Watch a crime drama on television and you’ll see that the culprits never want to leave their fingerprints behind. For a small business owner, it’s exactly the opposite! You want to leave your “digital fingerprint” so Google and other search engines can find it on as many websites as possible – especially the higher quality […]
Use Tutorials to Establish Authority and Build Relationships
The YouTube “stars” I’m most impressed by are those who have created a large following by publishing a series of tutorials on a given topic. These topics vary from how to apply make up to how to get started coding HTML to how to get really creative in your scrapbooking. I’m impressed by this group […]
For Success Today, Take a Page Out of the Philadelphia Opera’s Songbook
Business leaders can learn a few things from the professionals who manage performing arts organizations. I once suggested that website owners borrow a theater company strategy to boost visitors. You see, managers in the performing arts get immediate feedback on their successes and failures: How many rear ends were in the seats? Further, some are dealing with many of […]
6 Crippling Customer Service Non-Calls
The most devastating customer service calls are the ones you don’t get. They are far more damaging to your business that the ones you get a chance to answer and respond to. When you have an irate, disappointed, or troubled customer on the line or in front of you, you have the opportunity to turn […]
Try This Secret Strategy to Build Your Email List
Over the years, we’ve gone into great depth on email list building. Of course, the use of popups and similar strategies continue to be the fundamental ways to build your list. There are other places you can encourage email list signups that are often overlooked by your competitors. They probably won’t tally as many signups as the […]
How Evolving into a “Tech Company” Could Secure Your Future
How broadly do you define your business? We’re living in an age where business success is shrouded in a conundrum. Let me explain what I mean by that. Regular readers of these pages are well aware that I promote finding a niche for your product or service. The “riches are in the niches,” I like […]
Personal Branding Basics: The Content Question
“When you come to a fork in the road – take it.” – Yogi Berra While it may seem nonsensical from a logical point of view, Yogi’s advice applies exactly to the content you must create for a successful personal brand. Your content must focus on two areas (although not in equal proportions): Your profession, […]
4 Content Strategies for Micromarketing
A friend used to joke that he was going to sell his old jeans on eBay for $1 million. Of course, everyone poo-pooed his idea. He always responded by saying, “Hey, I only have to sell one pair!” That’s the beauty of micromarketing—you can get the margin you need. The difficulty is finding the people […]
What Generational Online Habits Mean for Your Small Business
Are you a night owl or a morning person? If you’re more active at night, there’s a decent chance you’ll also be more inclined to respond positively to that coupon or special offer you just found when you started to go through your email. That’s one of the conclusions you might make after you check […]
Best Entrepreneur Books for Our Time: A Targeted Guide
The quest for the ideal entrepreneur book never ends because all entrepreneurs are wired differently and they ply their trade in different circumstances. Your favorite might not be your partner’s favorite and the entrepreneur books you value today may not be the ones that you value tomorrow. Further, there’s never a shortage of good entrepreneur […]