Promote Your Name with Novelties
This morning my daughter woke up with a severe ear ache for the second
day in a row. No question about it, time to take her to the doctor.
"Now where's the doctor's phone number?" I shouted, hurriedly thumbing
through the phone book.
"It's on the magnet on the refrigerator," my son yelled from the
next room.
As yes! Refrigerator magnets. If your business depends on people
remembering your name and number when they're at home, the refrigerator
magnet with your marketing message on it is an excellent way to make
sure your info is there when your clients and prospects need it.
Here is a good guideline for successfully marketing with "novelty"
items like pens, mugs, and calendars. Make sure your item will be
used by the kinds of people who make up your prospects and customers.
Also, people should be using your item during the times when they
need your services.
A coffee mug with your name makes a lot of sense if your business
is selling donuts.
Offer Advice Via Email
Bill Gates may not be the most popular man in America, just the richest.
Even his harshest critics give him credit for being a savvy business
person with an eye for predicting trends.
One trend that Gates predicts is that the Internet will become a
place where businesses, professionals, and consumers get highly personalized
advice.
If you've got a problem in your life or business, you can go straight
to a qualified expert to get quick and specific solutions.
Email is supremely suited for this kind of help and advice. You don't
need to adjust your schedule to mine. Just send me an email whenever
you want, and I'll give you the answer you need as soon as I can get
to the computer.
Email cuts down on the amount of time you have to spend socializing
with customers. It also helps you to work with several customers who
have similar needs all at the same time.
Think of ways you can offer your specialized advice or service via
email. For instance, can you offer tips that will advertise your expertise?
Let Your Commitment Shine
Nothing impresses customers and prospects like knowing that you are
committed to your business and clients.
I'd much rather have my TV repaired by a person who seems to revel
in the different designs of televisions, and is genuinely enthusiastic
about fixing mine (I know such a guy!).
Even though you may feel commitment toward your work and customers,
it may not be as apparent to those just starting to do business with
you.
Make everything in your business customer oriented. People need to
sense your commitment.
When Bill came to tune my piano, he asked me all about where I'd
gotten the piano, how long I'd had it, and the many times I'd moved
it. When he was finished tuning it, he played a mini concert for my
kids. Then he sent me a postcard thank you note.
There was no question in my mind that he was committed to his work,
and, most importantly, he was committed to me his customer.
