81 Marketing Ideas
- Networking with Airplane stranger
- Postcard mailing
- Sale or name that leveraged popular theme
- Creative business card
- Bundling, packaging, cluster marketing
- Classified Ads
- Speeches, Training, Education
- Market to employers, through employers, employee newsletter
- Networking, socializing
- Sell spin-off products
- Bartering*
- Publish a fact-filled booklet
- Target start-ups
- Affinity marketing through clubs, associations, organizations
- Events, contests, sweepstakes
- Motivating Sales Reps through personal contact
- Send two copies of flyer/business card
- Promotional partner
- Raise prices and reposition product
- Remind existing clients of all your capabilities
- Hand address envelope
- Welcome kit to new clients
- Create an advisory board
- Install a toll-free number
- Put advertising on your car (banner, magnet sign, vanity plate)
- Swap mailing lists, do co-op and joint mailings with non-competitors
- Ask for referrals
- Give extra brochures to clients
- Exchange referrals with colleagues
- Create a tag line that describes where you are
- Include your business card when paying bills
- Offer free samples
- Donate your product to auction, raffles, etc.
- Create your own awards
- Celebrate your businesses birthday
- Host a special occasion for best customers, influencers
- Give free samples to influencers
- Give customers an incentive to refer business to you
- Send a newsletter to customers
- Create a 30- to 60-second explanation of your business
- Mail an article of interest to a customer
- Send a coupon to a client on his/her birthday
- Get written testimonials from satisfied customers
- Be included in your community's Welcome Wagon kit
- Add personal notes or post-its to letters and brochures
- Consider using "teaser copy" on the front of the envelope
- Include a P.S. at the end of your letter
- Exchange services for advertising
- Insert promotional pieces in others' mailings
- Promote on restaurant placemats, grocery/ATM receipts
- Advertise in Entertainment books (free)
- Pre-invite prospects to your booth for something special
- Share your business with strategic co-exhibitors at a trade show
- Share booth space with a non-competitor
- Include premiums or coupons in trade show registration packets
- Wear company logo apparel or button
- Advertise in the church bulletin
- Sell at flea markets and local mini-fairs
- Advertise on movie theater screens
- Picket your own business with positive signage
- Become premium for other businesses--a coupon for their disgruntled customers
- Reward employees for prospecting
- Advertise in defunct competitor's empty store window
- Start a frequent buyer program
- Accept competitors' coupons
- Join a networking group, chamber of commerce, local organization
- Sponsor local teams
- Start an e-mail broadcast list or newsletter
- Tap colleges for free marketing help
- Take advantage of free sales aids through suppliers
- Advertise on your voice mail
- Put a daily sign up of specials for when you're open and closed
- Send direct mail using real stamps
- Send thank you notes and up-sell or cross sell existing customers
- Create audio cassette, video or CD "brochures"
- Post flyers to local bulletin boards
- Put coupons in car windshields and door hangers
- Ask magazines and newspapers for remnant space
- Ask "How did you hear about us?" from every customer
- Use fax-broadcasting to send new product or sale announcements
- Answer questions on newsgroups and e-mail discussion lists mentioning your business
