I've been thinking a lot lately about online internet printing...something that, in a sense, we offer, too, with our website and our online ordering and our online estimating. But I was thinking about why anyone would pick an online printer when they could pick us instead.
Is www.mybigfatonlineprinter.com going to pick up the phone at 7 p.m. when you are having a crisis? Are they going to work on Super Bowl Sunday because you have a big presentation on Monday? No. But here is the other thing. They don't buy stuff from you. They don't send kids to your schools. They don't talk to you at the grocery store.
So what's a local printer to do? For that matter, what's the owner of any small, local company supposed to do when faced with larger or out-of-market competitors online?
For me, I decided to fight back... and I came up with a BRILLIANT plan. Ready? I'm going to offer you incredible service, incredible quality, and be incredibly responsive to you. Best of all, I'm going to do ALL of that at a fair price! I know -- IT'S UNBELIEVABLE!
Okay, I'm at the office, and I'm waiting for your call!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Social media sites are eager to answer your questions
Gotta question? Or maybe an answer? It seems more and more social media sites are listening. LinkedIn has long had a LinkedIn Answers feature, where people can ask business-related questions and get answers from experts in the community. Facebook added Facebook Questions late last year, and Quora, a relatively new kid on the block, is based entirely on questions and answers from members of its growing community.
Question and answer features provide an excellent opportunity for finding information and for setting yourself apart as an expert in your field. On Quora, for example, members can view questions based on topic, follow specific topics that interest them to see what others are asking, follow specific questions to see new answers as they appear, and rate answers, so the best answers work their way to the top of the heap. The Quora website is built on a structure similar to Wikipedia and uses moderators to ensure content is appropriate.
Starting out on any new social site can be a bit daunting. Before asking a new question on Quora, Facebook Questions, or a similar website, look for similar questions that have already been posted. With thousands of questions in place on virtually every topic under the sun, don't be surprised if your question has already been asked and answered. As you become more familiar with the site, start answering questions that fit your area of expertise. Engage with other users who share your interests, and stay involved.
For more information about Quora, visit http://www.quora.com. To learn more about Facebook Questions, visit http://www.facebook.com/questions/. And to join the conversation at LinkedIn, go to http://www.LinkedIn.com/answers/.
Question and answer features provide an excellent opportunity for finding information and for setting yourself apart as an expert in your field. On Quora, for example, members can view questions based on topic, follow specific topics that interest them to see what others are asking, follow specific questions to see new answers as they appear, and rate answers, so the best answers work their way to the top of the heap. The Quora website is built on a structure similar to Wikipedia and uses moderators to ensure content is appropriate.
Starting out on any new social site can be a bit daunting. Before asking a new question on Quora, Facebook Questions, or a similar website, look for similar questions that have already been posted. With thousands of questions in place on virtually every topic under the sun, don't be surprised if your question has already been asked and answered. As you become more familiar with the site, start answering questions that fit your area of expertise. Engage with other users who share your interests, and stay involved.
For more information about Quora, visit http://www.quora.com. To learn more about Facebook Questions, visit http://www.facebook.com/questions/. And to join the conversation at LinkedIn, go to http://www.LinkedIn.com/answers/.
The surprising value of a lifelong customer
How many customers do you have? A florist might say 1,000. Printers -- well, we have a few, too, right? How much is your average sale? For realtors (according to Google) -- about $260,000. For florists (I'm guessing here) -- $100. Printers... well, you know what you spend with us.
So think about it this way:
The big money isn't in creating products; it's in creating customers. A single, lifelong customer who lives his life spending the way you want him to may be worth six or seven figures. A single one.
That guy who spends $2,500 a year with you is worth $60,000 over a lifetime (25 years). That means you only need SIXTEEN lifetime customers to reach a million dollars. Want $10 million? That is only 160 lifetime customers.
Yes, I know it doesn't work that way all the time, or for everyone. But I also know this. Customer loyalty counts. And that's worth a million every time.
So think about it this way:
The big money isn't in creating products; it's in creating customers. A single, lifelong customer who lives his life spending the way you want him to may be worth six or seven figures. A single one.
That guy who spends $2,500 a year with you is worth $60,000 over a lifetime (25 years). That means you only need SIXTEEN lifetime customers to reach a million dollars. Want $10 million? That is only 160 lifetime customers.
Yes, I know it doesn't work that way all the time, or for everyone. But I also know this. Customer loyalty counts. And that's worth a million every time.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Marketing Ideas for Real Estate
There are so many ways to market Real Estate Companies, Agents and the properties you sell. Here are some ideas that are easy to implement and are sure to increase your exposure.
#1: Flyers & Brochures: Flyers can be an essential part of selling a house. You should always have them in a flyer box at the house so that people can pick up information about the property at any time. Brochures are a great tool for information about you, your company and what you can bring to the table as their real estate agent. It is also a great tool for the high-end properties that have more amenities and more to feature.
#2: Postcards: Postcards are a great way to get the word out about a property or to keep in touch with new leads or past clients. They keep you top of mind when someone is looking to buy or sell a property and can peak someone's interest that may see a home they like and want to buy even if they weren't even in the market for a home at the time.
#3: Banners: When you have an Open House, why not add a banner to get attention at the property? You can get a generic banner that says something like "Come on in - Open House Today" or "Come see your new home today at our Open House" or something along those lines. That way you can use it for all of your properties when you have an Open House.
