New marketing tool for you business

Twitter users watch as a million lights illuminate Red Rock Fantasy in Sedona, AZ

Sedona, Arizona -- Los Abrigados Resort in Sedona hosted the Sedona Tweet Up tonight as a million points of light were turned on for the lighting of  "Red Rock Fantasy." About 30 social media-savvy innovators watched as Santa Claus arrived via helicopter.

You can bet that those tweople will be twittering about the gala to all their friends and family on Twitter and Facebook tonight and tomorrow. You can't BUY advertising that good! Word-of-mouth advertising is as good as it gets. That's what 1000s of customers told me when I was selling newspaper, Outdoor or Yellow Page advertising. Recommendations will drive traffic to your business faster than the printed (advertised) word. Much of the time, when a friend refers a potential client to your business, that potential client won't question price.  That's an added bonus.

So what lesson can be learned here? What is the new marketing tool for your business? To coincide with your next company event, invite your Twitter followers. Ask them to invite THEIR Twitter followers. Tell them to RT (re-tweet) your invitation. Call it a "Tweet Up." Offer appetizers, raffle prizes or free drinks.

Don't have an upcoming company event? Then plan one. It could be a little get together in the lobby, the lighting of a Christmas tree in the break room, an open house in the garage. Make it a "Tweet-up" and soon you'll be the talk of the town. Or the Tweet of the town...

BTW, you can see the awesome display of lights, and take photos like the one I captured above from now until January 2, 2010. 

Los Abrigados Resort

160 Portal Lane, Sedona, Arizona 86336

877-695-4161 (Online Specials & Promotions)
928-282-1777 (Los Abrigados Resort Front Desk

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Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter Marketing and Sales is a Flagstaff marketing strategist and copy writer. Follow her blog for more FREE marketing ideas, Twitter tips and free marketing advice on how to use social media and internet marketing to promote your service or product. Simply go to the right column and "Follow" or "Subscribe." It's FREE!

Make Twitter Work for Your Business

Larry Pollock (macsupportcasts) shares Twitter tip as Margo Christensen (PrescottTourism) and Paula Monthofer (PaulaMonthofer) look on.

Sedona, Arizona -- Last night I attended the Sedona / Verde Valley's monthly Tweet-Up at the  Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa. The lively gathering of over thirty business tweople shared Twitter tips. Here are just a few of those Twitter tips on how to make Twitter work for your business:

1. Link your Twitter to your Facebook account. Save time: your Tweets will automatically populate to your Facebook wall, as shared by Jane Ginn of Sedona Cyber Link.
2. "I increased my hits 30-50% by adding a video or photo link to my Tweets," said Megan Aronson of SedonaTV and Red Rock TV 16. Tweeting about Sedona? Megan says go to her You Tube channel and help yourself. www.youtube.com/user/sedonatv
3. Use CalTweet as an event management tool.  Sheryl, our fabulous hostess from HiltonSedona said she likes to use FutureTweets.com as well. The free service lets you schedule your Twitter messages, but no spam allowed!
4. TweetStats.com is another handy tool for tracking  your Tweets. For instance, TweetStats tells me that I rarely Tweet on Sundays, and hardly ever between midnight and 9 a.m. during the remainder of the week. Using this data, I could schedule Tweets using FutureTweets.com. That might help with building my European and African audience.
5. Best Twitter tip of all: join us Thursday November 19 at 5:30 Shef's Bar at  Los Abrigado Resort & Spa in Sedona. There will be complimentary appetizers, drink specials and Raffle prizes. Afterwards you can take a tour of the 19th Annual Red Rock Fantasy light show. Tickets are discounted this year" $5/adult, $2/child ages 5-12.

Tweeps from communities across northern Arizona including Sedona, Verde Valley, Flagstaff, Williams, Prescott and Munds Park congregated at Hilton Sedona.

Proceeds from the event and raffle went to Camp Soaring Eagle, a Paul Newman "Hole in the Wall" camp for children with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. Did I mention that I won a HUGE bouquet of fresh flowers and also a year's subscription to Arizona Vines and Wines magazine last night? Yeah, baby!

