10 Things I Hate About Branding
ONE: Frankly it takes a lot of work to stay on top of my brand. If only I could just push a button like the Staples “Easy Button” ( which I have on my desk). I hate that I can’t!
TWO: I hate having to remind businesses that their brand is more than their logo. I have every design shop and ad specialty shop to blame for the mis-information I guess. (I could be painting with big a brush too)
THREE: I hate companies who don’t realize that branding is a top down initiative. Without the captain on board, who’s piloting the brand?
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10 Things I Hate About Branding
Social Media Revolution – Fact or Fad?
Does Social Media represent a total shift in the way we communicate? Does Social Media fundamentally change the way we do business? Is Social Media the Biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution? Personally, I think it does. If Starbucks can get almost 600,000 people to register for their Free Pastry Tuesday “Event” on Facebook and account for 1%…
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Social Media Revolution – Fact or Fad?
Unique Experience 101
A few years back I was hosting a workshop at the Four Seasons in Dallas. I’ll never forget my experiences there. EVERY business should go to Four Seasons Customer Service University. I remember walking into the hotel restaurant for breakfast. Half asleep, the lady at the front asked for my name and room number, then sat me at my table. Within a few minutes, a waiter came by and said “Hello, Mr. Marsico. How can I help you?” 5 minutes later, a gentleman came out from the back…not sure of his position, but he was cleaning tables, and said “Oh hello, Mr. Marsico! I hope your breakfast is great today!” It took 3 people to use my name before I fully woke up and realized that they had never met me before!! Such a small thing that made a HUGE difference. Later that day… I was in the workshop room and ran out of sharp pencils for the attendees. I leave the workshop room with a bunch of dull pencils and there was a random caretaker walking by…saw that I was a little flustered, he asked if he could help. I told him I needed sharp pencils and he said “No problem. They’ll be right here” and he took care of it for me! I’m sure that’s not his ‘role’, but what an amazing experience. We could all learn a thing or two from the Four Seasons team.
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Unique Experience 101
Supersizing case study #1
As part of my coaching process I teach my clients to find ways to ‘Supersize’… The term comes from the geniuses at McDonald’s who realized that there is HUGE profits and margins in simply asking clients if they want more of what they’ve already ordered. (Smiles are free….and asking your customers to ’supersize’ doesn’t cost anything either!!) This morning I was filling my gas tank like usual. Nothing out of the ordinary. As I go in to pay, the lovely attendant says, “Hi sir! Did you know the lottery jackpot is $17 million?! How many tickets would you like?” And I thought…”Wow. Finally! Someone who gets it” After buying a lottery ticket she asks, “Would you also like a cup of hot coffee? We just brewed it fresh…” A $40 gas fill-up turned into a $50 purchase by the time she was done with me, and all it took was a couple of questions. Cost? $0. Return? 25% increase on the spot. Genius.
Fired over Facebook
Teenager fired for complaining about job on Facebook
Ok – here’s the deal. Don’t put anything on your social network pages that you don’t want the ENTIRE world to know about. You on Facebook is a window to your life – or so is the perception of people who read what you post on Facebook
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What NOT to put on Your Facebook Profile
The Power of Twitter Introductions
Funny thing happened on my way to filming a Twitter Introduction… Yesterday morning, I uploaded a Twitter Introduction Video to YouTube. I had seen a few others and thought that the notion of a Twitter Introduction video would be great. Twitter is such an amazing platform.
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The Power of Twitter Introductions
How To Develop A Mini eMail Trade Show!
No matter where you look on the web, the key to making any money online is wrapped up in the list. Without one, you’ve got a major hurdle to clear. The following concept, may be your answer to fast-tracking exposure! At some point in time, you have probably visited a trade show within your industry. You saw legions of companies within your industry, selling goods from booths and visitors looking to buy or develop leads for themselves. Using this model, why not create your own mini trade show with friends or colleagues who compliment each other’s businesses? By combining the lists from say five to ten companies, who share the same target audience, put together a promotion to present a series of services to this body of contacts and feed off of each other. Here is how you could approach it:
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How To Develop A Mini eMail Trade Show!
Marketing Like a Rock Star, Take Two
Marketing Lessons From Christina Aguilera
While “cruising” around YouTube, I stumbled across this video of Christina Aguilera performing live in Sydney Australia. Watching this video (not my normal fare, but damn can she perform), I noticed how she uses so many sales and trainer techniques.
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Marketing Like a Rock Star, Take Two
The Problem With Advertising: Lesson 2
This one will be short and sweet… Most of my clients know that I’m not a big ‘fan’ of advertising – NOT because it doesn’t work – but because of the fact that I feel there are far BETTER ways to invest your marketing dollars. And here’s a quick piece of advice – for EVERY dollar you spend, please please please have a way to track your ROI (return on investment). If you spend $5000 on a magazine ad….how much business did it bring you? If you’re a small business owner, and you can’t answer this question, you’re wasting your money. Here’s an example from one of my clients… A fitness club was spending $1000/month on newspaper advertising. When I asked about the ROI on these ads, they had no idea. So I asked them to let me spend the following month’s $1000 budget on something different. The Result? $14,000 in new membership sales. (When was the last time you invested $1000 and got $14,000 in return, within 30 days?) Want to know what I did? Contact me!! : )
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The Problem With Advertising: Lesson 2
Feel The Love!
You’ve heard the old adage, “if it weren’t for customers, running a business would be a lot of fun”. While this line brings a smirk to our face, it really is the wrong attitude to take if you want your customers to bring you more business. Businesses who truly have a dislike for their customers, no doubt also have a large turn over of customers. If you are in the professional industry like myself, you have to take an active interest in your customer’s businesses.
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Feel The Love!