Features
-
5 Powerful Alternatives For Social Media Haters
June 20, 2011
Are you one of those CEOs or business owners who thinks social media is a waste of time and money? Rather than argue with you, I’ve decided to agree wholeheartedly and see how small businesses can get the same marketing benefits that social media brings without all the time-wasting, money-sucking fluff that keeps so many CEOs away.
-
Using Green Practices To Market Your Business
June 17, 2011
While not every part of your marketing plan needs to trumpet how amazingly eco-friendly your company is integrating descriptions of the steps you’ve taken can provide a significant boost.
-
Planning for Your Future
June 16, 2011
If you truly want to be part of what can be an exciting future in this diverse economy, it’s time to take a systematic approach to creating your future.
-
Get Your Employees On Twitter
June 15, 2011
Twitter can be a very important tool for companies. Having a genuine, unforced interaction between employees, the company and followers can create a positive and connected network. There is value in promotion that isn't directly from the brand. Having ambassadors to the brand is a successful strategy for you to promote the company and the mission.
-
The Economy: This is Not a Soft Patch
June 14, 2011
One of our recovery indicators, the NASDAQ, seems to have relapsed and may be heading for rehab. Perhaps the wild and fun ride it had on Ben Bernanke's QE2 has now come to an end. It may not get another cruise until he pilots a brand new ship, QE3, but rumors of that cruise liner’s voyage are just that—rumors. QE2's huge midnight buffet was nice, but the economic heartburn may take a while to pass.
-
Straight Talk about M&As in A “Cup O Joe”
June 13, 2011
We have a client right now that is a pretty good sized business—about $20 million to $40 million in revenue, very profitable. They have hired us to help them find a local company that has more capabilities because they will not only get in for less than if they bought new equipment, but they will also get the customers inherent with that.
-
5 Content Marketing Strategies For Small Business
June 10, 2011
One of the most effective, low-cost ways to drive traffic and build awareness for your business is through content marketing: creating and distributing relevant content to attract, acquire, and engage your target audience.
-
Mobile Marketing Takes Hold
June 09, 2011
The first time someone thought to write on a tablet that could be lifted and hauled rather than writing on a cave wall, print became the ultimate portable media. Today, mobile media devices such as smartphones and iPads have become a primary source of portable media from which we can obtain information and communicate with one another.
-
Economy Gets Pause that Isn’t Refreshing
June 07, 2011
As discussed in blogposts, the economy was getting weak, and the latest data confirm that. Every one of our recovery trackers are above or equal to their levels at the recession on a current dollar basis. Those levels, however, are in some jeopardy because of a slowing economy, and inflation.
-
6 Easy Ways To Reward Your Twitter Followers
June 06, 2011
Consumers follow their favorite businesses on Twitter to get an inside look at the business, to find out about new products, earn discounts and be a part of a community. Businesses have the potential to turn these fans into brand ambassadors by making their followers feel special and appreciated. Here are six ways to reward your Twitter followers.
-
What makes a brand?
June 03, 2011
What makes a brand? Is it the name? Identifying characteristics such as a logo? What people think and remember? It could be all and maybe so much more.
-
Strategy versus Implementation
June 02, 2011
Have you ever competed in an athletic event totally convinced that your game plan was “right on” but as it turned out your execution was dreadful? You repeatedly hear highly successful coaches, after a disappointing defeat, say that they had a great game plan but their players and coaches didn’t execute. This not only happens in sports but in business as well.
-
Use Social Media for Online Press Releases
June 01, 2011
This article describes how your company can use social media as a sort of online press release to reach your internal and external publics.
-
Counterintuitive Economics
May 31, 2011
This week’s column is a collection of comments and links to a variety of items that might seem counter-intuitive to prevailing thinking found in the economics press. I hope you enjoy them.
-
Selling is a Process, Not an Event!
May 27, 2011
Traditionally the Lean Process focuses on principles related to efficiency in manufacturing. The purpose of the “Lean” approach is to continually improve all processes to increase effectiveness and productivity in an effort to positively impact the company’s overall performance. The goal is to reduce waste (e.g. time, raw materials, and redundancy), improve quality, reduce inventory levels and reduce lead time. This approach requires a very different culture incorporating a multi-departmental synergy, teamwork and a strong commitment from “C” level managers.
-
Target Marketing: Hitting the Bull’s-eye
May 26, 2011
In a challenging and competitive market environment, it is vital to effectively use all resources, capabilities, and capital to produce goods and services that customers desire. Realistically, no company can do everything and satisfy everyone’s needs. Resources will not stretch that far. Today’s successful organizations are targeting customers that need and want their products and services, while setting aside the customers that do not fit that profile.
-
Urgency Gets No Summer Vacation This Year
May 24, 2011
There were many companies that were blindsided by the Internet in the mid-1990s. It looks like another communications, advertising, and promotion upheaval is about to get underway late this year and in 2012. This time, pretend it's 1994, the year prior to the Internet avalanche, and think about that old saying “if I knew then what I know now.” What would you do to take advantage of the changes ahead?
-
Pouring Another “Cup O Joe”: the Essentials of M&A Valuation
May 23, 2011
Why do many industries use multiple-of-EBITDA to determine the value of companies? It’s because this method provides a good and relatively simple way to estimate cash flow. Multiple-of-EBITDA also is the best parameter for comparing one company’s financial condition with that of others in the industry. It removes distortions by adding back interest expense (which could be due to different capital structures) and depreciation (which could be a function of depreciation policies or write-offs).
-
Training – The Fuel for Your Company’s Growth and Development
May 19, 2011
Perhaps you should take advantage of the current business environment to stockpile the fuel that drives your business’s growth and performance, as well as the knowledge, skills and capabilities of the people that work with your organization
-
Get More Sales with Social Media
May 18, 2011
Social Media is a great marketing tool to use to promote your business, but how can your individual sales representatives use social media to target specific markets and demographics? By using Twitter and LinkedIn, they can find prospects in a variety of ways.
-
Inflation and Worker Earnings Moving in the Wrong Directions
May 17, 2011
At the end of last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released their latest Producer Price Index and Consumer Price Index data. Things are not good. We are still concerned about the size of the gap between producer prices (prices at the manufacturer level) and consumer prices (prices on store shelves). Last time they were wider than usual to this degree was in mid-2008. We know what happened then: prices crashed as the economy plummeted into recession.
-
Is Anybody Listening?
May 16, 2011
Have you ever been frustrated because an employee didn’t follow directions? Have you ever had to redo a job or an order, at your expense, because a customer service representative or sales person misinterpreted your customer’s requirements? Have you ever had to referee a conflict between competing departments? Have you ever encountered any of these or similar situations? If so then you have dealt with the repercussions of ineffective communication.
-
10 Ways To Get More Buzz For Your Business
May 13, 2011
Do you really need a PR firm to get your product or service noticed by the press? Maybe not. If you are willing to spend a little time developing your story and business relationships, you may be your own best option.
-
The Customer is Always Right- Are You Right About Your Customer?
May 12, 2011
Your customers are the key element to your business success. You need to attract, maintain, and maximize your customer base. Understand customer patterns. Analyze their behavior. And in the end, give them what they want, when they want it.
-
Competition - The Pros and Cons
May 10, 2011
Today we are going to talk about competition. For most businesses, competition is a given. When I walk to work, I am often struck how many local businesses have competitors literally right across the street. Clearly competition is something you can learn to live with and still operate successfully. In fact, there are some very good things about competition. And there are some challenging things. This post will attempt to outline both.