The other day, someone told me they were a bit down because their score on a social media site was low. I was quick to point out that the number had no bearing on the outside world. It was just something a site had decided about game dynamics within a single social network. It got me thinking about the numbers that matter, from a business perspective, but then even out into other areas. Here were some numbers I thought might matter more. Numbers... 

I’ve written a lot in the last few posts about business. That was the goal: to help people better understand some of these tools and their impact on doing business. However, I should be really clear that business isn’t all work. Business, especially human business , can be relationship-minded, can be sustainable, and can even be fun. Sure, transactions have to happen and value has to change hands, but a lot of doing business is about... 

In my last post, how to grow traffic to your blog , I gave you some ideas on how to up your traffic. But if you’re hoping to turn this into a sale, you might want to take some preparations into account. Simple Call to Action If you’re bringing people back to your blog, make sure the thing you most want them to do is obvious …  Read More →

I’ll tell you one thing I know: the more you post, the more traffic you get. It’s helpful if the stuff you post is worth something. I try hard to make that always the case. Others don’t try as hard, and yet, their traffic climbs when they post more stuff. You can reply in the comments and tell me that you’d rather put out great stuff once a month, or once a week, or whenever the great stuff mood strikes you. That means... 

While the U.S. federal government remains the largest buyer of goods and services in the world, doing business with the “feds” – particularly for small businesses – can be an unwieldy and regulatory-laden process. A more manageable alternative, however, might be in the state and local government marketplace. State and local government contract opportunities are abundant and, since most states “set-aside” a... 

While the U.S. federal government remains the largest buyer of goods and services in the world, doing business with the “feds” — particularly for small businesses — can be an unwieldy and regulatory-laden process.  Read More →

I had a strange dream last night, but oddly, it had a lesson in it. I dreamed that I went to a place to sell wool. There was one buyer. They decided whether my product was worth buying. Then, they turned it into yarn. They carded it, they dyed it, they put it on different spools and sold it to hundreds of people. Which business is harder? In some ways, selling wool is harder. I have to convince one person instead of several. In other ways, selling... 

The senator wants the Federal Reserve to look more closely at credit-card issuers marketing business cards to consumers  Read More →

Creating a Boutique Business This content from: Duct Tape Marketing Marketing podcast with Sarah Petty (Click to play or right click and “Save As” to download – Subscribe now via iTunes The term boutique is often associated with fashion or beauty related businesses, but it’s a concept that can apply to any business. Case in point is this week’s…  Read More →

This is the last post in this series about marketing for the newly promoted. Here is what we have covered so far: How to talk about what you do Understanding what your customer really buys Understanding your customers buying process Cross selling – spotting other opportunities to help Giving Referrals Knowing which customers business to turn away Networking Marketing vs. Sales and knowing which role you are in   Today I want to wrap up by talking... 

In a previous post, I talked about how to put your small business on the web . Before you go out and start looking for business, you might want to take a look around your site to see if it’s easy to understand what business you hope to accomplish. There’s a lot your blog does or doesn’t do to help you sell you or your product. Let’s look at it. Obvious Call to Action When someone lands on your site for the first time,... 

I was just looking over all that I’m doing. It’s quite a jumble. Here’s me right now: President of New Marketing Labs – marketing agency. President of Human Business Works – education and media company. Co-Founder at Third Tribe Marketing – membership community about marketing. Professional Speaker at Chris Brogan Speaks – speaking. [to be named] at CrossTech Ventures and The Pulse Network – Internet... 

If you’re a business of one like a consultant, or a smaller business looking to grow your presence, there are some basic steps you might take towards getting yourself into place on the web. In this example, I’ll assume that you have nothing and are starting from scratch, and I’ll list out steps I’d consider taking in order. (Please note: several of the links in this particular post are affiliate links, meaning that should... 

There’s the game you see, and the game we’re playing. There’s the game you understand, and the one you haven’t yet begun to comprehend. There’s the game you want to play, and the game you’re facing. The Game You See You might see my tweets, or my blog post. You don’t see the work I do for clients (at least not directly). You don’t see my philanthropic interests (unless I want you to play along,... 

Starting and operating a business is no simple feat. From the moment you become a business owner you are required to navigate a wide-ranging series of confusing and ever-changing legal and regulatory hurdles. For start-ups in particular, keeping your legal butt covered, so to speak, is essential to reducing the risk of your venture, especially when outside financing is involved. And while a lawyer will always be willing to help – it can...