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Entrepreneur Advice:
Jay Conrad Levinson
www.gmarketing.com
About Jay Conrad Levinson

Jay Conrad Levinson is the author of the best-selling marketing series in history, "Guerrilla Marketing," plus 30 other books. His books have sold 14 million copies worldwide. His guerrilla concepts have influenced marketing so much that today his books appear in 41 languages and are required reading in many MBA programs worldwide.



Recent Article:

How To Turn Birthdays Into Business
- For more on Jay Conrad Levinson visit www.gmarketing.com

Birthdays are for gift-giving, right? Actually, by employing an amazing quirk of psychology, guerrillas can actually receive from people on their birthdays. And here's how.

Psychologists have long known about a social phenomenon called the "reciprocity norm". It states that when a person receives an unexpected personal gift or favor, he or she is often compelled to give something in return. You might write off this phenomenon as simply good manners among friends. Not true! It has been proven in all kinds of situations-even among strangers on the street.

So how does the reciprocity norm transfer to birthdays and your business? Simply put, there is no time of the year when people feel more compelled to accept a personal gift than around their birthday. In fact, it's the one time when they are looking for excuses to celebrate.

And this is where your efforts as a guerrilla marketer come in.
By sending a no-strings-attached offer in the mail to existing and potential customers near their birthday, in the form of a birthday card and gift certificate, you put the reciprocity norm to work in its most compelling form. Those who redeem the certificate will almost certainly enhance the experience by buying something. And that something, very often, is more valuable than the offer itself.

There is a catch. You must make the offer attractive. Discounts or buy-one-get-one-free deals can work, but giveaways are best. If you're a video store, offer a free rental plus popcorn. If you're a salon, offer a free pedicure. If you're a restaurant, make it a free appetizer-better yet, appetizers for three, so friends will come.

After all, if three free appetizers will prompt someone to spend $60 in entrees and drinks to celebrate their birthday, isn't that worth it to your business?

Getting current customers to tell you their birthdays is easier than you think. Ask them if they would like to receive a free offer near their birthday. When they say "yes", ask them to fill out a card with their name, contact information and birthday. Now you have your list.

It's possible to get similar information from direct mail database services, for people in your area who don't currently patronize your business. Try it-response rates for birthday certificates are five to seven times higher than traditional mailings. Isn't that the kind of present your business deserves, 365 days a year?





How To Turn Birthdays Into Business - To learn more about this author, visit Jay Conrad Levinson's Website.

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David Barr
David Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website

Anne Barr
Anne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website

Casey Gollan
Casey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website

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With nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website

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David Acheson
David Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns.  David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website

Leanne Hoagland-Smith
Are your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website

Cheryl Matthynssens

Cheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur.  Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well.  A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles.  She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide-  to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being.  Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com

- Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website


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Jay Conrad
Levinson Books

Guerrilla Advertising - Jay Conrad Levinson

Guerrilla Financing - Jay Conrad Levinson

Guerrilla Marketing - Jay Conrad Levinson

Guerrilla Marketing For Free - Jay Conrad Levinson

Guerrilla Publicity - Jay Conrad Levinson

Guerrilla Retailing - Jay Conrad Levinson

Guerrilla Selling - Jay Conrad Levinson

 



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