Duct Tape Marketing

This content from: Duct Tape Marketing

Yes But Would You Pay For It?

I think the true test of many of the Web2.0 offerings out there is whether or not somebody would pay up a little cash for a service that is or was free.

For some I use I would say no, others maybe, Jott - I just did. Jott came out of beta recently with a host of new features - including two pay options. I use and love the tool so much I’m now willing to pay for. That’s a pretty big compliment because once something is free, it’s tough to move to a paid model.

My favorite new feature is a software called Jott Express that has become my daily to-do list manager. It sits on my desktop and syncs with Jott messages I give it for projects.

Here’s ...

This content from: Duct Tape Marketing

Top 10 Business Applications for Facebook

In it’s very generic, vanilla form, Facebook is just so-so as a business tool. Lots has been written and said about its use for business, but to me the real power comes when you hang the proper accessories, known as applications, on it and really trick it out for business and professional use.

There are thousands of application available with one click once you have a Facebook profile. But, don’t get caught up in adding every goofy dodad, just because you can. Think logically about your goals for ...

This content from: Duct Tape Marketing

Calling All Home Based Business Owners

Was a time when home based meant - “not really a business” but, oh how times and technology and lifestyles change. Today home based often means, choice, family, hip, fireplace, dog, freedom, serious income and a host of other very cool things.

That’s why I love that my friend Rich Sloan of StartUpNation has put so much energy into creating the HomeBased100 competition ...

This content from: Duct Tape Marketing

Using Viral Video in Small Business Marketing

I had a great visit with Bob Thacker, senior vice president of marketing and advertising at OfficeMax, for a recent episode of the Duct Tape Marketing podcast. Bob is the inspiration behind some very clever viral campaigns of late for office supply retail giant. ...

This content from: Duct Tape Marketing

So You Think You’re Different?

Being different, or more accurately, having a point of differentiation that matters to a market, is one of the most critical marketing strategies for the small business.

Intentionally ...

This content from: Duct Tape Marketing

Maybe the Best $100 You Ever Spent

There are all kinds of ways to increase conversion on your website. You can tweak headlines, test offers and play with every single copy element to get it just right - but, at the end of the day, if the user doesn’t really get what you are trying to get them to do, you’re sunk.

Web folks have been employing something called usability testing for years. Essentially this is putting a prospect in front of your site and having them talk their way through navigating towards whatever your goal is. ...

This content from: Duct Tape Marketing

New Marketing Action Planning Tool

I have been working with Palo Alto Software for almost a year now to write a marketing plan software based on the Duct Tape Marketing system.

I am thrilled to be able to announce that Marketing Plan Pro powered by Duct Tape Marketing is now ready to go.

This tool is literally ripped from the streets of the real small business world and features the practical (read non-academic) approach at the heart of Duct Tape Marketing.

I think you’ll find that we’ve taken a different ...

This content from: Duct Tape Marketing

Stephen M.R. Covey Talks About Trust

Stephen M.R. Covey joined me to talk about trust for the August session of the Duct Tape Marketing Coaching Excellence Series.

Covey is co-founder and CEO of CoveyLink Worldwide and author of bestselling The SPEED of Trust

Trust is such a big issue in business and, in fact, a core component of my definition of marketing - getting someone who has a need to know, like and trust you. The need for trust is such an obvious notion but I think many people take a limited view of what it really means. Covey talks about the need to both earn and give trust as equal parts of the same concept.

During our chat he share a story ...