Home > Did You Know, Stories and More > Lessons in Digital Scrapbooking: If Only I Had Known!
We recently posted on our Facebook page asking our fans to fill in the following blank: ?If only I had known ________________ before I started scrapbooking.? It was fun to see the responses and how much everyone actually had in common. Of course, we would all like to have the answers beforehand that would make our jobs in life easier, getting us started a few steps ahead of the game. Just think of all the things you could say if you replaced ?started scrapbooking? with ?became a parent?!
The best advice comes from experience, and who better to ask about scrapbooking than our own fans! If you?re new to digital scrapbooking, these answers might give you some ?insider? knowledge. If you are a seasoned veteran, then you can probably relate to most of these! We pulled some of our favorites to share with you.
?How easy and cost effective digital scrapbooking is! I got behind when I started having kids, because it was such a hassle trying to keep my kids out of the mess, and having to clean it up wasn?t ideal either. I love that I can sit at my computer with one or two kids on my lap and still get my scrapbooking done! Plus, I love that by using the heritage makers program, I will never lose my pages. If my computer crashes or my house burns down, I can always reprint my memories. Totally awesome!?? -?Joshua and Kimberly T.
?If only I had known the impact scrapbooking would have on my family before I started scrapbooking, I would have started sooner.??-?Tammy
?That digital pictures could be made into scrapbooks without the mess of scrapbooking and made so easy to use.??-?Jackie L.
?To NOT chop up my photos with ?Fancy? scissors.??-?Val P.
?About Heritage Makers before I invested all that $ on scrapbooking papers, embellishments, equipment and closet space.??-?Phyllis
Some people enjoy the tactile, physical nature of traditional scrapbooking and are hesitant to go the digital route, but many people are discovering that there is a place for digital scrapbooking in their memory keeping hobby. Whether you?re testing out the digital waters or a digital die-hard, your projects have most likely evolved quite a bit since you designed your first layout. Have you ever looked back on your very first scrapbooking project and compared it to your current creations? Along the way we may discover different ways of doing what we love, and they can simply complement our hobbies and passions. Most importantly, the things we create and the stories we tell are gifts we leave behind and become treasures to those we love.
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What is the biggest lesson you?ve learned since you discovered digital scrapbooking?
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Flame retardants are found in nearly all couches in the United States. California's new flammability standard could change that.Image: Flickr/Sean Dreilinger
California unveiled a proposal on Friday that would transform its controversial fire safety standards by dropping a requirement that has led to widespread use of flame retardants in U.S. couches and other furniture.
The current standard, adopted in the 1970s, mandates that foam used in furniture cushions must withstand a 12-second exposure to a small, open flame. As a result, manufacturers throughout the nation have been adding brominated or chlorinated chemicals to the foam to slow the spread of flames.
Under the direction of Gov. Jerry Brown, a state agency released a new draft rule on Friday morning that will eliminate the open-flame test. Instead, state officials say they will require a smolder-only test, which manufacturers could meet without flame retardants while still preventing fires.
Over the past several years, concern about the chemicals has mounted as evidence points to an array of potential health effects, including reduced IQs, attention problems and other neurological effects in children exposed in the womb or during infancy. The chemicals have been building up in human bodies, including breast milk, around the world.
The new draft is in response to a directive issued by Brown to improve fire safety while reducing exposure to toxic chemicals. Smoldering objects such as cigarettes, heaters and extension cords, rather than open flames, are the biggest source of household fires.
"This [proposal] will provide consumers with a more realistic approach to fire safety in addition to reducing the upholstered furniture?s smolder ignition potential," according to the state's overview of the proposed changes. "As an added benefit, this regulatory proposal significantly reduces or eliminates manufacturers? reliance on materials treated with flame retardant chemicals. It is the Bureau?s understanding that many manufacturers, who are no longer compelled to make materials open-flame resistant, will no longer use flame retardant chemicals in their products. Manufacturers would instead be able to purchase and use the less expensive non-flame retardant materials therefore saving in material costs."
State Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) called the administration's move "enormous" given the Legislature?s "inability due to the power of the chemical industry to move in this direction.? He sponsored a bill to curb the use of flame retardant chemicals in consumer products, but it died in committee.
Chemical companies have said that flame retardants are safe and that they are necessary to prevent dangerous fires from igniting furniture.
?Regrettably, if this proposed regulation moves forward, it will reverse a fire safety standard that has provided an important layer of protection to Californians for over 35 years," said a spokesperson from the American Chemistry Council, an industry group. "Since the National Fire Protection Association reports that open flame sources are still a major cause of upholstered furniture fires, regulators in California should propose a standard that addresses this fire safety risk."
The proposal will go through a six-week public comment period before a final standard is adopted by the state agency.
Because California is such a large market for furniture, the original standard, known as Technical Bulletin 117 (TB 117), created a de facto standard across the United States that led to use of flame retardants in most furniture cushions.
The new tests would involve mockups of cushions rather than tests of just foam. This would prompt the use of barrier materials and smolder-proof cover fabrics to prevent furniture from igniting. Similar materials already are used in Europe.
Director Wong Kar Wai smiles during the press conference for the film The Grandmaster at the 63rd edition of the Berlinale, International Film Festival in Berlin, Thursday, Feb.7,2013. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)
Director Wong Kar Wai smiles during the press conference for the film The Grandmaster at the 63rd edition of the Berlinale, International Film Festival in Berlin, Thursday, Feb.7,2013. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)
Jury member Tim Robbins poses at the photo call during the jury press conference at the 63rd edition of the Berlinale, International Film Festival in Berlin, Thursday Feb. 7, 2013. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/ AP)
Actor Tony Leung, Director Wong Kar Wai and actress Zhang Ziyi pose for photographers at the photo call for the film The Grandmaster at the 63rd edition of the Berlinale, International Film Festival in Berlin, Thursday, Feb.7,2013. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)
Actress Zhang Ziyi poses for photographers at the photo call for the film The Grandmaster at the 63rd edition of the Berlinale, International Film Festival in Berlin, Thursday, Feb.7,2013. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)
Jury members from left Ellen Kuras, Tim Robbins, Shirin Neshat, jury president Wong Kar Wai, Susanne Bier, Athina Rachel Tsangari and Andreas Dresen pose together for photographers during the jury press conference at the 63rd edition of the Berlinale, International Film Festival in Berlin, Thursday Feb. 7, 2013. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/ AP)
BERLIN (AP) ? Martial arts epic "The Grandmaster" kicked off the Berlin Film Festival on Thursday, introducing an international audience to Yip Man, the man who mentored Bruce Lee and brought kung fu to the masses.
The movie by Wong Kar-wai is running out of competition because the director also heads this year's jury.
Shanghai-born Wong and his fellow jurors ? among them American actor-director Tim Robbins ? will have to choose from 19 movies competing for prizes at the 63rd Berlinale.
These include the Steven Soderbergh thriller "Side Effects" with Jude Law and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Gus Van Sant's film "Promised Land" about the shale gas industry starring Matt Damon.
Juliette Binoche portrays a troubled French sculptor in "Camille Claudel 1915," while "Gold" tells a tale of German immigrants seeking their luck in late 19th-century North America.
Competing also are romantic thriller "The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman" with Shia LaBeouf and Evan Rachel Wood, and "Closed Curtain" by Iranian film maker Jafar Panahi, who was barred from leaving Iran to attend the festival.
The winner of one award has already been announced. French filmmaker Claude Lanzmann will be honored for his life's work. Lanzmann's nine-and-a-half hour documentary "Shoah" about the horrors of the genocide of European Jews was screened at the festival in 1986.
In total more than 400 films will be shown at the Feb. 7-17 event known for its focus on social and political works.
Jury president Wong said ahead of the festival that Berlin was about the "experience of a true pleasure of sharing ideas" in the cinema.
Speaking Thursday about his own work, Wong told reporters that the biggest challenge while making "The Grandmaster" was the fact that he doesn't practice martial arts himself.
Wong said he was nevertheless drawn to the figure of Yip Man, Bruce Lee's mentor, because of his fortitude in the face of a lifetime of hardship, beginning with his childhood in Imperial China through the revolutionary years and ending in Hong Kong under British colonial rule.
"His life basically is like the modern history of the early days of our republic," said Wong. "During all these periods you can see how a martial artist stands up for his principles and his honor in front of all this hardship"
The international cut of "The Grandmaster" premiering in Berlin has been shortened from the version released in China last year. The film stars Tony Leung ("In the Mood for Love") and Zhang Ziyi, best known internationally for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
Investing in commercial real estate has the potential to earn you some big money. This kind of investment requires an access to financing and some solid skills.
TIP! Whether you want to rent or lease, you will have to deal with pest control. Talk about pest control with your agent if the area is known for rodents and bugs.
