Everyday Marketing Makes Business Better
How many times this year have you entered your workspace and asked yourself, “How will I let people know about my gift baskets?”
Within a 52-week time period each year, you have the ability to market your baskets at least one time each day.
If you’re unable to develop 365 marketing ideas, try 52, which is one every week. That’s the minimum number of opportunities to create and launch from a calendar you prepare and review each month.
The 101 Ways to Market Your Gift Baskets book is one source to develop your calendar, and you’ll find more inspiration through these posts:
How Do I Market My Gift Baskets?
Get Designs and Marketing In Gear Now
Do You Market Gift Baskets While Driving?
How do you create a marketing calendar so that this part of your business is automatic?
Increase Your Sales through Unexpected Appreciation
Want to be remembered for more than contacting clients when it’s time to buy gift baskets?
Consider thanking them for previous orders using items already in your inventory.
Years ago, during the anthrax scare, I thanked post office employees for past orders by placing popcorn, cookies, bottled water, bowls, and cups into a tissue-lined tote bag.
This gift served to show appreciation and reduce their stress. It was presented strictly as a goodwill gesture.
Throughout the year I was rewarded with orders from the employees, their friends, and colleagues. The bow personalized with my business name, tied atop the tote bag, is still tacked behind the main counter.
How can this example create an avalanche of gift basket sales for your business?
Famous Gift Basket Shops Need Marketing Help, Too
Seeing Fancifull Gift Baskets owners Terry and Wally August featured in yesterday’s Los Angeles Times brought back great memories of meeting them and touring their gorgeous shop, a fixture next to Paramount Studios.
Upon entering, I was mesmerized by large, lush designs created in bronze containers and customized baby strollers.
The administration area was to the left, and multiple shelves holding gourmet foods, gifts, and spa items was to the right.
Beyond the shelves, I saw four workers creating gift baskets to be delivered that day. The shop also housed a cooler for fresh flowers, and to the left, behind the administration area, was a huge storage room for finished gift baskets waiting for delivery.
Terry’s and Wally’s operation is well known and very successful, but it’s not immune to a drop in sales, and that’s the focus in the Los Angeles Times story. It’s a must read, and you’ll find it here along with a terrific picture (they’re both as down to earth as shown).
This makeover article provides them with tips to:
Note: The term advisory board was just added to the dictionary.
If you’re looking for a quick workspace makeover, this audio CD will help, and 101 marketing tips are found in this book, delivered fast by Email.
Be sure to have a pen and paper handy as you read this makeover, as it will surely help you brainstorm ideas to consider for your business.
If an expert came to your shop, what advice would you seek?
NOTICE: Until late December, I’ll feature articles more often here than the regular three times weekly schedule, as gift basket stories will become plentiful between now and the holidays.
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.
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