small business marketing

I had an interesting conversation with the Vice President of a local web design firm the other day at the Twins game. I do some copy-writing and search engine optimization for their marketing and web design clients and they were kind enough to invite me to a company outing at the Metrodome (the Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3).

Anyway, he told me he went to Las Vegas with his girlfriend to attend his sister’s wedding. The ceremony only lasted 12 minutes so they had plenty of time to go to shows. and they only gambled $10. Although he had a good time watching the various Broadway show they saw, he was, overall, very disappointed with the whole experience.

Jay Abraham just reminded me of an important point about small business advertising. It is nothing but good salesmanship on paper or on a screen. He made a fabulous point about cutesy, witty, flippant or "branding" ads or commercials.

If you own a small business, you either have salespeople working for you or you do your own selling. Either way, would you ever make a pitch or presentation to a potential client or customer by being cutesy, witty, flippant or by making a "general branding statement"?