Cammi Clark

New Year

Cammi — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:51:43 +0000

Outtake of me clearing the area for the cover shoot of Kim Brown.

As we close 2011, come along on a journey with Today’s CNY Woman and get another glimpse at the amazing women who are making a difference in everything they do.

Photographer Kim Cook takes us through the first year of the magazine in pictures – some of the funny outtakes (see my photo left), glamorous shots, life, style and attitude of the women who call Central New York home.

Remember this is your magazine, a magazine that celebrates you, so enjoy it.

Happy New Year and welcome 2012 – I can’t wait to see what amazing stories we will tell!

Meanwhile, back at the office…

Cammi — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:42:52 +0000

I’m back to work today after taking a week off. And even though it’s a super short workweek, we have tons to do. We are working on the next issue of CNY Woman and we have lots of stories to edit, pictures to process and designs to work on. Be sure to read the latest issue here or click on the December cover to the left.

The next issue of the magazine marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of the publication. We have been so pleased with the tremendous support and excitement behind us. Thank you all.

To honor the one-year birthday, we’ve decided to do something a little special inside the next issue, but I won’t spoil the surprise, you’ll have to pick it up on newsstands in a few weeks or so.

As I stated in an earlier post, my new year’s resolution is to work more on my social media presence. One of the professional social media outlets I utilize is LinkedIn. Part of LinkedIn includes a place for colleagues to write recommendations on you and your work, etc. I was more than honored and flattered when I read the recommendation by Kathy Dwyer, owner of TAG Group, and wanted to share it with you (a great way to start the new year):

“A really great publication only gets that way if it has a really great person – make that WOMAN – at the helm. Today’s CNY Woman is a wonderful new publication that I absolutely love to read – and even had the pleasure of penning an article for. The secret to its success is Cammi. She knows what her audience wants, knows how to find great stories, knows how to create excitement, and knows how to maximum brand potential and customer loyalty. Today’s CNY Woman is so much more than a magazine. It’s a year-round experience for area women. It builds relationships with us through special events, social media, contests, sponsorship of community events and so many other things. And at the heart of each of these initiatives is Cammi. Any organization would benefit from her creativity, savvy, talent, know-how and endless supply of energy. You go girl!”

Two days

Cammi — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:02:42 +0000

As I sit here two days before Christmas, I’m waiting for my daughter to get off the bus. Although she is 12 years old this year and realizes that Santa and momma have the same handwriting, she is still just as eager to rip open those presents under the Christmas tree early Sunday morning and has reminded me daily, four more days till Christmas, three more days till Christmas etc.

You see, she has a hobby (a very expensive hobby). At age 12, she is already tapping into her creative side and creating pictures and videos that are really pretty cool. Check out MissBrianna818 on youtube.com. She shoots her own footage, does her own edits using Final Cut Pro and has become quite the little social media guru to self-promote her work.

And while she just does it for fun, there’s a very special gift she’s hoping Santa brings her under the tree that will help make her “stuff better” – the Nikon D7000. (And no, I’m not getting any kickback for promoting Nikon.)

So c’mon Santa, only two more days. :)

New look

Cammi — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:27:08 +0000

With the start of 2012 right around the corner, I decided to revamp my website and try to keep you all more updated.

This year has been a whirlwind with founding Today’s CNY Woman magazine, which celebrates one year in February.

The magazine has become a force to be reckoned with here and Central New York and beyond. We’ve featured some amazing women including Amy Robbins, 93q radio personality; Aminy Audi, owner of Stickley furniture; Beezie Maaden and Erin Hamlin, both Olympic gold medalists; Chris Xaver, of The Sweet Life; Kaylea Nixon, Channel 9 News anchor; Carol Baldwin and many, many more.

Someone asked me recently if I thought I would some day run out of women’s stories to tell. NEVER! Every woman, no matter age, socio economic status, job, etc., has a unique story behind her. And I’m dedicated to telling those stories of the strong women who inspire, lead, support and teach; the ones who laugh and cry with me; and sometimes and even tho ones who might sometimes get on my last nerve. So sit back and enjoy the read.

