More Unique Promotion Ideas

22. Small Home Town Newspapers! I don't get too good of a response when I do big newspaper city ads, however... when I target small town newspapers I usually get a great response. I even had them let me place an ad on their wedding and engagement announcements page which I advertised the Bridal Gift Registry.

So if you are going to do any type of newspaper advertising, inquire about getting your ads on specific pages in the newspaper that targets the group of people most likely to buy from you.

23. Get a low cost outdoor banner printed up with your business information on it. You can usually get them done for $55 or less depending on who makes it.

You can have these outdoor banners displayed at outdoor music/concert events, outdoor children's sporting events, outdoor adult sport events, outdoor neighborhood block parties, outdoor community events, carnivals, fairs, etc.

24. Take your business on the road during nice weather. Contact local area parks & community centers to see what their schedule of events are and inquire about setting up a booth or table.

This is a great way to network & market your business to those in your community.

25. Community Clipper Coupon Packs & Sales Flier Mailings. These days a lot of communities have mailings such as these, contact them and see how you can participate and advertise your business.

26. Contact small local area businesses such as hair salons, massage parlors, boutiques, banks etc.

See if you can set up a table for 1 week with 3 of your best selling products on it along with some catalogs, fliers, coupons and your business card. Keep a basket on the table for any customer orders which you can follow up on after you return back to pick up your display. Offer the store owner or manager a free gift for allowing you to do this.

You can also offer to donate a prize for a contest if they let you display the prize donated & get a copy of the contestants entry blanks after the promotion closes.

27. Contact local area pizza shops, diners, and deli's and coffee bagel shops to ask them about advertising on their paper place mats! Customers do read those ads!

28. Contact local area restaurants, bars and clubs and see about advertising on their paper beverage coasters!

29. Local Television Stations are always holding on-air contests & website contests for their viewers, contact them about you donating a prize or gift certificate to sponsor one of their contests! Great business exposure for you!

30. Attend Local Area holiday shopping events. Customers who are ready to spend holiday shopping money turn out for these events by the thousands! You can usually get a booth for less than $50.00 so they are economical to participate in!

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

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Following up from yesterday’s post, here are some more ideas for you to try

11. Contact your local medical offices, particularly Gynecology and OB Offices and Pediatric Offices and inquire about you leaving information with them.

This is a way for you to target Parents of Children with both the home party opt, the business opt and new customer sales.

12. Donate a Product to your local area Radio Station, they have numerous contests and they are always looking for sponsors!

Your donation can be written off as a tax deduction plus you will get FREE Advertising & Business Exposure for your donation!

13. Donate a Product to your local area Bingo Halls! They are always looking for sponsors of their Bingo Prizes! Bingo is BIG in a lot of areas!

14. Call your Chamber of Commerce and find out about Local Area Job Fairs. Get a booth and set up info about the fabulous business opt!

15. Call your Local Area Colleges and find out when their next job/employment fair is. A lot of times you can get a booth or table for less than $35 and you will get a lot of GREAT new recruit leads by participating in events like these.

16. Contact local area car dealerships. I have 2 in my local area that hand out a small packet that I made up for FREE to their customers who come in to take a free test drive!

17. Target your local area gyms! You can get a table space for $20 or less in most cases! Make sure you have 3-5 products on display, plenty of catalogs, business cards and fliers.

18. Network with others in your community who are in home business. Find out what events and activities that they participate in. They are usually "in the know" and can help you get started in networking in your community.

19. Contact Companies in your area to see if you can come in and set up a table in the employee lounge or cafeteria for a employee shopping break! These days a lot of companies will allow you to do this if you ask them!

20. Does your local area TV cable company have a local information channel? Inquire about advertising! These ads will reach thousands of potential buyers for you! I recommend you only use your website address for these types of advertising and not your personal at home address.

21. Contact local small companies and shops to see if you can offer an exclusive discounts or freebie gift to their employees. Companies are always looking for a way to "treat" their employees to specials from the local surrounding community.

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

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info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD

Have you grown tired of trying to figure out creative places to advertise your business? What about plain and simple creative ideas? Let me share with you fifty creative ideas. I hope this list gets your creative juices flowing.

