Log file HNA120998 for
Chat room homeparents: Marketing your Business
| ----- | -- Log on HNA120998 started at Wed Dec 09 11:54:52 PST 1998 |
| Julie: | I think it would be nice if everyone introduced themselves with their business and url |
| BarbH: | good idea |
| Horselips: | alphabetically |
| BKSSecy: | BKS Typing / Secretarial Services. http://hometown.aol.com/bkssecy/private/help.htm |
| BarbH: | Barb Headrick, Headrick Marketing Services, http://www.premier1.net/~headr/hms/index.html |
| Horselips: | Susan Lewis, Full Circle Associates, http://fullcircleassociates.simplenet.com |
| Janet: | Hi - Janet Crosby - http://www.baxsie.com - Paragraphics |
| Julie: | Julianne Gentile The Mommy Mall http://www.mommy-mall.com/ |
| Lucinda: | I am Lucinda of Lynx Travel Services (Http://www.lynxtravel.com) and Best Designs (Http://www.bestdesigns.net) |
| homeparentsADM: | Barbara whiting, stay at home parents, the mining co. |
| BarbH: | many people confuse "marketing" with "advertising" but there are major differences. |
| BarbH: | by definition, advertising is basically a one-shot, one-time, put all your eggs in one basket approach. |
| BarbH: | marketing, on the other hand, is a slow-burning, long-time, spend your money systematically over a long period of time - using the adage that "someone has to see your information seven times before they'll buy" |
| BarbH: | so how do we find out WHO to market to? |
| BarbH: | the basics of marketing is the DATABASE! |
| BarbH: | a well-planned, comprehensive database is the key to any marketing program. |
| BKSSecy: | What do you think about purchasing targeted mailing lists? |
| BarbH: | those of you who have heard me talk about this before - janet for one - know how adamant I am about creating a database of good potential clients and/or customers. |
| BarbH: | if you *purchse* a list, how do you know if it's targeted to your product/service? |
| BarbH: | I am a firm believer in creating your own. |
| BKSSecy: | I can agree with that. |
| BarbH: | I would rather you have a database of 50 GOOD potential clients than 1,000 on a mailing list. |
| BarbH: | buying a list is basically a *crap shoot* - you don't know if they'll even read your materials or just throw them away |
| BKSSecy: | Thank you. I've been wondering whether or not to buy a list. |
| Lucinda: | CLIA sells mailing lists to travel agents, but I don't like them. |
| BarbH: | make your own - |
| BKSSecy: | Will do. |
| homeparentsADM: | (I never read the ads I get via email..I just delete them..) |
| BarbH: | you must have *repeat* customers - ones who have already purchased your product or used your service - they are your best place to start. |
| Janet: | Barb's skill is finding people that you wouldn't think would be clients at first glance... |
| BarbH: | do each of you maintain a list of previous clients/customers? |
| BKSSecy: | I do. |
| Horselips: | indeed yes |
| BarbH: | if so, this is the best place to start. |
| Lucinda: | Yes, for all three businesses |
| BarbH: | send them a mailer - have a special (this season is especially good for *specials) ----- find a reason to contact them again!!!!! |
| Kylie: | ummm - am I in trouble if I say it's in my head :-) |
| BarbH: | if someone likes your product/service, then they will tell others. ask them for referrals - offer them a "bonus" if they can give you one or two names which you can add to your database. |
| BarbH: | do you do trade shows? |
| Kylie: | yes |
| BarbH: | collect business cards from others .... these people have looked at your booth and are *interested* - don't let them get away!! |
| BKSSecy: | I haven't yet. Are trade shows appropriate for a secretarial service? |
| Lucinda: | This Feb will be my first |
| Julie: | Another great idea is periodic greeting cards to clients and prospects... I am webmaster for a business that specializes in this service |
| BarbH: | we discussed "secretarial" at a trade show with ada coyle a year or so ago, and decided that *yes* - there are lots of travelers who would like to know that they can find a local secretrial sevice at their fingertips |
| BKSSecy: | I guess I need to find out more about trade shows then. |
| BarbH: | creating a *reason* to let others know about your services/product is what *marketing* is all about ... being creative and finding those who can't live without your p/service. |
| Julie: | I have had terrific results from TradeShows, as have several clients. Well worth the money IF you are diligent and get your card/brochure into as many hands as possible |
| homeparentsADM: | how DO you find trade shows? |
| BarbH: | exactly. |
| Lucinda: | Bkssecy, do you leave flyers in local hotels? |
| BarbH: | certainly. |
| BKSSecy: | No. I hadn't thought of that. I will now though. |
| BarbH: | but the *best* use of your marketing dollars is to send your brochure/presentation piece to *those* who can't live without your services! |
| BKSSecy: | I'm a new business. I started in October of this year. I have 3 clients so far, and I'm working toward more. |
| Julie: | Trade Shows are generallly advertised in trade magazines, and the web is a great resource.. |
| BarbH: | won't those 3 tell others? make the incentive for them to. |
| BKSSecy: | I currently send intro. letters to potential clients. I enclose a brochure, business card, and rolodex card. |
| BarbH: | word of mouth is an excellent resource. |
| BarbH: | but do you follow up? |
| BarbH: | or just mail it out? |
| BKSSecy: | I got the 2nd & 3rd from the 1st. |
| BKSSecy: | Right now I've just mailed them out. I don't know what to say at the follow-up. |
| BarbH: | the *second* step in marketing is the follow-up - don't just mail and sit back and wait for that phone to ring |
| BarbH: | just say, "i'm following up on the brochure/information I sent you" .... |
| BKSSecy: | That works? |
| BarbH: | some will say they didn't receive it, others will say, "oh yes, i meant to call" ... e |
| Julie: | Hi, I just wanted to follow up on the XXX I sent you. When would be a good time for us to get together and talk? |
| BKSSecy: | ok |
| BarbH: | don't let the responsibility fall to them to call - YOU DO IT!! |
| BKSSecy: | I like that Julie. |
| BKSSecy: | I understand that Barb. I agree with you. Thanks. |
| BarbH: | exactly .... let them do the responses, but you Open THAT door |
| BarbH: | ! |
| BKSSecy: | I feel like I'm monopolizing this chat! LOL |
| Julie: | no, not at all |
| Lucinda: | I am reorganizing my travel agency, any suggestions for announcing my new services? |
| BarbH: | no problem - each business/services/product is unique, and we'll approach as many as we can |
| homeparentsADM: | No, thats fine, BK! We are here to learn! |
| BarbH: | announcing new services is the BEST reason to contact past clients!! |
| BKSSecy: | Thanks. |
| BarbH: | it's exactly the door-opener that you need .... new services, new products, new address -- what better reason to contact them???? |
| BKSSecy: | I know how to DO my work, I'm just "all thumbs" at GETTING my work. :) |
| Julie: | Lucinda, a cute postcard or note telling about your changes along with an incentive or special should work wonders. It might be a great opportunity for a press release also |
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