As we move into the new year, it is time to look at that marketing plan for 2012 and see how you can perk it up. The goal is to get AND KEEP more customers. Here are a few ideas that will help you get started. (Don’t worry-we’ll go deeper on each one in coming days)

1) Go Local - Get connected in your local community. Get out from behind your desk! Join a networking group, join a Chamber of Commerce. Make sure that you are known as THE expert within 3 miles of your location for your product or service. Think of how you can help the community AND reap benefits. (example: offer gift certificates to your
local school to offer for good grades or attendance, etc)

2) Post Cards and Targeted Mail - A recent study shows that people still like to get mail. BUT they want it tailored to them. In fact in that study by Epsilon Targeting 50 percent of U.S. consumers said they pay more attention to postal mail than e-mail! With printed postcards that are targeted to your audience, you can spend a little and gain a lot!

3) Flyers - Put printed flyers out in your retail location and get out and hand them out in your community. Getting out and about and letting people know who you are will build your business. They want to know, like and trust you before they give you their money.

4) QR Codes - This is the link from print to the web. Your customers scan the code
with their smart phone and it takes them where you want them to go (i.e. your website,facebook page, etc). It can be used on a business card to load your information into the
contacts of the prospect, or can take you to a video. (more about that in another blog)

5) Get Engaged - Today Word of Mouth has become Word of Web! Get out on the internet and talk to your audience. Get them engaged in what they are interested in. Today you want to talk about things other than your business to get your audience engaged. Use Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for reaching consumers and Linkedin for B2B.

 

6) In-Store Signage - Printed posters, banners and signs directing people to sign up for your e-mail list,  can spur impulse buying, connect people to your business and build your audience. Make sure that they match your image and decor and place them at the front door, the register and even the restrooms.

7) A Great Newsletter - A great printed newsletter gets people connected. Share informationabout what to do, highlight success stories, show people how to use your product. Makeit informative and interesting. (This can be

printed or online, or both. Just make sure the information is relevant.)

8) Ask for Feedback and Reviews - Only 14% of people believe what you say about yourcompany, but 82% believe what someone else says. Ask your customers to leave reviews on your site, and on sites like Google and Yelp. These sites matter.

9) Make a Video - Youtube is the second largest search engine in the world behind Google (guess who owns Youtube? Yup, it’s Google) Video yourself talking about your business, video your clients making a testimonial. It works and if you tag it right you’ll get higher up in the search engines because of it.

10) Mobile Ads - The first thing that people look at in the morning and the last thing at night is often their mobile phone. Think about your mobile strategy. Is your site optimized for mobile? Do you have a mobile advertising strategy?

11) Write a Blog - Blogs are the single most important thing you can do to get noticed on
the internet. (Hey, you are reading this one-right?) But you have to be consistent. Blog a couple of times a week. Include great titles and useful information.

12) Free Online Links - Google Maps, Merchant Circle, City Search and many other sites list your information for FREE. Make sure that your information on these sites is up to date (Google your business name and see what comes up)

Those are 12 ideas to think about to improve your marketing for the coming year. Watch for more information as we delve into each suggestion in more detail. Happy New Year! And if you want to keep up on print ideas LIKE us on Facebook!