Do you know your business's history?
Don't wait for an anniversary! Do the research now, and reap
the PR benefits!
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| | Our EBook will help you leverage your anniversary and do your business history now! |
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Can a history trail benefit your business economically?
Absolutely! And it will
also benefit your historical nonprofits, community,
and everyone involved. Here's a "done for you" process to follow.
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 | | Yes, the focus is on women's history trails, but the same ideas apply to any other kind of history trail! |
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I admire Ali more than
I can say! Check out her website and products,
and you'll see why!!!
From Our Affiliate |
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Greetings!
I can hardly believe that 2011 starts TOMORROW! I don't know about you, but I can't wait. A friend of mine who is big on numerology explained to me that the number "11" signifies doors waiting to open. Isn't that wonderful? In this final edition of Connections for 2010, I propose a mindset shift for 2011 - new ways of thinking about history that will benefit your business (whether you're a for-profit or nonprofit) and the communities you serve. It's time to blow up old ways of thinking! Below are three ideas you can jump on first thing Monday morning. Why not? You have everything to gain. Meanwhile, as this year closes, please accept my sincere gratitude for your interest, your support, and the ideas some of you have shared with me. It's all been so rewarding, and such an incredible ride since I first launched History Smiths in March. Where DID the time go? Happy New Year to all, be well, and keep in touch! BonnieP.S. Here's a special gift for you, if you love San Francisco as I do. Before I launched History Smiths, I did a title search and discovered that "History Smith" was taken by someone in San Francisco. Jim Smith, the man behind the company, turns out to be a local historian and expert on San Francisco history who has published, appears on local TV, etc. I think we were separated at birth! Jim and I have kept in touch via email, and he recently sent me this video clip from a show he appeared on about San Francisco's now-deceased Playland at the Beach. Enjoy!P.P.S. I decided to share some recent comments from clients with you, and one from an admirer of my historical work whose respect means the world to me. Scroll to the very end and you'll see what I mean! |
Mindset Shift for 2011:
Think Differently About History!
 | | New year, new mindshifts! |
by Bonnie Hurd Smith
It's 2011, and it's time to blow up the old ways of thinking about history. History is NOT a musty, dusty, irrelevant "thing" you visit in a museum. Nor is it separate from our lives as citizens or business people off in its own sphere.
Instead, history - our story - is an integral part of everything. Business-wise, it can be a powerful marketing and public relations tool. Because it gets you into non-sales environments, you will attract customers, boost customer loyalty and your reputation.
So, please blow up any limiting notions of history that might still be lurking in the recesses of your 2010 mind, and embrace a new and winning approach.
Here are three things you can do to get it going.
1) Contact your historical society or public library to find
out which historical events will be celebrated in 2011.
Someone's birthday? A significant anniversary? Women's History Month? And if the answer is none of the above, be proactive! Ask how you can help them create a program or event. For a minimal investment, you will attract enormous good will in your community and media attention if you play it right. And your involvement should go far beyond writing a check. Really get in there, and make sure you secure the highest possible visibility by interacting with people in the planning stages, at the event, and through all promotional activities.
2) Delve into your own history.
Many businesses wait until they are celebrating a milestone anniversary before investigating their history, but there are PR opportunities to be found at any time. Hire a historian or researcher to do the work. Your historical society probably knows one if you don't. Find out your founder's birthday and use that as an excuse for a special offer, press release, and event. Look for connections to potential markets - communities served in the past, organizations your founder belonged to or supported, you get the idea. Look for any possible legitimate link that can get you in front of new audiences. (For more on this, we wrote the book! )
3) Explore ways to partner with your historical society or museum.
Have them publish an article about your business's history in their newsletter. Co-host a lecture about your business or industry history. Offer a special deal to your customers if they join the historical society or museum. Display photographs from the museum's collection and promote their exhibits. You get the idea - find ways that forge a true partnership, a joint venture, where both partners benefit economically.
Three simple action steps you can take with your new mindset shift. You will probably have to enlighten others along the way, but that's fine! Once you start down this path and provide this kind of leadership, the rewards will come back to you many times over.
You will benefit, so will the historical nonprofits involved, and so will the communities you serve.
But it all starts with your mindset shift!
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Here's what people are saying...
"When I knew my company was going to celebrate its 100th anniversary, I wanted to do something lasting and meaningful. I contacted Bonnie at History Smiths because I knew she had the ability and reputation to do the historical research on my family-owned business, and the marketing skills to create a brochure, display, and media materials. My existing customers were delighted, and I attracted new clients because of the attention we received."
-Paul K. Soucy, Soucy Insurance Agency, Inc.
"When my colleague Jim Whidden and I decided to develop an educational seminar to teach people the right way to restore an old house, we knew we would need marketing help from someone who was plugged into the history community. We wanted to reach historical societies, public libraries, and the kinds of audiences they attract. Bonnie had a fine reputation in the local historical community, and knew how to promote, which is an unusual combination. She also helped us with some of the local historical content. Within a year, we held a dozen or so seminars throughout our target region, attracted over 200 people, media attention, and new customers. We were thrilled."
-Mathew Cummings, Cummings Architects, LLC
"Bonnie brings knowledge, people skills, a cooperating persona and deep technical competence to her projects ... the 375th was a much better celebration for melding Bonnie's ideas into the year long program in 2009."
-Nat Pulsifer, Chair, Ipswich, MA 375th Anniversary Celebration
"I was chief representative of the Massachusetts National Guard in the effort to debut Armory Park in Salem Massachusetts in 2001. Ms. Bonnie Smith was my counterpart on behalf of the Peabody Essex Museum. Due largely to her extensive expertise, energy and tact, the project concluded with complete success. The dedication, parade and black tie social event shed much positive publicity on the City of Salem, the Peabody Essex Museum, and the Massachusetts National Guard."
-Brig. General Albert A. Mangone, Massachusetts National Guard
"Bonnie Hurd Smith is a thoughtful writer who brings a strong sense of integrity and commitment to any project. She can always be counted on to go wherever the research leads her. Bonnie thoroughly researches the subjects - and that paired with her knowledge of history and strong interviewing skills provide wonderfully insightful, well written stories. She is a pleasure to work with."
-Caroline Forrester, Editor, North Shore Life and Northwest Life, GateHouse Media
"Your book has arrived. Bravo! Bravo! What a monumental, worthy, welcome piece of work. You did it and it looks great. And what long-range value it will have - there's really no way to measure how far and lasting its reach will be, and all because you did it. Warmest congratulations and fond regards."
-David McCullough, Pulitzer prize-winning author (upon receiving Bonnie's book The Letters I Left Behind: Judith Sargent Murray Papers, Letter Book 10)
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