This week Greg Cangialosi was at NEDMA’s Annual Conference, so I hosted the May 7 show - and also changed the set! Watch the recorded version here.

Jenny Schuerholz opened the eighth episode with me, and her “Top 5″ topic was how to make viral videos effective. Jenny and I also talked about Blue Sky Factory’s recent announcement (our new Share with Your Network feature) and recent industry events including the Inbound Marketing Summit and NEDMA’s Annual Conference.

Brian Williams, CEO, and Jen Krupey, marketing services director, joined us from Viget Labs as this week’s special guests. Viget Labs is a leading web services agency headquartered in Falls Church, VA. Brian, Jen, and I talked about client relationships in an agency setting, web marketing for non-profit organizations, pay-per-click advertising, the importance of networking events like Viget’s Middle School Marketing meetings, and marketing through word of mouth.

Melanie Sims, Blue Sky Factory’s support manager, gave the email marketing tip-of-the-week. Melanie talked about using a recognizable friendly from address in your emails.

Once again, we’d like to thank our local friends for providing refreshments and set decorations. Thanks to Spoons for providing delicious coffee, and thanks to Flowers and Fancies for the set flowers!

Don’t miss next week’s show with Mario Armstrong, a radio/tv tech show host on NPR Morning Edition, XM, and WBAL-TV. Greg Cangialosi will be back, and we’ll be broadcasting live from the Blue Sky Factory studio at 4 PM ET! Tune in here.

Today is the day before the day before. This means it’s time to reflect on the best things in life - family, friends, and of course, the clients we work with everyday. A fun part of my job is working with customers, understanding their world, and building and strengthening relationships.

Blue Sky Factory was built by Greg Cangialosi, Tim Barton, and the rest of our incredible team client by client, one at a time, with hard work, unending passion, and listening to employees and customers. There is a lesson here about caring for people and relationships that shines through during the Christmas and Hanukkah season. A strong business isn’t built on technology or PCs or the Internet. A strong business is built on a foundation of genuine relationships - something for us all to remember in this season of giving and reflection. And that is the most important gift.

It’s the scary season- even more so now, given the current economy.  At Blue Sky Factory, we know this and are working with our clients to help them through tough times with effective email marketing.  Whether that is fine-tuning the email message or pushing promotions/specials to drive more revenue, we are here to help.

I am the new COO here and one of the first things that impressed me was the level of communication we have with our clients, at all levels.  That’s good, because when times get scary, that’s when great things can happen.  The same is true for you.  Consider this: there is no better time than now to talk to your customers and understand their challenges.  And just as critical, how can you get closer to your customers and work with them to weather this economic cycle.  How can you support them in these tough times?  When speaking with customers, try to gain more insight regarding why people buy from your company.  Then, tune-up your email campaigns by communicating more, clarifying your value proposition, and possibly changing your tone and message to one that recognizes the economy.  Our customers appreciate it when we ask, “how can we help you meet your goals”.  It’s all about understanding your (and our) customers’ needs.  Be a partner, not a vendor.

So, it’s Halloween and yes, things are scary.  The trick is getting it right and working together with your customers; the treat- more loyalty and, hopefully, more sales.  That’s what we are doing at Blue Sky Factory: talking more, visiting more, and listening closely.  These are all good things that bring us all closer to our customers.