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 Your Doorway to a Successful Marketing Promotion!
Today I opened my front door to find a hanger on my door. Kohl’s hung discount tags on the doors in my neighborhood and possibly every neighborhood in town. It was a coupon for $10 of a purchase of $20 or more. This discount offer lured me into Kohl’s. I don’t usually shop at Kohl’s. The clothes I like are usually in the “I’d have to be anorexic and flat-chested to fit into” sizes. (I’m a buxom not skinny gal.) And the women’s clothes my size look like stuff matronly middle-aged women would wear. On that note my mother loves buying clothes at Kohl’s. The other items they carry I can usually find cheaper somewhere else. But Kohl’s does have great sales. Although the coupon said the purchase had to be minimum $20 the part that really got me into the store was the small print that read “off all products, including sale items and clearance items”. I thought “Wow, I’m checking out Kohl’s today before I forget.” This is where many businesses cheap out and look stingy. I’ve seen numerous coupons where they put so many limits on my ability to use them I end up tossing the coupon in the recycling bin. Afterward I only think of those businesses with amazed disgust. Why bother offering what amounts to a non-existent discount in your coupon advertisement? You’re only going to alienate customers who will go on to shop at stores that appreciate their business and reward them for it. I really appreciated that Kohl’s offered me a discount coupon I couldn’t ignore considering I’m not a regular shopper. And with only one minor limitation besides and end date which was also generous. The offer was valid until March 14th and started on February 28th. I didn’t want to miss the deadline so I felt compelled to go in and use the $10 discount on stuff I hadn’t planned to buy. Kohl’s does have good products and I’m more than willing to shop there when the deal is worth it. If you’re wondering what I bought I’ll tell you. I got a cool new watch and a set of colorful eye shadows in a compact shaped like an iphone. Oh and the items I bought were sale items and I still got my $10 discount. Yippee! End result for Kohl’s - they got a reluctant shopper in the door spending money and feeling good with their generous Door Hanger Campaign. Now I understand why my Mother loves shopping at Kohl’s. They appreciate their shoppers and reward them for coming into the store. Are you ready to try your own Door Hanger Campaign yet? Not sure? Consider this - Dan Kennedy recommends using Door Hangers as a unique promotional campaign. I wonder if someone in Kohl’s marketing department reads Dan Kennedy’s newsletter. If so kudos for marketing savvy. Let me know when you try your own Door Hanger campaign and the results. 5 Weeks of March Marketing Madness!
Are you looking for some unusual marketing days to promote your business? During March there is at least one new idea for every day of the month. I’ve separated them by week so you can easily plan your March promotions. Go crazy with as many audacious marketing ideas as possible!
First week of March:
Second week of March:
Third week of March:
Fourth week of March:
Fifth week of March:
Five Refreshing Topics I'm Tracking:
I try to read about more than marketing. Here are a few topics that currently have my interest. Lifestyle: Introverts Corner – How to live a quiet life in a noisy world. I’m an Introvert. If you’re familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator You’ll now what I’m talking about. Introverts get energy from spending time alone to recharge their internal batteries. Extroverts are energized by spending time with others. This blog is worth checking out whether you’re an introvert or extrovert. The benefit for Introverts is reading a blog written by someone who understands your needs. Extroverts can benefit by reading the blog if they know an Introvert and want to improve their understanding, communication and overall relationship with the Introvert. Click here to check out the Introverts Corner.
Tech stuff: Makeuseof.com It’s a blog that features nifty websites, computer tips and downloads that help you be more productive. MakeUseOf is like your own personal tour guide to the web, taking you to sites you’ve never seen before to enhance your life on the web. You’ll get daily links to websites with all kinds of useful tool, software and how to tips. Check it out here at MakeUsOf.com Charitable: Lemons for Literacy I love to read. How about you? It’s terrible to think there are people who are unable to enjoy reading like we do. Let’s do our part to stamp out illiteracy. When you play this game for every answer you get right someone gets help learning to read. Lemons for Literacy has two goals:
Help combat illiteracy while playing a fun educational game: Lemons for Literacy Modern language: Urban Word of the Day Keep track of changes in language by subscribing to this site. Daily you will get a new word or phrase and an example of how it’s used. Entertaining and also keeps you from saying the wrong thing when words take on new meanings. Click here to get your daily dose of Urban Words.
