The Savvy Entrepreneur

A few weeks ago my step-dad told me he wants to start a business selling log homes in Canada as an authorized dealer for a US company. The coach, entrepreneur and Devil’s Advocate in me perked up and started asking tough questions about how he plans to execute his marketing plan — is there even [...]

In my last article, I helped you identify where you’re stuck in the marketing cycle. Now that you know what area you need to concentrate on (filling the pipeline, following up, getting presentations or closing sales), you’re ready to select and implement marketing strategies to get you closer to your goal of getting more paying [...]

Do you find out what your client needs before you start servicing him? For example, if you were contracted for your letter writing services, would you get to work right away? Or would you conduct a preliminary interview with your client to find out: What style and voice does he want you to use? Who [...]

What’s your impression of entrepreneurs who use free or web-based email addresses, like Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, Gmail, etc. for business communication and marketing? When I receive emails (especially unsolicited) from such accounts (sorry to say, I lump ISP accounts like Sympatico, Videotron, etc. in this group as well), I tend to think negatively about the [...]

Alright, so I spent all day yesterday switching newsletter providers. I went from Constant Contact to iContact. I must say, the entire process has been quite stressful — and will remain to be stressful for another month or so. I’m not sure how many subscribers I’ll lose, but at least those who opt-in to the [...]

This message was posted to members of a networking forum I belong to: A recent study done by Internet Marketer Sheila Scofield has revealed some amazing information as to people don’t buy from her websites.If you are wondering why people don’t buy from your website, then click here to find out more details. She also [...]

Don’t feel like reading this post? Listen to it here. Today’s marketing tip is all about gaining customer confidence. What is THE most important element in marketing your service-based business? Your customers, of course! Think about it: How can you have a business without customers? Why, though, should you spend precious marketing hours gaining the [...]

I’m embarrassed to admit this challenge I’ve been having, but I’m at a loss as to what I should do. I’m hoping someone will read this and offer a practical solution or make suggestions. Here’s the situation. My newsletter, The Journey is the Point, is sent to about 300 subscribers (in looking at my stats, [...]

I found this really cool site, EmailStatCenter.com, where you can find all sorts of data relating to the world of email marketing. This is how Jeanniey Mullen, founder of The Email Experience Council (eec), describes it: “Email marketers now have access to a definitive and fantastic repository of email industry metrics and portal for email [...]

This comment was recently posted on an online networking group: In my naivety I had the idea that I was so well known in the local real estate industry that I could just go out there, hand out my new business cards and BOOM… I’d be in business! I am learning that this is much [...]

If so, how much effort are you putting into producing it? What image are you looking to convey? Does your Podcast reflect that ? Do you publish a less-than-professional podcast? On the Make Marketing History blog, John Dodds posts an article that I really enjoyed: 5 Ways To Improve your Podcast Please. I hope you [...]

In a coaching session with a new entrepreneur yesterday, I asked what was holding her back from getting more clients. Her answer was a combination of “I have a problem with approaching strangers” and “I fear rejection.” As I probed deeper, she said that networking at the Chamber of Commerce in her area didn’t work. [...]