Many large companies have Twitter feeds, Facebook accounts, Linkedin profiles and Flickr photostreams. Case in point: Chevron, American Red Cross, and BP. A quick check at BP’s twitter shows that it’s very active. Sara Lee answers their customers often in their Facebook posts.

Keep in mind though, many business have ventured into the Social Media Scene because it’s a buzz trend – Twitter, Facebook, etc.-. These websites have become hobbies and informational streams that everyday people interact with and it’s interaction businesses want to be part of –whether it really works for them or not.

SocialMediaToday.com seems to be one of the places to go to look up theories on social media and business. It’s all theory – just like the theory of business and marketing. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The biggest thing – and probably the best- is to work the theory that fits best with your brand.

There’s that buzz word again: Brand. Yup, even social media ventures should fit into your brand.

Last month was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Halloween. We juggled wearing pink and orange and deciding between Panera Bread’s pumpkin muffins and Pink Ribbon bagels. (Tip: Pumpkin spice latte and pumpkin muffin at the same time is way too much pumpkin.) We have another fun double month – November is No-Shave November and Novel Writing Month. So while I decide to choose to battle my boyfriend over shaving or engagement plans, I have no problem connecting this month’s other theme to my position at Gold Bond Inc: Pens. Why pens? Before computers and before typewriters authors were using pen and paper to write their stories.

Even with all the iPhones, iPads, Siris, note taking devices, and recorders, we are still using pens. Personally, I love the way the ink flows out of the pen and sinks into the paper. The paper is white, then suddenly oozing in black or blue. Needless to say, my favorite pens are super glides and gel pens.

Okay, so that’s the function of a pen and my obsession but what does this all have to do with the promotional product industry? Really, I just want to take a look at the simple-ness of a pen and how it expands a brand. Everyone is using pens. Everyone. Not everyone needs a mug or a water bottle; men usually don’t respond to hand mirrors and women aren’t always fond of key chains.

Pens are a very large species of promotional items. Pens sit at low ends and high ends of the cost spectrum, come in a variety of colors with grips and no grips, and write in a range of colors as well. There is a pen out there that can be pad printed, screen printed, or laser printed with your logo in full color or one color. Such a simple device, pens are bought, given and shared because everyone needs a writing instrument at some point. Pens are an easy hand out and way to transcend barriers. A small simple item is great for any business on any budget.

Pens stick around for awhile and interact with many people and moments. Even when pens are lost, when they are found a new connection is made. Several weeks ago I read an article in an industry magazine from last year. In it, two agents from two different companies realized both had planned the same vacation in the same spots months apart. The first agent agreed to place their company’s pen in a secret location at one of the spots for the second agent to find. The second agent did not find the pen when he arrived. Instead, someone else came along and was exposed to the pen. Can you imagine the person who found the pen calling the agent?

Pens are pretty much the perfect promotional product. Don’t you think?

Photo (c) Tara Jacek

Hoping everyone is safe, happy and warm this holiday season!

I was very excited about being part of the event and the day of I was really nervous! I wanted to take good pictures that the pet owners would be happy with and feel good about buying – part of the cost went to the frame and the rest went to the rescue. The photos and experience of having he photos taken were very important to me. I was representing the rescue and Petsmart. I wanted people to want to come to the next photo event and feel great about their donation. I tried to make sure the pets were comfortable and their parents were happy with the pictures.

I look forward to the possibility of lending more time or any design/photo skills I have in the future to help animals. Below are photos I took of several young ones looking for homes. These are not the same photos I took for the purchased pictures. Happily, all the puppies were adopted and one of the kittens.

I believe this little boy was left in a dumpster with his brother. Can you believe it? Thrown away...he's a little ball of love though.

This sweet regal girl was a beauty to photograph.She loves feathers.

Mikey was adopted soon after his visit with Santa Claws!

Spencer - this happy little puppy found a new home with a Petsmart employee!

"Dear Santa, I want a home..." and this puppy found one!

Santa found a home for this puppy too.

If you are looking for a new family member please visit Cat’s Are Totally Special‘s petfinder page. You can also donate your time to help find homes, goods, money or help foster. They are a small group with lots of love.

So, referring to the title of my post: I don’t have an answer for whether businesses should send holiday cards or Christmas cards or what-not or not. I really enjoyed receiving a holiday card from my vet (very geared toward Christmas but never mentioned it in words) because it made me feel like they have appreciated me this past year. Pumba has been in and out of the vet for the past few months so it’s nice to know they are (kind of) thinking of us. I don’t care what holiday the card referred to. It was cute and fun.

And maybe that’s the thing, it’s BEEN A YEAR. The year is closing for families, religion and businesses. I don’t think it matters if the card is holiday or not – what matters is saying ‘Thank you for being with us this year.’

This year I will be sending a few of those “thank you”s to my clients for working with me this year. By sending the card I am saying I appreciate your business and I have making a commitment to work even harder next year. I’m not saying anything religious or what-not. I will be writing personal notes to each client I send a card to and this is my first year in a role with clients.

Several partners have told me this is a great idea – as if they never heard of it before. I’m very deeply surprised. Are we not thanking each other enough anymore? I’m going to stretch a little (or a lot) and say that’s why the Postal Service is going downhill. We need to send more personal handwritten thank yous! And don’t you dare consider email. It’s not personal and doesn’t take time and effort. Think you need spell check and be able to edit your message? Fine, type it out then hand copy it.

The cat is Milo, my 12 year old orange tabby.

Photo by (c) Tara Jacek

Photo (c) Tara Jacek

Photo (c) Tara Jacek

As I look back over the year, I have had a growth spurt in both my personal life and my career. I’ve started at Gold Bond a little over a year ago and never believed I would really begin a career here. At the close of the year, I will have been part of Gold Bond’s Zorch team for 5 months (and a week or so). I feel as if I’ve worked on this account for a lot longer because of all I have learned and everything I have been able to do. I have worked with several account managers in making flyers (my favorite!), helped Michelle develop a newsletter (You’re reading it!), and talked with great clients (some of our end-users are just awesome!). I appreciate the industry I am part of where I can play many roles.

I have been learning on the job and off the clock through experience and source material. ASI and PPAI websites have great resources. I’ve not forgetting my design background and have been focusing on branding and reaching out to the community through brand interaction. To reel in all my education with a good solid base – I am also studying leadership. I have attended a young professional leadership lecture and began reading on the subject.

To start off the New Year and to continue my growth from 2011 to 2012, I have begun applying my first leadership learned skill. Being from New York, my first self assigned leadership book is Rudy Giuliani’s “Leadership.” Right off the bat I have learned to never use or even think the word “panic.” Giuliani is right when he says, “You can’t let yourself be paralyzed by any situation.” The former mayor does not accept the word “panic” to express anything from himself or his staff. If we let situations control us, how do we grow?

The next year will be full of challenges for everyone with the economy, the market, the industry, the election, and life changes. There are moments ahead that will want to lead us into panic mode but we will be stronger and not let it control us.

Here is the wreath I made for the fall season.