#30. Let's NOT go phishing! A brief overview of phishing scams

Creating Effective Email Campaigns

How to create effective marketing campaigns in a modern age with so many tools. What apps do I use, what are some useful tips?

ToddTalks 28: Social Media BOOST vs. Social Media Ads

Social Media BOOST vs. Social Media Ads

Boosted posts on social media like Facebook and Instagram are a little less complex than ads and are easier to get a handle on if you are used to your social media’s News Feed. Unlike an ad, a boosted post is simply a regular post that you pay to reach a wider audience. Most boosts cost maybe $10-$25 although you can arrange more budget and reach—whereas advertising is much more involved and costly. 

ToddTalks 27 - What is your hourly rate REALLY worth?

ToddTalks 27 - What is your hourly rate REALLY worth?

It’s important to know your value in the marketplace. What are you really worth per hour? Put a value on your time and expertise and it will help you in pricing your time as well as what value you bring to the table. Think about it— what are you worth?

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About Todd: I am a lifetime creative professional dedicated to helping other businesses and individuals achieve their best—their Zen.

I’m Todd Mitchell. Lifetime artist, entrepreneur, and 30-year creative professional. I develop creative ideas and solutions that help inspire the best in people, products and businesses. My mission is helping others achieve their absolute best. Personally and professionally. 

Mitchell Creative Group is a micro-virtual creative agency outside of Boston, serving small businesses with professional creative services: Branding and identity, marketing and advertising, web and print, video and new media. Small businesses need high-level creative support— quickly, and at a fair, flexible price. And that’s what I provide.

https://www.mitchellcreativegroup.com

todd@mitchellcreativegroup.com

(508) 494-8182

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Keys to good branding, part three

How to create a press release

How to create a press release

Creating a press release can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be— like anything else. There are 2 factors—creating it, and then publishing it. Create it well, and use the best publishing source for your field/market. Google search “free press release template” as well as “writing press releases,” or “how to create a press release.” There are MANY helpful links. 

Please subscribe! 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toddtalks/id1483361044

About Todd: I am a lifetime creative professional dedicated to helping other businesses and individuals achieve their best—their Zen.

I’m Todd Mitchell. Lifetime artist, entrepreneur, and 30-year creative professional. I develop creative ideas and solutions that help inspire the best in people, products and businesses. My mission is helping others achieve their absolute best. Personally and professionally. 

Mitchell Creative Group is a micro-virtual creative agency outside of Boston, serving small businesses with professional creative services: Branding and identity, marketing and advertising, web and print, video and new media. Small businesses need high-level creative support— quickly, and at a fair, flexible price. And that’s what I provide.

https://www.mitchellcreativegroup.com

todd@mitchellcreativegroup.com

(508) 494-8182

Why Tick Tok might matter, and might not

The oversaturated internet

PostScript Type 1 fonts end of support

Moving quickly on things

Projects don’t have to take so long. Here’s some advice on getting things moving quickly before your competition beats you to the finish line!

Don’t make marketing complicated

There’s a lot to marketing, but here’s some advice on simply getting started—make it easy.

Why Fonts Matter

There’s a big difference in the font world. Not just the font, but what type, what style, what kind… And then, online, for print, and for application only. Here are the basics behind fonts and typestyles.

Marketing planning & budget is critical to any business

ToddTalks 17: Email is still alive— and more important than ever

ToddTalks 16: What real help looks like. How to best-serve creative clients.

When it comes to client services, you want to nurture, nurture, nurture. Provide the best service you can, no matter what. THAT is what you do. The adage— the customer is always right “sort of” applies here. They are not always right, so let’s re-phrase that to “the customer is always most important no matter what.”

My version of real help looks like this: Caring more for the other than for your self. No ego, no attitudes. Simply putting that person in #1 position to help them. That’s what I believe, that’s what I do. When it comes to running a creative agency— virtual, in person, or otherwise requires that you provide a service to others and apply your God-given talents to others. It’s what you do. You either hire, or outsource others that are the best in their field. Thus, surrounding yourself with an excellent team. That team now serves clients. 

I have applied these principles to everything I do in life, especially professionally for now running my own micro-virtual creative agency for over 20 years. I lead with kindness, respect, honesty, humor, and caring. My expectation is that they are #1—always. I disregard things like “revision rounds,” too many edits, problems, budgets, and concerns. All of these things can be worked around, fixed, and resolved. Every client and every project wants the same ending. High quality, fast, and affordably. So how we get there is (in my opinion and method) dependent on the guide—the leader. If you provide a safe haven, a catcher’s mitt mentality that you catch every ball thrown— open that glove and take the hits. You are not only one of the best players or catchers in the game, but will be relied upon, trusted, and established as a valued partner. And THAT is what’s most important. Be a valued and trusted leader.

There’s far too many greedy, selfish, arrogant, and thoughtlessness in the world, so why not provide the better side? By living these values and virtues, or acting upon the best core values you can personally, and then provide that outwardly, you are creating the best service available. The ideal relationship. And that is what real help looks like in any business.

Let me give you a few examples of how I suggest helping creative clients:

1. No problem, I’ll take care of that

2. YES! I will do that, no problem

3. Budgets and cost are always flexible. Let’s come up with a cost that fits the best need and budget.

4. I’ll fix it as much as we need to until we get it right

5. I’m sorry about that, let me fix that quickly

6. This is VERY important, let me take care of that

7. How soon do you need it?

On top of that, one of my beliefs is putting your literal money where your mouth is. And this is a valuable question: Are you willing to do it for free? I sure have… I have probably provided just as much free work as I have paid work. Why? Because I do what I love and love what I do. And my core belief is providing a service to others as an obligation and honor rather than a way to “get money from others.” 

Now obviously wisdom, experience, discipline, and boundaries all come in to play here. Running a fiscally-responsible business require a lot of common sense. So you also need to practice your Zen… your protective instinct to maintain a solid business. That goes without saying.

But valuing what’s most important should not be money first, or profit first, or “things.” Those things always come and go‚ and eventually go away. So by valuing your talents and your customer’s needs first— providing a great service to others, you will NEVER run out of or provide enough of. And because of that— you in turn run a more sustainable business. Remember, at the core, your “DNA” or your genetics and cellular structure is what you are, so build up a solid foundation based on those inner values first. And ask your self what those things are to you.

But before you “help” others, really ponder why you are helping them in the first place?

ToddTalk 15 - Millennials, attitude, and sales

Just a simple conversation with my Dad, Father in Law, and brother on modern day sales and business.

ToddTalk 14 - Pandemics and fear

Sometimes life serves you some real curveballs. And unlike life events that affect YOU, sometimes it affects humanity. And how we face fear as a common people… that’s what matters most.

ToddTalk 13 - Pandemics and the meaning of life

What a year! 2020. seeing 20/20. No one expected a pandemic year, but it really had a lot of positivity as well…

ToddTalk 12 - Dreams and sensing things

What do your dreams mean to you? Are they telling you something? It’s a real mystery and controversial. I had some real freaky dreams after the passing of my Mom.

ToddTalk 11 - Do you “need” web design classes?

Do you need web design classes? You only “need” what you need for success. You might have the skills and abilities, may need to train to attain a certain level, and then depends on how bad you want it! Be it college, training courses, classes, or any other tool or process… so “do you NEED website classes?” It depends. Keep the end in mind, and then how you get there. I can tell you this— people want results. Awesome experiences. No matter how you get there. Listen in!