The way we build our websites is cool and all but it’s not about HOW we do things it’s about the WHY…. At FirstTracks Marketing we are business people who also happen to be very good at website design and development. Our process for developing a website solution for your business is built on exactly [...]

The most direct email headline ever… “Don’t Buy” and this was on Cyber Monday from a consumer products company in the height of the buying palooza frenzy that drives the US and world economies. What was Patagonia doing? Why weren’t they pushing deals and enticing me to buy, buy, buy. Isn’t that want everyone expects?

When working with clients on their business and marketing strategies I’m always looking for what I call the BIG 3. These are the deep bone marrow “musts” that just have be there if Business Success is to have a chance. A meaningful product, service or place A fertile market that has a real need for [...]

Who’s Talking About You and What Are They Saying? When discussing marketing and brand strategy with clients we usually get around to discussing the integration of several social media tactics and sometimes we get the “Oh no I don’t want all that Facebook and Twitter stuff in my business. It’s all boring chatter and I [...]

“If anything, our brand is almost all about storytelling.” I came across this from Doug Wood, President of Tommy Bahama. A reputable company with good brand recognition. We’ve all heard of them and we know what they do. But why? They use fabrics like so many others. They can sew, advertise and distribute. They have [...]

Is this where the Brand Plan says we should be? Amazon is planning on going all brick and mortar on us in a west coast test market. I think an oh so overused word applies here, REALLY!? As a brand planner I’d like to think that someone at this master of the online universe might [...]

Getting the Brand Plan together A client who is developing a new company came to FirstTracks Marketing’s President Greg Connolly to get their brand plan in shape. Why? Isn’t it OK to hit the ground running with all the great tools like clever ads, social media buzz, spiffy new website and a catalog or two to [...]

So you want to put that great new product on the shelves of Wal-Mart. Sitting in the Wal-Mart buying office lobby is the Star Wars Bar scene of mass market distribution. You can’t believe the array of products and hopeful Willie/Willimina Lomans. Smiles and shoe shines all around and the most powerful of all…the receptionists. [...]

I read a scary bit of research from the pros along the Charles River. Forrester Research was working on the “of’s” of marketing in businesses today. The Of’s being perceptions of /need of/cost of etc. and what they found was, drum roll please….