New Blog Posting Schedule

When I began writing this blog, I posted every Sunday. Why every Sunday? I chose that day, because it was the beginning of the week. I felt that the marketing advice in my posts would be something business folks could utilize during their work week.

Folks liked the Sunday schedule. However as with most things in life, change happened. I got to the point where I no longer made a post every Sunday. EastLake started growing, and my clients needed my attention, so I was unable to post like I wanted to. Today that is going to change.

Starting this coming Sunday, I will once again make Sunday posts, just as I did before, I have also changed my format. I welcome your comments. Feel free to let me know what you think.

Happy Marketing Week!

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Make It Happen

Today, right now, this minute, is the time to realize your dreams. That is all the advice you're gonna need. For those of you who need more, hire me.

My Thoughts

Wow, 2009, is just about over. Two more months until 2010 is here. Time flies! Now business owners are gearing up for the best two shopping months of the year. Christmas shopping season. The two months when folks spend money they don't really have, to buy gifts for loved ones. Happy times, for retailers worldwide. The final months to make a financial killing before tax time.

Now if you marketed your product or service all year long, you should be in line to receive a fair amount of consumers wanting to purchase your goods. However, if you cut your marketing budget due to the slow economy, then you may not have a good final two months.

Some of you may no longer even be in business, because you had to close up shop. I often tell my clients that there are only four real reasons why a business fails:

1. Lack of marketing.
2. Greed.
3. Fear.
4. No inner belief that you can.

Believe me or not. These are my thoughts.

Marketing Out Loud

What is marketing out loud? It is done via word-of-mouth. Meaning you tell everyone and anyone who will listen to you about your product or service, then they tell others, and others tell others, and so on and so on. That’s marketing out loud.

Get Over Your Fear Of Taking Risks

Never be afraid of taking risks! When it involves your business, life, relationships, etc. Never, ever, ever be afraid to take a risk. Always be willing to go beyond your comfort zone. Why? Because, fear holds you back from greatness.

What are your afraid of? Leave a comment, I'd like to know what your fear is.

A Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Are you ready? I ask this question because I’ve been reading, hearing, and seeing that the recession is showing signs of improvement. Which means consumers are once again spending their hard-earned dollars.

Some would have you thinking you can’t make money because the economy is such as mess. Don’t believe it, folks are once again feeling good about spending, not as much as they did before, but spending none the less.

Now is a perfect time for you the start-up or small business owner to be creative when enticing consumers to make purchases. If consumers are willing to charge those credit cards, you need to give them a good reason to want to purchase your product or service. Trust me on this one. If you don’t know how, hire someone that does.

Happy Marketing To You!

Build Your Company Brand

Are your customers loyal to your product or service? If the answer is no, then you should seriously consider hiring EastLake Marketing Group. I'll help you build customer loyalty and revenue. My niche is consulting small businesses with marketing their products and services. My passion is helping you to grow your business. Send me an e-mail or call and find out how I can Build Your Company Brand. Contact Maddison at 916.548.6328 or dcephas@eastlakemarketing.com

My Thoughts

Folks these are my thoughts, don't take any of them personal. To be honest, I really don't care if you do. What does this post have to do with marketing consulting? A great deal, when think about it. Read on!

1. Bullshit is spoken and given everywhere.
2. Making the most of it, means get off your ass and do something about it.
3. There is no forever, there is only here and right now.
4. Never believe what you hear, only believe what you see.
5. You have been lied to in your life-time and will be lied to again.
6. Love like you mean it, or don't love at all.
7. The world does not revolve around you.
8. Nobody really gives a damn what you think.
9. What others think about you is none of your business.
10. Discover what truly makes you happy, then make money doing it.

A New Way To Network

Folks have you heard about the new networking? It’s called Meetup.com It's easy to join, all you do is go to there website, then type in your City, State, or Zip Code. There you will find hundreds of groups you can join. You can even start your own Meetup group.

I went to the Sacramento Social Media Marketing for Business meetup lead by Alejandro Reyes. on June 25th. Alejandro did an excellent job of explaining the benefits of Social Media Marketing to the folks who had little or no knowledge. I came to the meeting for the discussion on how to better utilize Twitter. Alejandro had a slide show, he talk about promoting your product or service on Twitter. I learned quit a bit from the meeting.

If you have not checked out this new way of networking I'd say that you're missing out on a chance to meet other like-minded business folks in your community.

The Social Media Party Is Just About Over

I've been hearing a lot of talk of Social Media being over and done with. I find this to be a valid point in some areas. I don't think it's dead per say, just lost a bit of it's luster. I think that is because of the onset of spammers, get rich-quick schemes, and just outright abuse.

Take Twitter for example, a large majority of folks on Twitter focus solely on how many followers they can amass, not caring in the least about networking or building customer relationships. Facebook is all about idle chitchat, nothing of substance really when you break it down. Even blogging has lost it's stardom. Remember the days when there were superstar bloggers with a ton of loyal readers? The content had to be kick ass to make super status. Those were the days, and that was just a few years ago.

What does the future hold for Social Media? A very bright one, if we can somehow take it back to the original purpose it was intended for and grow from there. Social Media was intended to make folks aware, not to shove mindless crap down there throats. The rotten apples always seem to make their presence known, and ruin good things for everyone. Hopefully we can get it back on track. I for one look forward to the day that happens.

Are Your Customers Talking About You?

What are your customers saying about your business? If you don't know, you had better ask someone. That someone would be your customers. Ask them directly.

Question Of The Month

What are you passionate about?

Announcement – EastLake’s New Venture

EastLake Marketing Group has began a new avenue of marketing. I’m adding ‘Marketing Coach’ to my umbrella. To most of my clients, colleges, and friends this is something I already implement in my consulting business. I guess that is somewhat true, I have now made it official.

This new area of marketing will focus on coaching start-up business owners with how to navigate marketing a business. I’m totally excited about this, I feel that one-on-one marketing coaching is exactly what start-up business owners need. Most start-up companies have little or no skills at all regarding marketing a business.

This side of EastLake Marketing Group will be a much needed resource for gaining knowledge regarding marketing. You don't have to be a start-up business, all levels of business are welcome to experience my coaching expertise.

So there you have it folks. I have added Marketing Coach to my list of marketing skills. I will still do marketing consulting and sell promotional products. Visit my new blog titled: EastLake Marketing Group Start -Up Biz Coach.

Contact EastLake Marketing Group. I effectively coach start-up businesses on how to market products and services. Take advantage of my free one hour coaching session. Contact me today!

This offer is effective until 12/31/09.

Things I Have Learned

There are a few very important things I've learned since starting and growing EastLake Marketing Group. I'd like to share these things with you.

1. Making a profit took longer than I thought it would.
2. My education was not needed to own a business.
3. I worked really f-ing hard and still do.
4. I lost friends, or I thought they were my friends at the time.
5. I had to make huge sacrifices, I downsized everything I owned.
6. I loved every minute of growing my business.
7. The customer is not always right, trust me on this one.
8. The customer pays the bills, trust me on this one too.
9. I learned to eat cereal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the lean years.
10. I finally understood the joy of being my own boss.

My Thoughts

A few things I have learned about running a small-business:

Pay your bills in full each month.
Use credit cards only when you have to.
Don't hire family members.
Simplify your standard of living.
Work hard, than work even harder.
Market your business.
You will succeed.
Pay yourself first.
Don't take unsolicited advice from people who are not where you want to be.
Hang out with people who are where you want to be.
Remember where you came from.
When you do make it, give back.

Happy Marketing Week!