MarketingMoment

The run-up to the holiday season is a perfect time to say thank you to your business prospects, current and past customers, suppliers and associates for their custom and support.

Seeing as though we all liked to be appreciated (I do!), why not send an email, a letter, an online or offline greeting card and acknowledge the people that have made a difference in your life and business?

If you’re feeling particularly flush and want to jump straight into that ‘giving’ mode, up the ante and send a ‘thank you’ note along with a gift. 

And, while it may seem a little early, I’d still like to ’say’ a big thanks to all my clients, blog readers and subscribers –- I really do appreciate your support.

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Do you struggle with your marketing? Or perhaps you need to increase the response of your advertising or your website?

Well, take a leaf from Socrates’ book (or clay tablet, as it was centuries ago)…

Socrates was perhaps the greatest master of persuasion. His tactic was to get people to agree with him, or concede their side of the argument, belief, or debate, by getting them to say “yes”. He would do this by asking questions that people would simply have to answer in the affirmative. And he’d do this over and over until they agreed with him!

How does this help you?

By getting your prospects to agree with your statements or questions, then each time they do they are one step closer to becoming a buyer.

Why not try this ‘Socrates Method’ in your advertising and marketing, and see what happens? Oh, and feel free to report any findings here.

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Want to use this in your ezine, blog or website? No problem! Just let me know. I’ll send you a short resource box/bio to include.

The lead article in MediaMinister’s latest newsletter, Communiqué for Success, shows you how to get the ‘X factor’ for your business and ensure that YOUR products or services stay in demand. To read, please sign up first. (You can unsubscribe at any time, and I NEVER abuse my subscriber’s email address. Your details are safe with me.)

Subscribe here.

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Want to use this in your ezine, blog or website? No problem! Just let me know. I’ll send you a short resource box/bio to include.

Choosing a good business name is important not just for the legalities of operating a business, but also for making sure your prospective buyers choose you instead of your competitors.

Some experts say that your business name is the first thing that any potential customer will notice and is therefore more important than your sales pitch or even your end product.

I wouldn’t necessarily go that far, but it is certainly true that the name you choose will strike either the right – or wrong – tone with your potential customers.

Successful organisations don’t just invest in developing good names, they work hard to develop a brand name. Because, over time, a brand is capable of doing the selling for you…

People remember a good business name. So what does yours say about you?

A lot of ‘modern’ business names either use the name of the person (if it’s a consultant, for example), which is fine, or they play on words.

I’m not a huge fan of using a play on words in a business name. My feeling is that it doesn’t make the name any more memorable (which is presumably the intention), and it can look a little on the conceited, self-important side.

Another mistake is putting the personal element in a business name. You’d do a LOT better if you chose a name that immediately gets across what you sell or do, and perhaps how you stand apart from the competition.

Speaking personally, if I were to choose my own business name again, I would choose something that adds more of a perceived value, without being ‘cutesy’ about it.

A good business name should be short, unique, memorable, distinctive, catchy and, more importantly, easy to remember and to spell!

When you do settle on a name, make sure you do a search on the internet, just to make sure you are not unintentionally offending someone – often words translated into a different language or culture can really mean something else! Finally, make sure you always consider the legal ramifications of your chosen company name.

If you want professional help with finding and selecting the right business name, just let me know. Prices start from just £97 for up to five original names from which to choose.

Copyright, T L Dooley. All Rights Reserved.

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I used to sell air once. Some people say I’m sometimes full of the stuff (ah, they love me, really!). But I can fill it rather nicely, too.  :)

If you need effective script-writing or editing services for films, videos, radio, telemarketing and speeches, then you’ve come to the right place.

I can provide copy for all of the above and offer creative direction, too.

Find out more, request samples or book your project in at: www.mediaminister.co.uk

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Want to use this in your ezine, blog or website? No problem! Just let me know. I’ll send you a short resource box/bio to include.

The lead article in MediaMinister’s latest newsletter, Communiqué for Success, is entitled, “The Most Crucial Business Skill of Them All”. To read, please sign up first.

Subscribe here.

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I’m often asked if my blog works on a business level, and whether it’s “worth it” in the short and long term.

