David's Blog

From our hearts to yours.... Thank you and Happy Holidays.

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:10:11 -0600

The year is quickly winding down at TailGateTags. It's been a good year, despite the economy. Many new affiliates have joined our marketing program and sales have remained constant, even though there was an understandable downturn from the Real Estate industry. Real Estate agent sales were predictably slower this year, however our sales to other industries remained consistent or grew slightly.

PrimeLinx TailGateTags will be closed for business from December 23rd to January 2nd so we may spend Christmas with our families and friends. Orders will continue to be processed and shipped until closing.

We can no longer guarantee TailGateTags orders placed from today will arrive in time for Christmas. Some may arrive between Xmas and New Years. Those who have ordered previous to this date will have their orders delivered before December 25th.

Orders placed after December 23rd will have to await shipping until January 2nd, 2010.

We've been busy these past few weeks making plans for next year. Our aim is to position ourselves even deeper in the minds of consumers. It looks like there will be a modest improvement in the 2010 economy which we hope to take full advantage of.

We appreciate your patronage and kind thoughts over the past year and wish you and yours the very best of the holiday season. May 2010 bring all good things your way.

It's time for this weary scribe to take a break from blogging until the New Year....and get down to the serious business of sharing warm feelings of the season with family and friends. There are presents to wrap, cards to send and quiet prayer to be offered that 2010 will be a happy, prosperous one for you and your loved ones.

God bless us all......every one.

From our home to yours a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah.

Sincerely, David Langford

Birthdays are for sharing...

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:07:05 -0600

Maintaining contact with friends and meeting new people everyday has been something I've tried to do all my life. I suppose liking people goes to the root of this addiction. Friends are always there when you need them the most with a kind word and supportive encouragement.

Today is my birthday and the cards and calls have been coming in all morning. It's humbling to know how many lives touch each other. I'm just off the phone with a friend from England who called to offer well wishes.

Lola, my good wife greeted me this morning with a kiss, a wake-up cup of coffee in bed, a big bow present and a card that touched my heart. We'll be out on the town for dinner this evening, something we don't do often enough.

Birthdays are a time for reflection like so many important days throughout the year. They remind us of all we've accomplished over the years and ahead in anticipation of what's still to come. For me birthdays are a sharp stick in the ribs saying "C'mon David, there's a whole world out there of things to do and people to meet."

Like counting rings at the core of a oak tree we examine our lives. If we're lucky we look back with a sense of pride in our past... and ahead at the promise of what is yet to unfold. Each birthday is a milestone in our lives. A reminder that we're on this good earth for a reason.

The deeds we do and the people we meet along the way are the ingredients that make life so fulfilling. I'm a firm believer that nothing comes from nothing. We take richness in our lives by what we contribute. The more we give of ourselves in a positive way...the more that comes back to us.

A sincere smile, a kind word when needed and being interested in others will pay dividends your entire life long. A good motto to have is "Count me in." There are people out there right now looking forward to meeting you, if you'll only take the time to meet them.

Thanks. Sincerely, David

Life is what we make it.

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:28:55 -0600

Ever lost a sale that you thought you should have won.   Of course you have.....we all have.

Sometimes weeks are spent on dotting the "i's" and crossing the "t's"...going over the paper work.....finding the client just the right house at the right price in the right location...and then BANG!!! something comes along to shatter your hopes and ends the sale abruptly.

At that point it's easy to be come frustrated....even angered. We have a tendency to take it personally.   "HOW CAN THEY DO THIS TO ME AFTER ALL I'VE DONE FOR THEM!!!"

Well.. It happens to everyone sooner or later and it's not personal....even though we'd like to believe it is.

Here's what to do to get yourself out of your funk and get back on a positive track.

- Find a quiet secluded place where no one can hear you...and let our a HUGE SCREAM!! AAAAAAH!!!    This will relieve 50% of the pressure immediately.

- Then you can talk quietly and seek inspiration from family and peers in a calm, positive manner.

