The Scratching Post
You’ll find proven tips from real-life stories on a variety of topics in marketing, sales and networking. All inspired by people like you – the folks I work and engage with everyday.
Blogging. You’re either doing it, have done it, or have not tried it yet. Writing blogs is about sharing yourself and your knowledge in hopes of attracting like-minded people. You most likely want to attract people who will pay for your unique knowledge, a service you offer, or a product you create. You”ll want to … Continue reading “5 Tips to drive high-quality traffic to your blog”
In order to determine what you should be selling, you need to understand your customer. Yeah, I know. You’ve heard this a bunch of times. Ask yourself an honest question. Are people buying what you’re selling? For people to buy your product, they need to be aware of it, have a positive impression of it, … Continue reading “Are people buying what you’re selling?”
If you are a seasoned business owner you are not new to terms like Avatar, Persona, Audience, Niche, and Target Market – but no matter what term you use, the concept comes down to understanding who your true customer is. When we start out as new business owners, especially as solo-preneurs, we get excited and … Continue reading “Success will happen faster by identifying your niche”
If you’re running a business, you’re no stranger to some absolutely instrumental pieces to success: active sales and effective marketing. Every business requires these two important pieces be in play at all times. However, it’s very common for business owners to either confuse sales and marketing for each other, or assume they are basically the … Continue reading “What is the value of a marketing and sales strategist?”
As entrepreneurs and business owners we have a lot on our plate. Looking after day to day operations and managing staff take up most of the day. Your own clients take precedence and your focus is getting things done right for your customers. As a solo-preneur you’re wearing all the hats, or least trying to. You’re … Continue reading “Working with the right business”
10/10 times this is the question I’m asked about websites. Often clients are looking for a single answer, but of course, answers can vary. In this post, we’ll identify the factors to consider that directly affect website costs. 1. Let’s put this into perspective. If you wanted to build a house, would you approach a contractor … Continue reading “How much does a website cost?”
Being your own boss has its perks. But it also comes with a level of pressure to get the job done and wear every single hat while doing so. Secretary, IT specialists, events planner, appointment planner, follow-up master, and revenue generator …the list goes on. I remember leaving the corporate world, and it was scary. … Continue reading “3 Mistakes to avoid as an entrepreneur”
Is there a difference between effective selling and sleazy selling? Heck yeah!! Have you ever attended a learning workshop where you thought you were going to learn one thing and it turned out you were getting a sales pitch on a product you don’t understand? Even worse, it’s being offered at a price that makes … Continue reading “Marketing and sales – they need to align”
Yes, this is a loaded question. It can also be interpreted in several different ways. However, there are better ways to interpret trust than others. Based on the relationships with my clients and experience running SmartCat Marketing, here is my interpretation. Trust should mean working with someone who has your best interest at heart. When … Continue reading “What does trust mean in your business? (part 2)”
What is the nature of trust? By definition, to trust is when you rely on the actions of another person. You carry a belief that they will behave honestly and sincerely. It’s easy for us to put trust into family or friends, because we have existing and strong ties with them. But when it comes … Continue reading “How does trust affect you?”