I am currently looking at other alternatives to market my communications business. I am in the process of putting together a flyer but am having trouble deciding on a tag line to catch peoples attention and get them to keep reading.
We specialise in IP phone systems, networking multiple sites together using IP technology, implementing telephony solutions to small and medium sized businesses.
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Jay’s Answer: Focus on the key benefits your business provides (not the technology). For example, do you save companies money (if so, how much on average)? Do you make technology trouble-free (if so, how much less time do they spend troubleshooting)? Do you save the need for an IT hire (if so, how much on average salary is saved)? You get the idea – focus on how what you do helps their bottom line – that’s what people care about.
I am working on a web site for my Positive Motivation speaking… Positively Female
I have found a couple sites I like but want something very flashy, feminine, upbeat, colorful, and of course motivational. If you have seen some really awesome websites, please share them with me. I am looking for something personal without a corporate feel.
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Jay’s Answer: The best websites are the ones that both reflect your values and successfully attract traffic (and ideally sales/conversions).
Top traffic doesn’t arrive because of the look of the site, it comes because of the content of the site. Therefore, first focus on the value of the browsing experience. Who should find your site? Why would they want to hire you? What problems would they have? What would they need to feel comfortable hiring you? How can you show them what you can do for them without them contacting you?
Once you get your copy, then focus on your image. The images/colors/layout should reflect your target market. Corporate sites tend to look very different from micro-business’. I wouldn’t go with “flashy” or “over the top” unless your target market responds well to it.
Given you’re starting up, don’t spend a lot of $ on a flashy website until you’ve clearly done your marketing strategy homework.
I am the marketing manager of two branches of a financial institution. One branch is located inside of an office building where there are 2,500 people. We are high on a hill away from any restaurant, bank, store, etc. You have to get into your car to go anywhere. We are tenants of this building. There are 1-3 employees in the branch. We have been associated with the company for a long time – although our personnel has changed.
I am having difficulty reaching this audience as I am not allowed to be in the company’s newsletter, advertise outside of my area, (including the cafeteria), or have access to email accounts, unless requested.
I have glass entrance doors in which I put large posters, have had some raffles to draw people, but I am uncertain how else to reach this audience. If they read the local paper or listen to the radio – they will hear our ads – or if they visit our website in which many have online accounts with us…
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Jay’s Answer: Let’s assume that most of the people have seen your signs, but still haven’t come in. This indicates to me that you haven’t given them a compelling reason to talk to you.
You have a number of options: change your copy to be more clearly benefit-oriented, change your copy to be more interesting (for example, tell an amazing story, a mini-chapter-a-day with your sign. The story would be financially oriented, but something that gets people to want to read the next “chapter” as soon as they arrive that day. Keep previous chapters on your website to allow people to get up-to-date. If done well, it’ll create buzz. The last day, offer to have the main story person give a talk on the subject, story, etc.), or conduct a survey (to find out what people need)(instead of talking to them, simply provide bowls of candy under signs indicating their financial problem, and people vote by taking the candy).
I am the Director of Sales for the newly opening SpringHill Suites by Marriott. We are next door to a large international airport. SpringHill Suites is an all Suite Hotel run by the Marriott Corporation. We are upscale and looking to attract the business traveler. I need to come up with a tagline to go out and promote our new hotel. So far all I can think of is “Spring into the SpringHill Suites.” I would really appreciate any other ideas or thoughts as I am rather new at this.
I need to conduct a phone interview to determine the brand image of a Social Club. So I begin with awareness of the brand and the others, but I want to know which questions or attributes should I use in order to know about the image of the brand?
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Jay’s Answer: Start with the end goal: what data do you want to have to make a decision? How will you know if your data is correct (and reproducible). Surveys can be used to get data or be used to influence (leading questions). The way you ask questions needs to be consistent and scripted to ensure accuracy and professionalism.
Do you prefer events to be developed WITH live video of the presenter, or doesn’t matter?
Do you prefer to dial into a land line, or simply listen through your pc?
Do you prefer to receive PowerPoint, etc. in advance of the event, or is post-event ok?
Do you prefer free events or paid-for events? When will you pay to attend an event? What is the typical maximum amount you would pay?
As I’m interested in your perspectives in this area, please feel free to include any other thoughts around your desired webinar experience – must have’s, do-not-do’s, etc.
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Jay’s Answer:
Watching someone talk is nice, but not necessary.
Listening through PC (with an ability to use lower fidelity if the video/audio starts “breaking up”)
Post event is fine. Ideally, the audio of the presentation as well.
