No, this is not some fluffy stuff that I can make into a book.  These are real lessons you should know about.  And you should thank me that I didn't make you read a whole book based on these seven simple principals.

Retail marketing: Finding your best prospects

Tips on Successful Retail Store Marketing

What? You wanted to go into retail?  You really are crazy, aren't you.  Just like your uncle said.  At least this article will help drive customers to your door.  Hope it's helpful.

Is there a trick to market effectively to Boomers?  No.  Seniors are just like everyone else, but can't drive as well, can't see without their glasses, have less hair, and don't get as many dates.  Oh well... some of us are still pretty happy.  No tricks in marketing, though.  Here's how to generate calls from seniors.

Selling Insurance to the Senior Market?  Here's a 5-step plan that's easy to follow.

Are you getting a lot of media coverage or "Ink" or "Buzz" as they say in the media circles. If not, well, maybe your press releases stink.  Remember: to get published they have to 1. get read by a busy editor, and 2. get selected for publication; then to be effective they need to 3. create the response you are seeking.  Here's a no bs hit list to help you create a more effective press release.

Motivating sales reps and buyers, increasing sales, increasing loyalty all can be accomplished with a free gift program. In a fun style this article explains the industry nuances and gives you the names and dates of the industry shows - if it was still 2007.  There is some carryover and the article is probably still pretty helpful.  Lemme know if you'd like to update it.  While you're at it, please update the jokes, too. Thanks.

Inventors call me all the time and ask me how to market their invention. I guess I'm supposed to tell them on the phone even though they won't disclose their product or their budget, and they haven't read any of my books or articles.  Now I can be like the big guys: I can tell them to look up this article on my website... just like when the phone company doesn't want to talk to you - they blow you off to their website.  Hey, you want serious information?  It takes work, time, effort and energy - or at least 3 out of the 4.  Call with serious questions and I'll be happy to talk.  Call when you're half hung over to discuss the drawing you made on your napkin last night at a bar after a few dozen beers and I'll kindly recommend this article.

Lots of people ask me "How do I market something?" So I simply write a marketing plan without knowing what they are selling, their budget, or the basis or bother of any facts or figures at all.  Simple. OK.  So... here it is.

If I could only mail once to a list, this is what I would mail.  That says it all.

Compared to most other types of mailings, post cards are easy, fast and cheap.  That doesn't mean they can't be effective.  Here's how to create a successful campaign using post cards by coupling them wiht FREE booklets.  OK, so I gave away the secret... but the article is still very specific in how to receive the maxium response from a post card mailing.  Jump right in - this short article is a great bathroom read.

Imagine going to pitch an account with a big book of a couple hundred recent testimonials.  Yea, it's pretty easy to close that kind of account with that ammo.  If you need 100 recent testimonials, this is the easiest and fastest way yet.

Response can be increased by giving away a FREE Booklet.  It is the title of the booklet that can both limit response from unqualified readers and increase response from real prospects.  Here's how.  Marketing with free booklets is one of my favorite - and most effective - low cost marketing methods.

Buying a mailing list?  Read this article - you'll thank me very much.

Probably the  toughest decision you will need to make in direct marketing is the selection of a mailing list.  It's also one of the most important, because to a great degree your list determines your response rate.  Here are some resources, and this is a full course in mailing lists 101, 102 and 103.

One month I called every mailing list company who ran an ad in all the direct marketing trade journals.  I then analyzed the catalogs I received and here's the write-up.

Still not sending cover letters with every piece of mail you send out?  Then I guess you don't care enough about getting that one extra person in 100 to call.  A letter can give your press release a 50% better chance of getting ink.  Don't believe it?  Keep reading…

How do your ads measure up to these criteria?  Better to figure it out now, than to run an ineffective ad.