Marketing with Greeting Cards and Postcards

It’s All About the People

DebbieJ — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 03:08:05 +0000

In today’s times, it is more and more important to develop relationships with the people and not necessarily the company. Customers want to do business with you and NOT your product. Here’s what bizsolutionsplus has to say:

Customers Don’t Want to Talk to Your Product

Each of us is inundated with bad economic news, making it easy to cut back on anything that costs money. Don’t. When everyone else is being super-cautious, this is the time for business to move from good to great. When everyone else is pulling their heads in, poke yours out. Get noticed. Rise above the pack. Here’s a few suggestions how:

Do something every day to market your business and yourself.
Send thank you notes to current customers.
Send a sales letter to several potential customers.
Attend a chamber event or a professional meeting.
Join a professional group to which your potential customers belong.
Treat every customer as if they are your only customer. Offer them a discount on your services or products over the next six months.
Check up on former customers and clients to ask how they and their business are doing. Ask how you can help. Offer them a discount, as well.
Reach out sincerely, be giving and appreciative and be positive.
Be human. Customers don’t want to do business with your product; they want to do business with you.

Have a great 4th Quarter!

What have you done, today, to build further customer relationships? Check out my C.A.R.D. (Client Attraction and Relationship Development) System to automate your “stay-in-touch” program.

To your success…

Debbie James
www.SendGiftsWithAGreetingCard.com
Engergy Flows Where Attention Goes

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Posted in Communication, Greeting Cards, Marketing Tips, Postcards, Relationship Marketing, Stay in Touch with Customers

Simple Marketing Ideas…coming soon

DebbieJ — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:35:25 +0000

Wow, hard to believe it’s mid-September already! Let’s pray for all those affected by Hurricane Ike. I went thru Hurricane Ivan, back in 2004, and I know what it’s like.

I’ve been busy with business and restructuring some things, so forgive me for taking somewhat of a “hiatus”. My husband, Michael, is going to be helping me with this blog. He has done a lot of marketing and has sold to some very high-level people. Our goal is to provide you with simple ideas to help grow your business, that won’t break your bank. To sign up for his newsletter, go to: www.SimpleMarketingIdeas.com.

Here’s an idea…Send a Friend or Business Associate or someone that you do business with a referral: Send someone a ‘real’ greeting card with a click of your mouse, letting them know you have a ‘hot’ referral for them. My C.A.R.D. (Client Attraction and Relationship Development) Referral System can help you do just that.

I know, you might be thinking, why not just pick up the phone and call that person with the referral? Remember you want to always differentiate yourself.

To your success…

Debbie James
www.GreetingCardsMadeSimple.com
Engergy Flows Where Attention Goes

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Relationship Marketing

DebbieJ — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:51:12 +0000

In sales, it is easier to keep a customer than to find a new one. Doesn’t matter if you are selling a product or service. The ultimate goal is referrals. How do we do that? Build incredible relationships with our current customers. I came across this article and wanted to share it. In Ron’s article CRM refers to Customer Relationship Management:

A critical part of building your CRM strategic plan should be an effective “Customer Profile” to identify up-sell and cross-sell opportunities. While new customers come at an extreme premium today with longer sales cycles, existing clients would be more receptive to hear your offerings, especially if it can be a positive impact to their business.

Take the following three recommendations if your business is primarily a product-based sales operation:

Are there products you have sold to a client in the last three years that have new accessories or a new model (or discontinuation of the current model)? – if so, this is a golden opportunity to setup a presentation with the client.
Do you have service-level agreements (SLA) with your clients? This is an opportunity for you to strengthen your relationships with your client prior to the SLA’s coming due. Reinforce your support commitment, response time and quality assurance. The SLA coverage information should be tracked in your CRM system.
Do you have your clients organizations mapped out? Meaning, if you have done well selling into one or more areas of the organization, it is time to map out the rest of the organization and key contacts with each department or division. Connect with each of them and/or get referrals and introductions from the current contacts you are doing business with above general satisfaction levels. Your CRM system should be able to track hierarchy and organization charts of your clientele.

