If Entrepreneurship is a gift, and if you have it, is it one you wish to keep? Or, if you had to do it over again…would you return to sender? Read more →
“Don’t Talk to Squirrels…or Hotdogs”
If you recognized the line when our email hit your inbox, then you might be a listener of the popular How I Built This podcast from NPR. If our opening lines have you scratching your head, believe it or not, that’s good! If you’re still confused, we really do have a point. And if you’ve kept reading this far—it worked.… Read more →
What you need to know about online gaming.
If you have a gamer in your family or in your office, you know the power and the commitment that comes along with that form of entertainment. Gaming (video games, internet games, etc.) is a multi-billion dollar industry, which was only intensified by the COVID. Enter Roblox…the world’s most popular game as of this writing. Heard of it yet? If… Read more →
Is Your Website Secure?
Ever visited a website only to see this warning pop up in the browser, “Not Secure” when you type in the address to view it? And, have you looked lately to see if your website is showing that to your viewers? If you haven’t checked lately, you might want to. Is your website secure? Many prospects and customers won’t… Read more →
Do You Know Where Your Email List Is?
What would you do if your email list was suddenly hacked or missing? It was a normal Monday morning. The usual routine. Once checking the project management system for that day we noticed the ping to begin working on one particular Client’s email for the month. When we accessed the usual logins, we were informed upon attempted entry… Read more →
ART: Meant To Serve And To Love?
Creative work and design is a process. It manifests itself in many forms. Visual arts, such as painting, sketching, watercolor, sculpture, photography or videos, legal work, writing, etc… portray life or emotions for viewers to consider and appreciate—or not. Timeless concerts, piano concertos, all forms of music and the mastery of instruments make up just a part of performance art.… Read more →
The Techliterati: An Old Club With New Members
Prior to March, many of us were still holding out on some technological options that we had access to, but just perhaps weren’t interested in understanding or willing to take the time to learn. The Great Quarantine has now changed all that. We’ve become tech-literate. Whereas before those around us may have sounded like they were speaking code talking… Read more →
Owning A Business: Not For The Faint Of Heart
The pandemic will make billionaires of some and bankrupt others. Businesses have been around for centuries. Regardless of era or culture, people from antiquity have created or provided services and have been compensated for their work. Recently, all businesses around the world took a shock when the Pandemic of 2020 hit the global economy and shook commerce to… Read more →
The Great Cleansing: One Silver Lining to The Pandemic Dark Cloud
Spring Cleaning used to be something we tried to “get around to doing.” Until now. This year, because of the pandemic, it’s mandatory. Worldwide. For those of the Jewish persuasion, you’ll have a tendency to feel as if you all created that lovely tradition. And in truth, you kinda did. If you know your history, the Old Testament required that… Read more →
Their building was destroyed by the Nashville tornado…
but their business is still up and running and they can’t get the word out. “You have health insurance, car insurance, and life insurance. Why would you not have digital insurance for your business?” For those of you reading this blog, I doubt there is anyone unaffected by or unaware of the devastation our town experienced this past… Read more →
Tax Preparation Season: When You Love Us Most
During the year, we generally try to hold fast to our budgets. If you’re a small business or new venture, spending can be, well, just painful— unless there is a nice overflow. When it comes to our clients, we understand that. Writing those checks each month is a commitment. Happily, one that comes with a nice pay off in… Read more →
Call the Professionals
It was a simple task. I figured I could do it myself and truth be told, I was doing ok. When it was all said and done, I knew deep down, this wasn’t my area of expertise. I was trying to save money. In the end, it was just a waste of precious time, energy, and resources. Why didn’t I… Read more →
Artisanal Branding
Artisanal Branding: Could it be for you? Each fall my grandparents would remind me that they met on the dance floor at their local grange. The refreshments were cider and donuts. On their anniversary (November 9) they would enjoy this simple annual treat and reminisce. Though this month generally doesn’t conjure up a craving for donuts, I have to admit, they were on my… Read more →
Wine, Women, and Wandering the Room
“He’s on the golf course, can I take a message?” A few situations of late have taught me what I now believe to be a strong and solid truth: men network over golf, women network over wine. For years, people have joked about men golfing (or hanging out at sporting events)but; the fact is—it works. Somewhere between the 6th and… Read more →
Have You Checked Your Digital Footprint Lately?
