A new year is right around the corner and I, for one, am looking forward to a great year! Based on feedback from my clients, and my own experience in 2011, it seems that there are some early signs of an uptick in consumer demand for products and services. Here’s hoping that’s true and that it’s something that all of you are benefiting from. I was recently asked by a business reporter and colleague for my small business marketing predictions for 2012 – here they are: Continue reading “Small Business Predictions for 2012”
Category: Marketing
Starting a Business on a Shoestring Budget
Not every business is capital intensive which is good news for the many people out there right now interested in starting a business, but feeling hampered by lack of capital. There are a number of things that many would-be small business owners — particularly service-related business owners (e.g. consultants, accountants, attorneys, etc.) can do these days to start their businesses on a small budget. Continue reading “Starting a Business on a Shoestring Budget”
What Results Are You Looking For? Do You Know Your Maximum Capacity?
I’ve recently encountered situations with clients in two very diverse industries, with two very different marketing challenges, that were both embarking on major marketing initiatives in the absence of some very important information. They hadn’t clearly identified the specific results they were looking for.
They thought they knew. In fact, when I asked them they both provided me with a lengthy explanation of what they were hoping to achieve. The trouble is that Continue reading “What Results Are You Looking For? Do You Know Your Maximum Capacity?”
Greatest Marketing Challenges Facing Businesses Today
A student asked me the other day what the greatest marketing challenges facing business today were and whether I think these challenges are different than they have been historically. That’s a great question and I’ve pondered it for a while.
Ultimately, what I decided is that Continue reading “Greatest Marketing Challenges Facing Businesses Today”
Marketing Budget Best Practices
I’ve spent most of my career working for large organizations so developing and managing budgets is second nature to me. In fact, I *like* budgets — they provide both a planning guideline and a framework against which decisions can be made. In my case, those decisions have generally been related to marketing expenditures. Given a certain organization goal, and considering past activities and their costs, how much do I think I will need during the subsequent year to meet or exceed those goals. I like looking at and considering data this way and I like having a benchmark against which I can measure effectiveness of my marketing expenditures.
But, to my surprise Continue reading “Marketing Budget Best Practices”
What’s the Difference Between Marketing, Branding, Advertising and PR and Does it Matter?
It’s a question that comes up in many venues. On Twitter and in LinkedIn groups. In business meetings. In university classes. It recently came up through a journalist who was asking for input from marketing professionals – like me: “I’m looking for experts to explain, compare and distinguish advertising vs. marketing vs. branding vs. PR.”
For those of us “in marketing” the answer is deceptively simple. Continue reading “What’s the Difference Between Marketing, Branding, Advertising and PR and Does it Matter?”
What Measures Can Marketing Communications Impact?
As I work with companies on their marketing communication efforts most are understandably concerned about measuring the effectiveness of their marketing efforts whether those efforts involve multi-media campaigns or social media. And, personally, I’m a strong proponent of measurement in any business endeavor – you must be able to show a return on your efforts to prove your worth whether you’re an employee or a consultant/contractor.
But, if you’re responsible for marketing communications, you also need to make sure that you’re measuring those things that your efforts can realistically impact. Continue reading “What Measures Can Marketing Communications Impact?”
Today Borders – tomorrow Macy’s, BestBuy, Target? You?
Have you started conversations in your organization about what Borders’ downfall might mean to you? If you haven’t, you should. While it may seem like the bookseller’s situation is far removed from your own, I’m here to tell you that you are vulnerable. If your strategic planning activities (which, I’m hoping, are ongoing and not just once a year, or less…) are not considering these types of activities occurring in your external environment, you could be at risk. Continue reading “Today Borders – tomorrow Macy’s, BestBuy, Target? You?”
Measuring Marketing Effectiveness – Yes You Can!
My contribution on “Measuring Marketing Communication” is included as a chapter in IABC’s (International Association of Business Communicators) recently released book The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication. It’s a great book (even if I do say so myself!), with contributions from a wide range of communication experts on topics including how to manage communications, internal communication, public relations and marketing communications.
I particularly enjoyed Continue reading “Measuring Marketing Effectiveness – Yes You Can!”
Raising Awareness for Your Products or Services
I had a media inquiry recently from a reporter asking how businesses can best reach out to consumers to raise awareness of their products and services. It’s a great question and one that every new business/service provider grapples with. It is also the first step in the consumer buying process once a need has been realized. So, if you’re a business owner with something new to offer what steps should you take to get the word out to raise awareness of your product/service? Continue reading “Raising Awareness for Your Products or Services”