Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.4.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# Small Business Marketing Consultant

small business marketing consultant

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [That One Person](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/that-one-person/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Your best salesperson is you. As an owner you have the most gravitas and create the most comfort in the mind of the prospect. But there’s a problem, isn’t there. You can’t spend all your time selling, especially now when you want to grow, and it’s hard
- [Big Fish in Little Ponds: the new marketing strategy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/to-be-a-big-fish-in-a-small-pond-or-not-to-be/) - Ever heard the saying "Don't be a big fish in a small pond"? It started out (in 1881) as a warning: watch out or a "bigger fish" will come along and eat you. Good advice back then when bigger companies did tend to gobble up smaller ones or put them out of business. I'd argue
- [A Wonderful New Documentary and It's Simple, Smart Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-wonderful-new-documentary-and-its-simple-smart-marketing/) - Mattias Olsson is a Swedish film maker. His latest film, a documentary, is “The Art of Slowing Down Time, 164 Days Alone at Sea”. I highly recommend it. This post is mostly about it. But first, a quick word about Mattias's marketing. I've followed him for years now. I think his work is important and,
- [What I had to say to VentureBeat](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-i-had-to-say-to-venturebeat/) - I was invited to be part of a panel last week to discuss how small businesses with shrinking budgets can turn small budgets into leads. We were part of VentureBeat's (Transformative technology coverage that matters) ongoing webinar series for SMBs. My message during the discussion was pretty much what I've told clients during big, big
- [Why Do You Make It So Hard??](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/why-do-you-make-it-so-hard/) - Companies think making it hard to cancel a subscription, order, trial, etc., creates fewer cancellations. I disagree. I disagree because when you go to a website to cancel something you already decided you want to cancel. They're too late. Why annoy me by making it hard, dammit, AFTER I've decided to cancel? You know what
- [Don’t bet the ranch and don’t sweat the failures.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/dont-bet-the-ranch-and-dont-sweat-the-failures/) - Some of the most successful marketing campaigns I’ve been involved with have been the messiest. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs I’ve had the privilege of working with have made the most mistakes. So don’t bet the ranch* and don’t sweat the failures, and you’ll do fine. *My grandfather did, literally. Sam Wallace homesteaded here
- [Free Online Marketing 101 Training to Beat the Pandemic](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/free-online-marketing-101-training-to-beat-the-pandemic/) - I’m doing something new and wanted to tell you about it. Marketing 101 Online - for Small Business Owners. Free one-hour Zoom sessions that focus on getting small businesses through this crazy time we’re in and out the other side. I’ll be in conversation with another marketing consultant, Vikram Nagrath, as we launch a six-part
- [McDonald's is Giving Away Their New Product, What About You?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/mcdonalds-is-giving-away-their-new-product-what-about-you/) - McDonald’s is giving away their new chicken sandwich free with a $15 purchase. McDonald's is doing this; giving their heavily advertised new product away. Yeah, McDonald's, one of the best-known companies in the world, is giving their new product away. For free. You might think McDonald's would be the last company that needs to give
- [Human Years and Computer Years](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/human-years-and-computer-years/) - I searched on "computers in 1975", the year I went pro, going from student to cub sales guy for IBM and, to my horror, this is what I got. How long ago was that? And what does that number mean in human and computer years? How long ago? It would be another 18 months before
- [THINK! It doesn't grow old...I hope.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/think-it-doesnt-grow-old-i-hope/) - When Tom Watson brought three companies together and struggled to form a single culture he landed on the motto: THINK. When I encountered the idea it had already built a culture that was the envy of the world at IBM, and for this ready-to-join-the-ranks young pup who was thrilled to get a job in one
- [How to Write Copy that Connects](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-write-copy-that-connects/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] My life basically is attracting people to my clients’ businesses. Part of my life since 1996 has been building website traffic. During which time I’ve been part of efforts that utilize probably every way to build traffic that exists. There are dozens of ways
- [Moving Your Marketing Forward (in small leaps)](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/moving-your-marketing-forward-in-small-leaps/) - Last week an owner said something I hear often when people discuss growing their business with me. He was struggling with which CRM package to buy (Customer Relationship Management software), whether to go with a virtual or part-time admin person, how to hire or outsource content writing, office space, etc., etc. And his struggle was
- [Moving Out of COVID19](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/moving-out-of-covid19/) - Here I sit, it's Monday, October 12, 2020, seven or so months after covid changed my daily routine. What to do with all this extra time each day?? I probably could have written five books, remodeled the kitchen, or done any of hundreds of activities that would have made me feel great. But I didn't.
- [Surviving and Thriving in Good and Bad Times](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/surviving-and-thriving-in-good-and-bad-times/) - There's a wonderful Norwegian saying, I'm told it rhymes – “Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær!” It translates to “There is no bad weather, only bad clothes!”. To which I wholeheartedly agree. But, this isn't about Norwegians or clothes... To put the idea into a marketing context: There is no bad economy, only bad strategies. Said a different
- [A Competition-Free Strategy to Grow Sales (A Silver Bullet??)](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-competition-free-strategy-to-grow-sales/) - Tim Denning has it right when he reminds us that writing to generate the most readership (or online views) is the shortest path to bad writing. He says, "By not focusing on views and being obsessed with creativity, your views will explode. And you might just realize, like I did, that your creativity is what
- [Marketing During Tough Times](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-during-tough-times/) - Marketing when times get tough -- the first Iraq invasion, after 9/11, during the 2008 meltdown, and now -- is hard. But it isn't impossible. I know, I helped clients through the first three and we're working our way through now, well...now. Here's what I learned from all those experiences. If reading this helps you, fantastic,
- [Free Marketing Help During the COVID-19 Pandemic](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/free-marketing-help-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/) - If your small business is suffering from the current COVID-19 shelter-in-place guidelines I can offer you five hours of consulting, free. It's really that simple. We'll meet via Skype or Zoom, I'll listen, and make recommendations. I'm not sure I can overcome this level of negative pressure pushed onto small businesses, but I am willing to
- [My Hope for What's on the Other Side of COVID-19](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/my-hope-for-whats-on-the-other-side-of-covid-19/) - COVID-19 is very serious. Many people have died and many more will. And nobody knows what the ultimate economic damage will be. But as of March 19, 2020, the virus in the countries first hit is slowing its growth, or has stopped altogether, and the rest of the world is learning from them. This too shall
- [Improving Your Home Office](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/improving-your-home-office/) - March 21,2020 With so many being sent home to work I've seen lots of advice on how to work from home. Most of it bad. I've worked from a home office for a long time. If it can help, here's what I've learned. Get ready for work. Shower, get dressed, look and feel how
- [Is Certainty Good??](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/is-certainty-good/) - If you accept for a minute that certainty is good, then, is uncertainty bad? No. In fact, no to both, which means your minute is up. I believe uncertainty is actually healthy. It's a curiosity to find out for yourself. Google makes it easier that ever to do that. In fact, the minute you come
- [Cliff Batson, COO PERRLA Software, Murfreesboro, TN](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/cliff-batson-coo-perrla-software-murfreesboro-tn/) - Hamilton has been our Virtual Director of Marketing for two and a half years. He accomplished a few things immediately; like improving our website's performance and engineering a remarkable turnaround of our Google Adwords campaign.
- [Good Marketing Doesn't Manipulate (it doesn't have to)](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/good-marketing-doesnt-persuade-it-doesnt-have-to/) - Good marketing doesn't sell, sell, sell. Good marketing connects with the people who are looking, sometimes desperately, for precisely what you sell. It connects by being where they're looking AND by telling your story with clarity and power. Precisely, in that they want what you're selling, but also want a company whose personality is your
- [How to Start the New Decade](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-start-the-new-decade/) - Hey, wanna hear something really scary; something that will make your 2020 different? Imagine you're starting a brand new company in your current space. You're building from the ground up. Describe it. How would it be different than what you are now? Take some time. Take as long as you like. Do you want to be
- [Conquering the New](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/conquering-the-new/) - Doing something new is hard because you don't know how to do it. Hard to start, hard to give it priority, and hard to see it through. It creates resistance. It creates uncertainty. And it can be down right scary. All of which make it hard. When I'm invited into a company my recommendations often
- [Reading the Signs](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/watch-for-the-signs/) - Remember the gnarly cowboy scout who could look at the ground and tell that 12 men came through (in a hurry) three hours ago? He could read the signs. We all can express our inner gnarly cowboy scouts with Google...to help make better decisions and attract more of the right people to our websites. Decision-Making For
- [Marketing Success Can Be Messy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-can-be-messy/) - Any success can be messy. Actually, most successes are very messy. To be more accurate. The most successful entrepreneurs I've had the privilege of leading their marketing for have also been the messiest along the way. Or maybe better said, the most willing to try things, fail, and change course along the way to their successes.
- [What to Do When You Fall](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-to-do-when-you-fall/) - You think about trying something new. For a LONG TIME. You're sure it will work (people will respond how you think they will). Then you finally try it. And you're surprised. Hell, I'm surprised most of the time and people pay me to be right. Getting surprised isn't a problem as long as you pay
- [Saying No Is Easier Than Saying Yes](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/saying-no-is-easier-than-saying-yes/) - It's easier for people to say no than to say yes to whatever you're asking them to do on your website. Because "no" keeps them where they are with what they know (easy, familiar). Yes means having to do something new (hard). Take you and me, right now, for example. You're reading this because you have an issue with growing your
- [There's Never the Right Time](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/theres-never-the-right-time/) - Hamilton Wallace writes about when to launch a marketing campaign, the Nike Just Do It campaign, and how to overcome fear.
- [How to Answer Any Marketing Question About Your Business](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-answer-any-marketing-question-about-your-business/) - What if you could answer any marketing question quickly, inexpensively, and accurately? This would be, well, it would be amazing if you could, right? Actually, you can. It's called SEM (Search Engine Marketing), which isn't all that amazing, especially since you've probably already tried at least part of it. But without results, which really
- [Paradoxes Make Good Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/paradoxes-make-good-marketing/) - I've been thinking a lot about the paradoxes I've encountered (and used to great effect) during my time as a small business marketing consultant. Probably the most recent: slowing down to go fast. Slowing down, that is, to: sort things out; heighten your understanding; prioritize; allow insights to slip into the open. How do I
- [A Worthwhile Read for You Small Business Marketing Fans](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-new-book-and-worthwhile-read-for-you-small-business-marketing-fans/) - Eric Ries offers an intriguing. . .or maybe obvious. . .approach to operating a startup I believe translates well into growing ANY business in today's economy called The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses. (See his talk at Microsoft Research.) His book is worth the read. The easy take-away, the important take-away,
- [Oh, how creative! But did it work?!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/oh-how-creative-but-did-it-work/) - "Hey, that's creative!" Feels pretty good to hear, doesn't it? I'm "that guy" who always asks "Yeah, but will it work?" Just because a thing is creative doesn't mean it gets results. And getting results is the goal. Sure, it needs to be visually consistent with your brand, professional, blah, blah, blah...and if it's creative
- [Human Communication Changes, Human Nature Doesn't](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/7746-2/) - Regardless of the shiny new thing you deliver your message with, from pamphlets in the 1700s to Instagram today, it can crash if you forget human nature is always at the other end. You don't need me to explain human nature, but allow me a moment to carve off the pieces of our humanness that
- [Simple, but Important](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/7738-2/) - I usually carry a little notebook for ideas and whatever else that seems worthy of remembering. I also page through them a lot and am always surprised by one thing: how simple the ideas are that for whatever reason seemed important enough at the time to stop and jot down. I'll share some here in
- [Letting Creativity In](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/letting-creativity-in/) - A really sharp young man came to me frustrated he hadn't completed a task I gave him. I had told him what I wanted but left the how-to-do-it to him. He was feeling blocked by that, I think, and couldn't make progress. Now, you should know I'm a particularly bad manager of people. But I've
- [What Will You Do With Your Inspiration Today?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-will-you-do-with-your-inspiration-today/) - You know how when you see an ad and it captivates you? It's so totally engaging you can't take your eyes off it -- you even tell other people about it?! Yeah, I know, almost never happens to me, either. :) But it did just happen to me with the latest T-Mobile flashmob "Life is
- [2019 Super Bowl Ads](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/2019-super-bowl-ads/) - Q: What's the definition of a great ad? A: One that gets results. That's it. Beautiful people, gorgeous photography, really HAPPY people, puppies, humor, celebrities, cool music, and all the rest, doesn't matter. Did it generate results? Any time you communicate with your target audience with a goal of persuading them, you need to make a
- [My Christmas Moments](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/my-christmas-moments/) - What are your favorite Christmas moments? It's a wonderful question that gets the conversation off crazy crowds, eating too much, and Uncle Lou's bad breath. I have three, actually... A good friend, one of the kindest, gentlest humans I've ever known, Steve Tyra, was Santa in the mall and at private parties every year from the
- [The Simplicity of Greatness in Small Business Marketing and Other Things](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-simplicity-of-greatness-in-marketing-and-other-things/) - ...or the greatness of simplicity. No matter. Steve Martin credits his career taking off to the moment he decided in the early 70s to quit trying to do political humor and focus on just making people laugh. Simple enough, in the era of the Vietnam War and Watergate when everybody was trying to be funny and
- [Why Doing New Things Is Hard](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/why-doing-new-things-is-hard/) - Remember learning how to feed yourself? Neither do I, but I'll bet we both do just fine now. That's how doing most new things works; we have to be bad at it until we get good at it. Which reminds me of my recent visit with my son in Denver. We were waiting for food
- [Is Your Marketing Still Circa Don Draper?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/can-we-believe-don-draper/) - Was Don right? And yes, I realize he is a fictional TV character. In the 50s he was right. Advertising (they didn't make the distinction between marketing and advertising way back then) was a mass medium designed around consumer packaged goods. Advertising's, or marketing's, job was to have you remember and feel good about a particular brand
- [You are Not Your Customer](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/you-are-not-your-customer/) - You know this. Everybody says they know this. Yet, most marketing I see suggests company leaders have forgotten. How do I know? People aren't looking for a "...best in class, end-to-end customer experience solution...". And people don't want help "Guiding interactions with smart, omni-channel visual engagement platforms." But oh, my, I can just see the
- [What Do Your Customers Think?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-do-your-customers-think/) - Imagine your top customers invite you into their planning meetings. You'd leave with a solid read on what's important to them right now. You'd hear their problems and plans, get to ask questions. I guarantee as you walked out of the room your head would be exploding with ideas to help them achieve their goals and solve problems,
- [It Had Better Work](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/it-had-better-work/) - It had better work, or: We'll need to borrow money to make payroll. We'll have to slash expenses ('burn the furniture to save the ship!'). Whatever else bad happens when you wait too long. Waiting too long to mount a marketing campaign is bad. Most new marketing needs time, budget, and refinement before it starts
- [You Never Know When Real Change Begins](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/you-never-know-when-real-change-begins/) - I was struck by that statement. As in stop-you-in-your-tracks struck. What's weird is I'm not completely certain where I heard it; probably one of the podcasts I listen to. Anyway, what's important is the idea it connected me to: Just start. Whatever it is you want to do, change, fix, whatever. Just start. Because you
- [Marketing Lessons are Everywhere; You Just Have to Look](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-lessons-are-everywhere-you-just-have-to-look/) - One of the best marketing lessons I've had in a long time happened to me in Brookings, South Dakota. We were passing through and decided to stop for a bite to eat. We had dinner at The Ram Restaurant on Main Street in Brookings, population 19,470. For the past 40 years it has more or less been THE place to
- [A Better Product Beats a Better Brochure](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-better-product-beats-a-better-brochure/) - It's too easy to change your marketing and not your product when sales slow -- to simply put a "new coat on the same old dog". Now, I happen to like old dogs. But if you haven't changed, improved, overhauled, tweaked, blown up, or otherwise monkeyed with your product in the last 12 months, well,
- [Change Your Product?!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/change-your-product/) - Starbucks does almost zero advertising. They focus on changing their product, constantly, to delight their ever-changing customers. It's too easy to change your marketing and not your product when sales slows to simply put a "new coat on the same old dog". Now, I happen to like old dogs. But if you haven't changed, improved,
- [The Magic of Message for Small Business Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-magic-of-message-for-small-business-marketing/) - I believe your message -- what you say -- is the single most important aspect of a marketing effort. More important than what something looks like, its form, or method of delivery. More important than everything. Yes, your marketing effort must look appropriate. Costco's marketing doesn't look like Tesla's, and it shouldn't. Yes, your marketing
- [Small Business Marketing...If you can't get out of it, get into it.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/small-business-marketing-if-you-cant-get-out-of-it-get-into-it/) - I was working at my computer and noticed my right-hand computer monitor starting to rock and suddenly disappear off my desk. Willie, my dog, got tangled in the cords as he circled his bed to make just the right landing for his nap before his mid-morning nap. Part of the mess I picked up
- [Lessons to Remember for a Better 2018](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/lessons-to-remember-for-a-better-2018/) - First lesson, don't pay too much attention to end-of-year lists like this one. Lessons present themselves all the time. Pay attention every day and learn the lesson that's in front of you. This beats dragging 10 out-of-context tips into the new year every time. Be a better, purer expression of your self. The answer isn't
- [Sometimes You Have to Play the Ball Where the Monkey Drops It.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/sometimes-you-have-to-play-the-ball-where-the-monkey-drops-it/) - As the story goes, they were having a monkey problem at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, the first golf course in India. Not being familiar with golf etiquette, the monkeys were picking up players' golf balls. And fences, loud noises and relocating the monkeys weren't working. The final solution: Play the ball where the monkey
- [Messy Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/messy-marketing/) - They say coaches throw out their game plans within the first 10 minutes of the game. They start adjusting to what's working and what's not. Messy? It can feel like it if you don't do it a lot. Ever tried a new recipe? Messy? It can sure feel like it, especially if you don't try
- [More Marketing Physics: Context = Relevance.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/more-marketing-physics-context-relevance/) - Remember gravity? We all know about it but rarely give it a second thought. Unless you need to tackle something important like the rocket speed required to leave our atmosphere. Context and relevance suffer this same fate, until you need to tackle something important. Like standing out in today's information avalanche. Last Wednesday I found
- [Improving Your Marketing Isn't What You Think](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/improving-your-marketing-isnt-what-you-think/) - Too many small business owners think they have to change who they are -- who their company is -- to improve their marketing. I believe the opposite is true. I believe you need to BE who you are to improve your marketing. Significant growth doesn't come from changing into something you are not. It comes
- [Hoping for a silver bullet to rescue your marketing?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/7496-2/) - I admit, the thought of a silver bullet is intriguing; especially coming from someone riding in on a white horse. Bang, problem fixed and sales soar. This scenario, though, is better suited for movies or comic books than for betting on for the future of your business. Big, sweeping solutions that immediately and dramatically change
- [In marketing, there are only so many dials...](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/in-marketing-there-are-only-so-many-dials/) - Marketing is simpler than many people like me will tell you it is. Fundamentally, there are only a few dials you can turn. They're simpler than you think they ought to be. And harder to get right than simple things should be. But if the solution you're considering isn't focused on turning one or more
- [Learning Scales, Winning Doesn't.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/learning-scales-winning-doesnt/) - Did we win? A better question to ask: what did we learn...
