5 Ways to Upgrade Your Existing Marketing Materials for Practically Nothing!
In addition to direct marketing strategies you want to be
sure your existing passive, or indirect, marketing activities
are as effective as possible. When is the last time you took
a good look at your existing marketing activities? Here are some fast, easy (and free to inexpensive) ways to
update and upgrade your existing marketing activities. YOUR VOICE MAIL MESSAGE Does your voice mail message give additional information
about your business? Use this opportunity (you have a
captive audience) to provide some additional information.
You can mention your website or newsletter, promote an
upcoming event, or offer a free report. YOUR E-MAIL SIGNATURE This is a chance to send a marketing message along with
every e-mail that you send. Remember, e-mails are often
forwarded. Think viral marketing (if this term is new to
you, check out Seth Godin. It's a good thing). Do you have
an upcoming event? Do you offer a free article or report?
Are you having a sale? At a minimum put a link to your
website in your e-mail signature. In addition to interesting
content, think about the color and font of your e-mail
signature and create something that is attractive and fits
with your brand. YOUR BUSINESS CARD Use the back of your business card. Don't leave this
valuable space blank. Make an offer for something like a
free report, your newsletter, a sample of your services,
a discount, etc. Get your business cards out into the
world so people can hear about your offer. Ask for
permission to leave a few cards at places your clients
frequent like stores, restaurants, gyms, waiting rooms, etc. YOUR EXISTING PROFILES I hope you have profiles on networking websites, directories,
clubs, industry associations, and the like out there. Has
your marketing message, your offer, and/or your
products/services changed since you first created your
profiles? I am betting that is a yes! Review all your
profiles to make sure they are up to date. This is a great
chance to take inventory of all of the places where you have
profiles and create a list you can refer to later. If you
have a photograph of yourself to add to your profiles, please
do so. Add your photo to your own website if it isn't already
there. Connecting your face with your company makes your
company more human and personal. Remember, people buy from
people they know, like, and trust. It will also help people
recognize you at events. YOUR COMPANY LETTERHEAD This may seem like a no-brainer but I have seen business
owners who don't have their contact information on their
letterhead. Your letterhead needs to include your phone
number, e-mail address, and website. This goes for your
printed hardcopy letterhead as well as the electronic
version. The only way to know which marketing strategies are working
for you is to keep track. This includes the activates above
as well as all of your other strategies (networking,
referrals, direct marketing campaigns, etc.) Always, I mean always, ask people who contact you how they
heard about your business and record this valuable
information. It is easy to do, simply create a list of all
of your marketing strategies and how many people respond to
each one. It is easiest to do this electronically using a
spreadsheet so you can easily calculate percentages and
totals. You can also use old-fashioned pen and paper if
you must. Whatever method you prefer, just make sure you
do it! It's time to get into action. Take some time and go through
all of your marketing materials. What marketing tools do you
have laying around that could be dusted off and upgraded up to
work even harder for you? (c) 2005 Stephanie Ward Life & Business Coach Stephanie Ward helps business owners
set their profits on fire! Get your free monthly profit
tips plus bonus report at:
http://www.fireflycoaching.com
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