Owning a business is no easy task. You’ve invested a lot of passion, time, and dedication into realizing your dream, and you look to the future with hope and expectation of success. To make that happen, there are some steps you can take with digital marketing to substantially grow your business using nothing but your computer. Continue reading →

Recently I found myself day dreaming about what I would do if I had to start all over again. If for whatever reason my business closed, or I sold it, and I found myself having to start from scratch, what would I do? I would start another business – that much I know. But what type of business? How would I get the word out? How would I get it off the ground? Continue reading →

I have a client who has recently been swept up in a social media frenzy. She spends hours, sometimes full days, posting to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social sites. Her Twitter feed often shows several posts per hour. She is engaging people, posting interesting items, and has definitely leveraged social media to create buzz and brand.  Recently, Amy (let’s call her Amy) confided in me that despite all this, she hardly gets any business from it, and that it has taken time away from other marketing.  Continue reading →

There are days that I come into the office and have so many things to do, I get so overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin. This feeling paralyzes me to the point that I can’t do anything; I don’t know where to start so I don’t start at all. Have you ever experienced this? I’ve found that the following helps:

1. Write down all of your tasks. It is helpful to have a concrete to-do list, and it also serves to clear your mind. Putting it on paper de-clutters your brain, and you will often find that you feel an immediately decrease in stress. Continue reading →

Your Business cards. Website. Pamphlets. Store signs. Trade show display. You have your list of features and benefits, but should they appear the same on all these? One might think that regardless of the medium, your message should be consistent. I’m here to tell you otherwise.

Continue reading →

Some ideas for a slow economy:

Back to basics. Now’s the time for down-and-dirty marketing – do the things that you know work, but maybe don’t like to do. Cold calls work but no one likes to make them – now’s the time to suck it up and get on the phone, or do some cold canvassing and drop by some prospects in person.

Think twice about that yellow page ad. Still using the Yellow Pages? More and more businesses are abandoning traditional advertising in favor of less expensive but effective internet advertising and investing in their websites. This is the time to enhance your website, make sure it is mobile-ready, invest in Search Engine Optimization, and join social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. Continue reading →

One of the most effective marketing methods often overlooked by many business owners is personal networking.  Your local chamber or referral group (such as BNI) can be a huge source of new business.  Here are some tips to help you network effectively:

Don’t just pass out as many business cards as possible.  What do you think of someone who just puts his business card in your face and quickly moves onto the next person?  Don’t be that guy.  Two or three meaningful conversations are worth more than hundreds of cards passed out. Continue reading →

Personal Networking should always be a part of your marketing plan, but now more than ever this is THE time to get out there and network!  Join your local chamber, or referral group such as BNI.  BNI is the largest referral and business networking organization in the world. Continue reading →

It’s hard to believe that I wrote my last article on this topic about a year ago, but I guess recession fears were brewing even last March.  Now we already know that we’ve been experiencing a real recession for several months.  I have never owned a business in this type of economy, and I’m sure many business owners would say the same thing; so it’s a bit hard to know how to navigate through it.  I believe that, as always, careful planning and sensibility will get you through it, so here are some ideas: Continue reading →

I just got a nice holiday card from a vendor…opened it up, and his business card was enclosed! I don’t know about you, but to me, this is a bit of a turn-off. What this commuicates to me is, “I’m sending this card as a way to remind you to do business with me.” I think this message would have been much more effective had it not included a business card.

One thing I learned long ago – do things without being salesy and you will stand out from the crowd. When I meet someone at a Chamber function, I send them a nice letter saying how nice it was to meet them, and that I look forward to seeing them again at future events. That’s it. No card, no “please let me know if I can be of service..” Why? because that’s expected – because that cheesiness is what everybody does, so I just send a letter saying “Nice meeting you,” and by doing that I think I look like I am more genuine and have more integrity.

Just send a Holiday card! No need to always be selling!