The American Marketing Association has its lineup in place for the rest of the summer, so if you're looking for the perfect exercise for your marketing team now is the time to check your calendar and start making your reservations! You don't want to miss out on the opportunity to work with some of the greatest minds in marketing because you sent your paperwork in too late, do you?
June 24: Online Marketing: Convergence in the Cloud
Los Angeles, CA-Discover the infrastructure shift that's building "the cloud" and the reaching implications it's going to have for the way we market online. This presentation is going to be led by social media blogger Robert Scoble, who will discuss what the Cloud means for online marketing and how we, as marketers, can successfully incorporate it into our own marketing campaigns.
July 15-July 17: The 2009 Nonprofit Marketing Conference
Chicago, IL-This year's Nonprofit Marketing Conference centers around the idea of change and how the challenge we face in the current economy and the shifting demographics of donors can work to our advantage, as well as new ways to reach and engage donors and volunteers.
"You will leave NPMC armed with the latest research insights, proven strategies and ready-to-use tools to broaden your reach, deepen your relationships and motivate your donors/volunteers to action even with the reduced resources that are a reality in the current economic environment. "
Since I know I mentioned these events already in a previous blog let me take a moment to add that the AMA's next scheduled event is not due to take place until October, and that these symposiums, conferences and workshops fill up fast. Most of them have an early bird registration that begins almost a month before the event, so don't wait to get your group in until the last minute or it might be too late!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Are Today's Investments Tomorrow's Profits, Or Just Another Drain on Our Pockets?
In today's times of economic uncertainty it's hard to believe that anything we do right now is going to accomplish anything more than basic survival. Most of us are paring back on our investments at the moment in an effort to have more cash in our pockets on a day to day basis and enough to provide us with a financial cushion if we find ourselves stuck in the unemployment line.
And yet it seems like every time we turn around there's someone else there urging us to sink our hard earned (and much hoarded) cash into yet another investment scheme. Whether it's an IRA, a 401K, real estate or your stock portfolio, the potential gain that may or may not come from investing in investments that may or may not survive the recession intact doesn't seem nearly as important as putting an extra 10% of your income into your savings account.
That 10% is important, make no mistake about it, but money was never meant to just sit and stagnate. Money was born to grow and replicate, and today's economic recession can't last forever. Despite the negative (and rather frantic) press it's been receiving, this recession is actually very much a part of the natural order of things in the business world. What goes up must come down, and then go up again. Today's investments are going to be tomorrow's goldmines, so even though it may pain you to part with that extra cash right now it's going to pay off in profits down the road.
Sometimes you have to take a chance on short term loss to enjoy a long term gain, which is one of the first things every businessman and woman should learn before stepping out into the bullpen. Don't be afraid to invest in today's market. As long as your portfolio can stand a few ups and downs the long term gains are going to more than make up for the short term loss.
And yet it seems like every time we turn around there's someone else there urging us to sink our hard earned (and much hoarded) cash into yet another investment scheme. Whether it's an IRA, a 401K, real estate or your stock portfolio, the potential gain that may or may not come from investing in investments that may or may not survive the recession intact doesn't seem nearly as important as putting an extra 10% of your income into your savings account.
That 10% is important, make no mistake about it, but money was never meant to just sit and stagnate. Money was born to grow and replicate, and today's economic recession can't last forever. Despite the negative (and rather frantic) press it's been receiving, this recession is actually very much a part of the natural order of things in the business world. What goes up must come down, and then go up again. Today's investments are going to be tomorrow's goldmines, so even though it may pain you to part with that extra cash right now it's going to pay off in profits down the road.
Sometimes you have to take a chance on short term loss to enjoy a long term gain, which is one of the first things every businessman and woman should learn before stepping out into the bullpen. Don't be afraid to invest in today's market. As long as your portfolio can stand a few ups and downs the long term gains are going to more than make up for the short term loss.
What is "The Cloud"?
In a recent blog post I mentioned that the American Marketing Association was hosting a seminar that focused on the various aspects of marketing in "the cloud"-the amorphous Internet being that's coming to monopolize the modern view on Internet marketing. Since that day it's come to my attention how many people really have no idea what "the cloud" is, even though they spend half their lives buried in it.
In fact, if trends keep continuing the way they have "The Cloud" may become a life force of its own. But what is "The Cloud"?
When I was digging around on the web for a simple way to explain what is, to be perfectly honest, an unexplainable but easily understood concept I realized that if you didn't "get" the Cloud, you weren't going to GET the Cloud! This definition, as proposed by Phil Whainewright, came as close as I've ever seen a definition come to being clear and comprehensible:
"Once your software becomes a service in the cloud, it opens up the potential to link it up with other services that are out there. For many vendors and users this is still a barely dawning realization, but it's of fundamental importance. In many ways, the Internet cloud is one great global SOA — still very rudimentary in many ways, but flexible enough to accommodate different levels of sophistication, and evolving fast." - Phil Whainewright
In other words, "The Cloud" represents a global joining of all of the data, software and other service you're ever going to need. The ultimate global network. A living, breathing entity that's slowly going to reshape the way we think of (and do) business-and, in time, the way we as marketers view the marketing profession and commerce as a whole.
Ladies and gentlemen, if you're not riding the Cloud when the time comes you're going to be left behind.
In fact, if trends keep continuing the way they have "The Cloud" may become a life force of its own. But what is "The Cloud"?
