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Surfing the WEB for tips to make your company stand out on Black Friday
Think of Black Friday as an opportunity to bring in new customers by offering a few good Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Not only will this kick off your holiday season on a positive note (and hopefully add to a healthier bottom line) you can take advantage of the fact that people will be shopping online and therefor traffic will be stronger on these two days.
Since Black Friday is all about promoting your business and selling more, here are several ideas to help you plan a killer selling day (or days).
Be sure to grab your share of sales
The average Black Friday corresponds to around-the-store lines before the sun rises. Now, of course, we seem to be in a recession, but that may make November 28th an even more profitable time for every business that has something to sell.
Insane deals tend to get people moving on Black Friday, and folks who would prefer to get some sleep may join the mobs due to their financial situation. Like major retailers, you can try to draw them in by offering big discounts on a few items, and then see what else they spend while they’re in the store.
Read the rest of the Black Friday Boom Forecast here: http://www.smallbusinessnewz.com/topnews/2008/11/17/black-friday-boom-forecast
Small Business Can Make Big Plays on Black Friday
Black Friday is like the Super Bowl. It’s a huge event that draws millions of people. But only the big boys get to play on the field. People like you and me only get to watch.
At first glance, Rafi Mohammed seems to reinforce that with his advice for retailers to woo customers with steep discounts on Black Friday. He encourages retailers to use loss leaders to welcome people back from discounters.
For anyone tempted to compete with the big boys on price, this is a pretty good reason to abandon that strategy. It also looks like a pretty good reason to stay in bed Friday and let the big retailers deal with all those people.
To read more visit http://mainebusiness.mainetoday.com/blogentry.html?id=16424
Black Friday Bargains for Small Business
Black Friday — and the following Cyber Monday — can also be a great time to go shopping for your small business. Just ask Rhonda Abrams of USA Today. She suggests the following:
Strategies for successful small business Black Friday shopping:
1. Make a list of stuff you really need. Don’t buy just because something’s cheap. It’s tempting, I know.
2. Check to see which version of Windows 7 you need. If you have a server you’ll need at least the Pro or Ultimate edition. Upgrades are very expensive so buy the right one.
Read the rest of the article “Black Friday Bargains for Small Business” at USA Today ~
http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/abrams/2009-11-20-black-friday-bargains-for-small-business_N.htm
Over at online betting zone Bookmaker, they’ve put out their oddsmaking team’s predictions. The majority of the team says between 161 million and 180 million of us will hit the stores and websites on Black Friday, and we’ll spend between $300-$400 per shopper. Second-best odds were for 131 million to 161 million shoppers spending $250-$300 apiece.
To read what else they have to say read Black Friday and Cyber Monday…Will They Rock? on the Entrepreneur.com blog here http://blog.entrepreneur.com/2009/11/black-friday-and-cyber-mondaywill-they-rock.php
And if you happen to be out shopping on Black Friday, here’s a few tips for you:
Make list: In any shopping maneuver, a list can help you plan ahead and shop more efficiently. Look through sales fliers and check out www.black-friday.net for information on which stores are offering what deals. Then you can prioritize the items on your list, and plan out a route according to what is most important to you. Also list any coupons you have that can be used to further reduce the prices of desired items.
Visit the store the day before Thanksgiving: After you know what you are looking for, visit the stores ahead of time. Familiarize yourself where the desired items are located in the store. Make friends with a sales associate to find out if there will be additional discounts, or if you can reserve something ahead of time (for most doorbusters, though, associates aren’t allowed to do this).
Read the rest of Holiday Shopping: Tips for Black Friday and Cyber Monday here: http://www.moolanomy.com/2135/holiday-shopping-tips-for-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-mmarquit01/
While you are at it, read 10 Fascinating Facts about Black Friday http://www.pcworld.com/article/182224/10_fascinating_facts_about_black_friday.html
November 23rd, 2009
Tired of spending all your money on advertising and marketing that just doesn’t work? Here are 10 cheap ideas to grow your business without breaking the bank!
1) Market to Former Customers and Clients. It costs less than marketing to new customers. Make them an offer they can’t refuse, such AS $5 off their next purchase.
