Category Archives: small business

The ROI of Marketing on Main Street: Be “Awesome”

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I’m noticing something new on Main Street. As we educate ourselves before buying, there’s a new guy in town: peer-to-peer conversation on social networks. We still use online search, but more and more, we also use a trusted network of online … Continue reading →

Posted in business common sense, business wisdom, customer service, online reputation, plain old common sense!, small business, social networking, word of mouth | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

5 Habits of Highly Successful Business Owners

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Does your business have a strategy for growth?  Are you reaching your full business potential? As President of Strategy Leaders, Andi Gray has a long history of helping businesses grow, and an uncanny knack for helping entrepreneurs get to the … Continue reading →

Posted in business wisdom, entrepreneur, small business | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

How To Plan The Ultimate Website

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A business owner I know proudly unveiled his new website today. But when I clicked through to his new website, here’s what I found:

Posted in marketing communications, small business, website effectiveness | Tagged | 3 Comments

Do College Marketers Get A Passing Grade?

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Colleges and universities do a lot of marketing directed at high school seniors and their families, trying to influence this big ticket decision.  It seems to me that a lot of their marketing effort is wasted. What can we learn … Continue reading →

Posted in marketing communications, small business, word of mouth | Tagged | 3 Comments

Smart Sound Bite, or Scary Marketing-Speak?

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Are you scaring customers away with your words? You know that moment … you start explaining what you do, eyes start to glaze over and customers run away screaming. OK, I exaggerate … no one has ever run out of … Continue reading →

Posted in hubspot, inbound marketing, marketing branding, marketing communications, small business | 2 Comments

Mobile Marketing Checklist for Small Business

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Remember Agent 86 and his “mobile phone”?  As silly as Don Adams in “Get Smart” looks to us now, mobile devices are becoming the preferred way consumers interact online. Consider these mobile marketing facts:  Over 50% of working adults have … Continue reading →

Posted in mobile marketing, small business | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

New Year, New Plan: 9-Step Checklist For Business Growth

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Business owners can’t afford to waste precious resources; smart planning is essential to growth.  Here’s a checklist to help you focus on the right things in 2011. As you look at this list, ask yourself which single project, if completed, … Continue reading →

Posted in business common sense, business planning tools and templates, business wisdom, small business | Tagged | 7 Comments

Beyond Happy Birthday: Questions for Key Business Milestones

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This week my daughter turns 21, a major milestone. Businesses have important milestones also: starting up, weathering the first year or two, refining a business model, adapting to changing customer and market needs.  I have incredible respect for the businesses … Continue reading →

Posted in business common sense, business wisdom, small business | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Talking Shop: Featuring Entrepreneur/Small Business Owner Tom Cuomo

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Tom Cuomo grew up working in his dad’s restaurant…but that’s not why he’s a successful entrepreneur.  After 7 years in business, the owner of Grappolo Locanda share’s his ideas about building a successful business: -       Learn on someone else’s dime: … Continue reading →

Posted in entrepreneur, small business | 2 Comments

Social Media and Marketing Budgets: How Much of the Pie?

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Any financial planner worth her salt will suggest an “asset allocation”,  taking into account a client’s personal goals, timeframe, and risk tolerance. What about marketing plans?  What percentage should go to social media, compared to promotion, direct mail (both online … Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, small business, social media, social media budget | Tagged | 1 Comment