Advice: Consumerist – Shoppers bite back The blog posts information to help consumers avoid scams, fight back against poor customer service and a variety of other valuable information. Its hardly boring – expect to be entertained while learning how to protect your consumer rights.
Visit it by clicking Consumerist. You Can Feed the Hungry with Free RiceFree Rice has an easy way for you to help the hungry in the world. How? You can help the worlds hungry by playing a fun educational game. It starts out with English vocabulary but you can select a different category. The other categories are Art, Chemistry, Math, Geography and Language Learning. The foreign language categories are Spanish, French, German and Italian.
There is not cost to play the game. For each question you get right 10 grains of rice are donated to feed the hungry. On the right side you see a bowl filling with rice until there are a hundred grains. Then a pile forms at the side of the bowl and you refill the bowl with each correct answer. The cost of the rice is paid for by sponsors who advertise on the site. There is also the opportunity for you make your own monetary donation but it is not a requirement to play the game. FreeRice has two goals:
It’s a fun way to contribute food to those in need. I’ve donated over 2000 grains of rice while testing my knowledge. When I tried the art section I found out how little I really know about great artists. By the time I played a few rounds I could recognize some artists’ painting styles. It was a very satisfying feeling to learn something new and help provide rice to people who need it. Want to do more than play the game? You can have your business become an advertising sponsor by contacting Free Rice through their contact page. How cool is it that you can use your marketing dollars to advertise your business while feeding the hungry? People will see your sponsorship banner each time they answer a correct question. Help the hungry and educate yourself at the same time by clicking on Free Rice. I want to hear back about how many grains of rice you donate! The Problem Isn't the ProblemWondering how to avoid a Toyota sized public relations nightmare when you have a problem with your products or services? Check out this two minute video by Tom Peters:
15 Ideas for Your Marketing in February
 Are you looking for last minute marketing ideas for February? Take a look at the list below for inspiration. There’s still time to use them. Some sound really fun like Tortilla Chip day and Margarita Day if you want to have a multi-promotional week use them together. Or if you want a healthy promotion go for Almond Day or Cook a Sweet Potato Day or Strawberry Day. Reading over the list there is a day for any business and any target market. Go for it!
Which day worked for your promotion? I’d be curious to know if anyone uses Kahlua Day or Clam chowder Day. Get Gooey Over Gumdrops!
Gumdrops are for more than gingerbread houses. Most of us have at least one memory of gumdrops….oh the marketing aspects of nostalgia. Time to make the most of your marketing mailers and promotions. Ok, let’s talk about promotional topic tie-ins. Of course the obvious one would be candy stores promoting special gift baskets. Maybe for gift baskets you need to ship across the country or even overseas - gumdrops can travel without melting. Toy stores can use gumdrops for a promotion sent to parents looking to buy their child a gift. Maybe even the promoting a sale of the Candyland game. I remember saving up my allowance so I could buy that board game. I loved staring at the board with all the candy houses and everything else made with candy! Playing the game was fun too. I still have a great love of candy. Pet stores can send out mailers with gum drops using the headline: “Buy healthy, tasty, chewy treats for your pets and enjoy these gum drops on us.” Hardware stores can get women customers in with a gumdrop mailer helping them find gifts for their DIY project loving spouses – “Buy your sweetie one of these specially priced items ands get your Honey-Do list done! My favorite gum drop colors are the green, pink and red ones! What are yours? I’m sure you can think of other promotional ideas to use gumdrops in your mailers. Let me know which one’s you try! I Made It On Alltop!Check out this blog on Alltop under Marketing. Woo Hoo! You can click the badge below for a quick trip to alltop.com
