THINKing

More Creativity

I’ve been thinking a lot about creativity lately. Done some research on the topic, too. As a result, I have some additional creativity resources for you.

Roger von Oech has long been a favorite of mine. His A Whack On The Side Of The Head book is a well-thumbed resident on my bookshelf.  He authors a blog – Creative Think -  that is an excellent destination when you are stuck for ideas.

The Forgotten P

Graduates of Marketing 101 all know about the Four Ps of marketing – product, placement and promotion seem to be top of mind. But the forgotten P – in my opinion – is price. Pricing can be an excellent way to differentiate yourself. I’m not talking about low-balling your competitors either. I’m talking about using pricing strategically to address consumer pain.

Marketing Spending Pays Off

Well, here’s a big surprise: small businesses which spend more during a downturn actually do better financially. Marketing professionals have been giving this advice to businesses of all sizes since the first recession. But too many business leaders make marketing their first, instead of their last, cut. It’s nice to have some empirical data to prove our assertion.

Twitter Lists: Twittering Journalists

Finally, Twitter is offering a lists function. None too soon.If you need more info on Twitter lists, Mashable is a good resource.

Social Media Confuses Businesses

It seems businesses of all sizes are conflicted about how to use social media effectively. In a recent CitiBank/GfK Roper study, about 75 percent of small businesses said that social networks are not working for them.  On the other side of the equation, Gartner says that most Fortune 1000 companies will delve into social media by 2010 but more than half of them will fail.