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A CASE AGAINST PRODUCT KNOCK-OFFS Sometimes a knock-off isn't a true sin. A copy of one of Carrie Bradshaw's dresses or a purse similar to one carried by Posh. But at other times it's just downright mean. One of my favorite doggie product sites, Big Paw Designs , has fallen victim to copycats (terrible pun) who blatantly imitate the company's original (and copyrighted) designs. The pewter collar charms are the thieves' biggest target. It's unfortunate because though Big Paw Designs isn't a large company it has a huge heart and is dedicated to the plight of 'rescue' dogs. A hefty percentage of sales of the Woof Fleur de Lis charm (pictured) go to pet rescue groups in New Orleans. Join their effort - spend a little ($15) to help a lot!
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THANK YOU, FACEBOOK I became a true fan of social networking when I acquired Louie, my Tibetan Spaniel puppy. Louie's five months old - I believe that translates into something like three human years? We were having major housebreaking issues and I had a lot of questions. I'd just stumbled upon a Facebook group called Chances Are I Like My Dog Better Than You which interested me for its name alone. I was pleasantly surprised that instead of snarky remarks about spouses vs pets I found a community of people willing to help with all dog-related issues. I posted a question about housebreaking and immediately received some very useful - and effective - suggestions. Social networking at its best! I found this photo of a Tibetan Spaniel on Wikipedia. Louie's nowhere near as regal as this beauty.
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MORE ABOUT CONTESTS In an earlier post I discussed participating in contests sponsored by bloggers. Using visitors to do your market research is only part of the reason to participate. But participating can also help you build a database of people interested in your site and/or products. Why do you need such a database? For the newsletter you send out regularly (or that you should!). More about that later.
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UNIQUE DECOR FOR THE KIDS' ROOMS Ready to update your child's room? Looking for something personalized to match the decor and bring a smile to the little one's face? Custom Banneramas from Gifts Define are unique wall art that will tickle your fancy. The hand stitched animals have letters attached and are strung from a satin or leather cord. Spell out your child's name on one side - reverse it to say something special on the other. There are 12 colorful animals to choose from, including monkeys, elephants, and more. Take a look at Irma's site to see her Tooth Guardian Angels , Conversation Birds and more cute stuff.
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PUBLICITY TIP I just learned about Squidoo and why we business owners should be using it. Not only is it great for SEO but it's free! Resourceful entrepreneurs can't afford not to use this site. Just write a lense (similar to a blog entry) about a topic you're knowledgeable about - any topic. Business owners often know more about their product than anyone else. So tell the world about it! I'm still working on my first lense. I wrote about KLEAN Bath & Body's sugar scrubs - it's easy to write about products you love . The tech support staff and community at SquidU are helping me iron out the kinks - I'll show it to you when it's completed.
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WHAT A CLUTCH! Thank you, Blooming Lily , for sharing another great find with us. loungeluxe is a fairly new shopping portal for indie businesses. It's pretty on the eyes and is incredibly easy to navigate. Lots of links. Some of my favorites - Peggy Li Jewelry and Kailo Chic (isn't the clutch pictured here marvelous!) - are already on the site. I noticed there are a lot of items from Modishoppe - that's a great endorsement!
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ECO-FRIENDLY AND ANTI-BACTERIAL Thank you, fellow blogger teensygreen , for your post about anti-bacterial hand sanitizers and cleaning products. Though I'm well-aware of how alcohol-based products dry out my hands, I had no idea about some of the other safety and environmental concerns outlined in your post. And I appreciate the list of alternative cleansers. I'm intrigued by the hand-sanitizers from CleanWell . The company uses an environmentally-friendly and patented formula called Ingenium , a 99.99% effective sanitizer made of renewable plant sources. Imagine - no drying alcohol! The soap also contains aloe and white tea. CleanWell is available in foaming hand soap, spray, and wipes. Just have to remember to add it to the shopping list.