Marketing Strategies and Best Practices
Relevant Marketing from Kuehl Marketing
Kuehl Marketing Strategies and Best Practices

Attention Marketers: Advertising more is not going to get you sales.

A common discussion among my clients usually starts with them saying "We need more advertising". My response is usually along the lines of "What is it you want the advertising to do"? Typically the answer is something that advertising won't impact, such as, leads.

I'm writing about this because of the frequency with which C-level individuals pose this to me. I've come to find out most companies do not know tactics for getting business beyond sales people and advertising. The key for B2B marketing is to understand your sales cycle, or sales funnel, and ...
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Posted by Jackie Kuehl at 8/31/2011 2:41 PM | View Comments (3) | Add Comment

When big companies fail to see their true value: Case Study Motorola Xoom.

Every now and then, as a professor, I get to gloat about a prediction made to students. Makes me feel validated. This one I LOVE because it involves a big company, Motorola. The reason this is especially satisfying is that I find it so unbelievable that little ole me saw this clear as day. So why couldn't a large company with resources see it? Must be Myopia. Here's the thing:

Motorola launched their tablet Xoom at a higher price than Apple's IPad. This would suggest a few things:

1) The Motorola ...
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Posted by Jackie Kuehl at 8/13/2011 8:10 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Two easy ways to start a content marketing plan.

When it comes to a company implementing a content marketing strategy, the words of Nike 'Just Do It' do not always apply. For some, I would say, "Don't Do It". Content is the rage and the buzz for social media, online marketing, and probably everything marketing. Having worked with a number of clients regarding their B2B marketing goals, naturally content is an issue. Yet some of my clients have more pressing issues to meet their objectives. In those cases, I propose to wait. As anything in marketing, chasing the buzz-word is not smart unless it gets the company closer to their goals.

I have not a posted a new blog entry due to lack of resources and time and more pressing priorities. That tends to be the case with many small to mid-size businesses. However, my clients do as I say, not as I do. If you do need to start a content strategy, two things I always recommend to get started:

1) Re-purpose: The best way to use content is to recycle and re-purpose. A unique article is not required for every blog article, newsletter, Twitter post, Facebook update, Press release, LinkedIn update, white paper, etc. Use one topic, write the article, then re-use the same information across all your content updates. Your customers and prospects will not be bothered by the repetition. Actually repetition is good to get your point across and break through. When I pose that idea to clients, it doesn't sound overwhelming. 

2) Calendar: Create a calendar of topics going out as far out as possible. Brainstorm ideas with your employees then plan resources to write. I hired a writer to write content for my clients. We determine the topic. The professionals write. Write in advance if possible so articles are ready. When last minute pressing news comes up, adjust as needed. The key is you will always have a topic ready to go.

All authors know the difficulty of just starting with a blank piece of paper. Just do it. It will get easier. 

What do you think?
Jackie

Posted by Jackie Kuehl at 8/9/2011 8:16 AM | View Comments (3) | Add Comment

What marketers and company leaders can learn from Egypt.

The power of social media has never been so evident or powerful as the current Egypt situation proves. This I didn't realize the uprising was just about 100% due to social media. For a great overview, 60 minutes ran a piece titled "Wael Ghonim and Egypt's New Age Revolution Wael Ghonim and Egypt's New Age Revolution" which is a fascinating look at how it happened from the person at the center of the revolution. My post today is a little off my usual topics to encourage viewing the interview as it's a fascinating story on ... << MORE >>
Posted by Jackie Kuehl at 2/14/2011 6:24 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

More best practices for Marketing alignment with Sales: Easy.

Just today I came across two articles citing best practices for sales and marketing alignment. B2B marketers talk and write about this; so, I wondered if B2B sales professionals talk about this. My guess is NO. They are concerned with bringing in revenue. If they don't like the tools marketing provides, they just don't use them. B2B Marketers, on the other hand, need sales. We need to prove our worth over and over again. It's easy for Sales to prove their worth, just look at their revenue numbers. How does marketing prove their worth? One way is to ... << MORE >>
Posted by Jackie Kuehl at 1/18/2011 3:23 PM | View Comments (13) | Add Comment

Marketing MIA? No, just PDB.

New year and finally a new post from me as I've been PDB (pretty darn busy). But who hasn't?  I'm actually making the time. I should practice what I preach to clients which is "If you are serious about a blog, you need to make a calendar and post regularly". I'll make that a goal for 2011. I have a few suggestions for others regarding the new year, resolutions, goals, and relevant marketing tips:

1) Skip resolutions and make goals. So simple. Resolutions tend to come across as things one needs to change or ...
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Posted by Jackie Kuehl at 1/10/2011 12:35 PM | View Comments (11) | Add Comment

Marketing and Sales alignment. Not so difficult if marketers play nice.

I'm fairly amused every time I see a white paper or webinar on "Sales and Marketing alignment". Amused because it's such a problem. Amused also because, really? It's such a problem? Here are my observations on the topic with suggestions on how to bridge the sales and marketing gap based on my experiences:

1) I started my career in sales and flipped to marketing after receiving my MBA. More money is in sales; but, my passion is marketing. While trying to get into marketing, marketing executives told me many companies do not want ... << MORE >>
Posted by Jackie Kuehl at 9/24/2010 8:34 AM | View Comments (28) | Add Comment

Marketing is really one big test.

I love the emails I receive from www.whichtestwon.com. Each email provides an A/B test letting you check your gut for the version which performed best. It's fun, short, to-the-point, and insightful. I like to tell clients and students that "Marketing is one big test". Naturally, most don't know what I'm talking about and probably think I'm making light of my career. But think about it. When starting any plan, tactic, marketing program, we use the most information at hand to make a decision. We execute. We measure. We ... << MORE >>
Posted by Jackie Kuehl at 8/12/2010 8:53 AM | View Comments (27) | Add Comment

Online Marketing Summit tips and key take-aways

I attended the Chicago leg of the Online Marketing Summit tour on Wed, June 30th (which may evolve to the Online Marketing Institute tour). This is the fourth year in Chicago and glad to see the conference growing. The goal of OMS is education so you do not get salesy content. Here are a few take-aways from the conference:
  1. Naturally, Social Media ...
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Posted by Jackie Kuehl at 7/1/2010 7:43 AM | View Comments (55) | Add Comment

Is LinkedIn losing effectiveness? Overused?

I am listening to a conversation about networking featuring my friend, Jim Matorin, at 678partners.com. Something caught my attention as I have been finding this myself: Is LinkedIn losing it's effectiveness as a networking tool? I would say yes and no. Here is why I ... << MORE >>
Posted by Jackie Kuehl at 6/23/2010 9:35 AM | View Comments (20) | Add Comment
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Jackie Kuehl is the Owner of Kuehl Marketing, see www.kuehlmarketing.com
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