- [What I Learned from the Most Bizarre Marketing Strategy I've Ever Seen](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-i-learned-from-the-most-bizarre-marketing-strategy-ive-ever-seen/) - "I walk into a large group of people and start yelling positive things, affirmations, and then end with my URL." That is a marketing strategy I heard the other day.
- [Good Advice is Good Advice](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/good-advice-is-good-advice/) - If things aren't working as well as you want, "more of the same" marketing likely isn't the answer.
- [Amazon, Whole Foods and 2001 A Space Odyssey](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/amazon-whole-foods-and-2001-a-space-odyssey/) - Nobody knows the real reason Jeff Bezos bought Whole Foods. But that shouldn't stop a guy from writing about it! It's fascinating. I've heard a significant percentage of Whole Foods customers are also Amazon Prime members. If that's true Amazon now has 431 new locations close to many of their best customers. Although I feel
- [The Future According to Google and What it Means to You](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-future-according-to-google-and-what-it-means-to-you/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I watched Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, on Charlie Rose last week and can’t get the interview out of my head. Since Google by almost any measure is the most important technology company on the planet right now. Watch the interview: On Hulu if
- [Bad News for Marketing People](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/bad-news-for-marketing-people/) - Five years ago it was enough to change what you SAY about what you sell. Change the ad, more hoopla at the trade show, that sort of thing. The bad news for marketing people (consultants included): we can't so easily force people to listen today. I know, poor us! We're being forced to make actual
- [A Post a Day for a Month](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-post-a-day-for-a-month/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I have hoped my blog posts would engage visitors. Based on the number of comments and page views this isn’t the case. Okay, so I’m changing it up. A post a day for a month instead of a post every once in awhile. The
- [No CRM?  It could be costing you money!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/no-crm-it-could-be-costing-you-money/) - CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software is something almost every owner considers as they grow. The benefits are obvious (more on this below). Yet, most small businesses don't take the leap. Why? Glad you asked. I've asked James Russo, President and Founder of VantagePoint Consulting, to talk to you about why you should consider CRM. James
- [The Power of Just Starting](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-power-of-just-starting/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I’ve always been a believer is small tests over long-term planning. Get some feedback from your customers and start putting different messages or prices or offers in front of people. Measure, refine, repeat. The internet is heaven-sent for this purpose. I just returned from
- [When an Ah-Ha Moment Becomes an Uh-Oh Moment](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/when-an-ah-ha-moment-becomes-an-uh-oh-moment/) - My wife and I added a trip to a Borders Bookstore to our plan this past weekend. In case you haven't heard, Borders is downsizing closing a bunch of stores due to bankruptcy. Two closings in our area. We saw an ad promising big discounts, so, why not? We walked in, each with a couple
- [Attention All Left-Handed Single Mother Hikers](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/attention-all-left-handed-single-mother-hikers/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Just in case you need a reminding, and we all do, I’m reminding you: The more you refine your focus on a single target customer, the more successful you’ll be. Maybe suggesting a business dedicated to left-handed single mother hikers is a bit over-the-top,
- [Getting Past Your Barriers](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/getting-past-your-barriers/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I recently met Boston Carter. She calls herself a Task Coach; someone who can help you stay on track and focused on your goals. And my experience is she’s a good one. But she’s a lot more. If you’re looking for a personal or
- [The Easiest Way to Perfect](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-easiest-way-to-perfect/) - The easiest way to perfect: iterations. Start, test, refine. Repeat in short affordable steps. Learn what works and what doesn't. Amplify what works and dampen what doesn't. How long does it take? Not sure I've ever found perfect. And it doesn't matter. Things can get better in a hurry, and you don't have to get
- [Are You Changing Faster Than Your Competitors?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/are-you-changing-faster-than-your-competitors/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Remember the story about the two guys in the forest who come face-to-face with a bear? They take off running and the one guy says “Hey this is crazy, we can’t outrun a bear!” The other guy says, “I don’t have to outrun the bear, I
- [From an Ordered to a Complex World](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/from-an-ordered-to-a-complex-world/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I attended a seminar in San Jose last week by Dave Snowden about Complexity Theory and it’s taken me about a week of processing to talk about it at all. I went on a long shot but feel it will greatly inform my work
- [What Your Numbers Can Tell You](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-your-numbers-can-tell-you/) - Generally speaking, whether it's turning a website visitor into a lead or a sale, you need to be able to be profitable on small conversion rates (the percentage of website visitors you convert into leads). A decent conversion rate of website visitors into leads, for example, is two percent. As I urged in my last
- [The Hero's Journey, Storytelling and Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-heros-journey-storytelling-and-marketing/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Sony’s interesting take on The Hero’s Journey: My Story If you really want to study this, this is the book to read: Resonate, by Nancy Duarte. She worked with Steve Jobs very early and is generally given credit for his visual presentation style. I
- [Looking Forward -- Looking Back](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/looking-forward-looking-back/) - Have you been buried like I have under Top-10 lists of things learned in 2011 or things to remember for 2012? I'm a guilty party to the deluge with my last post Here's where this takes me, though: First, sure, it's worth the effort to parse through it all to find the good stuff. Second, it occurs
- ["Google is every brand's home page now."](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/google-is-every-brands-home-page-now/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] “Google is every brand’s homepage now,” said Steve Rubel, a senior vice president at Edelman Digital. If you do nothing else from reading this post, follow him. He is one of the VSPs I follow (Very Smart People). The headline, the quote, is from Steve’s
- [The YouTube President?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-youtube-president/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd8f9Zqap6U [/youtube] Every president since Roosevelt has given us a weekly address. All on radio. It’s not ironic that Obama is using YouTube for his. After all, his campaign channel had 1,823 videos posted that garnered over 19 million views. Anyone using YouTube as
- [The Marketing Plan of the Future. . .140 Characters?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-marketing-plan-of-the-future-140-characters/) - William Gibson said "The future is here, it just isn't evenly distributed." I agree. It's here. You just have to look for it. I saw a piece this morning: branding that changes as people interact with it. More on brands that morph as their customers engage with them. The bigger point: what does this mean
- [Are You the Master of Your Domain?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/are-you-the-master-of-your-domain/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] There’s a new flavor of entrepreneur emerging from the online/offline tumble we are in: the Master of Her Domain. Small business owners who can do just about everything themselves to market via their website. Versus ending up with a static site because changing it
- [Will This Be a Different Christmas for You?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/will-this-be-a-different-christmas-for-you/) - We did something with a client this year that's worth sharing with you. Instead of the traditional holiday email card with a meaningful thought we decided to ask their customers to share their favorite Christmas stories; then pick a few and share the stories back out with their customers. We were overwhelmed. With the number;
- [The New and Improved Free](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-new-and-improved-free/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] The old free, to anyone over 25, wasn’t free. There was usually a catch. The new free, to anyone under 25, is just sort of the way things are. The new free is changing marketing according to Chris Anderson (Editor of Wired magazine) in
- [Beautiful Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/beautiful-marketing/) - Have you seen demoslam by Google? It's a beautiful piece of marketing. It is a where you can rate demos people do of a variety of Google's free technology. The video below is a playlist of some of the more interesting videos people have uploaded; more interesting based on how they have been rated by
- [Welcome the first of a new kind of commercial](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/welcome-the-first-of-a-new-kind-of-commercial/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Intel does a wonderful job of demonstrating the next kind of commercial. Commercials that feature you. Outstanding marketing. http://www.intel.com/museumofme/r/index.htm [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
- [What's the Biggest Marketing Challenge Small Business Owners Face Today?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/whats-the-biggest-marketing-challenge-small-business-owners-face-today/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I have an opinion, which I’m about to share, not surprisingly. But I wonder, what’s yours? My perspective- I work with clients on all sides of “this economy.” Some are having their best years ever. Some have come through it a bit smaller, but
- [Viral Marketing & Reducing Your Carbon Footprint for Thanksgiving](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/viral-marketin/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Two things are worth note as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches: A very cool viral marketing campaign by Lands’ End. And tips to lower your carbon footprint on Thursday. Land’s End has a program that connects that old winter coat you don’t use anymore with
- [Everybody just take a breath](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/everybody-just-take-a-breath/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Every time something big comes along and starts to change things, like social media, the internet, television, radio all the way back to that trouble-maker Gutenberg and his press, people announce the death of the thing that it replaces. Or more accurately, the thing
- [3 Ways to Improve Your Marketing When the Rules Don't Work Anymore.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/3-ways-to-improve-your-marketing-when-the-rules-dont-work-anymore/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] This is a riff on a question that opened an article a client of mine, VIP Wealth Management in Palm Desert, CA, gave me as background to revising his website content. “What do you do when the rules don’t work anymore?” As a marketing
- [Marketing Choices: Truth vs. Manipulation](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-choices-truth-vs-manipulation/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] You make dozens of choices as a marketer on every campaign. All pulled by the natural tension between truth and manipulation. How innovative should we call our newest feature? How easy should we make our new user interface seem? And so on and so
- [The Best Time to Be Creative](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-best-time-to-be-creative/) - I am called into companies to when things need fixing, not when everything's fine. And my experience is it's times like these (not especially good ones) when creativity is at its highest. Don't ignore the tough times or wait for someone else to be the barer of bad news. Embrace them. Get busy and retool
- [Why I Hired a Marketing Consultant](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/why-i-hired-a-marketing-consultant/) - Yes it's true. I'm a marketing consultant and I hired a marketing consultant. It's simple, really. You see, regrettably, I don't know everything. When I take something as far as I can and I'm still not happy with the results, I look for someone a bit farther down that road than I am. Enter, Ian
- [7 Reasons Email Marketing Still Rocks](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/7-reasons-email-marketing-still-rocks/) - It's rare when a small business I'm invited into is doing a good job with email marketing. The most typical reason why: "we don't have enough email addresses to start an email marketing campaign." You have your customers' emails, right? You can start collecting email addresses from prospects that don't turn into customers, right? Then
- [Gokul Padmanabhan, Murphy Brokers, Orlando, FL](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/gokul-padmanabhan-murphy-brokers-orlando-fl/) - Marketing has always been a black hole for us. We'd put money in and never know if anything was going to come out. I've also wasted plenty of time and money on marketing consultants who simply told us what to do before we hired Hamilton. Hamilton has been my marketing coach AND helped us execute
- [Dallas Porter-Stowe, Phoenix, AZ](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/dallas-porter-stowe-phoenix-az/) - Meeting Hamilton was a transformative experience for our firm. We were referred to him by another marketing consultant and we've never looked back. Hamilton is a quick study and "got" what we were about in record time.
- [I Hate Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/i-hate-marketing/) - [et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″] [et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] I really do. I hate most of how marketing’s practiced today. Strange, I’ll admit, coming from a marketing guy, but here’s what I mean: I hate marketing that’s pushy. The signup form that pops up five seconds after I land on your site. The kitchen remodeling contractor who expects you
- [Trust Me!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/trust-me/) - Trust. Nobody will take action on your website unless they feel it. The bigger the ask (complete the form, send us an email, call) the more trust required. How do you build trust on your site? You can't say "Trust me!" on your site just like you can't say "Like me!" on your first date.
- [The Problem with Problems](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-problem-with-problems/) - The problem with problems is the solution rarely fits neatly into your world view. It's always more than that. Messier than that. It leaks out past your perception of acceptable or even possible solutions. Accountant-think is rarely the best path to a solution for an account receivable problem. Ditto for exclusively applying marketing-think to marketing
- [Simple is Important...but Not Easy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/simple-is-important-but-not-easy/) - Being a Marketing Consultant, in my successes AND failures, has taught me how important the simple things are.
- [When You Invest In Marketing, Remember What You're Buying](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/when-you-invest-in-marketing-remember-what-youre-buying/) - So you want to buy an ad and you have some choices. What will it cost? Not the ads, the leads. You're buying leads, right? You don't just want an ad, you want leads. Remember what you're buying. Should we go with the $1,850 ad or the $3,200 ad? Less risk with the cheaper ad, they said they'll
- [Selling Training](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/writing-victory/) - Learn why the president of a Fortune 500 company called the company after receiving one of our prospecting letters to book a seminar before she even knew the price.
- [Software Customer Dev](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/software-success/) - Sales had fallen significantly from a year ago for this small software developer. With no marketing plan and nobody focused on marketing, they started to scramble.
- [Contractor Lead Gen](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/contractor-conquest/) - This contractor believed they were ready for marketing help once their patent for a new material was approved. I knew they were wrong.
- [Be Curious](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/be-curious/) - Be curious. That's my best advice. For the longest time I wasn't sure why something so simple as curiousity was so powerful, but I had the experience that it was, over and over. For a very long time I have felt it as the wind in my sails (sales??) and experienced it turn work into play.
- [A Gentle Reminder of the Hardest Thing of All](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-gentle-reminder-of-the-hardest-thing-of-all/) - The hardest thing of all is listening to that little voice that's right. Right about the quality you ought to build into what you do. Or right about how to treat your customers. The next time you have 60 minutes to ponder doing the right thing, spend the first 28 minutes watching this video. My
- [Small Business Marketing Rules. . .and Your Mother](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/small-business-marketing-rules-and-your-mother/) - "Now Bill Bill. . ." my mother used to say. I always knew what came after that: the rule. Now Bill Bill, always wash your fruits and vegetables because you never know where they've been. (Hamilton is my middle name, I'm a Bill Jr. and was Bill Bill to my Dad's Bill). If you have
- [Marketing Consultants, Poetry and The Wheel of Death](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-consultants-poetry-and-the-wheel-of-death/) - All three really are related. . .and here's how: A critical goal for all marketing consultants is to create congruency in the entire customer experience we engineer for our clients (everything working together). Do this, and a sort of poetry is achieved. Which creates action and results. One of Cirque Du Soleil's newer shows, KooZa,
- [Is the Marketing Plan for Small Businesses Dead?!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/is-the-marketing-plan-for-small-businesses-dead/) - Build a web page and push 150 people through it using Google Adwords (paid search). Or send a direct mailer. Or place a small ad. Or. . .there are lots of ways to test quickly and inexpensively. No amount of research or planning replaces getting a real message in front of real prospects and gauging REAL results.
- [The Fable of the Fountain Pen. . .a Quandary Solved](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-fable-of-the-fountain-pen-a-quandary-solved/) - I received a fountain pen as a gift. Very nice, I thought. But fountain pens come with a built-in problem: they clog/dry up unless you use them every day. Which I don't. Hmm, I thought, this delicate instrument's problem must require an intricate fix. Plus, the consequence (spilled ink!!) upped the risk of getting it
- [How Do You Know When the Marketing's Right?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-do-you-know-when-the-marketings-right/) - Jony Ive, Apple's head of product design, and now in charge of their UI design (hello iOS 7!) gave an answer to a related question that puts a new clarity to the answer I'm about to give you. "How do you know when a design is right?" was the question. "When you can't imagine the product
- [Why Chase New Marketing Ideas When a Different One Will Do?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/why-chase-new-marketing-ideas-when-a-different-one-will-do/) - This is more than semantics -- new versus different -- and it's important. Yes, new is always different. Different doesn't have to be new. It just has to be different. And different is a lot easier and cheaper than new. Not easy and cheap; but certainly easier and cheaper. And this is the point of
- [ 126 Seconds to a Ph.D. in Storytelling](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/126-seconds-to-a-ph-d-in-storytelling/) - I was playing email catchup, getting to those hey-check-this-out links sent by people I follow, when I stumbled upon a video that stopped me in my tracks. I found myself on the Acumen Fund website and it looks interesting. They fight poverty in an interesting, functional way. Good for them, I think, I'll check this
- [Sell to the People Who are Buying](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/sell-to-the-people-who-are-buying/) - You've heard me say this often. If your sales are down, it doesn't mean everybody has stopped buying what you sell. Find a different channel, or different geography, and start selling there. Enter Cecilia Panichelli, an American-educated MBA who returned to her native Argentina to hang out her shingle as a marketing consultant. Two things
- [Is now the new normal?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/is-now-the-new-normal/) - Hunkered down with your marketing on hold? Waiting this thing out? Don't. Now may be the new normal, with the economy headed for a reset, not a rebound. Bummer! Reset: an economy that improves some, but does not rebound to where it was before it fell. Or so says people like Jeff Immelt of GE,
- [Your Mother Was Right](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/your-mother-was-right/) - Remember your mother nagging you to spend more time around smarter people? "Why do you spend time around __________? He isn't going anywhere!." And "Why don't you ever play with little ________, he/she is so smart?" As a marketing consultant I have a similar message for clients: Follow the smartest people in your field, and
- [Murphy-Goode gets it](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/murphy-goode-gets-it/) - If I wore a hat I'd take it off to Murphy-Goode winery for the innovative, no, actually, the obvious approach they're taking to hire a director of social media. Basically: create a 60-video telling them why they should hire you to launch their social media effort. In addition to people like me knowing about it
- [Smart Viral Campaign by Blue Man Group and funnyordie.com](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/smart-viral-campaign-by-blue-man-group-and-funnyordiecom/) - First, the disclaimer: I'm a huge Blue Man Group fan. That said, as a small business marketing consultant I'm curious about all things marketing. So, when I received an email from BMG with a link to their new video on funnyordie.com, I clicked through to watch. Funny video. Then I noticed an ad on the
- [Super Bowl Ads Preview ](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/super-bowl-ads-preview/) - This time every year I get excited about the Super Bowl. The commercials, not the game. You might expect it, coming from a marketing consultant. Interesting facts: For the first time in a long time a beer company is not the largest SB advertiser. Pepsi takes first place with 5.5 minutes. Anheuser-Busch is second with
- [Doing the Right Thing is Always the Right Thing to Do.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/doing-the-right-thing-is-always-the-right-thing-to-do/) - If you position your product as a quality product it needs to be a quality product. And when it isn't, you need to replace it, make it right or otherwise act like your product is a quality product. I own three pairs of Ecco shoes. They are comfortable walking shoes that don't make you look
- [ Oh My Head Hurts When I Read This Copy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/oh-my-head-hurts-when-i-read-this-copy/) - This, my friends, is copy that makes the head hurt: "(Company name withheld) is the premier Lean consulting company that assures a robust and sustainable implementation strategy for global corporations. (Company name withheld) accomplishes sustainable implementation through the development of the internal structure for deployment and then enables the workforce, at all levels, to maintain
- [Recession-Proof Marketing Tip: Go Small.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/recession-proof-marketing-tip/) - As a small business marketing consultant business owners hire me, typically, when things are bad. So, pardon me when I don't get too nervous about tough times. Here's a tip you can use to increase sales and improve your marketing today: Go small. Here's what I mean. PF Chang's is an upscale Asian food restaurant.
- [When Failing Can Be Good for Your Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/when-failing-can-be-good-for-your-marketing/) - You have to be willing (and comfortable) being wrong to be right. Take it from an expert. At being wrong, that is. Being wrong is simply the early stages of being right. But to make this true you must do the following: Move forward with small tests or experiments. Some small business owners hear words
- [Are You Lazy?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/are-you-lazy/) - Of course you aren't lazy. Up early, hard-working, all that. Right? But what about your marketing? Lazy message, lazy execution, lazy follow-up? Lazy Message Buzz words are lazy. It's a lot easier to throw down some of them than accurately and persuasively engaging the reader or listener or viewer. Which, is your job. Check this
- [5 Questions Along the Path to Better Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/5-questions-along-the-path-to-better-marketing/) - Getting clear on just a few things will make your search for marketing answers go faster and turn out better. What's Wrong? Think about ALL the pieces of your marketing when you ask this question because it's easy to miss the real problem. "Website leads need to grow, we need more traffic!" Sounds reasonable and
- [Please, forget about the box!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/please-forget-about-the-box/) - Stop worrying about whether you are thinking in or outside the box! And start executing!! Without execution, an idea is little better than an empty box. Pick an idea, think it through. Yes, ideas are important. Just don't get hung up on how wonderful and polished an idea has to be before you try it.
- [A Race to the Bottom](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-race-to-the-bottom/) - Something Seth Godin said in a recent post jumped out at me. It reminded me of the choices we make as marketers; choices that range from supporting customers to tricking them. He was helping a friend set up a new computer. You've been there; all the vendors that paid the computer manufacturer for a shot
- [Surprise!  The internet made you a commodity -- and what to do about it.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/surprise-the-internet-made-you-a-commodity-and-what-to-do-about-it/) - Nobody likes to be called a commodity. To quote my best first grade pal, Dougy, "I know you are but what am I?!" Yes, the truth is both of us, you and I, are commodities, and we have the internet to blame. To be precise, we have online search to blame. And search is
- [The End of Marketing is Near](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-end-of-marketing-is-near/) - The end of marketing is near. Yes, the end of marketing absolutely is near. But that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world if you know why and what to do about it. The marketing that’s dying (ending) is the marketing that builds a façade around the company and what it sells, and accomplishes
- [A Marketing Consultant's Job](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-marketing-consultants-job/) - This one is for all the marketing consultants who make it to my site. Many of you ask me a lot of questions; from what it takes to be a marketing consultant and how I prospect, to how I set my fees. Others are concerned they may not know enough about marketing to be a
- [Consultant Track: Helping Clients Improve Website Performance](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/consultant-track-helping-clients-improve-website-performance/) - If you're a marketing consultant working today clients are asking you to improve their website's performance. To me, improve = increasing the number of leads and sales their website produces. As opposed to a re-design. You may use some great tools to evaluate what's happening on a client's website. I'm recommending one in this post
- [Jonathan Clark, Phoenix, AZ](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/jonathan-clark-phoenix-az/) - We hired Hamilton after nine months of trying (and not succeeding) at doing our own marketing. It was the best business decision I've ever made. I know he likes to say not to expect a a home run on the first swing, but he certainly hit one for us. The very first mailing worked and
- [Small Business Marketing -- Gangnam Style!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/small-business-marketing-gangnam-style/) - You should be curious about the first video to break the 1 billion views mark on YouTube. When it does it in five months, you should dig to find something to learn. Okay, so 'you're welcome,' because I'm about to do it for you. The video I'm talking about is Gangnam Style by Psy. Psy
- [Chris Jones, Owner, CDC Pool Remodeling, Chandler, AZ](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/chris-jones-owner-cdc-pool-remodeling-chandler-az/) - Just hire Hamilton and do what he says. When things stop working, fire him. We hired him in 2000 and are still using him.
- [Vance Boucher, VIP Wealth Management, Palm Desert, CA](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/vance-boucher-vip-investor-services-palm-desert-ca/) - Hiring Hamilton helped us finally project the feeling of what it is like to do business with us.
- [Extra Charges that don't fit into boxes - $500 per unit](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/extra-charges-that-dont-fit-into-boxes-500-per-unit/) - Extra Charges that don't fit into boxes - $500 per unit These are charges which I'll ask you to pay when you contract me for work. Example Search Marketing, or additional charges for any of the services that I offer. You can buy one unit, or more based on what we agree and pay from
- [Website Audit & Improvement - $1750](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/website-audit-improvement-1750/) - Website Audit & Improvement - $1750 I focus on how a website performs — how many leads or sales it generates — not how it looks. Which should be good news if you finally have a professional looking website and are wondering why it still isn’t generating leads or sales. [wp_cart:Website Audit & Improvement -
- [Marketing Check-up starts $ 2500](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-check-up-starts-2500/) - Marketing Check-up starts $ 2500 This is a three-week process designed to uncover what about your marketing is working, what’s not, give you a sense of what your customers are thinking and, from all this, create a path forward. This is not a full-blown marketing plan that looks out 12 months with multiple strategies and
- [Virtual Director of Marketing - $1500](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/virtual-director-of-marketing-1500/) - Virtual Director of Marketing - $1500 You are buying 10 hours of my time each month. We meet weekly at an agreed upon day and time via net meeting. You can see me and my computer screen (at right). We typically spend 45 minutes together; addressing your concerns and/or working through a process of discovery,
- [James Russo, Consultant- Salesforce Implementation, Long Island, NY  ](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/james-russo-consultant-salesforce-implementation/) - Hamilton first managed and then taught me to run my Adwords Campaign. At one point I had so many leads from it that I had to pause it. I ran of out of resources to handle it.
- [Are 8 steps to small business marketing success better than 7 steps?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/are-8-steps-to-small-business-marketing-success-better-than-7-steps-to-small-business-marketing-success/) - Google "steps to small business marketing success" and you'll find the number seven is the preferred number of steps to small business success. But aren't you just looking for just one? The right one. That single step that pushes you through whatever's holding you back and gets your voice heard. How to find that right step- Understand
- [What Does Your Marketing Say About You?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-does-your-marketing-say-about-you/) - One of the biggest mistakes small businesses make with their marketing is trying to say too much. It's death by a thousand cuts (sorry). The business starts out with a simple, accurate, authentic message: superior engineering, for example. (The knife on the right.) Then as the company and its competition grow, the message grows: superior
- [12 Ways to Improve Your Marketing, Attract More Customers + Increase Sales ](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/12-ways-to-improve-your-marketing-attract-more-customers-increase-sales/) - Because 12-12-12 doesn't happen very often, here goes, 12 ways to improve your marketing by attracting more new customers and increasing sales. 1. Ask Your Customers How can you improve customer service? How can you sell more to current customers? What additional services or products make sense to add? What weaknesses should you commit to
- [Toward Better Marketing: A Customer Mission Statement](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/toward-better-marketing-a-customer-mission-statement/) - I'm not a big fan of mission statements for small businesses. They're fine, they just don't make much of a difference. I was, however, intrigued by Michael Schrage's book "Who do you want your customers to become?" A good book and a short read. He suggests companies also develop a customer mission statement. A mission
- [Dear 2013: A Word About My Marketing. . .](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/dear-2013-a-word-about-my-marketing/) - Dear 2013, 2012 was just fine, but I really need 2013 to be better than just fine. So here's what you can expect from me, in no particular order: I'm going to be in a hurry. So it needs to be okay that we fail, and fail often. But no worries, we'll fail small, and
- [Best New Marketing Idea Ever, Guaranteed and Free](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/best-new-marketing-idea-ever-guaranteed-and-free/) - Let's see. . .what else could I have thrown into my headline. . .? Organic? Instant download? This post is about getting people's attention. A quick glance through my Twitter or G+ or StumbleUpon accounts gets my head hurting. Otherwise reasonable people and competent companies vying for my attention with a crazy arms race of
- [Improve Your Marketing: Ask Your Customers](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/improve-your-marketing-ask-your-customers/) - I've learned a lot as a marketing consultant; I've been at this a loooooong time. One of the most important things I've learned: ask your customers and virtually any decision you make will be a better one. Let the people who will or won't ultimately buy what you want to sell inform what you say
- [Plan A Little, Test A Lot](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/plan-a-little-test-a-lot/) - Google doesn't have a lot of planning meetings. Or at least the ones they have don't last long. They evaluate a new plan or strategy quickly, instead of slowly and methodically. If they feel it has merit, they test. A lot. They test their way to the right strategy. So should you. Sure, this flies
- [How to Increase Website Conversions](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-increase-website-conversions/) - Simplify, simplify, simplify. No, I'm not a Kung Fu Master, I'm a marketing consultant. The advice holds, however, for both I suppose. Simplify your martial arts technique and you'll get better. Simplify your website and you'll get better results: more conversions of visitors into inquiries. If you do this type of work you know what
- [Marketing Lessons from March Madness](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-lessons-from-march-madness/) - March is always exciting for this marketing consultant. It reminds me how far enthusiasm, hard work and belief in yourself can take you, whether in life, sports or marketing. March hosts the college basketball championships. And no March would be complete for me without recalling the most dynamic motivational speech I have been on the
- [Marketing Lessons Learned in 2011 ](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-lessons-learned-in-2011/) - I've learned a lot in 2011 about marketing and persuasion. From every direction -- clients, my work for clients and from everything in between. Looking back, here are the things I've learned that will make what I do in 2012 better- Message, what you say about what you sell, is more important than ever. There's always
- [The Death of Feature, Function, Benefit Selling](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-death-of-feature-function-benefit-selling/) - IBM spent three solid months teaching us young, starry-eyed recruits feature, function, benefit selling waaaay back in 1976. It was leading edge then. But so were a lot of things you wouldn't be caught dead doing now (Streaking anyone? The first Rocky movie? Starsky & Hutch???). The real joke with FFB selling: it was old
- [Thank You, Steve](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/thank-you-steve/) - Thank you for your inspiration. I have paused to ask myself "What would Steve Jobs do in this situation?" many times. Each time it reminded me to push for something great, to challenge the traditional approach. Thank you for illuminating The User Experience. Before Jobs, the box didn't really matter. A product was the measure
- [7 Reasons Storytelling Rocks](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/7-reasons-storytelling-rocks/) - Storytelling is an idea you're hearing tied to marketing and business success more and more lately. The idea I've been talking about for years. In the context of marketing and business success storytelling really does rock. Here are seven reasons why: 1. Storytelling is part of our DNA. Before books we told each other stories.