- Get on the phone and do a follow up call with satisfied, happy customers who have only good things to say about your service and professionalism.   They will give you positive re-enforcement.

- Find an immediate distraction..   Take a walk, relax in a warm bath, do a crossword puzzle, take your spouse out to dinner.    Get your mind off of negative events.

- Always look on the bright side of life..   Have a giggle on me..

Add a little style to your blogs to make them stand out.

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:06:05 -0600

I shared this blog about "ScribeFire" with you a while back. For those who missed it.... Here it is again.

Every day brings with it a learning curve.. There are so many great things out there to access that it boggles the mind. Compared to many I'm still away behind the times...but I'm learning day by day.

For example.... A couple of days ago I downloaded ScribeFire. www.scribefire.com (Works only with "MozillaFireFox" web browser. Click on the blue for download page.)

ScribeFire is a free download that will help improve the appearance of your blog. It allows you to add color to your copy, change the font and size of your font... and a lot more.

Here's a quick example.. Text, Text, Text, Text...

You can insert special characters with Scribefire.. ¡¢£¤¥¦§¨©ª«¬® etc...

With ScribeFire adding YouTube video is a snap. Video brings your blog to life and adds a personal touch that you sometimes can't quite get into words....or tell through still photos.

Here's an example of a short video I made for TailGateTags.

YouTube is there to help as well.    Controls on YouTube will allow you to add captions to your video...along with other features.

Blogs are communication.   In many cases (not all) blogs about reaching out to others with great ideas and information that will better lives and make us all more vital people.   If we can tell the story in a more meaningful way, through texture, video and color..... why not do it.

                                                 Thanks. Sincerely, David

Here's another way to effectively tell your story every day. www.TailGateTags.com

Out with the old....in with the new

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:10:24 -0600

We still have a couple of weeks to go before we ring in the New Year. This may be an excellent time to take stock of the year past and plan for the New Year ahead.

Have a close look at everything you did right this year and store it away for next year. By the same token, think carefully about what plans and schemes did not work out for you....and pitch them faster than a week old turkey carcass.

The more you prepare now for next year, the better you'll be prepared to meet the challenges that face you. Make today the start of a new way of thinking....and stick to it. What you get out of life depends largely on what you put into it.

Here are a few ideas....which I hope you'll follow.

- Start with a vision of yourself in 5 - 10 years time. Picture yourself there now. Once you have a clear picture in mind of all the things you want out of life in 5 - 10 years time create a step by step process of how you arrived there. Imagine in your mind's eye that you have already reached your goals and dreams, and create your plan of action by working backwards from that point. Be sure you write everything down on paper, or in your computer.

- Next.....use the information you've discovered about yourself to create a written business plan. You may not realize it, but a written business plan is fundamental to any business. Just try to get a business loan without a written plan. This is something you need.

Your business plan should contain everything about your business, your goals, your method of arriving at success...and anything and everything pertaining to your business, leisure and life. It is important!

Your business plan details your present and long term objectives....this coupled with your self vision will give you a good start.

- Next step is to build one solid hour of "think time" into your daily routine. Find a quiet place where you can be alone with your thoughts. During this hour of solitude write down what went right during the day and what went wrong. Eliminate the negative each day so it's not repeated. Make written plans for the next day....and do some longer term planning for the week ahead. Use your think time to do research on the internet to find out what makes other Realtors so successful.

- Have a clear picture in your mind the evening before the next day and what you want to accomplish over the next 24 hours. Set attainable goals and succeed at them. Find some small way to reward yourself and then raise the bar slightly as your success level increases.

- Now is the time to be thinking about Q1 of 2010. Prepare your strategies well in advance.

I like to refer to the Abraham Lincoln quote. "I will study and be ready and perhaps my chance will come." Never stop learning. It will pay off in rewards for years to come.

Thanks. Sincerely, David

A liitle of this and that..

