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I have the privilege of hosting a group of colleagues from the Duct Tape Marketing Consultant network in Austin this weekend. We shared some of our favorite online marketing and business tools. Some cool stuff here to help you take action, get organized and more!



Universal Business Listing

Great service to get your business listed online. There’s a fee, but look for the fine print on the bottom for the $39 basic package to get started. Might be the best $39 you’ll spend this year to help your business get found online.

Meeting Burner
Host an online webinar to educate clients or generate leads or just hold meetings- free.

KnowEm
KnowEm allows you to check for the use of your brand, product, personal name or username instantly on over 550 popular and emerging social media websites. Grab your name and secure your brand before someone else does.

More quick links of interesting marketing tips, tools and info that came to my attention over the last week.

Google Circles

Google’s taking on Facebook

Watching this one closely as Google rolls out Google +.   It’s invitation only right now (I didn’t get one, bummer), but here’s how Google describes it in their tour: http://www.google.com/+/demo/.

There’s a good review in Inc. about what people are saying about Google+. There seems to be potential for work and business use.  Read the full article.

Do the Work

I’ve been laughing and crying over the book Do the Work by Steven Pressfield.

It’s a quick read filled with pithy, thought-provoking ideas that every entrepreneur and small business owner should read.  Get it.  Read it.  Fight the Resistance.

Go to Amazon and click on the “Read the First Chapter Free” button.

The folks at Ring Central (my virtual phone service of choice by the way), asked its customers what Independence day meant for them. Pretty inspirational comments here that I could relate to.  Read the full post here.

Happy Independence Day everyone.  May you have a safe and blessed time with family and friends.

I’m afraid I’ve neglected the Marketing with Moxie blog for several weeks (don’t do that – it is not a moxie thing to do!).

So, to get things back on track with moxie tips, tool and tactics I’ve come across lately, I’m going to re-post some links from the Weekend Favs post John Jantsch featured on his blog yesterday– a post that he did even while on vacation!

HP MagCloud – publish, print and ship anywhere in the world. Very cool service from HP that allows you to upload PDFs or publications and print them for distribution. (HP is a client, but not for this division)

MarketMeSuite – very complete social media marketing dashboard that looks just right for small business management.

Ultimate Guide to Facebook Marketing – ridiculous list of links related to all things Facebook for marketing from Copyblogger.  This is a great resource that also came across my dashboard this week.  I’ll be speaking to the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce in a few weeks about Facebook for business, and I’ll cite this as the ultimate resource page for all things Facebook marketing.

Next week (May 17-21) is National Small Business Week and to celebrate I’ve got some great resources to help you grow your business. It’s business owners like you that are going to help turn the corner on our economy, so why not take some time to really focus on your marketing next week?

Free Online Webinar:  How to Create a Marketing System that Produces Consistent and Predictable Results, or what I also call The Seven Steps to Small Business Marketing Success. You have two opportunities next week to sit in on Seven Steps online seminars from the comfort of your desk. Even if you’re familiar with the Seven Steps, these are new and improved, so you’re sure to learn something new.

Tuesday, May 17
3-4pm Central
The Better Business Bureau in Austin has invited me to share the Seven Steps as part of its National Small Business Week activities. I’ll be giving away a copy of John Jantsch’s book The Referral Engine to one lucky winner. Sign up today!
Click here to reserve your webinar seat.  Space is limited!

Wednesday, May 18
Noon-1pm Central
Duct Tape Marketing Author John Jantsch will also be sharing his Seven steps workshop in a national webinar in honor of National Small Business Week. John is going to give away five copies of his book Duct Tape Marketing to five lucky attendees and everyone that signs up will also receive a bonus gift valued at $250.  I’ll be sitting in on the call too!
Click here to reserve your seat.

Can’t make that time work? Sign up and we’ll get you the recording and your free gift anyway.

Happy Small Business Week!  Now go give yourself a pat on the back!

Here’s my semi-regular weekend round up of links and articles of interest.

Facebook Tools For Building Brands

Great post from David Carr at Brainyards on InformationWeek.  I’ll be looking into these tools for my Facebook page.

Coworking, Online Social Collaboration Create Community

David Carr mentioned Moxie Marketing in this piece as a connector for Mavenlink and Link CoWorking. Thanks David! I agree that coworking spaces and online collaboration are a great fit.