I say yes! For me, keeping a blog works on several different levels. As well as being good for business (some clients have found me via my blog), it helps to keep up the traffic on my main website . There’s also the all-important creative element – as a writer, it’s important to find some creativity in everyday writings. Well, you could sometimes call my writing more of a rambling, but I do try.

With MarketingMoment, my aim is to combine revealing the core of who I am with good, solid content that is useful for those times when one thinks, “Help! I need new business – and fast!”

To make it worthwhile, I’d say you really need to be posting to your blog at least once per week. Ideally more. (I initially aimed for 2-4 posts per week, but soon found that running two businesses and wearing all hats for each meant that I had to settle for a more realistic 1-3 posts per week.) And for ideas for your blog, keep in mind your target market at all times.

Remember: there is no business with customers. And a blog helps you attract and keep in touch with current and potential customers.

What about you? Do you have a blog? If so, why, and how is it for you?

Possibly related posts:

• Does More Equal Less?
• Blogging IS Big Business
• English Corner: Which Is It?

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1. Create a brand. Print up small but important things such as business cards with a professional logo to present a good image.
2. Ramp up online. Websites today are one of the most important tools when creating a business. Make sure you establish yourself on the internet so that customers have somewhere to learn about you.
3. Make your first sale. The first sale is always the hardest, but once you have the ball rolling, there will be no stopping you.
4. Customer testimonials. Start building the credibility of your business from day one. Get customers to write up a testimonial. And be sure to seek permission to use any unsolicited praise.
5. Build a campaign. Be creative. Quantify on any good opportunity that comes your way; anything from a special promotion to a big event can be used in the campaign to get your name out there.

Source: Start Your Business magazine, issue 14, p28

Possibly related posts: 

• Little-Used Customer Acquisition Tip
• 5 Tips For Better HomeWorking
• What’s In a Business Name?

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Want to use this in your ezine, blog or website? No problem! Just let me know. I’ll send you a short resource box/bio to include.

The trick to writing flyers that sell is to keep it simple. But not too simple. Many people think (wrongly) that they can get away with printing up just a workshop title, venue, date and maybe the main tutor, say. I’m sorry to say that, unless you are the workshop equivalent to Pink Floyd or Prince, the orders ain’t gonna come flooding in. 

What you need to do is engage in a dialogue with your readers, understand where they’re coming from and what their needs are, explain why you’re writing to them, recommend a solution… And all in under 150 words or less.  

So be sure to choose every word carefully.  Adapted from “How to Create Flyers that Stop Prospects in their Tracks“, first published in the 30th of April edition of MediaMinister’s newsletter, CfS. 

To read the full article and gain *hidden links* to recent CfS newsletter editions, you’ll have to become a subscriber. (That’s a good thing, by the way, or so CfS readers tell me!) As well as being FREE, you’ll receive a business-building report and audio CD that can dramatically improve sales simply for signing up and trying it out.  

Subscribe here. 

Recent CfS newsletter issues cover:

• 5 Ways to Get ANY Business Out of a Slump
• How to Get People to Buy From You
• Create a Buzz for Your Business With Twitter
• Can the X Factor Help Your Business?
• Be a Client Magnet
• Recession-Proof Your Business
• Stand Apart from ‘Me-Too’ Competitors
• Stop! Don’t Post that Letter!
• Common Mistakes that Can Kill Business
• The Most Important Action You Can Take For Your Business This Year 

Subscribe here.   

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Want to use this in your ezine, blog or website? No problem! Just let me know. I’ll send you a short resource box/bio to include. 

In keeping with the current global economic meltdown, I have decided NOT to raise my copywriting, marketing, PR and editing/proofreading fees.

Instead, MediaMinister.co.uk will deliver the same valued-added service at 2008 prices to help clients continue to generate within budget the desired response from professionally crafted communications.   

So whether it’s business writing, staff communications, tenders and proposals, marketing material or publicity you’re after, you can now make your budget go further without diluting your results.

For the time being, all prices for my revenue-boosting tools and laser-focused “do-it-yourself” kits will be frozen, too. 

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Want to use this in your ezine, blog or website? No problem! Just let me know. I’ll send you a short resource box/bio to include.