QUIRKY MARKETING CALENDAR

September 7th is Google Commemoration Day

Heidi Richards Mooney — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:24:45 +0000

Google (I wonder who came up with this one?) – If you’ve never tried “Google alerts’ now is a great time to do so – Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. Go to http://www.google.com/alerts and start getting your own alerts- It is a great way to know what others in your industry are doing, what your customers are looking for and getting the latest information on things that interest you.

Today is also:

Grandma Moses Day

Neither Snow nor Rain” Day

Another Look Unlimited Day

September 6th is Do It! Day

Heidi Richards Mooney — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 06:49:42 +0000

“We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.” ~Frank Tibolt

Now is the day to begin or complete a project you have been putting off for some time.

Yesterday, was Be Late for Something Day. Today is Do it! Day. Time to get off your duff and out of the planning stages and start acting on your plans…

Go ahead… Do it! TODAY!

Sept 6th is also:

Labor Day

Fight Procrastination Day

Read a Book Day

While you are thinking about ways to promote your business, check out Quirky Marketing Calendar ~ How to Use Zany and Non-traditional Holidays to Promote Your Business 365 Days a Year for More GREAT Marketing Ideas.

*NEW

September 5th is Be Late for Something Day

Heidi Richards Mooney — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:49:31 +0000

For some of us, this is not difficult for others it could require some forethought.

One thing you do not want to be late for is planning your marketing strategies. When you are late you are always back-pedaling to catch up. When you are late, it could cost you money because you might miss-out on early adopter pricing. When you are late it could cost you time because you have to work harder and longer to play catch-up. And you may have to pay people to do some of the work you would normally do yourself. If you are late following up on clients and prospects, it could cost you their business. Because remember the saying “the early bird gets the worm,” likely holds true in business and systems.

Develop your early strategies for follow up, purchasing, planning and research and you will save time, money and most importantly the sale!

So if you have to be late for something, make it something that will not have long-range repercussions to your business.

Today is also:

Sept 5th is also

Cheese Pizza Day

House Keepers Day

September 4th is Newspaper Carrier Day

Heidi Richards Mooney — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:03:09 +0000

Did you know that today is Newspaper Carrier Day?

We always give our Newspaper Carrier a “tip” during the holiday season, and decided that this day we would do something different – our carrier is a grown man (they all drive now) so we are making him a basket with beer and pretzels and chips to take home and enjoy. In the basket are coupons form local purveyors and vendors who want to tap into this client base. How do we get the coupons? We ask!

National Coupon Month

Heidi Richards Mooney — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:58:54 +0000

September is National Coupon Month ~ Last year a customer called about a coupon he got in the mail. The coupon was for cut flowers and the value was $5. He called to ask if we honored other companies’ coupons. I immediately said yes! Why, you ask? The other company paid good money to advertise his product and the customer called my florist. I was closer geographically and he did not have an allegiance to any shop (up to that point).

By honoring the coupon, not only does my company gain a new customer, we probably gain one for life! And it only cost us $5… not bad. According to marketing experts it costs up to six times to get a new customer as it does to keep the ones you currently have. So when one “falls in your lap” with little effort on your part, it’s a GIFT. After all, if grocery stores, pharmacies and other retail establishments can honor other companies’ coupons, why couldn’t a smaller business do the same? And you don’t have to be retail, if you provide a service and you are looking for new business, what a great way to encourage people to give your service a try. So, if you have a coupon from another florist and you want to redeem it at my shop , the answer is absolutely “We’d be delighted to honor it!“

Today is:

National Lazy Mom’s Day

Today is also $40 Million Lottery Day. In 1984, the first person to win $40 million in a state lottery was a 28-year-old print shop employee in Chicago, Illinois

Also on this date:

When England dropped the Julian Calendar and adopted the Gregorian Calendar, they had to “get rid of” 10 days to make the shift. They chose the 10 days in September from the 3rd thru Septmeber 14th. However the English revolted. There was rioting in the streets as people thought those days had been stolen from them. They got their dates back.

September is International Strategic Thinking Month

Heidi Richards Mooney — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:16:45 +0000

Are you running out of ideas? Does your marketing need a shot in the arm?

If that’s the case I suggest you re-read the Quirky Marketing Calendar from the beginning and see which ideas you have not yet implemented that you could use to jump-start a new marketing project.

Here are 5 tips for strategic thinking success – 1. If your Advertising isn’t working – think about why it isn’t and change it. 2. Only use Direct Response Advertising – most small businesses cannot afford to launch a large branding campaign so be strategic in your marketing by maximizing all your advertising with direct response – get people to take action in every ad you run. 3. Advertise on the right hand side of a page – that’s where the eye goes first. 4. Stress the benefits of using your products and services. Brainstorm with others – ask your customers and clients what benefits they are looking for. 5. Advertising isn’t for every one or every business. Make sure it’s right for you before you spend tons of cash on a campaign.

Today is:

V-J Day

Pop top Day

Also on this date in history:

In 1897 The first issue of McCall’s magazine goes on sale at newsstands on this day in history.

In 1921 the First Miss America contest was held in Atlantic City, with 8 entrants.

In 1978 Graham Salmon set the worlds record for 100 meters by a blind man

September is Shameless Self-promotion Month

Heidi Richards Mooney — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:56:44 +0000

“If you don’t’ toot your own horn, you can’t enjoy the music.” – Debbie Allen (Founder of Shameless Self-promotion Month).

