If you’re going to make some sort of guarantee or have a marketing message, it’s very important that you say what you mean (and vice versa). When consumers go out of their way to pick your brand based on your message, you want to make sure that they get what they think they’re getting. If a customer thinks you mean one thing, and finds out it isn’t so, they won’t just be confused, they’ll be a little peeved – which can undo all the effort you’ve spent marketing the message in the first place.
Oct
20
2009
Can You Prove What You Know?
In today’s service and knowledge economies, it can be difficult to tell an expert from a newbie. If someone asks you to prove that you know what you’re talking about, can you?
Oct
14
2009
How to Find Your Customers Online
Sometimes your customers find you online by commenting on your blog or joining your Facebook fan page. But what if you’re getting started or you’re looking to find other places where your customers hang out? How do you go about finding your customers online?
Oct
13
2009
News Flash: Selling Still Means Building Relationships
I had the honor of listening to Chris Brogan yesterday at the Detroit Chamber’s Marketing Mavericks event at the Detroit Zoo. I really like listening to people talk about social media, because it helps me come up with new ways to explain it to clients. One of the things Chris said was that selling is still about building relationships, social media is just a way to do that online.
Oct
07
2009
What’s Your Business’ Personality?
People like to attribute human characteristics to things and companies are no different. When we think of a business or a brand, we think of all the emotions and experiences we’ve had related to it. We usually tie up all these feelings into a sort of personality for that business. Apple is thought of as hip and probably a bit snooty. Facebook is that friend that you liked to party with in college. Nike is way into sports, but likes to look good doing it. You get the picture. What personality does your business have?
Oct
06
2009
Stop and Think Before Sending that Mafia Request. What’s the Effect on Your Brand?
Social networks are growing. Even your Mom knows what Twitter is. The time people spend online is growing and increasingly they also interact there as well. You may have clients and customers which have never interacted with your company in person, only through a website or social network. All this means that your online reputation can have an effect on your brand and company.
Aug
31
2009
Protecting Your Domain Name Ideas
You have this great idea for a site and you start researching possible domain names. When you go to buy one a few days later, you find that it’s already been purchased. You find this strange because you’ve only told a few people about the name. Now you have to either try to buy the domain name back or think of a new one. Very frustrating. If this has happened to you or you’re thinking about purchasing a domain name in the future, you should take steps to protect your ideas.
Aug
12
2009
Why Your Crappy Free Wireless is Costing You Business
Many businesses, especially restaurants and coffee shops, have free wireless these days. However, many have really crappy free wireless (it’s slow or it cuts out, etc.) and that is costing them business.
Do it Well or Don’t Do it
If you’re going to have free wireless, you probably advertise it. It’s an enticement to come to your shop. It’s a reason why people have meetings or work there. If your free wireless isn’t that good, they’re not going to return when they want somewhere to meet or work and that’s lost business.
Aug
04
2009
A Missed Opportunity to Connect with an Enthusiastic Customer = PRFAIL
Last night I was a bar/brewery for a pr/social media meetup. I love this bar. It has free wireless, good food, great beer and no smoking. It’s a bit of a haul from where I live, but I still make it a point to meet people there, tell people about it, and give them as much business as I can. I am an enthusiastic customer.
Aug
03
2009
Who Are You, Exactly?
So many of us are so busy running our businesses that we forget exactly who we are – what our company stands for and what we provide to our customers. This can lead to some huge business problems, such as branding and reputation problems, as well as not understanding where to spend money to reach our actual customers. Taking a few minutes to think about who you are - in terms of what your customer thinks, can really help you target the right audience with the correct message, saving you both time and money in the process.
Digital Marketing & Strategy
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