It’s a fixture in strategic planning sessions and retreats. It consumes much of the planning time. And it may be time to retire it. SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis makes perfect sense on paper. But that rarely translates into real forward motion for an organization. Here’s why. First — and this is huge — there are rarely…

There are a lot of great reasons to invest in social media. It can be inexpensive. It’s immediate and instantaneous. It invites interaction. It can get shared and even go viral. If all that’s true, then why do so many businesses feel they don’t get the return they hoped for from social media? Here are five possible culprits 1. Failure…

You probably believe (or at least hope) that your company has a vibrant brand — a position in the market that you can call your own. But a true brand is really hard to build. And of all the things that can cripple or even kill a brand, fear tops the list. Fear chokes off a brand’s power…

It hasn’t played during the Superbowl — and it never will. It won’t show up on any “people’s choice” lists. But there is a perfect TV commercial airing right now. And you should pay attention to it. It’s a template for how to get your message across in 30 seconds in a way that sticks and sells.It’s the new…

Do you want a truly unique and powerful brand? One sure approach is to solve a problem that none of your competitors have solved for customers of your industry. The first step? Figuring out what that problem is. That seems to be the insurmountable stumbling block for most businesses. It’s just hard to look at…

It turns out that simply being nice to customers can actually make them…better customers. In Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference, physician scientists Stephen Trzeciak and Anthony Mazzarelli make the case that being treated nicely has a measurable physical impact. Extensive research compiled by the authors reveals that compassion has a…

When it comes to social media, you’re probably focused on who’s following you. And that’s important. But you can magnify your social impact by being a good follower. Here’s a short list of who to follow and why. Follow Your Followers. First of all, follow everyone who follows you. Pay attention to what they’re posting,…

Many — maybe most — companies say that recruiting and retaining good people is their top priority and their key to growth. But you’d never know it from the way they market. Start with the websites. For the vast majority, the only place on the site that refers to available positions is the “Careers” or “Jobs” page. Nothing…

Companies like yours pour a lot of time and money into search engine optimization. And rightfully so. With all the competition out there, and more lining up every day, your site has to work harder than ever to attract visitors. And a strong SEO program can pull them in. But there’s a problem. All too often — more often…

It’s always a great idea to pay attention to what your competitors are up to, including their marketing – especially since you’re trying to win the same customers.  But all too often, companies become reactive, basing their own marketing on what their rivals are doing. In 2019, try this.  Look closely at your prospects.  Now…