Today is Bastille Day

In honor of Bastille Day I thought it would be fun to showcase an event the *American Cancer Society hosts ever year called Jail & Bail. 

Jail & Bail is an annual fundraising event that brings together community leaders and ordinary citizens for a common cause… to help fight Cancer!

Jo Walters, David Singer, Sabrina Singer and Marilee Maddox

For many years I was an active participant in Jail & Bail, serving as a Parole Board Member AND a Jailbird! 

This year, the American Cancer Society’s annual Jail and Bail event, held recently at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel in Dania Beach, raised more than $150,000.

Here’s how it works: The fundraiser has community members “arrested” by local law enforcement officers and brought to the mock jail. While in custody, these “jailbirds” have unlimited use of a telephone to call friends, relatives, co-workers, business associates, etc…, to raise the bail in pledges to the American Cancer Society. The bail is determined by a “judge” at the “jail”. And, all donations are fully tax deductible contributions to the American Cancer Society.

The local ACS sends media releases with Parole board members names and companies and also provides volunteers with their own press release Template to send out to their own media contacts. This is also a great way to stay top of mind in the media when they are looking for a story or resource.

One of my good friends David Singer (an attorney in Hollywood, Florida) has been the local Jail & Bail chairperson for years. And he and his law firm have received prestigious placement in all the major media outlets in the tri-county area including print, radio AND TV.  He works tirelessly to recruit Parole Board members who in turn find people to “arrest.”

And it’s a fun event. 

What does Jail & Bail have to do with Marketing? It’s called Cause-related marketing. Whenever businesses support a cause that has potential to reach a lot of people in the community, it helps them not only create goodwill in the community, it often will gain incredible media attention.  And that’s the kind of attention most businesses want. Because we don’t have to pay for it and we can feel good about giving back. As a “sponsor” you get visibility on marketing materials, mentioned during planning meetings and in media releases and much more. As a participant you get to work closely with other like-minded volunteers AND maybe even see YOUR name in the media.

Here are 5 tips to help you plan and execute a successful Cause-related Marketing Campaign:

1. Find a cause you can get your arms around. Something that feeds your soul AND does good in the community. You will find it more worthwhile and you will be able to relate better to the people who also believe in the cause – the volunteers, staff and supporters. Organizations are also looking for partners with similar agendas, those who can achieve their goals by partnering with the right businesses and individuals in the first place.

2. Set realistic, measurable goals for your program.  Like any other marketing plan, you need to know what outcomes you hope to get from your participation.  Include how you will achieve those goals.

3. Create a “partnership agreement” that both parties understand and agree to.  A clearly defined agreement will include both “partners” obligations, rights and expectations. Remember this is like any other partnership and if you can add a little formality to it, then the chances of success increase and it creates a sense of comfort knowing in black and white what each partners responsibilities include.

4. Be an ambassador for your Cause.  Let everyone in your own circle know what and how you are supporting the organization. You will be pleasantly surprised by how many people will give you a thumbs up and also will want to “help you in your cause.”

5. When all is said and done, do a thorough review to make sure the campaign met your goals, your needs and the expectations of all concerned. Remember that while you want to support a cause you believe in, the bottom line is your support should create awareness of, interest in and customers for your company.

So next time you are trying to decide what community event to support, look at your calendar and see what’s going on and find a local charity to align yourself with.  And then let me know what you did. Maybe your story will end up in the next edition of Quirky Marketing ~ 365 Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany and Non-traditional Holidays.

*The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem—by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer— through research, education, advocacy and service.

Grab a FREE copy of my ebook: GET MEDIA SAVVY!– The Ultimate eGuide to Promote Your Products, Services and Ideas to the World at: http://www.womensmediasummit.com/get-media-savvy/

June  1^st is Flip a Coin Day  - Heads or Tails? Julius Caesar is credited with starting the practice of flipping a coin to make decisions. His own head was on one side of every Roman coin, so “heads” determined the winner in each flip. People thought “heads” meant that Caesar agreed with the decision. The coin flip was used in serious litigation involving property, marriage and even criminal guilt.

Just think how many lawyers would be out of a job if we went back to flipping a coin as a form of justice. And while it’s an interesting concept, probably not a good way to make business decisions. Imagine if your clients used the flip a coin method to decide if they should do business with you or not? You’d either have twice as many customers or half.

However, you could flip a coin for other things such as deciding on which strategies to start with in the Quirky Marketing Calendar ~ after all, marketing is all about TESTING to see what works and what doesn’t.

Did you know when you purchase a copy of the Quirky Marketing Calendar, you receive updates for a full year!  That’s right, when you purchase the 2009 edition, you will automatically be sent the 2010 edition when it is released!  And Quirky Marketing is Your Marketing Calendar. The only holiday marketing guide you will EVER Need again! Check it out now at www.QuirkyOffer.com.

It is probably no accident that Seth Godin named one of his national bestsellers Purple Cow. Purple, in addition to being a color of royalty, is one of those colors that stands out, gets attention. And in Purple Cow the whole point is to get noticed in a field of competition by being different. What could you do to promote Wear Purple Day to your clients and prospects? How do you stand out in a crowd? Today is a good day to consider additional ways you could get noticed by your target audience.

