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Imagebobs 2007 Annual Review
As I reflect on this past year, I realize the beginning of 2007 was similar to last year. Read my 2006 review. I am grateful to my brother, Paul of
Adworks Advertising, for an ongoing supply of work. Greg Pautler of
Greg Pautler Graphic Design has also relied on my Photoshop skills as a graphic artist.
My business money-saving idea is still to commute via bike and experience the great outdoors. I can’t afford to join a fitness club so I take time to bike and get a summer pool pass. This summer, lifeguards Sharon and Joshua stepped up to the plate to get shot by a Canon!
Speaking of summer, Latitudes Storytelling Festival was hosted by the
K-W Multicultural Festival in Victoria Park in Kitchener. Book your calendar for next year’s fun-filled weekend on June 21 and 22! I’m privileged to host their website and marketing programs.
Advertising for my business has still been word-of-mouth; the most effective way, and through business cards also via my personal card creations.
This year, I shot two weddings and my wife worked the reflector as my lighting person. I also submitted two photos for the 2007 Annual Juried Art Exhibition at the Cambridge Arts Centre, and 10 images in PhotoLife™ (The Art, Culture, and Science of Photography) Image International 2007. Very cool, was this years entries could be submitted via the Internet.
I also submitted to the Sigma Showtime contest in PhotoLife™; I wasn't a winner, but I received a free copy of PhotoLife™ January 2008. They posted one of my images, on the Theme of Family Vacations. I am thrilled I have bragging rights! I call it "Discover Ontario" (note: Georgian Bay the water is c-c-coool!)
As a member of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, I took advantage of free seminars sponsored by MoreSales.ca. A couple of inspirational gentlemen you must see and hear are Peter Morris and Michael Lewis. They both have a wealth of ideas and information.
Peter Morris is the president of MindSet Training., a Cambridge-based company that specializes in customer-focused sales and development. A key point he made that really caught my attention was that “satisfied customers reduce your marketing costs.”
Four, 16, 178. Michael Lewis noted these are the 2005 statistics of formal hours training in Canada (four), USA (16) and Japan (178). Wow! Hhmm, Or . . . yikes!
Michael’s “One Minute Message” helped make things clear to me about running a business: Can you learn to summarize who you are and what your business is about in less than a minute? Learning how to promote your business interests is critical, especially when you are given the opportunity to meet potential clients in one of many different social and business situations.
In his seminar, “Too Many Hats: Beyond Time Management for Entrepreneurs,” Michael says, “Time is money or so they say. It’s not often about working harder, but learning to work smarter with the tasks and time we have every day. It’s possible to accomplish much more in less time if you are organized; you plan your work and work your plan . . . and stay disciplined.”
“Small Business Boot Camp: Tough-Minded Profit-Building Techniques” also caught my attention. During this seminar, he said operating a successful business means “keeping your eye on the bottom line and ensuring that the profit comes first. Your very own survival in business might just depend on it.”
You can tell Michael loves speaking and listening. He is passionate about what he does. Michael Lewis Training, Motivation And Development. www.michaellewistraining.com (519) 453-4264 (London, Ontario)
I attended an interesting free WEB seminar, they wrote:
Thanks for being participant in our Popular Internet Marketing Seminar I hope that you were able to implement some of the valuable information about how to market your products and services effectively on the internet.
For more information visit... www.trainingbusinesspros.com
my reply;
Thanks for the free advice. Wow! I just posted some context as you call it to my site. I plan to create 2007 business review and will surely have your link posted to keep us all out there!
Thanks for opportunity to make money by sending out your link to others..
You may need a little guy with big IDEAS Graphic art guy, keep me in mind!
Yours Truly
Robert Vautour
Graphic Artist & Photographer for Print or Web media
244 Melrose Street, Cambridge, ON. Canada N3H 4A6
519.653.4922
Bob Vautour - Graphic Designer & photographer, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Check out my International photo gallery @ http://www.istockphoto.com/imagebob