Random Marketing Idea Generator

Want some marketing inspiration?? Here’s a quick thing you can do…. Go to www.StumbleUpo

The High Cost of a Free Website

Google’s latest advertising spin is a ‘Free website for all businesses in Michigan’

 

Random Marketing Idea Generator

December 11, 2011 in Small Steps, Social Media

Random Marketing Idea Generator - OnlineSmarties.netWant some marketing inspiration?? Here’s a quick thing you can do….

Go to www.StumbleUpon.com and create an account (you can sign in with your Facebook account, but be ready to allow access to their application).

Tell it what you’re interested in, and click STUMBLE!!!

Tonite, I searched for ‘small business marketing’ and this gem of an article came up first.

Reduce, Recycle & Reuse – a Philosophy for Marketing

It made me think about how I can reuse my blog posts, and how I can help my clients reuse the content they have too. And there’s some great links at the bottom for other articles… like this one “20 ways to use 1 piece of content”

What is your best piece of content (article, study, recipe, etc)?

How could you turn it into something new? An audio recording, a video instruction, an information article?

There are lots of resources out there to help you get the most of your content, and my company Online Smarties is one! We can write new content for you, or help you re-purpose what you already have! Give us a shout!!!

Share this idea!
Facebook Twitter Email Stumbleupon

No Comments »

The High Cost of a Free Website

December 6, 2011 in Website Design

The High Cost of Free Websites - OnlineSmarties.net

Google’s latest advertising spin is a ‘Free website for all businesses in Michigan’ http://www.michigangetonline.com/

It’s good.
It’s catchy.
It’s targeted.
It seems real; and probably is….

If you want something incredibly basic,
that the Google search engine itself probably won’t find.

 

The cost of a ‘free’ website is YOUR TIME

It will take you lots of time to learn the system enough to build a basic site. And when you’re done, you’ll have learned so much that you’ll wish you had done it differently. So, you spend even more time changing the first stuff you did.

The cost of a ‘free’ website is YOUR SANITY

You will get a few new grey hairs from the process of building a site for the first time. I promise. They make it sound easy, and it can be. Until you want to change one thing and no matter what you try, you can’t make it happen. So, you either compromise on your site, or you spend more time and sanity fiddling with it.

The cost of a ‘free’ website is YOUR MARKETING

Do you know how to make your website show up on search engines? Do you know what keywords to use, and where to use them? Do you know how to write a good Meta Description? If you don’t have the right copy on your site, search engines won’t find it, and neither will your customers. Sure, the Google site builder will give you the basics, but you still need to know what you’re doing. It’s just too important.

The cost of a ‘free’ website is YOUR CUSTOMERS’ SATISFACTION

Face it, people look at tons of websites, all the time. And then they come to yours. Will it make them think ‘wow’ this is a business I want to deal with! Will they find what they need? Will it work? Does it say the right things? With a ‘free’ website, making sure all of this happens is your responsibility. Do you know enough about website design to keep your customers happy?

If you’re ready to tackle your website, check out Google’s new, free service http://www.michigangetonline.com/

If you’re having doubts about tackling it yourself, it’s what I do for a living!!! I can help you get the affordability of a ‘Do-It-Yourself’ website builder, without the learning curve… and add 15+ years of marketing experience behind it!! www.OnlineSmarties.com

 

Share this idea!
Facebook Twitter Email Stumbleupon

Tags:
No Comments »

A Kaleidoscope of Ideas in Focus

November 18, 2011 in Planning

This article (http://bit.ly/sTBpUI) really hit home for me today, the keeper of a never-ending, giant 2-page word doc ‘To Do’ list with everything from today’s tasks to next weeks schedule to business ideas. It’s a one-stop brain organization masterpiece with about 12 different fonts and color schemes… here’s what it seems like sometimes…

A kaleidoscope of ideas brought into focus - OnlineSmarties.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great for personal time management, the article applies to marketing projects too.

