The finalists have been announced in this amazing competition that focused the spotlight on small business. NBC and American Express have combined forces to create a competition in which three finalists have been selected and how YOU can to vote on the winners: Sacred Wind Communications out of New Mexico Happy Baby, organic baby food [...]

I’m out of town.  Using someone else’s car.  I don’t know anyone here or where anything is.  Isn’t that the way most horror movies start? So I’m at this after hours marketing event in Fountain Hills, AZ – AMAZING GROUP! and when I leave to head for a restaurant, my friend’s car wouldn’t start.  Crap. [...]

Whether it is an unexpected flower delivery, a “thinking of you” note in the mail or a free auto freshener when you get your car washed – surprises are fun.  (okay – maybe not all surprises, but for today’s post we are thinking ‘happy’) Our customers are just like us; they like surprises too.  I [...]

Business Week announced their 2009 Customer Service Champs; the top 25 businesses offering the best customer service experience.  This is the third year Business Week has ranked businesses based on the quality of staff, efficiency of service, likeliness to refer and the percentage that will make a return visit. Leading the pack this year is [...]

Big Lots has launched a loyalty program – The Buzz Club.  Make 10 purchases of at least $20 each and receive a discount.  If I’m a regular customer of Big Lots – that’s a nice unexpected bonus.  Will it drive me there if I’ve never been a customer?  Probably not.  To make a commitment to a [...]

We are all tightening our belts – physically and figuratively.  In a recent edition of Direct Mail News, they provided a chart showing the percentage of change consumers have made in their lifestyle spending habits.  Needless to say – only a small percentage have made little or no changes.  One area where prices are going [...]

I was thrilled to run across the book, What the Customer Wants You to Know at Borders yesterday.  Author Ram Charan shows by example the importance of putting the customer at the center of all you do in your organization from product selection to marketing message to the all important sales process.  The subtitle of the book [...]

“I tried to open a savings account for my two boys,” Nancy told us at a recent business meeting.  Her boys are 10 and 11 and each  had $600 to contribute to their first bank account. It was a big moment.  The beginning of a life long lesson in saving, investing, and smart money management. [...]

It’s not in my nature to brag, but I was surprised and pleased to receive an email today from the US Commerce Department informing me that the monthly e-newsletter I send out to just under a 1,000 generous souls has been recognized as the Best Service Newsletter for my community. I’ve been writing Words People [...]

I’ve just started the Ed Dale Thirty Day Challenge in which Ed’s team leads you through the process of defining a niche market, creating products to service that market and then generating traffic to grow your business. In the first lesson Ed talks about the Magnificent Symphony in Four Parts to marketing/business success on the Internet: [...]