Great article from Marketing Today - good stuff!

Today’s post is simple and sweet because there’s no easier or better way to say this, than this…

The complete trifecta for business success includes:

1) Nicheing. Niche your market and you’re well on your way to making real connections in real time with the people who need and want you most. Not only that, but you’ll save tons of time, money and energy when you focus on your niche (remember marketing 101: it’s impossible to be all things to all people!).

2) Marketing. Think of marketing as a love letter to your clients (the ones you’ve identified as your niche market above). You have something special to offer, and if you’ve done you’re homework, you know your clients are looking for what you have to sell. Now, get busy communicating with them in meaningful ways!

2) Delegating. Are you trying to do everything yourself? If so, reconsider that drain on your time, energy and spirit. You see, none of us is as smart or capable or efficient as all of us. Develop a team of like-minded, like-hearted individuals who show up doing what they do best each day. Then, you can show up doing what you do best.

Now, that’s what I call a winning ticket!

What is “conscious marketing,” you ask?

To convey what I behold as “conscious marketing/communication,” I first want to outline what I believe it is NOT…..

Conscious marketing is NOT using your vital energy to deliberately edge out, push down or discredit your competition. That’s corrupt marketing.

Conscious marketing is NOT the shotgun approach of throwing things out into the world and seeing what lands. That’s senseless marketing.

Conscious marketing is NOT about spin, propaganda, dishonesty or misleading messages. That’s fraudulent marketing. Continue Reading »

As a lifelong writer and lover of the written word, I am enjoying the heck out of blogging – writing them, reading them, subscribing to them, commenting on them, learning from them. I look at blogs as an opportunity to teach, to learn, to express, to fulfill and to share. And, I am thrilled that a medium now exists where writers of any kind can tap out their thoughts freely and release their closeted author within.

There are some incredible blogs out there about parenting, traveling, cooking, recreating, spirituality, business, etc. All you have to do to find them is follow your favorite social media sites, hit Google Reader or surf the Web…and voila! Blogs galore!

As for using blogs as a business marketing tool, my clients often ask me if it’s truly necessary and worth the time and effort. My answer is usually yes, as I believe wholeheartedly that blogging can achieve the following:

1)Contribute to the health and well-being of your company’s overall s Continue Reading »

Thanks to fellow marketing colleague, Mandi Hogan, for sharing this great article!

Advertising Age

Digital Marketing Guide: Social Media

What’s the Next Twitter, Do I Have to Follow Shaq and Who Should Tweet for My Brand?

by David Berkowitz

Published: February 22, 2010

If I only have two minutes a day to devote to social marketing, what should I do?

Check search.twitter.com for searches about your company, brands, executives, industry or competitors. You’ll probably find something insightful, surprising, disturbing or amusing.

Do blogs still matter?

Blogs are still extremely important components of the social-media ecosystem for several reasons. First, they have the audience — of Quantcast’s Top 100 sites, BlogSpot, WordPress and Blogger are all in the top 30, followed by blogs such as Huffington Post and TMZ. Also, bloggers are influential to targeted audiences both broad and niche. Finally, blogs can be useful for establishing direct communication between marketers and consumers, and they can contribute to establishing a larger share of voice in search-engine results. Continue Reading »

1) Be brand conscious and consistent. Make sure that your company brand is intact in all media and marketing efforts. This means ensuring that your logo, colors, fonts, messages and images are connected across the board on EVERYTHING from Web sites to Twitter pages to direct marketing to ezines to ads. Your unique voice should be loud and clear for you and your company ARE what you post, promote and publish.

2) Marketing is a broad term encompassing several key areas. Marketing = branding, business collateral, marketing collateral, direct marketing, Web site, public relations, social media, community outreach, special events, promotions, advertising and all their subcategories. A holistic, rhythmic and integrated approach is always best. Continue Reading »

This is a GREAT article by Susan Gunelius in Entrepreneur mapping out ten significant marketing trends for this year and beyond.

Here are some highlights from Susan’s article:

1) Transparency and trust are paramount.
2) Less interruption, more enhancement and value-add.
3) Value, value, value.
4) Show it. Don’t tell it.
5) Social media is not going away, and engagement is critical.
6) Peace of mind messages prevail.
7) Relationships rule.
8) Online video and mobile marketing are HOT!
9) Focus, focus, focus!
10) Integrated marketing (always) trumps stand-alone tactics.

Yet another reason to use email marketing wisely, mindfully and respectfully…..

Boulder County Business Report – Nov. 17, 2009
Study: More e-mails repel consumers

BOULDER – E-mail marketing has become an effective tool for companies to reach the Internet generation, but a new study warns that one-too-many irrelevant e-mails may risk driving consumers completely away from a brand or product. Continue Reading »