Archives: August 2011

Sell More by Adding Variety

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 31

People buy more jelly beans when they're offered an assortment of colors. This is true even if all the different-colored jelly beans taste exactly the same. After reviewing 50 experiments...

Get a Second Chance for a Good Impression

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 30

When it comes to handling customer complaints, consumer-behavior findings support the notion that you only have one chance to make a good first impression. If you respond quickly to address...

Plan Website Improvements for the Holidays Now

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 29

The holiday shopping season means more traffic and larger sales volumes, but it also heralds an important, seasonal change in overall shopping patterns taking place on your site, as well...

The Thrill of Creative Effort

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 26

Sometimes it's easy to forget what it is that really motivates people. Whether you lead a business or a project team, it is important to foster an environment in which...

The Case for Location-Based Marketing

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 25

Location-based mobile marketing delivers text messages to consumers on their phones when they are near your store and in a mindset to make a purchase. It's the perfect nexus of...

Use Mobile Marketing to Generate Leads

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 24

Mobile campaigns allow marketers to zero in on their target audience and maximize their ad spend, selecting recipients by carrier, device manufacturer, and location. These days mobile advertising is accessible...

Five Alternative Financing Options

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 23

Getting new business often means needing new financing, which can be difficult now that balance sheets have been roughed up over the past several years. For such companies, it may...

Four Reasons to Hire People Smarter Than You

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 22

We want employees who have integrity, drive, and brains. If they happen to be smarter than us, all the better. Here's my take on why you should seek out candidates...

Fixed Indexed Annuities and the Small Business Owner

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 19

Many business owners rely on the success of their business as their sole source of income and retirement savings. Normally, financial advisers recommend diversifying portfolios among stocks and bonds. The...

Small Business's Part in Big Government Spending

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 18

Even though we are looking at government budget cutbacks, public agencies still need to purchase goods and services. Here are four tips to help you navigate the world of public...

Three Ways to Make Your Small Business "Bankable"

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 17

Most small businesses turn to banks for credit to smooth out their cash flow, regardless of the economic environment. Securing lines of credit, however, remains a challenge for many companies....

Marketing Across Mobile Devices

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 16

In today's mobile world, it's no longer enough to have either a single mobile website or app. Consumers want to be able to access information wherever, whenever, and on whatever...

Combine E-mail and Social Media for True Engagement

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 15

In today's highly connected world, effective marketing is no longer about broadcasting content and promotions. Talking at your customers doesn't fly. Social media have changed the way businesses connect and...

To Build a Growth Business, Connect to the Cloud

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 12

In 1985, Sony was king. In 2011, it's Apple. Why the turn of fortunes? I contend that Apple was quickest to recognize that products as we knew them in 1985...

A Script to End Workplace Conflict

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 11

A long-time customer is offended by something a new employee said. Another employee is furious about having been passed over for a promotion in favor of a co-worker and is...

When in Doubt, Focus on the Product

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 10

I used to obsess over ad success and SEO conversion rates. I spent my time looking at advertising and marketing from every angle I could think of. When I felt...

The Internship as Extended Interview

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 09

Ever walk away from interviewing a potential employee, wondering if you just met the perfect match for your company or someone who's simply great at interviews? I do. Interviews tell...

Is Your Voice Mail Greeting Costing You Business?

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 08

The only interaction many of your co-workers, customers, and prospects may have with you on a given day is your voice mail greeting. Quick gut check: Does your current greeting...

Pay More Attention to Your Website Users

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 05

When it comes to customer engagement, many big-name brands do just enough to stay one step ahead of their competition, and because of their past momentum they are able to...

Embrace the 'Lean Startup' Model

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 04

The lean startup model eliminates waste and focuses on customer feedback to build a product or provide a service that people want. The model requires business owners to focus more...

Use Your Website to Grow Your Business

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 03

Your website is one of the most powerful marketing tools you have. By itself it may not produce the results you're looking for, but when combined with your other marketing...

Connect Your C-Suite to Your Customers

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 02

Executive team members can benefit significantly by putting customers first and getting to know them better. Here are suggestions for making the connections happen: 1. Move research from ignored to...

Put Audio Content on Your Website

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on August 01

It's no secret that one of the most effective ways to engage customers and prospects online is through compelling content on your website. When working on making your site better,...