- [My Marketing Church](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/my-marketing-church/) - Yesterday was Sunday and I went to church; my marketing church. Ikea. If by church you mean a place you go to reflect and be reminded of all the things you aspire to. This sign in the Ikea cafe caught my attention. Take a moment to read it. How do you communicate your positioning, your
- [The 70s Revisited -- Turning Points](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-70s-revisited-turning-points/) - I had a wonderful moment of reflection on a recent Friday evening. I went to a Jethro Tull concert celebrating their 40th Anniversary of Aqualung, an album they made in 1971. Almost 40 years to the month after I went to a Jethro Tull concert to hear their new album, Aqualung. If you're under 50 you'll
- [What Google Plus Teaches About Small Business Marketing Success](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-google-plus-teaches-about-small-business-marketing-success/) - I've been playing with Google Plus for a week or so and have taken to it quickly. I use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and FriendFeed. Sort of. I'm there because I need to understand them for my business and my clients' businesses. But must admit to not feeling "at home" anywhere. So, why has G+ engaged
- [Is Your Small Business Marketing More of a Vending Machine or Banquet?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/is-your-small-business-marketing-more-of-a-vending-machine-or-banquet/) - Walk up to a vending machine and you don't get a particularly engaging experience. Walk into a banquet and just the opposite is true. Most banquets are memorable. You don't remember a vending machine. A banquet is interesting, a vending machine is boring. Where does your small business marketing fall in the vending machine
- [My take in USA Today on the AmEx/Facebook deal ](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/my-take-in-usa-today-in-the-amexfacebook-deal/) - I was interviewed for a USA Today article about a promotion by American Express and Facebook. Basically, for every few thousand dollars you charge on your AmEx card you receive $50 worth of ads on Facebook. The promo is designed to give small business owners another reason to use their AmEx cards. Fair enough. There's
- [Nike Had It Right](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/nike-had-it-right/) - You remember the "Just Do It" Nike campaign. Their basic message was just start. Exercising, running, whatever. Just start. Just do it. I would add. . .just start: a search marketing campaign; an effort to push your website conversion rate up; a customer listening campaign. Just start. I would also add Just Iterate. Put it out
- [A Brief Lesson on Advertising](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-brief-lesson-on-advertising/) - Driving home from errands this Saturday morning I passed these two garage sale signs. Within about 30 seconds of each other. I was struck with how different they are. The white one: clear, readable, "professional." But a bit sterile, isn't it? The blue one: a bit harder to read, maybe;
- [How to Listen to Your Market Using Google Adwords](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-listen-to-your-market-using-google-adwords/) - "Oh, we tried Google Adwords, spent a lot of money, saw no results and stopped the campaign. Adwords doesn't work." I hear this almost every week. Silence (no leads or sales) from an Adwords campaign should tell you something isn't working; and that something isn't Adwords. An Adwords campaign is your ear to the ground. Silence?
- [Now is More Important Than It's Ever Been](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/now-is-more-important-than-its-ever-been/) - I was struck by a post by Thomas Baekdal, one of the very smart guys I follow (and you should too). His point is publishers and media companies should get past the limitation of prime time or a publishing schedule. That is, allowing access to media on their schedule. As opposed to, well, now. He
- [The Yoeman's Road to Fame and Fortune](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-yoemans-road-to-fame-and-fortune/) - If you're in business for yourself one of the things motivating you is the desire to . . .however you would describe it . . .crush it, hit it out of the park, strike gold. Otherwise hit upon something that makes you more money than you imagined and even a little famous. It seems to
- [Emerson 'Then' and Now](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/emerson-then-and-now/) - Remember those classic books you were supposed to read and digest in school? I know, I don't remember most of them either. One I do is Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Not because I read and digested it, I didn't. But because Emerson was this cool guy who went off into the woods to write.
- [The Reality of Small Business Marketing in May of 2011](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-reality-of-small-business-marketing-in-may-of-2011/) - Not that many years ago if sales needed boosting you called your ad agency and they got to work on a bigger ad, new brochure, re-designed trade show booth, whatever. THEY did the work. It was “on THEM.” Today it’s on you. A firm like mine can (and should) help. But the world has changed.
- [Everybody Needs a Little Brain Washing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/everybody-needs-a-little-brain-washing/) - No, not the bad kind. The cleansing-clearing-out-the-confusion kind. As practiced by Merlin Mann and as appreciated by me. In this case. I hope you have a handful of people (even one will do) who you talk to or read or watch who offer you clarity. Or who make your brain explode. Merlin Mann is one
- [How Do You Measure Success?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-do-you-measure-success/) - How do you measure progress, success, forward movement, a good week? In today's increasingly complex environment, start looking to different measures to show the path forward. Ohmygod sales are down! Does this mean you blew it? Problems with quality, service, competition? Or does this signal something more fundamental, less about how you execute and
- [Look Out, But Also Look In](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/look-out-but-also-look-in/) - I read an article in WIRED Magazine titled "Mind Reading" about a new market research technique. There is ALWAYS a new market research technique or, said another way, a new way to look outward. Which makes me wonder why more focus isn't given to the opposite of always chasing the next new market research technique?
- [Oh, we tried that and it doesn't work.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/oh-we-tried-that-and-it-doesnt-work/) - I heard this again this morning. This owner had tried Google Adwords -- had someone helping her -- and she "spent a fortune and didn't get a single phone call." I'm a marketing consultant. Owners bring me in when things aren't working. So I hear "Oh, we tried __________ and it doesn't work." A lot.
- [Mistakes Pave the Way to Success](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/mistakes-pave-the-way-to-success/) - You've certainly heard me say this many different ways. Fail fast, fail small and fail often. More recently: just start. Almost a "Ready, Fire, Aim" approach, where firing (testing) lets you improve your aim (at a moving target!). Once again Seth Godin has said it more eloquently than I could (damn you Seth Godin!!) in his post
- [All you need is. . .that next thing.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/all-you-need-is-that-next-thing/) - I've been at this awhile and have seen lots of next things. The thing about next things is you have to have a few important fundamental things handled to have a shot at that next thing working for you. Those things: message; and story. Story is the thing that stops them. Message lets people quickly
- [Sometimes you have to just do the work](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/sometimes-you-have-to-just-do-the-work/) - A long time ago there was a farmer who was struggling with his garden. He tried everything he could think of without success. Determined, he sought out the advice of a wizard. He explained his situation. After reflection the wizard gave the farmer a pouch with this instruction: sprinkle a little of this magic dust
- [The Case for a No-Risk Trial](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-case-for-a-no-risk-trial/) - Remember the "puppy dog close?" I can see you're interested in that brown puppy. Why don't you take her home for a few days, if you like her, buy her. You may not be old enough to have heard it called that. Are you old enough to have downloaded a software free trial? What piece
- [A Social Media tip you won't hear anywhere else](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-social-media-tip-you-wont-hear-anywhere-else/) - I have to thank David Sr., as he's called at the company he owns with his son, David Jr., for this social media tip. They manufacture big pumps and mixers for general construction, which, in Arizona, has been an industry on its back (to put it mildly). I'm their "marketing guy." I hadn't been around
- [How to Annoy People with Your Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-annoy-people-with-your-marketing/) - As a marketing consultant I pay attention to marketing and am easily annoyed. How about you? Here are four things that annoy me. . .and likely everybody else on the planet- Instant pop-ups Those things that grey out the rest of the page, pop up six seconds after you land on the page and ask
- [What Do We Do To Our Best Customers?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-do-we-do-to-our-best-customers/) - A better question to ask: What should we do FOR our best customers? Think about the companies for which you are a great customer. Been with them a long time, always pay on time, don't require much hand-holding. The sad thing is, for most of us, we're forgotten. Sad thing, that is, for the companies
- [Making the Simple Complex -- A Small Business Marketing Lesson](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/making-the-simple-complex/) - I work with a lot of people who are very smart about a lot of things. Many of whom who bump up against the marketing of their product or service and stop. Why? I believe it's because they assume that marketing must be complex if they don't know how to do it. After all, you're
- [Hamilton's Excellent Google Adventure](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/hamiltons-excellent-google-adventure/) - I visited the GooglePlex last week in Mountain View. I was in San Francisco for an unrelated training and arranged for a tour and meetings with some of their Adwords people. Here are my impressions, in no particular order- Google is in very good hands. Smart, committed people--and lots of them--are totally engaged in what
- [It's a Numbers Game - Know Your Numbers](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/its-a-numbers-game-know-your-numbers/) - Marketing is, at its core, a numbers game, and we all would do well to remind ourselves of this from time to time. Let's take a quick look at your website. Can you be profitable converting 2% of your traffic into leads, given your current closing rate and gross profit? How much website traffic do
- [Story, Voice--Whatever You Call it, You Need to Find it.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/story-voice-whatever-you-call-it-you-need-to-find-it/) - I always enjoy Seth Godin's blog posts. Today's, Find your voice, struck a chord with me. Godin calls it voice; find your voice, that thing that makes you different, not simply "those things" that seem to be hot right now, and communicate that. I call it story. Find your story--the thing or things you can
- [A New Way to Market Cars](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-new-way-to-market-cars/) - Tesla, the super-cool electric car company, is opening stores, not dealerships. Their stated goal: to bring a smile to every owner's face. Not "move X units per month." Which is reflected in the experience they are creating. It's easy to dismiss their innovation: new car; sold-out production; etc. But don't. On the road to opening
- [Keep Shooting!!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/keep-shooting-2/) - It was during a timeout late in the basketball game. Coach grabbed me by the jersey and yelled above the crowd, "And you, Wallace, dammit, KEEP SHOOTING!" After I had missed my last few jump shoots (after what seemed like a million misses!). What the coach meant was don't be afraid to miss, especially after
- [Small Business Marketing Realities for 2011 ](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/small-business-marketing-realities-for-2011/) - We're not in Kansas anymore. . .for those of you old enough to have seen The Wizard of Oz. We're into "this economy," whatever this is, far enough that we all know at least we'll survive it. The point is, what to do now? About our marketing, selling to existing customers, finding new ones and
- [Maybe You Don't Need to Hire a Marketing Consultant](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/maybe-you-dont-need-to-hire-a-marketing-consultant/) - Or. . .how to tap into the genius swirling around you! A famous film director famously said "forget film school." If you want to learn to direct movies, rent DVDs and watch the directors' commentaries, "It's all there." And while not literally true, you get his point. Chris Anderson, TED curator and WIRED Magazine Editor,
- [Are You Doing Enough to Be Heard and Understood?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/are-you-doing-enough-to-be-heard-and-understood/) - I was reminded (twice!) this weekend of how important it is to do the work. Do. The. Work. Why- There's a common mistake in small business marketing I see made a lot when gauging the level of engagement needed to effectively introduce a new product or communicate anything new about what you sell. The mistake:
- [Truth!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/truth/) - Actually, I'm not talking about that kind of truth. No sermons here. This isn't a truth-versus-lying thing. It's a truth-versus-being-lazy thing. Discovering the truth about what makes you unique and communicating that. Versus hollow buzzwords. Buzzwords are lazy. Any idiot can lob buzzwords out there. People use buzzwords because they didn't make the effort to
- [Why You Should Watch Infomercials](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/why-you-should-watch-infomercials/) - Yes, tall order. You'd rather stick your hand in boiling water. But hey, car companies crash their cars to learn about safety. Think of it as a marketing crash test (some might say train wreck) you can learn from. Luckily, you don't have to actually watch an infomercial. Just read my post instead. Because there
- [Human Communication Changes, Human Nature Doesn't](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/human-communication-changes-human-nature-doesnt/) - Here's the quandary. . . We always chase the next big thing. That new way our customers and prospects consume information. Yesterday we focused on email and websites. Today it's Twitter and the rest of the social media sphere. That's fine. We need to be where our customers are, which always changes. But human nature
- [#1 Marketing Advice: Ask Your Customers](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/1-marketing-advice-ask-your-customers/) - I enjoy asking people what their number one piece of advice is for their area of specialty. I always touch a spark in the person I ask and I ALWAYS get invaluable advice. Q- What's the one thing you've learned being a supermarket butcher a smart customer should know? A- Never buy ground beef. Find
- [Beware of the Painfully Obvious](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/beware-of-the-painfully-obvious/) - I was literally left with my mouth open by an article in the latest edition of Fortune Magazine. It was about American Express' new, innovative approach to improve customer service: first, ask your customer service employees how you can improve customer service; then use some of their ideas, give them a better working environment, higher
- [Choose Your Customers Wisely](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/choose-your-customers-wisely/) - Wait a second, don't customers choose us? Well, the answer is yes and no (spoken like a true consultant!). Yes, they choose us in terms of if and when they buy. No, we choose them in terms of how we approach our marketing. So, choose wisely. We choose our customers by the price we charge,
- [How to Make Better Promises](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-make-better-promises/) - Promise too much and you risk angering people when you don't meet their expectations. Or they simply won't believe your bullshit. Promise too little and you risk not getting noticed at all. One of Seth Godin's recent posts inspired this one, "The paradox of promises in the age of word of mouth." He talks about
- [A Marketing Home Run - the Old Spice Guy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-marketing-home-run-the-old-spice-guy/) - The Old Spice guy advertising campaign has all the signs of being a real success, at least to this marketing consultant. And, lots of good lessons for small business: its message is on-target; its message is simple; it pounds away at the message; it's funny/clever/interesting, but not so much that the message gets lost; and
- [5 Tools That Improve Your Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/5-tools-that-improve-your-marketing/) - There is a new type of entrepreneur emerging: an owner who is the master of his or her "domain." That is, someone who can do just about everything you need to do to attract traffic, engage people wherever they may be and convert them into customers. So, instead of doing things for clients, more and
- [How to create a customer for life](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-create-a-customer-for-life/) - Sometimes when things go wrong with a customer our first instinct is to run and hide. Sure, we'll try to make things right, but it's a bit like handling a dead fish, we want to just hold our nose and be done with it as soon as possible. Thankfully, not Headsets Direct, a company that
- [Keep Shooting!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/keep-shooting/) - Phoenix Suns basketball coach Alvin Gentry gave his bench players (the second string) some great advice that has paid off. Good advice, actually, for all of us. Especially in this economy. His message: "Keep shooting!" I won't take you out of the game because you're missing shots. I will, however, sit you down if you
- [-fill in the blank- Changes Everything!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/changes-everything/) - As a marketing consultant I feel obligated to keep up with how people communicate, the digital realm, cool new stuff, etc. And I get tired of hearing about the next big thing which will change everything. Well, now I'm doing it. Apple's iPad debuted a month or so ago and will go on sale this
- [Another Arrow in Your Marketing Quiver](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/another-arrow-in-your-marketing-quiver/) - As a marketing consultant I'm always looking for ways to make how I spend probably 60% of my life -- generating website traffic and converting visitors into leads -- a little more effective. One tool I've used for years is Google's Webmaster Tools (WT). It's free (of course). And, as of a couple weeks ago,
- [10,000 Fire Flies](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/10000-fire-flies/) - On the airplane coming home from a fund raising event I thought about one of my favorite Walt Disney stories. Couldn't get it out of my head. I'll get to why in a moment. . .first, the story. . . They were weeks away from opening Walt Disney World in Florida and Walt was making
- [Engage!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/engage/) - No, I'm not a Trekkie marketing consultant. And I prefer Captain Kirk to Picard if you must know (old school). But what better way to help you remember to engage, people that is, and early, than with the help of Jean-Luc: Okay: Engage. People. Early. In their decision cycle. Engagement comes two ways: From how
- [The Path to Better Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-path-to-better-marketing/) - I can't tell you exactly what to do to improve your marketing without knowing the specifics of your situation. But I can describe the fundamental stepping stones of the path to better marketing. This list and related advice is the product of what I've seen hold business owners back and what we've learned as a
- [Marketing quandary: People change, but human nature doesn't.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-quandary-people-change-but-human-nature-doesnt/) - Here's the quandary. . . We always chase the next big thing. That new way our customers and prospects consume information. Yesterday we focused on email and websites. Today it's Twitter and the rest of the social media sphere. That's fine. We need to be where our customers are, which always changes. But human nature
- [Can Commission Software Increase Sales?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/can-commission-software-increase-sales/) - Stephen Flaum is co-owner of Flaum Techologies and the author of this post. He developed CommissionCalc, an innovative sales commission software that automates complex commission plans. I asked Steve to share his ideas because, as you'll see, he has some interesting marketing insights as he reminds us that commission plans ought to motivate salespeople, not
- [Your Product Version 8.0 Doesn't Have a Chance if Your Marketing's Still 2.0](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/your-product-version-8-0-doesnt-have-a-chance-if-your-marketings-still-2-0/) - Attention software developers. . .and everybody else. After all the tough sledding you've done to get the product where it is, your marketing needs to live up to it. Your Marketing 2.0 does a disservice to your Software 8.0. The reality: your marketing is indistinguishable from your product or service until the the demo is
- [Are You a No-Show or Rock Star on the New Marketing Stage?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/are-you-a-no-show-or-rock-star-on-the-new-marketing-stage/) - The main stage -- the space we practice our craft on -- is changing for marketers. Old: the brochure, trade show booth, 30-second TV spot, magazine ad or face-to-face sales call. New: the computer screen. So how do you become a rock star on the new marketing stage? First, show up on the computer screen
- [Super Bowl Commercials](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/super-bowl-commercials/) - How about that, I watched this year's Super Bowl like I always do, for the ads, and they threw in a terrific football game as a bonus. Extra bonus: The Who (Hey, old guys can still rock!!). The story this year: storytelling. Or, more specifically, a few great ads found their way into the normal
- [Great New 2010 Strategies: Fail -- Break Your Marketing!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/great-new-2010-strategies-fail-break-your-marketing/) - I've been thinking a lot lately about failing. No, I'm not off my meds or anything like that. Then I saw a blog post by Seth Godin (big-deal marketing guy) about breaking your marketing to make it better. And it all started to come together for me. . . The intersection of failing and breaking
- [Save Me Money and I'll Buy from You!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/save-me-money-and-ill-buy-from-you/) - Right now, people want to know how what you sell can save them money. Your marketing message needs to demonstrate this head-on. Period. I don't mean price. I mean saving money. I mean creating value that far exceeds the price of what you sell. Cisco introduced Telepresence about a year ago: meeting rooms that include
- [The 7 Deadly Marketing Sins of 2009](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-7-deadly-marketing-sins-of-2009/) - Our job as marketers is to grow sales. Regardless of the environment we face. The choices we make either work or they don't. Two thousand nine has been a challenge for many of us. Here are seven marketing sins I've seen small business owners commit in their attempts to improve sales in a tough economy.
