Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Professional/Social Networking on the Net

I use LinkedIn as my professional networking. I invite all of my clients to join. I also invite colleagues other than those who are in my selling area. I keep my profile looking like a top notch résumé and send it to prospective clients. Many people will search for my name on Google and Yahoo. LinkedIn helps to add more presence to the results.

I also use Facebook for my social network. It is fun and lets you see what your friends and clients are doing on a personal level. Your past clients will like it too as they can see what you are up to and feel somewhat connected to you.

I tie everything together, my websites, blogs, social and professional networks. On the signature portion of all my e-mails you will notice that I place links for people to join me. I recommend reading the books, “Buzz Marketing” and “How to Work a Room”. With a little effort you can become the Maven of you circle, The go-to person who is always called first.

Did you happen to catch Mark Burrell’s Blogging 101 class at the convention? Most excellent. He is doing a free webinar on Monday. Contact him to see if you can join. mark@burrellgroup.com. You will also need to download a class workbook.

I hope this helps. Let me know how it goes for you. Please remember, I am never too busy for your referrals.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Cabinet Meeting

When it comes to increasing the value of your home, modernizing a kitchen can return 80 percent to 130 percent of your investment, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association. But many homeowners think improving the kitchen has to come with a hefty price tag. Not necessarily.

Cabinets are often the first thing people notice about a kitchen. Cabinets are also one of the easiest and most affordable kitchen features to update. And in most cases, you don’t need to replace them. Just take a close look at your existing cabinet doors. Are they beyond repair, or do they still look good, but just a little outdated?

If they’re still in good shape, simply sanding and applying a fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference. Take everything out of the cabinets and scrub them with a cleaner. Lightly sand down the wax, veneer, polish or previous paint, then fix any cracks or breaks with putty. Brush on primer paint and add any paint color, pattern or stencil you’d like.

New hardware can also add flair to otherwise outdated cabinets. Cabinet knobs, pulls and hinges come in all shapes and sizes, including antique copper, iron, aged bronze, polished brass, glass, stainless steel and more. But before purchasing any new hardware, carefully measure your existing hardware. Jot down sizes and the spaces between screws, which will eliminate the need to drill new holes in the cabinets.

If replacement is the only option, modular cabinets, available at most home improvement stores, can be an affordable alternative. You can save even more money if you install them yourself. My preferred way to go is to Call Susan Lund with Spacial Design. She can design, arrange for and have them installed with grace and elegance. Something you will be proud of for years to come.

Source: National Kitchen and Bath Association