Creating Software To Advertise And Build Value: What You Need To Know

As we all get more Internet and mobile phone-centric, you see more and more software built to either promote or add value to a service or product. For example: Nationwide Insurance created an iPhone app for their customers to help them make the task of filing a claim easier. There is Revver who created an official plugin WordPress to make it easier for their users to display videos and earn money. Pizza Hut has an iPhone app that includes a game, ability to order food and receive coupons. And there are countless Facebook apps created by big name companies. I love it. On every project I have, I try to figure ways to build in an app or plugin to make people utilize the product more or spread the word about my web site but there are some issues which I’d like to highlight if you have been considering the same thing yourself

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Creating Software To Advertise And Build Value: What You Need To Know

Perpetuate Your Brand Through Content

One of the easiest and cost-effective ways to market your business online is through the publication and distribution of content. We’re talking blog posts, articles, reports, email content…and even audio recordings and video. Help people solve their problems, entertain them and you can win a loyal audience. Couple that with strong calls to action in your content and you can quickly grow your website visitors, subscriber list and sales. Thousands of businesses use content marketing every single day…but most attempt to do so using so-so, generic content that does little to build true relationships and perpetuate their brand.

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Perpetuate Your Brand Through Content

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?

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

Effectiveness Rooted in Laughter

Studies of the brain show that laughter releases endorphins. In turn endorphins elevate your mood. And finally an elevated mood increases your effectiveness on many levels. For example, you look forward to working with other people because you have an optimistic mindset. You looking forward to working with them impacts their attitude toward working with you and the partnership, team, and even customer/provider relationship goes better. Cooperation is easier when this mindset pervades.

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Effectiveness Rooted in Laughter

Recycle, Reuse, and Succeed

What words represent keeping things fresh while progressing toward a worthwhile goal? You might  embrace all or some of these. They’re  important because the words we use influence who we are and what we accomplish. Here are some of my top-of-mind words… please add a comment that includes one or some that work for you.

• Retool – using what you have to come up with something different Example: rather than every group in a company having its own supply cabinet, centralizing supplies for more effective ordering, storage, retrieval, and tracking.
• Reinvent – start over to create great things. Great things are those that make life better. Example: After Jeff ended up in a wheel chair as the result of the accident, he became one of the most inspirational physical therapists in the practice.
• Reuse – when you’re done with something see how you can repeat your success Example: You’ve created a prized presentation…

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Recycle, Reuse, and Succeed

The Problem With Advertising: Lesson 1

So let’s start with some definitions. For me, ‘marketing’ is all of the things you do to get a cheque in your hand or to get the cash register to ring. ‘Advertising’ is when you pay for media, whether its a newspaper, TV commercial, or direct mail flyer. I often hear from business owners about their experiences with different forms of advertising media. For example, I’ll hear something like “I tried newspaper advertising, and it didn’t work for me.” Here’s the problem… Its NOT that the specific type of medium doesn’t ‘work’….there are a few variables in play. FIRST – who is the target audience? If your demographic is teenagers, and you advertise in a publication targeting seniors, you have a problem (I know, this example seems obvious, but you can’t imagine how many people get this wrong) SECOND – Is the timing right? Are people expecting to see your message? THIRD – This is what I consider the most important….WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE? It costs you the same amount to advertise in that newspaper…whether you get zero sales or 100. So the important factor is to have the right MESSAGE in the right MEDIUM. I’ll explain how to craft a great message in a future post, but if you have a specific ad you’re working on and need my help please contact me at marsicomarketing@gmail.com

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The Problem With Advertising: Lesson 1

DNA – The Evolution of The Unique Selling Proposition

In the 1940’s, advertising legend Rosser Reeves developed the term ‘USP’ or ‘Unique Selling Proposition’. Many sucessful businesses develop a USP as the basis of their marketing campaigns. Well, I say USP’s aren’t good enough anymore…with so many companies, products, brands, and a bombardment of media, being ‘unique’ isn’t unique enough. A classic example of a USP was the Domino’s 3o minute guarantee. Fantastic. But how many other pizza joints offer a time guarantee now? Is it truly unique? Saying that you’re the fastest or cheapest or biggest might work, but what truly makes you different – not only from your direct competitors, but from EVERY company? I developed the term DNA, or ‘Distinct Natural Advantage(TM)’ to describe this process of becoming truly unique. We all know what ‘DNA’ means in terms of science and heredity. Its what makes each of us ‘one of a kind’. I propose that, in business, to succeed in the long term, you need to be ‘one of a kind’ as well. I’ve created a process to help a business develop their DNA using what I call the Seven P’s… (1) Purpose (2) People (3) Pain (4) Promise (5) Proof (6) Positioning and (7) Packaging. In future articles I will go into more depth for each topic. Stay tuned!

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DNA – The Evolution of The Unique Selling Proposition