by Michele Shubert | February 22nd, 2012
When we send out marketing, we have a specific goal in mind. We want customers to stay customers and non-customers to convert. We want recipients to recognize our brand.
Sometime before the holidays, I received two boxes in the mail. One was from a vendor whose goal was to form a business relationship, the other from a company with which we are already doing business. Both types of communications are equally important—nurturing prospects to turn them into customers, and keeping current customers as loyal customers.
Here’s something to consider when designing your marketing mailings: Put yourself in the place of your recipients. If you received your own package or mailer, how do you think you would react to it? Read More »
by Cynthia Fedor | February 21st, 2012
For small business owners that are investigating new ways to optimize and track local marketing initiatives, QR codes can be intimidating. QR codes are high-tech looking. They’re kind of ugly. And, worst of all, they force marketers to examine how traditional media, like direct mail and print, can work with digital media and digital platforms in a seamless way. A lot of small business owners I know are very savvy and open to learning about new technologies. Even so, many are not sure how to actually generate a QR code, when and where to use one, and how to tell if consumers are even scanning them.
This post is dedicated to the do-it-yourself small business owners out there. For you, I’ve outlined a quick and dirty way to generate QR codes and track responses. Read More »
by Cynthia Fedor | February 3rd, 2012
Say the word “flyers” and most people immediately imagine colorful pieces of flimsy paper, tucked under a car’s windshield wiper, casually flapping in the wind. Others may picture street team members handing out flyers to folks passing by. Sure, these are typical uses for flyers; but this media type has so much more potential.
Check out these simple flyer printing ideas for business… and feel free to leave your own suggestions in the comments.
[From top left to bottom right]
1. Mini-concert poster or event flyer (Credit: Danny PiG on Flickr)
2. Product spec sheet / sales sheet
3. Coupon for services
4. House flyer for real estate / home services
5. Kid’s restaurant menu or placemat (Credit: Denny’s Restaurant Flintstones kids menu, c 1988)
6. Calendar to highlight special events or sales
7. Daily specials
8. Price sheet
Do you have any creative uses for this media type? Share your ideas by posting a comment.
by Cynthia Fedor | January 26th, 2012
Today I came across an informative yet short and sweet article titled, “How Running a Small Business Has Changed,” on AMEX’s Open Forum site. It featured an interview with Jay Goltz, a 33-year veteran small-business owner and New York Times columnist. When asked, “Why is small business different now than ever before?” he answered, referencing today’s challenging economic climate:
“The interesting part about this one is you’ve got a recession and at the very same time you’ve got technological advancements that have changed the business environment. It used to be if the economy went bad, you suffered through it, cut some expenses, and, a year later, things went back to business as usual. Now… the fact is, you need to continue to spend money to stay up with the new technologies in the changing marketplace.”
For SMB’s to stay competitive, or even simply remain in business today, they need to utilize available technologies to streamline processes, uncover new efficiencies, and better connect with consumers whenever and wherever they can.
Read More »
by Cynthia Fedor | January 10th, 2012
Direct mail isn’t what it used to be—boring and impersonal. Thanks to digital printing capabilities, new marketing technologies like QR codes, and an integrated multi-channel approach, direct mail today can be interactive and meaningful. As a result, marketers are recognizing this medium as a critical part of lead-generation campaigns.
Here are three ways savvy marketers are using direct mail to build, qualify and nurture leads while saving time and money.
Spreading the Word Offline to Get People Online
Businesses are quickly starting to realize that social media marketing is not a passing trend but a valuable way to find prospects and nurture leads. Participating in conversations with consumers online is now a necessity for influencing the public’s perception of brand and their purchasing behavior.
With this in mind, how do marketers capture the attention of new prospects that aren’t already online and get them to join the conversation? They use targeted direct mail to drive new leads to websites and social networking profiles. Read More »
