Growth, acquisitions, multiple locations, more, more, more customers!

It’s what business is all about, isn’t it? That mantra of bigger, faster, better, more! I mean, isn’t that why you’re in business?

It’s a good question. A few weeks back, Jill and I were discussing this very thing, and along with weighing the pros and cons of following thousands of people on Twitter, we talked about the pros and cons of expansion.

Do you try to please more people, yet risk watering-down your product or service, or do you keep your base happy and loyal?

For what it’s worth, I fell on the side of keeping it small and personable.
Of course, Jerry Maguire’s “mission statement” (less clients and more real relationships) got him fired, but for many businesses, staying small means, well, “Show me the money!”
(more…)

We all know that the pen is mightier than the sword, but is it mightier than your sales department?

Some companies are betting on it, and most likely you should, too.

This weekend, The New York Times wrote right past Groupon’s business model, their celestial rise, and their billion dollar Google dodge to focus on what truly makes the company stand aside from the rest of the group coupon and daily deal sites: their content.
“People have grown numb to the elements of advertising that pander to their fears and hopes,” says Groupon’s editor in chief Aaron With.  “[It] insults their intelligence with safe, bland approaches at creativity.”
(more…)

Last week we discussed how marketing where the sun don’t shine (literally), can make your potential customers deem you a skeevy marketer. After all, the point of marketing is to engage, not enrage.

To finish off this three-part “Skeevy Series”, we’re going to discuss marketing on the web. After all, as we at GoZapIT always say, successful websites do not happen by accident.

Here is a list –as told from a user’s perspective – of really bad web marketing techniques:
(more…)

My parents bought a new car this weekend and now, I have a new company to research next time I’m in the market for some new wheels.

Funny how that works, right?

Let’s be honest – as a marketer, you’re about as trustworthy to your customers as that skeevy guy down the street with the hand-painted van that says “Free Candy”. (more…)

“You know what consumers really want?” the CEO asks his employees? No one offered an answer.

“Connection!” he says enthusiastically. “Consumers want to connect with our brand on Facebook and Twitter. They want to feel connected and learn about new products and engage with our brand!”
(more…)

Here’s a headline for you: Big Changes Sweeping Online News. 

But reading about it may cost you. As it should.

Having tried for years to find a way to get people who read online news to pay for it, on Friday, The New York Times announced plans to charge readers for online content. (more…)