March 23rd is Roller Coaster Day
Do you feel like running your business is sometimes like riding on a roller coaster? Lots of ups and downs and wild turns and your going so fast that at times it feels as though you are going to hit the bottom of the hill and just keep going.
If you are like many small business owners today you have likely been experiencing some level of ups and downs for the past 2 or so years. And when the times were good you had plenty of business, so much so you may not have actively marketed your business as much as you are today just to stay afloat.
That is why it is so important to continue to market in good times and bad. I know that often times when we are busy, we forget to market we just think the business is just going to keep rolling in. And when the tough times hit, its like coming down really fast from the top of the ride. You hold on tight and just hope you make it to the next hill.
So I thought I’d share a few ideas to keep you busy when times are tough:
Create a preferred customer event and showcase your products. A local gift basket company has a gift basket open house each year and showcases her latest line.
Try classified ads – they are cheaper than graphic ads and can sometimes generate more traffic. People are looking for opportunities in classifieds these days more than ever. If you have what someone needs your phone will ring. In fact, you can find a list of classified ad media on WE Magazine for Women website. It is called “Getting Classified 100 Places to Promote Your Business.”
Wear Your Company on Your sleeve – or chest or purse or back…. Logo wear is coming back in style and if you are proud of your company wear it! You never know when you will be in the supermarket and someone will strike up a conversation and ask you about it. I have found my Shaklee distributor, my Mary Kay consultan, my dentist and my dog groomer this way….. Think of McDonalds – it is no accident that everyone in the company wears McDonalds attire. Its branding – brand recognition is especially important in a down economy because you want people to remember your name. I have had it happen more times than I’d care to admit, when people have met me and forgotten the name of my company. So they called someone else. Don’t let that happen to you.
Remember to focus on the long term. Things that are important today may not be a year or six months from now. Look at the news as an example. See what interests you today and if you can look into your crystal ball see what will even have an affect on your business and in the lives of your customers six months from now. While it is important to be ready to market quickly in a down economy it is equally important to think strategically about how our marketing today will affect your business in the future. Discounting is a perfect example. So often companies will discount their services to get folks to call. But that can hurt them in the long run. When it is done too often, people expect a discount and then they make up their minds not to buy until or unless another “sale” is going on.
I suggest that instead of discounting your services you offer a “gift certificate” to your top clients as a thank you for their business and or a thank you for referring others to you. Or send them your product as a thank you. When they get a “gift” they will feel a stronger need to repay the favor. Its quid pro quo – something for something.
For more ideas, listen to an Interview I had with Michelle Waters of the Product Sellers Summit about how to market in a slow economy.
And in case you were wondering about roller coasters, here’s some Roller Coaster Trivia:
The oldest roller coaster in the world is has a wooden track that is 1,452 feet long (442.6 meters) and 48 feet tall (14.6 meters). It is called Leap the Dips, built in 1902 in Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania. For several years it was unused and abandoned auntil it was completely restored and reopened in 1999. Because roller coasters were a risky business in the early days, those who designed them often took a chance with their entire life savings.
Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ takes the honor of being the tallest (456 feet), fastest (128 mph) roller coaster in the world. It also has the world’s largest drop (418-feet).
The world’s longest wooden roller coaster is The Beast (7,400 feet) which is at Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Ultimate is the world’s longest roller coaster (7,450 feet) which is in Lightwater Valley in England.
Australia has the largest Wooden roller coaster in the world.
Althought the roller coaster has been around quite a while, it wasn’t until 1898 that the invention/ride was actually patented.
(source: UltimateRollerCoaster.com and WiseGeek.com)
More great marketing ideas can be found in the Quirky Marketing Calendar ~ How to Use Zany and Non-traditional Holidays to Promote Your Business 365 Days a Year!
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