When obtaining financial for commercial real estate ventures, you need to have your personal and business financial statements available. If you don?t have these, financial institutions are unable to determine your fiscal responsibility, meaning they?re within reason to pass you over.
TIP! Before choosing a real estate broker, you need to know how they negotiate. Ask about their training and experience.
Before you consider leasing or renting, look into whether or not pest control is covered in the lease. This is especially important when an area is known to have pest and rodent problems. Prior to signing a lease, ask your agent what the current pest control policies are.
TIP! Establish an online presence before jumping into the market. Create a website or a LinkedIn profile for yourself.
When you buy a commercial property, have a specific use for the property in mind. Decide if you are going to use the property for your business or lease it. Before you even start looking for a property, your goals should be clear and specific.
TIP! List your real estate at a realistic price. There are a variety of different factors that go into determining a property?s value.
There are several differences between commercial and residential loans. For example, commercial loans require a larger percentage in down payment. The ideal way in qualifying for this type of loan is by finding the best lenders in addition to asking around for potential investment opportunities.
TIP! Commercial loans differ from the residential loans. For instance, they have a higher percentage down payment.
Research and learn more about the Net Operating Income, a commonly used metric for commercial real estate. For the investment to be profitable, it has to produce more income than operating expenses.
TIP! Locate a financing source prior to making any offers on pieces of commercial real estate. Discover your area?s best lenders by talking to friends and investors that you know.
At any given time, you should place your focus on only one investment. Whether you?d like to get involved in investing in commercial property, renting apartments or some other type of commercial investment, do yourself a favor, and choose just one investment to focus on. Your undivided attention will be need to maintain each of these types of property. You are better served by mastering one investment than floundering with many.
TIP! If you are writing a letter of intent, take it easy. Go for agreements on the bigger problems at first, then get to the smaller issues later in the negotiations.
You can definitely gain a lot of money from commercial real estate, money that can keep you and your loved ones happy for years to come. Remember that big down payments are part of your investment, not just your time to make these grand investments. To achieve this, heed this advice.
The Harbaugh family, Justin Timberlake, and the lies of a Falcons fan deep in NOLA
By Rembert Browne on
For two hours yesterday evening I tried to write with the voice of someone who had his life together. You know, someone who was in a good place, mentally and emotionally. Not someone who took three walks of shame to the ATM in Harrah's Casino a day earlier; not someone who was on day eight of the Emergen-C, Mucinex, and Tums diet; not someone who'd gained a laughable amount of weight thanks to New Orleans's refusal to grill its cuisine; and not someone capable of living in a world where b-list celebrities and rich people are happiest mingling at a Pitbull concert.
I tried and I failed. End result: ten snapshots from Super Bowl weekend, through the lens of a sick, exhausted, jaded, rapidly unraveling man who would rather cut off his right arm than put on another event wristband.
Harbaughs and Satin
By the end of an incredible 20-minute sequence of events on Saturday afternoon, I was sure anything was possible.
It began with discovering a pop-up shop in the French Quarter operated by Starter apparel, which in itself could have been the non-Beyonc? news of the weekend. Then, upon entering, I learned that Starter was relaunching their satin jacket line.
Faint-worthy news.
Following that, and looking around, the collection of people in the room didn't make much sense. You'd expect stupid tweens like myself to be crawling, drooling over the opportunity to get a hand on these. Instead, the scene was a bunch of really old white people, some slightly younger white people, and really little white kids running around. What had we stumbled upon?
HARBAUGHS.
Vivien Killilea/Getty Images
Grantland publisher and fellow tween-at-heart David Cho and I had stumbled upon the Harbaugh family. At the Starter pop-up. Nothing made sense.
And then Jack and Jackie Harbaugh, Jim and John's parents, walked into the room. I still can't explain why, but this felt like watching royalty make an entrance. I was already standing up, so I couldn't honor them in that way, but I felt the need to show my respect somehow. So I took off my hat.
And then we talked to the Harbaugh parents for 10 minutes. We were talking to the parents of the Super Bowl, among the family of the Super Bowl, in the shadow of satin jackets.
This was Narnia.
Something everyone should know about Jack and Jackie Harbaugh: These are the nicest people ever created. While I'm sure your parents are fine people, the Harbaughs make your mom and dad look like Joe Jackson and Joe Jackson. They have this innocent "Grandparents on Vacation" vibe to them that lures you in, but there's also this quiet confidence that screams, "WE ARE REALLY GOOD AT PARENTING, AREN'T WE?"