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Stacey Wittig (Travelwriter) of Wittigwriter Marketing and Sales helps market small businesses using the internet, social media and plain ol' paper media including business cards, brochures and reports. Call her to discuss strategies for your business. 928-699-0696

Largest Collection of AZ Artist Available for Public Review

Williams, AZ -- Bronzes by B R Pettit recently launched a website featuring the largest collection of bronze sculptures by Williams, Arizona artist B R Pettit. This is the first time that so many pieces of the artist's work are together for public showings.

B R Pettit was an Arizonan artist who is best known for his monumental statue entitled "Ole Bill Williams" that stands as a sentinel to "The Gateway for the Grand Canyon" in Williams, AZ. The eight-foot tall monument of the mountain man, for whom Williams, AZ was named, has become a Route 66 icon. http://www.mountainmanbronzes.com/

Pettit's work was prominently displayed in the Oval Office by President Ronald Reagan during the duration of his terms in office. The piece entitled "Ole Bill" was taken cross country to Reagan's home in California. That bronze statue by Bill Pettit is currently in the collection of the Reagan Presidential Library and assigned the reference number 1985.00359.01.

The original limited edition of 30 was sold out in the 1980s. For the first time since then, a second limited edition is being made available to the public. Read more at http://www.mountainmanbronzes.com/

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Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter is a marketing strategist and social media consultant. Subscribe to this website for free internet marketing tips and strategies.

Is a Colorado River Rafting Trip on YOUR "Bucket List?"

Jack Nicolson and Morgan Freeman star in the comedy-drama film, "The Bucket List." They portray two terminally ill men on a road trip in a race to check off each of the things on their wish list, before they "kick the bucket." After watching the movie, many of my traveling friends have drawn up their own "Bucket Lists." Running the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is on many bucket lists. With bookings down, 2010 might just be the year to check this one off your wish list.

So don your wide-brimmed hat, pull on your Tevas and pack plenty of waterproof sunscreen. Head downstream for the ultimate family adventure vacation. With cold spray of the Colorado River on your face and the hot Arizona breeze in your hair, you’ll experience the magical grandeur of the Grand Canyon.

Hike to cool grottos or ancient ruins, experience thundering whitewater or dip into blue-green pools below bubbling waterfalls. The adrenalin rush and thrill of surging through fast-moving water may give you “Rapids Fever." Or you may simply enjoy the serenity of a personal journey that reconnects you to earth, family... and yourself.

The choice is yours. Perhaps a 15-day trip accompanied by a string quartet is the voyage for you. Listed as Sunset Magazine’s Top Ten Rafting Trips, the quartet performs in acoustically-perfect side canyons of the Grand Canyon along the way. Other specialty Colorado River rafting experiences include Arizona Highways Photo Workshops and Elder Hostel trips with Northern Arizona University.

Flagstaff River Rafting companies offer six-day to eighteen-day trips. You may choose from oar rafts, paddle rafts, motorized rafts and pontoon boats, or dories. Hybrid trips which include a combination of oar rafts, paddle rafts and kayaks create even more options.

Join people from all walks of life that make this incomparable journey down the breath-taking Grand Canyon every year. You may come as a solo adventurer or book your whole family for the unrivaled vacation of a lifetime. If a white water adventure is on your bucket list, contact any of the following Flagstaff river guides. Tell them Vagabonding Lulu sent you!

Arizona Raft Adventures, Inc.
4050-F E. Huntington Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

928-526-8200

Canyon Explorations/Canyon Expeditions
P.O. Box 310, Flagstaff, AZ 86002

928-774-4559

Canyoneers, Inc.
P.O. Box 2997, Flagstaff, AZ 86003

928-526-0924

Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter Marketing and Sales is a travel writer and marketing strategist. Let her help you with compelling web copy, email campaigns, social media and blogging.

Mountain Man Bronzes to launch

Mountain Man Bronzes is getting ready to launch a new website. It will reveal new photos of the work of B.R. Pettit, Arizonan artist.


Posting from Picasa, "Dance of the Yellow Apron." Recently cast in Sedona, AZ.

Local Mountain Man Immortalized at Sedona Foundry

When Bill Pettit, artist and historical reenactment expert told Lee Henson, "I want to make a bust of you," Henson's answer was a flat out "No." But Henson's wife Ella Mae was there, and she gave the go ahead.

