Ideas for Adding Value Not Giving Discounts
It’s a strange phenomena that people seem to value a small gift over a discount. It’s true. If you offer customers a 10% discount they will, of course, take it. But they don’t really value it. And that 10% discount hits YOUR pocket and profitability considerably harder than theirs. So you might need some ideas … Continue reading
Hitting Your Customers Hot Button
Everyone has a hot button that induces them to make a purchasing decision, so are you hitting your customers hot button? People buy products and services for a variety of reasons including; Prestige and ego Wanting to have the best Improving their education For the good of the family To make life easier To fulfil … Continue reading
Can You Learn From a Suicidal Goldfish?
I’m a dog person. At least with a dog you can play with them and teach them tricks. I am not a fish person. Fish just swim around aimlessly and, rumour has it, they have an attention span of 3 seconds. So imagine my surprise when I started correlating fish activity, or lack thereof, with … Continue reading
Are Your Marketing Fears Holding You Back?
Riveted to the spot in fear may be OK when you are watching a horror movie but not when you are trying to run a business. But fear of what? Or Who? It’s a recurring issue that a magic wand might fix; but my magic wand is currently at the drycleaners being starched. So, are … Continue reading
You’ll Waste Money on Advertising Unless You Read This First!
I recently saw an advertisement for a new marketing resource being trialed in Britain. The headline provocatively shouted ‘BIG BRAND ADVERTISING ON A SMALL BUSINESS BUDGET’ – good headline, bound to get a lot of attention. It certainly got my attention. Upon reading further, part of the text said this; “Advertising, whilst necessary for any … Continue reading
How To Motivate Your Team to Success
Have you ever worked for an organisation where there was too much gossip, backstabbing, and rumour mongering? Was the corporate culture one where no one knew what was going on so everyone was on tender hooks thinking negative things about the company? I have. And it’s not pleasant. I worked for someone who didn’t like … Continue reading
Six Simple Ways to Make Marketing Work For You
When you are busy working IN your business it seems you never have time to work ON your business. This is so true of many business owners, particularly those who operate a small business. However, you CAN work ON your business and add six simple ways to make marketing work for you at the same … Continue reading
Want A More Profitable 2016? Here Are Five Simple Steps.
Most people start a business because they are good at something. And they want to make more money for themselves, not their employer. However, working for yourself is very different when you have to work IN and ON your own business. Perhaps you have a business plan. Is it in the bottom of the drawer … Continue reading
Marketing on a Shoestring Budget
Marketing on a Shoestring Budget© Lets face it, most small business owners would rather spend less on marketing than more, So if you are marketing on a shoestring budget or are looking for ways to do more with less outlay, then these ideas are for you. 1. Keep the Customer Satisfied Testimonials are the strongest … Continue reading
Three Top Ways to Persuade A Potential Customer
How do you persuade someone to buy or use your product or service? Different people are persuaded by different actions and motivations. Some are persuaded by logic, others by observation, others by evidence. Here you’ll find the top three ways to persuade a potential customer that you can tailor to suit your personality and selling … Continue reading
Is This an Ugly Marketing Tactic?
When you are looking for marketing on a shoestring, it doesn’t mean cutting corners or being ‘cheap’. It means being clever, insanely clever. So, in seeking to be clever can you also use an ugly marketing tactic? I think you can, and here’s why. Imagine you own a menswear store. You might be positioned … Continue reading
Promote Your Blog with Video
We are up to our eyeballs in the digital age so finding new and interesting ways to promote your blog can be time-consuming and expensive. Or you can produce a video. Expensive you say? It doesn’t have to be. You can promote your blog with video. I use Animoto and iMovie (see my post creating … Continue reading
Professional Tips for Mistake-Free Surveys
How do you REALLY know what is of value and importance to your target market? Asking them directly may not be enough because too many businesses fail to ask the right questions. Researching your marketplace is not a new concept but the Customer Value Survey is. Many businesses, particularly small businesses, may not have the … Continue reading
Getting Out of The Black Hole
Getting Out of the Black Hole© For many business owners, late November to early February is a black hole of sales inactivity. Pre-Christmas celebrations and office parties are in full swing so many decision-makers don’t want to be thinking about buying products and services. So, what do you do? Join the fun or think strategically … Continue reading
Effectively Handling the Follow-Up
You take the time to attend a networking event, meet people you can do business with, exchange business cards…and then what? You follow-up, right? You make a call, send them something, or both. If you don’t connect or don’t do business right away, what do you do? It’s pretty simple. But many people in business … Continue reading
Is This a Regular Part of Your Marketing?
Like most things in marketing, there is no one-size-fits all solution or magic wand answer. You can develop great marketing messages (created from thorough research) and powerful marketing materials. But what is of prime importance in your marketing arsenal is…..‘The Follow-Up’. Some marketers will tell you that perfecting marketing messages is a myth – I … Continue reading
Don’t Make This Rookie Marketing Mistake #1
A friend of mine is an avid golfer. He plays twice a month, on weekends, with a group of 25 – 30 people and they regularly play different courses across the State. One weekend, they decided to go to a Hotel and Spa resort about two hours from their City because it had been getting … Continue reading
An Insanely Clever Way to Easily Promote Your Small Business
For an insanely clever way to easily promote your business on-line, check this out. I created it today using iMovie and stock shots. You can create your own with different templates and images you shoot yourself. It’s insanely easy. Then just post on Vimeo, Facebook, YouTube, your blog, website, WHATEVER! Have fun. Let me know … Continue reading
Secrets of the Inverted Pyramid – Media Releases that Get Noticed
What is a media release? Sometimes called a ‘press release’, I prefer ‘media release’ as the media sector is much broader than simply print or ‘press’ media; and journalists seem to like it. A media release is one of the most inexpensive ways you can announce your own news. It’s a story written by you … Continue reading
Insanely Clever Marketing 