Up until as late as 2005, I did think a valid strategy for a company with no presence on the web was to jump start online lead generation with PPC. Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is a waste of marketing dollars. It’s expensive, and it’s so ten years ago. think the only reason Pay-Per-Click advertising still exists is because there are so many certified PPC re-sellers who convince businesses it works. Go ahead – do a search – such as “Does PPC work?” ” Most of the answers you will find are from the service-providers who make money on PPC. Or con? MORE >>

There are 3 personalities, however, that I’ve realized are not always productive for improving marketing, generating more leads, and increasing sales revenues! In over 15 years as a marketing consultant, I’ve worked with a lot of great clients. Marketing Personalities You Need to Manage. 1.Myopic Marketer. This marketer can’t see the forest for the trees. If you ask, “Why do you market this way?” ” you may hear, “We’ve always done it this way.” Marketing Micromanager. This marketing personality can’t let go. Pinterest! MORE >>

People like videos (younger generations grew up with them) and either don’t want to or don’t have time to read. What tactics will get you the best results in 2013? Here are six new marketing ideas for increased success in the coming year. When you write your marketing plan for next year, keep in mind that much has changed. Read my previous post,  If There’s One Thing Constant About Marketing, It’s Change.) Now is a good time to think about what worked, what did not work, and what marketing tactics you will reduce or eliminate and what tactics you might add. How do you do it? MORE >>

You can use traditional marketing to generate leads, but it is probably more cost-effectively used to build brand awareness or build loyalty after the initial lead generation. Traditional outbound marketing (advertising, direct mail, email) still works. But, as Copyblogger indicates in the above graphic (thanks, Copyblogger!),  it is more expensive. With inbound marketing, prospects self-select themselves. They want what you have, and if they can find you online, they ask for it. ” Traditional marketing alone no longer works. You’ve got to be where the buyers are. MORE >>

A recent study of over 1400 B2B marketers showed what tactics they are planning to use to generate more content in 2013. The biggest B2B content marketing challenge sited by survey respondents was creating enough content to generate results. compared the 2013 results to 2012, and found some interesting factoids. What is changing in B2B Content Marketing from 2012 to 2013? Infographics , licensed syndicated content, mobile applications and gamification are new tactics – they were not even on the 2012 list. Mobile and eBook content creation will double in 2013. MORE >>