https://rickbaker.ca/category/marketing/ Rick Baker's Thought Posts — plain-spoken writing on leadership, business values, communication, habits, and the people side of building a business. Publishing since 2008. en-ca https://rickbaker.ca/post/have-you-ever-asked-your-customers-what-they-would-like-you-to-measure/https://rickbaker.ca/post/have-you-ever-asked-your-customers-what-they-would-like-you-to-measure/Mon, 05 Apr 2021 07:05:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet You probably think about what your customers want. You probably measure what you think your customers want. But, do you ever… https://rickbaker.ca/post/social-media-provides-an-excellent-opportunity-to-say-what-you-say-instead-of-do-what-you-do/https://rickbaker.ca/post/social-media-provides-an-excellent-opportunity-to-say-what-you-say-instead-of-do-what-you-do/Mon, 22 Mar 2021 07:09:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Are you hunkering down over anti-social media? Some thoughts about Fake Work . ...yes...pots do call kettles black. https://rickbaker.ca/post/in-business-the-best-relationships-are-built-when-pleasant-personalities-exchange-interesting-ideas/https://rickbaker.ca/post/in-business-the-best-relationships-are-built-when-pleasant-personalities-exchange-interesting-ideas/Mon, 04 Jan 2021 07:08:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet And, of course, the ideas contain value and there's following through on commitments. Link to Thought Tweet #278 https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-want-to-hit-the-grand-slam-in-business-use-your-wombat/https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-want-to-hit-the-grand-slam-in-business-use-your-wombat/Mon, 28 Dec 2020 07:49:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet WOMBAT W ord O f M outh B usiness A cquisition T eam https://rickbaker.ca/post/people-want-to-hear-positive-messages-give-them-what-they-wantdeliver-some-positive-messages-positivity/https://rickbaker.ca/post/people-want-to-hear-positive-messages-give-them-what-they-wantdeliver-some-positive-messages-positivity/Sat, 18 Apr 2020 07:53:00 -0500The Thinking Behind the Tweet We tested positive and negative marketing messages. We tried both " in these tough economic times " and " to build for the… https://rickbaker.ca/post/stopping-to-think-about-crm-tools/https://rickbaker.ca/post/stopping-to-think-about-crm-tools/Mon, 05 Dec 2016 07:58:00 -0500The operations of most small businesses become far more complicated than outsiders [and most insiders] would have guessed or expected…and much of that… https://rickbaker.ca/post/referrals-bring-huge-value-to-small-businesses2/https://rickbaker.ca/post/referrals-bring-huge-value-to-small-businesses2/Mon, 24 Oct 2016 06:50:00 -050015 or so years ago, Jay Abraham recommended telling your clients you will have more time to do a better job serving them if they provide referrals to you… https://rickbaker.ca/post/who-sells-heinz-ketchup/https://rickbaker.ca/post/who-sells-heinz-ketchup/Thu, 07 Jul 2016 08:45:00 -0500Today, I am thinking about the numerous pieces of advice we receive from 'the experts' on how people should do business and how to improve company practices… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-perplexities-of-business-development/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-perplexities-of-business-development/Fri, 01 Apr 2016 10:18:00 -0500Every day I get a couple of emails from folks who tell me they have a surefire way to provide some choice new clients. https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-we-build-it-better-they-will-come/https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-we-build-it-better-they-will-come/Thu, 10 Dec 2015 10:31:00 -0500Branding, marketing, hype, buzz, relationships, and sales arm-twists…sure these things have some push, pull, and magnetism. If we do these things they may… https://rickbaker.ca/post/clients-clients-philosophy-2015/https://rickbaker.ca/post/clients-clients-philosophy-2015/Thu, 19 Mar 2015 07:31:00 -0500A different perspective on customer service. https://rickbaker.ca/post/rather-than-loudly-blaring-and-flashing-your-products-and-services-try-simply-explaining-why-you-are-building-them/https://rickbaker.ca/post/rather-than-loudly-blaring-and-flashing-your-products-and-services-try-simply-explaining-why-you-are-building-them/Sun, 24 Aug 2014 19:29:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Inspired by a combination of Simon Sinek's " Discover Your Why " [The Golden Circle of Why-How-What] and Mark Weber 's approach… https://rickbaker.ca/post/communication-tip-people-want-to-hear-positive-messages-so-why-not-deliver-positive-messages/https://rickbaker.ca/post/communication-tip-people-want-to-hear-positive-messages-so-why-not-deliver-positive-messages/Thu, 21 Aug 2014 15:08:00 -0500The Thinking Behind the Tweet We tested positive and negative marketing messages. We tried both " in these tough economic times " and " to build for the… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-904/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-904/Thu, 02 Jan 2014 08:41:00 -0500Thought Tweet #904 Your brand starts with your character and the culture you breed: your brand stalls or flourishes there. The Thinking Behind The Tweet A… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-right-people-on-the-busa-twist-on-branding/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-right-people-on-the-busa-twist-on-branding/Tue, 31 Dec 2013 09:11:00 -0500Consider this. You are seeking a ride home and you come upon a bus. The bus looks amazing...modern styling, brilliant paint job, beautiful colours, clean… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-730/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-730/Fri, 03 May 2013 08:38:00 -0500Thought Tweet #730 Social Media provides an excellent opportunity to say what you say instead of do what you do. The Thinking Behind The Tweet Are you… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-729/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-729/Thu, 