LATEST REPORT!!
Eight Business industries that continue to do well in spite of the recession. If your business is struggling, or you're thinking of starting something new for 2011, this report can give you ideas to implement TODAY!
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Online Strategies
Colorado Giving Day — Give to the BOEC 12.06.11
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Colorado Giving Day — Give to the BOEC 12.06.11
Facebook or LinkedIn?
By Judi | No Comments
Naturally, the answer to that is, it depends!
Both are great social media sites. If you are a dedicated networker who wants to grow your business contacts and your business is more about B2B rather than B2C, then LinkedIn might be the best place for you.
On the other hand, if most of your clients are individuals, couples or families – in other words, B2C – Business to Consumer – then Facebook might be the place for you. Facebook, is far more informal – it’s more fun, and is really a place to let people Read the rest of this entry »
Colorado Giving Day — December 6, 2011
By Judi | No Comments
Some of you might know I love fund raising for non-profit organizations. One of my favorite organizations in our community is the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center — BOEC!
They work with children and adults who are physically and sometime mentally disabled — to help them experince the outdoors through adaptive skiing, white water rafting, high ropes programs and much, much more! They help give people the confidence that comes from overcoming physical challenges. It is a very cool organization.
By donating – through the use of this button you give back even more to the charity of your choice. Look for them in the upcoming weeks. And be sure to Give to your favorite charity on December 6th!
Google Plus? Plus What?
Ok – so far I don’t get it. Admittedly, I’ve only belonged to Google+ for a couple of days, but all my friends are on Facebook. So they really think they can compete with 700 million people who are NOT going to switch. And as for doing any online marketing on Google+? I just don’t see it.
Here’s what Google+ has got:
Circles – this is where you segment your friends into people you want to hear from sometimes about some things. This is where you could hear from your book club members about books, or your skiing buddies about skiing, but the book club Read the rest of this entry »
5 Tips to Make Your Facebook Business Page SING!
By Judi | No Comments
We all know by now that Facebook is the fastest growing social media network ever – some might say Google+ will start growing even faster, but for now Facebook is the clear winner. Savvy business owners are figuring out that Facebook is the place to be for business to attract and retain customers. Naturally, the goal of being on facebook as a business, is to get a new customer. But first you’ve got to create an atmosphere in which your fans feel comfortable buying.
Here are a few ideas to make your facebook business Read the rest of this entry »
The Seven Phases of Marketing | It’s All About Relationships!
By Judi | No Comments
If you’ve been around marketing for any length of time, you’ve heard of the marketing funnel. When you think of the shape of the funnel—its wide at the top, then narrows down to a fraction of it’s former self at the bottom. The idea was that you would have many prospects near the top of the funnel and as you go through the sales process, the numbers become fewer until finally a “SALE” pops out the bottom of the funnel and becomes your customer.
In those days of marketing – the sale pretty much stopped when the customer popped out the bottom of the funnel. These days, if you do that, you’re likely to never see your client again. You have to WORK to make your client loyal not only that, you want them to repeat buying and refer their friends to you.
It’s all about building Read the rest of this entry »
Five Forces That Shape Competitive Strategy!
By Judi | No Comments
Those of you who have spent time studying economics have no doubt heard of Michael Porter. In 1979, he was published in the Harvard Business Review with his ground breaking thinking about competitive strategy. You might be thinking — this is a blog about marketing — and you’re right –it is! But marketing strategy is inextricably tied to your overall business strategy— isn’t it?
You have one don’t you, I mean — a business strategy?
Well let’s assume you do — here is a refresher about things to think about as you plan your marketing strategy for 2011!
Let’s just try this exercise on for Read the rest of this entry »
“Why Outsourcing Marketing is a Great Idea For Small Businesses!”
In this economy it is easy, as a small business owner, to look at ways to save money. It is important to make sure every dollar is wisely spent and that means keeping the number of staff positions to a minimum.
Some of you have probably even thought about doing your own books! If you have, I’m sure your quickly relinquished the job back to your bookkeeper, coming away with a whole new appreciation for that vital role. But you don’t hire a bookkeeper and keep her on staff Read the rest of this entry »
“What? No Website? Do It For Your Customers!”
By Judi | 20 Comments
Amazingly enough, I still find businesses that do not have websites! I speak with business owners nearly every day, and I still find people who either don’t have a website at all, or do not have an effective website.
Some of these business owners don’t get why they need a website – they say, “We don’t really need a website.” And here’s what I tell them – “It’s not about YOU! It’s about your customers and your potential customers!”
These days people want to know who they are doing business with. They want to know your business philosophy, your experience, what to expect. They want to know that you can take care of their needs. At the very least, all businesses should have a presence on the internet if to do nothing more than Read the rest of this entry »
“Study Finds Inbound Marketing Leads Cost Far Less Than Leads Generated by Outbound Marketing”
By Judi | 4 Comments
A recent study found inbound lead generation to be far more cost-efficient than outbound marketing strategies. The study was completed by 167 professionals involved in their business’ marketing strategy. They consisted of business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, and sales people in businesses of all sizes. Almost ¾ of the companies were involved in the business-to-business sector and were involved in business or professional services.
Respondents spent about 37% of their lead generating budgets on inbound marketing techniques and about 30% of the budges on outbound techniques – such as direct mail, trade shows and telemarketing.
The findings indicate that companies spent about $84/per lead using the inbound marketing techniques and a whopping $220/per lead using outbound marketing techniques.
The average lead generation budget spending is illustrated in the following example:
The inbound marketing cost per lead advantage held true across businesses of all different sizes (small, medium and large) and types (professional services, technology, etc.) Dollars spent on trade shows were the least effective, where dollars spent on social media – especially blogs – Read the rest of this entry »