We're kicking off a new series at PRIME on the transformation of the way we do things. In the economy of life, there are tried-and-true methods, habits we love, patterns we are used to and a variety of other activities that condition the way we approach tasks. With the advent of mobile devices and app-run services, a more significant number of options are available for getting our business done. Enjoy our foray into the mobile economy of things, or the IoT. (Internet of Things) as we dive into several ways our hand-held devices have changed the way we face our world.

There are a lot of do's and don'ts when it comes to giving an excellent presentation. Oddly enough, one of the most significant factors to a killer presentation is just that, your presentation. How you present your materials and information to your audience can play a vital roll in how they receive you.

So you have some great info; if your visual style is dated, it might not go as well as you'd like. There might be some level of disconnect, or your audience might be less likely to trust you. You might have fascinating points to make, but when they are bulleted out on a static page, they'll be less likely to engage. Thanks to advances in software, it's easier than ever before to create an engaging visual presentation. Let's talk about doesn't work, what does, and how to use them to your best abilities.

Presentations: we’ve been giving them since our fourth-grade science projects, yet somehow, we still dread them. In truth, dread hangs around the word “presentation,” from every angle. And you don’t only have to be the one giving it to feel the dark cloud descending. Just try getting invited to one. Most people don’t meet the invitation with a hop, skip, and a heel click. Have a guess at why? I bet you do.

Knowing Your Audience

While we’ve already given you the playbook for targeting your local market, today we’re mapping out how to target your market around the globe with meaningful, engaging content. The fact is, not all social media platforms are created equally when it comes to your targeting initiatives. None of them are bad, but some are most certainly better than others for a broader reach. Just like your platforms will change as you try to reach those who don’t live down the lane, so will your technique and strategy.

Your message to Sally Sue, an active member of your local community, may not resonate with someone who lives a thousand miles away. They could value very different things depending on location, culture, demographics, and so on. That means that the benefits you present to them will look different. Simply put, the world isn’t a flat piece of toast you spread a pat of butter across. Let’s look at how to churn out the actual results you want by broadcasting the right messages on the right platforms.

As a business owner, it’s a given in today’s world that you need to have a social media presence. If you’re still thinking about social as something that Millennials simply spend too much time on, it’s time to think again, friend. Not only do you need to be on social media, but you also need to have a strong plan about how you’re going to use it, who you want to talk to, and what you want to get out of it.

Over the past few years, there is a new infatuation that has been sweeping over our nation. For better or worse, it's been washing over our televisions, newspapers, social media feeds, and now, our marketing campaigns. From the white house to the Kardashians and their diet shakes, we've become obsessed with controversy. And as a business, it's something to be aware of. If a marketer's job is to keep her finger on the pulse of the nation, and that pulse is racing, what does that mean for her work? Does she stoke the flames of this new infatuation? What does she risk if she does? Better yet, what does she risk if she doesn't? Today we're taking a look at some real-life examples of controversial marketing campaigns and the repercussions for the companies who created them. 

Sitting on your website right now are a million and one opportunities to generate and capture leads and fill your marketing troves with potential customers. Okay, while maybe a million and one is a bit of an exaggeration (give us a break, we’re creatives!), there are A LOT. And at the end of the day, most customers aren’t going to come knocking with all their contact information written in a love note. They will, however, give it to you if you ask nicely, speak to their heart and offer real value. But how do you know what they want to hear? How do you want what they value? And once you do, how do you use that information to fill your basket with juicy leads? That, my friend, is what we’re diving into today. So let’s get started.

Look, not every product on the market can be a sexy, shiny object. The reality is that sometimes aspects of life require products or services that are, well, just plain boring. Does the average person get their kicks chatting about retirement plans? Likely not. How about medical equipment? Yeah, that one’s not exactly a rip-roarin’ time, either.

Ah, the target market. It’s one of those lovely things that marketers breathe, but the average business owner may not have thought much about. However, they should, and a great deal. Target markets are a great way to hone in your message and make the most out of your marketing dollars. But we can’t tell you much of anything about the target market or market segmentation if you don’t know what it is, so let’s go ahead and define our terms, shall we?