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Archive for January, 2011

How much is healthy?

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

I was talking to a friend yesterday and we were talking about what our passions and loves were.  He was telling me about the things he enjoyed when he wasn’t working at his full time job and what his passions are.  When he asked me and I explained that my passion was pianos and music, he smiled.  As I went on to explain that every day my normal routine is to go straight to the internet, check my emails, look at Google alerts I have set up for Piano SD, Pianos in San Diego and Pianos.  After I have gotten those read, I usually start with my monthly magazines and once I have spent a little time catching up on the latest in the industry, I move over to the latest book I may be reading. Presently I am reading ALL about MUSIC.  It is a study of where music began up to the present age of music.  Quite interesting.

My friend seemed to look on with a weird look and asked if I was employed in the music industry right now and when I explained that I was not, he could not believe that I spent as much time out of my day every day to stay abreast with the latest happenings.

I love pianos.  I love the piano industry.  It is an intense industry made up of good people that have a real passion for people, pianos and music. We are all working for a common good.  Yes, it is how people make money to live but, its also a way to help other people.  Especially kids.

If you have kids you should immediately enroll them into a music program.  Yes, immediately and it has nothing to do with age.  There are programs out there for infants all the way to senior citizens.  No matter where you are on your journey through life, there is a place for music.

My friend thought I was crazy but, once I explained it to him what my passion is all  about and why he smiled and told me that he  felt inspired himself because my eyes actually watered  up and he said my facial expressions changed.

Music is the key folks, music is the key.  I hope this wasn’t to crazy of a blog but, just passing along a funny conversation.

Ric Overton, www.PianoSD.com via www.MaxMorganDesign.com

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Moving forward

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Its time we embraced modern technology and use it to get the word out about music and its effects on our daily lives.

Many years ago we  used the newspaper to make announcements such as sales, special events, etc. but, as things have begun to change it has become important that we reach out in different ways to let people know whats going on in our stores, concert halls, venues, etc.

I have such a love and passion about pianos and the piano business that I must use everything at my disposal to get the word out about our industry.

In the coming weeks I am going to discuss some history of the piano and how music evolved but in the meantime, I want us all to reflect on what “has been” but then REALLY focus on “what will be”.  We all get sentimental about the way things used to be.  Maybe we enjoyed a concert or recital, a play or performance of some kind.  Perhaps we were moved by a particular artist or student.  None of this would have been possible without music and a musician.

Social media has bought us an opportunity to bring more performers and artists to the main stage and in some cases even made them famous.  This is something that could have not been done by a newspaper.

Today I am watching CNN and its coverage of the disturbance in Cairo.  The upheaval was reportedly caused by people blogging and posting on Facebook and Twitter.  Amazing, that such a simple venue like Facebook and Twitter could be so powerful that it would actually help organize an international protest like the one in Egypt today.  A powerful tool that is at the very least very cheap or in most cases free. Amazing that we can communicate to millions with our own computers.  Amazing that we can “get the word out” as quickly and efficiently as we are capable of, but, THE MOST AMAZING OF ALL-WE ARENT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS MEDIA. I am hoping that some of the following posts will bring this full circle and we can combine some music education and love for various instruments to “get the word out” that music is important.

See you soon.

Ric Overton of www.PianoSD.com via www.MaxMorganDesign.com

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Updates

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

We have had tons of things going on in our world.

First, I am happy to report that we are finally working out a deal with an international piano manufacturer to handle all of their social media and electronic marketing for them. I am hoping to see that happen in the next few days.  I will keep you informed as that happens.

I opened a way to be a silent billboard for music and lessons and your favorite things about music.  If you go to www.pianosd.spreadshirt.com you will see the site where you can purchase a t-shirt or make one with your own design.  You can say anything you want, order it right there and it will be shipped directly to you or to a friend.  Stop by and check it out at the address above.

As we are building our social media for piano dealers, teachers, artists and others I hope to be able to bring you more things that will be fun and interesting.

Going into the next few weeks we are going to be discussing Social media and how it can change your life.  I noticed on the news tonight that Facebook and Twitter were the spark that started a rampage in Egypt.  With the power of that media I am hoping to send the word to as many people as I can get to read,  MUSIC IS FUN.

Trying to imagine our life without music is almost impossible.  I can’t imagine even one day of my life without music.  If you think about it neither can you.  On every hand and everywhere there is the sound of some type of music.  What a great world we live in.

I will be sending you more information about all of the above as soon as it all becomes available.

Ric Overton of www.PianoSD.com via www.MaxMorganDesign.com

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Posting and Blogging

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

In the next few weeks I am going to be discussing the difference between blogging and posting and how they affect you and your business.

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Social Media by definition is nothing more than communicating with your friends, fans and potential customers via the internet. In times past we have used things like newsletters or direct mail or perhaps a tv, newspaper or radio ad to get the word out about a special event or promotion in the store. Now it means much more. •

When you hear the term “Social Media” your mind conjures up all kinds of images. You have Facebook and some of you are thinking “if I hear Facebook one more time, I’m going to scream”, Twitter, MySpace, Linkedin, Street Mavens, Blogger, Word Press, You Tube, etc. But, social media is so much more than just that. Social Media is also part of email blasts and includes the use of pictures, videos and of course blogs and micro blogs as well. •

Social media is all of these things but, it also serves a secondary purpose. The secondary purpose is ………wait for it………Google. You all know that Google is the dominant search engine used. Some analysts are saying that Google handles 67% of all searches done on the internet globally, every year. Yahoo, Googles closest competitor, gets only 16% of the searches. Bing, which has increased in recent months, is still sitting with all of Microsoft’s search engines at only 11% or so. •

While posting to the social media platforms alone are not enough to get you a higher ranking in Google it does other things like provide you with links. I am not going into that subject right now but suffice it to say that it does play in together and all of these things hold hands and do communicate with each other in some way. •

People automatically assume that this is difficult. While posting and blogging is not difficult, there are a combination of words that have to be properly placed together to make sense not only to the reader but, also to the all-important search engines. You must be using this phraseology correctly for the search engines that are constantly reading your posts and blogs to understand what you are doing and then in turn rank your website properly on the search.

Additionally, shortly I will also discuss pianos, organs and their origins.  I am hoping to continue to bring these programs together as I continue work with dealers, artists and manufacturers building their programs as well.

Thanks for reading.

Ric Overton of www.PianoSD.com via www.MaxMorganDesign.com

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Social Media and Blogs

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

As many of you know who follow us on a regular basis, PianoSD closed in July.  My biggest problem is that I REALLY love the piano and music industry.  I have a real passion for teachers and music education and I dearly love the instrument itself.  The history of the piano is rich and it seems that I can’t just walk away and not be involved in the industry.

While I built PianoSD, one of the things that I did there on a regular basis was to post to social media accounts and blog posts almost every day.  So, I began to offer to friends in the music industry to allow me to do their posting and blogs.  The demand is big right now for social media connections and people really want to know what you are doing.  Social media and blogs are the easiest way for people to keep up with you.  The problem for a lot of music and piano dealers as well as teachers and artists is to take or have the time to do this.  Although its not difficult it is a little time consuming.

Max Morgan of www.MaxMorganDesign.com and I will be redesigning the website www.PianoSD.com to reflect our new direction soon.  In the meantime I wanted to let everyone know what is going on.

PianoSD is NO LONGER a showroom for pianos.  We simply are a referral service for people in need.  Last week I referred almost a dozen people customers to various services from tuners, technicians, teachers, violins and pianos.  I have really enjoyed being able to do this because I keep up with what is going on in Southern California with the people in our industry.

I wanted to tell you who we are working with so you can visit thier websites and see what they are doing too.

www.RosemaryBaileyMusic.com

www.SethRye.com

www.SorrentoValleyMusic.com

www.JoanieManero.com

www.PianoSD.com

www.MaxMorganDesign.com

and about 4 more on the way.  We are negotiating now with two international manufacturers, 6 artists and two dealerships.

What all this means is that even though I am not in the business of selling pianos, I am actively involved in the music industry and would be happy to help you if you are looking for a qualified tuner/tech, teacher, artist or if you are looking  for a referral for a piano in San Diego, or a piano in La Jolla, or a piano in Carlsbad, even if you are looking for violins or orchestral stringed instruments, I can direct you and if you want me to go with you I would be glad to.  Just to address money.  I do not have a prearranged agreement with any of the dealers.  I am friends with every one of them but, have no reason to suggest one over the other.  If you want me to visit with you, I would request that you be respectful of my situation and pay me for my time and expertise which we can discuss at the time.

Keep your eyes on us and watch as we begin to change the way we have traditionally done business.  I hope you are happy with what you find.

Ric Overton

post by Ric Overton of www.PianoSD.com via www.MaxMorganDesign.com

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