The three had gathered for the Williams Rendezvous Days which celebrates the rich history and lifestyle of 1800s fur trappers and Mountain Men. They were dressed in buckskins and authentic reproductions of the clothing of early frontiers folk.

Pettit desired to create a detailed bronze of a historically-accurate fur trader in trapper's regalia, and Henson had 'the look.' "In a week, he [Pettit] brought back a wax bust and set it on the kitchen table. He asked Ella Mae if there was anything that needed to be changed," Henson related. Soon the sculpture was on its way to the foundry. That was almost twenty years ago.

Last month Henson and his wife toured Artscape Bronze Casting in Sedona with Pettit's widow, Laurha Beveridge. The trio met with owner Rob Myers for consultation on reproducing the bust, entitled "Rendezvous." They were given a tour of the facility by Jeremy Ivy, an expert in bronze patinas, who explained the multi-step casting process.

"If I could, I'd still kill him," quipped Henson of the artist. He believes Pettit never did enough to promote his own art. "I appreciate his art a lot," added the living model. Pettit died of complications from Addison's disease in 2006. Pettit's last ante-mortem piece was cast at Artscape Bronze Casting.

Although the living model's face has lost some of its fleshy substance, the strength and confidence that Pettit captured of Henson's middle age will stand the test of time. Just as the Mountain Men of yesteryear.

Mountain Men were trappers, explorers and scouts who roamed the west from around 1810 to the 1840s. Most were involved with the beaver fur trade -- a demand that came from the popularity of the stove-pipe hat made of beaver felt. Many moderns celebrate the time period with historical reenactment of the dress and lifestyle of Mountain Men. Well-known Mountain Men include Bill Williams, Kit Carson and Jeremiah Johnson.

Photo: Youthful Jeremy Ivy describes casting process to Lee Henson, living model of historical bronze bust.
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Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter Marketing and Sales is a marketing consultant who works with museums and artists. This article appeared in a 2009 issue Sedona Red Rock News. Wittig is based in Flagstaff, AZ and helps small businesses with internet marketing, social media and good ol' stories and news releases.

Using Less Toilet Paper During the Economy Downturn?

Are you using less toilet paper during the economic downturn? Have you noticed the empty roll at your hometown restaurant? Are you squirreling away toilet paper from home to use during banquets at local hotels or, gasp, the gas station advertising "Clean Restrooms"?

Maybe its time to complain, as this could be affecting your local economy. Today SCA Tissue North America announced that the shrinking demand for toilet paper and other paper products is causing lay-offs.

The Flagstaff plant supplies toilet paper to hotels and restaurants in Arizona, California and parts of Colorado.

A press release blamed the lay-offs on a “softening in customer orders due to the weakened economy.”

I suggest that hotel management starts buying local, not just for their gourmet chef, but also for their hosekeeping departments. SCA Tissue uses recycled paper to produce their sustainable products. By Local - Buy Recycled Toilet Paper?
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Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter is a sales and marketing strategist based in Flagstaff, Arizona. She also enjoys writing about sustainable travel as a Flagstaff travel writer. Communicating from Flagstaff, AZ today.

Wittigwriter Returns from Tanzania

Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter Marketing and Sales returned from Africa earlier this month. The marketing strategist served in the village of Lyamungo Kati in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania.

"I was proud to be part of a team that facilitated a training seminar for Sunday School teachers," Wittig said. The team was invited by the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.

"Sunday school teachers walked from miles around to attend the sessions. They were interested to learn new teaching methodologies to add to their already great curriculum. These folks have been teaching Sunday school for years, and we wanted to give them something that they could add to their tool box.

"I taught Bringing the Bible to Life, a segment that gets the teachers involved with drama, fabric stories and movement. We all had fun with the new materials," she added.

"Later, we had a chance to attend Sunday school at different churches and we were so blessed to observe the teachers using the methodologies we had shared earlier in the week," said Wittig sharing about the Kidz at Heart training session. Kidz at Heart is a non-profit organization whose mission is "Reaching Kidz Around the World for Christ."

The marketing strategist who enjoys teaching her clients about social media and the internet was one of the only business people on the team. Most team members were professional teachers.

NATJA Conference Celebrates Travel Writing

The North American Travel Journalists Association met for its annual conference in Cleveland last week. The above video was produced by Cleveland+ - the area's convention and visitors' bureau. You may get a glimpse of NATJA's newest member, Stacey Wittig, in some of these shots.