Over the next few posts, I am going to give you some different and unusual ways of advertising your products.

1. Take a small zip close baggy (snack sizes work well) and include the following in it:

Your Business Card, Business Opt Mini Flier a Piece of Candy such as hard candy or a lollipop, mini flier of current host specials, discount coupon (optional) etc.

Hand these out to the bank tellers, retail cashiers, at your kids sport events, every where you go!

2. When I stay at hotels & motels I leave a mini catalog, my business card & discount coupon and the mini coin canister for the maid! I put her tip inside the mini coin canister! I have gotten 3 orders by doing this!

Be creative when you leave tips for Hotel Maids, Waitresses, Waiters, Hair Dressers, etc. Don't just hand them your business card, make it memorable!

You can also buy cute little beaded change purses at your local dollar discount store!

3. Print out fliers with your contact info (not your personal address), your website address & email address along with any current specials you are offering.

Then contact local area mobile home park offices, apartment complex rental offices, housing developments etc and ask them if you can leave fliers in their office or hang on their tenants doors. Give the office employees a free gift or discount on their personal orders.

4. Contact local area bridal supply stores, bridal gown stores, caterers, tux rental centers, wedding dj's etc. Ask them if you can leave your business cards & fliers about the great (Company Name) Bridal Gift Registry for them to give to their customers.

Offer store owners a free gift or a personal discount for helping you spread the word about your business.

5. Daycare Centers! They are excellent to contact and leave business cards and/or fliers at!

I print out fliers of just a few items from our Tupperware Children's line and I attach my business card & a discount coupon. I get a lot of orders by doing this!

So whatever company you represent, find some items that cater to children or to moms and make up a flier!

6. A lot of churches hold a Spring and Fall Fest! Contact them about getting a table or a booth. A lot of times this will cost you under $15.00 for a space!

Make sure you take products with you along with business opt fliers, plenty of catalogs, business cards etc.

Do a contest drawing at these types of events. Make up entry blanks that gather the customer's info so that you can initiate contact with them again!

7. Join your local area chamber of commerce! They are always holding local business events that you can participate in.

8. College Campuses! Dorms & Housing Students are always looking to spend money! A lot of college students are also looking for an extra income so target them with the Business Opt too!

Drop off fliers and business cards to the College Student Center! They usually have bulletin boards, tables and other things where you can leave your information at for FREE!

9. Contact your local area Welcome Wagon or Welcome to the Neighborhood Group! Ask them about you leaving mini catalogs, fliers, business cards, discount coupons, freebie mini gifts, etc with them.

They are always looking for additional items to place in their Welcome Bags!

10. Contact your local area hospitals and ask for Human Resources Dept. The Majority of hospitals hand out New Mommy Diaper Bags filled with products, samples and other stuff for New Moms who just had a baby!

It's FREE for you to add in your information! I have gotten party hosts, new customers and new recruits by participating in these types of programs.

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

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info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD

Sales Through The Back Door

We have this pizza restaurant just a few blocks from where we live that puts out some of the best pizza’s I’ve ever eaten and I’ve eaten a few in my life time. The also have a full line of Italian selections but pizza is their biggest seller. This restaurant has a nice dinning room that is always full and the service is great also. To top this off, the prices are really reasonable too. Although the restaurant is always full, this restaurant sells more pizza’s out the back door than they do in the restaurant. They don’t have a drive thru but never the less, more pizzas go out that back door than through the front. The biggest problem this restaurant has is that it never has enough parking and it would be near impossible to add any. This problem was the reason the restaurant wasn’t growing a few years ago. It have everything else, good food, good service, good atmosphere and good prices but too little parking.

How this restaurant overcame this problem and developed this selling oddity is so simple it would seem at first glance to that it would never work. They started spreading the word among their inside customers that if they just needed a pizza in a hurry and didn’t have time to stand in line in the regular seating area, just come to the back door. They also started printing this fact on the back of every receipt that they gave out. Word started to spread and within a few months, the back door was busier than the front.

