Springboard Marketing

Is it wise for small business? Not the best place to put your Marketing Dollars, but if you are going to use it as one of your Marketing Trifecta Points then here are somethings to help you:

1. Make sure that the most prominent thing on the Ad is the reason that your clients/customers need you, not your logo.
2. Make sure there is a unique selling point such as “35 years of experience”
3. You NEED TO BE ONLINE! Your business needs to be online! If not then have up-to-date contact info and as much as possible.
4. Have a Deadline- it give a since of urgency.

1. Your Sales are driven mostly by price
2. Customers cannot distinguish your products or services from those of your competitors.
3. You use disconnect sales gimmicks.
4. You do not have a unified plan for imparting my message to your customers and to the trade.
5. Most of your sales come from your staff.
6. Longtime customers say, “I didn’t know you offered that.”
7. You do not have  a customer or prospect database.

Let me tell you we all need a little help from time to time with our business. Check out Andrew at “Help My Business Sucks” at his website or on ITUNES for Free! Check it out, one of the videos is for sure going to have something to help out your business.

What kind of Message are you sending with your signs?

Here are a few Tips to Think of with Signage:
1. Are you communicating all that you want across? Make sure to include a vast array of people who may read your sign (aka the Dogs) .

2. Make sure to look at the most simple of things such as Spacing, Font Styles, Font Colors, Font in General and Spell Check.

3. if you have a sign with a photo on it make sure its appropriate at all angles (Hint: this may require you to make sure it does not have any adult under/over tones).

4. Test Market. Its always good to ask a few people to look over things and get their opinion. It may help you see any overlooked mistakes.

Do you Network? If not then you should be. Even if it is a few events a month you need to have great networking skills and be going to as many events as you can. How do you find the events? Join a chamber check out www. siloamchamber.com or www.fayettevillear.com .

Also there are a number of great networking groups that meet in NWA just make sure to get on Donna Hamilton ( with your weekly email so that you can know whats going on) or email me and I can forward that info to you info@springboardmarketing.net.

Also check out NWACares.com about all the Non-Profit Events in this area to be more involved in the community !

NOTE: Always Keep Business Cards on you, You NEVER KNOW!- Walmart, Mall, Church anywhere there are possiblities.

Notice that this is a great way of keeping things simple and yet memorable.

1. Repetition! Repetition! Repetition! How many times do you hear Spongebob’s Name in an episode? Even Spongebob calls himself Spongebob!

When You walk into a Fast Food restaurant expectations are not usually running high. Yet when walking into Chick-fil-a and Panera I am greeted by the managers and the personal. They are friendly, the restaurant is clean and not to mention the Free Internet. This just goes to prove that even the high dollar of the mochas makes you feel fine with all the free amenities  that they offer. At Chick-fil-a there is always someone their to help clean your table or refresh your drinks. Its yet another lesson in customer service and putting the customer first.

Let me just say that Kinkos is Kaput! Its now FEDEX without Kinkos, and their website pushes you to go to the store and not deal or buy products online. Its so frustrating! I just want something really simple and easy to use. Sounds like I need to write my own business plan and start my own Paper Company.  I should just bite the bullet and call Michael Scott at least I know being his one client I would get amazing Customer Service.

Business Tip: Don’t mix business with pleasure unless your wiling to deal with the consequences.