I am guilty of caring too much and sometimes I overstep boundaries when it comes to my fundraising activities. Many times people don’t know how to react to me as I explain what I am doing. Many are so programed to say No Soliciting that they miss out on an opportunity to have an ally for their business. Continue reading Soliciting: Confessions of A Community Service Volunteer
I was out representing Life Publications giving businesses an opportunity to create an effective advertising campaign. I was amazed how many so-called business owners did not have a clue as to doing an effective advertising campaign. I asked a question to one owner about who his target demographic was? His answer was anyone who like to eat pizza as this is a Pizza Restaurant. If you don’t know your target demographic you are going to spend a lot of unneccessary dollars on an advertising campaign that may not give you a return on your investment. Continue reading Advertising Campaign: Getting Off To The Right Start
When I do consultations with businesses I am often asked how can I pay it forward. I usually answer find a charitable cause that you are passionate about and research programs that you can participate in and then create a marketing strategy that will promote how you are paying it forward. One of the charitable causes I am involved with is The American Cancer Society Relay for Life in which I participate annually, this year my website that you can visit to make donations is http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jdogg1. I mention this as I use my involvement in this cause to garner free publicity for my business. Last year I wrote an article JDOGG Barks to Assist Cancer Patients, this article appeared in several local newspapers, and on many radio station web sites as a result of paying it forward I was able to garner a few emcee bookings. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: How To Pay It Forward
The buzz word today is customer service. In any business good customer service is often rewarded with repeat business or the building of a stronger relationship where the customer becomes a rasving fan and starts to recommend you to others. Think about everyone who walks into your business or calls you on the phone or approaches you at a networking event can be a benefit to your business. I have often recommended a business just because the person who represented the business was nice to me, even if they didn’t buy for me or make a donation to the charity I was promoting.
I am often asked how do I build customer loyalty? I answer by having a good price point, being of service and value, and building your brand. This often leads to what if someone doesn’t want to pay my price? I answer they aren’t the customer for you as you don’t want price shoppers as there is more to it than just price. Ask yourself why do I keep going back to places or doing business with someone? I often go to places that make me feel welcome and appreciated, I do business wuith those who do the same. I will galdly pay a little more knowing that I am appreciated. I really get a kick when someone at a place or a person I do business with recognizes me and says hello JDOGG how are you doing and is genuine about this. I often do business with people or companies that support the charitable endeavors or special events that I am involved in. There is a lot that goes into building customer loyalty.
When I think of Thanksgiving I think of football, going to mom’s house, or in some years spending time in Williamburg, VA for a family gathering. I think wow this is a time for people in business to really capitalize on the idea of families getting together and celebrating. I do not know of any businesses that don’t do well during the week of Thanksgiving. Think about it when you run your ads for Thanksgiving Week and you thank your clients and customers in the ad. Perhaps you take the time to send a thank you card to those who are supporting your efforts in your business. Millions of dollars will be spent The Day After Thanksgiving, afectionately known as Black Friday, and then on Monday Cyber Monday hits. What this means to business is that the consumer will be making buying decisions at this time. This can be a very lucrative time for those with an entrpreneurial spirit.
Imagine if you were to speak to The Best Buy Manager and he would agree to have you sell coffee, donuts, and sofft drinks. This can be done very easily if you know someone with a food handlers license, you could donate a portion of the profit to The American Cancer Society Relay for Life, which Best Buy is a National Corporate Sponsor. The process would be easy set up a table close to the line, have a sign tat states what you are doing. There are many ways you can partner with businesses who will be doing promotions. Think about what service you could provide. Perhaps you own a truck and you could use the truck to deliver bigger items and give consumers an alternative to using Best Buy’s Service. If youa re good with computers maybe offer a set up service or if you have knowledge on mountinbg HDTVs you can offer that as a service.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has become a huge tradition. I remember as a kid we would all gather around the TV and watch, while mom made the Turkey and then it was outside to play some football. The memories of this day made me think how can you drive business and build revenue.
1: A restaurant or diner could open and have a Thanksgiving Parade Watch Party with all types of specials and make it a party
2: The Local Sports Bar could offer a Thanksgiving Meal along with showing The Football Games
3: Caterers could offer to prepare meals and deliver them
4: Local Businesses could sponsor food drives and promote them
Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving filled with peace, love, and happiness. This week be creative and proactive.
When I wa sa U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in The Phillipinnes I would often use public transportation to travel to do my community service. As I looked at this photo I began to remember the joys of the jeepney or bus rides and the people I would meet and how rewarding it was to get small tokens of appreciation from those on the Jeepney or on The Bus. The rewards weren’t monetary but items like a Jolibee Burger, or a small glass of mango juice, or some Bisteak(steak on a stick). I would arrrive at my destination and realize that community service can pay.
It can be as simple as promoting the idea of free hugs or starting a business like www.feelthehugs.com that promotes spreading love and joy through their mascot Arely. they donate a percentage from each sale to cancer research.
In business we can utilize a marketing startegy to incorporate community service and thus as a result the community will support our business as consumers like to do business with those they perceive to be giving back. There are many ways to give back and levarage what you are doing to maximize your message.
Today I saw an example of a great marketing strategy that is making community service pay as I wa sin Starbuck in Sunrise, FL and they have a YMCA Toy Drive Box in the location. It so happened that the YMCA Rep was dropping the box off and I gave her my card and mentioned that I could play Santa Claus for the different sites in the area. You may ask how doe this pay? The answer is that by me doing this good deed I can take photos and release it to the media and show people that I walk my talk and thus create a trust and as a result increase the % of them doing business with me. As word gets around about what Starbucks is doing more people in the community may stop by to drop off toys and as a result make a prurchase while they are there.
When doing community service remember to promote what you are doing in your advertising and in all your media releases as people love to help businesses that give back to the community.
1. Find an organization that resonates with you and do a fundraiser for them.
2: Set out a change jar where customers can make donations and each month the money cna be donated to a charitable endeavor
3: Find already exisiting programs like Stars and Moons for The American Cancer Society and sell them at your location
4: Sponsor a float in a holiday parade or other parades
5: Find events like The Turkey Trot, Our Town, Carnivals, Plays, and donate prizes for their fundraisers
6: Serve on a board of a local charity and network
7: Host charitable events with other businesses
The possibilities are endless on how you can incorporate community service into your marketing strategy and make it pay.
When I think of target marketing I think archery where the most points are rewarded for hitting a bullseye. I asked someone the other day waht is their target audience and I was told everyone desiring to lose weight. This answer goes against many principles of marketing as not everyone is your target and not everyone will have a desire for your product or service. Continue reading Target Marketing: How to Hit The Bullseye
Do you recognize this photo? This is a great example of Brand Awareness as after over 30 years this picture is still noticeable and shows the importantance of brand awareness. John Travolta has become a very recognizable individual and when asked do you know me the answer is yes. Continue reading Brand Awareness: DO I KNOW YOU?
As I called a local business today to speak to a marketing director I was greeted with he isn’t in I’ll take your name and number no need to give me details as I am busy with payroll. This really stirred up my thoughts as to people needing customer service skills. This was my first encounter with this business and I was offering them something of value and servive, an opportunity to host my radio show at no charge and to promote them in return to my over 1000 twitter followerrs, my over 500 linked in connections, my over 1400 friends on facebook, and to all my groups. Continue reading Marketing Strategy: Customer Service Skills