Build meaningful relationships first: How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan (Part 4 of 5)
This is part 4 of 5 of the 5 part series of How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan. Thanks for checking out part 4 of 5 of the How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan. This has been such a great series of posts to write for you. …
Read More#45: Expert Interview with Amy Mayes of Amy Mayes Photography [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/Epispode_45_Gay-Business-Marketing_with_Amy-Mayes-Photography.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS I am so pleased to present you with today’s podcast interview with Amy Mayes of Amy Mayes Photography. She is a brilliant photographer and an LGBT Rights Activist. She shares many great insights on being an ally to the LGBT community and …
Read MoreCan we no longer say ‘My Partner’? The differences between a romantic partner and business partner.
This topic comes from a direct conversation I was having with two women business owners. These two women are active allies and members of the local LGBT chamber of commerce. I’ve had a chance to sit down with them in their business, on multiple occasions to talk about how they …
Read MoreHow do I become more involved?: How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan (Part 3 of 5)
This is part 3 of 5 of the 5 part series of How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan. Thanks for stopping by to read part 3 of 5 on How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan. We first discussed the 5 questions to ask yourself to help create a …
Read MoreCan saying ‘Sissy Boy’ get you in trouble?
Yes. I was in a meeting with my marketing mastermind group. I love this group. We meet in person once a month to discuss what we are doing for our business in terms of marketing. We share strategies, tips and offer feedback to one another. It is a wonderful thing to …
Read MoreWhy are you better than your competitors? (Part 2 of 5)
This is part 2 of 5 of the 5 part series of How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan. This is the second post in a 5 part series. The first post was titled “How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan,” if you haven’t checked that one out, go back …
Read More#44: Expert Interview with Re Perez [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/episode-44-gay-business-and-marketing-made-easy-re-perez.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS I had a chance to recently sit down with Re Perez of BRANDING FOR THE PEOPLE. I’ve known of Re for a couple of years through our mutual relationship with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. At this past conference …
Read MoreHow to Reset your LGBT Customers Expectation of your Business
Every time I travel I witness something that sparks a new blog post. My trip to Kansas City to speak at the Mid-America Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Equality Conference was no different. What an experience! I’ve heard that this chamber was doing some great things so it …
Read MoreWho is your ideal audience?: How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan (Part 1 of 5)
This is part 1 of 5 of the 5 part series of How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan. We are going to do a deep dive into defining your target market. In a post titled “How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan” we discussed 5 questions to ask yourself to …
Read More#43: Interview with LGBT travel & tourism expert, Colin Sines [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/episode-43-gay-business-and-marketing-made-easy-with-lgbt-travel-tourism-market-expert-colin-sines.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Today’s episode was so much fun. I had a chance to sit down and speak with Colin Sines who wears many hats, all of which come back to LGBT marketing specifically in the area of travel and tourism. Colin and I met last …
Read MoreHow would you use an extra 8 hours? Beef up your LGBT efforts, of course!
I don’t know about your schedule but mine can be pretty chaotic – usually trying to fit a lot of meetings and phone calls into one day. For some reason Thursdays always seem to be my busiest days of the week. I’m usually up and out early, attending events, going …
Read MoreHow do I know what pronoun to use? Just ask!
I was meeting with a colleague and we were talking about a challenge her wife had just recently faced as it related to a new LGBT person working for her. Her wife recently hired a young woman who was very masculine in appearance – what you might call a ‘butch …
Read MoreIf you’ve got it, flaunt it: How to be more effective in your LGBT Marketing (Part 5 of 5)
The last 4 posts in this series have run the gamut of things you can do to help improve your outward appearance to the LGBT community and be more effective. My message in this post is simple – don’t be shy! Far too often large companies, businesses, and individuals – don’t promote themselves …
Read MoreStereotypes are a Losing Battle: How to be more Effective in your LGBT Marketing (Part 4 of 5)
This is part 4 of 5 of the 5 part series of How to be more Effective in your LGBT Marketing. We are going to talk about how stereotypes are a losing game. Stereotypes are just plain bad news and you are damned if you do damned if you don’t, so …
Read More#41: Expert Interview with Jeff Berger [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/epi_41_interview_jeff_berger_national-association-of-gay-lesbian-real-estate-professionals.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS I had the great pleasure of talking with Jeff Berger on today’s podcast. Jeff is the founder of the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP) and shared some great insights on more effective marketing to the LGBT …
Read MoreCan you always keep track of your employees?
