I've done more ranting than raving around here than I'd like lately, but I have been confronted with more ridiculous marketing schemes of late than I typically am in an entire year.

I just got a spam in my inbox that was obviously a very poor translation of an Italian phishing spam (with a nonsensical subject line of "It earns with" -- it earns with what?!) that probably managed to get plenty of unassuming Italian speakers to give up their private personal data against their will. But I'll bet it flops terribly in all English-speaking places that it was blasted out to. As for me, well, all it did was make me mad ... and then laugh out loud because of the marketing truth hidden within.

So many small business owners come to me frustrated. Frustrated that they aren't getting the kinds of clients they want for their consulting businesses. Frustrated that their competition is making money hand over fist while they themselves are making peanuts and having to fight for every dime they do make. Frustrated that the promotions they send out aren't working.

Want to know the #1 reason why these folks aren't making money? Want to know the #1 reason why you aren't making money (if you fall into this category, that is)?

Because you're not speaking to your prospects using the right language. It all starts with your brand. It carries over to how you promote yourself. It continues to the way that you dress, act and carry yourself around the prospects you hope to sell your products/services to.

Learn how to communicate *effectively* with your prospects. Learn how to really listen. Learn how to use *their* words to describe what *you* do.

Do all that (it's far simpler than it looks) and you'll start seeing success. Im ernst. (That's German for "seriously." I don't know Italian, sorry!)

/rant mode off

Have a great day, folks!