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10 Ways to Get Your Company Message to Your Customers
Crafting a great company message that resonates with your target market is essential. For it to have any effect, though, you need to get that message to your customers. Here are ten ways you can deliver your company message to your customers: Face-to-Face Depending on your business, delivering your message face-to-face might be feasible. In-person presentations can be a great way to connect with prospects and customers, allowing you to build rapport and establish a power relationship based on trust. One advantage of face-to-face delivery is that you have their full attention. It also allows you to more easily understand and combat any obstacles standing in the way of them responding to your message as you would like. By Phone If face-to-face meetings or presentations are not an option, the next best thing is calling up customers. You can tell them about special offers, or any new products or services you are offering. It’s the perfect way to deliver your message while strengthening the relationship. Calling people is also a great way to reach out to prospects. It’s often a better option than email, especially when you are trying to get your message to someone who doesn’t know you. By phone, you are better able to build the trust needed for a powerful, long-term relationship. It’s one thing talking to a person; it’s a completely different thing when a prospect receives an impersonal email. One gets you remembered; the other one ends up in the trash. Snail Mail Snail mail might not be as popular as it once was, thanks to the internet, but it’s still a great way to connect with customers. Remember, it’s only junk mail to people who don’t care. If someone loves make-up and perfumes, for example, they’re going to love receiving a catalog in the mail. Add a few samples, and you’ve got a really, really happy prospect or customer. You could also include a few die-cut stickers, which will please people. So much so that they’ll end up looking forward to receiving mail from you. Signs From billboards and roller banners to decals and posters, signs are everywhere you look. They’re an excellent way to deliver your company message to your prospects and customers. The best part is that you can get creative with placement to increase their effectiveness. For example, you can put up store-front and in-store signs to draw customers into your shop. Or, you can put up roller banners advertising your gym next to health food stores. Advertisements Ads in magazines, newspapers, trade journals and other publications are still a great way to deliver your company message. You can take out small display ads or go for a full page, whatever your budget will allow for. Just make sure you choose the publications that are relevant to the market you are targeting. You wouldn’t advertise the latest drill in Cosmo, just as you wouldn’t advertise the latest weight loss pills in Fine Homebuilding. Regardless of size, make sure that your ad has a good offer and a strong call to action. Make it as easy as possible for your prospects to connect with you. TV Commercials TV commercials aren’t cheap, and they’re not quite as effective as they used to be. Mainly because of the oversaturation. However, they still work, and for some businesses, they are the perfect vehicle to connect with their audience. Commercials are a good option for products or services that have a massive target market. Like soft drinks, cars, and even make-up. If you have the budget, it’s worth looking into TV. Before you start throwing your entire marketing budget at the most “innovative” TV commercial possible, you might want to test first to make sure it is the best option for you. Your commercial has to be entertaining to compete with others. However, make sure the agency you hire doesn’t make it so smart and clever people have no clue what you’re trying to sell. Radio Like TV, radio isn’t necessarily cheap. Okay, the cost is nowhere near that of TV, but it still costs money to get the spot produced and then aired. However, it’s a great way to increase brand awareness, especially for established businesses. It’s also a pretty good option for small businesses serving a limited area, especially if you focus on local radio stations. Flyers A flyer needs to include a message that shows your prospects the benefits they will gain from using your products and services. The offer also has to be good, and you need to include a call to action. Once again, make it easy for prospects and customers to get in touch. You can hand out flyers, post them on bulletin boards in high-traffic areas, put them up in shop windows, display them at the checkout counter, and more. Website Your website is one of the most powerful ways in which you can deliver your message to your customers. In fact, most of the methods above will probably lead customers right to your website. That means you need to have an amazing site that delivers and expands upon your message effectively. Your website can help you build a list of prospects that you can eventually turn into customers by establishing a rapport and a strong relationship. Social Media Another great way to deliver your message is through social media. Go to where your prospects and customers hang out and interact with them. Whatever you do, don’t spam sales messages or you’ll end up alienating people. It’s called social media for a reason. So, be social, establish a rapport, build trust, and eventually, people will want to do business with you. You can choose from quite a few platforms, but at the very least, go with Facebook and Twitter. You can then expand to Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. Remember, a great message is useless if your customers don’t see it. However, keep in mind that you need to tailor your message according to the delivery message of choice. The message on a roller banner, for example, should be succinct, whereas a website allows you to go more in-depth. Just remember that they all need a call to action to be effective.
Learn moreHow to Use Stickers to Attract Customers
Customer acquisition is important to every business, no matter how large or small. However, research shows that customer retention is just as important. In fact, it’s often even more important seeing as repeat customers spend more per transaction than new customers, and they also have a much greater lifetime value. Furthermore, they also cost less, which helps your bottom line significantly. The great news is that stickers are a cost-effective way to both attract and retain customers, if you know what you’re doing. So, read on to find out why stickers are so effective and how to use them to improve customer acquisition and retention rates. Why Do Stickers Work So Well? When consumers are being sold to, whether it’s through traditional ads in magazines, on TV, or online, or via direct marketing, promotional articles, or so-called genuine reviews that you can tell from a mile are actually promotional, a massive barrier fraught with dozens of obstacles goes up. Skepticism, distrust, and downright hostility are just some of the issues you have to deal with, which can make acquiring new customers complicated and expensive. People perceive stickers differently, though, even when they are being used as advertisements. As children, we learn to love stickers and see them as rewards and gifts. And most people carry that with them into their adult lives, which is why you see adults with laptops, cars and other personal items covered in stickers. For this reason, when stickers are used as promotional tools, people don’t put up the same barriers. In fact, many feel as if they’ve been given a gift, which makes them more open to doing business with the company that gave them the stickers. How to Make the Most Out of Stickers While you’re already starting out ahead because of the way stickers are perceived, there are a few things you can do to maximize your positive results. Know Your Target Market The first thing you have to do is get to know your target market well. You need to know what they want, what they need, what motivates them, what keeps them up at night and so on. Ideally, create a customer persona, including every little detail, from demographics to their fears and desires. To be able to attract customers, you need to understand them. The more you know about them, the easier it will be to develop sticker designs that will offer value and help build a connection. And that’s the key. Every step you take in your business needs to be focused on your customer, from product development to deciding on the design of your stickers. Decide on a Strategy There are a number of ways you can use stickers to attract customers, depending on your business. For example, if you run a physical store, you can use decals and outdoor stickers, which are large stickers that can be affixed to windows, floor, walls and so on. You can use them to attract foot traffic by piquing people’s curiosity, like an Apple store did with a sticker that mimicked broken glass to advertise the iPod Hi-Fi. People didn’t know what the ad was for until they entered the store, but the broken glass drew them in because people were curious to find out what had happened. TV2 also got creative with outdoor stickers when they launched Batman Begins by placing them on footlight paths so that when the lights were turned on, they shone through the sticker, creating the bat signal. This type of approach can be used by any business looking to increase brand exposure. Then there are the standard stickers that you can hand out to people, which also work for any type of business. They aren’t just great at increasing brand exposure, but they also help create a connection because you are, essentially, giving your prospects a gift. And everyone loves a freebie. Create an Effective Sticker Design Once you’ve decided on the approach, it’s time to consider the design. If you’re going for decals and outdoor stickers to increase brand exposure, you need to step a little outside your comfort zone and come up with something that will stop people in their tracks. If you’re going to be handing out die-cut stickers, you should consider a slightly different approach. While a sticker of your logo is all well and good, if you really want your brand to stick in people’s minds, you should consider a design that entertains, is inspirational, or is useful. For example, a cute kitten meme with your brand and logo off to one side will get more mileage than a sticker of just your logo. Likewise, a calendar will get more attention than a simple photo of your product. Remember when creating the design to take into account everything you’ve learned of your target market, but also consider how you want people to use your stickers. Do you want them to put them up on their refrigerators to glance at all the time and never forget your brand? Then a calendar or a cooking conversion table would be great options. Do you want them to put them on their laptops? Then maybe an inspirational quote might be the way to