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One key part of being a great marketer is understanding how people think and knowing why they act the way they do. 10 principals.
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Solutions (25)

Wednesday, 15 June 2011 15:10

Marketing Woes/Wows

The most recent Signs of the Times national survey finds that:
  • Small business owners optimism is growing -- Six in ten (63%) small business owners are confident in the long-term success of their business, compared to a little more than half (54%) in 2010.
  • Younger business owners are even more assured about the future - The vast majority of small business owners age 18-35 (85%) are confident in the long-term success of their business compared to other age groups (35-54 at 56%; 55 and above at 63%).
  • While many small business owners plan to reach existing and potential customers online and through social media, more than half (53%) will turn to more traditional channels like newsletters and direct mail.
  • Tactics to Reach Potential and Existing Customers:
    • > Plan to increase communication via newsletters, direct mail, etc. 53%
    • > Plan to create or improve company's online presence (website, banner ads, SEO) 52%
    • > Plan to utilize social media and networking websites (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) 45%
  • Traditional advertising/marketing tools continue to be popular with small business owners:
    • > Business cards 78%
    • > Yellow pages 54%
    • > Brochures 50%
    • > Flyers 44%
    • > Direct Mailers 44%
    • > Newspaper ads 42%
    • > Out-of-store signs/banners/posters 30%
    • > In-store signs/banners/posters 28%
    • > Coupons 28%
  • The majority of small business owners (91%) believe that the quality of a company's marketing/advertising materials reflects the quality of its products and services. Despite this connection, nearly a quarter (23%) say their own marketing/advertising materials do not reflect the quality of their products and services.
  • Just over a third (35%) of small business owners plan to split their resources evenly between Web-based marketing and traditional advertising materials, while another third (36%) will focus the most resources on Web-based marketing/advertising opportunities. Nearly three in 10 (29%) plan to focus the most resources on traditional marketing and advertising.
  • Two in ten small business owners (22%) say social media is a critical tool for marketing their business and half (50%) have experimented with it for that purpose. Younger small business owners (ages 18-35) are more likely to use social media than their older counterparts. A full third (33%) say social media is a critical tool for marketing their business, compared to owners overall. Share &/or Comment Γû║
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Friday, 27 May 2011 16:34

Report Reveals.. Trends in Sustainable Purchasing

The first annual Trends and Best Practices in Canadian Municipal Sustainable Purchasing report has been released, the most comprehensive discussion of municipal sustainable purchasing and ethical sourcing in Canada to date.

Vancouver, May 18, 2011 - Reeve Consulting and the Municipal Collaboration for Sustainable Purchasing recently released the first annual Trends and Best Practices in Canadian Municipal Sustainable Purchasing report, the most comprehensive discussion of municipal sustainable purchasing and ethical sourcing in Canada to date.

Beyond revealing key trends across the country and valuable best practices, the report offers a national snapshot of how Canadian municipalities are implementing sustainable purchasing programs. Complete with a listing of common program barriers and recommended solutions, the report is a valuable resource for municipal decision-makers looking to implement impactful sustainable purchasing programming. Click Here to find out more. Click Here to download the report summary.  Share &/or Comment►
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Thursday, 07 April 2011 11:36

B2B Marketing.. Traditional and Digital Working Together

December 2010 -- According to Google's report "2011 B2B Marketing Outlook," traditional marketing makes up the majority (66%) of B2B marketing budgets this year, despite the growth of digital advertising. The survey, conducted for Google in fall 2010 by Ipsos OTX, in fact finds that traditional media accounts for the top three items in a B2B marketer's average budget:
  • Γû║ Trade shows and events (28%)
  • Γû║ Magazines/trade publications (13%)
  • Γû║ Direct mail (9%)

With this said, more than 80% of marketers are employing digital marketing methods.  The top digital expenditures of the typical B2B budget:

  • Γû║ Email marketing (8%)
  • Γû║ Search engine marketing (5%)
  • Γû║ Search engine optimization (5%)
  • Γû║ The report also finds that 77% of B2B marketers state they expect their budgets to stay the same or increase in 2011.