#4: Door Hangers: This is one way that will get you noticed and can work the same ways as a postcard if not even better. We all notice when there is a door hanger on our door, they are pretty hard to miss. The best way to get them to notice especially for houses is to put some prices of properties "Just Sold" in their area, what owner wouldn't want to know their homes value? Then it will peak their interest and maybe they will be ready to buy or sell.
#5: QR Codes: Those are the barcodes that look like puzzle pieces that are popping up everywhere nowadays. I would recommend adding sign riders that have the barcode on it so people can get instant information on their mobile phone, add it to business cards, flyers, brochures, door hangers, banners, postcards and any other marketing materials that you have. It is a quick and easy way to get information about the house for the buyers who might be interested and to also get your contact information, which just might get you that sale!
Hall Letter Shop can help you with all your marketing materials and can help you find ways to maximize your selling potential with the right tools for your real estate business. Call us at 877-322-0773 to see how we can help you!
#1: Flyers & Brochures: Flyers can be an essential part of selling a house. You should always have them in a flyer box at the house so that people can pick up information about the property at any time. Brochures are a great tool for information about you, your company and what you can bring to the table as their real estate agent. It is also a great tool for the high-end properties that have more amenities and more to feature.
#2: Postcards: Postcards are a great way to get the word out about a property or to keep in touch with new leads or past clients. They keep you top of mind when someone is looking to buy or sell a property and can peak someone's interest that may see a home they like and want to buy even if they weren't even in the market for a home at the time.
#3: Banners: When you have an Open House, why not add a banner to get attention at the property? You can get a generic banner that says something like "Come on in - Open House Today" or "Come see your new home today at our Open House" or something along those lines. That way you can use it for all of your properties when you have an Open House.
#4: Door Hangers: This is one way that will get you noticed and can work the same ways as a postcard if not even better. We all notice when there is a door hanger on our door, they are pretty hard to miss. The best way to get them to notice especially for houses is to put some prices of properties "Just Sold" in their area, what owner wouldn't want to know their homes value? Then it will peak their interest and maybe they will be ready to buy or sell.
#5: QR Codes: Those are the barcodes that look like puzzle pieces that are popping up everywhere nowadays. I would recommend adding sign riders that have the barcode on it so people can get instant information on their mobile phone, add it to business cards, flyers, brochures, door hangers, banners, postcards and any other marketing materials that you have. It is a quick and easy way to get information about the house for the buyers who might be interested and to also get your contact information, which just might get you that sale!
Hall Letter Shop can help you with all your marketing materials and can help you find ways to maximize your selling potential with the right tools for your real estate business. Call us at 877-322-0773 to see how we can help you!
Friday, January 14, 2011
The Nation's Mood, According to Twitter
Researchers using data from Twitter, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Google Maps API have mapped the mood of our nation over a three-year span, based primarily on what we tweeted about during that time. A joint venture of scientists at Harvard and Northeastern universities, the study looked at 300 million tweets sent between September 2006 and August 2009. Here are some of the findings:
* Tweeters tend to be happiest early in the morning (around 6:00am) and later in the day (around 10:30-11:00pm). Moods dip to their lowest in the early afternoon, then slowly begin to rise again.
* Not surprisingly, weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) are the happiest days of the week. In fact, Sunday morning ranks the highest overall.
* Thursday -- not Monday -- sees the lowest dip, on average, of any of the days. Our collective mood bottoms out on Thursday evenings, apparently.
Tweets were scored against the Affective Norms for English Words (ANEW) word list to determine their overall "mood." The researchers say they plan to continue their work into the future, with further breakdowns of weekday versus weekend moods.
More details can be found online at the study's website:
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/amislove/twittermood/
* Tweeters tend to be happiest early in the morning (around 6:00am) and later in the day (around 10:30-11:00pm). Moods dip to their lowest in the early afternoon, then slowly begin to rise again.
* Not surprisingly, weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) are the happiest days of the week. In fact, Sunday morning ranks the highest overall.
* Thursday -- not Monday -- sees the lowest dip, on average, of any of the days. Our collective mood bottoms out on Thursday evenings, apparently.
Tweets were scored against the Affective Norms for English Words (ANEW) word list to determine their overall "mood." The researchers say they plan to continue their work into the future, with further breakdowns of weekday versus weekend moods.
More details can be found online at the study's website:
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/amislove/twittermood/
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Marketing Ideas for Retail Businesses
There are many ways to market your retail business and increase your sales! Here are a few ideas to help you get started.
#1-Custom Tags & Labels: Stand out and brand all your merchandise! If you sell candy bars, have the wrapper label be customized with your name on it. If you sell clothes, have your own price tags made so everyone knows where it came from. If you sell other merchandise, get labels made to place on your merchandise so that the customer always remember where they got it from. These are just a few ideas, depending on your specific business, there may be many more ideas to brand your items.
#2-Banners: Have a banner made that you can post outside of your business to draw attention and lure customers to come in. Whether it is a grand opening or just to highlight specific merchandise, if the customer doesn't know you are there...they can't buy from you.
#3-Newsletters, Postcards & Brochures: Keep your customers informed with a mailed newsletter, postcard or brochure. It can give the sales information, new products, company news and anything else you want to share. It is a great way to keep you top of mind with your customers and have them coming back for more.
