marketing strategy Archives

Take the Time to Plan!

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll reveal a personal “pet peeve” right up front. I have a strong negative reaction any time I’m approached by someone – colleague, client, prospective client, etc. – who says: “Let’s do…” without having taken the time to develop a plan (even a very quick and abbreviated plan) to help them determine whether the thing they wish to do makes sense within some larger context.

Here’s a 10-step process to developing communication/marketing plans that will provide you with the direction you need.

Continue reading “Take the Time to Plan!”

Create, Co-create, Collaborate or Die

We’re all familiar with the saying: adapt, migrate, mutate or die. Charles Darwin put forth his theory of evolution in 1859 and its relevance to businesses has long been applied by academics and business experts. But, in today’s fast-paced environment, while still applicable it suggests a pace that is much slower than our reality.

Adapting, migrating and mutating takes time–sometimes a long time.

While it may not be relevant from a biological standpoint, businesses today might be well advised to follow a different piece of advice: Continue reading “Create, Co-create, Collaborate or Die”

How to Meet Senior Managers’ Expectations for Corporate Communications

What are senior managers across the globe and across multiple industries concerned about these days? Reputation. So says a recent study conducted by Spencer Stuart and Weber Shandwick. Not surprising given the hit that many companies have taken over recent years in terms of their reputation, credibility and trust among consumers. So what are senior leaders’ expectations of the communications function according to the study? Continue reading “How to Meet Senior Managers’ Expectations for Corporate Communications”

Are MARCOM Professionals Out of Touch? CEOs Think So, and I Tend to Agree.

Newsflash: according to a recent survey from Fournaise Marketing Group, 70% of the CEOs surveyed said that marketers and communicators are disconnected from business results and living “too much in their creative and social media bubble.”

Now, I appreciate the numbers being tied to this reported sentiment, and I do love surveys, but as a marketing communications (MARCOM) professional for a number of years I have to say that this is not really shocking information. Those of us in MARCOM know this; we’ve known it for a long time. Ironically, though, too few of us Continue reading “Are MARCOM Professionals Out of Touch? CEOs Think So, and I Tend to Agree.”

Is Social Media Better Than Traditional Media?

Here’s another one of those “it depends” questions: Is social media better than traditional media? Well, it depends…

Is television advertising better than radio?
Billboards better than newspaper?
Direct mail better than email marketing?

These are all “it depends” questions and, frankly, if you ever see answers to questions like these I’d recommend Continue reading

Connecting Locally Through the Web

While the Internet offers the ability to reach out to audiences that are literally around the world, not all businesses on the Internet are really interested in audiences around the world–or even around the country. In fact, there are many businesses that are interested in connecting with local markets. An online discussion recently focused on whether there is a place for local marketers on the World Wide Web. I would say that Continue reading “Connecting Locally Through the Web”

Are Travel Agents Making a Comeback (and why you should care)?

The Internet has had a dramatic impact on many industries and businesses–creating opportunities for some and destroying them for others. Consider the changing nature of the publishing industry and the impact of being able to buy online for companies like Best Buy and many others. But business tends to be cyclical and it is often true that “what goes around comes around.” A recent article in the New York Times suggests that this may be the case for at least one industry — Continue reading “Are Travel Agents Making a Comeback (and why you should care)?”

New Year’s Resolutions for Small Businesses

As the New Year approaches it’s time to begin thinking about New Year’s resolutions. I’m pretty goal oriented and actually love this time of year–it’s always fun to look forward to new possibilities and make new plans for growth and achievement. I also believe that thinking about and committing our goals to some formal form (whether hard copy or online) serves to formally mark them in our minds and increases the odds that we will actually move forward to achieve them.

Here are my “top 3 marketing resolution recommendations” for 2012: Continue reading “New Year’s Resolutions for Small Businesses”

Developing Rapport With Customers

How do you effectively develop rapport with customers? How do you connect and compel those who have “raised their hands” and said “yes, I want to connect with your company” to continue coming back for more and, better yet, to spread the word about how great you are to others?

In a world marked by increasingly sophisticated technology, it may seem trite but it’s true that developing rapport with customers is not rocket science. In fact, my advice which, initially, may sound very general, is simple: Continue reading “Developing Rapport With Customers”

Small Business Predictions for 2012

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”