When I was digging around on the web for a simple way to explain what is, to be perfectly honest, an unexplainable but easily understood concept I realized that if you didn't "get" the Cloud, you weren't going to GET the Cloud! This definition, as proposed by Phil Whainewright, came as close as I've ever seen a definition come to being clear and comprehensible:
"Once your software becomes a service in the cloud, it opens up the potential to link it up with other services that are out there. For many vendors and users this is still a barely dawning realization, but it's of fundamental importance. In many ways, the Internet cloud is one great global SOA — still very rudimentary in many ways, but flexible enough to accommodate different levels of sophistication, and evolving fast." - Phil Whainewright
In other words, "The Cloud" represents a global joining of all of the data, software and other service you're ever going to need. The ultimate global network. A living, breathing entity that's slowly going to reshape the way we think of (and do) business-and, in time, the way we as marketers view the marketing profession and commerce as a whole.
Ladies and gentlemen, if you're not riding the Cloud when the time comes you're going to be left behind.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Can Your Distribution Channel Help You Save Money on Marketing?
When evaluating the benefits of using particular types of distribution channels there are a number of issues that pop up along the way. You talk about speed and the effectiveness of getting your products to your customers. You discuss the wisdom of tying yourself with a particular company. Most importantly, however, you want to consider what value your distribution channel is going to add or take away from your products and services.
The good news is, if you've chosen your distribution channels and partners correctly you should be able to find that even your marketing campaign flows more smoothly and cost effectively than ever before. Retailers carrying your products often run specials that will serve to let their customers know about what your company has to offer. Coupons and sales can be your greatest ally! You're also going to have a more cost efficient method of reaching your target audience than you would have had using marketing directly, because they already have your target market visiting them on a daily basis.
Does this mean all you have to do to ensure your company's success is find the right distribution partners? Absolutely not. You still want to put as much thought and effort into your marketing campaign as you would have if you were single-handedly managing your own direct distribution. (Take a moment and pretend you're Michael Dell, the man who built his entire company on the foundation of marketing directly and aggressively to his consumers.) While the cost of your campaign will dip slightly due to extended exposure, the relative cost (your marketing cost to sale ratio) should zoom as your well-chosen partnerships help send sales soaring.
The good news is, if you've chosen your distribution channels and partners correctly you should be able to find that even your marketing campaign flows more smoothly and cost effectively than ever before. Retailers carrying your products often run specials that will serve to let their customers know about what your company has to offer. Coupons and sales can be your greatest ally! You're also going to have a more cost efficient method of reaching your target audience than you would have had using marketing directly, because they already have your target market visiting them on a daily basis.
Does this mean all you have to do to ensure your company's success is find the right distribution partners? Absolutely not. You still want to put as much thought and effort into your marketing campaign as you would have if you were single-handedly managing your own direct distribution. (Take a moment and pretend you're Michael Dell, the man who built his entire company on the foundation of marketing directly and aggressively to his consumers.) While the cost of your campaign will dip slightly due to extended exposure, the relative cost (your marketing cost to sale ratio) should zoom as your well-chosen partnerships help send sales soaring.
Sometimes Your Distribution Channel Really Is Your Secret of Success
When you start talking to some of today's biggest businesses you're going to hear a lot about their secret of success. Some companies will attribute it to clever management. Others will point toward innovative employees and prime, previously unseen opportunities in the market. If you were to take a look at Dell, Amazon.com and WalMart, three of today's most well known retailers, however, you'd hear a slightly different story. Yes, these companies can attribute their success to previously unseen market opportunities, but first and foremost they trace their success back to their highly efficient distribution channels.
Distribution channels are the routes your products take to get from point A (creation) to point Z (the consumer). Whether you're dealing directly with the consumer or you prefer B to B associations, your distribution channels are going to play a key role in your success.
Because your distribution channels provide the most direct and efficient link possible with your consumers it's important to make sure that you have them plotted out accordingly, with an eye toward both cost effectiveness and efficiency and quality and control. Why? Think of it this way. While at the beginning it may make sense for a company to handle its own distribution channels, over time that can become both expensive and inefficient. WalMart and Amazon are as successful as they are because they have developed an efficient way to get their products (through major manufacturers such as Sealy and HP) and to deliver their products (directly through their retail outlets and with major shipping providers UPS and FedEx).
It's important to choose companies whose image and vision jive with your own when you're establishing your distribution channels. Why? Imagine being able to buy a cost-effective Rolex at WalMart. The product would undoubtedly be popular, but it is equally as likely to lose a great deal of value in the eyes of your consumers-and once your products become devalued there is no going back.
So when choosing your distribution channels be sure to do your homework, evaluate the company's reputation and vision for the future, their concern for quality and their image before incorporating them into your distribution channel. Once you do you should be able to watch your profits fly and leave you wondering why you didn't think about handing control of your personal distribution off years ago.
Distribution channels are the routes your products take to get from point A (creation) to point Z (the consumer). Whether you're dealing directly with the consumer or you prefer B to B associations, your distribution channels are going to play a key role in your success.
Because your distribution channels provide the most direct and efficient link possible with your consumers it's important to make sure that you have them plotted out accordingly, with an eye toward both cost effectiveness and efficiency and quality and control. Why? Think of it this way. While at the beginning it may make sense for a company to handle its own distribution channels, over time that can become both expensive and inefficient. WalMart and Amazon are as successful as they are because they have developed an efficient way to get their products (through major manufacturers such as Sealy and HP) and to deliver their products (directly through their retail outlets and with major shipping providers UPS and FedEx).
It's important to choose companies whose image and vision jive with your own when you're establishing your distribution channels. Why? Imagine being able to buy a cost-effective Rolex at WalMart. The product would undoubtedly be popular, but it is equally as likely to lose a great deal of value in the eyes of your consumers-and once your products become devalued there is no going back.
So when choosing your distribution channels be sure to do your homework, evaluate the company's reputation and vision for the future, their concern for quality and their image before incorporating them into your distribution channel. Once you do you should be able to watch your profits fly and leave you wondering why you didn't think about handing control of your personal distribution off years ago.
