Archive for December, 2007

Don't ask yourself what the world needs

Ask yourself what makes you come alive

Then, go do it!

Because the world needs you…

To share,

To connect,

To learn,

To inspire.

I love information lists with links. I just absolutely love them. 

Now, I’m sure that says something about my personality but in truth I’m not a list-maker. I’m more of a mental “lister” with too much information slogging around in my brain so by the time I’m ready to implement my mental list information it’s been replaced by something totally unrelated.

The resulting consequence is usually forgetting something I really need at the grocery store or not being able to locate that truly awesome link I just saw 10 minutes ago…

So, before I forget, I want to share with you a list I came across chock-full of  places to market yourself, your biz and connect in that socialized web way that’s become oh so common and cool. This is a synopsis of a list I found over at Green Biz.com

Ready? Grab your bootstraps and let’s go.

These sites work to connect online users to facilitate offline interactions. You can schmooze with likeminded  individuals about all sorts of things from green dating (is there such a thing?), carpooling, to  green events, political rallies and meetups.   

Green Events, Political Rallies, Local Meet Ups and Social Activism:  11th Hour Action, Care2, Do Something, Meetup, Step It Up, TakingITGlobal, WorldCoolers,  2People, Change, GreenVoice, idealist, just cause, Razoo, tree-nation, Wiser Earth and Youth Noise among others.

Arrange Carpools: GishiGo, GoLoco, pooln and WorldCarShare

Rent, Loan or Reuse Items: freecycle, gigoit, loanables and rentoid.

Socializing and Dating: Care2, Earthwise Singles, dharmaMatch, Green Drinks, Green Passions, Green Party Passions, Planet Earth Singles and VeggieDate.

Then there are sites that encourage the end user to make a commitment or personal pledge and pass it along to their circle of friends and family: Actics, Low Fly Zone, Make Me Sustainable, PledgeBank, The Carbon Diet, Who On Earth Cares (Aus) and Yahoo Green.   

General interest sites encourage consumers to connect and share online with others that have a similar affinity for a green(er) lifestyle: beTurtle, Common Circle, Dianovo, ecoMetro, Eco-munnity, Good Tree, Green Bin, Holistic Local, Lime, Neutral Existence, rethos, Zaadz and Zelixy among others.  

Shopping sites encourage users/members to post reviews and product  favorites.  Examples include FiveLimes and Sustainlane.  Traditional social shopping sites such as Kaboodle, StyleHive, ThisNext and Wists include an ever increasing range of eco-friendly and natural products.

As I said this particular link list came from GreenBiz.com. An excellent go to place for all things green. So I can't, technically, take credit for all the juicy info but I can take 100% credit for sharin' the marketing love.

So, apparently this blog is known, somewhat, for being a green-ish blog. Someone even emailed me and suggested I get a "nom de plume."

Fancy shmancy, I know. Don't you just love it? For all you rednecks out there "nom de plume" is French for "pen name."

The suggestion? Sustainable Sonya…yeah, hmmm. I’m not so sure that has a nice sweet sexy ring to it but I’ll take it, nevertheless.

Here’s my post over on Riverwired. Um, you have to scroll a little to see it but do feel free to meander and take a look at the other very informative blog articles on the page. And, while I’m not exactly sure how my post got there, it’s quite cool, if I do say so myself.

Now, if by some crazy stretch you don’t know what Riverwired is, let me explain.

RiverWired is an online community – a GREEN online community. And for all you Ashevillians (that’s the "nom de plume" for people who live in Asheville, NC – all those hippie-ish, treehugging, dreadlock wearing, super cool individuals) our city was featured in a video series on Biodiesel right here on RiverWired. The video is about using biodiesel to heat your home instead of fuel oil.

Hmmm, I wonder if it smells like McDonald's french fries…

*Note to self…call Blue Ridge Biofuels today to see about replacing fuel oil with biodiesel.

Technically, RiverWired “is a content and social networking site dedicated to all things green.”  It’s a place to hook up with other businesses and individuals interested in all shades of green.  You can join groups, add your blog info, photos and videos and connect with your market in a way that is personal and, well, fun.

There are many and I mean m-a-n-y other places you can market your green business and share your green angst. This is just one drop in the big green marketing bucket.

Ok, so my advice? Go on out there and start talking to people. These are your potential customers and maybe new friends…who will, (hint, hint) TELL other people about your business.

And the hands-down, number one, absolute, most effective kind of marketing is????????

YES! Word of Mouth.

Especially for you today. Go ahead and chart your own course. The following applies not only to your everyday personal life but each and every decision you make in the course of a day for your business operations and in marketing your business.

Always reach to create balance and strive for the choice to empower each and every opportunity with what it is that you ultimately desire in your business.

It's Always Your Next Move 

The keys to your universe lie with the choices you make.
You don't have to buy from anyone or work at any particular job.
You don't have to participate in any given relationship.
You can choose.

The choice is always yours.
You hold the tiller.
You steer the course you choose
in the direction of where you want to be today,
tomorrow, or in a distant time to come.

You can at any time decide to alter the course of your life.
No one can ever take that away from you.