Many smaller companies developed their offerings when the company first opened. But they don’t always revisit their products on a routine basis, and they are not necessarily as engaged in product improvement as they need to be. In the competitive markets we find ourselves in today, it’s important to keep pace with shifts in the market and changes that may…
At some point, every business runs into challenges the current team can’t quite solve. Maybe it’s breaking into a new market, fixing a process that keeps slowing you down, or tackling a problem that needs a completely different skill set. It happens in every growth journey, often more than once. When faced with this, most leaders do one of three…
People spend a lot of time perfecting their Unique Value Proposition, elevator pitch, and tagline, so I thought it might be time to say the quiet part out loud: Nobody cares. Well, they do care, just not about your UVP, elevator pitch or tagline. We know that customers buy from those they Know, Like, and Trust, but even a brilliantly…
And What to Monitor Instead Every marketing platform or tool provides some preconfigured metrics that the publisher/developer wants you to believe are important. They are important – just not for you. Many marketers may also tell you that these are important because they take the developer’s word at face value. Some may even have bought into their importance. Here’s how…
Most of us have been listening to the same, tired, generic advice coming from almost every “marketing expert” out there. And you may have tried some (or all) of their suggestions with little improvement. Almost 100% of that generic marketing advice lacks the contextual information that make it work. Content may be king, but without context it’s a king without…
Having a solid content marketing strategy and program is crucial to your marketing success. There is a reason the cliché “Content is King” has lasted for decades. Content drives engagement and sales, but only if you master the three types that drive conversions. Most companies create a variety of blogs, social media posts, videos, white papers, and other content forms.…
TLDR? Expertise is worth paying for Getting more lead sand customers doesn't always mean your company will grow The "pain point" you are feeling may not be the issue that's holding your growth back I have a lot of respect for accountants and CFOs. They are great at making sure that the revenue that comes into your company helps you…
Many SMBs are not getting the results they need from their marketing efforts already this year. I often hear SMB leaders say things like "our marketing doesn't work," or "we don't have the budget." These beliefs become obstacles to getting better results. There are several common challenges SMBs face, regardless of industry vertical, but they can all be overcome. You…
I've recently read a few articles that claim companies don't need a Chief Marketing Officer, that they can substitute a "Head of Marketing." I don’t believe that this is correct. The main point in these articles is that some companies are too small for a CMO – and I totally agree. But a direct substitution? That’s overreaching and bad advice.…
As a small or mid-size business owner, you have limited time, and you need as much of that time as possible to grow and improve your business. But you also have limited financial resources, which you need to invest wisely, so hiring staff may not be possible. Many small business owners try to keep their expenses in check by taking…