jomygoodness

Jomygoodness: Loving Constant Contact's New Event Marketing Platform

Who uses Constant Contact?  It is a very powerful platform for email marketing and online surveys.  And, to all my event planning friends, they have introduced a brand new platform, which will take Constant Contact over the top and seriously make it the most powerful platform for event managers.  This one-stop shop can & will handle your email marketing, online surveys, and now event marketing.

Once you log in, you're able to access a dashboard where you are able to create a brand new email, survey, or event. Adding contacts is so easy.  You're able to import your information, and I kid you not, it took me less than 2 minutes to load 147 sample contacts.  If you decide to import your contacts from an excel or .csv document, there's an automatic pop-up window that asks you to verify that the information you're adding is not from a list-selling vendor, or that you are certain you are allowed to contact them.  I love seeing companies being compliant with Federal regulations, and reminding us of them.  It's a helpful reminder to any newbies who are unfamiliar with these laws.  

You can easily get your word out with the email marketing platform.  It beats having to send everything from you email account, seriously.  Plus, it is able to track your information with useful metrics on who has actually opened your emails, the bounce rate, click rates, and forwards.  Amazing!  

The survey platform is just as easy.  There is a setup wizard that gives you an option to create a survey from scratch, or based off a template.  The mind-blowing part is that the setup wizard asks you what kind of industry you're in, so it can pull an appropriate template for your needs.  Editing the questions are simple too!  Your results are tracked as well.

I promise that even if you consider yourself not as technically savvy as you would hope, you will still be able to do this.  The Event Marketing Platform is as easy to use as the email marketing form & the survey  form.  

 

Like the email & survey platforms, there are easy steps you take to get it done.  It's truly a 1-2-3 process that allows you to promote your event, capture information and MONEY, and track the response.  How convenient is that?  So it will save you ample time since you won't have to worry about collecting, counting & depositing checks, and your attendees will love you for having the convenience of an online payment option.  Not to mention, it is good for the environment!  

I would absolutely, positively, hands-down recommend the use of Constant Contact for your next event.  I personally have volunteered to head my high school's 10-year-reunion committee, and I couldn't think of any other program or platform I would use to help me keep things organized, and I consider myself very organized.  With time being my most valuable commodity, Constant Contact is perfect for  allowing me to manage this event with so much ease - - from the survey, to the email updates, and now the event details.

You cannot & will not go wrong with Constant Contact! Try it out for 60 days, and see if it works for you.  It seriously is working for me!

Favorite Martha Stewart Halloween decor

These are my favorite Halloween decor photos from Martha Stewart's Halloween Central.  I seriously want to attempt one of these projects one of these days... and maybe not just for Halloween!  You can try them too, since the links below go directly to the project instructions.  Let me know if you decide to try any of them.  Halloween is less than 2 weeks away, my friends!  If you have a Halloween wedding, what decor are you using?

{clockwise from upper left corner: Make a Spooky Halloween Bouquet, Make Halloween Ornaments, Get the Instructions and Templates for Candy Jar Treats, Pumpkin Basket How-To}

Plus, find out how you can make your own mini pumpkin votive candle holders.  They're awesome for both Halloween & Thanksgiving! What?

{How to Make Pumpkin Votives}

And these candy-filled headstones look so cute...

Get the How-To on these Candy-Filled Headstones

so much going on...

Hello... I apologize for neglecting to post something on Monday.  I've been busy putting some "things" together, but wanted to let you know that amid all the business, I was able to post a few new recipes from Real Simple's January 2009 issue.  woohoo!  They are "SUPER EASY," and honestly, a working mother's dream!

I'm afraid this post isn't going to be that wordy either, but it will have a lot of inspiration that I found on Martha Stewart's website.  It all began with today's Craft of the Day.

Doesn't it look fun?  {screenshot via this link}  It's an addiction, I tell you, because I end up on her site for an hour, finding new inspiration to try this & try that!

