Matrix Group International

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  • Fire Your Broker Web site Redesign

    Fire Your Broker Web site Redesign

    Matrix Group collaborated with author and certified financial planner Kelly Campbell to launch a redesigned Web site for Fire Your Broker. The redesign features Kelly’s book Fire Your Broker, a practical guide to help individuals take over their financial futures and find the right broker.

    Our work included:

    • A new blog where Campbell addresses financial issues, and offers insightful tips on how to prepare for retirement and sustain financial security beyond one’s working years.
    • The incorporation of other social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter to help establish a fan and follower base.
    • The implementation of Expression Engine as the CMS.
    • A fresh look and feel that serves  that highlights Campbell’s expertise and perspectives on the nation’s brokerage industry.

    Visit Fire Your Broker

  • Integrating Traditional Marketing with Social Media

    Integrating Traditional Marketing with Social Media

    Grow Smart Business logoI had the pleasure of being part of a panel at today’s Grow Smart Biz conference, sponsored by Network Solutions.  Our topic was “Integrating Traditional Marketing with Social Media.”  Despite being the last panel of the day (we started around 4:20pm), I estimated that over 80% of the conference attendees attended the panel.  And by the number of questions raised, this is a hot topic for sure.

    You can read a nice recap of the panel on the Solutions are Power blog, but here were my take-aways: (more…)

  • The Beatles RockBand

    The Beatles RockBand

    The Beatles RockBand is the best. Love being able to harmonize. Love the dreamscapes.

  • Flight 93 National Memorial Web site

    Flight 93 National Memorial Web site

    Matrix Group worked with the Flight 93 Federal Advisory Commission and the Flight 93 Memorial Task Force, to design and launch the Flight 93 National Memorial Web site. The purpose of the site is to raise public awareness, funds, and commemorate the memorial, so that future generations may learn, and remember how the brave actions of few, can make a profound difference.

    Matrix work included:

    • A Web site that carries over design elements and functionality from the National Parks Web site to the Honor Flight 93 Web site.  Including, familiar navigation, imagery style and messaging.
    • A “Give Now” form, encouraging public engagement and donations.
    • Implementation of a user-friendly Content Management System (CMS)

    Visit the Flight 93 National Memorial Web site

  • SMCA and Local 19 Microsite and Campaign Branding

    SMCA and Local 19 Microsite and Campaign Branding

    Matrix Group collaborated with the Sheet Metal Contractors Association (SMCA) and Sheet Metal Workers Local 19, to create a microsite.  With the launch of the site, SMCA and Local 19 hope to help stimulate the region’s construction industry and create green jobs for their members, as well as educate the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley communities on the importance of HVAC systems to improve indoor air quality and reduce energy use.

    Our work included:

    • The creation of a new brand that unifies the local sheet metal industry under one umbrella. The brand incorporates key elements the mission of this joint effort.
    • A microsite specifically wrapped around the campaign, featuring green projects as well as reinforcing SMCA and Local 19’s expertise in HVAC.
    • An implementation of a content management system (CMS) to help keep the site fresh and up to date.

    Visit Green HVAC Solutions

  • Using the Crowd to Attract a Bigger Crowd To Your Events

    Using the Crowd to Attract a Bigger Crowd To Your Events

    CrowdI’m going to be a panelist at the Grow Smart Biz conference next Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC.   In my opinion, this conference will be a must-attend event for small business owners and entrepreneurs (more on that later).  This blog post is about how the conference planners are using the crowd to attract a bigger crowd. Here’s how:

    The planners of Grow Smart Biz have assembled a powerhouse group of speakers and panelists, which is not unusual for a conference.  What is new is this: the planners have actively engaged the speakers in promoting the conference through their blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, etc. In essence, the conference hosts are tapping into the vast networks of the speakers to promote the event. So, when Jill Foster, editor of the Women Grow Business blog and social media expert, tweets or blogs, the event is marketed to her over 3,000 followers.  So, if you’ve got big names keynoting at your next convention, why not ask them to update their status and give your event a boost? (more…)

  • “Just Try It, Mama” or Lessons from the 5-Year Old

    “Just Try It, Mama” or Lessons from the 5-Year Old

    Sunset Band graphicI have a rule when it comes to food: you have to try it before you render judgment. This is a rule that my husband and I have impressed on our son from the time he was little.  My mantra: Don’t tell me you don’t like it; you have to try it first.  In fact, I say this a lot when it comes to just about everything: food, places, experiences.  So imagine my surprise when CJ turned the tables on me and started saying, “Just try it, mama!”

