A bit of this and bit of that to chew on…

1. 3 Days, 6 Buses 150 People = 38 new business ideas. Another reality TV Show idea or Great Start-up Business? http://on.mash.to/hsnS6S

2. How to influence the influencers?  http://bit.ly/fIfitV

3. Mountainsmith is featured in Backpacker’s Gear Guide with 3 new products! TrueHero has the honor of working on a video shoot this week!  http://bit.ly/hNxecq

4. If you are doing some design work and looking for inexpensive software programs to use check out this Mashable article. http://on.mash.to/hDQZdK

5. Habitat for Humanity is committed to building every house to with green building designs and constructions. Good for people and good for the earth! http://bit.ly/9UCTNe

6. To shoot compelling video become the movie director. You’d be surprised how much you can learn about shooting video from the movies. Next time you watch TV or a movie, consider how the director framed that shot or scene. It will never look the same again and your footage will excel instantly.

7. What is a DSLR? Digital single-lens reflex camera. Digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera. http://bit.ly/fMyMue

8. 35% of fish have plastic in their stomach according to this article. Don’t forget to take your reusable bags grocery shopping, farmers market and packing your lunch! http://bit.ly/g8TQXu

9. Looking for a  low cost, long range electric luxury sedan? Tesla Motors talks about a 300 mile capability compared to 100 miles for the Nissan Leaf.  You will have to wait until mid 2012. Check it out! http://cnet.co/gIY7ia

10. Check out the latest from the Winter X Games in Tignes France. http://es.pn/g2OxuY

Have a Great Week!

Serial Media

1. This is a great post by Chris Brogan. He talks about the future of media.  I like the idea of subscribing to a book, short videos and multi-touches.  Are you ready for serial media? http://www.chrisbrogan.com/futureofmedia/

2. Are you talking to your brand advocates as well as your badvocates (the ones who are bashing your brand online)? Engage both – listen, respond, help, solve, thank. Both are important to your brand – consumers are listening, watching and responding to reviews.

3. More on QR Codes… some tips on how to use them for marketing – the key is making it exclusive, special. http://on.mash.to/gASzwc

4. ToDo List junky? Once a week a ToDo is created for each member of the team. We have notebooks full of lists, notes and scribbles. The iPad and Google Apps are now saving trees. Every meeting, a ToDo list and note is taken on the iPad and posted/saved on Google Apps. It takes some time to get used to but well worth it.

5. GrowNY sponsors Stop N Shop a program encouraging people to reduce, reuse and recycle. http://nyti.ms/hBGkjV

6. Chaco just launched a new interactive website. Love it. Love their shoes.        http://www.chacousa.com/US/en

7. Last weekend Crested Butte hosted the 20th annual US Extreme Freeskiing Championships (the oldest extreme competition!) The results are in: http://es.pn/fqPpWd

8. Do you work with your spouse or significant other? A great article in the WSJ about 3 couples who do. http://on.wsj.com/hJ0BPC.

9. A bad attitude and negativity can cause a decline in business. “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford

10. Where do you think media is heading in the future? How is media effecting your job today?

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Do you ski on a Dirty Mountain?

Photo By Andrew Held

Last week we talked about being social and we got a lot of feedback – questions, comments and suggestions – we love that! Please keep talking with us!

Now for this weeks TrueHero TidBits:

1. We also love skiing and snowboarding in Colorado – especially Copper Mountain where we met teaching our favorite sport. Which is why we were sad to read that our “home” mountain ranked one of the dirtiest ski mountains in the country. Good to see Aspen’s peaks ranked in the top 5 for greenest. How eco conscience is your mountain? http://es.pn/eNdrhh

2. The future of ski/snowboarding lessons? Soon, there will be an App For That, too. Sal Masekela is working with Apple to launch an app for step by step lessons on how to ride like a pro. http://es.pn/ewRg1t

3. Did you know there are now over 60 Million Users Worldwide on LinkedIn? No longer just for job hunting, LinkedIn is a site for professional networking. Complete your personal profile; link your Newsletter, Twitter and Facebook and create a Business Page (all free). Another great way to increase your community.

4. We have mentioned it before – Facebook Commerce via ShopFans – check out Icebreaker.  http://on.fb.me/fublzO Coming Soon – Sierra Trading Post http://bit.ly/ejPjkm Wave of the future? Tell us what you think?

5. Go look at your About Us page on your website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn…we’ll wait. So…is it accurate? Is it inspiring? According to Inc magazine the About is one of the top 3 pages consumers open when searching a site. Make it good!

7. Where do you shop online and why? We like amazon and evo – for different reasons. Amazon has good prices, speedy delivery and broad selection. Evo is like shopping a specialty store online – great insight and stories! Tell us your favorite online store and why?

