Let’s face it, none of us like dishing out our personal information online, especially to a company we don’t know or haven’t done business with before. It can result in all sorts of unpleasantness, including spammy emails. Zillow, the real estate valuation website, is launching a service that I think is simply brilliant. Mortgage Marketplace […]
Category Archives: marketing
Marketing in a recession
I’m not saying this roller-coaster economy is a recession, mind you — although Bernanke now seems willing to consider it a possibility. Faced with hard times like these, what does a small business do about its marketing? How do you continue to attract customers and clients now, when it’s most important? Marketing gurus say, “Keep […]
Amazon strikes again. Retailers, be very afraid.
Amazon, which has already revolutionized the way we shop and buy, has taken what I think will be another giant step forward. It is satisfying our passion for comparison shopping with a new service that lets you compare prices — and make a purchase, of course — with a few quick taps on your cell […]
Is your writing wimpy and wishy-washy?
Strong, powerful, confident words communicate and convince. Lame, wimpy writing kicks the legs out from under your message, and waters it down. The most common kind of wimpy writing are “qualifiers.” If you remember what your 7th grade English teacher told you, qualifiers are adjectives and adverbs that limit (“qualify”) your message — thus modifying […]
Are you leaving would-be customers hungry for more?
The always-interesting Freakonomics blog in the NY Times recently cited a recent study that confirms the importance of providing lots of product information in your marketing and sales material. The MediaPost headline says it all: “Majority Of Online Shoppers Check At Least Four Reviews Before Buying.” Take-away point: A solid 68% do their homework before […]
McKay gets a makeover (finally!)
No, not me personally, of course. I’m nearly perfect just the way I am. (cough-cough) But after nearly three years on Blogger, it was time for this blog to get a facelift. (No Botox shots, however.) So now this baby has a whole new look, a sporty leather interior and fuel-efficient hybrid engine. It even […]
Shocker: "Botox" contains BOtulism TOXin
Another brand shoots itself in the foot. Botox, the popular anti-wrinkle drug, and its competitor, Myobloc, have both been officially linked to dangerous botulism symptoms. In a few cases, the symptoms were so bad that children given the drugs for muscle spasms have died, according to the Food & Drug Administration. This should not be […]