Something worth crowing about...

It has been many years that I have made a living bringing new ways of using online and traditional media to small business lead generation and retention efforts. (Actually, its been a passion of mine for many, many years, even prior to being paid for it ;-)

Over the past several weeks I began to question why this space has been my thing for so long. Why bother with small business owners who, more often than not, would rather not be bothered with "new ways" to do business. "Don't fix what isn't broke..." the frequent refrain. 

The answer I came up with was two fold; first it is "broke". It has been breaking for years. The "it" being the way small business generates new customers and goes about retaining existing ones.

What used to work may no longer be cost effective (or work at all for that matter). The small and local business just like the regional and bigger guys need a new game plan. (Now, more than ever) AND they need to know what works, when it worked and how to replicate that success.

They also need solutions that allow for this success to continue to occur without forcing them to devote their time and attention away from THEIR primary business.  You shouldn't need a Marketing MBA to run your auto repair facility, plumbing business or restaurant. Auto Pilot Marketing and Lead Generation may not fully be here yet, but technology has allowed a pretty close approximation - when set-up and administered correctly. 

Proving ROI and rock solid results for a small business owner makes me happy. I know that seems overly simple, but it really matters to them. I see that - so it matters to me too. I feel the impact these new methods have on their business and family security and I feel meaning in what I do. 

The second part of the answer as to why I have chosen this space strikes a little closer to home (and a psychiatrist would probably have a field day with it). Be that as it may, the answer is my Dad. 

My Dad owned a small, 3-bay, tire and wheel company for most of my life. I grew up at the shop working summers and becoming very familiar with the sound of compressed air powered tools, dirty hands and the smell of new tires. 

What I was too young to help with however was the business side of his business. How to compete with the national chains as a small independent who knew all there was to know about tires and wheels, but not so much about advertising and marketing. 

Through sheer will, hard work and determination, my Dad made a great, decades long success out of his operation, despite some very tough times.  Our family enjoyed the good times and worried during the bad. But we always knew we could depend on him to figure it out and get us through. He always did, but I don't think he had anyone to turn to in the way had him. 

Advertising sales people would call often, and he'd buy. I think he bought most of it, just hoping something would work and in the end he would have made more than he spent. He knew half of his advertising wasn't working, he just didn't know which half... as the saying goes. 

If we (I) knew then what we know now... much would have been very different for my Dad's company, our family and the families of those my father employed.

Well, now is now and we have learned much. 

Packaging all of this know-how and innovation and transparency into bite-sized, easy to understand and even easier to implement products and services is what I do. It's what I love. It's what small business owners still need.

So why the public proclamation now? Why today? 

Because today, I am allowed to continue my work with small and medium sized companies in a way that simply was not possible when my father was running his shop. Today, I assumed my new role, doing what I have always done, for CustomerLink.com. 

Serving as Vice President of Business Development, I will get to work with a big, friendly, smart, successful team of passionate entrepreneurs serving other small and medium sized business entrepreneurs. 

The culture here, the products and the people are amazing. The first nine years of this company have been successful beyond our founder's expections and provide fertile ground for new product and small business niche innovation that position us for an even brighter future. 

In the coming days I will occasionally chronicle our progress here and I invite you to share in the conversation. .. "Small business, help is on the way. We can't offer a presidential bail out, but certainly a hand-up is yours for the asking." (Much) More to come...