Ideas to Boost Business
A collection of practical business, financial, legal and personal tips to help your business survive
11. Add Personality To Your Business
a. Use photos of you and/or your staff in your promotional materials.
b. A quote from the person pictured conveys friendliness and builds confidence in your company.
c. Responses to seminars and programs are dramatically higher when photos are used.
b. A quote from the person pictured conveys friendliness and builds confidence in your company.
c. Responses to seminars and programs are dramatically higher when photos are used.
12. Use Deadlines
a. Make sure you put a time limit on promotional materials.
b. Watch your expiration dates. What day does your offer end? Are you losing an extra weekend of business?
b. Watch your expiration dates. What day does your offer end? Are you losing an extra weekend of business?
13. Fear Of Not Having Your Product
a. For products that increase personal security, personal safety or health, fear can be an effective business boosting tool.
b. If they dont buy your product now, they will miss something. A discount, premium free gift, etc. Fear of loss is more powerful than expectation of gain.
b. If they dont buy your product now, they will miss something. A discount, premium free gift, etc. Fear of loss is more powerful than expectation of gain.
14. Use The Media
a. Send letters covering topics related to your business to local publications.
b. Connect your product or business to some current event that is making news.
c. Your name and business name will probably be used if your letter is printed.
d. You will be perceived as an expert in your field.
e. You are holding this information because of an Internet site or a local or national promotion.
b. Connect your product or business to some current event that is making news.
c. Your name and business name will probably be used if your letter is printed.
d. You will be perceived as an expert in your field.
e. You are holding this information because of an Internet site or a local or national promotion.
15. Make Advertising Last
a. Buy ads that last months, not minutes.
b. Magnetic signs for car or van. Dont forget the back of your vehicle. Put signs on truck tailgates and rear windows. Most customers dont drive alongside your vehicle and copy down the phone or address. They are more apt to do it at a stop sign.
c. Use clever bumper stickers or T shirts.
d. If youre printing an expensive color piece, ask the printer to quote the price of his house paper.
e. Design the outside of the brochure to be permanent and the inside for future changes. That way you can print up large quantities 5,000 or more of the outside only and have the printer keep them on hand. Then as your message changes you only have to print the inside.
f. You will save by doing a large run in the beginning. You will also save by only printing what you need as your company changes. Avoid outdated brochures.
b. Magnetic signs for car or van. Dont forget the back of your vehicle. Put signs on truck tailgates and rear windows. Most customers dont drive alongside your vehicle and copy down the phone or address. They are more apt to do it at a stop sign.
c. Use clever bumper stickers or T shirts.
d. If youre printing an expensive color piece, ask the printer to quote the price of his house paper.
e. Design the outside of the brochure to be permanent and the inside for future changes. That way you can print up large quantities 5,000 or more of the outside only and have the printer keep them on hand. Then as your message changes you only have to print the inside.
f. You will save by doing a large run in the beginning. You will also save by only printing what you need as your company changes. Avoid outdated brochures.
16. Examine Promotional Materials
a. Make sure business cards, letterheads, brochures and packaging materials are first class. This is not the area to spare expenses.
b. What types of materials is your competition using?
c. If you cant afford 4 color brochures use 2 or 3 color. Use of color increases response by 26 percent.
d. If you cant afford 2 color. use screens.
Note: Screen is another word for shade darker or tint lighter . For example: A florist wants red flowers around the borders of his brochure and black ink for the text. Thats two colors. Pink is a 50 percent tint of red, it is not another color. You can have some pink flowers and some red flowers with little or no additional cost depending on how your printer handles screens. This process will give the appearance of three colors; red, pink, and black. Use gray a tint of black and presto, a 4 color brochure red, pink, gray and black for a 2 Color price.
b. What types of materials is your competition using?
c. If you cant afford 4 color brochures use 2 or 3 color. Use of color increases response by 26 percent.
d. If you cant afford 2 color. use screens.
Note: Screen is another word for shade darker or tint lighter . For example: A florist wants red flowers around the borders of his brochure and black ink for the text. Thats two colors. Pink is a 50 percent tint of red, it is not another color. You can have some pink flowers and some red flowers with little or no additional cost depending on how your printer handles screens. This process will give the appearance of three colors; red, pink, and black. Use gray a tint of black and presto, a 4 color brochure red, pink, gray and black for a 2 Color price.
17. Make A Memorable Business Card
a. Make your business card a mini brochure. If you need a map, or other information, use the back of the card. Your card is there long after you are gone.
b. One thousand two color business cards run around $30.00 $60.00, and its worth it. Use shades See #16 above and have 3 or 4 color business cards.
c. What do your competitors cards look like? What message do they convey to you?
d. Give several cards to business associates who might be able to promote your business. Give a card to everyone you meet, and put one in every letter even bills .
b. One thousand two color business cards run around $30.00 $60.00, and its worth it. Use shades See #16 above and have 3 or 4 color business cards.
c. What do your competitors cards look like? What message do they convey to you?
d. Give several cards to business associates who might be able to promote your business. Give a card to everyone you meet, and put one in every letter even bills .
18. Thank You Magic Words
a. Thank customers with a special offer.
b. Thank anyone who refers business to you with a personalized thank you card, phone call, discounts, flowers, dinner or even a commission.
c. Thank your reliable suppliers with a letter and increased orders.
d. People will remember your kindness.
b. Thank anyone who refers business to you with a personalized thank you card, phone call, discounts, flowers, dinner or even a commission.
c. Thank your reliable suppliers with a letter and increased orders.
d. People will remember your kindness.
19. A Business Card For All Employees
a. Counter people? Drivers? Yes. Theyre important enough for this tiny investment.
b. Theyll be proud to leave their card with every customer and every prospect.
c. Theyll use the card with friends and relatives and your name will be in many more places.
b. Theyll be proud to leave their card with every customer and every prospect.
c. Theyll use the card with friends and relatives and your name will be in many more places.
20. Do What The Winners Do
a. Is there a company you admire? Analyze its marketing strategies.
b. Adopt the ones you can use and improve on them.
c. Use what works. Collect advertising that attracts your attention and adapt it to your business.
b. Adopt the ones you can use and improve on them.
c. Use what works. Collect advertising that attracts your attention and adapt it to your business.
