The M.J. Barney Blog

The M.J. Barney Associates Blog for businesses interested in the latest ideas about feasibility studies, business development, market research and more.

May 14, 2010, Events , feasibility study, feasibility studies, market research, m.j. barney

Events for Business Development at M.J. Barney Associates

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Nov 15, 2009, Customer Service Consultants | M.J. Barney Associates

Gaining and maintaining loyal customers is the only way to build longevity for your business...

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Oct 15, 2009, San Diego Focus Group Facilitators M.J. Barney Associates

Focus group facilitators M.J. Barney Associates helps companies and groups with focus group facilitation...

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Oct 14, 2009, The Accidental Entrepreneur

What's a guy (or gal) gotta do to get some respect in this economy? You work for a company for thirty years and they down-size you with four weeks pay and a hearty "have a nice life." Thanks for nothing.

But not so fast. Believe it or not, there are some people that are now actually thanking their company for showing them the door. They are people that by virtue of being older, or over-qualified, or both, have started their own business and are loving every minute of it. They've found a freedom and a purpose they hadn't realized existed. Could becoming an accidental entrepreneur be right for you?

Change is difficult. For a company. For a team. For a person. But change can also be the catalyst for some of the greatest moments of our lives. It sometimes forces us to dig deeper than we ever have before, to look within to discover the unique gifts we have to offer, and then to find the courage to take those gifts to the marketplace.

M.J. Barney Associates has helped organizations and their employees manage change for years. If you've become, or are considering becoming, an entrepreneur out of necessity, we can help you assess your strengths and what opportunities you may have to market them. Change can be a blessing...

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Sep 17, 2009, Old Can Be As Good As New

The discussions about Twitter and Facebook continue to grow as celebrities, athletes and other notables use them as a forum to share the details of their lives with us. The "experts" continue to preach that "new marketing" is now the way to go, and social media is the vehicle.

If you're a Fortune 500 company, reputation management and social media marketing are important. For smaller companies, it's doubtful that you're going to garner a large following that drives large amounts of revenue your way. "New marketing" probably won't make you or your company wealthy.

However, "old marketing" just might. Customer service that absolutely delights your customers, phone calls made to customers asking them how they're doing right now, salespeople actually telephoning and talking with prospective clients, clean floors and restrooms in your building. These "old marketing" techniques are probably more important than your company's or employee's latest tweet. Don't discount the new, but don't forget to still embrace the old. Personally connecting with your customers and prospects never goes out of style.

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