Guys: I spent 20 years in sales and marketing and application

engineering in the electronics business, followed by a very successful 13 years (and counting) owning an advertising agency, specializing in business-to-business accounts. (In other words, my customer base is companies who make things and sell them to other companies to use in their products.) I've also had clients in the biotech and medical fields.

We're a full-service agency, doing everything from print ads and catalogs to websites and trade-show booth graphics, and have developed an innovative online technical-drawing application (go to http://www.rileycomms.com to see how it works).

I've also written a marketing book and done seminars on business-to-business marketing.

I think that this group is a terrific addition that will enhance the community feeling of DU, and will be more than happy to help anyone as much as I can, though I have to warn you that my availability is subject to extreme swings based on my workload.

But to start, I'll offer this: My marketing book is a bit outdated (first published in 1992), so I've pulled it from public sales while I update it (which is going damned slowly). I'll make an Acrobat (pdf) copy available, free, to anyone who wants to send me a PM. Although the book is outdated regarding Web technology, it still has a whole bunch of universal truths that could be of benefit to anyone running a business, and is, I guarantee, the only funny marketing book you'll ever read.

If you post something here, or see something posted here that you think I may be able to help someone with, and I don't respond, please shoot me a PM with a link to the thread.

I'll help fellow DUers as much as I can.

Redstone

Really, really excellent work.

I'm just starting a new online business selling jewelry, and I am overwhelmed! My main marketing focus will be search engine optimization, but I'm sure your book could offer invaluable information. I'll PM you with my request.

You may end up annoying people more than you acquire customers.

For example, type "autoharp repairs" into a Google search, and you'll get a majority of results from sites who have not a Goddamn thing to do with repairing Autoharps; they're just sites that do "google farming" with keywords.

We'll talk more later. But my point is to beware of "search engine optimization" schemes. If you use search engines to drive traffic to your site from people who are not REALLY looking for what you make, your efforts might be wasted.

More later.

Redstone

"Submit your site to thousands of search engines" solicitations.

I was a web developer (f0rgotten most of what I learned, though) and a business analyst for years...my degree is in MIS...so I do know a little about the internets. :7

http://www.rileycomms.com/book.html and downloading the Acrobat file.

Enjoy, and I hope you find the book useful.

Redstone

Mighty kind of you. :hi:

As a fellow marketing executive, I am always pleased when someone in our professional area donates their time and/or knowledge to others.
I have found marketing to be a really challenging career path; I've been downsized four times in 14 years and have nearly thrown in the towel on several occasions. Needless to say, I am REALLY good at cover letters and resumes (glad to offer my assistance to anyone with a need in those areas)
Every time the economy takes a dive, we're the first guys out the door ("you're an expense, not an investment"). Too many short-sighted business owners, I guess.
Like you, I'm in the B-2-B world. Not as glamorous as business-to-consumer, but more opportunities to make a big impact for small business owners.
It concerns me that I am seeing more and more businesses hiring marketing professionals right out of school and at bargain basement prices. Average marketing salaries here in the Midwest are on the downhill slide - are you seeing that in your areas as well? Too many people want a marketing genius for pennies...