A couple of years ago in Portland, Oregon an LGBT customer received his receipt from the local Apple store with the email address input as “fag.com.” As a business owner, professional, someone with employees – what is your reaction to this? If you are marketing to the LGBT community I …
Read MoreThere will always be a crank pot in the crowd…
I have two kids so the phrase crank pot comes up often in my house. A crank pot meaning someone who’s just cranky about something in general. In this post I want to point out a crank pot who reached out during my book launch. I have a very large …
Read More#40: Are we going to get to #1 on the Amazon Best Seller List? It’s book launch time! [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM-epi-40-book-launch-of-no-wait-you-do-look-gay.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS This week’s podcast is all about my virtual book launch. A much shorter episode than usual, that is filled with so much love and gratitude to you the listener and reader. I really appreciate you! 🙂 Now through Friday is the virtual launch of my …
Read MoreThree (3) critical mistakes you don’t want to say in a crowd of LGBT people…
At this point you’ve heard me talk about my 2nd book (available on Amazon), “No, wait… You do look gay! The 7 Mistakes Preventing You from Selling to the LGBT Market.” During my book launch I had the wonderful opportunity to provide copies of the book to many loyal followers at the National Gay …
Read MoreIt’s Time to be Inclusive: How to be more Effective in your LGBT Marketing (Part 3 of 5)
This is part 3 of 5 of the 5 part series of How to be more Effective in your LGBT Marketing. Understanding how to put together an effective advertisement for your LGBT marketing can be tricky. We are going to talk about knowing when the right time to be inclusive in …
Read MoreThe Art of Being Subtle: How to be more Effective in your LGBT Marketing (Part 2 of 5)
This is part 2 of 5 of the 5 part series of How to be more Effective in your LGBT Marketing. Understanding how to put together an effective advertisement for your LGBT marketing can be tricky. We are going to talk about the Art of Being Subtle. When creating ads …
Read More#38: Storytelling with Stacy Morataya-Pilkington [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/gbm-ep-38-interview-with-stacy-7-21-2014.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS In this new podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing a close friend and colleague on the show. I lovingly refer to her as an operational genius, but you can just call her Stacy (Morataya-Pilkington). This interview covers many topics and her …
Read MoreTailoring Your Message: How to be more effective in your LGBT Marketing (Part 1 of 5)
This is part 1 of 5 of the 5 part series of How to be more effective in your LGBT Marketing. Tailoring your message is one of the key things you must do to have success in your LGBT outreach. In my book “No, wait… You do look gay! The 7 …
Read MoreHow to be more Effective in your LGBT Marketing (A 5 part series)
Understanding how to put together an effective advertisement for your LGBT marketing can be tricky. There are a lot of factors at play. Below are my 5 tips to help you be more effective. Tailor your message If you are reaching out to the LGBT community, you need to …
Read More#37: The 7 Mistakes Preventing you from Selling to the $830 Billion LGBT Market [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/gbm-ep-37-no-wait-you-do-look-gay-7-4-2014.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS In this podcast I proudly discuss my newest project, which is my 2nd book. I give insider info on the book and share how you can buy books in bulk and get some amazing bonuses! Listen to learn more! Play the …
Read MoreDeveloping Partnerships within the LGBT Community
In the blog post titled “Internally Communicating LGBT Marketing Strategies to your Employees” we covered a few critical areas. We touched upon the topics of external perception versus internal perception, we discussed the value of employee resource groups (ERGs) within your organization and I also demonstrated a real life example …
Read MoreWhat’s new in June for Pride Month?
