Written by: Brian Smith As a business owner you have analyzed your target market and have maximized your marketing throughout 2017.  Your marketing plan was carefully lined out and set up to the “T.”  Your business created the perfect catchy jingle, an amusing TV spot, or even several well-placed ads. Perhaps you set your business up at the altar of mass reach, utilizing GRPs, CPMs, and other metrics to deliver the most messages at the least cost.  Meanwhile, you idly watch your return on investment and slowly begin to realize...

Written by: Matt Wilhelmi Let’s face it, you’re busy. I know - I’ve heard it time and time again, “I’m too busy to stop and document how I do things.” However, here are 5 critical reasons as to why you should be documenting your service procedures. It’s a Foundational Part of Building a Business If you’ve talked to me for more than 5 minutes, you’ll probably hear my favorite definition of a business: a money making machine that works even when you aren’t there. If you don’t document how you...

Written by: Brian Smith I remember Sundays in Chicagoland when everyone needed to see the opening kickoff. It wasn’t that long ago that Devin Hester’s opening kickoff return was primetime viewing. He had a knack for electrifying plays! It was incredible; stores would be empty, highways looked deserted, and local establishments were packed with loud fans conducting pregame rituals. Sundays were about football. Recently, NFL viewership has seen declines. According to a Forbes Article: NFL viewership had a pretty steady climb through 2014.  But in 2015 ratings leveled.  Then in...

Written by: Brian Smith I don’t know how many times I have heard that business cards are a thing of the past.  Add to that the negative perspective about direct mail, flyers, postcards and all other physical paper marketing and sales materials; I began to wonder, could they be right? I do believe that direct mail can be utilized as one of the most effective communication tools available during the sales process.  The problem is that people, especially small business owners, often forget that the sales process never stops. A...