You are probably asking what all this has to do with on line marketing. Actually a great deal. Many don’t see their on line store in the same way as they view an actual Brick and Mortar store. This is a bad mistake to make. When this type of thinking is in place, an on line store usually suffers for it.

Now my example isn’t normally considered the real meaning of Back End Sales but it is a good example for my purposes in this post. Usually when people think of Back End Sales they usually think of trying to sell a customer who has just bought something an additional item or service. Often promoting the new item as an adjutant to the initial item purchased. Actual Back End Sales can and do work to boost sales but there is another form of back end sales that is almost exclusive to on line sellers.

You really can equate Back End Sales to Back Links. For those unfamiliar with the term, a Back Link is any link to your web site that is on someone else’s web site. These Back Links can make or break an on line store for two reasons. First, most of the larger search engines rate a web site higher if they have a great number of other web sites with links pointing to you. In other words Back Links. Second, back links provide passive advertising that require almost zero attention to maintain. Couple with this the fact that when your Back Link is clicked on, it is usually be someone that already has been looking for what you sell. This being the case, it means that they are much more likely to purchase from you because they have a certain degree of trust in the site your web site has the link on. It’s a psychological thing but basically it boils down to the fact that since they trust this one web site, they think it is safe to trust your web site and your products. You have overcome a good portion of the initial sales hurdle.

If your not actively seeking out opportunities to set up Back Links, you are missing out on some valuable advertising opportunities and probably many sales.

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

All rights reserved

info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD

The Round Business Card

There was a study done a few years ago by the university of CA business college which focused on the use of different types of paper media (not newspaper or magazine type) as used in advertising. I’m not going into all the details but there were some really interesting facts that came out of this study.

One part of the study had to do with the shape of the paper media used. It turned out that odd shaped items were kept by the recipient 47% longer than just plane square or rectangle items were. Now think about this for a minute. What percentage of advertising that is on paper of one type or another that you have seen that isn’t either square or rectangle? No much I bet.

This being the case, why do we always make our business cards, flyers, posters and all the other things we give out to attract customers, either square or rectangle. Why not a triangle or round business card. One thing is for certain, they couldn’t get lost in a rolodex.

If someone gave me a round business card or flyer, the first thing I would think would be “man that person is innovative and has an imagination.”. My second thought would probably be “I wonder what else he makes that is different”. If they were trying to sell me something, they would certainly stand out in my mind above all the other salespeople I run across.

Isn’t that how we want our customers to think of us?

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

All rights reserved

info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD

Good Time – Bad Time! It’s Show Time

Well the countdown has started. The big Craft Show is just a few days away and that ever present thought keeps popping up in your head. Am I ready you ask? Oh heck no! I don't have enough product, I'm not organized, and I'm not sure of my set up. Funny, but I'm not really worried about any of that. I am worried, however, about the weather. Mother nature can do brutal things to outdoor markets, and my main enemy: wind. The tent turns into a giant kite, and I turn into Mary Poppins, holding on to the center, ready to fly away. Not to mention displays and signs can blow over.

Weights: check! Walls: check! Heater: check!

We have been doing raft and other types now for probably 15 plus years and I thought I would pass on a few things we learned. Often the hard way.

