Have you ever left a comment on a blog? How do you feel when the author replies? As we’re all ushered into this age of social media, each and every one of us is looking for ways to form stronger relationships with our audience, especially with current and potential customers. There are many...

BY Bill Wackermann – Fast Company In business, irrational fears encompass everything from fear of rejection, fear of authority, and fear of criticism to fear of failure and even fear of success. Such fears keep us from being able to “just figure things out” and making the flip that...

When it comes to social media, marketers can’t help making mistakes. [Check out When Social Media Goes Bad.] In their rush to embrace this hot marketing format or promote their latest campaign, marketers forget everything they’ve learned about social media and ignore its rules assuming...

Pinterest is one of the hottest social media sites, currently with more than 16 million users worldwide. It’s an image-based virtual bulletin board that incorporates social networking. Users — called Pinners — create “boards” and then virtually pin images of their choosing. These...

If you’re using social media for your business, you should be measuring it. But don’t measure just for the sake of having metrics. Instead, measure your social activities so that you can learn what’s successful, what isn’t and how you can improve. Social media is...

For entrepreneurs, creativity is not simply a luxury. It’s an essential survival skill. Common entrepreneurial pitfalls include: Trying to do everything on your own Difficulty developing strategies or deciding where to focus your energy Neglecting to invest in yourself Falling in love with...

Data collected via social media, combined with CRM and behavioral marketing data, has proven to increase overall campaign effectiveness. After all, the more you know about your consumers, the better you can deliver relevant, timely messages. Where marketers have previously gone astray is...

Social media sells? Many marketers focus their social media efforts on building their brand and attracting new prospects since they can’t figure out how to make the connection to sales. The bottom line is that social mediacan drive sales for your product. It depends how you use it and how...

Will I? Which one? These are two questions your customers ask themselves and answer every time they deliberate about a purchase. Will I buy a product (or service) in this category? If so, which one will I buy? These two questions are important to consider when it comes to pricing your products...

Email marketing is a powerful tool that can extend your reach beyond your website and create new sales opportunities. If you simply sell to customers when they happen to visit your site, you have an all-or-nothing chance of making a sale. Should they leave without making a purchase,...