Pinterest ADDICTION

When I first heard of this thing called “Pinterest”, I was not even remotely interested in “pinning” “stuff” on a “board”. Pinterest was like a whole new language. At first I just didn’t understand it, or why someone would want to sit there for hours to look at random STUFF!

And then it happened, I made an account to check out this new craze, and got immediately hooked! It’s rather ridiculous to think about how much time us ladies spend on Pinterest, pinning away on boards that we wished were real. Key word there, “wished”. Pinterest is almost a way for us to live vicariously, or to live a fake life. Half of the “stuff” we pin on there we will never buy, can’t afford, or will never make. One of my boards is called “homes,” where I’ve pinned all these extravagant pictures of rooms and features I would love to have in a home someday, knowing well enough that these homes are far out of my reach. It’s just too satisfying to wish and that’s what got us hooked!

Since today is Cyber Monday and all, we want to offer some suggestions on how you can use Pinterest to your holiday shopping advantage. Pinterest just allowed users to create private boards. Therefore, if you are browsing for the perfect gift for your sister and don’t want her to see it, you can pin it to your private board. You can create up to three private boards. Also, you may want to check out “30 Days of Pinspiration.” Every day, for thirty days, there is a featured “pinner” that shares what inspiration means to them and you get a look at one of their boards, where they share holiday tips, recipes and gifts. Lastly, who doesn’t like to snoop? Sneak a peek at your family and friends’ boards and see what they are wishing for this Christmas season!

• Were you skeptical of Pinterest at first like me or did you hop right on board?
• What is your take on why Pinterest is so addicting?
• How are you using Pinterest this holiday season?
• Is Pinterest mainly for women? 

I look forward to reading what has you pinning or not!

Alexandra Johnson

Project Coordinator

Re-thinking Our Industry

Hands down, the best thing about my job is learning what the customer has been able to do with our results.  Quite often, our projects are engineered for advertising/claim support.  While I genuinely enjoy delivering good news to these clients, the liberal in me has difficulty linking the success of marketing and legal departments to the success of an entrepreneur or small business owner.  

Small business owners are a breed of their own.  These gutsy men and women offer up their entire business model so that unforgiving respondents can pick apart their brainchild.  Personally, I’d rather sandpaper the inside of my eyelids than take that big of a gamble.  But that’s why I’m an analyst and not an owner.

These are the studies that I can really get excited about: when you speed-dial the client as soon as you see the results.  A few months ago I had the privilege of delivering results to a local business owner.  The company had spent a small fortune developing their advertising, hours debating the most effective mediums, and all of it hung on the thoughts of 300 telephone respondents.  The verdict was in: his advertising was working!  The percentage of respondents that were aware of his business had more than doubled from his pre-wave results, a highly significant increase! 

These fearless clients are not very common.  And unfortunately, such reassuring results are even less so.  I might not be the one willing to go all-in on such a risky bet, but I will be always be the obnoxious face-painted fanatic rooting for the underdog.   So next weekend, let’s all give proper kudos to these clients by supporting Small Business Saturday.  These entrepreneurs might not be the meat of our industry, but they most certainly are the heart of it.    

Lisa Rodgers
Research Analyst 

Giving back…

With the holidays quickly approaching, I have been reflecting on how and why people “pay it forward" and give back.  We had a staff meeting recently and included in our regular agenda was a discussion about our new website.  I mentioned that one of the pages would be a philanthropy page.  My staff loved the idea and quickly mentioned several ideas they were interested in. I was really excited by their enthusiasm and energy and look forward to creating our plan for 2013.

I have always loved the quote by John F. Kennedy,

“To those whom much is given, much is expected.” 

There is also a passage in the bible that makes the same reference,

"For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48

There are many worthy causes that need help; families that are in need, charities, schools, religious affiliations, and industry associations just to name a few.  Now more than ever, it is important to give to charities.

•  How do you decide which to donate your time, talent or treasure?
•  What are you doing to "pay it forward"?  
•  How do you or your company decide which ones to contribute to?
•  Does your company have a program to "pay it forward"?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Colleen Moore Mezler

President & CEO