Tuesday, March 08, 2005

RSS as a Communications Medium

I've been getting e-mails from Charlie Cook on business marketing for about a year.  Usually they are great, but you know, I often don't get to read them and wind up deleting them.  Charlie finally has a blog and is posting his same excellent content in this far more accessable format.
 
 
Accessable?  But wait, instead of getting an e-mail I have to visit his website?  That doesn't seem like a time-saver to me.  You're right, it isn't.  If you're visiting his website.  So don't.  Huh?  If you haven't already, jump onto RSS aggregator bandwagon now.  This site is a great one to start with.  Personally I use Lektora (disclosure, I personally have a close working relationship with the author of Lektora), but Bloglines and NewsGator online are also easy ones to get started with.  I've heard Onfolio is good, but I haven't tried it.  If you use Firefox, Sage would be my second choice after Lektora, in my book.

posted @ 10:55 AM

Stop the Monkey Marketing

Here is a simple article from Duct Tape Marketing based on the Buddist principle that an untrained mind will bounce from one thought to another.  Many small businesses try one marketing tactic, then another, and another, never waiting long enough to see what's been working.  Are you chaning your message as often as your underware?  Maybe you should take a page from the Zen masters.  Try patience.  Wait before jumping into a new change.  Too many changes confuses your customers.  I've been guilty of this as well in the past.  Internet strategy, web metrics, usability.  I tried to keep changing who I was and what I was marketing all the time.  Always going for the magic phrase that would catch.  In the long run tough, I wound up just as confused as my potential clients.  I couldn't even come up with the "elevator pitch" for what I wanted to do!
 
So, focus, grasshopper.  Focus.
 

posted @ 10:55 AM

The Billable Hour is a Marketing Problem

If there is anything that can be more contentious it is the billable hour.  How do you manage that with your clients?  Everyone's time is valuable.  A classic article on this has been reprinted and is worth a read for all of us hourly folks.
 

posted @ 10:54 AM

Advanced Business Blogging

I found these two blogs run by a husband and wife team who, in addition to being bloggers, are realestate agents as well.  The information they present is good, concise, and actionable.  Not to mention the header graphics are really eye catching--you'll have to visit for yourself, no hints from me!
 
The Advanced Business Blogging site is interesting as it is a model for how a small business can use a blog--or website for that matter--to increase their revenue.  This couple have created a series of videos and DVDs about business blogging and other topics.  Are they the best experts out there?  Maybe, maybe not.  But they are out there.  How does this apply to you for marketing?  How about write a short pamphlet with some "secrets" to your particular business.  Have it produced nicely, copied, and bound.  Most of this you can do your self and leave the printing to Kinkos!  Then give some kind of teaser on your website and sell the whole thing for a reasonable, but within impluse buying range (say $20-30).  You might be surprised at how many you can sell in a short period of time.
 

posted @ 10:53 AM | Feedback (7)