02 May 2013 09:35:00 -0500Thought Tweet #729 Social Media - the convoluted opportunity to watch what they say, not what they do. The Thinking Behind The Tweet Are you hunkering down… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-705/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-705/Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:57:00 -0500Thought Tweet #695 I'd rather tweet than taste defeat. [Whatever you think, please don't blame # DanPink. ] The Thinking Behind The Tweet Just finished Dan… https://rickbaker.ca/post/a-new-and-improved-picture-of-leadership-priorities/https://rickbaker.ca/post/a-new-and-improved-picture-of-leadership-priorities/Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:00:00 -0500Here is a new-and-improved picture of leadership priorities.. This picture shows the way leadership priorities need to be adapted. This is the Strategic… https://rickbaker.ca/post/inverting-the-pqs-triangle/https://rickbaker.ca/post/inverting-the-pqs-triangle/Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:37:00 -0500Some time ago I took a Marketing course and learned about the Price-Quality-Service Triangle [ PQS Triangle ]. In summary, we were taught a company could… https://rickbaker.ca/post/is-your-gross-margin-growing/https://rickbaker.ca/post/is-your-gross-margin-growing/Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:00:00 -0500Is you gross margin growing? If not, Why not? You may sum up your answer in 2 words - "competitive pressures", which typically involve price competition… https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-ceop2p-put-significant-effort-into-retaining-your-clients-do-delicate-daisy-analyses-regularly/https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-ceop2p-put-significant-effort-into-retaining-your-clients-do-delicate-daisy-analyses-regularly/Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:00:00 -0500A related article… Think About Your Clients' Clients The @GKWCC #P2P series of thought tweets contains ideas, quotes, & suggestions provided by local… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-672/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-672/Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:55:00 -0500Thought Tweet #672 What appears to us as a treasure of difference often appears to others as a trash of similarity. The Thinking Behind The Tweet One man's… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-668/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-668/Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:00:00 -0500Thought Tweet #668 Would you rather make things convenient for your clients or deliver unique value to your clients? The Thinking Behind The Tweet… https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-ceop2p-if-you-take-your-mission-statement-and-apply-it-to-your-competition-and-it-fits-you-got-it-wrong/https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-ceop2p-if-you-take-your-mission-statement-and-apply-it-to-your-competition-and-it-fits-you-got-it-wrong/Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:00:00 -0500The @GKWCC #P2P series of thought tweets contains ideas, quotes, & suggestions provided by local business leaders at "CEO Peer-to-Peer" group meetings… https://rickbaker.ca/post/jim-beretta-visits-our-centre-for-family-business-cffb/https://rickbaker.ca/post/jim-beretta-visits-our-centre-for-family-business-cffb/Tue, 22 Jan 2013 08:00:00 -0500Jim Beretta spoke at our last CFFB breakfast...at The Hub. The topic of the day was " Customer Attraction in the Google Era ". Here's a summary of some of… https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-customer-loyaltyseeking-a-simple-measurement/https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-customer-loyaltyseeking-a-simple-measurement/Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:00:00 -0500Are you on the lookout for simple, reliable business tools? [i.e., Are you Seeking Simple business solutions?] Are you interested in understanding your… https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-p2p-website-faqs-can-back-fire-people-have-unique-questions-they-want-to-talk-with-people/https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-p2p-website-faqs-can-back-fire-people-have-unique-questions-they-want-to-talk-with-people/Sun, 13 Jan 2013 08:00:00 -0500The @GKWCC #P2P series of thought tweets contains ideas, quotes, & suggestions provided by local business leaders at "CEO Peer-to-Peer" group meetings… https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-p2p-ceos-your-website-delivers-the-1st-impression-so-use-it-as-a-sales-tool-make-people-contact-easy/https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-p2p-ceos-your-website-delivers-the-1st-impression-so-use-it-as-a-sales-tool-make-people-contact-easy/Sat, 12 Jan 2013 08:00:00 -0500The @GKWCC #P2P series of thought tweets contains ideas, quotes, & suggestions provided by local business leaders at "CEO Peer-to-Peer" group meetings… https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-p2p-a-ceo-thought-about-tech-companies-few-are-able-to-articulate-their-differencetheir-main-message/https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-p2p-a-ceo-thought-about-tech-companies-few-are-able-to-articulate-their-differencetheir-main-message/Fri, 11 Jan 2013 08:00:00 -0500The @GKWCC #P2P series of thought tweets contains ideas, quotes, & suggestions provided by local business leaders at "CEO Peer-to-Peer" group meetings… https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-p2p-ceos-see-polarization-people-offering-too-low-unprofitable-pricingthis-is-not-good-not-sustainable/https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-p2p-ceos-see-polarization-people-offering-too-low-unprofitable-pricingthis-is-not-good-not-sustainable/Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:30:00 -0500The @GKWCC #P2P series of thought tweets contains ideas, quotes, & suggestions provided by local business leaders at "CEO Peer-to-Peer" group