Why You Don't Have a Business if You Don't Have Products

How to Persuade Without Really Trying
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2010-01-19 | Word Count: 1170 | Page Views: 85 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 2.00
Recently, the owner of a consulting practice contacted me. In the email, she said that she needed an easier, more predictable way to find ideal prospects. She had already tried a lot of different things but nothing worked. So we set up a meeting so I could learn more about her situation and whether I could help. In this article, I will share with you what "I" learned...

How Numbers Matter in Marketing
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2010-01-14 | Word Count: 1388 | Page Views: 77 | Votes: 2 | Rating: 2.50
I typically write a lot more about the "human side of marketing," because I think topics like trust, sincerity, and emotions get overlooked in most marketing advice discussions. And no matter how clever your copy and fail safe your system, neglect trust building and you will have to work twice as hard at your marketing for half the results. But that doesn't mean you can ignore the numbers side of marketing. In this article I talk about why numbers are important and how to make them work in your marketing.

Why Marketing for Services Stinks (and How to Make Sure Yours Doesn't)
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2010-01-12 | Word Count: 1386 | Page Views: 93 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 1.00
One of the greatest challenges of doing business in a "knowledge economy" is selling what is intangible. If you are a coach, a consultant, an alternative health practitioner, or any other business owner who is selling a service, you know how difficult it is to come up with an effective message that gets across why someone should hire you...

Using The Moment of Truth to Get Prospects Attention
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2009-12-30 | Word Count: 940 | Page Views: 91 | Votes: 2 | Rating: 1.50
The best message in the world will fail if prospects read it out of context. If prospects see your message at a time when they aren't concerned with the problem your product solves, they will ignore it. Your message might as well be invisible. Context is about making sure prospects see your message at the "moment of truth": the time when they are most aware of their problem and looking for solutions.

How to Be in Charge (without Being a Jerk)
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2009-10-29 | Word Count: 1068 | Page Views: 164 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 2.00
Earlier this year, I was working at a sales training seminar and we were on the topic of handling customer objections. A participant who owns a massage therapy practice was asking how to best address a prospective client who didn't want to follow his recommended course of treatment.

Sincerity: the 'Secret Sauce' for Effective Marketing
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2009-10-27 | Word Count: 1026 | Page Views: 181 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 2.00
A couple years ago, I was talking with someone who was, for me, a very challenging client. I'm all about cultivating relationships that result in opportunities to sell. This particular client seemed allergic to cultivating relationships for reasons I never really understood. My client was blocking me at every turn with reasons why relationship development would not work for their business. It was maddening.

How to Turn Casual Customers into Raving Fans
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2009-10-20 | Word Count: 1441 | Page Views: 219 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 3.00
To create more raving fans it's important to understand what makes your products and services uniquely satisfying to current customers.

Creating an Info Product That (Practically) Sells Itself
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2009-10-15 | Word Count: 1148 | Page Views: 175 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 5.00
It's a common issue: you love your work and the clients you work with love your work too. But you wonder whether what you do will translate well if you're not doing it in person.

The Heart-Centered Product That Created a Billion Dollar Industry
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2009-09-30 | Word Count: 1490 | Page Views: 183 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 0.00
Mastering the Art of French Cooking and the following it inspired made it possible for the hundreds of Italian, Mexican, and Asian foods now common in American grocery stores. It opened up possibilities for the extraordinary range of cuisines we can find in restaurants, not to mention the billion dollar business in cookbooks, cooking shows, and other media.

4 Keys to a Free Product That Grows Your Mailing List
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2009-09-03 | Word Count: 1088 | Page Views: 196 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 4.00
I cannot over-emphasize the importance of creating trust-based relationships in business. This is what periodic emails to your list allow you to do. If your business is relatively new to online marketing, building a subscription list can feel pretty daunting. I've had many conversations with small business owners who are love the idea of email marketing and inevitably the question, "How do you get all these subscribers anyway?" And that is the question I'm going to answer in this article.