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:45:06 -0600

It's funny how sales go. TailGateTags sales to US Realtors have dropped off in the last month, except for some areas like Texas, which has remained fairly consistent. However, while sales to US Realtors have dropped sales to Canadian real estate agents are on the rise. Cities like Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver are hot real estate markets. Home sales in Canada are on the rise and there's a general feeling of confidence and optimism among Canadian consumers. In other words, they're spending.

In the US our sales generally tend to go to industries not affected by the recession. Hair dressers are a good example. Beauty salons are busy no matter what the market conditions.

What's difficult to understand is why sales only go to sectors which are doing well. All the experts will tell you that in times of economic difficulty it's more important than ever to get your name in front of the public to capture your share of the pie. Instead business people seem to tuck in and reduce their personal marketing. Many look upon advertising as a luxury...and so the advertising budget is first to go. Silly, but true and extremely difficult to change attitudes. Kinda like trying to tell lemmings not to jump of a cliff.

PrimeLinx TailGateTags long ago diversified its marketing to insure sales remained robust. As an example....when sales to real estate agents are slow, we target our marketing to a more active area. It's a matter of studying the marketplace and keying in on those less affected by the general economy. Also, anticipating which area of the economy will improve next and being there ahead of the game.

We still maintain our contact with Realtors, even though the economy in that sector is down...and will likely remain down for a while to come. What we're doing is positioning ourselves for the upswing which will come later.

At PrimeLinx TailGateTags, we want to keep our name and product foremost in the minds of Realtors on-going. Agents may not be ready to order their TailGateTags today....but there will come a time when they will want to take their personal marketing seriously again.....and when they do TailGateTags will remain in their thoughts.

Here's my message for Realtors. Diversify....find a niche market that works for you. Target your marketing. Tailor and fine tune your marketing to meet the existing demand, while maintaining contact with traditional clients. Be flexible, so that you can change as market conditions change..... and never stop promoting......ever.

In times of downward turn it's more important than ever to advertise your services....rather than cutting back.

www.TailGateTags.com

How do you stop a lemming from jumping into the abyss?

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:49:07 -0600

In the US our sales generally tend to go to industries not affected by the recession. Hair dressers are a good example. Beauty salons are busy no matter what the market conditions.

In times of downward turn it's more important than ever to advertise your services....rather than cutting back.

www.TailGateTags.com

The Greatest of these is LOVE

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:47:24 -0600

In another couple of weeks Christmas will be here. It's
the most joyous and sacred day on the Christian calendar.
Christians are paying their homage by observing long standing
traditions in celebration of our Lord's birthday.     The biggest
tradition of all is shopping at the mall.    Many are spending money
they don't have, or can little afford, to buy gifts that are all but
forgotten two weeks after Christmas.    We live in a society where the
most expensive gift demonstrates the greatest love.

Millions of Americans will have no gifts under the tree this Christmas. There will be no tree to put gifts under.

The Christmas party season is also here. For some it's a time to
celebrate this high religious holiday by over eating and over drinking. There are always one or two at every party for whom the Christmas spirit begins with Christmas spirits.

For multitudes right here in America there is no party at Christmas. Millions will go to bed hungry tonight.

'Tis the season for family and friends coming together around the
fire glow to share warm feelings and a festive meal of turkey and all
the trimmings. A time to laugh and renew bonds of love and
friendship.

For tens of millions of Americans this Christmas will be spent
in loneliness with unfulfilled expectations of what the holidays should
be but for circumstance.

For those who are not of the Christian faith it may be a time of exclusion or feelings of alienation.

For more people than you can imagine...this is not a season of joy or festivities.

Before you've finished reading this blog someone will suffer a deep personal tragedy with the loss of a loved one. Someone will lose their home through foreclosure, fire or other calamity. Someone will be
contemplating suicide because of unrealized dreams.

In the midst of seeming abundance and revelry I would ask for a little humility, understanding and prayer for those who may not see Christmas as a happy time.

1 Corinthians 13:13 - And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Only the smart survive in Real Estate...the rest are gettin' out.

