Small Business Website Basics: Part I

A Small Business Website Is Not an Option Can you believe that 46% of small businesses in the United States still do not have a website? It’s 2016. The world revolves around the Internet. Yet, nearly half of the small businesses have yet to launch a website.  Crazy, isn't it? Entrepreneur.com posted an article quoting statistics from a report prepared by Business-to-Business research firm, Clutch.  A small business website is a necessity, not an option. Stuart Miles at freedigitalphotos.net A small business website is the main hub piece of any marketing plan.  A website is critical for the success of [...]

By |2016-12-27T18:13:27-05:00April 20th, 2016|Branding, Marketing|

Marketing: Most People Don’t Know You or Like You – Yet

Is there ever a tipping point when you’ve saturated the market and you no longer need marketing or advertising for your company, its products and services? According to Christopher Ramey, president of The Home Trust International, the answer is no. “The more you’re seen where you’re not expected to be seen, the more you indelibly imprint your brand on your best prospects’ minds.”   Think about some of the big corporate names that have made millions - even billions - selling their products:  Nike, Coca-Cola, Ford.  They certainly have not stopped marketing to put their names in front of consumers. At the [...]

By |2016-12-27T18:24:54-05:00January 8th, 2016|Branding, Marketing, Strategy|

How to Increase Blog Subscribers

FreeDigitalPhotos.net - Stuart Miles I was scrolling through a HubSpot email marketing piece that included excerpts of several blog posts.  Near the bottom, I found a post about doubling blog subscribers.  Who wouldn't rush to click their 'Read more...' call to action’ (CTA)?  Are you NOT interested in how to increase blog subscribers - the number of visitors to your blog who will come back over and over again? The solution recommended in the Hubspot email, of course, was something easily accomplished by those subscribers to their own software system.  The HubSpot software system focuses on inbound marketing. [...]

By |2016-12-27T18:27:06-05:00January 8th, 2016|Marketing|

Holiday Season Marketing Strategies to Increase Year End Revenues

'Designing Strategies' Newsletter November - December, 2015                      Volume 12 -- Issue 68 It goes without saying that it is time to wish all of you the very happiest of holidays for 2015. We're entering the period of year-end holidays where families, friends and colleagues gather together in celebration. Our hearts are a little lighter - and more inclusive. Everyone is a little bit happier. We are a little more generous than the rest of the year, and treat each other better. Feasts are prepared, treasured family recipes are pulled out, decorations [...]

By |2017-01-09T03:45:04-05:00November 22nd, 2015|Marketing, Newsletter, Social Media|

The Importance of Brand Personality

In case you haven't heard, we are operating in a relationship marketplace these days. You know the mantra: people want to do business with someone they know, like and can trust. Do you offer a product or service that is so over the top wonderful, or just isn't available from anyone else? Are you just the best darned whiz-bang (fill in the blank _____) on the planet? If your answer to either of these questions is 'No’ you may have a serious problem on your hands related to converting web site visitors to actual paying customers. With the advent of the Internet, [...]

By |2016-12-27T18:58:03-05:00January 22nd, 2015|Branding, Marketing|

How Well Is Your Website Working for Your Small Business?

'Designing Strategies' Newsletter January - February 2015                Volume 12 -- Issue 63 How Well Is Your Website Working? Small business owners who have been around more than ten years remember well the days of high-cost printed marketing pieces. Small businesses spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for design and printing of glossy company brochures. Unfortunately, most of them became obsolete almost as soon as the ink was dry. Storage rooms had boxes full of outdated and unusable brochures and other marketing materials. The slightest change rendered those expensive, impressive pieces useless. Maybe the company changed location and the [...]

By |2017-01-08T05:58:22-05:00January 8th, 2015|Branding, Market Planning, Marketing, Newsletter|

Focused Planning for Success: 5 Important Steps

  Focused planning is a key component for every successful business. Business planning, strategic planning, marketing plans and  short term project plans count.  Even succession planning and retirement planning are important.  In whatever format,  all  focused plans include clear direction to a company’s efforts to succeed. Those who regularly read our 'Designing Strategies' newsletter and blog know that I am an avid believer in planning for success.  I am convinced that the planning process is the most important thing business leaders and managers can do to assure achieving their unique vision of success.   Here are five important steps that need [...]

By |2016-12-27T19:08:29-05:00November 27th, 2014|Business Planning, Market Planning, Strategic Planning, Strategy|

Exceed Customer Expectations

Do you strive to exceed customer expectations?  If you want to set yourself apart from your competitors, this is an easy way to do it.  I recently placed an online order with L L Bean,  makers of outdoor clothing and equipment, who have been "Helping people enjoy the outdoors - since 1912".  It is admirable that any company has been as successful as they have  for over 100 years. Reading more about the company and how they do business answers that question: 'How have they lasted so long?"  Clearly, they have done more than one or two things right over [...]

By |2016-12-27T19:20:04-05:00August 7th, 2014|Customer Experience, Marketing|

A Strong Brand Can Do Big Things for a Small Business

Does your company have a strong brand?  A brand and an online presence are not the same thing. Sure, being online can provide articles or other items about you or your firm to show up in an Internet search - if people know you by name or your company name. But, that doesn't mean that a company brand is present in that mix of blog posts, web sites and social media pages that turn up in a Google or Bing search. Everything that is out there for prospects to find related to you and your business may not be saying [...]

By |2016-12-27T19:22:49-05:00June 21st, 2014|Branding, Marketing|

Important Sales and Marketing Lessons Learned at the Car Wash

'Designing Strategies' Newsletter May - June 2014                                Volume 11 --  Issue 59   I'm convinced that there is no limitation on where a small business owner can experience important sales and marketing lessons.  Last night, I was enjoying my drive home from dinner with a friend from my high school days. (I'll spare you just how long ago that was.) The weather was wonderful. It had been a bright sunny day, not too hot, not too cold, with a pleasant breeze. It was getting dark [...]

By |2017-01-04T00:34:27-05:00May 16th, 2014|Marketing, Newsletter, Sales|
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