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Your Marketing PrescriptionKeep your marketing and copywriting healthy by subscribing to Direct Marketing Rx’s Marketing Prescription Blog. It’s a vital supplement to keep your sales vigorous. Outrageous Marketing Isn't Nuts It Can Work For You!
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. Frequently Asked QuestionsDirect Marketing Rx’s Frequently Asked Questions Permalink -- click for full blog postMake Your Knowledge Sell!
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.
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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. Rock Around the Clock Marketing
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. Let’s All Go to the Zoo!
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… Man’s Best Friend at the Office!
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... testPermalink -- click for full blog post testPermalink -- click for full blog post Your Name isn’t Stinky Fish Face?
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. Bring Home a Furry Bundle of Joy!
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. Great Content Converts Vistors Into Buyers!
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:
National Coin Week is April 20-26. Send your clients a bag of chocolate coins or a coin purse to hold their change.
Many even collect elongated coins also known as pressed pennies, nickels or quarters. If you know your clients are fans send the pressed penny wallets to hold their precious collections. Or consider having a die made to press your own logo on pennies for a truly memorable promotional item.
Never heard of pressed pennies? Well here’s some history on them:In 1893 at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois the first pennies were rolled through hand cranked mill type machines with reverse engraved dies.
Today, pennies are run between rollers under approximately 22 tons of pressure which squishes the penny into an elongated shape with a business logo or other artwork. Guests supply their own penny and for the price of two quarters they get an enduring memory of their experience.
I’ve designed pressed pennies for clients like amusement parks, zoos and other tourist sites. It’s a popular hobby for many.
April 13th is International Plant Appreciation Day. Plants are vital to our lives. Without them we wouldn’t have coffee, tea, paper, T-shirts or flour for baking.
I’m growing some daffodils, freesias and tulips. Having fun just watching the leaves sprout from the dirt.
And I’m not one of those green thumb types. I’ve killed cactus in the past…more like a black thumb. But I’ve come to appreciate plants.
Remind your customers how important plants our by sending them a gift of a flower, plant or tree.
A favicon aka a favorite icon is a small graphic that is associated with a page or website.
You can use your business logo or some other image to customize your site when it appears in the address line of many web browsers and in the bookmarks when the site is saved.
Favicons were first developed in Internet Explorer which calls bookmarked sites “Favorites.”
To create an icon save an image that is about 16 x 16 pixels. You can use a graphics program like Photoshop or you can go to www.html-kit.com/favicon/ and they will create a favicon from your uploaded image file.
You can see my logo favicon in the address bar when you visit my site in most web browsers. Look up and let me know how you like it.
April is National Car Care Month. Give you customers an automotive safety it (with you business logo & contact info) to show them you care. Hand out car maintenance checklists to encourage your customers to keep up with their car care.
Need a promotional opportunity? Have a mini classic custom car show for your customers to participate in. Let me know of any ideas you come up with and which you actually use.
The Eiffel Tower was completed on March 31, 1889. It was built for the Paris Exhibition and since its opening over 200 million people have visited it. Named after its architect, Alexandre Gustave the Eiffel Tower has come to symbolize Paris.
It’s been a few years but I remember the awe inspiring experience of sitting in the park with my travel pal eating dry Cheerios and sipping Coca Cola – hey we were hungry, it was affordable and portable.
You could have a Paris themed sale or marketing promotion. Miniature Eiffel Towers to catch the eye of passersby. I have a pair of Eiffel Tower earrings that are a good conversation piece whenever I wear them. Apply Lake Effect to your Picture WaveMyPic.com
Have a business event to celebrate? March 20-26 is National Bubble Week. Liven up the party by giving out bubble maker party favors or pens and watch the fun begin.
Or are you planning a kid’s day event, sale or promotion? Have an electronic bubble maker to add enchantment to the festivities.
When I was a little girl I loved the delicate seemingly magical beauty of the bubbles I blew rising gently up into the sky.
What other ideas to you have for using National Bubble week to market your business?
Daylight savings time begins on March 9th! Spring your clock forward an hour. Give your employees an atomic clock to ensure they don’t miss an appointment with that very important customer. It could ruin the deal if they show up an hour late for the meeting.
