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Every person in America has bought something that either broke or stopped working after a few days. Because of this, today's customers want to feel reassured that you are selling quality products and services. Customers do not want to lose money or feel l

If marketing is, indeed, a mind game – and it is – then doesn’t it make sense to study the mind and be ever aware of what is going on inside your customer’s head? After all, your company is only a collection of thoughts in the gray matter of every

You have a message to communicate to your prospective customer. Unfortunately, they're so overwhelmed by advertisements and other promotional information that the chances of your message getting across are slim to none. Indeed, studies show that the avera

In a business, logo creation is as crucial as setting up a business plan. It is not as easy as going to a designer and having him create a cool, modern symbol with a ripped off tagline. Unfortunately, it goes beyond "cool". It goes beyond what you think i

If marketing is, indeed, a mind game – and it is – then doesn’t it make sense to study the mind and be ever aware of what is going on inside your customer’s head? After all, your company is only a collection of thoughts in the gray matter of every

1. Realize that your Retention Program starts on Day One. If your business model involves lead generation, Day One begins with your handling of the lead. You not only affect conversion, but the tone of the entire relationship.

Ongoing marketing isn't tied to a price tag. It's defined only by putting the right message in front of the right person at the right time.

Attend any direct marketing conference or chat with your peers, and you’ll undoubtedly encounter the double whammy of shrinking universes and list fatigue as a topic of conversation and concern. So what’s a marketer to do?

Whether you sell great timeshares, great steaks or great shoes, look to niche markets for fresh business. Your key to capitalizing on this profitable strategy? Find the right niche, send the right message and keep those new customers coming back. Read on

Most small business owners and independent professionals start their business primarily because they have knowledge and skills that are in demand. While they understand intellectually that they have to market and sell, often it does not translate on an em

As data loss continues to grow, prevention is a serious issue for companies, according to a new report by e-mail services firm Ironport Systems Inc.

Get out of your direct marketing "comfort zone" with these fresh data approaches. Now is the time to take advantage of the data services and technologies flooding the marketplace. Read on for five must-have direct marketing tools!

Of course, it requires a level of discipline and commitment to marketing that is likely a few notches higher than it is today.

When the economy gets tight, and you feel the pinch in your P&L, try these proven ways to keep your business forging ahead while others struggle.

Happy New Year! With 2008 budgets in place and sales goals set, Pat Friesen, president of Pat Friesen & Co., recommends eight retooling ideas designed to increase response and strengthen customer relationships, whether you use direct mail to sell direct,

Marketing departments today are not thinking about customers. They are thinking about campaigns. Arthur Middleton Hughes of KnowledgeBase Marketing shows you six steps to increase your sales— by studying your customers rather than just your campaign

Ongoing marketing isn't tied to a price tag. It's defined only by putting the right message in front of the right person at the right time. Joanna L. Krotz of Microsoft Small Business Center gives you 10 ideas for doing just that — on the cheap.

Ever wonder how to make your marketing message stick? In “Made to Stick,” brothers Chip Heath and Dan Heath claim it's as easy as spelling SUCCES (sic). Reviewer Cam Beck of ChaosScenario.com explains what the acronym means, and how you can ap

Lee Marc Stein developed this checklist with copywriter Mark Hallen, in preparation for a major client. They came up with so many ways to improve customer retention, we couldn’t fit them all in one issue! The final 10 will be unveiled in next month&

Tried every way to jazz up that teaser – yet still can’t get your audience to respond? Direct response copywriter and consultant Galen Stilson shares his bonafide tips on how to write those response-driving teasers.

There are businesses in a community that service that community, but may not have the foot traffic or obvious appeal of a retailer or franchise chain, such as Dentists, Chiropractors, Real Estate Agents, Insurance Companies, Optometrists, Fitness Studios,

Brands that deliver general interest newsletters filled with tips, tools, and advice—but not unique brand-differentiating content—should rethink their approach. Martin Reilly and Deb Rapacz give you a glimpse into the most informative strategi

If you were wondering where does Social Media Marketing fit into the classic “4 P’s of Marketing” model, check this out. Mario Sundar has figured out the 4 P’s of traditional marketing. Got your interest “Peaked”?