Good internet marketing, Cleveland+!
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Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter is a marketing consultant and freelance writer based in Flagstaff, AZ.

Wittig Honored as 1000th Member of Climbing for Christ

Stacey Wittig was recognized as the thousandth new member of Climbing for Christ this week. She was awarded special prizes and gifts. The NY-based organization announced, "We praise God for the growing membership and pray that those who join Climbing For Christ will seek to serve the Lord through prayer, giving, and/or going."

The Christian organization of climbers and mountaineers announced the folowing list of new members in their monthly newsletter:

* Stacey Desrosiers of San Jose, Calif.
* Janine Diekmeijer of Groningen, Netherlands
* Brandy Everts of Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada
* Daniel Manahera of Jakarta, Indonesia
* Stacey Wittig of Munds Park, Ariz.

"We rejoice and offer thanks that all of these climbers have been moved by the Spirit to join us on this great adventure as we climb in His direction," added Gary Fallesen, President and founder of Climbing for Christ.

Wittig was thrilled to be recognized as the 1,000th member of the organization. "It was exciting to see my name listed with other new members from places like Groningen (Netherlands), Alberta and Jakarta," she said. Learn more at www.ClimbingForChrist.org
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Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter is a freelance writer and internet marketing strategist based in Flagstaff, Arizona. She enjoys sharing FREE travel tips and zany travel deals with her readers and friends. Subscribe to this blog for fun travel stories and more FREE travelers advice.

Follow the travel tipster on TWITTER: Travelwriter

Writers and Hikers Converge at Grand Canyon

Writers and hikers gathered to tell tales of Grand Canyon escapade at the annual Grand Canyon Hikers Symposium this past Saturday. Fifteen presentations kept the audience in shock and awe as those in attendance laughed, listened and gasped in unison.

PowerPoint presentations including maps and photo shots of 'exposure' (to tall heights) seemed to compete to tell the most thrilling adventure. Authors of books on the Grand Canyon, friends of Grand Canyon legendary characters, macho rope-totting canyoneers as well as a quippy 10-year-old girl shared their Grand Canyon backpacking exploits.

A fun day of story telling and photo sharing. If you, too, have been bitten by the Grand Canyon obsession, don't miss next year's symposium. Go to www.gchba.com for more information.

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Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter is a freelance writer and marketing strategist based in Flagstaff, AZ. Subscribe to this blog to get FREE marketing advice and up-to-date information about Flagstaff, Northern Arizona and the American Southwest. She writes website copy, email campaigns and blog posts for small businesses.

8 Tips for Getting Good Audio

from Peter Stevenson
2009 Museum-Ed Conference
Museum Audio Tours

Rule #1: Find comfortable and quiet place.

Listen for HVAC, doors, ringing phones

Rule #2: Interview in Presence of object

Phrased as if standing in front of work.

High-quality color copies are sufficient

Try in-gallery interviews

Rule #3: no sit ins

Rule #4 record room tone

Audio engineer will want to use it for cuts

Rule #5 use good equipment

Zoom H2 Handy Recorder - $159-179

Rule #6 Mic correctly

Below and to side of mouth

Rule #7 set your levels

Ask "What did you have for breakfast?" Then as they answer, increase until you get distortion, then back off slightly

Rule #8: record room noise!

Audio engineer will want to use it for cuts

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Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter Sales and Marketing is a marketing strategist and Flagstaff travel writer.

Birdchick Selects Wittig as Guest Blogger

Birdchick, Sharon Stiteler of Birdchick.com has selected Stacey Wittig of wittigwriter marketing and sales as a guest blogger. Wittig's essay "What is the Difference Between Crows and Ravens" which appears on February 24, 2009 was selected from over 50 entries.

Read more at http://www.birdchick.com/blog.html


Photo of Stellar Jay by Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter Marketing and Sales.
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Presidential Suite up for Grabs?

Well, Barack may not be able to get one of those presidential suites at The InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa in Phoenix tonight. (See yesterday's blog.)

Although there is "room at the inn," it seems that Obama-rival Senator John McCain has reserved space for a fund-raising event to kick off his campaign for a fifth senate term. It is not known whether the long-planned McCain fundraiser is being held in either of the presidential suites at The InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa.

