Archive for January, 2009
We Show up
For years, I’ve worked with my clients - usually with complex, B2B technology products or services - to try to achieve as clear, straightforward, and concise an expression about what they do as is possible. I always hold up as a model - albeit a nigh unto impossible to achieve parity with - the van [...]
It’s 11 p.m. Do you know where your prospects are?
Well, if they have to get up early enough in the morning, they may well be in bed already.
But if you’re doing B2B technology marketing, your prospects may well be online.
‘Hey, great,’ you might tell yourself, ‘Maybe they’ll check their e-mail and see that e-mail blast we sent.’
Sorry. If they’re reading their e-mails at 11 [...]
Liar, Liar, Beanie Babies on Fire
As far as grab market attention, sell a lot of products, and boost the bottom line ideas go, naming a couple of TyGirlz after the Obama Girlz is not a bad idea.
Of course, I sympathize with Michelle Obama: this is exploitive. And I wish that Ty (makers of Beanie Babies, the WebKinz of yesteryear) had [...]
A knock-off post on knock-offs
A new mall has opened in China, and for those complaining that every mall in the world now houses the same combination of Abecrombie & Fitch, Crate & Barrel, and Sephora, well, this one offers something a bit different.
According to an article I saw in the Mirror online - an article that, if this were [...]
When "opportunity" knocks, you don’t necessarily have to answer
It often seems to happen in the same way.
An “opportunity” presents itself, and you start thinking:
We can go to this trade show on the cheap if we go in with these other companies
Think of all these leads we’ll get from running this ad
Let’s do this advertorial: we’ll be in really good company
This directory has a [...]
Big Ed’s 2009 B2B Marketing Trends (Gee, I wish I’d said it.)
I really should get around more, but last year’s broken shoulder really put a crimp in my blog exploration. But that was last year. I’m now cured, and vow that I’ll stay on the lookout for excellence in marketing blogs (and maybe even update our list of excellent marketing blogs).
Anyway, over on Marketing-Gimbal, Ed has [...]
Dee-lighters
My friend Peter had to be in NYC recently for a wedding, and decided to stay at a Marriott.
He’s a member of whatever the guest program is at Marriott, although he hasn’t stayed in one of their hotels in some time.
When he checked in, he was welcomed back with a room upgrade - larger room [...]
What do you do if you’re Satyam’s marketing?
Well, needless to say, IT outsourcer Satyam has a lot on its plate right now.
Its CEO is embroiled in an Enron-like financial scandal, and, as of late last week, was under arrest
The company has to be worried big time about keeping their customers - a lot of whom will likely be out-migrating as soon as [...]
Attention Scott Klein and Ivan Seidenberg (my annual rant on the Yellow Pages)
I used to think that January was the worst month of the year.
It was long, cold, and dreary. It was a let down after the holiday season. Other than New Year’s Day, there were no holidays to break it up. (My thinking was developed pre-MLK Day.) January meant slipping on ice patches, chapped lips, and [...]
Small Business Tips from Guy Kawasaki
Guy K. had a recent post on tips for small business in 2009. I think he’s too modest in suggesting that these are for small business owners. I’d recommend that every marketing department follow the advice. I don’t usually do such a wholesale content cadge, but I’m putting the list here in its entirety just [...]
