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So how can I amuse you guys this week??? How about this... a few months ago I posted 4 tutorials on marketing yourself using branded wallpapers & calendars. If you're new here or missed it, check them out at...
The Art Of Marketing You with wallpapers(new series)
The Art Of Marketing You wallpapers part 2
The Art Of Marketing You with wallpapers part 3
The Art Of Marketing You with wallpapers part 4
I've been doing these for my art website since October 2007, it's been a great way to bring visitors back each and every month. From the feedback I received to my earlier posts, a lot of you love the idea but don't have the time and/or the patience to put them together or the images to use as branded wallpapers/calendars so...
Since I'm still getting emails about this, I've decided to make things as easy for you as possible!
We're a few days into the new month but I've decided to put together a wallpaper/calendar for you guys to use.
- you can use it on any blog or website that you like
- you can add your own text (i.e. your domain name)
- and yes it's free
All I ask is that you leave my signature where it is and if you feel like giving a link back to my art website (http://garaughty.com) from your blog or site, I'd appreciate it but it's optional.
Preview...
The image above is a screenshot of what the February 2009 Think Green wallpaper/calendar looks like. You can see & download the full size version here
Branding YOU...
The best was to add your own branding is to keep it very simple, subtle and tasteful. Very few people want to see advertising on their desktop so in this case, less really is more.
i.e. "YourBlog.com" or "compliments of www.YourBlog.com" would be the best way to add text/branding without getting too "in their face".
You can add simple text like in the example above with any graphics program you might have or using any of the free online services like Picnik.com
If all goes well and the interest if there, I'll be releasing additional images, artwork (my digital & painted stuff) as well as photos from some of my photographer friends in future wallpapers & calendars.
We all benefit. You guys get cool looking stuff to add your domains name(s) to, your clients get free goodies to spice up their screens and I get exposure. In other words a win, win, win marketing partnership.
Note...
On the page or post where you upload the final image, be sure to include some basic instructions for the occasional person who doesn't know what to do with the wallpaper. Normally I just use something simple like...
To add this image to your monitor... click the right mouse button and select SET AS BACKGROUND
Examples...
You can see 2 live examples of how to use wallpaper/calendars for branding. Take a look at Diane Aurit's Best Real Estate Lake Norman February 2009 wallpaper/calendar (preview image above)
And our current wallpaper/calendar in the February Studio Newsletter (preview image above).
Here is a direct link to the calendar
As I said last week, stay tuned, I have a ton of new stuff coming out this year including more graphics that you can use here in the Rain, out on the web for your own sites & blogs, calendar templates, online games, etc, etc, etc... Enjoy!
Wordless Wednesday! Talk about your Full Disclosure! Larry Story
If you're time challenged like me and there aren't enough hours in a day to sort through the mountains of info being posted on the web, here are some of my favorite reads from the past few days...
Charlie Rose interviews MySpace founders Chris DeWolfe & Tom Anderson
- Has Hollywood Learned How to Game Social Media? by Stan Schroeder
- The 100 Most Popular Twitter applications @ Blending The Mix
- 5 Ways Obama Should Change How You Communicate by Lucy Langdon
- The Pick-Up Artist Guide to Effective Online Marketing by James Chartrand
- How To Get Killer Testimonials For Your Blog by John Haydon
- How to Guest Post to Promote Your Blog by Darren Rowse
- How Search-Like Are Social Media Sites? by Danny Sullivan
- Dell Starts Offering Exclusive Discounts Through Twitter by Erick Schonfeld
- When Sex Refuses to Sell by Simon Payn
- What is 'Suitable' Content for Localism? - Blog Tips for Rain Drips Rich Jacobson
- ActiveRain Success Stories and Testimonials Brad Andersohn
- New ActiveRain Widgets for ActiveBlogs Brad Andersohn
- EXTRA ~ EXTRA ~ READ ALL ABOUT IT Deb Brooks
- REALTORS of the future: An English Degree is no longer obsolete! Diane Aurit
- Are You Meant To Be In the Business You're In? Or... Jo-Anne Smith
- Using Hashtags on Twitter to Your Advantage Jeff Dowler
- 7 Things I Need My Buyer Clients To Know... Kim Daugherty
- Always Keep Your Pipeline Full To Prevent Busy Quicksand Justin Williams
- How are Online Relationships Different from Offline? Tina Gleisner
- Your blog is only the start, you need to be the person you are online also! Todd Clark
- A Chat With CEO of Clustrmaps.com- Marc Eisenstadt Midori Miller
- Real Estate Practice: If you have to use MORE than just common sense Kathy McGraw
- Top 16 - Top 100 Realtor Links Compendium Castellum Realty
- 8 New Ways To Get Leads Kelle Sparta
- SEO Tip For Your Outside Blog Bill Gassett
- StepRep Monitor Your Oline Reputation Missy Caulk
- Stage it Forward, a Week in Review January 26 - February 1, 2009 Melissa Marro
- Active Rain Gathering in Philadelphia, PA - February 19th, 2009 Jeff Belonger
- Ethics Is Not Just Another Training Class For REALTORS Gary Woltal
The posts listed above are just a small sample of the news, ideas and resources from the past few days by some of the sharp cookies that hang out in The Art Of Marketing You group
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