Simplify Your Marketing Strategy
There are so many options available when it comes to marketing. It is easy to get caught up in the process and want to employ all the bells and whistles that are possible. You can find yourself caught up in the moment of creative brainstorming revelation, or the...
Fearless Sales and Marketing
Why do we hesitate to move forward with a marketing plan, or that sales call? Fear. When you are thinking about your marketing strategy, think specifically. Do you ever find yourself saying things like “I want us to make a larger impact next year” or “We need to focus...
On Creativity and Strategy
I have written before about the difference between creative and artistic. I think there is another distinction that needs to be made — the difference between creativity and strategy. It is possible to have very creative ideas that aren’t strategic. Likewise, it is...
Repurpose your older marketing collateral into great social content
If you have decided to increase your social media presence but you don’t know where to start, this article is for you! Take a look at a few things like company brochures, PR engagements, and your website content. What can be quickly turned into a social media post (or...
But marketing is hard
Here is an exercise I’m not kidding – you need to do this. Stick with me here. Step 1: Please take a minute and say (out loud) the sentences below in the whiniest 4-year-old tantrum voice that you can muster up. Marketing is haaaarrrddd. It’s hard to know what works....
There’s no more marketing secret sauce
There’s no more secret sauce. Don’t buy into the myth of corporate espionage. Are you struggling to participate on social media because you are afraid that your competitors will somehow learn your tricks and beat you? Just being honest, but that tells me that you...
The ONE Digital Marketing Strategy that will make your business explode
The one Digital Marketing Strategy that will make your business explode is CONTENT. Content is the absolute key to digital marketing. Under this large umbrella term are a few places to start. Website Social Media Blogging Podcasting Regardless of how much content you...
Afraid of social media?
Fear to change. Fear of the board of directors. Fear of job loss. Fear. Fear. Fear. (blah blah blah) I believe that the fear you should have (that you don’t) is the Fear of becoming irrelevant. I’m especially writing this FOR the big companies. Why would I do that?...
That Dang 80/20 Rule
That darned ole 80/20 Rule just won’t go away, will it? Recently I heard someone talking about the 80/20 rule in the way of “getting back to the basics.” Ultimately the point was that the basics account for 80% of your success. At first, I was all arrogant... "I’ve...
Fart Noise Maker Marketing 101
Don’t forget sales. Marketing and advertising is only the first step. Advertising and Marketing can be thought of as a fart noise maker. Some people might think a fart noise maker is entertaining, some might find it offensive. Rarely will a person remain completely...
Four Reasons Why You should be Advertising on Social Media
Let's say I'm a Bow and Arrow company in Montana that manufactures expensive bow hunting equipment. My target market is wealthy men in Montana who love to hunt. How can I target them specifically? The answer is social media. Social Media advertising is simply a must...
Artistic VS Creative
Is there a difference between artistry and creativity? You bet there is. Where does this conversation fall into our business life? Art is always that term that evades me. What IS art? The conversation goes like this: Regular Person: “My two year old could have painted...
The Biggest Lie You Tell Yourself About Numbers on Social Media
Let’s set the scene. The crew has the stage dressed, the band takes the stage, and they begin to play music. Boy do they give it their all. Beautiful chords and laser lights fill the air. They give the performance of a lifetime. Now let’s review a couple of possible...
I can’t find my logo!!!
If you were to look on your computer right now, would you be able to tell me in what folder your company’s logo is found? How about if I were to ask you for a high-resolution version of it, or better yet, a vector format? I believe you should be able to answer these...
Social Media for Doctors, Lawyers and CPAs
"If you aren’t proactive, you are reactive. If you aren’t reactive, you are antiquated." - Bo Many professional services firms shy away from social media. Many of these industries have run from advertising for years. There was an old tradition and taboo associated...
The most impressive marketing hack ever: $40,000,000 in a Nigerian bank account
This post is not for the weak at heart. It is not for the noble. It’s for those looking for results. It’s for those who can look at the bigger picture. I’m not going to vouch for these lousy humans using phishing schemes to steal the money of the hard working masses....