5 Hot Blogs to Add Sizzle to Your Marketing!
1. Glazer Kennedy Insider’s Circle Blog - If you want outrageous advertising check it out. Dan Kennedy will never steer you wrong. 2. Sweeties Sweeps - If you want to promote your business using a Sweepstakes or Contest you’ll want to get mentioned on Sweeties Sweeps site. Thousands of people visit the sites mentioned as having a sweeps worth entering. New products are often launched with a sweepstakes or contest which also helps you find out what your competitors are doing to get new customers. 3. ProBlogger - Write a better blog with these tips on blogging. I’m working on the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog program myself. 4. Men With Pens - A web design and copywriting blog from Canada. Good stuff comes from Canada. 5. Chris Brogan - A blog about community and social media
Check them out and let me know what you think about them. Oh, remember to subscribe to my blog too! Did I miss any blogs you feel should make the list? 9 Lumpy Objects to Get Your Marketing Mailers Opened
 Curiosity gets your mailers opened and read. Lumpy items create intense curiosity. I know I can't wait to open mail that has a strange lumpiness to find out what treat is inside. Be sure the lumpy item matches the theme of your marketing message. Don't just randomly add an object that has nothing to do with your promotion. You'll just confuse your prospects and they won't be motivated to spend money just wonder about why you wasted yours mailing pointless junk. Send one of the nine items listed below out in your next direct marketing mailer. I've included sample headlines you can use for your promotional mailers.
Let me know if you mail out one of these items and your response rate. Direct Marketing Rx Back StoryMy Ongoing Pursuit of Direct Marketing that Builds Customer Loyalty Permalink -- click for full blog post " Direct Marketing Rx Back Story" TestimonialsTestimonials about Direct Marketing Rx Permalink -- click for full blog post "Testimonials" Frequently Asked QuestionsDirect Marketing Rx’s Frequently Asked Questions Permalink -- click for full blog post "Frequently Asked Questions" Send Me a Copy of the Free Report!Request free report How Smart Business People Use Direct Marketing to Build Lifetime Customers Permalink -- click for full blog post "Send Me a Copy of the Free Report!" Articles about Direct Marketing and CopywritingArticles sharing keys to successful direct marketing and copywriting Permalink -- click for full blog post "Articles about Direct Marketing and Copywriting" Results Rule! Use Tracking and MeasurementResults Rule! Use Tracking and Measurement Permalink -- click for full blog post "Results Rule! Use Tracking and Measurement " Seven Rules to Whip Your Direct Marketing Into ShapeSeven Rules to Whip Your Direct Marketing Into Shape Permalink -- click for full blog post "Seven Rules to Whip Your Direct Marketing Into Shape" Does Your Sales Message Move Your Prospects to Action?
Are you getting a mediocre response to your sales and marketing media? With the right words you can move people to take action. Check out this 5 minute video on Youtube. It shows vividly the value of copy that reaches emotions instead of just stating the facts. (Have some tissues handy.) October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
September Did you know that breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the world today? Promote Breast Cancer Awareness during October. Encourage employees, customers, friends and family to get screened for breast cancer. Have a special promotion to raise money for cancer research, education, screening and treatment.
The Susan G. Komen organization has Passionately Pink for the Cure. Have your employees and customers wear pink on a day you select in October and make a personal donation of $5.00 or more to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. You could have a specific dollar amount goal to donate and track progress on a poster for all your employees and customers to see.
Promote the event in your advertising and direct marketing and get customers coming in wearing pink. Send out a press release to local news outlets.
You’ll get a participation kit to help you plan your event when you register at Susan G. Komen for the cure. Check out the details here Passionately Pink for the Cure.
Let me know how your promotion goes and how much money your raise.
September 22nd is National White Chocolate Day. Send your customers a certificate for a box of white chocolates when the make a purchase online or visit your business.
Some people love white chocolate. My mother enjoys it but I’m a milk chocolate gal. I do like a rice crispy treat dipped in white chocolate on one end and milk chocolate on the other made at a local sweet shop. Yummy.
If you run a candy store have a special promotion to celebrate National White Chocolate Day. Post signs in your store windows to get customers coming in. Offer gift baskets filled with a variety of white chocolates and related items.
