| allymcbeal: | People need to see your name AT LEAST 7 times for things to click, studies show... |
| Priscilla: | That can be expensive for those of us that are small |
| LoveKids: | continuous contact? I always feel like I'm being so obnoxious. |
| BKSSecy: | What do all of you think about a letter from a secretary vs. a postcard? |
| BarbH: | change your strategies - one month, make that dreaded cold call, another month send a postcard, another time send a handwritten note - keep in contact!! |
| allymcbeal: | Priscilla--even an e-mail note to say, "How's your week going?" with a sig line is a contact |
| Julie: | Not with telephones, email and inexpensive mailings to your clients |
| Priscilla: | Good thought |
| BarbH: | always have a reason - a special, a change of some kind .... |
| Julie: | A newsletter is an excellent tool.... and FREE |
| BarbH: | a newsletter is an excellent way! |
| allymcbeal: | Remember their birthdays and special occasions as well |
| BarbH: | perfect. |
| Julie: | your prospects request this and you build your database |
| BarbH: | now you're becoming creative and thinking of ways and reasons to contact your database!! |
| BarbH: | with the holidays, make a *special* and let them know that it'll extend into the new year ..... |
| Lucinda: | Our other business is coal delivery, any thoughts on "reasons" to contact our clients |
| BarbH: | let's talk a little about your mailers - brochures - presentation pieces. |
| BarbH: | how about a *coal* special? |
| Priscilla: | On clients business card or history that I keep, I jot down notes regarding B. days, anniversaries, children and gr. children's names. Hobbies, likes & dislikes, illnesses, etc |
| BarbH: | great idea. and do you contact them on those special days? |
| Janet: | hey - tie in Santa and a lump of coal in some 'cute' way? |
| Priscilla: | Yes, but I don't have near enough clients |
| Lucinda: | We already sell it very cheap - We could not afford a sale |
| BarbH: | then "that's" your special ... we sell "cheap" |
| BarbH: | turn that lump of coal into a lump of marketing gold!! |
| Lucinda: | Thought of making "coal" cards for next Xmas |
| Priscilla: | No need for a sale Lucinda, just add Santa to your "merry Xmas letter" with a reminder you have the best rates in town |
| BKSSecy: | But doesn't the word "cheap" give the impression of "poor quality?" What about "inexpensive" instead? |
| BarbH: | i didn't mean "cheap" ... of course it's *affordable* ... |
| BKSSecy: | I know that, but I was just pointing it out for potential customers who might take it wrong. |
| BarbH: | play up the *good* quality at an affordable price |
| Priscilla: | Best rates, prices that can't be beat, etc.. |
| BarbH: | exactly ... use good "active" words that are descriptive and tell YOUR story about YOUR product. |
| homeparentsADM: | how about, "our prices are so low, we don't need a sale"...something like that? |
| Lucinda: | I am going to mail thank you postcards at the end of the season |
| BarbH: | sure .... get their attention! |
| BarbH: | thank you cards are excellent. creates good will and good customers who return again and again! |
| Priscilla: | Then build up your delivery time. If you specialize in having it there within a certain time frame. Remind them that the coldest part of the winter is still ahead - give them a reason to buy now |
| BarbH: | because most of you work *online*, you have to remember to not neglect your offline marketing responsiblities! |
| Lucinda: | Do you think I should include a coupon for a free bag next season |
| BarbH: | everyone who buys does so through an offline method - mostly delivery through snail mail - you have their address - use it!! |
| allymcbeal: | and there's not the stigma of spam with snail mail... |
| Priscilla: | A coupon is always good expecially when the word "free" is attached. Perhaps you could offer one bag "free" with coupon when ordering XXX much. |
| BKSSecy: | If you were looking for assistance with word processing, desktop publishing, typing, or other secretarial services, how would you start your search? |
| BarbH: | coupons are good, but don't send them too early! next year's coal might be a long ways off - send them on a timely basis! |
| allymcbeal: | yellow pages |
| Julie: | Lisa sends out postcards.. very thoughtful and non intrusive. It gives makes the client feel more like a friend or partner |
| Lucinda: | BKSSecy, you could put flyers at airports and car rentals too |
| BarbH: | post cards are my favorite contact method (after phone calls). |
| Priscilla: | Do you make your own postcards? |
| BarbH: | yes |
| BKSSecy: | I mean, how would YOU, as a possible customer, look for my service? |
| BarbH: | then they can be personalized |
| Julie: | Post cards are cheap and they stick out from a pile of mail |
| Julie: | I would first check with my friends, and if they did not have a referral, I would look in the phone book.... |
| BarbH: | what about contacting large businesses in the area and find out if they have biz contacts from other cities who come in to meet with them. |
| Julie: | Or check with similar businesses, like web designers, |
| BKSSecy: | I need to get in the yellow pages then. |
| Julie: | ISPs are a good place to start |
| BarbH: | if they do, ask if it would be appropriate to send them your mateirals to let them know you exist. |
