Some States Help You Market Gift Baskets
The Pride of NY program in New York State recently began soliciting farm owners who happen to make gift baskets so that a complete list of makers can be featured on a Web site promoting holiday baskets.
You can read the brief article here.
The program states that it’s looking for farmers, but they may also add your name to the list if you’re in New York.
For example, you make Welcome to New York, I Love New York, or Big Apple baskets made with products produced in the state. It makes sense for you to call or Email the contact person to learn if you qualify for a listing because these baskets feature New York products.
My point, for all of you no matter where you’re located, is to look beyond the limitations created by a few words (…looking to identify farmers, processors,…) and get yourself listed in as many places online and offline as possible.
You’ll reach prospects who are seemingly out of reach, turning them into loyal customers who refer their friends and family members.
I remember when Elaine Essary, owner of The Basket Bar, contacted me to see if she qualified for mention in The Gift Basket Design Book. I had certain stipulations for inclusion, and even though Elaine thought she may not qualify, she still contacted me.
Her story was so compelling that I decided to feature her. That’s what can happen when you’re passionate about succeeding no matter what barriers seem to be ahead.
Every U.S. state has a department of agriculture (even New Jersey, a state that tried to eliminate theirs). Visit your state’s department online to see if they will link to your site this holiday, especially if you create a gift basket with state-made products.
Is this an opportunity to sell more this season? Check for yourself.
Can Visitors Navigate Your Gift Basket Site?
Creating new and interesting gift baskets and adding them to your Web site for visitors to see and order is what keeps people returning each month.
But after a while, the site begins to expand, and your navigation becomes more complicated.
Making a site map may be the answer.
The navigation system on your home page contains the site’s main structure, but it doesn’t always lead clients to designs needed for corporate events, conferences, and everyday celebrations.
A site map is a handy tool if visitors neglect to bookmark a page, and it helps validate that you did everything possible to alert customers to return policies and other service issues.
Months before the holidays arrive is a great time to make Web site adjustments. Perhaps a site map will be a welcomed upgrade.
Not sure how to create your site map? Click here to see the GiftBasketBusiness.com site map, or type “site map” into a search engine for more ideas.
Is Starting a Gift Basket Blog for You?
I’m noticing that quite a few gift basket designers are starting their own blogs. My Internet alert systems notify me when someone has set up a new one.
Here’s the explanation of a blog in case you’re not familiar with the definition. You’re reading a blog right now.
Why are designers blogging? I can think of three reasons. They:
1. Polled customers and found that many of them are Web surfers, so setting up a blog to inform them about gifts and baskets is a dynamic way to stay in touch online.
2. Realize that blogs are indexed quicker in search engines than Web sites, which may increase their search rankings faster.
3. Decided that creating a blog has the potential to reach more prospects and clients than a separate newsletter.
Speaking of newsletters, are you subscribed to the one that complements this blog? It’s published every Wednesday and Sunday. Subscribe here, and read back issues at GiftBasketsNewsletter.com.
Create and launch a blog of any of the three reasons above or reasons that match your marketing plan make blogging appropriate. But don’t start one because it’s trendy.
If you have no plan to blog consistently, which means a commitment to write an entry at least once a week, then blogging is not for you.
Instead, choose to reach customers through online newsletters (also called Ezines), postcards, five-minute talks in their offices, and other ways that cement relationships and encourage sales.
Do you have a blog? How does it help you connect with customers?
How to Create an Online Signature that Promotes Your Business
Can you afford to own or rent a billboard to promote your gift baskets? It’s possible when there’s no cost.
Leaving a customized signature each time you post an online question, response, or business introduction is critical to help spread the word about your gifts and baskets.
It’s the equivalent of leaving business cards all over the Web.
Speaking of online questions, a new solution is available at Ask The Gift Basket Expert.
Your signature, which is created through your Email account or saved in word processing or Notepad for copying and pasting, contains words that inspire readers to visit your site. Any of the following is appropriate as part of your signature:
1) Your Name
2) Business Name
3) Business Slogan or Tag Line
4) Web Site Address
5) Telephone Number
6) Optional Special Occasion Tag Line, such as “Visit Today for Holiday Baskets
that Build Your Business”
Here’s one of my current signatures:
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Do you have what it takes to make money with gift baskets?
http://www.giftbasketbusiness.com/SuccessTips/tensteps.htm
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Here’s one to get you started:
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Baskets n’ Bows
Making gift giving simple and easy is what we do for you.
Call today for a free brochure.
http://www.basketsnbowscompany.com/
(932) 555-5252
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Notice that the “Making gift giving…” tagline focuses on a benefit that’s very important to prospects who are time stressed or have difficulty choosing what to buy. Consider this type of value-added statement as you decide how to promote.
Keep your signature as concise as possible. Signatures that are too wordy won’t be read, and others, which are laced with dashes and dots to resemble faces and gestures, are best reserved for art students.
Consult your Email host’s instructions for creating your electronic billboard. Also, look at other people’s signatures for more ideas on how to create a memorable message that gets results.
Gift Basket Business News
Have you visited the various online sites that provide you with gift business ideas and opportunities?
The sites I maintain are listed on this page, and Flora Brown of Gift Basket Business World also shares a roster of her sites through her post, Where Can I Find Gift Basket Business Ideas?
Scroll down to also find a list of products Flora shares from the recent Fancy Food Show.
It’s almost time to head back to school for millions of students worldwide. Lorie Obernauer of Apex Gift Foods schools you in this post on how to get your gift baskets into their dorm rooms.
This back-to-school baskets article shares ideas on what to put into your designs.
Where did you buy your imprinting machine? A designer is looking for one that imprints favor confetti cards as well as ribbon.
You can read her question and my answer at Ask The Gift Basket Expert, and I encourage you to join the conversation if use an imprinter, want to buy an imprinter, or know where this machine is sold.
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