Follow Up Marketing Experts Blog

Thomas Dos, The Followup Marketing Cat is better.

This is Fancy and I am happy to report that Thomas Dos is doing better. Not out of the woods yet but doing better.  The medicine is helping.

So you have me again for another article.  I think today is K day.  Just get out that list and put in the K's! 

Last time we talked about the importance of direct mail in your marketing.  Today I am going to talk about your business card.  Look at it carefully and see if it has a call to action. A reason for someone to call you.  It could be a special report, eBook but something to get them to contact you or visit your website.

Also be sure you have all your information on the card and that people can read it.  Put information on the back about what you do.  It is also important to have your picture on the card so they can relate to you. Be sure you have your website, phone number, email address, address, and social media information.

The back could have more detailed information about what you do plus that special report that they can get.  One that I just got was for a free seminar on cat health and behavior and two free office visits! What a deal!

Also, when you go to events, don't just hand out your card to everyone. You should give it to just the people that ask for a card and be sure to ask for theirs.  Again put information about that person on the back of the card and then Follow Up with them very soon after the event.  We all get business cards that just sit there.  Not a good idea.

Off to check on Thomas Dos.  Meow and Purrs till later.

 

 

Thomas Dos, The Follow Up Marketing Cat is sick.

Ok, today is L day.  Get out those lists and put in the L's!

My master took me to the vet on Friday and they think I am having problems.  I will get the real report today and see if there is anything they can do.  All I want to do is rest and hide.

I have asked Fancy to do my article for today.  Thank you Fancy!

Ok, this is Fancy and I am the smart cat in the family.  My suggestion for today is about how to communicate with your contacts besides email.    There are many available but today we are going to talk about  Send Out cards.

For over 6 years my master has been using Send Out cards to communicate with both friends and clients.  It is a direct mail way to stay in touch with your customers and clients.  It is more expensive then email and text messaging but one that should be used several times a year.  Think about how often you receive a personal note or card in the mail from someone that you have done business with.  The two we get on our birthday are from our financial advisor and our insurance agent.  A few from family and friends but that is it.  These get noticed unlike email and text messages.

What if you sent a personal message to your clients?  Perhaps a card at Thanksgiving, Valentine ’s Day or any day for that matter.  Do you think they will open it and read it?  Send Out Cards is super easy to use and you can put all of your contacts in there under different lists.  The link above sends you there and you can send a card for free.  Lots of great information and if you decide to join we will help you get started.

Well, I had better check on Thomas Dos.  Meow and Purrs till later.

 

 

Thomas Dos, The Follow Up Marketing Cat-Idea #17

Today is K day!  That means putting all the names with K into an excel spread sheet.  Don't forget to do several spread sheets depending on the person.  Customers in one, prospects in another, lost clients etc.

Ok, today we are going to discuss who should do an email newsletter.    Not all businesses should do this type of emailing.  Look at your business and think about what you could put into an informational newsletter that they would like to know about.  The one I love to read is from Full Circle Vet Clinic.  They always let my masters know about things that will help us.  I always read it too.  Great, useful information.  However, it wouldn't really be a good idea for some of our other clients.  Restaurants need to send things more often regarding specials, events, etc.  So you need to think about your business and which email technique will work for you.  If you need help deciding, just email my master at mailto:[email protected] 

She just loves giving free advice to small businesses.

Try to keep to one subject.  Like with Full Circle, they just have information that is important for Pet Owners to know.  It is like this email, it is on email marketing and information that is important to know.

Think of your business and see what would be important information for your clients.

Make sure it is 90% educational and 10% promotional.  If all you do is send them information about buy, buy, buy they will not read your email.  Give them useful information and they will look forward to receiving it.

One restaurant in Loveland always sends out an email on Monday with their weekly specials.  I always pull it up to see what they have.

Enough for one day.  Meow and Purrs.

 

 

Thomas Dos, The Follow Up Marketing Cat-Idea #16

 

Ok, today we are going to complete on your excel spread sheet, J.  I have given you a few days to make sure you get this done because it is so important.

The subject today is back to email marketing and discussing some of the things that you must do for a successful email.

First, make sure you have a good title, something that will catch their attention, like Thomas Dos jumps from a 16 story window!  Don't worry, I am not jumping from a window, in fact it is hard to jump from the table to the floor.  Fancy would be the one to jump that far!