I love them, even more than that middle Starter Jacket that I warned management I would have stolen were it not behind glass.
Long live Starter. Long live the Harbaughs.
Pitbull and Flo Rida
There are few things quite like the moment when you find yourself singing along with an artist you hate. Whether in a car, or a store, or as a commercial is playing in the privacy of your own home, it's traumatic. Chris Brown is a great example, for he is our worst human but still makes catchy music that, at times of extreme weakness, can cause even the most staunch #TeamBreezy enemy to throw up the deuces.
This was the scene as Pitbull began his long set at the Rolling Stone party on Friday night, one that followed another long set by Flo Rida. Yes, Pitbull and Flo Rida shared a bill. And yes, it was as terrible as you'd expect. And yes, after three hours, I was hooked.
Pop music, man. Nothing chips away at your soul like it, until all that's left is you, cold and shamed, lying naked on the floor at the Pitbull and Flo Rida concert.
I don't know what songs they did, but they did all of them. Flo Rida ended up shirtless, sweating on everyone he could. Pitbull wore a black suit and rapped in Spanglish. Everyone loved it.
I think this is the best way to sum up the evening:
That's Guy Fieri's head.
Because of course Guy Fieri was there.
Celebrities "R" Us
There was Mark Cuban dancing, and Tom Arnold taking pictures with people who wanted to take pictures with Tom Arnold ? all in the same VIP area. Elsewhere, at a different party a day later, Lil Jon sat at the same long dinner table as Gayle King, and then four hours later that same Lil Jon, in that same venue, could be seen DJing with Diplo. Where was Aaron Rodgers? In the VIP area, doing that thing where you tap someone on the shoulder and turn around, confusing the person tapped because they're all, "Who just tapped me on the shoulder?" Aaron Rodgers did that. Former Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers did that. Not far from this action: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters's Jeremy Renner. And then, one day later, en route to the Super Bowl, Busta Rhymes (with Spliff Star, natch) and Jamie Foxx were spotted walking with security. Oh, and Guy Fieri.
It's a lot to take in. Just give it some time.
Justin Timberlake Performed One INXS Song; He Should Consider All of Them
Justin Timberlake, for four minutes, made Jay-Z seem like a mere mortal. That's how on fire he was on Super Bowl eve, performing a solid percentage of his catalogue as well as three new songs from his upcoming album, in a giant tent located in a giant field, all in the name of DirecTV.
The band was great, his backup singers were lively and entertaining (at one point doing The Jackson 5's "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)," classic dance move included ? go to 1:56 right now), the lighting was semi-ravey (a huge plus), and, as we sometimes forget, since he likes to not make albums, Justin Timberlake can sing his face off.
The highlight of this show was meant to be a "surprise" Jay-Z appearance, for their collaboration "Suit and Tie." While this was great, it was not the moment. That belonged to JT's cover of INXS's "Need You Tonight." The song is so iconic, sensual, and perfect, it's basically uncoverable. But not for JT. He did the song over-justice.
Beyond vocal talent, there's a level of confidence required to make it believable for the listener. Ne-Yo can't make that cover work. On the scale of cool, Ne-Yo is closer to me than Michael Hutchence. Old D'Angelo? Probably. Justin Timberlake? 100 percent. I hope this becomes a mainstay in his live sets, because I've never been so impressed with him as a performer. And that's saying something, seeing as that "Bye Bye Bye" at the 2000 VMAs was a revelation.
The Super Bowl Tickets Are Real. God Bless America
Free idea for the next Super Bowl: Someone should set up a camera at the entrance to the stadium and record the pure elation on the faces of people whose tickets are successfully scanned, proving that their tickets are, in fact, real. I couldn't stop watching people's faces. It was the best type of joy. It makes sense, though, considering the hoops jumped through to score tickets, the traveling to New Orleans, and the staying alive until Sunday necessary. Then to push through the long line at the Superdome and have it all come down to that one scan.
It's sad knowing that there were most certainly rejected fake tickets. But that's part of the game. And it makes the sight of watching person after person push through that final barrier all the more enjoyable.
Performances Bad ? Beyonc? Great
Perhaps the shocker of the Super Bowl was how underwhelming it was to watch and listen in the arena. I guess I expected it to be thunderously loud, but Alicia Keys's national anthem was so quiet, when the camera cut to Ray Lewis, who was sing-preaching along in the way only he could, the stadium got loud enough to make Alicia inaudible for six seconds. Jennifer Hudson and the Sandy Hook Elementary School choir had better luck, but it still wasn't the fill-up-the-stadium-with-sound event that I'd expected.
And then there was Beyonc?.
While she dealt with the same sound issues, watching her diva out in real life was just fantastic. When she moves, it's like she's saving the rainforest, the whales, and the music all at once. Visually, she's a commanding solo artist. And she's a powerhouse of a front woman with Destiny's Child. But there's no greater Beyonc? than when she's got the Beyonc? Army with her.
You know, the 100-woman, similarly dressed, similarly weaved, none-quite-as-talented-or-pretty crew that's ready to dance "Single Ladies" like it's the last time they'll ever piston their thighs. This crew is the greatest gift Beyonc? has given to us. The Army. Seeing it on TV on awards show has been beautiful. But in person I felt as if our nation, and subsequently our allies, were strengthened. Thank you, Mrs. Carter.
Blackout
When it's not your fault, there's something amazing about things going horribly wrong. Like, nothing is better. That's what this blackout was: a giant screw-up that resulted in an entire stadium of people unsure what to do with themselves other than drink and boo and yell "I GUESS NEW ORLEANS WASN'T READY FOR THAT JELLY" and throw out electricity-bill payment conspiracy theories. It lasted about 30 minutes, but it felt like four hours and I wanted it to go on for three days.
Perhaps the oddest inconvenience of the blackout, beyond the football stoppage, was the ceiling power outage knocking out a considerable amount of the Superdome's power outlets. There was no rhyme or reason nor algorithm to figuring out which ones worked, so for the remainder of the game, there was a steady stream of people with phone chargers and dying phones hoping to luck out and find a power source. Being the first to plant one's flag and colonize new phone-charging land was a rare feat, though, because if a place had power, a community of cell phone users had already settled, waiting for their turn.
Complete chaos, on and off the field. I'm still mad I'm not in the Superdome right now.
Neutrally Biased
Over the course of the week, I'd made the conscious decision to not be such a jerk while I was in New Orleans, with regard to my Falcons fandom. I brought a jersey and had the most serious of intentions to wear it every day. But I only wore it once, for a few hours, because no one likes a party pooper. It was weird being in a city plastered with the insignia of two teams you don't care about, especially when one of those teams could have been yours.
Somehow, I got over it.
And then the actual game took place, and those weird, rude feelings of neutral unhappiness returned, only this time much stronger. Even before either team scored, it became clear that in order to have an enjoyable time I'd almost have to become an imposter. Between my dark-pink shirt and the fact that I was placed in Ravens territory, I had no choice in the matter. I was now a Ravens fan. It felt icky, but it was right.
As the game trucked along, the high-fives and embraces in my section grew more intense. I didn't have a jersey, and clearly wasn't as emotional as everyone else, but I wasn't cheering for the 49ers, so I was welcome. And by the time the Ravens were convincingly ahead at the half, I was joining in with their cheers, and all-in with what looked to be a Ravens Super Bowl win.
And then it started happening, the Niners comeback, and the weird, unsure, jerklike feelings returned. Were the 49ers going to do to the Ravens what they did to the Falcons? And if they did, which result would make me feel better: Baltimore feeling my pain or the Niners having their soul-crushing ways stopped once and for all?
Neither was ideal, because now all I could think about was the Falcons game, a scenario I had worked so hard to forget all week. But it was back. To torture me.
When the Ravens held off a Niners drive that, with a touchdown, would have given them the lead with less than two minutes left, my section became ecstatic, then quiet. Well, everyone was quiet except for one fabulously drunk girl who drove 18 hours to New Orleans from Canada. She was picking fights with anyone she could fall on, and was quite good at standing up, yelling, plopping back into her seat, taking a swig, and occasionally crying. When the Ravens got the ball back, with time still left in the game, she stood on her chair, turned to face the Ravens faithful, and yelled, "WE WON THE SUPER BOWL!"
Never in my life have I seen someone get universally Shhhhhed. Everyone was so angry at her, because she had surely just jinxed the Super Bowl. It was not a pretty sight.
For me, watching the nerves was incredible. I loved it. I loved watching the Ravens fans squirm and the Niners fans slump with depression. For those five seconds, I was the happiest person in the Superdome.
The jerk was back.
And then, a minute later, the Ravens won the Super Bowl. Not even I could find bitterness in their joy.
