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Archive for the ‘Ummm Marketing’ Category

Small Business Saturday: Tools for Every Day Use

Nov
2011

Big props go out to an unlikely source: the Big Fellas at American Express. While we look at them as a deep-pocketed corporation, we prefer to give credit where credit is due: their push for Small Business Saturday is pretty cool and extremely well-organized and thought out. This year, it seems better than ever; take for example the Small Business Saturday Checklist. Don’t you think this thing can be used for marketing efforts all year long? We sure do.

Visit their dedicated website and Facebook Fan Page. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at all the tips and ideas they’ve assembled for small business owners. Oh and make sure to “Like” the idea by pledging to shop locally.

Advertising Your Online Presence in the Offline World

Aug
2011

Would you provide just a street name if you were advertising your business? Probably not. You want people to be able to easily find your place of business, so you would most likely provide an address that would tell them exactly where you’re located. Well, believe it or not, the same thing applies when you’re trying to get customers to become a fan/followers on Facebook and Twitter and any other social spaces you’re on. When advertising on the internet you have the luxury of linked icons that customers can click to go to your page. Unfortunately, this doesn’t translate over into other types of media, such as print advertising. Telling someone to simply find you on Facebook without providing a URL or handle is like suggesting a customer find you on Main St. It doesn’t actually tell them where they can find you, plus leaves it to chance — quite possibly they might find your competitor first!

There is a very easy solution to guarantee that customers don’t get lost. Display your URL(s) prominently— problem solved! Wear your Facebook and Twitter URL loud and proud, as they are as much a part of your company’s brand as anything else. If the Facebook.com/MarketingJava URL is too long for you to fit in your advertisement, FB.com/MarketingJava is also an option. Similarly, if you Twitter.Com/MarketingJava is taking up too much space, a simple @MarketingJava should be enough to let your customers find you. (Bear in mind you need to actually “claim” these names to use them!)

Twitter: You’re Either In or You’re Out

Aug
2009

Part of a new initiative I’ve embarked on this year is providing a workshop series for small business owners in my area. A portion of what we’re putting out there is some basic marketing training, both in traditional and non-traditional spaces. It’s certainly not the first time I’ve trained people in these areas, but in this recent forum, we were discussing Twitter – a very new topic for for some people. Many were very excited at the opportunity to embark on the journey, eager to learn how to manage and use it best. Others were less so, skeptically holding fast to a fear of their time being overrun by it. I understand both points of view, but pose today that like any form of marketing for your business, you either embrace it or you don’t, but be mindful that either way, it will carry on without you. For the small business owner still in a holding pattern, consider these points:

According to a Nielsen study of more than 25,000 Internet users, 90% said they trust recommendations of online people they know and 70% trusted the opinions of people who commented online about previous purchases, even though they might not know them personally
The respondents in the Society for New Communications Research study revealed that 59.1% use social media spaces to vent their complaints
69% of people do their homework online first before making a purchase offline

Nobody Reads Your Printed Materials

Aug
2009

Your marketing folders and presentation materials may never be read. It’s sad, but for the most part true. Why do I believe this? It’s simple: it’s just too much. Aside from a concise brochure and business card (or obviously proposals and agreements) people are hard-pressed to find the time, let alone the interest, to read your long-winded materials. It’s hard to fathom, but your fancy paper and well-written copy might just end up in the recycle bin. Take heart though, as there are several steps you can make see that your potential clients learn everything they need to about you. How, you say, without a pretty folder in their hands? By a click of the mouse, I say.

Business Cards Keep It Real

Mar
2009

card I’ve been struck at recent mixers where there is an odd snobbishness surrounding the use of business cards. “Why do people even have these, we’re in the tech age.” Sure we are kids, but nothing beats handing a card to someone that sums up everything, most importantly, how to contact someone you’ve just met, or even refer them to a colleague with ease later on.

I will often claim that being a female means I’m equipped with a mind like a steel trap, but the fact of the matter is even the sharpest of us can’t remember everything, especially if cocktails are involved. And what if my Blackberry got run over by a scooter, the precious new data all but destroyed? Besides, don’t cards speak volumes about the person and their business? Of course they do, and you can learn a lot about their company culture, ideas, and innovations in that little space. Other great side effects from having your cards handy:

The Simplest Marketing? Stickers

Feb
2009

easton Every company under the sun wants to promote themselves. They can spend truckloads of money on advertising and pricey giveaways, but do you know the one thing that could get your name out en masse without breaking the bank? Stickers. What does a sticker give you? Exposure, an audience, and people walking around promoting you, whether they know it or not. Quick! Name me three companies you’ve seen stickers for, and here are mine: In and Out Burger, Sex Wax, and Sector Nine. All use very cool stickers, all enjoy success and an army of people promoting them for the cost of a sticker.