Need a Starbucks Break..Visit IT'S A GRIND

What a cool place. A really nice break from the non-relaxing Starbucks. Nice and relaxing..a fire going and Free Wireless Internet! Great Jazz music and comfy high back chairs. Really nice to be able to go in a coffee shop and not feel overwhelmed and intimidated. Starbucks may have started it all and I am a huge fan of there Corporate office in Seattle..but it looks like It's A Grind has brought it to the next level. As you notice I don't believe its about the coffee..it's all about the experience and It's A Grind gets the experience.

My neighborhood It's A Grind is listed below..stop in and say hello I will be there working next to the fireplace!

Cedar Park - Now Brewing700 E. Whitestone Blvd. Cedar Park, TX 78613(512) 259-2220

http://www.itsagrind.org/index.php

The Rules of the E-mail Campaign game

So you want to do an email-marketing campaign...or a newsletter...here are the "Rules of the Game" follow these easy steps and you will have a successful campaign. I guarantee it!!

Answer "what is in it for me"
-The e-mail should not be just be news or information, it has to be something the client can use...make an offer they cant refuse.

Get Permission
-People do not want unrequested interruptions in there lives...only emails those people who want to receive your message/offers.

Champion Yourself
-Share news.info on employees, community involvement,photos and other goings on inside your business. This will localize your business to your community.

Be consistent... but not pushy
-You do not want to get inside the minds of your clients and then just drop off for a few months and then expect to get back to the top of mind.

Ask for Feedback
-Give them a means to be able to reply to the message. And make sure to answer there feedback ..good or bad.

Track the Results
-Look at the open rate. Look at the sales of a new product after the offer has gone out. Track the redemption time frame. Track everything that has to do with the email. The more conclusions you can draw the better you will be able to improve the email.

The rule of 3
-A client who has visited your location at least 3 times is over 90% more likely to continue the relationship. Entice your clients to come in not once..not twice but three times and you will increase your odds on retaining that client.

Better Pizza.....Better Marketing

I am asked all the time "what brands do you admire the most" and at the top of my list is

PAPA JOHN'S. Below is another example of why they are at the top of my list.

Papa John's Pizza Goes Digital.

Papa John’s Pizza is offering its phone-shy customers a new alternative: ordering via text message, The Wall Street Journal reports today. Customers will be able to create an online account that holds up to four customized orders of pizza, drinks and extras—tagged as “FAV1,” “FAV2,” “FAV3,” and “FAV4”—that are pegged to a delivery address and payment info. When hunger strikes, patrons zap over a text message with the desired “FAV” and the order is placed. It’s an innovative step that might help boost the Louisville, Ky.-based company’s sales, and also will allow for more direct-to-consumer mobile marketing, including coupons and menu updates sent to users’ phones.

Let's increase your sales...TODAY!

6 quick examples that will start to increase your sales!

1. A strategy and a plan: Marketing must be planned, consistent and repetitive to be effective. Many entrepreneurs take a scatter-shot approach, trying one thing then another. Instead, develop a marketing plan and budget that you can execute.

2. Defined target market: Focusing in on a particular market segment — or niche — gives focus and direction to your marketing efforts. For instance, if you’re an accountant, there may be dozens of CPAs in your community. If you decided to target a specific niche market — let’s say dental clinics — you could join the local dental society, advertise in industry journals for dentists, exhibit at dental association trade shows.

3. Clear message: Let your prospects know exactly what you do and why you’re the right choice for them. Develop an elevator pitch or tagline that sums up your business in a short phrase or sentence. For instance, if you’re a real estate agent, it’s hard to distinguish yourself from the thousands of other Realtors. If, instead, you say, “I’m a real estate agent specializing in first-time home buyers,” that immediately identifies why you might be the best choice for a client.

4. Call to action: Let your target audience know what you want them to do. In your marketing materials, give them a specific directive. It can be something as simple as “See our Web site at www.PlanningShop.com” or make them an offer, “Purchase this week and get 20 percent off.”

5. Appropriate marketing vehicles: Think about the right way to reach your target audience. Do they read the morning newspaper? Are they members of the Chamber of Commerce or trade associations? Try to reach your target audience through a number of marketing and advertising vehicles that they interact with regularly.

