"People die to ride in our cars."

Alright, maybe it's a lame joke. But in the business of death, you've got to have a sense of humor. One of my favorite clients to work with is Eagle Coach Company--a hearse & limo company based in Amelia, OH. Most of their business is in the hearse (professional vehicle) industry, which is a unique twist to the auto industry.

To make a hearse, they take a perfectly good Cadillac and cut it in half. From there, the car goes through 20+ stations where it is extended, re-assembled, painted, customized, etc. Their cars are absolutely top-notch, and the funeral directors who drive them have nothing but high praise for Eagle's personal service & quality.

Interesting fact: In high school, I tossed around the idea of going to mortuary school after graduation. My lifelong best friend's father was a funeral director, so I had become accustomed to the industry. I always admired his professionalism and the way he seemed to comfort a family in their time of grief. He is truly an outstanding director in every way.

Even in college, the possibility of this career crossed my mind a few times. I just think it's such an admirable profession. Last week I went back to my hometown to sing for a friend's wedding and I ran into my friend's father, the funeral director. We got on the subject of hearses, and I found myself pitching Eagle Coach to him. Hopefully he'll consider joining funeral directors all over the world (yes, world) in being a loyal driver of and Eagle.

Last week, Eagle Coach Company was present at the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) convention in Orlando. At the convention, they revealed their 2009 features as well as their brand new website, created by EMG. Check it out at http://www.eaglecoachcompany.com/ . It's a site we're all proud of (especially Angela, who was the magician behind it)!

Singing in the May Festival Chorus

Several weeks ago, I auditioned for the Cincinnati May Festival Chorus at the urging of my family and former vocal coaches. I got the callback, so I'm officially a new member of the choir!

We are performing with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra throughout the season, with the first performance being Mahler's Symphony #2 on October 17 & 18. We will also be performing with the CSO with repertoire including Holst, Brahms German Requiem & others.

This is, in a nutshell, my dream gig. I have a degree in vocal music but I've never wanted to turn it into a job. With the May Festival Chorus--the oldest chorus in the Western Hemisphere with a nationally acclaimed director--I can perform challenging music with professional musicians but not rely on it to pay the rent.

After several rehearsals with the group, I can see why they are held in such high esteem. Every member seems to be fluent in the major operatic languages, able to sight-sing difficult music at the drop of a hat, and blends beautifully. I am so excited to be a part of this group! As performances approach I'll keep you updated and see if I can post some audio samples from our performances.

And as an afterthought to the previous post...

I watched CNN today, and saw that much of the Sarah Palin conversation centered around this: As a mother of 5, can she handle the duties of Vice President?

Hold the phone. Wait. Really? Has anyone ever said, "Gee, Obama has 2 young girls. Do you think he can really handle the duties of President with two children to raise?" Of course not.

This is the most sexist argument I've heard in a long time. And no one seems to even blink. Are we seriously that far behind? It's perfectly normal for a father to run for office with young kids, but when a mother enters the race, suddenly it's a hot topic issue.

I'm honestly astonished that no one seems to notice the utter sexism and double-standard of this argument. Her children are a non-issue. She should not have to defend her viability as a mother because she wants to serve her country.

Think, America.

A Political Bone to Pick

I am not a political "hothead". I believe in everyone from the extreme liberals to the extreme conservatives having the right to believe what they want (though I agree with neither). I honestly don't care how you vote -- just vote.

That being said, I am somewhat bewildered by McCain's VP pick. Does anyone else find this baffling? Sarah Palin did good things while she was in Alaska, but something just doesn't seem right.

For starters, she's only 44. She has very little experience. Isn't McCain's entire campaign based around dismissing political newbies (i.e. Obama)? Doesn't this make his entire argument moot? As a town mayor and governor for 2 years, Sarah Palin doesn't exactly fit the lifetime-of-experience mold.

It was an obvious attempt to appeal to the Hillary swing voters, who might be more inclined to vote where there is a woman on the ticket. I have to ask the question: If Sarah Palin was a man, would he be anywhere near the presidential ticket?

Second, there was an article in the NY Times about McCain vetting Ms. Palin only one day before the VP nomination. He knew so little about her, and according to the article the McCain camp barely made the effort to check her out before throwing her name on the ticket. For someone who touts judgement, McCain did not seem to do his homework.

I hate to bring up this argument (it's too speculative), but at 72, McCain's health comes into question. He really does seem to be in great health. But things happen, and any presidential candidate--72 or not--could be a mere heartbeat away from passing on. The VP needs to be just as strong as the President.

Palin is already under suspicion for "abusing her power" to fire an ex-relative. And for hiring lobbyists. These could very well prove to be false, but the last thing the McCain camp needs is a VP who turns out to be not-so squeaky clean.

I'm interested to see how this one plays out.

Paying for SEO: The Scam Revealed

I met with an executive last week who runs a very established business here in Cincinnati. As we talked about website opportunities and online marketing, he mentioned that he was paying for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). While SEO is important, it is not something you should be paying for. It should be built-in with your website--no extras needed. Companies who charge for SEO are literally running a scam. Our web designer Angela Deniston is an expert on the subject, and her comments are below.

