Think back to your childhood and the utter delight of imagining buried treasure. Treasures have a story and a historical connection to the past, perhaps that’s why their promise holds such intrigue. Now imagine having a business as a full time treasure hunter. That’s exactly what Chris Turner, The Ring Finder (www.theringfinders.com) does. I met Chris at Grouse Mountain … [Read more...]
Defining your niche, knowing your target market, having competitive advantage
This is a little shameless self promotion for some marketing seminars I do for Small Business BC. Interviewed here on TV for BCIT Magazine, I discuss a few top of mind pointers for entrepreneurs just starting out. Link to interview here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S2-slp9Ctg These seminars are held roughly once every 1-2 months. The next Small Business BC … [Read more...]
Look out Google – here comes Apple! Again.
There has been a lot of excitement over the iPhone 5 recently. Frankly, the dark horse story is not the phone, but a feature that has been built in that replaces Google Maps. What Apple has done in launching Apple Maps with the latest iOS6 running on the iPhone 5 is an astute, intelligent and pre-emptive move. Not withstanding the fact that Apple Maps have had some wrinkles … [Read more...]
What’s your summertime blue ocean strategy?
While casting about on the beautiful Pacific Northwest waters of the Sunshine Coast recently I found myself reflecting on my personal “blue ocean strategy.” In marketing terms, a blue ocean strategy is when a business pursues a new product or new market, essentially playing in open water with few competitors, while others battle it out in the “red ocean” where competitive … [Read more...]
The Machiavellian Mad Men have left the building
For years Madison Avenue advertising executives considered consumers as targets. Watch one episode of Mad Men, and there can be little doubt as to the arrogant Machiavellian approach of that time to marketing. Although we’ve come a long way since the 1960’s, marketers rolled through the 70s, 80s and 90s seemingly unaware that there could ever be anyone in control of the message … [Read more...]
