Wow! Second newsletter!
Thank you to all who signed up and joined the newsletter list since November. I really appreciate all of the kind words and feedback that I have received. More marketing ideas for your business or organization. Enjoy! DR
There are still some
Special Offers available. Just click on the blue link to the left!
Marketing Ideas
:: Getting the Most out of your Website ::
Consider...
Your web presence....
How important is it to you?
_______________________________________
How important is it to your customer?
_______________________________________
18 Reasons for Having a Business Website...
- I was told I needed one.
- My competition has a website.
- So people who have my web address can find out more about my business.
- My customers and potential customers are already searching the web for a business like mine.
- Because a website is a great tool to educate your potential customers.
- Because my website can reach potential customers, locally, regionally or nationally.
- To help build my brand and lend creditably to my business.
- So my website can convey a professional up-to-date image.
- So I can have a cool "me@mydomain.com" email address.
- To build my business and increase sales.
- To be able to sell my products and promote my business 24 hours a day.
- Because a website gives a much bigger exposure for less money than other forms of media.
- Because I can change the information on the website whenever you want.
- My website can save alot of money by reducing printing costs of brochures and marketing materials.
- I have lowered even more printing and mailing costs even more by using an email marketing program.
- It makes me money!
- So many people can find my business easily and quickly by searching on the internet with a variety of search
terms.
- So my business can be found if someone looks far enough in Google or Yahoo.
Review the following questions above. Then review it again making note of the reasons you have a website. Take note of the unchecked reasons. Make a plan now to improve your score.
I Have a Website and No One Can Find Me!
You can get a website up and running for a modest amount, but it is
wasted money unless people can find it! Probably 85% of web sites are
either rarely or never seen.
Imagine that the Internet is like a huge library containing all the
books that have ever been published, and imagine that your website is
just one book. How will anyone find your site amongst the billions of
others?
"
Contact - Websites 911"
Ease of Use - Site MapsAdd a site map page to your site and a Site Map link in the navigation bar of every site. This helps even the most lost viewer find their way to the information they need.
Look and Feel - Book MarksCreate a folder in your Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari or other web browser called, "Sites I Like". Then when you come to a site you like, book mark it for later review. You can always delete bookmarks as you find better ones. Create another bookmark folder called "Marketing Ideas". Then when you are stuck, look and see what great ideas you have collected and pick one and implement it!
:: Reach Out and Touch Someone ::
Support the Local Economy (YOURS!)
Implement a Program to Build Awareness, Generate Leads or Increase Sales
Trusted Resource
Long lasting relationships start with trust. The same goes for
business relationships. Both in the business to business and business
to customer sectors. Build trust in your industry and community by
becoming involved, taking action and being responsible. Caring for
your customers and vendors is the #1 task on a daily basis. By
cherishing, nourishing and caring for each of these relationships your
business will grow because of trust that is established. Being able to
count on a particular vendor to come through in a pinch is priceless.
It can be a rare commodity but doesn't have to be. By building the
relationship over time, when the pinch time comes, it becomes a natural
to take care of a good customer because that is what you always have
done in the past. Take care of the customer and vendors! They keep
the business wheels turning. Otherwise you just may get a lump of coal!
Build Your eNewsletter List - Sign up for
Constant Contact 60-Day Trial!
If you have a storefront or office where clients and visitors come in, place a fishbowl on the counter with a sign on it that simply says. "Join our eNewsletter List" or "Receive Our Newsletter". You can do this at trade shows as well.
Cost Comparison Estimates 1 Newsletter per
Month
500 Email
Addresses $15.00 / Month* = $.03 ea
$ 284.34
Savings 500 Printed Newsletters $ 70.00
Double Sided
Black & White
500 Envelopes $ 19.34
500 First Class Stamps
$210.00 $299.34 = $.60 ea
Cost Comparison - 2 Newsletters per
Month = $ .015 ea $ 583.68
Savings
4 Newsletters per
Month = $ .0075 $1,182.36
Savings
* Standard monthly cost before discounts
Searches for wedding related items start about mid-December and crest in early January, again in March and topping out in June. Searches for picnics are at a low in December and builds to July 1st with a slight rebound in the third week in August. Mother's Day related searches rise from Feb 10 - mid-May. Father's Day searches increase from March 1 - June 5. Charity Auctions raise the paddle in the fourth Quarter and a good time to market to those potential clients is in the first quarter during the planing stages. Download a planning worksheet to help you marketing your business.
Free Email Marketing Planning Worksheet ToolHere area some ideas for planning your newsletter communications. This sample was made for the social event planning type industry, but you can use the same format to get started. Included in the Excel file are sample tabs of monthly and quarterly planning as well as blanks.
Business Marketing Schedule ToolTo learn more about email marketing and great ideas visit our
newsletter page or
Sign up for a FREE 60-day trial of Constant Contact.
Fill those Open Dates in Your January Calendar!With the January slow down starting for many business sectors, now is the time to put on your thinking caps and come up with some ideas on promotions for the first quarter. That is if you haven't already done so. Just a few ideas....
- Feature a new item or service on a limited basis that you want to test market.
- Host an open house for your clients and invite past clients as well. A special party or gathering to say thank you.
- Take an educational class that will prepare you for Q2 and beyond.
- Join a trade association, local business or civic group.
- Ask your employees for ideas on how to market your products and services!
:: In the Community ::
Outbound Links from Your Website - Schools & Civic Organizations Linking to local schools, community centers and civic organizations is another way to help support the community. It is helpful to your website viewers to see that you are involved and care about the world around you.
Potluck in the Park is celebrating again this year with Winter Warm 2 Concert by Tom Grant and a host of Portland Jazz professionals. A holiday concert to benefit Potluck in the Park. Sunday, December 7, 2008
Tickets -
Video
Open House Ministries - Vancouver, WA Helping the homeless regain their independance and their lives. Our primary purpose is to enable homeless families to regain their independence. We will admit only those families that agree to participate in a program designed to assist them resolve their homeless situation. We will allow them to remain only as long as they continue to make steady progress toward that goal.
Open House MinistriesLet it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
Best wishes from my family to yours this season.
Sincerely,
Don Richardson
www.digitalpopcorn.net