2) Join Associations, professional organizations, and civic and charitable clubs. Get involved and become a leader. You’ll make great contacts that can lead to future business. Also, thank new members who join your organization by offering them a coupon or sending them a postcard for a discount or something free.
3) Reward Repeat Customers. Offer a frequent-purchase card to track their spending.
4) Use Coupons to enhance your sales. Give them a reason to TRY your business.
5) Follow the Rule of Three:
*Forget cold calls. Make three warm calls a day to prospects whom others have referred to you.
*Collect at least three business cards a day.
*Send at least three notes each day to people thanking them for their business or something they did to help your business grow.
6) Encourage Word of Mouth from Your Family, Friends and Associates. Your best advocates will be those who already know you and like you. Encourage them to tell others about your products and services. Sometimes they just need the nudge to get started. And then reward them for doing so.
7) Send press releases prior to having an event or a contest or write articles for publications in your industry.
8) Create and send a newsletter or e-zine (newsletter sent via e-mail) to your customers to keep your business at the top of their minds. Include tips on flower care, positive news events, specials, discounts and coupons.
9) Give Stellar Service with a 100-percent, no-questions-asked, money-back guarantee. It will give your customers a sense of ease in doing business with you and build their trust.
10) Partner with Other Companies to promote your business. Find companies with similar customer demographics that are not in competition with your business and create ways to joint venture with them either on a one-time, long-term or event-by-event basis.
For more tips like these check out Rose Marketing on a Daisy Budget: How to Grow Your Business Without Spending a Fortune by Heidi Richards Mooney
July 27th, 2009
Set your sales on fire without extravagant spending by following these red-hot marketing tips
“In all things, success depends upon previous preparation. And without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.” – Confucius
Confucius could have had a flourishing business by following his own advice. Not only can preparation lead to success, but it also can help you do so without spending a lot of money. After all, with careful planning, you can achieve sizzling sales without the need for expensive advertising or marketing promotions.
Be smarter than the competition
In today’s ever-changing business climate, just keeping up with the competition isn’t enough. You have to outthink, outsmart and outdo them. How? By getting to know what they do and how they do it.
Find out your competition’s strengths and weaknesses and what products and services they offer. If the shop down the road sells gift baskets, offer more choices than they do—or better products. If the competition opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m., consider opening earlier or closing later.
Look for ways to make it easier for customers to do business with you. The slightest increase in customer convenience will yield larger and even more frequent purchases. Plus, providing the products and services they want will keep them coming back.
Reward repeat customers
Design a customer-appreciation program to recognize customers who repeatedly purchase from you or who refer others to your business. Send them thank-you notes or small bouquets. Thank them in your company newsletter. Pick up the phone to thank them, then offer a special discount for their loyalty during your conversation.
One day a long-time customer came into my shop, Eden Florist & Gift Baskets, to purchase flowers. When I thanked him for doing business with us, he said, “I buy so many flowers here, I should get frequent-flower miles.” He was right! In fact, soon after his visit, we began creating a computer-generated Frequent flower petals card for that very purpose. The card rewarded customers with a free bouquet after they purchased 12 $25-minimum-price floral arrangements.
To more easily track customer purchases, our computer records each transaction. Thus, if a customer orders by phone, we still can track the number of purchases. When that person reaches 12, the employee taking the order asks the customer to whom they’d like to send their “free” bouquet. It’s not unusual for customers to send the arrangement to themselves.
If they choose this option, don’t forget to enclose a card thanking them for their business. Customers who appreciate your gesture are likely to recommend your business to family, friends and business associates.
Practice ‘rainmaking’
Rainmakers are people who connect other people through referrals, whether it is friend-to-friend or business-to-business. Referrals are the easiest and least expensive way to make your business grow. Start by instilling a referral mindset into your friends and customers. People don’t necessarily know you want more business unless you tell them. And even though your friends may buy from you, they may not think to tell their friends and family.
Though one of my greatest sources of referrals today is my friends, that wasn’t always the case. In the past, I had one or two friends who constantly sent business my way. However, the majority of my close acquaintances did not. One day, I mentioned this to a friend. Her reply, “I didn’t know you wanted more business.” She is now one of my best references.
Some people are hesitant to ask friends for referrals. Why? If you believe in your product and have a passion for your business, it’s a simple request. After all, friends want friends to succeed. And, if they know they have contributed to your success, it makes them feel good about themselves.
If you feel uncomfortable about tooting your own horn, consider the idea from the perspective of finding a great restaurant. After having a wonderful meal, most people are eager to share the experience by telling their family and friends about it. Flowers and food are both emotional purchases—purchases generally made with the heart, not the brain. When you want to eat out, you go to one of your favorite spots, or you try a new place that offers your favorite dish. The same applies to flowers. People go where they know they can find the products they want or people who understand their needs.
Based on emotion alone, referring your business will be easy for your friends and family. And, when the referrals come in, don’t forget to thank the friends and family who made the suggestions. Send them notes and a product sample. Make sure your thank-yous reflect your appreciation for the extra business. An added bonus to this technique is that you’ll surprise people when you thank them, putting you at the top of their minds when the opportunity to make a referral happens again.
Follow-up and follow-through
One of the surest ways to keep customers is to follow up after a purchase. Follow-up accomplishes two important things: It helps you find out whether the customer was satisfied, and it gives you the opportunity to build a positive relationship with that person.
Happy customers may tell as many as three people about their positive experience at your business. This may not seem like it can have much of an impact. But when you compare it to the number of people who will hear about a customer’s unhappy experience—typically estimated as eight to 10—then the number of those passing on their positive experience becomes that much more important.
Besides, if you don’t follow up with a customer, you may never even know he or she had a negative experience. Those people will simply take their business elsewhere. Taking the time to inquire about a purchase after the fact shows your customers you care about their business. It also helps build a lasting relationship with your customers. Not only that, but when you resolve a complaint favorably, you’re likely to increase the chance that the customer will refer you to others.
If your shop is too busy to follow up with every customer after the sale—then at least do some random sampling of your customers. Although a random sample may be less accurate, it will nevertheless provide you with an idea of how a portion of your customers views your business.
To make the task easier, call two or three customers/recipients each day. You’ll impress the recipients, who will want to do business with you, and both the sender and the recipient will know you care. In fact, on more than one occasion when an employee at Eden Florist has called a sender or recipient, that person has ordered an arrangement during the thank-you phone call. So your efforts can certainly pay off.
And don’t forget to follow through on anything you promise you’ll do for a customer. Make it a habit to deliver. When you do, your customers will trust and respect you. And your sales will sizzle!
For more tips like these check out Rose Marketing on a Daisy Budget: How to Grow Your Business Without Spending a Fortune by Heidi Richards Mooney
July 25th, 2009
Did you know that March is Small Press Month?
Create a tips booklet for your company. People are more likely to keep a tips booklet than a brochure so they become an ongoing sales tool for your company. I have one that is all about “Getting Organized“ that I’ve had for years. Wedding planners could write the 49 tips to plan a worry-free wedding. A Chiropractor could write 57 Natural Remedies to Better Health. A women’s boutique owner could write – How to Create 27 Outfits out of 4 when You Mix and Match Your Wardrobe. One of the five tips booklets I wrote is “Networking is More than Just Passing Out Business Cards.” When you attend the Info Products Summit March 19 & 20 – you get this FREE (in digital format).
Tips booklets have staying power. People are less likely to toss them out than they are brochures and other advertising media. Make sure yours is filled with great information your target audience wants and needs and you will see what I mean. I have one from a professional organizer that was given to me at least 10 years ago and I have referred to it on a number of ocassions as well as quoted from it and shared the ideas (and author) with my own circles.
BTW, if you need help creating your tips booklet, check out my friend Paulette Ensign’s site at www.TipsBooklet.com. Paulette has sold well over a million copies of her own tips booklet, in 4 languages and various formats (so far!), without spending a penny on advertising!
March 14th, 2009
Did you know that on February 24, 1868 1st U.S. Mardi Gras parade with floats was held not in New Orleans but in Mobile Alabama?
Do you also know the Mardi gras colors and symoblism ~ Purple – represents Justice, Green – stands for Faith, Gold – signifies Power, or that the words MARDI GRAS mean FAT TUESDAY?
Today I had my first taste of King Cake during the monthly HSMAI (Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association) meeting. King cakes are oval, sugared cake with plastic baby baked inside. The person that gets the baby is “king” & has 2 buy the next round of cakes.
We also painted coconuts as a part of the festivities and memento of the event.
You can learn about the tradition of throwing coconuts and the ZULU parade! Read:: http://tinyurl.com/crbg3n&-Pleasure-Club.html
Read the history of Mardi Gras here: http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history.html
Check out these great photos of the Zulu parade and mardi gras at http://cfapp2.rockymountainnews.com/photos/
In the United States, traditional Mardi Gras fare served on Fat Tuesday includes Cajun and creole specialties such as gumbo, jambalaya, étouffées, seafood bisques, king cakes and beignets.
Here’s some FAT TUESDAY Events of note:
On February 23rd the 1st radio contest was held in Philadelphia. Since then many radio stations around the country have hosted contests on this day in celebration of something. For instance 94 WYSP hosts a Boobs or Bust Bullriding Contest (say that fast 3 times) every year A live broadcast to celebrate Fat Tuesday. Girls come participate in the Boobs or Bust bull riding contest or a wet t-shirt contest. Guys come out and watch. This year, Mention Danny Bonaduce (this year’s host) and WYSP at the door and the first 94 guys get in free. All girls who mention the show get in free. The event takes place at Bootleggers in Woodlyn, PA.
Universal Studios’ Mardi Gras celebration begins its 11-week run Saturday with an expanded schedule, a literary theme for the parade and — eventually — a new stage for the headlining musical acts. Some of the Talent they have booked inlcude Boys Like Girls, Kelly Clarkeson and The Village People. For more information visit Orlando Sentinel.
According to New Orleans Online “exactly 150 years ago, a group of prominent New Orleans businessmen gathered together to form an organization that would welcome the Grand Duke Alex Romanoff Alexandrovitch to the city during the annual Mardi Gras festivities, begun more than a century earlier. That event, and the parade and ball that were established, formed what is now known as the Rex organization and the heartbeat of Mardi Gras. Today, there are hundreds of Mardi Gras clubs (called krewes) that host grand balls and several dozen krewes that conduct elaborate, colorful and, at times, outrageous parades through the streets of the city. In fact, it is hard to imagine this city without the annual spring celebration.” You can learn more about the happenings in New Orleans at New Orleans Online.
Want a unique way of promoting your company, organization or event? Check out the Mardi Gras Marketing Bead created by AMS Novelty Company. Inside the medalian pouch attached to the bead is a mini cd, a folded brochurs and either a casino chip or 4 color scratch card. You can add washable tattoos, candy and more to your Mardi Gras Marketing Beads to give away during FAT TUESDAY.
February 24th, 2009
Cracker Jack’s has been an icon in snacking for more than 100 years. Did you know that today in 1912, the first prize was inserted into a Cracker Jack Box? What a marketing marvel that was! Every kid who got a box, waited in anticipation (or didn’t wait at all) as they “ripped open” the top of the box to pull out their prize.
And Cracker Jack has become a symbol for many cultural aspects of our lives such as lyrics in songs, mentioned in movies and even used as a metaphor in books.
Although Seth Godin’s book “Free Prize Inside ~ The Next BIG Marketing Idea ” is not about Cracker Jacks, rather about giving something “extra,” he certainly hit on the principles with his examples of cereal boxes with prizes inside.
So what could you “give” extra to add value to your clients today? What’s your Cracker Jack example? Feel free to share in the comments section ~ be sure to include a link to your website or blog!
Cracker Jack Legend and History:
According to legend, in 1894 a unique popcorn, peanuts and molasses confection that was the forerunner to Cracker Jack caramel coated popcorn and peanuts is introduced by F.W. Rueckheim and Brother, at the World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago’s first World’s Fair.
