(Add to Favorites | View All Articles | Resource Directory)
|
|
|
Postcards Make It Rain Referrals
One of the simplest ways to expand your marketing efforts is through the consistent use of postcards. Create a list of narrowly targeted prospects and then hammer away at them with powerful marketing messages. One of the most effective ways to get a prospect's attention is to talk to them about problems you know they are facing. Create a card that describes, in some detail a problem a client had...then of course describe the brilliant solution you provided...and send them out to your clients, friends, contacts, and other network folks. I would try to get in the habit of making this a monthly mailing. Over time, everyone on your list will begin to expect your cards and grow to see that you can solve their problems too. But, I have found that one of the real ways to put this tactic into overdrive is you also ask them to forward this card to anyone they know who might have a similar challenge. The impact of this practice over time will create an automatic referral marketing machine. The longer you do it, the more effective it becomes. One of the great challenges of most small businesses is that they usually offer a variety of products, solutions, and services...but most clients tend to think of you only for what they perceive it is that you do. Sending these problem solving postcards is a great way to gently introduce them to everything you might be able to offer them. If you do this routinely you will be amazed at the results. Don't just do it once and forget it. Design your campaign with the idea that you are going to do at least 6 times and you will be far better off right from the start. Copyright 2004 John Jantsch About The Author John Jantsch is a marketing coach, creator of Duct Tape Marketing and the author of Referral Flood - How to create a flood of new business without spending one dime on advertising. Find out more at http://www.referralflood.com.
MORE RESOURCES: News provided by Yahoo! News and Google News What do Google's privacy policy changes mean to your small biz? - Crain's Chicago Business (blog) Small biz loan demand up, Federal Reserve says - CNNMoney Dividing the Family Fortune Small biz and targeted tax breaks moving in Fla. House - Bizjournals.com More Than Half of Canadian Small Business Owners Cite Dealing With Taxes as an Area of Significant Weakness in ... Video: Are small business credit cards worth it? 5 factors driving a surge in small-biz acquisitions - Crain's Chicago Business (blog) This Week in Small Business: Jobs! Small businesses can get online help |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Small Business Grants - Tips from the Pros Every business starts with an idea or a dream. To implement this idea or to turn your dream in to reality you require finance. The Misconceptions of the Value Of Disclosures in Franchising Disclosure laws in franchising are suppose to help the consumer. They don't. How to Manage Your Pipeline How is your pipeline structured?I assume most of you have heard about the sales pipeline. Your pipeline is what keeps your business going. Staying afloat when things get rocky No matter what kind of small business you have, you need read these "small business survival tips" which will help you to succeed. You may be in Internet business, traditional business, or you may be a local merchant with 150 employees; whichever, however or whatever--you've got to know how to keep your business alive during economic recessions. Creative Marketing Tips: Simple Things You Can Use In Your Business To Attract More Clients The single most important activity you can do in your small business is create a unique marketing strategy and plan. When was the last time you saw a company marketing themselves in an outrageous way? In this day and age it looks like everyone has read the same book on marketing - and sorry to say - that book doesn't work!What does work - is a little creativity, a little personality and a lot of effort to make yourself so different from your competition - that there is no real competition. Small Business - Is The Accounting Profession Ripping Them Off? My 16 year-old daughter said, "Gee Dad! You look just like an accountant" And she wasn't being complimentary. Accountants are perceived to be boring, stodgy and conservative. Doing Business With Friends: Five Tips for Preserving the Friendship... and Your Sanity! My colleague, Jane, recently lamented to me an all too familiar story about mixing business and friendship. Jane subcontracted copywriting work out her friend, Joan. The Key To Success - Choose The Right Partners Do you promote yourself as offering prompt, reliable and quality service?Of course - none of us promote ourselves as anything less, and equally we strive to provide this level of service all the time.So what happens when you take your networking to the next level, and start to offer referrals, or even establish partnerships or alliances for certain activities?Whatever you do at this point creates significant impact on your business and personal reputation - potentially positive and also potentially negative. Starting An E-Commerce Business: Baby Steps Starting your own e-commerce business can be quite the adventure. There is nothing wrong with falling head over heels in love with your ideas and plans and becoming overly excited, but always remember, feet first. 11 Things Small Business Owners Can Learn From Punxsutawney Phil 1. Look Over Your Shoulder - Of course, Punxsutawney Phil has to look over his to search for his shadow. Deciding Which State To Incorporate Your Small Business In Once you've decided to incorporate your small business the next step is deciding which state to incorporate in. A common misconception is that businesses must incorporate in their state of operation. Winning in Business - Lessons from Lance Armstrong Lance Armstrong this week won an unprecedented 7th Tour de France victory, confirming him as one of the greatest cyclists of all time. The fact that he won more Tour victories than anyone else in history is remarkable. Secrets Revealed To Having The Most Professional Staff On The Telephone! Do you have all the customers your business can use?The seemingly simple task of taking phone calls is a hidden liability for not just some, but most businesses. You've invested precious dollars in advertising and marketing. FTC Report on Franchise Rule Making; What Purpose? The Federal Trade Commission out of the blue decide in November of 2004 that they wanted to revamp the franchise and business opportunity rule; specifically addressing franchising. Now then, why now? To prove to the masses that the Federal Trade Commission is in control? After all it is nearly 10 years after the Federal Trade Commission considered revising the rule, before this report has surfaced again. Have You Thanked Your Competitors Today? Competition in the business world is often viewed as a negative thing, but it doesn't have to be. Competition can benefit you, your competitor, and especially your customer!Let's look at some of the ways in which competitors can help you:1) They prevent you from becoming lazy and overly comfortable in your business practices. Understanding Franchise Releationships in a Franchised Business Now that you have invested your time, energy and money in buying a franchise, how do you work within the system? How do you take advantage of all your franchisor has to offer? How do you deal with your counterparts, other franchisees?In this chapter, I will give you tips that will help you thrive and prosper in your new business.CommunicationIn any franchise organization, it's important to maintain open communications lines. How to Make Your Business Image Stand Out Above The Crowd Traditional advertising methods are still being used for almost 90% of businesses today. The number one problem with this, is that all everyone else seems to be following the same old methods. Presentations and Sales Automotive Detailers Many auto detailers fall short in their sales presentations. I have often shopped the competition to see what their knowledge base was to gage their worthiness as a formidable competitor in the market place. Dont Let Your Small Business Fall in the FDCPA Trap When someone owes your small business money, you certainly feel like a victim. But did you know that if you aren't careful, you could break the law by trying to get the money back?How to Break a Federal Debt Collection LawYou have a small business, and your bills are coming due soon. Get In Touch With Your Competition! We all know that competition is an ugly word but competitors are a fact of life in business. If your business can't compete with other businesses, don't start it.
|
| Home | Site Map | Privacy Statement | More Articles |
| © 2006 |