How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan (A 5 Part Series)
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 MoreAre you on Twitter? Knock it off with the Auto Direct Messages already
Are you on Twitter? Do you enjoy your time on Twitter? Are you annoyed by the barrage of spam coming your way from auto Direct Message’s (aka DM’s)? Yeah, me too. In this post I want to talk about why your auto DMing people is damaging your social reputation. I …
Read More4 ways an RSS feed can help you become an industry expert
Part of what I try to accomplish within this blog is to share with you things that I feel can help improve your marketing efforts towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. In this post I’d like to introduce you to RSS feeds. A few years ago I made the decision …
Read MoreThe benefits of a strong "Call-to-Action"
In this post I’d like to talk about calls-to-action. This has come up in a myriad of conversations lately and it seems appropriate to talk about it here. I previously recorded a podcast episode that you can click here to listen to where I talked a great deal about calls to action and …
Read MoreThe rule of thirds for your social media strategy
Have you heard of the rule of thirds before? Perhaps you’ve heard of it from a photographers perspective? That’s where I first learned the term. In photography terms the rule of thirds helps you frame out your shot in the most interesting way. Rather than having your subject portrayed in …
Read MoreHistory of the Gay Pride Flags
This blog post is a guest submission from Jen Grant of American Flags. History of the Gay Pride Flags The Gay Pride Flag as we know it today is a very unusual thing. Much like the flag used in the Olympic Games, it knows no boundaries and accepts all, …
Read MoreWhy is brand loyalty so important in the LGBT community?
So this topic is about brand loyalty within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. At a networking event I participated in an exercise where we had to teach our groups something interesting about our business. I threw out some jarring statistics about the LGBT community to get the conversation …
Read MoreWhy are so many lesbians invisible within the LGBT community?
Many of you know that I love, love, love Twitter! One of the many great things about Twitter is the conversation and dialogue that you can have with pretty much anyone around the world. It’s pretty amazing to think about. I post all of my blog posts to Twitter in …
Read MoreWhat’s the deal with the lack of LGBT stock photography?
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 just doesn’t seem to be a good spot.” …
Read MoreThe Power of Personalization in Your Marketing
In this post I want to talk about personalizing your marketing. I want you to take a moment and think about what type of marketing you are doing in your business. Go grab a piece of paper or open up a blank document and write down your top 5 ways …
Read MoreRemind me again what a DINK is…
One of the early terms I remember very clearly when I took my first marketing class in college was DINK. If you are a marketing person and you are reading this chances are you are very familiar with what a DINK is. For those of you who don’t know what …
Read MoreIs your target market ‘the ladies across the street?’
I grew up in a small town where diversity was scarce, really scarce. I’m not sure how or when being inclusive of everyone became such a part of who I was but I remember as early as 11 being inclusive regardless of race or religion specifically in my very non-diverse …
Read MoreHow dare you want to teach people to market to the gay community!?
Previously, I shared an email I received with you regarding a crank pot who didn’t really agree or understand what it is that I do. He was responding to a message I sent to him via LinkedIn. I know the response came from a straight man – and someone I …
Read MoreReally you don’t look gay – what’s the big deal?
