Every year I buy myself a new journal to keep notes from my client meetings, business ideas and new technologies I'm planning to adopt. There is something about a blank book full of opportunities and ideas to be noted and recorded that excites me. What does the future hold and what will the journal say in December 2016 about the past year?
As I start my journal this year, rather than starting with resolutions and goals on page one, I'm going to begin with the last page. Writing what has been achieved, writing what the year looked like, rather than writing what the year will look like. Here is my final chapter of an amazing 2016...
As I start my journal this year, rather than starting with resolutions and goals on page one, I'm going to begin with the last page. Writing what has been achieved, writing what the year looked like, rather than writing what the year will look like. Here is my final chapter of an amazing 2016...
I think many of us can list the reasons why we would want to start our own business and leave a job where we work for someone else. The idea of working for yourself offers a different kind of freedom and it's a passion that drives so many of us to become entrepreneurs. But it is an idea that is full of risk, made especially concerning if you're in a good job currently. So if that is the case why would you leave a successful business you own to start a new one?
I ask myself this question, because I recently sold a great business that I grew from the ground up. It was a franchise, but even with that there are no guarantees of success, and many owners did not succeed. But I did. I had a passion for my business and I liked my employees and clients. However, as an entrepreneur, I got restless and wanted to share my success and the lessons that I had learned with others. With many years of marketing experience, both in the corporate and small business world, I knew I could help others be successful by implementing solid marketing strategies. With this idea in mind I launched Marketing Eye Dallas as a licensee of the greater international Marketing Eye firm.
With both the knowledge of being successful and starting from the ground up again, I realize there are some things that never change.
I ask myself this question, because I recently sold a great business that I grew from the ground up. It was a franchise, but even with that there are no guarantees of success, and many owners did not succeed. But I did. I had a passion for my business and I liked my employees and clients. However, as an entrepreneur, I got restless and wanted to share my success and the lessons that I had learned with others. With many years of marketing experience, both in the corporate and small business world, I knew I could help others be successful by implementing solid marketing strategies. With this idea in mind I launched Marketing Eye Dallas as a licensee of the greater international Marketing Eye firm.
With both the knowledge of being successful and starting from the ground up again, I realize there are some things that never change.
What To Include in Your 2016 Marketing Plan
Published in Marketing
What I love about the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is that everyone is 'on.' There is a three week rush to close out 2015 and set plans in place for 2016. While we may be busy with holiday shopping and parties, we have our running shoes on and are looking to end one year and start the next on a positive note.
If you are like me, you are planning for next year. Budgets are being set and strategies are being developed. As you develop your marketing strategy...yes you need one...here are some things to consider.
If you are like me, you are planning for next year. Budgets are being set and strategies are being developed. As you develop your marketing strategy...yes you need one...here are some things to consider.
After a week spent with family and enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday, it is time to get those running shoes on and make the next three weeks really count for your business. These weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are critical not just for retailers, but for all businesses.
Here is how you can connect with your customers, employees and community to make the year-end a positive one.
Holiday greetings, parties and giving back are all ways to connect with your customers, employees and community. Take advantage of this time of giving to say thank you, show your appreciation and give back.
Here is how you can connect with your customers, employees and community to make the year-end a positive one.
Holiday greetings, parties and giving back are all ways to connect with your customers, employees and community. Take advantage of this time of giving to say thank you, show your appreciation and give back.
Marketing needs to be scrapped -- here's why
Published in Marketing
Old school marketers are dead. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that.
Marketing no longer resembles the textbooks of the 90's. Old-school marketers no longer have a advantage over young marketers since the rules of game have changed. If your firm is still conducting marketing of the past, you are missing out on real opportunities. Doing the same will not result in the same results, you may not get any results at all.
How goods and services are researched and purchased has, and continues to change. Even industries that have existed on personal networks alone are needing to re-evaluate their sales and marketing approach. If your marketing department hasn't changed the way they do business in the past five years, it's time to re-evaluate this department. Here's why you may need to take a fresh look at how your reach and sell to your target market.
Marketing no longer resembles the textbooks of the 90's. Old-school marketers no longer have a advantage over young marketers since the rules of game have changed. If your firm is still conducting marketing of the past, you are missing out on real opportunities. Doing the same will not result in the same results, you may not get any results at all.
How goods and services are researched and purchased has, and continues to change. Even industries that have existed on personal networks alone are needing to re-evaluate their sales and marketing approach. If your marketing department hasn't changed the way they do business in the past five years, it's time to re-evaluate this department. Here's why you may need to take a fresh look at how your reach and sell to your target market.
Small to medium-sized businesses typically come with a small sales force, many times it's just the owner. It's important to know how to encourage your network to generate sales for you with limited time and resources. Often your own network can be the greatest source of sales if you just create advocates for your business. These sales advocates will sell for you and be your walking testimonial.
The first step is to think about who can be your advocates. Current customers, business and personal acquaintances, and even people you may not know, but wish to add to your network. To get started you must reach-out and connect.
The first step is to think about who can be your advocates. Current customers, business and personal acquaintances, and even people you may not know, but wish to add to your network. To get started you must reach-out and connect.
How to master your marketing strategy
Published in Marketing
Have you started thinking about your marketing strategy for 2016? If not, now is the time. As budgets and plans are put into place, they are often a copied from previous years. If you are doing this for your marketing strategy and budget, note that marketing has changed. How prospects and clients find you, research you and buy from you has evolved. An online strategy is no longer just for large retail businesses, but for everyone's business, including B2B.
The Dos and Don'ts of Holiday Parties and Greetings for Business
Published in Small Business Marketing
We are entering the holiday season and so begins the dilemma of holiday celebrations. Do you celebrate? What do you celebrate? Should you send greetings to clients? Determining what is appropriate during the holiday season can be stressful, but it shouldn't be. Here are a few tips on making the most of the holiday season.
5 Ways to Sniff-Out The Competition
Published in Guest Blog
Do you ever wonder what your competition is doing, how you rank in your industry or the latest trends? It is much easier than you think. All the information you need to be competitive is at your finger tips if you just know how to go and find it.
Here are five tips leading experts use to stiff-out their competition.
Here are five tips leading experts use to stiff-out their competition.
Entrepreneurs are the most creative and driven people I know. I enjoy their energy and passion for the great ideas they bring to our communities and lives. They are often driven by an idea, and a belief of how to turn that idea into success.
The problem is that not all entrepreneurs are born marketers. Many are born sales people, if for no other reason than for the passion of the product or service they've created. The problem begins to occur when the entrepreneur begins to confuse that sales is synonyms with marketing. There is a distinct difference, and believing that passion alone will drive your marketing strategy will create a self-serving misaligned strategy that is most likely not based on you customer's needs.
The problem is that not all entrepreneurs are born marketers. Many are born sales people, if for no other reason than for the passion of the product or service they've created. The problem begins to occur when the entrepreneur begins to confuse that sales is synonyms with marketing. There is a distinct difference, and believing that passion alone will drive your marketing strategy will create a self-serving misaligned strategy that is most likely not based on you customer's needs.
