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... 

What goes into making success happen? Work. Work with a little bit of preparation and a lot bit of follow-through. You want to write a book? Schedule writing times. Julien and I just scheduled an hour a day together for the near future for the new book. You want to get fit? Plan ahead and have healthy snacks in the house. Plan your sleep schedule and get up earlier in the morning to work out when your metabolism wants it more. You want to get... 

Personas are part of your marketing plan, and I don’t believe your plan is ever “done”. The value in the plan is the planning process. (See Tim Berry’s blog for more great info on biz planning). Whenever we create a plan or persona, we have to use assumptions and make judgments based on the best information we have at the time. As things change and we continue to learn, it is important to revisit and reevaluate those assumptions. Starting... 

When you think about retirement plans, you don’t tend to think IRS. But if your business operates a retirement plan for its employees then the IRS, and of course your employees, expect that you keep it in good shape and optimized for the best financial return.  Read More →

Where does the time go? Half of 2010 has bitten the dust. Time to take a look at your business goals and review your progress. Have you achieved half of your smaller goals? Are you halfway to achieving your big goals? If not, maybe it’s time to regroup and revise your business plan to get real for what can still be done in ‘10. Setting annual goals seems so much sexier, and there always seems to be oodles of time in which to get... 

When you have a small business, you know that one of the most important aspects of your business plan is advertising. You probably already have a Web site and a Twitter account, but what about doing direct mail? Is direct mail a thing of the past or is it still useful today?  Read More →

You may know one of the few items in the big healthcare reform bill that takes effect this year is a small-business credit for offering healthcare to employees. If you’ve delved into it, you know it’s based on a really complicated formula. Fortunately, there’s some new help out there for business owners trying to understand if they qualify, and if so, how much they could receive. Healthcare reform, officially known as the Affordable... 

It’s a huge audience, so the first step is to segment the types of people who would pay to attend. Then put a marketing plan in place and keep social media in mind  Read More →

Marketing in all its forms is an essential part of small business growth. And whatever stage your business is at, really great marketing starts with an understanding of your target market and how that market relates to your business. Why? Because knowing who your customer is can help underpin your marketing plan, influence your marketing message, determine your channels of communication and even shape your product or service. And while there... 

Share Duct Tape Sistema de Marketing en Español This content from: Duct Tape Marketing The Duct Tape Marketing System is the essence of Duct Tape Marketing in 14 workbooks and 4 audio CDs and is the primary tool the Duct Tape Marketing Coaches use when helping a small business create and implement a marketing plan. (Along with our Marketing Plan Pro software.) As our network of coaches expands we have chosen to offer the Duct Tape …  Read More →

For those of you who don’t subscribe via email, my latest newsletter is available here – http://www.rebarbusinessbuilders.com/newsletters/Marketing-Plan-Review-Process.htm The main article in this newsletter discusses the importance of having a regular marketing plan review process that allows you to keep progressing towards your goals while dealing the unexpected events that make our lives and businesses interesting. As always, I would... 

White House officials signaled a willingness to push through President Obama’s $950 billion health-care plan with only Democratic support  Read More →

To help an unprofitable $30 million truck distributor, George Cloutier recommends cutting payroll, reassuring bankers and creditors, and instituting an incentive plan  Read More →

Start by squirreling away cash. Then prepare a business plan and budget—and understand what’s involved in paying taxes yourself  Read More →

Drafting a solid business plan is an important first step for a Sous Chef dreaming of attracting investors to launch his own culinary concept.  Read More →