Tornado Marketing Tips

C'mon Spring! Will it ever warm up?

Around this time of year, many of us are suffering from a serious case of cabin fever. Seriously sick of being cold and wet, our souls ache for sunshine, shorts and sandals. Warm weather seems so close, yet so far away. If you're like many companies, you start every New Year with a fresh marketing plan and fresh resolve. And - like the weather that hasn't quite turned warm yet - by this time of year, it can seem like you should have made "way more progress"...

I love a good story, whether I’m telling them, reading them or watching them. A story pulls you in and makes you care about the people involved. When used for marketing, a story can help you create credibility, generate leads, and illustrate competence.

The problem with many business-to-business case studies, videos, "about us" website pages and other areas where companies have an opportunity to tell a story is that… they don’t really tell a story. They only share the...

A website is the linchpin of any successful digital marketing strategy. It is home base – your online office. In fact, I would argue your website should be an extension of the experience of visiting your office. If your office is open, warm and people-focused, your website should have pictures of people. If your company is highly technical, let your website reflect your dedication to innovation.

The same people who visit your office are also likely to visit your website:

• Potential...

I wish sometimes that marketing was as easy as simple math where 1+1=2. Unfortunately, marketing is more like algebra where you’re solving for multiple variables at once. Just like solving a math problem or puzzle, I recommend starting with the easily solvable parts. Once you have those answers, you’ll have more information to solve the deeper, more complex issues.

A simple marketing campaign has three steps.

1. The advertisement or lead generating activity
2. The landing page where...

Do you know Sam the Sales Guy, Ann from Accounting, and Mike in Manufacturing? To improve your sales and marketing efforts, you need to get to know these people intimately – after you create them.

Sam, Ann and Mike aren’t real people. They are the names of personas who represent real people. Personas are fictional characters who are a composite of real-world people and who illustrate the values, goals and behaviors of your typical ideal clients.

These "Fake People"Can Make or...

If you’re not getting the amount of business you want, you may be feeling that it’s time to shake things up with new and improved marketing. But what’s the best way to proceed? Do you need evolution or a revolution?

Revolutions are exciting!

Do you ever watch those TV shows where they transform a woman’s life just by giving her new clothes, a make-up lesson and a decent haircut? Or take a house from oh-my-goodness-how-could-anyone-live-like-that to organized,...

Do you remember when sales was all about the hustle? 

The Sales ABCs - Always Be Closing! 

Yuck! 

Some people still have that mentality. In fact, I've personally been to sales trainings like that. But pushy sales tactics don't fit my personality - and don't work well today. It's too easy to unsubscribe and unfollow. The pushy sales person might never even know you left. 

Today's Marketing ABCs might be better summed up as...

Always Be Contributing.