SigmaBiz Blog - Latest Comments

Re: The Crazy Economy – Where’s It Going and What’s it Mean?

Scot — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:53:17 -0000

Hey - that was great guys - good job.

Re: The Crazy Economy – Where’s It Going and What’s it Mean?

Jstewart — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:41:38 -0000

Jamie:

Great interview! I had a terrific time doing it and I hope your followers get a lot out of the content. I hope we get to do it again sometime.

John Stewart
Vantage Economics

Re: What I Learned in the Navy – A Veterans Day Message

Jamie Gorman — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:31:04 -0000

Thanks Tamara. Part of having a good, trusted process and roles in an organization is so you don't have to reinvent the wheel every time.

Re: What I Learned in the Navy – A Veterans Day Message

Tamara R. — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:42:57 -0000

Excellent post! (Sorry I'm late to read.) Very insightful. I knew humility, teamwork, taking responsibility, and training were important, but your paragraph on Out of the Box Problem Solving was fascinating, particularly this statement: "You see, procedures and orders from trusted team members, the things that someone else has already thought through, lets you focus on the things that require deeper analysis." Just never thought about it! Thank you for sharing.

Re: Is Your Constant Contact Marketing Effective or Annoying?

Jamie Gorman — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:24:29 -0000

Definitely think there is a time and place to buy email lists, especially in a mass market, national campaign. In this case it was more the combination of all three items more than any one! A short email with a relevant subject line from an unknown person is ok. So when you buy that list, you have even more responsibility to make it short and interesting!
Thanks - Jamie

Re: Is Your Constant Contact Marketing Effective or Annoying?

Jamie Gorman — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:21:13 -0000

Thanks Jim. For most small business, personal relationship is important, and our reputation is reflected in how we do our marketing. An intro email is the equivalent to asking for a convenient follow-up when we meet someone of interest.

Re: Is Your Constant Contact Marketing Effective or Annoying?

RevBuilders SEO Company — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:11:02 -0000

Excellent post Jamie. I received that same email and about had a heart attack. I agree with the opt-in but I do struggle with why we get so upset when we get email from others trying to grow their business. We all get all kinds of unwanted marketing - we see commercials on TV, we get direct mail, we see ugly billboards, ugly ads litter the papers, folks sponsor chamber events and so on. Yes opt in is more effective, but why is it such a crime and thought of as so bad when you send an email to someone who did not ask for it. No one ever asked to be "marked too".

I dislike getting emails that are not relevant to what I do. I do not mind getting emails from other companies that have legit services that I can use to better serve our clients, or better run RevBuilders Marketing. Like Jim Aram said we all tend to think everyone wants what we do, likes what we do and actually cares. Well they do not. It is an ongoing struggle for me. We have tested using bought emails list and have had some very good success with it. At a cost of only $500 we got several new clients that bring us over $2500.00 a month in revenue - not a bad return. Did I get some nasty emails back - a couple, but was it worth it - I believe so. Am I doing it again - not sure. The Spam cops are nasty people and report your IP address and it can cause major problems.

If done right, sent to the right target, with the right message, it can work. But unfortunately because it seems to be a highly emotional area, and many abuse it - email marketing may have a limited usefulness outside of cross marketing to your own current customers.

Re: Is Your Constant Contact Marketing Effective or Annoying?

Jim Aram — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:15:29 -0000

Excellent topic Jamie & very true. I was in an hour long meeting the other day & received 20+ emails in that period of time & I'm sure many of us are in the same boat. Of those 20 - perhaps 2 or 3 were relevant & required attention - most others were informational in nature & I could have done without. Great tip to send an intro mail detailing how people got added to the list along with the option to opt out. It's human nature to think everyone is interested in what we're doing & you may genuinely feel you are there to help, but if your messages border on overexposure or worse, annoying - then you've totally missed on the message you're trying to get accross

Re: Five Lessons from Katie – Ithaca College Class of 2010!

Scot Small — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:41:46 -0000

Jamie - awesome post. She has a great smile. Your readers might be interested in this post i did.
http://www.scotsmall.com/peopl...

Re: Social Media Marketing Starts with “Networking”

Vineeta Ribeiro — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 09:08:26 -0000

I like the use of the "enigma" term. And you're both right: It is much easier to interact if you've kept abreast of each other's lives rather than attempt a cold conversation. This might well be applied to contact with one's own relatives as well as business contacts.

Re: Create Your Online Marketing Video – INTRO|vid!!!

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Re: Setting Your Goals – Yes, We Know It’s July

Scot Small — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:26:13 -0000

Nice post Jamie. "If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time." not
sure who said this but it is one of my fav quotes. I know as an seo
company we measure many metrics, without the measurement we would have nothing to guide us in getting better and to continue to improve. I have found if you measure it and are accountable to someone for it - then you improve. Setting goals is the first step to success - without them no success.

