Sooner or later most small business owners contemplate exhibiting at a trade show or special event.  This crazy, hectic part of marketing often means long hours, significant investments, and confusing, paper-work driven details completely foreign to the average person.  It can also be an outstanding way to present a business to a captive buying audience – as long it’s done...

Setting a marketing budget is one of the trickier and more frustrating parts of small business management. It’s also one of the most important. Set too little and it could mean a loss in sales. Set too much and it could mean another aspect of the business will have to be cut. Set no budget at all and one could...

“What is the best money I can spend in marketing to grow my business?” Without a doubt, this is the question I’m most frequently asked by small business owners. It may seem like a question that is promptly followed by an “it depends” type of answer, however, it’s actually quite easy to pinpoint one tool that is relatively inexpensive, delivers...

Branding. Most small businesses know they need it, but few understand branding’s true role or what goes into developing a memorable brand. Some small businesses imbue it with colossal power, treating branding as if it’s the golden snitch of the business world: once created, business has been won. Others feel branding is an luxury expense a small business should shelve...

Mention marketing budgets to small business owners and a look of dread mixed with frustration may cross their faces. Why? Because marketing seems expensive on face value and almost anyone in business can recite a situation where “marketing” was a waste of money. This is a shame as marketing, when conducted properly, is the most cost-effective way to reach a...

Bad marketing, the scourge of business and squelcher of growth dreams, can happen to the best of companies. Sometimes it stems from a concept that wasn’t executed properly due to budget or talent, other times it can be simply bad luck, such as a campaign launch the same day as a major disaster. No matter the cause, bad marketing can...

I’m fascinated by the designer mutt phenomenon. Not because people are capitalizing on what was once free, or the sharp rise in people breeding animals as novelty, or even because a much-loved rescue mutt is part of my family, but by the amazing marketing force that has led to the demand for all things “doodle” or “poo”. Rarely do we...

It’s a new year!  It’s time to celebrate with champagne, parties, and special “luck rituals” that will lead to a fantastically fortunate and healthy year.  But what luck rituals can you perform to help your business grow in the new year?  While not quite as sexy as champagne, savvy business owners know that they can make their own luck by polishing...