Take the following three recommendations if your business is primarily a service-based sales operation:

Have you done a customer survey lately of how satisfied your clients are with your services? If not, put together a 4-7 question survey that should take more than 5 minutes to complete. The questions should focus on the quality of service you are providing. You might want to ask about other services they may require. Track this in their CRM customer profile and target a campaign around their needs. If the client is not happy, make a call with your manager or CEO to the client within 24-48 hours.
Are your customers using competitive services along with yours? If so, find out how happy they are with them and see if there is an opportunity to win that business. If they have a contract, find out when it expires and track that with a reminder. Also have an automated report sent to you when expiring competitive contracts the first week of every month. This is a strategy to win more business without trying to pitch your services on a frequent basis.
If you offer services that your clients use frequently (i.e. weekly, monthly, etc.) look to offer them a services agreement for a year at a discounted rate. This will provide you predictability and consistency over the next 12 months. If the client calls frequently now, a schedule can be constructed or a block of time can be pre-purchased as part of this annual agreement. This will also help with resource planning. The CRM system can track this contract, hours against it on a monthly basis and most importantly profitability.

These are just a few simple recommendations to leverage your CRM system to maximize your client base. Transforming and automating Sales, Marketing & Customer Service into CRM Excellence.

Ronald Lang is President of Majestic Consulting Group, a provider of business software products including CRM software solutions such as SageCRM, SalesLogix and Microsoft CRM. Majestic Consulting Group also provides CRM consulting and CRM training services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronald_Lang

It’s never to late to build long lasting relationships with your customers.

Debbie James
Energy Flows Where Attention Goes

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Show Appreciation for your Customers

DebbieJ — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:13:35 +0000

I hope you enjoyed the 4th of July holiday weekend. We should all be thankful to live in this country! There is so much to be grateful for.

What have you done recently to “touch” your clients. What if you were to send one greeting card per day to a customer? How do you think that would make them feel? You are not trying to “sell” them anything with this card, just to say”hi”. Build the relationship and then you can ask for referrals. You want them to remember you the next time they need your services. What if you sent them a small surprise, like brownies or cookies? I have done this many times with my “top” customers and they are so appreciative….and surprised! We all like to know we are appreciated.

It doesn’t matter if you are selling a “widget” or a multi-million dollar home. Customers will always think “what have you done for me lately?” Put together a follow-up system and stick to it. Mix it up with greeting cards, postcards, emails and phone calls. Keep track of their kids, birthdays, etc. How many people do you think send them birthday cards???

Debbie James
Engergy Flows Where Attention Goes

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It’s Not Who You Know…

DebbieJ — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:52:30 +0000

…it’s who your clients know. Referrals are the name of the game.

Did you know it costs more to obtain a new customer than to keep a current one? Why not “tap” your database. These customers trust you. They are already doing business with you. As quoted in the book “The Referral of a Lifetime”, “Think of the world as a chicken coop. We can go searching for customers like they were chickens, running around trying to sell our products to every chicken we can corner. If we catch one, then we can have a good chicken dinner that night. But if we build a relationship with those chickens, take care of them, plump them up, we’ll have omlets for life.” People want to do business with people they know and like.

How often are you in front of your customers? I don’t mean that by sitting face-to-face with them. I mean sending them a postcard with an offer or reminder. What about birthdays? How many vendors that you do business with send you a birthday card? Everyone sends cards at holidays…why not differentiate yourself from your competition. Give your customers a reason to continue doing business with you and to refer you business. My dentist, Dr. Finkel, in Atlanta, GA is the only one that sends us birthday cards. He is also the ONLY doctor that calls, the same night, he does more than normal dental work. I remember the first time he called. It’s no wonder I have been his patient since 1992…and now I live in the Panhandle of Florida and will drive 5+ hours to see him. I’m not saying that’s the only reason, obviously I believe he is an awesome dentist, and I know he cares. Do you think he “thinks outside the box?” And yes, I have sent him referrals.

You’re probably thinking, I don’t have time, it’s too expensive, I’m not organized enough, the dog ate my homework…are these excuses and others keeping you from growing your business? I use the most awesome, state of the art, stay-in-touch system…check it out: Stay In Touch With Customers

Let me know what you think and how I can help you with your marketing efforts. You DON’T have to spend thousands advertising!

To your success,

Debbie James
“Energy Flows Where Attention Goes”

Don’t Forget Dad on Father’s Day!

DebbieJ — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:55:20 +0000

It’s amazing to believe that it’s June already! I hope everyone is having a great year. Everything’s great in ’08!

