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Parodies offer great small business marketing insights
Pat Kelly presented at the annual This is That Talks in Whistler, B.C. this April.  It’s an obvious spoof on TED Talks (lasting 4 minutes instead of eighteen). What’s most interesting about this lampoon is, while he says, well, not much of import, he’s a captivating speaker. Yes, Kelly is presenting satire, yet the techniques…
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Is bigger, faster, higher better?
One of the things that really struck me as I’ve been watching some of the women’s gymnastics competitions during this Olympics is how grace is mostly gone. I suppose the same could be said about many small business marketing tactics. The female Olympians compete with a primary emphasis on brawn. Floor routines are all about…
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Marketing is not a dirty word
Honestly, I get why people are suspect when they hear the word, or the job descriptor, marketing. It’s sad that such prejudices are rampant, but, as is often the case in life, one bad experience colors bias in ways that masks judgemental reactions. Recently, I attended Toastmasters leadership training workshop. The trainer for the Vice…
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Have you thought about crafting a small business personality?
Mike Consol, a consultant in California focused on public speaking, presentation and business writing support, shot a video blog post recently that prompted me to start thinking in ways I hadn’t before. As I reflected on his brilliant branding idea of anthropomorphizing your small business, I realized that my business personality was different than mine…
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Networking for introverts and novices
Whether you’re uncomfortable in groups, new to an organization or struggling with an introverted nature that saps your energy when you’re around other people, there are easy ways to grow your reach, credibility and business prosperity at gatherings. Most people misunderstand the terms introvert and extrovert. Simply put, extroverts are energized by being around other…
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Most small business marketing is backwards
Have you ever wondered why marketing doesn’t make sense? There are things in life we never question because “it’s just the way it is”. Much of what the masses have come to accept is backwards. I now have cable for the first time (too many Mennonites between me and any village population at my former…
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7 small business marketing tips you can learn from lawn mowers
The last time I had so much fun mowing the lawn was, well, never. How much fun have you had lately with your small business marketing? The fact that it’s March 22nd with grass blades reaching young hay height had me doing the happy dance. Outdoor exercise that’s not about shoveling snow is a delightful…
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If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave
“If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave.” Mo Willems I was doing that rapid buzz through e-mail thing so many of us do to cross a “to do” item off our lists when this gem of a quote brought me back to mindfulness. It’s timely, of course (as so much is when…
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Looking for clever small business solutions? Try asking the animals.
They say animals are honest. I’ve met enough crafty ones to realize some have a grand sense of humor. No need to climb aboard that anthropomorphizing high horse (the mere suggestion draws flame wars in some equine circles). That’s not where I’m going here. Instead, consider spending time paying attention to the critter characters around…
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Moving a small business
There are some things about Virginia that leave me awestruck. I paid $1.39 a gallon for gas yesterday. To be fair, this was at a Kroger station where my monthly grocery bill nets discounts (I had to ask the milk stocking clerk about this to learn that my 20 cents off was due to spending…