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Tag: small business marketing ideas (Page 2 of 3)

New Year Promotional Marketing Idea

January 15, 2015 /

new year marketing promotion ideaNeed a cool new year promotional marketing idea? Every year people tend to make the same new year’s resolutions:

  • Lose weight
  • Get fit
  • Save money
  • Eat better
  • Get out of debt
  • Get organized
  • Look better

The start of a new year means a fresh start for many people, and it is something your small business can take advantage of.

Marketing a “New Year, Fresh Start” Product or Service

For example, I saw this “Fresh Start” box from subscription box company Birchbox mentioned in a variety of print magazines that had this type of “New Year, New You” editorial:

New Year Promotional Marketing Idea

Now, I don’t know how many of these products actually suit the theme, but it doesn’t really matter. They have packaged it for a specific marketing purpose that is important at this time of year, so I bet it will be successful for them.

I like how the stores, CWonder and Urban Outfitters, below, capitalize on the new year to get you to update your home décor, another fresh start:

New Year Promotional Marketing Idea

New Year Promotional Marketing Idea

Again, it gets buyers thinking that maybe updating their decor will give them the new start they need, lift their spirits, make them feel like they are making positive changes, and so forth. It works on the psychology of why sometimes people buy (to make themselves feel better). 

A “New Year, Fresh Start” Marketing Pitch Can Apply to Any Business
  • A financial planner can capitalize on people’s need to save money, get out of debt, plan for their future, and organize their finances with a special, “Get our Financial Fit Plan for 2023”.
  • An orthodontist office can convince people to finally get their teeth straightened with a “New Year, New Smile” campaign.
  • A dietician can gain lots of new customers with a “Eat Right in 2023” marketing push.
  • A clothing company can hope women will invest in a new wardrobe with a “Ready to Revamp Your Look for 2023?” tactic.

Remember, people love the idea of “new” and making crucial changes to their lives, so figure out how your small business can capitalize on this time of year. Also, start planning a new year marketing promotional idea for 2023 now, so you can pitch to the print media in September/October with hopes of being included in their January editorial.

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About Me

A 20+ year marketing professional, small business consultant, ebook author & blogger, my advice has been featured in the NY Times, Success Magazine, American Express, Yahoo Finance, Go Banking Rates, Big Commerce, Business2Community to name a few – so this is professional advice you can trust! Read more about my services, products and marketing plans.

I have consulted for thousands of small businesses since 2012. It really does help to talk to someone who is objective to get a new, but professional, perspective. I have also written publicity pitches for clients that resulted in them being featured in Real Simple Magazine, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Houzz, Martha Stewart, Glamour Magazine, LONNY, DesignMilk, Emmaline Bride,– just to name a few. More about my Publicity Pitch service.

© 2012-2015 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. New Year Promotional Marketing Idea

Tips for Success When You’re a Newbie in a Crowded Market

November 11, 2014 /

by Gail Oliver, Marketing Consultant

Are you just about to dive into a market that many others are already in, and doing it well? Are you offering a service that so many other, more experienced people with huge client bases are also offering?

 

So what to do when you are newbie or late entrant into your market? Give up? No. There is always room for new players, if you do one or both of these things:

  • Improve upon the weaknesses of your competitors
  • Find a niche no one else is targeting

Improve Upon Competitors’ Weaknesses

No company is perfect. Even successful companies like Apple have their weaknesses. One of the biggest complaints people have had for years is that  the iPhone has a horrible battery life. If another company were  to come along and offer everything the iPhone does, plus superior battery power, that may be enough for some customers to switch over.

Maybe you just opened a dental practice, and all the dental offices in your city close at 5:00 pm, frustrating those patients who can’t afford time off work. Simply keep your office open to 8 pm just a few days a week, to capitalize on this need.

A great way to find competitors’ weaknesses is to go to Yelp and read what their customers are saying. Whatever customers hate about their business, make sure these will be the things people will love about yours.