- [Good Marketing Beats Clever Marketing Every Time](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/good-marketing-beats-clever-marketing-every-time/) - "It's time for a new ad" the company honcho tells her agency. "Great," the agency says. The result more often than not is Miller Lite's "Triple Hops Brewed for a clean taste and aroma!" campaign. Wow, finally, a light beer that's triple hops brewed; I've been wanting a cleaner taste and aroma. Screw this post,
- [Three Things That Don't Suck About an Economy That Does](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/three-things-that-dont-suck-about-an-economy-that-does/) - For most businesses the economy, well, sucks. But that's not all bad. Certainly not for marketing consultants. :) In fact, there are three good things that normally accompany slowdowns: it shows us our weaknesses and forces us to get better; it gives us the time to fix things; and it thins the herd. Our Weaknesses
- [Transparency as a Marketing Strategy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/transparency-as-a-marketing-strategy/) - In 1993 Peter Steiner created this cartoon. It quickly became an icon for our understanding of the internet back then: this amazing, anonymous place where you can create whatever you want to create. Where nobody knows you're a dog! As a marketing consultant then, I was reminding people to include their domain name on everything they print.
- [New Microsoft Store is Smart Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/new-microsoft-store-is-smart-marketing/) - I judge the Microsoft store a success after hanging out at the grand opening of their Scottsdale store a few days ago (pics below). You can play with dozens of the latest desktops, laptops and netbooks, see every conceivable monitor, satisfy your ZuneHD lust, talk to the experts at the Apple Genius Bar ripoff, play
- [The Amazing Secret Behind All Those Amazing Secrets](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-amazing-secret-behind-all-those-amazing-secrets/) - The amazing secret behind all those amazing secrets is this. When you see headlines like "5 Secrets to Better ________," or "The Secret Behind ____________," or "The Secret to Saving Money _________s Don't Want You to Know," you should hear: I'm lazy, I think you're stupid and I'm about to sell you something. . .most
- [Marketing Secret: Be Like Madonna. . .really!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-secret-be-like-madonna-really/) - In the music world it's obvious. No artist would dream of trying to sell a song today that sounds like something they recorded 10 years ago. Madonna is the poster child for changing your product. Love her or hate her, she's reinvented herself and her music time after time to meet a changing marketplace. And
- [Always Give the Customer a Sharp Knife](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/always-give-the-customer-a-sharp-knife/) - The manager of a restaurant I waitered at in college taught me a great marketing lesson: "We do a lot to make sure our steaks are tender, but the most important thing we do is always give the customer a sharp knife. The sharper the knife, the more tender the steak!" That lesson comes back
- [Pigs, Lipstick, GM & Your Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/pigs-lipstick-gm-your-marketing/) - You've heard the old saying "you can't put lipstick on a pig." If sales are slipping, as you focus on changing your marketing -- the amount of lipstick to use and the color -- remember to include your product on your list of possible things to change. It just may have turned into a pig
- [Innovation Reality Check: Baby Steps?!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/innovation-reality-check-baby-steps/) - The toughest times often see the most innovation, especially in marketing. For a variety of reasons. With sales slipping many companies are open to more risk because they feel they have less to lose. People lose their jobs and get to work on "that idea" they had in the drawer. Etc., etc. So where does
- [Channeling Don Draper](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/channeling-don-draper/) - "I sell products, I don't sell advertising." So says Don Draper to Duc (Duck?) Phillips as they discuss the direction of the ad agency on Mad Men. I agree with Don. And yes, I know it's not real, it's a TV show. That still doesn't stop me from wanting a martini and Lucky Strike (unfiltered!)
- [Speed, good.  Slow, bad.  Not so fast!!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/speed-good-slow-bad-not-so-fast/) - God's speed. He's a fast learner; a quick study. Sadly, their little Timmy's a slow child. Internet speed! And the holy grail: real time. There's a ton of baggage around the idea of "speed." You don't have to look at your marketing, it's in our DNA: Old High German spuot prosperity, speed; Old English spōwan
- [GM to sell new cars on eBay. . .and You](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/gm-to-sell-new-cars-on-ebay-and-you/) - A few things about this announcement get my marketing consultant muscles flexing: No, I don't think there will be any bargains on GM cars on eBay. No $40K cars bought with your winning bid of $18K. Whether they were forced into innovating as so many companies find themselves isn't the point. (Staring into the abyss
- [Boost Email Readership These 3 Ways](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/boost-email-readership-these-3-ways/) - Every marketing consultant worth their salt are telling clients to communicate, communicate, communicate. And email (email marketing) is still the preferred method by which people do that. But (small problem) the trick is not sending email, but getting your email read. Which primarily rests on the shoulders of your subject line and in the first
- [Marketing is Simple, Not Easy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-is-simple-not-easy/) - Smart people invite me into their companies all the time. They've done things I could never do--build a product, patent a process. And they're blocked by some aspect of their marketing. In the process of pushing for a solution they often gravitate down a more complex path, setting up more layers between where they are
- [Blame Canada!?  No, blame the internet!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/blame-canada-no-blame-the-internet/) - James Chartrand has a great post today on Copyblogger where he blames Canada for the new level of niceness and politeness that has overtaken the internet. It's a fun read with a worthwhile message. Actually, the new level of civility--think the opposite of Billy May yelling at you on television--is a result of the democratization
- [I Hate Billy Mays](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/i-hate-billy-mays/) - (Update on 6-28-09 -- Today Billy Mays was found dead in his Florida home. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.) You know, the guy on TV who yells at you as he sells those amazing products that are NOT AVAILABLE IN STORES! It started with that silly shammy (But they
- [8 Lessons Learned from my 1st Million Emails](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/remember-email-marketing-8-ways-to-improve-it/) - I contributed to an online article this June for BusinessWeek on email! The reporter used bits and pieces of an intense 30-minute interview. So, it got me thinking: I haven't blogged about email marketing for a long time. I manage a handful of email campaigns for clients, sending roughly 75,000 emails per month to prospects
- [New Marketing Reality: The Death of Convenience](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/new-marketing-reality-the-death-of-convenience/) - Remember the first sentence in the book Good to Great? "Good is the enemy of great." The idea was you had to push past good to get to great; getting past the old "if it ain't broke. . .don't fix it. . ." In today's economy it might be said this way: convenience is the
- [Finding a Happy Medium in Relationship Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/finding-a-happy-medium-in-relationship-marketing/) - Just read a good post by Naomi Dunford on Copyblogger.com not so delicately titled "7 ways you're screwing up relationship marketing." Good blog, by the way. I follow it, you should too. Naomi's point is well taken. We can make a mistake in the practice of relationship marketing with too much relationship and not enough
- [Small Business Marketing Lessons from GM](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/small-business-marketing-lessons-from-gm/) - I'm rooting for GM. I hope and expect that they'll be fine. There are lessons for us, however, in watching them respond to their situation. Lessons on what NOT to do. I'm a small business marketing consultant who's called into every conceivable situation, good and bad. GM has many issues I don't know about or
- [If you were Director of Marketing for the NEW GM, what would you do?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/if-you-were-in-charge-of-the-new-gm-what-would-you-do/) - I asked this question on LinkedIn: If you were Director of Marketing for the NEW GM, what would you do? If you are part of LinkedIn check out the answers, there's some good ones. Here's what I'd do: 1. I would beg forgiveness from the American public for ignoring your customers and driving your company
- [Social Media's Dirty Little Secret](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/social-medias-dirty-little-secret/) - Social media's dirty little secret is the same dirty little secret every new marketing vehicle is afflicted with at the beginning. That is: most of it, in practice, sucks, at least initially. Why: it's amateur hour. Remember when desktop publishing "changed everything?" Buy a laser printer and page layout software and start designing your own
- [Good Marketing Balances Realistic Expectations and Buzz](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/good-marketing-balances-realistic-expectations-and-buzz/) - I'm rooting for the new Palm Pre. I get nervous when I see more hype or buzz than anything else about a product as it launches. Present a great product as a revolutionary life-changing product and you may kill it. That's why I try to practice balancing realistic expectations and buzz. Palm is hyping the
- [Your Social Media Mantra: It's the Message, Stupid!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/your-social-media-mantra-its-the-message-stupid/) - Remember the old political quip from Bill Clinton's first campaign, "It's the economy, stupid"? It was written throughout his HQ to remind everyone the economy was the central issue of the campaign. Thanks to Steve Rubel for linking to Thomas Baekdal's post Where Is Everybody? in which Baekdal creates a graph (reproduced here) that shows
- [Why Social Media is Making CRM Obsolete](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/why-social-media-is-making-crm-obsolete/) - All of us have used CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software. Its goal: to increase sales by automating/managing relationships with customers and prospects. Social media is increasingly changing how we communicate with prospects, rendering CRM in this context obsolete. Think of CRM as the horse stable a day's ride away from town when what you need is
- [Adding Context to Your Marketing Revisited](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/adding-context-to-your-marketing-revisited/) - A while ago I wrote about the power of context in marketing. I used Google Adwords (sponsored search, or pay-per-click) as a great example. Adwords ads give you 95 characters, including spaces, to tell your story. No pictures, no song-and-dance. Yet, those little stripped-down ads can be surprisingly powerful because they are displayed in the
- [What is Marketing?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-is-marketing/) - Is marketing a sprint or a marathon? Art or science? Advertising or sales? Good or bad? Answers: marathon; both; both; both. Actually, on one hand I define marketing as the process of transferring meaning to a target audience for the purpose of causing the action you desire. On the other hand, and probably more important to
- [Be Something!!  Sharpen Your Marketing!!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/be-something-sharpen-your-marketing/) - We were headed to the Bruce Springsteen concert last Friday and were talking about music styles. After having problems describing the style of a band, someone said "Maybe that's their problem, they don't have a style. I guess you have to at least be something before people start to notice you." Good marketing advice, actually.
- [Rock -- You -- Hard Place](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/rock-you-hard-place/) - Do I start pushing -- spend money on marketing again -- or wait until things get a little better? That's a tough one. But here's the easy answer. Yes, you ought to ALWAYS be investing in attracting people to your company. Right now, your marketing may not look the same. If things are starting to turn,
- [The Power of Context in Your Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-power-of-context-in-your-marketing/) - Good post by Paul Dunay talks about the one word that defines the future of advertising: contextual. This marketing consultant would leave it at "context," but who's counting? The point is the same. Advertising has evolved from scream/push to whatever-you-want-to-call-it-now (pull, collaborative, contextual, micro-cast). The best way to understand contextual advertising is to understand Google
- [Small Improvements in Your Marketing Pay Big Dividends](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/small-improvements-in-your-marketing-pay-big-dividends/) - I walked into Home Depot the other day and noticed they added a greeter at the door, like WalMart. Except the Home Depot greeter added value to my shopping experience. He said, "What can I help you find?" Small improvement? Yes. But it made a huge difference: it made it easier for me to shop
- [March Madness & the Marketing Lessons it Teaches](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/march-madness-the-marketing-lessons-it-teaches/) - March is always exciting for this marketing consultant. It reminds me how far enthusiasm, hard work and belief in yourself can take you, whether in life, sports or marketing. March hosts the college basketball championships. Even those of us far removed from sports fandom have heard of “March Madness.” Pure hustle. Unselfishness. Everyone focused on
- [Another Market Changing Before Our Very Eyes?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/another-market-changing-before-our-very-eyes/) - Marketing Consultants love "How the ______ will change the world" stories. So my mouth started to water when I spied "How the Kindle will change the world" by Jacob Weisberg in today's Slate. He loves the new Kindle and wonders if it will kill books. Evidence: Amazon is selling them at a loss to build
- [Marketing Answers In Your Own Backyard](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-answers-in-your-own-backyard/) - You've heard the phrase "in your own backyard" attached to many things. The point generally being made: your don't have to look very far for the answer. Ha! This happened to me yesterday literally IN MY OWN BACKYARD! The question: How to generate sales in a climate of cost-cutting? The answer: unbundle your services to lower the perceived cost. The teacher: Tom, our ex-pool guy turned re-hired pool guy. The student: me. Tom unbundled the cost of the chemicals from his price, putting him back into the category of "things we can afford." The reality is under this new arrangement we will likely end up spending about the same for chemicals and cleaning, but our PERCEPTION is that now Tom is more affordable. And that's all that matters in this transaction, or any transaction.
- [Take Nothing for Granted: Lessons from Brookings, South Dakota](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/never-stop-selling-lessons-from-brookings-south-dakota/) - I've always wanted my own marketing consultant. . .probably because I AM a marketing consultant. Well, I found one in the middle of South Dakota last week and he reminded me NOT to take your relationship with current customers for granted. We found ourselves in Brookings, South Dakota in mid January to watch my son's hockey team play South
- [Amazing New Marketing Strategy: Setting Expectations?!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/amazing-new-marketing-strategy-setting-expectations/) - Sometimes the most profound "new" marketing strategies strike you at first as not new at all. "Hey, I knew that already" doesn't disqualify something from dramatically changing your business. Enter setting expectations. Or more accurately, setting the right expectations. Or even more accurately, NOT not setting expectations. As a small business marketing consultant I pay
- [In a Crisis, are You a Necessity or Luxury?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/in-a-crisis-are-you-a-necessity-or-luxury/) - When things get tough, really tough, for your customers, will what you sell be seen as a necessity or luxury? I have clients in a wide variety of situations; some having their best years ever, others solidly in crisis. When customers are in a crisis they tend to stop buying luxury items but continuing buying
- [Finding Marketing Ideas in Strange Places](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/finding-marketing-ideas-in-strange-places/) - As a marketing consultant I spend about half my time generating new ideas and half implementing. New ideas can be tricky. Brainstorming works great, especially when you have the right poeple in the room. But that can take time to schedule, especially if you're a small business owner. The other choice, tapping into your own brilliance,
- [Marketing Lessons from a 43 Year Old Magazine Ad](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-lessons-from-a-42-year-old-magazine-ad/) - I was cleaning out my 86-year-old Dad's office. He broke his leg and needed more room. And did I find treasures! Magazines! Or more accurately, magazine ads! I dove into the ads from a Life Magazine from 1966 and, as you can imagine, had a good laugh. But I was also surprised at how similar,
- [Beauty in the Galapagos](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/beauty-in-the-galapagos/) - What do you do to recharge hour creative batteries? I get a "quick fix" by finding and enjoying things that amaze me. I am constantly amazed at the beauty available on the web. And grateful to the people who create it. This video was shot by Darek Sepiolo, "just a guy." Not a renown underwater videographer. At least
- [Words to, uh, Live By?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/words-to-uh-live-by/) - Words of "wisdom" from Hunter S. Thompson. . .