By the way, my son, Joshua, is currently spending a year abroad as a foreign exchange student in Germany. Stay tuned for lots of updates and photos coming in March when I go visit him and the two of us set off on our own adventure around Europe.

My Walk

Cammi — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:48:12 +0000

Hello,

In January 2010, my dear friend’s father, Frank Wlosinski of Camillus, wandered on foot away from his daughter’s home. Months later, when the snow began to thaw, he was found dead.

Wlosinski suffered from Alheimer’s disease. In fact he is one of more than 5 million Americans who have Alzheimer’s and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this devastating disease.

This year, to help those affected by Alzheimers, Im participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimers to raise funds and awareness.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research, and funds I raise will go directly toward supporting their efforts.

I know I can make a difference with your support! Will you consider making a donation? Its easy to give online by following the link below.

The end of Alzheimers starts here with a gift from you. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Alzheimer’s Association Central New York Chapter

******************************************************************************

Some email systems do not support the use of links and therefore this link may not appear to work. If so, copy and paste the following into your browser:

http://walktoendalz.kintera.org/syracuse/cammiclark?faf=1&e=4820281356

******************************************************************************

Cammi Clark

She’s here!

Cammi — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:32:48 +0000

Amy Robbins of 93Q radio station, dons the cover of the inaugural issue of Today's CNY Woman magazine.

Finally, the debut issue of Today’s CNY Woman is online for all to view.

This is your magazine that highlights the amazing and extraordinary things that Central New York women and doing and offers professional advice from other women int he greater Syracuse area who live, work and play here in the center of New York state.

The print version will be on newsstands very soon. You’ll be able to pick up your FREE copy at places like Wegmans, Tops, doctors offices and several other places that women frequent.

In addition, more than 12,000 copies will be mailed directly to homes in and around Central New York.

But don’t worry if you don’t get one in the mail or they’ve all been snatched off the news stand before you get there. Just sign up on our website for your free e-subscription to the magazine and voila! You will automatically get an email every month with a link that takes you directly to the online version of the magazine so you’ll never miss an issue!

But right now, go check her out now online at www.todayscnywoman.com

I am so proud of my entire staff for pouring their hearts and souls into making this magazine a huuuuge success. They make this magazine what it is!

Now, only one more step to go to finalize the launch. We are hosting a kick-off gala event next week, which I’m super excited about. I will have tons of photos from the event to share and you finally have YOUR magazine!!

Cammi :)

I’m back

Cammi — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 14:22:23 +0000

Sorry for the hiatus, but I have exciting news. I’m working on a new project – a woman’s magazine for and about Central New York woman.

Central New York Woman magazine's Facebook/Twitter logo

The magazine, called Central New York Woman, is an upscale magazine with a distribution of more than 20,000. Of that, 12,000 will be mailed directly to CNY homes and the other 8,000 will be dropped on newsstands in and around CNY.
CNY Woman has her own website at www.cnywoman.com where you can sign up for a free electronic subscription to the magazine. She is also on Facebook where you can go and “like her” as well as follow her on Twitter.
This is very excited news and I’m sharing with you and I want you all to be a part of it. So contact me with any questions, comments, etc. I’d love to hear from you.
Oh, and I plan to keep you all updated sooner than another six months. lol
Thanks for reading.
Cammi

-30-

Cammi — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:08:56 +0000

Why Chapter -30- Something?

Journalists have traditionally used –30– to indicate the end of a story. The use of the symbol was once so prevalent that it made its way into Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, which says 30 is “a sign of completion.”

And while this isn’t the end of my blog (quite the opposite), it is the end of my Journey to Japan, which started this blog. (But I’m always looking for my next great adventure to share with you, so suggestions are welcome)

In addition, I am also nearing the end of my 30s and starting a new life chapter – hence Chapter -30- Something.

