I am the events committee chair for my county’s Democratic org. I am looking for a cleaver name for a monthly dine out fundraising night. Several restaurants in our area offer fundraisers for groups by eating at their restaurants. We plan to do this once a month, rotating restaurants.
###
Jay’s Answer:
I’m looking for input for a client’s “team name” for their internal graphic design team. They have a very strong culture at the company. Keywords they want it to be focused around is the word “Key” or “secret” . For example, their account managers are called “key executives”, their sales agents are called “secret agents”. It all fits within the culture, but we’re struggling to find something relating to a good name for the graphic design team. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
###
Jay’s Answer:
I am a Marketing Executive in children education. I work in the headquarters dealing with kindergartens branding & marketing. We have 32 kindergartens which are
company own, in the coming year we are looking ahead to venture into franchising.
At the moment my team mate and i are working on the branding, all kindergartens are heading in for a major renovation to achieve a new look. We are also working on the strategies to enroll more students.
We are different from other kindergartens, we are known as the Multiple Intelligence-based Preschools. We teach children using Multiple Intelligence. The founder of Multiple Intelligence was Dr.Howard Gardner from Howard University.
Being different is good but at the moment we have many competitors which may market
their kindergartens as technology base kindergartens and so on.
Due to that I would need some advice on how to attract parents to our kindergarten. What can we do or say in our marketing strategies that will boost enrollment. Our tagline is Learning, your child’s way. We believe every child is different and it is important for us to discover their approach towards learning.
###
Jay’s Answer: As a first step, I’d suggest talking to your existing clients’ parents and finding out why they chose your organization. After all, they could have chosen one of your competitor’s kindergartens, but they didn’t. It may be because of your Multiple Intelligence curriculum, or it may be something else (price, location, safety, etc.). By asking a number of parents, at a number of different schools, you’ll get some initial insights. From these insights you’ll have some clues about your best path to improve your marketing and build your franchise.
Please could you assist with names for a slimming business. I wish to offer this as a supplementary income business – where agents can get involved in selling (target audience) anyone who is overweight and have doctors go ahead with using the products – this will be at own risk. It is slimming pills – the most popular at the moment (privately manufactured). Made and sold to the Southern African Market. To work with me means and additional income. Would appreciate your marketing expertise. Thanks
###
Jay’s Answer: Consider “LittleMore” or “BeThin”.
(Photo by David Goehring)
If you have been in business for a while, you have no doubt fielded the same questions over-and-over-and-over. The person asking (a prospective client, perhaps) is sincere. But you have heard the same questions and your been giving the same answers year-after-year. And if you are not careful, your frustration at hearing the same question is likely to seep into your response, and you risk alienating your prospective client.
The secret is to improve your empathic listening skills.
Concierges in hotels face this exact challenge daily. Each guest is experiencing things for their first time, and they want to know the answer to their (familiar) question. The best concierges project an air of enthusiastic curiosity and willingness to help because they (try to) remember what it’s like not to be an expert, and to know that their answers have the potential to create powerful lasting memories for their guests.
The next time someone asks the question you have anticipated, stop, breathe, and see if you can make someone feel very special. That single act could create a lifetime of good will.
Want to get people to pay attention to what you’re offering? Make what you’re selling new, and highlight your new offering as sexy.
We’re programmed to see new as exotic, special, limited, better, healthier, etc. New also commands a higher price and more attention – since getting the newest thing first is a status symbol (the lines to buy a new iPhone, for example).
However, when you introduce new that means by definition your old has just dropped in value or stature. So, be sure not to cannibalize your product line in search of new is better. You old still can command a high value – to the right audience.
New is ideal for the trend-setters or cutting-edge early adopters. They are on the leading quest to find new, to prove to that they are worth following. New is great in its own sake.
But those that are looking for trusted solutions still want the old. In fact, you may have increased the value in their eyes since you’ve invested in a new version of what people still want.
Everything Old Is New Again
When trumpets were mellow
And every gal only had one fellow
No need to remember when
‘Cause everything old is new againDancin’ at your, Long Island, jazz age parties
Waiter bring us some more Baccardis
We’ll order now, what they ordered then
‘Cause everything old is new againGet out your white suit, your tap shoes and tails
Let’s go backwards when forward fails
And movie stars you thought were long dead
Now are framed beside your bedDon’t throw the past away
You might need it some rainy day
Dreams can come true again
When everything old is new againGet out your white suit, your tap shoes and tails
Put it on backwards when forward fails
Better leave Greta Garbo alone
Be a movie star on your ownAnd don’t throw the past away
You might need it some other rainy day
Dreams can come true again
When everything old is new againI might fall in love with you again
Songwriters: Peter W. Allen and Carole Bayer Sager
I’m a general contractor with 66 rental units. We do about $1.2M a year gross, with basically no branding whatsoever. I’m looking to expand in both arenas with web and basic advertising. I don’t even have business cards.
1. Should I brand the property management and development separately from the general contracting?
2. Can I move forward with a more global name like “_____ Development”?
###
Jay’s Answer: If your two companies would share similar messages with similar audiences, then a single company makes sense. If not, then two companies would help to make your message much better targeted.
I am creating a Saturday deal for our salon where the client receives certain treatments at a deducted price and the offer is only available on a Saturday, I was wondering what i could name this offer? Something quirky that will stand out.
###
Jay’s Answer: Sizzling Saturdays
I work for the Town of Silverton in Colorado at 9318′ elevation. I am starting a monthly summer music series that will be on the third Friday of June-September in our Memorial Park. It is going to feature local area bands and will have alcohol that we sell to raise money for our 4th of July Fireworks. Some ideas currently are:
We want something recognizable but original as a number of towns in our area have their own “Music in the Park” and “Mountain Air Concert Series”. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you!
###
Jay’s Answer: Some different directions to play with:
(Photo by Meena Kadri)
Your product is the best. Or it’s the first. Or it’s the newest. Or it’s the cheapest.
Your services are fast. Or they are efficient. Or they are highly creative.
Do any of these statements sound like your marketing message? If so, no one’s likely to believe you (or even pay attention to you).
Stop talking in generalities (everyone else is). Talk in specifics. Here’s how to create a statement (and supporting story) of specific achievements:
Let’s say you are a caterer. Thinking back to clients that you wow’ed, you might remember Ms. Frances, who hired you at the last minute because their caterer decided to instead cater a wedding reception for a local celebrity. Ms. Frances needed last-minute help, and you were able to create a menu that was also better tailored to the bride and groom’s special dietary needs. So you could say, “Specializing in last-minute tricky catering needs“. But rather than being seen as the “fall-back” caterer, you want to position yourself as the caterer that won’t cancel and will delight. So instead say, “Ensure your catered event will be delicious, highly-customized, and on-budget … Guaranteed!” Your specific story of Ms. Frances will be just one tangible example of how you exceeded expectation, reduced fear, and made your clients successful.