Have you send your Dad a card and/or gift? If not, why not? You might be saying, well, I don’t talk to my dad or have some other excuse for not sending a greeting card. I know family can be tough. You will just have to trust me on that. On the flip side, I have to say that my dad passed away when I was only 9 and my brother 11 1/2. There is not a day that goes by where I don’t think about him. I have a photo of him on my desk and talk to him every day. I have known my Step Father since I was 11, and it’s not the same. I love him and he loves me and yet, I was not “daddy’s little girl”. Yes, I had a great childhood, grew up with a loving family, food on the table and a roof over my head. I don’t take any of that for granted. And if I could just have 1 more conversation with my dad, well, I would do just about anything to have him back.

Life is short. Don’t let your egos get in the way. Send your dad a card, tell him how much you love him. Lock yourselves in a room and work out what ever issues/problems that have occurred over the years. Are you keeping your children from their grandfather? If so, why? Is it a compelling enough reason?

I will even pay for a card for you! Click on this banner to send a card on me:

Check out how easy it is. Stay tuned for some stay in touch ideas for the rest of this month and for our next holiday, The Fourth of July!

Debbie James

Energy Flows Where Attention Goes

Don’t Forget Mom on Mother’s Day!

DebbieJ — Tue, 06 May 2008 04:27:04 +0000

Hard to believe that Mother’s Day is this Sunday. Tell your Mom how you feel, how much you love her and what she means to you. Life is too short. Yes, I am lucky that my Mom is alive and healthy. I do not take that for granted. My last living Grandma is 87 and I send her cards, just because. Mother’s day is just another reason.

You never know who’s life you will change by just telling them I love you, or thanks for being my friend, or no reason for this card, I’m just saying hello. What ever the reason….stay in touch. Any customers and / or prospects Mom’s? That’s right…send them a card too. Your competition isn’t…why shouldn’t you? Who do you think they will call the next time your services are needed? Need I say more??

Send a card on me and see how easy it is to stay in touch with those you care about most.

Debbie James

Energy Flows Where Attention Goes

Why Postcards Work

DebbieJ — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:07:48 +0000

Guess you could say I took a “sabattical” since it’s been so long since my last post. Ugh. It’s amazing how life can just get in the way! Forgive me and I will get back on track…

Postcards are one of the most effective forms of direct mail. EVERYONE looks at them before sending them to the round file (garbage). Your message must be short and sweet. You need to instantly grab the reader’s attention. It doesn’t matter if the billboard side has an awesome design. Think about what you are offering. It needs to be so attractive and so valuable that your buyer/prospect says “Wow, I need to learn more about that”, or “I’ve got to buy that”. Have have a call to action, i.e. call TODAY and save 20%. What’s the offer, idea or incentive?

These “Billboards By Mail” work because everyone reads them. There are no envelopes to open. Think about how much junk mail you receive that you don’t read. Most of the time you rip it in half and throw it out. Why not capture the attention of your audience? A strong headline must entice the reader to continue reading. It might take 20 iterations of the headline before you get to one that will work. Take the time to do this. When my husband and I were buying and selling homes we came up with “Mike Buys Houses Fast”. We were targeting sellers who needed to sell immediately. This headline was very effective for the billboard side of our card. The reader instantly knew what Mike did.

…Till next time!

Debbie James

Energy Flows Where Attention Goes

Postcards are mini “Billboards By Mail”

DebbieJ — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:58:06 +0000

Think about your business and the service or product(s) you offer to your customers and prospects. Are you capturing information about your prospects? And not just an email address…mailing address, what they like to purchase, their buying habits, etc. Are you tracking your customers purchases? Are you doing any target marketing? What if you could target market a small group vs. having to mail hundreds and hundreds of postcards? What if you chose 100 customers and/or prospects and mailed postcards to them once a week for 8-12 weeks? (It takes a minimum of 7 times to get infront of your prospect for them to remember you).