Excerpt from the book “Quirky Marketing ~ 365 Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany & Non-traditional Holidays (the original holiday marketing guide) ~ www.QuirkyOffer.com

May 12^th is Limerick Day – Host a limerick contest that showcases your company’s virtues.  A limerick is a five-line poem with a strict form, originally popularized in English by Edward Lear. Limericks are frequently witty or humorous, and sometimes obscene with humorous intent.  I hosted a contest on RYZE social networking site and received several entries. Here’s one of the winning entries by Marilyn Jenett of Feel Free to Prosper about Bea Kunz,  a member who sells Teas:

Another Ryze member named Bea
Will have you cravin’ her tea,
She’s witty and cool
And nobody’s fool,
And reigns as the “sage” of Tennessee

And one she wrote about her work with the Laws of Attraction:

There’s a Ryzer who teaches the “laws”
With posts that may give you pause,
Doesn’t mean to alarm ya,
Would rather disarm ya
With effects and their probable cause.

 Excerpt from the book “Quirky Marketing ~ 365 Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany & Non-traditional Holidays (the original holiday marketing guide) ~ www.QuirkyOffer.com

Create a tips booklet about your topic area and give it to your clients and patients.  Tips booklets are an excellent informational premium that people do not throw away.  Better yet, ask your clients and patients to give you names of their women friends and offer to send the booklet on their behalf.

Excerpt from the book “Quirky Marketing ~ 365 Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany & Non-traditional Holidays (the original holiday marketing guide) ~ www.QuirkyOffer.com

For more information on Marketing to Women, check out the Marketing 2 Women Audio Program created by Women in ECommerce at: http://www.wecai.org/marketing2women.htm (8 audios and workbook for only $27!)

May  9^th is World Fair Trade Day - “Fair Trade” promotes and empowers poor farmers in remote areas to participate meaningfully in the global economy and lead to a better life for all. Join the BIG BANG!! BEAT POVERTY BEAT CLIMATE CHANGE BEAT FINANCIAL CRISIS BEAT A DRUM 2009 by buying from companies that practice Fair Trade. 

Go to the Fair Trade Resource Network for a host of resources including where to buy, how to make a difference and how to promote World Fair Trade in your community.

Excerpt from the book “Quirky Marketing ~ 365 Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany & Non-traditional Holidays (the original holiday marketing guide) ~ www.QuirkyOffer.com

May 3-9 is also National Postcard Week – An excellent time to redo your postcard marketing campaigns.  We use SendOutCards to send postcards to our customers, clients and people we meet. In fact, every time I attend a networking event, I upload the information of the people I met into the SendOutCards database and then create a simple,” nice to have met you” campaign. 

Every single person I send a card to has either called or emailed me a thank you. I do not sell them anything, just tell them it was nice to meet them and ask “what you can do for them.”  I might also offer a link to a special report or other free digital item I know would interest them.  Not only is this a great way to stay in touch with prospects, it also is a great way to keep track of where and when I meet someone.  You can make notes in the SOC database, create specific campaigns for each event, even customize the cards with a picture or logo (or both).

Excerpt from the book “Quirky Marketing ~ 365 Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany & Non-traditional Holidays (the original holiday marketing guide) ~ www.QuirkyOffer.com

May 3-9 is Teacher Appreciation Week

The 12 winners are now featured as illustrated characters in the new custom comic book.

Send your favorite teacher a card, bring an apple to school (or a whole bushel) or a beautiful bouquet of flowers!

 Excerpt from the book “Quirky Marketing ~ 365 Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany & Non-traditional Holidays (the original holiday marketing guide) ~ www.QuirkyOffer.com

In recognition of Cyber Monday, I too have some “special offers” for my readers. They include:

Grow Your Business Audio Program on sale for only $39.95!

Sign up for How to Grow Your Million Dollar Business? Audio program, based upon the Summit which took place September 18-20 and 23rd is available at $97 now only $39.95.   The complete audio program now includes 20 interviews, a 90+ page workbook and several bonuses.  And over the next few weeks we will also be offering additional sessions on “Attracting Million-dollar clients,” “How to get Million-dollar Publicity” and more.  You don’t want to miss these. Here’s what one person had to say about these sessions:- Heidi I was blown away by the huge names that you managed to gather together on the one teleseminar series. Just one of these speakers would have made the entry price a great deal. I have learned so much from these speakers (and how wonderful is it that most of them are female!) I feel that they have opened my eyes to a big new world and I am implementing right now some of the suggestions that I heard. Very inspiring! Now what shall I spend my first million on…? Katherine Reschke, Business and Mindset Coach ~ http://www.passionsthatpay.com

To get your copy of this program and attend the upcoming interviews go to www.GrowaMillionDollarBusiness.com today.  Unadvertised BONUS: Purchase this audio program and you will also receive a complete set of your choice of one of our other popular audio programs. Visit: www.WomensSuccessSeries.com for more information

MOVING SALE ~ I have a few copies of Life Compass for Women available – Now thru December 30th,  You can get an autographed copy for $4.95 (plus shipping) ~ Regular price is $14.95. This Indispensable Guidebook on Life Management for Busy Women features 16 of the top experts on Life Balance and Management Strategies. Every copy you buy, I will also include a copy of her “What’s Your OccuPlaytion” Motivational Book (value $6.95).  This little book makes a great stocking. Need several copies?

Send a message to Heidi@speakingwithspirit.com with Life Management book in subject line. And you will get and additional 25% off four or more copies.  For more information and to grab your copy ~ Visit: http://speakingwithspirit.com/books/life-compass-for-women/  (FYI we are moving our offices January 1^st and won’t have the space to store them.