- [Guy Kawasaki, Twitter King](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/guy-kawasaki-twitter-king/) - I guess he is since he's the most re-tweeted person in the land. And almost 42K people following him on Twitter. And we all know who he is, sort of. But have you been to his website? I hadn't until it dawned on me what a crowd this guy has attracted. A wonderful aggregator of
- [The Five Most Important Marketing Lessons of 2008](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-five-most-important-marketing-lessons-of-2008/) - I have an interesting perspective as a marketing consultant who works with small businesses. My clients compete in a diverse group of industries, from software and law to construction and technology. Some are feeling the full force of the economy, others had their best year ever in 2008. I've competed in just about every conceivable market condition. Boiled down
- [Resolved: Accept More Gifts in 2009!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/resolved-accept-more-gifts-in-2009/) - HE EMERGED FROM THE METRO AT THE L'ENFANT PLAZA STATION AND POSITIONED HIMSELF AGAINST A WALL BESIDE A TRASH BASKET. By most measures, he was nondescript: a youngish white man in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt and a Washington Nationals baseball cap. From a small case, he removed a violin. Placing the open case at his
- [Search Marketing versus Traditional Advertising](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/search-marketing-versus-traditional-advertising/) - I just jumped through all the hoops to earn my Qualified Google AdWords Professional status (thank you very much!). Doing so deepened my knowledge AND my appreciation for the differences between search marketing and traditional advertising. Search marketing beats traditional advertising. . . The reason search marketing beats traditional advertising can be summed up in
- [Wow, what it took to win a war. . .](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/wow-what-it-took-to-win-a-war/) - One of the posters that struck me from an amazing collection of World War II patriotic posters at Northwestern University. Asking everyone not fighting to do their part to win. From cutting back on what you do and consume, to saving everything you can. And growing your own food. Which the people of that generation
- [How to Attract New Customers in Today's Economy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-attract-new-customers-in-todays-economy/) - Patient: Doctor, it hurts when I do this. Doctor: So stop doing that. Small business owner: How do I attract new customers in today's economy? Small business marketing consultant: Sell what people are buying. While the doctor's advice falls a bit short, the marketing consultant is on to something powerful, however simplistic it may strike
- [There's No Recession On the Internet](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/theres-no-recession-on-the-internet/) - Don't know about you, but I don't see a recession on the internet. I live in Scottsdale, Arizona. Nice place. Not the rust belt. Lots of people come here year-round to vacation, go to conventions, buy second homes, etc. (i.e., spend money). I drive down some nice streets to get to my office and see "Bank-Owned"
- [How to Think About the Recession We're In](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-think-about-the-recession-were-in/) - We went shopping for an artificial Christmas tree on Sunday; between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I will, however, spare you the spiritual angst I have over buying an artificial tree, that's another post. Anyway, we went where you might expect to go on such a mission (Sharon, my wife, was a buyer for an
- [The Most Powerful Marketing Question for Q4 2008](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-most-powerful-marketing-question-for-q4-2008/) - How can I help you get through this mess? As a small business marketing consultant I'm called into companies more often when things are bad. These days, however, things are different. I first wrote about the slowdown in December of 2007, warning small business owners to check their marketing message (as economic conditions change, so
- [Recession-Proof Marketing Tip: Who Else?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/recession-proof-marketing-tip-who-else/) - If your current small business marketing problem is a customer base that is slowing down on you, ask yourself "Who else is buying what you sell?" As a marketing consultant who works with small business, I'm called when things slow down, so I ask this question a lot. The fact is, regardless of who buys from
- [When is an Ad Not an Ad?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/when-is-an-ad-not-an-ad/) - Advertising - Effective Marketing - Marketing Consultant - Small Business Marketing Consultant // AN AD isn't an ad when it doesn't create action. Lots of those around, aren't there. There are lots of reasons why an ad isn't an ad and talking about them can help you avoid them. So let's go: It's not in front of
- [When is a Non-Ad an Ad?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/when-is-a-non-ad-an-ad/) - Advertising - Effective Marketing - Marketing Consultant - Small Business Marketing Consultant // A NON-AD is something that doesn't feel like an ad. It informs. It has value. It becomes an ad when it causes action. You know what I'm talking about. A white paper. A report. A guide. An article reprint. Something you can do for
- [Sales Down?  Don't be so Quick to Blame Your Spending](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/sales-down-dont-be-so-quick-to-blame-your-spending/) - Advertising - Recession-Proof Marketing - Marketing Consultant - Small Business Marketing Consultant // There is the "How" of your marketing and the "Why" of your marketing. When sales slow down too many of us only look at the How and not enough also look at the Why.The How: how you deliver your message (ads, brochures,
- [7 Reasons Most Marketing Fails](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/7-reasons-most-marketing-fails-2/) - Marketing Campaign - Marketing Consultant - Small Business Marketing Consultant // After creating and implementing hundreds of marketing campaigns for clients in just about every industry imaginable, a handful of elements kept coming up as essential. That is, when we ignored one, we paid the price. Learn from my experience: 1. Your message isn't customer-driven
- [Using Twitter as a Marketing Tool](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/using-twitter-as-a-marketing-tool/) - I use Twitter and recommend it to my clients. It does two things for me: let's me get the word out quickly and easily to a group of people (who follow me); allows me to "watch" what is happening. If Twitter is new to you, here is a good Twitter primer; what it is, how
- [George Patton. . .the Marketer?!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/george-patton-the-marketer/) - I have a wonderful neighbor, Jimmy Grecco, 91, Italian kid from the Bronx who still rides his motorcycle. He served on the US Dickman attack transport and participated in the major invasions (his ship launched the landing craft for beach assaults). He gave me a letter George Patton wrote to the men just prior to
- [Marketing Truthiness](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-truthiness/) - People ask me a lot about "truth in marketing." Is all marketing hype? Can you be a successful marketer without somehow "tricking" people? That sort of thing. It's something I care very much about because: marketing, as practiced today, bloodies many ethical boundaries. And, as a result, I use truthfulness as a powerful tool (imagine
- [What Happens to Your Customers Happens to You](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-happens-to-your-customers-happens-to-you/) - I’ve been through my share of booms and busts over the past 25 years. I'm a bit like the doctor who doesn't get too excited about your broken leg because he's seen lots of them and, after all, it's not his leg that's broken! We can help you sort out your options and get moving forward, quickly. I’ve learned a few important lessons when things get tough:
- [Marketing Via a Hologram](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-via-a-hologram/) - Most of us saw CNN's foray into 3D during their election coverage. Here's an interesting post by Digital Inspiration about how they did it. At the bottom of the page are two videos (by CNN and Cisco) explaining how its done and the implications for business (telemeetings). Did it make sense for CNN to, as
- [Marketing Lessons Learned from the Presidential Election](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-lessons-learned-from-the-presidential-election/) - Politics aside, and I do mean that folks, whether you're happy or sad this morning isn't the point. We can all learn important marketing lessons from what we've seen in this presidential election. At its most basic, marketing's "moving parts" are: your message; how you deliver that message; and to whom. Message The questions you need to ask
- [The Secret to Growing Your Sales 20%](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-secret-to-growing-your-sales-20/) - [flv]https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/Videos/nwehamgreeting.flv[/flv] I can increase your sales by 20% without breaking a sweat, without knowing a single thing about your company, product or customers. Or more accurately, YOU can increase your sales 20% without my knowing a single thing about your company, product or customers by following the following two recommendations: Increase the number of prospects
- [References](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/references/) - Jonathan Clark Owner Scottsdale Seminars - Corporate training 602-462-5907 jclark@scottsdaleseminars.com Chris Jones Owner CDC Pools - Pool resurfacing and backyard redesign 480-539-7700 Brad Johnson Partner Jacoby & Meyers // Petersen Johnson - Accident injury law 602-650-1200 bjohnson@petersenjohnson.com Ms. Jan Kanaba Owner Media People, Inc. - Video production services 623-465-4500 Warren Levenbaum, Attorney Owner lawtigers.com -
- [7 Reasons Most Marketing Fails](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/7-reasons-most-marketing-fails/) - After creating and implementing hundreds of marketing campaigns for clients in just about every industry imaginable, a handful of elements kept coming up as essential. That is, when we ignored one, we paid the price. Learn from my experience: 1. Your message isn't customer-driven What you're saying about your product is important to you, is
- [How to Fail Your Way to Marketing Success](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-fail-your-way-to-marketing-success/) - A book could be written on this topic, but I'm not going to write a book. So let's get right to it. You can fail your way to success by: Managing the scope of your failures -- never fail so big you can't afford to move forward Learning from each failure And always taking the
- [How to Create a Brochure that Sells](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-create-a-brochure-that-sells/) - Form needs to follow function. Decide how you'll use the brochure and what you'll be asking people to do before you start to consider what format (size, number of colors, etc.) it should take. Say everything twice. Once in the headlines, sub-headlines, bolded copy, bullets, etc., and once in the body copy. That's how people

## Pages

- [Home](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/) - I help small business owners focus on what they're saying, not how they're sending that message. Because human communication changes, but human nature doesn't.
- [About You](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/about-you/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding=”0px|||” admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row padding_left_1=”45px” padding_right_2=”20px” padding_left_2=”20px” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” padding_2_tablet=”15px|100px||100px” padding_1_phone=”|||20px” padding_2_phone=”15px|50px||50px” padding_1_last_edited=”on|phone” padding_2_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ padding_phone=”|||20px” padding_last_edited=”on|phone” padding_left=”45px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_image src=”https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Icon-1.png” admin_label=”Image”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ padding_phone=”15px|50px||50px” padding_tablet=”15px|100px||100px” padding_last_edited=”on|phone” padding_left=”20px” padding_right=”20px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Where You Are” background_color=”#ffffff”] Where You Are You haven’t focused much on marketing because you haven’t had to. But now…oh right…that small detail of
- [Storytelling for Results](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/storytelling-for-results/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding=”0px|||” admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row custom_padding=”25px|||” custom_margin=”0px|||” padding_left_1=”45px” padding_right_2=”40px” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” padding_1_tablet=”|||0px” padding_2_tablet=”15px|50px||50px” padding_1_last_edited=”on|tablet” padding_2_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ padding_tablet=”|||0px” padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” padding_left=”45px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_image src=”https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Icon_1.png” admin_label=”Image”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ padding_tablet=”15px|50px||50px” padding_last_edited=”on|phone” padding_right=”40px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_text admin_label=”The Art of Storytelling” background_color=”#ffffff”] The Art of Storytelling We’ve been telling each other stories since the beginning. Since we wrote on cave walls and sat around
- [Virtual Director of What's Next](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/virtual-director-of-whats-next/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding=”0px|||” admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row padding_top_1=”0px” padding_left_1=”45px” parallax_method_1=”off” admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ padding_left=”45px” padding_top=”0px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] What’s next for you? The problem isn’t a lack of ideas, it’s too many. Which to choose and how to implement? Together, we can figure this out. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row padding_left_1=”45px” padding_top_2=”0px” padding_right_2=”40px” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ padding_left=”45px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_image src=”https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/Icon_1.png” admin_label=”Image”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″
- [About Us](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/about-us/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row padding_right_1=”40px” padding_left_1=”40px” padding_right_2=”40px” padding_left_2=”40px” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” padding_2_tablet=”|70px|15px|70px” padding_2_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ padding_left=”40px” padding_right=”40px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_text admin_label=”My story left”] My Story I’m Hamilton Wallace. Looking back, everything since I can remember pointed me toward what I do. I grew up with a stutter, which made me acutely aware of how you put words together. And
- [Google Ads Coach](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/google-ads-coach/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_padding=”20px|50px||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] It’s a very simple thing to create an Adwords campaign that generates visitors. It’s not so simple to turn traffic into customers.
- [Contact](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/contact/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] You may write as much as you wish in the form below. . .or email Hamilton the way you send your normal email Name*Email* Message Δ [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] 506 Hudgens Lane, Clarkdale, AZ 86324 Call 602-369-1009 With video calling and screen sharing I’ll
- [Virtual Director of Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/virtual-director-of-marketing/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding=”0px|||” admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_row custom_padding=”25px||50px|” custom_margin=”0px|||” padding_top_1=”40px” padding_left_1=”45px” padding_top_2=”0px” padding_right_2=”40px” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” padding_1_tablet=”40px|||0px” padding_2_tablet=”15px|50px||50px” padding_1_last_edited=”on|desktop” padding_2_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ padding_tablet=”40px|||0px” padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” padding_left=”45px” padding_top=”40px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_image src=”https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/Icon_1.png” admin_label=”Image”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ padding_tablet=”15px|50px||50px” padding_last_edited=”on|phone” padding_right=”40px” padding_top=”0px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Virtual Director of Marketing”] Virtual Director of Marketing You’d love to hire a Director of Marketing, someone who is a great sounding
- [Privacy Policy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/privacy-policy/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_padding=”|30px||30px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] The only Private Information we have is given by you. We believe that the only information we need to have about you
- [About](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/about-me/) - Hamilton Wallace is a small business marketing consultant. We focus on increasing sales for small business owners via marketing consulting.
- [A Bit About Me](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-bit-about-me/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” padding_left_1=”40px” padding_right_1=”40px” padding_right_2=”40px” padding_left_2=”40px” padding_2_tablet=”|70px|15px|70px” padding_2_last_edited=”on|tablet”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”My story left” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] My Story I’m Hamilton Wallace. Looking back, everything since I can remember pointed me toward what I do. I grew up with
- [How We Can Work Together](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-we-can-work-together/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” padding_top_1=”0px” padding_left_1=”45px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] You know you can grow faster, you just aren’t sure what’s the best way. I’ve been helping small business owners grow
- [Pay For your Annual Subscription Here](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/pay/) - 12-Month Subscription - $79 You are buying two of my thought pieces emailed to you each week and one webinar per month. Each webinar will focus on a topic, which I'll let you know about in advance. Each webinar lasts about an hour and consists of a presentation by me for about 20 minutes and then
- [About](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/about/) - I help small businesses increase sales. That's it, really. That's all that matters. Either I succeed for you (sales go up) or I fail (you invest money and little or nothing happens). Sure, we do a lot of things: develop strategies, improve website conversion, create email campaigns, write sales letters and design brochures. But you
- [Scottsdale Seminars](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/scottsdale-seminars/) - Corporate training Scottsdale, AZ Company - Scottsdale Seminars, Scottsdale, AZ Product: Corporate Training. Situation: After conducting over 3,000 seminars for a national training company, Jonathan Clark had gone out on his own to promote his own seminars. He wanted help growing his business with larger organizations. His previous marketing attempts had not generated results. Solution:
- [Jacoby & Meyers](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/jacoby-meyers/) - Plaintiff's personal injury law Phoenix, AZ Company - Jacoby & Meyers, Phoenix, AZ Product: Plaintiff's Personal Injury. Situation: An established brand was disappearing. Solution: Jacoby & Meyers is what is known as an "advertising law firm." That is, a firm that provides legal services to lower to middle income people and attracts its market by
- [CDC Pools](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/cdc-pools/) - Swimming Pool Remodeling Chandler, AZ Company - CDC Pools, Gilbert, AZ Situation: CDC Pools renovates pool interiors and decking. They also build fire places and pits and barbecues to enhance a backyard. Their primary customer was pool contractors (wholesale). They wanted to decrease the number of contractor customers and increase the number of direct customers
- [Marketing Solutions for Our Digital-Centric 2020](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-solutions-for-our-digital-centric-2020/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” padding_top_1=”0px” padding_left_1=”45px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] You know you can grow faster, you just aren’t sure how. I’ve been helping small business owners grow for 30+ years.
- [How to Be a Marketing Consultant](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-be-a-marketing-consultant/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_padding=”|50px||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|”] Are you a marketing consultant or hope-to-be-soon consultant (of any type)? Are you here looking for ideas? Well, why don’t you
- [Thanks for Clicking Through from Google](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/thanks-for-clicking-through-from-google/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” padding_top_1=”0px” padding_left_1=”45px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] You’re here. From an internet search. Welcome! [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” padding_left_1=”45px”
- [A Wee Nudge...](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/a-wee-nudge/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_padding=”20px|50px||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Come to the edge, he said. But wait, they said. Come to the edge, he said. They came. He pushed them. .