go. The one thing you need to keep in mind is to make sure that your stickers are offering your prospects value. By offering them value first, you start to build a relationship – you start to earn their trust – and that makes customer acquisition much easier. Don’t Forget Distribution If you’re going the gift sticker route, you have to consider distribution. There are a few avenues you can explore, but they depend on your target market, location and timing. For example, getting someone to hand out stickers during the day in an office building might not be the best approach. Using interruption marketing techniques isn’t a great idea when people are busy thinking about work or hurrying to get to a meeting on time. However, putting a stack of stickers in a stand near the elevator is a much better idea because people will be more likely to pick them up while they’re hanging around, just waiting. On the other hand, giving out stickers in the mall on a Saturday afternoon tends to engender better responses because people are out relaxing and are much more open to a little interruption, especially if they’re getting a gift. The key to attracting and retaining customers is building a strong relationship with them. And stickers are a powerful, cost-effective approach because even a small sticker will be perceived as a gift rather than advertising. If you take things a step further and make it something that your prospects would really love, based on the data you gathered about them when researching your target market, you’ll find that it will the beginning of a beautiful and mutually beneficial friendship.
Learn moreWhy Tattoo Artists Should Use Stickers For Marketing
Designs created by Charmanderchar. Tattoos are becoming more mainstream every day. In fact, it sometimes seems as if everyone and their grandmother is getting tattooed. This trend means, of course, that there are an increasing number of tattoo parlors popping up, which means more competition for you. In this sea of tattoo parlors, you need to find a way to make yours stand out and draw in more customers. Sure, you could buy billboard space in your area, advertise in local publications, or create a site. Well, you should definitely do that last one, no matter what. However, there’s also another way you could market your brand that’s more effective than most, namely by getting custom stickers made. Custom Stickers Showcase Your Talents Convincing someone to let you ink a tattoo on them isn’t all that easy. It’s a design they will have on their bodies for the rest of their lives. So, you need to show them that you’re the perfect artist to do it. Telling them won’t work. They will need to see proof. You can say that they’ll see the quality of your work once they visit your shop, and that’s true. But that means getting them through the door in the first place. Getting stickers made of some of the best tattoos you've inked is a great way to showcase your talents and show people what you can do before they walk through the door. You can hand them out to people in your area, put them up in public places, and give them to your customers as a bonus. That’s the cool thing about stickers. People don’t perceive them as advertising, so when you give someone a couple of stickers, it’ll feel like a gift, which will make them happy. And, of course, happy customers will tell all their friends and family about you. They’ll probably hand out a few stickers, too, further helping to increase the exposure of your brand. Of course, make sure every sticker has at least your website URL on there so people can find you. After all, you never know where a sticker might end up, so it’s essential that you ensure people have a way of getting in touch. You Can Be Just As Creative with Your Campaign As With Your Ink You can also be really creative with stickers, and we’re not talking just about the design. They allow you to advertise in areas and in ways you might not have considered. For example, a tattoo parlor came up with an awesome campaign where they put up stickers of tattoos on mirrors in public restrooms. They were positioned in such a way that people could stand in front of the sticker and see what they’d look like with a tattoo. Now, that’s not only a cool and memorable idea that people will have fun with, but it’s also a great way to get people talking about your brand. Stickers Are Affordable To get the most out of your marketing campaign, you want to get as many of your designs in front of your prospects, and stickers are a great option because they’re affordable. Depending on the quantity you order, die-cut stickers can cost as little as 10 cents a piece. When you consider how many people can end up seeing them, the price is ridiculously low. And even if you order fewer stickers per design so you can advertise more of your tattoos, the price is still extremely low when compared to any other marketing channel. Stickers Have a Long Life When someone puts a sticker on their car or their laptop, or wherever else, those stickers will