| PRINTING AND DESIGN.
When creating print materials to promote your business, it
is important to design with your brand image in mind. Incorporating
your company colors (modern to traditional) and logo into
your flyers, brochures, business cards or custom
pencils helps reinforce your brand. Online
printing companies often provide graphic design services
or templates to help you with creating any marketing items
needed. However, if you are familiar with design software,
then this is an excellent option as well. |
| PRINTED PROMOTIONS.
Use inexpensive printed material to promote your business.
Hand out business cards for coupons and discounts. Use
online printing services to save money. |
| "ON-HOLD"
IDEA. If you must place callers on hold (and we all know
how much a caller loves that!), include a background message
that gives the caller a "secret" word which - if
repeated - will earn them a discount on your product or service. |
| MARKETING IDEA.
This is my all time favorite that I like to repeat from time
to time: Don't forget to include your business brochure
or other sales information in the envelopes you use to pay
your bills! |
| FOLLOW UP! Want
to amaze your customers?
Give them a call (or e-mail) a few days after a purchase and
ask if they are satisfied or if there is anything you can
do for them. You will be amazed at the loyalty this can build. |
| BUSINESS
CARDS. When printing new business
cards don’t forget to 1) include your e-mail address;
2) your website address; and 3) utilize the back of the card
for additional marketing information. The back of the card
can be printed for only a few dollars additional. |
MARKETING.
The Internet is a powerful marketing tool. Try these folks
for sending your news releases electronically:
http://www.newsbureau.com/:
http://www.internetwire.com/
http://www.newstarget.com/
http://www.xpresspress.com/
http://www.urlwire.com/ |
| PHONE
ETIQUETTE. Don't commit the absolute worst phone sin of
all - putting a caller on hold. The caller's time is as important
as yours. If you have call waiting, get rid of it now. The
customer that you are speaking with is the most important
customer at that moment. |
| HOT MARKETING
TIP. Consider selling your product through the Home Shopping
Network. Call them at 1 800 436 1010. A representative will
take some preliminary information about your product. If they
are interested, you will be contacted within 72 hours for
additional details. Products must have wide appeal and be
available immediately in fairly large quantity. |
| BUSINESS CARDS.
About to get new business cards? Don't forget - use them to
full advantage. Include the obvious info but be sure to include
your e-mail address and URL, if you have one. Use the BACK
of the card to advertise your product or service. |
| MARKETING
TIP. When have you last contacted your existing customers?
Remember they are your best source of additional sales. Send
a card, a flyer, a special deal. Stay in touch with these
folks. |
| MARKETING
IDEA. Use pre-stamped post cards from the post office
to send a thank you and special offer or announcement to all
your current customers. |
| MARKETING
IDEA. Print up some bookmarks with your advertising information,
bookcover, website information or other pertinent marketing
information. Use them as giveaways and inserts for all your
mailings. |
| POWERFUL WORDS
to use when writing sales literature, news releases, and other
advertising pieces: FREE, YOU, YOUR, NOW, MONEY, NEW, EASY. |
| BUSINESS CARDS.
A tip worth repeating: Market with your business cards. Use
the backside for a product picture, description, ordering
info, short sales message. Printing costs are only slightly
higher for this additional printing. And don't forget to include
your URL and e-mail address (if applicable). |
| STATISTICS.
A new federal website, http://www.fedstats.gov, provides a
wealth of statistical info including demographic data of use
to small businesses. |
| REVERSE TELE
LOOKUP. Trying to find out who belongs to a phone number?
Searching for a phone number? Try out this fantastic resource:
http://www.555-1212.com/white_us.htm |
| LOOKING FOR
an area code, an address, a location somewhere in the U.S.?
Try this fantastic resource: http://www.555-1212.com/aclookup.html |
| MARKETING
TIP. The most successful promotional activities begin
by building them directly into the elements of your Website.
Your Website awareness will increase tremendously with a very
targeted crosslinking campaign and banner placement on other
sites within the same industry but non-competitive websites.
This will increase traffic, and results, more rapidly than
a mass program of listing to hundreds of search engines and
directories. |
| AREA CODES.
Looking for the area code for a city or the city for an area
code? Here is an easy to use resource: http://www.555-1212com:80/aclookup.html |
| MARKETING
TIP. Here is one of our favorites. Have you noticed that
in nearly every bill you receive it contains sales literature?
Return the favor! Stuff one of your catalogs, brochures or
news releases into EVERY bill you pay including telephone,
electric, mortgage, etc. You never know who is opening the
mail. |
| QUICK MARKETING
TIPS. 1.
Keep at it! Test new ideas frequently.
2. Get in front
of your customers as much as possible.
3. Don't forget
that your EXISTING customers are important too.
4. Write, publish,
talk! |
| MARKETING
RESOURCE. Need some demographic data? Regional economic
information? Check out The Dismal Scientist at http://www.dismal.com
which offers comprehensive and timely economic data and analysis
at the metro, state, and national level. The site includes
forecasts, demographic information, and thousands of economic
statistics. |
| CONSUMER INFORMATION
CATALOG. Get a copy from the Computer Information Center,
7D-7, POB 100, Pueblo, CO 81002. It's free and contains some
interesting free and inexpensive small business related publications.
For example, "Copyright Basics" 50-cents; "General Information
concerning Patents" $2.25; "Guide to Business Credit for Women,
Minorities, and Small Businesses" 50-cents; "Resource Directory
for Small Business Management" 50-cents; "Starting a Business"
Free. You can view all these publications at the Consumer
Information Site at http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov. |