All of Author's Articles on this site: Judy Murdoch Articles

Online Brand Management: Optimizing Facebook
Written by: Enzo F. Cesario | Distributed: 2010-03-15 | Word Count: 863 | Page Views: 130
We've previously discussed the Web's amazing tendency to take very good ideas and adapt them to techniques largely unrelated to their original intent. Search engines rate all websites based on their internal criteria, and this increasingly includes Social Media pages such as Facebook. With that in mind, let's consider five key ways you can apply SEO techniques to Facebook in order to drive interest.

Business Turnaround: Stabilize Your Environment with Positive Cash Management
Written by: Thayne Carper | Distributed: 2010-03-10 | Word Count: 531 | Page Views: 93
A good business turnaround requires you to stabilize your environment; without this step, your business will likely remain unprofitable.  Maintaining both a positive cash balance and abiding by a smart budget is vital. 

Conducting Effective Career Aspiration Discussions with Employees
Written by: Andria L. Corso | Distributed: 2010-03-10 | Word Count: 690 | Page Views: 105 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 4.00
Enhance your talent management and development programs through conducting career aspiration discussions with your employees. Find out where they want to grow their career to determine if it matches your business needs. This will enable you to differentiate your employee development to grow the future leaders of your company.

The Ox and The Fly
Written by: Scott Bywater | Distributed: 2010-03-02 | Word Count: 305 | Page Views: 67
Over Xmas, I bought a business book about Aesop's Fables. And from memory, one of Aesop's Fables is about the ox and the fly. In a nutshell, it goes like this.

Focus On Your Strengths
Written by: Scott Bywater | Distributed: 2010-03-01 | Word Count: 450 | Page Views: 56
Last year, I took over a small second office next to the one I have now. I've had it painted and recarpeted. But setting it up and getting my current office painted / recarpeted seems overwhelming. I know. I know. I've got to make the time to plan out how I want it to all look, what I want to get out of it, where I want what, etc. because my current office just feels too congested. But I find it overwhelming.

Look Out For The Smoking Gun
Written by: Scott Bywater | Distributed: 2010-02-26 | Word Count: 380 | Page Views: 68
In the legal world, there is a term called "Smoking Gun" which refers to that critical piece of information which makes it impossible for your opponent to win a court case. It's a fact, a piece of evidence or whatever which proves what you have to say beyond any seed of doubt. And there are a lot of correlations between law and advertising because when you are selling via the printed word, your jury is your customer.

5 Great Ways to Save Time with Enterprise VoIP Integration
Written by: Alexander Anoshin | Distributed: 2010-02-25 | Word Count: 733 | Page Views: 114
From this article, you'll learn the 5 main reasons to integrate VoIP in your enterprise. You'll know which enterprise applications integrate with which VoIP software to achieve the most results.

Business Turnaround: Reorganize Your Company and Focus on Its Profitable Areas
Written by: Thayne Carper | Distributed: 2010-02-25 | Word Count: 539 | Page Views: 61
After you have determined the root cause of your company's problems, you must now reorganize to make your company profitable. All companies have strengths and weaknesses, and it would be wise to recognize which areas are assets to you and which need improvement.

How You Can Beat 97% Of The Pack
Written by: Scott Bywater | Distributed: 2010-02-24 | Word Count: 388 | Page Views: 66
When I was seventeen I remember doing a program called Discovery. I think I was the only teenager who paid for half the fee and begged and pleaded their parents to let them go. Basically, it was a course which taught a lot of life skills from motivation to how to deal with conflict... kind of like an Anthony Robbins for teenagers.

Cost Reduction for Business: How to Best Manage Your Costs
Written by: Thayne Carper | Distributed: 2010-02-23 | Word Count: 506 | Page Views: 65
Companies have to use various forms of financial studies - estimates, budgets, forecasts, analyses, and evaluations - to report and control their costs.