1. Have lots of change. Then, when you think you have enough, get more.
2. Put your companies information on the customer copy of your receipt book before you start, you can use a stamp or print labels, this way, if somehow they don't get a business card, they still have your info.
3. Make a price list with tax and total, And make sure you bring a calculator.
4. Have things in different price ranges. I like to have available impulse items. People like to have something to bring home when they've been enjoying themselves and these small items can fit the bill easily. There is nothing wrong with inexpensive items for this purpose. .
5. Have discounts for multiple item sales. Many of our products are prices the same so it is easy for us to have a 3 for price on most of our items. Along with this, if you want to save yourself some headaches, price your products in even amounts, $1.00, $2.00, $5.00, $10.00, ect. This also make giving change much easier.
6. One of the biggest mistakes I see at almost all shows is that the tables are too low. Raise your tables. This makes a huge difference. You can used pvc pipe as “stilts” or extension to raise the table up to 36” or even 40 inches. The idea is to make the table high enough so people don’t have to bend over to see things and this also helps keep those little sticky toddler fingers from grabbing things as easily.
7. Put as many things as possible at eye level. You want something interesting to draw people to your space. Whether it’s a colorful sign or a hanging display, it will make your booth more interesting.
8. If you are using a tent, get a banner for the front of your tent. Make one if you have to. Create brand identity and get your name out there. If you are inside, have a banner for your tables. They don’t have to be the same thing but one of them should loudly announce your company name.
9. Our products are not the type that people wear but if yours’ are, give your customers the option of wearing their purchase or carrying a nice bag. Have your company info pre-inserted into your bags also.
10. Dress appropriately, layer, particularly if you are outside. You never know what old mother nature might throw at you.
11. If you are at a really hot show, customers may be spending more than they intended. Know where the nearest ATM is, especially if you don’t take credit cards.
12. We like to have a sign-up book for e-mail mailing list. You can let your customers know about new items, special sales, or send them coupons for their next visit.
13. I know it sounds silly and you may feel silly doing this at first but if you are one of these people that doesn’t smile naturally all the time, practice in front of a mirror for a few days. Learn to smile when someone asks how you make things or other trade secrets (I’m still working on this one!) It’s okay to make a joke or be evasive about answering, just don’t be rude.
14. Remember I said to have your tables higher than normal. If you vary the levels on your display tables it will provide more visual interest as well as giving you more room to showcase your wares. Adding risers, even if they are nothing but old shoe boxes or an old shelf from the closet can bring a whole new appearance to your displays.
15. This is one we learned the hard way. Bring your tools so you can alter or adapt things if need be. Floors are not always level and Murphy’s Law always seem to be in overdrive at shows.
16. Don’t just sit behind your table, get out and greet people. This is why it is always a good idea to have more than one person doing the show. Walk around and interact! Hand out your business cards to anyone who will take them. Invite them over to see your products.

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

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info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD

Are you forgetting an important group you should be marketing to?

What is the average age of the average on line individual merchant? Don’t feel bad if you don’t know the answer. I don’t know it either. I’m sure the figures can be easily found but it’s really not the point of this post anyway. The real important fact is that virtually every age range is represented. I would however lean towards the 20 – 25 year old age range if I had to take a guess.

The reason I bring this up is that I am seeing a very large segment of the buying audience somewhat being ignored when most companies start thinking about the marketing techniques. More and more of what is found on the internet is geared towards individuals below the age of 50. Considering the fact that the over 50 age group is becoming the largest group in the country, it seems pretty foolish not making serious efforts to market to them more aggressively.

Older web surfers are thirsting for more age relevant content according to a recent study and a majority feel that online advertising is out of step with their age group.

Burst Media recently conducted a survey of over 13,000 Internet users aged 18 years and over regarding their views on age focused online content, website design, and targeted online advertising.

While the majority of people up to the age of 44 feel content on the web is relevant to their age, only 35.4% of the 45-54 year segment believe online content is focused on people in their age bracket. Even fewer respondents aged 55 years and older agreed. This attitude extends beyond content and to design; even more so.

Equally as important for those of us involved with online business, over two-thirds of respondents 45-54 years, and more than 80% of respondents 55 years and older say online advertising is focused on people younger than they are.

The Internet is certainly not just a playground for the young any more, so I feel that many web marketers are leaving cash on the table by not being more responsive to this group. After all, it’s the mature age members of our society who tend to hold much of the wealth.

The last figures I remember seeing were from 2005 and they indicated that seniors control over 70% of all disposable income and at that point were spending over $7 billion online each year.

As the years go by, a senior citizen scared witless of the Internet is becoming increasingly uncommon. Most of the older folks I know are into it in a big way. These people have time on their hands, cash in their wallets and will spend it with you if you approach it the right way. While they may have the luxury of more time; they are also gun-shy, so making things difficult for them or alienating them with hip language and attempting to force youth-oriented messages down their throats will send them running. They want a good deal, but they also want substance, respect and for you to have credibility. Keep that in mind the next time you write your ad copy.

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

All rights reserved

info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD