direct mail

Don't Panic… Market. Now.

Published January 11, 2009 | By admin

Unemployment may be at 7%, but that just means a greater majority of people who want to work, are working.

Anyway, the point is that there are still employed people spending money. Sure a lot of people have cut back. But the best way for you to increase your sales is to let more people know what you do. What is your service? Where are you located? What do you do that’s better than anyone else? How can you help them?

If you don’t advertise or market your business in some way, no one will know you exist. Or worse, they’ll think you’ve gone out of business. And these days there’s a lot of that happening.

Update your website and let people know what is going on with you and how you can help them. Promote your brand. Keep your image at the top of people’s minds.

If you don’t already have a website, you’re missing out on one of the most cost effective ways to showcase your business or service.

If you do have a website and it’s out of date, you need to update. And fast. A tired, out of date website show’s you are not on top of your game. You may be perceived as irrelevant.

Remember, when you cut your marketing and advertising, you are essentially giving your competition a clear advantage. Is that really what you want to do?

Don’t forget to call Creative Juices if you need marketing and advertising advice. 310-791-5803. Did you know weekend appointments are now available?

Posted in Advertising, Business Practices, Marketing 101, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to survive the recession…

Published December 3, 2008 | By admin

First thing, don’t panic. The economy may be tanking but your business doesn’t have to. Unless you let it.

Now is the time to market your business. Actually marketing your small business should never stop. The trick is to focus your marketing. Now more than ever you have to budget your money. To be successful you need to figure out what types of marketing to do, and then do it.

Direct mail pieces such as postcards, sales letters or brochures are a great way to reach your target market. Create your own mailing list. You can find dba’s in the newspaper for new businesses. Or you can look in the phone book (the old yellow one) or online. Send out a few each week.

E-mail blasts are great. And there’s no postage. Or printing costs. Add a form to your website to collect e-mail addresses from people who want to subscribe to whatever you have to say.

Don’t forget ads in local newspapers and throwaways. Ads need to be seen a multiple of times before people remember them and respond. Placing an ad once in a while will be a waste of time and money.

If you must cut costs, don’t skimp on your marketing. Just focus your efforts.

Posted in Advertising, Business Practices, Marketing 101 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Now's the time to promote your business!

Published November 24, 2008 | By admin

The economy really sucks. Big time. You need to save money and advertising your business seems like a good place to cut back.

Wrong. Just the opposite is true. Now is the time to do whatever you can to promote your business. You certainly don’t want people to forget about you. If you are advertising in a newspaper or magazine on a regular basis and suddenly disappear, people may think you’ve gone out of business.

I’ve been advertising my Creative Juices business in the Easy Reader for over 15 years. In my experience, people remember these little ads. They may not remember whether it was in the Easy Reader or the Beach Reporter, but they remember. Some have even clipped the ad and saved it for years until they finally needed my services.

So advertising does pay.

Other ways of getting new business are:

  • Updating (or creating) your website.
  • Add a link to your website for a newsletter.
  • Create a regular newsletter, kind of an eBlast (include useful info and perhaps a special offer).
  • Write a blog about your business.
  • Join a networking group (either in person or online).
  • Write an article about your business and submit it to a local paper.
  • Hire someone to do all of the above.

The bottom line is that you must always be visible to your potential customers. By not promoting your business you cease to exist.

Posted in Advertising, Blogging to promote business., Business Practices, Marketing 101 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10 Reasons why you should use E-mail Marketing

Published November 20, 2008 | By admin
  1. E-mail marketing is relatively easy to create
  2. The fundamentals of e-mail marketing are relevance, strategy and testing
  3. Most recipients accept and even welcome targeted, opt-in e-mails
  4. A survey from Jupiter Research says “60% of business decision makers prefer e-mail and the internet over other mediums for receiving marketing messages”
  5. E-mail is cost-efficient for nurturing your existing leads
  6. E-mails are personalized
  7. Using a service like Express E-mail Marketing comes with built-in tracking features with statistics on bounce rates, delivery and open rates, click-through analytics and more
  8. Using e-mail is a quick and cost-effective way to test market your messages and offers
  9. Sending an e-mail message before delivering direct mail pieces helps boost awareness
  10. A great way to follow up on direct mail deliveries
Posted in Advertising, Business Practices, Marketing 101 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Beware of Yellow Page Solicitations

Published November 11, 2008 | By admin

Have you been receiving phone calls from a telemarketing call center in India asking you to renew your yellow page ad? Watch out. I have been getting these calls consistently for weeks.

Chances are you do not have an ad in the book being solicited and if you’re not careful you will end up with a bill for $500 or more. If you have not advertised in any yellow page book, you know this is a bogus call. Run. Or just hang up after politely saying “I’m not interested.”

If you do have a yellow book ad, make sure you are speaking to your actual rep. It would be kind of rude to hang up on a genuine yellow pages ad rep.

Also be aware of those direct mail yellow envelopes asking you to renew your yellow book ads. Even though it says it is not a bill, some people may not realize that it’s a solicitation and send in the money to renew their ad.

When in doubt, check it out. With so many marketing scams out there, this is just another way to get your money. There might actually be a yellow page book, but probably not one people would actually use.

Posted in Advertising, Marketing 101 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

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