The Client Stampede - Disruptive Marketing & Big Growth Thinking for Trailblazing Companies

Did you ever watch that old chick flick called "Under the Tuscan Sun?"   Italy is one of my favorite countries to visit, but that's not the reason I liked this movie. Actually I don't remember anything about this movie except one very memorable line where one of the characters talks about a very steep section of the Alps between Austria and Italy called the Semmering. It is an...

Have you ever dropped the price on a product or service - not a little, but a lot - to make some quick sales? If you have, you're certainly not alone, but it does mean that your current marketing is not strong enough to do the job without dropping your price, so it's time for a change in strategy.  Here's why ... GET  MORE MARKETING & SALES  TOOLS: Are you interested in becoming...

One of the easiest ways to make your company go viral - is to do something that makes people laugh - and want to share with others.  One of the easiest ways to do this is by taking the humble on-hold message and infusing it with your company's own brand of wit. No one is expecting an on-hold message to be anything other than boring elevator music, or possibly a sales pitch recorded in a mono-...

I'm just going to come out and say it - for most people tracking marketing results can feel about as exciting as watching paint dry. People either feel completely overwhelmed at the idea of doing this (where to even start?), or if they're doing it already - they're only partially doing it, so their data isn't truly accurate. And btw asking clients where they heard about you is...

Do you think laundry is exciting? I sure didn't - that is until I came across this company in NYC that serves the top of the market.  They have found a really simple but very effective way to make laundry fun by doing something unexpected. And, if they can make laundry exciting - well, just imagine how you can apply this same principle to something in your business that is far more thrilling...

Do you remember that popular book from about 10 years ago with the cringe-worthy title "Men Are From Mars, Women are from Venus?"  Well, when it comes to buying behavior and emotional triggers, the way men and women approach their buying decisions may as well be from different planets.  This means EVERYTHING from your Irresistible  Messaging (Step 2 of the Client Stampede Formula) to you...

Ahhh copywriting - the science and art of using words to persuade. It's a learned skill (not a gift or special talent), but once you know some key principles you can immediately start reaping the rewards.  The first step in writing great copy is being acutely aware of the words you use. Every word is loaded with meaning - so is it the right one? This super-short episode tells the story of how...

Ahh great ideas - they can descend upon us like tidal waves sometimes. But how do you know if you've got a REALLY good idea - you know that one idea in a million that could put you on the map in a REALLY big way? Use this simple test ... it can save you a LOT of wasted time and money... GET  MORE MARKETING & SALES  TOOLS: Are you interested in becoming the published author of a powerful b...

One of the hardest things to do as a business owner - is to act as your own consultant and see where the issues (and opportunities) lie within your own business.  Just so you know it's not just you! I'm a consultant and I still can't act as a consultant to any of my own businesses because I can't be objective - there's just too much emotion involved, (which is why I regula...

Yep I know the number one most frequently asked question is "what should my marketing budget be,"  but the fact that you're asking that question means you're looking at things through the wrong end of the telescope.  Another great quote I heard recently is that "Marketing is far too important to be left only to the marketing department."  That's why, no matter wh...

With Facebook's ad share plummeting, and Google's ad network costing higher than ever for impressions and clicks, TikTok is proving to be the new platform of choice - but NOT  to attract the attention of teens. Guess who else is watching those TikTok videos and laughing or twerking alongside their kids - yup it's the new engagement platform for parents which is why lots of big brand...

Do you have anything designed by Kenneth Cole in your wardrobe? A pair of shoes, a leather satchel, or a t-shirt with some kind of fashion-forward statement emblazoned on it? Now a global empire, Kenneth Cole started off with humble beginnings - a guy with a plan and no money. Hear how he launched his shoe company in just two and a half days with some creative thinking and bulldog tenacity.    GET...

These harsh words were said to me by my first marketing mentor when I was just starting out. They stung like crazy, but of course, he was right. I have since decided that the word failure should  be a 4-letter word and removed from everyday vocabulary because, as an entrepreneur (or a business owner), there's no such thing. No matter what  happens, as long as you're pushing forward in so...

As you no doubt already know from difficult past experience, not all your customers are created "equal". By that I mean some customers are an absolute joy to work with, while others turn your hair grey and make you want to throw in the towel.   Your big wins will always come from being able to work with more of those customers that you love working with AND who have the budget to pay you...

Have you ever been in a difficult situation where you feel like you've been backed into a corner, and you've got no choice but to give it everything you've got? Where failure just can't be an option? That's the situation I was in during the last recession when the housing market collapsed and no real estate agent wanted to sell my house unless it was in foreclosure. I HAD...

How is it possible that having just the right combination of words to promote your business can make such a MEGA difference? Creating an Irresistible Marketing Message is step 2 of the Client Stampede Formula and is the number one area I see most businesses stumble with (which then has a trickle down effect to the rest of their marketing making their advertising too easy to ignore).  Listen to how...

I heard a joke once that went something like this:  Question: "How do you know if someone is an entrepreneur?" Answer: "Don't worry they'll tell you!" Ok, one more joke, this time it's a bit better .. A young businessman had just started his own firm. He rented a beautiful office and had it furnished with antiques. Sitting there, he saw a man come into the outer...

Would you eat at a restaurant that had a poor healthcare rating? I did and the place was still jam-packed ... here's what they were doing right, and why eating there was well worth the risk. .. GET  MORE MARKETING & SALES  TOOLS: Are you interested in becoming the published author of a powerful book to help you attract more ideal clients and set you apart from the competition? Imagine hol...

The power of copywriting to create value using just the right combination of words, is a superpower great advertisers have been tapping into for well over 100 years. Whether you're selling online, or in person it doesn't matter. The strength of your advertisement is what's going to determine whether someone decides to take action, or not.  This episode gives you a quick insight into...

The Oracle of Omaha is perhaps one of the savviest marketers under the sun. But possibly not in the way you might think. Did you know that marketing sits as one of the most central decisions for every company he purchases? Take a listen to what he values the most ... GET  MORE MARKETING & SALES  TOOLS: Are you interested in becoming the published author of a powerful book to help you attract m...

If your business is focused on selling business to business (B2B) then using LinkedIn is a no-brainer to help expand your company's brand reach, connect with prospective buyers and start building a relationship. Just like every other social media platform, LinkedIN requires a far different approach which is just one of the reasons why you can't post the same content across multiple platf...

As none of us knew the wrecking ball the pandemic would be to the global economy, (especially small businesses) - don't worry if your revenue numbers aren't where they should be. Here are some tips to help things get back on track. GET  MORE MARKETING & SALES  TOOLS: Are you interested in becoming the published author of a powerful book to help you attract more ideal clients and set...

There's nothing worse than that feeling of being pressured into buying something. The days of hard-selling are well and truly over (thank goodness), but equally, you're in business to make money so making sales is your bread and butter. At the other end of the spectrum you can't just throw your company's name and logo out there and hope that somehow people will call (why do so...

Ready for your company to go viral? One of the smartest things you can do is create  a series of videos that captures the personality of your business and makes people laugh. As you know, boring advertising is everywhere, but a company with a good sense of humor - well, that's worth sharing ... GET  MORE MARKETING & SALES  TOOLS: Are you interested in becoming the published author of a po...

Every business I have ever worked with (including my own sometimes) have had a leaky marketing bucket. What's a leaky bucket? It's a gap or shortcoming in your marketing engine that reduces your company's ability to attract, convert or retain clients. In other words, it's money flooding out of your business. Sometimes these holes or gaps are small and can be easily fixed, which...