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Stuff to Get, Stuff to Give:
Holiday Link Love and More
 I'-m not prone to creating one of those annoying "best of" lists. You know the ones, "Best Social Media Tools of 2008," "Best Locations to Start a New Business," and the like.
Get stuff
But in the spirit of the season, I'm feeling like I want to point you, our subscribers, to some incredibly useful resources. All are free and each one I can honestly say I recommend from personal experience:
Blogs with killer marketing advice
· 123socialmedia.com- the very latest insights about social media from self-proclaimed geek and online innovator Barry Hurd.
· catseyemarketingblog.com- now how did this one get in here? Yes, it's us. Stop by sometime for a few extra marketing tips to help you tell your story and get the sale.
· chrisbrogan.com- president of Media Marketing Labs, blogger Chris Brogran helps firms understand how to use social media tools to build business.
· copyblogger.com- Brian Clark's brilliant site on the craft of blogging. Useful how-to articles and advice on becoming an "A" list blogger.
· IttyBiz.com- tips, advice, and motivation for very small businesses and home-based entrepreneurs. Blogger with an attitiude.
· menwithpens.ca- outstanding writing, graphic design and marketing advice from three Canadian bloggers. Occasionally edgy, but highly entertaining.
· remarkable-communication.com- calling herself "the marketer for people who hate marketing," Sonia Simone blogs about creating better customer relationships with incredibly effective communication. You'll learn a lot from her.
An interesting website
· alltop.com- The tagline, aggregation without aggravation, says it all. Founded by Guy Kawasaki, this "online magazine rack" allows you with just a click to scan the best websites and blogs on any given topic (and subscribe if you want). Saves hours and hours of research.
Give stuff
Okay, getting stuff is fun. But giving stuff is better. Here's where I tell you about my two most favorite charities in the world. I'll be blogging off and on about these two nonprofits through 2009 because I have "adopted" them both.
If you have even a 10- or 20-dollar bill, you can do wondrous things because I know firsthand that both of these organizations use your donation wisely and in some cases are able to multiply it tenfold or more through corporate matches:
www.WorldVision.org/GiftCatalog- Having been a manager for World Vision, I can honestly say that this organization has changed the lives of millions of kids and their families worldwide. I traveled to sub-Sahara Africa to see for myself. Give a cash gift in the name of someone special and provide a dairy goat, clean water, food, farming tools or other basic necessities for people living in extreme poverty. Make a donation online and change a life.
www.renton.ciswa.org- In addition to family social support services and mentoring for at-risk children, Communities In Schools has a Weekend Backpack Program. Thanks to a partnership with the local food bank, children from high-poverty neighborhoods are sent home on Fridays with nutritious food, enough for two full meals on Saturday and Sunday. So they arrive at school on Monday mornings ready to learn. Donate online and specify Weekend Backpack Program.
There you go. A little "getting" and a little "giving." Happy holidays from Bob and Judy at Cat's Eye Marketing and Marketing Hotspots.
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