Tiny Ways to Save a Dollar a Day
Despite predictions that today's economy is rapidly heading for an upturn (something that is good news to all of you start-up businesses out there that took advantage of the boom in Internet commerce but have still been feeling the pinch) Americans are still looking for ways to make their dollars stretch even farther. Ladies and gentlemen, if you're trying to build your business you know exactly what I'm talking about! When your marketing budget is still coming out of your pocket it's easy to see why so many small companies go down in flames in the first five years.
There are hundreds of books out there that offer hints on easy ways you can save money. You already know the big ones-stop spending, start putting away a certain percentage of your paycheck, stick to your budget. All those helpful tips don't take into account the fact that saving money is hard, especially if you're not used to doing it!
When I was surfing around online the other day I came across a great site to help everyone, business owners and everyday consumers alike, get started saving money. These fun little steps are things we can all do every day, and before long you're going to notice a huge difference in the amount of money you have in your savings account!
Tiny Ways to Save a Dollar a Day
1) Stop watching T.V.-your electric bill will thank you, and you'll minimize your exposure to the commercials that are draining your bank account dry!
2) Start making your gifts rather than buying them. Most people are just as happy with a plate full of brownies or homemade candles as they are with an expensive tie they're never going to wear, and you'll be able to save hundreds when Christmas rolls around.
3) Sign up for free customer rewards programs. You probably don't realize how much you spend at the grocery store or your local bookstore-but they do. These rewards can add up over time, and you'll be able to enjoy the things you love without having to worry about how they're impacting your checkbook.
4) Don't spend money on your kids. Seriously. They'll have just as much fun with old newspapers and paint, or an old cardboard box, as they will with a $3,000 playhouse.
5) Cut back on fast and frozen foods. Yes, they're more convenient at the end of the day, but they also cost considerably more.
6) Start walking the straight and narrow. Alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and weekends at the local pub can really add up over time. Dropping those habits can add hundreds to your budget, helping you save money and paving the way to a successful financial future.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Developing a Marketing Plan That Will Crush Your Competition
When you're playing in the field of big business there are two groups of people you have to worry about: The people who are buying from you (your customers) and the people who would like them to stop buying from you (your competition). Since marketing involves not only emphasizing the value proposition of your products and services but also differentiating what your company has to offer from similar prospects laid forward by your competition, it pays to develop a marketing plan that's designed to do both as efficiently as possible.
The major mistake most marketers make, especially ones that are new to the game, is looking too closely at the marketing techniques used by their competition. If the competition has launched a TV ad, they think they should do it too. If their competitors have a price war going, they think they need to take part. Your competition is only one piece of a very big puzzle, however, and shouldn't be used as the framework on which your entire marketing plan is based.
If you really want to crush your competition, take time to find out what, exactly, your customers want. The competition focused approach doesn't take into account the fact that your competition could be spending too much money or targeting the wrong group of consumers-and really, do you want your profits to pay for their mistakes? Consumer needs change more slowly than your competition, allowing you to get your feet under you before making major changes to your marketing approach, and by listening to your consumers you know you're taking the right approach to helping your business grow.
Take, for example, the case of Amazon.com. Believing that the best way to jump ahead of their competition was to advertise on TV, Amazon's CEO launched a wide marketing campaign only to pull it off shortly after when he realized it wasn't working. Instead, the company started offering free shipping. They weren't campaigning the same way their competition was, but by giving their consumers what they wanted this "dark horse" managed to continue to dominate the E-tail industry.
It pays to listen to your consumers instead of trying to keep up with the Joneses.
The major mistake most marketers make, especially ones that are new to the game, is looking too closely at the marketing techniques used by their competition. If the competition has launched a TV ad, they think they should do it too. If their competitors have a price war going, they think they need to take part. Your competition is only one piece of a very big puzzle, however, and shouldn't be used as the framework on which your entire marketing plan is based.
If you really want to crush your competition, take time to find out what, exactly, your customers want. The competition focused approach doesn't take into account the fact that your competition could be spending too much money or targeting the wrong group of consumers-and really, do you want your profits to pay for their mistakes? Consumer needs change more slowly than your competition, allowing you to get your feet under you before making major changes to your marketing approach, and by listening to your consumers you know you're taking the right approach to helping your business grow.
Take, for example, the case of Amazon.com. Believing that the best way to jump ahead of their competition was to advertise on TV, Amazon's CEO launched a wide marketing campaign only to pull it off shortly after when he realized it wasn't working. Instead, the company started offering free shipping. They weren't campaigning the same way their competition was, but by giving their consumers what they wanted this "dark horse" managed to continue to dominate the E-tail industry.
It pays to listen to your consumers instead of trying to keep up with the Joneses.
Microsoft is Putting the "Bing" Back in Big Business
Hold the press, ladies and gentlemen: Microsoft's newest attempt to monopolize the digital industry has hit the airwaves with the quiet unveiling of Bing.com, Microsoft's own new search engine. Featuring scenic atmospheres, easy to read links and, most importantly, a search query box designed to help surfers quickly locate the web resources they're looking for.
For consumers this forces a moment of decision: Do they abandon search engine favorite Google, currently outranking every other search engine on the web by leaps and bounds, in favor of Microsoft Corp.'s new brainchild? While Bing.com doesn't feature the same fun gadgets (such as the ever popular joke of the day and ready access to the day's news headlines and weather) that Google does via iGoogle Bing does offer an easy to surf menu of images, videos, shopping, news, maps and travel sites designed to help them take a bite out of Google's market share.
May the best corporate giant win. In the meantime, the launch of Bing.com signifies new opportunity for savvy netrepreneurs.
Like Google, Bing.com features a sponsored list of pay-per-click ads designed to help businesses rapidly catch the eye of websurfers who might be interested in their business. Microsoft being what it is businesses can expect curiosity seekers to swing by and pay Bing.com a visit. Since Bing is a fairly new service its marketing attraction hasn't yet spawned its own collection of webinars, books and multi-media features, which means now is the time for small businesses to get their foot in the door and take advantage of lighter competition.