#4-Flyers: Get the word out about your company with flyers. Whether you are having someone distribute flyers or put them in the bags of your customers, they are another way of getting the attention of the customer if you are promoting a sale or new products or just trying to get them back into the store.
#5-Scratch-off Promotions: Give out scratch off tickets with prizes to your customers, you can give away small items that will get them to come back for more whether it is a discount or an item from your store.
Those are just some of the many ways to promote your retail business! Call us at Hall Letter Shop at 877-322-0773 to find out how we can help with the above strategies or for any other ideas to help market your business!
#1-Custom Tags & Labels: Stand out and brand all your merchandise! If you sell candy bars, have the wrapper label be customized with your name on it. If you sell clothes, have your own price tags made so everyone knows where it came from. If you sell other merchandise, get labels made to place on your merchandise so that the customer always remember where they got it from. These are just a few ideas, depending on your specific business, there may be many more ideas to brand your items.
#2-Banners: Have a banner made that you can post outside of your business to draw attention and lure customers to come in. Whether it is a grand opening or just to highlight specific merchandise, if the customer doesn't know you are there...they can't buy from you.
#3-Newsletters, Postcards & Brochures: Keep your customers informed with a mailed newsletter, postcard or brochure. It can give the sales information, new products, company news and anything else you want to share. It is a great way to keep you top of mind with your customers and have them coming back for more.
#4-Flyers: Get the word out about your company with flyers. Whether you are having someone distribute flyers or put them in the bags of your customers, they are another way of getting the attention of the customer if you are promoting a sale or new products or just trying to get them back into the store.
#5-Scratch-off Promotions: Give out scratch off tickets with prizes to your customers, you can give away small items that will get them to come back for more whether it is a discount or an item from your store.
Those are just some of the many ways to promote your retail business! Call us at Hall Letter Shop at 877-322-0773 to find out how we can help with the above strategies or for any other ideas to help market your business!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Marketing Ideas for Restaurants
So, I will touch on new ways to use marketing materials to advertise different types of business.
Let's start with restaurants. Having a restaurant can be alot of work whether it is small or large, marketing is on your mind but what can you do to get it started or expand it?
#1: Beautiful Menus: This is something that I think is sort of obvious but at the same time, there are many different ways you can use a menu to impress customers. Besides the font, images and the paper that you use, you can make it a unique shape such as in the shape of a bowl or plate, a slice of pizza, an animal or anything you wanted to that makes sense for your restaurant.
#2: Banners: A big banner outside your restaurant can catch the attention of people passing by! I know I notice banners when driving by a restaurant because it will have happy hour specials or discounts or grand opening information, etc.
#3: Door hangers: People will pay attention to what you put on their doors especially if it is a restaurant since they usually have discounts on them or might have delivery. Whether you are having a grand opening or have been around a long time, let people know you are there and ready to feed them great food!
#4: Scratch off tickets: Give out scratch off tickets with prizes to your customers, you can give away small items that will get them to come back for more whether it is a menu item or a drink or a item that you bought.
Those are just a few ideas. Visit us at http://www.hallprintmail.com for all your printing needs!
Let's start with restaurants. Having a restaurant can be alot of work whether it is small or large, marketing is on your mind but what can you do to get it started or expand it?
#1: Beautiful Menus: This is something that I think is sort of obvious but at the same time, there are many different ways you can use a menu to impress customers. Besides the font, images and the paper that you use, you can make it a unique shape such as in the shape of a bowl or plate, a slice of pizza, an animal or anything you wanted to that makes sense for your restaurant.
#2: Banners: A big banner outside your restaurant can catch the attention of people passing by! I know I notice banners when driving by a restaurant because it will have happy hour specials or discounts or grand opening information, etc.
#3: Door hangers: People will pay attention to what you put on their doors especially if it is a restaurant since they usually have discounts on them or might have delivery. Whether you are having a grand opening or have been around a long time, let people know you are there and ready to feed them great food!
#4: Scratch off tickets: Give out scratch off tickets with prizes to your customers, you can give away small items that will get them to come back for more whether it is a menu item or a drink or a item that you bought.
Those are just a few ideas. Visit us at http://www.hallprintmail.com for all your printing needs!
Follow-up is still crucial in today's wired world
Even in today's wired world of Twitter, LinkedIn, email, and smartphones, everyone misses an occasional call or is away when an important email arrives. Follow-up is essential in these instances to let your customer know you care.
When a customer contacts you, it's imperative that you follow up as quickly as you can. Even if you don't have time to give the customer's issue your immediate attention, provide them with a quick status update to acknowledge you've received their message and are working on the problem.
Unless the person tells you how they prefer being contacted, follow up the same way they first contacted you. If the person emailed you, reply with an email. If they left a voice mail, reply by phone. If they tweeted you, tweet them back. Some people prefer one means of communication over another. Usually, that preferred method is the one they will use when contacting you.
If you're working on a long-term issue with a customer, check in frequently to let them know you're still on the case. Even if you don't have a solution yet, just knowing you care enough to stay in touch will help to put their minds at ease.
When a customer contacts you, it's imperative that you follow up as quickly as you can. Even if you don't have time to give the customer's issue your immediate attention, provide them with a quick status update to acknowledge you've received their message and are working on the problem.