Yes I know white chocolate isn’t officially chocolate but it’s delicious and if your customers love it get them in your store with it.
National Fishing and Hunting Day is September 27th. Have some sort of hunting or fishing related sale or promotion. Send out themed mailers and get your customers in the door. Have them supply photos of their best catch and post them on a bulletin board. Offer a prize for customers with the best big fish or hunting story.
Send your clients who love to fish or hunt a complementary tackle box or hunting vest with your logo on it.
I have a friend that loves to go fishing on sunny days. She’s loves to talk about the fish she caught and later cooked for dinner. Hmmm…she’s never shared her catch with me!
Another friend went wild boar hunting and emailed me a photo of her with the huge scary looking beast she caught. She had him made into flavored sausages. I hope he tasted better than he looked. The boar was ugly!
That’s another idea – if you hunt send your best clients some sausages made from the game you bag – be sure to let them know you caught it. Maybe include a photo with it like my friend did.
Send me a copy of your promotional mailer with the fishing or hunting theme. Include the results and I’ll post them here.
Do you have a business that caters to romance? Then focus a direct marketing promotion around Love Note Day on September 26th. Stationary/Greeting card stores, lingerie, chocolate shops, beauty spas, massage therapists and even hotels can create a whole marketing campaign around Love Note Day.
Everyone loves getting a love note. Create a love note special contest…customers writing the most romantic love note win a gift to share with their loved one.
Or have people describe the situation where they got their most romantic love note and have other customers vote on which story is the best with the winner getting a prize.
Or send out your own mailer that looks like a love note explaining why you love your customers so much and offer a special discount for Love Note Day.
Let me know what kind of promotion you put into place for Love Note Day and the results.
September 22nd is the anniversary of the ice cream cone. Some say cones were invented at an ice cream stand at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair while others credit an Italian immigrant street vendor as the inventor of the ice cream cone. Either way we all enjoy ice cream cones!
Use this anniversary to promote your business either with free ice cream vouchers to a popular ice cream store or host your own in-house ice cream party. Or if you are an ice cream shop or restaurant offer coupons or discounts on ice cream cones on this day.
You can send out fun mailers with ice cream cone themes. Customer appreciation can be a yummy day on September 22nd.
What other ideas can you think of to promote your business with the anniversary of the ice cream cone?
September 21-27 is National Clean Hands Week. Avoid colds and other germ related illnesses that can be transferred with dirty hands by promoting clean hand awareness.
Schools, doctor’s offices, hospitals and pharmacies can use this week to raise awareness on the value of clean hands. Adults and children alike can benefit from learning why it’s important to have clean hands. Give adults hand sanitizers ad soaps personalized with your business logo.
To make clean hands fun for kids check out Henry the Hand for information to use in your marketing media. The site has four principles of hand awareness and a cute song that Henry sings along with other educational articles.
The Henrythehand.com has kits for schools or hospitals to encourage children to have clean hands. Available for other businesses there are also stickers, buttons and temporary tattoos available. These items will take the guesswork out of what to give away at health fair or other event focused at children. You can also use the items for promotional mailers and not worry about getting your logo embossed on items.
What do you plan to do for National Clean Hands Week? I’d love to hear about your marketing promotions.
Want an affordable mailer for you business? Try postcard mailings. They aren’t just for sending out to friends and family while you’re on vacation. Here are three reasons to give postcards a try:
Make sure you use attention getting marketing copy on your postcard. Fun eye-catching clip art is also important. If you need help coming up with copy and graphics on your postcards Direct Marketing Rx can help you out. Fill out the Contact Us form now.
Tired of run of the mill results with marketing campaigns that seem like the same old thing? Outrageously innovating marketing themes can propel a seemingly ordinary service into something that gets customers excited to do business with you.
I was reading an article about a shocks and struts manufacturer that started a new campaign with the theme “Save a Squirrel” for all animal lovers. The message was to replace worn ride components so you could improve automobile steering, stopping and stability – and possibly save a squirrel darting across the road.