Here’s an idea for a postcard mailing. Let’s say you are selling a widget. And this widget would compliment other items your customers have purchased from you. Create a postcard campaign of 8-12 cards, each one with a message geared towards the prospect purchasing an item. Maybe the first card thanks them for being a customer. On the front of the card, or the Billboard side, it could say “Thanks for your business”. On the other side, in the body, you could again thank them for their business and mention to watch your mailbox for an incredible special. Don’t forget your contact information in the body. The 2nd card could be a “teaser”…meaning you could mention on the billboard side that an incredible special is going to hit your mailbox in the next week or 2. In the body, more teaser copy. The 3rd card could mention the special. “An unbelievable 30% off your next purchase (or off a certain product that compliments what they have already bought from you). Then you just keep mailing to them. The 2nd to last card can say “hurry the special will end in 2 weeks”. The last card is the last. Put a code on the card that the customer must give you to receive their discount. Now you can track your results.

How many purchases do you need for this to make you money? Of course it depends on how expensive your product is. What if you mailed 100 cards @ $.31/each and $.26/each to mail x 10 mailings? That would cost you $570.00 for a very targeted mailing. I’m talking quality postcards with color. Maybe you want to do 50 cards or 200 cards…or 25. Where else can you create a campain, 1 time, select your group, hit send and not address or stamp your cards? Now that’s automated! Postcards are your little “Billboards By Mail“. This form of direct markting is one of the least expensive methods.

Debbie James
Energy Flows Where Attention Goes

Maximize Communication with Greeting Cards

DebbieJ — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:57:27 +0000

Here’s an article I found that I thought was to the point. There are 5 tips to help you maximize the use of greeting cards with your marketing:

Greeting cards have the ability to touch people’s lives. It can communicate at a more personal level and that what makes it an indispensable tool. Marketing firms and public relations offices have focused on greeting cards and used it in several ways to create and forge connections.Greetings cards have great ability to establish or re-establish connections. It can do this and much more when it comes to building relationships with various contacts, such as your clients, business partners and suppliers. It can even be used to tap into potential markets and source out such responses.

Maximizing the Use of Greeting Cards.

Greeting cards have been used in numerable ways. For your marketing needs, you can use greeting cards to further your campaigns and strategies. It is one approach you can use to attract and build a more intimate correspondence, relationship and future transactions with your clients.Use these tips and create a buzzing move for your marketing and public relations. Observe these avenues and explore more ways on how you can use your greeting cards for campaigns and important communication strategies.

1. Create greeting cards that contain images or Photo cards.
Depending upon your nature of business and how you intend to use greeting cards, you can make them into photo cards and use them to a great advantage. If you are inviting friends, clients and business partner to a newly opened store or office, you can use that to showcase just what the occasion is all about. This boosts too the popularity of your new establishment.

2. Use greeting cards as Thank You notes.
Use your greeting cards as a way to respond to the people who attended your party or event. On special occasions too such as your business or company anniversary, it is one way of replying to all those well wishers formally.Take the initiative to reply to your contacts and send out thank you notes. Show your appreciation through greeting cards.

3. Thank You Notes for Valuable Clients or Patrons
Another great idea on how you can show appreciation for the continuous patronage of clients, organizations and VIPs is by sending out thank you notes that demonstrates how they have contributed to your growth.Once again, you may include this detail when you want to acknowledge their support. Fitting occasions may include, once again, your company anniversary or a very important milestone in your business.

4. Greeting Cards as Holiday Cards
Spread good will and send out greeting cards during the most important holidays. The importance of such holidays, of course, varies who your major clients are, your industry, and in what community you belong to.

Greet your Chinese affiliates a Happy Chinese New Year. But greet everyone with Season’s Greetings, when sending out greeting cards during the Christmas holidays as it overlooks any difference in tradition and the like.

5. Greeting Cards as Invitations
Motivate your guests and visitors into attending the event. Make the invitation appealing by conceptualizing the invitation around the event or the special highlight of the occasion. Make sure to include important details such as time, date and venue. Do not forget to include RSVP for formal, and by invitation parties.

Use greeting cards as an extension of your marketing and public relations paraphernalia. Always observe etiquette and use the proper communication styles according to occasion, your audience and your line of business. More importantly, invest in high-quality greeting card printing service.

More greeting card printing guides and services can be found at My Postcard Printing

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=M._Cadavicio

Check this out….with the service I use, you DO NOT have to keep any inventory of cards. Send 1 or hundreds, from your computer, with the click of your mouse. Yes, a REAL greeting card.

www.GreetingCardsMadeSimple.com

Debbie James
Energy Flows Where Attention Goes