How To Write A 300 Page Book In Four Months
Written by: Mark Silver | Distributed: 2008-07-15 | Word Count: 821 | Page Views: 35899 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 1.40
There's a lot of hoopla about becoming an author of your very own business book. The promise of fame and fortune is very alluring. Yet your book remains perpetually 'about to be' written. Meanwhile your business has ground to a halt. Hmmm... might there be a better way to get a book written?

The Best Marketing Book I've Ever Read (You'll Be Surprised)
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2007-05-09 | Word Count: 1522 | Page Views: 33090 | Votes: 15 | Rating: 3.60
From time to time someone asks me to recommend marketing books. Here's one of my favorite marketing books that always surprises people. Curious? Read on.

The Bizarre History Of The HOLLYWOOD Sign
Written by: Morris Timlen | Distributed: 2008-11-05 | Word Count: 1211 | Page Views: 25017 | Votes: 18 | Rating: 3.17
The most famous sign in the history of mankind is the one that graces the side of the hill above Hollywood, California. As famous a landmark as the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio De Janeiro, the Eiffel Tower in Paris France, the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, The Church of the Savior on Blood in Saint Petersburg Russia, and the Statue Of Liberty in New York City, the Hollywood sign is known around the world as the symbol of the American movie industry.

What Does It Take To Be A Successful Salesman?
Written by: Casey Moher | Distributed: 2008-08-05 | Word Count: 930 | Page Views: 4597 | Votes: 30 | Rating: 3.07
In the course of my average workweek, I meet people who tell me that they have no sales experience, and very literally, many will tell me that they could not sell if their lives depended on it. Do you fit into this mold? Do you seriously believe that you can sell me on the idea that you cannot sell things?

You Can Turn Complaints into Cash!
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2006-08-08 | Word Count: 795 | Page Views: 2876 | Votes: 24 | Rating: 3.54
Most of us don't like listening to complaints. We can't imagine the value in listening to someone rant and rage about something they're dissatisfied with. But here 's a secret: There's gold in those complaints—-if—-you know what to listen for.

Selecting Between a 401(k) And 403(b) For a Nonprofit
Written by: Daniel Lamaute | Distributed: 2007-10-11 | Word Count: 333 | Page Views: 2807 | Votes: 14 | Rating: 2.64
Newly released IRS regulations impose several new requirements and fiduciary responsibilities on employers with 403(b) plans. While the regulations generally don't take effect until January 1, 2009, there are some provisions that apply sooner.

A Wedding Competition Worthy Of American Idol Status
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF | Distributed: 2007-12-11 | Word Count: 392 | Page Views: 2557 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 2.00
Past American Idol contestants Clay Aiken, Taylor Hicks, and Kelly Clarkson may have stood up to the pressures of the American Idol competition, but could they handle the stress of the Designer Wedding Challenge.

The Pros And Cons Of Postcard Marketing-direct marketing offline
Written by: Cheryl Miller | Distributed: 2006-11-29 | Word Count: 675 | Page Views: 2491 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 2.60
Postcard marketing is one of the oldest methods of marketing. Its concept is simple but can be quite effective. It is just sending out your message to your mailing list on a postcard. Postcard marketing is a powerful and cost effective way to advertise and will keep building in momentum when done correctly.

Interior Designers Expand Your Advice to the Exterior
Written by: Catherine Wilson | Distributed: 2006-07-19 | Word Count: 775 | Page Views: 2254 | Votes: 10 | Rating: 2.50
Do you have clients that depend on you for everything? Do they often want you to advise them in areas that somewhat fall out of your expertise? Do they ask for direction with parties, holiday decorating, coordinating weddings or even advice on landscaping? These are just a few of the ways a good interior designer is asked to stretch beyond the norm by clients who love their tastes and respect them.