The business sent a bag of squirrel food, the Squirrel Street Journal newspaper and a personalized note fro a squirrel to reporters. Next the recipients got a logoed bag or peanuts and a squirrel (mouse) pad.
These outrageous promotional items were sent out to build hype for the “Save a Squirrel” campaign before it started. The campaign included billboards and radio, along with a web presence. It generated word –of-mouth buzz and got support from businesses that sold and installed the brand of shocks and struts being promoted. The manufacturer added an assortment of other promotional items like note cubes, pens, trash cans and bagged peanuts for use by the sales force.
What outrageous marketing theme can you use to promote your business? I hope this article helps you come up with multiple ideas. If you need help fill out the contact us form, Direct Marketing Rx will be glad to help.
Want to know what some consider perhaps thebest way to make great money online?
Selling your knowledge!
"But how do I do that?"
Glad you asked...
Let's say you are an expert gardener. You know all aboutbulbs, fertilizers, and watering techniques.
Why not take that knowledge and turn it into an e-book?
There are some super advantages to having an electronic book (or other e-good) that you can sell online...
It all adds up to a super way to monetize any site, but itworks especially well with an SBI! site.
Why?
Because once you attract traffic interested in your niche,what better way to monetize than to give them exactly whatthey came for in the first place... more information!
And Make Your Knowledge Sell! is the perfect step-by-stepguide for how to do just that...Download your copy here Make Your Knowledge Sell!
Up until today, SBI has been selling it for $49.95.
It includes...
Did you notice the part above where I said, "up until today,SBI has been selling it for $49.95"?
Well, now it's FREE. Once you’ve got your idea use SBI to create your website. Check out "why-you-should-build-an-SBI!-site" here:
If you need help writing content for your e-book or just don’t have the time to do it yourself than have Direct Marketing Rx do it for you. Don’t delay complete the Contact Us form or call 805-549-8917 today.
The radio show “American Top 40 Countdown” was first hosted July 4, 1970 by Casey Kasem. It’s still heard across the U.S. of A and in several countries around the world.
Have you noticed if your customers buy more when certain songs are playing? I know if I hear songs I like I’ll stay in the store longer and likely buy more. But if I hate the music that’s playing I leave in a hurry - sometimes not even buying anything at all.
Research has shown that music can play an important part in the shopping experience for you customers. Enhance the shopping experience; keep them in the stores longer which gets them buying more. Music can also emphasize your brand to your target market.
Have a music themed promotion in July to get your customers bobbing to the beat while they shop. Send out music themed mailers with special discounts during July. Have customers participate in a “What are your favorite top 40 hits?” promotion and then play some of the songs they submit.
Keep your clients dancing to your tune with top marketing hits. What are your marketing plans for the rest of the summer? Need more marketing hints and tips then stay tuned to this blog.
The first U.S. zoo opened on July 1, 1874 in Philadelphia. Over 1,000 animals were on display and over 3,000 people bought tickets. Admission was 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children.
Have a zoo themed sale or promotion for you business. Get people coming into participate in a kid oriented zoo day. Send you special clients zoo passes or sponsor an animal friendly charity.
My favorite zoo animal is the koala. Although lions and tigers are always exciting to see and baby elephants are cute. And then there are giraffes and monkeys. It’s hard to choose just one!
Let’s hear about your zoo themed marketing…
June 20th is Take Your Dog to Work Day. Rover can make the trek into work with you. Give your dog-owning clients doggie treats, scarves and water dishes (with your logo on the gifts of course) to make the dog comfortable at the office.
Once when I was working in an office I spilled my lunch - spaghetti that my Grandmother made - right onto the recently shampooed carpet.
Horrors! The supervisor would have a fit. He was a neat freak. He wouldn’t even let us use tape on the walls to put up signs because of potential for marks or paint peeling off. Not only would I starve I’d get yelled at…Waaa!
Fortunately for me one of my coworkers had brought her weenie dog to work that day. The little dog ran over and ate up my spilled spaghetti. There wasn’t even a stain left on the carpet! I was relieved but starving. In that instant I loved that little dog. She saved me from trouble.
