Ideas - Rawls Court Communications

I'm a modest woman so it's difficult for me to promote this service but my clients keep telling me that they value me for my "brains" as well as my design skills so here goes.

It's a fact that I'm gifted with:

a. Above average intelligence

b. More than the ordinary amount of intuition

c. Enough common sense for several people

d. Extraordinary powers of BS detection

Additionally, I have over 20 years of sales and marketing experience, including over 10 years of experience working with startup organizations.

Sometimes all you need is someone with an outside perspective to take a look at your process or problem and do a little brainstorming.

I offer an initial one hour consultation for free to new clients concerning web, print and virtual assistance projects. Consultation concerning matters not directly related to a design project (i.e. marketing strategy, ways to save money, ways to make more money, software user experience testing, attending a meeting with you for BS detection purposes) will be invoiced at the rate of $150/hour plus a percentage of the cost savings or profit from my ideas or stock in your company as mutually agreed upon if I come up with something that helps your business. I will be pleased to sign your Confidentiality/Non-Disclosure/Non-Compete Agreement.

Here are a of couple e-mail "case studies" where my ideas or advice turned out well. In the "Author" transcript, names and identifying details have been masked. JEGEM (not my client - I'm their customer!) is the real name of an excellent online jewelry retailer.

The Author

From: Referral Source
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 7:15 PM
To: Potential Client
Cc: Susan
Subject: Your Book

XXXX, I’m sorry to see you go but understand the need to get your own life back and take an easier pace. You and XXX need to get out on your own and enjoy those XXXXXX. I’ve always admired the way you orchestrated every aspect of the XXXX and the meticulous planning that went in to each of them.

I’m sure there will be future XXXXXX’s that will be planned and executed. Something as great as XXXXXXX should never be forgotten or fade away. The candle will always be lit albeit a little dimmer.

As far as a book of your exploits, maps, commentary, and other local knowledge goes, Susan is going to think about some ways you might be able to publish and still make a profit as well as get the information into the hands of all those XXXXX that did not get a chance to XXXXX with you and your group. I have copied her on this message so she will have your email address and you will have hers. If she can come up with a plan for you that will be equitable for all concerned she will email you her suggestions.

From: Susan

Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 10:32 AM
To: Potential Client
Subject: Your Book

Hello XXXX,

I think publishing a book of your XXXXX is an excellent idea. You should immediately remove from your website anything that is going to be in the book. Like right now. There is probably a downloading and copying frenzy going on since your announcement last night.

The most economical way to publish is by PDF and sell as a download off your website. It offers immediate gratification and the customer bears the cost of printing.

Your costs would be:

1. Hosting - if for some reason you are not satisfied with your present hosting company, I can recommend one that will cost you less than $100/year.

2. PDF Security - http://www.digilox.com/ is one source. $50.00 for unlimited downloads. I have an email in to them to see if the protected copies can be printed, which I see as a need in your case.

3. Design time. If you want to hire me to produce the PDF figure $50 an hour for the layout. Basic typing is $25.00/hr. If you type it yourself and provide a Word file of the text you’ll save $$$. I’ll need a better idea of the scope of the project before I can give you a firm quote.

4. Marketing – Don’t delete that mailing list! That will get you started and word of mouth will help. You might want to put some ads on XXXXX-area sites, print flyers for XXXXXX vendors, etc.

If I can help you with this or answer any questions, please let me know.

From: Potential Client
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 9:18 PM
To: 'Susan McGinty'
Subject: My Book

Thanks for the info, Susan. I want to publish a physical book, and have specific ideas about format and layout. I very much appreciate your advice, and will keep your info handy in case I need professional assistance.

Thanks!
Potential Client

From: Potential Client’s Former Mailing List Member
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 7:38 PM
To: Potential Client
Subject: XXXXXX (Data from PC’s website)

With the group site shutting down, I'd thought I'd save the XXXXXX for future reference. Since most of the XXXXXXX usually XXXXXXX, I was planning on adapting them for XXXXXX.

