• Using Twitter for Business

    Just about everyone with a social marketing strategy addresses the use of Twitter for their business.  Some do it wisely.  Some don’t.  Here are 5 tips for using Twitter effectively to promote and strengthen your business: Use Twitter for real business news Don’t think of Twitter as just another gimmick that your customers are in […]

  • Dealing with Unhappy Customers

    OK.  It happened.  Something went wrong and one of your customers is on the phone yelling.  True, they should have read the fine print at the end of the user agreement before they accepted liability for using your product.  But right now that is the last thing you want to tell them. At some point […]

  • Electronic Media

    In a world where everyone is increasingly concerned with the ability of media to be personalized, it’s only obvious that we’d start turning to “virtual” libraries rather than real ones.  Who wants to peruse stacks of off-topic books when a computer could just display the most relevant material?  Searching becomes easier, and our time is […]

  • Smart Web Design

    Everyone has a website these days, but how effectively are they executed?  Do they look the same on different computers?  More importantly, will they stand the test of your users? No matter how you design your site, people will try to use it differently.  If you try to build it specifically to work in Internet […]

  • WordCamp Portland

    Today’s post is brought to you live from the WordCamp event in Portland, Oregon.  Stay tuned throughout the day for updates! 9:00am And it begins … welcome to the second annual WordCamp Portland, hosted in the downtown offices of WebTrends right next to Pioneer Courthouse Square. 9:15am The first door prize giveaway.  They’re giving out […]

  • The 10 Commandments of Customer Service

    This week’s ten commandments strikes a little closer to business operations than marketing strategy.  All the same, your organization’s internal operations practices are just as important to your brand as the marketing department’s long-term strategy.  Don’t believe me?  Ask a firm that’s violated one of these rules: I doesn’t matter what your job is Everyone […]

  • The 10 Commandments of Blogging

    Just like every Wednesday before this, today brings yet another list of rules for the marketing world.  Although this week, we’re more on the topic of self-marketing (specifically self-branding).  Here are 10 simple rules to follow to use blogging effectively in your business, career, and even job search. Set a schedule and keep it Don’t […]

  • This week in sports

    Last night was the season opening game for the UO Ducks – my alma mater and hand’s down favorite sports team.  I’ve been waiting for the season opening game all week and made sure I was prepared for it.  I wore my duck gear to work, grilled brauts, and moved my schedule around so nothing […]

  • The 10 Commandments of Vacation

    If you neglect your marketing, your product will suffer.  Likewise, if you neglect your own well-being, your marketing will suffer.  Everyone needs a break, so even if you’re a workaholic you need to take a vacation from time to time.  Here are ten simple rules to follow while on vacation to make the most of […]

  • The 10 Commandments of Branding

    Branding is one of the many disciplines that make up marketing.  It sits alongside sales and advertising, and shares many of the same concepts and practices.  Like any other discipline, branding carries its list of dos and don’ts.  Here are ten that can help you avoid the potential pitfalls and minefields of the practice: Don’t […]