I love this idea of having the empty paint cans as cubbies!  Ingenious... reduce, reuse, recycle!  Plus, who needs to spend extra money on cubbies.  L-O-V-E it! 

I think I spoke too soon when I said ingenious for the paint cans... check out these magazine/paper holders made out of cereal boxes! 

I'm needing one of these ribbon organizers!  Do you know how much ribbon I have stuffed in a big plastic box? 

Tell me you wouldn't be inspired to clean if your cleaning supplies were stored away looking like this! 

 

This craft definitely gives your bookcase some umph... or a little something-something! Check out how you can add handles to your magazine holders!  Are you inspired to get organized + craft yet?  I love Martha!  You can check out these crafts + see a bunch of others by visiting this link. 

Love is in the air... already!

I just about freaked out two weeks ago, when I went to Target one Friday night {I swear I don't go every Friday night... it's the same Friday night I referred to in my Week In Review}, and they had bathing suits + bikinis on display already!  What the ----?  We're in January, people!  I know soCal weather is awesome, but it's ridiculous that they have an entire section on bikins already.  It was a bit shocking, but I suppose it's okay, considering it got me thinking about keeping up with my "New Year's Resolution" - which I haven't even started.  I'm pathetic.

Anyhow, although we're still in January, it's not too soon to start thinking about the big V-Day!  I love Valentine's Day... Not because of all the goodies you can get, or because of the love... It's more because of the different shades of red + pink that all of a sudden fill every store!  Everyone who knows me KNOWS that I love the color pink!

So check this out... One of my favorite people, Martha Stewart, is having a Valentine's crafting workshop.  I think it's an excellent idea.  I'm already signed up.  You can sign up too!

Don't tell me you're not interested!  I think it's going to be so much fun!  Plus, with the economy the way it is... it's so much more chic to MAKE your presents this year, versus BUY them!  It's a 2-week online course!  Love it!  Week 1 will go over paper goodies + Week 2 will go over tasty goodies!

Here are some pictures I snagged from Martha Stewart.com.  I'm not sure if these crafts will be gone over, but I thought I'd inspire you with the possibilities!  {Heart Shaped Soap, Heart Shaped Marshmallows for your hot cocoa, + Antique Styled Valentine's cards}

LOVIN it!

Try This: Cookie Swap!

Because I failed to post yesterday, I thought it'd be a good idea to make up for it with this super tasty entertaining idea that I snagged from none other than Martha.

This is probably the busiest time of year for everyone... from working, shopping, & cooking/baking... to gathering with loved ones & eating.  Martha's solution?  A COOKIE SWAP PARTY!  Here are the details:

Step 1:  Invite.  Find around 7-8 friends (ideally) to invite, which will be great in providing your party with variety of cookies.  Ask your invited guests to bring along the recipe, as well as their packaging ideas.

Step 2: Choose your cookie.  Have all your rsvp'd guest select the cookie they will be baking.  Have them make a dozen for each guest, as well as another dozen for sampling.  If that's too much, decide on the quantity you would like each to bring... make it fair.

Step 3: Prepare for the Swap.  Prepare coffee, tea, and other drinks that will go well with the variety of cookies.  Clear a few tables so everyone can put their cookies on display.  Arrange the recipes for everyone to grab.  Allow everyone to get a good sampling of all the goodies.  You may want to have boxes, tupperware, and/or platters available for each guest to get her issue.

Step 4: Put them on display....(I love this part!)  Create decorative labels with the name of the treat & who was gracious enough to provide it.

Step 5: Set up the packaging station!  I think I spoke too soon, because I love this part the best!  Set up boxes, ribbons, tags, tissue paper... everything that will help in packaging the cookies beautifully.  Try colorful ribbons, and "out-of-the-cookie-box" ideas to package them uniquely. Add the trimmings, bows, & tags to make the boxes as enticing as the cookies. 

    

Step 6: Enjoy what you've made & shared with your friends.

{Photos & abridged instructions from MarthaStewart.com}