Want a big response and quick sales from your next direct marketing effort? Then take your marketing to the extreme. With a well thought out, well executed extreme marketing program you’ll pull big numbers and close new business relatively fast.
Marketing and consumer research studies show that when the economy takes a downturn, consumers of all types start looking around for alternatives. Just turn on the radio, and you will hear people talking about how they are cutting their monthly budgets, giving up “frivolous” spending and even forgoing some of their previous indispensable expenses in order to keep their spending and their debt under control. For many business owners, this signals a catastrophe. However, in reality, this is the opportunity of a lifetime.
If you own a business and you are losing customers, then the time has not come to shut the doors. In fact, this is the best time possible to reach out. During tough times (or times that are perceived as potentially tough) you will always lose some people simply because they do not feel that they can afford to continue with you. There are several ways to combat this. Of course, you can work to provide services in a new and different way that would help your loyal customers to stay with you. This is a wise move and will likely pay good dividends now and later. However, if you really want to grow your business instead of just hanging on by the skin of your teeth, then this is the time to reach out in an innovative and memorable manner.
One of the best ways to reach out to new customers and clients is to provide a service to them long before they ever hire you. This shows them that you have their comfort and satisfaction in mind even though they have not yet started using your services. Of course, it could get expensive to provide your full array of services for free, and that would not be practical or beneficial to your business. However, you can do something similar (regardless of your business arena) that will help that potential client remember you and your business every time they make use of your gift.
By giving clients promotional merchandise (items branded with your company logo, contact information, website or some combination thereof) you accomplish several things at once:
• You keep advertising long after you and the potential client have parted physical company.
• You prove that service is important by providing an item that will be of service regardless of that client’s ultimate decision regarding your partnership.
• You develop a rapport with that client - even though you may not have any more direct contact with them - because they will think of you each time they use the item. This can be great because when they do need your type of services, your business will feel like a trusted friend already.