Channeling Your Inner Two-Year-Old: Why “Why” Is The Most Important Question Smart Business People Can Ask

Confused orangutan

If you have a kid, know a kid or have ever been a kid (hard to remember sometimes, isn’t it?) then you know that those precious and terrible twos require the most effort from an adult brain. Two year olds never tire of asking, “Why?” and they do it with sincerity and enthusiasm. I often wonder when we stop asking why – or maybe the more pertinent question is why we stop asking why – and simply accept and move on. But if you question your marketing goals, motivations and assumptions, you might just find out that you could be saving a lot of time and money and uncovering ways to do things not only better, but smarter. Join me on a journey into the whys of marketing to see how your reasons hold up.

Is Your Business Ready For Today’s Empowered Consumer?

empowered consumer

More information. More access. More choice. More voice. More technology. More influence. More control. More social consciousness. Meet today’s empowered consumers. They’re not shy about flexing their muscles and raising their voices, in favor or in opposition, online or in person. So what can you do to satisfy this new consumer? Smart businesses take advantage of the opportunities and information available in today’s market. Find out more so you can satisfy and respond to customers today.

5 Completely Avoidable Marketing Mistakes That You Can Correct Right Now

stepping on rake

It’s one thing to try out an idea only to look back and think, “Wow! What a mistake!” Those are often “good mistakes” – the kind you learn from and can use as a springboard for your next endeavor. But it’s another entirely to make one of those “stupid mistakes” that are so pernicious and so avoidable that all you can do at the end of the day is slap yourself on the forehead and wonder why you did it. These are the kind of mistakes that you can correct almost immediately, if only you realized you were making them. Find out what they are and how you can quickly turn headaches into opportunities.

The Internet Marketing Challenge: How To Avoid Your “Ooooh, Shiny!” Moment And Stay Focused On Results

cat chasing bead

You need an email list. And a Facebook page. You’d better be on Twitter. And how’s your blog? If you’re a local business, you have to run Foursquare deals. If you’re any business, you’ve probably run AdWords. Are you behind the QR curve? Don’t worry, MVS is on the way. Stressed yet? Until technology invents the 400 hour day or the magically replenishing budget, you’re never going to be able to do it all. So how do you know when to jump on the bandwagon and when to say no? Find out how to escape “shiny object” mentality and stay focused on marketing tactics that work.

The 30 Second Pitch: How To Make The Most of Every Opportunity

handshake

The 30 second pitch is an essential marketing tool. Also known as “the elevator pitch,” the idea is to explain who you are and what you do in the short amount of time it takes to ride an elevator from the ground floor to the top floor. The way we do business today has evolved so while you may never actually use your 30 second pitch in the proverbial “elevator”, there are plenty of places where you will use it; both expected and unexpected places. Every person you meet is a potential client. Whether you’re at a tradeshow, getting a latte or at your daughter’s soccer game, a business opportunity can present itself anywhere. Be prepared with your 30 second pitch. Here are some tips for how to craft your pitch to make the most of a first impression.

14 Ways To Make The Sale Instead Of Giving It To The Competition Tip 14: Give It Away

gift

If you’re reading this, it means you care about your business and are willing to do what it takes to make it great. This tip is not for the faint-of-heart. It’s not for the lazy, the unmotivated or anyone who just wants the paycheck and the ability to go home afterwards. It’s for those of you who – like me – take personal responsibility for and pride in making your businesses succeed. What I’m about to tell you to do may seem counterintuitive to the very idea of running a business but if you’ve got the passion, dedication and expertise, it can be the fastest path to winning loyal customers. I’m about to tell you how giving away your best ideas can win you more loyal customers than you could’ve imagined.

5 Ways To Market Your Business Online On Zero Dollars A Day

piggy bank

If you’re short on budget you’ve still got something you can invest in the ongoing success of your business: time. With time, dedication and some know-how, you can get your business in front of people and attract prospects and new customers without investing a single cent in professional marketing services or advertising. The most shoestring startup can generate business by leveraging the power of web, search and social marketing with only the investment of your time. Here are 5 ways to market your business online with no budget at all.

The Biggest Marketing Mistake You Could Be Making (And What To Do About It)

money falling off tree

I’m about to make your life easier and your marketing better by sharing one of the most overlooked, underrated yet most powerful allies you have as a web, search and social marketer: content. If you’re not creating, using and promoting content as part of your marketing strategy, it’s such a huge mistake that you should stop what you’re doing and start counting those lost dollars now. Here’s what makes it so important and how you can turn what might sound like a scary concept into your business’s new best friend.

Public Speaking For Fun and Profit Part II: You – Yes, You – Can Do It!

man hiding

During the Great Depression, there was a public figure who showed no talent for public speaking. I’m talking about a woman who began as an embarrassingly bad public speaker, uttering high pitched giggles and wiggling her hands, distracting the audience. She later became a noted speaker and the first American woman to make money as a lecturer. Find out how you, too, can improve your public speaking with expert tips from two sought after speakers.

Buttered Popcorn Syndrome: Why Two Directives Are One Too Many

Popcorn bucket and movie ticket

Any marketer will tell you that your call-to-action should be the central piece of a good marketing strategy. Define what it is you want your customer, website visitor or Facebook fan to do and prompt her to take action. This is sound advice. But rarely is it emphasized that a call-to-action is singular. It is an action, not actions. If you ask your customers to do too many things at once, much like I asked a concession stand employee to do too many things, the entire exercise will be lost.