5 Ways To Promote Yourself!
P.T. Barnum said, "Without promotion something terrible happens – nothing!"
It’s true. Even if you build a better mousetrap, the world will not beat a path to your door if they don’t know where to find your door.
In her book, "101 Ways To Promote Yourself’" Raleigh Pinsky reveals how to generate leads, cultivate referrals, develop your image, market effectively on the Internet and more.
The book is written in question-and-answer format, which makes it fun and easy to read. There is also a list of resources at the end of each chapter.
Known as the "Visibility Expert," Pinsky says:
"If you don’t ask, you don’t get."
Here are 5 ideas from the book that I personally have used to grow my coupon book business.
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Idea #7 – Audio Brochures
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Printed brochures often hit the circular file before they ever even reach your prospect. But a cassette or CD has an inherent value that most people just can’t throw away.
An audio brochure need not be expensive. A friend recorded mine for $30. Then, I duplicate the CDs myself, using my computer, for less than one dollar each.
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Idea #20 – Give An Award
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I got involved in giving an award as more a way to solve a problem than to generate publicity.
My company publishes a coupon book called The Best Value Savings Guide. I found during my market research that coupon book buyers often feel mistreated by businesses when they redeem a coupon. So, I developed a method to virtually guarantee my customers would receive extra-special treatment.
Customers would vote (using a mail-in survey inside the coupon book) on which business they felt gave the "best value." Value was defined as superior quality and service as well as price.
I then custom-made a simple award for $50 called "The Best Value Award of Excellence." I presented the award at a Chamber of Commerce meeting to the business with the most votes.
As a side benefit, the local media covered the award ceremony, generating much more than $50 worth of publicity for my company.
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Idea #22 – Create A Contest
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To launch my coupon book, I held a contest at an annual festival in my city. Everyone who bought a book filled out a ballot for a chance to win $100 cash.
Then, two weeks later, I awarded the money to one lucky winner LIVE on television. It was a great way to boost sales and generate some excitement about my coupon book.
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Idea #66 – Broadcast Fax
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This technique never fails to produce big profits fast.
I created a simple, one-page sales letter on my computer. Then using fax software and a modem, I sent hundreds of faxes to my list of fellow Chamber of Commerce members.
I would punch the phone numbers into the computer before I went to bed and let it fax all night. When I’d wake up, there’d be tons of orders and requests on my answering machine.
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Idea #80 – Coupons
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Since I own a coupon book business, using coupons to promote my book was a no-brainer.
First, I print coupons on my computer offering a 25% discount off the cover price of my coupon book. Then when someone buys a book, I give them one of these coupons. The coupon is valid on their next purchase.
This generates repeat business when my customers buy books as a gift for their friends and family.
These are just 5 of the ideas I have used from Raleigh Pinsky’s book "101 Ways To Promote Yourself." To see 96 more, get her book by going here:
http://www.amazon.com
Tags: internet marketing tips, website optimization, article marketing, internet marketing, niche marketing
