With today's marketplace so cluttered, business owners have to differentiate themselves from the rest of the bunch. Continue reading to learn some of the fastest ways to market your business in a cluttered market. All marketing material images and tones should coincide with your brand. Website, postcards, mission statement, slogan, brochures, newsletters, letters, press … [Read more...]
The Business Case for Hope
Post by M.J. Ryan, contributing Women On Business writer Think hope is not something we need in the hard business world? Think again. In these challenging times, says psychologist and hope researcher Shane J. Lopez, it’s a crucial business skill. Here’s why. When we’re faced with challenges, as I describe in AdaptAbility, it is crucial that we think as innovatively and … [Read more...]
Lessons from the ‘Oprah Lady’
Post by Cheryl Santa Maria, contributing Women On Business writer "If you want to become a successful blogger and writer you need to be more like the 'Oprah Lady' [whose real name is Robyn Okrant]," my friend told me after patiently listening to me wail and complain about my lack of freelancing prospects. "She's a marketing genius," my friend said. "For one whole year … [Read more...]
6 Best Tips to Online Cost Effective Marketing
Is your business experiencing stagnation with the Recession? If so, continue reading. Five years ago, did you see this economic recession coming? Perhaps, you did to a lesser extent, but you didn't really think it was going to be this bad, right? With that said, companies have to gain leverage and position themselves to their markets by becoming the number one choice to … [Read more...]
Use Your Web of Influence
Years ago, I went through a training program on customer retention that emphasized the importance of identifying a web of influence within a client account. The web of influence not only included that main contact or champion, but other individuals within the company that could "influence" your success. Having more than one contact is of utmost importance to maintain stability … [Read more...]
About Competition and Sales
On June 4th, I hosted the Whale Hunting Women Summit in Indianapolis, Indiana. The event provided inspiration, motivation, and direction for the more than 165 women who attended. As part of my own presentation to the audience, I talked about what I see as the movement from a culture of competition (a 20th century idea) to a culture of collaboration (a 21st century idea.) I … [Read more...]
Change Is the One Thing You Can Count On
Post by M.J. Ryan, contributing Women On Business writer Chris owns a business installing high end wood flooring. During the refinancing boom, her business grew to $4 million. As the economy has slowed, demand for her products has shrunk. Competitors are offering much lower prices and customers have less spare cash to choose the high end option--if they can afford new floors … [Read more...]
How did you choose YOUR ‘A’ team?
Every year at high school we’d do netball grading. A handful of mothers involved in school netball would watch lots of us play and grade us – choosing the teams A, B and C and mixing the rest up. … [Read more...]
4 Great Women Bloggers
I've been on my "virtual blog tour" for one month now. This is an activity in which on every business day, a blogger or radio host invites me to be interviewed or contribute a guest post. Several hosts have invited me to be "present" in their blog space for several days. The purpose of my tour is to promote my new book Whale Hunting Women, and Nikki Leigh of Promo 101 is … [Read more...]
The Value of Casting a Long-Term Vision
Organic company growth is typically seen as something that is steady. Five to twenty-five percent a year growth is deemed reasonable and in many cases aggressive. Hockey stick growth, that which is 50, 75, 100+ percent growth in a single year and then sustained at high rates in a few subsequent years, is usually thought to only occur through acquisitions or mergers. This does … [Read more...]