Category Archives: Marketing Makeover

Today I (tearfully) retire my email signature

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I’m a strong advocate of having an email signature that helps me know who you are.  I want you to know who I am, and what I can offer you.  Thus, I created and have used this email signature for a long, long time:

In Outlook (with html):

In Gmail (no html):

After getting a comment on my LinkedIn blog (it’s pretty funny), and another comment on Young PR Pros (in jest, of course), I decided it was time to try something else.

So here’s my new signature:

I could only do this since I redesigned JasonAlba.com (it used to just be a blog, but now has a landing page with all my other stuff).

I worry that people won’t know about all the cool stuff I do, and not know what I’m about.  It’s kind of scary.  However, I wonder how many people previously sifted through my other signature… how many JibberJobber signups I got because of my sig, how many book sales, blog readers, CEO Webinar purchases…

It’s kind of like when you come up with your 30 Second Commercial… you feel like you are leaving so much out, and how in the world could you cut stuff out??  But you have to.  And so did I.

It’s a new day, and perhaps I’ll regret it, but I doubt anyone will suggest I shorten my signature.  Scary but good… that’s my gut feel right now.

The Yahoo Group Movement

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I’ve been preaching Yahoo Groups as social tools, and recently started a new Yahoo Group as part of my marketing makeover.

I got the idea a few days ago and it got me really jazzed. Kind of (KIND OF) modeling it off of what FlyLady has done (not as intrusive, though), I’ll send out ONE actionable career management tip each day (probably limited M-F). I came up with about 30 things already, and am tapping into my partners for more.

Since I set up the JibberJobber One Thing Group, I have made a few necessary changes as a Group owner:

  1. Change all permissions so members can’t see other members, add links, etc.  Privacy is key, but I also want to have control over what’s going on here, and not worry about moderation.  Kind of non-social, I know, but the purpose of this tool is not to create community and a collaborative environment, rather to get information out. 
  2. Update my JibberJobber logo.  I set the Group up on Wednesday and had two short sentences.  Today I put in a tiny bit of eye candy… well, I put in a logo with colors and stuff.  Definitely a must-do imho.
  3. Updated the copy on the front page.  Two sentences aren’t enough… I now have a few short paragraphs AND links to relevent websites (JibberJobber and LinkedIn).  I went to the My Virtual Power Forum for ideas on what could/should be on that front page.  I hope this is compelling but can update it anytime I want.

I also blogged about it, and I tweeted it a few times, and there are 47 members.  I need to promote it elsewhere, which I’ll do over time.  For now this is a good start.

Next on my list, read Kathie Thomas’ posts about Yahoo groups:

What you should and shouldn’t do at Yahoogroups

Moderating a Yahoogroup

Being a member of a Yahoogroup

How To Use Yahoogroups for Forums

Let me know what else I need to know!  I think the key for me now is to GET THE POSTS OUT daily!