Titled, ‘Overwhelmed By All Your Great Ideas’ by Lynn Terry, it starts with a brain dump list of tasks and ideas, takes you through some strategic planning, and ends up back at the list. It’s well worth the read….here are the highlights of the steps:

  • Start with a brain dump – put it all on paper in whatever way works best for you.
  • Then ask yourself: “What’s working and what’s not (why)? What can I outsource? Where do I spend my time?”
  • DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO GO… HAVE A SOLID VISION. If you do, awesome. If not, get to thinking. It’s key to making the right decisions about what to work on.
  • For what HAS made you successful, ask yourself: “What exactly did I do to get where I am?”
  • The answer to that question is also the answer to “What do I need to do to get where I want to go?”
  • Decide your top 3 priorities to meet your goals
  • Now, go back to your brain dump list. What tasks and ideas will help you get there?
  • Put them at the top.

 

Not only does this process help make ideas manageable, but helps you figure out the most meaningful tasks to meet your goals. In business, and in your personal life, it’s a valuable yet simple planning tool.

 

I think a revamp of my own To Do list is in order. Will you give yours a second look?? 
Share this idea!
Facebook Twitter Email Stumbleupon

Tags:
3 Comments »

Listening is Free

November 7, 2011 in Small Steps, Social Media

Listening is a free marketing strategy - OnlineSmarties.netMost people love getting something for nothing.

What you get from listening to customers is invaluable. The best part, it doesn’t cost a dime. It just takes a little time.

Insights to your customer that competitors probably don’t have, real-time reaction to their issues, innovative ideas for products… the list is endless.

Luckily, there is technology to help you keep your ears open.

Check out Google Alerts and you’ll get emails with links every time someone mentions the terms you’re interested in.

 

Use SEO to Improve Social Media Listening >
Article from Convince and Convert Blog with great tips on how to listen more effectively.

Share this idea!
Facebook Twitter Email Stumbleupon

Tags:
No Comments »

Trick-or-Treat – Promotions Style

November 3, 2011 in Memorable Promotions, Small Steps

To kick off my own new business, Online Smarties, I needed something memorable. And with Halloween quickly approaching, it was the perfect tie-in. Not only do I love Halloween, but my logo is a skull with eye-glasses and my name is the same as a very popular candy…. perfect I say.

I took things I already had, added a few extras and made it into a memorable promotional campaign!

I started by:

  • Making small gift bags of smarties,
  • Printing quarter-page flyers on nice brochure paper from my office computer (included a Halloween message too)
  • Punching holes in the top corner of the flyers and my business cards

Marketing Treats Components - OnlineSmarties.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketing Treats Promotion Flyer Tie - OnlineSmarties.net

 

Then, I tied a purple ribbon through the holes in the business cards and flyers, and slid a twistie through the back of the ribbon. They even came with the gift bags, which sold for $1 for 25 at the local party supply store.

Then, I tied the twistie around the bag and curled the ribbon a bit with scissors.

 

And VIOLA!!!! Marketing Treats Smarties Bags - OnlineSmarties.net
Great little treat bags for
potential clients.

I even delivered them in a cape, on Halloween.

All the recipients were super surprised that someone brought them a treat for Halloween, instead of just handing it out to others.

I bet when they think of websites, they’ll think of Online Smarties :)

 

What’s the most memorable promotion you’ve done for potential clients?

Share this idea!
Facebook Twitter Email Stumbleupon

Tags:
1 Comment »

Integrated Marketing with Whipped Cream

October 26, 2011 in Cross-selling

You’ve heard the term ‘integrated marketing’, but it just sounds overwhelming when you think about how many things you do for marketing. Where do you even begin to integrate them? Sure, you can link your website to your Facebook page, or do other things that take time and get complicated.

Or you can integrate your marketing REALLY SIMPLY.

Think about it like cross-selling…..

You can INTEGRATE simple call-outs on your products using stickers, or even partner with another business to cross-promote products that complement each other. You can use your own computer to print simple labels.

Integrated marketing with whipped cream - Online Smarties

Here’s a great example from my local grocery store.