The few times she came for a visit after that the dog would come over to me expecting food. Sorry girl. I was very careful with my food after that…Grandma’s food is too good for me not to eat it!
Share your dog at work stories…I'd love to read about them...
Permalink -- click for full blog post "test"
Permalink -- click for full blog post "test"
Have you seen the commercial about the man mistakenly calling his company’s best customer a stinky fish face? Ruining a once successful business relationship. June 1 – 7 is National Business Etiquette Week.
Keep your customers happy by training your employees on the basics of business etiquette. Teach your workers the value of a happy customer. You don’t want to end up in the Customer Service Hall of Shame.
If you have a diverse cultural target market make sure you employees are aware of issues that could be a breach of business etiquette. Check out EthnoConnect for valuable tools on Multicultural Marketing.
Make it fun to learn good business etiquette. Hold a seminar and give your employees incentives to attend like gift certificates, free movie passes or a free lunch.
Let hear your business etiquette mishaps and how you saved the situation or if not…what you learned from it.
Want a furry, cuddly promotional marketing campaign for June? June is Adopt a Cat Month. If your business markets to pet owners run a special promotion on adopting a cat. Have your customers bring in photos of their newly adopted cat. Post a list of most popular cat names and offer special treats to owners with the most unusual cat name.
Encourage your clients to check out the local animal shelters. Animal shelters experience a surge in unwanted cats in the summer months. Send your best clients toys and treats as adoption kits. Offer special adoption gift baskets that customers can buy for friends who adopt a cat in June.
Did you know:
I remember all my childhood pet cats fondly. There was Missyfou (don’t know how I came up with that name but I was like 3 or 4 years old) a tough wild cat that had all white fur and beautiful blue eyes. Missyfou was no wimp. He got into fights with all the neighborhood dogs. I loved that cat wild temper and all.
Then there was Pepsi and Tiger. And on to Max, my favorite, she was gray and white and her fur looked like and elegant tuxedo. Then we had Fluffy, C-A-T and last was Vanilla who was more a beige orange color but we liked the name.
I remember trailing yarn or string around the floor and watching my cat chase it. A simple pleasure but so delightful to watch.
If you are looking for gifts to send your customers check out PetDreamers for safe pet care products and edible treats.
Anyone want to make more money with their website?
Raise your hands...
That's what I thought!
Guess what makes that happen...
Words that sell! And the right words sell more.
Sure, images ads and banners have their place. But alone they just can't put your visitor into that "ready-to-buy" moodthat finally gets them to commit.
It takes your words to create the kind of enthusiasm and credibility that compels your prospect down the PREselling Cycle to the Order Page.
Site Build It! gives you the tools to build a website that makes money. And to show you they know what they are talking about they are offering an e-book “Make Your Words Sell” that previously cost $29.95 available for download at NO COST to you. Yes, that means F*R*E*E! Download your copy here: Make Your Words Sell!
It’s worth the read. "Make Your Words Sell!" teaches you the exact steps for turning your words into "money-in-your-pocket." If you still need help writing content that sells or just don’t have the time to do it yourself than have Direct Marketing Rx do it for you. Don’t delay complete the Contact Us form now or call 805-549-8917 today.
Are women your target market? Maybe they should be. Women make 85% of all buying decisions, head 40% of households and run 40% of companies in the United States.
If you think you can use generic marketing promotions to appeal to women you need to get out of the dark ages. Men and women do make their buying decisions differently. If you want to know the secrets of markeing to women check out this 3 day event hosted by Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero in Los Angeles during October.
You’ll learn hot places to find women willing to spend big money for what they want. And the biggest mistakes people make when selling to women. How female buyers are different from male buyers and many more tips you can’t afford to miss. For more details and how to sign up for the seminar click here:TheSheFactor.
A lens is your view on a topic that matters to you and to your prospects. You share your knowledge, increase your profile and traffic to your website or blog.
