Siouxland Chamber of Commerce Blog

Entries categorized as ‘Marketing Monday’

Time to spice up your meetings? Look to your childhood for ideas.

January 21, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Most conference meetings can be compared to my 8:00 A.M. classes…boring, uneventful and an opportune time for a little cat nap. But that’s not the case anymore! Many small businesses are encouraging interaction during these meetings in order to get more bang for their buck.
Heather Logrippo, owner and publisher of “Distinctive Homes,” a monthly magazine in Boston, handed out construction paper and crayons to her employees and told them to draw their ideas for an incentive program with those resources. I’ve noticed through my Resident Assistant job that adults love to revert back to childhood activities, so this was brilliant! Dixon Schwabl Advertising Inc., in Rochester, N.Y. had a similar strategy, but instead of crayons and paper, he used the always fun, watergun. Every employee was required to bring theirs to the meetings and use without repercussion on anyone who uttered a negative comment. Needless to say, a positive atmosphere was the outcome.
Hitting a little closer to home was an idea from Angela Bagby, director of marketing and client relations for Russell Construction Co. in Davenport, IA. Bagby introduced a new device that calculated just how much money the company was spending by the employees attending the meeting. Their initial 90-minute meeting cost the company $5,000! This new appreciation for time well spent definitely made employees interact more and keep their focus.

For more ideas on how to spice up your conference meetings, visit The Wall Street Journal online.

Categories: General info · Marketing Monday
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Marketing Monday

September 14, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Is this a pyramid resting on top or a hollow cylinder? Things aren't always what they seem. Use blog tips to apply to your marketing strategy.

Is this a pyramid tower or a hollow cylinder? Things aren't always what they seem. Use blog tips to apply to your marketing strategy.

Sometimes as businesses we feel as though we always need to create the best idea, the freshest concept or the newest product line. What we often  forget, is that while creativity is important to marketing, its also is great to brainstorm from others’ ideas and think of how that could apply to your business. We found a great article on another blog listing 100 Ways to Improve your Blog. There are some great tips on how to really make your blog work (our favorites listed below). Don’t have a blog? Apply these concepts directly to your marketing strategy!

1. Keep An Idea Incubator

Don’t take it easy, take it as it comes. Find a place where you store your ideas. Writing only from instant inspiration is totally unproductive. Besides, chances are that your most valuables ideas will come when you’re not able to blog them. So, create an incubator and let them grow.

6. Be Constant

Be there constantly. Create a habit not only for you, but for your readers. Once you establish a connection with them, they will expect you to be there. Whenever you feel the need to give up, remember you will going to disappoint more than yourself.

10. Be Authentic

Don’t play the mister know it all, dare to be personal and transparent. Always. A blog is the ultimate expression of an individual. Don’t waste time trying to be perfect, just be better. If you’re wrong, so be it. Remember, you’re unique. Nobody can be you.

17. Break Your Post Into Eatable Chunks

One of the easiest yet most ignored practices in the blogging business. Don’t write like you’re running a marathon. Break the posts in smaller chunks. It will not only help your SEO [search engine optimization], but it will create a much more clear writing approach. You’ll actually think better.

18. Link To Yourself

Don’t be shy about what you write and don’t wait for ever that your posts will be discovered by others. Link to yourself as often as you can. This practice, also known as interlinking, is also good for SEO, but its main advantage will be to create a greater awareness of your content. Even for you.

31. Don’t Quit

The most important tip of all. Don’t quit. Breaking through gets harder and harder, and in the first 6 months you can barely scratch the surface. Stay there and do your daily job even the results are so slow to show. At some point, you’ll be successful. But if you quit, you won’t. That’s for sure.

41. Your Blog Header Is Your Identity

Pay attention to your blog header, that’s where the blog title is usually placed. People will remember your blog by visually recreating that zone. If it’s too crowded it will be hard to memorize. I Always recommend to keep your header as clean as possible, in order to be easily remembered.

