World of Marketing

Every business owner has a different way of managing their marketing. For some, Google rankings are a top priority, while others choose to focus on other things. Community marketing should matter to everyone. Kevin McManus, a personal injury lawyer and councilman from Kansas City, Missouri, said, "It's a much more rewarding way to get cases, and the cases are usually better." Kevin and Tom also ta...

Anything worth doing is worth doing right. It may take longer than you expected, but when you're launching a project to help your clients, every second counts. The DSS Training Center is ready to launch, and we're excited to unveil it! Molly McCormick, director of marketing at FWM, said, "The Training Center is meant to be a useful tool for our clients. The goal is to have information for everyone...

Technology makes shooting videos easier than ever. Social media and some website videos can be recorded on a smartphone. It's the fastest and easiest way to get updated information out to your audience. Jim Folliard, owner of Gearshift Studios, said, "Video is like food. You can't just have the same food on the plate year after year." Jim and Tom talked about the evolution of videography and how i...

Cities throughout the United States are usually known for something. It could be for a landmark, a famous person, or a historical event.   There are some towns, though, that are famous for completely different reasons. Walter Reaves, a Waco, Texas criminal defense attorney, said, "Waco seems to attract a lot of crazy criminal stuff." Walter and Tom discussed some of the wackiness that goes on in t...

Designing a website isn't just about making it look pretty. There are many parts to fine-tune to ensure it runs smoothly and converts successfully. You need to make it easy for your visitors to find information and get to know you. Gretchen Upright, chief business development officer at FWM, says, "A confused mind doesn't buy." Gretchen and Tom talked about consistent branding, the use of white sp...

You don't have to choose whether to be a good business owner or a good doctor. Doing both isn't just possible; it's necessary for success. It all really comes down to the type of leader you are. Tyson Franklin, a former podiatrist who now works as a business mentor and podcaster, says, "Crappy businesses lack leadership." Tyson talked to Tom about how making your firm positive, fun, and inviting c...

Marketing isn't about doing just one thing. To have a truly successful strategy, you must learn how to balance a variety of systems and keep them running smoothly. It's critical to have a plan and find ways to repurpose and reuse content. Simone DeLoach, marketing director at DeLoach, Hofstra & Cavonis in Florida, said, "It's not just about getting the client. You have to keep the client." Simone...

Regularly adding content is the most important thing you can do for your website. It may be challenging, but it's definitely worth the time you put into it. Writing may not be your strong suit, but you don't have to go it alone. Trent Semler, senior digital marketing strategist at FWM, says, "The more bait that you lay, the more that you'll catch." Trent talked to Tom about a variety of content ge...

As a business owner, you have to manage a variety of issues on a daily basis. However, if you hire the right people, they'll do most of the work for you. You need to give them the freedom to come up with their own solutions and not be afraid to share them with you. Dr. David Weiman, a psychologist and leadership consultant from Pennsylvania, uses the GROW model to encourage alternative solutions t...

Nobody said marketing is easy. But there are tools that can help you along the way. Email marketing is a critical piece of a successful business strategy. Toby Crandall, chief technology officer at Foster Web Marketing, said, "An email reputation is a lot like your credit score." Toby and Tom talked about exciting new upgrades to the email dashboard in DSS that will dramatically improve delivery f...

It's easy to let negativity weigh you down and sidetrack your plans. But there are silver linings everywhere if you take the time to look for them. Now is the time to stay connected and reach out to people who think like you. Rem Jackson, owner of Top Practices, says, "You can't be prosperous if you're not happy." Rem talked to Tom about his new podcast and how prosperity is a function of marketin...

Business owners know it takes inventiveness and flexibility to find success. Some highs and lows are expected, but a pandemic can throw everything off. But it's offering a welcomed chance to really analyze what's working and what's not. Ed Littlejohn, lawyer and owner of Littlejohn Law in Ohio, says, "It's the small businesses, we are what makes America great. And, we're going to bring America out...

Most people have dreams and a vision of what they want for their businesses and their lives. However, things don't always go as planned. Sometimes we get wrapped up in helping others, and we put ourselves and our plans on hold. Danny Izquierdo, lawyer and owner of Izquierdo Law in Florida, went through some rough years and says, "I wasn't thriving. I was just surviving."  Danny talked to Tom about...