Will Bing replace Google? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, this new creature feature from one of the industry's most well known names is opening new doors to marketers that haven't been available before and may not be again. Since you're working on a pay per click basis you always retain the option to pull out of the game if you find that Bing isn't yielding the results you'd like to see for your marketing budget, which means there's no reason for savvy marketers not to take advantage of what may be the new next big thing in Internet marketing.
For consumers this forces a moment of decision: Do they abandon search engine favorite Google, currently outranking every other search engine on the web by leaps and bounds, in favor of Microsoft Corp.'s new brainchild? While Bing.com doesn't feature the same fun gadgets (such as the ever popular joke of the day and ready access to the day's news headlines and weather) that Google does via iGoogle Bing does offer an easy to surf menu of images, videos, shopping, news, maps and travel sites designed to help them take a bite out of Google's market share.
May the best corporate giant win. In the meantime, the launch of Bing.com signifies new opportunity for savvy netrepreneurs.
Like Google, Bing.com features a sponsored list of pay-per-click ads designed to help businesses rapidly catch the eye of websurfers who might be interested in their business. Microsoft being what it is businesses can expect curiosity seekers to swing by and pay Bing.com a visit. Since Bing is a fairly new service its marketing attraction hasn't yet spawned its own collection of webinars, books and multi-media features, which means now is the time for small businesses to get their foot in the door and take advantage of lighter competition.
Will Bing replace Google? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, this new creature feature from one of the industry's most well known names is opening new doors to marketers that haven't been available before and may not be again. Since you're working on a pay per click basis you always retain the option to pull out of the game if you find that Bing isn't yielding the results you'd like to see for your marketing budget, which means there's no reason for savvy marketers not to take advantage of what may be the new next big thing in Internet marketing.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Don't Let the Recession Beat Your Fundraising!
Regardless of what anyone wants to say, even with an economic upturn being predicted in the near future our economy is still filled with doubt, peril-and an economic uncertainty that is leaving many nonprofit organizations' most dedicated donors clinging to their pocketbooks just a little tighter. Understandable, when one never knows what dip and turn in the economy will set fortune on her ear THIS time; however, since fundraising efforts have to continue, here are some great tips to help non-profit organizations continue to pull in the funds they so desperately need to keep their organizations going:
1) Learn more about your donors. If you're able to answer their questions they're going to be able and willing to do more to further your cause.
2) When planning special events, keep the economy in mind. Fundraising dinners at $1000 a plate are almost guaranteed to be a social faux pas! Instead, feel out your target market (as you would any consumer) and include your donors and volunteers in the planning process.
3) Encourage regular giving rather than a one time donation. It's amazing how much more comfortable most middle class donors are with the prospect of donating $20-30 a month to your cause rather than cutting a $360 check on the spot-and you're guaranteed a more reliable income.
4) Make sure you have your numbers and a thorough explanation of where their money is going to go before you even approach your donors. In these uncertain times the scandals that have plagued non-profit organizations in recent years are going to rise up to haunt you. Most people aren't going to be willing to give if they don't know where their money's going but when presented with a clear, dollar-to-dollar chart showing exactly how their donation will be used are more than willing to be a part.
1) Learn more about your donors. If you're able to answer their questions they're going to be able and willing to do more to further your cause.
2) When planning special events, keep the economy in mind. Fundraising dinners at $1000 a plate are almost guaranteed to be a social faux pas! Instead, feel out your target market (as you would any consumer) and include your donors and volunteers in the planning process.
3) Encourage regular giving rather than a one time donation. It's amazing how much more comfortable most middle class donors are with the prospect of donating $20-30 a month to your cause rather than cutting a $360 check on the spot-and you're guaranteed a more reliable income.
4) Make sure you have your numbers and a thorough explanation of where their money is going to go before you even approach your donors. In these uncertain times the scandals that have plagued non-profit organizations in recent years are going to rise up to haunt you. Most people aren't going to be willing to give if they don't know where their money's going but when presented with a clear, dollar-to-dollar chart showing exactly how their donation will be used are more than willing to be a part.
American Marketing Association Upcoming Events
I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating. The American Marketing Association has a great deal to offer your business's marketing department, whether you have a staff full of experienced marketing professionals under your thumb or have been doing your own marketing from the comfort of your kitchen table. Whichever your circumstances may be, take a minute to check out the AMA's upcoming events:
June 14-June 17: The 2009 ART (Advanced Research Techniques) Forum
Whistler, BC-This year marks the 20th anniversary of the ART Forum, a "unique conference that provides an opportunity for academics, practitioners and research clients to exchange ideas and solutions." If you're looking for ways to move your marketing research forward, take the time to attend this forum and swap ideas with some of marketing's greatest masterminds.
June 24: Online Marketing: Convergence in the Cloud
Los Angeles, CA-Discover the infrastructure shift that's building "the cloud" and the reaching implications it's going to have for the way we market online. This presentation is going to be led by social media blogger Robert Scoble, who will discuss what the Cloud means for online marketing and how we, as marketers, can successfully incorporate it into our own marketing campaigns.
July 15-July 17: The 2009 Nonprofit Marketing Conference
Chicago, IL-This year's Nonprofit Marketing Conference centers around the idea of change and how the challenge we face in the current economy and the shifting demographics of donors can work to our advantage, as well as new ways to reach and engage donors and volunteers.
