Network Solutions – Small business conversations and working together for small business success

Like A Kid In A Comic Book Store

Instead of trying to create tactics and plans that brings clients to you, try getting out and going to them. Seriously, go where your future long term customers will be. Market like you would to a kid…be where the eyes are.

Just Because You Give It Away…

The campaign was clear, very honorable in its intentions, and was giving something away a gift thanks. And this wasn’t just a cheap give away item. It had value both financially and use. The campaign had all the makings of a successful campaign if the appropriate effort was put into it, but what happened?

If You Aren’t Excited About It…

If you’re on the fence whether you’re excited about what you do or if the shine has worn off… pick a side and go there. It’s going to suck at times. It’s going to be exhausting at others. There’s going to be days where you look at your loved one, friend, employees, or business partner and think, “What the hell did I get myself into” and the answer to that question is the very same thing “I love what I do for a living!”

Marketing Your Business On A Shoestring Budget…

In my previous post ‘Get Your Hand Off Your Wallet And Your Head Out Of Your…*’, Terry Upton asked in her comment “What if you don’t have any money at all? What would you say to those people trying to get there business off the ground?”

Well fear not Terry, and all you trying to have your business take flight, this post is for you.

Get Your Hand Off Your Wallet And Your Head Out Of Your…

Let me be very honest, starting a business costs money.  Starting a successful business…still costs money.  Getting the marketing pieces and materials you’ll need to do the bare minimum to promote your business effectively…will cost money.
Does spending a lot of money guarantee you are going to be successful?  No, but spending it smartly does help.  [...]

Five Do’s For Consulting Newbies

With over 533,000 people laid off since November 2008 as reported by Forbes.com, it’s no surprise that many people choose to start their own business and become consultants. If you’re just jumping into the field as an independent consultant or starting a new consulting business, here are five do’s to follow.
1. Do focus on your [...]

When She Says Your Marketing’s a Good Size…

There’s a quote that I use to keep taped somewhere on the wall behind my monitor. It was:
“Go BIG or go home”
For the longest time I took that to mean that the actions I took in marketing, design, and in life, had to be larger than life.  Ultimately, I learned the hard way that ‘big [...]

It’s Time for Your Marketing to Get Wicked…

My name is Michael Dougherty, Mike if you don’t mind, and, through this blog, I will bring you content whose focus is to help you get into the mindset of marketing your company…from the point of view of your clients.  Besides, they are really the ones who pay the bills, right?
To get it out of [...]

Action Plans – Part 12 of the 2009 Marketing Plan Series

Last time in part 11 of the marketing plan series we discussed the Marketing Strategy which is basically the “what” of executing your plan and identifying your goals.
Now, we move on to the Action Plan which covers the “Who, Where and How Much” of your plan. You should look at this section as the “to [...]

Setting Your Marketing Strategy – Part 11 of the 2009 Marketing Plan Series

Once you have completed writing your Marketing Objectives, as discussed previously in Mapping Out Your Marketing Objectvies, you need to write your marketing strategy. The marketing strategy section of your plan outlines your game plan to achieve your marketing objectives. There is no other way to say it but this section which is in the [...]