Find a Niche or Specialty to Target

The worse thing you can ever try to do as a business is try to be all things to all people. If you can find and specialize in a niche, you will have much better success. For example, if you have just become a realtor, finding new clients is always a challenge. You can target the newlyweds or the empty nester looking to downsize, like everyone else is, or you go after a niche your colleagues may not have considered, such as the out-of-town-buyer. Approach the Human Resources department of local companies who appear to be doing a lot of recruiting from other cities and states for new talent. This new talent will need help finding a new home, and that is where you can make sure you get first crack at the business.

Maybe you sell gadget cases for phones and devices. Everyone seems to be targeting their designs towards the female market, but why not create cases whose designs specifically target kids. Do you know how many young kids have a phone and/or iPad these days? In fact, iPad cases for kids is a top Google search because this segment of the market is growing so fast. Don’t be surprised if soon all pre-schoolers have their own phone. Jump on the new and upcoming market segments if you hope to be a leader in your field.

GB OliverNeed My Advice?  Email me at attentiongetting@gmail.com to find out how I can advise and come up with some creative marketing ideas just for you.

© 2012-2014 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved.

 

 

Customer Success Story – Why It Pays to Get My Insider Tips!

September 12, 2014 /

Want to hear a customer success story?

One of the opportunities that was going to be in my September Marketing Insider Report was to submit your business for consideration for Martha Stewart’s American Made Award, but the deadline was too close and my report wasn’t ready yet. 

So instead, I emailed this opportunity to my customers and I am happy to announce one of my customers, Half Pint Ink Studio, has been chosen as finalist!

Screen shot 2014-09-11 at 3.56.07 PM

Customer Success Story

How Being a Martha Stewart’s American Made Nominee is Good For Business 

In November, a total of 9 winners will be chosen, one in each category, with the chance to win $10,000 cash, as well as be featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine, on her website, on her radio show and in her marketplace on eBay.

But even to be a finalist is a stamp of approval from a respected publication and something that can be used on marketing materials and packaging to gain even more credibility with customers, used to get wholesale deals, and used it to get publicity with local media. So it is an opportunity that can be leveraged for so many other aspects of your business.

Good luck, Katie!

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About Me

A 20+ year marketing professional, small business consultant, ebook author & blogger, my advice has been featured in the NY Times, Success Magazine, American Express, Big Commerce, Business2Community to name a few – so this is professional advice you can trust!

I have consulted for thousands of small businesses since 2012. It really does help to talk to someone who is objective to get a new, but professional, perspective. I have also written publicity pitches for clients that resulted in them being featured in Real Simple Magazine, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Houzz, Martha Stewart, Glamour Magazine, LONNY, DesignMilk, Emmaline Bride,– just to name a few.

© 2014 Gail Oliver. All right reserved. Customer Success Story. 

How These Products Become a Dominant Brand By Specializing in Just One Thing

August 11, 2014 /

by Gail Oliver, Small Business Marketing Consultant

If you want to dominate a specific niche of the market and really establish a strong brand, even as an indie product maker, you can do if it you just do one thing and do it better and/or differently than anyone else. Here are three fairly new players that took age-old products and have quickly making them the go-to brand.

The Herschel Supply Co.

The Herschel Supply Co. is a Canadian company (yeah!) that was founded just 5 years ago by brothers Jamie and Lyndon Cormack. Named after the small west coast town where three generations of their family were raised, Herschel has quickly become the backpack to own with their modern take on classic shapes but with a keen eye for detail as you can see in the photo below (I love how their logo is front and center). They are currently being sold at major retailers such as Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, and J. Crew. 

herschel backpacksForage Haberdashery

Forage is a Philadelphia-based company (that started as an Etsy shop) that makes handmade ties and bow ties from vintage fabric. In a few short years, their neckties have become wildly popular in an already competitive market. The key was using reclaimed vintage materials to really give their ties a distinct personality. They have also been able to capitalize on the vintage fashion trends inspired by pop culture, such as Mad Men and the rustic wedding trend where bow ties on groomsmen are standard attire. Makes sense that their ties are now being sold at Anthropologie’s wedding arm, BHLDN, in addition to their online store. 

