Marketing

One excellent method is the use of anonymous surveys . Information gathered with anonymous surveys is most likely to be accurate. On the other hand many customers won't respond to such surveys. For that reason at another time you may need to survey your customers with identity attached by...

In this Marketing Strategy I want to discuss the importance of being able to properly define and target your ideal prospect by using readily available demographic information. If you have that information you have the power to very efficiently selecting new groups of targeted prospects. For...

Many companies spend a good deal of their time "fighting fires" in the workplace. - That is, their time is spent realizing and reacting to situations, rather than planning ahead. It can be very difficult to stand back and see through all of the smoke: WHAT it is the company needs to...

Social networking sites are providing an affordable option to reach customers and niche groups without having a large advertising budget. Social networking encompasses Web sites that have gotten plenty of attention in the last year, including the popular MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn networks....

Step 1: B elieve in you Step 2: E xpand your horizons Step 3: H old yourself accountable...

BEHAVIOR NEVER LIES .... Is that simply a statement or is it the truth? Is truth the WORDS a person speaks or the BEHAVIOR they act out? Behavior Never Lies is more than a statement, it is a truth that when understood and accepted, will reshape one's understanding of the people who are...

Back in the late 80's, I was very involved in the Cleveland Area Board of Realtors and Women's Council of Realtors. I was priviledged to hear a fascinating speaker who made a whole lot of good new fashioned common sense and he really made me think. His name is Richard Flint. About ten...

If you have watched a video on YouTube, used a social network to catch up with old friends, followed a blog or used a wiki, you have used social media. Social media involves one central theme–user-generated content. As opposed to traditional media such as television or radio, anyone...

As gas prices continue to stay high and we all continue to be squeezed for time, I encourage you to think about alternative ways to attend meetings. The web has leveled the playing field for small businesses. It has positively impacted everything from company image to perception of company...

Picture this. . . You are about to buy a new home or refinance your mortgage. You and your spouse, maybe with kids in tow, have an appointment to sign real estate papers. You are tired, stressed out and nervous about your closing. When you called to confirm your appointment, you actually spoke...

A team's potential for success is only as strong as its players. Business owners should realize the importance of picking good prospects to work for their business team, too. For instance, sometimes a basketball team may promote from "within" and move a second string player up...

Marketers use the term "Web 2.0." to describe the Internet of today. Web 2.0 refers to interactive features of the Internet that connect people and allow them to share common interests and content. A major component of Web 2.0 is social media, which is the focus of my discussion....

Do you know who your best customers are? Do you know what segment of the population is most likely to buy your service or product? Defining a target market can be especially helpful for small business owners and managers. Directly appealing to the needs, wants, and tastes of a particular...

Our new "digitally-connected" environments are allowing many more people to follow their dream of being in business for themselves. Technology and virtual office-environments make the option of working from home a very viable solution for small business owners and for professionals who...

Today, we seem to have to be quicker, smarter and more creative than the year before. Every company is searching for a competitive solution to beat competition. The edge you've been looking for might be as simple as getting everyone within your company on the same page by employing a CRM...

Using the Web as a Marketing Tool By Rich Dusky Nothing has impacted society and our behavior as rapidly as the internet has! It has changed the entire marketing communications dynamic, and has become an invaluable tool for small and large businesses. Most companies can benefit from having...

Where to dig for gold? Consider this...For the last year, your friend Mike stopped by your house and buried some gold in your backyard. Sometimes Mike buried little chunks of gold and sometimes he buried large gold bars. The one trick was that Mike didn't tell you where in the backyard the...

An Effective Marketing Plan is Much Like Your Mom's Treasured Recipes ... It Takes More Than One ingredient to Make the Cake! By Rich Dusky In our marketing plan workshops, we often find business owners or marketing managers who are not sure if they need a marketing plan or they are...

There is an easy way to put a stop to wasted investments in marketing your business. By Rich Dusky Whether you're a small business owner or a marketing manager for a larger company, we've all made the same mistakes. You know the scenario all too well. A sales representative meets...

Step back and make an honest evaluation of your web site. Most sites that were designed four or five years ago are long overdue for a design overhaul. Here are the things that most sites can improve upon: Graphic design - Sites designed four or five years ago look like a kitchen that was last...

Maintaining data integrity requires a process where all people within the organization consistently and regularly enter updated information on customers. This can be an automated process or a manual process. The important point is that it needs to be well communicated that data integrity is...

You are sitting around a conference table discussing new ways to communicate with customers and prospects. Everyone gets excited over an idea. We are going to directly communicate with our customers and prospects. We need a personal approach to marketing. We want to direct our message to the...