The 2nd Worst Time to Introduce Yourself to a Customer
By then — absent extraordinary sales skill — it’s too late to build preference and make a high value sale.
Why I Got Fired
In a little over 18 months, top of mind awareness jumped 550%. And I was fired. And I deserved it.
Don’t Become a Digital Hostage
What if you were locked out of your online leads or extorted? It happens often, yet business owners don’t share this publicly.
Challenges of a Family Business
There’s a relative I haven’t spoken to in five years. Family coming first sounds good, but the reality is more complex than that.
Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid
Marketing Heads insist “it’s a numbers game” and standardize campaigns to reach more people, neutering creativity in the process.
Warren Buffett on the Importance of Branding In 2023
If and when the economy turns south, you’ll be tempted to cut advertising costs.
Don’t Mess With My Rewards!
I was pissed off before I even read the email because I knew what it was going to tell me.
HOPE gets crushed when Despair uses a megaphone
The only advertising that gets customers immediately is through discounts. I’ve seen this picture before, and I don’t like the ending.
Personality Prescription, Part 12 – The Perils of Celebrity
It’s shocking how many reputational problems are the result of dumb decisions by the company spokesperson.
When advertising is the LAST thing you need.
Most businesses are blind to friction points that may be holding their sales back. Here's the solution.
The Personality Prescription, Part 1 – Stalled Growth
Stalled growth is an outcome of a growing dependence of home service contractors on digital media. They’ve bought into the “wasted circulation” concept.
Inflation is not the only silent tax.
I believe a 2-3% sales increase is a shrinking business. And a shrinking business should be in “All-in” mode to change the inevitable.
Knuckleheads are the test for success
On the path to happiness, knuckleheads shake owners like a paint can. They are a test. Are you really going to live up to your guarantee?
The Biggest Risk of Bonding Campaigns
Normally, when a business falls short, customers are merely disappointed or frustrated. Not so with relational customers and businesses to which they’ve bonded.
Small Business Social Media Limits
Facebook and other platforms can flip the switch and force small business owners into the world of being unknown.