Old School Business Promotion Ideas

Flyers, Coupons, Chamber of Commerce, Door to door, oh my!

So, I get it. We’re firmly in a digital age, but that doesn’t mean the old marketing methods don’t work. On the contrary, they work even better than ever because most people are too lazy to use them. Either most business owners won’t do the work required or they think new methods actually work better.

Don’t get me wrong, new digital marketing works if done right. But most people don’t know how or don’t think it takes as much work as it really does.

Old-school marketing methods have worked for centuries. And because many people are using email, social media, and web advertising, the old methods are hardly used anymore. However, let me ask you a question. Do you get tired of all the email in your inbox? Do you delete things just because you have too much to go through? Do you automatically hang up on robo-calls? If you answered yes, you aren’t alone.

Many consumers are so bombarded by email, social media ads, invasive pop up ads, and other digital advertising that they would welcome actually speaking to someone face to face once in a while.

So don’t abandon new methods, but make sure they are the right methods and add back some old-school marketing. Have high school kids pass out flyers in the neighborhood, attend Chamber of Commerce functions and get involved with your community, hire some people to canvas the area and promote your business, sponsor your local high school sports teams, and get to talking with people face to face again.

You’ll be glad you did.

March 8, 2018 | Marketing Guru

Business Development Strategies

Use Common Sense When Describing Your Business in Advertising

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Most people think they need to prepare crafty descriptions for their business, especially when preparing a script for radio or television ads. I will describe why this is not needed, a waste of time, and could even hurt how effective your ad could be.
These days people are very picky about advertising. I’m the first to make fun of ads I hear in the radio. Some of them really leave me rolling my eyes because the business owner tried so hard and that showed. But what also showed is that they are obviously stuck in the past with old tactics that don’t work anymore.
Using terms like, “folks”, “fast friendly service”, “quality materials”, “attention to detail”, “quality workmanship”, and “chuck in a truck” to describe your competitors should be used with caution or not at all.
Yes, using terms that you might use in a flyer or business description are taboo in radio advertising in particular. The reason radio is so touchy is that your audience can only base their opinions of your business upon what they hear. If your voice is annoying at all, you should hire a professional. And a marketing or sales expert should edit your script or come up with an original one from scratch.
People are wise to anything that sounds too good or blows away every competitor out there. Sure you’re proud of your business. But, even if you do blow away your competitors, you shouldn’t come right out and say that.
Instead, try being a bit humble and speak from the heart. Tell the story and endear people to you based on your heart. Consumers will put up with all kinds of bad service if they believe in your mission and how it affects you and your family. So promise good honest service and competitive prices, but let them know what you are trying to build and why. If you are building your company to hand off to your kids one day, then talk about that. If you are wanting to build your business to the point where you can support some other mission or charity, then talk about that. Give people something real to grasp.
I’m building TopLocal.org to benefit small business owners with my knowledge and experience. Lord knows I’ve been through the wringer and made plenty of mistakes. Perhaps I can help others with that knowledge and ways to circumvent problems that I had.
I’m also building TopLocal.org for retirement and to provide a good job for my son, nephew, and friends who are all great talent but who have all struggled for many years.
I’m building a platform where business owners can come together and have some fun promoting each other effortlessly.
That’s why I’m doing this. So why are you doing what you do?

March 7, 2018 | admin

Marketing 101

Using PowerPoint as a Marketing Design Tool

Did you realize that you could use PowerPoint as a design tool?

You can use PowerPoint to design flyers graphics email headers and really anything. It’s an amazing tool
and it’s easily to use. I think the main thing for me is that you can use it without any specialized knowledge. If you don’t know how to use Photoshop or illustrator or four in design or those kinds of programs you can use PowerPoint to design it just about everything.

Early in my marketing career I learned PowerPoint and before that Corel DRAW. Illustrator is difficult, it’s an Adobe program just like Photoshop, but Microsoft doesn’t really have a photo editor or illustrator program like Adobe does. So when I found out the PowerPoint can actually be manipulated to use as a design tool I was happy. For instance you can open a new PowerPoint presentation and design it to be portrait justified and then you can change the size from 7- 1/2 x 10 to 8- 1/2 x 11 and you can design a flyer right there on PowerPoint. Then you can save it as a PDF and upload it to any number of office supply houses or print shops like Staples. I’ve designed many flyers over the years and the easiest ones to design were from PowerPoint.

The best thing about PowerPoint as a design tool is that you can write text and change how the text looks. You can make it three dimensional, change the color, apply gradient, drop a shadow and many other tools that help your designs look professional. When designing your marketing piece you can create layers easily with PowerPoint. You simply right click on the element, and you can arrange it to go backward or forward in the layer order. And if you have transparent background PNG images layered, it can be a very powerful effect.

So next time you want to design something try PowerPoint I think you’ll find it to be easy tool and effective.

March 7, 2018 | admin

Business Development Strategies

Juggling Family With Business

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Juggling family with business is really tough for some people. They constantly argue about how much time is being spent at work, or talking about work. The kids and other topics seem to be placed down the list and not given the importance they deserve.

Juggling family with business requires one thing…Boundaries!

Boundaries

Yes, boundaries are necessary. You must set up a division between work and home, while making sure the family understands that your business is part of your life. They shouldn’t be too hard on you about wanting to discuss it. They real key is to understand that your spouse and children are more important than your business. If your business fails, what do you have? Your spouse and kids. And, even if you need to work for someone else in the future, you will still have them on your side. So, always put them first. Juggling family with business is easier than you think, if you learn that simple rule.

You will hear me say things that sound contradictory. Like, “Business is best done while you’re living your life, not outside it”. This is true. Your business is part of your life and you should have fun, while promoting yourself. Like playing golf, fishing, jogging, etc.

Unplug

Just remember what’s important. Don’t text while you are watching your child’s recital. Get off your laptop if you’re at your son’s football practice. Be in the moment and cherish every one of them, without constantly getting on your email. Vacations are for family, and for yourself. Unplug.

March 4, 2018 | Marketing Guru

Business Development Strategies

Old School Business Promotion Ideas