Facebook advertising offers a terrible return on investment. "Likes" do not equal dollars or customer engagement. Save your ad budget and build a following through the strength of your content. [Read Full Article]

Combining unique preferences, resentment and rebellious tendencies, and elaborate priorities, marketing to Generation X is quite a difficult task. Here are 6 rules of marketing to Generation X. Don't recycle the past. Generation X knows many popular marketing strategies that have worked for Baby Boomers. Gen X knows what has been used already, and in turn know what is a new and exciting way to grab their attention.  What's "In" may not be in with Gen X. This group is attracted to what is affordable and of great quality. Trends which don't break the bank are the ones that Gen X will lean towards. An example of well marketed trends to Gen X include the "Going Green" effort. Gen X is highly concerned about the environment and will try green trends. "Hard selling" is poor selling. Generation X finds "hard selling" harsh, rude, and obnoxious. They are turned off by this sales method. If you are going to pitch to Gen X... [Read Full Article]

Last week, the ABC Small Business Tips explored different generations and gender as target audiences. Each generation, as well as men and women, have different approaches and insights on products, services, and businesses. These target markets are large groups, but if marketed to properly, your strategy will work on millions of people.Baby BoomersBaby Boomers consist of individuals born between 1945 and 1960. Their generation has been through decades upon decades of every single cultural and marketing trend and phenomenon of the past half century. The experiences that they have lived through (Vietnam, disco era, Berlin Wall, Desert Storm) help to define their life experiences which they rely on while thinking about purchases and trends today. This generation is full of hope and optimism because of their experiences, and know that there is an opportunity for anything to be accomplished. In this mindset, Baby Boomers are still in the workforce today because of their big... [Read Full Article]

Tips from December 4, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss women as a target audience. 85% of all brand purchases are made by women. Once they find a brand that the they like and at an affordable price that they TRUST, they will be loyal. Women are flooding social networks, especially women who have young children at home. Market to them by communicating on social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. Additionally, women are compelled by advertisements they see in newspapers, magazines, or online. 91% of women feel that advertisers don't understand them. Pink, frilly, and foofy is no way to advertise to women. Understand that simply they are consumers who, like all consumers, are looking to get exactly what they want for the price they are willing to pay. Too girly of a strategy is not the way to gain women customers. On average, 25% of products in women's shopping carts are environmentally friendly.... [Read Full Article]

Government, Politics, and the EconomyTech: The Return of Risk-Taking Suddenly, there are mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, and investors galore. Will the reenergized industry lead the U.S. out of the Great Recession? BusinessWeek.comManagement and Operations33 Highly Useful Presentation Tools Use these tools for presentations to engage your audience, and get your point across using the latest technology. SmallBizTrends.com Management and Operations [Read Full Article]

Take a look at this advertisement. What is the first thing that comes to mind?     Shock? Anger? Hatred? Fear? Would you think it was for Homeland Security? The 9/11 Memorial? In actuality, this advertisement was pitched for the World Wildlife Fund.   Just over a week before the eighth anniversary of September 11th, this controversial advertisement was pitched to the Brazilian branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The ad features dozens of airplanes in mid-air, flying directly into Lower Manhattan with an accompanying tag line reading "The Tsunami Killed 100 Times More People Than 9/11." Underneath the comparison of 9/11 to the Tsunami, the WWF's signature logo of the panda is displayed next to the copy of the ad: "The planet is brutally powerful. Respect it. Preserve it.”  The Brazilian design firm DDB Brasil designed the advertisement and, according to... [Read Full Article]

  Government, Politics and the Economy Democatic Senators: Climate-Change Legislation Should Be Dropped This Year Four Democratic senators as calling for the Senate to abandon efforts to pass legislation curbing greenhouse-gas emissions this year and concentrate on a narrower bill to require use of renewable energy. Bloomberg.com Management and Operations 10 Things Not to Say to Customers There are great things to say to a customer, and then there are things that will drive that same customer into the arms of the competition. Here are the top 10 things not to say to a customer and what you and your people should say instead.... [Read Full Article]

Government, Politics and the Economy Jobless Claims Rise There was an unexpected jump in first-time unemployment claims even as continuing claims drop. FoxBusiness.com Management and Operations The Most Annoying People to Work With: The Top 13 Irritations Wherever you work, even in your own business, you find people who have turned the merely annoying into high art. Now that art has been classified and here are the top 13 offenders. ManageSmarter.com [Read Full Article]