forage ties product ideas

EOS Lip Balms

EOS stands for the Evolution of Smooth and they specialize in lip balms. From the variety of fun flavors like Strawberry Sorbet and Honeysuckle Honeydew, to the cute colorful orb packaging, in just five years they have become the dominant lip balm, even though they run a little more expensive than their competitors. EOS lip balms are 95% organic, paraben-free and petroleum-free and offer SPF protection, which all plays into their success as well. You can find them pretty much everywhere from Target to Walgreens to Amazon.

eos lip balm

 

How to Dominate Your Market Segment

If you want your brand to dominate the marketplace, think about what it is that you sell. If you make jewelry, why not specialize in one necklace design in which you were the original creator. If you make skin care or beauty products, maybe all of your products are centralized around one key innovative ingredient. If you make shoes, is there one distinguishing feature you can add that no one else has, be it a style feature or a functional feature.

So ask yourself this: how can you improve upon the look, the style, the materials, the taste, the flavor, the form, the packaging, the purpose, and/or the function to turn your product into a superstar brand? These products all prove that you can take a product that has been around for decades, add a new twist, and make it a market leader.

The goal of my blog is to always inspire you to think outside of the box. If you need marketing advice for your small business, or want to even get a small business off the ground, please check out my wide range of affordable and personalized Marketing Services or my Marketing Ebooks. 

© 2012-2014 G.B. OLIVER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Why Mobile-Based Small Businesses Are a Hot Trend

July 24, 2014 /

by Gail Oliver, Small Business Marketing Consultant

A lot of businesses struggle with bringing customers to their establishment, either a physical location or online, but have you ever thought about going to them?

mobile based businessesMobile-based businesses are becoming a hot trend, and with the baby boomer generation getting older and less mobile (no pun intended), and the younger generation over taxed time-wise, we might see the return of former ways, such as the door to door salesman, doctors making house calls and the milk man.

One industry that has really proven to be successful as a mobile set-up is the hairdressing industry. Older ladies absolutely have to have their hair done once a week and getting to a salon may not be physically that easy. A hair salon on wheels provides a great alternative. How perfect would this be for the wedding and prom industries as well?

I recently spoke with a company called Ground FX Flooring, that brings their flooring showroom right to you in their mobile trailer. The benefit here is you can bring the samples right into your home to see if they work and you don’t have to drag them back to the store. Customers are more likely to make faster decisions with this type of service.

Even the online marketplace Etsy is jumping on the mobile bandwagon with a traveling airstream trailer touring this summer through various Canadian cities filled with items from local artisans.

Maybe your business don’t need to go to someone’s home, but rather an area, the way a food truck does. There are a lot of rural and remote neighborhoods that do not have access to certain types of goods and services. Going to them gives you a captive audience and no competition.

Mobile-Based Business Ideas

I’m going to throw out some of my own original ideas, so take them for what they are!

  • A mobile spa offering manicures, pedicures and massages at office parks
  • A mobile physiotherapist showing up at sports facilities
  • A mobile pharmacy showing up at retirement villages
  • A mobile beer store that shows up to campgrounds or trailer parks
  • A mobile butcher frequenting a local neighborhood in late afternoon
  • A mobile laptop and smart phone repair service making visits to college campuses

Now obviously there are certain restrictions and special licenses needed for mobile-based businesses, but it offsets the costs of paying rent.

How can you make your business mobile?

Attention-GettingNeed More Advice for Your Small Business?

I offer a variety of affordable services especially for small businesses. Feel free to contact me about how I can help your small business, no obligation, at attentiongetting@gmail.com.

 

© 2012-2014 G.B. OLIVER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

 

You’ll Sell More If Your Product Photos Show Solutions to Customers’ Problems

July 1, 2014 /

product photography ideasI have written before about product photography ideas, including how to Up-sell More of Your Products Using Vignette-Style Photos, and How to Make a Photo Sell Your Products, but I wanted to give you an example of a photo that got me to buy.

I saw these framed letters at Ballard Designs recently and thought they were nice, but felt that I had no need. Then I saw the second photo on their design blog and changed my mind.