Unless the person tells you how they prefer being contacted, follow up the same way they first contacted you. If the person emailed you, reply with an email. If they left a voice mail, reply by phone. If they tweeted you, tweet them back. Some people prefer one means of communication over another. Usually, that preferred method is the one they will use when contacting you.
If you're working on a long-term issue with a customer, check in frequently to let them know you're still on the case. Even if you don't have a solution yet, just knowing you care enough to stay in touch will help to put their minds at ease.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Social media basics for busy business people
We've all heard about the importance of social networking, but what is social networking exactly? A social network focuses on building a group of people who share common interests and activities. In this case, we're talking about online social networking... the biggest free party in the world. Social networks make it easier for people to interact with each other. But social networking has a lot of outlets (Twitter, Facebook, blogs, LinkedIn), and it can become a time-intense process to effectively track, converse, monitor, and manage them.
But if social networking is so time intensive, why bother? Selling is selling. You can't get away from that. Social networking doesn't -- and shouldn't -- replace selling. Social networking is part of MARKETING. Selling and marketing are two sides of the same coin. And since coin is what we're trying to get in your pocket, we need to pay attention.
Small Business Magazine advises, "We all know how important word of mouth is, and social networking is like word of mouth on steroids. As a business, it's vital to tap into and join online conversations not only about your brand, but also those about your competitors, your industry, and your areas of expertise."
The social networking tools you choose depend on what you want to accomplish, how much time you can commit, and where your comfort level lies. To simplify things, I'm only going to stick with four basic social networking tools you might find helpful: Facebook, blogs, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Facebook
Benefits: Great for keeping in touch with friends and far-flung family...now also used well for businesses.
How to use it: Create a Facebook page JUST for your business, then update it one to two times per week. Join in discussions about topics relevant to your business and customer base. A printer, for example, might join conversations about local area businesses and the chamber of commerce.
Blogs
Benefits: Terrific for your search engine optimization. A great way to let people know what is going on with your business. Somewhat more personal feeling than a standard website.
How to use it: Lots of great, free blogging tools are available. If you decide to start a blog, you should commit to posting at least one blog entry per week, to encourage repeat readership and maximize the SEO benefits.
Twitter
Benefits: Short and sweet. Allows people to follow you and get information that is up-to-date and content rich in short sentences.
How to use it: For Twitter, you'll want to post something fresh every day. Don't tweet about what you're doing at the moment. Instead, tweet links to helpful websites and articles people might find fascinating. Follow your competitors and customers on Twitter, and listen to what they're saying and doing.
LinkedIn
Benefits: A great business networking site. Easy and common sense.
How to use it: Add updates at least once per month. Join groups relevant to your business. And answer questions from other members.
But if social networking is so time intensive, why bother? Selling is selling. You can't get away from that. Social networking doesn't -- and shouldn't -- replace selling. Social networking is part of MARKETING. Selling and marketing are two sides of the same coin. And since coin is what we're trying to get in your pocket, we need to pay attention.
Small Business Magazine advises, "We all know how important word of mouth is, and social networking is like word of mouth on steroids. As a business, it's vital to tap into and join online conversations not only about your brand, but also those about your competitors, your industry, and your areas of expertise."
The social networking tools you choose depend on what you want to accomplish, how much time you can commit, and where your comfort level lies. To simplify things, I'm only going to stick with four basic social networking tools you might find helpful: Facebook, blogs, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Benefits: Great for keeping in touch with friends and far-flung family...now also used well for businesses.
How to use it: Create a Facebook page JUST for your business, then update it one to two times per week. Join in discussions about topics relevant to your business and customer base. A printer, for example, might join conversations about local area businesses and the chamber of commerce.
Blogs
Benefits: Terrific for your search engine optimization. A great way to let people know what is going on with your business. Somewhat more personal feeling than a standard website.
How to use it: Lots of great, free blogging tools are available. If you decide to start a blog, you should commit to posting at least one blog entry per week, to encourage repeat readership and maximize the SEO benefits.
Benefits: Short and sweet. Allows people to follow you and get information that is up-to-date and content rich in short sentences.
How to use it: For Twitter, you'll want to post something fresh every day. Don't tweet about what you're doing at the moment. Instead, tweet links to helpful websites and articles people might find fascinating. Follow your competitors and customers on Twitter, and listen to what they're saying and doing.
Benefits: A great business networking site. Easy and common sense.
How to use it: Add updates at least once per month. Join groups relevant to your business. And answer questions from other members.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tips to bring your email under control
Have you heard the phrase "inbox zero"? It refers to having no messages unread and unacted upon in your email inbox. With so many messages coming in all day long from colleagues, clients, retailers, and opt-in services (such as e-newsletters, newsgroups, and other subscriptions), is inbox zero even possible? In some cases, maybe not. But even if your inbox seems completely out of control, there are some things you can do to tidy it up and restore some sense of sanity.
For starters, create folders and subfolders where you can store messages in a more organized manner for future followup. Start with folders for email from clients, email from colleagues, newsletter subscriptions, etc. Add a folder for urgent messages requiring immediate attention, and consider a folder for each day of the week, where you can drop messages that require action on those particular days.