"You will leave NPMC armed with the latest research insights, proven strategies and ready-to-use tools to broaden your reach, deepen your relationships and motivate your donors/volunteers to action even with the reduced resources that are a reality in the current economic environment. "
June 14-June 17: The 2009 ART (Advanced Research Techniques) Forum
Whistler, BC-This year marks the 20th anniversary of the ART Forum, a "unique conference that provides an opportunity for academics, practitioners and research clients to exchange ideas and solutions." If you're looking for ways to move your marketing research forward, take the time to attend this forum and swap ideas with some of marketing's greatest masterminds.
June 24: Online Marketing: Convergence in the Cloud
Los Angeles, CA-Discover the infrastructure shift that's building "the cloud" and the reaching implications it's going to have for the way we market online. This presentation is going to be led by social media blogger Robert Scoble, who will discuss what the Cloud means for online marketing and how we, as marketers, can successfully incorporate it into our own marketing campaigns.
July 15-July 17: The 2009 Nonprofit Marketing Conference
Chicago, IL-This year's Nonprofit Marketing Conference centers around the idea of change and how the challenge we face in the current economy and the shifting demographics of donors can work to our advantage, as well as new ways to reach and engage donors and volunteers.
"You will leave NPMC armed with the latest research insights, proven strategies and ready-to-use tools to broaden your reach, deepen your relationships and motivate your donors/volunteers to action even with the reduced resources that are a reality in the current economic environment. "
The Importance of Multi-Lingual Employees
It's not something that many companies have focused on in the past; however, with the rapid growth of global enterprise the need to have bi-lingual and multi-lingual employees as a regular part of your staff has become more apparent than ever. If you were to take a moment to review the employment needs of many businesses in and around Los Angeles, San Antonio and Washington, D.C. you'll find that most employers are giving preference to employees who are capable of speaking Spanish due to the large, primarily Spanish speaking population in and around these major cities.
And Spanish isn't the only language they want you to know.
As English has become the universal language of business many companies have gotten excessively comfortable, relying on their associates' grasp of the English language and the occasional services of a professional interpreter to do business when dealing with firms overseas. There's only one problem; where a language gap exists there are bound to misunderstandings, and while interpreters are very, very good at what they do they'll never be able to embellish their points in a way that manages to succinctly explain the point they're trying to make while simultaneous bridging the gap between two cultures the way a native born or extremely fluent speaker can.
It's the culture gap, more often than a language barrier, that presents a problem when doing business on a global basis. The practice of bringing in native managers and employees rather than importing their own has become a common practice in the business world, and whether you're choosing to establish your own foreign office or simply doing business across the blue you want to have your fingers on the pulse of those cultural differences-and if that pulse happens to be sitting in your office day in and day out you'll probably find that you have no problem bridging the cultural gap the next time you decide to do business.
And Spanish isn't the only language they want you to know.
As English has become the universal language of business many companies have gotten excessively comfortable, relying on their associates' grasp of the English language and the occasional services of a professional interpreter to do business when dealing with firms overseas. There's only one problem; where a language gap exists there are bound to misunderstandings, and while interpreters are very, very good at what they do they'll never be able to embellish their points in a way that manages to succinctly explain the point they're trying to make while simultaneous bridging the gap between two cultures the way a native born or extremely fluent speaker can.
It's the culture gap, more often than a language barrier, that presents a problem when doing business on a global basis. The practice of bringing in native managers and employees rather than importing their own has become a common practice in the business world, and whether you're choosing to establish your own foreign office or simply doing business across the blue you want to have your fingers on the pulse of those cultural differences-and if that pulse happens to be sitting in your office day in and day out you'll probably find that you have no problem bridging the cultural gap the next time you decide to do business.
Monday, June 1, 2009
The Dangers of Over-Branding
When you're thinking about developing your brand it seems impossible to think that there's such a thing as over-doing it, but guess what? It's possible. And hundreds of companies are doing it every day, from coast to coast and around the world.
Over-branding occurs when you take your brand, target your niche market and become so specific and narrow in your description of what your product or service can do and, more importantly, who it's meant for that you essentially isolate yourself from a huge potential market. People see only what you want them to see in your product and miss the possibilities-and as a result, you miss a potential sale.
Yes, granted, the purpose of marketing is to display the potential use of your product and target your target market to maximize your sales quotient. That shouldn't be all you do. For example, let's say you have a digital camera that can also be used as a digital video recorder. In hyping the potential uses of your video recorder are you also remembering to advertise that this is a digital camera as well? It's possible that there's a huge market out there that would be interested in the diverse possibilities presented by your digital camera that have no interest whatsoever in a digital camcorder (right now).
In over-branding you're going to completely destroy your chances of being able to make a profit off that part of your target audience that's only interested in a digital camera.
Are you beginning to get the picture? When you're developing your brand you want to encourage your customers to see your products the way you do, but you also want to introduce them to its other potential uses as well. Only then can you truly maximize your potential profit.
Over-branding occurs when you take your brand, target your niche market and become so specific and narrow in your description of what your product or service can do and, more importantly, who it's meant for that you essentially isolate yourself from a huge potential market. People see only what you want them to see in your product and miss the possibilities-and as a result, you miss a potential sale.
Yes, granted, the purpose of marketing is to display the potential use of your product and target your target market to maximize your sales quotient. That shouldn't be all you do. For example, let's say you have a digital camera that can also be used as a digital video recorder. In hyping the potential uses of your video recorder are you also remembering to advertise that this is a digital camera as well? It's possible that there's a huge market out there that would be interested in the diverse possibilities presented by your digital camera that have no interest whatsoever in a digital camcorder (right now).
In over-branding you're going to completely destroy your chances of being able to make a profit off that part of your target audience that's only interested in a digital camera.
Are you beginning to get the picture? When you're developing your brand you want to encourage your customers to see your products the way you do, but you also want to introduce them to its other potential uses as well. Only then can you truly maximize your potential profit.