But I apparently have run into a problem. On about the first year and a half or so of XXXX, the pages won't load on my computer. Just wanted to make sure that was your doing and not my computer mucking up. If anyone has those XXXXXX pages saved I'd appreciate getting them.

From: Potential Client
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 7:52 PM
To: Former Mailing List Members
Subject: XXXXXX (Data from My Website)

Yes, the XXXXX pages have been removed. Today I was advised by someone in the publishing business that if I expected to publish the XXXXX as a book, I needed to remove them from the Web site and get some control over the distribution of my copyrighted material. Sorry, but since it represents 5 years of work, I thought it would be prudent to follow the advice.

Potential Client

NOTE: Rawls Court Communications is not actually "in the publishing business" but I CAN help you with the mechanics of getting an eBook prepared for sale online.

The Jeweler

From: "JEGEM.com Customer Service"
Sent: Apr 18, 2005 10:46 AM
To: "susan@rawlscourt.com"
Subject: Please give your thoughts on New Illustrations

Hi,

As you probably have noticed, we recently replaced the human hand with Artist Drawn Illustrations for presenting the size of each item. I would greatly appreciate it if you can give me your thoughts on the following, and we will use the method that you prefer.

1) Can you tell the dimension of the jewelry as presented on the Drawn Illustrations?

2) Do you find the Drawn Illustrations attractive?

3) Do you prefer the jewelry to be presented on Human Hand or Drawn Illustrations?

I promise, I will read thru your feedback carefully and take account of it.

Have a wonderful time shopping at JeGem.com :)

Warmest regards,

Mimi
JEGEM.com Customer Service Manager
http://www.jegem.com

From: Susan

Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 1:02 AM
To: special@jegem.com
Subject: Re: Please give your thoughts on New Illustrations

Hello Mimi,

Comments on illustration vs. human hand:

I prefer the human hand versions. I think the small psychological impulse of not liking someone else wearing "my" ring influenced my purchases to date! However the human model's hand appears small, almost childlike - so I wondered about the dimensions because this makes some of the rings look huge. But many of your rings ARE huge! I hope this doesn't hurt anyone's feelings, but when I was first shopping for rings I got this picture in my head of the store owner's little daughter spending hours patiently posing with ring after ring after ring.

I think you will sell more rings with the human model, especially if you use a model with an average size hand. A nice manicure would help too, but clear polish, so as not to attract attention away from the rings.

Best regards,

Susan

From: JEGEM.com Customer Service
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 11:43 AM
To: 'Susan'
Subject: Please also give your thoughts on New Illustrations

Hi Susan,

Thanks you so much for taking the time to give us your thoughts. As we study the situation on our illustration, we will pass your thought to our Operations Dept. to get improvement.

For your information, kindly let me explain you the reason that we change our hand photo to drawing image is because it's better control on the size interpretation. Due to each of our hand model staff's size is not the same which it always causes miscommunication issue. We found that Drawn Illustration is a better way to improve on the size interpretation, as the illustration depicts the item to the actual scale of an average-sized woman which is easier for our customer to interpret the accurate size of the item once wearing.

With your feedback and our concern, our illustration should be much improved. Thank you again for your kind support to us. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please feel free to email us. Have a wonderful day : )

Warmest regards,

Rita

JeGem.com Customer Service

From: JEGEM.com Customer Service
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 6:45 AM
To: 'Susan'
Subject: JeGem New Model Photo Presentation

Hi Susan,

I would like to "thank you" again for your valued feedback. Considering your comments last week, I am happy to inform you that beginning today, we will use real human model to present each item.

So now you can see how the items look like in real person. In my personal opinion, our new model photo is very lively and beautiful. The new photos can also tell you the actual size of the item. I really love it myself and hopefully you will enjoy shopping at JeGem more :)

Please visit our website to see the model photos in our new items. Feel free to let me know what you think of them.

Just want to let you know that we are always pleased to listen to your feedback, this is the only way that we can improve. Thank you again for your kind support of JeGem.com. Have a wonderful day: )

Warmest regards,

Rita

JeGem.com Customer Service