Or give your clients a clock with the appointment day and time preset on the alarm for a time just before your appointment. Now they won’t forget to meet with you. Have your logo put on the clock to so they can remember who was so considerate of their time.
National Sleep Awareness Week is March 3-9. Teach your customers about the importance of getting enough sleep and the dangers of untreated sleep disorders. Give your best clients face masks, special pillows, and radios with nature sounds to get them sleeping stress free. Sleepy employees are less productive so share the info with them too. Maybe an official nap area in the break room with a little alarm clock to make sure your staff gets back to work in time alert and refreshed.
I know I need more Z’s how about you? I have a magnetic mattress pad and pillow to help me sleep tight at night. Do you have any special sleep items or rituals to keep your sleep refreshing? Share them with me.
King Kong premiered on March 2, 1933 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall and the RKO Roxy. For its time the special effects were noteworthy – having a 50 foot ape climbing the newly completed Empire State Building wowed audiences. In reality an 19 inch model off King Kong was used to film the scene.
Use bananas and monkey themes for your marketing. Get attention with a King Kong sized sale! Maybe have employees dress up in gorilla suits or have customers do a contest for best Kong costume. Maybe have the best Fae Wray scream contest. Will beauty kill your sales slump and woo your customers back?
March 1, 1949 the TV show Believe It Or Not first aired. I remember reading a book when I was a preteen about Robert Ripley’s collection of oddities from around the world. The guy with 4 eyes – two pupils in each eye always fascinated and unnerved me. My Mom loves to watch the show when it airs locally on the Sci Fi channel.
Have any unusual business facts you can use in your marketing? Do you or your employees have any curiosities or unique collections to get your prospects attention? Maybe you can get customers to participate by supplying their own believe it or not stories. Then provide a prize to the customer with the most unusual story for people to believe or not.
Let me know if I can believe your results or not.
Remember scratch and sniff stickers from childhood that smelled like pizza, popcorn, chocolate and pickles among other scents? How would you like your customers to associate your business with a scent that evokes positive emotions and hits their emotional center with a desire to buy your products or services? Scent has been proven to elicit memories and highlight emotions and now you can use this fact to make your products sell!
Sniff out your competition with scented marketing materials. It’s not just for perfume samples! You can have almost anything scented. Gift cards, coupons, bookmarks, wrapping paper, movie tickets, note pads and yes the good old sticker!
Consider advertising with scented mailers! This marketing edge will increase your chances of getting your mailers opened and read. Rub’ N Smell was brought to my attention and I can’t wait to use it. Check out their site at www.scentisphere.com.
Let me know if you make use of this new technology and what results you get. Oh, and don’t forget to tell me what scent you decide to use.
February 11th and 12th is the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. This two day annual show had been held at Madison Square Gardens in New York City since 1877. Send your clients with dogs doggie clothes, chew toys or other pet accessories. Let me know how you use this info in your marketing efforts. I’d love to hear about your results.
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1) An extensive health questionnaire to help diagnose the problem with your marketing message
February 10th thru 16th is Jell-O Week. JELL-O is America’s most famous dessert. Did you know that there are over 158 gelatin products sold under the JELL-O brand and about 300 million boxes sold in the U.S. each year? Send your clients Jell-O treats to get their attention this second week of February.Let me know if your marketing jiggles your customers into action.
February is a month packed with dates good for creative marketing. How about Bake for Family Fun Month? American’s love chocolate and other baked treats and this is the month to really enjoy it.
I remember as a child when Mom baked chocolate cake or brownies it was going to be a special day! Yummy smelling house and tasty treats for the family. Oh, to be able to lick the beaters or put frosting on the cupcakes now that was a privilege worth begging Mom for.
I’ve made lots of friends with my brownies with shredded coconut and flavoring. My friends also like my orange flavored brownies with chocolate chips. Give your valued clients a basket of baked treats in February. Share the fun by having your kids help you bake the treats.
February is also American Heart Month. Women are encouraged to wear red in honor of the half a million women who die from cardiovascular disease each year. I love to wear red lipstick, shoes and carry red handbags! How about you? Support the cause by wearing lots of red in February. Get attention with red shirts, ribbons, shoes and hand bags or other accessories. Spread the word that heart health for women is important.
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