5 Tips to Organize Successful Promotional Giveaways
Below is the fourth article in our $150 competition sponsored by BizSugar.com. It’s submitted by Gagan of Fortepromo. Good luck to everyone who contributed an article!
Everybody loves Free Gifts and Companies are using this human tendency to promote their brand from years by organizing Promotional giveaways. Promotional Products is great way to improve your Brand Recognition and product reliability among your customers if organized successfully. In this article I would be discussing some Basic Tips on how to organize such giveaways successfully to get the desired Results.
Select Products for Giveaways Carefully
Selecting a Good Giveaway Item is the most important part of any Giveaway Campaign. The item should be something relevant to your products which your customers are always looking for and use on regular Basis. Conduct a short survey or do some research in places or online forums to find out some good suggestions for Giveaway items. For Eg:- If your Target audience is people working in IT industries, you can give them items like Flash Drives or Laptop Bags which they can use daily.
Selecting The Time and Place
Are you Running a Seasonal Business and people need your products only for a specific time interval? Then, Try to organize your campaign only when your business is in its peak season. You can’t expect your customers to buy winter clothes from you for FREE GIFTS in Summer Season. The place where you are going to organize your campaign is also important. Identify places like relevant forums or communities where your customers spend most of the time to launch your Campaign.
Offer Gifts as Package
Create a Combo pack of your Product and Gift and then sell your Products. The greatest Example of this is McDonald Happy Meal Toys. I had bought those happy meals lot of times for my kids only for those Toys. Your customer won’t mind to buy from you, if you are offering something to them for Free which they need desperately.
Imprint With your Information
I think this is common sense. Imprint your promotional products with your Brand name and Logo so that your brand name remains in your customer mind whenever they use your products. If possible include your contact information like your website url or Toll Free number so that they could contact you easily whenever they need to buy your products.
Measure Results
This is most important part of any Promotional Campaign but most of the times it is not feasible to get the accurate results very quickly. You can measure the results on various factors like determining your current Brand visibility, number of Returning Customers from total customer who participated in campaign, New Customer you are getting from referrals. You can also find some loyal customers in such kind of campaigns when you see the long term results.
These are few Basic tips which can help you in organizing your Promotional Giveaways campaigns in a successful way and increase your brand popularity and your overall Customer Base.
Why Your Online Customers Might Hate You
Below is the third article in our $150 competition sponsored by BizSugar.com. It’s submitted by Andy of Travel Online Partners. Good luck to everyone who contributed an article!
Do you feel like your website and online presence is just “another nuisance” to your day? Feel like you’re just wasting your time with online technology? If so, check out these common mistakes businesses make online – if your online presence is flailing, it might be because your customers just don’t like you.
You don’t tell them what you do
If a potential customer isn’t able to discern in 10-15 seconds what it is that you do exactly, they’ll quickly gaze over and move on. This is of utmost importance on your homepage, but via search engines new customers can arrive on any page. So be sure that on every page of your website, you at least briefly explain who you are and make further information easily accessible. A clear strapline or slogan in the header as well as an easily placed “About Us” usually does the trick.
You don’t tell them why
Remember the old saying what’s in it for me? It is still a vital marketing tool and many websites fail to answer this question. Whether it is features or benefits, make it clear why customers should take advantage of what you have to offer. Will it save them money, make them money, improve their life, or just make them feel good? Don’t be afraid to spell it out; a “Why Us” or a “What It Will Do for You” is a completely appropriate headline section to any sales page.
You show off too much flash and bling
Nobody likes a show off, and your online customers are no exception. With lots of fancy graphics and spinning widgets, your true message will be lost. I’m not saying your website shouldn’t be slick, professional, and attractive. But stop and think: does your “add-ons” actually add value or just add to the noise?
You don’t tell them how
Do all of your web pages tell customers what to do next? So many blog articles leave folk wondering how they get more. Your content is there to draw customers in, so after you’ve done a smashing job of telling them a story or giving them information, offer up the next action. Make it super clear; yes – that means big, colourful buttons that say “Buy Now” or “Click Here to Check Availability.” Online customers like to be told what to do, so tell ‘em!
You don’t understand them
Website copy must be directly targeted to your ideal customer; write for everybody and nobody will listen. Write for a special someone and they’ll take notice. You need to know if your customers need jargon explained, if they respect complex and thoughtful topics, or if they’re more visual people. Picture one of your ideal customers in the room and read your web content aloud – would that single individual person be interested?
