Charlie Cook's MArketing for Success Insider's Club

 

The Top Experts Reveal Small Business Marketing Strategies
That Get Results In This Economy

Which Numbers Matter in Marketing Strategy?

By Charlie Cook   |   March 18th, 2010

Mary called from Baltimore with a question about her web site. She wanted to know what was wrong with it. She had worked hard to put up a site to promote her business but she wasn’t generating enough revenue with it.

Mary had made the mistake that almost every small business owner makes; she was focused on the wrong numbers and it was keeping her from reaching her business goals. » (Read More)


Channel 1: Storytelling In Your Small Business Marketing

By Rick Braddy   |   March 18th, 2010

In 2008, I began incorporating stories in communications with my subscribers and customers.  As it turns out, stories are an incredibly powerful way to communicate – especially in today’s age of marketing communications saturation, where everyone is so fatigued by the constant bombardment of ads.

So, I decided to try a few story-based campaigns back then – tests designed to » (Read More)


Winning With Your Marketing Game Plan

By Charlie Cook   |   March 18th, 2010

Stuart from Colorado had talked to a number of marketing firms and gotten estimates for designing and printing his marketing materials and building a web site for his business producing promotional cds. One firm quoted $100,000 to build his web site alone. He sensed something was missing or wrong, but couldn’t put his finger on it, so he called me. » (Read More)


How Social Media Can Threaten Your Business

By Shakira Brown   |   March 18th, 2010

It was the tweet heard around the nation. Movie Director, Kevin Smith, tweeted that he had been booted off an Southwest Airlines flight. He was mad because flight personnel said he was too fat to fly.

He tweeted during the ordeal and posted pictures of himself. It happened faster than any news crew could have reacted without being on the flight poised for the story. Twitter is a PR liablity to be reckoned with. » (Read More)


7 Tips for Effective Team Management

By Eric Garner   |   March 17th, 2010

We each have both strengths and weaknesses in every job we do. Our strengths are the things we are naturally good at and the weaknesses are the things we can only ever make limited progress in. For managers and team leaders, the aim of understanding people’s strengths is to help people excel.

Here are 7 ways to use people’s strengths: » (Read More)


Old Guy Marketing

By Michael Katz   |   March 16th, 2010

“Who was that?,” my son Evan asked. We were standing out on our front lawn, throwing a football, and Evan had just seen me smile and wave to a passing minivan.

“I have no idea,” I said. “I don’t have my glasses on, and I can’t see through the tinted windshield anyway. I wave at everyone who drives by.”

Evan gave this some thought, and then, with the precise blending of disdain and amusement that teenagers reserve exclusively for their parents, said, “So, are you getting to be an old guy now?” » (Read More)


Make Business Fun

By Tom Borg   |   March 15th, 2010

One of my favorite places to go is my printer. Tony Grech and Paul Degrazia, co-owners of Grecko Printing in Plymouth, MI make it a point to create an upbeat and energetic atmosphere for their clients and their employees.

When you walk into their lobby, it is alive with activity, sound and eye popping color displays. Everything from the mascot, a live gecko by the name of “Grecko”, to their clients laughter that echoes throughout the building.  Tony, Paul and crew do their best to make it an enjoyable experience to do business with Grecko Printing. » (Read More)


Could This Mistake Be Costing You Sales & Leads?

By Mike Jezek   |   March 15th, 2010


You slaved over writing an ad or sales letter, and you really thought it was going to work miracles. But then, the moment of truth comes, and your ad did poorly. You’re left wondering if it’s the economy, or the media you advertised in or if your competitors are outflanking you. Does this sound familiar?

You can’t control the economy or what your competitors or suppliers do for the most part. » (Read More)


Press Release Quiz – Get FREE Publicity

By Joan Stewart   |   March 14th, 2010

So, you think you know how to write press releases?

Answer true or false to the following statements:

• I write press releases primarily to encourage journalists at newspapers and magazines to write articles about my company, or for broadcasters who will feature us on the news or invite us as guests on talk shows. » (Read More)


Forget About Being “Slick Willie”

By Bob Oros   |   March 13th, 2010

Here’s a sample conversation that was sent to me by a real sales pro, Gene Wrasman.  Gene is going through my sales course and he offered these sales tips about how to avoid getting rejected.

Here’s Gene’s sales tips: As you introduce yourself to the prospect you can almost see the walls of protection go up.  Here’s how the conversation should go: » (Read More)


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