67. Comment On Other Blogs

Find at least 10-15 blogs you really like and make a habit out of commenting on them. Not only you will get to know a lot of interesting and potentially useful players in this area, but you will generate a lot of links and buzz. Don’t brutally say: “Hi, visit my blog”, say something meaningful and they will eventually want to know more about you.

-Beth Trejo, Director of Investor Relations

*photo courtesy of alpha_prashanth

Categories: Marketing Monday
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Marketing Monday

August 31, 2009 · Leave a Comment

“We cherish our customers so much we have not just a good deal, but a great deal… http://www.enteryourcompany.com”

“Did anyone see the Govt. is starting a Cash for Clunkers program, what does that mean for you… http://www.enteryourcompany.com“

“What a great day! Once again down here at (company name) we appreciate your business…http://www.enteryourcompany.com”

“Answer (company name) trivia question and receive the chance to get 50% off your next purchase… http://www.enteryourcompany.com”

What are these examples of?  Yes, you guessed they are TWEETS!

Last week we tackled the importance of using Facebook for your business and this week Twitter gets its time to shine on Marketing Monday.

Twitter and Facebook are two of the most important social media tools you can use to gain recognition, build reputation and attract customers.  Twitter, compared to Facebook, is really a whole different animal in itself and can be used in a lot of different ways.twitter-bird

One thing that I really admire and have noticed in a lot of successful people is that they are always connected.  Whether it be through personal interaction, on the phone, through email etc., they always have a way of always having enough time to respond to people.  That is how I view Twitter; a social community where people are always connecting and sharing ideas and spreading news.

So, how do you use it?

Well, Twitter is a lot easier to get started as opposed to Facebook and a lot easier to ‘get connected.’  When you log onto Twitter.com you will be requested to enter your name, username, set up a password and give an email where updates can be sent (you can opt out of these).  Then it will ask for your e-mail password and if you have an address book with a lot of e-mails stored it will load all the names and search for them on Twitter.  This will build the base almost instantly, because Twitter will automatically follow them.  Next, Twitter will throw together some random people you could follow that are either some celebrity or some high-traffic businesses that a lot of other fellow “tweeters” like.

twitter-128x128Okay, your ready to roll and the page is set up, now ‘how the heck do I  tweet?’ You can go to your profile and  provide a picture if you would like or in the info section under setting you can put in a small, concise statement about you or the company. Then, in the “What are you doing?” section you can say something like (i.e.), “just setting out our fabulous product and getting ready for a great Monday.”  Right after that statement provide a link to click on that will drive to your company’s website.

Providing a link to something is vital. Whether it be to your blog, to the Facebook page or the website using this key component is necessary for recognition of your product.

What does follow and following mean?

Good question.  Basically, it means the same things as having friends on Faceboook, but on Twitter friends can be a one-way or two-way street.  Someone could click on your name and follow you, but if you didn’t know them or think that their name was appropriate just don’t “follow” them or “block” them.  The whole idea of Twitter is to get the most followers and follow a bunch of people.  It’s social networking on steroids.

The next step, is to go into your settings and enter your mobile device to receive updates via text message.  This way, you can see who is following you instantly and update your Twitter page while your away from your computer; once again, staying connected.

I obviously didn’t tap into absolutely everything you can do with Twitter, but I did get most of the basics.  Remember if anyone needs any help setting up their account on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media tool don’t hesitate to contact the Chamber and we will get you set up.  Once again, have a great week Siouxland!

-Ian

Categories: Marketing Monday
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Marketing Monday

August 24, 2009 · 4 Comments

In this blog, we have written a lot of generalities and nothing specific about how to use social media.  I am going to dedicate the next couple very sacred “Marketing Mondays” as a way to educate our viewers on how to use the free & nearly free resources that social media has to offer.  I hope this is useful facebook-128x128and will get the ball rolling for your company, no matter what stage it is in.

