October is Small Business Month, so it’s the perfect time to acknowledge and celebrate a thriving entrepreneurial trend: the rise of the freelance movement. In the past decade alone, technology, globalization and economic factors have empowered and inspired workers to leave the corporate world behind and establish their own freelance business. The freelancing community has […]
Customers are the lifeblood of your business. Successfully attracting and delighting customers can lead to repeat business, positive word of mouth, loyalty, competitive advantage and long-term growth. What’s the best way to make customers happy in the first place? Give them value. In every single communication – written or verbal – tell your customers and […]
The Internet is congested. Today most companies have an online presence, which makes it harder for your website to stand out. To give your company greater visibility on the information highway, and increase leads and sales, you need to attract more traffic to your website. Consistently attracting more website visitors gives you a larger pool […]
Blogging about your business is one of the most effective ways to boost web traffic, generate leads and establish a sense of authority. Yet some businesses struggle to blog on a consistent basis due to a lack of content ideas, which limits opportunities for customers to engage with your brand. To plan your business blog’s […]
Situation: A client called me in a panic after receiving negative feedback on social media. A competitor attacked my client’s brand in a long, rambling post on LinkedIn, which concluded with the man promoting his own brand. Approach: Fortunately I had already collaborated with my client on a crisis communication plan and standard operating procedures […]
In today’s crowded marketplace it’s hard to stand out, especially if your company lacks a massive marketing budget. Luckily the Internet helps “level the playing field” for companies of all sizes to turn themselves into giants by telling their story — all for minimal cost. Here are five ways your company can gain a competitive […]
How social is your business? Over 46% of businesses say social media drives sales, according to recent research. In honour of Social Media Week (Sept. 22-26, 2014), let’s examine how social media can build your business – from A to Z. Audience: No matter who your business targets, your customers likely use social media. Social […]
Want to market your company without spending money? You can make your marketing efforts more flexible by approaching the media to share your story with a broad audience. The media sector is insatiable, always hungry for good stories. So, using the media is the marketing equivalent of doing downward dog, energizing and strengthening your brand […]
Eureka! Your organization is already filled with an abundance of surprising, free sources of stories. It’s time to share anecdotes on what you do and why your business is a treasure to your target market. Tap into these unexpected goldmines to dig up compelling stories about your company: Sent mail: Look through your email to […]
Everybody loves a good story. Effective stories have the power to help your business stand out among rivals, engage prospects, win over investors, inspire employees and earn customer loyalty. That’s because stories are more memorable than straight facts, and they engage the audience’s head and heart. Here are five creative ways to tell your business’ […]
Recently, social media has exploded from a playful phenomenon to a business imperative. Used effectively, these communication tools help companies gain a competitive advantage by understanding what customers want and how to improve their customer experience. To make wise social media investment decisions for your organization, consider the following strategic questions: Strategic alignment: How does […]
In today’s sink-or-swim world of business, your company needs to be online – and use website copy that advances its strategy. Use these 25 web writing tips as a lifesaver to make your company’s digital content stand out: Writing basics Write clear, simple content. Plain language is easiest to read. Cover only one topic per […]