8. I love running in a Skirt –  SkirtSport‘s Skirt – specifically. I have run 5Ks, Marathons and even completed an Xterra in bike skirt. So, we had to give a shout-out to Nicole Deboom moving into a new location and posting a sizeable sales increase for 2011! http://bit.ly/hrrTxk

9. Helly Hansen and Aspen/Snowmass sponsors of an endurance Ski Race including all 4 of Aspen’s Mountains – skin up, ski down and get to the next peak – The Power of 4 Mountaineering Race. Sign up – take pictures, video and tell us about it!

10. Most of our readers know that TrueHero is traveling all over the country. This month we are in Seattle. What are your favorite places to eat, drink, listen to music, run, bike and see/do in Seattle? If you have never been – ask us to check out; we will snap a photo, write about it and post it!

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Let’s be social….

You have heard the stats – over 500 million people on Facebook and 50% of them logging on daily, 95 Million Twitter Accounts and growing…

So you jump on Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare, LinkedIn and start posting. A week later you get impatient, your business did not grow and why don’t you have 10,000 “LIKE”s?

It’s social. It takes time to build a community and just like your group of friends it is quality over quantity. Are you connected to the key influencers in your industry? Does your community challenge you to be better at what you do or offer?

1. Do Not sit down and start tweeting. Like every marketing campaign there must be a strategy, direction, goals and assessment. Create a plan, let it evolve, analyze results, tweak it and be patient. Your building a community!

2. Social Media is NOT Free. Social networking is free. Building a group of influencers to grow your business costs money. Marketing on social networks is cost-effective. A company is able to target their ads to an audience with a specific need, interest and/or demographic.

3. Remember that you are having a conversation when you are tweeting and facebooking. Respond to customers, friends, followers and partners. Ask questions. Answer questions. Make jokes. Be real.

4. Email is still one of the most effective social media tools. Use email campaigns to launch into Facebook and Twitter.

5. Hire a community manager (hint: TrueHero) to train your company on how to run an effective social media campaign. Learn the ropes and then own it.

5 TidBits that are techy, futuristic or interesting facts within social media.

6. Technologies that are shaping the future of social media http://on.mash.to/hUEoon

7. Are you using Facebook Deals? http://zd.net/dPMKf7

8. 200,000 people checked into Super Bowl Sunday via FourSquare  – the largest venue yet.

9. Fashion Brands like Kate Spade and Ann Taylor are using Tumblr to show-off their latest pieces. http://on.mash.to/igTf6w

10. A Movement Began with Outrage and a Facebook Page That Gave it an Outlet http://nyti.ms/h6LG8s

If you want to more information on how to socially grow your business leave a comment or question. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter

 

Things TrueHero picked up this month…

Picture taken by Andrew Held at Winter X-Games 15

1. Did you miss anything from Winter X Games in Aspen, CO? Check out all the results and highlights at…http://es.pn/hPmty8

2. The SnowSports Industry hits $1 Billion in December – record-breaking! “Record sales, coupled with consistent snowfall across the country gave the four-day event a positive kick”  http://bit.ly/fJoFUH

3. Tax season is here. This is a good article on how to avoid a tax audit.              http://bit.ly/eDxn88

4. Still wondering what QR Codes are and how you can use them? We had hte pleasure to meet with Larry Plumier at the Outdoor Retail Show. One of the coolest things we got to see! http://bit.ly/gDHQYr

5. Despite hitting the $1Billion mark in December OIA President says “remain hungry and humble” http://bit.ly/fnf9E4

6. A few TidBits TrueHero picked up at the Outdoor Retailer Seminar: REI/Backcountry.com are noticing an average 49% increase on products using video as a secondary image online;  90% of customers are reading/using reviews to make purchasing decisions; Zappos will soon have videos for every product. TrueHero has been monitoring reviews and creating product videos for over a year – it is good to hear results!

7. TrueHero teamed up with Wigwam Wagon in Aspen, CO last weekend to film and stream for the Wig-L-Wam Wagon Crew. People were taking off their socks in the streets! Read More!

8. Icebreakers is opening up a Facebook Store using Adgregate Markets’ ShopFan. The new wave for online retailing? http://bit.ly/eSTORU

9.  Camtrol is the greatest accessory for your DV or DSLR cameras! TrueHero just used one shooting video and stills at the Winter X games. If you buy one thing for your set up, this is it! Camtrol is the first customizable ergonomic hand-held action and movement stabilizing platform for DV/ DSLR cameras with free angle LCD displays. Camtrol is comfortable and reduce’s shooters’ fatigue.

10. What inspired you this trade show season? A new product? New technology? New idea on social media? Tell us!

Hanging with the Wig-L-Wam Crew

TrueHero had a great opportunity to follow Wigwam Mills, Inc’s  Wig-L-Wam Van around Aspen and ESPN’s Winter X-Games this weekend! Check out the pics and videos we posted (more to come so keep watching!) on Wigwam’s Facebook Page!

Wigwam is one of the leading sock companies in the world. They have been around for over 100 years! All Wigwam Socks are MADE IN THE USA! Wigwam supports local yarn spinners and wool suppliers.  Wigwam uses the highest quality natural and man-made fibers available! You can feel good about buying and wearing Wigwam Socks!

We met up with Jason and Carolyn in Aspen and after a quick meet and greet we headed to the Wig-L-Wam Wagon and up to Aspen’s Highland’s Ski Area. We met some great people and gave away some socks! Then we headed back in town and asked people to trade their old socks for a pair of new Wigwam’s! Socks (and smells…) were flying! New socks were put on and we were able to take a deep breath again – whew!

After a short night of sleep we met up in Aspen and headed over to the Winter X-Games. The parking lot was full of people who were willing to do a little dance for a new pair of socks! There were smiles all around!

Inside the games we watched Snocross, Adaptive Snocross (where our friend EJ took 4th place!! Nice work EJ!) and Snowboard Slope Style. We were afraid of a mob if we started tossing free socks to the crowd but we did pass out a ton of stickers (and maybe snuck in a few pairs to some desperate attendees!)

We had to do one last hurrah in the town of Aspen before saying good-bye to the Wigwam Wagon, Jason and Carolyn. So…we headed to Red Onion where some other X-Game spectators had gathered! Free Round of Socks (if you gave a little dance!) Then outside by the fire where some girls were complaining of wet feet from their…well, let’s just say “other” socks that are not so smart! Wigwam took care of that!

On the way out-of-town we caught the Wigwam Wagon say “Follow Us! We are heading to Park City, UT” Well….we can’t follow them today but hopefully we meet up again soon!

Do you wear Wigwams? What is YOUR Favorite Sock? Tell us!! We LOVE Socks and I love a good sock story!

Follow TrueHero on Facebook and Follow Wigwam!

A little of this and a little of that

1. adidasOutdoor made their debut at the Outdoor Retail Show last weekend! Not only with very cool outdoor product but at the Industry Hockey Game and Sponsor of the Outdoor Industry Inspiration Award.

2. This weekend, Winter X Games 15 returns to Aspen for its 10th year. Look for 24 hours of live HD programming on ESPN and ESPN2, 10 hours of exclusive live video on ESPN3.com, and 18 hours of original coverage on ESPN 3D.                                    http://es.pn/eyZaNZ True Hero will be there, will you?

3. There was a big push toward sustainability at the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City, UT. Check out this webinar podcast that took place. “Everyone is thinking “Green” or “Sustainability” these days and looking for ways to do their part to save the environment. For retailers, this means not only evaluating how their own practices and operations impact the world around them, but aligning themselves with source materials and suppliers that are also good corporate citizens” http://bit.ly/fQTFGl

4. REI Unveils its Branded Fall 2011 Line to Outdoor Industry. As a leader in the industry, REI has award-winning designers on their team creating styles that are not only functional but environmentally conscious. http://bit.ly/e7aM1R

5. Expanding your horizons will enable you to shoot everything with a different and unique perspective. Check out this article from Outdoor Photographer. http://bit.ly/faYjkv6. We attended a seminar at the OR Show called Social Media for Brands and Retailers. On the panel was social media experts from Backcountry.com and REI. One major take away was the importance of videos – 49% increase on average for styles with product videos attached. (TrueHero can help you with videos and multiple style shots)

7. One of the coolest things we saw at the Outdoor Retail Show was the use of QR Codes i.e. Nau.  TrueHero along with Larry Plumier believes this is the wave. An amazing way to interact with consumers before, during and after purchase.
http://bit.ly/dGtTOU

8. Did you know that 90% of people shopping online read reviews? Products, Services, Food and Travel – anything you can purchase on the web! What are people saying about you, your company or your product? Are you involved in the conversation?

9. Trying to break the plastic bottle habit? Liberty Bottles is the ONLY U.S. MADE Bottle Company all from 100% post consumer aluminum. They have a great story: buying art from starving artists, giving back to the community and recycling “other” bottles for emergency relief. Check ’em out. http://libertyripples.com/

10. Google Apps, HighRise, Backpack, Basecamp, Outlook – these are some of the applications/software that TrueHero uses to stay organized. What do you use?

We ask a lot of questions throughout TidBits – we really want to know what you think! Please leave a comment, suggestion or idea. Thanks!

Not just another trade show

WWSRA Regional Booth sets the bar high

1. Frontier Group, a rep agency in the Pacific Northwest, raised the bar with a new booth (see above) at WWSRA and hosted a party for Specialty Retailers this week Portland, OR. Designed and built by True Hero.