- [Search Engine Marketing -- Google Ads](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/search-engine-marketing-google-ads/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_padding=”20px|50px||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] It’s a very simple thing to create a Google Ads campaign that generates visitors. It’s not so simple to turn traffic into
- [Marketing Check-up](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/services/marketing-checkup/) - This can be a completely frustrating feeling. After all, it's your business and you've done things in the past to boost sales, so why aren't things working NOW? There are lots of reasons why. But the reason I see most: Your story isn't resonating - you're starting to sound like everybody else. The reasons you're
- [Thanks for clicking through from the email](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/thanks-for-clicking-through-from-the-email/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” padding_top_1=”0px” padding_left_1=”45px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] You’re here. From an email. That doesn’t happen very often, does it? [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off”
- [Working Together](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/working-together/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” padding_top_1=”0px” padding_left_1=”45px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Before we talk about how we might work together let’s talk about whether we should work together at all. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”
- [Story is the Sugar...](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/story-is-the-sugar/) - Hamilton Wallace, Small Business Marketing Consultant, talks about how business storytelling is the missing ingredient in marketing that looks great, but doesn't produce results.
- [I Can Help -- Marketing is What I Do](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/i-can-help-marketing-is-what-i-do/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_padding=”20px|50px||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] You’ve grown your business because you’re good at what you do and you care about your customers. And this buys you the
- [Website Audit & Improvement](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/website-conversion/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_padding=”20px|50px||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I hear a lot of frustrations associated with websites. The bottom line though is your website should generate leads and those leads
- [My Why](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/why/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_padding=”20px|50px||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] A person’s “Why” is important if you are about to bring them onto your team. Why I am a small business marketing
- [Start Free Now!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/start-free-now/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” padding_right_1=”40px” padding_left_1=”45px” custom_padding=”||0px|”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”I have a handful of ways” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I have a handful of ways you can engage with me that don’t cost money…and
- [Contact Thanks](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/contact-thanks/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_css_main_element=”min-height:1100px;”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Thanks for contacting me! I know a form is impersonal. When I click “Submit” a part of me wonders if anyone will see it. I will see it, and I appreciate your desire to
- [Thank You](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/webinar/thank-you/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||0px”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_padding=”|5%||”] Thank you, dear visitor. You have successfully registered to join the webinar. An email has been sent to confirm your
- [AdWords](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/adwords/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Hey there. . .and welcome from your Google search. Take a look around. This, actually, is a pretty good example of a landing page. It’s a very simple thing to create an Adwords campaign that generates visitors. It’s not so simple to turn traffic into customers. I turn traffic
- [eBook Download](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tao-ebook-download/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_padding=”20px|50px||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Before you think all I do in my marketing practice is meditate on solutions for clients, or that this book is about philosophy (I don’t and it
- [What I Do](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-i-do/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_padding=”20px|50px||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I help business owners increase sales. Owners come to me looking for a variety of things — a new website, their first prospecting
- [Marketing Consulting for Software Developers](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/services/marketing-consulting-for-software-developers/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_padding=”20px|50px||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] “We lost our biggest customer nine months ago, and with them, about 25% of our business. We have no marketing plan and nobody’s focused on marketing.” This
- [Marketing for Contractors](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-for-contractors/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_padding=”20px|50px||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] To be a contractor is to be a big, scary guy who is going to talk to me about things I don’t know anything about. And quote
- [Am I the Small Business Marketing Consultant You've Been Looking For?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/am-i-the-small-business-marketing-consultant-youve-been-looking-for/) - I am a Small Business Marketing Consultant with 30+ years experience helping small business owners grow their sales.
- [Discussions](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/discussions/)
- [Webinar](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/webinar/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||0px” custom_css_main_element=”min-height:1100px;”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||” padding_right_1=”5%”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
- [Blog](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/blog/) - [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” padding_top_1=”0px” custom_padding=”0px|||” custom_margin=”0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/Blog_Detail_Header.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” always_center_on_mobile=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” force_fullwidth=”off” animation=”left” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off”
- [Saying "NO!" May Be the Best Marketing Strategy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/saying-no-may-be-the-best-marketing-strategy/) - Sometimes it just feels better to invest in trying something rather than investing in advice. I get that. But I also get a lot of calls AFTER the money has been spent and, regrettably, after what you tried didn't work. How about I just say no, for free, and save you all that wasted time and
- [I'm a Small Business Marketing Consultant](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/im-a-small-business-marketing-consultant/) - Hello. I'm glad you found me. You're right to have your guard up -- to be more focused on finding reasons to leave than to stay. And if I can't give you at least a couple reasons to stay in the next 60 seconds then you'll be right to leave. You see, this is a
- [Working with Hamilton](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/working-with-hamilton/) - The beauty of working together as your Virtual Director of Marketing is that we, you and I, look at your marketing for what it is: a mix of things that work with or against each other. My experience is fixing just one thing isn't enough to increase sales. And isn't that your goal?? It's mine. So, better to
- [Discover](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/discover/) - You opened my letter. Only about 20% get that far. You read enough to get here, putting you in an even smaller group. And I have about a 50% chance you'll make it past this page. Do these numbers seem low? They aren't. They're simply the physics of marketing. There were a few dozen things
- [Hello and Welcome from Your Google Search](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/welcome-google-search-think/) - My name is Hamilton Wallace and I have been a small business marketing consultant since 1980. I help owners get clear on what to do next, and then do a better job implementing. How? Lots of ways: from telling their story more effectively and aligning more closely with their customers, to creating marketing
- [Marketing Sandbox](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/about/marketing-sandbox/) - Do you ever do something "different" to become better at what you do? A bit like taking ballet classes to become a better basketball player? That's my Wednesday mornings with John Webster. http://ustre.am/34CV Read this Wired magazine article on how these scientists are thinking about healing and then think about your marketing (without your brain
- [funtest](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/funtest/) - Refresh this page every 30 seconds to keep up with the story board
- [Taking the Next Step with Your Marketing Can Be Hard](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/taking-the-next-step-with-your-marketing-can-be-hard/) - “We lost our biggest customer nine months ago, and with them, about 25% of our business. We have great word-of-mouth but now we need more.” This is a virtual company that started selling research paper formatting software to college students about 12 years ago. They grew into the market leader of a small but healthy niche
- [Generate More Leads for Your Small Business](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/generate-more-leads-for-your-small-business/) - You're here because you have a concern. Whatever your concern is, more leads is the result you're looking for. Isn't it? Sure, the concern you brought with you, that thing, is important. Yes, websites and search campaigns and email and brochures are all important. But you aren't really looking for a better website. You're looking for more leads,
- [Hello and Welcome from Google](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/welcomegoogle/) - We do many things, but the work we do normally boils down to generating more leads. Better leads. You've grown the business to today, but aren't sure how to take it to the next level. Or you haven't needed an organized marketing campaign to this point, but now you do. Or you're good at a
- [Marketing Services](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/services/) - The "path" to sales growth is different for each client. So I have developed a simple, flexible approach to small business marketing that identifies the problem and starts us implementing solutions as soon as possible. My simple, flexible approach to small business marketing- I don't take a traditional marketing consulting approach. We go to school on
- [google6fa6a57c6dc99d81.html](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/google6fa6a57c6dc99d81-html/)
- [I CAN fix your marketing, but. . .it might get messy before it gets good.  AND you'll have be a part of the solution.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/i-can-fix-your-marketing-but-ill-need-your-help-and-it-might-get-messy-before-it-gets-good-and-i-sometimes-fail-but-i-win-a-lot-more-than-i-lose/) - You've grown your business because you’re good at what you do and you care about your customers. And this buys you the best kind of marketing there is: referrals. The only problem with referrals is sooner or later you want to grow faster than referrals will take you. Which is probably why you’re here
- [Best Marketing Advice in the Last 30 Years -- Maybe Ever -- Free!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/best-marketing-advice-in-the-last-30-years-maybe-ever-free/) - What if, for free, you could change the trajectory of your sales?? Super charge it. Get your company on the track you know is possible buuuuuut you just haven't got it there yet. What would happen to your lifestyle, your bank account, your stress level?? Does this sound like the "song and dance" you'd
- [Solving Small Business Marketing Problems](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/solving-small-business-marketing-problems/) - Thank you for clicking-through on my Adwords ad. . . My name is Hamilton Wallace and I'm a small business marketing consultant. You're here searching for something that makes sense, something you can realistically do, to grow sales. In this economy. . .which is getting better. Whether the economy has hurt or helped your sales,
- [Misc. Recordings of Dad](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/misc-recordings-of-dad/)
- [Dad on Alison](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/dad-on-alison/)
- [Interviews](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/interviews/)
- [Test](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/test/) - [download file="https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-tao-of-marketing-ebook.pdf" title="title"]
- [Why Good Isn't Enough](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/why-good-isnt-enough/) - Remember when. . . You'd thumb through each trade publication you advertised in to see how many of your competitors were there? Or you'd do your best to have your mailing hit on a Tuesday or Thursday because those were the lightest mail days? Good was enough when you were only competing against a single
- [What I Believe About this Presidential Election](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/what-i-believe-about-this-presidential-election/) - I believe whether "your guy" or "my guy" gets elected matters less than whether you and I start taking responsibility for what is or isn't happening. Think about the big changes that have happened during my adult lifetime (I'm 59). With the notable exceptions of getting into four wars, we, not the politicians, were responsible
- [Marketing Consulting](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-consulting/) - Marketing consulting for your small business can mean many things. If I'm right about you: You are a small business owner looking at what to do next. . . You want to take the risk out of the next marketing dollars you invest. . . You want fresh ideas that work (without braking the bank).
- [Hamilton's Free Marketing Tips, Reports & Videos](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/about/hamiltons-free-marketing-tips/) - I try to share what I know on video and in report form. If you like what you read or see, follow me on Friendfeed or Twitter. Or ask me a question for free. Here are the free marketing tips reports- 5 Ways to Jump-Start Sales When Your Customers Stop Buying I'm called into companies
- [Sitemap](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/site-map/)
- [Small Business Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/small-business-marketing/) - Small business marketing can mean many things. If I'm right about you: You are a small business owner looking at what to do next. . . You want to take the risk out of the next marketing dollars you invest. . . You want fresh marketing ideas that work (without braking the bank). . .
- [Newsletter Subscription](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/newsletter-subscription/) - Get an occasional dose of marketing nuggets in your inbox. Free. [wysija_form id="3"]
- [Thank You](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/thank-you/) - Thank you for Downloading.
- [Small Business Marketing for Training Companies](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/small-business-marketing-for-training-companies/) - What do you do when the company you wanted to build, the thing you wanted to become, just isn’t selling? All your plans assumptions are proven wrong? Admit it and pivot!! Which is where this corporate training startup was when they first reached out to me. They were less than a year old and had
- [yourpurebredpuppy video rough cut example](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/yourpurebredpuppy-video-rough-cut-example/) - rough cut video example It's obviously ROUGH, but you get the idea. You can play it or download it. It's an mp4 file and about 8 mgs in size. Here's what I did: I will reference two videos- DT (Dog Training, the 3:53 long video that is currently on your site) RT (Respect Training, the
- [VoiceTel of Arizona](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/case-studies/voicetel-of-arizona/) - Telecommunications Scottsdale, AZ Company- VoiceTel of Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ Product Integrated Voice Messaging Situatior Owner wanted to increase sales, thought he needed to hire more salespeople. Solution We interviewed his salespeople, customers and individuals who had been presented to, but who had not bought. We found his salespeople were doing what they were trained to
- [Vista Clara Health Retreat](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/case-studies/vista-clara-health-retreat/) - Health Retreat and Spa Galisteo, New Mexico Company - Vista Clara Health Retreat & Spa, Galisteo, New Mexico Product Premium Health Spa. Situation Start-up high end spa ($4,500 per person per week). Solution We developed a very aggressive, yet low key prospecting system. That is, one designed to attract a large number of inquiries quickly,
- [TRIMS, Inc.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/case-studies/trims-inc/) - Software Scottsdale, AZ Company- TRIMS, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ Product: Grounds maintenance software. Situation: 18 month old company struggling to introduce new software. Solution: We repositioned the company's entire marketing effort away from software after discovering potential users were not comfortable using computers. We focused solely on the benefits of reduced paperwork and allowing more time
- [Case Studies](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/case-studies/) - We've been doing marketing consulting for small business for over 25 years. And as you can see from the partial list of clients below, we've been the marketing consultant of record for small business owners in a wide variety of industries all across the United States and a bit in the EU. Click on the
- [Teli USA, Inc.](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/case-studies/teli-usa-inc/) - Consumer Electronics Atlanta, GA Company - Teli USA, Inc., Atlanta, GA Product: Consumer telephones and fax machines. Situation Swedish company entering U.S. market required marketing strategy and plan. Solution Developed marketing plans for entry into the U.S. consumer electronics industry for the company's Swedish-made telephones and entry into the U.S. office equipment industry for their
- [Sunrise Custom Doors](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/case-studies/sunrise-custom-doors/) - Custom residential doors Scottsdale, AZ Company- Sunrise Custom Doors , Scottsdale, AZ Product Custom residential and commercial doors. Situation New owner wanted to grow the business in a declining local market. Solution We recommended he stop pouring money into the Phoenix market and start focusing on other, healthier markets. We helped him trim local advertising,
- [SOUTHtech](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/case-studies/southtech/) - Silicon Wafer Carriers Tempe, AZ Company - SOUTHtech, Tempe, AZ Product: Silicon Carbide Wafer Carriers. Situation The company has a patented manufacturing process that allows the custom manufacture of wafer carriers at standard prices. Solution After interviewing their salespeople and customers we determined the company had "lost its focus" by burying the one key reason
- [Resources Planning Group](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/case-studies/resources-planning-group/) - Financial Planning South Bend, IN Company - Resources Planning Group, South Bend, IN Product: Financial planning for individuals able to invest a minimum of $100,000. Situation A father was turning the business over to his sons and expanding the business regionally. He consequently wanted a form of prospecting that does not rely on referrals. Solution
- [Prairie Edge](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/case-studies/prairie-edge/) - Plains Indian Art and Artifacts Rapid City, SD Company - Prairie Edge, Rapid City, SD Product: Plains Indian art and artifacts. Situation: Owner wanted to grow sales in his two galleries and catalog. Solution: We correctly identified a key reason people buy this type of art: They connect with the story behind the individual piece,
- [Computing Information Services](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/case-studies/computing-information-services/) - Enterprise Software Phoenix, AZ Company - CIS, Phoenix, AZ Product: Enterprise software system for publishers Situation: Owner wanted to grow faster than his referrals were taking him. Solution: We created and assisted in the implementation of the first formal, disciplined marketing effort the company had in its 17 history. We refined their message and designed
- [Video Testimonials](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/services/video-testimonials/) - Still doing written testimonials?! The sentence or two or a copy of a letter? Sorry, not acceptable in today's digital world. Video testimonials tell a story, communicate the "soft" reasons why people select you and, ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE the message you're trying to send (when was the last time you actually read a testimonial?). Best of
- [Marketing Consulting for Small Business](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-consulting-for-small-business/) - Here's the quandary. . . We always chase the next big thing. That new way our customers and prospects consume information. Yesterday we focused on email and websites. Today it's Twitter and the rest of the social media sphere. That's fine. We need to be where our customers are, which always changes. But human nature
- [Local Arizona Events & Discoveries](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/local-arizona-events-discoveries/) - I love Arizona. I'm a 2nd generation native. My great grandfather and grandfather homesteaded in what is now Phoenix in 1892. My wife Sharon is a Pennsylvania transplant. We both enjoy discovering interesting places and products, and spreading the word, as most of our discoveries are well kept secrets. No, we don't have affiliate or any
- [Marketing Coach](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/coaching/) - Hamilton Wallace as Marketing Coach What is my brand of a marketing coach relationship? I'm not the kind of marketing coach who delves into your past to uncover childhood trauma or sits there and replies "But you know, you have the ability within you to accomplish exactly that" to most everything you say. I focus
- [Direct Response Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/services/direct-response-marketing/) - Direct response marketing, marketing that actually asks people to take action (pick up the phone, place an order, request more information, click through), is fundamentally the only type of marketing a small business ought to worry about. It's all we do. Small businesses, the type of clients we work with, are interested in generating leads, not
- [Can Just One Hour with a Marketing Consultant Change Your Life?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/services/the-1-hour-marketing-solution/) - You want help, feel comfortable on my site but. . .just. . .aren't. . .sure about a lot of things. Just Start This is my best advice. Just start. Hire me for a couple hours. "Stick your toe in." "Test me out." I"m not your guy? You haven't wasted much money or time. Then find
- [Web Site Development](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/services/web-site-development/) - We know how to concept, design and write your website, drive traffic to your website and what to do to convert visitors into inquiries (a small but important detail many firms overlook!). All at costs that are about half (or less!) what most web-only marketing firms charge. How do we do it so well? We're
- [Checkout](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/checkout/)
- [Effective Marketing in a Down Economy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/recession-proof-your-marketing/) - The Path to Effective Marketing in a Down Economy You've grown your business consistently, and have been able to push through every situation you've faced. But it doesn't seem to be working now, in an economy everyone everyone admits they haven't seen before. I'll tell you my recession-proof marketing approach, why I believe I'm uniquely qualified
- [Why We're Different](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/why-were-different/) - We specialize in marketing for owner-led businesses. Owners are often in a unique situation: you put your marketing hat on, take it off for another hat, check results of whatever you did (sort of), get back involved in marketing, get pulled in another direction and find yourself stuck on this up-and-down cycle of propping sales
- [What's Wrong With My Marketing & How Can I Fix It?!](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/fixyourmarketing/) - Sales are slow and you can't wait out this crummy economy, not this time. Welcome to 2009 and "this economy." So, what IS wrong and how CAN you fix it? Answer: Your marketing needs a Quick-Fix. Quick-Fix: asking the right people the right questions. The right people: your customers. The right questions: see below. .
