Archive for July, 2008

The Difference between Business to Business and Business to Consumer Marketing

I just got finished giving a terrific talk on the 7 Deadliest Small Business Marketing Sins to about 60 or so members of the Master Builders Association. I love seeing the light go on when people realize what they’ve been doing wrong and how to fix it!
Inevitably, most small business owners are guilty of one […]

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If there’s an elephant in the room, chances are it’s costing you sales!

A few years ago, I was brought in by a marketing consultant to do some copywriting for one of his small business clients—a local remodeler. I met with the consultant and client, gathered information, and got ready to start writing.
First, I carefully considered the target market, and their needs and fears. Goodness knows people have […]

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Small Business Owners, It’s Time to Let go of the Old Adage “If You Want Something Done Right You Have to Do it Yourself”

Just yesterday I was on the phone with an amazing business man. I met him at the biznik BizJamSeattle2008 a couple of weeks ago, and was really impressed with his work, attitude and obvious success.
So we were chatting to get to know each other better and see if there might be some synergy or strategic […]

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Consumer Perceptions, Marketing and Pricing—a Question to Ponder that’s Sure to Impact Your Small Business

My husband made an interesting point the other day. It’s one that has a huge impact on how you market your products or services, and what people are willing to pay.
He said, “Do you realize people are whining about the high cost of gas, yet happily paying more than $5.00 a gallon for bottled water?”
Last […]

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Small Business Owners…Learn Practical Guidelines for Setting and Raising Your Rates

Tired of making too little and working too much?
Not sure how much to charge for your services?
Whether you’re a consultant, coach, therapist, designer, or you offer some other type of service, setting your rates right is critical to your long-term success. It’s also one of the most difficult jobs most of us have to tackle […]

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BizjamSeattle08 and Why I Love Biznik for Small Business Social Networking

Like many small business owners, I’ve been experimenting with online social networking as part of my marketing plan. I’ve long been a proponent of offline networking, and in fact launched my last business almost entirely through in-person networking events.
Though I still love live networking and belong to a couple organizations, I’m becoming a fan of […]

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Two Critical Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Rebranding Your Small Business

I just read a terrific article by Chris Crum at Small Business Newz entitled “Thinking About Rebranding Your Business.” In it, Chris offers some incredibly valuable information about the mistakes business owners often make when rebranding, as well as links to other resources. He also focuses on something I believe is especially important…Not forgetting about […]

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Is Your Website an Effective Salesperson, an Adequate Salesperson, or None of the Above?

I just finished reading Jason Lee miller’s terrific post on Web Pro News “24 Ways to Get and Keep a Customer”.
In it, he references a Future Now’s 2007 Retail Customer Experience Study that every business owner with a Website should be aware of.
The study states that a 2007 Forrester survey revealed, “only 26% of online […]

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