Is Your Business Ready for a Fresh New Focus

Over the Christmas break I had the opportunity to discover the value of the Wii Fit Plus and the games in that package. So every morning I climb out of bed early to step up onto the Wii Fit board and test my center of balance, and my ability to focus. This morning as I was intently focusing on putting the little red dot in the very center of the screen representing a perfect center of balance, the game reminded me that an off center balance can have a negative effect on your posture and thus on the alignment of your pelvis and spine that could lead to aches and pains.

As I found myself hunched over the keyboard this afternoon typing up a storm I briefly reflected on my exercise lesson from this morning and it’s application to my business life. The importance on focusing on the central aspects of your business, the core, and perhaps the spine if you will, fell on me with surprising weight. Working in advertising has reinforced the knowledge that if the focus on your business or on your advertising messages falls out of alignment your business suffers.

Sears for example was the place you went to for everything, you could even buy a house from them for a time in the twentieth century. However, as competitors came onto the field in every market that Sears once owned they seemed to loose their purpose and their once coveted place in the market. This was evident in multiple years of sales losses – however in the mid 1990’s Sears came out with a new advertising campaign focusing on the softer side of Sears, and for the first time in long time. 1

As you can see in your personal life as well as in your business life focus is of integral importance if you wish to stay in alignment.

[1] Sears Public Relations and Communications “Sears Builds on Success of Softer Side Advertising Campaign: New Creative Asks Customers to ‘Take Another Look’” Jan. 7, 2010 Contact: Paula Davis of Sears, Roebuck & Co. http://www2.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/micro_stories.pl?ACCT=116376&TICK=SEARS&STORY=/www/story/09-11-1998/0000748829&EDATE=Sep+11,+1998

3 Ways to Stay in Your Customer’s Pocket

Part 3 of a 3 part series

With the development of the iPhone there was a new advertising method created. Advertising through applications on your customer’s cellular phones.

Apple ever being on the forefront of how to provide a useful service that will endear you to your customer has created a good blueprint for a successful application. First there should be one or two that are free to get your customer engaged to download the first one. Second it should provide a useful service or be fun and entertaining. It should also be easy to access and download quickly.

Some businesses have taken to this format quickly. Nationwide has created an application that reminds their customers what to do in case of a automobile accident. Blackberry created an application that houses all the applications available for their phones.

Application marketing is still on the forefront but as more and more companies experiment with being securely in their customer’s pocket I am sure we will see a stronger trend in this direction.

Three Ways to Stay in Your Customer's Pocket Part 2

Part 2 of a 3 part series

Social media has been the talk of the marketing world for a year or more now. Marketing departments have been furiously figuring out how to harness the power of this strong tool in their arsenal.

We have all taken notice as outlets like facebook, Twitter, Digg, and LinkedIn flourish. It seems one of the key methods these sites depend on is easy accessibility and easy use. Most of them offer a mobile option so people can send in their updates and read their contact’s updates from their mobile phones.
Businesses now offer specials offers and discounts on their facebook and twitter accounts which are used to re-enforce print or broadcast media and in special occasions completely replace it. As their friends and followers list grows more people are exposed to their messages and lots of customers will leave reports of good experiences and sometimes a list of their favorite things about the business, being a quick and sincere referral for others that visit the site.

A third way that business are using this is to be in direct contact with their customers. I am sure you have all seen Best Buy’s commercial advertising their twitter site. The sea of bright blue shirts reassuring the customer that when they are ready to purchase there will be a sea of qualified help in the decision process, the set up, and then any troubleshooting along the way. This communication is welcome and often searched out, as it provides a valuable service to the client.

Three Ways to Stay in Your Customer's Pocket

Part 1 of a 3 Part Series

Have you ever wondered how you might be better able to stay top of mind with your customers? Have you dreamed about being able to keep in touch with them without the expense and delays of direct mail? To send them a message and have them read it?

People are more dependent than ever on their cellular phones. With the emergence of blackberries (ie. crackberries), people count on their cell phones for their contact information, schedules for work and personal appointments, and the steady flow of e-mails that flows in and out from the priceless devices.

Other phones quickly found ways to accommodate these needs of the consumers and smart phones have come into high demand. Then there is the class of phones that aren’t smart – but they don’t sit in the back of the class either; with capabilities of the black berry through internet access but without the streamlined synching feature.

Text messages are reaching an all time high the typical American mobile subscriber sends or receives 357 text messages per month. Businesses have tapped into this preference and telemarketing is quickly dying as customers opt into text messaging alert programs for their favorite businesses by texting a quick word and getting some special offer for enrollment from a free sandwich to a 10% discount on their next purchase or a free estimate. This option allows businesses to quickly and clearly communicate a limited time offer to their customers and sometimes drive traffic on a whim for a particularly slow day.

Ransom of the Fun Fonts

Have you ever admired the fancy fonts and thought “Why didn’t our marketing group use some prettier font like this?” With the careful eye your marketing team keeps on your brand’s image you know that they are watching out for your best interest… but why do the marketing teams of the world always seem to take the innovative fonts hostage?

One reason we select certain fonts is because of the personality that they seem to portray. The simple clear Times New Roman font seems straightforward and reliable. While, Curlz MT on the other hand seems as flippant as today’s styles.

If you would really like to get to know your fonts, click on the link below to enjoy a video we found quite humorous

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1823766

Next time your marketing team presents their ideas with a certain typeface, maybe it will make more sense to you!