Gracie Communications

Next time you sit down with your employees (or clients) to discuss why internal communications is so important, bring up the Indianapolis Colts. (more…)

My husband is deaf in one ear. If I stand behind him, he knows I’m talking but he can’t tell what I’m saying. It doesn’t matter how loud I shout. It doesn’t matter how often I repeat myself.  I need to stand in front of him if I want him to understand what I’m trying to say.  The same is true for marketing communications. (more…)

Yes.  And no. (more…)

Curiosity can take many forms. Curious people read books. They scan the internet for answers. They sit in coffee shops and people watch. They strike up conversations with complete strangers. They may even eavesdrop.  Why? Because they want to know – have to know – what makes other people tick and how the world works.

Sometimes curiosity requires an out-of-body experience. (more…)

Why is it that we women tell our hairdressers anything and everything?  Seriously, it doesn’t really even matter which hairdresser. My regular stylist was on vacation in Greece when I had a total hair emergency.  I made an appointment at David & Mary Salon/Spa in Clay Terrace and ended up telling a completely new hairdresser all about my kids, my business, even my new love for the pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks.

We also talked at length about the promotion ChaCha was running in the salon. Every person in the place had on a ChaCha t-shirt and each mirror sported a static cling text message code.  Not only was it a great way to reach a captured audience, the promotion also was a great conversation starter.  The big question is:  If a hairdresser you trust with your tresses uses ChaCha, would you be more likely to try it?

(more…)

Sales reps selling products at mid-size and large companies know you can’t convert prospects to clients in one meeting, but many service professionals – especially freelancers – seem to have forgotten this. The bottom line?  It takes at least three meetings (interactions) to really understand a prospect and determine if your services can be part of his or her long-term solution. 

Think of it like dating.  You wouldn’t expect a marriage proposal on the first date, right? (And unless you are Britney Spears,  you wouldn’t say yes either.)  Business relationships need the same time to develop.  Too many professionals get caught up in the exciting prospect of new work and do one of two things.

(more…)

The average American hears 3,000 marketing messages a day. That’s more than two ads, product placements, brochures, catalogs, PPV, online banners, every minute if you don’t pee, sleep or walk away from your media sources.

(more…)