market research – Ask Mr. Marketing

What should be in your business plan?

Many times I’ve encountered entrepreneurs who are unsure of what goes into a well-documented business plan to persuade an investor to pay attention. As a... Read more

October 18, 2018 B2B Marketing branding business plans corporate messaging Customer relations Licensing market research Marketing trivia political marketing product marketing Public relations Sales sales promotion social networking Strategic planning technology Web site marketing

I got mugged by Monsanto

Several years ago I heard a story about Exxon and Mobil merging. Supposedly, some smart guy jumped online, found the URL exxonmobil.com was available, and... Read more

October 10, 2018 b2c marketing business plans consumer marketing corporate messaging direct marketing market research Marketing trivia product marketing Public relations Sales sales promotion Signage Strategic planning

Trying to outsmart the marketplace

My bride and I recently listed our home for sale. Being empty-nesters, downsizing made sense. Plus there was the soaring housing market tempting us to... Read more

October 4, 2018 B2B Marketing b2c marketing consumer marketing corporate messaging Customer relations customer service direct marketing Email marketing market research political marketing product marketing Public relations Sales sales promotion speaking Strategic planning Telemarketing Web site marketing

Does rudeness sell more effectively?

Chris Belden of Portland, OR, received a realtor’s postcard soliciting business. The attention isn’t surprising given Portland’s soaring housing market. “I get daily outreach from... Read more

September 13, 2018 b2c marketing branding business plans consumer marketing corporate messaging Customer relations market research Marketing trivia political marketing Public relations Strategic planning

My personal straw poll

A recent article reported cruise lines are cutting back on their use of single-use plastics to lower their trash output. They know 500 million plastic straws... Read more

July 26, 2018 b2c marketing consumer marketing corporate messaging Customer relations market research Public relations Sales Strategic planning

You’ve got SOME nerve!

Regular readers know I work from a home-based office facing the street. I see delivery guys, joggers, and families walking their dogs. It’s very conducive... Read more

July 19, 2018 b2c marketing consumer marketing direct marketing market research Marketing trivia product marketing Sales sales promotion Strategic planning

Making Marketing More Delicious

Frequently I’ll smell baked goods in Costco’s parking lot. Who knows whether management’s merely ventilating the bakery or purposely exporting the smell outside. Either way,... Read more

June 6, 2018 b2c marketing branding consumer marketing corporate messaging Customer relations linguistics market research Marketing trivia political marketing product marketing Public relations sales promotion social networking speaking Strategic planning

Racism, Vulgarity, and Bottom Lines

My friends across the political spectrum all say they want a more civil society than we have today. There’s no easy solution, of course, though... Read more