Big data is getting bigger…it doesn’t have to be just big technology companies that can harness the data and use it for marketing. Type “What is big data?” into a Google search box and you’ll see an endless list of results; big data is a big topic this year. SIGMA CEO Kenyon Bluntrecently included it as the #2 item in his Top Ten Marketing Trends for 2012 post. New technologies and cloud computing have opened up all sorts of possibilities for smaller marketers as well.” Here are 4 questions to get marketers thinking about how to leverage big data MORE >>

If you’ve ever spoken to an Executive Recruiter about filling a vacancy in the sales organization at your company, you’ve probably heard the term “Hunter” used to describe the profile of a top-notch sales candidate. In my experience, true “Hunters” are few and far between, and they almost never hit the waiver wire, as business owners are attuned to the true value of a Rainmaker. MORE >>

Furthermore, “crowdfunding” is now a reality, as companies can have 500 unaccredited investors, and 2,000 total investors, before being required to register with the SEC. Christopher Brodhead. Last month, President Obama signed the JOBS Act (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) into law.  If you’re unfamiliar with the fundamentals at hand, here’s a high-level overview of the fundraising ramifications:  It is now easier for startups and small businesses to raise money, as “non-accredited” investors (read: less wealthy) are now able to participate in venture funding. Great news, right!?  MORE >>

mentor once told me that a brand is the sum total of a customer’s experience with a company and that the whole of the brand is greater than the sum of its parts.  I could call your company or you could call me or we schedule an appointment or I could even show up at your location. Charles Hartness. To find a solution to a problem, most of us need to engage in a dialogue with a solution provider.  Whether you are solution-searching or solution-selling, the nature of the dialogue is essential to the delivery of the right solution. So what is true dialogue?  If not, let’s talk.  MORE >>

”   The article, based on the book   Repeatability   by Chris Zook and James Allen, talks about one of the elements of successful companies, an obssession with simplicity. Vida Tamoshunas. Complexity:  the ‘silent killer’ of modern business,” Chris Zook and James Allen. came across an article in The Economist recently, “ Simplify and Repeat.” few of the examples cited are Lego, IKEA, McDonald’s and Nike. The authors highlight three virtues of success: A distinctive core business. simple business model. Application of the model to new opportunities. MORE >>