The Clothing MVP of Super Bowl XLVII
Why waste time on words:
Ravens purple, gray, and white camo pants won the streets of the Super Bowl. This landslide victory is twofold, for being the coolest, most practical piece of battlewear seen exiting the game and for the sheer number of people seen wearing the trousers. In a 10-minute span, I counted 32 Ravens camo pants-wearers. And I was surely missing some, because I kept distracting myself by approaching these fashionistas just to say, "Congrats, I like your pants."
As the shirt of the young man in front of Ray Lewis Camo Guy casually says, "Rule #1 Don't Fuck with Baltimore." One has to assume this is as much about fashion as it is about football.
The Monday Aftermath
After a spectacle like the Super Bowl, the instinct is to blow town as fast as possible. While smart, travel-wise, the trade-off for getting out of Dodge too quickly is missing the glory that is the morning after.
I spent the majority of the week in a Wyndham Hotel stripped of all its Wyndham-ness and temporarily renamed The Bud Light Hotel. For the previous 100 hours, from sunup to sundown, the lobby and patio area operated more like a club than a place of residence, with Bud Light and all of its cousins available for consumption, at all times, all under a haze of dubstep.
Entering the area Monday morning, post?Super Bowl, it was like that moment when the bar turns the lights on after last call and everyone finally gets an in-focus look at the people they've been bumping into, followed by a wave of shame.
Seeing the area ? once filled to the brim with beer and loud music and loud people ? replaced by a coffee station and soft jazz and lost souls was my sign that it was time to go home. New Orleans and the Super Bowl had defeated me. The fun was over. Back to reality.
I exited the hotel and walked to a major street with hopes of flagging down a cab. A charter bus pulled up in front of me. The passengers: 40 new arrivals, with suitcases and beads, headed to a hotel.
The Super Bowl was over, which meant it was back to the main event: Mardi Gras.
For 10 seconds, I considered turning around and asking the staff of the Wyndham formerly known as the Bud Light Hotel formerly known as the Wyndham what their rates were like during Mardi Gras. While my body begged me to just go home, New Orleans had stolen a part of my soul and made it its own. I love this lawless, delicious place.
I recently read and curated a Forbes article that suggested a successful product launch is a rolling launch. It inspired me to write this countdown to a successful rolling product launch.
The Forbes article, 10 Steps For Successfully Launching A New Product Or Service, has ten great suggestions for what to do. I?ve included some of them in my countdown.
Read my related previous post on product launches, Why Product Launches Need To Include Social Media?.
Month 10 ? Identify product launch stakeholders
Identify key players required for a successful launch: industry analysts, marketing and PR service providers, channel partners (existing and new), etc.
Month 9 ? Contact and connect with launch stakeholders
Contact those on your launch stakeholder list and connect with them on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. Create formal relationships where warranted.
Month 8 ? Create some initial messaging in your new product space
Establish credibility with your stakeholders by sharing information and asking questions. Use LinkedIn to start discussions or start your own group, if no discussions exist in your new product space!
Month 7 ? Write a product launch plan
Write down all the tasks and details of how you will do your product launch. Will you get articles published? Do email or direct mail? Get followers and do mini-launches on social media platforms?
Month 6 ? Create positioning content in your new space
Depending on the nature of your product, create whitepapers, eBooks, infographics, videos about the need your product solves. Use this to educate potential buyers and build demand.
Month 5 ? Continue to educate and create demand
Get articles published, continue to develop content and share in your growing social networks.
Month 4 ? Get channel partners involved to spread the word
Share your plans for the product launch with your channel partners. Make sure they understand your expectations for how they should share in the launch.
Month 3 ? Leak some teaser messages into social platforms
Now that you have a following due to your previous sharing of valuable and educational content, begin to hint that you have a solution. ?Coming soon,? ?save the date,? and other teasers start to build anticipation.
Month 2 ? Get the details to trusted analysts in the space
Now you can go to analysts, writers and editors in the space with some well-positioned details and press releases to ensure that the right people announce and review your new product upon launch.
Month 1 ? Do something unusual in your space
This is another suggestion from the Forbes article ? create something like an infographic, a stunt at an event, an interview with a key industry person that will really get everyone?s attention.
The point of this blog post is to get ready to launch your product way before it?s ready. Too many product inventors have their heads down in R&D, only to lift them up just weeks before launch and feebly try to make an impact.
If you have a product or service you need to launch, contact New Incite today. We provide online marketing, social media and traditional marketing support for new product launches.
I recently read and curated a Forbes article that suggested a successful product launch is a rolling launch. It inspired me to write this countdown to a successful rolling product launch.