According to American Business Media, "A majority of B2B marketers said that combining digital with traditional and using multiple media in a campaign improves effectiveness. Six in 10 marketers said offline efforts affect online activity. 'When efforts across the marketing continuum are well coordinated … we see all boats rise,' a General Electric Co. marketing executive said in the survey." Share &/or Comment ►
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Monday, 17 January 2011 13:29

2010 Sustainability.. The Year That Was

It is difficult to sum up in just a few words all that the past year encompassed with respect to the business of the environment. It was a year of important gains, but also a time of setbacks and tragedy. In a way, the top newsmaker of the year was the environment itself. On the economic front, the news was mixed at best, but there were some important developments that bode well for the future.Despite lingering impacts of the economic recession, 2010 saw a virtual explosion in the global deployment of clean and renewable energy technologies. China became the world leader in wind and solar energy deployment, and renewable energy became the cornerstone of government strategies for low carbon economic growth in many countries. View Full Article. Share &/or Comment Γû║
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Monday, 17 January 2011 13:00

Social Media: Glossary

  Learn the language of social media marketing. Are you confused by all the social media marketing lingo and terms? You'll want to click Here ► to view a glossary of terms. Master these and you'll be a social media know-it-all. Share &/or Comment ►
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Wednesday, 08 September 2010 11:29

Eco-Innovation.. The Next Business Megatrend

Corporate sustainability is gathering momentum in North America. Companies like Wal-Mart and GE are indisputably proving the business case for efficiency with an environmental slant, and unprecedented numbers of corporations are jumping on the eco-efficiency bandwagon. Although it is still early days, indicators are that this trend could become a megatrend, influencing not only our economy, but our perspective on how companies should behave... View Full Article. Share &/or Comment Γû║
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Wednesday, 08 September 2010 10:53

Vancouver Company.. Wins Award for Biodegradable Plastic

The 2010 North American Frost and Sullivan Award* for New Product Innovation of the Year has been awarded to Canadian company Solegear, for its 100 percent biobased Polysole plastic. According to Solegear, although many of today's biopolymers come from a natural feedstock, they are compounded using synthetic additives. Polysole, however, utilizes proprietary additives that are entirely natural and organic.

The non-toxic plastic has high impact and tensile strength, and can be efficiently processed using conventional techniques such as extrusion, blow molding and injection molding. Its biodegradation point can also reportedly be tweaked, so it can maintain its molecular integrity until product-specific compost conditions are met.

Besides being completely biobased, Solegear's polymer utilizes proprietary additives that are entirely natural and organic. The company has, thus, ensured that the there is no compromise on the renewable content of the material due to its compounding... View Full Article. Share &/or Comment Γû║
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Tuesday, 13 July 2010 16:24

Print.. In The MIX : Fact-Based Research

Print in the Mix: A Clearinghouse of Research on Print Media Effectiveness brings together valuable information and research from a wide-range of credible sources on the role and effectiveness of print in the marketing media mix. Covering all areas of print, including direct mail, magazines, custom publishing, newspapers, and more, Print in the Mix's concise facts and top-line research summaries demonstrate print's effectiveness and role in generating return on investment -- alone and working synergistically with other media to drive results.

Here are just some of the ways companies are putting Print in the Mix's fact-based information to use:

  • We use Print in the Mix research to shape company media and marketing materials and presentations and sharpen focus on specific customer issues.
  • Print in the Mix has improved the content of our customer newsletter.
  • Because Print in the Mix's information is fact-based, our reps are able to talk specifics during the sales process.┬á This has been very helpful in addressing client concerns about the value of the print option and ROI.
  • We feature Print in the Mix research in our direct mail and email blasts to keep our customers in the loop.> Facts and figuresrather than opinion and anecdotal informationhelps solidify us as subject matter experts and a trusted source of industry information."
  • We've put your fast facts on our website.Put Print in the Mix's fact-based research to work for you. More. Share &/or Comment Γû║
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Thursday, 27 May 2010 15:07

VDP.. Affordable : Effective Direct Mail

Digital technology is changing the face of direct mail marketing. It's making printing faster, easier to produce, and much more flexible, transforming it from a mass medium into a mass-customized one. One-to-One marketing or Variable Data Printing, the blending of digital printing technology with electronic customer databases, allows you to create personalized promotions that not only call each member of your audience by name, but also reflect their personal characteristics, lifestyles, or tastes. VDP provides a powerful new tool to win the attention of your audience, one person at a time, and frequently, capture higher sales too. Click Here for 3 easy steps to get started. Share &/or Comment Γû║
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Wednesday, 26 May 2010 13:20

BC's... Green Economy Projected to Boom

BC's 'Green Economy' is responsible for over 117,000 direct full time jobs and over $15 billion of provincial GDP according to a new report by the GLOBE Foundation. By 2020, B.C.'s green economy could account for over 14 percent of the province's GDP and could provide full time employment for over 225,000 people. The report confirms the enormous economic benefits of a low-carbon future for the province. Share &/or Comment Γû║
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