Re: THE Four, or Even Five, P’s of Marketing

Optimal-wellness — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:43:43 -0000

I want my Blog to look even close to yours! Need to set up a consult with you soon.

Re: THE Four, or Even Five, P’s of Marketing

Jim Aram — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:51:42 -0000

Great point under pricing regarding not underselling yourself when getting started. Many get started with Cost Plus pricing because it is easy to figure our & fairly intuitive. However, B School 101 teaches you that people often leave a lot of money on the table with cost plus pricing versus market pricing. Market pricing may take a bit of trial & error to figure out but will be well worth the effort in the end.

Re: A Picture is Worth…A Great Business Lesson!

Jamie Gorman — Sun, 08 May 2011 17:17:49 -0000

You'll have to share that one with me. Michelle does a lot of good baby pictures so I may need it in the future!

Re: THE Four, or Even Five, P’s of Marketing

Jamie Gorman — Sun, 08 May 2011 17:15:48 -0000

Piedmont Bloggers are putting out some pretty good stuff. Thanks for the encouragement!

Re: A Picture is Worth…A Great Business Lesson!

Bruce Moore — Sun, 08 May 2011 14:22:22 -0000

Hiring an expert to take over non-core responsibilities is something I have been thinking about. I'm actually getting some help from Steve Oviatt in analyzing my phone bills. I also refer my clients that need web site changes or design.

I was be worried a baby picture would spin off into some business version of the joke about the changing of diapers and politicians.

Re: THE Four, or Even Five, P’s of Marketing

Optimal-wellness — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:00:21 -0000

You are SUCH a good teacher, Jamie! Working my way through the Piedmont Bloggers blogs! Thanks for making it easy to click on the links. See you at the next meeting.

Re: Boost Your Tradeshow Presence with Foursquare

Jamie Gorman — Fri, 06 May 2011 11:10:47 -0000

Joseph,
Thanks for the encouraging comment! I don't think you will be able to claim your tradeshow booth because it is temporary. The email request for me was to claim my office space.
I would recommend entering your booth like I described and putting out a sign for people to check in and receive a "gift". They check in, show you their check in screen and get the gift. It will serve the same purpose. The real value in claiming the venue is for a longer period of time.
Jamie

Re: Boost Your Tradeshow Presence with Foursquare

Joseph O'Fallon — Fri, 06 May 2011 10:58:29 -0000

Jamie, I love your articles, and this is the only truly credible Foursquare/Booth-related post I can find. I have one question regarding "To claim Sigma College I had to send an email to request, but then it didn’t take too long," whom do I contact.
I used the business contact of our company, but worry that it might not correlate with the booth and the convention venue's contact info.

Re: A Picture is Worth…A Great Business Lesson!

Jamie Gorman — Mon, 02 May 2011 23:04:50 -0000

Thanks for the picture! It was a great picture to start with.

Re: A Picture is Worth…A Great Business Lesson!

Jamie Gorman — Mon, 02 May 2011 23:01:34 -0000

Thanks Marsha. That is a bit different take on the type of hat - product vs. duties, but I like your point. May use that in a future post! I'll be sure to give you credit! That balance between shifting with the market and changing just to chase a sale is very important.

Re: A Picture is Worth…A Great Business Lesson!

Jamie Gorman — Mon, 02 May 2011 22:41:45 -0000

Good point Dana. Certainly proceed with thought and strategy.

Re: A Picture is Worth…A Great Business Lesson!

Michelle Riordan — Mon, 02 May 2011 21:57:51 -0000

My hats off to you, Jamie.
You have an amazing talent of relating many important topics to business. You drive the point home on the differences between new and mature businesses. No one wants to wear too many hats nor give away too many like Dana says. It's important to recognize your weakness and seek help from a professional as yourself. I think some believe they cannot afford the 'hat rack' or see it as a failure to perform. Maybe you and Liz could put together a post about 'Time Management and Organizing'
Thanks for the challenge.
Michelle

Re: A Picture is Worth…A Great Business Lesson!

Marsha Melkonian — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 17:20:40 -0000

Great concept of the photo blogging and thanks for demonstrating the concept in a concrete manner for us.

Another way of looking at "hats" in businesses, I have seen businesses not staying focused on their central mission, and instead changing hats too often and confusing the customer just to chase a sale.

On the other hand, we should be flexible and notice when the market moves and move with it. As an example, I was selling inexpensive bracelets, and was doing a great job of it, was pretty well known locally for it -- half the profits went to Habitat, half paid for the product. I was focused on my mission! Then, more and more people got into the same jewelry product line, costs rose a little for the product, but it was hard to increase the price for the bracelets, and I started not even making my investment money back.... so I diversified into pashmina shawls. Again, did great, made a good return on the wholesale costs, but then in the last year more vendors are now entering the same pashmina market. So, I am now looking for the next product....

So, sometimes you have to change the product or service "hat".