strategy first
When it comes to marketing, there’s no shortage of ways to spend money. But what does your spend get you, and how do you know? Every business has finite resources. The challenge is knowing which investments make sense for your…
market moves
Interest rates. Consumer spending. Tariffs. War. Climate change. Supply chain disruptions. Workforce shortages. Prolonged economic volatility makes business decisions harder and the consequences of indecision — or missteps — more serious. Small to mid-sized businesses are particularly vulnerable. There may…
Q4 is around the bend. Where is your business headed?
It’s that time again. The year is winding down, holiday schedules begin disrupting normal routines and it can be tempting to postpone bigger decisions until January. Don’t. Q4 is a golden opportunity to finish the year with momentum while making…
the marketing mindset
The smartest companies don’t treat marketing as a department, a collection of tactics or a line item. They use it as a lens for making decisions. Every product launch, service offering, customer interaction and investment is influenced by one simple…
people-powered
Good marketers see consumers as complete human beings with all the dimensions real people have. ~ Jonah Sachs Even in the age of digital, data and AI, power still rests with the people. Some pro and DIY marketers tend…
business habits
Update May 1, 2025: Because this matters. If you practice good business etiquette and align with others who do, everyone prospers. I originally published this article 10 years ago. It's amazing how relevant it still is, and yet how much…
image is everything
In business, image is everything. How well do your photos express your brand? If you're thinking about updating your portraits or business photography, here are some things to consider so you make the most of your investment. photography as branding…
2022 marketing checklist
Small business owners: Don’t start the new year behind. Take a tip from big companies. Yes, it’s important to be attentive to sales and hitting targets as the end of the year approaches. It’s also time to plan for the…
gearing up for 2021
Thankfully, 2020's almost a wrap. Has there ever been a stranger year? This year brought an odd blend of catastrophe and opportunity. Because of the pandemic, many smaller businesses are still in survival mode. We've helped a number of them…
covid lessons in marketing
WFH. Zoom meetings. Masks. Customers with lockdown anxiety. Civil unrest. Pandemic reality has changed the landscape for so many businesses. How has it affected marketing? What we’ve learned so far: Covid’s effect has been as drastic and random on business…