Marketing Plan Pro powered by Duct Tape Marketing

I went through an in-depth workshop with John Jantsch and the Marketing PlanPro guru's. To tell the truth, when I was looking at the Beta version, I was kind of ho-hum about the whole thing. But this looks pretty impressive as a finished product. Special offer on August 24th Release Date, details coming soon! Do not pre-order it. This will ruin my surprise. You will be able to download it instantly if you wait.

Product Features

• Powered by Duct Tape Marketing, providing a practical marketing guide upon which you can build your plan
• Detailed explanations and examples including audio introductions narrated by John Jantsch, renowned small-business marketing guru
• Step-by-step instructions & expert guidance every step of the way
• Easily forecast sales and expenses and track your progress
• Framework to help you build an action plan that will lead to marketing success

Amazon Says:

Marketing Plan Pro powered by Duct Tape Marketing is a brand new release of the #1best-selling marketing-planning software from Palo Alto Software. Are you getting the results you want from your marketing programs? How will you grow your business this year or month, starting today?

Marketing Plan Pro powered by Duct Tape Marketing is the answer. We've taken the award-winning Duct Tape Marketing process and embedded it into simple software that will guide you through the process of creating a powerful marketing system that will help you grow your business. Duct Tape Marketing is a systematic approach to marketing that is as elegantly simple as that sticky and trustworthy roll of duct tape.

The Duct Tape Marketing system, developed by renowned small-business marketing guru John Janstch, shows you how to develop and execute a marketing plan that will give your business the life and longevity you always knew it could have. The Marketing Plan Pro software package integrates this powerful system into a step-by-step approach that guides you through the process of creating a marketing plan that will get results. Marketing Plan Pro will not only produce a great looking marketing plan, but a true action plan that you can start using immediately in your business. Every step includes detailed explanations, examples, and links to the forms and worksheets you need to translate your plan into action. Audio introductions, narrated by John Jantsch, are also included for major topics.

Marketing Plan Pro will automatically generate charts and graphs, and it guides you through the process of creating your forecasts, milestones and goals. Now you can have one of America's most respected small-business marketing experts - one who has helped thousands grow their businesses with a proven step-by-step system - actually guide you along the marketing path for a fraction of what others have paid for the same expert advice and coaching.

Technorati Tags: Marketing Plan Pro,Duct Tape Marketing,John Jantsch,Pal Alto Software,Marketing Software

How to Form an Innovation Strategy

Great post on thinking about your innovation strategy. But one comment he makes here is so true. How many of innovate one product at a time thinking that it is the answer. Remember, even with a well thought out strategy, you are not always right, especially when it comes to innovation. The word kind of says "Risk" doesn't it?

Scott D. Anthony is President of Innosight LLC, an innovation consulting firm in Watertown, Massachusettssay this in his Amazon blog today:

Companies just starting innovation efforts often begin by getting a group of people together and telling them "It's innovation time!" I've never seen efforts like this succeed in meaningful ways.

• Instead, we suggest that companies begin innovation efforts by creating an innovation strategy that details clear targets and tactics.

• Clear targets help internal innovators know what they're shooting for.

• Then think about the sources of growth.

• Look at what's already in your development pipeline.

• Calculate the gap (it will almost always be a gap) between where your projections suggest you will be and where you want to be.

• Think of the tactics that are on and off the table.

• Use this "Goals and Boundaries" visual (from Chapter 1 of The Innovator's Guide to Growth).

   The figure (download it here) represents the "goals and boundaries" of innovation. Note how the figure includes a diverse set of elements, such as steady-state revenue, channel, business model, and brand. Customize the vectors for your context, and gain consensus about what's clearly in bounds, what's on the fringes, and what's clearly out of bounds.

Gaining consensus on this visual will help you to evaluate ideas and to guide innovators in their exploration efforts.

Formalizing targets and tactics is a great way to kick-start your innovation efforts. Start allocating resources to support your strategy, and you are on your way to innovation success!

This is from Scott Anthony.

Technorati Tags: Innovation,Scott Anthony,Innovation Strategies,New Product Intorductins,Product Launch

Startup Fundraising According to Paul Graham

I like Ben's blog and he is always having good things to say. 

From the Instigator Blog by Ben Yoskovitz 

Paul Graham is well-known in the startup world for his past successes and most recently, the launch of Y Combinator. Y Combinator continues to garner a ton of attention, from a combination of the sheer volume in startups being launched through the program, the successful exits, and the way in which they’re shaking up the venture capital industry.

I’ma big fan of Y Combinator. I wish I could have gone through the experience. From the outside looking in, I see an insanely talented and dedicated group of people running the operation, who are working with a slew of bright, young, hungry entrepreneurs. I’ve met several Y Combinator folks and have been impressed with all of them.

I think Canada needs a similar model, although for a whole host of reasons, it can’t be quite the same. But that’s a topic of discussion for another time.

PaulGraham recently published his Fundraising Survival Guide, and I wanted to take a few moments to go through some of his key points and add my own thoughts and experiences to the mix.

1. Fundraising is brutal.
2. There are no secrets.
3. Consulting is the only option you can count on. 
4. Creates an us vs. them attitude.
5. Keep working on your startup.
6. Raising money for the first time alone is almost impossible.

Ben offered some great comments and also other insights as well that I did not duplcate here. If you are newbie to raising money take a look here.

Getting ready to offer a Duct Tape Marketing Product Launch kit.

Technorati Tags: Instigator blog,Ben Yosovitz,Paul Graham,Fundraising Survival Guide

Top Ten Sales Skills | Sales Machine | BNET

Good list to make you think of what makes a good sales person.

Skill #1. Researching prospects and organizations prior to first contact.

Skill #2. Asking questions and listen more than you talk.

Skill #3. Focusing on a few top prospects and contacting them frequently.

Skill #4. Cultivating insider “coaches” to understand customer requirements.

Skill #5. Solving problems and overcoming objections as a consultant.

Skill #6. Creating long-term relationships with prospects and customers.

Skill #7. Communicating appropriate messages (e.g. value propositions).

Skill #8. Recognizing when the prospect is ready to buy.

Skill #9. Knowing how to close the sale when the time is right.

Skill #10. Getting referrals and then following up on them.

 

Top Ten Sales Skills | Sales Machine | BNET

Steel prices take toll on builders

How has commodity prices effected your business? How are you handling them?

Steel prices take toll on builders
Skyrocketing steel prices are causing some Michigan developers to reconsider the scope of their project plans. In addition, fewer construction projects are likely to be started while builders wait for the economy to improve. Tri-Cities Business Review (Saginaw/Bay City/Midland, Mich.)

Technorati Tags: Construction,Commodities,Steel Prices,Oil Prices

Bill aims to make health insurance affordable for small business

Bill aims to make health insurance affordable for small business
A Pennsylvania congressman has introduced a bill to make health insurance more affordable for small businesses by allowing them to join in national insurance pools and by providing tax credits for employers that cover at least 60% of their workers' premiums. The Small Business Health Options Program, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire, would also help stabilize costs by prohibiting insurers from increasing rates based on the previous claims on employees. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/Valley News Dispatch (8/12) 

 

http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/lXnssLgABpiPkjCibSonOAqI

August 12, 2008
News for contractors and the construction industry

Technorati Tags: Health Insuarance,Small Business,Contractors,Construction