Research
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May 2, 2012
One of the challenges associated with operating a consulting firm in a mid-sized market is that people start to learn your schtick. And occasionally, when we're out on the town, someone will walk up to us and ask, with a grin, "Do I really need a brand management strategy?" So, to simplify the answer as much as possible, we've put together a little decision tree, which we encourage you to download and keep handy.
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May 2, 2012
One of the challenges associated with operating a consulting firm in a mid-sized market is that people start to learn your schtick. And occasionally, when we're out on the town, someone will walk up to us and ask, with a grin, "Do I really need a brand management strategy?" So, to simplify the answer as much as possible, we've put together a little decision tree, which we encourage you to download and keep handy.
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January 31, 2012
We recently conducted an extensive survey of 1300 nonprofit organizations, to help them better understand their marketing practices. And one of the most surprising findings was their position on print – specifically printed direct mail...
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January 27, 2012
Baltimore-based consulting firm MarketPoint LLC released, today, the official results of the 2011 Survey of the Marketing Practices of Maryland Nonprofits’ Constituent Organizations...
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July 26, 2011
Almost 30 years ago, I was fortunate to have a mentor who was a devotee of W. Edwards Deming. No less than once a week (for four years) I would hear Charlie say, “If you’re not measuring it, you’re not managing it.” I never found the actual Deming quote, but the concept is certainly consistent with his philosophy. Charlie’s paraphrase of Deming changed the way I looked at marketing and advertising. Before Charlie (BC), I was satisfied measuring things like “reach and frequency,” confident that exposure drove awareness, built brand, and generated revenue – but Charlie (and Deming) proved me wrong...
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June 29, 2011
Check your wallet. What percent of the dollar bills in your wallet are over 24 months old? If the answer is more than 50%, you’re the exception. Sadly, the average dollar bill shows so much wear after only 18 months of use, that it is likely to be pulled out of circulation and replaced by a new bill. The average coin, on the other hand, stays in circulation more than 30 years. And although the coins are more expensive to produce, estimates show that by converting to dollar coins, the United States Treasury could save over $150 Million per year. It seems only logical that the US would change over from paper bills to coins. Except for one thing...
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March 24, 2011
On March 1, 2011, a popular public relations website posted an article based on previously published research, claiming “70 percent of local-business owners market on Facebook.” The headline was shocking, the content equally bold, and the dialog that followed typical of the hype surrounding social media.
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March 17, 2011
Did you ever notice how often business people trot out opinion surveys as if they were plausible grounds for forecasting? “Our customers tell us they intend to spend more on equipment in 2012… Human Resource managers say they expect hiring to increase in coming months… The majority of professional fundraisers believe the recent slowdown in giving will turn around sharply next year… 72% of admissions counselors surveyed are anticipating a spike in enrollment, based on continued job insecurity…” And on the basis of statistics like these, we are supposed to make business decisions. Really?