I found myself in my local Subway this week taking advantage of their $5 subs deal. Love that Spicy Italian. What I got in addition to my sandwich was some top notch service.
I was expecting the typical herd treatment...get them in, sell them sandwiches, get them out. Instead of getting ready to rattle off "mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion, and all the peppers", I delighted in a real conversation with my sandwich maker.
She cared about the sandwich. With no reduction in speed, she meticulously arranged my cheese triangles, added mayo in equal and even squirts, carefully selected and stacked my cold cuts, snapped my onion into smaller pieces and spaced them along the center. Then made a second sandwich just the same except this one had mustard, so she marked the wrapper with a big "X".
I asked her if she always takes such pride in her sandwich stacking. She said it mattered to her to take an interest in her presentation. She thinks it makes the sandwich taste better.
She's right.
Advice on Marketing in a Down Economy
In these disastrous economic times, business owners are struggling on many fronts. Among them are keeping customers, replacing lost clients and how to do marketing with limited funds.
I am reminded of a comment made years ago by a corporate president, “I know we are wasting half of our advertising budget, but I don’t know which half.”
That is probably true now more than ever.
But it is also sage wisdom from business owners who have survived several downturns in the economy that the worst time to be reducing marketing efforts is when business is down. If anything, that is when you increase expenditures to earn a bigger slice of the pie.
Good communications might be the best place to start. If customers, vendors and
subcontractors are facing the same circumstances, you may be able to negotiate more favorable
terms on payment schedules, delivery of services, or project completion dates.
By keeping lines of internal and external communications open, organizations can dispel rumors,
build support from their most important audiences and survive in the long run.
While operating a successful public relations agency in Chicago, I adopted a line from a famous
song written yesteryear, “You have to accentuate the positive.” It is still true today.
And while you are at it, consider the impact of your current advertising versus public relations. A favorable media placement about your new product or service may generate considerably more business than ads in the wrong media with a message that doesn’t connect.
When Carolina Image Builders introduced a new book marketing division with a news item in the Asheville Citizen‐Times Business section, three new clients were signed and two more are under negotiation in a matter of weeks.
For more information, CIB can be contacted at 828.299.0813 or by email at
imagebuc@bellsouth.net.
Find out more about Carolina Image Builders at www.carolinaimagebuilders.com
How to Market Your Business with Information
By Stephanie Chandler
Information is a powerful and under-utilized marketing tool that can set your business apart from the competition and dramatically increase revenues. By educating your prospects and customers, you can build credibility in your field, establish yourself as an expert, and demonstrate your company’s solutions without a hard-sell.
Information can be delivered in a variety of formats including books, e-books, special reports, booklets, workbooks, newsletters, articles, teleseminars, and workshops. Many information marketers use a combination of methods.
Read the full article with examples >>
The Tribes Q&A Ebook is Here and it's FREE
Inspired by Seth Godin's book "Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us" and available as a free download.
Learn how to be a leader and build your tribe.
Download Now >>
Blue Ridge Computer Recycling is Not Closed
from BlogAsheville
I love Blue Ridge Computer Recycling. Need a spare laptop adapter? Your CD drive bonk out and don't want to spend more than about 10 bucks? They have all kinds of stuff (including laptops, monitors..) - I picked up two new pwr adapter replacements for lost ones and a nice clean desk chair the other day and got change back on a 20.
Evidently there have been rumors (started, it is rumored, by another *cough* new *cough cough...ahem* computer recycling/used reseller in the area) that BRCR went outta business.
They haven't.
Visit their website >>
Free Software We're Most Thankful For
Lifehacker polled its readers asking them to list their favorite free software.
Some of my favorites on the list include:
- Firefox browser
- VLC Media Player
- Open Office
- Picasa
- Google Apps
- AVG Anti-Virus
- Google Calendar
- Spybot Search & Destroy
Telematic Drum Circle is an interdisciplinary art project which combines Tele-Robotics, Computer Science, Pneumatics and Music. The project explores the rupture of deeper communication in the technology meditated world, and addresses the issue of global harmony by sharing participants' rhythmical spirit produced through the telematic live drum ensemble. It consists of two main components: a set of sixteen robotic drums arranged in an installation space and an interactive website networked with these drums. Each drum is representative of a geo-cultural region.
TEDTalks: Jaw-dropping Photosynth Demo
Blaise Aguera y Arcas leads a dazzling demo of Photosynth, software that could transform the way we look at digital images. Using still photos culled from the Web, Photosynth builds breathtaking dreamscapes and lets us navigate them.
My name is Heather Gordon, and I am the creative vision
and solitary grunt behind Meridian Design. I work with my clients throughout
the US and Canada to create unique designs for web and print, and provide
guidance in SEO and marketing strategies.
Although trained as a visual artist, I have owned and operated two small businesses, taught courses in art, provided computer training, and have been a public speaker on the subject of online marketing and search engine optimization.
For more information about me and my work: