Marketing: Retail Joke
A retailer was dismayed when a competitor selling the same type of product opened next-door to him, displaying a large sign proclaiming “Best Deals“.
Not long after he was horrified to find yet another competitor move in next-door, on the other side if his store. It’s large sign was even more disturbing- “Lowest Prices“.
After his initial panic, and concern that he would be driven out of business, he looked for a way to turn the situation to his marketing advantage. Finally, an idea came to him. Next day, he proudly unveiled a new and huge sign over his front door. It read,
“Main Entrance”!
Who says marketing can’t be fun?!
omOriginals Marketing! offers refreshingly different solutions.
Websites | eMail Marketing | Social | Search | Graphic Design
Happy (do something) New Year!
Ready for a New Year for your business? Well then you need to do something NEW.
If you don’t want it to be just like last year you should trying something new and different.
Theoretical physicist and old school Geek, Albert Einstein was a revolutionary. He encouraged us to do things differently. I love his theory of insanity. “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
The good news is that we don’t need to understand the electromagnetic field or the quantum theory to revolutionize our business. ~:-)
For the new year I encourage you to use some new technology and improve (or begin) your online marketing.
We simply need to make more connections more often with our potential customers. It is simple, but I didn’t say easy. Get out your Rolodex (physical or digital) and update your contact info for friends and clients.
Getting Started.
I first recommend we take an honest assessment of where you are at today and where you’d like to be in 3, 6 or 12 months. Please fill out this basic goal worksheet that I’ve included in this article and then pat yourself on the back – you’ve just completed the first step towards revolutionizing your business.
1) Grow your Facebook Fans
Invite ALL of your customers and friends to “like” your page.
2) Grow your other social networking contacts
There are many social networks out there. Wikipedia lists about 100 “major active social networking sites”. Since time is finite, I would just look to Google+, LinkedIn & Twitter. You might find other industry specific sites – add them to your list.
3) Grow your eMail Marketing List
Start collecting Names and eMails from everyone you do (or would like to do) business with. You can do this by having entries at your front desk, by asking and even direct from your website or Facebook or Google+. Many of our clients and business associates utilize this information with an eClub, a monthly eMailout for informational items, holiday greetings or coupon offers for eClubbers only.
4) Grow your Snail Mail list
Postage isn’t cheap, but direct mail (if properly targeted) has the potential to generate more sales. Add the mailing addresses of your clients that aren’t in your address book yet.
5) Connect :-)
This is the fun part. Share your success!
Share on the social sites, start an eMail list, send direct mail & start BLOGGING. The key to connecting is to deliver value. If you give real value people will appreciate the connection.
Some of our clients share specials or coupons, others share updates about the business offerings and service. Our focus @ omOrignals Marketing! is to share knowledge, have some fun while helping people grow their businesses.
Ready to get different results?
Then you, my friend, are ready to try something new. If you’d like to increase your connections, please contact omOriginals for a 30 or 60 minute consult. I’d be happy to help you connect the dots. I encourage you to do something new & different in 2012 to revolutionize your business through creative marketing!
Oscar Myre IV is the chief Geek and Creative Director at omOriginals Marketing! in Longview, WA. His team of individuals help create and produce anything and everything “marketing” – from web sites to graphic design (like all the great ads in this publication), and everything in between….including +1 codes.
Reach them 9am – 5pm Monday through Friday @ 575-9839 or online anytime @ www.omOriginals.com
Cowlitz Electric – Website, eClub & Facebook
Thanks to Rich Black and his crew for having us help with their online marketing.
Cowlitz Electric is based out of Castle Rock Washington and they serve all of Cowlitz & Lewis County. They offer both Residential Electrical Services and Commercial Electrical Services. They are members of IBEW local 970 & 76.
We invite you to connect with them @ http://cowlitzelectric.com & http://facebook.com/cowlitzelectriclcc
Marketing Services provided OM include: new website, Facebook consulting/coaching and eMail Marketing.
Insty Tune & Lube
omOriginals Marketing! would like to present Insty Tune and Lube.
Insty Tune and Lube is another web site that we provide hosting services, web site maintenance and eMail marketing services for.
Insty Tune and Lube is located in Tampa, Florida. They are a family-owned and operated business with 40 years of ASE Certified Technical and Mechanical Expertise. They offer affordable auto service on both foreign and domestic vehicles and offer Tampa, Florida Fast Oil Changes.
Insty Tune and Lube
14783 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.
Tampa, Florida 33618
REMINDER: COUPON UPDATES DUE 6.21.2010
REMINDER: COUPON UPDATES DUE 6.21.2010
Greetings!
Happy June to all of our valued clients!
This message is going out to all our eMail Marketing and Boxnet clients.
Please let us know if you are needing eClub sign up forms or return envelopes.
eMail Marketing!
This month we have already sent out over 7200 eMails for you! I have never counted before, but even I am amazed (you think I wouldn’t be since I manage this project)! Wow!
I think that is wonderful. I am excited to say, clients that haven’t sent any new contacts before, have done so in the last month, combine that with the contacts that sign up on your web sites and we have some pretty good communicating happening!
