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Sadly, I'm not able to make it on this Wednesday after all.

Tshombe, thanks for sharing these useful tips. Reading this nearly felt like I was there with you (except for the lack of ice cream).

When NPR is too dour, I download uplifting or interesting podcasts and listen to those in the background, or on breaks.

Other tips that work for me:

Batching phone calls and emails together and setting time aside just for them.

Scheduling specific tasks for specific days (especially accounting).

Listening to my own energy levels and shuffling tasks around according to what feels most energized. It all gets done, and it feels smoother along the way.

I'm not able to make it on Thursday, but look forward to the next one.

Sorry I will miss this tonight, but am recovering from an injury.

I'd really love to attend this event, but will be out of town on Friday.

Great idea! I would love to attend, and just realized that I have another commitment this Friday. Hope there will be another opportunity.

Excellent points, Stacy.

I second what Ken says about regarding marketing as a capital expense. Good strategy, copy and design pays for itself many times over.

I'd also add this one: Understand, but don't copy, the competition. To differentiate means doing more than finding out what the other guys are doing and copying their tactics (or even their message). Seems obvious, but it's a trap that businesses small and large can easily fall into. Especially when time and staff are crunched.

Really nice article, Ken. You make excellent points.

I agree. Communicating empathy and building a bond is even more important when the economy slows and consumers look at businesses-- and their own expenses-- with a more critical eye.

Listening and making the emotional connection are critical parts of the marketing conversation.

Thanks for the excellent article, Ilise. Very practical approach and breakdown.

I particularly needed the reminder that focusing your efforts on a niche market doesn't mean that is the only niche you're working in.

As Adam points out, sometimes we do forget to do for ourselves what we do so well for our clients.

Great points, Ed.

Finding a relevant message (one that struck a chord with his audience) and sticking to it was critical to Obama's success, I think. Not only was the McCain "Country First" message not entirely audience-focused, it was also the 10th or 11th tagline that he used during his campaign. His messaging was very reactive and scrambled.

As you say, you have to credit the Obama team for understanding and sticking to their message.

Your three points are a really nice way to bring this home to our businesses.

Great article, Paul.

Discerning the benefits that really matter is often glossed over in marketing and communication as well as in sales. We like to focus on "benefits not features," and yet "Why does this benefit matter?" is just as important-- if not more so.

This issue often comes up with my copywriting clients as well. Effective, interesting marketing messages and copy are based in hearing, connecting and responding to your audience. The real question we need to ask, as you point out, is "What do they really care about?"

Thanks for laying it all out so nicely.

Dani,

Great article! I have found LinkedIn to be a great tool for network building.

Along with expanding my network, I've been using LI to re-connect with and keep on the radar of former colleagues, connections from previous roles, and well-connected friends. This piece alone has resulted in new clients and a couple of important strategic alliances.

@ Ilise, I have been using LinkedIn for prospect research, too. It's really useful as a research tool. I'm also finding that other folks are similarly using it to research me as well.