RSS Feed .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
505-856-2551

Mary Schmidt Marketing Troubleshooter
Mary

Idea Pool

Did You Rush Out and Buy A Mercedes?

Mary Schmidt

Feb 04, 2013

From my “Advertising Isn’t Marketing” File…

There was some sort of big sporting event yesterday. More importantly, a whole bunch of commercials!  We simply don’t see enough of those. And, there were ads right in your Twitter feed! Real! Interactive! We love you; you love our ads! (Now, please, go buy something already…)

LOS ANGELES – Super Bowl sponsors are touting a new rationale for the record $4 million they’re spending on some 30-second spots this year: that viewers of the

In Marketing Troubleshooting, Pet Peeves, Social Media Reality Checks

Why You Shouldn’t Hire Me as a Twitter Expert

Mary Schmidt

Jan 28, 2013

Aside from the fact that I loathe the word “expert”...

First, let’s talk about followers. I have about 140. Um, maybe 130…haven’t looked today.  Of which about 1/2 are trying to sell me something, another 1/4 follow to get followers, and so on. Thus, on any given day my tweets may be noticed (much less read) by about 20 people, of whom five may actually be - sometime, maybe - a potential client or good biz connection. (Those of you who follow thousands - c’mon, ‘fess up. How many do you

In Pet Peeves, Social Media Reality Checks

Why I’m (Still) Cranky About Web Sites

Mary Schmidt

Jan 17, 2013

I now this white on black text (WIth a ht to Bryan Eisenberg for posting the link to the iconic sans example of bad, bad black this a.m. on FB.)

So. Here we are. 2013. The Interwebs have been around for - what? - about 100 years?  Well, maybe not that long, but they were referencing “The Internet” (with sonorous, serious-sounding caps) in a 1999 episode of West Wing I watched last night. By now everyone must know the basics of a good, results-oriented web site, right? Well, no. We’re still seeing a lot of “crud” (as Bryan

In Pet Peeves, Web Bytes

We’re All In the Service Business.

Mary Schmidt

Jan 10, 2013

your call is important to us
Like it or not. High Tech. Low Tech. No Tech. Start-Up. Fortune 50. Retail. Online. Brick & Mortar.  Donuts. Smartphone apps. We’re all in the service biz.

We can talk about product design, branding (ack) and such all day long.  But at the end of the day, it still all comes down to: How do you treat your customers? 

Not what you say in your marketing materials. Not what you post on your website. Not what you have on your customer service recording. How do your customers feel when they

In Marketing Troubleshooting, Pet Peeves

Why Social Media Doesn’t Get (Deserve) Any Respect

Mary Schmidt

Jan 08, 2013

Cut the crap“I have only one prediction for you, and it’s basically this: there is a very good chance that 12 months from now, we will learn that 90% of CEOs have lost faith in marketers.” - Olivier Blanchard,  2013: The Year 90% of CEOs Will Lose Faith In Marketers?

I’ve started putting together my next social media workshop for ASP (Santa Clara. March. Stay tuned) in which we’ll be focusing on management and measurements. So, I’m doing a lot of deep dive reading (again). What’s working. What’s not.

In Marketing Troubleshooting, Pet Peeves, Social Media Reality Checks

How Do They Know I’m Awesome?

Mary Schmidt

Nov 26, 2012

Recently, I got one of those emails in which someone who has never met me, never talked to me, never interfaced with me in any form (online or off) started out, with “Mary, You’re awesome!”

Well, yes, my (ahem) mother thinks so…but who are you, Mr. Stranger with My Email Address? Whatever he was selling, I wasn’t buying.

Then there’s “exceptional,” “terrific” and any number of other hyperbolic words terms that are so abused and misused, they become meaningless. 

There’s a big difference

In Marketing Troubleshooting, Pet Peeves

If You Can’t Walk It, Don’t Talk It.

Mary Schmidt

Aug 22, 2012

Warning: I’m using politics to make a point here…but it’s a biz point, so bear with me for about three seconds of reading.

It’s always “interesting” to me when I ask someone who is anti-Obama for specific data points.  All too often, they retreat into sweeping generalizations about the Constitution, “you liberals” and world views. 

If you can’t back up your position with some specifics, you lose all credibility.  That’s one of the first things you learn in business.

“We’ll make millions!’

In Start-Up Sanity Checks, Marketing Troubleshooting, Pet Peeves

mary

Contact Mary Schmidt Today!

505-856-2551

Start-Up Sanity Check for B2B Tech Ventures

Got a great idea? Are people telling you it’s crazy? Good! You’ve got to be a little insane to take that start-up leap – rather it’s out of your garage, the lab or a day job. I'll help you decide where and when to leap (and what to do when you land).

Investment: $500.00 (Why do I call it an investment? Two reasons: 1. If you’re willing to pay, that tells me you’re serious. 2. When you pay for advice, you’re more likely to value and use it.)

Drop me a line and we’ll see if we’re a good fit. If I can't help you, I’ll tell you (and if possible, tell you who can.)

Got funding? I work with one to three start-ups a year, on retainer (minimum of three months, maximum one year).

Free Downloads

More Free Advice

New!

Social Media Isn't Free, Easy or Magic.

If one of the self-anointed experts contacts you, pitching magical thinking, ask:

1. What results can I expect if I work with you? (Note: Twitter followers aren't necessarily customers.)

2. What kind of time will I have to invest? (Social media, properly done, is all about personal relationships. You with your customers...and a good relationship takes time.)

3. How do I integrate social media tools with my current operations? (Your salespeople need to know what you're saying on Facebook. Your customer service process and policies should be consistent across the board, from phone to Twitter.)

More Free Advice