| |
| |
|
Marketing Resource Center |
|
|
|
The Magic of Keep-in-Touch Marketing
Yesterday I received a phone call from an acquaintance that I've met once or twice but haven't seen in over a year. She wanted to let me know that she was referring me to a client of hers who needed help with his Web site copy. Although I hadn't thought about her in months, she mentioned that she'd received a postcard from me for the past two quarters - and that's why she instantly thought of my services when her client voiced his need. Although it wasn't really magic, it sure felt like it. That's the magic of keep-in-touch marketing - people remember you and feel like they know you, and eventually, they often give you business or refer others to you. Want to develop some "keep-in-touch magic" of your own? It's easy. You've probably got a number of names in your contact database, but when was the last time they heard from you? If you're like many business owners or marketers, you spend more time looking for new business than keeping in touch with your current and former clients. But nurturing the relationships you already have is crucial to growing a successful business. And finding a way to keep in touch with those contacts on a regular basis is integral for keeping yourself and your business on their minds. Many of the best methods of "keep-in-touch marketing" involve writing - and that may be why lots of businesspeople don't do it! But writing doesn't have to be a chore; just keep in mind that the point is simply to keep in touch, not necessarily to make an immediate sale. If you approach keep-in-touch marketing as just that, a method of staying in contact with friends and associates, you'll take the pressure off yourself to craft the perfect sales pitch. And there are a number of methods for keeping in touch, so you can choose the ones that work best for you and your business. Here are a few to think about: Postcards. As in the example mentioned above, simple postcards can do the trick without investing much time or money. Use them to communicate upcoming sales, new products, or simply to remind people of your services and the value you can offer. Thank-you notes. More personal and less regular than other forms of keep-in-touch marketing, the old-fashioned thank-you note can work wonders for your business. I once heard the owner of a successful travel agency say she writes at least one thank-you note every day, and people always remember, often saving her notes for years. Send personal thank-you notes when someone takes you to lunch, gives you a referral, or provides a service that helps you do your job better. Be creative - there are numerous reasons to thank people. You can do the same with congratulations notes. Newsletters. Electronic newsletters or print newsletters are perfect vehicles for keeping in touch with your clients and prospects. You can use them to provide useful information, industry news and tips, and build an ongoing rapport with your readers at the same time. Miscellaneous Mailers. Mailers can include anything from an announcement of an upcoming sale to a holiday greeting. A local company that designs diamond link bracelets sends reminders just before Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and other special occasions to those who have bought starter bracelets from them. The clients are reminded of a great gift for the upcoming occasion, and the jewelry company usually gets a lot of business. Whatever method you use for keeping in touch, keep in mind that your main idea is just to remind people that you're still around and that you have value to offer. Of course, it's always important to write correctly and creatively, and to provide your contacts with useful information, but for these projects your main purpose is simply to keep in touch. Get started, and experience some "magic" of your own! Nancy Jackson creates powerful marketing communications for companies of all sizes. For tips on better writing and communications, subscribe to her FREE newsletter, "Marketing Tips from The WriteShop," at: http://www.writeshoponline.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Marketing - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Misrepresentation - Through Silence! We're back to the subject of ethics, more specifically, business ethics.But unlike ethical dilemmas we've discussed in the past -when people are confronted with bizarre, freak circumstancesthey had never planned for, and then face agonizing choicesregarding how to react - I'm now talking about cases wherepeople willfully and proactively steer events in a certaindirection. Top Web Site Blunders by Coaches, Consultants and Experts Of all the web sites belonging to coaches, consultants and experts that I have reviewed, more than three-quarters shared a very serious marketing blunder: Their potential clients wouldn't understand from their home page precisely what they do. Jargon gets in the way. Getting Your Marketing Message Across with CD Business Cards CD Business cards allows any type of business that dynamic look. Hand out your business card on disc and see the expression on your clients faces. Value Proposition is the Key to Success Value proposition is treated as the standards or service that the organization is planning to offer or deliver to targeted group of customers with the help of some effective strategic planning.In today's multifaceted technologically driven and extreme competitive business atmosphere, the ability to successfully run your business and to have precise and timely insight into the business performance through value proposition, is the key to success. Work Backward And Make More Sales! It goes against the grain, especially for those of us used to "business at the speed of light." But bear with me. The Beginners Mail Order Opportunity Guide The "Mail Order" business is not a business of itself, but isanother way of DOING business. Mail Order is nothing more or lessthan selling a product or service via advertising and the offersyou send out by mail. Trade Show Exhibit Booth - 7 Tips to Improve Yours Once you have decided to participate in a trade show, half your work is done. The other half starts with exploring ideas on how to get the maximum out of the event both in terms of brand building as well as sales enquiries. How to Pick a Winning Business Name What's in a name?Think of your business name as an external mask for your business. If it's something your target audience like, they would consider checking it, if they don't, in most cases you have lost a customer even before you could tell them what your product or service is. Marketing Quandaries Being in a quandary prevents you from moving forward in developing and marketing your business. When we're in a quandary, we are in a state of perplexity and doubt. A Forgotten Marketing Tool - The Postcard The postcard can be a very powerful marketing tool. Many of our customers and/or students use them in their business. Learn How to Market Your eBusiness in Real Time: Dissect, Study, Emulate Everything you will ever need to know about internet marketing is plainly available to you everywhere yougo on the internet. All you need to do is dissect, study,and emulate these methods and you invariably will becomejust as successful as the people who created them. How To Get Celebrities To Endorse YOUR Product How would you like celebrities to endorse your product?Perhaps that sounds crazy. Well, here's the info. 9 Highly Effective Marketing Tips Here are 9 low-cost but highly effective marketing tips to help you boost your sales and profits fast.Tip 1:Look for some low-cost ways you can enhance the perceived value of your product or service. How To Perfect Your Marketing Message! When it comes to your marketing message, the little things count. Trouble is, you'll never come to respect how much, until you make a commitment to science. Get FREE Web Tips From Your Competition I knew this one would get your attention. How can you, the savvy business entrepreneur, get FREE ANYTHING from your competition? The answer is simple: Google!Yes, there are many things that Google can solve. Meaning and Marketing -- The Links You know who you are and what you want and what it means or will mean for you to be FULLY ALIVE and you also know that you can change it it -- your definitions. If you don't, you will. Using a Contact List Profitably- Part Two Besides a survey, your contact list can be used to generate sales directly. Some of the following ideas must be done one-on-one and others can be done to large quantities of prospects at a time. Money Making Real Estate Marketing Ideas Real estate marketing is a lot simpler than most Realtors make it out to be. Some equate expensive products and services with quality. Small Business Bonzai Marketing Do you own a small business? Do you wish to increase sales? Do you wish to draw more customers into your store or find more customers for your service business? You can do this for a relatively low cost by building as small sales team of high-energy people. Direct Sales marketing will help increase your business, future referrals and image in the community. Service Marketers; How's Your Packaging? When a shopper picks up a product in a store, what's the first thing they notice? The packaging, right? The same holds true for someone buying a service.Yet instead of a folded carton with colorful graphics, you are the packaging for your service business.
|
| home | site map | Advertising Articles |
| © 2006 |
