We have a client that provides consulting services to manufacturers. One of his larger clients - one he’s had for years - recently changed his principal contact person. This week, he received notice from his new contact that his services were up for bid and that he needed to respond to an RFP. He was given 3 days to respond! …

The most stereotypical example of poor customer service had always been the Department of Motor Vehicles. Mention the DMV and instantly images of gargantuan lines pop into your head and your eye begins to twitch.  More recently however, the DMV had made some improvements by adopting common sense operational efficiencies and online tools. Many locations will give the poor motorist …

I’ve recently been brushing up on my market research of the Albany - Schenectady - Troy MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area).  It’s important to keep up on the markets in which you compete. Did you know that Albany is the #1 test market in the United States.  Correct-a-mundo. According to Acxiom’s  last published study in 2004, Albany, NY was the market …

Best Buy obviously hasn’t read Seth Godin’s Purple Cow.  The book’s treatise is that a company’s marketing is most effective when it’s true.  Actually being remarkable translates to marketing at its best. My partner Dave recently had trouble with his iPhone.  As great a gadget as the iPhone is, neither Apple nor AT&T Wireless offer insurance on the iPhone.  Best …

Both your e-mail list and your website are awesome tools that help the internet bring business to you. So use your website to collect e-mail addresses. And use your e-mail contacts to bring visitors to your site. And as this cycle continues, you’ll find your business spinning its way to more clients - and higher profits.