Next you must make the information something they will want to read, not just buy my stuff.  Give them good quality information.  This might be an interesting story that will relate to their business.  Like 7 things you should know before buying a cat.  Something catchy.  Don't make it too long. 

You could also use a video in your email with a great message that will help them.  Be creative in what you write and write like you are writing to your sister or brother.

Make them an offer at the end.  It could be a free report, an e-course or you could send them to another page that contains your offer.  Ask for their contact information before providing them with the free report.  Their contact information is like gold.

Once you get their information be sure to contact them on a regular basis, not just a onetime shot.  As we have said, you must follow up on a regular basis.  You want to be the one they think of when they need your services.

This is easy to automate using services like Constant Contact or Mail Chimp.  You might want to check them out.  Constant Contact is the one we use with our clients.  It might be worth your time to check them out.  They have lots of great information to help you.

We also want you to know that this is something that we do for you if you don't have the time or desire to do it yourself.  Just contact us to find out more.  For our email address just go to the home page and email my master, Pam.  Her email address is at the bottom of the page.  You can get there by clicking on this link or just email her direct atmailto:[email protected]

Well Meow and Purrs for today!

 

 

Thomas Dos, The Follow Up Marketing Cat-Idea #15

This is a great article that I wanted to share.

Tama – the station master cat who raised over $10 million and helped save a train line

Love this story about Tama.  What a terrific thing for a cat to do!  I am very proud of him!

He lives in Kinokawa City (Wakayama, Japan).  He manns the train station with his friends.

This began in 2003 when a small railroad company was trying to stay in business and went into business with another railroad.  As a result of the union, a small cat shelter had to go away.  The lady that looked after the cats asked the president of the station to let the cats live at the station otherwise who knows what would have happened to them.  He agreed.

That was when Tama became the station master. The owner saw Tama as a maneki-neko, a Japanese lucky charm in the motif of a cat and that was to bring good business.  This was very successful.  The press picked it up and it spread everywhere!  Suddenly there was a 10% jump in people riding the train.  Due to the increase in ridership and the selling of memorabilia items caused the business to make 10 million dollars!

Tama was promoted to Super Station Master and given a new window, a super cool hat and a years’ worth of cat food!

Way to go Tama!

Thinking out of the box really worked!  How can your business think out of the box?  When you are the same as the next guy you go nowhere.  Try to think of ways to set your business apart from all the others!

Below is a picture of Tama!  Super cute cat.  Well, Meow and Purrs.

Thomas Dos, The Follow Up Marketing Cat-Idea #14

Ok, today we are going to change subjects and start a new topic on marketing.  That topic is email marketing.  It is very cost effective and is one follow up method that you must be doing on a regular basis.

However, you will have to find out where your contact comes from.  Are they prospects, active customers, inactive customers or lost customers?  Each group should be sent a different email.

Let’s talk today about prospects.  Prospects are those which have shown an interest in your product or service but haven't purchased yet.  For these, the best way to keep in touch is with great informational articles that they might be interested in.  Perhaps you own a golf store.  People come in and you get their information but they don't buy.  Ask them if they would like to receive you monthly...weekly newsletter on golf.  If so, put them on that list. 

When we talked about lists earlier, we said that you should have several lists, not just one.  What you send to a prospect should be different from an active customer.  This does take time and effort but it usually is a better way to get them from prospect to customer.  Also, make sure that the article is something they would be interested in receiving.  Keep up on the latest information for your business. 

One suggestion is to do a Google alert for your business, such as golf or a more specific keyword like golf clubs, golf courses, golf shoes etc.  Google alerts is easy to set up and a great way to keep on top of the current trends.

Ok, nap time!  Meow and Purrs.

 

Thomas Dos, The Follow Up Marketing Cat-Idea #13

Ok, today I am going to give you a few additional ideas for networking but first, put in the I's. 

Networking can be one on one or you can give a presentation to a group.  There are many groups that are always looking for speakers.  Some examples are
The Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Lions Club, groups and organizations that are your target market.  Think about your target market and what they need and what is causing them pain.  Focus on groups that fit the target market and put together a great presentation  that will solve those needs.  Many of the groups above are a mix of people.  It is very likely that you will hit on the needs of some of the members.