Once you have your folders in place, set up mail filters to automatically route your messages to the appropriate place. Filters are especially helpful for subscriptions and newsgroup messages, which might otherwise clog up your inbox. By having those messages routed automatically, you can focus your attention on the rest of your mail or check a specific folder at a specified time and see just the messages that are relevant for you at that time.
Another option is to set up an alternate email address for opt-in newsletters, newsgroups, and online transactions. This will help to declutter your main email inbox, cut down on the "noise," and help you feel less overwhelmed. It will also have the added benefit of reducing unwanted and unsolicited emails, as spambots won't have a chance to grab your primary email address off discussion boards, comment screens, and the like.
And finally, once you've acted on a message, delete it or archive it for future reference. Many people who struggle with inbox overload exacerbate the problem by leaving messages in their inbox, even after they are no longer relevant. If you can't bring yourself to part with old messages, archive them instead, somewhere outside the inbox, where they won't get in the way.
For starters, create folders and subfolders where you can store messages in a more organized manner for future followup. Start with folders for email from clients, email from colleagues, newsletter subscriptions, etc. Add a folder for urgent messages requiring immediate attention, and consider a folder for each day of the week, where you can drop messages that require action on those particular days.
Once you have your folders in place, set up mail filters to automatically route your messages to the appropriate place. Filters are especially helpful for subscriptions and newsgroup messages, which might otherwise clog up your inbox. By having those messages routed automatically, you can focus your attention on the rest of your mail or check a specific folder at a specified time and see just the messages that are relevant for you at that time.
Another option is to set up an alternate email address for opt-in newsletters, newsgroups, and online transactions. This will help to declutter your main email inbox, cut down on the "noise," and help you feel less overwhelmed. It will also have the added benefit of reducing unwanted and unsolicited emails, as spambots won't have a chance to grab your primary email address off discussion boards, comment screens, and the like.
And finally, once you've acted on a message, delete it or archive it for future reference. Many people who struggle with inbox overload exacerbate the problem by leaving messages in their inbox, even after they are no longer relevant. If you can't bring yourself to part with old messages, archive them instead, somewhere outside the inbox, where they won't get in the way.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Not all PR is good PR after all
Just weeks ago, negative comments on Internet review sites (Yelp, Google Places etc.) were as good for your SEO as bad ones. Google has changed the rules.
The argument used to be that Google couldn't downgrade your ranking based on negative comments because that meant your competitors could hurt you, even when what they said wasn't true.
Google's policy seemed to make sense, but what happened was that Google counted the number of reviews (quantity) and how fast the reviews came (velocity), not the context (good or bad) of the review. Consequently, 1,000 horrible reviews that came in during a single week actually BOOSTED rankings, while four good reviews over a period of a year did little or nothing.
All of that changed recently. Now, Google is going to weigh good reviews over bad reviews, but this has a lot of issues, too. It means you need to watch out for mentions of you EVERYWHERE, and you need to stay on top of them. Seriously.
So how do you do that?
There are actually a lot of interesting services out there that can help you...and (of course) Google tops the list. You can set up a "Google Alert" (http://www.google.com/alerts) with the name of your company and get an email if there is a mention. You can have an alert sent to your phone if there is a mention of you on Twitter, too. But what about all the other stuff? What if someone disses you on Yelp or Facebook?
Here is a list of services that you can use to keep track of your brand online. http://is.gd/j5YgX
The argument used to be that Google couldn't downgrade your ranking based on negative comments because that meant your competitors could hurt you, even when what they said wasn't true.
Google's policy seemed to make sense, but what happened was that Google counted the number of reviews (quantity) and how fast the reviews came (velocity), not the context (good or bad) of the review. Consequently, 1,000 horrible reviews that came in during a single week actually BOOSTED rankings, while four good reviews over a period of a year did little or nothing.
All of that changed recently. Now, Google is going to weigh good reviews over bad reviews, but this has a lot of issues, too. It means you need to watch out for mentions of you EVERYWHERE, and you need to stay on top of them. Seriously.
So how do you do that?
There are actually a lot of interesting services out there that can help you...and (of course) Google tops the list. You can set up a "Google Alert" (http://www.google.com/alerts) with the name of your company and get an email if there is a mention. You can have an alert sent to your phone if there is a mention of you on Twitter, too. But what about all the other stuff? What if someone disses you on Yelp or Facebook?
Here is a list of services that you can use to keep track of your brand online. http://is.gd/j5YgX
Monday, December 27, 2010
Celebrating Your Company's Anniversary
We have a client who recently celebrated 15 years in business. Not that it matters, but 15 years is the average lifespan of a woodchuck. Being around for 15 years can be a big deal for small businesses and woodchucks.
It's important that your customers know about your longevity. People like doing business with companies that have been around for awhile. It makes them confident you know what you're doing. It's that competency thing you've heard so much about.
Sometimes, people are shy about getting older. My mother said her birthday is "just another day." When I'm 95, I'm going to celebrate every day as if it's my birthday. I'm going to let everyone know that I've made it another day, and I'm not going to be shy about it. Party like a rock star.
You shouldn't be shy about celebrating your business anniversary. It's an important event and will cost nowhere near what it costs to marry off your daughter. Given all the goodwill marketing you will receive, getting out the word is extremely inexpensive. We all like inexpensive.