There is a chance we can even do better. When was the last time you checked the eMail accounts in your eMail address book? There may be new contacts in there that have not been added to our managing system. If you have never exported your address book, or if it has been so long that you don’t remember, I want to steer you to our knowledge base at omOriginals.com. For directions to export your address books from Apple Mail, Gmail, Outlook, Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo! please Click Here.
I will look forward to a few new .csv files with new contacts coming to my eMail box soon!
Later in the month we will be sending The First Day of Summer eMails…that is right…summer is on the way (although when I am around…Summer is always here)!
I would love input toward the Independence Day eMails we will send on July 1st! Please include suggestions with your coupon/info updates due June 21st.
Web Sites!
If you have ever seen an eMail from me, you have seen my signature:
Have a Refreshingly Different Day!
Summer Clemenson
Web Site & eMail Marketing Specialist
omOriginals Marketing!
360.575.9839 | 877.378.4345
705 Vandercook Way | Longview, WA 98632
offering refreshingly different web + marketing solutions for over 11 years
see our latest creations @ http://www.omOriginals.com/blog
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
There are several key ingredients in my signature.
- My salutation includes words that go with our slogan: refreshingly different.
- My name and title tells you what I do.
- My company name tells you where I work.
- My phone numbers and address make it very easy to reach me.
- The link to my web site advertises my web site to everyone I send a message to and whoever the receiver forwards the message to. THIS IS FREE ADVERTISING
- Of course you can tell that I live in a digital world…I will save the paper for other projects…
Now, I don’t expect that everyone needs to say as much I choose to with my signature, but I wanted to point out to you that there are a lot of ways to advertise yourself and this is just another way to get people to know about your web site…to have a better chance of getting more traffic to your site. Of connecting with more people.
If you have any questions we are hear to answer them. Remember, we are here to help! ~:-)
Have a Refreshingly Different Day!
eMail – The New Old School Marketing!
Welcome back to GeekSpeak. Last month I gave you a primer on Social Networking. For this month we are going to go “old school”. Before there was Facebook, before there was MySpace or Linkedin, even before Google- there was eMail. In preparing this article, my Dad and I reminisced about sending our first eMail back in 1986. It was with General Electric in a Fantasy Basketball league. (We drafted Michael Jordan 23 years ago).
The point is that eMail is old.
So why with all of the “new media” should you consider eMail marketing?
- Inexpensive: The cost per message is very low.
- Trackable: eMail marketing makes it easy to track the results of a campaign. You can tell who open the message and what links they clicked on.
- Effective: With the low cost of entry and the ability to track results, businesses can continue to fine tune their offerings to a targeted audience. The end results can be powerful.
Ready to start? I like your enthusiasm, but first some eMail marketing tips.
Let’s determine your audience.
The best place to start is with current your current customers. You can export addresses and names from your computers address book, add a newsletter subscription link to you website and if you have a retail location you can have a box on your front desk inviting people to join your list. Don’t forget the social networks, be sure to put invites on these sites for your eMail offering.
Delivering Value. Before we get too far we should figure out what your eMail is going to offer. Most people think they need to write a elaborate newsletter. This can be a lot of work. These same “most people” don’t have a ton a free time to invest in this type of project. But, they do have something of value that they can share with their customers. Sometimes it is information (as I hope you find this article) it can also be savings or coupons. When I meet with clients we determine how to deliver the greatest value to the readers with the best ROI (Return on Investment) for the client.
SPAM
We can’t forget SPAM or unsolicited bulk eMail. I strongly recommend that only send permission based-eMail, that is opt-in mail. Sending SPAM will have a negative impact on any legitimate business. To learn more about SPAM and the whole eMail process I recommend that you read “Internet Marketing Best Practices.” See below under Speak with a Geek to see how to get a free copy.
Once you have an audience in mind and a plan for you offer please keep these 3 keys in mind.
- Personalization: How valued do your customers feel if a marketing piece is addressed to “Valued Customer?” With a up-to-date client list you can address the message to “Mike.”
- Branding: You want this eMail to clearly and consistently communicate your message.
- Call to Action: The “call to action” is one of the most important concepts in marketing and promotion. Simply put, after you’ve established that you have something of value to offer and that you’re the perfect choice to deliver it, you want to ask your prospect to take the next step. You deliver a call to action.
Realistic Expectations: Don’t expect to sell a ton of stuff with your first newsletter. You need to be in it for the long run. Try out some ideas and continually improve on your offer. eMail marketing allows you to build a positive relationship with your readers.
The reason main reason that I write GeekSpeak is to open your eyes about web and geek stuff and to let you know when your business needs it – I’m here to help. ~:-)
Speak with the Geek! If you run a business and want to find more customers—or connect more powerfully with the customers you have, I offer a Free Initial Consultation for eMail marketing to identify needs, opportunities and present a clear plan of action to succeed! I will also share with you a free report “eMail Marketing Best Practices.” A good read and valuable tool to read before starting a campaign.
~ Oscar is the Creative Director for omOriginals Marketing! You can take him up on his offer of a free consultation by visiting omOriginals.com or calling 360.575.9839.