In 1896 Louis Rueckheim, F.W.’s brother and partner, discover the process for keeping the molasses-covered popcorn morsels from sticking together. Louis gives the treat to a salesman who exclaims, “That’s crackerjack!” “So it is,” says F.W. Rueckheim, who then has the words trademarked.
In 1912 prizes were included in Cracker Jack boxes for the first time. Since then, the toy prizes have been replaced with paper prizes displaying riddles and jokes.
In 1955 Cracker Jack begins advertising on television with the appearance of Cracker Jack on CBS-TV’s “On Your Account” which is televised to 130 stations nationally.
Source: Cracker Jack and Wikipedia
For more ideas like these, check out my new book: Quirky Marketing~ 365 Ways to Grow Your Business Using Zany and Non-traditional Holidays.
February 19th, 2009
So you want to start a direct mail campaign for 2009, but you aren’t sure where to begin or what type of campaign to run? Before you do, you should know your options.
Here are Eleven time-tested direct mail options for you to consider:
Package inserts ~ a package insert can be anything from an informational brochure to a postcard to a little business card size document. The purpose of the insert is to get the recipient to take an action such as go to a website, call the company for more information, send in a warranty card, redeem an incentive such as a coupon and gift certificate.
Co-op Mailings ~ A form of trade sales promotion where a marketer offers non-competing companies the opportunity to share the cost of mailing to a particular database or group of customers and prospects.
Postcards ~ an economical way to promote a business or particular product or service less expensively than mailing a letter. Postcards can be very effective because there is no envelope to open and the prospect can see the offer at a glance .
Flyers ~An offer detailed on a single sheet of paper.
Card Decks ~ a package of individual cards wrapped together and mailed to prospects. These decks vary in quantity, and can contain 60 cards or more, each competing for the prospect’s attention.
Sampling Programs ~ A method of encouraging trying products free-of-charge or very inexpensively.
Statement Stuffers ~ Marketing brochure in a customer’s billing or account statement containing an offer or brief sales message along with a call to action mechanism such as a short-form, postcard or toll-free telephone number. Statement stuffers are an inexpensive way to market additional products and special offers to current customers.
Catalogues ~ A publication, such as a book or pamphlet, containing a list or display of products, services and offerings to a specific group of prospects and customers.
Door Hangers ~ door hanger marketing is where you create a small flier (often in mixed in with a few other direct mail pieces that are included in a plastic bag to be hung on the door knobs of prospects. This form of direct mail is often seen in residential areas however has also been effective in large office buildings (provided leaving them is allowed).
Webserts ~ A websert is a text or graphic link that appears after an online purchase is made. Webserts are more cost-efficient, offer more accurate source tracking, and can be dynamically served more easily.
Classifieds ~ Print advertising that is limited to certain classes of goods and services, and usually limited in size and content. Classified ads can appear in print media such as newspapers, magazines and catalogs as well as in digital media such as ezines, online magazines and websites.
In my next post I will be sharing 8 tips to run a successful direct mail campaign.
For a complete list of marketing definitions, visit: Speaking With Spirit and download your FREE copy of the Self-Marketing Dictionary TODAY!
January 8th, 2009
There’s still time to get ready for a successful holiday season.
Here are a ten tips to make for a more successful holiday season.
1. Review last year’s sales records. Compare them to prior years. This will help you “forecast” what you could do this season. Has your business seen a steady increase each year. Have you had poor sales one year and brisk the next? If so, what was happening in the world? Was the economy strong or weak? Did a natural disaster affect your business? You must consider all things possible when making your forecast.
2. Check inventory. Do you have items from last year that you need to sell? Can you sell them at full-price (such as traditional items)? These do not include the trendy seasonal items that reflected the times and would be considered outdated by your customers.
3. Review the items you have pre-ordered – it is amazing how quickly we forget all those wonderful things we purchased during gift and trade shows in anticipation of a good holiday.
4. Review your notes from last year – the things you did right, those ideas for improvement for the next year and be sure to include them in your holiday marketing plans.
5. Check out your marketing and advertising from the last three years paying particular attention to the immediate past. Was it effective? Did it meet or succeed your ROI goals? Make a list of the media you want to continue and any new media you would like to try (conservatively). Start contacting the media now to get the best prices an dplacement.
