Color of Emotions
What comes to mind when you think of Nike, Apple, Target, McDonalds? Whether it’s a positive or negative reaction, powerful brands tend to exude powerful emotions. And they use color to help accomplish this. Study after study claims that the use of color in branding...
Never Work Alone
I used to work as the public relations liaison for a company who believed that only one person needed to be involved in the communications efforts of the business. But even smaller businesses can benefit from having a team of communications professionals instead of...
Invest in Your Company’s Future
Companies are undergoing tough economic times. But really, aren’t we all? To balance budgets, many executives have to make cuts. More often than not, the first thing to go is marketing costs. But here is where many companies make a fatal mistake. If you spend your...
Enjoy Being in Demand
For many small business owners, just keeping all the balls in the air can seem overwhelming. And for many of us, we are facing our busiest times—doing the job of two to three people at once. Ten years ago, I sat through a seminar from Dale Smith Thomas, self-described...
Grant Me the Money!
Some companies seem like they keep coming out with the latest and greatest innovation that benefits their industry. We all know that major projects require major money. So how do they do it? One word: grants! The organizations that most commonly seek out grant funding...
What’s Your Story
Stories are powerful. Stories are interesting. Stories are fun. And most importantly in the business world, stories are effective. They grab your attention, and then help you remember. Think back to the best speaker presentations you’ve ever heard. I bet many of them...
Don’t Let Your Site Go Stale
A website, like a good bag of potato chips, must stay fresh in order to be enjoyed. An updated website lets customers know you’re an active business. Here are my top five tips to make sure you’re not letting your site go stale: Keep your homepage up to date with the...
Mention Markdowns, Save Shoppers
Yesterday I had a meeting with an executive at a huge East Coast retail chain. We were talking business, selling techniques and practices, when he said something to me that really resonated. “When I’m in the store and I see our customers loading their carts with a...
Give Back and Gain Big
As business owners, my husband and I support numerous causes, including Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to promote pediatric cancer research and various breast cancer research organizations. We enjoy donating to community organizations and supporting local events as...
Think Outside the Box
Sometimes the secret to gaining a competitive edge for your business is thinking outside of the box. You know, get creative! This is my colleague Deb’s specialty. Whenever I need a creative title to a press release or transition in a sentence, she’s the gal I call....