Leaving a Paper Trail

With the vast use of social media and the internet, most people may consider using paper flyers as their promotional material a bit old-fashioned. But if you think of all the people who don’t use the internet or those who aren’t connected to your online social network, there is still an untapped customer base for your business. 

Let’s use a landscaping company as an example in this article. They are seasonal and travel from one side of town to the other servicing their customers. It makes sense for them to have flyers to distribute throughout the neighborhoods they are already working in to attract new customers.

 Keep in mind that a flyer is simply a call to action.  Whether you design the flyer yourself or have it  professionally done,there are a few things to keep in mind:

• The purpose of the flyer is to educate and inform the public of what you have to offer.
• It should be clear and easy to read at a glance. You don’t want to cram so much information onto the flyer that it’s difficult to sort the message out.
• You need to have a specific purpose in mind. Our landscaper could offer “Spring Cleanup” as a service and be handing out the flyer in the winter.
• To further call attention to the piece, you might offer a discount “coupon” or special price for new customers.
• It should include your company name, logo, addresses, phone number and website address, prominently displayed in bold type.  

Before you decide to distribute the flyers in residential areas, you need to do some homework. In most areas, there are newer regulations in place prohibiting the placing of flyers inside of mailboxes or newspaper boxes at the curb. You either have to put them on the doors of the homes or hand them out to the people you encounter

The United States Postal Service now offers an “Every Door Direct Mail Program” that is affordable and quite efficient. For a fee, starting at $ 0.17.5 per piece or 500 flyers mailed for $87.50 or less, you are able to target a specific area based on your particular demographics and there is no need to purchase a mailing list. You give them the flyer and they do the work. There are more details at www.USPS.com/business/every-door-direct-mail

Maximizing Your Business Down Time

Recently while I was visiting an accountant’s office, two women popped in bearing goodies. They were from an orthodontics office located on the other side of the same large office complex. Their business was slow and they were using the down time to go door-to-door, not only to introduce themselves to their neighbors in the complex but to all the other businesses within a two mile area. 

With a well-thought out promotion in hand, their message was clear. The "swag bag" was imprinted with the company logo, tag line, address and phone number. Inside were samples, most likely donated from their vendors: toothpaste, tooth brush, dental floss, a business card, and a flyer with a coupon offering a discount to new patients.

There was, however, a minor catch. In order to receive the goodies, you had to promise to “like” their facebook page. The page url address was included on the flyer. This was a clever way to increase the followers on their social media page as well as keeping their business in front of potential new patients in case the need arises to use their service.

When is your business in its down-time? Now is the time to be planning ahead with a strategy to maximize your growth potential and trump your competition. Other suggestions to use the time wisely:

• Update your website and/or social media pages
• Go to business networking events. Don't forget the business cards (and flyers).
• Review your business plan and/or marketing strategy
• Check out what your competition is up too

What is the most innovative thing you have done to move your company through the down-time? Let me know and I'll post it in a future e-newsletter.

Next post: Creating Effective Flyers 

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Maurer Marketing Minutes #34-Aaron Beals-Ring Ring

Maurer Marketing Minutes #34-Aaron Beals-Ring Ring

 

Aaron Beals of Ring Ring LLC, promotes creative marketing through toll-free vanity telephone numbers. These numbers are effective as a branding tool to make your advertising memorable no matter what media you are using: internet, radio, television, newspapers or magazines. He can be reached at aaron.beals@ringringllc.com. 866-RingRing or visit his website at www.ringringllc.com.

Direct download: MMM-34-Aaron_Beals-RingRing.mp3

Maurer Marketing Minutes #15-Dave Tear-The Sales Coaches Corner

Maurer Marketing Minutes #15-Dave Tear-The Sales Coaches Corner
For most of us, giving referrals to our business associates is not a new concept. Shelves of books have been written about the subject, like “Endless Referrals” or “The Go-Giver” by Bob Burg. Networking organizations such as Local Business Network (LBN) or Business Network International (BNI) revolve around the referral giving concept. In this segment, Dave Tear, owner of The Sales Coaches Corner, gives us an in-depth definition of how to give qualified leads to our associates, what he calls “referrals on steroids”. Find out more about Dave by visiting his website at www.salescoachescorner.com or give him a call at 248-514-4282 or email dave@salescoachescorner.com.
Direct download: MMM-15-David_Tear-Sales_Coaches_Corner.mp3

Maurer Marketing Minutes #7-Natalie Brundred Personal Coach at Spark

Maurer Marketing Minutes #7-Natalie Brundred-Personal Coach at Spark

“I believe success in life – however we define it – is an inside job. It begins with knowing who we are as an individual and consciously designing a life we find satisfying and fulfilling”, says Natalie Brundred of Spark. She has been a Personal Coach for over 30 years. In our interview, Natalie recommends doing the “inner work” to find our unique purpose and passion then melding that with the product or service that you provide to your customers. To learn more about her “True Purpose Process”, visit her website at www.thesparksite.com or email at Natalie@thesparksite.com or phone 248-390-4191.

Direct download: Maurer Marketing Minutes #7-Natalie Brundred-Personal Coach at Spark