Consumers spend 80% of their income within 20 miles of home. That means your marketing should cover at least a 20-mile radius.

The most recent Epsilon Email trends and benchmarks study shows average open rates for marketing “e-blasts” is 22.1%, with the average click-through clocked at 6.5%. Unlike many metrics in this economy, these figures are up from a year ago!

Ratings, reviews, social networking … Businesses know the value of using Web 2.0 to market products and services. But what happens when a competitor uses user-generated content against you?

The average person reads 250 words per minute. Looking at your web analytics, determine how long people stay on your site ...

Twitter is a great way to create fans. Unfortunately, unless you control your messaging, it's also a great way to turn those fans into foes.

A strong image can help businesses survive a weak economy. Could your web site, logo or other “brand” ambassador use polishing? Don’t let the price stop you!

With studies showing 701% ROI for online press releases, this tactic belongs in your marketing plan. Online distribution sites like PRWire and PRWeb offer per-release pricing as low as $80 ...

Standing out from dozens of other e-mails means having a strong subject line. You can have a longer subject, but make sure you hit the “beef” (buzzword, attention grabber, etc.) within the first 25 characters. Think about that viewing window, too ...

If you need more hyperlinks pointing to your site, try this: Google 20 keywords clients use to find you. Send an e-mail to contacts at those sites explaining the synergies between your services and ask to trade links.

The 10th annual Trust Barometer study conducted by the Edelman PR firm shows that trust in businesses has plummeted. Factor that into your marketing! Besides showcasing “trust” factors like years in business and client testimonials, be more transparent in showing clients your business practices.

Remember the Yellow Pages slogan “Let your fingers do the walking"? Well, forget walking! Instead, check out these web sites that let your fingers do the digging, prospecting and streamlining to help your business grow.

“The death of traditional marketing” is all the buzz. But if you need to generate leads and close deals fast, killing traditional tactics could also kill cash flow.

The more hyperlinks that point to your web site, the higher up you’ll rank in search engine results. So how popular are you today? The Link Popularity Checker can help you find out, free.

Customers who are merely satisfied will leave you for any competitor who can offer a lower price.  Could changing the way you view marketing change “merely satisfied” customers into fans who are wild about you – at any price?

Getting ready to create a website, business card or brochure? Think twice before you “save money” by using a template — it could end up costing you $100,000.

The economy is in trouble. But good marketing can still lure plenty of qualified buyers. It’s just harder to close the deal. A “shared risk” offer can warm up those with cold feet.

Is fear of real or perceived risk keeping your customers from committing?  If so, spend some time brainstorming about shared-risk offers that could turn your sale from cold … to gold.

Has this rollercoaster economy got your customers holding onto their money tighter than ever?  A simple, common-sense marketing approach can calm the ride and help them let go.