There’s a topic I would like to expand on. And I guarantee you’ll have a strong opinion on it. It’s something any business owner must pay attention to, but before you think about dropping bombs of wisdom in the comments below, let me lay this puppy out… Doom and gloom is an easy topic to…
Why Small Businesses Hate Content Marketing (and What to Do About It)
Have you ever tried to explain what Content Marketing is to a small business owner? Ever been to a meeting where social media comes up and you’re greeted with blank stares and a “let’s please move on” gaze? And what about the following … “I like the idea, but not right now.” “We just don’t…
6 Reasons Why I Eat at Dick’s (and What a Seattle Burger Chain Can Teach You About Branding)
There’s a tiny Seattle-area hamburger chain that’s survived an unrelenting beatdown. Territorial behemoths known as McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s don’t like small fry horning in on their territory. But a little place called Dick’s Drive-In is surviving and thriving in spite of the fast food corporatocracy. Seattleites have heard all the jokes around the name,…
Rebranding Your Business? STOP and Take These 4 Steps First
Are you in the process of rebranding your business? Quick, answer the following questions: Would you prefer … 1. Fans? 2. Customers? 3. Brand evangelists? Or to make this more clear … A. Fanatic blog commenters? B. People who buy from you? C. Customers who purchase your products and/or services, trust you, brag to all…
4 Compelling Reasons Why Your Startup Company Should Blog
Your budding startup needs to start blogging, but there’s a problem … Fear. Yep, many of the companies I work with have a fear of marketing and it relates to cash. This is because traditional marketing is expensive. You may have hired someone to help with web design, copywriting, and overall branding, but paying a professional to…
How to Craft a Tagline That Works
What’s the secret to a great tagline? And what qualities define one that really works? Just like my previous two articles: Positioning and Naming I’m going to provide a framework for a rockin’ tagline. First, let’s define what a tagline is. It’s that handy little phrase that defines what you do. It should be: – Easy to…
How to Pick the Perfect Name for Your Business
A great name can make all the difference in the world. And taking the time to craft one might be your most important first step. But you see naming as a mystical practice. Something you’re not capable of. Well there’s nothing mystical about it, really. In fact, anyone can use the steps below to come…
How to Brand Your Business (and Make Sure You’re Attracting the Right Customers) Step 1
How clear is your online messaging? Let me guess… you’re pumping out great content, have a site design you’re proud of, and you’re putting in the work each day. But things are not quite panning out as expected. You have the blogging/branding/marketing disease of the many headed hydra. (Many businesses do.) So, why are you…
3 Steps to Dramatically Improve Your Marketing (and Attract New Customers)
If there was a golden trifecta that could truly move the needle in your business, you’d want to read about the details, right? Successful marketers today use a powerful 1-2-3 mix of words, tools, and practices that can dramatically improve your brand presence, build an audience, and create a marketing machine built to last. If you are trying…
How to Grow Your Brand (and Stop Flushing Marketing Dollars down the Toilet)
If you own a business and have considered content marketing, what is stopping you from doing it? Content marketing has been around for ages, but I’m talking about a fairly new way to attract and convert customers. The modern incarnation of Content Marketing that many small businesses don’t embrace. So what IS stopping you?…
