Archive for April, 2015

Managing the “Employer Brand”

Tuesday, April 28th, 2015

Every company is–or should be–concerned about its brand. Even those that are, though, tend to focus more on the customer-facing brand. Granted, customer and prospects perspectives are important. But there’s another key audience that often gets overlooked in the rush to build brand. (more…)

Who Are You Trying to Influence? Their Personality Types May Impact Your Effectiveness!

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

By Justin Grensing, Esq., MBA

There’s a certain feeling one gets when having a light bulb moment – a great idea that is so brilliant it absolutely must be acted upon. Similarly, a polished business strategy or project plan that is the result of hours and hours of consideration and mental exertion can be like a child one has groomed for success. But when that idea or plan gets shot down because it’s too risky or too expensive, or because your managers, customers or business partners simply don’t get it, it’s certainly a bubble-bursting moment.

Just as a great product or service is useless if it can’t be sold to the marketplace, a great idea is useless if it can’t be sold to the right stakeholders. What works for one executive won’t necessarily work for another; different leaders have different motivations, fears and triggers. Identifying those cues really requires knowing what type of executive you’re dealing with. (more…)

The Benefits of Building an Online Community

Wednesday, April 15th, 2015

Engaging with customers has always been important, but it has arguably never been easier than it is today in an era where we have a myriad of online communication channels and means to engage with our audiences. Whether they’re across town, or on the other side of the globe, electronic media allows for forum for marketers to listen to, learn form and leverage their online communities in a variety of ways. (more…)

Facebook for Local Businesses

Tuesday, April 14th, 2015

Small businesses, I think, have an edge when it comes to social media engagement, and Facebook is a very good example of this. Effective social media requires a relationship between the business/business owner and their followers. This is much easier for small businesses to attain than it is for large businesses, particularly because small businesses tend to be closer to their customers offline–the online environment simply becomes another forum for engagement.

Despite the fact that social media channels like Facebook can provide a global audience, small businesses don’t need to extend their reach globally–in fact, they can (and should) focus on their local markets.

In attempting to do this, we believe there are some important keys to effective engagement: (more…)

Challenges and Successes of Being a Small Business Owner

Thursday, April 9th, 2015

Being a business owner can be very rewarding–it can also be very challenging, even frustrating, at times. That’s the yin/yang of entrepreneurship, and, while I wouldn’t trade it for life back in the “corporate jungle,” I have to admit there are ups and downs.

1) My three biggest frustrations or setbacks have been: (more…)

3 Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs

Tuesday, April 7th, 2015

I responded to a reporter’s inquiry recently about the traits of successful entrepreneurs. I love responding to questions like this because they cause me to be introspective and think about things that I believe have contributed to my own success–and that may be, potentially, helpful to others. As I look back on my career, and the launch of my business in 2008 (still going strong almost seven years later!), there are a few key points that come to mind. (more…)

Magic Words to Make Prospects Open Your Email Messages

Thursday, April 2nd, 2015

It’s tough out there in email marketing land as millions (billions?) of marketers compete for the attention of already harassed and harried consumers. Finding those magic words to cut through the clutter is high on the wish lists of marketers everywhere. The problem is there are no magic words!

There is, though, one very important (and often overlooked) part of the email marketing message that can make a big difference: (more…)