Articles
The Right Words for Marketing
“A culture of trust that encourages empowerment and innovation, we provide people with the freedom, flexibility and opportunity to do great things for our company, employees and customers.”

One of the first construction conferences I presented at, I was having a drink …
How to Navigate FTC Regulations: The Secrets to Effective Testimonials and Endorsements
For some, testimonials are what sell their business. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is finally catching up to the constantly evolving digital world. For the better part of a decade, the agency lagged a full Internet generation behind advertisers who saw online communications evolving faster than laws governing their fair use. Now the FTC is codifying and enforcing what were once only unwritten rules. As a result, companies caught crossing the bounds of appropriate online behavior now face ha…
Discovering Prejudice
I gave this presentation to two different local community groups. The intent was to open the dialog about diversity--what did they think about, what did they know about, and how has it affected them.
Here is the feedback I received:
Here is the feedback I received:
- HOLY CRAP! That was stirring and masterful! You handled that with amazing skill and sensitivity. EXCELLENT!
- Very Engaging!
- Really good insight! I like that you are courageous and willing to speak about such topics.
- Great Job—inspiring and heartwarming. Everyon…
Steve Klein: Economic Update and Where His Company is Going
Steve Klein is a very good friend of mine and he is one of the three business owners that wrote the forward to my book, Contractors: Doing it Right Not Just Getting it Done. In our most recent check-in to touch base with each other he shared what is going on in his local economy and how it is affecting his business. Since it is such a great snapshot as to what is happening in the Victoria, Texas area I had asked if I could share it with you. So enjoy and if you are in Texas, say Hi to Steve for …
Has Diversity Gone Too Far?

It’s interesting to see who is tackling this issue and who is afraid. What is also interesting is to see how people approach it. I have seen everything from “pity me, I’m a minority,” to “let’s just meet the numbers,” to “it’s just about the color of your skin,” to “this is an age old problem, so I am going to say it’s the result of divers…
Happy 3-Year Anniversary Seattle!
I was told when I moved to Seattle that once you have been here for six months, you are officially a local. The reason is because there are so many people moving here every day that after six months, well you are old news.
I’ve been here three years now and Seattle feels more and more like ‘home’ every day. Just when I think I couldn’t possibly love living here anymore, something happens and wow—Seattle is even more special to me than it was just a moment before.
Last year I had a hard time writin…
I’ve been here three years now and Seattle feels more and more like ‘home’ every day. Just when I think I couldn’t possibly love living here anymore, something happens and wow—Seattle is even more special to me than it was just a moment before.
Last year I had a hard time writin…
Company Culture Drives Results--Everytime!

Having been faced with this response many times, I knew what it actually meant—his company is in or approaching serious trouble and either he doesn’t know it or he is in denial about it. Or on rare occasion it means that the company…
Confab Speaker Press Release: Mel DePaoli
The Institute of Management Consultants announced Mel DePaoli, President of Omicle has been selected to present at their 34th annual Confab Conference.
Elizabeth Andreini and Mel DePaoli, two talented and successful marketing experts, helped our attendees gain a fresh look at past clients and engagements to better understand the value they actually provide through services, skills and abilities. They taught us how to examine current offerings and learn skills to create niche offerings for key mar…
Elizabeth Andreini and Mel DePaoli, two talented and successful marketing experts, helped our attendees gain a fresh look at past clients and engagements to better understand the value they actually provide through services, skills and abilities. They taught us how to examine current offerings and learn skills to create niche offerings for key mar…
You Realized that You’re a B2Comm Biz, Now What?
As you saw in another post I wrote, B2Comm stands for Business to Community. B2Comm businesses leverage and utilize both B2B and B2C businesses, but they target an entire community instead of only individuals or other businesses.
Also, in that post I mentioned that commercial contractors are an example of B2Comm companies, which surprised many readers. Let’s take a look at why and cover how your marketing will change because of it at the same time.
Generally speaking, commercial contractors have f…
Also, in that post I mentioned that commercial contractors are an example of B2Comm companies, which surprised many readers. Let’s take a look at why and cover how your marketing will change because of it at the same time.
Generally speaking, commercial contractors have f…
The New Kid on the Block: Meet the New B2Comm Business
For years there have been two primary types of businesses: B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Consumer). With the launch and success of social media, a third primary has been created that very few people or businesses are recognizing: B2Comm or Business to Community.
In B2B, businesses focus on selling products and services to other businesses and have very little or no interaction with an individual consumer. In most cases, a consumer is almost an irrelevant concept to a B2B busines…
In B2B, businesses focus on selling products and services to other businesses and have very little or no interaction with an individual consumer. In most cases, a consumer is almost an irrelevant concept to a B2B busines…