One example might be someone that is a financial advisor.  They probably have a niche, such as people with families or perhaps the baby boomer group that is planning on retirement.  You wouldn't present a talk about the importance of saving for college expenses to baby boomers.  Most have their children grown and out of college but they would like to know how to use their retirement money wisely.  I think you need to look at the group and see what will appeal to most of the members.  Ask the head of the group to see what will be the best subject for their group.

If you do get some interest from people be sure to Follow Up immediately with a phone call, email or both.  You could also send a thank you to each person that came.  You can get this information by having a drawing for some sort of gift or service.  You never know when someone will need your service and you want to be top of mind.  You also might want to ask the group who might be interested in your informational newsletter.  If anyone responds, be sure to put them on your list!

Well, that work deserves a nap!  Meow and Purrs!

Thomas Dos, The Follow Up Marketing Cat-Idea #12

Ok, today we are going to talk about questions that you can ask at a networking event but first put in all the H's.  Like I told you yesterday, my master will ask "What is your story?"  You could use that as well.  Amazing what you can find out about someone just by asking a few questions.  Here are a few others.

What do you do for a living?

How long have you done that type of work?

What do you enjoy about your work?

What made you choose that type of work?

What problems to you have in your business?

Where else do you network?

What do you do in your spare time?

Do you have a family?

Try networking at restaurants.  The wait staff love to talk about themselves and it is a great way to practice your networking skills.  By the time you have a short conversation, you will know a lot about that person.  Why they are doing what they do.  Be sure to focus on them.  People love to talk about themselves.

After the event, be sure to send them a email or a personal note and perhaps an article or other information that will help their business.  You could also get their business card and tell them you will email them some information.

Ok, nap time! Meow and Purrs!

Thomas Dos, The Marketing Cat-Idea #11

Ok, today we are going to talk about Networking but first, put in all the G's. Some people really like Networking and others, not so much.  I would really like to network with Fancy and Buddy, that is a picture of Fancy on the computer, but they have their own group and I am not included.  Maybe someday.  We all find it hard to break into established groups and if you are the new person on the block, it is even harder. Maybe if I hadn't been a bully, they would have accepted me..sigh.

One suggestion that I heard about was be on time and try to be one of the first ones there.  If there aren't many people, it is easier to talk with them.  You also might want to look for the person that is by themselves or looks lost.  They might be new too and would welcome someone coming up to them and saying " Hi, I'm Thomas Dos."  Usually most people will then introduce themselves and hopefully that will develop into a conversation.

My master told me that yesterday they went to Applebee's for lunch.  The gal that waited on them was excellent and they told her that at the end.  They also found out her story.  This is something my master does often.  She will ask them what their story is....it works most of the time and she gets great service from these servers!  The idea is to find out about them and then jot that down on the back of their business card.

Another cool idea that I read about was to have blank business cards available.  It is amazing how many people forgot them, or they are at the printer, or...  So you just offer them a blank business card where they can put their information.

I have tons of great suggestions for networking and will be talking about them this week.  Meows and Purrs until next time.

Thomas Dos, The Marketing Cat-Idea #10

 

Since this is a Sunday, I think you deserve the day off.  I took the day off too to play with my friends, Fancy and Buddy!  You will see them in future posts if they behave themselves.

My article today is about all of those business cards that are piled up on your desk or in a drawer.  There was a cost of time and money to get those cards and it is time to put some of them on a excel spread sheet.  This will be a different list from your clients and customers.  It will be more detailed with information about that person and how you met. What their interests were and perhaps how you could help them in their business.  It is now time to pull out those cards and see which ones you want to contact.  It is also a good time to call some of them and schedule a lunch or coffee together.  The one on one is always the best way to get to know them better.  There might be many that go in the round file cabinet and that is ok.  You will feel so good when you have this project done.

When you go to networking events it is a good idea to be selective.  Just get the cards of those that you feel are a good fit for you and what you have to offer.  By talking with them you will get a feel for what they want and what their interests are.  You need to be asking the questions about them.  Remember, the WIIFM.  What's in it for me?  They want to know how you can help them.

Ok, my little brain has to rest and I need a bath.  Meow and Purrs.