What a great day. Your business is open. The wait is over. Instead of costs, costs, costs, you can now make some sales. Some time passes and someone walks into your business. It’s the business owner from next door and she just wants to wish you good luck. Some more time passes and some friends…
Last weekend I took our car in for a routine oil change. As expected the staff were friendly, the service quick, and everything was done right. They provided a comfortable lounge area while I waited with a big screen TV, coffee and water. Those were my expectations and they were all met. However, there is…
Market research focuses on understanding your customers. There are a variety of tools to help you do that. Yet one of the most overlooked tools that offers a great deal and costs very little, except for time, is conversation. Conversation is great in terms of getting to know your customers as individuals. What are their…
Stories!! They amaze. They bring out our emotions. They stop and make us think. They help us connect. All of these, plus others you might add, are why stories are so important when you are marketing your business. Having your customers connected to your business is what branding and marketing is all about. Stories turn customers…
When marketing your small business, you need to include all possible options in your tool kit. One such option is called public relations. Many business owners think of it as free advertising. This is a myth because it isn’t free and it isn’t advertising. Parts of public relations, or PR, such as announcements of new…
It’s Super Bowl Sunday. I knew two teams were vying for a trophy. And the media didn’t let me forget that lots of advertisers were going for best commercial. What I didn’t know was that I also would be running a contest, a contest in terms of customer satisfaction (the customer being me). Here is the…
The bottom lime for survival of a business eventually comes down to making sales. You need to get money coming in the door. There are many ways that you, as a business owner, can make your product and services available. One way used successfully by many art and craft businesses is by participating in shows…
As a business owner, you probably have heard that customers will forget about your business unless you keep your name in front of them. And this thought is partially true. The need to stay visible is an important part of marketing Today, however, with social marketing, “more” is taken to new heights. Everyone is focused…
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