Ideas, Ideas, Ideas

When I think of all the ways companies can communicate with their customers, my head spins.  Last week, I started collecting all the mail pieces I receive as a consumer and thinking about what I do with the pieces. 

So that leads me to my tip this week.   “Help Your customers Get Personal” with the marketing they do. I say this because I looked at and took some action on just about every piece that was ”personal” to me.  I am not just talking about my name in print.    Let me give you an example.  We have a family fun night every Friday.  This is for my wife and my two little kids (ages 5 and 4).  On Wednesday of last week, we received a “kids eat free” certificate to a mexican restraunt we have visited in the past.  Anyway, we found ourselves spending $22.87 for dinner at that Mexican restraunt.  Why?  Because they “got personal” with me.  They sent me a coupon that was relevant and timely.  It appealed to my interest.  This one didn’t even have my name on it and one could argue that they sent it to some huge mailing list and I was just one of the few that responded.  Since it didn’t have my name, you might say it wasn’t even personal!  However, for luck or not, it was personal to my interests!   

In a technology driven world where data is a plenty, why not help your customers use data to drive relevant and timely messages?  Don’t spend marketing dollars on campaigns where you are hoping to get lucky.  Why not use technology to be smarter about it?  Why not make it personal every time? 

It only makes sense that targeted, revelant and timely pieces will drive better results, right?  So do it!  Help your customer use data and technology to “get personal” with their customers and prospects.  The reward will be that you both will grow your business.

Not sure how?  Well, it’s easier than you think.  If you want me to connect you with companies I work with that do this very thing, please let me know and I would be happy to help.

Have you seen the Mplanet blog site?  Take a look at this very good marketing blog.   Make sure to scroll down and read Toby’s article on “Mplanet: The Innovative Side of Marketing“ 

http://www.mplanet2009.com/marketingblog/

Also, take note that Ann Mulcahy will be speaking at the 2009 event in Orlando!

http://businesstodaync.com/economy.html

Take a look at this front page!  Our very own Fran Boling of Cornelius NC is featured in this article. 

CONGRATS FRAN ON A GREAT YEAR SO FAR AND FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES!

This is another good article I thought to read.   Look at tip #2.  I agree that small businesses you call on should actually increase their marketing!  And, help your customers (AND PROSPECTS) to be creative with their marketing efforts.  Now is the time to win new partnerships for life! 

http://www.expertbusinesssource.com/article/CA6584546.html?nid=3210

I saw this article on 12 ideas for marketing during a weak economy.   Take a look.  I recommend printing this out and getting your sales together and discussing over lunch or coffee.  I did that and came away with a ton of ideas!

http://www.score.org/m_pr_12.html

Have you read this great business book yet?  It’s about companies that went from GOOD to GREAT!  More importantly, it’s about HOW they did it.   My favorite story is when JIm talks about getting the right people in the right seats on the bus and then let the bus go where it goes!  What a great message.  Do you have the right people on your bus?  Internal people?  What about partners?  Do you have the right Digital Partner on your bus?

http://www.jimcollins.com/

You are calling on customers that are changing or thinking about changing their logo.  Here at the bottom of this article are 10 good tips to share with those customers.  Or, perhaps you are thinking about it?

http://www.redmoonmedia.com/clients/how_to_design_successful_logos.html