Have you ever said “but you don’t look gay” to someone? Or has anyone ever said this to you? I write many of my blog posts to provide guidance on how to handle any situation thrown your way in a business setting. In this post we are going to talk about the …
Read MoreMarketing to the LGBT community is not for everyone
In this post I will elaborate on something I’ve touched upon in the past. Previously I wrote a blog post called “Dealing with opposition when preparing an LGBT outreach.” This post was in response to a reader question I received. In my response to him I stated “For anyone who is considering or …
Read More#82: How to Impact 1 Million LGBT People [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/Epi82-How-to-Impact-1-Million-LGBT-People.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Download the Transcript here! Jenn T. Grace – Episode 82 – How to Impact 1 Million LGBT People Thank you for tuning in to episode 82 of the podcast. In this episode I discuss a small mindset shift that I’ve had over …
Read More#81: Growing Your LGBT Business with Kimberly Vaughan [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/Epi81-Growing-LGBT-Business-with-Kimberly-Vaughan.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Download the Transcript here! Jenn T. Grace – Episode 81 – Growing Your LGBT Business with Kimberly Vaughan Thank you for tuning in to episode 81 of the podcast! You may have noticed that I’ve rebranded the podcast to ‘Professional Branding for …
Read MoreThe #1 Step You Must Take Before Starting to Write Your Book
You have the courage to write a book. Check. You know what your end goal is. Check. You’ve seen how your book can change lives. Check. So, now what? It’s probably time to start writing. Wrong. Before you begin to put pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard, you …
Read More#78: The 6 Steps to using Content Marketing to create your Personal Brand [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/epi_78_6-content-marketing-tips-to-develop-your-personal-brand.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Download the Transcript here! Jenn T Grace – Ep 78 – The 6 Steps to using Content Marketing to create your Personal Brand Thank you for tuning in to episode 78 of the podcast. In this episode I’m discussing the 6 steps …
Read MoreYour Book has the Power to Change Lives. Learn How to Channel It!
In the last blog post we talked about starting with the end in mind. Understanding why you are writing a book. You can read that here. I asserted that having the end goal in mind is critical and then perhaps getting started is your next step. Getting started is certainly …
Read More#77: The Top 5 Fears New LGBT Authors Have and How to Conquer Them! [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/epi_77_top-5-fears-of-new-LGBT-authors.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Download the Transcript here! Jenn T Grace – Ep 77 – The Top 5 Fears New LGBT Authors Have and How to Conquer Them! Thank you for tuning in to episode 77 of the podcast. In this episode I’m tackling the top …
Read MoreStarting with the end in mind. Why are you writing a book?
Starting with the end in mind. Why are you writing a book? In the last blog post we talked about how having the courage to commit to sharing your story with the world is the first step. To be brave and to say, “Yes, I am going to do this!” …
Read More#75: Planning for 2016 – Will you Become an Author This Year? [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/epi_75_Planning-for-2016-will-you-become-an-author-this-year.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Download the Transcript here! Jenn T Grace – Ep 75 – Planning for 2016 – Will you become an author this year_ Thank you for tuning into episode 75 of my podcast – and the first episode of 2016! In this episode …
Read More#74: The LGBT Events in 2015 that have Changed History w/ Sam McClure [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/episode-74-The-LGBT-Events-in-2015-that-have-Changed-History-with-Sam-McClure.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Thank you for listening to episode 74 of the podcast, my final episode of the year. In this episode I speak to Sam McClure, Senior Vice President of NGLCC. Some of you may recognize Sam’s name, as I also had the opportunity …
Read More#73: What you need to know about the Human Rights Campaign, Corporate Equality Index
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/epi-73-gay-business-marketing-hrc-corporate-equality-index-replay-of-episode-53.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Hey all – this episode is a re-airing of episode 53, so if you already heard episode 53, come back for a new episode in episode 74! In today’s episode I cover a few topics. The first is I answer a listener …
Read More#72: How Does Confidence Impact Your LGBT Marketing Approach? [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/episode_72_How-Does-Confidence-Impact-Your-LGBT-Marketing-Approach.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Today we are talking about how confidence impact your LGBT marketing approach. I’m bringing this question to you because I’ve had two conversations with prospective clients in the last couple of weeks, and both of them – with two very different businesses …
Read MoreAmerica’s 2014 LGBT Buying Power
In 2014 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 $884 billion in 2014. That was up from the …
Read More#71: Simple Tactics for Reaching LGBT Consumers [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/episode_71_Simple-tactics-for-reaching-LGBT-consumers.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Thank you for listening to episode 71 of the podcast. On my last podcast I was able to answer a question from a reader and it was nice to get back to that type of podcast! I decided this week I would …
Read More#70: An Open Letter from a Self Admitted Homophobe [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/Episode_70_An-open-letter-from-a-self-admitted-homophobe.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Thanks for listening to episode #70 of the podcast. Today’s episode of the podcast isn’t an interview, it’s a response to an email I received from a reader. It’s been a few months since I’ve spent a podcast just talking to you, …
Read More#68: Michele Wierzgac | Keynote speaker, leadership guru, and author of “The Talking Stick According To Michele: A Guide For Reflecting On Your Personal Brand” [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/episode_68_michele_wierzgac.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Thanks for joining me for episode #68 of the podcast. My guest today is Michele Wierzgac, who I’m so glad shared her story with me and now you. Michele’s journey is an interesting one; from the volleyball court to the main stage …
Read More#63: Expert Interview with Alice Derock, Entrepreneur & Founder of Wet For Her
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/epi-63-gay-business-marketing-made-easy-alice-derock.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Below are links mentioned in today’s podcast: Wet For Her Listen to the episode by clicking the play button below! Would you prefer to read the transcript than listen to the episode? No problem! Read the transcript below. AUDIO TITLE: Episode …
Read MoreInternally Communicating LGBT Marketing Strategies to your Employees
In the blog post titled “Marketing to the LGBT Community” I pointed out two critical components for effectively targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Authenticity and transparency. These two core principles are paramount when targeting the LGBT community because many LGBT consumers are more aware of LGBT …
Read MoreTips and Techniques for Successfully Marketing to the LGBT Community
If you have found this blog post then it means we have at least one thing in common; you are looking into marketing to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and I am the one who can help teach you what you need to know. This blog contains …
Read More#58: Is Authenticity in the Workplace Dead? [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/epi-58-gay-business-marketing-is-authenticity-dead.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Welcome to the podcast! Today’s podcast episode is going to be a dive into the archives going back to episode #19. I’ve been very busy and haven’t had a chance to record a brand new podcast, however I do talk about my …
Read MoreThe Business Case for Marriage Equality
In 2015 Marriage Equality FINALLY became the law of the land, after more than four decades of fighting for the freedom to marry. The Freedom to Marry website contains great information on the history of this journey, how it happened and why it matters. I’ve included some language verbatim from …
Read More#57: Expert Interview – Marketing Tips for Reaching Lesbians [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/epi-57-ebone-belle-marketing-to-lesbians_1.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS In this episode of the podcast I talk with Ebone Bell – founder and managing editor of Tagg Magazine. If you have been looking to market to the lesbian community but haven’t been certain on where to start, this podcast will point …
Read MoreGet SMART about your progress: How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan (Part 5 of 5)
This is part 5 of 5 of the 5 part series of How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan. Wow, we are finally at the conclusion of the 5 part series about How to build a simple LGBT outreach plan. I have enjoyed covering the 5 parts of creating an effective …
Read MoreBuild 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 MoreWhat is so symbolic about the rainbow within the LGBT community?
During a meeting I was talking about pride parades and made a comment about rainbows. One of the people I was sitting with said “I had no idea rainbows are a sign of gay pride.” It never occurred to me that people wouldn’t know that rainbows were a symbol of lesbian, …
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 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 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 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 MorePeacemaking in the Gay Dog Wars…
This blog post is from a colleague of mine, Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton. She is a mediator who works with LGBT couples and their pets. She shares her perspective of what happens when married LGBT couples divorce and how that impacts the couple’s pets. She’s a wealth of knowledge so I …
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 MoreAre you "happy to deal with LGBT people?" Err, what?
By now you know that most of my blog posts comes directly from experiences in my day-to-day life. As a very out lesbian and owner of a business catering to education about the LGBT community, I have an endless supply of things to write about, which I am very grateful for. …
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 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 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 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 More#009: Online Marketing Tips & Tricks [Podcast]
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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 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 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 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 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 …
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 …
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