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:59:15 -0600

From coast to coast Realtors are getting out of the business.. They can't make a living selling real estate so they're movin' on. Tens of thousands have walked out already and more are catching the departing train everyday in search of new opportunities.

In the humble opinion of this scribe these people should be gone. I have no figures to prove it, but I would believe only about 1 in 5 agents is doing well. This may in part be due to location, but more than likely it's due to the lack of planning.

I've written blog after blog offering proven tips and ideas for getting ahead in business, but far too many think they know better....or have no desire to change.

I know that's tough talk.....but if you're not 1 of the 5 who is succeeding you're doing something seriously wrong. Why does that one Realtor in your market succeed, while the rest lag behind?

When you ignore the basics.... like having a written business plan, taking one solid hour every evening for quiet think time, having a written plan of action for the next day, branding your name in the community, niche marketing, making friends with people smarter than yourself, having a vision....and on and on...you marginalize your chances of success.

To those who have walked out the door....or are thinking of walking out on real estate may I say you have made an excellent decision. You are not cut out for this business....or any business. You are likely better off as an employee....rather than an entrepreneur.

Being self employed is a place where only the strong survive. Those who cover the basics, engage in unending self promotion, learn people skills and never stop discovering new ways of improvement will reap the rewards.

1 in 5 have an innate ability to succeed in any market. These are the ones who deserve all the success they're worked to achieve.

Ultimately it's up to us as individuals if we succeed...or fail.

To the rest..... I wish you well in life's challenges ahead.

Thanks. Sincerely, David

Realtors are packing it in and calling it quits. They're gone.

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:01:52 -0600

I've written blog after blog offering proven tips and ideas for getting ahead in business, but far too many think they know better....or have no desire to change.

I know that's tough talk.....but if you're not 1 of the 5 who is succeeding you're doing something seriously wrong. Why does that one Realtor in your market succeed, while the rest lag behind?

1 in 5 have an innate ability to succeed in any market. These are the ones who deserve all the success they're worked to achieve.

Ultimately it's up to us as individuals if we succeed...or fail.

To the rest..... I wish you well in life's challenges ahead.

Thanks. Sincerely, David

Happiness is an unexpected sale from a chance meeting.

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:23:02 -0600

In my last blog I told you about a chance meeting with a stranger at the gas station.   He noticed the TailGateTags on the back of my car and came over to talk.   There's something about TailGateTags that invites conversation. As he left I handed him my card and guess what????   An order for two TailGateTags just came in from the stranger.

You never know where your next customer is coming from.   Had it not been for that TailGateTag on my car, that sale would never have happened.

It works the same for real estate sales.   How much more business would come your way if you had a tag on your car indicating you're a Realtor.

TailGateTags are only $39.95 ea. and they keep their like new appearance for years.

Give 'em a shot...   Everybody loves TailGateTags....   You will too.

                                                  www.TailGateTags.com

It happened again This time at the gas station....of all places.

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:17:01 -0600

I'm just back from a cruise in the sunshine. Beautiful sunny day in the Motor City. I had to drive to a little plaza not far from my home....and then to the service station to fill up with gas.

I was likely on the street for no more than 10 minutes...and parked for another 10 minutes. In that time I'd estimate my TailGateTags message was seen by at least 100 motorists and passengers either following behind, passing....or walk-past pedestrians as I was parked.

That represents 100 more people who know about TailGateTags today, who may not have known about them previously. While at the gas station the person filling up just behind me asked about the Tag on my car and a conversation ensued.

You'd be amazed how often that happens. "Gotta get me one of those," was his comment. I left a card with him to check the website when he gets home.

While you're out and about town you never know who you might meet. It can happen anyplace. Your TailGateTags let them know that you're a Realtor. New business can come from anywhere....at any time when you use TailgateTags.

Without a TailGateTag on my car, there never would have been a conversation at the gas station potentially leading to business.

Our tags are not tacky vinyl lettering, but an actual custom made nameplate in chrome or gold. Their uniqueness is why they get so much attention.

