Putting a target on its back
Donald Trump’s return to office brought with it a war against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These efforts sought to promote fair treatment and...
Ask Mr. Marketing
Piecing together memorable customer experiences
Regular readers know I help people write books. Previously, I spent decades in marketing. These careers have given me a unique set of skills that...
Why your business needs a soundtrack
Years ago, I ran in-house marketing operations for a balloon delivery service. Computers were fairly rudimentary in those days. Email and websites didn’t exist, and...
Road rage can drive customers away
Perhaps you’ve noticed there’s a lot of anger in society today. Various factors (information overload, politics, lack of trust, social media algorithms, economic pressure, blame-seeking,...
When a sign sends two messages
I recently took my car in for a tune-up. At the check-in line, a sign said, “We want to buy your car” and invited inquiries....
Does this meeting make me look fat?
To do well in business, it helps to know not only what you sell, but also why you sell it. Having this knowledge makes it...
Talk fast. You’re losing my attention.
Volunteers typically run nonprofits and forget their organization is a business. Whether selling causes or candidates, they need money to cover rent, lights and salaries....
Getting customers to sell for you
Blue Gorilla Media has been my go-to website provider for years, and I regularly refer friends and clients to them for hosting, development, and maintenance....
An easy way to improve results
This morning I received a postcard with the headline, “Kelly, join us for an exclusive catered event.” I know it was for a timeshare sales...
Ask Mr. Marketing: Why I fired my accountant
I just fired my accountant. She did good work, but phone calls and emails consistently went unanswered. As a business owner, I need data to...
Ask Mr. Marketing: Can a company own a color?
Show a robin’s egg blue box to most people, and they’ll think “Tiffany.” Women’s shoes with red soles scream “Christian Louboutin.” Pink clothing? “Barbie.” Three...
Persistence helps you make the sale
My mother persuaded me to take typing classes in high school so I’d always have something to fall back on, workwise. Once in college, I...
Why I’m thankful this year
Social conflict, global tension and lingering uncertainty make it challenging to acknowledge what remains good, stable and hopeful in our lives. Yet during turbulent times,...
Being shapely and having some wine
Southern California living means constant exposure to wine. Anyone paying attention can’t help but notice that the bottles look frighteningly similar. Most wineries count on...
I want everything for Christmas
“My marketing isn’t generating the same results it used to,” my friend Charlie said. Increased competition and rising costs had deteriorated his advertising results, and...