Editor's Note:  In Other Words is a new occasional series with information from other blogs.

This has been a very busy week, first with Bob Burg's Endless Referrals program and then the Make Mine a Million Dollar Business program.  Friday is the next do-it-yourself Publici-Tea(TM) event, where I will be speaking to the guests about blogging.  

For a great recap of the two big events this week, check out my reviews of Endless Referrals and Make Mine a Million from my column on Examiner.com.  For those of you who do not know, the Examiner.com column is all about Seattle Women and Business events and trends, where this blog is focused more on coaching for women entrepreneurs.  Not sure which one to read?  Subscribe to them both, of course! 

Bob Burg talks to Examiner.com 

Count me In! 

Kristen Marie Schuerlein of Affirmagy just landed a prime spot on page 10 of Entrepreneur's Startups Magazine.  The cover headline is "15 Hottest Businesses for 2008".  Kristen's article is called Everyone Wins (the online version is subscription only, so I cannot give you a working link)

For those of you not familiar with her company, she provides blankets with life-affirming messages for babies, people, and even pets.  The article covers Kristen's creative strategy for increasing sales in her baby Affirmawraps blankets.

The details:  Kristen held a contest asking entrants to submit pictures of their babies and grandbabies wrapped in her blankets.  The grand prize winner won 5 blankets and a small cash prize along with the photo of the cute little one linked on Kristen's home page. 

The genius in this contest is that it extends the warm feeling customers have about her product because it is now tied to a memory in their family.  We know from reviewing The Soccer Mom Myth that women buy based on how they connect with your company, and Kristen has found a great way to strengthen that connection that is true to her business and life philosophy.  She cares about her customers and it shows.  The contest helped boost Kristen's 2008 sales projections to $1.2 million. 

States have differing laws on the rules for contests and sweepstakes, so be sure to consult an expert in your area first.  After that, think of how your product or service can be further cemented in your customers' lives by the appropriate contest.  Don't take the easy way out and have them register for a gift card - make it special so they will remember you long after the contest.

Side Note to Kristen: 20 lashes for making me find out about this article instead of hearing it directly from you.  :) 

"Getting people to like you is only the other side of liking them." 

~ Norman Vincent Peale