On my return I stopped at a McDonald's to shoot this video..

The video may be amateur, but there's nothing amateur about the way TailgateTags brand your name, website or any message you want acted upon.

They're only $39.95 ea. and tax deductible. Give 'em a shot...and see how they work for you.

Unless people know who you are....how can you possibly hope to reach your potential..

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:43:32 -0600

The biggest problem we have at TailGateTags is getting Realtors to try them. We have no problem marketing our auto nameplates to any other group. Business people of all stripes order TailGateTags like crazy and send us their glowing feedback and endorsements....but for some unknown reason Real Estate agents are the hardest to convince.....even when shown proof positive.

Steve Shearer is a web designer who was looking for new customers for his business. He too was skeptical, but now writes.

"I purchased a couple of these from you about a year ago, to display my website, WebDesignBySteve.com. I cannot begin to say how effective they are."

Those RE agents who do own TailGateTags send us glowing reports.

Realtor Debbie Ferrari (www.debbieferrari.com) of San Clemente, CA tells us she can attribute $50,000 in extra commissions over the years directly to her TailGateTags.

Here's Realtor Kathy Toth's car...

(Actual photo sent by delighted customer.)

If you can't afford the $39.95 we understand...... in these difficult times some folks just don't have that kind of spare change lying around.

I just read a blog stating that 5000 Realtors in Pinellas county, Florida had left the real estate business. Makes me wonder how many would still be in business, if they had TailGateTags on their car sending them business.

Here's the long and the short of it.. If you want to sell real estate, you have to be FIRST in the minds of buyers or sellers....otherwise business goes to those who are first in the public mind. You know this.....so does everyone else.

It's called BRANDING...and nothing brands your name every day in such a classy way as TailGateTags. You can expect to have your contact information seen by 100's to 1000's of potential clients every day for as long as you own your car for only $39.95 per Tag. That translates into more business for you.

TailGateTags should be standard equipment on every agent's car.

Here's the website. www.TailGateTags.com

TOLL FREE 1-888-847-9212

Please share this with your friends and associates.

More sales are possible, if you'll only adopt a new way of marketing.

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:25:14 -0600

Some time ago a I received an email from a gentleman who in no
uncertain terms told me he would never put a TailgateTag on his beautiful car.

No amount of logic could persuade him as to their effectiveness in
branding and drawing in new business. His mind was made up. I
thanked him for his opinion and didn't hear from him again until a few
months later.

He wrote that his pride and joy car had been repossessed because he couldn't meet the payments. He went on to say he wished he'd taken my advice and spent the $39.95 for a TailGateTag. The story might have been quite different.

Here's my tip of the day. If you want to sell real estate, you have to be first in the minds of buyers or sellers....otherwise business goes to those who are.

Nothing brands your name every day in such a classy way as TailGateTags. You can expect to have your contact information seen by 100's to 1000's of potential clients every day for as long as you own your car for only $39.95 per Tag. That translates into more business for you.

TailGateTags should be standard equipment on every Real Estate agent's car.

www.TailGateTags.com

Share this with your friends and associates.

If it's outdated..... get rid of it.

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:52:44 -0600

Many of us are pack rates. I know I am... We just hate to part with anything. You'll notice this when doing your annual spring cleaning in the garage, the basement or your clothes closet.

My closet was over jammed with clothes that were largely out of date. Something clearly needed to be done, but I just couldn't bare to part with all that stuff. Getting rid of these clothes was like saying good-bye to an old friend. It took a lot of urging from my wife to finally make the decision to pitch them out.

It's like that with ideas and marketing. Many are out date and don't work any more, but we hang onto them because that's the way we've always done it. Most of us are creatures of habit.

Well.... It's time to Make a new plan Stan. 2010 is almost here and the world has moved on since 2007 in a significant way. To state the obvious, the real estate business is a lot tougher now than it was.

Competition is more intense....sales are fewer and father between....but yet, many are still marketing themselves as they did back in '07. Because of reduced income, many have stopped marketing themselves entirely.

