While many holiday bargain hunters are already planning which big box retailers they’ll pitch their tents in front of this year, many small business owners are busy firing up social media and printing out coupons to commemorate the five year anniversary of Small Business Saturday, officially launched by American Express in 2009. But, the…
Customer engagement is perhaps the biggest challenge many small businesses face. Beyond the initial sale, many customers seem to disappear into a mysterious abyss and are never heard from again. And in the spirit of self-preservation, many of us immediately blame the customer. Â “We didn’t do anything,” we yell as we shake our fists…
Building a website is one of the most exciting parts of starting a business. You feel official, somehow. Your hard work, dreams, and caffeine induced brainstorming sessions all culminate into this tiny piece of the digital universe. But for many of us, the crushing reality is, building a website can be expensive. It can…
Warren Buffet once said that it takes twenty years to build a reputation and about five minutes to ruin it. And never has that been more true than now. In recent years, the popularity of social media and online review sites has skyrocketed. Consumers are looking to one another online to determine the quality and…
Think back to your last bad sales experience. You know, the one with that ultra aggressive sales guy (or gal) that went on and on for twenty minutes about how great their product or service was… blah, blah, blah. You never got a word in. And when it was finally over, you whispered a silent prayer to the heavens…
Several studies suggest that well over 40% of marketing budgets next year will be spent on online (digital) efforts. And at the core of those campaigns will be an emphasis on content marketing. Content marketing. Sure, to marketers like me, that term is as recognized and revered as search is with Google. But for some businesses…
When you’re ready to make a big purchase, do you…? A) go on a gut feeling B) see what people are saying about it online C) trust the salesperson The Answer Chances are, most of you picked “B.” Studies have shown that 90% of consumers say online reviews impact their buying decisions. And this doesn’t…
Let’s face it. We need repeat sales to make this thing called business work. Even our best efforts fall short if we fail to get customers to buy the right products, at the right price, at the right time, not just once, but over and over again. But many of us settle for becoming a one hit…
Customers have high expectations. Gone are the days of transactional sales with faceless individuals who breeze in and out of your stores and on and off your websites. Today’s new normal is all about relationship. And one of the best ways to establish that relationship is through routine follow-up. What is follow-up? Follow-up is not…
At first glance, the words cheap and affordable seem to mean the same thing – low price. But in your customer’s mind, cheap can also translate to low quality. Messaging is just as important as selling your products and services. So, considering how word choice or “positioning” affect customer perception is critical to gaining buy-in and cultivating brand loyalty….
Nearly 97% of consumers use online media to research products and services in their local area according to a study conducted by BIA/Kelsey.  That same study goes on to point out that of those surveyed, 90% use search engines like Google and 48% use Internet Yellow Pages. With that said, it’s fair to assume that customers…
If you’re a small business owner or run a non-profit organization, running short on time and resources isn’t an exception, but a hard and fast rule! In between setting appointments, preparing bids, keeping up with emails, and returning phone calls, you’re expected to provide exceptional products and services, raise much-needed funds, and manage to maintain…