You tell them to go to your competitors
I never understood why small businesses put advertisements for other products on their website. The worst is Google Adsense – those contextual ads are usually for your competition! You should never place advertisements on your website unless you will make more money from the sale than you would by selling your own products and services. Instead of that lame affiliate ad in the sidebar, why not have a great banner ad for your highest margin product?
Photo credit: Zach Klein
A Quick-Hitting 3-Step Content Marketing Campaign to get Customers this Month
Below is the second article in our $150 competition sponsored by BizSugar.com, submitted by Fernando who does content marketing in Latin America. Good luck to everyone who contributed an article!
As a fellow small business owner, you, like me, are totally on board with the concept that great content via blogging and social media is the new “killer app” of the Internet marketing world. You may have already started a blog, and you may already have 20-50 RSS subscribers. You’re slowly making your way up to your 1,000th Twitter follower, and you’ve gotten decent re-tweets whenever you share your latest post on your blog.
Great job, that’s better than most.
But where are all the customers?
Well you may have missed the part that this kind of marketing is a long-term proposition.
What to do if you want to eat this month?
Vaynerchuck clearly says that his strategy is to build a personal brand, and Chris Brogan says you’ve got to build your online presence so you can become a “Trust Agent.”
But you’ve got the pay the mortgage this month, make sure your fridge isn’t empty, and keep the lights on.
Well here are 3 quick-hitting tactics I’m putting into practice because I just quit my job and I need to bring in some customers really really soon, or else, as the clichéd country song goes, “I’ll lose the house, my wife and the dog.”
These tactics were inspired by my friend, mentor and coach Jim Logan.
1. Write an eBook like Brian Clark’s Authority Rules
I’m taking a slightly different approach here. Sure I’m writing an eBook that I’ll make available without a gate on my website for people to download.
In my case I’m a.) adding a very direct call-to-action at the end of the report to “call me to schedule your free 30-minute 5-point marketing readiness assessment” on the phone, and
b.) I’m going to be sending direct mail pieces offering my eBook to specific decision-makers at targeted companies who fit the profile of my ideal suspect, and I’ll be emailing a warm list of folks I know who are not yet subscribers to my RSS feed. My strategy here is to combine direct marketing with content marketing. The trick is not to sell directly, but to sell the “free content.”
My initial direct mail target will be about 30-50.
The philosophy behind this phase is you’re offering something of value in return for nothing. Even though there’s a strong call-to-action at the end of the eBook to call me (and I may very well get a few calls), here I’m just offering free content.
2. Follow-up with another direct mail piece
Two weeks later I’m going to follow-up with another direct mail piece to the original 30-50, as well as follow-up emails to my warm list. The message in this follow-up piece will be a business message.
I do not want to come across as a sales guy, but as a business person. I’m a business owner reaching out to another business owner, and I add value because of what I know.
I’m following-up on my eBook offer. I’ve helped businesses like yours with x & y (insert your key benefit here, do NOT mention a product or service). It may or may not be relevant to your situation, but I would love to chat with you for 30 minutes about your situation and how I’ve been able to help similar people.
The philosophy behind this stage is to sell the meeting, not sell your product or service. You should map out what the stages are in your sales cycle, and only sell the next step. In my case, and if you’re selling a B2B product or service, sell the meeting. And sell it as a business person, not a sales person.
3. Follow-up with a cold “warm call.”
Finally, I’m calling these folks. I’m calling, again, as a CEO of my small business.
Business people don’t take calls from sales people anymore, unless they called the sales person before and are expecting a call back. However, business people do take calls from fellow business people.
How do you think CEOs of major companies form strategic alliances with other major companies? They cold-call them!
You’re the CEO, you call the CEO of your target company. And you don’t sell your product or service, you have a business call about what you’re extremely knowledgeable about and what your prospect’s business situation is.
Business people want to learn from other business people.
I guarantee if you follow this method, in less than a month you’ll have some meetings and some closed business. It’s worked for Jim Logan and his clients, and I’m putting it into practice for myself.
I’m an Entrepreneur. And Yes, I Kiss on the First Date
Below is the first article in our $150 competition sponsored by BizSugar.com, submitted by Dwayne of www.thecharlotteagency.com Good luck to everyone who contributed an article!
Like going out on your first date with your crush, starting a small business can be pretty unnerving. As an entrepreneur, you are putting yourself out there. Will the business community accept the courtship? Will it call you back? Well before you take the business world out to dinner and a movie, one must be able to confidently answer the questions below.
