Frank Gomez's Blog

Marketing Tip: Start 2010 on the right foot

First of all, I hope that your holiday season is going VERY well! If not then change your attitude and it will get much better.

Most of us make resolutions on New Years Day to improve ourselves and/or our businesses. I recently read a story by Marketing Guru C.J. Hayden which hits the spot if you want to start your 2010 right. It will make a huge difference for your business and mine too!

STOP REACTING AND… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on December 26, 2009 at 10:40am — No Comments

Marketing Tip of the Week: Strategic Partners

This is critical. Strategic partners can save you a lot of time because they will send clients to you or team up with you on a project that you might not have even heard about.

Far too many business people spread their loyalties too thin. Are you partnering with someone who hasn't sent you a referral in a year and half? I would bet that they have "partnered" with some of your competitors. Pretty lame right?

This approach is better: Find a potential strategic partner (you… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on December 17, 2009 at 8:57pm — No Comments

Marketing Tip of the Week: Unintended Consequences can be good

Alternate Title: The Value of Good Will

I couldn't resist passing on this great, happy, and interesting news. Good Will goes a long way and leads to more customers. UPS made a business decision to save money that turned out to create buzz and positive feelings about the company. Wouldn't we all love to do that! Check out the article and have an awesome week!

Frank Gomez is a Graphic Designer providing… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on December 11, 2009 at 5:00pm — 1 Comment

Marketing TIp of the week: Common Mistakes to avoid with images

Avoid Creating a logo that doesn't work in a variety of mediums. A vector logo is absolutely necessary if you think you might need it in a large format unless it includes a photograph. Vector logos are scalable and can be any size without pixelating. For example if you made this mistake you probably had to pay or will need to pay to have the logo re-created at a much larger size OR re-created as a vector logo when you need it on a large banner, or on a trade show display.… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on December 4, 2009 at 11:00am — 1 Comment

Ethical behavior is a no brainer for your business

This article caught my eye. Just wanted to share with you. Suggestion. Do the right thing consistently then you don't have to backpedal...
http://www.theday.com/article/20091202/BIZ02/312029931/1070/NWS01

Have a great week!!!!

Frank Gomez
www.FranksDesigns.com

Added by Frank Gomez on December 2, 2009 at 1:16pm — No Comments

Marketing Tip: Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a very confusing subject because there are various people putting out information for their own benefit. A lot of it is a lot of hot air to convince you that you need to spend a lot of money on their product. You can find search engine optmization myths that conflict with each other just by looking at two different "myths" websites. Another reason search engine optimization is a challenge is because it is a moving target. Google changes its algorithm (rules)… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on November 27, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Marketing and the Golden Rule

The golden rule in a nutshell is to treat others how you want to be treated. Think about now many networking groups you are in. Are you in one that is "exclusive" and where you made a promise (contract) to be loyal to group members? If you have any scruples at all you might be a little uncomfortable with such a promise. You might have an excellent, reliable person you want to work with outside the group and that you've already promised your loyalty to... the bottom line is IF you aren't true to… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on November 20, 2009 at 2:17pm — No Comments

Marketing Tip: Simplicity

As our lives have become more complicated we are looking to simplify them. Simple means many things and it helps your product or service sell! Ever look at ingredients at the grocery store? Short list = better for you = a sale. Simple sells just by adding the word SIMPLE to the packaging. Simple, Fast, Easy. Nobody wants to fight to learn something if they can choose something simple. Adding "Simple set up!" to a product package will inspire people to choose software or equipment over a… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on November 13, 2009 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Smart Marketing

Advertising Age magazine reports that the 2010 census will illustrate that there is no such thing as the "Average American." Our country is becoming more and more diverse. Because of this "Shotgun marketing" will be less and less effective. Your message is less likely to get across to a wide variety of people with a wide variety of backgrounds and values. Targeted marketing will become more important. Think "Tribes", Social Groups and so on. It will be critical for your company to get advocates… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on November 6, 2009 at 3:28pm — No Comments

Marketing Tip of the week: Tips to Increase Your Market Share!

(Please submit YOUR ideas by replying to this post!)

Ask for referrals. Referrals are incredibly powerful. In fact they are better than ads because potential clients trust their friends much more than they trust an ad.

Partner with another company in a related industry to gain exposure.

Write articles or better yet get an article written about your business.

