Don’t ASSUME People understand what you do

This past week at a networking event, we discussed how people assume everyone knows the lingo that is used to describe our business. Here’s a video that shows that even some common words that many of us “assume” others understand what they are, can leave others confused.

Have you ever left a brief interaction with someone and realize they walked away with a puzzled look after you told them what you do? Next time use words that are generic and a that 5th grader could understand.

Not sure how to do that? Consider asking a friend if you can borrow their 5th grader for research purposes. Ask Johnny, “Do you understand what my business about?” “Do you know what I sell, do?” “If you were my customer, would you buy what I have? Why or why not?”

This 5th grader’s answers to these questions will be very insightful for you. They’ll give you a sense if you told your story clearly, particularly what your business is all about, and tell you if you were clear in your call to action. These parts are some of the most vital in your first impression of a 60 second introduction.

Holiday Marketing Ideas

Whether your business depends on the  holiday season for a substantial part of your annual revenues or you find it to be a slow time of year,  it’s never more critical than now to remain engaged and connected with your prospect and customer base. And that means embracing the holiday season as part of your marketing strategy.

Sending holiday greetings are important, however, try other online and offline marketing tactics to ensure you  remain relevant and top of mind throughout the season and into the new year.

Here are some ideas to put in your holiday toolkit.

You don’t have to break the bank for effective Promotions, Incentives and Giveaways

Promotions and incentives needn’t be restricted to brick & mortar stores. There is season-appropriate discount, bundle, or giveaway that you can offer your customers, no matter what your industry.

Create a compelling reason for them to act now by thinking about the season and what you can do to help your customers get through the stress and expense of the holidays.  For example rather than simply discounting your services, offer a packaged offering: “Buy X service now and we’ll provide Y for free in the new year.”

We’re the society of instant gratification and giveaways are always popular. However, they needn’t be expensive. Even something as simple as providing holiday cookies or apple cider when they visit  can make you stand out.

Get your Web Site Ready for the Holidays

If you have an online presence, there’s some simple and inexpensive ideas for prepping your site for the season.

Ever watch what Google does to their logo during different seasons?  Decorating your logo doesn’t cost much and can be reused each year. It’s simple yet often overlooked, adds a human touch to your operations and makes online shopping that much warmer. 

Consider customizing your Twitter page and Facebook logo for the holidays too.

Be Festive in your Email use

While some feel email is overused, you can’t argue that it is an inexpensive option for connecting with your customers. Just remember the rules of “Permission Marketing” and only use it to communicate with those who have asked to receive email from you, those you have already made a connection with or who have expressed an interest in your business or services.

First and foremost, Be festive in your design!  It IS the holidays after all!  Keep the e-mail short, sweet and with direct links to your promotional offers rather than the home page.  You want to make the process as easy as possible for your customers.   And be sure to check that all of your online merchant tools are working properly. There is no surer way to lose a customer than broken links.

Clearly state the intent of the email in the subject line – For example, “To thank You for your business in 2009, here’s a Special Offer just for you”.  

Segment your customers.   Most email list management programs have a variety of tools that can help you make sure your readers only get messages that are relevant to them.  Contact me to learn about who I recommend.

Charity Goes a Long way

Pick a favorite local charity, and make it known that every purchase made at your business benefits that charity. It can be a simple percentage of holiday purchase profits, or even a flat donation for every shopper. Have a beautifully decorated container for patrons to donate additional funds for when they feel extra charitable.  Contact me for a list of charities I recommend.

Happy Thanksgiving

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. ~H.U. Westermayer

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude. ~E.P. Powell

So once in every year we throng
Upon a day apart,
To praise the Lord with feast and song
In thankfulness of heart.
~Arthur Guiterman, The First Thanksgiving

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Remember God’s bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor. Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude! ~Henry Ward Beecher

Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow. ~Edward Sandford Martin

Our rural ancestors, with little blest,
Patient of labour when the end was rest,
Indulged the day that housed their annual grain,
With feasts, and off’rings, and a thankful strain.
~Alexander Pope

What we’re really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving? ~Erma Bombeck, “No One Diets on Thanksgiving,” 26 November 1981

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. ~W.J. Cameron

He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart.
~J.A. Shedd

Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day. ~Robert Caspar Lintner

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence. ~Erma Bombeck

For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day. ~Irv Kupcinet

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, – a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert

The unthankful heart… discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! ~Henry Ward Beecher

Some hae meat and canna eat, -
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be thankit.
~Robert Burns

It has been an unchallengeable American doctrine that cranberry sauce, a pink goo with overtones of sugared tomatoes, is a delectable necessity of the Thanksgiving board and that turkey is uneatable without it. ~Alistair Cooke

Ah! on Thanksgiving day….
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before.
What moistens the lips and what brightens the eye?
What calls back the past, like the rich pumpkin pie?
~John Greenleaf Whittier

Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings. ~J. Robert Moskin

There is one day that is ours. There is one day when all we Americans who are not self-made go back to the old home to eat saleratus biscuits and marvel how much nearer to the porch the old pump looks than it used to. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American. ~O. Henry

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt

BrainStormer’s Networking Group

We Brainstorm to Benefit Your Business Effectively.  This is Free Business Consulting for Everyone in the Group

Next meeting is Wednesday, November 18th at 11:45 am

The Chicago Room at Mangia Pizza, 8012 Mesa Drive Austin, TX 78731

Are you interested in getting referral business and helping your business grow by having others brainstorm to benefit your business. We brainstorm any area of your business that needs it.

It’s free to join our unique referral and brainstorming group. Just attend the meetings. (you pay for what your order-ordering is not mandatory – separate checks – but please support our host when you can)

Also, sign up on the schedule to have our members brainstorm to benefit your business.

We are an independent networking referral meeting – open to all business people – Non Exclusive (so far)

Mangia’s has pizza, hamburgers, deli sandwiches, philly cheesesteak, salads and Italian food. $7-$12 for entrees Mangia Pizza Menu

When: Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month at 11:45 am.

Where: The Chicago Room at Mangia Pizza
8012 Mesa Drive Austin, TX 78731 (a reserved, totally closed off room from the main serving area with a capacity of 42) Located in the shopping center at the Southwest corner of Mesa and Spicewood Springs Road