While no one’s sure why 30 was used as an end sign in journalism, there is no shortage of ideas:

a Roman numeral translation of the XXX symbol put at the end of “very early, handwritten news items;”
the 30 story quota the Associated Press writers once had (writers would allegedly number their stories with 30 being the last);
a reporter adding his name, Thirtee, to the a news piece sent via telegraph which was then translated as 30;
or an early typesetting mark used 30 to indicate the end of a line.

Here’s some other fun facts about the number 30:

MATH:

The natural number following 29 and preceding 31.

It’s a whole number.

It’s positive, and it has two digits.

It is not prime.

Four months have exactly 30 days.

A polygon with thirty sides is called a tricontagon. Both anicosahedron and a dodecahedron have 30 edges.

A pig’s orgasm lasts for 30 minutes. (How’d they figure this out, and why?)

Emile Coué, a physician who formulated the Laws of Suggestion, was known for encouraging his patients to say to themselves 30 times a night before going to sleep: “Everyday in every way, I am getting better and better”.

Baseball players Nolan Ryan (Angles and Mets) Greg Maddox Murry Wills Ken Griffey JR (Reds and white socks) all wore the number 30.

Now go ahead, tell me something else relative to 30!

5 things to think about before launching a Web site

Cammi — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:36:58 +0000

I found this extremely interesting for those who are about to launch a Web site. PS Still trying to come up with a new name for mine. Suggestions welcome.

Five Things to Think About Before You Launch Your Next Website : MarketingProfs.

by Jonathan Kranz

Published on June 8, 2010

Read more on Marketing Tips, Web Content, Website Design, Websites

I can’t help but mourn the number of sites I see that represent missed opportunities.

There may be nothing particularly “wrong” about thedesign, the underlying coding, or even the writing—but these websites aren’t right, because they fail to connect with customers in any meaningful way (the way that ultimately brings customers to your door and cash to your register).

The root problem seems to be a lack of imagination that is further exacerbated by a poor understanding of the fundamentals. (Last year I wrote a blog post about a commercial website, that of Saddleback Leather Company, that really impressed me, because it suffers none of those shortcomings.)

If you’re reviewing your own site—or working on one for a client—I encourage you to consider the following points.

1. Take your eyes off your competitors and put them where they belong: on your customers

Sure, you should take a glance at your competitors (hopefully, a backward one) from time to time. But too many enterprises initiate their Web efforts by reviewing their competitors’ sites.

Without critical information about how well these sites perform, how can you know what’s worth retaining or rejecting? Worse, competitor sites can be downright misleading. Too often, I’ve seen people reject exciting, potentially lucrative new ideas precisely because “no one else is doing it.” Well, maybe that means it’s a foolish idea. But maybe it means you can seize an opportunity others have overlooked.

The only way to know, or to make a reasonable guess, is to look at your customers—and I mean closely. How do they shop? How do they conduct research? What information do they need before they’ll act, or even show interest? Which authorities do they trust? What encourages confidence and trust? Where do they “live,” not just in flesh-life (hangouts, associations, communities) but in virtual-life? What media, traditional and online, do they read? Which bloggers do they follow? And where do they like to gather online (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.)?

2. Your Web presence is much bigger than just your website

The truth is, your site isn’t the only resource your prospects have for investigating your products or services. People are talking—on blogs, on forums, on online media sites, on open community forums and “closed” proprietary sites (often built around industries or interests). What’s said there is every bit as important, perhaps more important, that what’s expressed on your own site.

You can choose to ignore those alternative locations (and judging by most sites, that’s what many companies do), but your customers do not.

How will you manage those other sources? Will you monitor, listen and, when appropriate, respond? How will your site relate to those other sources? Can you develop content that can be spread and shared across the Web? Are there opportunities to encourage links back to your site? Will you cultivate relationships, among communities and with key thought leaders, that can stimulate more interest in your business?