Friday, May 22, 2009
What's the American Marketing Association Doing Now? (A Guide to Upcoming Events)
Hello everyone! The American Marketing Association has published its schedule of upcoming events on its website, and while I realize everyone could just as easily log on to the site and dig up their calendar I also realize that many of you are going to be too busy to do so. With summer right around the corner your marketing team is probably far too busy to actively search for seminars and conventions that are going to make them even busier! That's why I wanted to include their upcoming events here.
If you and your team have the opportunity to take advantage of any or all of these you'll find that they're a tremendous addition to your marketing repertoire. You'll have the chance to hear from and speak with some of the best marketing professionals in the world, and the advice these marketing gurus have to pass on could prove to be indispensible to the future success of your business.
June 1 & 2, 2009 Social Media Marketing. Located in Chicago, IL, the Social Media Marketing Workshop will allow marketers to work with social media guru Dave Evans, author of "Social media Marketing: An Hour a Day"…coincidentally among the top ranking titles on Amazon. Here you'll learn how to use social media to maximize your business's marketing efforts.
June 3 & 4, 2009. Strategic Brand Development. Travel to Toronto to work with Fortune 500 consultant Robert Kincaide to discover why strategic brand development is a must for all of today's companies, and why the old methods of brand development simply won't do in today's fast paced digital economy.
June 4 & 5. Marketing Boot Camp: Los Angeles. Travel to L.A. for an intense two day seminar that delves into the depths of today's marketing environment with one of AMA's experienced marketing instructors.
I'll try to keep all of you updated weekly on what events the AMA has coming up in the near future. To check out their complete calendar, visit them on the web at MarketingPower.com.
AMA Guidelines for Trimming Your Budget
When it comes to marketing nobody does it better than the members of the AMA (American Marketing Association). Every member is an expert in their field, and in an economy where getting maximum results with minimum damage to your marketing budget is becoming increasingly important it's vital for marketing teams to learn where they can stretch their efforts and where they need to cut back. Click here to see what the American Marketing Association has to say about trimming your budget.
I know, you weren't expecting to be sent to another article. I started to trim this down to make the key points fit in this blog, then realized it was impossible. To omit any of these guidelines would leave marketing managers floundering when they tried to use the advice I passed along, because they wouldn't have all of the information. Which is the key guideline when it comes to cutting your budgets in the first place-have all the information.
Know where you can afford to cut costs and where you're going to be digging yourself an early grave. The problem many companies run into when it comes to their budget cuts is the fact that they don't take the time to gather all the information they need and weigh the consequences appropriately. They're essentially operating blind while severing the support strings of their internal framework, which is going to leave your marketing budget trembling on the edge of failure before you've even really had a chance to begin.
My best advice to marketing teams and private entrepreneurs looking for ways to cut their marketing budgets is to get all the information. Weigh the potential benefits and consequences. Then go for the one that's going to do what's best for your business, not the one that's going to step on the least amount of toes. Toes heal, but the damage poor budget cutting can do to your profits can leave your business floundering for years.
I know, you weren't expecting to be sent to another article. I started to trim this down to make the key points fit in this blog, then realized it was impossible. To omit any of these guidelines would leave marketing managers floundering when they tried to use the advice I passed along, because they wouldn't have all of the information. Which is the key guideline when it comes to cutting your budgets in the first place-have all the information.
Know where you can afford to cut costs and where you're going to be digging yourself an early grave. The problem many companies run into when it comes to their budget cuts is the fact that they don't take the time to gather all the information they need and weigh the consequences appropriately. They're essentially operating blind while severing the support strings of their internal framework, which is going to leave your marketing budget trembling on the edge of failure before you've even really had a chance to begin.
My best advice to marketing teams and private entrepreneurs looking for ways to cut their marketing budgets is to get all the information. Weigh the potential benefits and consequences. Then go for the one that's going to do what's best for your business, not the one that's going to step on the least amount of toes. Toes heal, but the damage poor budget cutting can do to your profits can leave your business floundering for years.
Audio Files: A Necessary Evil or an Unnecessary Annoyance?
When the capability to automatically attach an audio file to a website was first presented it sounded like a great idea. After all, the most difficult part of any Internet marketing endeavor is the fact that you're not able to personally interact with your consumers. Unfortunately it was a little too good an idea. Now companies all over the world are attaching audio files to their websites, including a personalized speaking presentation to introduce their services and products, and consumers are getting so annoyed that the minute they enter a site and it starts speaking to them they log out again just as quickly.
What's a good businessman to do?
There are some things that just aren't the same in print, so including an audio file with a spoken presentation can be a tremendous benefit to your site. The important thing to remember is to give your viewers a choice. Put the audio file in a spot where it's readily apparent and they can find the "play" button with ease, along with a quick summary of the content inside. That way, if they don't want to hear you speak it's their own fault!
Of course, the quality of your audio presentation is going to play a major role in how it's received. From a technical end you want to use a good software program to record, and speak slowly. Audio files that are blurry and difficult to understand are going to be rejected almost immediately. Resist the urge to launch into your "used car salesman" persona. Consumers visit these files looking for information. Your pitch should be on your site. Audio files should be used for supporting details.
So are audio files a necessary evil? Yes-and no. If you don't want to incorporate an audio file into your website you are in no way, shape or form obligated to. When done correctly, however, an audio file can be a very valuable addition to your website.
What's a good businessman to do?
There are some things that just aren't the same in print, so including an audio file with a spoken presentation can be a tremendous benefit to your site. The important thing to remember is to give your viewers a choice. Put the audio file in a spot where it's readily apparent and they can find the "play" button with ease, along with a quick summary of the content inside. That way, if they don't want to hear you speak it's their own fault!
