If you’re an attorney, designer, coach, accountant, consultant or other professional service provider, chances are you do some sort of free consultation. And if you’re doing a free consultation, chances are, unless you’ve worked at this, that you are giving away a whole bunch of information your prospect needs, perhaps to the point of “easing… Continue reading Are prospective clients slipping through your fingers?
Category: Sales and Marketing
Can you pass this simple marketing test?
Now this may seem like an oversimplification, but in my experience, most effective marketing boils down to being able to answer the following 5 questions. Take this simple marketing test: 1. What do you do? Not everything you do, but the stuff that most excites you and solves a significant problem for a specific group… Continue reading Can you pass this simple marketing test?
Want more clients? Don’t overlook the basics
The marketing space is so overloaded with talk of social media tactics. And yes, social media is certainly one way to get the word out about your business, just like having a website is. But social media doesn’t work magic, websites don’t bring in business all by themselves and new media is not always the… Continue reading Want more clients? Don’t overlook the basics
The art of the follow-up
If you’re a frequent reader you know that I am a big proponent of follow-up. In fact, I recommend it highly to all business owners who want an effective marketing strategy that sells without being salesy. This week I spoke with follow-up expert Mark Dana, to learn more about the art of follow-up. Here’s… Continue reading The art of the follow-up
Dislike Selling? Focus On Emotional Marketing.
If you’re like many small business owners, you probably don’t like to sell. It makes you feel a bit cheap, kinda like the ubiquitous used car salesman depicted in movies. But as winning new clients is the lifeblood of any business, how can you be successful without having to employ all kinds of questionable sales… Continue reading Dislike Selling? Focus On Emotional Marketing.
Marketing Lessons From The 2012 Election
As we continue to read, reflect and discuss the 2012 election results, one thing becomes clear – that there are strong parallels between the mistakes made by the Republican party and the mistakes businesses often make when marketing their products/services. Not surprising, as a political campaign is really just one huge marketing effort. Here are… Continue reading Marketing Lessons From The 2012 Election
Professional Services Marketing: Why “Build it and they shall come” doesn’t work
The vast majority of professionals I’ve come across have a “build it and they shall come” attitude. They think that if they do a good job, that they’ll generate enough word of mouth referrals to support their practices and will never have to worry about professional services marketing. But can professionals really thrive without marketing?… Continue reading Professional Services Marketing: Why “Build it and they shall come” doesn’t work
Facebook Privacy Controls: Marketing Opportunities or Internet Dangers?
The internet is abuzz with the marketing opportunities that social networking offers. But as social networking has become an integral part of the way we communicate, not just for marketing purposes, but also among friends and family members; concerns about facebook privacy controls have been mounting. And for good reason. The site originally promoted itself… Continue reading Facebook Privacy Controls: Marketing Opportunities or Internet Dangers?
Marketing Professional Services: When Self Promotion Doesn’t Come Naturally
If you’re like many professionals, marketing professional services may make you a wee bit uncomfortable. You may feel as though self promotion is a sleazy activity, engaged in only by people trying to put something over on unsuspecting prospects. But marketing professional services is an important skill to cultivate if you want your business to… Continue reading Marketing Professional Services: When Self Promotion Doesn’t Come Naturally
Social Media Tools: Facebook Apps-What works, What Doesn’t?
As facebook, twitter, linkedin and other social networking sites are rapidly becoming part of mainstream marketing, a whole host of applications and social media tools have emerged to help business and individual users connect in new and interesting ways. From sharing links and videos, customizing html, uploading photos, and showcasing rss feeds, there are more… Continue reading Social Media Tools: Facebook Apps-What works, What Doesn’t?