What Do I Wear? (Image and Branding)
Once you step out of the car and onto their doorstep- they will be watching your every move. Likewise, once you start announcing that you are creating a small business, your entire presence will be scrutinized. How will you present yourself? Are you going to be the conservative, suit-and-tie type, or the modern khaki and polo dude? Or both? Neither option is a bad one, but based on your research of the industry, you got to make an informed decision. Does your website and business cards match? If you are going on a date, your outfit is not going to be mismatching, so neither should your business presence.
When Do I Arrive? (Timing)
Now is the best time. The U.S. business community just got out of a bad relationship with the finance and housing industry, and it is looking for a new, fresh suitor. It needs someone that will treat them right. Its boundaries are down and as a few of us know, those who are on the rebound to easier to attract.
What Should I Say? (Marketing)
You arrive on time and looking good. Really good. But now you have to open your mouth- are you ready? Grab the spotlight. You don’t have any friends to put a good word in for you, so you got to do it yourself. Don’t be bashful. Tell the U.S. business community why you and her are perfect for each other. Highlight your strengths. Remember, the worst thing that can happen is that she says no. Show her a portfolio of things you have done, and things that you want to do. What’s your philosophy? How are you going to treat the business community better than her past? And sometimes its good to be funny, the U.S. business community likes humor.
Will She Like My Friends? (Networking)
Third party recommendations are crucial when it comes to dating this particular person. Not only will they check you out, but all the people that they think know you. Therefore, that’s why you got to get out there before she does it and build a good reputation. It is good when she knows you’re a good person, but if other people tell her you’re a great guy, that’s when the comfort level starts to build.
How Far Do I Go? (Risk-taking)
Your first date with the business community is almost to a close. You both had a great time and you walk her to the door. Moment of truth- what do you do? You’re an entrepreneur; risk-taking is right up your alley! High risk reaps high reward. And if it doesn’t, well hey, at least you tried. Go in with no hesitation for the kiss.
And who knows? Maybe she’ll invite you in.
8 Secrets of Success
Looking for the secret to success? Aren’t we all? Well, Richard St John boils down the secret to success in 8 words and three minutes in this video.
Who is Richard St John?
A self-described average guy who found success doing what he loved, Richard St. John spent more than a decade researching the lessons of success.
So What Are The 8 Secrets?
John has 8 words that he thinks are the main attributes to success. The “magic” words are:
1. Passion
2. Work
3. Focus
4. Persist
5. Ideas
6. Good
7. Push
8. Serve
He goes into detail on each, and describes why they are important, how they relate and play off one another. Well worth 3 minutes of your time, in my humble opinion.
Running Time: 3:33
Source:
http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success.html
Have your own secrets for successs? I’d love to hear them in the comments section below
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Photo Credit: jcbmac
5 Lessons Learned From My First Business
It seems like a lifetime ago that I started my first business, maybe that’s because it is. I learned a lot of lessons from that first venture, most about what not to do.
My First Business
The year was 1984 and I was 7 years old. I was the sole proprietor of a newspaper distribution company, call it old media, but newspapers were my game.
This was back in old days, before the internet, when people would get their news by reading words written on actual pages – don’t laugh, but many people would actually pay to get their news this way, including my parents.
At 7 I knew enough to know that I wanted some money, I was sure if I could get my hands on some cash I’d be out on my own in a couple years living the good life.
I also knew that these things called “papers” would stack up for a couple weeks before my parents finally took them to the trash.
An Idea is Born
I thought if my parents were reading these papers, and paying for them, the neighbors probably were reading them too, but maybe not all the neighbors.
I asked my mom how much a paper cost, then asked her if I could have the old ones, she said ”you can have the old ones, but don’t go leavin’em laying around the house!”
My business is born! I would go door to door with the old papers my parents had and see if I could sell them for less than a new paper to any of the neighbors.
I thought maybe they didn’t get the paper so would happily pay for mine, or possibly they missed an issue and would want to catch up. If they didn’t have this thing called a “subscription”, heck maybe I could sell them a paper everyday.
My distribution mechanism was simple. I loaded up the papers in a duffel bag and headed out, knocking on every door within the neighborhood within my limits.
At that time I had boundaries set by my parents that I wasn’t supposed to cross. I was the paper czar of nearly 5 square blocks – I was in business!
5 Lessons Learned from My First Business
So that is how I spent everyday after school the two weeks I was in business. Knocking on doors trying to sell yesterday’s paper (or sometimes yester-weeks paper).
As I think about it now, it seems silly. As adults, we all can spot the flaws in my thinking, and even though I wouldn’t try something similar today – I made money!
