Can you state in 20 words what you do (in your business) and who you do it for? If you can't, you should really consider tightening your focus. If you can say, “We sell widgets to aircraft manufacturers that are used for navigation in general aviation aircraft,” or something similar, you know who you are [...]
I made reservations to stay at the historic Sun Valley Lodge in Sun Valley, Idaho. If you haven't stayed there, you need to go ASAP. This place is heavenly. It's old. It's quaint. It's very romantic. And most of all, there's plenty to do and see no matter what time of year you go. Do [...]
First, let me say that I have never worked for / with Krispy Creme. My observations are those of one on the outside, but I think they are fascinating. I don’t know if you have Krispy Creme donuts where you live, but in the Western states, they have a cult following. My wife can’t go [...]
I live in a remote area near Yellowstone National Park. Yesterday, I had an experience that reminded me why I don’t want to live anywhere else. My wife and I went out to lunch at Boondocks, a local restaurant, with some friends. We had been to the place before, but it was the first time [...]
Seth Godin over at Seth’s Godin’s Blog has come up with a great list of what marketers must know (and do!) The list is thought-provoking and will help you see the difference between marketing and advertising. With his permission, I reprint the list here. What Every Good Marketer Knows: Anticipated, personal and relevant advertising always [...]
23 Apr
Posted by awebb as Management, Marketing, Public Relations
One area where customer service seems to be being replaced by self-service is at the gas station. Instead of filling your car and paying inside (where you could buy some goodies,) you now pay at the pump and drive away. I remember telling my wife a couple of years ago, “I don’t know how they’re [...]
That was the teaser for the customer service article on MSN news yesterday. They talked about self-serve supermarkets and gas stations, and the changing face of the world in which we shop. Then today, I read a post on Seth Godin’s blog entitled “You’re Right!” where he talks about an unpleasant customer service experience he [...]
10 Apr
Posted by awebb as Leadership, Management, Marketing
I just finished reading John Jantch’s Duct Tape Marketing post entitled Go Ahead, Dream Small, where he makes the following statement: But when it comes to marketing your small business I would trade big dreams and pages of killer ideas for one little strategy brilliantly and consistently executed. Small business owners get so caught up [...]
I worked with a company last year that had several problems: they had way too much inventory, they had no systems in place (purchasing systems, inventory control systems, etc.,) and they were in need of some marketing help. Somewhere along the way, the owner finally realized he needed a high-powered marketer. Now, we’re talking about [...]
Several years ago, I worked with a company that felt the answer to all its problems was to sell to Wal-Mart. They felt that if they could just knock over this one customer, all their dreams would come true. After all, Wal-Mart buys millions of dollars worth of product every year. What could be the [...]