At times like these there's a natural tendency to cut back and self marketing is often the first to go....but this is precisely the time you need to do more promotion. As you cut fat in your day to day operations to save money please remember.... Self Marketing is Muscle...not Fat.

Self marketing muscle is the driver that brings new business to you rather than the competition.

The secret is getting the biggest bang for your buck. Newspaper ads, post cards, search engine optimization are all pretty pricey. Bench advertising, TV marketing, bus ads etc. are also expensive....and with all of these you pay again and again for renewal.

There is one sure classy way to get your message in front of hundred to thousands of potential buyers every day for less than dinner and a movie. TailGateTags are only $39.95 each. At that price they're in everyone's budget....and they WILL brand your name to volumes of individuals every single day for years to come. That's what we call Smart Marketing. Have a look at this short video.

TailGateTags provide the kind of daily recognition that brings business to your door.

Order securely from our website at www.TailGateTags.com or call us toll free at 1-888-847-9212 to order by phone. You'll be glad you did.

PLEASE SHARE THIS BLOG WITH FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES.

If it's not working....scrap it.

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:17:32 -0600

Many of us are pack rates. We just hate to part with anything. You'll notice this when doing your annual spring cleaning in the garage, the basement or your clothes closet. I'm no different.

It's like that with ideas and marketing. Many are out date and don't work any more, but we hang onto them because that's the way we've always done it. Most of us are creatures of habit.

Well.... It's time to Make a New Plan Stan. 2010 is almost here and the world has moved on since 2007 in a significant way. To state the obvious, the real estate business is a lot tougher now than it was.

Self marketing muscle is the driver that brings new business to you rather than the competition.

PLEASE SHARE THIS BLOG WITH FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES.

Share this blog with your friends.. They'll thank you for it.

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:56:12 -0600

Ever lost a sale that you thought you should have won.   Of course you have.....we all have.

Sometimes weeks are spent on dotting the "i's" and crossing the "t's"...going over the paper work.....finding the client just the right house at the right price in the right location...and then BANG!!! something comes along to shatter your hopes and ends the sale abruptly.

At that point it's easy to be come frustrated....even angered. We have a tendency to take it personally.   HOW CAN THEY DO THIS AFTER ALL I'VE DONE FOR THEM!!! Grrrrr!

Well.. It happens to everyone sooner or later and it's not personal....even though we'd like to believe it is.

Here's what to do to get yourself out of your funk and get back on a positive track.

- Find a quiet secluded place where no one can hear you...and let out a HUGE SCREAM!! This will relieve 50% of the pressure immediately.

- Then you can talk quietly and seek inspiration from family and peers in a calm, positive manner.

- Get on the phone and do a follow up call with satisfied, happy customers who have only good things to say about you, your service and professionalism.   They will give you positive re-enforcement.

- Find an immediate distraction..   Take a walk, relax in a warm bath, do a crossword puzzle, take your spouse out to dinner.    Get your mind off of negative events.

- If all else fails....After screaming at the top of your lungs, listen to this and have a giggle on me..    It will put life in proper perspective.

www.TailGateTags.com

Always look on the bright side of life..

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:23:01 -0600

Ever lost a sale that you thought you should have won.   Of course you have.....we all have.

Sometimes weeks are spent on dotting the "i's" and crossing the "t's"...going over the paper work.....finding the client just the right house at the right price in the right location...and then BANG!!! something comes along to shatter your hopes and ends the sale abruptly.

At that point it's easy to be come frustrated....even angered. We have a tendency to take it personally.   HOW CAN THEY DO THIS AFTER ALL I'VE DONE FOR THEM!!!

Well.. It happens to everyone sooner or later and it's not personal....even though we'd like to believe it is.

Here's what to do to get yourself out of your funk and get back on a positive track.

- Find a quiet secluded place where no one can hear you...and let our a HUGE SCREAM!! This will relieve 50% of the pressure immediately.

- Then you can talk quietly and seek inspiration from family and peers in a calm, positive manner.