How about trying your hand at Podcasting? In July, 2006 Speedo, (the swimwear brand) “dipped their toe into the social media water” during their inaugural Podcast when they interviewed Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps. Their Podcast “Speedo Make Waves” has featured Olympic and other champions from across the international swimming world. Each Podcast has been accompanied by awareness-raising web advertising as an integral part of the overall communication. You can listen to past episodes of Speedo Make Waves at Podcast Alley

Interviewing experts in fields your target market is interested in is a great way to get media attention for you AND your guests. You can also submit your RSS Feeds to FeedBurner, Ping your posts, and share your posts on social media sites. You never know when your site will be “on the radar” of advertisers and other content sites.

Today is Emma Nutt Day ~ Emma Nutt was the first female telephone operator. Before here, phone companies only used boys! Emma Nutt was an operator for 33 years!

September 1st in History

In 1972 American Bobby Fischer Becomes World Chess Champion defeating Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union

In 1989 Toyota launched new luxury cars as a new brand the Lexus hoping to compete with other major luxury car makers around the world

In 1999 Ty Warner toys announces on their website that on December 31, 1999 Beanie Babies will be retired. Together with the announcement a small pint-sized black bear, called ‘The End’ is announced. Following continued consumer demand the company decides to keep making Beanie Babies and they are still on available for Beanie Baby enthusiasts today.

In 1955 The first sun-powered automobile demonstrated, Chicago, Ill

In 1971 Dave Scott became first person to drive a car on the Moon

August 31st is Eat Outside Day

Heidi Richards Mooney — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:30:34 +0000

In 2006 New York City broke the Guinness-certified world’s record for the largest picnic. The picnic took place in Bryant Park in the heart of New York City.

Although they did not make it into the Guinness book (they never submitted documentation) they still managed to make it on the news.

They partnered with City Harvest and several other organizations to gather people, promote the event and create a buzz.

Guinness World Records offers a unique PR opportunity. Their Team “works successfully with companies every day to break world records, helping them to promote their brands, their goods and their services. From large-scale events involving thousands of people to adrenaline-pumping stunts by individuals, we adjudicate hundreds of record attempts around the globe each year.”

Here were the RULES from the Official Picnic Organizers:

1. A head count of people taking part must be taken before the event, either by turnstile or by some other accurate method of counting. This is essential and must be done efficiently. The method to be used must be pre-approved by

Guinness World Records.

2. It should be a proper picnic with food and beverages with all participants bringing a picnic meal, either individually or as a group. As a minimum each person should have two ‘courses’ (e.g. a sandwich and fruit or cake) and a drink.

3. All participants should bring their own mats/rugs to sit on for the picnic.

4. All participants should be attending the picnic simultaneously – claims will not be entertained for a ‘rolling’ picnic where participants arrive and leave at various intervals throughout the day.

Today is:

National Trail Mix Day

Also on this Date:

In 1887 Thomas A Edison patented the Kinetoscope, a gadget that produces moving pictures

Today is International Red Telephone Day

Heidi Richards Mooney — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:02:38 +0000

In 1963 The “Hotline” telephone communications system linking the White How via National Military Command Center with the Kremlin during the Cold War. The “Hotline” was designed to provide direct communication between the leaders of the United States and Russia. The RED Telephone has often been used as a symbol for the “hotline.”

Hotlines are a multi-billion dollar a year business. Today “Hotlines” take on many forms.

Companies and organizations use hotlines for a variety of things.They can be used as lead generation tools. Hotlines can be used to support customer service. They can be used as intructional lines for customers looking for “quick answers” to simple challenges. They can be used to filter calls from advertising. Hotlines can be used as a tool to market your special services. Law enforcement uses hotlines for people to call in to leave “tips” or leads about crimes that have occurred.

Hotlines can also be used as a direct connection to people in an organization that clients want instant access to.

Several years ago, my retail florist created an information “hotline” that gave people directions to our place of business, current “specials” we were offering and answered frequently asked questions. This “hotline” saved our staff hours of labor because the common questions were answered before my staff got on the line, leaving more time to find out what the customer wanted and how we could better serve her or him.

You can listen to one of those “recorded” messages here:

What could you use a “hotline” for in your business?

Today is also:

National Holistic Pet Day

Get a Slinky Day

Frankestein Day

Toasted Marshmallow Day

Also on August 30th:

In 1984 The Space Shuttle Discovery takes off on its maiden voyage.

Today is Vendors Demonstration Day

Heidi Richards Mooney — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:59:52 +0000

Take advantage of vendor opportunities to add to your own and your staff’s expertise. When I had my retail florist, one of the vendors we purchased from was a company that sold the components to make gift baskets. They offered a new product called “shrink wrap” but we did not know how to use it. The company came in and gave a one-hour hands on how to create beautiful baskets using their shrink wrap, heating gun and tapes.

My staff loved it and so did the company, and it lead to us purchasing much more than I had originally intended to. If they had not provided that service we would have taken a lot longer to learn to use the product and we likely would have purchased from other vendors more.

Today is

Lemon Juice Day

More Herbs, Less Salt Day

On August 29th in History:

In 1885 Gottlieb Daimler received the German patent for a motorcycle

In 1896 Chop suey was invented in NYC by chef of visiting Chinese Ambassador

In 1999 the worlds most expensive car (an Alfa Romeo) was sold at Christies Auction House for a whopping 4 million dollars!