6. Repeat exposures: People don’t process information the first time they see it. Make sure your marketing campaign — whether it’s networking with a trade association or advertising in the newspaper — is repeated over and over and over again.

Another Brand on Board

Cookie maker Pepperidge Farms has launched a new website, ArtoftheCookie.com, aimed at helping women amp up their social networks and connect with one another. Sally Horchow, co-author of "The Art of Friendship: 70 Simple Rules for Making Meaningful Connections," is the campaign's spokesperson, and the website includes video clips from a cross-country trip that features Horchow speaking with women around the country about making and maintaining friendships.

Just another company using Word of Mouth Marketing and Social networking to reach there clients. If your brand is not on the train...hurry up because it is leaving the station.

Re-Branding a VP

I wanted to share this great Branding article with you from this months Deliver Magazine. It talks about the amazing re-branding of former VP Al Gore. From politics to green; Al Gore has completely re-branded himself and has people talking and believing in him and his cause.


https://www.delivermagazine.com/the-magazine/2007/08/16/buildin’-brands/

Don't forget about the other 364 days

Black Friday= The term is used by retail stores referring to the Friday after Thanksgiving. Its the one shopping day that puts the retailers in the "Black" for the year.

Every year brave consumers will shop till they drop. The recent trend is to open the doors early (Kohls will open at 4 am) and stay open late. But opening early is the key, get them in early and offer special savings only between early hours. This strategy gets the consumer committed to coming early so they are not out all day. Does it work? The answer is yes, consumers will get up early to save an extra 25% or to get free things.

This hole "early morning door buster" sales event got me thinking. Why just on "Black Friday" why not have an event like this say once a month? Open early and close late one Saturday a month. Even a restaurant could get in on this action. Come early and receive free movie passes...25% of breakfast.....free..free...

Always have a call to action..Free is always good. The PR you would get from staying open till 2am to let consumers shop is outstanding. Bring in the local marching band..drum line...make it a party.

Remember its all about getting into the black and out of the red..don't wait until November to create a splash....their are 364 other days that are important also.

Keeping in Real

What are you measuring?

The Internet is so infinitely measurable, many marketers have focused on measuring the wrong things, metrics that are interesting but not helping a company achieve its goals.

Make sure what you are measuring has meaning.

Leadership book from one of the best ever

If you get a chance please read this book about the life of one of the athletes I really look up to. And the key thing is LEADERSHIP!

I highly reccomend it!

Quote of the day

"Nothing happens until somebody sells something" is being replaced by........
"Nothing happens until somebody Brands something"


-The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding by Al Ries

What's your Mission??

One of the first things I do when I am consulting with a client is take down the mission statement! Mission statements, just writing those words are painful. Have you ever seen a mission statement that wasn't full of fluff? "We strive to have superior customer service". Would you strive to have the worst customer service? Customers are smarter than you think they are. And if you are not exceding there expectations the plaque on the wall is not going to save your brand.
Your mission statement is not words on a piece of paper its your brands culture...its how you do business everyday from in-side the walls of your brand. So keep your mission statments short and sweet and keep them internal and concentrate on building your brand and your people.... and your superior customer service will show all on it's own.

How much for the Oreo?

"Maybe the reason it seems that price is all your customers care about is...that you haven't given them anything else to care about."

-Seth Godins

Take an example of Target and there pricing on produce and grocery items. For the most part same items as Wal-Mart...grapes, lettuce,celery and Oreo cookies,Coke,Pepsi..but present them in a very clean atmosphere, neatly arraigned and you can charge more and people will buy. And why?Again it goes back to the experience, same grapes different experience buying them. Going into Target and paying more for the Oreo's is not such a big deal when you feel like you are getting so much more in the way of the experience. Whole Foods same thing..Starbucks same thing. Give them more to think about then price and price will not become an issue..and your bottom line will show you the experience.

LOOK MOM NO NET

How confident are you in your abilities? I believe the painters of the Brooklyn Bridge back in 1914 were really confident in there skills! Don't be afraid to work without a net...you may surprise yourself on how confident you are.

Fall Line-up's using Word of Mouth

Even the "big" four Networks are using word of mouth to promote the upcoming fall season. Check out this article and see how Fox is using WOM and Social Web Sites to attract new viewers.

http://www.womma.org/womnibus/011174.php