If you aren’t doing so already, casually survey all clients before they cash out. Kindly request their permission to ask them basic questions about their occupation, their use of time, the reason why they’re in front of you, what they like (and would improve) about their experience, and so on. This will … Read more
Conduct a window display contest (instead of a sidewalk sale). Make voter cards available, and encourage participants to vote on their favorite display. Offer free samples to entice voters to try your product or service. Maintain a guestbook to track traffic and build your contact database.
Conduct exit interviews anytime you have an employee submit his resignation. In conducting this survey, you begin to determine where you’re falling short in keeping your people. Often, you’ll find that money isn’t the top issue. What you’re looking for is how you are able to improve your internal marketing. How do … Read more
A restaurant might have a cooking contest for newly graduated local chefs. During the event, the restaurant would charge ten dollars per person to sample all the showcased dishes. Attendees must vote on which dish is the best. The dish that wins gets on the menu (which should tell the story about … Read more
Create an aromatic environment by using vaporizers or oils. Have you ever walked past a restaurant or café and been captured by the rich or appetizing aroma wafting from inside? Studies have shown that customers linger longer in aromatic environments. Our sense of smell is the only sense that isn’t filtered by … Read more
Question: Your SEO marketer has guaranteed you long-term placement on the front page of Google. Do you believe them? Answer: I’m amazed at how often I run across customers who have been sold on “guaranteed rankings in Google” only to find out once their PPC (pay per click) campaign ended, their “top-spot” … Read more
Changing your organization’s name to better suit your market can be powerful. So many business owners feel they have built equity into their brand name. While this is true to some extent, the extent of that equity is often over-valued. Changing the name to something that better reflects your mission in the … Read more
Small business owners and start-ups actually have something of an advantage over larger corporations. When a start-up makes a marketing mistake on a shoestring budget, it’s easily corrected as long as it’s dealt with quickly. When a large corporation puts millions of dollars behind a mistake, the mess and long-term damage to … Read more
Collect testimonials from your best clients as a regular part of your follow-up survey process. Make sure you tell them you’ll be using all or part of their testimonials in your ongoing marketing efforts. Then, incorporate the best testimonials into every touch you have with your clients, such as invoices and marketing … Read more
Host and promote a competition. You can call it “The Great ____________ Race.” Set up a small number of teams, each with a small number of participants. One team wins upon accomplishing the appropriate task you set before them. The entry fee may be the cost (or reduced cost) of your service. … Read more
People love to hear great music, so if you would like to offer music at your next event, make sure the band is well-known and worth your audience’s attention. Nothing screams cheap like bad or inappropriate music that is forced upon would-be customers. Your band should understand your business and your clientele … Read more
If you are aware of an annual conference in your industry, offer to be a panelist. If it’s too late for this year’s conference, contact the event coordinators and voice your interest in attending next year’s conference. Anytime you’re able to present valuable ideas on your topic of specialty, you bring value … Read more