Start with anniversary labels. Stock labels have been around for years. Stock labels look like stock labels. If you take marketing seriously, spend a few more pennies and get some custom made. Stick them on everything. Next year, they will be as passe as today's television network schedules.
How about some thank you cards for loyal customers? People like thank you cards, and it's becoming a lost art. Thank you for being with us over the long haul. Here's a 10% discount for being loyal. We need you, and I hope you need us. It's a partnership we'd like to continue in the future. It's a better deal than Conan O'Brien got from NBC.
Testimonials. Nothing is better than testimonials. Print a simple brochure you can stuff into every envelope you mail. "A good belt keeps your pants up, and there's no better place to buy a belt than Ernie's Belt Shop." I'm a printer. A few years ago, I did a testimonial for a paper company. I got four orders from it. Testimonials work two ways. It's a gimme.
There are so many more ideas. We can work together to see what fits you. Give me a call. Shoot me an email...and happy anniversary.
It's important that your customers know about your longevity. People like doing business with companies that have been around for awhile. It makes them confident you know what you're doing. It's that competency thing you've heard so much about.
Sometimes, people are shy about getting older. My mother said her birthday is "just another day." When I'm 95, I'm going to celebrate every day as if it's my birthday. I'm going to let everyone know that I've made it another day, and I'm not going to be shy about it. Party like a rock star.
You shouldn't be shy about celebrating your business anniversary. It's an important event and will cost nowhere near what it costs to marry off your daughter. Given all the goodwill marketing you will receive, getting out the word is extremely inexpensive. We all like inexpensive.
Start with anniversary labels. Stock labels have been around for years. Stock labels look like stock labels. If you take marketing seriously, spend a few more pennies and get some custom made. Stick them on everything. Next year, they will be as passe as today's television network schedules.
How about some thank you cards for loyal customers? People like thank you cards, and it's becoming a lost art. Thank you for being with us over the long haul. Here's a 10% discount for being loyal. We need you, and I hope you need us. It's a partnership we'd like to continue in the future. It's a better deal than Conan O'Brien got from NBC.
Testimonials. Nothing is better than testimonials. Print a simple brochure you can stuff into every envelope you mail. "A good belt keeps your pants up, and there's no better place to buy a belt than Ernie's Belt Shop." I'm a printer. A few years ago, I did a testimonial for a paper company. I got four orders from it. Testimonials work two ways. It's a gimme.
There are so many more ideas. We can work together to see what fits you. Give me a call. Shoot me an email...and happy anniversary.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Can you answer a few simple questions?
If I asked you, in an elevator, "Who buys your product or service?" could you tell me? Are you business to business? Business to consumer? What does your typical customer look like? What does your ideal customer look like? Who are your competitors? How are you different from them?
In a market saturated with choices, few companies have the luxury of customers coming to them because there is no place else to go. Unlike the post office, you aren't a monopoly. So knowing who you are going after, and what makes you different (and better), is pretty darn important.
Charen Smith writes, "Getting to know your market makes you aware of the individual peculiarities of the people that make up this particular sector." The more you know the people who buy what you sell, the more exactly you can market to them. The more exactly you market, the more "right" customers will come to you. So know your market... and your competition!
In a market saturated with choices, few companies have the luxury of customers coming to them because there is no place else to go. Unlike the post office, you aren't a monopoly. So knowing who you are going after, and what makes you different (and better), is pretty darn important.
Charen Smith writes, "Getting to know your market makes you aware of the individual peculiarities of the people that make up this particular sector." The more you know the people who buy what you sell, the more exactly you can market to them. The more exactly you market, the more "right" customers will come to you. So know your market... and your competition!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Too Much of a Good Thing
Choices are good, right? Yes... to a point. Neuropsychologist Susan Weinschenk wrote, "Resist the impulse to provide lots and lots of choices to your customers. Remember, they will say they want lots of choices, and you will think that lots of choices are a good thing (because you like them, too), but having too many choices means many customers won't buy at all."
Seriously, if your marketing is all over the place and you are offering a zillion different things in a zillion different ways, you are in real danger of driving customers away.
Study after study show that while people do want choices, having too many choices makes it harder for them to pick... and that means they might walk away in frustration.
So simplify your offers. Make it clear what the offer is and when that offer ends.
Hick's Law states that the time it takes to make a decision increases with the number and complexity of choices. As decision time increases, the user experience suffers. Don't make your customers suffer.
Seriously, if your marketing is all over the place and you are offering a zillion different things in a zillion different ways, you are in real danger of driving customers away.
Study after study show that while people do want choices, having too many choices makes it harder for them to pick... and that means they might walk away in frustration.
So simplify your offers. Make it clear what the offer is and when that offer ends.
Hick's Law states that the time it takes to make a decision increases with the number and complexity of choices. As decision time increases, the user experience suffers. Don't make your customers suffer.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
I'd Buy That for a Dollar
80% of your business is typically repeat customers. But about 80% of most marketing campaigns focus on new business. Marketing campaigns that are heavily focused on bringing in new customers ignore the fabulous potential of what you already have: a viable relationship with your current customers.
One marketing method that is tried and true for reaching an existing customer base is the customer survey. It allows customers to voice their opinions, share their concerns, and see how much you truly care about what they have to say.
