Who do you think you are?

Most businesses suffer from an identity crisis. They have no idea who they are, what problem they can solve, who their competition is, or who their best customers are. In normal times, businesses with no self-awareness can limp along- not quite going broke but not quite successful either. We all know these businesses. They are [...]

Beware the digital

When television’s overly vaunted digital transition takes place, let’s not participate. We must be very smart about this- and proceed quietly. 
Have you ever seen the news media work harder to get us to do something than they have worked to make sure that we understand the change from analog to digital television programming? There is [...]

It’s always service

I went to our local Chevy’s Restaurant for lunch the other day and was pleased to see that a gentleman named Dave Tinker was back running the place. Dave is one of the owners of the restaurant and had previously run the day-to-day operations as well. A few years ago, Dave started spending all his [...]

How to make their customers, your customers

The vast majority of local business gets customers by taking them away from someone else rather than by creating new customers from scratch. This sounds simple but, in reality, is the most difficult challenge facing business today.
How do you start becoming a customer thief? Know thyself. Because all businesses are looking to steal customers, the [...]

Buying ads? It’s like taking a vacation

Oftentimes, a business owner will treat an advertising purchase the same way they will treat an office supply purchase. Out of writing utensils? “Buy more pens.” Out of customers? “Buy more ads.” 
If you wait until you are out of customers to buy ads, you buy from desperation. You buy fast and you buy expensive and [...]

5 Cost-Effective Ways To Expand Your Marketing

1) Be a citizen
Take part in community events, either by sponsoring them ar simply by attending them. Wear that nice company-logo shirt that’s hanging in the back of your closet. People will notice your interest and involvement.
 
2) Be a partner
Strategic partnerships are crucial to the long-term success of your business. Partner with another area business [...]