Common Marketing Mistakes

What do you do to keep your marketing campaigns on point? Take a look at these common marketing fails and how to avoid them:

Even after all the marketing, selling, messaging and posturing, it’s not working when: At a chamber of commerce meeting you overhear a peer refer an ideal prospect to your competitor. When you ask him why, he asks, “Your company does that?”

The next day, you learn your vendor just suggested his friend buy from your arch rival instead of automatically pushing the work your way. When confronted, your supplier says, “Your company does that? I had no idea!”

Finally, your new employee hears and misses your client’s buying signals. You gently point this out, and she responds, “Oh, that’s right, I guess our company does that.” This upsets you for three reasons:

Your offline and online marketing isn't working.

If the people you know don't know what your firm does, then who does?
You are needlessly embarrassing your colleague, vendor and trainee.

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Do you know one of the region's outstanding women in business?

Honor them by sending in a nomination for the Pittsburgh Business Times 2014 Women in Business Awards program. Winners will be honored at an event and in a special Business Times supplement in the spring of next year. 

To qualify, the nominee must have a home office located in our region. 

We're looking for women from every industry and profession, including non-profits, women who've blazed a trail and who are leaving a mark on Pittsburgh business. We'll also be considering community and social efforts of nominees, but the primary focus will be on the nominee's work experience. 

The nomination process consists of completing a nomination form with basic contact information and providing narratives to several basic questions. The entire process is online. 

And by the way, if you qualify for this prestigious award, don't be shy. Many of our winners from previous years are self-nominated. The program does not take into account who nominates the candidate or how many nominations are received for an individual. 

Nominations close Dec. 20, 2013. The winners are notified by the end of the year. The names of individuals who are nominated but not selected are not publicized.
To enter a nomination, visit our Women in Business nomination page.

For more information, contact Richard Cerilli, rcerilli@bizjournals.com or 412-208-3815.