Among the major players in the web hosting business, you know the competition must be fierce. Why then would they offer such poor uptime and abysmal service? I cannot fathom an answer. What I do know is that in the last 3 weeks, I’ve had 4 different clients who all cite problems ranging from downed sites to no receiving responses to emails. One such company, I’m still waiting for a response to a question I emailed before the 4th of July…still no answer! Amazing!

For some of the “not-so-high-profile” players, this offers an opportunity like no other - if you can offer great pricing, reliable uptime, AND great service, you will be heads above the kinds of companies that spend their resources on racing car sponsorship, instead of stellar service. Who do I recommend to every client? BlueHost. They rock on every level and their backend is a breeze, nicely organized and easy to get around. If you must call (yes, their number is on the site), you will get a message telling you how long you can expect to be on the phone, in order of when you called. Whatever your issue, they will handle you promptly, professionally, and without the usual bull.

The point is, as in everything, you have choices in webhosting and gone are the days of having to choke down over $250.00 a year just to have your site up. Before jumping on the bargain you think you find, ask around and ask PROFESSIONALS what they think. They’ll tell you a little extra money can save you and your website from being forgotten.

This will just be a short post, mainly as a response to what I’ve been managing of late. Several clients have forwarded nifty artwork and logos for use in their projects. Please keep in mind that not all graphics are ready for primetime. What this means is some graphics are “web ready” and some are “print ready.” This all has to do with resolution - the higher the resolution, the better quality the picture or graphic. The standards?

• Web Ready - 72DPI or better
• Print Ready - 300DPI or better

Keep in mind that changing the DPI in a graphic program does not make the picture better, it just makes it generally bigger.

The lesson: if you pay for an image, logo, or graphic, spend extra and get the high resolution from the get go; it can always be used for your print and web needs.

Many have heard of the power of viral marketing, but last night, I got to witness the power first-hand. At a concert featuring rock bands Cheap Trick, Heart and Journey, you would never have thought of YouTube unless you knew the story of Arnel Pineda, new front man for Journey. I know, Steve Perry’s out, Arnel is in and before you think, “No one can replace him”, I encourage you to check out the footage of this singer for yourself. I really couldn’t believe my ears, yet there he was, belting it out with enthusiasm, charm, and gusto. It was impressive and if you covered your eyes, you would be fooled — yes, he sounds that great.

Back to the YouTube impact; this singer hails from Manila and Journey bandmates looked long and hard to find an adequate replacement to their former lead. Of all places, they found their new guy on YouTube, covering a Journey song. The search is off, this guy is now on tour with them, and the rest is history. Just goes to show you, you never know what you might find on the Internet. Arnel has found his pot of gold and Journey appears to have found their way back into recording studio and back onto the stage.

Oh, and the show? It rocked.

My brother in law sent me a link to a very interesting Ron Paul clip, one where he was being interviewed by a “journalist” who didn’t seem to have all his facts straight, nor up to date. While most who know me know I’m a Libertarian, some didn’t realize I’m also a Ron Paul supporter, even though he’s been virtually forced from the race. What does this have to do with marketing or customer service? More than you think. When presented with limited selections, people will usually pick the easiest choice available, and typically the one surrounded with media hype. It’s a sad state of affairs, but sometimes that isn’t always the best choice and if you REALLY think about it, it’s no choice at all.

The point of this message? Shop around and be diligent. Read all the facts, weigh all the truths, and don’t let advertising and media force you to make a choice from a seemingly small pool. Try not to go based on heart, but on what’s in your head. You could save your company a lot of heartache being this careful. There are always options –consider them all before committing.

Oh, and don’t be startled by the actual title of that YouTube clip, it’s not really Rated G.

Over the weekend, our state approved legislation removing a previous ban prohibiting liquor store sales on Sundays. Mind you, I didn’t race to the store to grab a six-pack of my favorite micro, but I did feel a sense of satisfaction knowing there was one less hurdle for doing business with some local merchants.

It reminds one that if you just create a path of least resistance, things can correct themselves and improve the business climate. In this case, removing an obsolete (if not downright asinine) law from the books.

Raise a toast, maybe Sunday liquor sales will equate to more revenue and more job opportunities. I know some will grumble about working a Sunday, but some folks will be happy to take a shift on a weekend. If I were a liquor store, you bet I’d be having an event of some sort…say, with a 21st Amendment party theme? Read a great article on this subject.

Alright, now this post is speaking of things second hand, but I consider my husband a reliable source. He finally got an opportunity to shop at Sunflower Market in Boulder this week. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so excited about a grocery shopping excursion. He came home with more produce than ever seen him buy, he stocked the pantry with things usually left to me to bring home. The bottom line, the prices, selection, and overall experience made him want to go again. I knew when I received their weekly flyer that things were different in this store, not your ordinary health food shop. No, quite the opposite, they have turned the natural food shopping experience into something accessible to everyone with every kind of budget. Compare that to their competitor, Whole Foods (or as we quip, Whole Paycheck) and you’ll find at Sunflowers, you’ll be coming home with a heavier wallet for once. I can’t wait to head over myself, but for now, my husband’s shopping spree makes it unnecessary.

I’ll report when I experience it myself. By the way, they might have one in your own neighborhood - they are opening stores all over the western states, but particularly here in Colorado. Enjoy!

While I’m not a diabetic, I can certainly empathize with those afflicted with it. As the numbers for adolescents diagnosed with this disease climb, there are more opportunities than ever to both monitor it and help control it. Over the years, hand-held, portable monitors have really taken over the market; the less clunky the process, the better able a person is to keep an eye on their status. A large player in the market has taken this a step further; LifeScan OneTouch has introduced the “UltraMini” Meter, and as the name implies, it’s tiny to be sure…almost looks like a key chain zip drive. Super cool. The other thing that is very appealing about this new unit is it comes in 4 different colors, and not boring old clinical colors, either –Pink Glow, Limelight, Jet Black, and Silver Moon. Talk about casting the net! It’s attractive, small, and pretty hip. I bet there is better compliance, too.

I was listening to Oprah and Friends, the Nate Berkus show, and on there were a couple of guests who own a business that specializes in finding things at rummage and yard sales, and then converting them into items of usefulness — I call it repurposing, but they had another name for it; it escapes me. That’s not really the point — the point is we can do this every day, in every way in our daily lives and in our business. Whether it’s an idea, a container, even a rubber band, look around and see if you can reinvent something and make it have a new use again. You could end up coming upon a truly idea, but you also could be sparing something from ending up in a landfill.

Recently, well, maybe after the Christmas season, Starbucks discontinued almond syrup from their flavoring lineup. I don’t usually get almond, but my husband sure does, as do many other people. Why in the world would you eliminate a flavor so distinctive and memorable as almond? Better yet, how can you offer with a straight face, hazelnut or toffee as comparable options? Please, bring back the almond. My husband might even return to your establishments if you do.

Last week I attended a Public Relations event that was designed to help marketing people be in better touch with print and broadcast media outlets. One theme that was mentioned a couple of times was that printed newspapers were really seeing themselves becoming outdated and nearly obsolete, when compared to online versions. While I tend to agree that printed papers are a little less my style, I really don’t see them going away entirely. My dad does the NY Times crossword puzzle every day - I doubt he would want to do it online.

So, how can papers keep themselves vital in the market, while reaching consumersout? I think the answer is a piece of what I received this week from the Denver Post - an eNewsletter that featured some cool destinations in the area. While I could have maybe scoured the entertainment section of the paper, this also allows me to forward to my family and friends as we plan things for the upcoming summer. It’s great because it’s still from a trusted source, but it’s so “now” and it’s colorful and cool, has links and great information.

The way I see it, if you continue to reinvent yourself to be a resource, you’ll never be obsolete.