About Me

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Len focuses on helping small and new businesses succeed through developing appropriate marketing and sales strategies. Len enjoys mentoring, relishes in getting both arms and feet wet in addressing technology, marketing and sales issues. He understands the drivers impacting business results for today and tomorrow including time-to-market, time-to-revenue, marketing, sales channels and social media.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Who do you think are the Top 10 Mobile Phone Networks in the World?


These numbers are the latest and represent the first quarter of 2010. When we think of wireless providers we tend to see North America as the primary market. But in fact the largest market by far is in Asia, followed by Europe and Latin America. Although India has great potential in terms of growth it significantly lags behind China in mobile customers.


RankCarrier# of SubscribersPrimary Areas ServedBrands
1.China Mobile Ltd.
538,900,000
China, Hong KongChina Mobile
2.Vodafone Group Plc
341,100,000
Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa, U.S.Vodafone, Vodacom, Verizon Wireless
3.Telefonica
206,700,000
Spain, Latin America, EuropeTelefonica, Movistar, O2
4.America Movil
206,400,000
Mexico, Central & Latin America, U.S.Telcel, Claro, Comcel, Tracfone
5.Telenor Group
179,000,000
Scandinavia & EuropeTelenor, Pannon, Kyivstar
6.China Unicom
147,600,000
ChinaChina Unicom
7.Deutsche Telekom
150,200,000
Germany, Europe, U.S.T-Mobile
8.TeliaSonera
149,900,000
Sweden, EuropeTeliaSonera
9.Bharti Airtel
127,600,000
India, Sri Lanka, BangladeshAirtel
10.France Telecom
123,700,000
France, EuropeOrange

When planning marketing strategies, even small companies have to pay attention to where market opportunities lie. Often they aren't in your own backyard as is the example shown here. Asia represents fertile ground for anyone in the mobile communications space.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Does Your Small Business Web Site Create Customers?

According to a recent Citibank survey of 552 small business executives, 37% reported that they did not use a web site to help them market their business. In that same study 84% indicated that they had not sold products or services using e-commerce and 62% did not use e-mail for marketing purposes. Of the 63% who did report that they had a web site, almost three-quarters found it to be an effective way to generate business.

No doubt you have experienced the fear, uncertainty and doubt, the FUD that comes along with making marketing investments in online activities. You are not alone. Many small business people feel compelled to create a web presence and then find themselves challenged by what next steps to take.

Creating that web site is a great first step in taking advantage of the omnipresence of the Internet as a means to communicate with prospects and existing customers. Driving them to your web site and turning it into an order taking mechanism to drive revenue requires considerable thought and then action.

"A website's ability to convert a visitor to a customer is a measurement of its effectiveness," states Joel Book, in the May 2010 issue of Electronic Retailer. Brooks talks about:

1. Driving Conversion Rates
2. Landing Page Optimization
3. Abandoned shopper re-engagement strategies
4. Creating repeat customers

In the next few blogs we are going to talk about all of these strategies in greater depth. I invite you to follow along, share your experiences by contributing to the conversation.