Community Marketing Blog

Blog-Off II Entry: Impact of recession on Approaches to Brand Promotion

There was a time when Sales as a concept and practice got being considered ineffective and unsufficient. The concept with longer relationship with customer gained the importance. Thus, got the  Marketing concept its being. Slowly, this became the integral and most important part of the strategy and the prime tool while devising a plan for revenue generation. The increase in competition, the globalization, economic growth and recession all has played its role and made the process richer and complexer each day. Among the multiple facets that form the wings of this approach, brand promotion is one that too has grown in the ways of implimentation and has seen fortuned innovations.

No More Procrastinating: Why Social Media and Mobile Applications Are A MUST In 2010.

By Andrew Ballenthin October 20, 2009 President, Sol Solutions Biography

Connect.Follow.Network.

This past year as I've presented to business groups it's never failed that when the question is asked, "How many of you have a blog or a Facebook, LinkedIn or a Twitter account" 80-90% of hands go up. When asked how many people use it for business about 20% of hands go up. When asked how many people get business results and use it to actively engage your market only 2-5% of hands go up.

Blog-Off II Entry: Holiday Preparedness

As much as I hate the idea, I am afraid I will be joining the ranks this year. The ranks of last minute shoppers. The end of the year has crept up on me all too quickly, and as with any business, there are so many end of the year things that I need to take care of before I can even think of being prepared for the holidays.

Blog-Off II Entry: 6 Steps to Manufacture Your Invention

We are almost there!  Now that we have learned about Concept, Development and Design, I am going to go into the Production and Manufacturing stages of your product.  Manufacturing is defined as the application of tools and a processing medium that will transform raw materials into finished goods for sale. These steps will vary depending on the type of product you have.  Here we’ll focus on the spatula, as all types of processes could be applicable depending on whether your final material selection is metal or plastic, a decision made in the design stage that will dictate selection of a manufacturing process.  For the sake of this blog let’s assume production of 100,000 annually, utilizing plastic injection molding (insert molding Figure 1.) to manufacture our 2-piece spatula.  The spatula will have to withstand high temperatures, thus the material selected from the design stage must be heat resistant up to about 500° Farenheit.

First we will go into tooling, then sample production and lastly full production. I am going to outline the steps for several different types of processes, but keep in mind that you might be producing different quantities then I have specified, and may employ different processes.

Blog-Off II Entry: 3 Must-Ask Questions Before Starting a Marketing Campaign

Your business is growing and you are ready to take it to that elusive "next level," so you've selected a couple of different marketing agencies to develop plans that will extend your unique message. They have presented their Integrated Marketing Communications plans to you, both look good and you can't quite decide which one you want to go with. Although there are plenty of times in life (and business) you should go with your gut, frankly, this is not one of them.

A good communications plan can differentiate your brand offering and personality to a whole new audience of potential consumers to convert. A bad one can unnecessarily sink funds into a strategy that accomplishes little, and/or confuses your target market. As a marketer, I can't think of too many business transgressions worse than confusing, or not reaching, your audience. So I've put together three must-ask questions that can illuminate the plan that gives you the best opportunity for success.

Looking Ahead Into 2010: Who Will Be Successful

By Andrew Ballenthin October 20, 2009 President, Sol Solutions Biography

Connect.Follow.Network.

yourBusinessChannel.com and their talented team started a great project: compiling insights from international experts on "who will be successful in 2010?" I was asked to contribute my thoughts to the videocast they put together. What I'm more interested in is who do you think will be successful in business in 2010? Why? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

(Blog-Off II Entry) The "Curse" of the Class of 2009

I remember the excitement of graduating from college with that bachelor’s degree back in the summer of 1980.  Twenty years old, so very eager and optimistic... I was confident.  (I was so naive!)  I boldly packed a bag, grabbed my guitar, and headed for Los Angeles.  I was determined to make my mark in the exciting world of advertising.

(Blog-Off II Entry) Bring Your Invention or Idea to LIFE

I am going to start this blog off by going into some of the stages of New Product Design or Product Development (NPD). Those stages will also correlate with the number of blogs that I will post. Each stage will go over what is needed to take a product (idea or concept) from start to finish. Follow the blog in each of its stages to learn how you can easily produce a product and quickly bring your idea to the market.

Social Networking for the “Too Young To Retire (TYTR)” Generation

Chances are that you know someone who is “Too Young To Retire (TYTR)” and by extension, may be considered, “Too Old To be Hired (TOTH)”. This unenviable but common status has the capacity of becoming more common as long as the economy is stalling.

Plenty of reasons for people being at this stage and age is a symptom, the key reason is our ever increasing dependency on technology and the rate of technological evolution. The direct consequences is judging present and future employees for their mastery of technology, hence associating youth with newer skills and making life experience redundant at an ever-increasing rate.

Depression of Marketing & Advertising Coming To End?

Companies have not taken advantage of this time to promote their brand.  The economy appears to be stabilizing.  Prices will begin to creep up and then companies will want to regain market share.  Warren Buffet, the great investor and owner of Berkshire Hathaway always used a great line… You can’t wait until you see the Robin because spring is already over…