Create Buzz For Your Business

Recently, I had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants at the New Jersey shore, Steve and Cookies in Margate. The food is outstanding (The blueberry pie is the best in the world!) the service is impeccable and the owner Cookie comes to your table and greets you personally and makes you feel like you’re an old family friend! Whenever anyone asks where to dine in South Jersey, I always recommend Steve and Cookies first.  

Chances are, you have your own favorite places and have done the same thing. You’ve had a great experience and you want to share it with others. This is the essence of word-of-mouth marketing, a powerful way to promote a product or service… and it’s easier than you think.

Today’s post will give you some great tips for creating word-of-mouth or buzz marketing for your business. 

Here are nine things you can do today to create buzz for your business.  

1. 1. Be different. Always be checking your competition. What can you do that is better or different? Can you provide a marketing plan, graphic design help, special packaging, industry trend reports or help with distribution or social media marketing?  Anything that will make your client’s job easier and enhance the promotion will have them “singing your praises.”
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3. 2. Engage with them on social media. Ask engaging questions and provide business or marketing tips to help your target market grow their sales. Feature hot new products, but make it more than the product, give tips on how to use those products to promote business. 
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5. 3. Find out what they want. Ask your current clients if there are any services, you’re not currently providing that they would want. Then seek to provide it!
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7. 4. Perform damage control. When something goes wrong, accept responsibility and get it fixed quickly. People are much more likely to remember how you handled the situation rather than what happened.
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9. 5. Have a contest. People love contests. A trivia contest, a puzzle, a “help me name this” contest will get your clients engaged and talking about you.
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11. 6. Give more to get more. Make a list of your favorite business resources and give it to your best clients. Chances are your clients will be so impressed and grateful they’ll be thinking about what they can do for you.
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13. 7. Thank them! Never miss a chance to thank your clients for their business, whether via a phone call or handwritten note or gift. People want to feel appreciated and they’ll remember you. 
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15. 8. Get testimonials. Chances are your clients do love doing business with you and they probably say great things about you. The next time you hear something favorable about your business, ask if you can use it as a testimonial. You can even save your client time by writing what they said and getting their permission to use it. Testimonials establish credibility and trust, a great way to drive business to you.
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17. 9. Send them an unexpected gift. You’re most likely sending holiday gifts but what about sending a birthday gift, thank you gift, or a gift of appreciation any time of the year. 

Speaking of word-of-mouth marketing: Do you have a favorite promotional products industry supplier that is worthy of mention? I’m compiling a list and would love to know who you absolutely love working with, a supplier that makes your job easier. Leave a comment with your favorite supplier name and why you love working with them.

Here’s wishing you a buzz-worthy month!

Rosalie Marcus, The Promo Biz Coach, is a promotional products business expert, coach, and speaker. Combining her skills and years of experience in promotional sales, she helps her clients sell more at higher margins to better clients. Get a free special report: 10 Proven Ways to Thrive in Promotional Products Sales… in Any Economy at www.promobizcoach.com. Contact her at Rosalie@promobizcoach.com.