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Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter is a Flagstaff travel writer and marketing strategist.

Obama Slept Here: The InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa

That Judy Hedding at Phoenix.about.com! She is a true insider... How the heck did she learn that President Obama is going to stay at the InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa in Phoenix tomorrow night?

I wonder if they'll put him in the 3,000 sq ft Camelback 2-bedroom presidential suite with the private event lawn? Or the 3,000 sq ft Andalusian 2-bedroom presidential suite with private pool and spa?

I'm sure he'll love it. I was in heaven with my 465 sq ft guest room --#528. After sleeping on the InterContinental Montelucia's custom-made mattresses, Obama will probably order a "Divine Bed" for the White House.

Learn more at http://phoenix.about.com/b/2009/02/16/barack-and-i-have-the-same-taste-in-resorts.htm
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Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter is a marketing strategist and Flagstaff travel writer.

Myths, Legends and Southwest Stories

The Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau has put together a whirlwind tour of some of Phoenix-area visitors' favorite sites. Last night our opening dinner was hosted by the Talavera Restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort - Scottsdale at North Troon.

Featuring contemporary American cuisine, Talavera offers tequila tasting in their wine cellar. Our dinner started with a salad of seasonal greens mixed with fresh pear, candied onions and pecans. I chose the 14 oz. Bone-In Short Rib first rubbed in a spicy chipotle and then plated in a pool of creamy polenta. "Who needs a knife?" asked Troy Petenbrink, a writer from Washington, DC. The tender meat, garnished with healthful honeycomb from local hives, just fell on my fork and melted in my mouth. "The honeycomb cuts the spiciness of the dish," explained Chef Mendez table-side.


Although the property is only nine years old, a recent face lift saw the addition of a dramatic fire element framed by glass and positioned for both indoor and outdoor diners to enjoy. The restaurant is appropriately decorated in the palate of the blooming desert. The breathtaking night-time views of the city and Pinnacle Peak make for a romantic -- and dramatic -- dining experience.

That's me with Kim Cole, Director of Public Relations for the Four Seasons Resort. Thanks, Kim!
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Stacey Wittig of Wittigwriter is a marketing strategist and Flagstaff travel writer.

Avoid this Internet Marketing Mistake

Internet marketing expert Peter Geisheker has been involved in Internet marketing since the world-wide-web began. I love reading his newsletter.

From his experience helping clients build successful websites, he's learned what works and what does not work when selling on the Internet. One of the biggest Internet marketing mistakes, Peter says, is

"Letting your webmaster write the text for your website.
This is another huge mistake that companies make. On nearly a daily
basis I get a call from a company that has spent a fortune building
a website and they cannot understand why they are not generating
any sales. My first question is, who wrote the text for your
website? In nearly every case they tell me their webmaster wrote it.

Why is it a mistake to have your webmaster write your website
marketing text? Here is a hint-- webmasters are programmers, NOT
marketing professional who know how to write text that sells. If
you want your website to generate sales, you must hire a person who
is an excellent copywriter and knows how to write words that make
people want to buy! Would you hire your webmaster to write a
display advertisement for you? Of course not! Then why on earth
would you allow them to write the text for your website? By having
your webmaster write the text for your website, you are ensuring
your website will be an awful sales tool. To solve this problem,
hire a marketing professional to write the text for your website."

Peter Geisheker, CEO
The Geisheker Group, Inc.
"Innovative Marketing for Innovative Companies"
http://www.marketing-consulting-company.com
(920) 471-1638

New Year Traditions from Across the Globe

Ok, so what is it? What is your favorite tradition to bring in the New Year? Our family celebrates with man-sized portions of pork and sauerkraut. Perhaps we eat so much because we fear that the new year may be bringing in shortages. A good excuse anyway.

I recently heard that it is good to eat pork for New Years because pigs are always poking around and facing forward. (You want to meet the New Year head-on... or should I say, snout first.) You definitely don't want to start out the New Year with a lobster dinner, as they are known for scooting backwards. No 'two-steps-forward-and-one-step-back' in 2009!

What is your favorite New Years Eve or New Years Day ritual? Kissing at midnight? (Augh, the sauerkraut breath...) Add a comment now and share it with us!