How Often Do You Google…You? Do you ever google yourself? Or your business? If you do, what you will see when you receive your results is what we refer to as your “digital footprint.” Sometimes, in today’s world, what rises to the top might be a bit surprising—if not shocking. A few years ago while driving up I-65, my phone… Read more →
“Co-oper-tition!”
What did she just say? “There’s enough work for everyone,” she said. “I just think they’d be a better fit for you and your team.” I was stunned and humbled. How often do you hear that from one of your competitors these days? Let alone from someone who is 20+ years your junior? It’s not a typical way of thinking… Read more →
Gen Z and What We’re Hearing
Why you’ll need that Millennial in your life…just about now. You’re just now feeling like you’re getting a handle on understanding that millennial in your world—and here comes Generation Z. If you aren’t familiar with them, it’s time to crash study. As of this past graduation season, they are entering the workplace and you’ll want to be ready. So why,… Read more →
Are you FOMO or JOMO?
If you’ve heard the terms FOMO and JOMO, you’ll find they’ve mostly been used in referring to people and social media usage. If you aren’t familiar with these terms, using my quadrupeds as examples might help to make this subject a bit more interesting. My black lab, Bosco, definitely suffers from FOMO, while my Great Pyrenees is the perfect summation… Read more →
Getting the Dream Job
Don’t settle! Go after your dream job. That’s what they told her in college. They even made her read the book How To Get Your Dream Job. As we sat discussing the topic of working your way up in a job, that particular path of life had not even entered into this college graduate’s way of thinking. Now two years… Read more →
Tell Me A Story…
Years ago, I had the privilege of appearing on the QVC channel. Multiple times. You heard that right, the shopping phenomenon that cleverly floats through your TV, into your living space and finds its way directly into your wallet. During that time, I was working for a company in its marketing department and I was asked to present our product that… Read more →
Don’t Forget the Sherpa!
Wanna write a book? Don’t forget your Sherpa! When asked the other day what Epiphany offers that’s a bit unique to other creative agencies, I responded, “We’re also your Book Sherpa.” After a moment with a blank stare, my colleague laughed out loud and said, “That’s been on my to-do list. Let’s do this.” I remember well when I ventured into… Read more →
You Might Not Be Ready For Us…Today
Or you might be more ready than you think… When I saw his advertisement come across my phone notification, I was perplexed. He was an entrepreneur, looking to pay a very handsome salary for one person to handle his projects. Interesting. I reached out to him and said, “Instead of one person for that amount, would you consider a team?”… Read more →
Just Say “Yes!”
Say ”Yes” to what gets you there. Say “No” to what won’t. I’ve been amazed at the number of people I’ve spoken with over the last few weeks that were quite vocal about their displeasure with the year 2018. It’s surprising that I have not, as of yet, had someone offer up to me that they had a glowing year.… Read more →
Why Every CEO Needs A Book: Establishing You As The Expert In Your Field
Credibility. That’s what you want to exude. And let’s face it, it’s necessary to ensure your abilities to your potential and current clientele. You know the drill: when someone tells you that they published a book, your ears perk up and you take them much more seriously. They move up a notch on the “important” or “legit” scale in your… Read more →
Something You’ll Hear at Epiphany (And Elsewhere!)
As I stepped into the conference room, it was an all too familiar drill. Grab a cup of coffee, find a place to sit, and settle in for a firehose of incoming information. Fortunately, I found an empty chair next to a very successful entrepreneur I had met here last year (Ontrapolooza 2017). We chatted and he talked about his… Read more →
It’s not too late! Let’s get you HOLIDAY ready!