Being able to make money selling old news taught me a lot about business, here’s five things I learned:
Lesson #1: When You’re in Business People Buy You as Much as Your Product
I was a moderately cute kid, with tons of ambition, and nothing but confidence in my paper business. When I talked to people at their door step they felt that. When they bought a paper from me, they were buying me, not the news that happened 6 days ago.
This lesson is as applicable today as it was then. Although we may not all be fresh faced kids anymore, people will sense when you are passionate, confident, and believe in what you are doing – and that’s what they’ll be buying a good portion of the time.
Lesson #2: Great Entrepreneurs Think on Their Feet
I learned quickly that in order to sell these papers, that weren’t as desirable as I thought they’d be, I better have answers to their questions – which mean’t thinking on my feet.
I remember on that first day being asked, “Why would I want to buy yesterdays paper, that stuff’s already happened”…I replied with “Well, today’s paper is filled with stuff that already happened too, but mine’s cheaper.” He bought a paper. My mom said I was being a smart aleck, I politely disagreed.
If you want to be a great entrepreneur you need the ability to think quickly on your feet. Responding to demands, making quick (good) decisions, and dealing with the numerous curveballs are essential to success.
Lesson #3: Competing on Price Alone is a Tough Game
My only selling point, and the only way I could sell even one of the old papers was to give discounts. At the time I thought this was shrewd, now I think it’s dangerous.
I had no competition in my neighborhood, and probably never would have selling old news, but what if another 7 year old (or a super bright 6 year old) had of come up with the same idea? We’re both knocking on doors, how do we compete with each other? Most likely price, which means it wouldn’t be too long until the pennies I was making didn’t justify the trouble, and I’d have a hard time making it up on volume.
Same goes later in life. You may be the only game in town now, but what happens when you’re not. Will you be competing on price alone, or do you bring something to the table your competitors don’t?
Lesson #4: Think About Scale Early in the Startup
I gave this absolutely no thought. I just wanted to sell some papers, and beat myself ragged going door to door I guess. If this venture had been a huge success I would have had no way to meet the demand – shoot, my parents only let me go about 5 square blocks, I would have been sunk right there.
The lesson here is that early on begin to think about how you may scale up if you’re business becomes successful. How will you reach more people? Who will do the additional work? Can you scale? If you charge per hour, there are only so many in a day – how do you get more revenue without raising your price? If you sell a physical item, how many can you get and how can you distribute to more people? Just ask yourself these questions early, and prepare for growth going in.
Lesson#5: It’s Hard to Overcome a Flawed Business Model
We can all see the problems with my business model. Yeah, I sold some papers, but long term the flaws were going to bring my business down. If you’re not going into a venture on solid business foundations, you’re house is going to start leaning, and eventually fall over.
The Long Defunct Newspaper Distribution Company
I’ve been out of the newspaper distribution business now 25 years, but some of the lessons I learned back then are still with me today.
The real lesson in all of this is it doesn’t matter if you sell newspapers when you’re 7, lemonade when you are 10, or run a multimillion dollar company when you’re 40, the fundamentals of business don’t change.
Keep moving forward while learning from the past and you should be okay. And for anybody thinking about it, I can’t suggest you getting into the newspaper distribution business!
Photo Credit: Meanest Indian
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Win $150 from Smallbizbee.com (Sponsored by BizSugar)
Last year at this time I gave away $100 of my hard earned money to Yan Susanto , in the inaugural $100 Competition.
The contest was such a big hit I wanted to bring it back for a second year, and I’m more excited than ever to give away money this time. Why you ask would I be so excited to give away cold hard cash?
Well if giving away $100 of my own money made me happy, giving away $100 of someone else’s money makes me ecstatic!
$150 Smallbizbee.com Competition in partnership with BizSugar.com!
The great folks at BizSugar agreed to sponsor this years competition, and to join them in the spirit of making you richer for the holidays I’m throwing in $50 to make this year’s competition even sweeter… that’s right $150 is up for grabs!
The Rules
Submit an article to SmallBizbee.com between November 13-22 to be considered.
- Article must be related to small business or entrepreneurship
- Minimum of 300 words
- Only original content will be accepted (not currently published on ANY website or blog)
- Smallbizbee.com reserves the right to decline any article that appears to be overly self serving or “spammy” in anyway.
Who’s Eligible?
- Anyone and everyone who has something to add to the conversation regarding small business.
- You don’t have to be a small business owner or expert to take part.
How will the winner be picked?
