Exact Target reports that Twitter users are more likely to post regularly to blogs, more likely to post product and service reviews, and more likely to share coupons on coupon sites. We’re also more likely to write articles, post videos, contribute to wiki’s, and comment on other people’s blogs. This rings true for me, because as a Twitter user, I like to find interesting or educational tidbits that I can share with my readers. [Read more…] about How Online Content Grows Wings
How Often Should You Update Your Small Business Website?
When was the last time you updated your small business website? This week? This month? This year? If it wasn’t this week, it’s been too long and it’s time to give your website a little attention. [Read more…] about How Often Should You Update Your Small Business Website?
Plan Before Phone Conferencing
More and more business is handled over phone lines and screen-share. Well planned, these are brilliant ways to do business. If you miss important details, however, it can really take away from the experience. Those details have a way of seeming insignificant when two or more parties who haven’t met in person try to become conversational without facial cues. It can get awkward real fast. Don’t you just love it when someone tries to break the tension with a really poor joke or comment? That helps, right? Not.
Time may be a luxury you’re not used to taking, but the truth of the matter is that preparation is going to take a little time. Time is a necessary component. Without taking those minutes to think about objectives, roles and time frames, it can be too easy to have a misunderstanding between teammates or even between your company and your client.
Is Your Business a Referral Engine?
Reading a good book involves a certain amount of tension. You want to get to the next page, but not miss anything along the way. Okay, usually this refers to fiction, but it’s also applicable to John Jantsch’s new book, The Referral Engine. Now that I’ve finished reading it, I’m going to buy a copy for each of our team members – then read through it again, workshop fashion. I expect it will transform the way we do business. It’s already transformed the way I think about our business. [Read more…] about Is Your Business a Referral Engine?
Marketing Includes Knowing What You Don’t Want
Timeless Treasures Pt 2
In my last back-to-basics post, I challenged you to carefully define your customer – to market effectively and be COST effective, we need to know exactly who’s attention we’re trying to gain. But there’s far more to it than that. It’s also important that we figure out the markets or projects that aren’t a good fit for us. There’s a lot to be said for learning what you DON’T want. [Read more…] about Marketing Includes Knowing What You Don’t Want
Timeless Marketing Principles – Part 1
It’s fun to focus on the new and different, but it’s important not to forget the tried and true. Small businesses have established themselves and grown in the marketplace since the dawn of capitalism, not just since the birth of Facebook. Along the way, what works and what doesn’t work has been studied and written about. Effective marketing has been dissected and diagrammed. It’s true that HOW we get the job done has changed, but the timeless principles relating to market, message and media are still the foundation for success. [Read more…] about Timeless Marketing Principles – Part 1