Large organizations are beginning to wrestle with the reality that their markets want something more personal, more honest and real, from the companies they buy products and services from. It's obvious that small businesses possess natural advantages in t

To do database marketing properly, you want to collect data on your customers, and use that data to measure their lifetime value and to communicate with them. Here’s how to use a relational database to your advantage.

Direct mail is still the number one marketing strategy used by many successful sales companies. With direct mail, you have total control over the presentation of your message. Direct mail is a unique blend of advertising and sales. While good advertising

It’s funny how often small business owners tell me that the number one way they acquire new business is by way of referral. Yet, when I ask what they do to intentionally stimulate this powerful marketing strategy, I get blank stares.

Your database is the key to survival in bad times. And it’s the key to maximum profits in good times. The goal of your database is to maximize customer value through conversion, retention and repeat sales. And, it allows you to create new marketing

You’ve worked hard to build a strong and solid marketing plan. You did your research, tracked response testing, and carefully selected your target market audience. You’re confident the outcome will be positive. Before you mail out your marketi

Postcards are cheap, versatile and effective. They’re easy to produce. And you can get them in the mail and start getting results in just days. Of course, a lot of people say postcards are too small to be effective. But they’re wrong. Postcard

BtoB marketers have daunting challenges facing them when it comes to advertising. They must wisely act on the limited opportunities allotted to them in order to increase the probability of sales leads and traffic. Concealed in these opportunities lies the

The Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) has published its list of what it considers to be the top 10 trends affecting natural marketing in 2007 and beyond, with the consumer's increased desire for control being the overriding theme throughout all of the hig

Launching a brand new business takes imagination, cleverness and determination. You need to create a connection with your customers that will make them loyal to you. In order to do that, you need to differentiate yourself from others out there like you. M

The following five considerations can assist marketers in understanding how to work with privacy colleagues to increase customers’ trust and loyalty. Go through the following questions and see how well your company abides by them. Is there room for

A trade show is an ideal way of showcasing your products and services to a large number of prospects. The following are six important marketing rules that exhibitors need to undertake to ensure their next trade show is a success.

Publicity is a great way to get your business known in the marketplace. And when it’s free, you simply have to take advantage of it. Try these seven ways to snag free publicity to help build your brand, increase your sales and make your business mor

The saying, “nothing is free” isn’t necessarily true. Especially when you’re talking about added value services you can offer your client. These services help increase customer loyalty, and your most important client is your curren

To be successful and profitable, you must START using the most effective marketing strategies possible within your overall marketing plans. Less obvious, is the fact that you must also STOP using the most ineffective, money-wasting marketing strategies. W

To be successful and profitable, you must START using the most effective marketing strategies possible within your overall marketing plans. Less obvious, is the fact that you must also STOP using the most ineffective, money-wasting marketing strategies. W

I call them The 13 Costly Marketing Mistakes. While this list doesn't cover 'all' of the possible marketing mistakes, it does describe some of the most expensive, destructive and most 'common' made by many owners of traditional and home based businesses.

One of the main reasons that businesses fail is lack of marketing insight. Jay Conrad Levinson, better known as the Father of Guerrilla Marketing, offers the top 10 giveaways sure to bring out the guerrilla in your own marketing department. All along,R

Consumers became increasingly Web savvy in 2006 to advertising and not as susceptible to basic cross-sell and upsell techniques. In response, targeted marketing became the standard as blast marketing faded into oblivion.

Marketers are constantly watching for alternative methods that can give them a competitive edge in over-crowded markets. Drew Neisser, CEO for Renegade Marketing, explains the last five trends that will rise fastest in 2007.

While marketers are constantly watching for alternative methods that can give them a competitive edge in over-crowded markets, Drew Neisser, CEO for Renegade Marketing explains the ones that will rise fastest in 2007.

The early morning session at any conference can do a lot to put attendees on the right path for the rest of the day, and Arthur Hughes’s “Nine Deadly Mistakes in Database Marketing” at a recent DMA event was certainly not a snoozer.

Just as teenagers use catch phrases, certain words and phrases crop up again and again in Web sites and news releases-so much so that the gobbledygook grates against my nerves and many other people's, too.