They are out there virtually everywhere: myriads of programs, processes and plans to help the average Joe think he can perform like a marketing Merlyn. “All you have to do is follow these simple steps,” they’ll tell you and many of them will even provide this “proven” plan free of charge. With dollars to be saved dancing in their eyes, the unwary marketer-to-be, a.k.a. company president, … Read more

Trust in corporations is at a low point today, and the economy cannot be held solely to blame. Distrust of businesses (large ones in particular) began long before the economic crash of 2008. Too many companies have told half-truths about their product quality and used hidden-fee discount deals to sell those products. Too many consumers have been burned by marketing ploys that—whether legally dishonest or not—still … Read more

Search giant will host workshops for businesses Face it, without a strong Internet presence some local businesses might as well not even exist. But optimizing your website for the search engines takes time and know-how. Business owners without the bucks to hire that swanky Internet marketing agency have a rare opportunity to learn from Google employees when the search giant hosts a series of free workshops … Read more

A lot of entrepreneurs are surprised when I tell them that their business is all about content marketing. This is especially true for B2B service firms where success means not only offering a good service at a fair price but also proving your ability to be a good partner and trusted adviser for your clients. It’s important to remember that B2B clients aren’t just looking to … Read more

I am married to a hobbyist beekeeper, more properly referred to as an apiarist. It’s a perfect fit, since my main hobby is gardening. Our large yard is filled from spring to fall with a myriad of flowers for his bees, and his bees, in turn, increase our fruit and vegetable harvests. Granted, he’s fairly new at it and only has two hives, but we both … Read more

I have to admit it. It has been really sad to see a favorite store like Borders prepare to close its doors and become a piece of history. It was a great place to read books and magazines and to just hang out. When I went into my local Borders last week to check out what was still left after weeks of markdowns, there wasn’t a … Read more

Experts say blogging still one of the best ways to reach new customers Bloggers were surprised this week when an editor at The Huffington Post tweeted that the online newspaper was ending its popular Download Squad blog. Though puzzled, bloggers insisted the move was not a sign that theirs is a dying art form. In fact, a blog on your company’s website is still one of … Read more

Some of the most influential minds in social media and Internet marketing huddled this week in Park City, Utah. The Digital Publishing Summit heard from a marketing expert at The Huffington Post who said that when it comes to wooing consumers, traditional media like newspapers and magazines continue to get it wrong. “They are trying to apply old models to this new realm and it is … Read more