So this Marketing Friday is going to be a little different than usual. I am hard at work preparing to launch the 30 days – 30 voices – Stories from America’s LGBT Business Leaders project. This means every single day in June there will be a new blog post and a new podcast for you to …
Read More#36: Storytelling with Dina & Dom of Teazled LGBT Greeting Cards [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_epi36-Dina-Dom-Teazled.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS This podcast interview is with Dina & Dom, founders of Teazled Greeting Cards, which is a company that focuses exclusively on creating cards for LGBT people and families. We talk about our families, how they came to founding their company and many …
Read MoreDefining what Inclusion Based Marketing is
In this post I want to discuss inclusion based marketing. The idea of inclusion based marketing is always on my mind because it is so vital to a successful LGBT outreach plan. In my book I spent quite a bit of time explaining what this is and why it is important. In episode …
Read MoreDeconstructing a Monolithic Myth from a Marketing Perspective
This is a guest post from Melanie McMillan, the Public Relations Director for Keiler (www.Keiler.com) Guilty as charged. I, a straight woman who works as a public relations professional, bought into the common assumption that gay Americans have a greater disposable income than the rest of the populace. In my …
Read More#33: Storytelling with Christin Mell [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Epi_33_Christin-Mell-Tello-Films.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS I am pleased to bring you a fun episode of the Gay Business & Marketing Made Easy podcast! Today we talk with Christin Mell, the co-founder and CEO of tello Films. We discuss her film making calling at an early age, what …
Read MoreBe SMART: 5 steps to measuring your progress (Part 6 of 6)
Wow, we are finally at the conclusion of the 6 part series about Maximizing Your LGBT Outreach with a Solid Plan. I have enjoyed covering the 5 parts of creating an effective plan with you. From determining who you are marketing to, to figuring out how you are better than …
Read MoreRelationship Building Requires a Strategy (Part 5 of 6)
Thanks for checking out part 5 of 6 of the Maximizing your LGBT Outreach with a Solid Plan. This has been such a great series of posts to write for you. Many of you have taken the time to write to me and express how this has helped you and I …
Read MoreWhere do I begin my LGBT outreach efforts? (Part 4 of 6)
Thanks for stopping by to read part 4 of 6 on Maximizing your LGBT Outreach with a Solid Plan. We first discussed the 5 questions to ask yourself to help create a solid plan for your LGBT Outreach efforts. Then we took a dive into the question of who am I trying …
Read MoreThinking Outside the Box: How to Define Your Competitive Advantage (Part 3 of 6)
This is the third post in a 6 part series. The first post was titled “Maximizing your LGBT Outreach with a Solid Plan,” if you haven’t checked that one out, go back to it when you are done here. In that post we discussed 5 questions to ask yourself to …
Read MoreDefining Your Target Market (Part 2 of 6)
Today we are going to do a deep dive into defining your target market. In a post titled “Maximizing your LGBT Outreach with a Solid Plan” we discussed 5 questions to ask yourself to help create a solid plan. In that post the first question was “Who am I trying to market …
Read MoreMaximizing Your LGBT Outreach with a Solid Plan (Part 1 of 6)
Marketing to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community requires a plan. Positioning yourself as the go-to person for the community in regards to business transactions requires a strategy and a plan as well. You have to be logical in your approach. You can’t just put a rainbow sticker …
Read More#32: Storytelling with Mary Malia [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Epi_032_Mary-Malia.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS This podcast interview is with the Gay Girl Dating coach Mary Malia. We cover all sorts of things in this podcast but really dive deep into the marketing concepts that can effectively reach a lesbian audience. We had a great conversation and …
Read MoreLGBT customers do not respond to assertiveness
Here we are in the final installment of the “The 7 Deadly Sins of Ineffective LGBT Communications.” I hope you’ve enjoyed this series and it proved to be valuable to you. By now you probably know this entire series came up because of my belief that 98% of miscommunication blunders …
Read More#30: Storytelling with Kathy Borkoski [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Epi-30_Kathy-Borkoski.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS So we are talking to Kathy Borkoski today who in my opinion is the true definition of an entrepreneur. She focuses on building solutions to problems business owners face. We connected because I was researching proposal software for a client and previous …
Read MoreWhat’s the business impact of ridiculous proposed laws across America?
A few years back I was in a Facebook conversation with a friend about the ridiculous nature of Arizona’s Senate Bill 1062. I was so intrigued by her comments that I told her to head over to my Facebook page and post there so we could get the conversation going with other people …
Read MoreAre you insulting potential LGBT customers?
Welcome to part 5 of 7 of the “The 7 Deadly Sins of Ineffective LGBT Communications.” We are moving right along on all of the ways that you can improve your communication skills within the LGBT community. This whole series has been based on what simple idea – that I believe …
Read MoreWhat is Inclusion Based Marketing?
