I remember it quite vividly. An employee had a completely different idea of how our self-promotion should be executed. We discussed it and went back and forth. I suggested we sit on it and come back to the project in a couple of days. On the inside, I was frustrated. “I own my own business, […]
As part of selling my previous agency, I signed a non-compete. With no income, three little kids, and one on the way, I needed a way to stay in touch with my network even if I could not work for them. During this time the U.S. government passed the CAN-SPAM Act (2003). Email marketing was a dirty […]
In my first year of business, I distinctly remember attending a speed networking event at the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce. If you have not been introduced to this form of torture (written with a wink), everyone goes around the table and delivers their sales pitch and passes out business cards. At this particular event there […]
Fifteen years. So much has changed. In 2003, I had three children under five and my wife was pregnant with our fourth. My business partnership ended very abruptly and I traded the liability my business partner had not fully disclosed for a non-compete and a few months of money in the bank — but no […]
For Child Abuse Awareness Month, CASA of DuPage County wanted to think outside of the box. Spire2 developed a social media campaign that addressed strategic priorities while building awareness. The 2018 campaign not only delivered measurable results, it reached a very targeted group who care about kids the most — moms across DuPage County. Best […]
When designing, Timothy Financial’s 4th website, we wanted to present this long-term client’s fee structure in a dynamic fashion, clearly contrasting their unique position in the financial planning industry from a sea of firms using the traditional assets under management model. The need to present a clear value proposition Due to rapidly changing technology and […]
Marketing is not an easy task because it is a moving target. The reason why someone buys from you today can be completely irrelevant in a few years. Your marketing message must continue to adapt or else it will be buried by a competitor that is willing to recognize and adapt to the ever-changing landscape. It […]
One of the most important aspects in financial advisor marketing is building trust. The truth is that for financial planners, the number one page visited is the “team” or “about us” page. Getting this page right is a critical component of your online marketing. Make sure you have considered these three aspects on your bio page: 1. […]
I think the number one killer of good communication in organizations is the “design by committee” approach that invades many nonprofits. If you want communication mediocrity then ask a group to make a decision. I will use branding as an example, but it applies to all communication and marketing. The two aspects of great branding and why committees kill […]
People are online for a variety of reasons. It is important to deliver content about your nonprofit in a way that encourages the reader to take action. When working on websites, I often ask clients to provide a draft of content as they will always know their organization better than I do. Even though I assure them I will edit […]
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Success during a pandemic
It is not about you.
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Logins and passwords, credentials, oh my!
What would a 25% increase in business mean for you?
Should your website deliver leads?
Stop sending boring emails
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The hidden threat to the long-term health of your nonprofit
Stop sharing stats and start sharing impact
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15. An exercise in gratitude
14. Great creative doesn’t happen by accident
13. The inner critic and business success
12. Success does not always lead to more work
11. Staying small is the new big
10. My biggest strength is also a weakness
9. The secret formula for marketing success
8. Good marketing doesn’t always work