2. Surf Expo had a 9% increase in buyer attendence this week at the Orange County Convention Center. http://bit.ly/e2PXGf

3. “Social influence is going to become a new currency,” Outdoor Industry News talks about the shift in how consumers make purchasing decisions. http://bit.ly/elLRJj

4. SNews will report the OR Dailies. Here are some tips on how to get your brand or agency in the the news! http://bit.ly/f9DpMh

5. Are you talking to your clients about digital marketing? Here are 3 questions you should be asking….

1. What marketing collateral and content will you be generating in 2011?
2. How can we integrate your content to achieve our goals, i.e.; drive traffic to our store(s), convert customers in the store, reward our most loyal customers, promote an event, build our brand, become a multichannel retailer, etc.?
3. What mobile apps are you working on and how can we partner with you to promote our store and reward our customers?

6. I just read How Powerful Are You? Another great article! http://bit.ly/hNTTir

7. Find out everything you want to know about the upcoming Winter X Games in Aspen Jan 27 -30. Spectator info, confirmed athletes, competition schedule, countdown blog and more! http://es.pn/eyZaNZ

8. Photography is all about light. How light is used in making a photograph can be the difference in the resulting image. These tips can help you to use light to your advantage for improving your photography, no matter what type of camera you use. http://bit.ly/h3fIQe

9.No Twinkies? Vending machines are going organic! http://on.msnbc.com/fzjVxo

10. Life is like riding a bicycle – in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving. ~Albert Einstein

You’re not a tree

A new year is refreshing. We are no longer confined to the old year and its limitations. It is inspiring, like opening up a new notepad – clean, crisp pages and putting a new favorite pen to it. It is our choice to make positive changes in our life. What changes are you making in 2011?

1. If you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree” – Jim Rohn

2. Congress is now streaming live on Facebook. Are you? http://bit.ly/gA31Ch

3. Who are you and why are you here? If you missed this post from by Brad Werntz please read it. http://bit.ly/dWT2QM

4. Thinking of starting a new business? Here is Inc’s 10 things to do first. What would you add?? http://bit.ly/eEHSYc

5. Still confused as to what QR Codes are? http://bit.ly/dVPMB6 We use the ScanLife App on both iPhone and Android. What do you use?

6. To connect with your customers you need to meet them where they are: the average buyer/retailer spends 8 hours on a computer and another 2 hours on a mobile device. Over 40% network with clients, blog about work or access their social networks from work.

7. Ever wonder how to do some of the tricks that you see the pros do at the x games? Check this out! http://bit.ly/fs4o1l

8. For shooting better pictures, check the background. sometimes we can focus too much on the foreground and forget what is behind in the photo. A trick is to fill the frame with your subject and decrease the depth-of-field (f1.8 rather than f8)

9. Want to get out in the backcountry, but not sure how to do it? Check out these tips and take a workshop with the Babes in the Backcountry. http://bit.ly/fzLUwT

10. What are you goals for 2011? What are you looking forward to this year? Skiing/Riding more days? Writing a blog? Getting involved in social media? Opening more specialty retailer accounts? Learning a new trick?

Tell us your plans for 2011. Ask a question. Talk to us. Find us:

Twitter: HeroEvents2010

Facebook: Hero Events and Productions

Email: wendi@trueheroevents.com or andy@trueheroevents.com

LinkedIn: Wendi Mathis Held

skiers… some of the people who will change the world

1. Lynser Dyer is giving back  – just returning from India helping children and as co-founder of She Jumps. “I think skiers and athletes are some of the people who will change the world” she says. http://es.pn/gCHswZ

2. Denver is gearing up for SIA with Battle of the Bands! http://bit.ly/gVBeSA We are excited to be in CO for SIA. If you are you going let us know!

3, “Green building is a temporary phenomenon” http://bit.ly/dLP6uC

4. Feels Good – Grassroots Outdoor Alliance and Smartwool teamed up to give socks to soldiers in Afghanistan. When customers bought 2 pairs of Smartwool socks a 3rd pair was donated to the troops. http://bit.ly/fWgdtE

5. A great read before you go out shooting photos/video in dust and snow. If you are – please please please send us some of the footage – we’ll post it! http://bit.ly/gNLScR

6. Thinking of buying an iPad or waiting on the new one? Mashable has taken the best of the iPad rumors and gave a percentage of likelihood. http://on.mash.to/ePYAkr

7. If you are shooting in the elements protect your camera gear with Mountainsmith’s Kit Cube http://bit.ly/gvDQSi

8. Nimbus did a great job on this independent film. Thanks evo for posting!          http://bit.ly/hnnqJp

9. Great written article and reminder – Don’t Ski Alone! http://bit.ly/gkYUpn

10.  Send us a picture or video to wendi@trueheroevents.com of you enjoying the snow in 2010! Snow angles, snowmen/women, cliff jumps, garage sales, snow plow – we love it all!