Community-oriented marketing campaigns take time to plan, develop, and launch. Many different groups have a hand in making them successful. When a pandemic hits, should you keep moving forward with the project? Wes Gralapp, a lawyer with NBA Law Firm in Louisiana, says it was an easy decision to continue because "We're on the side of the people when we do what we do." Wes talked to Tom about how t...

Night shift ER doctors often see patients suffering from a variety of traumas. Many won't admit it, but these conditions are usually related to alcohol and drug abuse. Depression, anxiety, and loneliness often spur use disorders and lead to poor coping methods. Dr. Christopher Sendi, an addiction specialist in Virginia, says, "Boredom and unstructured time are the kiss of death when it comes to ad...

Many businesses have drastically changed how they do things. Employees are working from home, relying on technology to conduct meetings and appointments. In a world that is anything but ordinary, some are still delivering an in-office experience via video. Van Smith, attorney and owner of Smith Strong in Virginia, believes the entire process has to be authentic and as close to business as usual as...

Doctors and lawyers get extensive educations before they start practicing. But, how to run a business isn't something they're usually taught. Many have mentors or coaches to show them the way, keep them focused, and hold them accountable. Dr. Peter Wishnie, podiatrist and owner of Family Foot & Ankle Specialists in New Jersey, says, "Most of us know what we need to do, but sometimes we need to be...

There are some things in life that are hard to explain. It's easy just to accept what you're told and believe you have all the answers. But, do you truly know the real story and have all the facts? Bill Voss, lawyer and entrepreneur, says, "You need to do your homework and make your own decisions." Bill and Tom talked about aliens, ancient history, Atlantis, and questioning the curiosities of life...

Businesses of all sizes have been affected by this pandemic. It has forced many to make tough, emotional decisions. Unfortunately, for many employers, these decisions include staffing changes. Jason Abraham, managing partner of Hupy and Abraham, says, "Bigger isn't always better when you're in the middle of a pandemic. It can be quite scary." Jason talked to Tom about how "unbelievably hard" it wa...

It's hard to list all the things we've lost over the past few months. We've lost count of the many ways our lives have changed. But, what about all the things we've gained? Dr. Andrew Schneider, podiatrist and owner of Tanglewood Foot Specialists in Houston, says getting back into content writing full time "has brought back joy to my business that I've been missing." Andrew talked to Tom about his...

As business owners, we like to stay on the cutting edge and try new things with our marketing. However, most of us have those tried and true methods that continue to bring in leads. Now's the time we realize the importance of our follow-up campaigns when it comes to keeping things going. Charley Mann, chief marketing officer of Great Legal Marketing, says firms that did the most work ahead of time...

In the days before the pandemic, it was so easy to put things off and think, "I'll do that later." Now, everything has changed, and we can't get to those things like we planned. As a small business owner, you worry about who you're going to disappoint and all those who depend on you. Somnath (Som) Sikdar, co-owner and instructor of Dragon Gym, says, "We've definitely had to evade and dodge, but no...

Now is a time to acknowledge the situation we're in, and develop a realistic mindset to get through it. It's a time to start thinking differently, and not fall back to our same old ways. Pennsylvania attorney Dave Frees says the people who are paying attention to all the changes will adapt and go further than those who stick to their routines. Dave and Tom discussed that currently, marketing is ab...

As business owners, you know how hectic and busy life can be. However, this pandemic has forced many to slow down and take a step back. It's time to get creative and think of other things you can do even if they're out of your comfort zone. Florida attorney Adam Rossen says, "Most of marketing is coming up with crazy ideas and just doing it." Adam talked with Tom about how he's reaching out to oth...

Jim Keller, attorney and partner at Keller & Keller, says, "If you take care of your people, they'll take care of your clients." Jim and Tom discussed how he's been able to keep all of his people employed at the firm's three locations. During this time, Jim has seen leaders emerging within the firm. They've taken it upon themselves to step up and make sure all team members remain well-connected wh...