- Articles will be collected between November 13-22
- Maximum number of articles accepted will be 30, on a first come first served basis
- Beginning November 23rd articles will be posted on Smallbizbee.com on the homepage.
- Articles will be posted in the order they were accepted and will run for 24 hours (from 12:00pm PST to 12:00pm PST)
- The article that receives the most unique page views during their 24 hour period will be deemed the winner!
How to Submit Your Winning Article
- Email your article to matthew(at)smallbizbee.com between November 13 and 22
- Subject of the email should read “$150 Article Competition”
- Include an article title, which will be the main title for your submission (choose a title carefully)
- Include one picture to run as the headline image for your article (optional)
- You will be notified within 24 hours if your article is approved or declined, we will give you reasons for any article declined
- Deadline for submission is 11:59pm PST on November 22, 2009.
How to Get Paid
- At the conclusion of the contest we will announce the winner on SmallBizBee.com, and contact the winner via email
- Our preferred method of payment is via PayPal
- If you do not have a PayPal account we will send you a check (and you’ll have to trust it will clear). We will need to collect your mailing address in order to remit your winnings in this fashion.
What Would Keep Your Article From Being Accepted?
- Unrelated in any way to small business
- Overly spammy or self serving
- Trying to sell a product or service as part of the article
- Article is less than 300 words
- Article is not 100% original content
Keys to Success
Remember the name of the game here is who gets the most unique page views in a 24 hour period. How do you do that? Easy:
- Focus on catchy titles readers are likely to want to read
- Top quality content that encourages readers to pass it on
- Tap your social media networks
- Get creative!
Easy as That
That’s it, no tricks or gimmicks. Just $150 cold hard cash for a few minutes of your time. As Pink Floyd would say “Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash“
Thanks again to BizSugar.com for “sweetening” the deal for our readers!
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Would Your Customers Do This For You?
Story Time
There are two, nearly identical, Mexican food places from which to get a fully loaded vegetarian burrito at lunch, within walking distance to my home office.
Both are “fast food” restaurants, lunch counter types, not a typical sit down with a waiter and what not.
Which One Would You Go To?
Burrito Place A is about 3 blocks away and takes me maybe 5 minutes to walk there.
Burrito Place B is roughly 13 blocks away and takes me 15 minutes walking commute time.
Burrito Place A is 10% across the board cheaper than Burrito Place B.
Both use top quality ingredients, and both make an excellent burrito that leaves me satisfied.
Which One Do I Choose?
I go to Burrito Place B every time, all the time, without even thinking about going to Burrito Place A.
I walk farther (30 minutes round trip vs. 10 minutes), and pay more, for a burrito that is nearly identical in every way to Burrito Place A. And here’s why…
My first trip into Burrito Place A was a sterile, faceless, nameless, cookie cutter experience. Great burrito, great price, but that was it. I was a number, $5 more bucks in the register.
My first trip to Burrito Place B couldn’t have been more different.
I was greeted when I walked in, asked how my day was going as they made my burrito by hand behind the counter. In general the staff were affable, friendly people, who looked like they enjoyed the interaction with the customers, as much as working with each other.
As I was eating, one of the staff members came by to see how every thing was, and then get this…said “Good to hear everything was made to your liking. I just wanted to tell you we appreciate your business, if you need anything let me know”. This guy didn’t own the place, heck he wasn’t even the manager, he just took pride in making a great burrito, and wanted to be sure I enjoyed it – wanted me to know he appreciated my business – how cool is that?
When I walked out I heard ”Thanks a lot, have a good one and come see us again”. Like a friend telling me they’d see me later.
And come see them again I do, over and over again anytime I need a burrito for lunch. I walk farther and pay more for the same product I could get elsewhere. But why would I go anywhere else?
How Far Would Your Customers Walk?
There’s a lesson in there for any business – would your customers walk farther and pay more for you?
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Weird Myths in Business
Myths, legends, and lore – all part of great fiction, but could they also be shaping our ideas about business?
Told over and over again business myths will be regarded as fact, without ever knowing their true origin.
Take for example the old adage that “leadership can only come from the top”. Or “there is no room for failure”.
How about “my title reflects my credibility”, or that “the truth is dangerous”.
Myths every one of them, and quite honestly this line of thinking doesn’t hold much validity in today’s succesful busines environments.
But it doesn’t stop them from being told over and again, and worse yet believed!
Weird Myths in Business
For over 40 weird (yet most still believed) business myths, check out this great presentation from Steve Green of Salesforce.com.
How many of these are you guilty of believing?
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