First of all, how do you use Facebook?  Facebook originally started out as a way for INDIVIDUALS to communicate, keep up friendships, acquaintances, share pictures, chat and meet new people.  Well, then businesses and Facebook realized that this could be a good way to advertise the company whether it be for reputation up keep, promote specials, job offers….anything positive, you name it.

Becoming a friend of a business just didn’t seem right, because your friends with people, you can’t be friends with Staples or IBM.  If someone said, “Ian who do you consider your best friends?”  I wouldn’t say, “My best friends are Jeremy, Tyler, Snickers, David and Microsoft.”  This just wouldn’t work and I think the multi-billionaire company Facebook probably thought of that as well.

To fix this problem, they created “Fan pages.”  A fan page on Facebook allows your company to upload photos of the company, describe its location and business hours, link viewers to your website etc.

This is all very simple, all you need to do is set up a profile for yourself and then on Facebook it will say “Create a Fan Page” in the settings section.  Facebook will then walk you through every step from general info, business hours and the about section.  After this step is done, you should take all the friends that you have for your personal profile and suggest that they become”fans” of your fan page.  If some do, automatically they will receive updates about your company and receive updates on their wall.  Then, hopefully, some of those people will like your page and product so much that they will refer their friends.

It astounds me, when companies are willing to advertise on billboards, television and radio, but aren’t willing to use the resources that the internet offers, like Facebook.  This is free, set it up today and if you have any questions leave a comment and we will be in touch so your company doesn”t fall behind.

-Ian

Categories: Marketing Monday
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Marketing Monday

August 10, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Today’s marketing segment is on customer service.

You’re probably thinking  marketing and customer service are two totally different things, but they are not.  Market your product and business with good old-fashioned customer service.  The only difference is that previous customers are working for you and its great, because you’re not even paying them!

When I was younger, I constantly heard my Grandma talk about the art of customer service and how it has got lost along the way.  Saturday was always her day to come into Sioux City and spend the day.  She went to the same two places to get her haircut and eat every week for twenty some years.  All because of a good product and outstanding service.

That stuck with me and when I go to any business it really makes a difference to me how I am treated.  It’s so crucial with so many different places for the consumer to take their almighty dollar.

Use these tips and hopefully you and your business can master this art and get people to work for you without paying them…

1. Give the customer the benefit of the doubt.  Proving who is right and who is wrong is not worth losing a customer.

2. If a customer wants something out of the ordinary, go an extra mile to make it happen for them.  I know it’s hard, but if you can go out of the way for one customer and make them happy it will be worth it.   Imagine all the people they know who are going to hear about your effort.

3. Realize the people that work for you will treat people the way they are treated. Good customer satisfaction comes with good employee satisfaction.

4. Do you know who your customers are? Build relationships with customers and get to know them.  If you have a regular customer, call them by name and they are more likely to come back and spend their money with you again.

5. Are your customers greeted when they walk in the door? Obviously, we don’t want to bombard people, but a simple “Hello, how are you doing today,” will really go a long way.

Hopefully, this has been helpful and will aid you in providing excellent customer satisfaction for your customers.  More importantly, it’s the right thing to do.  Helping people and becoming the best servant-leader you can be is one of the most rewarding things we can do in this life.

Have a great Monday Siouxland!

-Ian

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Marketing Monday

August 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Today’s Marketing Monday tip is from Starr Hall. She gives 5 tips for overcoming your social media fears.

  1. Stuck in Traditional Networking Mode.Try to incorporate at least one new technique or online marketing outreach into your marketing plan monthly. Give it some time to see if this works before deleting the profile or conversation.
  2. Too Many Choices/Too Overwhelming.Do an online search for the top social networking sites specific to your market, region or industry and only focus on those sites. Ignore the others, they don’t matter unless they can directly connect you with new contacts in your target market.
  3. Concerned Social Networking Is Not Effective. Your main focus should be reaching new contacts and connecting with them; This is how you’re going to build your brand recognition and exposure. One of the best ways to do this is to blog; just be sure to provide valuable content to your potential customer or client. Make sure to respond to emails and comments when they land on your blog or site.
  4. Fear of Doing Something Wrong Online.If you’re worried about making a mistake online, post your concern. Let the group or site know that you’re new and ask for support or feedback. For the most part, you’ll learn that people online want to help you with your social networking experience.
  5. Lack of Privacy Online. Read the privacy settings thoroughly on social networking sites that you use.  This is when you follow your intuition: You can usually tell whether a person is sincere, professional and worth connecting with simply by checking his or her profile.   Again, it’s just like meeting someone new in person. As soon as an individual enters your space, if you are turned off by his or her energy, walk away.

