Comments for

Comment on Have You Drawn a Line in the Sand Yet? by Charles

Charles — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:01:33 +0000

This is a great article. It is so easy to get caught up trying to be everything to every customer so the don’t shop the competition. I agree to find your niche and then exploit it to the best of your ability. Let you competitors try to be everything to everybody and they will usually trip over themselves chaising their tails. Focus Focus Focus

Comment on What’s The Purpose of Your Blog? by speakingofprecision

speakingofprecision — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:58:50 +0000

The connections that you mention making through your blog are, I think, more genuine and higher value than just being a name on a list or a card in a rolodex. Blogs are putting a human touch to manufacturing.

Comment on How Can We Get the Most Out of Trade Association Meetings? by Nicole Bojic

Nicole Bojic — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:04:36 +0000

Hi John,
We hear this question a lot from our clients. One solution we offer is a mobile events app which serves many purposes including connecting attendees, personalizing agendas allowing real-time feedback through surveys, live audience response and a private discussion forum. At a recent event, our client used the app to bring all of their vendor partners together and saw a 85% engagement rate! The great thing about mobile apps is that attendees can use their own devices and are already comfortable with this technology. Feel free to email me and I would be happy to share some other engagement tips.

Comment on How Can We Get the Most Out of Trade Association Meetings? by Michelle Marquard

Michelle Marquard — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:37:30 +0000

National Tooling and Machining Association is hosting our Purchasing Fair in Novi/MI on June 13th. These events take an extreme amount of planning but our Association has been doing these for over 25 years and they have been very successful. These events are starting to do a full turn as Suppliers have too many jobs and Distributors are needing those to do the work. Normally if there is a fall off it is due to the Buyers not showing at the event now it if planned right it is very important for them to be there and very cost effective.

Comment on What’s The Purpose of Your Blog? by Cheryl Miller

Cheryl Miller — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:07:26 +0000

You are right on when you state that manufactuers were the last to build websites and even today are slow to incorporate new media such as social media and search engine marketing. Your blog does a terrific job of educating those who could benefit by using the technology available to businesses today to grow their business!

Comment on 10 Ways to Engage Tradesmen by Katie

Katie — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:28:14 +0000

Great post! We have luck connecting with tradespeople through Facebook and Twitter as well, where you can be more conversational and easy to approach. Thanks for sharing these tips!

Comment on Why Aren’t Young People Considering Blue Collar Jobs? by Eileen Smotzer

Eileen Smotzer — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:14:27 +0000

Thanks, John, for the exceptional article! In Cleveland alone, we have so many organizations well equipped to help students, young and old, develop specialized skills that will lead to high-dollar careers in the trades. Just for starters: Ohio Technical College for those interested in graduating with the highest level of skills available in the automobile and power sports industries; Tooling University at Jergens, Inc. – brush up on your CAD, Welding, and so on.; Great Lakes Towing’s vocational outreach with Max Hayes high school, teaching students about the unique opportunities for careers in the maritime industry right here on the shores of Lake Erie.
Clearly, gone are the days of the liberal arts degree! Young men AND women should look to our region’s technical education resources when considering their post-high school plans.

Comment on Podcast: The Evolution of CRM in the Age of Social Media by fdevilling

fdevilling — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:23:39 +0000

Excellent overview! Thanks John.

Comment on Are You Talking to Professional Tradesmen? by Rose

Rose — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:15:17 +0000

If you are not talking to tradesmen like carpenters, electricians and stone masons you are missing out are a huge potential.

Comment on Why Aren’t Young People Considering Blue Collar Jobs? by tradesmeninsights

tradesmeninsights — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:28:07 +0000

Kristen thanks for the comments