Inspiration blog - by PaperNotes

Internet Marketing Voodoo Podcast

The latest podcast I started listening to is Internet Marketing Voodoo. Hosted and create by MindComet (also providing more info on multilple new-media focussed blogs, they are actually based on interviews - about new media and internet - with experts.

I especially liked the interview with Michelle Madhok (founder of Shefinds.com) about Online Marketing to Women. Gives good insight in the Shefinds concept and a bit of the strategy behind it.

Short, interesting and brings new media-inspiration. So, definitely worthwile to listen to! Check it out: Internet Marketing Voodoo.

Sympathetic sponsor-marketing

Crystal Clear was one of the sponsors of 'Holland's Next Top Model' (dutch link). I heared 1 million people watched the finals, where Sanne finally came out as winner.

I think Crystal Clear made a smart sponsor-marketing move here, especially the poster campaign to be seen all over Holland. By offering Sanne an English course (in public, see image!), they kind of joked around with the badly English-speaking girl.

A great stimulant for word-of-mouth marketing (talk of the town), if you ask me...

Inspiration as energy source

Inspiration is an energy source, but different from motivation, that takes you to more concrete results most of the time. On Beliefnet.com Wayne W. Dyer wrote an article about this topic. And although I'm not a strong believer myself, I found the article quite interesting. Quote:

"Being inspired is an experience of joy: we feel completely connected to our Source and totally on purpose; our creative juices flow, and we bring exceptionally high energy to our daily life. (...) If motivation is grabbing an idea and carrying it through to an acceptable conclusion, then inspiration is the reverse. When we’re in the grip of inspiration, an idea has taken hold of us from the invisible reality of Spirit."

Going a bit deeper into the topic of inspiration as source of energy... I definitely feel loads of energy coming up when I'm inspired. As the article describes, idea's pop up all of a sudden. Most of the time, I also feel like doing something more concrete with that feeling. Creating a visual style, rethink the way I look at certain things, pick up things I should have done ages ago, making a table by hand and doing mosaics on the surface, writing about it on my inspiration blog and passing it on to others, etc.

But, I think inspiration doesn't come standard. When you're too cluttered up with a 1000 things people want from you, when you're stressed out, pre-occupied with daily matters and don't think beyond that, inspiration won't come flying in all of a sudden. You need to give it opportunity to spring and flourish. You can stimulate inspiration in a million ways and see it everywhere around you, if you only give it some space...

You might think inspiration is something only creative people have and need. Well, I simply don't agree with that. Everyone needs inspiration to develop, to explore new things, to look at topics from another perspective. You might not perceive it as such, but it is there, bringing you energy.

Since everyone needs inspiration, I'd like to say: don't let all daily things take over your life. Give yourself time to think what's important to you. Take time to discover your sources of inspiration!

- ok, this has become quite a long story and maybe a bit 'floaty' as well, but hope it gives some insight in my thoughts and make you think and elaborate on your own thoughts -

Inspirational quote

"Don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how."

By an unknown writer, from Worldofinspiration.com

Inspiration from an adhesive bandages collector

Just spotted these trendy adhesive bandages on Thecoolhunter.net, one of my favorite websites, and I have a friend who's going to go totally crazy when she hears this...

The reason for that is she collects adhesive bandages! A crazy thing to collect you might say, but I find it quite inspiring that she manages to expand her collection almost every month by (what I would call) word-of-mouth marketing...

Whenever someone goes on holiday (including myself), she sends the person on a mission: buy as much cool bandages as you can find. And of course you cannot take back the ones she's already got, so for me that means she even helps me train my memory!

By telling people about her collection, she does great word-of-mouth marketing for herself. Not only is she a very nice person I don't mind doing some 'work' for, but I also think a lot of people like to 'help' her out, since this is such a crazy project. The most people she tells about her collection will never forget the loony girl...

She's becoming quite an expert in her field, has already collected I don't know how much different kinds (about 400?) and a short while ago she told me she even found out who her 'competitors' are (one even being in Guiness Book of Records).

Anyway, I hope you find this story as inspirational as I do. I find it great to see that she can establish what she does, applying (maybe even without knowing) successfactors that don't only apply to her collection, but could be a good foundation for a one-man business:

• focus
• authenticity
• kindness
• networking / word-of-mouth
• kindness

Postsecret

See more at Postsecret by Frank Warren. Send your secrets on a postcard and have them posted on this website. The newest book My Secret is now available.

happylicious by Chantal Knook

Stimulated my creativity today - found on Hypegallery.com

She must have had so much fun

writing the text for this song: Smile.

I'm talking about Lily Allen and although you've probably heared the song a thousand times (if you ever listen to radio), I just have to mention I love the kind of mean touch this song has...

Part of the songtext (chorus):

At first when I see you cry, it makes me smile, smile. At worst I feel bad for a while, but then I just smile, smile...

The melody of the song is so cheerful, but then the text: I can image this is an inspiration for girls with boyfriends that left them in a cruel way, ha ha!

If music inspires you

- you sit behind the computer often and don't have an iPod - you should definitely take some minutes to visit Blogmusic.net.

How it works? Type the artist you want to hear and click on a song. Minus: you have to click on a seperate song every time, so no playlists (unless you register probably). Because of that, I still like Pandora.com better, when my iPod battery is flat...

Inspiration is