It's an easy-to-build, single web page that can point to blogs, favorite links, RSS feeds, Flickr photos, Google maps, your eBay auctions, CafePress designs, Amazon books or music, and oh so much more. Now, when someone is looking for recommended information quickly, your lens gets her started and sends her off in the right direction.
It’s a great way to get free publicity for your business. I've just started using it and I'd love it if you'd check out my lenses and give me some feedback. Click on the Squidoo image above to check out my lenses.
Do you grope for your cell phone every time you hear one ring? Now you can use your cell phone ringtones to add an extra element to your marketing. You can have your business jingle play every time your cell phone rings. How’s that for free advertising? I don’t have a jingle yet but I’m thinking of writing one so my ringtone will give a jaunty commercial for Direct Marketing Rx.
Or create a ringtone for your top clients so you know it’s vital to grab that ringing phone and not miss closing the deal. I’m going to work on creating a ringtone for my key clients.
Maybe you just want to be able to identify your ringing cell phone. Half the time I can’t hear my cell phone ringing above the din of office noise, radios, TVs or everyone else’s ringing phone. I miss a call I was waiting for and get stuck playing phone tag. Cut through the frustration of not being able to distinguish your phone ringtone from the masses of generic ringtones with PhoneZoo.
PhoneZoo.com offers free personalized ringtones. You sign in and select your phone carrier and model of phone to insure you can download ring tones. All you need is a microphone for your computer and you can record your own ring tones. Hmmm, I need to go buy a microphone for my pc, if I had one I can’t find it now.
And for non-business calls - there are fun ring tones you can use to alert you to calls from specific family members or friends. I have You Are My Sunshine play when my Mom calls me. Cute, huh? She used to sing that to me on Saturday mornings when I was a teenager to get me out of bed. I would get up just so she would quit singing…I’m not a morning person and dearest Mom is one!
I’d love to hear your business ring tone. Let me know how you like PhoneZoo.
I was slow to respond to this trend but now I’ve been won over. I check my Google RSS Reader and in seconds all my favorite blogs are right there. Categorized how I choose and I can scan or read what I want at my leisure. No pressure to hurry and read all my email. Here I get updates and take my time looking them over. And I don’t have to search out my bookmarked links.
A friend gave me a $25.00 gift card. Once I was in the store I ended up spending an extra $78.00! Expensive gift for me…I thought I was getting something for free and ended up spending three times the value of the gift card. There went my budget…but it sure was fun. So speaks the shopaholic lurking inside me.
Get your customers to spend more at your business by sending them a gift card to entice them into your store, restaurant, gym, auto repair, nursery or what ever business you operate. A gift card makes an unusual mailer that is sure to catch the eye. Dan Kennedy recommended ON-CARD in one of his NO B.S. Marketing Newsletters. It’s an innovative way to use direct mailers.
The cards are US Postal Service approved to go in the mail. According to the ON-CARD website the cards are slightly larger than a postcard, glossy and about as thick as a credit card with a detachable wallet sized gift card. You don’t have to worry about unopened envelopes with this intriguing direct mail idea. The front and back is customizable to whatever design you want.
Use the gift cards for special promotions, new product announcements, end of season or close out sales or maybe as a thank you for being a loyal customer. It’s an easy & unique way to get your customers to spend more. The potential uses seem endless and are sure to get attention.
Let me know if you use the card in a promotion and send me a photo of the card so we can all see what it looks like.
Administrative Professionals Week is April 20th – 26th. Administrative Professionals are Very Important People in every office and unfortunately are often taken for granted while working hard keeping the office operating without a glitch.
During World War II many women “manned” offices as secretaries, clerks and other positions to fill spots left by men off fighting in the war. Originally started in 1952 as Professional Secretaries Week (renamed in 2000 as Administrative Professionals Week) to recognize secretaries for their workplace contributions. It was also meant to attract people to administrative/secretarial careers.
Show your appreciation by rewarding your client’s secretaries and (don‘t forget your own clerical staff) the entire week. Start with a treat they’ll love: a day at a spa, a gift certificate to their favorite book or other store, a gym membership or chocolate is always a good stand by. And a meal is always appreciated: breakfast, lunch or brunch. It’s not too late to make time to show you recognize a job well done.