Analog Marketing? Three reasons for marketing online and off
I was thinking about how exciting it can be to go left when everyone else is going right. Here are three reasons why good, old-fashioned offline marketing shouldn't be completely forgotten: Reason One: No one is expecting it You may be surprised at the warm reception...
Social Media Marketing: Just be Yourself
There are so many questions clients have about social media. They say "I don't know what to post." Even recently I had a new client meeting where we examined their social efforts. Let's talk about what I discovered. First, this company is using social media, so that...
Super-Duper, Super-Secret Marketing Plan that will make you trillion$ and give you six-pack abs
I should post on the value of a marketing plan. Bet you never considered that! (I’m rolling my own eyes.) Why do you know you need a marketing plan, but still not have one? I think the reason we don’t take action on many things is confusion. Confusion is born of the...
I’m Betting the Grass IS Greener
I love new year’s resolutions. That’s right. I refuse to listen anymore to the naysayers yapping about how only 8% of people will achieve them. Look, I get what they are saying. But what will I say?? I say, I’m going for it. I say, I’m going places. If I get...
Blow Away the Competition with a Killer Business Card
What does your business card look like? How impressive is it? If you are like many, it’s not very impressive at all. Why settle for a substandard business card? Business cards are my personal pet peeve. So many times business professionals opt to save literally $500...
What designers hate about “Ugly”
Let's be honest. We've all seen successful companies that are ugly. What designers hate about ugly is that it isn't required for some measure of success. (It isn't REQUIRED.) Consistency in marketing is the key to success in marketing. Even if it's ugly, if you have a...
We’ve had it all wrong! (Websites)
In preparing to meet with a new client this morning, I'm reminded of where we've all gone WRONG. For the longest time, it was cool to have a website. In the beginning there was blinking text and loud blocks of color. It was awful, but the information was there....
Don’t go viral. Just be popular!
You can’t control “going viral.” The planets must align themselves. The universe as a whole has to be in just the right mood on a given day. I’ve seen social posts that were brilliant and relevant go completely unnoticed. I’ve seen abstract rainbow donkeys immediately...
Fass Selections – Logo Creation
Fass Selections Approved Logo Who is Lyle Fass? "Most of his background is in retail buying for Crush, Chambers Street Wines and The Wine Shop in Manhattan. Before he arrived in NYC he learned the ropes of retail in Boston at The Wine Press, Brookline Liquor Mart and...
The Power of the Business Card
This is definitely a subject we've been meaning to blog about for a good while now. At Solve, we are true believers in the power of GREAT business cards as marketing tools. We believe that with a well crafted message and an intriguing design you can make a lasting...
Big and Small: The Visual Power of Contrast
What makes something interesting to look at? In a word, contrast. I like to refer to it as "big and small." Any time you want to create visual interest, just think about contrast. Obviously taking my "big and small" literally can do the trick, but thinking about the...
Risk-taking when Job Hunting
I'm pretty sure it was a couple of weeks before graduation when my brother Pablo called to ask me what I was doing after graduation. Having moved from Honduras to Rochester three years prior, I thought it was pretty obvious I was sticking around and looking for a job...
Are you putting your marketing message in front of the right people? Step #1 to Human Sense Marketing.
When preparing your marketing and advertising plan, your very first question should be: Who do I need to talk to? The answer to this question will push you in the right direction when it comes to WHAT your message should be, and WHERE your message should go. I believe...
Random Lunch Conversations with Bo
God, Design, and Miscellaneous (not exactly what you're thinking of) When God was in the heavens with his "Animal Kingdom Lego Set" putting together his aesthetically pleasing combinations of horses, birds, fishes, amongst others, their came a point where he thought...
Digital billboards: An improvement???
Are digital billboards an improvement? It appears that there may be more cons than pros. Let's explore. Some Cons: At first glance, a lot of what might be thought to be in the Pro column end up in the Con category. First, one might think that the ability to change out...
QR Codes and what they are good for
2022 edit. QR codes have become more mainstream with the update in the accessibility of just using our camera phones. I must admit that some of the information is still applicable, but some of the opinions of uses has changed along with the technology itself! Harold...