When you keep the big picture in mind, then it makes sense to think of your site not as an island on the Web but as a crossroads where important connections can be made and sustained.

3. What’s the underlying business model?

Turning your corporate capabilities brochure into a Web site is not a business model; it’s merely the illusion of having an online presence when, in fact, all you’ve created is a reason for potential visitors to ignore you.

Instead, you should think of your site primarily in terms of not what you want to say but what you want visitors to do.

It’s vital to give this matter deep thought, because decisions made in favor of one model may preclude options that would work in another. Let’s consider three major models:

E-commerce: You offer products and services people can purchase directly, on the site itself. Under this model, you’ll need flawless tools for taking orders and accepting payment—plus all the information a prospect might want (including product specs, testimonials, shipping info, etc.) for making a purchase.
Outbound or “sales”: You bait your site with offers that give you an opportunity to collect lead-generation data you’ll use in subsequent sales efforts. The principle here is one of exchange: you offer something of perceived value (say a whitepaper, webinar, or enewsletter) in return for information (name, title, company, email address, etc.), which you’ll either direct to your sales team or deposit in a lead-nurturing system.
Inbound or “marketing”: You create a site loaded with rich content that becomes a center of community interest. As your credibility rises, you become the trusted resource of choice in a given product or category. Exciting stuff—but you need a consistent stream of buzz-worthy content to make it work.

I’m not saying one approach is necessarily better than another; the right choice is the one that best serves the intersection between your business and your customers. But I am saying that your strategic decisions lead to important tactical choices that often cannot be mixed with each other.

For example, Michael Stelzner is a firm believer in gating content to gather leads. Under his sales model, this works; he’s able to direct leads into other channels (e-newsletters, seminar offers) that push prospects through the sales funnel.David Meerman Scott, however, believes in open content without any registration; that works for him, as it accelerates the distribution of his content, in turn leading to impressive book sales and lucrative speaking engagements.

The two approaches are contradictory, yet one or the other may be right for you—if it fits your overall business model.

4. Content should drive structure, not the other way around

No one in her right mind would design a book cover, select a binding, and create an index before actually writing the book itself. But that’s exactly what so many people do when they approach a website: the architecture comes first, then a copywriter is summoned to fill in the blanks. Silly!

Why does that happen? Usually because the project is led by the wrong people: the Web developers. From their perspective, it’s all about navigation and code. What you want, however, is a business perspective (all of the above points) to lead the process.

When business leads, content comes first, not last. And the site is then designed around the kinds of content that make sense for your prospects, your customers, and your business.

5. It’s not about you

This principle is the most basic, yet most difficult, to embrace. Even though it may be “your” site, the site isn’t, or shouldn’t be, about you. Yet most sites persist in narcissism: endless pages “about us,” mission statements, methodologies, philosophies, visions. All created under the illusion that these things create “competitive distinction.”

If you believe that, take this simple acid test. Select a key phrase from your mission statement or “vision” and Google it. Look at the number of returns and then tell me how “distinctive” your vision really is. Reality: no one cares.

What do visitors care about? Themselves. Their interests and needs. And unless your site reflects your visitors’ hopes, dreams, and desires—unless it speaks their language and on their terms—you’re done for.

So, what’s next?

As the Web evolves, most companies do a fairly good job keeping pace with emerging technologies. But the harder, yet more rewarding, work involves keeping up with changing “hows”: the different ways people use the Internet to learn, communicate, shop, entertain themselves, and more.

By matching your Web presence to your customers’ Web habits, you stand the best chance of winning their confidence and cash.

Nameless

Cammi — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:25:00 +0000

One more request before I head back to my classes.

I’m struggling with the title of my blog and feel I can no longer call it “Journey to Japan” since I’ve journeyed to Japan and back.

So I kind of need to come up with a new name for my blog.

Think. Think. Think. I’m looking for clever, witty and pithy – just like me.

Any thoughts or words of wisdom are welcome.

-30-