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50 things we know now that we didn't know this time last year

I'm gearing up for my social networking seminar next week here at Tortus, and I wanted to share this very good article on using the photo sharing site flickr to market your business. If you already use flickr for your personal photos, why not consider giving it a try for your business or organization? Using flickr can be an indirect marketing method that drives traffic to your website and builds community with your customers. In contrast to the opinion of the article's author, I do believe that flickr can be utilized for nearly every type of business, whether you sell products OR services. Check out flickr today!

From all of us at Tortus, wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, PROSPEROUS 2010!

Here we are just before the start of the holidays - the indulgence, the conversation, the goodies, the family gatherings - and I get an email titled: Swim 2010 is here.  I'm thinking of buckeyes (peanut butter and chocolate treats), cookies, cakes, candies, turkey, meatballs, roasts: and they go and spoil the party.  Images of myself standing at the buffet table with my plate in hand conjure in my mind, and I watch as I skip over items I'd normally enjoy just because I'd read two dreaded words: Swim 2010.  

It's a tease to be sure, as I look outside at the winter wonderland, I can't help but dream of soft sandy beaches and warm waves.  Swim 2010 is here.

As a consumer, I'm conflicted.  Do I look at it, knowing that I have at least 5-6 months before I can even think about donning a bathing suit?  Will it make those months feel so much longer, especially if there's a cute suit I'm interested in?  And yet, I'm tempted.  Maybe it'll give me something to work toward.  Maybe it'll make me think twice about going up for holiday seconds.  Maybe I'll have something to envision while I'm at the gym.

You can bet I know the name of the company that sent out that email.  And you can bet that I'm spending time thinking about whether or not I want to open the email.  I'm curious to say the least.

But then again, it's the holidays.  And they only happen once a year.