- Get on the phone and do a follow up call with satisfied, happy customers who have only good things to say about your service and professionalism.   They will give you positive re-enforcement.

- Find an immediate distraction..   Take a walk, relax in a warm bath, do a crossword puzzle, take your spouse out to dinner.    Get your mind off of negative events.

- Always look on the bright side of life..   Have a giggle on me..

How to make your blog stand out and be noticed...

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:35:54 -0600

Every day brings with it a learning curve.. There are so many great things out there to access that it boggles the mind.    Compared with many I'm still away behind the times...but I'm learning day by day.

For example.... A couple of days ago I downloaded ScribeFire.   www.scribefire.com

This is a free download that will help improve the appearance of your blog. It allows you to add color to your copy, change the font and size of your font... and a lot more.

Here's a quick example.. Text, Text, Text, Text...

With ScribeFire adding YouTube video is a snap.   Video brings your blog to life and adds a personal touch that you sometimes can't quite get into words....or tell through still photos.

Here's an example of a short video I made for TailGateTags.

Re-blog or send this to your friends..

Motor City will rise again...

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:08:03 -0600

Have you ever driven through a city in decay and noticed entire neighborhoods that were once home to the elite in society. In Detroit no one lives in some of these neighborhoods any more.

This house with it's slate roof and Victorian architecture is a good example of what I'm talking about. It doesn't take much imagination to picture how magnificent it must have looked when new....surrounded by dozens of sparkling new homes of equal stature. They're mostly gone now.

It's heartbreaking to see entire blocks of homes were families lived and grew up reduced to this.

There isn't much good news in Detroit these days. High unemployment, corruption and scandal at the highest levels of city hall, urban blight and an entire range of big city woes.

Detroit may be on its knees at the moment, but it's not out. These is some good news. A few areas areas are being cleared and the land reclaimed for an entire new generation of homeowners. Property values are low, giving more people an opportunity to buy in to their home ownership dream.

Detroit has had it's ups and downs before and somehow it has survived.....and will survive again. There seems to be a resiliency here. To live in Detroit is to expect hard times and learn the secrets to survival.

In poorer neighborhoods you see people banding together to volunteer their time at food banks and soup kitchens....and through their camaraderie gain strength for their own desperate situation.

Shed no tears for Detroit...... It has had it's good days. During the great depression tens of thousands of impoverished southerners rode the rails or walked to reach this place as one of the last hopes in the nation where they could find a job.

From the ashes of hard times comes innovation.....and Detroit has plenty of both. It may take a few years, but Motor City will rise again.

Gee.... I never thought of that!!!

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:32:07 -0600

It seems there are a lot of folks out there who refuse to put any advertising on their cars. It's understandable....but it makes me wonder why they haven't removed the nameplate that says FORD, or CHEVROLET etc. from their car.

These badges serve no safety or styling function. They're not part of what makes the car ride smoother or be more fuel efficient. So, why are they there????

They are attached by the auto companies to advertise the name of their product. What other reason could there be to attach the maker's logo in bright chrome, other than to let other people know the brand.

I'll bet you never thought of that.

When you hit the streets in your shiny new what-ever, you are advertising the name of the car model you're driving.   Not only are you advertising for the auto company....... you're doing it for free.......and the cost of putting the auto maker's advertising on your shiny new pride and joy was folded into your sticker price.

The methodology is....consumers see the car name....they see the car... and they buy the car.

Here's what the backroom boys in the corridors of power aren't telling you.    Your role in all of this is to advertise their car brand where-ever you drive.

At TailGateTags we do the same thing......except our classy polished chrome or gold brings customers to you....rather than Ford or GM.

I doubt there's anyone who loves their car more than I do.   It's a trophy winning classic valued at $55K and fully paid for (and then some) with the help of a $39.95 TailGateTag on the back.

Let's hear no more about decrying automobile advertising.