- [ustreamtest](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/ustreamtest/) - Video streaming by Ustream
- [The University of Phoenix](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-university-of-phoenix/) - Adult Learning Phoenix, AZ Company - The University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ Product: Adult degree programs. Situation: Fast-growth company wanted marketing plan to support more growth at their eight campuses outside Arizona. Solution: Developed marketing plans for graduate and undergraduate business degree programs, and graduate and undergraduate nursing degree programs. In response to our recommendations,
- [The Speaking of Marketing Wave. . .](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-speaking-of-marketing-wave/)
- [The Great Recession. . .or Reset](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-great-recession-or-reset/) - Frankly, whether the economy is up or down doesn't make a lot of difference to me. As marketers we are responsible for growing sales in ALL situations. Basically, people, no whining! But it is important to understand what's happening now. Because some owners are hunkered down waiting for this down cycle to take us back
- [The Best Thing About a Lousy Economy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/the-best-thing-about-a-lousy-economy/) - The best thing about a lousy economy is it favors the innovator; the company that adapts faster and more accurately to how its customers' needs have changed. That why the worst thing you can do is spend more money on last year's marketing ideas. New marketing ideas, more consistent implementation: I'm a small business marketing
- [Thank You for Joining the Conversation](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/thank-you-for-joining-the-conversation/) - Thank you for contacting Hamilton. Our goal is to get back to you the next business day. Remember, you can follow Hamilton on: Google Plus Twitter
- [Thank You for Downloading the Free Marketing Report](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/thank-you-for-subscribing/) - You will receive an email from me, Hamilton Wallace, shortly. The Free Marketing Report will be attached. And you can always follow me: Twitter Friendfeed
- [Thank you for asking Hamilton](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/thank-you-for-asking-hamilton/) - I'll do my best to get back to you by the next business day. In the meantime, remember, you can follow me: Friendfeed Twitter
- [test event](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/test-event/) - This is my first event
- [What is a Marketing Consultant & Why Use One?](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/small-business-marketing-consultant/what-is-a-marketing-consultant-and-why-use-one/) - Call yourself a Marketing Consultant and that can mean a lot of things. From "I just lost my job" to a PR or advertising agency wanting to broaden their definition to actually being in the business of helping companies grow sales through better marketing methods and message. Bottom line, there are lots of people who
- [Small Business Marketing Consultant](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/small-business-marketing-consultant/) - Hello and welcome. . . You found me via a sponsored search ad I placed on Google's Adwords. You're looking for someone to trust with a big issue, your marketing. Based on what I know you likely fall into one of two groups: You're not sure at all a marketing consultant is what you need,
- [Small Business Marketing at the Base Price of Zero](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/small-business-marketing-at-the-base-price-of-zero/) - The base price of zero is the new free. I offer "Freemium," or tiered versions of the most popular ways people hire me. Free. THE SERVICES & THEIR FREEMIUM VERSIONS- Paid Search Campaign I charge $1,250 to set up a Google Adwords campaign and manage it for a month. I charge $650 per month to
- [Ready. . .Set. . .](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/ready-set/) - I often come back to these words when a client invites us into his or her company: Come to the edge, he said. But wait, they said. Come to the edge, he said. They came. He pushed them. . .and they flew. Guillaume Apollinaire, 1761 I've been at this a while and seen every conceivable
- [PSS Customer Interviews](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/pss-customer-interviews/)
- [pjexample](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/pjexample/)
- [People](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/people/) - Humm. . .where to begin. . .I work with so many terrific people. Okay, as you may already know from other pages, I designed my firm around the needs of the small business owner. And that includes employees, or the lack there of. I used to have many, but that was then (see my bio
- [Not Everybody in Arizona is Nuts](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/not-everybody-in-arizona-is-nuts/) - In fact, most of us are pretty normal. Unfortunately, Arizona has been in the news quite a bit for some pretty (in my humble opinion) out-of-touch laws, pronouncements and political stunts by our elected officials. Not all of us think we need a border fence, Hispanics are taking all our jobs, that our police need
- [New Email Marketing Ideas](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/new-email-marketing-ideas/) - We do a lot of things for clients and I'm very good at several; message realignment, paid search, online conversion, and yes, email marketing. Publications only seem to ask me about email marketing, though. Like INC. Magazine did last week in an article that focuses on the subject line. Or like BusinessWeek did a while
- [Methodology](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/methodology/) - We interview your customer contact people and your customers (the type you want more of, not a cross section). We ask your people questions about who you are, why you're different, why people buy from you and how your people feel you stack up against the competition. We ask your customers many of the same
- [Master Impressions](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/master-impressions/)
- [Resources](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/references/resources/) - People and companies who/that excel at what they do: Business writing training / in-house seminars (the best in the business, in my humble opinion) Digital media and interactive presentations, Ram Digital Swimming pool remodeling in Arizona, CDC Pools Team building and corporate culture development, Smart People Commercial grade telephone headsets, Headsets Direct Landscaping in Phoenix,
- [References](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/references/) - Jonathan Clark Owner Scottsdale Seminars - Corporate training 602-462-5907 jclark@scottsdaleseminars.com Chris Jones Owner CDC Pools - Pool resurfacing and backyard redesign 480-539-7700 Brad Johnson Partner Jacoby & Meyers // Petersen Johnson - Accident injury law 602-650-1200 bjohnson@petersenjohnson.com Ms. Jan Kanaba Owner Media People, Inc. - Video production services 623-465-4500 Warren Levenbaum, Attorney Owner lawtigers.com -
- [Marketing Success Stories](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/marketing-success-stories/) - We've been doing marketing consulting for small business for over 30 years. . . Company: Jacoby & Meyers Product: Plaintiff's Personal Injury Situation: An established brand was losing traction. Solution: Jacoby & Meyers is what is known as an "advertising law firm." That is, a firm that provides legal services to lower to middle income
- [Interview Archives](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/interview-archives/)
- [How to Pledge](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-pledge/)
- [How to mix marketing answers, too much turkey, shopping and football:](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-mix-marketing-answers-too-much-turkey-shopping-and-football/) - Chew on these five issues this Thanksgiving holiday weekend and your search for a marketing solution will go faster and turn out better. And you'll get your weekend back. 1. Is the Problem You're Chasing the REAL Problem? Think about ALL the pieces of your marketing when you ask this question because it's easy to
- [How to Generate More Prospects](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-generate-more-sales-leads/) - I do many things for clients. But the goal is usually the same: attract more prospects. Not Gee, isn't that a beautiful mailing or brochure or website? But Gee, how many prospects did it produce?! The most common roadblocks to attracting prospects I see: All design, no message. If your website/email/mailer/etc. looks cool but not
- [How to Find Marketing Answers and Enjoy Your Weekend](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-find-marketing-answers-and-enjoy-your-weekend/) - Getting clear on just a few things this 4th of July weekend will make your search for marketing answers go faster and turn out better. And give you back your weekend. Know this, bottom line, to grow sales in 2011 you need to do four things. And by "you" I don't mean your ad agency,
- [How to Align Your Marketing Message](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/how-to-align-your-marketing-message/) - Messages wear out (stop working) because why people buy today is likely different from why they bought two years ago (when you wrote your last brochure!). You can create a cool new brochure, but don't expect much change unless you also align your message with what's important to your customers today. How to align your
- [Haontech](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/haontech/)
- [GreenHomes Customer Interviews](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/greenhomes-customer-interviews/)
- [FlaumTech](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/flaumtech/)
- [Company](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/company/) - Small Business Marketing Consultant Twenty-five-plus years ago I started Wallace Resources to be a complete marketing department small companies could "rent." I called myself a small business marketing department to distinguish my firm from traditional advertising agencies. Early in my career I discovered a natural curiosity for how businesses work and how to improve them.
- [Create an Intentional Marketing Strategy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/blog/create-an-intentional-marketing-strategy/) - What the heck do piano tops have to do with marketing strategy? Plenty! Well, in a way. Bucky, give me a hand here. . . Remember Buckminster Fuller, father of the geodesic dome, dymaxion car and one of our most provocative and prolific thinkers? He preached attacking today’s challenges with new thinking, not assumptions that
- [API](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/api/)
- [LB Interview Archive](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/lb-interview-archive/)

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/uncategorized/)
- [Blog](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/)
- [Marketing Solutions](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/marketing-solutions/)
- [Effective Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/effective-marketing/)
- [Marketing in Politics](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/marketing-in-politics/)
- [Ethics in Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/ethics-in-marketing/)
- [Recession-Proof Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/recession-proof-marketing/)
- [Social Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/social-marketing/)
- [Marketing Ideas](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/marketing-ideas/)
- [Advertising](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/advertising/)
- [Search Engine Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/search-engine-marketing/)
- [Pathetic Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/pathetic-marketing/)
- [People in Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/people-in-marketing/)
- [Marketing Trends](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/marketing-trends/)
- [Social Media](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/social-media-blog/)
- [Social Media Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/blog/social-media-marketing/)
- [Testimonial](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/testimonial/)
- [Success Stories](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/success-stories/)
- [Product Pay](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/category/product-pay/)

## Tags

- [Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing/)
- [marketing success](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-success/)
- [small business marketing consultant](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/small-business-marketing-consultant/)
- [change your product](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/change-your-product/)
- [marketing that succeeds](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-that-succeeds/)
- [client references](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/client-references/)
- [marketing consultant](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-consultant/)
- [why marketing fails](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/why-marketing-fails/)
- [marketing strategies](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-strategies/)
- [presidential election](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/presidential-election/)
- [marketing mistakes](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-mistakes/)
- [Increasing Sales](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/increasing-sales/)
- [lower your price](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/lower-your-price/)
- [increase sales](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/increase-sales/)
- [small business marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/small-business-marketing/)
- [swimming pool sales](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/swimming-pool-sales/)
- [selling electronics](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/selling-electronics/)
- [new customers](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/new-customers/)
- [Hamilton Wallace](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/hamilton-wallace/)
- [Black Friday](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/black-friday/)
- [Cyber Monday](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/cyber-monday/)
- [SEM Consultant](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/sem-consultant/)
- [small business](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/small-business/)
- [training](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/training/)
- [traditional advertising](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/traditional-advertising/)
- [demographics](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/demographics/)
- [magazine advertising](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/magazine-advertising/)
- [Billy Mays](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/billy-mays/)
- [infomercial](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/infomercial/)
- [Hunter S. Thompson](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/hunter-s-thompson/)
- [words of wisdom](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/words-of-wisdom/)
- [Galapagos](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/galapagos/)
- [Darek Sepiolo](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/darek-sepiolo/)
- [beauty](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/beauty/)
- [Life Magazine](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/life-magazine/)
- [1966](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/1966/)
- [Winston](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/winston/)
- [Lark](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/lark/)
- [cigarette advertising](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/cigarette-advertising/)
- [Twitter](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/twitter/)
- [LinkedIn](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/linkedin/)
- [Infusionsoft](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/infusionsoft/)
- [Kathy Jacobs](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/kathy-jacobs/)
- [brainstorming](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/brainstorming/)
- [Nordstrom](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/nordstrom/)
- [Ecco](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/ecco/)
- [good customer service](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/good-customer-service/)
- [Super Bowl Ads](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/super-bowl-ads/)
- [commercials](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/commercials/)
- [financial crisis](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/financial-crisis/)
- [crisis marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/crisis-marketing/)
- [marketing expectations](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-expectations/)
- [setting expectations](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/setting-expectations/)
- ["in your own backyard"](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/in-your-own-backyard/)
- [March Madness](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/march-madness/)
- [college basketball](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/college-basketball/)
- [Jon Ericson](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/jon-ericson/)
- [continuous improvement](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/continuous-improvement/)
- [marketing niche](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-niche/)
- [Googel Adwords](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/googel-adwords/)
- [sponsored search](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/sponsored-search/)
- [contextual advertising](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/contextual-advertising/)
- [marketing definition](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-definition/)
- [define marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/define-marketing/)
- [investment firm marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/investment-firm-marketing/)
- [marketing for investment advisors](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-for-investment-advisors/)
- [financial marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/financial-marketing/)
- [marketing rules](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-rules/)
- [Google Adwords](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/google-adwords/)
- [search marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/search-marketing/)
- [Google](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/google/)
- [Steve Rubel](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/steve-rubel/)
- [social media](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/social-media/)
- [CRM software](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/crm-software/)
- [FriendFeed](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/friendfeed/)
- [DIGG](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/digg/)
- [Facebook](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/facebook/)
- [Palm Pre](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/palm-pre/)
- [Plantronics Savi telephone headset](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/plantronics-savi-telephone-headset/)
- [GM](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/gm/)
- [relationship marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/relationship-marketing/)
- [recession marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/recession-marketing/)
- [BusinessWeek](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/businessweek/)
- [email marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/email-marketing/)
- [Murphy-Goode winery](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/murphy-goode-winery/)
- [social media job](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/social-media-job/)
- [Sales strategy](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/sales-strategy/)
- [Dina Shore](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/dina-shore/)
- [Chevrolet](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/chevrolet/)
- [marketing message](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-message/)
- [story](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/story/)
- [innovation](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/innovation/)
- [Wanamaker's](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/wanamakers/)
- [Mad Men](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/mad-men/)
- [ethics in advertising](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/ethics-in-advertising/)
- [Don Draper](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/don-draper/)
- [how to hire a marketing consultant](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/how-to-hire-a-marketing-consultant/)
- [marketing for small business](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-for-small-business/)
- [Microsoft store grand opening](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/microsoft-store-grand-opening/)
- [save money](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/save-money/)
- [Cisco Telepresence](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/cisco-telepresence/)
- [effective](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/effective/)
- [entrepreneur](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/entrepreneur/)
- [CMS](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/cms/)
- [Alan Vickers](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/alan-vickers/)
- [sales presentation](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/sales-presentation/)
- [Adobe Acrobat ConnectNow](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/adobe-acrobat-connectnow/)
- [gotomeeting.com](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/gotomeeting-com/)
- [dimdim.com](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/dimdim-com/)
- [PowerPoint](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/powerpoint/)
- [software marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/software-marketing/)
- [technology](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/technology/)
- [technical marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/technical-marketing/)
- [Effective Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/effective-marketing/)
- [Recession-Proof Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/recession-proof-marketing/)
- [Social Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/social-marketing/)
- [Marketing Ideas](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-ideas/)
- [Advertising](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/advertising/)
- [Search Engine Marketing](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/search-engine-marketing/)
- [Marketing Trends](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/tag/marketing-trends/)

## Scope

- [not_global](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/scope/not_global/)

## Layout Type

- [layout](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/layout_type/layout/)
- [row](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/layout_type/row/)
- [module](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/layout_type/module/)

## Module Width

- [regular](https://smallbusinessmarketingconsultant.com/module_width/regular/)