| BKSSecy: | I'm on search engines. |
| tricia: | Do you make the postcards on your computer? (what program?) |
| Lucinda: | Anyone know where you can get the print and shrink paper? I would like to make luggage tags for clients |
| BarbH: | I use mspublisher (sorry, janet) |
| Janet: | hahaha |
| allymcbeal: | I ordered my postcards from Tammy Butler's Card World...she's on HNA... |
| BKSSecy: | Do any of you create your postcards using an inkjet printer? |
| allymcbeal: | Great selection of business-related cards and postcards...great prices too. |
| Janet: | luggage tags - what a great idea! - do you mail them, Lucinda? |
| BarbH: | i bought a laminator and it came with luggage tag thingees .... that's a good attraction at trade shows - give me your biz card and i'll make a luggage tag for you. |
| Priscilla: | I've never heard of print & shrink paper |
| Julie: | Barb: Freebies are a risk, especially on the net. I don't recommend them, unless it is a gift with purchase. Contests are wonderful promotional tools. Especially if you can get a sponsor. Remember the Family Internet site. They gave a way software everymonth that was donated by a software and got listed on all the high traffic freebie sites |
| Lucinda: | with the paper you could make them look really fun |
| tricia: | Lucinda... you can buy luggage tags from the same companies that print your pens, etc. |
| BarbH: | me either, but with the laminator, you can order all sizes of plastics which laminate to the biz cards. |
| LoveKids: | .. |
| Priscilla: | I have a laminator and can lamiate anything from wallet-size cards to 11X17 |
| Priscilla: | opps spelt laminate wrong, sorry |
| Julie: | pleae remember to type something occaisonally or click on your name and hit user info button, so you are not disconnected |
| BarbH: | me too. i gave luggage tags to all the people in my office and we use it at trade shows, too. |
| BarbH: | it's a great attraction. |
| Lucinda: | I want to make them eyecatching, I had a source for the paper in NJ but she went out of business. |
| BKSSecy: | How much do you charge for laminating? |
| BarbH: | people really like using their own biz cards - they already *like* them! |
| Lucinda: | what about those who don't have biz cards? |
| BKSSecy: | Lucinda: Have you tried Paper Direct? |
| Priscilla: | Who are you asking about laminating prices? |
| BarbH: | use that as an excuse to make them one!! |
| BKSSecy: | Anybody that does it. |
| BKSSecy: | I'm wondering if I'll do it. |
| BarbH: | i don't charge - i use it as a way to attract potential clients to my booth! |
| Janet: | Lucinda: how do you give the luggage tags out? |
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| BKSSecy: | Do you do it outside of trade shows? |
| BKSSecy: | If so, do you charge then? |
| Lucinda: | I mail them with airline tickets |
| Priscilla: | I charge per project and size. It varies. If you have something specific, contact me privately at pschultz@wvi.com |
| BarbH: | sure, you can use that in your marketing piece - "send me your biz card and i'll make you a luggage tag" ... what a perfect way to get their name and add to your database!! |
| BKSSecy: | No. I don't have anything specific. Just wondering. Thanks though. |
| allymcbeal: | Gotta run...If anyone needs help with press releases, please visit! http://www.wrdwrks.com |
| Janet: | wow - that is a wonderful idea! |
| Danielle: | You guys are still here!~ YEAH! |
| allymcbeal: | Thanks, Barb, for your time and expertise! |
| BKSSecy: | Like that idea BarbH! |
| BarbH: | my pleasure - thanks for coming! |
| Janet: | but...you want to get out of airline ticketing, right? (Lucinda) |
| Lucinda: | packages and cruises still have airline tickets |
| Priscilla: | Okay, also keep in mind the weight you want for whatever you are doing |
| BarbH: | any other questions? |
| Janet: | ahhh - I see, Lucinda (don't travel much, LOL) |
| homeparentsADM: | Barb, do you have any one line, most important type marketing tip? :) |
| BarbH: | please remember that i'm always available by e-mail if you have any questions. |
| LoveKids: | What's the very most first thing I should do to promote a web design company? |
| Priscilla: | That is good to know. |
| Janet: | Barb Database Headrick! :) |
| BarbH: | if you remember nothing else, remember to create a database, mail to them, follow up!! |
| BarbH: | headr@premier1.net |
| Priscilla: | I think we should all share and exchange "unwanted services and clients" with others as well as databases for clients that don't fit our market but someone else's on hna |
| BarbH: | that's me - Barb "Database" Headrick ... |
| LoveKids: | LOL Barb. |
| BarbH: | that's a great idea .. |
| tricia: | Thanks Barb! Alot of great ideas. |
| BarbH: | thanks for coming! |
| Julie: | sorry I was away |
| homeparentsADM: | thanks, Barb!! |
| BarbH: | my pleasure! |
| Priscilla: | thanks a bunch Barb, this was very enjoyable. |
| Julie: | Thank you Barb! |
| Lucinda: | Thanks Barb and everyone! |
| Priscilla: | I must run. Bye everyone |
| BarbH: | thank you for asking me - bye! |
| Julie: | We need to do this again.. to share ideas |
| homeparentsADM: | I think we should do a follow-up...on line marketing..too! would fit in nice. |
| BarbH: | i think client-sharing is an excellent idea! |
| LoveKids: | Are we done? Time flies in chat rooms! |
| Danielle: | Yes we do |