5 Businesses Where Being ‘Green’ Is Easy and Profitable

Nice article on Earth Day by Stephanie Taylor Christensen of Business News Daily. How green is your small business?

At the recent Gathering of Duct Tape Marketing Consultants in Kansas City, Duct Tape Marketing Founder John Jantsch shared an updated version of his highly popular “Seven Steps To Marketing Success” process.  A significant addition is the emphasis on the Marketing Hourglass (TM) and the role it plays in the marketing lifecycle of your business.  John developed the hourglass concept a few years ago, but it is even more relevant now because the traditional marketing funnel is broken. Thanks to the explosive growth of social media, our customers and clients play a larger role in the marketing process – they find, review and refer us – completely out of our control.  Take a look at John’s blog post on the American Express Open Forum for a “New and Improved” look at the Seven Steps to Creating a Sure-Fire Marketing System.

Used by permission.  Duct Tape Marketing.

I often write about Duct Tape Marketing here. Moxie Marketing has been affiliated with John Jantsch and the Duct Tape Marketing network of coaches around the world for some time now. At the Duct Tape Marketing Network Annual Gathering last week in Kansas City, John announced a new brand name for that network – we are now collectively known as Authorized Duct Tape Marketing Consultants.

It’s a timely and significant change. Most of the marketing pros who are licensed to install the Duct Tape Marketing System in small businesses work with their clients as a hybrid consultant/coach. But my work is better described as a collaborative consultant rather than a coach. The re-branding will better reflect what we do.

Why do I like the Duct Tape System and what does Moxie Marketing get out of it?

Simplicity

The step-by-step approach we use to build a marketing plan just makes sense. My clients “get” marketing for the first time when they begin implementing the Duct Tape Ultimate Marketing System in their business. It breaks down a challenging process into a series of steps. It’s still a lot of work, but it illuminates the “black hole” of marketing in a way that helps business owners see it as a system.

Depth

My clients benefit from the wealth of knowledge the network provides. Consultants share knowledge and ideas with one another and we transfer that knowledge to our engagements with clients.

Customization

The universal principles we use to implement a marketing system does not mean we take a cookie cutter approach. Every engagement is different. I never work the same way with one client as I do the next. The process itself discovers unique and highly targeted ways to grow a business – from identifying its ideal customers, to developing content that sets a business apart from its competitors.

Authenticity

You’ll find lots of aggressive marketing methods in cyberspace that claim to unlock marketing in a way that will make your business grow like it’s on steroids. Don’t buy it. There is no magic pill or potion. The Duct Tape System is the real deal, but frankly, it takes a lot of work to do it right. John Jantsch and his leadership team of Joe Costantino and Cidnee Stephen are extremely talented and experienced marketers who have a passion to help small businesses succeed unlike any other organization. And I’m proud to announce that at The Gathering last week, I was honored to receive the designation of a “Certified Duct Tape Marketing Consultant.”

“All Duct Tape Marketing Consultants receive rigorous training just to be a part of the network, but certified consultants have also demonstrated a mastery of the principles contained in the Duct Tape Marketing System by successfully creating positive marketing results for their clients,” said John Jantsch, founder of the Duct Tape Marketing Consultant Network. “I am proud to announce that Rick has achieved this advanced level of success.”

Thanks, John, and kudos to my fellow consultants!

I couldn’t resist taking advantage of today’s date to write a Top Ten List of Reasons I Don’t Need Marketing. October, 10, 2010 or 10/10/10 apparently has metaphysical, mathematical and psychological implications.  I found this random and mildly amusing web page about the significance of the day, which won’t happen again for 100 years.

Take 10 metaphysical minutes to ponder this list. Do any of these reasons sound familiar to you?

10. Marketing is over rated. We have a sales force and all they need to do is SELL, SELL, SELL!

9. I’m busy running my business, I just don’t have time to work on marketing

8. Marketing?  We ain’t got no marketing,  We don’t need no marketing.  We don’t have to show you any stinkin’ marketing!

7. It costs too much.

6. There is no ROI.

5.  I’ve tried advertising before, and we didn’t generate one new customer.

4. I’ve got a website.

3. My sister-in-law designed a great logo.

2. Our quality and products sell themselves.

1. We’re already doing marketing! We know our narrow target market, understand who our ideal clients are, can say what makes us different, have developed content that educates, have a great marketing kit, created a brand identity, have a great web site and know how to use social media — we’re doing mailers, newsletters, special offers, networking, advertisements, public relations, have awesome repeat business and we’re getting all the referrals we can handle — NOT!

