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Do You Play Hit and Miss With Your Marketing?
Too many online marketers use a "hit and miss" marketingapproach. By that I mean placing some ads here and there inthe hopes of selling something. And it's the worst possibleway to do business.Why? Because you probably *won't* do much, if any, businessat ...
Marketing and Selling Through The Mind Of Your Customer...
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence and scientific brain research showing that human emotions and the unconscious plays a major role in consumer selection of products and services. As our multi cultural society matures; it becomes evident that those ...
Marketing to the Affluent - with Wine
With its association to an affluent, sophisticated lifestyle, wine can make a good accompaniment when marketing to an affluent audience. However, I am not talking here about ordering expensive wine at a client dinner. Wine can be used more creatively and ...
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My calendar list focuses on the major holidays when most Americans have been trained to spend extra money or participate in a ceremonial activity. Generally speaking, you want to link your marketing promotions to a time of year when customers have their wallets out. Thus, you're simply positioning your product or service as the perfect gift or solution for the celebrated event.
Be Prepared
You can never be too early in preparing your marketing campaigns. For example, in order for the typical small business owner to prepare for a Valentine's Day direct mail campaign, you'll need to get most of your materials printed and ready to go by the third week in January and in the mailstream by the last week in January, certainly no later than the first week in February. I recommend you plan two months in advance. Thus, you should start planning your Mother's Day campaign in early March. Obviously, the more involved the campaign, the more lead time. What's more, some advertising vehicles have extensive lead times, specifically magazines that need your camera-ready ad approximately 6 weeks [possibly more or less] before publication, and newspaper inserts also require a reservation approximately 6-8 weeks before publication.
Unique Angle
Your promotional angle is the key to standing out from your competition. People are going to buy gifts at Christmas, without a doubt. But what makes your service or product so interesting, that shoppers should hand over their money to you instead of the myriad of other stores? Find a creative answer, and you'll grow your business.
JANUARY
- New Year's Day, and the proceeding two weeks -- Launch your marketing messages the last week of December.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day --
Although not a big gift-giving time, this is a great time to spread a non- profit message.
FEBRUARY
- Valentine's Day -- Launch your marketing messages the last week in January. **Popular Gift- giving Time**
- President's Day
MARCH
- St. Patrick's Day
APRIL
- April Fools Day
- Daylight Savings Begins
- Easter **Popular Gift-giving Time**
- Secretaries Days **Popular Gift-giving Time**
MAY
- Mother's Day -- Launch your marketing messages approximately 3 weeks before. **Popular Gift-giving Time**
- Memorial Day
JUNE
- Father's Day **Popular Gift-giving Time** Launch your marketing messages approximately 3 weeks before.
- Graduation **Popular Gift-giving Time** Launch your marketing messages approximately 3 weeks before.
JULY
- Independence Day
- Back to School -- Although not a holiday, it's certainly a popular time to find wallets open and increased spending, particularly by moms and teenagers.
AUGUST
- Dog days of summer
- Back to School continued
SEPTEMBER
- Back to School -- Marketing messages can continue through the first week of September.
- Labor Day
- Grandparent's Day
OCTOBER
- Columbus Day
- Halloween **Popular Gift-giving Time**
- Holiday preparation should be 1/4 completed, seriously. Launch your first holiday message immediately after Halloween. This message will generally go to your current customer base, offering them an exclusive early-bird holiday special to expire in early November.
- Daylight Savings Ends
NOVEMBER
- Thanksgiving **Popular Gift-giving Time**
- Your Holiday advertising is in full swing
- Election Day
- Veteran's Day
DECEMBER
- Christmas Day **Popular Gift-giving Time**
- Hanukkah **Popular Gift-giving Time**
- New Year's Eve -- Launch New Year's message late the second week in December.
About the Author
About the Author:
Sharron Senter is a New-England based marketing consultant, speaker, writer and founder of Senter & Associates, a marketing communications firm that helps small businesses deploy low-cost online and offline marketing tactics. Senter is well known for her free monthly emailed marketing tips found at http://www.sharronsenter.com
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