Small business and marketing seem to be the two things that attract dreamers and visionaries. There are endless possibilities in these fields because the marketer’s mind is not confined in a box. Seems like the perfect ingredient for success, right? Not always.
Dreams, visions, and ambitions can sometimes be the obstacle to your success. In fact, marketers can even fall into the “ambition trap” and be stopped right on their tracks.
So what exactly is the ambition trap?
Have you ever experienced having a great marketing idea? It can be …

In marketing, a lot of small business owners make the mistake of focusing inwards. Their ad will look something like – “My product has these features, which is why it’s the best!” Everyone claims to be the best in business. But no one pays attention to this kind of messages anymore. When you decide to go this route anyway, you’ll be scratching your head several months from now and wonder why you’re not getting the results you want.
You need to understand that communication with your consumers is the …

Creating a good marketing strategy is not simple. Marketing is more than creating catchy phrases, cutting-edge graphic design, and having the right distribution strategy; it is about making people unhappy. Some marketers might ask, does marketing really create needs? Well, the truth is, marketing does not create needs. People already have needs that marketers need to identify and explore.
Think about BMW’s strategy and their catch phrase: The Ultimate Driving Machine. People no longer feel as if their Toyotas and Hondas are enough once they see BMW’s ads. In other …

It takes a lot less energy and money to retain existing customers than it is to find new ones. Once you have customers within your grasp, don’t just let them go, sell them “drugged candy”. That is, make them want to come back for more. Provide them with excellent customer service, give them a good experience, and make them feel like royalty.
Loyal customers are worth their weight in gold. If you currently retain 60% of your customers, set a target for 70% retention rate. This will give you an …

Promoting small businesses can be tricky. This is particularly because most small companies don’t have the necessary budget to use the usual advertising medium. You shouldn’t let this hinder you from getting the word out though. Besides using radio, print ads, television ads, and direct mail, there are countless other innovative ways to advertise small businesses.
Here is a list of things you should try out:

Be involved in community events – chamber of commerce meetings, town fairs, or any other types of businesses can help you meet with your …