Creating a survey is a fairly straightforward process. Getting your customers to respond to it might require a little extra work. One way to boost your response rate is to include a little cash with the survey as a way of thanking customers for their replies.
That's right. I said cash. Send a dollar or two with each survey. Not "we'll pay you on completion" or "here's something worth a dollar." Let your customers open up the mailer and have a dollar bill fall out. You may be amazed at the return you get!
The benefits of a survey are well worth the cost. Remember you are sending this to your EXISTING customers. They already know you, and they will give you invaluble information about what they aren't buying from you... and WHY!
There are many ways to increase response with your direct mail. Give us a call at 877-322-0773 to discuss how we can increase yours!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Advertising that makes a lasting impression
There aren't many advertising options that make a lasting impression unless they are extremely clever or are in your face all the time so I thought I would focus on some of the things businesses could do that would make their business be remembered.
#1: Notepads: Everyone uses them for business or personal use or both. If your branding is on it, they will see your marketing message every time they look at it and even when they aren't specifically thinking about your business, it could possibly remind them that they needed to call you for your product or service.
#2: Mousepads: This will work the same way as the notepads. Another constant reminder that they need to call you for your products or services. Have you seen Hall Letter Shop's notepads that work as a mousepad. We think they are kind of clever and people seem to love the idea!
Those are just a couple ways! We have a 25% discount on our personalized notepads right now. If interested, call us at 877-322-0773.
What are the ways you leave a lasting impression with your advertising?
#1: Notepads: Everyone uses them for business or personal use or both. If your branding is on it, they will see your marketing message every time they look at it and even when they aren't specifically thinking about your business, it could possibly remind them that they needed to call you for your product or service.
#2: Mousepads: This will work the same way as the notepads. Another constant reminder that they need to call you for your products or services. Have you seen Hall Letter Shop's notepads that work as a mousepad. We think they are kind of clever and people seem to love the idea!
Those are just a couple ways! We have a 25% discount on our personalized notepads right now. If interested, call us at 877-322-0773.
What are the ways you leave a lasting impression with your advertising?
QR Codes - Uses for Events
Whether Event Planning is your business or you plan events for your company or even personal events or just want to promote your attendance at an event, there are many ways you can use QR Codes to get the word out about your event.
#1: Apparel - Put your QR Code on T-Shirts. Have your staff and maybe even family/friends wear them and when it is scanned, it can go to your event information web page. You could also wear these at the event to promote other things.
#2: Your car - Put a QR Code on your car. Whether it is a magnetic sign or a sticker, it will attract attention and people can scan it as you drive by.
#3: Ticketing: Use QR Codes on your event tickets so you can scan them for entry to the event which will give you information about each individual person who attended the event. They have software that will create individual QR Codes for each attendee and it is possible to SMS the ticket buyer with their ticket instead of having to have a paper ticket which is a very green way to do it!
#4: Marketing Materials: Add a QR Code to your billboard, signage, banners, event flyers, invitations, newspaper ads, etc. It can go to the event page or a video talking about the event or right to the buy tickets page.
#5: Badges: Add QR Codes to the badges for your event. Whether it has information about your company or information about the badge wearer so vendors and event attendees can get more information about eachother easily, it is another great way to share information. To think, lets say you have 500 people at your event, that is 500 badges that have the potential to get scanned!
These are just some ideas of how you can use QR Codes for Events! Have you used them? Share with us your ideas for QR Codes.
Hall Letter Shop can help you integrate your marketing materials with QR Codes. Call us at 877-322-0773.
#1: Apparel - Put your QR Code on T-Shirts. Have your staff and maybe even family/friends wear them and when it is scanned, it can go to your event information web page. You could also wear these at the event to promote other things.
#2: Your car - Put a QR Code on your car. Whether it is a magnetic sign or a sticker, it will attract attention and people can scan it as you drive by.
#3: Ticketing: Use QR Codes on your event tickets so you can scan them for entry to the event which will give you information about each individual person who attended the event. They have software that will create individual QR Codes for each attendee and it is possible to SMS the ticket buyer with their ticket instead of having to have a paper ticket which is a very green way to do it!
#4: Marketing Materials: Add a QR Code to your billboard, signage, banners, event flyers, invitations, newspaper ads, etc. It can go to the event page or a video talking about the event or right to the buy tickets page.
#5: Badges: Add QR Codes to the badges for your event. Whether it has information about your company or information about the badge wearer so vendors and event attendees can get more information about eachother easily, it is another great way to share information. To think, lets say you have 500 people at your event, that is 500 badges that have the potential to get scanned!
These are just some ideas of how you can use QR Codes for Events! Have you used them? Share with us your ideas for QR Codes.
Hall Letter Shop can help you integrate your marketing materials with QR Codes. Call us at 877-322-0773.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Christmas gift ideas
Still looking for gifts for your family and friends? Here are some inexpensive ideas for the active person in your life.
Check out our Active Life Cards! They are perfect for parents or anyone who has hobbies or passion for the things they love.
We have cards for mom's and dad's to share their important contact information with other parents, teachers, sports teams and more!
We also have cards for social media lovers, motorcycle riders and clubs, sports enthusiasts, book clubs and most other hobbies!
They will use them when they are on the go and thank you for such a unique and thoughtful gift.