Pumpkin spice lattes, seasonal items on retail shelves, and fall related emails from businesses and competitors in your inbox. If you haven’t noticed, fall is here, and the holiday train is on the tracks and roaring in your direction. While most of the world has been out celebrating and enjoying wrapping up summer, believe it or not, those of us… Read more →
Epiphany U is here for YOU!
If you’ve seen the TV show “Billions,” you’ll most likely find it easy to make the connection from the message of that show to the surging trend of “coaching” in the business world. It’s just like going to the gym. The idea that someone can help you reach your goals while working out is now relating to someone coaching a… Read more →
The Imposter Syndrome
We The People…Fake it ’til you make it There’s a new term buzzing around and if you haven’t already become familiar with it, you will want to catch up. It’s garnering such attention that lifestyle coaches are even selling their sessions and expertise on the matter by the droves. It’s a bit reminiscent of what it must have felt like… Read more →
Project Oxygen
Okay. Is it your turn? Is it time? Last month I shared my experiment in unplugging. (Special thanks to those of you who shared your thoughts with me on that topic. It was great to hear that it encouraged you to think about the message and apply it to your life.) So, now, let’s talk about you… There are 10… Read more →
Unplugging: Harder than it looks
So, I did it. I actually took my own advice. (Well, ok, the advice from a few team members if truth be told.) I hit the road and I headed for the ocean. As I stepped into the beach house and realized it was just me, and Bosco,—for a whole week, it was a bit of a what do I… Read more →
Are you a Neo-Luddite?
As we enjoyed the beautiful spring weather outside the neighborhood coffee shop, I asked the lovely college senior sitting across from me about this new trend I keep hearing about of folks her age rejecting certain forms of social media. A personal friend of mine has already joined their ranks by removing all social media from her cell phone, and, in addition,… Read more →
Stop Selling. Start Relating.
It was a typical workday. I made a usual stop at a shop on my list and began chatting with the owner. Our paths have crossed regularly about 2-3 times a week over the last two-plus years. He couldn’t wait to tell me about a new product he has been working on for the past few months, and I, of… Read more →
What Are You Waiting For?
Is life leading you down the path, or are you strategically navigating it as you go? I love to read. In the car. Yes, it’s true. But you can relax—I do my reading via audio books. The three books I’ve read most recently seem to all be screaming at me, “What are you waiting for?” So, I am taking a… Read more →
Boy, am I glad I did that…
Boy, Am I Glad I Did That! So, I took the plunge. Was the timing right? Not really. Was it truly where I wanted my precious dollars to go? Probably not. But was it worth it? Oh my, yes. I’ll explain. First, I’ll tell you what I did, then, I’ll tell you why I did it. After that, I’ll share… Read more →
Will You Really “Unplug” For The Holidays?
We get it. You truly want to unplug this holiday season and you’re planning on it. But the real question is not “will you”… it’s can you? If you’re a small business owner (or even a faithful employee) it can be hard to catch a break. Perhaps the thought of the holiday season excites you…or perhaps it raises unwanted stress as you mentally… Read more →
Captivating Your Audience Through Video
The visual element in sales has always been of the utmost importance, of course. None of us want to purchase anything sight unseen. We need to know what we are getting; we want to turn it over and inspect it, get a feel for the item and its quality, and we don’t mind at all if we get to take… Read more →
5 Things To Learn About Branding From “Dread Pirate Roberts”
We often think of a brand as a logo, a message, a movement, or a successful company. Sometimes, a brand is a person…or that person is the brand. Clear as mud? We thought a good pirate story this month might be a fun way to help relay our thoughts. Many of you may be familiar with the hit 80’s film… Read more →
Instagram: Making Our World Bigger
This month we welcome Epiphany Team Member Barbara Hinch to share a guest article. (Did we mention she’s our Instagram Queen?) In a world that is more digital every day, it is also becoming ever more important to maintain a personal and intimate touch with the people in your life, whether they are family and friends, or clients and customers. The… Read more →
What If The Founding Fathers Had Social Media?
