Post Your Contact Information

MSDB2-Black-Bulb Crop 309x309.png Thursday, 23 April 09 - 12:52 PM (GMT -06:00)
By Michael Daehn in Key 4: Implement Promotions


A few years ago people paid big money to put their name and number in the Yellow Pages, on billboards and TV commercials. How times have changed.

Many folks today are afraid to post their email, phone or address in fear they will get spammed. Well here's the deal, you will get spammed. The other side of the coin is that you want your customers to be able to find you.

Particularly on the web, the only way people who don't already know you can find you is if you freely share your contact information. Some people have customers fill out a contact form. This is lame. Post your information so people can call or email you right away. If you get some junk mail that's just the price of doing business.

Do you post your contact information?


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Have Cool Cards

MSDB2-Black-Bulb Crop 309x309.png Thursday, 02 April 09 - 02:49 PM (GMT -06:00)
By Michael Daehn in Key 4: Implement Promotions


If you are using cheesy clip art, razor thin paper or perforated print at home sheets then you need new business cards. Have fun and experiment. It's your card and you can make it however you want. If your company makes your card, make your own set and hand them both out. Just because your company is boring does not mean you have to be.

Can your card be identified in a line up? Does it stand out? Does it tell people what to do next?


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Holiday Marketing Ideas

MSDB2-Black-Bulb Crop 309x309.png Monday, 23 March 09 - 08:34 AM (GMT -06:00)
By Michael Daehn in Key 4: Implement Promotions


Take advantage of the season you are in to pitch your product. How can people use your product for the holiday? Would it make a good gift? If it is a service why not offer a gift certificate people can buy for friends and colleagues?

Be creative. Besides the standard holidays there are seasons you can capitalize on like:

  • Sleds for a snowy January
  • Kites for a windy March
  • Umbrellas for a rainy April
  • Ice cube trays for a hot August

Use your imagination.

How can you relate your product to the next season or holiday?


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Get Testimonials

MSDB2-Black-Bulb Crop 309x309.png Tuesday, 03 March 09 - 12:18 PM (GMT -06:00)
By Michael Daehn in Key 4: Implement Promotions

“Michael is a Web Guru of the highest regard and a true visionary, who not only understands the complexity of the internet, but can uniquely translate a business requirement into a business solution, through the use of web technologies. Michael is a joy to work with and a true pro.”

Brad Bishop, Project Manager, Joyce Meyer Ministries

No advertising is better than a customer saying they like your product. You may have all the answers and enthusiasm, but you have a vested interest. People connect with other people so having a real life human endorse your product on their own is gold. Make sure you put testimonies:

  • On your flyers
  • On your website
  • On your bookcover
  • Everywhere you can

If you can't find anyone to give you a testimonial then your product probably sucks and you have bigger issues than advertising.

Do you get testimonials? How could you integrate testimonials into your marketing?


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Give Stuff Away

MSDB2-Black-Bulb Crop 309x309.png Tuesday, 24 February 09 - 05:00 PM (GMT -06:00)
By Michael Daehn in Key 4: Implement Promotions

The best way to find new customers- especially on the internet, is to give stuff away. You are proving that you have your customer's best interest at heart and allow them to see what you are about risk free.

This works great if you are giving away information or advice. If you are giving product away be sure to narrow your gifts to your target market or you'll go broke. There are ways to give away part of your product for free- free consultation, free book chapter, free shampoo with haircut...

Humans are naturally reciprocal and will try to give you something back. The ones that don't are the creeps you don't want as customers anyway.

Give people a reason to start the relationship and make sure you are good enough to keep them.
What could you give people to facilitate them giving you back a chance at their business?
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How to Set Up Your Email Marketing Program

MSDB2-Black-Bulb Crop 309x309.png Monday, 23 February 09 - 12:06 PM (GMT -06:00)
By Michael Daehn in Key 4: Implement Promotions

Email is not new and not as glamorous as some of the cutting edge web technologies available today, but done right it can be the number one traffic driver for your site. The chart below lays out a solid strategy for any web marketing program using Chuck as your hypothetical subscriber.

View Full Size

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Give Your Customers Choices

MSDB2-Black-Bulb Crop 309x309.png Thursday, 12 February 09 - 10:13 AM (GMT -06:00)
By Michael Daehn in Key 4: Implement Promotions


When in doubt, give your customers a choice. This is particularly true in web design.

For example:
  • Should you write out the copy or post a PDF? Both.
  • Should videos auto play or should people hit the play button? Let visitors choose to hit the play button.
  • Consume your content as book, ebook, or audiobook? Yes, the more choices the better.
Give your customers control.

What kind of choices do you give your customers?
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Nothing Attracts a Crowd Like a Crowd

MSDB2-Black-Bulb Crop 309x309.png Monday, 02 February 09 - 01:36 PM (GMT -06:00)
By Michael Daehn in Key 4: Implement Promotions

Have you ever walked through a fairground or down a boadwalk. All of a sudden you see a huge crowd of people. Do you check it out? Even if you don't stop, it gets your attention and you have to see what's going on.

Have you ever gone to a restaurant on a Friday night at dinner time and the place is empty? It kind of gets you wondering if there is something wrong. Having a crowd is a great way to get more people interested in what you are doing.

Is there a crowd gathered and clamoring for what you do? What could you do to get a crowd started and the momentum moving forward?


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A Day in the Digital Life

MSDB2-Black-Bulb Crop 309x309.png Tuesday, 30 September 08 - 10:03 AM (GMT -06:00)
By Michael Daehn in Key 4: Implement Promotions

Great whitepaper on how people are consuming media


Check out this whitepaper (PDF) from ExactTarget describing a day in the digital life for various personas. You do have personas created for your target audience, right?

What personas are you targeting with your media promotions?

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Give 'Til It Hurts...You'll Feel Better Later

MSDB2-Black-Bulb Crop 309x309.png Tuesday, 16 October 07 - 08:22 PM (GMT -06:00)
By Michael Daehn in Key 4: Implement Promotions

Giving away your product is a smart move in today's market

Take your giving to the next level and give your whole product away. I recently recommended to a client that they offer free downloads of some of their book titles and the room was aghast. Why would anyone buy the book when they could get it free? This was the craziest idea they ever heard.

It is crazy in the old world of marketing and distribution where companies guarded their possessions and trade secrets carefully. We don't live in that world any longer. The world we live in has:
  • Marketing Guru Seth Godin offering his book on his website with three buttons- download free, download for a fee, buy the book. Sales of his book shot through the roof- and thousands paid for the download.

  • Major label band Radiohead sells their latest record (if we still call it that) on their site for download and you punch in the amount you wish to pay- I put in $0 and that's what I paid.

  • My buddy Scott Ginsberg offered a free download of his last book on his website and saw sales of the printed version 300% higher than his previous title.
This is easier to swallow when you are talking about digital content where there are few cost associated with additional downloads, but there are ways to kick up what you are giving away to your customers. Your customers are starting to expect it, and if you don't do it, your competition will.

What can you REALLY give away, no strings attached? How could this enhance your bottom line in the long run?


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