#1 Marketing Tool

Marketing today is constantly moving and changing but one thing that doesn't change is your clients. Through this process of opening our new office in Traverse City and offering our services to all industries I have seen a common mistake. How many companies are not taking advantage of gathering information on every client transaction. Your email and mailing list should be updated regularly. Now days witht the internet you have a free medium available to you.

What about the old business card drawings or a small gift for filling out a questionaire. These are simple and easy ways to help collect information that will benifiet you later. Your customer mailing list is the most important market tool you have. For a single point merchant who has a small ad budget to begin with this type of tool could easily help increase your sales by 10% over the year.

If you are not currently gathering this information there is no time like the present. Let us know if we can help in any way. If you are not sure what to do but want to get started give us a call we can help. There is no charge for consultations.

Use buddy marketing to promote your business.

For example, if you send out brochures, you could include a leaflet and/or business card for another business, which has agreed to do the same for you. This gives you the chance to reach a whole new pool of potential customers. If your store is in a strip mall or a group of retail stores try shared direct mail. Our company can create a mail piece that encompasses a group of stores. This lowers your direct mail cost and also gives people more reasons to save your mailing. They may not be looking for a salon today but wanted to save the subway coupons. This gives your direct mail a longer shelf life. I also recommend finding stores that compliment each other and putting together a promotion that all stores would benefit from. For example I have a client in Wisconsin who once a year they do a promotion that five stores participate in. My client is a pet groomer, after I mentioned this to her she went and found four friends who had similar businesses and we put together a four day sale that surrounded all of them. She included a pet bakery, a pet store, a kennel, and a dogie day care. The direct mail campaign was sent to all of their clients and a list was purchased of pet owners in the area. The amazing part is everyone who participated saw an increase in sales and services. Obviously some more than others. When they split the cost five ways the promotion was cost effective. They started a new referral program between all five stores as well. Now they all have a punch card that they participate in that has proven to be a great tool. All this from participating in one promotion. What ever business you are in there are always affiliates. Find yours and make something happen. We are always up for the challenge to help in any way we can.

Dennis Kelderhouse
Direct Marketing Specialist