How do I go about achieving local news coverage for my company?
Pattie Simone answered June 9, 2008
PR, PR, PR! For the most part, print editors and TV producers find out about interesting stories and businesses from press releases or pitches. Hire a local marketing firm or PR agency to put...moreCan a 501C corporation advertise in public places and newsprint to attract new members?
Pattie Simone answered June 9, 2008
I'm not an attorney, so I can only offer my perception of what you should be able to do, based on what I see in the nonprofit community at large. And what I see is that area food banks,...moreWhat other ways can I advertise my business on a nonexistent budget?
Pattie Simone answered June 9, 2008
If you want to run a thriving business, there has to be some kind of investment in getting your tools developed correctly (logo, website, business card, promo piece). Once they are in place, there...moreWhat kind of events would help promote my new business, and how do I find them?
Pattie Simone answered June 9, 2008
What a fun business! Happily for you, even in a down economy there are scads of folks who love to pamper their pets! First off, you need to develop a logo and a brand, a basic website and two...moreHow can I jump-start my business in this economy?
Pattie Simone answered June 9, 2008
Well, first things first. Perhaps it's time to take a long, hard look at how your service is priced, how your company rates performance-wise and what you might need to do to improve things. Next,...moreHow do I market to wealthy individuals?
Kim T. Gordon answered June 6, 2008
Most wealthy people don't see themselves that way. They didn't get wealthy by wasting money--although they aren't necessarily looking for the lowest price on all purchases. The most important...moreHow can I persuade clients to renew their web hosting subscriptions?
Kim T. Gordon answered June 6, 2008
In a highly competitive arena such as yours, you need a strong hook (or offer) to start. Then follow with the benefits you provide, with special emphasis on the benefits that can only be achieved...moreCan I buy a kit to guide our company through the corporate identity process?
Kim T. Gordon answered June 3, 2008
There are books galore and guides on branding, but the most important element you must work out on your own is your point of differentiation. What is it that sets your company apart from its...moreShould a gift basket service use the print or online version of the Yellow Pages?
Kim T. Gordon answered June 3, 2008
There's some new data concerning who uses the online versus print version of the Yellow Pages. Not surprisingly, the split has more to do with age than anything else, with younger searchers...moreHow can I find an importer and distributor for products produced overseas to sell in the USA?
Brad Sugars answered June 2, 2008
Probably the simplest answer is do both. Marketing any new product is both a push (wholesale to retail) and pull (direct to customer) strategy. You will very quickly find which one brings the...moreHow do I market my company's philanthropic associations?
Pattie Simone answered May 31, 2008
Cause marketing is not new, but many entrepreneurs do not leverage their support of worthwhile causes. First thing--make sure every piece of promotional material you have (including your website)...moreHow much of our personal experience should be shared with the customer?
Kim T. Gordon answered May 12, 2008
Customers want to know the story of the people behind the products and services they buy. That's so long as it contains or demonstrates a real benefit to them. How will your personal story...moreWhat is the average contact to sales success ratio in direct brochure mailings?
Pattie Simone answered May 9, 2008
Without having specific information about your products and target markets (the kinds of companies within the delivery industry are you seeking to engage and your geographic footprint--local,...moreHow do I keep in contact with customers without being annoying?
Pattie Simone answered May 9, 2008
These are two great questions that plague lots of business owners: How much contact is enough and how do you ask for more business in a way that works? Here are several ways to keep your name...moreIs there ever a reason to turn down business?
Brad Sugars answered May 9, 2008
Great question, and the answer is a big yes! It's definitely important at times to turn away business. And, to put it bluntly, business is about profit, not revenue. That said, in the middle of...moreDo women ever utilize golf as part of business?
Paige Arnof-Fenn answered May 3, 2008
Absolutely! I started my career in finance and lots of bankers play golf, so I was very happy that I had learned to play golf in college--it certainly came in handy at times. There are...moreWill requiring online customers to register their email address turn away business?
Kim T. Gordon answered May 1, 2008
There's a rule of thumb that the longer the form, the less likely people are to fill it out. But in your case, you're asking for the information in order to serve the customers' needs. I suggest...moreHow do I offer financing to my customers?
Rosalind Resnick answered April 29, 2008
Offering credit, or "trade financing" to your customers does not require any special documentation. Most vendors (hardware stores, trade magazines, lawyers, etc.) offer their regular...moreHow effective of a marketing strategy is it to recruit guinea pig companies to try out my service?
Pattie Simone answered April 18, 2008
You shouldn't begin to consider starting any business without a a real operational blueprint, and that includes a marketing plan with some kind of budget. A basic marketing budget should include:...moreHow do you court celebrities with your product?