I had been looking for something to fill up a long narrow wall in my home and this was the perfect solution. But as a customer, I had walked away initially because I didn’t understand right away how I could use these letters. Not only does the second photo solve the decor dilemma I was having, but they just sold 4 instead of 1.

Product Photography Ideas

Product Photography IdeasHow to Get a Product Photo That Solves a Problem

If you sell home decor, you always have to remember that not everyone is decorating savvy or fashion savvy or immediately understands why they need your product. Sometimes a visual that creates a need and/or solves a problem works a lot better than words. For example:

  • If you are selling décor products, think of a decorating dilemma (what to do with a long narrow wall).
  • If you are selling fashion, think of a fashion dilemma (what to wear to a wedding).
  • If you are selling kids products, think of a parent’s dilemma (is this product safe for my kids).
  • If you are selling vintage products, think of a buyer’s dilemma (will this work with my current décor or wardrobe).
  • If you are selling food products, think of a cook’s dilemma (how can I use this in tonight’s dinner).
  • If you are selling wedding products, think of a bride’s dilemma (will it make my wedding more unique).
  • If you are selling gadgets, think of a buyer’s dilemma (how will it make my life easier).
  • If you are selling pet products, think of a pet owner’s dilemma (is it durable enough for my big dog).
  • If you are selling beauty products, think of women’s most common dilemmas (will I look better).

And now think of a photo that will immediately capture the solution to this dilemma and you might make more sales!

Need More Advice?

Please visit my Shopify and Etsy stores to see my small business marketing products and services. You can also ask me a question at attentiongetting@gmail.com.

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© 2014 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Product Photography Ideas

How Your Small Business Can Get Repeat Customers – 16 Tactics to Try

June 5, 2014 /

I have said many times to the small businesses that I advise, why do you spend all of your time chasing new business, when you can also get repeat business from your customers.

how to get repeat customers

How to Get Repeat Customers

I believe most small businesses should aim for 30 to 40% of their business to be repeat customers. Of course, it does depend on what you sell. For example if you sell wedding gowns, chances are a bride is a one-time customer. But you can get referral business from her if she was happy. If you sell to wedding stylists, they definitely would be repeat customers.

 

If you sell supplies for people to make products, then your business should be more like 70 – 80% repeat customers. People typically don’t like to switch suppliers. Certain professionals like doctors and dentists likely have an 80% repeat customer rate.

To get repeat business, you need to stay in touch after the sale, but in a subtle way. Here are some tactics to try that are not pushy, but help your customers to remember that you exist.

16 Ways to Get Repeat Business
  1. Send a thank you card/email
  2. Send a coupon for a discount off their next order
  3. Ask them to subscribe to a special offers newsletter
  4. Follow them on social media
  5. Mention them on your social media pages
  6. Hold customer appreciation events
  7. Hold exclusive customer-only sales
  8. Give them a free tip or piece of advice
  9. Send them a free download relevant to your business
  10. Offer a rewards card
  11. Send them free samples of new products
  12. Allow them to create a wish list and be notified when those items go on sale
  13. Give them a special discount on their birthday or Black Friday
  14. Send an annual free gift, like a calendar
  15. If you sell products, offer returning customers a free service
  16. If you sell services, offer returning customers a free product

Remember, people appreciate that you appreciate, and that is how it should look, not like you are trying to get more business.

Visit my Etsy shop for business and marketing downloads.

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© 2012-2014 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. 

18 Great Marketing Ideas for Selling Online

February 12, 2014 /

marketing ideas for selling onlineLooking for some truly awesome marketing ideas for selling online?

Whether you sell on Etsy, on Amazon, on Shopify or somewhere else online, these marketing ideas are  from my 12-Month Marketing Strategy Plans for Online Shops.

These detailed downloads are super easy to follow and will help you drive more traffic (and sales) to your online store.

