There are many reasons you may have landed here but it's probably because you want greater profits in your business. Want to make more money? Improve your marketing.

That is what this site is about.

Want to increase your sales? Then you're in a good place. Trying to build your brand, get your name out there or to win creativity awards and impress people? Keep looking because I'll only irritate you.

You see, my clients are typically small businesses. It's my job to increase their sales (and yours).

This blog is dedicated to you and the legions of small businesses around the world that are looking for help. Marketing is a mystery to many. The options are countless but what will work for you? I write a lot about what works and about what I think is a big waste of your hard-earned profits. Enjoy the posts. Add your comments, whether you think they are great or a load of *****.

Thanks for visiting. I'm glad you're here.
Paul

My Marketing Musings

Small Business Marketing Tips, what about asking me to return?

What do these three quotes have in common? “But Paul, I don’t want to bother them.” “But Paul, I don’t have the time.” “But Paul, it’s too expensive and they buy from me anyway.” They are the reasons business owners and sales people give to me for not keeping in touch with their clients. It’s been proven time and again that the easiest client to sell a product or service to is an existing... Read more

Cheap Marketing in a Down Economy

I’m constantly amazed at the number of business owners who tell me they don’t contact their clients because they don’t want to bother them or because, “Nobody wants to hear about _____ (fill in the blank product or service). If they never wanted to hear anything about it, why did they buy it in the first place? Why do people assume nobody wants to hear from them? I think a lot of it is psychological and related to insecurities... Read more

Small Business Marketing Tips – Most Businesses are Making Money In “This Awful Economy”

I gave a marketing seminar this morning to a group of about 30 business owners this morning that was sponsored by the local Small Business Development Center.  We asked the question, “How many of your businesses are doing well?”  Two thirds of them raised their hands. Of the hands that didn’t go up, a couple of them were just starting out so nearly everyone in attendance was doing well (or faked it to be in the crowd).  Think... Read more

Writing copy or ads? Don’t be boring!

I think one of the biggest small business marketing mistakes I see is ng copy.  Sales letters, client communications, brochures, web sites and other media are too frequently written in “business speak.”  You know what I mean.  The formal, dry and boring copy that seems to have the goal of putting the reader to sleep. Look back to your days in school (high school or college) and think of your old history, English and other textbooks.... Read more

What are you talking about?

Are you writing copy for a newsletter, blog, web site or sales letters?  Do you write your own brochures or business letters?  Do you ever wonder if your message is getting through?  When you proofread your materials, do you stop to wonder if it is even interesting? What’s my point?  Okay, bear with me and I’ll share a small business marketing tip that can make a huge difference in response rates in the response rate to everything... Read more