meetings… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-640/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-640/Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:45:00 -0500Thought Tweet #640 Rather than loud blaring and flashing your products and services, try simply explaining why you are building them. The Thinking Behind The… https://rickbaker.ca/post/so-you-think-you-have-insight/https://rickbaker.ca/post/so-you-think-you-have-insight/Tue, 18 Dec 2012 08:30:00 -0500Entrepreneurs have deal-doing insight . Good salespeople have deal-doing Insight , which can be defined as: a natural, deep capacity to understand people and… https://rickbaker.ca/post/archetypes-branding/https://rickbaker.ca/post/archetypes-branding/Thu, 13 Dec 2012 08:10:00 -0500People have been trying to figure out other people for a long, long time. People-patterns have existed for millennia. For example, consider archetypes . An… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-619/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-619/Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:45:00 -0500Thought Tweet #619 The need for clear differential advantage and crisp value propositions is increasing. The Thinking Behind The Tweet Social media has… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-615/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-615/Fri, 23 Nov 2012 09:31:00 -0500Thought Tweet #615 Marketing is about knowing client needs, discovering insights, & 'packaging' help. The Thinking Behind The Tweet Sales is about persuasive… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-594/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-594/Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:05:00 -0500Thought Tweet #594 When there's no reason or rhyme it's time to change the tune. The Thinking Behind The Tweet Human beings are biased creatures. One bias is… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-559-2012/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-559-2012/Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:30:00 -0500Thought Tweet #559 Marketing isn't dead. It's just having a bit of a conniption, Sales isn't dead. It just needs a breath of fresh work. The Thinking Behind… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-559/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-559/Thu, 30 Aug 2012 08:40:00 -0500Thought Tweet #554 As people change jobs at an accelerated pace business relationships evolve quickly - expanding independence. The Thinking Behind The Tweet… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-553/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-553/Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:45:00 -0500Thought Tweet #553 If trust is at the heart of meaningful business relationships, insight is in the brain. The Thinking Behind The Tweet Trust, based on a… https://rickbaker.ca/post/what-sales-managers-want/https://rickbaker.ca/post/what-sales-managers-want/Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:45:00 -0500How often do you step away from your day-to-day work to think about what Sales Managers want? Sure, if you're a business leader then sales managers have… https://rickbaker.ca/post/is-it-time-you-fixed-your-voice-mail-message/https://rickbaker.ca/post/is-it-time-you-fixed-your-voice-mail-message/Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:00:00 -0500More than 50% of business people have a voice-mail message that says something like, " Thank you for calling. I am not here. Leave a message and I will call… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-526/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-526/Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:15:00 -0500Thought Tweet #526 Invest the time it takes to understand people. Understanding provides for trust, motivation, & leadership. The Thinking Behind The Tweet… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-attention-dilemma/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-attention-dilemma/Thu, 19 Jul 2012 08:55:00 -0500Have you had trouble getting people's attention? Is it becoming more difficult to get people's attention? If you have had trouble getting people's attention… https://rickbaker.ca/post/a-new-wave-of-sales-philosophyor-is-it/https://rickbaker.ca/post/a-new-wave-of-sales-philosophyor-is-it/Tue, 17 Jul 2012 08:45:00 -0500During a conversation last week, I mentioned I had been studying sales performance at a number of companies. During the last 15 years, many B2B enterprises… https://rickbaker.ca/post/symptoms-of-recession-ridden-businesses/https://rickbaker.ca/post/symptoms-of-recession-ridden-businesses/Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:15:00 -0500After talking with several hundred business owners and leaders during the past 4 years, I have noticed some trends. Many businesses are struggling with… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-515/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-515/Fri, 06 Jul 2012 09:00:00 -0500Thought Tweet #515 A piece of social-media advice: consider first the relationships your activities are building. The Thinking Behind The Tweet ' Just Do It… https://rickbaker.ca/post/removing-the-blur-of-social-media/https://rickbaker.ca/post/removing-the-blur-of-social-media/Thu, 05 Jul 2012 09:00:00 -0500Social Media is forcing business - worldwide business - to get back to the basics. In business, the Marketing & Sales functions are about testing for value… https://rickbaker.ca/post/social-media-confusion/https://rickbaker.ca/post/social-media-confusion/Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:30:00 -0500Many people who run small and mid-sized businesses struggle with social media. They have made major website changes, yet cannot confirm direct links between… https://rickbaker.ca/post/competing-using-a-value-based-price-strategy/https://rickbaker.ca/post/competing-using-a-value-based-price-strategy/Wed, 02 May 2012 07:00:00 -0500Value-based pricing is the exact opposite to competing with a low-price strategy. So, the spectrum of pricing strategies goes from low-price at one end to…