My Favorite FTB Stories of the Past Year
When asked to write a short article on my favorite Free Business Tips blog stories I answered, “yes” before I should have. Have you read the stories?! Choosing my favorite stories is like choosing my...
View ArticlePost Cards As An Effective Trade Show Giveaway
Tired of handing out pens and other junk at trade shows that don’t give you any return on your investment? Consider the benefit of a 4″ x 6″ postcard. A postcard is a great trade show handout …. IF, it...
View ArticleUse Pens As Effective Promotional Marketing Tools
Everyone was screaming. Chaos ruled. Then, from nowhere she appeared. With surgical precision, she dismantled her pen, quickly cut a slit into the man’s neck and inserted the pen barrel. As color...
View ArticleYou do NOT have my needs!
Printed on the sign were these words, “We have your plumbing needs.” No they don’t. You see, they can’t have my needs. Only I can have my needs. If I need a sink-stopper thingy, I seek out someone who...
View ArticleMy Article Could Have Prevented A $53 Million Dollar Lawsuit
Back in September of 2006 I posted an article here warning business people to only guarantee that over which they have control. I advocated only guaranteeing such things as, “Your Money Back” or...
View ArticlePretend Role-Playing Solves Real Problems
“Daddy”, my 11 year old daughter excitedly exclaimed. “All I have to do is sell seven Holiday wreaths and I earn enough money to go on the school trip to the amusement park at the end of the year!” As...
View ArticleBad Acting Is Bad For Your Business
I called my stockbroker a couple weeks a go. I had a question. I wasn’t sure who to ask for because it’s been about a year or so since I actually talked to anyone there. Anyway, I finally get “my guy”...
View ArticleUsing Gossip As An Effective Management Tool
Got a note from my 4th grade son’s school the other day. Seems he and a small group were standing in line and were overheard making comments about “getting wasted” in reference to drinking alcohol....
View ArticleHello?! Are You LISTENING?
I’m on the phone with a salesman from one of my suppliers. He asks me, “So, do you sell to any medical practices?” “Yeah I do”, I replied. “I have some dentists and a periodontist.” “Great!” he...
View ArticleImprove Customer Service: Turn Employees Into Customers.
I was sitting in the eye doctor’s chair. Only moments earlier I had been traumatized by that stupid glaucoma test where they shoot a puff of air in your eye. Well, they try anyway, because with me it’s...
View ArticleReally? That's the BEST you can do?
I received an e-mail from a supplier yesterday. They sent me a proof to approve and fax back to them. First thing I noticed was that my Purchase Order (PO) number was wrong. The next thing I DIDN’T...
View ArticleWhat's A Burned Business Bridge Smell Like?
The reason burning business bridges are so fatal is because when you burn a bridge … it releases no odor. That means, you can be burning business bridges all over town and never even know it — until it...
View ArticleHow To Make Employees More Productive
Most companies are extremely aware of their external markets such as clients, customers, distributor networks and even vendors. But many fail to realize that employees make up an internal market. There...
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The Distance Between Good and Great
Without regard for budget, the distance between good and great is largely the distance between your brain and your fingers. Often, marketers develop a good idea and execute it perfectly. They...
View ArticlePromoting Something To Death
The question ignited a discussion that absolutely exploded with insight. “What promotional products would be good to carry an anti-gang message for middle and high school kids?“, asked a member of the...
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