As small business owners, managers, and marketers one of the issues we must confront each holiday season is whether or not to give price discounts as part of your planned marketing programs. The uncertainty can seem enormous. How much should the discount be? When should you run it? In what situations should it apply? Will [...]

It may be tempting for small business marketers to roll their eyes at the thought of spending $3 million on a single ad spot. Smart marketers, however, pay attention. To them, SWOT is more than a misspelled law enforcement team. They know that strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats can arise at any moment. Another’s weakness [...]

After five years of progressively more offensive Super Bowl advertising, yesterday was the last straw. I’ve switched 36 domain names from GoDaddy to NameCheap.com.
Revisiting the domain registrar list, I was pleased to find that it had exploded since I last researched. Not really into checking out all of GoDaddy’s 952 competitors, I [...]

One of the great things about interactive Internet is the amazing things we can do with it. Super Bowl advertisers are getting more creative at integrating traditional commercials with social media and other online marketing techniques. Several companies have created ancillary videos around the commercials. Here are a couple I have run across so far…
Miller [...]

The 2009 Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest entrants seem to have stepped it up a notch this year. Similar to past contests, the winner’s 30-second spot becomes a Super Bowl commercial. Since the recession and the fear of being perceived as frivolous is causing many former Super Bowl advertisers to dial down their lineups [...]

Coupon users tend to have higher income and more education than non-users. And the wealthiest among us are some of the most frugal. Think about it.

Sometimes a formula just isn’t enough. A reader, who recently read the Figuring Break Even Point piece from a few years back, was confused about how to use the CPM formula. I responded, explaining — in words and figures — how to figure the break even point using his numbers. Analytical Bobette was pleased with [...]

When updating your marketing plan, do you imagine the future and take into account how your business environment will change? Throw the current environment out the door, predict what will happen to turn your industry on its head, and plan for that? Perhaps too few of us take that approach. Most (including yours truly) tend [...]

If you had any doubts about the power (or swiftness) of social media, think again. Over the last several days, Johnson & Johnson has felt the downside of this power. Through social media such as Twitter (#MotrinMoms) and YouTube — and blogs across the Internet — moms rebelled at a commercial many saw as patronizing. [...]

Used correctly, I believe commenting on blogs (and leaving a Website link) is a good strategy. Signature links — or links to content supporting or expanding on a point — help the reader learn more about you or find more information and are good strategy. Links plastered on a forum or blog along with a [...]