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Creating Your Own Buzz

Written by: Kendra Lee

Article Overview: Almost every business owner, from entrepreneurs who are just starting out to the leaders of large companies, is looking for ways to increase their sales, profits and visibility. Obviously, not everyone can afford a multi-million dollar advertising campaign to get their message out, so they resort to less expensive, guerilla marketing tactics that often can create the same buzz as an expensive ad. Here are some of my favorites:

Creating Your Own Buzz

Almost every business owner, from entrepreneurs who are just starting out to the leaders of large companies, is looking for ways to increase their sales, profits and visibility. Obviously, not everyone can afford a multi-million dollar advertising campaign to get their message out, so they resort to less expensive, guerilla marketing tactics that often can create the same buzz as an expensive ad. Here are some of my favorites:

"I pay referral fees to anyone who sends business my way!" "Free public workshops to introduce a new product or service has always worked for me. Especially if you're having a prize giveaway."

"I picked up a card from a dentist in my gym - - a place where a person naturally has a bit of narcissism in them. It was an offer for 50 percent off teeth whitening. The dentist had obviously thought about her target market and put these cards in several local gyms. I called her."

"One thing a local realtor does is have an annual BBQ party at a ranch with a petting zoo, free food and drinks, games, the works! He invites everyone on his mailing list (client or not). We get mailings from him at least monthly and a personal letter with a helpful handout. He's one of the best that I've seen."

"Instead of sending gifts to clients for the holidays, I hosted a client appreciation event and invited members of the local symphony orchestra to come and perform. It was a great way to say 'thank you' and I even picked-up some new business!"

"Always ask for referrals from everyone you know. If they aren't interested they know at least 50 people who they could tell about you."

"Write an article for a business publication read by your potential clients then send it to your current prospects to be sure they see it, too."

"There are two things that I do to generate leads to consumers and those are Yellow Pages ads and a direct mail piece twice a year. One other thing I have heard works is direct mail coupons that go out to residences."

"Don't just send a Christmas card. Send a Fourth of July card, too! It's unique and will set you apart."

"One rep I know, who sells expensive computer systems, sends a birthday card on the anniversary of the installation. While the company won't replace the computer system for 4-5 years, it keeps the rep's name in front of them without calling all the time. The company thinks of the rep the next time they are considering a similar purchase."

"The top three things that work for me are: 1) Attending trade shows (it helps to be able to work with people face to face). 2) Direct mail pieces. 3) Cross promotional pieces with our other products."

"My massage therapist offered a wellness event of Olympic proportions that included a chiropractor, training sessions (brown bag) on different subjects and drawings for gifts from local merchants."

"We have a great website and I make sure it is referenced in all our marketing activities. Both prospects and customers can see what we do, keep current on our offerings, and move themselves through the beginning of the sales cycle!"

"Often prospects aren't ready to talk to me but think they will need our services in the coming months. As soon as I get off the phone with them, I use my email technology and queue an email to connect with the prospect around the time they said I should call back. This way, no matter how busy I am, I touch base with the prospect at the time I promised. I've found many new leads this way!"

"Executives can be tough to reach. I plan a series of 'touch-base' voicemails where I leave a message highlighting a challenge or two companies I'm working with are struggling to resolve, and what my company is doing to assist with solving those problems. After 2 or 3 of these calls over a 2 month period, when I ask to speak with the executive, he's familiar with me and typically agrees to a meeting."

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Article Tags: advertising campaign, bbq party, business owner, business publication, client appreciation, direct mail, free food, guerilla marketing tactics, local gyms, local realtor, mail coupons, mail piece, narcissism, personal letter, petting zoo, prize giveaway, public workshops, referral fees, sending gifts, target market



Related Forum Posts
Re: Google Buzz - Any Thoughts? - [quote="Trent Brownrigg":suimkaob]I'm not too big into these social sites but Buzz looks to be just as good as the next. I have started using it more and more.[/quote:suimkaob] How are you finding it Trent. I haven't got around to it yet have been very busy with offline work and so my time has been limited and have used it adding more articles etc to my website. Still have Buzz on my to do list. MichelleJ
Re: Google Buzz - Any Thoughts? - [quote="MichelleJ":3u0447fv][quote="Trent Brownrigg":3u0447fv]I'm not too big into these social sites but Buzz looks to be just as good as the next. I have started using it more and more.[/quote:3u0447fv] How are you finding it Trent. I haven't got around to it yet have been very busy with offline work and so my time has been limited and have used it adding more articles etc to my website. Still have Buzz on my to do list. MichelleJ[/quote:3u0447fv] It seems to be similar to Twitter but you are not limited in length on what you write and people can directly reply to your updates kind of like on Facebook. It's sort of a cross between the two. I like it better than Twitter but not as much as Facebook so it's somewhere in between in my opinion.
Re: Google Buzz - Any Thoughts? - I'm not too big into these social sites but Buzz looks to be just as good as the next. I have started using it more and more.
Re: Google Buzz - Any Thoughts? - Hi Alfanzo, Yes, I have heard that some people are looking towards Google Buzz as an alternative to Facebook because it has better privacy settings.
Re: Can you outsource your product launch? - Yes that what I am talking about. Creating a buzz for your online product launch basically. Is this part of what you do?


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