** SEO is a tool that makes you more visible on the internet. For example, when you type in a search term on Google, the better your website's SEO, the higher up on the list your name appears. This way people don't have to dig to find you--you're right on top.

Top things every business should know about SEO
In a world of constantly evolving technology, it’s easy to trust any “expert” who comes along claiming to know the ins and outs of unfamiliar acronyms. Web guru Angela Deniston breaks down the SEO process and defines what every savvy business owner should know when dealing with SEO providers and web designers. Please find below a sampling of SEO basics best practice advice for a CEO looking to avoid con artists.

How important is SEO to doing business today?
Extremely. There is a lot of competition out there -- you could have the best looking website in your industry, but it doesn’t matter if no one knows it exists. The “if you build it they will come” mindset is a huge misconception among the less internet savvy. A good website is supplemented by good PR and high SEO results.

How much should an SEO campaign cost? Any guidelines?
Nothing. It should be inclusive to building the site, and completed as the designer constructs the site. There are a lot of scammers out there charging thousands of dollars to implement something that takes little to no time to do. It should only cost how long it takes you to implement -- especially if you’re on an hourly rate. Whether your site is 2 pages or 200, if it is constructed properly and implemented as you go, it should not cost any more than your time.

How can a CEO avoid getting ripped off if they decide to go outside the company to get this service done?
Ask the right questions and for proof of their results. If you’re paying an SEO service, ask for some type of report – evidence of bumping their client’s sites up. And don’t believe it is anybody’s “intellectual property”. You can find this information for free all over the internet. A few other selling phrases to watch out for:

- “We’ll submit you to thousands of search engines.” There are less than five the general population actually uses. And if built right, you don’t even need to ‘submit.’
- “We’ll optimize your meta-tags.” As search engines evolve, less and less rely on meta-tags.
- “We’ll do fresh content.” Unless they are your advertising or PR agency, they wouldn’t know what to update! Usually they’ll just overuse keywords and place irrelevant articles.
- “It’s only $10,000 a year.” You can build and continuously update an entire website for $8,000. What could they possibly be doing for $10,000 a year--or more?

Our New Client: Maile Build, Remodel & Design

Introducing Rich Maile, owner of Maile Build, Remodel & Design.

He's the mastermind behind projects like these:

And we're excited to be working with him! They are truly an extraordinary business. Check out more of Maile's work at http://www.mailebuild.com/

Eisen Continues to Grow with Third-Generation Company
Maile Build, Remodel & Design teams up with Greater Cincinnati PR Firm

Newport, KY – August 18, 2008 – Greater Cincinnati integrated public relations and marketing firm Eisen Management Group has been named agency of record (AOR) for the northern Kentucky-based Maile Build, Remodel & Design. The company is working with EMG to develop and implement a new communications program designed to showcase Maile’s expertise, quality and reputation.

According to EMG president Rodger Roeser, one of the main aspects of the campaign is to tell the story of Maile, a third generation family business.

“The level of talent and expertise on the Maile staff is incredible. Rich Maile (owner of Maile Build, Remodel & Design) told us that nearly 100% of their customers recommend them to friends. That’s an unbelievable reputation,” says Roeser. “After seeing how their company works, I understand why they get such high praise. Yes, their projects are breathtaking in every sense of the word. But it’s their effort to create lasting relationships—and even friendships—with the families they serve that leaves an even deeper impression.”

Owner Rich Maile saw that his company had serious assets to share and asked EMG to help spread the word. “They have the tools to get the Maile name out there,” Maile says. “By letting them handle our PR and marketing work, I have more time to focus on our clients and jobs. It lets me do what I love and boosts business as well. We’re looking forward to seeing the results of our combined efforts.”

Roeser expects the agency to implement general operations and brand alignment, local publicity, and literature development for Maile.

About Maile Build, Remodel & Design
Maile Build, Remodel & Design has been in business since 1960, when Ed Maile started his own business after 30 years of building experience. In 1972 Ed turned the business over to his son Dick, and Rich took over in 1992. Maile was named in Remodeling Magazine’s national “Big 50”—the top 50 remodeling firms in the country. Their promise to create an enjoyable remodeling experience and produce work of the highest quality has made them a leader in the industry.

Julia Child is...a spy?!

I awoke this morning to the best news I've heard in months. CNN told me that Julia Child, the fiesty TV chef who always seemed just a little too eager to use alcohol in her recipes ("one for the pot, one for the cook!"), was a WWII spy. This is what I've been waiting for!

As a child, I remember sitting on my grandma's floor watching Julia Child flail her knives and cleavers all over the kitchen, hooting and hollering throughout. She was the epitome of a "cool" grandma. She would start kitchen fires and extinguish them like it was no big deal. She drank straight from the bottle. And apparently, she was also a spy.

She served in an international spy ring operated by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII. The CIA was reluctant to release this information, but I am oh-so glad they did. It made my week.

Here's to you, Ms. Julia! Bon appetit!