Category: Marketing

Blogs: A Natural Starting Point for Content Marketing

At Strategic Communications, blogging is a big part of what we do, both for ourselves and for our clients. A robust, well-managed blog is a key element of any content creation strategy. As we’ve discussed in the past, quality content is a must when driving traffic to your site. Blogs are a great vehicle for this.

Obviously, part of implementing an effective blogging strategy require developing quality content for the blog.  Assuming you’ve got quality content, your blog posts can serve as a great starting point for repurposing content across a variety of channels. Here are some of the things that we do to leverage the value of our, and our clients’ blog content: Continue reading “Blogs: A Natural Starting Point for Content Marketing”

Direct Mail Part I: The Big Benefits of Traditional Direct Mail Marketing

In the age of social media, search engine optimization and email, it might sound crazy to suggest anyone think of including direct mail in their marketing strategy, but that’s just what we’re about to suggest. And, yes, by mail we mean paper mail delivered by a United States postal worker. Continue reading “Direct Mail Part I: The Big Benefits of Traditional Direct Mail Marketing”

Small Business and Content Marketing: Opportunities Abound but Strategy is Key

Content Marketing Institute’s 2015 “Small Business Marketing Trends-North America” study, sponsored by Copyblogger Media’s Rainmaker platform, focuses on how small business marketers are changing their marketing practices. It also points to some potential opportunities for these small businesses and others to better leverage the value that content marketing can provide. Chief among the keys to content marketing success is having a strategy. Continue reading “Small Business and Content Marketing: Opportunities Abound but Strategy is Key”

Marketing Planning: An Ongoing Process

In an industry like marketing that’s driven by having its finger on the pulse of cultural trends and attitudes, a major fear is becoming stale, outdated or thought of as “yesterday’s news.” At the same time, there’s a very real danger in being too quick to move away from the tried and true, especially in established businesses and industries. So, with the obvious need to strike some sort of balance, the clear question becomes, “How often should I update my marketing plan?” Continue reading “Marketing Planning: An Ongoing Process”

Facebook as Your “Website”? Here’s Why That Might Be a Bad Idea

Not so long ago, having a website for a small business seemed like something that was only feasible for the high-margin business or the tech-savvy entrepreneur. Today, a professional-looking website is within reach of virtually any business. Still, in the Facebook age, many businesses are tempted to use a page on the social networking site as their primary online presence.

Facebook is certainly a low-cost option to very quickly get your business’ web presence up and running; however, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind before using Facebook as your only online vehicle. Continue reading “Facebook as Your “Website”? Here’s Why That Might Be a Bad Idea”

If You’re Not Unique, You’re a Commodity. Why You Need to Stand Out.

For businesses of any size, the ability to communicate to prospects and customers about why you’re different, and better, in ways that are meaningful to them is critical. Many fail to do so effectively, however. One key issue we often find with clients is a tendency to be too internally focused — they communicate with their audiences in ways that are meaningful to their business, but that may not be so meaningful to their customers.

For example, Continue reading “If You’re Not Unique, You’re a Commodity. Why You Need to Stand Out.”

Graduates: Have You Perfected Your Elevator Pitch?

It’s graduation time, and many are thinking about landing their first job. Even those entrenched in a career may be prompted by graduation season to think about their career paths and whether it’s time to consider a job switch.

We responded recently to a reporter’s query about creating “elevator pitches.” It’s an important concept for graduates, for those 30 years into their careers, and for any company or organization that has a key message to convey to a target audience. Continue reading “Graduates: Have You Perfected Your Elevator Pitch?”

Best Blogging Practices

Blogging can seem like a big commitment and, to a certain degree, it is. After all, you don’t want to start a blog without committing to posting to it regularly. But the time and effort don’t have to be overwhelming. I started this blog in February 2009 and have been posting to it regularly ever since. Over the past few years, I’ve been posting a couple of times a week.

I have five tips for those wanting to start a blog, or do a better job of managing an existing blog: Continue reading “Best Blogging Practices”

Surviving and Thriving in a Blue Ocean

In a previous blog post, we discussed the difference between blue oceans and red oceans. As a very brief recap, red oceans are the “what is” of the industry; it’s what is being done. Blue oceans, by contrast, are an open frontier. They are the unknown. They are the space where companies create their own new markets.

The benefits of blue oceans are apparent. There’s no competition yet. You invented the market and are in many ways a monopolist. Given the benefits of blue oceans, every business would operate in them if they could; however, it’s not that easy. Continue reading “Surviving and Thriving in a Blue Ocean”