I want to discuss inclusion based marketing. The idea of inclusion based marketing comes up often in this blog and podcast. I first talked about it in episode 11. In this podcast I addressed diversity and inclusion and how those two play together in marketing efforts. Diversity and inclusion are very …
Read More#29: The Top 8 LGBT News Stories of February and Why They Matter [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Epi_029-8-great-things-in-3-weeks.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS In the last episode of the podcast I made mention that the media is the gift that keeps on giving these days. There is so much going on for LGBT equality its hard to keep up with. Today I am going to …
Read MoreThe 3 Key Ways Coke Scored a Touch Down with their LGBT Marketing
Were you one of the 111.3 million viewers who watched the 2014 Super Bowl? According to Nielsen this was the most-watched U.S. TV telecast of all time. I watched it, like many, just for the commercials. Did you see the gay couple in the Coca-Cola “America the Beautiful” Super Bowl …
Read More#28: Storytelling with Leanne Pittsford [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/Episode_028_Leanne-Pittsford.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS So we are talking to Leanne Pittsford today who is a woman of many titles – she is an entrepreneur, risk taker and a queer and women’s rights leader. She is also the CEO & founder of Start Somewhere, which helps organizations …
Read MoreWhy does the LGBT community seemingly hate its allies?
A prior year’s Grammys performance sparked this blog post about something I had already been aware of, but was reinforced strongly during that performance – our LGBT allies are under appreciated. Thousands of people blogged about that performance a few years ago- this post isn’t like the others. Honestly, some LGBT folks are …
Read MoreDo LGBT people really care about what companies are doing for their LGBT employees?
In previous blog posts I’ve discussed the two critical factors in effective LGBT marketing – the fact that you need to be authentic and be transparent. I explained that to have a truly successful LGBT marketing campaign you must embrace both of these core principles because LGBT consumers are savvy. …
Read MoreAuthenticity & Transparency: 2 words to help kick your LGBT marketing up a notch!
If you have found your way to this website it likely means we have at least one thing in common; you are looking to market to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Well, guess what? You are in luck because I am just the person who can help …
Read More#26: Storytelling with Kristen Kavanaugh [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_026_Kristen-Kavanaugh.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Welcome to episode #26 of the Gay Business & Marketing Made Easy Podcast! You’ll note that I made a few changes to the podcast artwork to the left here. Rather than calling my interviews ‘Expert Interviews’ I have changed it to ‘Storytelling …
Read MoreIs asking someone “So, what’s your disability?” similar to asking “So, are you a lesbian?”
For the few years I have written blog posts that are related to effective communications with the LGBT community (and it’s turned into so much more! I’m not sure all of you are aware that this blog actually started off called “LGBT Questions from a Friend,” and I was answering questions from friends and …
Read MoreProud Offering: Get Your LGBT Marketing Critique Today!
I often take time at the beginning of the year to reflect on the previous year. In 2014 I found myself ringing in the new year 30,000 feet in the air en route to Las Vegas, Nevada to attend the New Media Expo. New Media Expo is a large conference where …
Read MoreAn LGBT Year in Review: 2013 was a good year
This past year has been a good year for LGBT equality. As with anything there is still so much more work to be done, but this year was something I am proud to have witnessed occur. You can see the shift in consciousness happening, in the United States. However, there …
Read More6 lessons from my past to help you
A few years back I wrote about all of the lesion I learned in 2012. Believe or not, all these years later, I continue to have a great response to that post, click here to take a look. Because of the response I received I decided to do it again and …
Read MoreFacebook Went Red for Marriage Equality: Here are the Results
This is another post where I get my ‘geek on’. I have a love hate relationship with numbers. I am notorious for transposing numbers when I am trying to dial a phone, seriously it’s painful to watch. However, I have a love for numbers and statistics especially when they are so …
Read MoreWhat is your ‘why’? How to create your story. Part 3 of 3
This post is the final installment of my”What is your why?” series. In the previous 2 posts in the series we’ve been covering reasons why the LGBT community matters to you. In the very first blog post I explained to you that the very first question I ask any potential customer is “Why do you …
Read MoreWhat is your ‘why’? A poor why is a dead end. Part 2 of 3
This post is part 2 of a 3 part series that explores the reason why you are interested in marketing to the LGBT community. In part 1 I gave you a few things to think about and even provided a worksheet to help you through the process. You can go back and …
Read MoreAmerica’s LGBT Buying Power
