Here's what I believe: Every Business Needs a Newsletter. No excuses. Even funeral homes. Here are 5 reasons why: 1. Monsters in the Dark (because, especially right now, people want to do business with people they know and trust) Trust is at a premium these days. After all, who can we trust? Not the...

I’ve been talking with a lot of CRM folks lately, including executives leading the CRM product groups at large companies like Oracle and Sage.  I’ve also spent time speaking with those running startups like Batch Blue and Mercury Grove.  And recently at this year’s Small Business...

I have a question for you: With the current state of things, right at this very moment, which one of the following would you choose? What you’re looking at is a campaign (a quick hit in awareness and sales) and a movement (long-term, sustainable growth). Because of what’s currently going on in t...

Nachdem sich Hansenet/Alice wegen einer seit Monaten existierenden Störung einfach nicht mehr gemeldet hat, habe ich vor zwei Tagen noch einmal nachgefragt - hier einmal der bisherige Kommunikationsverlauf (nach drei Monaten und bestimmt 30 Telefonaten/Tests/Technikereinsätzen/Hardware-Tauschereie...

One of the issues with government contracting is that an area may be hit badly when a contract ends or is given to another vendor. AT&T lost a contract with the State Department to provide a call center related to passport processing. The contract was given to another company after it was finished. ...

The value of brands diminishes during times of recession. People tend to be more focused and interested in value, properties, features and benefits of a product, meaning that buying decisions are more driven by logic than impulse or feeling. B randing in B-to-C means often to spend money on feel-goo...

The value of brands diminishes during times of recession. People tend to be more focused and interested in value, properties, features and benefits of a product, meaning that buying decisions are more driven by logic than impulse or feeling. Branding in B-to-C means often to spend money on feel-good...

by Sherry Heyl I was sitting at a coffee shop this past week and overheard a conversation between an agency sales rep and his prospect. I wasn't *trying* to listen, but the sales rep mentioned social media, which for me is likened to someone calling my name. Basically the prospect was interviewing a...

by Sherry Heyl, Chief Strategy Officer As Fritz suggested in the previous post, we are constantly evaluating what new technologies and trends are coming our way, how and when will they impact our lives, when do we need to start preparing and will they turn out to be just a fad anyway. The past 40-50...

RISKsa March edition is out. Here's my article. Right click and select 'open link in new window' if you want to print this out. Text version below the visual if you'd prefer to read it that way. Loser in the......