An Update on 7 Marketing Plan Must-Haves: Setting a Realistic Budget

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An Update on 7 Marketing Plan Must-Haves: Setting a Realistic Budget

Use these investment guidelines to set a marketing budget that will pay off in higher quality leads for your company.

Must-have #7 in the 7 Marketing Plan Must-Haves is the marketing budget. We’re finding, however, that many small business owners are reluctant to set a budget. As a result, they’re taking a haphazard approach to marketing their company, if they’re marketing at all. The result? Their sales reps often have to work harder and longer to close business.

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6 Keys to Selling to the C-Suite – It Starts with Personal Brand & Thought Leadership

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6 Keys to Selling to the C-Suite – It Starts with Personal Brand & Thought Leadership

Personal branding and thought leadership are among the 6 keys that can help you sell more effectively to the C-Suite.

Selling to the C-Suite has changed dramatically in recent years. It’s no longer about knowing – and golfing – with the right people. Buyers expect more (and different) things from sales and service professionals.

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Are Your Email Messages Getting Opened?

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Effective email marketing tactics to use now

Are Your Email Messages Getting Opened?

These tips, based on MailerMailer’s email metrics report, will help you use this powerful marketing tactic more effectively.

Email marketing shows no signs of slowing down, according to an email marketing metrics report by MailerMailer, an email marketing software service. Email remains the top way individuals share information, and over 90% of Americans use it every day. One top email trend: mobile. ClickZ reports that four out of 10 individuals regularly check email with a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet.

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Soup, or Why I Became an Entrepreneur

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I’ve been part of a Mastermind Group since 2012. A recent homework assignment was to write “our” story. Since I’m not one to be satisfied with a standard bio, here’s what I wrote:

Soup, or Why I Became an EntrepreneurI’m not a Soup Nazi, but lately I’ve become obsessed with soup. Now soup may seem like a simple thing: you open a can of Campbell’s – or if you’re fitness obsessed, Progresso Lite – and then pour it into a pot and heat. But when you make soup from scratch, it becomes a whole ‘nother ballgame. It is fresh with a deep flavor that’s way better than the canned stuff.

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Insights from the Career Corner

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As a gift to my readers, I’m sharing the Career Corner columns I’m writing for Chemical Engineering Progress magazine.

These articles are great resources, whether you are a young professional or are a mid-career expert. Business owners will find useful insights as well.

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Building Your Company’s Brand

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Building Your Company's BrandI recently had a conversation with a sales director of a New Jersey-based emerging tech firm. He asked me whether or not the company should be paying attention to branding. Here’s what I told him:

Branding is a distillation – and often a visualization (think: logos) – of what your clients value about working with you. A good brand sets you apart from the crowd in your prospects’ minds (this is also known as your brand’s strategic positioning).

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23 Sales & Marketing Ideas for 2013

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23 Sales & Marketing Ideas for 2013

Here’s how some NJ business owners will be boosting their sales & marketing in 2013

At a recent Executive Exchange Inc. meeting, business owners talked about how they will boost their sales and marketing efforts in 2013. Here are some ideas that were discussed:

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Use Small Business Saturday to Get Your Business Going Again

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Use Small Business Saturday to Get Your Business Going Again

This sign for Cranford-based WebUndies.com is an example of the free tools offered by American Express for Small Business Saturday on November 24.

With so many NJ small businesses knocked flat by Hurricane Sandy, it’s easy for owners whose businesses are still up and running to forget that the holiday shopping season is on our doorstep. American Express is once again promoting Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on what is typically one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.

Why not use this event to get your business focused back on sales?

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Superstorm Sandy Relief Efforts for New Jersey’s Small Business

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Superstorm Sandy Relief Efforts for New Jersey's Small Business

Join the 11/8 conference call to learn about the relief efforts for NJ’s small businesses.

Hurricane Sandy has devastated New Jersey’s small businesses. Many of Advantage Marketing’s small business clients have been affected, so I wanted to share this information about a conference call on Thursday, November 8 that will provide updates on NJ’s relief efforts for small businesses. Please tune in if you have been impacted!

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Tips for Building Your Email Subscriber List

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Tips for Building Your Email Subscriber List

Follow these tips and grow your email marketing subscriber list responsibly.

In 5 Email Marketing Traps to Avoid, I talked about the five ways you can mess up your email marketing. But what are some of the steps you need to take to get it right?

The first thing you need to do is to grow your email subscriber list. There are many ways to collect subscribers, and you’ll want to be creative in building your list. But, as I pointed out in 5 Traps, not every email address that comes across your desk represents someone asking to be subscribed to your list.

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