In November 2013 we received word that the LGBT buying power in the United States has grown, again. This was no surprise as it continues to grow year after year. I’m happy to report to you that the buying power of America’s LGBT adult population was approximately $830 billion in 2013. That was up from the …
Read MoreWhat is your ‘why’? Why do you want to market to the LGBT community? Part 1 of 3
The past few years have been years of creation for me. I’ve written and published 2 books, which you can find here, and I created a series of online products to help you master your communications and marketing skills when working with the LGBT community. During this process I had a …
Read MoreHow to be more inclusive in your LGBT marketing… one small change (Part 2 of 2)
This is part 2 of a 2 part series. Previously I talked about one small change you can make in your LGBT marketing to be more inclusive of LGBT clients and potential LGBT clients. The one small change was to add LGBT imagery to your existing website or marketing materials. …
Read MoreHow to be more inclusive in your LGBT marketing… one small change (Part 1 of 2)
This is part 1 of a 2 part series. I previously had a meeting with a small business owner in my area. We’ve known of each other for a while but we were gathering to understand more about each others business. This particular business owner has had a catering business …
Read MoreWhat do the Great Depression and LGBT equality have in common?
In many past blog posts the concept of generational differences within the LGBT community have come up. I’ve never delved deeper into it for a lack of a good way to compare and contrast the generations. In a post I wrote about the term Queer, the generational difference came up. …
Read MoreHow not to advise same-sex couples…
A quick note from Jenn – When my dear friend and colleague Diane reached out to me upset with what she had just read I was empathetic. However, rather than voice my thoughts on the matter I invited her to share her thoughts and opinion here on my blog. It …
Read More#022: Expert Interview with Joanne Sprague
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Episode_022_JoanneSprague-FriendFactor.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Have a listen to episode #22 of the Gay Business & Marketing Made Easy podcast! You’ll hear the story of Joanne Sprague, the Re-Founder & CEO of Friendfactor the “LGBT Rights Organization for Straight Friends.” Listen to the podcast, and sign up …
Read MoreHow do you recover from sticking your foot in your mouth?
I had the pleasure of previously speaking at the Travel Gay Canada conference in Niagara, Ontario. I had a great time presenting to a crowd of travel professionals who were eager to know how to communicate more effectively with their current and potential LGBT clients. Towards the tail end of …
Read MoreShould you ever say "those people" when talking about the LGBT community?
I’m a firm believer that the phrase “those people” should be banned from your vocabulary regardless of what group of people you are talking about. But since my blog is focused on the LGBT community we will talk about “those people” today. Did you see what I did there? All …
Read MorePinkwashing: What does it mean?
This is a guest post written by Patrick Carland One thing that must be understood is that, on the whole, the LGBT community is far more cognizant of various social and political issues than the average population. This is on account not of any inherent intellectualism or erudition, but is …
Read MoreWhat do fanny packs and personal branding have to do with one another?
I am writing to you 38,000 feet above as I fly clear across the country to San Francisco, California. I started off my day in Hartford, Connecticut’s small airport, Bradley International. One of my favorite things about traveling is the seemingly unlimited amount of people watching I can do. I …
Read MoreHotel check-in: Will that be one bed or two, ladies?
Annually, I attend the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce conference. I write about it, talk about it on the podcast and meet many of you there. The conference never disappoints, in fact each year I’m not sure how they are going to top the previous year, but somehow …
Read MoreMalesploitation – Revolutionary, or more of the same?
This is a guest post written by Patrick Carland Perhaps you’ve seen it in the Kraft Zesty Italian commercial, or on the covers of Abercrombie and Fitch bags and catalogs, but more and more, businesses all over are realizing that heterosexual men are not the only ones with sex drives, …
Read More#019: Authentic Gay Marketing: Why Authenticity Matters… [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/Episode_19_Authentic_Gay_Marketing.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS After hearing so much chatter about the CEO of Barilla Pasta and his anti-gay remarks, I have my own thoughts on this. I take a different angle than you may expect and share it all in today’s podcast. …
Read MoreThree Myths About Bisexual People
This is a guest post written by Patrick Carland It’s common to think of sexuality as being entirely dependent on one’s specific gender identity and outward indicators thereof, and mainstream culture has an unfortunate habit of reduce sexual orientation to the binary of straight and gay, ignoring everything in between. …
Read MoreAre you the only gay people in your neighborhood?
