Super Cool EyeBlack

In light of the upcoming Superbowl or I Love Lucy marathon (depending on your interest), I thought I'd highlight a cool promo - customized EyeBlack. It's the black paint that athletes wear below their eyes to reduce glare. Now, your team or company can customize it with your logo and wear it for your event. For about $1.00 per pair, you get a very cool pair of eyes for your event.

Check it out!

Imagine 10,000 runners wearing it to support breast cancer awareness!

Don't Just Mulch

Growing plants is a frequent metaphor for the sales process: plant a seed, fertilizer, weed, mulch, enjoy the new growth and then continue the care. As marketing and sales professionals, we undertake the same process. We know to do all of these steps simultaneously (that seed from November might need fertilizing now while a new seed is being planted somewhere else). Many people have put themselves in the "mulching" step - covering themselves with excuses for not doing business. They are hibernating until "this thing" blows over. Successful businesses will continue to all the growing steps. What are you doing to plant new seeds? Weed out the bad prospects? Care for current customers?

Check out this link to an article written after 9-11 - very appropriate to today's climate.

Stuck doing all the work? Outsource!

While many companies are downsizing, the left behind employees still have to get their work done plus some. How is that possible? Besides crawling under your desk, outsourcing is a solution. It doesn't mean you have to hire expensive contractors or consultants. It can mean you ask for brain power in solving problems. Rather than spending hours researching a product or service, ask a couple of companies to do that for you and provide the best solutions. It's part of their service commitment for you.

Post-it Notes Work!

Take note...apparently we all like post-it notes! We are always looking for inexpensive ways to get in front of our prospects or customers with our messaging. One of THE best ways is with Post-it notes. You may think that they are going away...but check out this Forbes article why they are here to stay!

If everyone is using them, shouldn't you be giving them away to promote your business?

Ignorance is Bliss...or Fake it til You Make it

As I was looking for information on past recessions, I was struck by how regular they seem to be. A couple of them I was in the work force (versus school). Looking back on them, I can't say that I remember them much. It could be bad memory but I think it has more to do with awareness and media. The "Dot-Bomb" left an after taste but we kept on being profitable.

The collective psychology seems to buying into the current recession. I think that's a mistake. I think we put our heads down, talk to customers, fix problems and get the jobs done. Ignorance is bliss as they say. If you can't ignore it then fake it. An old boss of mine used to answer the question...How's business? with a resounding FANTASTIC! A faker all the way to the bank!

Friend-Raising

Just heard a new term (maybe I'm a bit behind)..."friend-raising". It was used in the context of connecting with college alums - instead of fund-raising. Isn't that what we're doing in our businesses - but we call it - client aquisition or new account development? "Friend-raising" or even "Client-raising" is so much friendlier. It's not as immediate but definitely more rewarding both personally and financially. We're raising new friends who will become our financial contributors! It says - you and I are connected and when you need my expert help, I'm here for you. Raise a few new friends today.

Your Company as a Verb

I enjoyed a Blog by Seth Godin about The Best Middle Name Ever..."the"...http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/. It made me think about other words and grammar. I've decided that while it would be great to be Meg The O'Dea (my other family members might argue with me) or O2 The Marketing + Design, I'd much rather be a verb. Think about it! Not many have achieved this - Google being the most obvious. Verbs are about actions. If that isn't possible, I would take an adjective or adverb...though I suspect that many companies already do this...that's the "company x" way or those are "company y" standards. I'm going to o2 this a little longer and come up with other possibilities.

Where are Your Customers When They Need You?

How do people purchase products and services? They have to take an action...go online, call someone, walk into a store, or email a business. Why they take an action is the source of much discussion, books, marketing classes. While the "why" is important, the "where" is too. Where are you customers when they want to buy your products or services? In the car...hungry for lunch? At home...the shower is backed up. In front of the computer...out of service awards?

Wouldn't it make sense to be in front of your customers when they wanted you? Consider giving them something that will be there when they need you. The refrigerator magnet, the travel mug, the mousepad, etc. Make it easy for them to take that action!

Spend Now and Support the Economy

On my favorite morning radio show yesterday, they were discussing signs in the real world about the economy...things like coffee shop lines, movie theaters, airports, etc. Many callers gave anecdotes on their job status and what they were seeing. Then the discussion turned to the fact that all the morning show people had jobs and nothing had changed for them economically. So, should they be spending or conserving? I wanted to YELL at them...spend! I don't mean to spend randomly but I do mean to purchase mindfully.

Support your local coffee shop so that it stays in business. Hire the contractor to do the work around the house NOW...he may have more time for you and can do it more quickly. Consider your purchases - what is important to you - but if you can, don't wait. Many people and businesses need your business. If the people and businesses who are economically viable stop spending, this recession will continue longer than it should. And, businesses, this is a great time to get more customers. Some of your competitors will not survive this recession - connect with new customers now.

The "economy" is real people...support them.

Newspaper Ads vs Direct Mail

In the gym over the weekend, I overheard a conversation between two women about local newspaper advertising. They were questioning placement, exposure and cost. They also commented on the high cost of yellow page advertising. I almost jumped into their conversation to ask some questions...did they feel like they were getting through to their audience? Was it worth the cost? Were they tracking the responses? With advertising budgets tightening, everyone is looking to squeeze the most out of their money.

Direct mail offers an inexpensive way to directly reach your audience. You can design a clever piece that motivates them to take an action. The action could be to purchase, come into a store or tradeshow booth or respond to a survey. You can then track the effectiveness of the mailing to find out the response rate - aka return on investment. How many people responded? How many sales were generated as a result of the piece? Who responded?

Then you analyze the results and try again - always trying to achieve a better response rate - aka a better return on investment.

Suffering from Recession Fatigue

It appears that the recession started December 2007. I know that many companies really started getting conservative by Fall 2008. Amongst friends and family there were discussions about less holiday shopping or no vacations. Some of these people have not been hit economically but have jumped on the doomsday band wagon. I am already tired of it. I am getting recession fatigue. Today, I decided to go support some local retail establishments. I don't even feel guilty...it was all on sale! Most businesses are offering discounts to customers now. If they aren't, I would ask - it never hurts. This is a great time to be a buyer! Ask any of us at O2 Marketing - we're negotiable! www.o2marketing.com. Fight Recession Fatigue with some buying. Make it a New Year's Resolution.