The absolute worst place for a brand is to be “middle of the road.”

In order to maximize potential sales, we often make the mistake of trying to reach the widest audience as possible.

Using the 5 Whys Technique developed by Sakichi Toyoda…

The other day, I was thinking about AT&T’s “It’s Not Complicated” commercials.  The ones with the guy talking to a table full of kids and they say funny things

Have you been searching for a guaranteed way to increase sales with little or no effort? Do you want an incredibly fast and inexpensive solution to effectively market your company? Are you looking for a 100% free, no commitment media outlet to promote your goods or services?

If you answered between 1-10, you may be looking at your marketing the wrong way.

It’s a simple equation.

People pay for what they can’t or don’t want to do for themselves.

In general, we assume that people make decisions based on a rational thought process. If we present the facts that our product is better and do it in an attention getting and creative way, they’ll be convinced to buy from us, rather than our competitors.

So if you’re a retailer, you’re probably fully prepped for one of your most important days of the year, the day after Thanksgiving.

If there is one common denominator that most entrepreneurs would agree on, it’s that passion is essential for success in business.

Customer service is obviously a key competitive advantage for companies who choose to excel in it. Companies like Zappos, Nordstrom, and the Ritz Carlton have built their entire brand positioning on going above and beyond.

Anyone reading this is likely highly familiar a SWOT Analysis. But here’s an exercise on how to use that information to develop actionable tactics.

In marketing, advertising, and social media, you come across a lot of all of these people.  So how can you tell the difference?

This year’s Oscars was the highest rated in a decade. Now that may have something to do with its universally amusing host or the films and individuals up for awards. However, I think it speaks to a broader trend in our ever-more-connected world.

A lot of companies think that adding QR codes to their advertising makes them look tech-savvy and innovative.  However, a lot of QR codes just take people to a home page, and sometimes they’re not even optimized for mobile.

Here’s a new framework for thinking about your marketing.  It’s called the Marketing Trinity.