Archive for May 2004

There is a widely accepted principle of human behavior that goes something like this. “Your actions tell the world how you expect to be treated.” Look all around you and you will find that the truth of this statement is as evident as the clothes you wear.

So, if you don’t expect to be successful, you’re telling the world you probably don’t think you have what it takes to succeed, if you don’t expect to get the order, you probably won’t, if you don’t expect to get referrals from your clients, you probably don’t believe in your heart that you deserve them.

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Too many of the small business owners I visit with scoff at the idea of branding. “That stuff is for big companies, why do I need a brand.”

Here’s the scary part: Every business has a brand. The only real question is whether is was created intentionally or by accident.

You need to put yourself in charge of creating a brand that works for you Read More→

The good thing about websites is that you can pack a whole bunch of stuff on them. But, of course, that’s the bad thing too isn’t it.

In all things marketing it is best to keep it simple. People are so distracted these days that if you do manage to get their attention you better not make them work to figure out what you want them to do.

Many website owners figure that all they have to do is lead their prospects to a home page and they will figure out what to do.

Wrong…
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Nobody hand writes a note these days. Well, most nobody. But that’s what makes it so effective as a marketing tool. Look it’s pretty effective as a nice thing to do too but this is a marketing weblog so I figure that’s what you want to hear about.

Every Friday I make a point of jotting off 5 handwritten notes. I say thanks, I say howdy, I say let’s have coffee, I say saw you in the paper last week…whatever comes to mind.

I send them to clients, friends, competitors, suppliers, and prospects.

I know this is an effective use of my time simply because of the amount of people who comment favorably about this practice.

I always keep a box of note cards and envelopes, with nothing on them but my name, so I can use them for just about any occasion – personal or business.

So, turn off the TV, shut down the computer, log off your email and take out a pen. You’ll be amazed at how good it makes you feel.

Google, usually known for cutting edge stuff, finally got around to launching a weblog. Oh they own Blogger and no doubt thousands of Google employees have their own blogs, but now they have an official one.

One of the things about blogs is that they develop a personality over time. At the moment the Google blog has none. We’ll see what it becomes.

I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt as no matter what they do it seems to work out for them.

I’m going to keep an eye on the Google Blog

People, or better yet your prospects, learn in different ways.

Some need lots of specific details, some need pictures, and some just need to look into your eyes and shake your hand.

The point is, you must give your target market information in many forms.

One of my favorite forms of education is the case study.
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You only have so much time in a day right?

So wouldn’t it make sense to focus as much of your time as possible on the things that produce the highest payoff.

I don’t know about you but most small business owners are do-it-yourself types and get sucked into doing the littlest silly work faster than you can say “Oh look, the copier is jammed again.”

If you want to achieve any of your goals and finally start making what you are worth then you’ve got to stop doing $5/hr work. Period. Read More→

Marketing Sherpa is sponsoring what they call the “Readers’ Choice Awards for Weblogs”

The Duct Tape Marketing Weblog has been nominated as one of only three weblogs to make the cut for the Small Business Marketing category.
I would really appreciate it if you would take a minute and cast a vote for my weblog. I enjoy producing this material each week and this is one of the ways that I can keep doing it. Go here to cast your vote. You can vote for blogs in other categories and you may have a good time surfing to all of these blogs, but my blog in in category #5 for small business marketing.

Vote Here