Category: Enhancing The Customer Experience

Advertisement Ideas: Using Gratitude To Build Your Brand!!!!

 

Advertisement Ideas: Using Gratitude To Build Your Brand!!!!

Today’s blog was inspired by a conversation I was having with a gentleman at Starbucks about how people don’t send cards anymore and I mentioned Kat Wagman’s book Why Thank You to illustrate a point about the importance to show gratitude in your business dealings. I then tought of Sandy Harper and her gratitude boot camp. I then found the photo and of the rock above and began to realize the importnace of showing gratitude in building your brand. When was the last time you sat down and wrote a thank you card to a client for their business? When was the last time you sent a thank you note to an employee?  When was the last time you sent a thank you to a reporter for doing a story about you or posting your event?

 Coach Shantel Springer founded 100 Days of Gratitude and has been teaching people the importance of gratitude. I had the opportunity to attend one of her seminars and now keep a gratitude journal and every time that I assume the attitude of gratitude I find my day to go smoother and I begin to attract positive things into my life as a result. When you use teaching found at www.themeditationinstitution.com you can learn techniques to build your brand through gratitude. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Using Gratitude To Build Your Brand!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Jump Start Your Public Relations

Advertisement Ideas: Jump Start Your Public Relations

 Like your car battery many times you will need a Jump Start for Your Public Relations. Public Relations is often a component of business that goes unnoticed or unpracticed because a business owner may not understand the intrinsic value of a good public relations campaign. A good effective public relations campaign can help not only to increase brand awareness but also drive business and expand revenue.

Public Relations is not something you do in the face of a crisis it is something you do everyday to build your image. It is a practice that when used properly to convey your message will help you increase your market share. The goal of a good public relations campaign is to put you on top of the consumers mind.  In my coaching sessions I often ask what is your public relations strategy? Many times I am told I don’t have one. I feel like doing the Family Feud Buzzer and shouting Wrong Answer. Every business be it a single owned and operated entity or a large corporation needs to have a public relations strategy. Without one you might as well shut the doors and cut the losses. I am told many times by people I don’t need public relations my business is fine and I do everything word of mouth. Hello, word of mouth is public relations and every customer interaction can increase or decrease your sales and the perception of your brand.  When you sit down to do your public relations strategy you should consider the following:

1: What is my core message?

2: How do I want to convey that core message?

3: What is the mission of the public relations campaign?

4: What is the budget for the public relations campaign?

5: How will I plan, implement, and evaluate the public relations campaign?

 With public relations your goal is to reach your target audience and entice them to do business with you and to recommend that others do business with you. To do this you must ask yourself how am I being perceived on the market place, what type of reputation do I have, how am I conducting myself with every interaction? These are important questions to ask as they will answer why your business may be off. This year as I offered my services to many businesses I have heard the economy this the economy that. I replied it is not the economy it is you to which many business owners had a negative response. I stated to ask what public relations strategy are you using? I was told I don’t do public relations I can not afford to, to which I said you can not afford not to.  The key to jump starting your public relations is to understand that it is an important component of your business and it can be done easily and daily. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Jump Start Your Public Relations

Advertisement Ideas: You Have An Attitude Problem

Advertisement Ideas: You Have An Attitude Problem

 

    

Everyone is so quick to judge and say hey you have an attitude problem that they are missing out on opportunities to make a positive difference in their personal and professional life.  I was exploring the attitudes of those in business that I perceive to be successful and I have found that they are positive, non-judgmental, and are open to receive. I believe that many times an entrepreneur who blames the economy or other factors and doesn’t look for the opportunities as they are being presented and puts up excuses and blockages often finds themself in a heap of trouble.  I have seen many entrepreneurs in the last year struggle not for anything else but because of their attitude.One entrpreneur was complaining and bad mouthing his competition and I began to think if that is how he speaks about them how is he speaking about me, as a result I stopped doing business with that person and when I see that person it is a cordial hello and nothing else as his negativity is not something I choose to engage in. I have been told on several occasions by people you have an attitude problem and I say thank you for pointing that out. I have an attitude that in some case may rub someone the wrong way as I am extremely outgoing, I am overly confident, and I speak my mind for some they just don’t how to handle this for others appreciate it and applaud and celebrate it, which has led to my idea of Some Will, Some Won’t, Some Waiting, So What, Next.  I have learned that I will not resonate with everyone, however those that I do resonate with will want to do business with me. To those that choose not to for whatever reason I say their loss. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: You Have An Attitude Problem

Advertisement Ideas: What Do You Mean No?

               

Advertisement Ideas: What Do You Mean No?

I can not tell you how many times I have wanted to verbalize the sentiment of what do you mean no?  This generally is a feeling when O am representing what I believe to be a great opportunity for a business like an opportunity to be part of www.forestofangels.com and be part of an event that is changing lives by creating an event where the Westfield Broward Mall in Plantation, FL will host Forest of Angels an event where businesses pay $1250 to sponsor and decorate a Christmas Tree and then choose the charity to be associated with the tree. The patrons at the mall then choose the best decorated tree and that tree’s charity is given $10,000 to further its mission and the remaining money is split amongst the other charities.  The mall anticipates that 1.1 million people will visit the mall during the event.  I was told I don’t have a budget to do this by a very large assisted living facility. I felt like saying you charge $5000 a month for a person to live at your facility and you can not see your way clear to invest $1250 in the community, what do you mean no?  Then I realized this is why their occupation is down and their revenue is down and why they are on a downward spiral.It is not that the economy is down it is that they keep saying no to opportunities that are presented. If a new client represents $60,000 a year and you don’t spend at least $6,000 a year to attract that ne client you may remain stagnant because you said no.

