Many of the ways that you could market your business open you up to receiving feedback from the audience receiving your message. For some business owners, the idea of creating conversation with your audience is appealing and invigorating. For others, the idea of getting negative engagement – especially in forums that are publicly visible – [...]
An important topic came up this week with more than one client, and – as I sit with it – I realize how often this same concern has come up with others over the years. I am constantly encouraging small business marketers to find a way to communicate with their audiences. Not just once, but [...]
As a business owner, you want to put your best foot forward all the time. You want happy customers, consistent sales, and to be proud of your work. However, the reality of having your own business is that you are treading an uncharted path. As you continue to define what your business is, how you [...]
You work so hard in your business to get organized, put systems in place, and create stability day to day. You may even be ready for the occasional crisis. But…are you ready for GOOD news? Your good news is the best thing that’s happened to your business lately, and you don’t want to let it [...]
In marketing, we often talk about the power of reviews and testimonials. What others choose to say about us holds weight – more than our own words, even. Like it or not, external validation plays a role in decision making for most people. So, what happens when the reviews aren’t positive? Today we’re talking about [...]
Something interesting happened this last couple of weeks. Four different people asked me for advice on how to message when a business has a change in ownership. Four people in two weeks – and I had never been asked that question before! The contexts were different, but the root question was the same: how do [...]
Successful businesses – no matter what type, size, or industry – have one thing in common. They stand out amongst competitors. Standing out is what makes people choose you, buy from you, donate to you. When you think about the ways you can set yourself apart, one factor becomes especially meaningful: having a strong reputation. [...]
When it comes to marketing, branding, or public relations for your business, how much personal information and opinion should be involved? This is a complicated topic, and one that can be difficult for a small business owner to navigate on the fly. Today, we are going to set some ground rules for how much you [...]
This post is a crash course in crisis communications. If you are a small business owner or a nonprofit CEO, you probably wear a lot of hats for your business. Also, you probably were never told much about the hats. The crisis communications hat is a tough one, because when it is time to wear [...]
For small businesses owners – and especially solopreneurs – personal brand and business brand can have a lot of crossover. Which makes for an interesting question: Where do you draw the line between showing authentic personality in your brand and sharing personal information with your audience? The answer to this question will be different for [...]