Getting The Best Work From Your Graphic Designer
Written by: Erin Ferree | Distributed: 2006-11-02 | Word Count: 717 | Page Views: 2234 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 3.60
A graphic designer's goal is to provide you with the logos, artwork, and page designs that best fit your business, personality, industry, and target market and that convey your offerings and differentiators. The experience of reaching that goal can be extremely smooth and pleasant if you know what to expect up front, and if you understand that you do need to work with your designer rather than just letting them loose to create.

Why Businesses Need Receivable Factoring In Cash Flow Management
Written by: Toby Seibert | Distributed: 2007-08-08 | Word Count: 866 | Page Views: 881 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 4.60
In today's business environment, many businesses need to fine-tune the process of getting paid on invoices, in order to improve their cash on hand. Improving cash flow can be an ongoing challenge for businesses of all sizes, and it is an issue that must be addressed to ensure the long-term viability of the business.

Whose Restaurant Can You Find Online?
Written by: Rudy Vener | Distributed: 2007-07-09 | Word Count: 640 | Page Views: 710 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 4.40
What is so significant about Pizza Hut's latest TV commercial?

Equal Opportunity Pizza Ordering
Written by: Rudy Vener | Distributed: 2007-10-19 | Word Count: 629 | Page Views: 663 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 4.40
With online ordering, your menu and restaurant suddenly become accessible to both the deaf and blind customers in your community.

Business School for Non-Business Minds: Got a NAICS Number?
Written by: Melissa Mashtonio | Distributed: 2008-04-15 | Word Count: 423 | Page Views: 505 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 4.40
I’m a journalist. I spent a lot of my career in the news business. As my career has progressed, I’ve spent time at small and large companies, and I have sat through dozens of business meetings wondering what the heck the “money” people are talking about. They used acronyms as if they were a foreign language.

FDA's New Process Validation Guidance Recommends Team Approach
Written by: Norm Howe | Distributed: 2009-01-21 | Word Count: 665 | Page Views: 583 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 4.40
The November 2008 FDA draft guidance for process validation says "We recommend an integrated team approach to process validation that includes expertise from a variety of disciplines..." But when different people from different backgrounds work together, disagreements can stall your team. How do you get your project back on track?

The Problem With Swiping Sales Copy
Written by: Scott Bywater | Distributed: 2009-12-03 | Word Count: 480 | Page Views: 175 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 4.40
This is what people miss when they try to simply "swipe" sales copy from another advertisement.

The Secret To Making Successful Business Connections
Written by: Kate Smalley | Distributed: 2006-10-11 | Word Count: 672 | Page Views: 705 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 4.00
If you have a hard time making successful business connections, don't despair. Anyone can be good at meeting people-if they use the right technique. The whole secret to making a positive connection is knowing how to attract people and inspire them to want to give you a chance.

How to Build a Really Great Business? (Super Success Secrets from a Legendary Business Master)
Written by: Chet Holmes | Distributed: 2007-01-15 | Word Count: 1523 | Page Views: 792 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 4.00
Times are tough. The economy is in a constant state of upheaval. Is your company doing better than most? Are you placing greater emphasis on pure performance?

How to Charge More and Get It!
Written by: Kendall SummerHawk | Distributed: 2006-08-01 | Word Count: 290 | Page Views: 680 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 3.88
Why do businesses undercharge for their service? Fear. Fear of being rejected and fear of being disapproved of certainly. But the real fear is of not being good enough. Here are some tips to help you decide what the right price is for your products or service.

Online Copywriting Makes Content as the King
Written by: Steven Gerber | Distributed: 2006-12-11 | Word Count: 560 | Page Views: 805 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 3.86
The inverted pyramid is basically the placing of 4 W's in the primary sentences of the articles, supported by the other W and H on the following discussions. Four W's consist of what, when, where, and who. The other W which stands for why on the other hand, follows on the succeeding paragraphs, including the elaboration for the H which also stands for how, if necessary.