If you ask most small business owners what form of marketing drives their business, they will say word-of mouth. We all use services that we were recommended by a friend or family member. It’s amazing how just getting one person to give a recommendation can turn into new loyal customers.

“There's a common misconception out there about transparency. Far too often, companies see it only as a tool to be used when owning up to a mistake or righting a wrong. This approach is shortsighted and isn't an effective way to build trust. Customers will be far more forgiving of mistakes if a company has a history of being forthright with all interactions - not just the negative ones.”

This question is one that surprisingly few businesses are able to answer in specific terms. Sure they may have a general idea of the demographic of people who usually buy their products or services. But if asked to define their ideal consumer it’s not something that immediately rolls off the tongue.

We have reached a point in time where social media has become a pivotal factor in business success. Every person you talk to in the digital marketing space continually reiterates how important it is to connect with customers.

You’ve finally gotten past the point of being paralyzed by all the technology choices out there. This is a huge step. You can now begin to assess the needs of your business to see whether or not technology can provide a solution.