Of course, the quality of your audio presentation is going to play a major role in how it's received. From a technical end you want to use a good software program to record, and speak slowly. Audio files that are blurry and difficult to understand are going to be rejected almost immediately. Resist the urge to launch into your "used car salesman" persona. Consumers visit these files looking for information. Your pitch should be on your site. Audio files should be used for supporting details.
So are audio files a necessary evil? Yes-and no. If you don't want to incorporate an audio file into your website you are in no way, shape or form obligated to. When done correctly, however, an audio file can be a very valuable addition to your website.
Choosing a Host for Your Website
One of the most valuable assets to any business is their ability to launch a reliable, effective website out on the web. The problem is, if your website isn't up and running half the time you're not going to be able to attract and keep your customers. That's why it's important to choose your website host with care.
If you're an experienced website administrator you probably don't have any trouble identifying an effective web hosting solution. When you're first beginning, however, and a majority of your decision making criteria involves how big a bite it's going to take out of your budget, it can be tempting to sign on the dotted line with the first web hosting solution that's willing to offer you a decent deal.
Don't let yourself get sucked in by cheap hosting solutions. An ineffective host can cost you much more in lost business than you're going to pay to work with a well established and dependable organization. Regardless of the amount of SEO work you do, blogs you start or bookmarking you do, you're going to be completely lost if your site isn't there for your customers to find.
Check the reputation of any company you work with, and ask them about what kind of compensation they'll offer you when your site is down more than a few hours. A good host will offer their clients discounts on their coverage for extended unscheduled downtime not related to standard maintenance; technical glitches are inevitable, but if you're constantly paying for a hosting solution that leaves your site offline more than it's on you can be left hanging out to dry with huge chunks of profits lost.
A good hosting solution is probably the single most important part of any web based business, so make sure you choose yours with care. There are hundreds of companies around the country that will offer you a dedicated business hosting solution for less than $50 a month. You should never have to sacrifice quality just to keep your hosting solution within the parameters of your budget.
If you're an experienced website administrator you probably don't have any trouble identifying an effective web hosting solution. When you're first beginning, however, and a majority of your decision making criteria involves how big a bite it's going to take out of your budget, it can be tempting to sign on the dotted line with the first web hosting solution that's willing to offer you a decent deal.
Don't let yourself get sucked in by cheap hosting solutions. An ineffective host can cost you much more in lost business than you're going to pay to work with a well established and dependable organization. Regardless of the amount of SEO work you do, blogs you start or bookmarking you do, you're going to be completely lost if your site isn't there for your customers to find.
Check the reputation of any company you work with, and ask them about what kind of compensation they'll offer you when your site is down more than a few hours. A good host will offer their clients discounts on their coverage for extended unscheduled downtime not related to standard maintenance; technical glitches are inevitable, but if you're constantly paying for a hosting solution that leaves your site offline more than it's on you can be left hanging out to dry with huge chunks of profits lost.
A good hosting solution is probably the single most important part of any web based business, so make sure you choose yours with care. There are hundreds of companies around the country that will offer you a dedicated business hosting solution for less than $50 a month. You should never have to sacrifice quality just to keep your hosting solution within the parameters of your budget.
Profitable Suggestions for Adding Video to Your Website
Audio files can be a valuable addition to your website, but if you want to go for the big money solution it's time to consider adding streaming video to your website. Businesses around the world are discovering the value of including a video presentation of one form or another to their website. A personalized video presentation allows you to:
1) Reach out and make a personal connection with your audience.
2) Give them a front seat view of the product or service you're offering.
3) Legitimize your campaign. The negative press most Internet businesses have received in the past have been spawned by con artists taking advantage of the anonymity offered through the web. By giving your clientele the opportunity to "speak" with you personally (even if you're the one doing all the speaking) you can dramatically decrease the amount of fear that your site visitors will associate with your business and build trust with your clientele.
4) Add some pizzazz to your website!
The ability to jazz up a website with the addition of live video is a big part of what makes this an appealing option for Internet marketers. Most consumers view millions of websites over the course of their lifetime. Remember, many of today's consumers barely remember life before the Internet, and they spend hours a day on it looking for news, products, etc. When you consider the fact that most websites are almost a carbon copy of each other you understand the true challenge faced by today's online business.
Their websites are utterly forgettable.
Since no one wants to be forgettable every site developer is looking for a way to distinguish their website and stand out in the eyes of their visitors to keep them coming back. Adding video to your site is a great way to do precisely that.
1) Reach out and make a personal connection with your audience.
2) Give them a front seat view of the product or service you're offering.
3) Legitimize your campaign. The negative press most Internet businesses have received in the past have been spawned by con artists taking advantage of the anonymity offered through the web. By giving your clientele the opportunity to "speak" with you personally (even if you're the one doing all the speaking) you can dramatically decrease the amount of fear that your site visitors will associate with your business and build trust with your clientele.
4) Add some pizzazz to your website!
The ability to jazz up a website with the addition of live video is a big part of what makes this an appealing option for Internet marketers. Most consumers view millions of websites over the course of their lifetime. Remember, many of today's consumers barely remember life before the Internet, and they spend hours a day on it looking for news, products, etc. When you consider the fact that most websites are almost a carbon copy of each other you understand the true challenge faced by today's online business.
Their websites are utterly forgettable.
Since no one wants to be forgettable every site developer is looking for a way to distinguish their website and stand out in the eyes of their visitors to keep them coming back. Adding video to your site is a great way to do precisely that.
What a Jump Page Can Do for Your Affiliate Marketing Campaign
Amazon.com. Ebay.com. CDC.gov. These are all well known addresses to most Americans, not necessarily because they are exceptional or unique but because the company is well known and their URL is simple enough that they're easy to remember. They reflect the business name. They're short. They're simple.
They're a lot easier to work with than your average affiliate URL.