Free events are fine. What I’d pay for is based on the perceived value of learning what’s being presented.
Also – make sure that the audio/video software is compatible across many computer platforms.
Need suggestions on tagline and suitable logo for a new financial services business I am starting. The name of the business is Goal Financial Services and it will be a boutique business providing mortgage brokering, financial planning and budgeting services to low to mid income earners.
Using Outlook, you could send a single email to everyone that’s on your list, using the blind cc (bcc:) function. Basically, create your email, send it to yourself, and bcc: all your clients. The clients will receive the email, and won’t be able to see the other names on your list.
Cons: the email isn’t personalized, and you have no way of tracking who’s read your email, etc.
To send a customized email to each customer, you’ll need to either perform a mail merge or use a bulk email program. To do a mail merge, you could use: Email Address Manager A bulk emailer is meant to do the mail merge and send the emails in a single package. Here are some options for a bulk emailer: SendBlaster, Email-Unlimited, or FairLogic
Pros: you can send a customized email (so each person receives an email to them) using software that’s meant for this purpose. Some bulk email programs can also track the email delivery.
Cons: you need to learn/purchase another program and have to update that program on your computer over time.
Lastly, you could use a contact manager to compose and send a customized email to each customer. A contact manager is a web application (so you don’t have to install it on your computer) that’s intended to send out emails to a list of people. Contact managers generally send out fancier looking emails that your plain text and the software can track who opened the email, etc. Here are some options: MyEmma (about $30/month), iContact (about $9.95/month), or VerticalResponse (about $8/month).
Pros: you get nicer looking emails and tech support
Cons: you pay for the software each month, whether or not you use it. You need to learn to create nice looking templates for sending your emails (or hire someone to create one for you).
I am helping a local police department with a 25th anniversary event for their helicopter division. I would appreciate any suggestions for a slogan for the occasion. The obvious one of “When Pigs Fly” is very cute, but ultimately the PD won’t go for it. They not only do police missions, but also medevacs so they have involvement with the medical side too.
When I try to define what marketing is, I find myself thinking about this song from Thomas “Fats” Waller’s Ain’t Misbehavin‘ Musical. While the song is about how to attract a man, the meaning behind the song can apply to your small business marketing. The chorus (“Find out what they like and how they like it and let ’em have it just that way”) is focused on the message of how to appeal to your target audience. The message is simple: find the need an fill it.
However, before you jump in and start trying to uncover out what they like, first focus on who “they” are. Who specifically is your target audience? Male or female? Age? Living where? Married or single? The narrower your focus, the easier it will be to target them.
What do they like? Start by realizing that they probably don’t need what you’re selling. Your goal is to have them want what you’re selling. Targeting a want is best done with an emotional “hook”. Make your offering connect to one (or more) core human desires(s) (such a love, fame, health, etc.) and you have a good start.
If you are trying to convince your target audience that they have been doing things all wrong and that you have a new way to achieve their goals, you will have a tough going. People want what they want. They don’t want to be educated. Ideally, give them what they want and transition them to something better. Giving them what they want does not mean to do what everyone else is doing. Your offering needs to be unique. But it should be familiar.
Find Out What They Like
And How They Like It
I used to wonder right along why I couldn’t hold a man.
Every love affair went wrong until I changed my plan.
We’re having no more trouble now.
My daddy’s nice as he can be.
Ladies I will tell you how, that’s if you’ll take a tip from me.
Find out what they like, and how they like it,
and let ’em have it just that way.
Give ’em what they want and when they want it,
without a single word to say.
You’ve got to cater to a man and if you don’t
he’ll find some other gal to do the things you won’t.
Find out what they like, and how they like it,
and let ’em have it just that way.
Find out what they like, and how they like it,
and let ’em have it just that way.
Give ’em what they want and when they want it,
without a single word to say.
Just add more sugar if he says your jam ain’t sweet
or he will sneak for his dessert across the street.
Find out what they like, and how they like it,
and let ’em have it just that way.
Find out what they like, and how they like it,
and let ’em have it just that way.
Give ’em what they want and when they want it,
without a single word to say.
Now you will lose him if you give him lollipops
when you know he’s crazy just to have some chops.
Find out what they like, and how they like it,
and let ’em have it just that way.
Find out what they like, and how they like it,
and let ’em have it just that way.
Give ’em what they want and when they want it,
without a single word to say.
Now if he claims his lodge is meeting every night,
it means you do not handle all your business right.
Find out what they like, and how they like it,
and let ’em have it just that way.
And let ’em have it just that way.
And let ’em have it just that way.