Use Social Media. For example use facebook to promote events, have a page… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on October 30, 2009 at 10:38am — No Comments

Marketing Tip of the Week: Cause Marketing

Cause marketing is a way to help a non-profit or other "[good] cause" by associating your company with that cause. There are different models that can work to your benefit.

The simplest model is to be a sponsor for the non-profit and in return the non-profit acknowledges you. I donated design work recently to a local non-profit in return for being acknowledged with my logo with other sponsors on their event T-shirts.

A second way to do this is to promote the non-profit… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on October 23, 2009 at 5:23pm — 1 Comment

Marketing Tip of the week: Storytelling

Storytelling is very, very powerful. Why? Because it is interesting! People want to hear what happens next. A powerful story will stick in people's mind and will tell them a lot about you and or your company. There are some formulas that can help you write a great story. You don't have to be a great writer to do it.

There are many books on storytelling that can help. You'll enjoy it and it will dramatically improve your interactions with clients, prospects and of course it will… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on October 4, 2009 at 8:14pm — 2 Comments

Marketing Tip: Be consistent

Consistency matters in so many ways...

1) Branding - failure to be consistent leads to brand dilution (or weakening).

2) Customer Care - great (and consistent) customer care leads to great customer loyalty

3) Advertising - if you advertise somewhere do it long enough to find out if it works or not. Can't afford a whole year in a monthly magazine? No problem, put your ad in every other month and negotiate with the publication to get a… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on September 27, 2009 at 3:04pm — 1 Comment

Frank's Designs now offers Green Web Hosting!

Our website is now hosted with a "green web host". I can offer this service to you for your website.

I will host your small business or non-profit site for $50/yr and your site will be using green web hosting too!

Easy, no hassle, keep your existing URL.

Visit Frank's Designs

Added by Frank Gomez on September 20, 2009 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Marketing Tip: How do you engender trust?

Companies all over the world are working to build trust. The subject has been in Business Week, Fast Company and many other magazines recently. Even if you aren't a corporation with a sloppy history (Bank of America - secret bonuses before bailout, AIG, Goldman Sachs, Halliburton and even popular brands of consumer products have "messy" histories).

This morning I was placing an order online and I called the phone number under 24/7 Icon to contact customer service for a technical… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on September 20, 2009 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Marketing Tip of the week: Positive News, Volunteerism and Social Responsibility.

The positive news is that social responsibility is on the upswing! Even in tough economic times people are choosing to buy fair trade coffee, sustainable products, organic food and volunteering in their communities. Long term thinking is becoming more popular (probably caused in part as a reaction to corporate irresponsible focus on short term profits.)

From a marketing standpoint the best thing to do with this news is to stay true to yourself and let your clients know your social… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on September 13, 2009 at 5:03pm — No Comments

Marketing Tip: Are you Green but tired of the word Green?

Green is here for a while. The latest is a push for green packaging headed by guess who? You got it! Walmart. If you didn't know this Walmart is going green mostly because it is smart business. Think about it. Big business has been using fluorescent lighting for decades because it saves so much energy and money it was worth doing from an economic point of view. I believe in being green for both environmental and economic reasons.

What does this have to do with marketing? If you are… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on September 9, 2009 at 2:31pm — 2 Comments

Marketing Tip of the Week: What is happening to Print Media?

In 2007 591 Magazines ceased publication

In 2008 525 Magazines ceased publication

Hardest hit were regional magazines, home improvement and automobile magazines.

Learn more here

Newspapers are folding too. Especially large newspapers.

What is working now? Hyper Local

The small hyper local newspapers are thriving with more content and more ad… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on August 30, 2009 at 7:30pm — No Comments

Rental space available for classes, seminars etc.

Just an FYI:
Rising Tide International has a large space available for rental at competitive rates in Sarasota on Swift Road.
Learn more here:

Added by Frank Gomez on August 29, 2009 at 6:00am — No Comments

Marketing Tip of the Week - Advertise Strategically

OK, so you hare networking, blogging, being seen too. Should you advertise too?

Advertising can be very expensive. Take care not to advertise where it doesn’t pay off. Think about what medium the donor or client in your target market views, reads, or listens to most. That is where you should spend your money.

I strongly recommend that you hire a graphic designer to make sure you develop a consistent, attractive look so you and your business will be remembered.

In… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on August 23, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

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