Top 10 Things To Do in Nevis

#1 -- Go sailing with Irene & Steve on The Star. Not only were they really cool and took us to the best snorkeling areas around the island, they also fed us a great lunch from their own organic garden. Seriously, it was fabulous!

#2 -- Drink Killer Bee's @ Sunshine's on the beach. Need I say more?

#3 -- Let Calvin Klein take you on a tour around the island....as

#4 -- Rent a scooter to tour the island but be careful of the stray donkeys!

#5 -- Eat lobster at Gallipot.

#6 -- Sing karaoke on Thursday night with the empty nesters and local staff at Nisbet Plantation.

#7-- Stay at Nisbet Plantation.

#8-- Keep your camera handy so you won't miss a good shot of the very fast monkeys lurking in the trees....everywhere!

#9 -- Lay in the closest hammock for hours and read.

#10 -- Be nice to EVERYONE because they all know each other in this island of 10,000 people. And many are related.

Dallas Home Renovations

Besides research, my life has been taken over with trying to renovate a home in Lakewood area of Dallas and I have decided...rennovating is not fun.

However, I have had several friends and family who have been

But if you're looking to renovate and trying to decide what to do, how to personalize AND make it ultra cool, here are a few things that others have taught me along the way.

With the help of a few of my friends who actually enjoy the hunting experience,

Local Dallas:
Dulce
Antiques Moderne
Lula B's

Insight into Social Media Users

Step right up folks! It’s the social media bandwagon. I’m on it, you’re on it, and with the recent study from Anderson Analytics, marketers better be on it. At this point in the game, most marketers are, but this study reveals some interesting findings on what your preferred social network says about you.

Apparently, I’m all about the business or the benjamins, because I prefer LinkedIn over other social networking sites. I’m also more likely to own top of the line electronic gadgets, like HD televisions, blu ray players and digital cameras.

The study found 60% of Americans are social network users, but the study defined a user as someone who had uses a social network at least once a month. The average user collectively spends about an hour each day on social networking sites.

So what does your social networking site say about you? Or more importantly, what will this study tell marketers, specifically online marketers? Here are some findings that really jumped out at me:

• 52% of social networkers had friended or become a fan of at least one brand on Facebook. Getting individual endorsements on Facebook can be a HUGE marketing accomplishment, because when someone becomes a fan of a brand on Facebook, he or she is saying “Brand X is apart of who I am and I want everyone to know about it.” The brand has not only produced brand loyalty in said-user, but that brand is also reaping the benefits of word-of-mouth advertising. When asked their feelings on seeing a brand on a social network, 17% felt positive and 19% said negative.

• When asked if they want more communication from brands 20% said yes. I think this percentage would be higher if it’s the right kind of communication. If brands communicate the message their target consumers want to hear and in a way they want to hear it, then they will want to hear from the brand.

• Social media users are four times more vocal than non-users online, such as commenting on discussion boards, forums, blogs, etc., which means they would be more likely to be vocal about announcing on the World Wide Web their feelings, both positive and negative, about a brand experience.

• Out of the four user groups defined by the study, Anderson said social media mavens are the key group for marketers not only because of their high incomes and decision making power, but also their large social media footprints can make them excellent brand allies or evangelists.

• Users preferring Twitter are big into pop culture.. movies, music, TV and reading and their buying habits mirror that. They are more likely to buy movies, books, shoes and cosmetics online than other network users. So marketers, take the hint and get on Twitter.

• LinkedIn users have the highest income averaging at $89,000, and they are also more interested in high-tech gadgets, as well as the gym, yoga, spa treatments, golf and tennis. Hello luxury and travel brand marketers.

I’d love to hear others take on these findings listed in more detail on Advertising Age.

Business opportunities: Finding the right "match"

The saying “when it rains it pours”, definitely applies to me right now. Last week while at the beach “relaxing”, I got eight requests for business proposals. Trust me, I’m not complaining, especially with the current economic situation, I am extremely thankful for this little problem.

This sudden wave of business requests has allowed me to think more in depth about the criteria I look for in a potential business opportunity. What do I want to get out of this and is it the right match? Much like choosing a mate, the key is making sure your needs match their needs. This will increase the chances of a successful business relationship.

To help choose the optimal business opportunities, I’ve developed a list of helpful questions to ask yourself prior to taking that step of writing out the business proposal:

1. Do I have an existing relationship with the person or company asking for my business?

If there is already an existing relationship, and I have had a positive experience with the client, then chances are, I am going to want to build on that relationship. Building on an existing relationship is ideal because I already know the company, and to an extent what type of results they expect out of a market research project.

2. If this is a new company requesting the work, do I want a relationship with them?

It is important to make sure that the person or company asking for my business is someone I want to work with. Is the project within the scope of the type research I want to do? How will working with them develop my business and skills in market research?

3. Is this project going to be worth my time and effort in terms of:

• Business development?

• Personal growth?

• Financial gain?

If I can say yes to at least two out of three of those categories, then I will most likely move forward in writing the proposal. If it doesn’t seem worth my time and effort, then what do I perceive within my business or personal life that would take precedence over this project? If the project doesn’t line up with the goals for my business, then I would be doing the client and myself a disservice by pursuing the opportunity.

Again, it’s all about matchmaking. Over the years, most of the proposals I’ve written have been based on a mutual agreement between the client and myself. Ensuring that I am a good match for the client and the client is a good match for me is the best way to keep those good business opportunities coming.