What is your favorite appreciation gift to give your Administrative staff? Let me know what gets the best results.
Who can resist the unconditional love of a pet? Be Kind to Animals week – National Pet Week is May 4th -10th. Keep the love alive with regular check ups.
Remind your customers to take care of their pets’ health. Provide pet gifts for you customers and have your logo on the gift so they think of you when Fido is happily playing with your present. Chew toys, cat nip and pet wear are welcome promotional giveaways.
If you are a veterinarian send out postcards for your patients' owners to schedule regular veterinary visits. Consider offering customized pet care packages for dogs, cats, birds and any other animals you treat. If you offer pet grooming services offer special gifts with purchase.
Worried about the safety of your customer’s pets after all the stories in the news about unsafe products? Check out PetDreamers for safe pet care products and edible treats.
Tired of the same old boring impersonal voicemail messages you hear…along with your own bland outgoing message? How would you like to have personal greetings for each of your customers on your cell phone? It adds to your customer service. Lets your clients know you remember who they are and how important they are to your business. Then you need to try YouMail.
Think of the marketing possibilities. You can make targeted offers for specific clients on your lists. You can record your own messages or use some of the free pre-recorded messages available on YouMail. Specific outgoing messages can be assigned to groups of contacts. Whether you are a sales rep, small business or other professional You Mail is worth trying out.
With YouMail you can check your voicemail online and choose to receive a text message notification of new messages. You can even set personalized messages for your family and friends so they don’t get stuck hearing your business spiel every time they have to leave a message on your cell phone.
I’m having fun using the personal message for friends and I have a new business message. The cool part is I can check and listen to my voicemail messages online after getting an email notification. YouMail even mentions saving testimonial messages in mp3 format for your future use.
Let me know how it works for you (the kinds of messages you use) and the response from your customers. I’m not getting a nickel sharing this nifty resource with you so check it out.
Here is the link: YouMail
Dan Kennedy said today is Elizabeth Ruiz is a Heck of a Lot Smarter than Everyone else Day!
Here’s why…as a direct marketer I know stuff others don’t. I thought it was common knowledge but apparently Dan says it’s a revelation to others. Not that I’m superior but about the following marketing tips:
According to Dan I need to take a minute here, smile and congratulate myself. And I need to get somebody to pat me on the back. I should observe some business ignorance today and snicker. Feel superior. I am! Woo Hoo. Not often I can say that!
I’ve invested time and studied and searched and learned, so Dan Kennedy says I deserve to feel superior. So I will walk around today basking in my own brilliance and pitying the poor, clueless fools I see all around me.
I don't want to be an arrogant jerk all the time. But every once in a while, I’ve earned it so today is the day I mention it!
Are you in the Stone Age with your marketing efforts? A protest group in England used an innovative way to get people thinking about the dangers of a coal fired power plant.
Give your logo a ripple effect to stop eyes mid scan. Use it for your website, social media profiles or blogs. Or give any photo image a reflection.
Apply Lake Effect to your Picture WaveMyPic.com
I love the new Tide commercial with the job interviewee blathering on while the prospective employer just stairs at the stain on the guy's shirt. The stain babbles nonsense while the employer stares mesmerized. He’s not listening to the interview prospect outlining his skill set and potential value to the company. The oblivious job applicant rambles on unaware of his talking shirt stain.
Are you wondering which keywords will work best for you? If you’re looking for a quick way to find good search engine results try GoogleFight.com. When you get to the screen you type one phrase into the first keyword box and a second phrase into keyword box #2 and then click make a fight. You’ll see who wins the boxing match when a graph appears showing which phrase has the highest search engine results.
Are you doing the same thing over and over without the best results but it kinda works so you keep using it? Well here’s a story of what happened to me a week ago that I hope you can use.
Before you send out a mailer consider the four points to ensure you don’t waste your marketing dollars.You want your direct mailers to: |
