new marketing campaign I designed myself this week. I’m about a week overdue with sending out the last phase, and I’m afraid I’ve lost a lot of momentum. The campaign consists of different kinds of mailings, one in particular with had to be personally delivered.

Some of the fault is mine, as I should have thought ahead a little about the supplies I would need and prepared for the next phase. But, there’s wisdom in mistakes, and I’m learning a lot for the next go-round.

I tried outsourcing a bit, but I’m too much of a micro-manager and spend thrift to rely on someone else to ruin my project (who told the world that delivery had to be so expensive?!) I’m really focused on getting things right the first time, so much so that I will push past my own personal deadlines if I think it would serve a better purpose.

I hear thats a problem with most entreprenuers; they like to do everything themselves. But believe me, I tried really, really hard to get some help. However, now that the last phase of the campaign goes out tomorrow, I’m sure the next time around it will be easier. I might even be able to save some money and be more satisfied with the results.

My advice: Forget outsourcing if things won’t be done to your liking. Its better to do a little more labor and look a little like a control freak than to put out a cheesy product.

Remember your marketing placebo.

I was recommended some “landscapers” this past weekend. That word is in parenthesis because its really a family that does odd jobs on the side for extra money. In today’s economy I don’t blame them.

Well I was expecting them to see the size of the property and run. They regained their composure and charged me $100 to do some weed pulling and straightening up (the grass was already cut). Half way through I stepped back outside to my full amazement. The property was very well done, better than my regular horticulturist had ever done (he’s the guy who cut the grass but didn’t edge or weed pull as you can now tell).

This family went beyond my expectations. I felt bad because I feel they more than worked $100 worth of labor- so bad I drove to the local gas station and purchased a bag of ice, 8 bottles of Powerade and gave them my two weed-whackers from inside my garage. Never had I felt so compelled to do such a thing, but these people worked so hard I wouldn’t have slept with any less.

Essentially they didn’t do anything different from if I hired another person, but the effort and extra mile was refreshing. But what they did at the foundation wasn’t any different. With that said, what could be done in the note business (not necessarily different from what we already do) that will leave clients not only impressed, but refreshed?

I had to drop by an attorney’s office today for this new marketing campaign I created. It was about 4:36p and I was hoping to catch someone in the office. To my surprise not only was someone still there but the building was 2 stories with a full parking lot.

Now as I pulled in a rush of butterflies fell on me and I almost pulled back out of the parking lot. This law firm seemed a lot smaller and less intimidating on paper!

Like Forrest Gump, that’s all I have to say about that.

I have a personal project going that I’m excited about. So I planned the whole thing out and purchased my materials from online and Staples. I downloaded some fonts that match the theme I’m going for and am all around excited to see my results.

Part of the project involves balloons. The prices of mylar balloons are ridiculous, so I ordered some for about $.56 cents each. Thats where I ran into some problems. I called 2 local balloon shops in my area plus a dollar store and not ONE would blow up my balloons. My project was supposed to be finished last week!

One balloon shop flat out said they “don’t do that”. If I was thinking I should have asked why. The other never returned my call. And don’t get me started on the dollar store. You sell things… for a dollar. You could have charged me $.50 for each balloon and saw a 90%+ profit margin. Shame. None of the companies appologized for the inconvenience of their stupid policy nor suggested buying directly from them. That was a mistake; I could become a “real” customer one day. Now I’ll never buy from them.

Here’s what we have: I am an engaged customer who sought you out, took my time to call. I don’t have exactly what you were looking for in a perfect customer so you shoot me down. I haven’t a clue why you don’t like what I have. Then you send me away.

Can you say, “Seconds”?

Fix it.

I won a new Blackberry from ebay last week for less than $50! $47.50 with shipping if you want to get technical.

Now how do you work this thing?!

coram Deo,
Czarina