Archive for April, 2010

I'm reading John Jantsch's new book, The Referral Engine, and once again, as he did with his first book Duct Tape Marketing,  John makes something as complex as marketing very simple to understand.

In the first chapter of the book, which hits bookstore shelves on May 13, John talks about how a tiny part of our brain, the hypothalamus, triggers a need for us to make referrals.  John writes,

The hypothalamus likes validation — it registers pleasure in doing good and being recognized for it, and it's the home to the need to belong to something greater than ourselves.

John says there are five realities of referral marketing:

1. People make referrals because they need to
2. All business involves risk
3. Nobody talks about boring businesses
4. Consistency builds trust
5. Marketing is a system

Want to learn more about these five realities? Download a sneak preview of Chapter One of The Referral Engine.  Your hypothalamus will be glad you did.

Want to stimulate your brain with more great referral marketing ideas?  John will be at St. Edward's Professional Education Center in Austin on May 5 to talk about his new book.  Visit smallbizmarketingpro.com to learn more and register.  We're giving away John's new book free to the first 100 people to register online.

Enter the discount code "getmoxie" to save $5 on your ticket.

I'm thrilled to announce that Duct Tape Marketing Founder and small business marketing expert John Jantsch is coming to Austin on Wed. May 5. Moxie Marketing is partnering with St. Edward's Professional Education Center to host "An Evening with John Jantsch: Teach Your Business How to Market itself." The program begins at 7pm at St. Ed's PEC campus in North Austin.  Here's the cool part. The first 100 people to register online will get a free copy of John's new book, Referral Engine, before it hits the market on May 13. Click on the box at the left to register. Tickets are $25. John will do a book-signing after the event. 

This is John's second book. His first book, Duct Tape Marketing, has helped thousands of small businesses around the world get customers to "know, like and trust them," which is John's definition of marketing.   The new book is already getting good pre-release reviews. For a sneak peak, click here to download the first chapter free. Visit www.referralenginebook.com for more info. Here's a short video about the book from that site.

The Referral Engine from John Jantsch on Vimeo.

See you May 5!

I cracked up watching this Joel Bauer video on YouTube.  It is way over the top in a scary, creepy way.  But he makes a great point.  

You don't have to take 25 years to design a card.  But take a little time to be sure your card is compelling and memorable.  Use the back to describe your guarantee, unique difference, or special offer that draws people to your web site or into your store or office (free evaluation, special discount, etc.) Put your social media links there.  And yes, quality counts but with so many affordable options at online printing or local printing companies, you can spend a little to get a lot.   Use color, a nice coated stock, rounded corners. Anything tasteful and professional that makes people notice you.