As consumers, we're bombarded with ad imagery on a daily basis. And while one might think that would automatically make us all experts on what makes for a great ad -- that simply isn't the case. Large ad agencies employ huge teams and countless millions each year conducting market research on what gives John Q. Public the impetus to make a purchase.

As much as it pains me to admit this, I may have learned something from the Terminator. Well, to be clear . . . it was actually from the new Fox(R) spinoff series, "The Sarah Connor Chronicles." I have never been much of a fan of this series of movies, but after viewing them again recently with my husband, I must reluctantly admit that "Ah-nold" just might be on to something.

Now that the onslaught of holiday gift-giving idea commercials have ceased -- have you noticed all of the commercials for various diet programs -- capitalizing on our need to declare our "diet resolutions"? The whole idea of diet resolutions "weighed on me" (and not merely about all of the carefree cookie consumption of December, either).

Suppose we were to take the concept of diet resolutions, and applied it to our business.

The word "niche" may be all the rage these days, but it really isn't a new concept. In fact, savvy marketers have been quietly raking in their fortunes using the niche principle for hundreds of years.

Now, don't panic if you have an established business; you can still carve out a niche market for yourself, if you haven't already done so.

Spring has finally sprung here in Northeastern Indiana. The sun is shining, a warm breeze is blowing, and my backyard has been overtaken by...dandelions. I would swear that they appeared overnight. I got up one morning to take my dogs out, and there they were.

So there I am, gazing out upon this sea of golden weeds when all of a sudden it hit me.

Let's start with the basics...what the heck is a brand, anyway? A brand is the enduring emotional association one has with a particular company or product - in other words, its lasting impression.

Aside from the obvious competition in the marketplace, as marketers, we have to contend with consumers who TiVo through commercials, listen to advertisement-free satellite radio, and block ads with their browsers.

Having a business that portrays a professional image has always been important, but the ability to trade in a global marketplace makes this all the more important. Gone are the days when you could depend on the fact that your customers will be stopping into your shop to discover how charming and professional you are. In those crucial moments before a buying decision, those who don't know you will often judge on appearances - if it walks like a duck, they'll quickly conclude it's a duck.

Let me start by saying (in my best Jack Nicholson-esque voice) that if you can't "handle the truth," you may well be offended by this article. Consider it a disclaimer. Feel free to disagree...your mileage may vary.

Still here? Good. Let's get to it then, shall we?

Yes, I am a Fontaholic

They say that admission is the first step.

Microscopic dust or multi-million dollar niche? Do you promote with a squeak or a roar? Learning to make the right decisions can do a whole lot more than help you survive - make the right choices, and you may just find yourself being crowned King of the Jungle.

It truly is a jungle out there - and it can be difficult to raise your voice above all the noise around you.

You can't put a price tag on a good reputation. At the risk of sounding like a MasterCard(R) commercial, It's priceless.

Folks, we're living in the Recommendation Age. Social networking and community-driven content sites are launching and growing at an incredible rate. With only a few clicks of your mouse, you can get restaurant, movie and book reviews, network with peer groups, broadcast your own radio show, pose questions of political candidates, and submit your own eye-witness news footage to your network of choice.

This week I received a press release to inform me that the company sending the release had changed email service providers. Are you kidding me? Is this really news?

Did you hear that? It was the sound of that release hitting my circular file. No doubt it will suffer a similar fate at many, if not all of its other intended destinations.

It is frustrating to think that there are actually companies shelling out their hard-earned money to pay for such drivel.