Whatever business you are in, you are going to have competition, and leading the competition should be one of your business goals. You may think that no one else does what you do or offers what you offer, but even if your product or service is truly unique, there is bound to be at least …
When it comes to creating written communications about your business, whether for your website, social media, an email campaign, a press release or a company brochure, you need to do more than declare who you are and what you do. Good communications is the key to success in business. While it’s important to be clear …
You’ve likely heard the phrase “Content is King,” which entered our consciousness over 20 years ago in a Bill Gates essay envisioning the Internet as a marketplace for content. Over the past 10-15 years, that vision has become a reality, as we’ve seen content marketing, and creating compelling content, become not only the latest hot …
Ever wondered why you need an “elevator pitch”? In my recent blog, “Marketing via Networking,” I talked about the value of creating and building a network of business contacts to grow your business. Networking should be among the activities in your marketing plan, especially if you are a business owner or solo entrepreneur. By networking, …
Marketing experts advise that you should start your new year marketing planning a few months in advance, however many business owners wait until the actual new year arrives to start focusing on the year ahead. There’s something about a new year to rev up the thinking and dreaming about trying new tactics, launching new initiatives …
There’s a saying that goes something like this: “If you’re not doing business online, you’re not doing business.” These days, every company needs to be doing business online and have an online presence. And I’m not talking about just “having” a website. I’ve encountered businesses who believe that “if I build it, they will come” …
When developing a marketing plan, companies, specifically small businesses, will wonder which marketing tactics they should be undertaking. This is of particular concern if they have tight budgets and minimal time and resources. I’m often asked questions such as: “If I only have time to do one thing, what should it be?” or “What can …
Business people talk all the time about strategy, being strategic and marketing strategically, however I had a conversation once with a client in which he didn’t appear to know what a “strategy” really is. Strategies are often lumped with (as well as confused with) tactics. This isn’t surprising, as the Thesaurus in Microsoft Word considers …
A topic I typically cover with client companies when I’m working with them for the first time is what they are communicating currently to their external target audiences. Are they conveying what’s in it for the customer? Too many businesses are so focused on communicating who they are and what they do, they give little …