Holiday Cards from Businesses Ruled This Year

The businesses we patronized were on top of their game this year when it came to sending Christams cards. In fact, if it weren't for these cards our Christmas card collection would have been fairly small (for whatever reason friends and family don't seem to be partaking in this holiday tradition).

It's nice to see that even with tight economic times businesses are taking the time and investing some of their advertising budget in this very effective marketing tool.  Sending a card at the holidays to your clients is an extremely effective sign of "goodwill" in the business sense.

I was particularly impressed with the variety of cards receieved and how they were taylored to the industry they represented. Our realtor sent an attractive card that opened like the front door of a home. Our veterinarian sent a beautiful embossed card that was signed by all of the staff.  The feed mill, where we get feed and supplies for our horses, sent a photo card that included all of their staff.

When planning for next year, keep holiday cards in mind.  They're a economical way to say "thank you" to you clients and vendors for their business.

Editorial Calendars Are Key To Planning Your Marketing for The New Year

Happy Holidays!!
The two weeks in between Christmas and New Year's can often feels like a state of limbo when you're marketing your product or business.  2010 is winding down and you're making plans for 2011, yet we're not quite there yet . . .

One of the best uses of this time, however, is in planning for the New Year  . . .   And when it comes to advertising and promotion this means knowing what the prospective media you hope will give you some coverage in 2011, is planning for their upcoming year.

In the world of advertsing and marketing this means: Editorial Calendar.  By now, most print mediums - both newspaper (tabs) and magazines have set their editorial calendars for 2011.  This calendar is a guideline of what topics/subjects they plan to target per issue.  Some will have gardening issues or vacation issues, others will devote issues or advertising pages to car maintenance, lawn care . . .   even better are the newspapers and magazines that produce special "tabs" to take to the home and garden  or weddding expos in the spring.

Knowing what your local print mediums have planned for next year will help you to plan and to time when you send out your press releases and when you choose to run your print ads.

Spend some time now contacting the publications to get their calendar.  If they don't have it available online, ask for a media kit.  The calendar is usually included in the advertising information that makes up a media kit.

Get Your Press Release Into The Right Hands

For the more than 20 years I worked for a mid-size daily newspaper I can tell you at least once a day someone would ask me if I got their press release.  My answer was almost always"no".  When I would ask them where they sent it, the answer was usually they didn't know, or they sent it to another department, or to advertsing. 

Not knowing the right person to send a press release to amounts to about the same as not sending one at all.  Do your legwork.  Find out the name and contact information (probably an email address) for the editor of the medium you want to run your release.  You then want to follow up with a phone call to make sure they received the press release, and to ask if they have any questions.

Marketing, as in sending press releases, takes some time.  And it takes an effort of making connections with the right people (editors), so that they can get the word out about your product, service, or business.

A Professional Looking Business Card is a Must For Any Business - Both Big and Small

Having a profesional looking business card is a "must have" for any business. However, I often see businesses - especially small or start-up businesses try to cut corners by making their own business cards. 
Very few of these cards look good and none, in my opinion look professional.  Even with a good printer and printed on better paper, a homemade business card ususally looks unprofessinonal. Remember that your business card is often the first impression potential customers and clients have of your business.  In addition, today there are many options to have a good looking card done for a reasonable price.  Two of my favorite mail order business card printers (Colorful Images, and 123 Print) creat professional looking cards for great prices. Some of the cards are as reasonable as $3.95 for 100 cards.  That is a very small investment to make in you businesses profesional image . . .