If you want to sell more product by running a sale, which would make more sense: advertising “price cut 33%” or “50% more” product? Functionally, the two are the same level of discounting. Researchers at the University of Minnesota found, though, that a “50% bonus pack” sold 71% more than a “35% discount,” even though the latter is a slightly lower price per unit.

It seems like Facebook hoaxes are becoming more common these days. They spread from one Facebook status to another like the plague causing panic among users gullible enough to believe it. You have probably seen one of the multitude of Facebook hoaxes at one point or another which can be anything from “facebook will start charging beginning [date]” to the “see who viewed your profile” scams.

Mail Merge is an effective time saving tool when you have a large amount of correspondence to go out.  It does require some time, however, to learn the process properly.  Check out this 15-minute Microsoft Office webinar and become a Mail Merge expert.

by Lori Richardson As a seller you are working hard to create a full pipeline (funnel) and now that you have all of these companies and some actual sales opportunities on your radar, how will you bring them to closure? Here are 5 tips to help you gain and nurture more sales opportunities: As a mid-market company, you likely do not have as many formalities such as written sales processes and a clear set of tools to help you build revenues. Work to gain clarity on creating a formal process once marketing has sent potential leads to sales. If you are even less formal and have combined marketing and sales, create a clear roadmap to sales closure for each and every customer scenario. This becomes the foundation for scalability and in training new reps. Work closely with marketing so that you are getting good educational content to where your prospective customers are before they contact you. According to IDG Connect*, less than 40% of buyers say they spend their time in the buying process eithe ...

In two weeks, your company's Facebook Page will get a major facelift! On March 30, all business Facebook Pages will automatically change to the new Facebook Timeline format. Timeline is a graphics-heavy look with enhanced features such as one-on-one messaging with fans, simplified tabs and a streamlined wall display. Timeline offers new opportunities to market your business, but the change requires some elbow grease to ensure its being used in the best way possible. Don't get caught on March 30 with a boring, dated or empty Facebook Page. Here are four suggestions for making a smooth transition to Timeline 1. Be proactive – Don't wait until March 30 to start experimenting with Timeline. This new feature makes it easy for visitors to view all of your Page history. If there is anything that needs to be removed or changed, do that before your make your Timeline public. You can switch your Page to Timeline preview mode and make changes visible only to Page administrators until you ...

Communications coach Carmine Gallo shares tips on how to craft your business story -- covering all the essential elements -- so you can tell it it in 60 seconds. He shares the four critical questions you must answer to get your message across to prospects. Carmine Gallo is a communications coach, a popular keynote speaker and author of several books including The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs and The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs. His latest is The Power of Foursquare (McGraw-Hill, 2011).

by John Jantsch Founder, Duct Tape Marketing   Most companies invest in employee handbooks. These valuable resources detail rules, regulations, mission statements, policies and expected conduct. But they often ignore what might be the most important company knowledge—marketing. Any employee that comes into contact with a customer or client is performing a marketing function. Do they know how to represent the organization accurately and positively? Business owners should add marketing training to the ongoing development of every staff member. Teach new hires and conduct routine, perhaps quarterly, all-hands sessions. Here are the seven things to work into training your staff in marketing. 1. This is who we work with Write a paragraph that paints a vivid picture of the kind of client you seek. Include the kinds of problems or challenges that make your company the right one for them to do business with. Until you narrowly define the exact person or business that is you ...

There are countless techniques that go towards improving your results with search engines. Each one does its own little part. Some are simple and cheap. Some are more involved and can get expensive for some budgets. This is an example of a cheap if not free one...

Through December 31, 2009, you can take advantage of a unique financing offer, a zero-down, 0% interest equipment lease for 30 months. Help your qualified business acquire the hardware you require with the flexibility you need to get it done now...

In the modern world of the quickly evolving internet, web applications are quickly becoming the standard for customer software. Users of the past purchased expensive licenses for difficult to update software that ran on limited platforms. Keeping pace with this rapid change in software technology, AgentWise Transaction Management Software...