This question comes from a conversation I was having with a friend in San Francisco. I was in the Bay Area working on a client project and while I was at lunch one day we got to talking about the differences of the city and the suburbs. I think I live in …
Read MoreDealing with opposition when preparing an LGBT outreach plan
This post was prompted by a question I received from an Australian reader of this blog. After reading my book he reached out to me with the following statement – Thanks for creating this – lots of hard work have produced a great result. One thing I am curious about – …
Read MoreWhere are the lesbians? From a gay millennial’s point of view
This is a guest post written by Patrick Carland Contrary to popular belief, LGBT people do not have built in gaydars. Although sometimes we wish we did, as it would certainly make life a lot easier! One of the biggest struggles LGBT people go through every day is simply trying …
Read More6 ways using "Google Alerts" in your business can help you beat the competition
We live in a competitive world, right? Sometimes its a downright dog-eat-dog world. Each day as business owners and entrepreneurs we are trying to figure out what is going to make us better than our competition. In my personal experience understanding what is going on in your industry and knowing …
Read MoreWhere can I find good LGBT stock photography?
This post comes from a phone call I received – a Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) from a Fortune 500 that I have worked with in the past gave me a call and asked me, “Do you know of any good places to purchase LGBT stock photography?” I sighed and said “Unfortunately there …
Read MoreQueer: What does it mean?
This is a guest post written by Patrick Carland If you’ve been paying even a bit of attention to current LGBT politics, you may have seen the word “queer” thrown around more than once. And if you’re someone from my generation, IE born at any point before the ‘90s, you …
Read MoreThe power of making a commitment
This blog is going to be more personal than usual and will discuss the power of making a commitment, how important we are as brands of our own companies, as well as the importance of setting goals. I want to share a story and experience with you that put me …
Read MoreAre you ‘Living the Gay Lifestyle?’
It seems like forever ago that I wrote a blog talking about the ‘Gay Lifestyle.’ In that post I boldly exclaimed ‘There is no such thing as a gay lifestyle!” I stand by that statement but feel the need to elaborate. There is no such thing as a gay lifestyle …
Read More#014: Expert Interview with Mike Brooks, Nuclear Chowder Marketing [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Episode014_MikeBrooks.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Listen to this interview with small business internet marketing expert, Mike Brooks. We talk about knowing your target market, the advantages of Facebook and much, much more! Below are the items mentioned in this episode of the podcast: Nuclear Chowder Marketing Nuclear …
Read More#013: Marriage Equality & Marketing [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Episode_013.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS In this episode of the Gay Business & Marketing Made Easy Podcast we talk about the implications DOMA, ENDA and Prop 8 all have on your marketing efforts within your business. Marriage Equality is here for many so you’ll learn how to …
Read MoreDOMA, and ENDA and Prop 8, oh my!
A few years back there was a lot of buzz around the Supreme Court’s repeal of Section 3 of DOMA, the media was atwitter with acronyms and buzzwords that left even some in the LGBT community scratching their heads. To save you the time of researching each one, I’ll explain to you …
Read MoreSam McClure Interview for “30 Days – 30 Voices – Stories from America’s LGBT Business Leaders” [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_060413_SamMcClure.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Expert Interview with Sam McClure of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Washington D.C. Links mentioned in the show: National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) NGLCC National Business & Leadership Conference But You Don’t Look Gay… Green Eggs …
Read MoreThe power of social media for social justice
I want to talk a bit about the power of social media for getting your message out, whether it is intentional or unintentional. Social media can be a very powerful business tool if harnessed correctly. If used incorrectly it can be incredibly damaging to your business. I want to share two …
Read MoreWhat’s wrong with the "Non-Traditional Family?"
