Community Press Newspapers – Ask Mr. Marketing

How Honda lost a sale

In my family we drive our cars into the ground, typically retiring them after 16 years. The only reason I stopped driving my 2002 Saturn... Read more

April 11, 2019 B2B Marketing branding corporate messaging Marketing trivia Print Sales Strategic planning Trade show marketing vendor relations

Cutting cord creates unexpected questions

20 years ago I had a client whose office address changed, but he wouldn’t print new business cards until his old ones were gone. With... Read more

April 4, 2019 b2c marketing branding business plans consumer marketing corporate messaging Customer relations market research Marketing trivia political marketing product marketing Public relations Sales Signage Strategic planning Web site marketing

Paying Attention To Headlines

When my family moved from Boston to San Diego, we maintained many of our old friendships. So it wasn’t unusual to meet halfway in Chicago,... Read more

March 22, 2019 b2c marketing branding consumer marketing corporate messaging Marketing trivia product marketing Sales Signage Strategic planning

A Very Merry Business Card

Did you know 627,000 new businesses start in the U.S. annually? Most use business cards as an inexpensive promotional tool. Half won’t last five years.... Read more

March 14, 2019 advertising specialties b2c marketing branding consumer marketing corporate messaging Marketing trivia Sales Signage Strategic planning

Now THAT’s subtle marketing!

First let me state I’m NOT a jewelry expert, as I believe carats are something Bugs Bunny eats. When buying shiny baubles for my bride... Read more

March 6, 2019 b2c marketing charitable giving consumer marketing corporate messaging Customer relations customer service Marketing trivia product marketing Public relations Sales sales promotion Strategic planning Testimonials

15 Minutes Changed My Worldview

Until this past weekend I never considered whether great customer service really improves your life. A brochure and a pastry changed all that. My bride’s... Read more

March 2, 2019 B2B Marketing b2c marketing corporate messaging Strategic planning technology Web site marketing

The Blockage In The Funnel

At lunch yesterday I eavesdropped on this conversation between marketing professional and client: CLIENT: I’m getting lots of web site traffic, but nobody’s buying anything.... Read more

March 1, 2019 b2c marketing branding business plans consumer marketing corporate messaging Marketing trivia Monthly newsletter product marketing Sales sales promotion Signage Strategic planning

A Lesson From The Valley

On a cool evening in 1903, Carson Cosgrove called 14 businessmen together in his brother’s harness shop. The subject of the discussion: a new company... Read more

February 21, 2019 b2c marketing consumer marketing Customer relations Marketing trivia product marketing Public relations Sales sales promotion Signage Strategic planning technology Web site marketing

I never got the bagel

I’m at an area restaurant awaiting an appointment. A numbered plaque, embedded into the table, instructs me to “Order from your table,” from a website.... Read more

February 13, 2019 B2B Marketing b2c marketing consumer marketing corporate messaging direct marketing Email marketing linguistics Marketing trivia non-profit marketing Online marketing political marketing Print product marketing Public relations Sales sales promotion Signage Trade show marketing Web site marketing

Why Bother Proofreading Your Work?

A few years back, a car dealership published a Yellow Pages coupon for $100 off the purchase of a new car. Their obvious intention was... Read more