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Dunn and Bradstreet reports half of all new businesses fail within two years of startup and over half of the remaining go out of business over the next three years. In other words, three of every four businesses are gone within five years of their first sale. Why? Smart, talented people who work hard start businesses every day yet three of every four can’t make it work and shut down within five years. Why?

If you read our last post, you already understand the importance of a good newsletter. But, as a writer, I already know that sometimes the hardest part of writing can be coming up with a good idea.

That is why we have provided a post solely with content ideas for your newsletter. Let's begin!

It's a buyers' world pure and simple! We fast-forward through commercials. Block pop-ups. Delete spam at light speed. Screen calls with caller ID. Click out of online video or print sales message the second you lose interest. And we are experts at ignoring all marketing or advertising messages we don't care to see. In other words ... unless a message is so interesting you WANT to watch it, hear it or read it, advertisers have no way to get and hold your attention long enough to sell anything.

The boutique furniture store was loaded with spectacular, one of a kind masterpieces and original works of art from many of the top wood workers, metal workers and artist in the State of Texas. Walking through the showroom was a memorable experience because every piece was totally unique and masterfully handcrafted.

Your marketing collateral gets sent out in the world to do one thing: act as an ambassador for your product or service, in place of you. This may seem like a big job for a piece of paper, but it’s a helpful way to think about the materials you create.

 This post is an open letter to the Business Owner ready to profit in a tight economy:

Dear Business Owner,

Your time is valuable and we will get to know each other soon enough if that’s the right thing to do. So for now, I’ll come straight to the point.

Testimonials are simply the single most powerful asset you can have in your marketing toolkit. When your customers tell others about the benefits of choosing your business, it is a thousand times more powerful than the same words from your mouth.

Growing a business may seem challenging. But when you understand the mindset and see the powerful business growth strategies fast growing businesses use to attract new customers and close sales, you’ll realize you really can grow your business at the rate you choose regardless of the economy or the competition.

Today I’m going to bust one of the biggest marketing myths that has ever duped a business owner. Belief in this marketing myth has sunk millions of businesses and caused millions more to struggle instead of prosper and do only a fraction of the business they could do every year.

As I blow this myth out of the water for you, think about how accepting the seductively simple idea the myth imparts may affect any business, yours included... ok... here we go.

The majority of small businesses, like yours, are established in response to market demand for a product or service. Many people build their businesses by serving that demand, and enjoy growing profits without putting much effort into long-term planning or marketing. However, what happens when that demand slows or stops? What happens when the competition sets up shop with a “new and improved” version of your product down the road? How do you keep your offering fresh, while growing and maintaining your client base? The answer is by adding value to your product or service.