There are five concrete steps you can take to position yourself to launch a new business. I've talked about Step 1 (Your Value Proposition), Step 2 (Your Contacts), Step 3 (Your Prospects) and Step 4 (Your Business Model). The final step is to create business...
I'm often asked at networking events about the size of my consultancy. My business model has never been to expand and acquire employees. I like the freedom and independence that comes with being a solopreneur and partnering with really smart marketing...
My IABC/Washington Independents Group had a lively discussion last Friday about word-of-mouth marketing and social networking. We talked for a while about how to use these tools and tactics effectively, a conversation triggered in part by our speaker, who boasts...
You may have heard that Ed McMahon's in mortgage trouble and that Donald Trump has reportedly offered to purchase McMahon's Beverly Hills home and rent it back to him. While the two men are friends, I'm sure McMahon never thought he'd need a financial boost from The...
Southwest, the company which advertises that "fees don't fly with us" and "bags fly free," flew more people around the United States than any other airline, according to Department of Transportation statistics released yesterday. While American Airlines was levying...
This post isn't about sports stars and their egos. (Clearly both Brett Favre and Manny Ramirez have ego to share.) Actually, Favre gets credit from me for acknowledging that he didn't handle things so well of late. Neither did his former team. Washington Post...
I was all set to write about the excellent tech support I've received from Verizon Wireless when the company went and did something colossally stupid. And it just begs to be called out. Someone from Verizon Wireless called me to ask about my experience with...
Some companies set the low bar for customer service (e.g., airlines, cable t.v. providers). My former cable provider neither empowered its employees to troubleshoot nor allowed them to escalate a call. Only when I sent certified letters to the CEOs of both...
Selecting the right business model is key. Your choice of business model is likely to be determined by how you've defined your value proposition and your universe of prospects. In the communications field, for example, you might want to set up as an independent...
Most people would never consider wearing old jeans and a tank top to a new business meeting. But have you ever noticed how lots of people have poor calling cards? Your business card is a reflection of your business. You want that prospective client or customer...