Marketing can be a celebration 2011

Being part of and raising awareness of a great cause can be a fantastic and very rewarding experience.

It can also be a great marketing tool.

The NFL changed their game ball for the entire month of October for National Breast Cancer awareness month.

 Some players wore pink gloves, the quarterback wiped his hands on a pink towel worn by the center all in the name of bringing awareness, attention and funds to a great cause.

What can a small business do to bring attention to a great cause, but also attention and increased visibility to the company.

Tip of the hat to Maryann Wetmore and other members for providing these great ideas for next year

Add a pink ribbon to your e-mail signature; Add a pink ribbon to your webpage; Add a pink billing insert and include information on where to go for more information / how to donate etc.

Check with your local DPW about painting the parking spaces outside your building Pink and get local news to cover it.  Or contact all the businesses on the street to see if they would like to get involved as well and paint all the parking spaces pink - and maybe even the double yellow line down the middle of the street and even the crosswalks too.  What an impression and what kind of media attention would it create to come around a corner and find pink everywhere !!

October, however is over...  so let's put these ideas in the hopper for next year and look ahead to see what other tie ins and celebrations can be leveraged for increased exposure

www.brownielocks.com has a year's worth of holidays and such.  From New Year's to International Blondie and Debbie Harry Month http://www2.drury.edu/ametz/month.htm which is July.

Get to know your customers day - 1/20/2011; 4/21; 7/21; 10/20

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Week 3/21-3/27;

National Doctor's Day:  3/30           

National Nursing Home Week:  5/8-5/14

A key principal in branding is that an effective experience has to be memorable.

How many of your clients or prospects have ever received a

"Happy (insert industry / profession) Month" from anyone?  This could be a nice hook to be remembered, especially after they receive a card from you every year.