Simple marketing: Ideas you can use everyday

Marketing is one of those big concept departments. Everyone talks about it, but not all business people are entirely certain who to make their marketing work. Constantly seeking the grand slam marketing idea, they miss the easy to use daily techniques. Some small efforts can reap some huge rewards.

There is unlimited untapped value in adding one customer or client at a time. While many business people think in terms of mass markets, for most entrepreneurs, customers arrive as individuals. The small attractors, that give notice to your products and services, can work wonders. Adding many new buyers together will enhance any company's bottom line.



Some quick, cheap, and mainly free marketing ideas:

* Be sure to include your website link on your email signature line. It costs nothing, and can lead to some clicks to your site or blog.

* Place your website URL, blog URL, and email address on your business cards. It is shocking how many business cards do not contain that vital information.

* When working on a remote job site, be sure to have a sign with your company name, address, phone number, and site URL. You never know who might see the high quality of your service.

* Place a product flyer or small catalogue in every fulfilled order you ship to customers. Make buying more products and services from you as easy as possible.

* Include your website URL on your shipping containers and boxes when you get new ones made for your company. Keep your website URL visible and easy to find at any time.

* Attend networking events and listen to problems that people in your target market might be experiencing on a daily basis. Provide solutions to their problems.

* Be part of local community groups and events. Some of your very best customers and company evangelists may be right in your own back yard.

* Be sure to have lots of good old fashioned business cards with you at every event that you attend. Hand them out freely. If you run out of cards, have more printed with all of your contact information.



* Offer free advice to others on your blog and website. Position yourself as an expert in your industry. People like to buy from others who they consider authorities on an issue.

* Start a blog and build relationships with current and future customers.

* Send press releases for all newsworthy events surrounding your business. If you have no interesting events in your company, it's time to create them.

* Always be accessible to the news media for interviews. There is no better free advertising and endorsement and you are propelled to a thought leadership position in your industry immediately.

* Keep looking for new ideas. Ask your staff, vendors, customers, and non-customers for ideas on products and services. Hold brainstorming sessions with staff members from all areas of the company.

Marketing need not be a mysterious undertaking, peopled by alleged geniuses. It is mainly common sense and helping to solve problems for others.

Add some easy marketing concepts to your company today.

Tags: marketing ideas, media, networking, creativity.

Marketing gimmicks: Bending spoons and magic

Most people have seen magicians bend spoons over their fingers, as if by a miraculous overturn of the laws of physics. Of course, a closer examination of the spoon shows a tiny cutting on the back of the handle. Simple gravity pulls the weakened ends of the cutlery downward. Instead of defying the laws of nature, the magician employs them well.

Marketers can take a few lessons from the world of magic. Whether the course is in spoon bending, levitation, or simple card tricks, the magician is always using misdirection, the speed of the eye, and the laws of nature to best advantage. A marketer can do the same thing in the business sphere. While nothing as dramatic as making elephants disappear from a stage occurs, the effect of a great marketing campaign can be just as exciting to behold.

Good marketers understand their products and services and their potential customers and clients. Just as the magician applies the laws of science to the various tricks, the savvy marketing person considers the needs and desires of the marketplace. Sometimes, that market requires the talents of the illusionist. Instead of the standard marketing techniques, a few gimmicks can be employed successfully.



Instead of the traditional approach, consider the less obvious and creative concepts that have been kicked around, but never attempted. When launching a new and unusual item, a highly unorthodox method might be the ideal route of entry.

Use the power of the many online and offline media to convey the message. Along with the traditional press release and demonstrations, you can add a little spice to the marketing life.



* Consider creating a viral type video that places the product in a comic situation.

* Try developing a character around the product.

* Let the character be the spokesperson for the campaign

* Add a cartoon video version of the product

* Turn the product into a short video story or audio play

* Add costumes to the people who demonstrate the product



The gimmick approach can be highly effective for a creative marketing team. It can also backfire if the wrong system is put into place. Every product and service is a candidate, but not all will succeed in this manner.

Just as some people can see things up the magician's sleeve, so too can they see through a badly run marketing campaign. Care must be taken to perfect the art of spoon bending, and so too with gimmick marketing.

A successful gimmick marketing campaign can go viral in an instant, however. Be certain to be prepared for the global sales that result.

Think creatively and that offbeat concept might work some real magic for your company.

Tags: marketing, gimmicks, creativity, magic.