Today I decided to take a walk to my daughter's school (something a bit unusual, but not unreasonable since the gas prices went up) for a change. I was totally enjoying the break from my little office routine when it hit me -- " my neighborhood has changed. Too many small businesses had just disappeared and on their windows were signs: "For lease"
Being a small business owner myself, I know how fragile a startup could be, how easily your marketing efforts could be lost in this noisy world. There is an ocean of companies out there, and everyone is fighting for survival.
There's 1 very smart way which I strongly recommend: Use Humor! Clever humor is usually appreciated and if you are able to make your clients smile, they will always come back to you.
Before you begin, ask your self:
1. What is the primary message I want to send about my services, items, company? 2. Who are my customers? 3. What is my point of difference and how can I use humor?
Once you are clear on your goals, there are lots of simple, efficient methods to add humor and make you stand out:
1. Get a Cartoon Logo: The logo is the very face of your company. You'll have to be really careful (read: not cheap) when you decide on a logo style. A lot of places use the exact same fonts, the same colors, the exact same globe and whatnot. The final result? The all look the same. So set yourself apart -- get a custom drawn cartoon logo. There are too many advantages to mention, but I'll give you just one example: check out Eskimo Joe's in Stillwater, Oklahoma. His owner Stan Clark started with a easy Eskimo and dog cartoon logo design, created by an amateur designer. These days Eskimo Joe's is a multi-million dollar clothing company with t-shirt sales only surpassed by the Hard Rock Cafe! Now, that's incredible!
2. Humor advertising: It goes without saying - humor, at least in marketing, sells as much as sex. Just turn on the TV and observe. Do you know that the new Apple advertising campaign (Mac vs PC) is probably the most effective 1 ever? Why? Simply because it is funny, and people remember it. But there's much more to marketing.
Of course, there is a lot more which should go into building a prosperous small business. But my point is - work hard, work smart and get noticed!
Good luck!
Get your FREE internet marketing training. Visit www.gbb.org/doubleyourleads to access over 50 hours of videos packed with practical strategies and tools to help you double your leads!
Being a small business owner myself, I know how fragile a startup could be, how easily your marketing efforts could be lost in this noisy world. There is an ocean of companies out there, and everyone is fighting for survival.
There's 1 very smart way which I strongly recommend: Use Humor! Clever humor is usually appreciated and if you are able to make your clients smile, they will always come back to you.
Before you begin, ask your self:
1. What is the primary message I want to send about my services, items, company? 2. Who are my customers? 3. What is my point of difference and how can I use humor?
Once you are clear on your goals, there are lots of simple, efficient methods to add humor and make you stand out:
1. Get a Cartoon Logo: The logo is the very face of your company. You'll have to be really careful (read: not cheap) when you decide on a logo style. A lot of places use the exact same fonts, the same colors, the exact same globe and whatnot. The final result? The all look the same. So set yourself apart -- get a custom drawn cartoon logo. There are too many advantages to mention, but I'll give you just one example: check out Eskimo Joe's in Stillwater, Oklahoma. His owner Stan Clark started with a easy Eskimo and dog cartoon logo design, created by an amateur designer. These days Eskimo Joe's is a multi-million dollar clothing company with t-shirt sales only surpassed by the Hard Rock Cafe! Now, that's incredible!
2. Humor advertising: It goes without saying - humor, at least in marketing, sells as much as sex. Just turn on the TV and observe. Do you know that the new Apple advertising campaign (Mac vs PC) is probably the most effective 1 ever? Why? Simply because it is funny, and people remember it. But there's much more to marketing.
Of course, there is a lot more which should go into building a prosperous small business. But my point is - work hard, work smart and get noticed!
Good luck!
Get your FREE internet marketing training. Visit www.gbb.org/doubleyourleads to access over 50 hours of videos packed with practical strategies and tools to help you double your leads!
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