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Volume 12 Number 04
Publisher: ARKtech | Guerrero Ink
Copyright © 2014 Diana L. Guerrero. All rights reserved.
Content may not be reproduced without permission.
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ARKwire is the newsletter of the ARKlady (Diana L Guerrero) an animal pro since the 1970s and a cyber-jungle trailblazer since 1995.
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ARKlady News
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April showers to bring May flowers? Here in the desert the flowers began springing up with vengeance last week. Because of the lack of water and resources, the local plants take advantage of any precipitation and bloom the same day and for the next few.

This year the weather has a been a bit off and last week I left 75 degree weather and ventured into snow spitting mountain terrain, down through foggy forest land and into intermittent rain and sunny skies--and I did it in just one day!

My trip was complex and filled with a lot of different appointments but ended with a great meetup with other business owners and marketers who had flown in for the Social Media Marketing World event in San Diego.

Meeting many of my "virtual pals" in person was a great experience. We shared information, discussed successes, and made plans as well as personal connections that will likely take everyone forward into new adventures.

Although I am not yet cleared for travel, I thought it was worth the journey and was excited to see some of the new ideas turn into actions and popping up online already.

You see, the secret is to take action with the information you received. My hope is that you are taking action for change for your business or for better animal behavior instead of just thinking about it.

On a personal note, the mold detox is still ongoing. Since not much is known about recovery, it is taking longer than first anticipated. I always thought six months but even though it is frustrating, I am glad I have the time and place to focus on what I need to do in order to bounce forward.

Speaking of which, watch for the #mARKetingMO this month. I am working on the new name for the comprehensive media broadcast and since ARKlady's ABCs was a column I wrote for ten years--it might morph into something else...animals, business, creativity?

Maybe we need to have a contest for an integrative name such as ARKlady's _your idea here_
Have an idea? Send me your ideas for titles incorporating my interests and areas of expertise.

Happy Tails,

Diana L Guerrero


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ARKanimals (http://ARKanimals.com)
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If you are into birds, this is a great time to bird watch in the backyard or in your local area. If you have been on my email list for some time you know that I documented the hatch and development of the first bald eaglet born in the San Bernardino National Forest a couple of years ago.

Birding can be fun but a recent event brought to mind a common misperception that people have, that feeding animals will form a bond with them. One of the neighbor's here in the desert (on the border of Joshua Tree National Park) was recently cited for feeding "birds and bunnies."

Under the Migratory Bird Act many, if not all, birds are protected. Locally an over exuberant feeder became the target of a new neighbor's wrath and so a 70-year-old found himself in court with a hefty fine and a year of probation.

So far I have not established why he has been targeted when feeding birds is pretty common throughout the nation. However, the story also brings to mind how feeding animals has been misinterpreted as a way to forge a bond with animals.

Animals are opportunists and adapt quickly to whatever happens. I tend to not feed wildlife except for when the inclement weather in the high altitude rendered access to food and water very difficult. Creating a backyard habitat with local plants and a water source tends to be more effective and tends to not alter wild behavior.

However, what I have noticed over the years is that people want to shortcut animal interactions and so use food as a way to get a result quickly. In the case of training, this can be effective for fast results IF you know how to properly use it and then wean off of it.

However, in day-to-day interactions it can be detrimental. In the wild animal realm, feeding wildlife can result in hefty fines and in the ultimate demise and death of an animal because it has become habituated to humans and becomes a nuisance or a risk.

In the domestic arena, a recent discussion revealed that one of the neighbors insisted she could not join a friend for an outing because she _had_ to feed her dogs at 5pm. This is a bizarre human interpretation of what "has to happen" since it doesn't really matter to the animals or their welfare.

If you have ever seen zoo animals pacing at feeding time, experienced a demanding cat, or witnessed incidents of a dog that barks incessantly near feeding time, or perhaps ran laps due to anxiety or anticipation of food, you are seeing undesirable behavior we call "superstitious behavior." These patterns become reinforced by accident and are outcomes created by the stress created during predictable feeding times.

But more importantly, animals tend to shape human behavior rather than the other way around.

Over the next month, pay attention to what you are reinforcing and see if you are taking actions triggered by human motivation or by concern for the welfare of the animal. See what steps you might take to find a better balance so you can enjoy animals in a different manner.

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ARKtech (http://ARKtech.co)
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This month I will begin sharing an online update called the #marketingMO. Shorthand for modi operandi (method of operation) and for marketing makeover, the online business training series will share tips and tools I think are vital for measuring and gleaning success from your business promotion and marketing efforts.

Since time is more important than ever, let me stress that it is important to begin systematizing your processes. Many small business owners remain too involved in the day-to-day running of their businesses and this dominates their time and so hinders the ability to grow.

If you have not read the E-Myth Revisted (http://goo.gl/GFFzU) I recommend you read it sooner than later as it explains why it is important to begin looking at your business differently. Already read it? Please hit replay and let me know what you found most valuable.

I also wanted to let you know about a tool to help you get your social media updates under control. I recommend HootSuite (http://arktech.co/resources/buy-hootsuite/) over all the others because it contains all the different platforms needed to help businesses schedule and manage their social networks from one panel. Accessible via mobile and browser integrations, it is a great tool.

But, the right tool does not work if you are not using it the right way and let me take a moment to alert you to a common mistake. I recently was told by a business person that they were not attracting any new clients from social media--and the reason why is that the business did not have a solid marketing plan nor did it have a mapped out strategy.

Efforts of posting quotes and photos will NOT result in new clients or customers. Instead, when updating any social platforms, get help outlining specific methods that will help your current clients and customers. The checklist should include prioritizing updates that educate them, alert them to new services or developments they might not know about, while also entertaining them with stories that are relevant to YOUR business and offers.

Budget challenged? Get webucated for under $100 per month so you can get going in the right direction. Click here ==>>http://webucationARK.com

Need faster growth and leads? We specialize strategic marketing for lead generation, reputation and webucation for businesses. Just hit reply with your cry for help.

Connect!
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TheARKlady)
Twitter Animals (http://www.twitter.com/ArkLady/)
Twitter Business (http://www.twitter.com/TheArkLady/)
LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/ARKlady)
Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/ARKlady)
Google Plus (https://plus.google.com/u/0/106439040473923176216)
Team ARK (http://support.arklady.com)

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