Phil Lauterjung

Archive for October, 2009

I have been in the midst of doing considerable research for a new business venture.  As part of that research I have looked at dozens and dozens (maybe more, I’ve lost track) of small business web sites.  I have found it to be terribly discouraging.  Many of these web sites are doing these companies more harm than good.  Read more... (543 words, 2 images, estimated 2:10 mins reading time)

When one has been in sales for more than a few years you think you’ve got it down pretty well.  If this recession has had any positives, it’s that we have had to examine our professional assumptions.

Difficult times force us to face reality as it is, not as we thought it was.  If you haven’t worked through this process it’s not too late.  If you’ve been out of work and frustrated with the lack of opportunities, now is the time to reassess.  If you have a job with constant pressure to “make the numbers”, this is for you too.  Read more... (880 words, 2 images, estimated 3:31 mins reading time)

Some consider marketing to be part art and part science.  That may be true, and has been debated frequently.  What is clear is that marketing, done well, helps a business grow.  In order to be done well it requires the support of the President/CEO/Owner – whatever title the head person carries – and for sales and marketing to be aligned.  Provided your company separates those two functions.  If not, that becomes a little easier – you just have to agree with the boss and yourself.  Read more... (650 words, 2 images, estimated 2:36 mins reading time)

Over the years I have read and heard much about competing and collaborating.  I’m sure that most of you have too.

Today, Charles Green posted a very compelling article regarding these two words.  I found it to be very thought provoking and he has apparently tweaked the Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs at Harvard Business School.  I have to admit that I just love a good rowdy debate.  Read more... (497 words, 2 images, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

We are now in the dreaded fourth quarter, and some are saying that the recession is over.  Maybe, maybe not.  That doesn’t change the fact that sales teams everywhere are scrambling to put up bonus-earning numbers for 2009.  That, of course, assumes that you were dealt reasonable quotas to begin with.  Okay, okay I hear the grumbling already about that topic.  You’ll need to take that up with your boss – I can’t help with that one.  Read more... (481 words, 2 images, estimated 1:55 mins reading time)

As a follow-up to the recent series on Integrated Lead Generation, here’s a new tool that you should consider adding to your arsenal.  SlideShare has been around for some time, and many have found it to be very useful for promoting their business.  It’s also available within profiles on LinkedIn.

They have now taken it a step further and have a separate section of their web site called SlideShare Business.  They developed a way to use SlideShare presentations for lead generation.  Fair warning:  there is a cost associated with this.  However, it is similar to the pay-per-click model used on search engines – the cost occurs only when someone clicks through.  Read more... (274 words, 2 images, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)