“What if?” It’s such an important question to ask in business and life. It’s where fantastic dreams and goals begin. This week of Fourth of July has made the E-Team feel patriotic, and one of our employees asked a “what if” question. She wondered, “What if the Founding Fathers had social media?” After a few chuckles, we all started thinking seriously.… Read more →
6 Things You Need To Know About Automation
Automation. There’s something almost robotic about that phrase. Does it make you think of kicking-back in your recliner and sipping lemonade while your business runs itself? If that’s your idea of automation…well – I hate to break it to you, but guess again! Automation is a wonderful and powerful tool in the email marketing world as well. Yes, it can be… Read more →
6 Things You Need To Know About Email Marketing
Email marketing! Does that excite you…or make you want to take a nap? It should energize you. There’s lots of hype about tweets, posts, and photos, but the bedrock of communicating with your clients or fans is the good ol’ email list. Don’t believe us? Read on. We’re sharing six things you need to know about email marketing and how… Read more →
You’ll Judge A Book By Its Cover
This month we welcome Epiphany Team Member Sarah Kay Biere to share a guest article. (More about her at the end of the blog post!) “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover” goes the old saying. There’s probably some hidden truth in that. However, if you’re a writer, a published author or an adventurer ready to share your book with the… Read more →
All Clothes Matter
Did you know you make a statement about yourself, your company and your brand before ever saying a word? As you walk into a room, you’re shouting information. Just by what you’re wearing (or not wearing.) Your clothing and accessory choices are incredibly important for your brand. In fact your ability to land contracts or get a pay raise might… Read more →
If You’re Considering Social Media, Read This First.
Who am I? Where am I going? What am I doing? Questions like these have been termed “great questions of life.” While it’s important to consider them on the lifetime scale, it’s also crucial to ponder the questions and your own answers as you begin your journey with social media. Social media can seem daunting and mysterious, especially for businesses… Read more →
Happy Epiphany: The holiday of enlightenment
Did you know today is the holiday known as Epiphany? If you didn’t, that would not be too surprising…but if you did, kudos to you! Before Epiphany Creative Services opened its doors officially, the name was being considered. It wasn’t chosen due to a particular connection to this holiday. It simply had a ring to it, as they say— it just… Read more →
Public Relations & You
It’s not uncommon to hear people say that Public Relations is all about maintaining a client’s image, repairing reputations, and releasing press releases. However. Public Relations can be much more complex…. Public Relations Noun: The professional maintenance of a favorable public image by a company or other organization or a famous person. According to the Public Relations Society of America, Public Relations… Read more →
Facebook Live: Lights, Camera…Action!
Alright, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close up… Those of you who are of the younger generation, may not quite be familiar with that quote. Many may recall that being on the silver screen was once a coveted and mysterious glory that only a select few glamorous stars who holed up in secluded sound stages were able to claim.… Read more →
Opera CEO Exits, Stage Left, to Try Her Hand at Entrepreneurship [& the reviews are glowing!]
With entrepreneurship, you’re going to have major highs and major lows, sometimes on a daily basis – Carol Penterman, CEO Penterman Professional Care ================ While grateful she didn’t sing “To Ho……To Ho” or stomp her spear during the interview. We can’t assure she wasn’t secretly hiding some Viking horns or breastplate regalia in one of her secret closets (which would… Read more →
Email Marketing: The New Rolodex
If you’ve ever sat down with me or had a quick chat about email marketing, it’s most likely that you have heard me say (more times than once) that your email list is your new Rolodex. I usually receive a tilt of the head that is accompanied by a perplexed, or surprised, look when I offer that statement. If you’ve been… Read more →
Should I self publish?
Epiphany University is something we created when we realized that certain people who came to us just weren’t ready to take on routine services. They needed a little more time, they needed a little more information. So we created an author track and a business track, and we have two hour courses within each of those tracks that are designed… Read more →