Can you combine a referral program with a time-limited sale?
Today, I’m going to see we can.  I’ll report on the results tomorrow.
The offer combines two elements.  First, today we are introducing a referral offer/reward which will continue after the special sale.  We’ll provide $500 in advertising credits to anyone who refers a business/organization or project [...]

Yesterday afternoon, I enjoyed a rewarding conversation with Adams Hudson on a range of themes relating to construction marketing.  Hudson’s business (http://www.hudsoninc.com) focuses on the retail-oriented contractors, especially in the mechanical trades (HVAC and plumbing).  His early strength:  Developing better and more effective Yellow Pages ads.  He described in hos conversation how he won points [...]

Rick Pratt believes this blog from Wolfworks Designers/Builders in Colorado, not nominated for the Best Construction Blog competition, is a much better example of excllence than the other entries and finalists.  Do you agree?
Yesterday evening, I received this blunt and provocative email from Rick Pratt in Colorado.  He gave me permission to publish it.
I [...]

With an incredible volume of last-minute votes (I counted more than 50 yesterday) for the Best Construction Blog Competition over the weekend, I’ve decided to extend the deadline one day, to 5 p.m. on Monday, March 1.  This will help avoid disappointment from people who may learn about competition on Monday from last-minute notifications only [...]

We’ve received another flurry of votes as the the Best Construction Blog competition reaches its final days.  The voting system is set to shut at 5:00 p.m. on February 28 (Sunday).  So far, 1,100 ballots have been cast.  The actual number of votes is greater because you can select as many blogs and forums as [...]

In the last two days, I’ve learned some urban politics lessons.  The story, relevant to the Ottawa area (our home base, where we publish Ottawa Construction News independently and The Impact! for the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association) has broader importance when we look into the areas of the relationships between marketing, media, industry associations [...]

I’m working with Eric on his Grade 7 science project.  His chosen topic:  Determining which of two brand-name hamburger choices is healthiest.  To avoid problems with the lawyers, I won’t name the chain here but if you want to respond with a private email to buckshon@cnrgp.com and are correct, you’ll receive a prize other than [...]

I continue to enjoy the contractortalk.com thread, “Top 5 Marketing ideas that DO NOT WORK.” The “DO NOT WORK” is a great grabber (and marketing message) which draws us into the thread, which actually contains much useful marketing advice as some posters questioned the inclusion of certain items in the “do not work” listing [...]

Tonight, I’m testing posterous.com, which allows you to set posting across multiple platforms with a single email.
Is this service useful, or does it just add to the clutter on the Web?
Right now, I’m not sure — but in the middle of the weekend when few are watching, it is a good time to [...]

In a few minutes, I’ll be leaving for the airport for an intense visit to the Washington, D.C. area, to attend a meeting of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services SMPS (actually, an educational program on the “Proper Care and Feeding of Clients), and a networking event for the Design [...]