Of course, I had to get the Cool Whip for the pie… but I wouldn’t have if I didn’t see the sticker.

How will you convince your customers to get Cool Whip with their pie?

Share this idea!
Facebook Twitter Email Stumbleupon

10 Comments »

Fresh Facebook Ideas

October 26, 2011 in Social Media

So, you have a Facebook page. You’ve posted a couple of things, and run out of ideas. Here are a few to get you going.

But before you start posting, keep in mind that successful social requires 3 things:

  1. Relevant content for your readers (something related to your business that they will be interested in)
  2. Frequent, predictable posting (nothing less than once per week)
  3. A strategy behind what you’re posting (are you trying to drive online orders? in-store visits? readers for your blog?)

 

Fresh Facebook ideas for business…Fresh Facebook Ideas - Online Smarties - image from MyPulsa.net

  • Post a ‘product of the week’ with a picture and special offer
  • Tell a quick story about how you helped a customer
  • Link to a resource your clients may find helpful
  • Give customers a sneak peek at a new product
  • Publish an inspirational quote
  • Tell an employee ‘thank you’ for a job well done
  • Link to your latest online newsletter
  • Post a testimonial from a customer
  • Create an event to remind clients of a special sale
  • Tell a favorite customer ‘happy birthday’

 

Put information out there that helps you connect to customers, make them feel special and let them interact with you online, that’s the beauty of social media for business.

Share this idea!
Facebook Twitter Email Stumbleupon

Tags:
No Comments »

Get More from Your Top 3 Products

October 25, 2011 in Cross-selling, Small Steps

Here’s an easy way to make a little more money (baby steps, remember?). Identify your top 3 products or
services. Maybe they have the highest sales, or are most profitable. Use your own definition of ‘top’.

Now, add one new ‘add-on’, ancillary product to compliment each.

Make more money on your top 3 products

Think about what other things customers need when using your product or service. You know… like the recommendations you see on Amazon “Other customers who purchased that item, also purchased this item”.

  • Sell tons of candles? Add those long lighters.
  • Provide office cleaning services? Add an option for monthly refrigerator cleaning.
  • Do music recording? Partner with a photographer for commission on band photos.

Now that you have some new things to sell, get the word out to customers! You could:

  • Identify clients who purchase your top sellers, and email them about the new add-on
  • Add the new product to your website, then link to it from the top seller’s product page
  • Add it to order confirmation emails
  • Add it to your printed brochures or online newsletter
  • Tell clients about it on the phone or in meetings

It’s simple, it’s a baby step, and it builds on what you already do well. It’s a pretty safe, simple way to see results!

Share this idea!
Facebook Twitter Email Stumbleupon

Tags: ,
No Comments »

A Thousand Small Steps

October 25, 2011 in Small Steps

“The hardest step is the first one”A Thousand Small Steps to Success - Online Smarties [photo by http://www.dipity.com/tickr/Flickr-donna-vrouw/]

Not sure who to attribute that quote to, but it’s so true.

And I’ll add to it  “….so you might as well make it small and easy…. a thousand small, easy steps add up to one giant leap!!”

I hope to give you lots of little ways to take many small steps to improving your marketing.

Starting with one simple one… TELL YOUR STORY!!!!!!!

Every business has a story… why you started, where you saw growing pains, how you helped your customers succeed…. and it should be told!!!

Your story helps customers relate to you and see how you can help them. Your story helps them feel connected to you and in turn, are more likely to turn to you.

You can tell your story a thousand different ways, but I suggest you keep it short and sweet. Give customers the essence of who you are, without going into too many details.

Then, put it out there for customers to see!!! Some great places are:

  • On your website’s ‘About Us’ page
  • As part of a monthly newsletter
  • On your Facebook Info page or in a note
  • On your blog
  • On the back of a sales brochure

You won’t spend anything extra if you incorporate your story into customer communication points you already use. All you will spend is some time writing your story.  Moxy-Blue.com can help!

How do you tell your business’ story?
Share this idea!
Facebook Twitter Email Stumbleupon

Tags:
No Comments »