Category Archives: marketing

the marketer’s bookshelf

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Chris Houchens

As I consult or speak, people often ask me for marketing or business book recommendations. While I sometimes review new business books on the blog, I didn’t have a list of the classics. I thought it would be nice to … Continue reading →

Posted in marketing | Tagged | 2 Comments

it’s always the little things

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Chris Houchens

Positive branding comes from positive customer experiences. Most of your brand is built through mundane daily customer experiences rather than polished marketing messages. The opportunity and danger in this is that there are a LOT of little things that can … Continue reading →

Posted in branding, marketing | Tagged , | 3 Comments

barbers don’t cut their own hair

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Chris Houchens

A quick follow up thought to my post last week about a PR firm’s debacle… Barbers don’t cut their own hair. The cobbler’s children have no shoes. A lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. And marketers … Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, strategy | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

PR firms and bloggers are like matches and gasoline

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Chris Houchens

Blogger outreach in PR is like working with gasoline. Work with it correctly and it makes the vehicle go. Do it incorrectly and it blows up with disastrous consequences. I am amazed at the number of PR firms who have … Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, media | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

no one cares about your company’s history

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Chris Houchens

I’m sure you’ve had this happen to you. Someone is making a sales pitch or educational presentation to you. They need your attention. Then as they begin, they say… but before we get started let me tell you a little … Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, speaking | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment