The Marketing Striptease

Burlesque
Photo by Steven Depolo

The goal of your marketing is to have people stop to pay attention to it, listen to your message, and then take immediate action. But these days, with lots of competition for attention, how can you be successful?

Follow the examples of professional burlesque dancers. They know that their goal is to create interest and hopefully desire in the audience. They first position them self as something worthy of desire, then sloooowly share that connection with the audience. If the pacing is wrong, then the audience loses interest. If the pacing is right, and the energy is focused, then the performer can do no wrong; it has the audience’s full attention.

In your marketing copy, you need to first grab the audience’s attention with a promise that they can’t ignore. You need to confidently state that you’re worthy of attention, and slowly share your worthiness with your audience. If your copy is a menu list of features, then your conversation is over – they look at the menu and either it “clicks” or it doesn’t. But in any event, it’s not memorable.

So start with something enticing – an “image” that the reader can “see” (the image can be carefully written prose, photographs, video, etc.). The only goal of the start is to get their attention. Next, slowly get the reader to see them self in the picture. Is that image even more enticing?

Now, show a little of what you’re describing in detail. Not too much, but just enough to show that you can deliver on your promise. Still reading? Good. Show a little bit more of what you can do. Now what? Ask them to take action – email you, call, complete a form, whatever is appropriate. And so you don’t throw cold water on your prospect – make sure that however you continue the conversation one-on-one, you maintain the same level of seduction.

How To Get Sponsors For My Event Company?

I am searching to sponsors to organized the event but I don’t know how to get them.

###

Jay’s Answer: Think from the sponsor’s position. Why should they provide money or in-kind donations to you? How will it benefit them? Why should they align themselves with you? How many people will see your event? Who are they? What ages? Located where? That’s the sort of information a sponsor is looking for.

New Agency Needs Pricing Help

Our new advertising agency is having a very hard time deciding what to price everything. Design is probably the easiest for us to price but we still have problems. We just want to know the norm of other companies so we can make sure we are way too high or way to low! Some of the things we need to price are: SEO packages, email marketing, website creation, brochure/pamphlet design, copywriting (anything from radio ads to a brochure) Event planning and more.

Is there somewhere I can find pricing for these things? Like I said we have found design pricing books but thats about it. Any pricing help or info on where I can find pricing examples would be great!

###

Jay’s Answer: If you’re trying to be “just like everyone else”, then find out what others are charging by asking for their rate sheets.

However, if you’re looking to distinguish yourself from your competition, look at the value you’re providing from your client’s perspective. Can you truly help them to double their revenue because of your outstanding services? If so, what’s that worth to them? Price based on the results you achieve, not on the time you spend or even what the competition charges.

Name My Sign Shop!

My company “Corporate Graffiti” needs a tag line. I am a sign shop, and make all sorts of signs to the general public and businesses alike. I am a professional sign maker of 15 years.

###

Jay’s Answer: Your proposed business name is interesting, but doesn’t clearly tell me who you serve (and how). So, it’s up to your tagline to clarify. If it’s too clever, then you have the proverbial “second strike” – I’ll hear more words from you but won’t understand any better what you do. Because you’re also trying to sell services to public and companies, “Corporate Grafitti” may give the wrong impression as well (you only do corporate work).

Some simple ideas for you to consider:

  • Making Signs That Get Attention
  • Custom Sign Maker

Name my Children’s Party Business

I need a name & slogan for my new business. Specialising in children’s party for corporate Bodies, Funfair &  Schoolparty.

###

Jay’s Answer: I recommend to all my clients that a name/tagline are one of the last things a new business needs. I know many people disagree with me, but I watch so many businesses fail not because they have a bad name/tagline but because they don’t have a business plan/strategy.

Right now, I have lots of questions for you to consider. When you’re done thinking about all these issues, you’ll have the right “raw material” to create an great name/tagline:

  • where are you located?
  • where are your clients located?
  • what age groups of children?
  • what types of corporations are you targeting?
  • who is your competition?
  • what will make your business better/different from the competition?
  • why should someone trust you (especially with their children)?

I’d hate to see you grab a name/tagline, print up a bunch of business cards/flyers, create a website, etc. only to find that no one contacts you. Focus on the basics of a successful business before you announce yourself to the world.

Here are some articles I’ve written that detail these thoughts:

http://www.manygoodideas.com/2007/02/01/marketing-101/
http://www.manygoodideas.com/2008/10/01/unpeeling-your-marketing-onion/

Tagline For Life Coach

My company is named Discovery Coaching and I am looking for a tag line that will help people to see the benefit of what I do. I am a Life Coach. With a focus on post depression/addiction care I plan to align with counseling centres, doctors offices, depression/addiction support groups, etc. I plan to present myself as a unique resource able to coach clients who have come through the crises stage of these difficulties but need to address the question “what’s next?” or “what now?”. I believe that discovering a unique and personal vision will not only help to sustain recovery – but – will set them free to explore the dream within them. Once this dream is discovered it becomes a honing device that navigates through the precarious passages of life. It pinpoints our destination and brings great clarity to life – like bringing focus to a blurry picture.

###

Jay’s Answer:

  • You’ve Survived. Now Thrive.
  • Transforming Survival Into Personal Growth

Webinar For Small Biz – Time Of Day?

I’ve been hosting a very successful webinar series for individual sales professionals, and am expanding this to series to include small business owners.

My question is, what time of day, or even day of the week would be considered ideal? I’ve been researching this topic myself, and find very little recommendations outside of “take their schedule into consideration.”

###

Jay’s Answer: Start by picking one time and record the webinar for time-shifted playback. Also consider the effect of time zones and day-of-week on scheduling. The bottom line is: if what you’re offering is that remarkable, people will arrange their lives to attend it. Focus on an effective (both time & content) presentation and generating word-of-mouth recommendations to increase awareness over the long-run.

Business With Passion: Single-Mindedness

Trailer:

Episode theme: Businesses that achieved odds-defying success through the single-mindedness of our guests.

Dan Chan has performed over 2000 shows for public and private events around the world. He has performed his unique combination of skills (including: magic, rapid costume changes, juggling, acrobatics, pick pocketing, and dog tricks) around the world. In 2007, Dan was awarded the title San Jose Magician of the Year.

Website: www.DanChanMagic.com
Email: danielgchan@gmail.com
Phone: (415) 244-2700

When identical twin brothers, Logan and Noah Miller’s homeless father died alone in a jail cell, they vowed that their film, Touching Home, would be made as a dedication to their love for him. Either You’re In Or You’re In the Way is the amazing story of how–without a dime to their names nor a single meaningful contact in Hollywood–they managed to write, produce, act, and direct a feature film in under a year starring four-time Academy Award-nominated actor Ed Harris and a cast and crew with 11 Academy Awards and 26 nominations.

Want to see other Business With Passion episodes?

Business With Passion TV Show Logo

Creating A Community Workshop Poster

The City is holding a community workshop to discuss density and intensity of future buildings in the downtown district. The public’s input is extremely important. We need a snappy tagline to place on the poster that will catch the attention of the citizens and hopefully get them to the workshop.

It seems that we get the same dozen people to the meetings. It would be more beneficial to all citizens if a wider range of people are providing input rather than just the few select.

The other problem is a few years back the City went through a long process to form a redevelopment plan of the downtown. The redevelopment has yet to occur and we are afraid that the citizens may be burned out.

###

Jay’s Answer: This is a common problem, since people sit on the sidelines and only when their lives are impacted do they come forward in a big uproar. People are busy, and want to make sure that they provide input that matters, at the right time, so their lives are improved (or, at least not negatively impacted).

I’m not sure a tagline will be sufficient for your efforts, though. You want to say something like: “Speak Up Now! (Or, forever hold your tongue)” or “It’s Easier To Write The Future Than Undo The Plan”.

Renaming My Day Spa Because Of Tragedy

I am renaming my day spa after I got stabbed in it by a homeless lady (the new name is Quench Spa). I want a catchy memorable tag line shorter the better. I am not afraid of
being “cheeky” like the funny Britains!

My old name was The Skin Spa at Orange Hills, with the tagline: Relax, refresh, renew.

My personal favorite tagline so far that i came up with is: We drown knots, pimples and old age, everything else we drench. (thought after what I lived through humor is good for the soul. (drench is hydrating AKA QUENCH).

###

Jay’s Answer:Congrats on surviving your stabbing — yikes! I’m not sure why renaming your spa will make your problems go away – after all you’re still in the same location doing the same business (and probably attracting the same clientele).

I actually prefer your old name (“The Skin Spa at Orange Hills“) to your new one (“Quench Spa”) because the old name clearly says what your business is about, while your new one is vague. Also, you have a lot of great reviews online (insiderpages.com and citysearch.com) which are linked to your existing site/business, so changing the name will lose the name recognition you’ve developed.

But you asked me about taglines for your new name, so here goes:

  • Hydrate Your Skin And Make Yourself Glow
  • Look Great and Feel Even Better
  • Relax. Rejuvenate. Renew.