tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-518250 2013-06-13T09:50:51-07:00 Strategic Marketing Tips & Ideas for Growing Your Business: Steve Miller's thoughts, ideas, and Ramblings. TypePad TwoHatMarketinghttp://feedburner.google.com tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8d6453ef0191034ddf26970c 2013-06-13T09:50:51-07:00 2013-06-13T09:52:01-07:00

The way technology is today, if you're selling a tangible product, it's probably a commodity. The old days of producing unique, hard-to-copy products are going the way of the dodo bird. We might be able to offer small differences or...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoHatMarketing/~4/3afpab5ShjQ" height="1" width="1"/>

Steve Miller http://www.twohatmarketing.com/ramblog/2013/06/please-draw-a-on-my-box.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8d6453ef01901c2195f2970b 2013-05-13T10:11:37-07:00 2013-05-13T10:13:11-07:00

Two dumb vendors: Dear Morning Glory Landscaping, You're fired. Eight months ago our landscaping service told us they were stopping service in south King County. They were based in Seattle and decided it was too difficult to manage customers farther...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoHatMarketing/~4/IywRiG57iyM" height="1" width="1"/>

Steve Miller http://www.twohatmarketing.com/ramblog/2013/05/why-you-both-lost-my-business.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8d6453ef017eeaa66869970d 2013-04-28T12:04:39-07:00 2013-04-28T12:04:39-07:00

One personal issue I think almost all of us struggle with is balancing our Work with our Life. I know I do. It's not easy, so I reached out to an old friend, Jeff Davidson, author of 59 books, and...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoHatMarketing/~4/HJ0C6cT1Jf4" height="1" width="1"/>

Steve Miller http://www.twohatmarketing.com/ramblog/2013/04/hows-your-worklife-balance.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8d6453ef017c3842deb8970b 2013-04-01T08:39:43-07:00 2013-04-01T08:39:43-07:00

If you're not looking for online April Fool's jokes, you're missing some fun. Here are a few: Google Blue Google Nose Google Treasure Hunt Even Bing has gotten into the act. Go to Bing and search the term "Google" Toshiba's...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoHatMarketing/~4/jbMnl41sXC4" height="1" width="1"/>

Steve Miller http://www.twohatmarketing.com/ramblog/2013/04/april-fools-google-wins-again.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8d6453ef017d426d31ff970c 2013-03-31T12:47:21-07:00 2013-03-31T12:50:06-07:00

Wal-Mart may get customers to deliver packages to online buyers<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoHatMarketing/~4/VTwVmqb3L7g" height="1" width="1"/>

Steve Miller http://www.twohatmarketing.com/ramblog/2013/03/raise-your-hand-if-you-think-this-is-a-good-idea.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8d6453ef017ee9dbd317970d 2013-03-30T12:19:11-07:00 2013-03-30T12:19:11-07:00

One of my biggest arguments with the so-called "gurus" today is their obvious narrow focus and opinions on what works, what doesn't, what you should be using, and what you shouldn't. Social media pundits swear that Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+,...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoHatMarketing/~4/PePLFpDqmtQ" height="1" width="1"/>

Steve Miller http://www.twohatmarketing.com/ramblog/2013/03/every-tool-works-for-someone.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8d6453ef017d4233a372970c 2013-03-22T10:52:22-07:00 2013-03-22T10:54:58-07:00

I love great publicity stunts, especially when they're totally congruent with the brand. I love them even better when they can almost be taken seriously. One oustanding example in the Seattle area a few years ago was the "discovery" of...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoHatMarketing/~4/GZpkkWXruz4" height="1" width="1"/>

Steve Miller http://www.twohatmarketing.com/ramblog/2013/03/american-eagles-great-publicity-stunt.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8d6453ef017ee93b340c970d 2013-03-12T11:30:16-07:00 2013-03-12T11:30:17-07:00

When do you think you should practice excellent customer service? Sometimes? All the time? Only when someone's watching? I assume you're thinking, "Well, duh, Steve, we practice it all the time! We always deliver great service!" But do you? I...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoHatMarketing/~4/6XD8sU1w4_8" height="1" width="1"/>

Steve Miller http://www.twohatmarketing.com/ramblog/2013/03/are-you-practicing-situational-customer-service.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8d6453ef017d4145ddcc970c 2013-02-25T10:17:46-08:00 2013-02-25T10:34:08-08:00

One of my BFFs, Chris Semon with Snowsports Industries America, recently sent me a link to a December 12, 2012 article in Inc. magazine asking for my response. The article is titled, How to Commandeer a Trade Show: 4 Tips...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoHatMarketing/~4/vO9WJ790DKY" height="1" width="1"/>

Steve Miller http://www.twohatmarketing.com/ramblog/2013/02/why-is-inc-magazine-promoting-unethical-behavior.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c8d6453ef017ee863bc2c970d 2013-02-10T11:33:56-08:00 2013-02-10T11:37:34-08:00

How often do you check in to a hotel at, say, 1:00 and they say something like, "Well, our check-in time IS 3:00." And don't they always say it condescendingly? Imagine my surprise this week when I arrived at 11:00am...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoHatMarketing/~4/VHhR_WfkFUY" height="1" width="1"/>

Steve Miller http://www.twohatmarketing.com/ramblog/2013/02/unexpected-great-first-impression.html