- Give to ReceiveSmall Business
"There's still something to be said for a free sample of a product," says Mike Essex, who has made a sport of seeing how many he can receive in return ...
- Have You Considered an ... Open Relationship?Small Business
Before you sign up for exclusive sponsorships, Rohit Bhargava suggests taking a hard look at what you really get out of the deal. Because if your sponsorship makes it difficult ...
- Let Everyone in on the LaunchSmall Business
Before you introduce a new product or service, it goes through a lengthy design process and rigorous testing. You spend untold hours on a marketing strategy, getting everything just right. ...
- Ditch the Spam, Pitch the ContentSmall Business
If you've ever been on the receiving end of bad pitches, you know the feeling of sheer exasperation when yet another example of terrible PR arrives in your inbox. In ...
- Return to SenderSmall Business
In a post at the PitchEngine blog, Jason Kintzler argues that paperless PR is more than an exercise in environmental responsibility. The use of online and wireless communication not only ...
- You Tried Hard. I Like You. Customer Insight
The Avis tagline "We Try Harder" might be more than just a clever advertising slogan. Research at the University of Southern California has proven that customers reward companies that are ...
- Find a Firm That FitsSmall Business
In a post at the Stage Two Consulting blog, Jeremy Toeman bemoans the trend for demonizing the public relations industry as a whole. "[A] 'bad' PR firm is one who ...
- Oh, no! He Picked up!B2B Marketing
"I'm in the office today, but away from my desk." Odds are, this is what you hear whenever you make a B-to-B cold call. Voicemail rules, everywhere.
But what if, one ...
- You Positive?Small Business
The anonymous nature of the Internet frequently empowers those who visit blogs to make more strongly worded statements in a comment section than they would if speaking face-to-face. If you ...
- Sprechen-Vous Italiano?Marketing Inspiration
Most Americans won't win any prizes when it comes to communicating in a second language. We typically grasp at the remnants of our high school French or Spanish, filling in ...
- Being Green: It Ain't EasySmall Business
In a blog post, Beth Ziesenis recalls working at a Colorado dude ranch, and being asked to put placards in guest rooms urging water conservation. They were intended to save ...
- Laugh 'Til You CryMarketing Inspiration
The U.S. Campaign for Burma has attracted a wide range of talent for PSAs protesting the country's oppressive military dictatorship. Many of its videos—say those from Sarah Silverman and Jason ...
- What Will You Do if Your Brand Gets Jacked?Marketing Inspiration
In a post at his blog, Jeremiah Owyang discusses the case of artist Nadia Plesner, who produced a t-shirt depicting an impoverished child holding a Louis Vuitton bag and a ...
- Passengers: Your Captain Has Screwed UpMarketing Inspiration
You probably know the approach pattern at your home airport very well. So what would you think if your plane were about to touch down when it suddenly jerked skyward, ...
- Meet the PressSmall Business
After reading an article at CareerBuilder.com about things you should avoid in a job interview, Nettie Hartsock was inspired to come up with her own list of dos and don'ts ...
- Give to ReceiveSmall Business
When you work with the media, your first priority is probably figuring out what they can do for you. But Christina Kerley—widely known as CK—says the greater long-term payoff lies ...
- Stronger Words, Louder MouthsSmall Business
At his blog Damn! I Wish I'd Thought of That!, Andy Sernovitz discusses something unusual he noticed on the refrigerator at his office. A colleague had gone to the trouble ...
- Get GoredMarketing Inspiration
In a post at his Web Ink Now blog, David Meerman Scott links to this video of Al Gore's recent appearance on 60 Minutes, and opines on the former vice ...
- Release Me (Please!)Marketing Inspiration
A few years ago, Tom Foremski wrote a blog post with the superb title "Die! Press Release! Die! Die! Die!" "Press releases are nearly useless," he said, citing an enormous ...
- How Well Does Your Copy Flow?Small Business
When writing copy for a brochure, press release or advertisement, you spend lots of time choosing the right words to convey your message. But Kelly Robbins of The Copywriting Institute ...
- The Wisdom of the In CrowdMarketing Inspiration
Every high school has at least a few popular girls. Though they're rarely the prettiest or the most charming, they rule their social scene with a cynicism that would make ...
- How to Avoid Ticking Off the (Ever-Sensitive) BlogosphereSmall Business
Ever worry about what happens when you annoy the million-headed monster known as the blogosphere? Well, worry no more. After hosting a lively panel at this year's SXSW conference with ...
- Social Security ShenanigansMarketing Inspiration
Everyone knows you're supposed to guard your social security number like a state secret. After all, those nine digits are the open sesame for criminals who want to run up ...
- Setting Your Evangelists on TrackSmall Business
In a post at the Church of the Customer Blog, Jackie Huba asks a question you've probably faced at some time: How do you handle a customer evangelist who is ...
- Customer Service the Lexus WaySmall Business
In a post at the Mavericks at Work blog, Bill Taylor discusses how Lexus follows through on the lofty ideals spelled out in its covenant, which asserts (1) Lexus will ...