Leonard Copeland, a developer from Ohio (and a repeat customer) liked his nameplate so much he removed every factory insignia, including the auto maker's name from his shiny new GM pick-up truck...but added his TailGateTags message. When I asked him why he did that, he just smiled.

We both understood.

www.TailGateTags.com

Finding new ways to make your blog stand out.

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:07:47 -0600

That's It!! I'm outa here.. Time for a little fun with friends.. What about you?

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:04:44 -0600

I've been cooped up for days at the computer taking care of business and not getting out to interact with people on a personal basis. I guess there's just been too much cyber-communication to take care of. I've been so caught up in the business taking care of everyone's interests that I've forgotten my own needs. We all get that way from time to time.

It's not that we don't care......it's just that we're fried.

Well......it's a beautiful day out there and I've decided in my less than infinite wisdom to take the rest of the day off and enjoy the sunshine. We all need that from time to time. Without a mid-week break it's often difficult to see the forest for the trees.

A break now and again gives us all time to breathe some fresh air and recharge our batteries. All work and no play is never a good idea.

I called a couple of friends, who are also snowed under and suggested we skip work and have an afternoon of enjoyment.

There were the usual "I can't get away.....I'm up to my ears in paperwork" comments, but with a little arm twisting I finally convinced them that they also need a break.

We're going bowling.....a sport that none of us are any good at. The bowling, the burgers and the beer are on me.

The way I look at it..... work will always be there. There's never a time when things aren't urgent....but life is just too darn short to be stuck behind a desk. A fun diversion will clear out the cobwebs and put us all back in tune with life. We'll then be able to return to our work with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.

If you find yourself up to your ears in alligators as I've been over the last few days.......I encourage you to walk away.....take a sanity break.....and return to the task at hand with renewed energy and clearer thought.

Thanks. Sincerely, David

THERE AIN'T NO SINCERITY IN SOME "SINCERE GOOD WISHES..."

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:11:05 -0600

We're just about at that time of year when we're sending Christmas or Hanukkah cards to our friends, past clients and associates.

I know around the Langford household we get dozens of cards this time of year.

Many of them are from businesses. You know the kind...commercial looking with the sender's name pre-printed...and the company name broadly displayed. The address on the envelope is also often run through a printer and the stamp more often than not.....you guessed it.....a machine stamp.

Production line Seasons Greetings never toughed by human hands. They're even bulk mailed to save postage.

There's not an ounce of holiday spirit or sincerity in these cards. They are sent out a thousand at a time purely for commercial purposes....are completely written off as a business expense against taxes.

I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. They come from insurance companies, investment companies, the local bank.....and yes even mortgage and real estate companies.

How many ways are there to say TACKY BEYOND BELIEF!!! These are little more than blatant bad taste, rather than a gesture of sincerity and good will.

There's nothing wrong with sending cards during the holiday season. The idea is a good one. It's right and proper to be in touch with those we care about and those clients we have served. However.....and it's a big HOWEVER....if you do send a holiday card make it a real one written in your own hand with a short one line hand written note included.....and leave out the commercial angle. Or....don't send a card at all.

I must say that commercial holiday cards do have one saving grace.....they're excellent for starting the wood burning fireplace. HO, HO, HO!!

Thanks. Sincerely, David

There's an old saying that I just invented... "A TailGateTag in time, saves a lot of useless work and expense."

David W. Langford (PrimeLinx.com) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:19:24 -0600

Got another nice endorsement in my email box this morning. This time from Steve Shaerer. Steve is a web designer who was looking for new customers for his business.

"I purchased a couple of these from you about a year ago, to display my website, WebDesignBySteve.com. I cannot begin to say how effective they are."

A year ago!!!!.... and his TailGateTags are still on his car....and still sending him business. All for only $39.95 per Tag.

Some of our customers have had them on their cars for at least 8 years....and the Tags are still looking like new.

Who says they don't make things today like they used to...

TailGateTags are simple, basic and classy........and yes they work. Our customers tell us so.

Steve's business is doing great! How's your business doing?

Would you like to do better?

www.TailGateTags.com