18 Marketing Ideas for Selling Online
  1. Highlight any publicity your business has received with an icon or shoutout on your store page banner. For example, “As featured in this month’s issue of…”
  2. Ask a local photography class to take highly stylized, creative photos of your products as a class project. As a result, you get free high quality product photos to use.
  3. Create a gift card for your store and promote it on your home page and at the end of every product listing.
  4. Add text fly-outs to your product photos that highlight special features or a target customer that would benefit from this feature. See this post for examples.
  5. Get a free Square.com reader for your smart phone, so you can sell your products by credit card anywhere, anytime (out of the trunk of your car, if need be). You also get your products featured in Square’s online shop for free.
  6. Apply to have your products included in monthly subscription boxes to get in front of potential new customers. It can be sample sizes or even a coupon.
  7. Instead of always going after the end user, try to also target potential business users for your products such as restaurants, small hotels, fashion stylists, interior decorators, daycare centers, dog groomers, event planners, AirBnBs, and so forth.
  8. Post something nice about a prominent brand company to your social media sites and tag them on it and they will likely repost it to their social media sites (so your business now gets seen by their followers).
  9. Change or add your shop categories depending on the time of year, and make them as detailed as possible to really attract interest.. For example, Valentine’s Gift Ideas for Kids, Beautiful Holiday Decorating Ideas, New Fashion Jewelry for Fall 2022, etc.
  10. Put your shop logo and url on your smart phone case, lap top, lap top bag, coffee travel cup, yoga mat and anywhere else other people will see it as you travel throughout your day.
  11. Create a free list or checklist that promotes your business or is something your target market would be interested in. For example, if you sell jewelry, create a “10 Classic Jewelry Pieces to Own” list or if you sell wedding products, “Six-Week Countdown Wedding Checklist”.
  12. Attend a popular music or sports event and wear a t-shirt that has your store name and url printed in a large readable font on the front and back.
  13. In your product copy cover the 5 Ws (and one H) and tell customers what it is, who will use it, when they will use it, why they will use, where they will use it, and how they use it (if applicable).
  14. Offer and promote an ongoing discount to trades, professionals, students and/or seniors, whichever is most applicable.
  15. Join a Facebook fan page of something you are truly interested in, like a favorite TV show. Just join in the conversation; never use it to promote your business.  Your avatar and Facebook user name should say it all.
  16. Use your social media avatar like an ad, to promote your latest product or sale.
  17. Have a fridge magnet made with your online store url. Then ask friends and family to put it on the refrigerator in the lunch room of their work place, in addition to their home fridge.
  18. When sending out customer packages at Christmas, include a recipe card with a Christmas cookie recipe on it. Make sure your store name and url are also clearly on it. This is something they will keep and pull out every Christmas, reminding them of your store.

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Download One of My 12-Month Marketing Plans!

Over 300 tactics to try for advertising, promotions, sales, publicity, SEO, content marketing and social media in my 12-Month Marketing Strategy Plans with plans specific for what you sell, including:

 

 

 

© 2014-2022 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Marketing ideas for selling online.

How to Get Those Post Holiday Sales

January 2, 2014 /

Want to get those post holiday sales?

Think your sales have to dry up just because holiday shopping is over? There are a lot of people who will be buying certain items this time of year, you just have to position yourself for those sales.

Start Promoting Valentine’s Day

Just around the corner, people will be buying Valentine’s gifts not just for husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, but also for their kids, grandkids, friends, grandparents and teachers. So start giving an early bird offer right after Christmas, maybe even a Boxing Day sale.

Wedding Market is Hotideas to get more sales post holiday

26% of all wedding engagements take place in November and December, followed by Valentine’s Day. So if you have any products or services aimed at brides, now is the time to be promoting them. This is also a popular time for wedding editorial, such as your local newspaper and local magazines, so start pitching those story ideas that would incorporate what you sell.

Big Parties Coming Up

Two of the biggest parties of the year – the Superbowl and Mardi Gras – take place in the next two months. Party supplies, food, and drinkware should all be moved to the forefront.

Ideas for post holiday sales

It’s Vacation Time

Beach vacations and ski vacations are being booked at this time of year, so make sure you target these vacationers if you have products they’ll need.

