I love, love, love going to Conferences focused on Women in Business and Helping Women in Business!

The ENERGY!

The FRIENDSHIP!

The PASSION!

Such was the case last week when I had the fantastic fortune of attending Women in Charge?- an event in Miami Beach (the location didn’t stink!!!) sponsored by Entrepreneur Magazine and American Express OPEN (you know, the new plum card and Make Mine A Million…….and if those two things don’t ring a bell,? you should check them out ASAP!!!!).

I had signed up for the FREE (Yes!? I typed FREE!) event months ago, and then as the costs of the company were analyzed at the end of 2007, and our P&L started shaping up (or is it down!?!?!) I had resigned myself to the fact that I could not and therefore should not spend money on airfare, car rental and hotel (thinking maybe I would skip meals until I got to the event!!!!).

Then hubby came through with a work related item in South Florida, I fly free on Southwest with him at any time because he is one of their preferred travelers, and of course the cool South Florida hotel was now on him!? (I even got to eat out in Miami Beach when we arrived too!)

So – thanks for listening to lesson #1!? Don’t ever give up!? If there is a will with us ladies, there is a way!? I somehow started feeling a sense of urgency to attend this event at the last minute and really pleaded with my husband to make it work for us to get there.? So keep focused on your passion, write down what you want, and it will manifest itself into happening!

I took some great notes during the keynote and the breakout sessions (Rieva Lesonsky, the Editorial Director of?Entrepreneur, was there along with Catherine Seda who is one of their contributing writers, and both ladies delivered kickin’ workshops!!!!! on trends, PayPerClick Campaigns, Search Engine Optimization and other business related tips and techniques).? I want to share what I learned in bullet fashion.? Then if you have questions, e-mail me personally at bocabeth@msn.com

First For Fashion Related Businesses and Trend Watching Business Women:

• Belong to Trade Associations that are related to your industry – they will keep you?in the loop of trends
• Watch TV about lifestyle issues, Read Magazines, Check out Newspapers all to keep up on trends – with the newspapers make certain to read online LosAngeles, New York and even Paris or Milan for fashion people because the trends start in those major markets and work their way around – read the Lifestyle sections or Trend Section when time allows.
• Go to www.trendcentral.com www.trendwatching.com? www.springwise.com? www.iconoculture.com and these sites will also keep you up to date on trends in your industry
• Those of you?in fashion sign up to get newsletters from online spots of Neimann Marcus and Nordstroms for more trendsetting ideas and go to www.ebags.com to find up and coming designers in handbags
• Also be aware of the hottest colors for packaging, for design and for fashion manufacturing – go to www.pantone.com and www.fashiontrendsetter.com to see what is HOT in colors for the next year+
• If you are still trying to THINK of a business to start – two of THE HOTTEST things are cupcake shops and pinkberry stores – want more info – e-mail me, okay?
• During recession times consumers like bright colors and comfort items/food

Now for Search Engine Help and Pay Per Click Campaigns:

• The BEST thing I learned last week – turn off Content Search in your Google Ad Words Campaign – I can’t tell you how much money this already saved me in one week.? ONE WEEK!!!? I have used Google AdWords for more than 4 years, and when Content Network Search came around Google pushed it, and I bought into it.? Never did I read or have anyone tell me to take myself off of it – that it wastes your daily budget FAST with little ROI.? So learn from my mistakes – go to edit campaign settings and uncheck the Google Content circle TODAY!!!
• Lower your cost per click by being more specific with your keywords and keep all ads you write relevant by making your keywords part of each ad
• Make sure the landing page is congruent with your ad copy – if you mention your specific belt – take them to that page of your site.? The home page is NOT the best landing page since most visitors leave sites after 2-3 clicks if they can’t get to what the ad told them they would see
• Put brackets around your keywords in the Keyword editing tool [ spanish ] – Like that!

Happy Educating!? ?Sea feliz educando!? and Happy Business Ladies… Next year we must make a trip out of this one day FREE conference, don’t you think?!?!?!

Boca Beth