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My Dad was one of the first franchise consultants around, and he taught me a few things.... Read More

I've added a weekend post routine that I hope you enjoy. Each weekend I write a post that features 3-4 things I read during the week that I found interesting. Generally speaking it won't involve much analysis and may range widely in topic. (Flickr image included here is also fav image of the week) Read More

Marketing guru Seth Godin suggests "flipping the sales funnel". Instead of putting prospects in at the top of the funnel with the hope of getting some commissions at the bottom, flip the funnel, make it into a megaphone and let those who already love your product promote it for you. Read More

Venture Capital investor Fred Wilson talks about what he's learned from both marriage and business about building relationships. Read More

Think starting a business during an economic downturn is a bad idea? Maybe not, according to this story from The Economist. Though it focuses largely on IHOP's initial startup during tough economic times, there is also an interview with an expert and a survey of successful businesses that started during lean years. Read More

It's not breaking news that the citizens of the Internet love some humor. But the things that end up being the most humorous aren't necessarily tied to any one product or brand. So can you intentionally use humor to drive awareness and create affinity? A note on "viral" content -- Let's get something straight: viral is a result of othe Read More

If you really want to close more deals, pay attention to the details. I see a lot of women who say they want to go after new deals yet they sabotage themselves by not jumping in with intention. Read More

Recessions are the best time to take chances, make that leap, and truly reinvent your business. When times are good it is all too easy to keep doing what “works”. But when times get tight that's when businesses can dig deep to find long-lasting success. Read More

Overview of MarketingSherpa report. Specific details from the important chapter on forms, subject lines, etc. Read More

In the film 'Enter The Dragon' Bruce Lee demonstrated the 'art of fighting without fighting' in which he shrewdly avoided a conflict by not allowing it to happen in the first place. The same idea could be relevant for small businesses who rely on customer service. Read More