It's my 18th business anniversary! 🎉

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It's my 18th year in business!

Where were you in August 1998? I was chasing after my son James, who was 12-months old and taking his first steps, excited about my blazingly fast 56k modem, and nervous about doing this new thing called "freelancing." (Here I am looking "corporate-y" for my first official headshot. My good friend Mac McIntosh made me get it done when I told him I was going to use a passport photo. Thank you, Mac!)

Google had yet to become a verb (or even a business) but from the get-go, I was using email and the nascent Internet to grow a new business.

While so much has changed in 18 years, one thing hasn't: the strong relationships I've built with people all over the U.S. and even around the world.

For the next twelve months, I'll be featuring some of the people, such as Michael Katz (below), who have helped me get to where I am today. It's my way of saying thank you . . . for your business, your feedback, your help and advice, and most of all, your trust.

Bring on the next 18! I'm ready! Woohoo!

xoxoxox

Dianna Huff

The strategic benefits of establishing trust for family-owned manufacturers

In the old days, building trust with our customers was based on personal relationships that often spanned years and sometimes decades.

That’s still true, of course, but as the buying cycle continues to shrink and change due to technology and other factors, and with buyers now searching for vendors online, it’s become critically important that your website establish the foundation for trust and reputation well before a prospective buyer makes the initial contact with you.

In this post from my blog, I give you a few tips on how to create a website that helps sets the stage for building trust and connection with your prospective buyers (and employees, too).

Learn more

Michael Katz: The E-Newsletter Maestro

I met Michael around 2000, shortly after he started his business, Blue Penguin Development. Michael was coaching people on how to do this new thing called e-newsletters and put together a group of small business owners. We'd meet once a quarter at this company called Roving Software (soon to become Constant Contact) to discuss how our e-newsletters were coming along.

Michael and I have been friends ever since. He's given me lots of great advice over the years -- so it was a real pleasure for me to attend his 16th business anniversary party / ice-cream social last week.

Thanks for the party invite, Michael, and for continually exemplifying how to build trust and strong relationships by being true to one's values and sense of self.

Michael puts out a terrific newsletter for solo entrepreneurs, but many of his ideas work for small manufacturers, too. Find it here.

What’s News in Marketing and Manufacturing

1. While Google's search result pages may look the same to you, the company is constantly tweaking things. In this Search Engine Land article, you can read about the most recent changes . . . and how these changes impact organic (or non-paid) results.

2. Like Google, Facebook is also constantly making changes. Simon Houpt of the Globe and Mail discusses why these changes are breathing new life into e-newsletters. Yay!

3. And in the Bangor Daily News, why we should root for a manufacturing resurgence: nations that build things build wealth (and create jobs, too).

It's a Wrap!

Have you heard of a microburst? I hadn't until I experienced tree-pole one mid-July. In 20 seconds, my normally quiet neighborhood became the scene of total destruction.

Utility poles and trees down everywhere, including my lovely sugar maple which landed on my roof (thankfully, minimal damage).

Things are finally getting back to normal here . . . and with August comes getting James ready to go back to college. I'm also (finally) studying for and taking the Google Analytics certification exam as well as participating in a 100 mile bike ride.

For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, enjoy the remainder of our lazy summer days. Catch you next month!

Huff Industrial Marketing, Inc.
Call me: 603-382-8093 (9:00 am - 6:00 pm eastern)
Email anytime: dianna@huffindustrialmarketing.com

What a client said when he referred me to his client: “Do exactly as this woman tells you. She knows her stuff.” Indeed. My passion is telling your unique story so that it resonates with your customers. “Resonate” is a fancy word for “makes your customers want to do business with you.” If you want a website and marketing strategy tailored to your business - call me!

Manufacturing Marketing Magazine

37 Plaistow Road, Unit 7-245

Plaistow, NH 03865

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