Don Saracen, president and founder of Saracen Sales & Communications, was recently named chapter member of the year by the New England chapter of the National Speakers Association. Saracen is president-elect of the association, and works as a sales and ctommunications expert, speaking, training and consulting with businesses and organizations looking to improve their sales, communication and business-development efforts. He is a Providence Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow, and holds the Advanced Communicator Gold designation from Toastmasters International. Saracen majored in communication studies at Emerson College. more

As a collector of sports memorabilia, I’m on a bunch of mailing lists. Most of the offers I get are for items I can buy almost anywhere – except for the offers from Steiner Sports. more

Here’s a question I’m getting more often from business owners and startups: What’s the difference between “paid, owned and earned” media for marketing? And how do I use them together? more

David Easterbrooks, director of marketing and business development for Pare Corp., was recently named 2012 marketing professional of the year by the Boston chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. Easterbrooks has worked as a marketing professional at architectural, engineering and construction firms for more than 25 years. As a member of SMPS Boston, he has served as an educational speaker, committee member, president, vice president, treasurer and director of education. He is a certified professional services marketer and holds a B.A. in English from Rutgers University. more

Though holiday-season tourism in the state encompasses much more than December tidings, it still comes down to tying up a package with a nice, pretty bow. Only when you’re talking tourism, the package is a grouping of activities, attractions, eateries and hotels. more

I get a ton of emails from people seeking insight or asking me to solve sales dilemmas. Here are a few that may relate to your job, your life and, most important, your sales thought process. more

Despite its massive reach and wide adoption, Facebook remains baffling to many small-business owners. Facebook itself has never really understood small business, and hasn’t done a great job explaining how biz owners can use it to grow sales. more

What’s the difference between you and all of your competition? more

Even though buying cycles seem to stretch out longer as buyers require more time to make decisions, salespeople are doing their best to close quicker. more

Dear Jeffrey, I am a huge fan. I recently had a WOW experience that completely coincides with your philosophy on customer loyalty versus satisfaction. Today, I received the following email from Amazon: more