The fact that most affiliate URLs are plagued with extended addresses and numerous symbols (many of which aren't accepted by today's distribution services) and often have no relation at all to the affiliate business they're supposed to be associated with make them difficult to work with. Consumers can't remember them, which means they'll often jump straight to the homepage of the company you're affiliated with instead of visiting yours. That's why many affiliates are choosing to use a jump page to boost their affiliate marketing campaign.
A jump page is a digital redirect that can send people from one place to another; in this case, from an ordinary, short, simple URL to your affiliate URL. Many businesses use this to direct their consumers around their site for multiple reasons; however, jump pages have a special distinction for affiliates. It allows them to legitimize their campaign with a short, simple URL (rather than one that looks like it could be anything) that keeps clients coming back rather than driving them away.
There are a few words of caution associated with a jump page, however. Some distribution services will flag this for fear that you're a chronic SPAMMER instead of an affiliate just trying to do your job. Some customers may be wary of jumping from one site to another in the blink of an eye, believing they've landed in the wrong place. As a general rule, however, a jump page is a fantastic addition to your affiliate marketing campaign.
They're a lot easier to work with than your average affiliate URL.
The fact that most affiliate URLs are plagued with extended addresses and numerous symbols (many of which aren't accepted by today's distribution services) and often have no relation at all to the affiliate business they're supposed to be associated with make them difficult to work with. Consumers can't remember them, which means they'll often jump straight to the homepage of the company you're affiliated with instead of visiting yours. That's why many affiliates are choosing to use a jump page to boost their affiliate marketing campaign.
A jump page is a digital redirect that can send people from one place to another; in this case, from an ordinary, short, simple URL to your affiliate URL. Many businesses use this to direct their consumers around their site for multiple reasons; however, jump pages have a special distinction for affiliates. It allows them to legitimize their campaign with a short, simple URL (rather than one that looks like it could be anything) that keeps clients coming back rather than driving them away.
There are a few words of caution associated with a jump page, however. Some distribution services will flag this for fear that you're a chronic SPAMMER instead of an affiliate just trying to do your job. Some customers may be wary of jumping from one site to another in the blink of an eye, believing they've landed in the wrong place. As a general rule, however, a jump page is a fantastic addition to your affiliate marketing campaign.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
What Your Competition Has To Do With Your Pricing Practices
When it comes to your company's success almost nothing figures more predominantly than your pricing practices. Why? Because if you're pricing your goods and services way over your competition and your consumers find out about it the piper's going to be asking for more than his due. That's why it's important to keep your competition in mind when you're choosing your pricing.
When a new product hits the market many uneducated companies think they have carte blanche when it comes to pricing-after all, they don't have any competition. They can start out with a bang and then lower their prices when a pricing war begins. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. Regardless of what product or service you're releasing you're always going to have competition of one type of another. Forgetting that is almost always the first nail in your coffin.
Is it really fair to do that to your business before you've even had a chance to get started?
What you have to remember is that not all competition is direct. Apple may have been the first to offer the iPod, but that doesn't mean they weren't competing with laptops, Walkman and CDs for their fair share of the music industry. If their iPods had been ludicrously priced they wouldn't have even had the chance to get out of the starting gate, much less dominate the digital music industry the way they do today despite the attempts of their competition. They took into account what people were already paying and kept that in the back of their mind during their production process.
The result? The iPod was a little more expensive than the average music player, but not so much that people weren't willing to pay for the novelty. That's the kind of ideal you want to keep in mind when establishing your own pricing practices.
When a new product hits the market many uneducated companies think they have carte blanche when it comes to pricing-after all, they don't have any competition. They can start out with a bang and then lower their prices when a pricing war begins. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. Regardless of what product or service you're releasing you're always going to have competition of one type of another. Forgetting that is almost always the first nail in your coffin.
Is it really fair to do that to your business before you've even had a chance to get started?
What you have to remember is that not all competition is direct. Apple may have been the first to offer the iPod, but that doesn't mean they weren't competing with laptops, Walkman and CDs for their fair share of the music industry. If their iPods had been ludicrously priced they wouldn't have even had the chance to get out of the starting gate, much less dominate the digital music industry the way they do today despite the attempts of their competition. They took into account what people were already paying and kept that in the back of their mind during their production process.
The result? The iPod was a little more expensive than the average music player, but not so much that people weren't willing to pay for the novelty. That's the kind of ideal you want to keep in mind when establishing your own pricing practices.
How to Write a Strong Press Release
When you're running a business you're going to learn two things rather quickly. One, the media can do many wonderful things for you. Two, they're a pain in the neck. But a necessary pain in the neck! It's through the media that your company's clients and consumers are going to stay up to date on what you've been doing, so it's important to keep them in the loop! To do that you're going to have to learn to write a strong press release.
If you're running a major corporation you've probably got a team of marketing professionals that spent an entire semester in college learning how to effectively write for the media; however, if you happen to BE your company's marketing department you may be left feeling like you're in way over your head! Here are some helpful hints to help you write an effective press release that's guaranteed to make its way out onto the newswire:
1) Make sure your news is newsworthy. The press isn't (usually) going to waste valuable space writing up an article on an issue no one cares about, so it's important to make sure your news really is newsworthy.
2) Create a short yet stunning headline. Your headline should do three things. First, it should identify your company or industry. Second, it should give the reader some idea of what you're talking about, and third, it should catch the attention of the reader! If you're having a hard time evaluating the success of your press release headlines, visit the Advanced Marketing Institute's online heading analyzer and use the tools and tips available.
3) Make sure your press release answers the who, what, why, when, where and how of your news item. You don't have to go on and on (most press releases should be 400-600 words or less unless there's simply too much information to include).
4) Close with your contact information.
Writing an effective press release may feel difficult at first, but if you know what you're talking about, who you're talking to and why you're talking to them it won't be long before effective PR is as easy as breathing.
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