         

I used to hear no a lot about advertising and marketing when I would sell print advertising as many business owners simply did not understand that advertising is an important aspect of their business. They would make all types of excuses and in many cases I would go back to visit only to find their business closed and boarded up with no forwarding information. I would thing again to my original question what do you mean no?  I am not saying to say yes to everything but to look at things that make sense like www.forestofangels.com. www.feelthehugs.com, www.relayforlife.org, and other opportunities that may be synergistic to your business. It is when you are open to receive that great things begin to happen.

              

You can choose where to shop and where to spend your advertising dollars and many times you may say no only to realize that you should have said yes. Imagine your name on the speaker next to the choir, or your name on the table, or a poster above toys for tots or your name on the shopping cart. These are a few out of the box methods that work as everyone stopping by Macy’s or the food area, or dropping off a toy, or shopping would see you. Now take it a step further when people walk through Forest of Angels at The Broward Mall and see your competitor and shop your competitor because you turned down a great opportunity. So think about it and ask yourself  what do I mean no?

 

 It is proven when you give you get. People love to do business with those they perceive to be giving back to the community so supporting Forest of Angels makes sense. Visit www.forestofangels.com

 

 

 

Advertisement Ideas: Overcoming Branding and Image Obstacles

Advertisement Ideas:Overcoming Branding and Image Obstacles

As I read the article about The Aurora Colorado shootings that took place at a movie theater I kept thinking I would hate to be the marketing director of that theater, then I thought perhaps with the right program I would overcome the branding and Image Obstacles.

 The first thing I would do is to issue a statement of condolenscences and then to say we will be helping the victims of this shooting through special promotions at the theater with proceeds from all screenings of all movies being donated to a special fund to offset funeral and hospital costs of the victims.

 The next thing I would do is print up a shirt with The Colorado Flag and put a slogan like Aurora and Century Theaters Standing Together in remembrance with the date of the shooting and again collect donations for the victims families.

 The third thing I would do is to host a gun Buy Back Program with everyone receiving a free movie pass.

 The fourth thing I would do would host a blood drive.

In the face of adversity come opportunity to Overcome Branding and Image Obstacles.

 

Advertisement Ideas: Branding Ideas and Images Gone Bad

 Remember this car it was very popular her in The United States but not so much in Spanish Speaking Countries as NOVA translates into NO GO. The lesson learned here is to know the culture of the countries where you are going to promote your brand and build your image.

 The Adult Literacy Coalition was trying to get their message out, however if the audience they are attempting to reach can’t read the bench ad what good does it do for them. The lesson here is when you are spending your marketing dollars on Branding and Image Building use it wisely where it will be most effective.

 This ad was placed on the escalator of a local mall.Can you see the problem? Ad placement must be well though out when doing a branding and image building campaign, Had it been reversed it would have made more sense.

 I have a question. Would You Shop Here? remember sometimes using an abbreviation creates a branding and Image Obstacles.

   

 

When naming your business think about the perception of your business. Would you do business with any of the above businesses.

 

Advertising Ideas: Branding and Image Building Tips

Many times we may think something is clever and creative however the general public may not think so thus it is important to take into consideration the idea of what are you trying to portray and what is the objective of the branding program. When building your brand and image it is imperative to remember:

1: Be consistent across all platforms of marketing – Develop a logo that will be used on everything related to your business, the tag line should represent who you are and what you do.

2: Position yourself as the best at what you do by being an information  source – For example if you are a pizza place explain the difference between certain cheeses that you use.

3: Place your brand in places that are synergistic in reaching your target audience.

4: Build a following that will become unsolicited spokes people for you. For example you create customers that recommend others to you and thus when someone sees your logo they will immediately have a positive feeling about your business. A great example of this is IKEA who does a push when they open and then as a result of delivering good quality products, good customer service, and a shopping experience people line up overnight for their grand openings.

5: Use social media effectively by using key words and creating a buzz about your business. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Overcoming Branding and Image Obstacles

Advertisement Ideas: How To Be a Lifter and Lift Your Revenue

Advertisement Ideas: How To Be A Lifter and Lift Your Revenue

As I sat in The Catalyst Sermon tonight at  listening to Pastor Mike’s Wife, Eberly, speak about Fear and keeping the faith to be a lifter I began to think as business people what are we doing to be a lifter and what measures are we taking to lift our revenue. I then found the first way to be a lifter and lift your revenue. It is to overcome your fear. To do this ask yourself what am I fearful of and how will my faith conquer this false evidence appearing real.

 In The Movie Coach Carter the message of overcoming fear is evident and the character is quoting from Marrianne Williamson’s Poem about Fear.

Overcoming Business Fears

The biggest fear I hear from entrepreneurs and the non-profit organizations that I work with is  the fear of not having enough money to build on their mission. To over come this fear one must understand that it is when you give and are of service and value that you get and the supply becomes greater. In your advertising make it a point to show how you are a giver to the community. Many people are caught up in the what ifs and never get beyond the limits where those who go for it and put themselves out there find they lift people up and as a result their revenue is lifted. A great example of this is Janine Hinds who steeped beyond her fear to share and sell her concept of  Focus on Community and Ladders to leaders and today is following her passion and meeting with success. To see more about Janine Hinds visit www.teenfocused.com.

Another fear I hear is not getting clients and thus not having steady cash flow. Many times it is not ours to question where the money will come from but to implement the ideas that Passion + Action + Success and watch clients become attracted to us and help us to grow.  A great example of this is Pastor Mike who overcame his Fears of failure and began Rocketown in Pompano Beach and now serves a population of teenager with a positive message and as a result is succeeding and garnering community support. You can learn more about Pastor Mike and his mission at www.rockettownfl.org. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: How To Be a Lifter and Lift Your Revenue