Let’s start with this: inbound marketingworks. And you don’t have to take our word for it. Behold:

At Leap Clixx, one of the key commitments we make to our clients is reporting, reporting, and…wait for it…more reporting.

Inbound marketing isn’t so much an evolution of conventional (“interrupt”) marketing as it is a re-invention of it, and the reason is simple: conventional marketing results are notoriously difficult – and in some cases, impossible – to truly and accurately measure. Now, this doesn’t mean that conventional marketing is a useless money pit. It’s still alive and well, and there are scenarios where conventional marketing is the best (or sometimes, the only) way to reach target markets and build brand awareness.

There’s a strange thing about the phrase target market that is arguably responsible for more business failures than any other cause: focusing on the “market” part, and ignoring the “target” part.

A few millennia ago when Confucius declared that one should “hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles,” it’s certain that he wasn’t referring to business strategy (because there was no accompanying TED Talks and certification program). But his sage advice does apply to today’s business landscape; specifically when it comes to the topic of customer loyalty.

Millennials -- which is the cohort born from around 1980 to 2000 -- are known for many things. In terms of demographics, they’ve surpassed the Boomers as the largest generation. In terms of purchasing power, they’re in control of 21% -- or $1 trillion -- worth of consumer discretionary purchases. And in terms of marketing, they’re by far the biggest challenge that businesses have ever faced.

While they may not see it as a methodology, the fact is that customers – whether they’re buying a new gadget for themselves or a software solution for their business – generally follow a decision-making process that includes 5 stages: Awareness, Consideration, Preference, Purchase and Repurchase.

Influencer marketing involves partnering with individuals/websites that are well-known and respected trend-setters and thought-leaders in their niche, and having them discuss your brand (or its products/services) with their community of fans and followers. 

Have you discovered (or been alerted) that your business information on Google needs anything from a minor tweak to a major adjustment? Don’t panic. Here’s how to change incorrect information on Google:

While every business owner and executive knows that customer retention strategies are important, the results of doing this aspect well are eye-opening. Indeed, as the statistical evidence confirms, effectively customer retention strategies don’t just drive success; they determine long-term organizational survival. Behold: