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Jul22
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This one's a no brainer. Holding a contest to promot e your small business creates lots of buzz and interest.
With the right hook, a newsworthy contest can get you media coverage too. Tips For Holding A Contest - Make it fun
- Keep it simple - rules, how to enter and who is eligible
- Be clear on what the prize is
- Keep your business name prominent
- Have a defined closing date
- Get as much publicity as you can before, during and after
- Promote it online at sites such as Online Sweepstakes
- Announce the winners and notify them
- Honor your promise even if you have only a few entries
- Don't change the rules halfway through
- If you are extending the deadline, make it very clear
- Be open and transparent about how the winner is decided
- Post contest publicity
Where Do You Get The Prizes? As well as your own prizes there may be scope for partnering with complementary businesses. Run a joint contest and have a larger prize pool - more publicity channels too. Or you may be able to ask some of your suppliers to provide prizes.
Product Or Service Vouchers Another savvy contest prize is a voucher for your business. The face value is less than what it will cost you. Plus, a voucher brings customers back into your business. - Any other tips for holding contests to promote your small business?
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Jul21
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This video is an interesting interview and demonstration of The Pen Again with Donny Deutsch and the inventor. The Pen Again is a strange looking ergonomic pen, which was invented by a bored student who pursued the dream to bring...
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Jul20
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Being away from your business sometimes gives you greater clarity and perspective. Each of us has only 24 hours in a day. How are you spending your working hours to best advantage your business?With well trained, motivated staff, who know...
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Jul19
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It's only natural that owners and managers feel that the business can't run without them, especially in the early stages. But is it really true?It's a mark of a good mentor to skill their staff and trust them to do...
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Jul18
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Copywriting is a key skill in writing advertising copy, but you can also use this same basic copywriting principle to power up your newsletters.The most important copywriting skill happens before you even write a word. It's working out what benefits...
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Creating and establishing an award does not have to be expensive, but it can get you lots of kudos. Best of all, other people spread the word for you.Bloggers are good at this. You'll see blogs proudly displaying awards they've...
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Jul17
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Apple is a savvy marketer. They've done an amazing job with business branding and experience marketing. People who love Macs, seem to really love them. Some call themselves Apple evangelists. If you buy an Apple product, are you buying the...
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Jul16
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If you're lucky enough to telecommute, you're probably not too concerned about Happy National Ride To Work Day today. This annual event is celebrated on the 3rd Wednesday in July. That's today!I think it's a great idea to highlight awareness...
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Jul15
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I've started a small business promotion tips series here at Small Biz Mentor. Small business owners usually know their business inside out, but promotion is often something they're less comfortable with.Common refrainsWe're in the Yellow PagesWebsites don't workAll our customers...
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Jul14
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A few years ago I visited Pamplona, Spain where they hold the annual running of the bulls. The street where the bulls run is narrow, paved with uneven cobblestones and leads towards the bullring.When I saw this year's footage of...
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ING Direct, the banking group, knows how to do experience marketing successfully. Some Small Biz Mentor commenters feel Starbucks have lost their way with experience marketing, so ING is an interesting case study as it offers coffee as well. Yes,...
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Jul13
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In response to my recent post Is The Starbucks Business Brand Declining? many commenters talked about relationship marketing and experience marketing. It was an interesting conversation. Thanks to Ben Jones, Chad, Karen Swim, Evan Hadkins, Vivienne Quenk and Dina Lynch...
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Jul12
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Whether you have a retail store, a consultancy firm or any other small business, some basic print ad principles are universal.Make yourself the obvious choice is an interesting article which identifies 6 key elements or principles for effective print ads....
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Jul11
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Celebrate National Ride To Work Day on July 16th! This day celebrates motor bike riders and raises awareness.It seems like a great idea to raise awareness. Scooters and motorcycles would guzzle less fuel, so I wonder how easy these folks...
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Jul10
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As I talk to small business owners about social media as a marketing and communication tool, the mantra I hear over and over is proof of ROI for social media. Small business owners don't want theory. They want results and...
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Jul 9
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Seems basic, right? But I am amazed (and frustrated) by the number of businesses who throw away potential business by not putting their details clearly on their print materials. It's about business branding as well as communication. Do You Make...
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Credit card scammers keep coming up with new ideas, and here's another credit card fraud approach to watch out for.You're an exporter pleased with an overseas sale to a new foreign client. You send off the goods and receive payment...
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Jul 8
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Is Starbucks growing too big, too quickly? In the light of recent closures and layoffs, consumers are talking about what has changed with the Starbucks business brand.We've looked at the pychological triggers Starbucks uses to influence its customers. We've looked...
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Jul 7
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Well, it's official - Pringles potato chips are not potato chips at all. Here's a riddle for you. What looks like a Pringles potato chip, tastes like a Pringles potato chip and is shown on the Pringles website which proclaims ...
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Jul 6
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Ask Your Staff For IdeasDon't forget your staff as a source of great ideas. They know your business often almost as well as you do. Their knowledge bank and ideas could change your business in small ways or large. Valuing...
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Jul 5
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McDonalds has been added to the Queen's menu... the financial menu that is. The Queen has bought a McDonald's as part of a property deal. It even has a drive through, but I don't think we'll be seeing the royal...
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Happy National Workaholics Day! We talk a lot about work life balance, but do we really take it to heart? Now's your chance to think again. Be kind to yourself. If you work at home, you may be able to...
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Jul 4
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What would it take to get your vote? My friend, Karen Swim is offering cake if you vote for her in the upcoming presidential election and she's already got a groundswell of support. As she says, sugar is a great...
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The power of an innovative idea lies not in its sheer audacity or ingenuity, but in its ability to capture a market and a following. Big IdeasHow about a $2.3 million space wedding as a present for the person who...
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Networking is key to building effective industry links and relationships. Robin Jay discusses this in The Art Of The Business Lunch. Complementary businesses such as hairdressers, cosmeticians, wedding planners, photographers and marriage celebrants may partner toshare a two sided business...
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Jul 3
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I wrote about MyGallons.com. You can get their fixed price cheaper gas card for $29.95 per year.I saw "cheaper" and "fixed price" and thought it was a good deal at $29.95, and it may well be.But financial whiz, Miranda Marquit...
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People's ingenuity with innovative ideas to make money never ceases to amaze me. Here's a guy who sold his life... well all the trappings of life. Ian Usher from Perth, Australia was sick of his life after his wife left...
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How do you thank your customers? I bought a computer from a small, local independent computer store. As part of the service, the owner set it up and gave me one hour's training. Thank You Note & MoreI was pretty...
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Jul 2
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So simple, yet often overlooked - just saying thank you can be powerful. We don't do it enough. But be genuine. People know when it's faked or forced. Saying thank you is just something good to do - It's not...
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Jul 1
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How can you get cheaper gas on a long term basis? High gas prices are uppermost in small business owner's minds. The rising cost of fuel impacts personally and business wise. It costs $29.95 per year to get a MyGallons.com...
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How can you get cheaper gas on a long term basis? High gas prices are uppermost in small business owner's minds. The rising cost of fuel impacts personally and business wise. It costs $29.95 per year to get a MyGallons.com...
Continue Reading
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Top 7 - Did you miss these recent marketing posts? Here are some of our most popular marketing posts this month at Small Biz Mentor.Hot Button Marketing by Barry Feig - Book ReviewHow Starbucks Influences Customers - Video Do It...
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