Have you heard the phrase “Non-Traditional Family” when being marketed or sold to? Perhaps you have and haven’t noticed or perhaps you have and you cringe when you hear that phrase? Either way we are going to talk about the Non-Traditional Family today. This is an area of interest to …
Read MoreHow to implement Inclusion Based Marketing
I want to discuss inclusion based marketing. The idea of inclusion based marketing was the subject of one of my first podcasts, episode 11. In that episode I addressed diversity and inclusion and how those two play together in marketing efforts. Diversity and inclusion are very similar, but I also feel …
Read More#011: Diversity & Inclusion and Business Opportunities, Oh My! [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_011_InclusionBusinessOpportunities.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS In this episode of the podcast we talk about the shift from diversity to inclusion. We discuss supplier diversity and the many opportunities it presents for your business. And we talk about multiple ‘wins of the week’ for both my business and several …
Read MoreWhat’s the buzz about the ‘gay dollar’? … and why you should care.
I talk a lot about brand loyalty within the LGBT community and how important of a factor that is. In this post I want to talk about the size of the LGBT market in terms of buying power and how you can use that knowledge in marketing your business. You’ve probably heard …
Read MoreHave you been offended by being called a lesbian? Read this!
This post around business etiquette within the LGBT community comes from a direct experience I had not so long ago. I am going to start off with the moral of the story, then share the actual story. Moral: If you are offended that someone would assume that you were part …
Read More#010: Expert Interview with Justin Nelson, National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Episode010_Justin_Nelson_NGLCC.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Listen to Justin Nelson, co-founder of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), share valuable insights on business and equality. I had a chance to talk with him and get his inspiring answers to the set of questions below. Listen …
Read More#009: Online Marketing Tips & Tricks [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_009_OnlineMarketingTips.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS In this episode of the Gay Business & Marketing Made Easy Podcast I give you an inside look at the upcoming ‘30 Days – 30 Voices – Stories from America’s LGBT Business Leaders’ podcast project that goes live on June 1st! I …
Read MoreAlly versus Advocate: What’s the difference?
In this post I would like to talk about the differences between an ally to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and an advocate for the LGBT community. It hadn’t occurred to me that some may confuse the two until recently. I had a conversation recently and in it …
Read MoreMarketing yourself in 60 seconds – 5 tips for a killer elevator pitch
A couple of years ago I had a chance to network with the local LGBT chamber of commerce here in Connecticut for the first time as just a member. For many years I’ve been running the organization and always actively promoted what the chamber did but never my business. It was my …
Read More#008: Expert Interview with Heather Cox, Certify My Company [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Episode008_Heather_Cox_CMC.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Listen to this great (and entertaining) interview with Heather Cox as we discuss – • Supplier Diversity • LGBT Business Certification • Certification as a marketing tool • Buying from each other I had a chance to sit down with Heather Cox …
Read MoreMarriage Equality is Coming: Get your marketing plan ready!
Years ago the hot topic of the moment was the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in the Proposition 8 case which challenged California’s ban on same-sex marriage and the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) case. I was personally hooked on MSNBC specifically watching Rachel Maddow. There was plenty of talk around moral …
Read More#007: Listener Question Extravaganza! [Podcast]
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: RSS
http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_007_ListenerQuestionExtravaganza.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS In this episode of the podcast we cover three specific listener questions about marketing to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community! This episode answers the following 3 questions submitted by listeners and readers… Question #1 comes from a voice mail from …
Read MoreAre you saying "That’s so gay?" Stop.
There are always those expressions that can get under your skin. For me, one of those phrases is “That’s so gay.” It definitely seems to be more of a young adult and adolescent phrase but I’ve caught an adult or two or three saying it as well. I would equate …
Read MoreThe Damaging Effects of Negative Stereotypes
You may or may not recall a few year ago there was an article titled “Feds Spend $1.5 Million to Study Why Lesbians Are Fat.” It stated “The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $1.5 million to study biological and social factors for why “three-quarters” of lesbians are obese and …
Read MoreBe SMART: 5 steps to measuring your progress (Part 6 of 6)
Wow, we are finally at the conclusion of the 6 part series about Maximizing Your LGBT Outreach with a Solid Plan. I have enjoyed covering the 5 parts of creating an effective plan with you. From determining who you are marketing to, to figuring out how you are better than the competition …
Read More
Connect with
on Social
Connect with
