Vantage Point

Strategic marketing concepts and business observations. Small business start-up experiences.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Technorati Profile

Here I go again trying to figure out Technorati and learn about internet traffic and linking. You'd think I was dumb, or slow, but I'd call it 'distracted'. It's tough talking to myself. Is anyone out there?

Carol

.: posted by Carol Gamel - Carol@GoldenStarFruit.com 11:32 AM

Friday, May 02, 2008

I've signed up for Yahoo's Product Search Marketing and have gotten a bit confused and frustrated. First of all they have a $50 minimum to open the account. And you have to commit to the $50 before you even know how it works! Hey, Yahoo, what about being more customer friendly? I know I'd like to test your services out before I fork out my hard-earned bucks.

It took 2 days and one error to get my test product uploaded to Yahoo but it looks very good. But then I started wondering how the mechanics of the listing function since, right now, most of my products are one-of-a-kind and once I get a sale, that's it, nada mas. Since I couldn't find anyway to remove my product I sent Yahoo an email from their help url. Two days later I got an answer - "the listing would remain online until you either turn the account off, or upload a new product feed replacing the previous one." Great. In a real world, not a test world, I wouldn't want to turn off my account since I may have other products listed. So off I go to see if I can upload a second product to replace the first.

Oh, by the way, since I tested the ad and clicked through to my website, I used 30 cents of my $50 deposit. Their computer immediately notified me to add more funds "to keep your account active and maintain your listings live on Yahoo".

Labels: product, SEO, Yahoo

.: posted by Carol Gamel - Carol@GoldenStarFruit.com 9:45 AM

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

It's official - I'm a merchant now. I've started a new business and opened a new shopping website -http://www.GoldenStarFruit.com. I've just finished getting my merchant accounts so I'm into a soft launch and working on search engines and generating traffic.

It's been an interesting process getting started. I tried very hard not to get the cart before the horse and that kept causing delays. I think the most challenging aspect was coming up with a website name. Everything I tried was taken and I didn't want to go out and buy anything. I had decided to launch this business in phases and Phase I calls for everything to be done 'on the cheap'. Once I reach predetermined benchmarks, then I move to Phase II followed by, guess what! Phase III.

Labels: GoldenStarFruit

.: posted by Carol Gamel - Carol@GoldenStarFruit.com 2:16 PM

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

I've been counseling small business owners and start-ups for SCORE for a year now and it has been amazing. I wish I could say it has been the best step I've ever taken but it's not. Here are some observations from my experience.

1. Some people should not start a business.
2. Some people don't want to listen to your counseling because it isn't saying what they want to hear!
3. Older counselors have a difficult time understanding the power of the internet.
4. Older businesses, now struggling, haven't realized their environment has changed but their business has not adapted to these changes.
5. Older clients, women especially, would rather quit than manage change and revitalize their business.
6. Many people don't realize the SCORE services are FREE and are missing out on great mentoring and learning opportunities.

.: posted by Carol Gamel - Carol@GoldenStarFruit.com 9:33 AM

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Comfort and quality - two characteristics I like in shoes. Well, I found some at the mall in Colorado; a pair of hemp-sewn suede flip flops. Couldn't find them on the website but did see that the company has a lot of choice. Go to: ACORNEARTH.COM

.: posted by Carol Gamel - Carol@GoldenStarFruit.com 2:26 PM

Sunday, July 16, 2006

This is a good website with interesting stepping stone molds. They also sell pigments for the concrete the stepping stones are made from, or they sell concrete paint.

View All Molds: Concrete Stepping Stone Molds By GardenMolds

.: posted by Carol Gamel - Carol@GoldenStarFruit.com 11:13 AM

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Someone sent me the following email a few weeks ago. I was skeptical at first so I verified Citgo's ownership on their website and in SEC filings. I never knew it was owned by the Venezuelan government. The email has stayed in my mind, so much so that I've thought about picketing the gas stations around town to bring awareness to the public. Then today I read an article in the St. Petersburg Times that quoted other South American leaders as being annoyed by Chavez's meddling in their politics as he expands his reach across borders.

#####

PLEASE forward this to as many people as possible.
s>

Cindy & Chavez
Venezuela Dictator Vows To Bring Down U.S. Government

Venezuela government is sole owner of Citgo gasoline company

Venezuela Dictator Hugo Chavez has vowed to bring down the U.S. government. Chavez, president of Venezuela, told a TV audience: "Enough of imperialist aggression; we must tell the world: down with the U.S. empire. We have to bury imperialism this century."

The guest on his television program, beamed across Venezuela, was Cindy Sheehan, the antiwar activist. Chavez recently had as his guest Harry Belafonte, who called President Bush "the greatest terrorist in the world."

Chavez is pushing a socialist revolution and has a close alliance with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Regardless of your feelings about the war in Iraq, the issue here is that we have a socialist dictator vowing to bring down the government of the U.S. And he is using our money to achieve his goal!

The Venezuela government, run by dictator Chavez, is the sole owner of Citgo gas company. Sales of products at Citgo stations send money back to Chavez to help him in his vow to bring down our government.

Take Action

Please decide that you will not be shopping at a Citgo station. Why should U.S. citizens who love freedom be financing a dictator who has vowed to take down our government?

Very important. Please forward this to your friends and family. Most of them don't know that Citgo is owned by the Venezuela government.

YOU CAN VERIFY THIS ON THE CITGO WEB PAGE.
http://www.citgo.com/AboutCITGO.jsp