Category Archives: Publicity

How Can I Fill My Next Seminar?

Publicity

I have heard so much about the power of seminars to help sell. However I have had mixed results. Is there a company out there that can help me get people to my next seminar?

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Having the complete attention of people at a seminar is a powerful thing. Often more money is made selling “back of the room” than is made by selling the tickets themselves. That’s why seminars are often priced inexpensively.

The key to getting people to attend your seminar is clearly identifying WHO you’re trying to attract and WHAT problem they have that your seminar addresses. Targeting the right people with the right message is the key.

A marketing company would (hopefully) help you to identify the WHO and WHAT, and then use (existing) lists to contact people who’ve already expressed an interest in this material.

However, it’s something you can also do it yourself. Start small. Get testimonials. Get feedback and continue to improve your seminar’s value.

What Should Be On Our Business Cards?

Branding, Publicity,

We are in the process of re-branding our company, and I am looking for some guidance for what information should be included on the business card. We are a manufacturing company, and in deciding what information, other than standard protocol, to add to the card, such as UL logos, ISO certification, a descriptive qualifier, a minority certified company… it seems like it gets too busy. What are your thoughts?

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Who will you be handing the cards to? You might find it handy to have different cards for different audiences.

Besides the basic contact information (including email & web), please make sure that your company’s name and your name can easily be read at arm’s length.

A business card is simply one piece of your marketing message. It’s not a flyer. When I hand someone a card, I want them to contact me to continue our conversation.

How Can I Find Sponsors?

Clubs + Associations, Publicity,

I’m attempting to put together a White water jet boat racing team. I’m looking for a few sources that would be willing to sponsor the team and help us get into the water. Anybody have any ideas on how to get this ball rolling? I’ve never dealt with sponsors before and don’t know the first thing about it.

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Is your team local, regional, or national? Has your team members been on any winning teams?

Approach companies that have a similar “reach” to where you plan to race. You looking for sponsor companies that want to be associated with “fast”, “water”, “risk”, etc.

The company is trading you money in exchange for an advertisement using your boat (and perhaps clothing as well as use of your images in their ads). The more you win, the more positive exposure you’ll be providing (especially in the photos of the winning boat & team).

To get some ideas of potential sponsors, look at the companies that already sponsor your competition. Consider contacting those company’s competitors. You’ll be saying, “Your competitor is advertising here, why not you?”

Why Do Businesses Use Signs?

Publicity, Starting Out,

I want to run a sign writing business and need to know how useful is a sign for a business.

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A sign is another form of marketing for a (brick and mortar) business. As a minimum, the sign should have the name of the business. Depending on its size/purpose, contact information, logo, and a tagline might be appropriate as well.

The sign’s color, size, shape, and contents should likewise reflect the business “brand”. All materials that a business uses for its marketing should have a similar “look” in order to create marketing synergy.

What Is A Good Idea For A Motorcycle Holiday Party?

Products, Publicity,

We want to host a party to say thanks for the business. We own a motorcycle shop. I need ideas for party invitations too. We are a small store, with Harley Davidson only 2 miles away. Harley has parties all the time, its very hard to compete as I’m sure you can imagine. We want to have these folks for dinner and special pricing if they want to shop while they are here.

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Have a xmas bike parade. Outfit bikes with 12v xmas lights and have an informal ride through town, ending at your shop for eggnog, etc. Of course, if their bike doesn’t have lights, sell them at the shop. The ride will catch the eye of pedestrians, and also can garner some great free PR in your local newspaper.

How Can I Do Fundraising For My Political Candidate?

Clubs + Associations, Publicity, ,

So this is my first time handling Fund raising events for a State Assembly candidate. I need some advice and direction on how to get donations, sponsorships, and endorsements.

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The positioning statement is first:

Why should someone care for your candidate? What do they stand for that’s unique? Why should someone believe that their issues will be implemented (i.e., do they have a track record of success)? Why would I want this person to represent me, my business, my community? What life experiences do they have that makes me think that they have the skills to be effective?

Next, the target demographic:

Who, specifically, is the candidate trying to attract? Why should they care about their position?

Then, target influencers:

Find people who are socially tied in to the demographic. People that throw parties, people in entertainment, hospitality, former sponsors, people who know what your candidate CAN do matters.

Donors:

Come after you have a groundswell of support. You need to say, “back my candidate, he’s (or she’s) a winner”. You need testimonials.

How Can I Promote A New Film?

Publicity, , , ,

I’m trying to promote a new film for this ad agency I’m interning for…. how should I go about it? Any good ideas ??

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If you’re looking to get web traffic to your film’s site, create teasers/trailers of the film and post on free video sites such as YouTube, Google Video, etc.

Cross-promote it with a relevant partner. If your film is about babies, consider: baby products, new moms’ website/blogs, parenting magazines, etc.

How Can I Better Advertise A Clothing Sale?

Products, Publicity,

I’m faced with the challenge to think of a creative way to promote a sale of my retail products. I want to give the 2nd item off a purchase at a cheaper price (e.g. buy 1 and get the second at 20 or 30% off).

I have thought of conventional means of communicating this.: “Buy more save more”, “More savings with us”, “Your brand, your savings”, but I am searching for a more creative message.

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The key is in the value of the 2nd item. Offer to donate the 2nd item (buy one and we donate one) to a homeless shelter, orphanage, etc. Your client gets PR + a potential write-off, the shopper gets their product (and feels like they helped), and the non-profit can help with the advertising as well.

If the product’s price point is high for the demographic (adults, teens, etc.), you can try another direction. Create a matching service for people who want to buy 1 of the item. You’ll match them with someone else who wants to buy 1, they both get their item for less, and once again you’ve got the opportunity for goodwill + PR. It requires additional work on your client’s behalf, though.

What Are Good Trade Show Games For Salary Loan Business?

Publicity,

I have a trade show booth and I need creative games to attract clients to sign up. Our product is corporate salary loans. We are promoting fast processing of salary loans in 3 days. Do you know any games that can be related to our “fast, easy, speed” loan application and processing theme? I’m tired of spin a wheel, pick a prize, common games. I really need to come up with new ideas and games.

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Because of the 3 days/3 attributes:

– 3 Card Monte

– 3 Cups & Pea/ball

– 3 balls into a hoop (basketball/nerf ball toss)

Because of fast/easy/speed:

– a dollar catch

– reaction timer (have them press a button after a light goes on)

– categories (give contestants 15 seconds to come up with as many different examples of a category — car brands, fruits, state capitals, etc.)

How To Word A Holiday Retail Sign?

Publicity,

I am trying to come up with a better term for our 50% holiday favorites sign that will hang in our windows. We are a retail junior girls clothing store.

We were thinking of maybe just doing a large 50% holiday favorites sign but is there a cuter or better way to say the holiday favorites part?

Our tagline for holiday is “season to…(love, wish, dream, give, etc)”

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Given the holiday tie-in, I’d suggest slightly changing your tagline to:

‘Tis The Season To…

Also, you might consider doing 2 for 1 instead of 50% off. If someone purchases an odd number of items (1, 3, etc.), you’ll get more money in your register.