ProfitMeister

Use Social Media for Local Business Conversations

“It’s great to know about this stuff, but does it bring a customer in?” Pause. What can you say to a busy retailer who asks that question? I went for it. “No, social media alone won’t create a customer. It takes a relationship to do that.” People visit a store for a variety of reasons [...]

Act Now. Create Marketing Change!

How do you create action? Begin. Seriously. It’s that easy. While paths may vary, the outcome – action – never changes. Until one begins, there is hesitation. In the words of Johann Wolfgang Goethe: “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, [...]

Local Storefronts Looking for Customer Traffic Advantage Must Sign up for Local Search

Local marketing. Brick-and-mortar marketing. Storefront marketing. What do you know about real-life marketing? “Look. I get that marketing has changed. But I want to know when I can do it? It’s great to know the other merchants in the area, but does that bring in a customer? I’m interested in specific things that bring me [...]

How’s Facebook Working for You?

When I’m asked to review social media, many businesses really want me to critique a Facebook page. More often than not, I ask, “How’s that working for you?” While answers vary, I find many business owners are dissatisfied with their Facebook results but at a loss for how to change their outcome. Here are 10 tips [...]

Building a press kit? Where are your digital files?

Your press kit doesn’t build itself. Consider: Are you an artist who refuses to keep an updated CV? Imagine going back five years to unearth classes taught, shows displayed, awards won. Difficult? Add impossible to the list if during that time you moved, had a baby, or experienced any one of life’s major change agents. [...]

Oh, NO. Did you experience the nine no-nos?

If I had a nickel for every marketing no-no I experienced, I’d be rich. Here’s a list I drafted from last week’s experiences: No connection. A great visual and name combined with a strong specialty item for emphasis, fell flat when the speaker made no reference to either item in his presentation. Could this happen to [...]

Press Kits Revisited OR, Publicity 101

You’ve got a press kit, right? (A media kit, as my friend Jon who works in radio, prefers to call it.) Like a resume for your business, a press kit or media kit presents the story of your company to the media, to investors and to a variety of audiences. The time to prepare for [...]

Self-discipline and the Easy Excuse

Vacations provide perspective, rest and, in my case, an opportunity to unplug. Initially, I resented turning off the smart phone and leaving my high speed connection behind. In retrospect, I’m thrilled to experience re-fueling. For those who can’t resist the lure of the electronic, my recommendation is to go where it’s not. With no cell [...]

The Perfect Marketing Plan Template

We women know about things like changing your purse (or briefcase, or iPhone cover, or workout bag). It isn’t easy to find one something that perfectly presents your essence. As a woman marketer, I have experimented with strategy templates. Capturing the essence of a plan on a page or two focuses your thinking and forces you [...]

How do you measure success?

How do you measure success? If you, like many, answer “With money,” then consider other questions about your number. Do you look at total revenues? Or, in your book do you name it gross sales? How about something plan and simple, like income? Have you factored in cost of goods? Do you know your average [...]