Tip: How NOT to run a consumer-direct promotion

Yesterday I was shopping at an Ulta store near my home. I usually love Ulta but the following experience really put a bad taste in my mouth.

As I was checking out, the associate asked if I wanted two free copies of InStyle Magazine. Call me a cynic (I’m really not), but I took economics and I know there’s no such thing as a free lunch, so I was looking for the “catch”. Here’s how the conversation went down:

Read the full story »

Tip: Building connections in the online community

Social media is the newest frontier in marketing and public relations. It’s fresh, it’s fun and it provides a real connection to your audience. Social media outlets – blogs, MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter – have quickly grown in popularity and are on their way to becoming as essential as a website for many businesses. If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, now is the time!

Check out our five best tips for forming a following online:

Read the full story »

Tip: Leveraging your biggest asset to drive new business

Looking for a low cost way to drive new business? Referrals from existing clients are price-friendly and priceless.

If you don’t have a referral program in place you’re missing out on lost opportunities every day. Your clients are your frontline marketing team. On a daily basis they interact with hundreds of people who could be potential new business for you. So, how do you leverage this resource for the maximum benefit?

Read the full story »