    I had purchased Rock Band for the PS3 a few months ago after borrowing the game from a friend and falling in love with it.  Even though I know I’m not good at it, I love to sing, so my natural inclination was to sing.  For weeks, I would practice singing and even taught CJ to sing a couple of songs (Eye of the Tiger and Tempted).  One day, CJ said, “Mama, you should try drums.”  My immediate reaction was, “No, thanks, I like to sing.” Then CJ said, “Mama, just try it!” (more…)

  • Are You a Book Lover? Check Out Google Books!

    Google is doing it again.  Google is turning the publishing world upside down with Google Books, currently in beta.  Google Books allows the public to download more than a million public domain books in PDF and EPUB formats.

    Google has been quietly scanning the world’s books for inclusion into Google Books, which is both a search and a library.  Here’s how it works:

    • Users like you and me and go to Google Books and use the Book Search, which functions just like a regular Google search.
    • If the book is out of copyright, or the publisher has given Google permission, you’ll be able to see a preview of the book, and in some cases the entire text. If it’s in the public domain, you’re free to download a PDF copy.
    • Books that are still in copyright can sometimes be previewed; you’ll also find links to sites where you can purchase or borrow the book.
    • As long as you have a Google account, you can “add” books to your library for later viewing and downloading.

    For example, Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is in the public domain.  I can download a full copy of Huck Finn from Google Books. (more…)

  • Burglars Are Shopping for Victims Online

    Burglars Are Shopping for Victims Online

    Masked burglar in front of a laptopI’m online a lot and yes, I update my Facebook and Twitter accounts all day long. For some, updating their status on a minute by minute basis is almost a religion.  I follow some people who tweet ALL the details of their day, all day long.  Heck, I know where they are eating, that they’re on the metro, the books they’re reading, which family member is visiting, etc.  I have always been wary, however, of providing TMI (too much information) because it’s overkill and just not that interesting.  More recently, I have become extremely careful about updating my status and providing some types of information for security reasons.  Why?

    It turns that burglars and other criminals are using social media sites to figure out who is on vacation or otherwise away from their homes for an extended period of time. An article in Britain’s Daily Mail details burglary victims whose whereabouts where determined through social media sites. In a report titled “The Digital Criminal,” Britain’s Legal and General says “38 percent of users of sites such as Facebook and Twitter have posted status updates detailing their holiday plans and a third of people have posted status updates saying that they are away for the weekend.”  In other words, many of us are effectively advertising to would-be burglars that our homes are empty!  Eeeek! (more…)

  • The Myth of Multitasking

    The Myth of Multitasking

    Dad multitasking in the morningMultitasking is everywhere. People are texting while driving, e-mailing during meetings, talking on the phone while walking their kids, tweeting while watching TV and IMing while working. Many people even brag about their multitasking prowess.

    But can we really do two, even three, things at once?  Research shows that we can’t really multitask.  Not well at least.

    Way back in 2001, researchers at the American Psychological Association set out to find out if multitaskers are more efficient.  Their findings: multitasking isn’t more efficient; shifting mental gears wastes time. More recently, a group of researchers at Stanford University found that “(p)eople who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information do not pay attention, control their memory or switch from one job to another as well as those who prefer to complete one task at a time.”

    While I’m tempted to multitask on a regular basis, I’m trying really, really hard to break myself of the habit. For example, I don’t check e-mail on my phone anymore.  It turns out that when I’m away from the office, I’m usually in my car or in a meeting.  I know I shouldnt’ check e-mail from the car, so I don’t.  And clients typically pay me to pay attention during their meetings, so I don’t check e-mail then, either.  I will take detailed notes on my laptop during a meeting but the note taking helps me process and organize the discussions and information. (more…)