Hall’s full article can be found at http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/branding/webbrandingcolumniststarrhall/article202688.html

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Marketing Monday

July 27, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Your Marketing Monday tip this week comes from Meghan O’Brien, an economist with Iowa State’s Regional Capacity Analysis Program and ISU Extension program specialist. O’Brien has presented her tips for businesses during tough times across the state. Below is what she had to say about marketing.

  • Try lowest cost options first. Use customer database as a tool, offer workshops or seminars in house, partner with other businesses.
  • Don’t eliminate your marketing budget, but stick with the tried and true. Spend money where it’s been most effective.
  • Use the web and local business resources for networking.
  • Retail businesses can inexpensively update the appearance of the store by changing signage, moving around inventory, updating fixtures.
  • Service based business can enhance logos and branding, update uniforms, change appearance of front of business.

The full article and other business tips from Meghan can be found at http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2009/jul/toughbiz

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Marketing Monday

July 20, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Today’s marketing tip is a reminder to listen. Are you listening while using social media, or just yelling your message? Knowing what people are saying about you is just as important as what you have to say to them.

Here are a few tips for learning how to listen on the web:

  • Monitor your reputation. Reputation management programs allow you to see what is being said about you and your company. Programs vary, but the majority allow you to mark content where you are mentioned as either positive, negative, neutral, or your own content.
  • Answer questions. For those using Twitter this is essential. Use @ replies to answer questions about topics your business specializes in. This builds your social media credibility and could possibly get you a sale. Not using Twitter? http://labs.wordtracker.com/ allows you to find what phrases are searched for key words relevant to your organization. (i.e. Here at the Chamber we search for phrases that include Siouxland Chamber)
  • Look for ways to help. Google has a feature that allows you to search blog content. This is allows you to find people who are talking about a topic relevant to your business. A few examples, search for people moving to the area, looking for places to eat, day care available, local events, etc. Once you find what you’re looking for comment on the blog to start a conversation.

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Marketing Monday

July 13, 2009 · 1 Comment

Today’s marketing tip is from Susan Gunelius, and the full article can be found at http://tinyurl.com/nymnwc

Here are five tips that remind you to know your audience:

  1. Customers want to know what’s in it for them, so tell them what you have to offer.
  2. You can’t use the same copy everywhere. Remember that people reading a billboard have just seconds to get your message, while those that pick up your brochure are going to expect much more information.
  3. You can’t use the same copy for every audience. Adjust your message for your audience. Are you addressing new or existing customers? Younger or older customers? Your message may be different depending on the demographic.
  4. Your tone and language should match your audience. Save jargon for business to business communication.
  5. Be creative and willing to go outside what you learned in English class when writing copy for your marketing pieces.

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Marketing Monday

July 6, 2009 · Leave a Comment

1087588_cameraDon’t forget about the visuals! This week’s Marketing Monday tip is a reminder that a picture says a thousand words. Adding videos and images to your Web site, Facebook account, blog, etc. can increase your views and keep people coming back. Some of our most viewed posts at the Chamber include YouTube videos and photos from our events.

You don’t have to be a professional to add video or images, in fact you don’t even have to take them yourself. Most cameras have a video feature that allows you to record short clips, or link already existing YouTube videos to your site. If you’re not interested in taking your own photos check out creative commons sites such as Flickr. Photos on this site are free to use as long as you provide photo credits.

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