Archive for the ‘Marketing’ Category

Just like very entrepreneur, you strive to deliver exceptional customer service. But, are you creating and sustaining the right customer experience — you know, the one that truly wows your new and existing customers? To tackle this critical question — and provide some practical tips — we sat down for BusinessCast episode #155 with Stephen Smith (former President and CEO of WestJet and Zip Air).

Stephen is obsessed with ensuring that leaders cost-effectively establish and strengthen long-term profitable relationships by creating positive and consistent customer experiences. So, its no surprise that he is a strong advocate of using technologies, work processes, training and customer engagement strategies to help companies understand just how effective they are at creating positive customer experiences. Listen to BusinessCast episode #155 and build the customer experience that will be the envy of your industry and ensure your continued success.

Tools You Can Use Now: Scattered throughout BusinessCast episodes, we`ve identified several easy-to-use tools to help you get a sense of what your customers are saying about you and the experience you create for them. For example, begin by setting up a Google Alert with the name of your company. Also,  set up a Social Media Alert (from SocialMedia.com) which is just like a Google Alert but taps into the Internet`s prominent social media sites. Finally, use free Twitter search tools (e.g Twazzup) to get a read on your company in real time.

**UPCOMING EVENT FOR ENTREPRENEURS**: MarketingSherpa and MarketingExperiments are hosting a series of one-day seminars across North America. Check out the Online Marketing ROI conference (coming to Toronto on June 10) where you can also win an iPad.

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Entrepreneurs are insatiable — always striving to grow, learn and innovate. So, it’s no surprise to any BusinessCast listener that entrepreneurs find themselves leading some of the world’s most successful companies. In BusinessCast #153, we tap into one such entrepreneur: Carl Yankowski who has been CEO at Palm, Reebok and Sony Electronics — as well as holding senior positions at Polaroid, Cadbury Schweppes, Pepsi and Memorex.

As a lifelong entrepreneur himself, Carl shares his insights, great business stories and valuable lessons for entrepreneurs who want to bring exciting products to market and always be exceptional.

**UPCOMING EVENT FOR ENTREPRENEURS**: MarketingSherpa and MarketingExperiments are hosting a series of one-day seminars across North America. Check out the Online Marketing ROI conference (coming to Toronto in June) where you can also win an iPad.

Subscribe to the BusinessCast Podcast at iTunes

After gathering some key insights into today’s broad entrepreneur landscape from Intuit’s recent study in BusinessCast episode #151, Robert and I wanted to connect with a new and innovative entrepreneur to get a sense of their specific challenges. So, for BusinessCast #152, we connected with Julian Brass — the brains behind one of Canada’s fastest growing and most innovative digital businesses — Notable TV.

In BusinessCast #152 Julian shares his secrets to success and advice for budding new entrepreneurs.

**UPCOMING EVENT FOR ENTREPRENEURS**: While Julian has a handle on how to leverage online marketing to grow his business, many entrepreneurs still struggle with determining the best combination of online marketing tools for their business. To help, MarketingSherpa and Marketing Experiments are hosting a series of one-day seminars across North America. Check out the Online Marketing ROI conference (coming to Toronto in June).

Subscribe to the BusinessCast Podcast at iTunes

Have you ever walked away from a discussion feeling that you really weren’t heard? How frustrating is that? After all, as an entrepreneur, you’ve got passion, boundless enthusiasm and creativity going for you — all backed up with great products or services.

Well, we’ve all been there! That’s why in BusinessCast #150, Robert and I sat down with Jeff Hendler, a unique coach and trainer who helps business leaders succeed — by helping them truly understand the different ways that targeted people process information. The result: you can adapt your message, your method of communicating, your timing, your body language, etc. — in short, all those things that will help you successfully “get through” to your targeted audience so that they can appreciate the value you bring.

Getting a handle on the psychology of how people take in and respond to information is complex. But, in BusinessCast #150, Jeff provides a handful of powerful tips that you can use now to achieve the impact you’re looking to make in your next critical meeting.

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Marshal Cohen has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Fortune and Time Magazine. He’s also been a guest on The Today Show, CNN and ABC World News. As Chief Industry Analyst for the NPD Group, he provides critical advice and insights into why people make the purchase decisions that they do.

Do you know why prospects purchase your products/services? I mean, do you really understand what’s behind their thinking, their feelings, the obstacles they have to overcome, the choices and trade-offs they make? Because most entrepreneurs experience a disconnect between their sell cycle and their customers’ buying cylce, Marshal Cohen set out to answer these questions in a succinct and practical way in his compelling new book, Buy Me!

For BusinessCast 149, Robert and I sat down with Marshall, the Chief Industry Analyst from the NPD Group — one of North America’s leading market research and consumer marketing firms. Marshal gives real-life insights that will help you:

• Understand the buying process of your current/future customers
  
• Shift buyers’ attention from your competitors’ offerings to yours
• Move buyers’ attention from features to value

Whether you’re focused on consumers or businesses, listen to BusinessCast 149 and you will gain valuable insights that will help you to re-tool your products/services and can beat out your competition.

Subscribe to the BusinessCast Podcast at iTunes