QR Codes - Uses for Retail Businesses
Part 2 of our uses for QR Codes will cover Retail businesses. There are many ways you can use QR Codes! For example, did you see Target's Toy Book this year? There were at least 3 QR Codes in the book that took the consumer to cute videos about each of the toys!
Here are some ways you can use QR Codes:
Marketing Materials:
Like Target, if you have a catalog or sheet with items, you can add QR Codes to it and send the customer right to that item on your website, to a video demonstration, to pictures of the item and more! If you have door hangers or postcards or even wall posters, you can also add QR Codes to that. If you have banners outside of your store, you can add a QR Code to it and potential customers can scan it while driving by to get more information, too. You can even add it to your signage!
Packaging:
Do you have custom packaging or tags? Adding a QR Codes to your packaging and tags can give the customers fast access to your website so they can buy more from you.
Items:
If you don't have custom packaging or tags, you could add a QR Code sticker to the bottom of an item so that the customer always remembers where they got it from and when they want more, all they have to do is scan the QR Code to order more! You could also add a QR Code sign next to an item that will send them to a demonstration video of that product or give them more details about how the item works.
Those are just a few ways you can use QR Codes for your retail business! Imagine what else you could do with them.
Don't have a brick and mortar store? Some of the solutions I mentioned will work for you, too!
Hall Letter Shop can help you implement QR Codes into your marketing. We also can help you with printing of packaging or tags, direct mail, door hangers and more! Call us at 877-322-0773.
Here are some ways you can use QR Codes:
Marketing Materials:
Like Target, if you have a catalog or sheet with items, you can add QR Codes to it and send the customer right to that item on your website, to a video demonstration, to pictures of the item and more! If you have door hangers or postcards or even wall posters, you can also add QR Codes to that. If you have banners outside of your store, you can add a QR Code to it and potential customers can scan it while driving by to get more information, too. You can even add it to your signage!
Packaging:
Do you have custom packaging or tags? Adding a QR Codes to your packaging and tags can give the customers fast access to your website so they can buy more from you.
Items:
If you don't have custom packaging or tags, you could add a QR Code sticker to the bottom of an item so that the customer always remembers where they got it from and when they want more, all they have to do is scan the QR Code to order more! You could also add a QR Code sign next to an item that will send them to a demonstration video of that product or give them more details about how the item works.
Those are just a few ways you can use QR Codes for your retail business! Imagine what else you could do with them.
Don't have a brick and mortar store? Some of the solutions I mentioned will work for you, too!
Hall Letter Shop can help you implement QR Codes into your marketing. We also can help you with printing of packaging or tags, direct mail, door hangers and more! Call us at 877-322-0773.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Uses for QR Codes: Let's start with Real Estate
QR Codes: You've seen them before. They look like black-and-white puzzles or games boards. You may have seen them in magazine advertisements, on billboards, or on the backs of business cards. You use your smart phone to scan it and it takes you to a website, gives you contact information, takes you to a video, etc.
How can I use this for my Real Estate Business?
Having been in Real Estate in different capacities myself for many years, there are many great ways to use QR Codes for your business.
#1: Listings:
You can put QR Codes on your flyers and postcards that take the potential buyer to a virtual tour, to more listing information or your contact information.
#2: Marketing Materials:
You can add a QR Code to your business card, brochures, listing packets, that will download your contact information on to their phone or have it go to your website to see the listings you have.
#3: Signs:
When you have your custom signs made with your name on it, add a QR Code on your sign or have a sign rider made for it so that potential buyers can scan it to go to your listings or get your contact information. Also, you can just make your own sign with a QR Code on it to use when you have an open house and put it on the corners and when it is scanned, they will get the open house information and location. You can also use those signs on the lawn of your house that you have for sale and the potential buyer wouldn't even have to get out of their car to scan it and see the information on the listing.
Here are just a few ideas for ways to use QR Codes for Real Estate! QR Codes are free to add to your marketing and it is an easy effective way to get more eyes looking at your listings!
Are you using QR Codes for your marketing currently? Share what has worked for you!
Hall Letter Shop can help you incorporate QR Codes into your marketing, give us a call at 877-322-0773.
How can I use this for my Real Estate Business?
Having been in Real Estate in different capacities myself for many years, there are many great ways to use QR Codes for your business.
#1: Listings:
You can put QR Codes on your flyers and postcards that take the potential buyer to a virtual tour, to more listing information or your contact information.
#2: Marketing Materials:
You can add a QR Code to your business card, brochures, listing packets, that will download your contact information on to their phone or have it go to your website to see the listings you have.
#3: Signs:
When you have your custom signs made with your name on it, add a QR Code on your sign or have a sign rider made for it so that potential buyers can scan it to go to your listings or get your contact information. Also, you can just make your own sign with a QR Code on it to use when you have an open house and put it on the corners and when it is scanned, they will get the open house information and location. You can also use those signs on the lawn of your house that you have for sale and the potential buyer wouldn't even have to get out of their car to scan it and see the information on the listing.
Here are just a few ideas for ways to use QR Codes for Real Estate! QR Codes are free to add to your marketing and it is an easy effective way to get more eyes looking at your listings!
Are you using QR Codes for your marketing currently? Share what has worked for you!
Hall Letter Shop can help you incorporate QR Codes into your marketing, give us a call at 877-322-0773.
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