I met with a group of business colleagues recently for coffee and we got around to talking about my business. Immediately, a friend who has been hitting the networking groups lately pulled out a stack of business cards to show me some “gems” he thought really needed marketing help. He kind of turned into “LogoCop” and made his case for me to help him make a citizen’s arrest.

“Look at this one,” he said. “This guy needs marketing. No logo, the fonts don’t match and you should see his web site!”

I nodded in agreement. “Yes, that one’s pretty weak.”

He thumbed through the stack some more. “Ah ha! Look at the goofy logo on that one. It’s a just a telephone, an old fashioned one, and this guy’s in the IT services business! Would you want to hire him?”

“Probably not,” I said

“You should call all these guys and tell them how you can help.”

LogoMan to the Rescue

Well, I don’t usually burst into a prospect’s front door with my LogoGun, but my friend’s points are well taken. How would you feel if an amateur LogoCop was trashing your business card at the coffee shop? Your company logo is the front door – the cornerstone of your company’s brand identity. It’s a no-brainer (well apparently it’s not for everyone) to get a good logo for your business. Whether you’re a start-up, or an established business, seek professional help, and when you do, trust them. Don’t rely on what you like (your favorite color), or what your spouse says about a design.

Find a designer who will help you think about what your logo will say to your target market. Does it support your core marketing message? Are there colors or shapes that complement or communicate what you do? Is it legible? Will it stand the test of time? Does it set you apart from the competition? in general, the simpler the better.

Don’t skimp

Be sure to hire an artist or graphic designer who goes beyond creating a logo, but works with you to create an entire identity system for packaging your business – from letterhead design to brochures and websites. Consistency is the key. It’s tempting to go online to one of the many logo factories out there and be done with it, but I warn you to be very careful. I think sitting down with a local designer, face to face, will give you better results. Ask for more than a new logo – ask them to create a complete identity package. It will cost you more but in the long run it is an investment that will help prevent Citizen LogoCop from blasting your brand at the coffee shop.

Elena's Place, Ruidoso, NM My eight-year old daughter recently commented as we were sitting around our living room, "Dad, there's no place in the world like Elena's place." I assumed she was talking about her friend Elena's house (and suspicious about what they might be doing there to rate such high praise).  But she was referring to a little hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant in Ruidoso, New Mexico, called Elena's Place.  We ate there during our Spring Break Ski Trip.

Why after all these weeks did my daughter mention that experience? Remarkable service.  It was exceptional.  We dined at Elena's Place after waiting for more than hour to be seated at another Mexican restaurant (Après-ski dining is crazy in that little town… restaurants get packed fast).   The crowd had just thinned out at Elena's when we walked in. Tina, the warm host/server welcomed us with a grand smile and directed us to a cozy table by the fire.

We inhaled tasty spicy-hot chips and salsa and relished interior Mexican food to die for (Elena, the co-owner with her husband, is from Durango, Mexico.)

But it wasn't the great food that brought us back the next night. It was actually a serving faux pas.  Tina enticed us to try their sopaipillas — a fried Mexican shortbread dessert smothered in cinnamon and honey.  We all shouted, "Yes" to her offer. But alas, "We're out," she said, embarrassed a few minutes later. She quickly scribbled on the back of a restaurant business card "good for free order of sopaipillas" and told us that she'd buy them for us… whenever we came back again, even if we didn't come in to dine, she'd give them to us anytime.

The following night it was the same scenario: Packed restaurants all over town. I fished the Elena's Place card from my pocket and called to see if they had seats.  Tina herself answered.  "Yes.  Hurry.  I'll hold a table for you!" When we arrived, there was a reserved card with her name on a table waiting for us.  We sat. We ate. We laughed at Tina's good humor and memories of her former life in Austin.  Tina introduced us to Elena and her husband Tom. And we finally gorged ourselves on those sopaipillas.

Here's the marketing lesson:  Don't be boring and aim to delight every client or customer.  People don't talk about boring businesses.  Even if you blow it (like not having sopaipillas) people will still like you if you treat them right, and they'll refer you, like I'm doing now.  Check out Elena's Place on Yelp.