John Carlton Kicks My Ass

For the most amazing post I’ve read in a while, head on over to John Carlton’s blog.

He talks about the Professional’s code, and gives it to you straight up.

WARNING: Adult language.

Ass-kickin’ language.

If you’re not getting ahead in business, there’s a reason.

And believe it or not, it’s YOU.

See what Carlton has to say and do yourself a favor this morning.

Small Business Marketing: 13-Year-Old Entrepreneur Success Story

Small Biz Bee has a wonderfully inspiring post today about a 13-year-old entrepreneur running his own company the right way.  It makes you realize that anyone can do it when you do it right.

Enjoy!

Featured Entrepreneur – Jason “Biz Kid” O’Neill – Pencil Bugs

Small Business Marketing Tips: Exorcising the Ghosts of “Bad Marketing” Past, Present, and Future

Aaaaaaah, Christmastime!  Snow, parties, baked goods…and movies!  This weekend I watched George C. Scott’s A Christmas Carol. One of the best versions of this powerful story ever, if you haven’t seen it.

I’m always moved when I see this film, but this weekend, I was struck by one particularly important moment.

Okay, so remember Jacob Marley? That greedy, gaunt ghost who takes it upon himself to return from the grave and warn his bah-humbugging ex-partner, Scrooge.  Marley tells ol’ Ebenezer that if Scrooge doesn’t make some changes–and FAST–he’ll be doomed to suffer an eternal fate even more miserable than Marley’s.

And so I thought about that for a minute.  And realized: Isn’t that a metaphor for all of us?  Especially when it comes to sales and marketing?

Put another way…what bad marketing decisions are you gonna be carrying around forever unless you change your ways?

Here are some of the biggest I see…and how to fix ‘em–fast.

1. Sucky Sales Copy.  If your advertising sales copy stinks, so will your sales–whether you’re selling or generating leads online, in print, or over the broadcast media like radio or TV.  Fortunately, copywriting master Clayton Makepeace has a tremendous new post about how to avoid the 3 biggest blunders most business owners make when writing sales copy.  Find out how you can fix your sales copy and avoid being damned to an eternity of lackluster sales.

2. Don’t Know–and Don’t Care to Know–Your Customer.  The great Jay Abraham says that most business owners make the fatal mistake of falling in love with their product when they SHOULD fall in love with their prospect.  But invespBlog has a fantastic new resource to help you create personas to really get to know your prospects.  This is great for the online AND offline marketer.

3. Get Educated.  Every small business owner needs to understand marketing basics.  Here’s an incredibly useful, free recession marketing report that will teach you powerful principles of low-cost, high-leverage marketing activities.

Recession Marketing Resources for Small Businesses

With the bad economy troubling small business owners everywhere, you’d be crazy not to look for ways to cut costs.

But the worst damn thing you could do is cut your marketing.  At least if you don’t think about it first.

So check out some resources I found to help you make smarter marketing decisions.

Low-Cost Recession Marketing Strategies

My mentor Jim Ackerman has an incredible new post, full of 10 inexpensive tactics he always recommends when times get tough.

Lead Nurturing Belongs in Your Recession Strategy

Great post from B2B blogger Ardath Albee–whether you market B2B or B2C.

Market Smarter in a Recession

Shannon Cherry reminds us that when the going gets tough, the tough take time to re-examine their marketing plan.

Remember: even during tough economic times, there is business to be had and money to be made.  So turn off the doom and gloom on the TV and radio and start growing your business today!

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