I thought this was really interesting marketing.  A new site called Girl In Your Shirt just launched today.  The idea is simple: The girl will wear a shirt with your brand on it for an entire day and she also talks about it on all her networks (her website, YouTube, Twitter, etc).  It costs $75.

Most of us are guilty of spending a little too much time online. It’s so easy to do. And some of us have gotten to the point where we might even be guilty of spending more time with our computer than with actual humans (sadly I think I fall into that category).  Meetup.com is a site that helps you get out and meet real people in your area that share your interests.

I started browsing the groups here in Austin and found so many interesting ones that I wouldn’t even have time to go to them all. Some of the ones I found interesting were the Austin Progressive Vegetarians, the Community Sewing Project (donate everything they make to hospitals), Austin Bookcrossing, the Austin Happy Campers, and the Austin eBusiness Brunch. There is really something for everyone, no matter what your interest.

Score one for the Internet.

Check out The Dieline for great ideas on how to package your product.  They show off some of the best packaging designs I have ever seen!

My favorite part of the blog is the before and after section where they show you ways companies have improved their package design.  It really makes you think of ways to improve your design.

If you have new innovative packaging.  Show your stuff off by submitting it to them.

Checkout Pixlr.  If you want to simply retouch your images but don’t want to buy Photoshop.  In minutes you can upload your picture and modify.

Here are somethings I would use it for:

- Adding text to images (like your website name)

- Reducing the image size

- Cropping out the background

Rishi and I went to Maker Faire in Austin last weekend and were blown away by all the cool stuff we saw. It’s a two-day paradise of do-it-yourself projects including art, crafts, engineering, robotics, science, music, and more. Anyone who likes to make stuff and look at stuff other people have made would enjoy this. We talked with a lot of crafters about running their own businesses and selling online. The majority of them already have products on Etsy.com and many have their own website as well. Many were interested in learning about other ways to expand their online sales, such as creating their own brand on their own store site with Flying Cart. Here are some photos and a video of our day.

Big thanks to Xylocopa Design, Feto Soap, Stab Happy, and Knotty Bags for being in our video.

Me playing an air piano

A dancer performs

A choreographed mentos/diet coke explosion performance

Margo and I will be at the Maker Faire in Austin, TX this Sunday.  If you are in the area stop on by and say hello.

Upside down dogs is one of the most amazing blogs ever.  Yes, I am being serious.  Simple, fun, and very effective.  They launched yesterday and have already received hundreds of thousands of new visitors.  

This is exactly the type of blog I would want if I was selling anything towards dogs.  Everyone going to that blog obviously loves dogs.  

This blog is powered by Tumblr which is very easy to use and free to use blogging service.  Get your thinking caps on and your creative juices flowing.  The time has come for you to start a blog that will attract people that will love your products.

This guy traveled around the world with his video camera and got people everywhere to dance with him. He danced in some pretty far out places. I watched this video, then watched it again, and again. There’s no question about it, people everywhere love to dance. Now can’t we all get along? Matt’s website: wherethehellismatt.com.

AHOY! Today is Talk like a Pirate Day!

To celebrate I am going to show off some of my favorite pirate products across our stores.