6. Check web stats for best sales days, highest traffic days, conversion rates, best and least selling items.
7. If you offer more than one type of service/product, review each individually. For instance a florist might also sell plants, gift baskets, balloons, books, plush animals and other giftware. Which items did best, and which did not do well at all. This will help you buy accordingly for the upcoming holidays.
8. Brainstorm with your staff/marketing team/ management to come up with themes around specific holidays. Do you want to use eskimos in your christmas displays? Do you need candles and dreidels for your Hannukah vignettes? Are pumpkins a popular choice for Thanksgiving or fall leaves or does something else strike your fancy? Do your customers shop your store for Halloween.
9. Review your staffing from the previous year. Did you have too much or not enough staff?
10. Create a rewards program for the upcoming holidays. Rewards can range from commissioned sales, to trips, to dinners out, to movie tickets, to days off, to shopping sprees, to recognition programs. Be sure to include time for celebration where everyone can join in the fun as a group.
BONUS: Send your customers/clients a holilday card early. Don’t wait until December 10th to send a card. Send it today. I use
SendOutCards to promote my business and stay in touch with clients and customers. It is the best automated system I have found. Real cards to real people in the mail! Check it out at:
www.SendOutCards.com/Heidi Use all the things in your RETAIL REVIEW to create your holiday marketing calendar. The calendar will help you meet deadlines, update your websites, plan your open houses, place ads and create marketing materials necessary to promote the holidays to your prospects and customers. If you have the staff, give each a different area of responsibility such as window design, inside displays, overseeing of your website, etc. Be sure to look at your market and see if it has changed from previous years.
November 20th, 2008
The classic, Selling to Big Companies by Jill Konrath was selected by Fortune Magazine as a “must read” in their October issue. You can get a copy of Selling to Big Companies at Amazon.com.
Jill’s book is filled with great ideas for how to sell to large companies. And in today’s challenging sales environment, this is a book whose time has come.
You can get a preview of the book by downloading the first two chapters at Jill’s website at http://www.sellingtobigcompanies.com/content_display.jsp?top=8497&mid=8925
November 14th, 2008
Videos have really taken flight. They are everywhere! Friends send friends links to videos they love. Companies create videos to promote their businesses. Individuals do crazy stunts to become video-lebrities and more! So, what can YOU do with Video to promote your company? You could create an instructional video on a topic related to your product or service; something your prospects would find interesting and even more importantly be searching for. Take the “How Stuff Works” blog. They have created a video on all sorts of things and are getting a reputation as a place to go for information on what else… how stuff works! When producing videos, think about the K.I.S.S theory – keep it short and succinct to keep people’s attention. Think about ways that you can put more content into (short) video segments on your site, and then post them to YouTube, Revver and other video-sharing sites. YouTube is an excellent venue to generate traffic and a buzz. Revver
’s unique technology tracks and monetizes videos as they spread virally across the web, so no matter where your creativity travels, you benefit. You can create a video on how your product works like the folks at Blendtec did with their Will it Blend Videos, or a video presentation of your best salesperson pitching your product. Record video interviews with industry experts… Use Video in your email, on your website instead of a blog post, on your social networking pages, and more’s unique technology tracks and monetizes videos as they spread virally across the web, so no matter where your creativity travels, you benefit. You can create a video on how your product works like the folks at Blendtec did with their Will it Blend Videos, or a video presentation of your best salesperson pitching your product. Record video interviews with industry experts… Use Video in your email, on your website instead of a blog post, on your social networking pages, and more
Check out Internet Video Magazine for the latest on Internet Video Articles, Tutorials, News, Book and Product Reviews – Everything you need to know in order to shoot, create and post your own Internet Video Masterpieces. Talk Fushion is an excellent fee-based platform for recording and uploading video and with Google Video and Flickr you can do it for free.
And read Jessica Kizorek’s book SHOW ME ~ Marketing With Video on the Internet
Want more ideas to promote your business on the WEB? Get a FREE copy of the 8-page Special Report Promoting Your Business on the WEB TODAY!
November 3rd, 2008
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