This blog post is dedicated to my daughter. Brittany, who is 19, planned a fathers day that I will not forget. It was special to me for many reasons but mostly because it was important for her to demonstrate her love in a way she never could before now. In other words, she has some money in the bank that she earned and saved.
My fathers day gift began as a mystery. I was to be "kidnapped" at 9:00 am but first I had to wear my first gift, a Tommy Hilfiger golf shirt. She insisted I wear this with my golf shorts and running shoes. Now I'm thinking we are going golfing but she did very well at the denial. I hope that is not a family trait. As I'm rushed off in the car she continues her ruse of mystery and eventually we enter the parking lot of a local golf course. Upon arrival she informed me that my clubs are in the trunk, that my brother will be joining me (he was set up by his daughter in the same way), she gave me $20.00 spending money, a pen for the score card and a pin for my shirt that was like the the blue ribbon you award to the prize bull at the country fair that said; 'Worlds Greatest Dad'.
My brother was dressed in the same khaki shorts with his new blue Tommy Hilfiger shirt and prize ribbon. Our daughters took our picture together and sent us on our way for the day. As we came off the golf course they were there to pick us up and then continued the day treating us to dinner at a local franchise pub. At the pub they presented us with a framed picture wrapped nice and it was the two of us dressed alike from this morning. I should mention that the golf was great and many fathers were out with their wife and children. Golfing has truly become a family sport.
Our daughters were very proud to do this for us and I was moved and proud of them as I will always be proud of my daughter. My love and thanks to my daughter for the best fathers day so far. Don't tell her but, I miss the paper finger painted ties I use to get and I would be just as happy with that today.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Business Websites Can Make Or Break You
Too often I visit business websites that have not changed their content since my last visit. On occasion, I see outdated contact information including office move addresses that have not been updated. These sites are certainly not effectively following my post challenge; "Put Yourself In Your Customers Shoes". If your website is guilty of these marketing offenses let me leave with you a piece of information and advice; most internet visitors, your potential customers, will make a decision to stay on your site or leave and never return within 3 seconds.
We hear more and more about Pay Per Click Advertising and essentially you don't have to be too smart to be on the top of a Search Engine like Google in their sponsored sites section. All you have to do is be the highest bid per click on key words and phrases and you will be on the top. BIG DEAL! First off you don't need to be on the top to be successful with Pay Per Click Advertising, second and third spots work just as well and in some cases better. The key here is that when you drive the online traffic to your site, what happens when they get there? Do you have your site updated with current information? Does your site allow for easy navigation? Does your site follow the 3 click rule and ensures that the visitor gets their information within 3 clicks from your landing page? Is your site easy to buy from online? Is your site Search Engine Optimize so you can move up the search engine organically and may then only need PPC for certain marketing campaigns, for example new product launches? I could go on with what your site needs to do and consistently but to properly execute on any of these ideas requires detailed web analytics. We know we can utilize free online reports like Google Analytics but do you know how to interpret the information into a sound online marketing strategy? Do you know how to use the reports to make business decisions? If the answer is no then you need a professional internet marketing consultant. Remember that when you have a visitor to your site who abandons your site within those 3 seconds that they in most cases never return to your web site.
Get smart and at a minimum, keep your contact and address information up to date or you stand to let your website abandons go to your competition. The decision to act or not act on the content and design of your website is yours, this decision could make or break you!
We hear more and more about Pay Per Click Advertising and essentially you don't have to be too smart to be on the top of a Search Engine like Google in their sponsored sites section. All you have to do is be the highest bid per click on key words and phrases and you will be on the top. BIG DEAL! First off you don't need to be on the top to be successful with Pay Per Click Advertising, second and third spots work just as well and in some cases better. The key here is that when you drive the online traffic to your site, what happens when they get there? Do you have your site updated with current information? Does your site allow for easy navigation? Does your site follow the 3 click rule and ensures that the visitor gets their information within 3 clicks from your landing page? Is your site easy to buy from online? Is your site Search Engine Optimize so you can move up the search engine organically and may then only need PPC for certain marketing campaigns, for example new product launches? I could go on with what your site needs to do and consistently but to properly execute on any of these ideas requires detailed web analytics. We know we can utilize free online reports like Google Analytics but do you know how to interpret the information into a sound online marketing strategy? Do you know how to use the reports to make business decisions? If the answer is no then you need a professional internet marketing consultant. Remember that when you have a visitor to your site who abandons your site within those 3 seconds that they in most cases never return to your web site.
Get smart and at a minimum, keep your contact and address information up to date or you stand to let your website abandons go to your competition. The decision to act or not act on the content and design of your website is yours, this decision could make or break you!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Sales Strategy Creates A Competitive Advantage
The following article; Sales Strategy Creates A Competitive Advantage by Darrell Zarhorsky found on About.com is a great follow up to my post: Stop The Cold Calling Sweats.
He suggests the strategy that starts by identifying a segment of your target market and then searches out an industry problem. Once the problem is identified you create a solution that is not offered by your competition. This becomes your Unique Selling Proposition.
This makes calling for appointments with prospects and existing clients much easier as you have a solution to their problem.
He suggests the strategy that starts by identifying a segment of your target market and then searches out an industry problem. Once the problem is identified you create a solution that is not offered by your competition. This becomes your Unique Selling Proposition.
This makes calling for appointments with prospects and existing clients much easier as you have a solution to their problem.
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