Marketing Mishaps

Jul292011

Here is a partial list, from my new upcoming book, of five marketing mishaps that I see quite often: 1. Using a link that takes the visitor to your home page and not to a targeted landing page. This is a huge mistake. Instead, formulate unique pages that are clear to understand with effective calls to action and direct your visitor there. 2. Not attempting to capture your visitor’s information and not offering free valuable content in return. 3. Trying...

Chad Barr Interviews Gail Goodman, CEO, Constant Contact

Jul212011

This is a rare interview I have just conducted with Gail Goodman who is the bright, innovative and visionary CEO of Constant Contact, the email and event marketing giant. We discussed topics such as growing your business, strengthening your brand, leveraging creative technologies, the Internet and social media. You’ll here answers to questions such as: Where to find more business that most customers don’t look for? With social media amplifying everyone, who should you really amplify? Who should you follow...

Have You Shopped Your Own Business Lately?

Jul202011

I have recently started to contact some of today’s most successful and well-known global thought leaders for a one day event I am planning on organizing. I have to admit that, for me, this has been an interesting experience. I was impressed with the direct and quick response from quite a few of these thought leaders or their assistants. This is where this story gets interesting. One of these very well-known thought leader wrote me back that he is interested...

The Seven Rules of Authorship

Jul192011

Here are our first three of seven rules for writing a newsletter, but they can also apply in large part blog posts, articles, booklets, and so forth. Rule #1: Tell them what they need to know, not everything that you know. Most writing is far too prolix and verbosity has become endemic to our society. But less IS more in writing, so how do you control your propensity to open the verbal floodgates? Put yourself in your readers’ shoes. Ask...

How Legally Protected Is Your Brand?

Jul152011

Does your business create intellectual property? Do you have a web site? What about the name of your organizations and the names of your various brands, products and services? Have you protected all of these legally? Do you know the difference between a copyright and a trademark? This is a fascinating interview I conducted with Erik Pelton of Erik M Pelton & Associates, PLLC, who is a trademark attorney and a true expert. Click the play button and find out.

Creating a “sticky” web presence

Jul152011

Many people spend their resources and energy trying to attract visitors to their sites. That seems reasonable and achievable. However, there are two aspects to “site power” that often defeat site owners who are investing heavily to attract visitors. In fact, we have one word for it: retention. It’s insufficient to merely attract people, you need to retain them. Not for hours or days, but fore minutes and for repeats visits. We call this a “sticky” web presence, because people...

What Would I Have Done Differently?

Jul132011

Given the knowledge and wisdom I have today, what would I have done differently if I had this knowledge back then, when I first started my business? Click the play button and find out.

Changing Your Small Talk to Big talk

Jul122011

A common question I am often asked by clients in my mentor program is how to start a conversation with a prospective client or what do I say after I say hello? Although there are probably questions that are better suited for different personality types, I find the following quite provocative in any situation and the kind of questions that stimulate great discussions. These are also the questions I often ask before reviewing the effectiveness of one’s web and Internet...

Lessons I’ve learned from My Granddaughter

Jul112011

I am always amazed at the remarkable life and business lessons I learn when hanging around my two year old granddaughter. Let me share some with you: Tenacity to get what she wants. A “no” is simply a slight delay in her strategy. She would then resort to plan B. There is no such thing as rejection in her vocabulary. Tremendous self esteem and confidence. Zest for life. Every moments counts and is an intense quality interaction. Intense desire to...