However, it is often the case that a good client evolves into a problem client because they haven’t had something explained to them properly.

I read a very insightful article about this ‘problem client’ business earlier. The post highlighted the importance of clearly explaining things with salient, concise points and required actions.

Transparency really is the key; and constructing clear and salient points so your clients don’t have to decipher your jargon.  As soon as someone doesn’t understand something they will immediately take offence and think that they’re being patronised.

I’m certainly going to consider things from a client’s perspective in the future. If your client thinks that you are being as open and clear as possible, they will undoubtedly come back because they will see it as the easiest option. And after all, everyone wants things to be easy – especially things that they’re not that comfortable with in the first place.

Many of these businesses may tick along quite nicely and therefore there is never a need to think about any marketing initiatives. However, the internet is not all about marketing. It is a common misconception from many business owners that one would only need to have a website in order to sell products or services, and that if the products and services weren’t the sort that you would buy online, then why bother having the website? Well, the most useful thing about the internet is its ability to provide information. Many people do not want to look at a company’s website to buy from them then and there, nor do they particularly care whether the website is cutting-edge or as sophisticated as many that they’ll be used to. But what they want is information which is going to help them. This information could even be as simple as opening times. If someone can get find a web page displaying key information like a phone number, opening times, and ideally, some information about what the shop/company provides/sells, it then enables them to make an informed decision as to whether they want to visit that shop or business, and indeed what time they want to visit in order to ensure that they don’t waste any of their own time. Time is precious and is worth a lot to people.

The most fascinating thing is that a lot of these shops and businesses do actually have a very small online presence, but it’s entirely unintentional. There a various different websites which offer directories and lists of businesses –  and as it is their business to have as much information as possible for their consumers – they themselves actually provide a fair amount of information online about those shops and companies who have chosen not to focus any of their marketing efforts in the internet.

Small shops and businesses should probably wise-up to the potential that the internet has to offer. They don’t need to spend thousands on fancy websites with online ordering facilities, but they do need to show willing and provide their loyal and new customers with information key to their decision making processes. The small shops and businesses must connect online before the bigger powerhouse companies steal their customers away simply because they can provide an answer to a question faster.

I have been watching a lot of the Ashes cricket recently and as I work online I have also been looking at various ashes-related websites throughout the day. On my online travels I discovered that a couple of the Ashes commentators are using the micro-blogging phenomenon – Twitter. I find this quite fascinating on many levels. The first thing which is incredible is that whoever manages these middle-aged ex-cricketers has managed to persuade them to use a silly website to market their commentary service. The other thing is that the commentators seem to embrace the service completely. They constantly update thir accounts and, quite often, their musings and mutterings are quite interesting and informative.

The people that are now starting to use Twitter often seem like quite unlikely candidates for such a service. They haven’t really been seen elsewhere online, but for some reason the requirement of only having to write a couple of sentences has huge appeal. Many would like to think that a service such as Twitter is for one type of person, who works in a certain industry or is part of a certain group. However, if everyone who uses it can get what they want out of it, I think it can only be a good thing that there is much diversity of user and reason for use.

Other high profile figures have now started to adopt Twitter too. Sarah Brown and Michelle Obama are both avid Twitterers, updating their accounts on a very regular basis.

Barack Obama is obviously a very well regarded personality as it is, and his wife, Michelle, is becoming quite an icon in her own right. This will probably help him even more, one would imagine. Gordon Brown, however, is not a very well regarded personality at this time and as such, the raised profile of Sarah could really help him. She can connect with all sorts of people; people who may follow politics and people who may not. Either way, if she can give off a positive impression of herself to a number of demographics, it may well help poor old Gordon.

I think that the fact we are now starting to see people who have previously been very unknown online – and to a great extent unknown in real life – is very good. It’s great from a marketing perspective and it’s good to be able to see a bit of personality from people who have previously only hidden behind, or been known for their link to another person.

Now that the news of his death has reached all corners, and every news report is covering the story, already we are starting to see a phenomenal increase in the sale of his records. The fact that every news agency is carrying this story – and making a big deal about it – is a form of marketing in many ways. People are now starting to buy Michael Jackson’s music left, right and centre. Within a few hours of his death it was suggested that a certain song of his could get to number one.

Whilst this is all fairly obvious, and it has happened many times before, it is still fascinating to watch a natural marketing scenario such as this unfold. Many companies are now looking to profit from his death by pushing merchandise and music in front of the masses, but it is really the media and the hype from the public that has driven the surge.

I suspect that there will be few artists in the future who can hope to sell as many records as Michael Jackson whilst they are alive, or dead.