From swimwear to ski wear to luggage, these will all be top searches in December.

The Winter Olympics Will Be Trending

The winter Olympics start in February and everyone will be wanting to wear and display their patriotic pride. What can you put your country’s flag on?

Have a Clearance SaleHow to Get Post Holiday Sales

Everyone wants a deal after Christmas and 10% will not cut it. The key to offering a sale in January is to make it a time-limited, 1-day only blowout type sale in order to get people to act quickly. Buyers love getting a deal so even if they are broke, they will justify the purchase if it is a special offer.

 

Go After the Teen Market

Teens tend to get money and gift cards for Christmas from frustrated relatives who have no idea what to buy them. If you target this market, they have money to spend right now.

How to get sales after Christmas

Take Advantage of New Year’s Resolutions

Now is the time for people to get fit, lose weight, quit smoking, keep spiritually healthy, make a career change, and so forth. Take advantage of the most popular New Year’s resolutions if they apply to your business.

 

Follow up with Holiday Customers

30 to 40% of your business should be repeat business. So follow up with customers who bought from you during the holidays and make sure your products arrived on time, that they were satisfied, and give them a coupon for 20% off their next purchase as a thank you (time limited, of course).

As you can see, there are lots of ways small businesses can keep their sales momentum going well into the spring.

About Me

Do you need your Brand Story written or an SEO-Optimized Blog Post or a Personalized Business Consultation? As a 20+ year marketing professional and small business consultant, all of my services are super affordable.small business seo

I have consulted for thousands of small businesses since 2012, and my advice has been featured in the NY Times, Success Magazine, Yahoo Business, American Express, Big Commerce, Business2Community to name a few – so this is professional advice you can trust!

My Publicity Pitch service has also gotten my clients featured in Real Simple Magazine, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Houzz, Martha Stewart, Glamour Magazine, LONNY, DesignMilk, Emmaline Bride,– just to name a few.

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© 2014 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. How to Get Post Holiday Sales

3 Marketing Ideas to Try on Pinterest

December 2, 2013 /

Marketing-Ideas-PinterestToday I have three Pinterest marketing ideas to try.

Pinterest is a great social media site for driving traffic to your online store.

Traffic on the site has never been higher, especially this time of year with people searching for holiday recipes, gift ideas and decorating ideas.

So take advantage and brush up on your Canvas skills to create engaging and SEO-optimized pins that can essentially act as free ads for your business.

Here are three ideas:

1. Create a Pin Describing Who Needs Your Product

pinterest marketing ideas

One Kings Lane is great at creating “pinnable” images. This one is promoting why you should consider buying a bow tie for the men on your list (you will have to make this pin horizontal and put the text on the bottom in order to work on Pinterest). You can use other text with the image, like a quote or a customer review.

2. Create a Pin Announcing a Sales at Your Shop

pinterest marketing ideas

What better way to announce a sale then to pin it for all your followers to see, like this one from West Elm? What is key here is to ask all of your followers to “Re-Pin”.

3. Create a Pin of a Gift Guide Showcasing Your Products

pinterest marketing ideas

Take photos of a variety of your products and arrange them into a collage for an overall image (like this one from Bauble Bar). Then pin. In the comments, be sure to include hash tags #gifts #gift ideas #gifts for women, etc.

Pinterest is a great medium for driving traffic to your shop, you just have to make sure to stand out among the all the images, and these ideas will help.

About Me

Do you need your Brand Story written or an SEO-Optimized Blog Post or a Personalized Business Consultation? As a 20+ year marketing professional and small business consultant, all of my services are super affordable.

I have consulted for thousands of small businesses since 2012, and my advice has been featured in the NY Times, Success Magazine, Yahoo Business, American Express, Big Commerce, Business2Community to name a few – so this is professional advice you can trust!

My Publicity Pitch service has also gotten my clients featured in Real Simple Magazine, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Houzz, Martha Stewart, Glamour Magazine, LONNY, DesignMilk, Emmaline Bride,– just to name a few.

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© 2013 Gail. Oliver. All rights reserved. Pinterest Marketing Ideas. 

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