The customer may not be infallible (like you or I?), but it’s a safe bet they know a lot more about their own business than I do. It’s my job to help them realize their vision, not mine. We’re building their brand, not my portfolio. As competition gets more fierce (or if you will, as marketing dollars get more scarce), even established ad agencies are acknowledging that customers must have the final “say” in their own brand. [Read more…] about The Customer is Right
Inside Line to More Business
Special Offer – B to B Magazine
As a copywriter, I’m most often tasked with writing copy for the B2B market. Beyond asking questions of my customer, this requires access to sources of information about various industries. One of my most valuable resources for the past few years has been B to B Magazine, which I receive free as a TradePub subscriber. You can do the same and I’ll provide you a link at the end of this post.
What Do You Mean, Ethical Marketing?
I’m often involved in conversations with small business owners regarding their marketing materials, and lately I’ve notice a disturbing trend. There’s an increasing gap between companies who hold integrity dear, and their competitors. A prospect has to dig pretty deep to know who’s good for what, and you’re left with two large responsibilities – business ethics and conveying them so a customer has a clear choice.
When you provide a service or product that exceeds client expectation, you increase your competitive edge by a wide margin. When they can see it coming because of the way you present yourself, you do even better. Knowing how the ‘dark side’ does things helps you stay above the fray and show others what to avoid, too.
Social Networking Leads to Social Search Engines
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn: These and an abundance of smaller social sites are gaining ground as searchable resources. Their value as search engines is directly related to their value as social networking sites. In fact, if you want to know what’s being said on any given topic, your quickest, most accurate resource would be one of Twitter’s many social search tools, such as Twitter Search or Tweet Grid. Why? Because Twitter is where the conversation is happening.
[Read more…] about Social Networking Leads to Social Search Engines
Winged Monkeys by Scott Alberts at Appleton’s PAC
I love my job! I was commissioned to create 11 large-scale illustrations featuring Winged Monkeys for the Performing Arts Center’s “Wonderfully Wicked” Gala on Feb. 6, 2009. The Wizard of Oz-themed musical “Wicked” ran in Appleton, Wisconsin through Feb. 28th. Steve Quinn, the Tour’s Company Manager, actually asked to meet the Artist, and later offered this generous endorsement:
[Read more…] about Winged Monkeys by Scott Alberts at Appleton’s PAC
Comparing Link to Ink
If you market to other businesses on any level, and haven’t yet subscribed to B2B Magazine, you’re missing out. We receive both the print and online versions, and tend to read them cover-to-cover each month. Today’s issue just arrived in the mail, and the first thing to catch my eye was the “New Channels” column by Paul Gillin, titled “New PR Reality: Link over Ink.” [Read more…] about Comparing Link to Ink