Taking A 'Startup' Approach To Marketing

"Startup" and "entrepreneur" have recently become buzzwords in the lexicon of American culture. Most people associate these terms with the latest Internet and mobile technology companies. They think of people like Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Jack Dorsey of Twitter (and more recently Square), Dennis Crowley of Foursquare, etc. However, these terms really describe a particular approach to business, not any specific industry type. Any retail store, service provider, or small business can fit the bill if they're in the right mindset.

What happens in Vegas shouldn't stay in Vegas - How to make the most of trade shows

I've been to Las Vegas for two different trade shows in the past month. Although the city has a notorious reputation for debauchery, it's also an unparalleled hub for business. If you're going to any trade show, whether in Vegas or at your local VFW hall, there are a few things to consider to ensure a successful experience.

How To Make An Impact With Your Marketing

At Harbortouch, it is our M.O. to shake up the industry on a fairly regular basis. We have been widely acknowledged for our ground-breaking initiatives since 2004, when the company forever changed the credit card processing industry with the launch of the first free credit card terminal program. 

Create A Brand Ecosystem

I recently saw a quote from Google CEO Eric Schmidt describing the fact that consumers now choose which "ecosystem" they want to buy into when selecting their mobile phones, tablets and other gadgets - currently a choice between Google, Apple and Microsoft. The concept of a consumer ecosystem is an interesting one, and it goes well beyond the technology sector. In fact, a wide range of businesses can utilize a similar approach to their own operations.

Super Ads - What You Can Learn From This Year's Super Bowl Commercials

Not only is the Super Bowl the championship game between the top NFL teams; it is also the championship of advertising. It's the big leagues of the ad world. It's the event that allows every advertising agency, Fortune 500 company and ambitious (and well-financed) start-up to strut their stuff on a national scale, to compete for the minds of tens of millions of viewers. Many people even consider the commercials the best part of the Super Bowl.

Less is More - Simplicity is Key for Effective Marketing

The accepted truth in landing page design is that simplicity is the best practice. One theme, a concise message, a clear call to action. Many experts even say that all links to other pages on your site should be removed from landing pages. Essentially, you want to eliminate all distractions so you can dictate exactly what your site visitor focuses on.

Top 7 Marketing Blogs You Should Be Reading

I was originally going to compile a standard "top 10" list of marketing blogs, but when I started writing down my favorite blogs, I only came up with seven. I decided that I didn't want to water down my list with other blogs that I don't actively read, as I felt this would be disingenuous and would reduce the overall value of the post. Here are the blogs that made the cut:

1. Seth Godin - Seth Godin is something of a legend in the marketing world. Bestselling author of over a dozen books, he offers consistently insightful posts.
2. UnMarketing - Author of one of my favorite marketing 2.0 books (also titled "UnMarketing"), Scott Stratten writes about how to engage your customers and potential customers instead of marketing to them (hence the name "UnMarketing").
3. Copyblogger - This blog focuses on the content side of marketing, namely blogging and copywriting.
4. Brian Solis - Brian Solis provides analysis of the new media landscape and recommendations on how your business can succeed in it.
5. Chris Brogan - A great source for social media marketing insight.
6. {Grow} - Mark Schaeffer writes about how to grow your business using social media, blogging and other marketing channels.
7. Danny Brown - Another great source for marketing 2.0 information.