Tweet. SWOT Analysis may have a simple presentation, but the analysis is the hard part. My clients have really appreciated this 1-page SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis with Action items. One CEO included it in her presentation to investors because it very clearly and transparently showed the company’s situation and what we planned to do to grow the business. So what about the hard part – the analysis? Not all employees at many companies are comfortable telling “the boss” what’s wrong with the business. Please comment below. MORE >>

Two I noticed in the past couple of years are The Rise of the Supertemp (HBR, May 2012) and The Disposable Worker (Businessweek, January 2010). An increasing trend in the workplace is outsourcing talent for non-core business functions, and CMOs and other marketing executives are part of the trend. More and more businesses are finding that it’s increasingly difficult to hire talented marketing professionals on a full-time basis. What’s more, it’s not clear that paying the salary and benefits of a senior-level marketing executive is a requirement at all companies. Super? MORE >>

Tweet. Many of us are pretty enamored with the television series Madmen , with its portrayal of advertising industry “madmen” who worked at the agencies behind the scenes, smoking incessantly, fueling their creativity with gallons of alcohol, and relieving stress with illicit affairs. It’s so popular, fashion designers are incorporating elements of the show’s costumes into their current designs. The show even has a web site where you can create your own Madmen avatar. Yes, I couldn’t resist – see my Madmen avatar below, complete with martini in gloved hand. MORE >>

Tweet. Having a presence at an industry trade show can be one of the most expensive B2B marketing tactics in your annual program. But it’s no longer enough to just show up, exhibit and leave. Here are six trade show tips to help you maximize return on your investment and, in some cases, even reduce your costs. Be a speaker at the conference. conference speaking gig positions you as an industry leader and creates instant credibility. At the end of the presentation, announce a special offer or event at your booth to drive attendees there. Send follow-up messages after the show. MORE >>

Tweet. Remember the ad where the two big company consultants sat in front of a corporate business executive’s desk, and when the executive asked them, “What do you do?” ” the consultants said, “Err, we don’t  do anything…”? In the past, the label “consultant” designated someone who provided advice to businesses and organizations, but did not implement their advice. What should you look for when hiring a marketing consultant? Expertise. How many years the marketing consultant has actually consulted? Independence and Ethics. MORE >>