Advertisement Ideas: Hit The Bricks!!!

This entry was inspired by an encounter I had yesterday (9/17/2014) while I was out hitting the bricks to promote and collect donations for The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of West Boca Raton. I walked into a CPA Office and was greeted by a woman who I obviously took by surprise. I told her who I was and what I doing and she had a hard time wrapping  her head around the idea that I would cold call businesses collecting donations. She made this apparent by telling me so. I explained to her that for the last 38 years I have been fundraising in this manner. I suggested that maybe she should hit the bricks for her business as you never know who might need a CPA. One of the hardest but most effective ways to promote your business is to hit the bricks and get out in the community to let people know who you are and what you do as you never know what can come of things if you hit the bricks.

Advertisement Ideas: The Hitting The Bricks Strategy!!!

In my efforts to lead by example as The Fund The Cure Leader for The American Cancer Society of West Boca Raton  I have a  strategy each time I decide to go out and hit the bricks.  This strategy translates very well into business.

The most important thing is to know the territory. When I go out collecting I seek large business areas, generally shopping plazas with near full capacity.

Know what you are going to say and how you are going to greet the people you are seeing.

 Have your literature with you. Business cards and  company information is always good to have to leave behind. Collect business cards so you can follow-up immediately and continue to build a relationship with perspective customers/clients. Remember people do business with people they know, like, and trust. Since this may be your first time seeing them it is the getting to know you stage. As they hear from you more and more they get to know you and start to like you. After they get to know you and like you they will begin to trust you. When these three elements exist they may do business with you.In my case of seeking donations it was about them making a donation.

Hit every business as you never know if they may want or be seeking your products or services or looking to support your cause. In October of 2010 I walked into Skyline Chili in Sunrise, FL as I was seeking donations for The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Sunrise, FL. It so happened that Tony, the proprietor of Skyline Chili, was seeking to raise funds for The American Cancer Society as he had just lost a friend to cancer and had relatives that were taken due to cancer. We started talking and he agreed to  do a monthly Give Back Night where he would donate 20% of what people spent and donate the tips from that night.  We did 8 of these nights and raised nearly $5,000. I now patronize that Skyline Chili at least once a month because of their supporting my charitable endeavors.

Advertisement Ideas: Hitting The Bricks Overcoming The Cracks!!!

When hitting the bricks it is always important to understand there will be cracks that may impede your progress.  It is up to you to find a way to maneuver around the cracks. These cracks maybe from an uppity gate-keeper who thinks they have more power than they really have and as a result are not getting useful information to the decision maker. Another crack maybe the decision maker themselves having a negative attitude as they yell there is no soliciting. You are going to encounter people who just don’t understand the concept that you never know who is walking through your door so be open and receptive. When you encounter these cracks accept the idea that some will, some won’t, so what, some waiting, next. Also remember a no today is a not a no forever. Most people give up after the first no and after encountering the first crack. I say keep making contact unless that first encounter was so bad that it left a bad feeling within you and you really don’t want to do business with that person anyway.

The best strategy I have for overcoming the cracks is to simply be nice and smile and wish the person a good day. I have come to realize that there will be people who can not and will not wrap their head around the idea of you coming into their place of business and wanting to be of service and value to them. The key is to keep moving and stay positive when hitting the bricks.

The end result of hitting the bricks yesterday was $47 collected about 60 businesses contacted and my name out in the community about my business as a TV Show Host, an emcee, a voice over artist, a public address announcer,  and as a  marketing and media relations specialist.  I suggest if business is slow or your donations are below where you want them to be to go out and hit the bricks.

When you decide to hit the bricks it is always a good idea to have some motivational music with you so you can keep on moving forward in a positive direction of your dreams. Get out there and hit the bricks because you never know who you might meet.