stay there for years – usually as long as they have the car or laptop. In other words, people will constantly be seeing your brand for years to come. And you don’t have to pay anything for all that exposure. If you also get different stickers made regularly, that’s even more reason for people to display even more of them and get even more exposure for you. Also, don’t forget, that when someone displays your sticker, they are giving you their personal endorsement. In other words, it’s a form of word-of-mouth marketing, which is one of the most powerful ways you can get your brand out there. After all, people are more likely to follow the recommendations of someone they know, and putting up a sticker featuring your tattoo parlor on their personal belongings is definitely a recommendation. Don’t Forget to Use Them Yourself You should be setting a good example, so make sure you’re using your own stickers. Put them on your car, on your laptop, on your tablet and on everything and anything else you own. Turn yourself into a walking advertisement for your tattoo parlor to increase brand exposure as much as possible. And always have some on you to hand out whenever someone expresses interest, whether it’s in your stickers or your tattoos. Even if they just ask what you do, you can hand out a few stickers when you tell them you’re a tattoo artist. As we’ve already said, people really like stickers, so feel free to hand them out to all and sundry. Even if that person doesn’t seem like someone who’d get a tattoo – though you never know nowadays – they could very well have friends or family who’d love one, so don’t miss out on any opportunity to get your stickers in people’s hands. Stickers are a great way to showcase your talents and convince people to visit your shop. They show potential customers that you are a great artist with proof rather than just a clever tagline. They’re also very affordable, which means you can make existing customers even happier by giving them a free gift, and turning them into your advocates. Once they start displaying your stickers, they’ll help increase the exposure of your tattoo parlor, while also giving you their tacit personal endorsement.
Learn moreDie Cut Stickers vs Sticker Sheets: Which Option Is Better for You?
You know stickers are valuable promotional tools. You know you can get whatever design you like, and whatever size you prefer. But now you have a problem. You’re not sure whether to opt for die cut stickers or sticker sheets. In fact, you’re not even sure of the difference between them. In this article, we’ll look at the two types of stickers, as well as when to use them. Understanding the Difference Between Die Cut Stickers and Sticker Sheets Sticker sheets are, as their name pretty clearly states, sheets with multiple stickers on them. These sheets can feature all the same sticker or multiple sticker designs, depending on your preference. Essentially, what happens is that the designs are printed on a sheet, and then, when the cut is made, it’s only made through the sticker itself and not all the way through to the backing. So, what you end up with is a rectangular sheet of backing material and vinyl on which the stickers have been printed, and only the latter has been scored so you can peel the individual stickers off the sheet. This type of cut is referred to as a kiss cut, seeing as the blades only lightly “kiss” the vinyl, and don’t go all the way through. They can be cut to any shape you choose, including along the contour of the design if it’s not a standard shape. Conversely, die cut stickers have been cut out of the sheet completely, usually along the contour of the design but they can also be cut out as standard geometric shapes, if you prefer. These tend to be slightly more expensive than sticker sheets, but are great at making an impact. How to Decide Between Sticker Sheets and Die-Cut Stickers In terms of which one is better, the fact is that it depends on the situation. Sticker sheets are more suited to some applications, while for others, die-cut stickers are more appropriate. Determine the Application The first step in figuring out whether to get die-cut stickers or sticker sheets is to determine what you’ll be using them for. Below you’ll find a few examples. Package and Product Stickers If you are going to be using the stickers to put on your packages when shipping to customers, then you’re probably better off with sticker sheets. It’s a more cost-effective option and since you won’t be handing them out individually, it doesn’t matter how many stickers are on a single sheet. Keep in mind that they don’t have to be identical to one another, so even if each label has a custom message on it, you can still get them on sheets. Another advantage to sticker sheets is the ease with which you can peel them off the sheet. It might not seem like a big deal, but if you have a large number of packages to brand, anything that makes it easier and less time-consuming definitely helps. Stickers for Customers When you’re giving out stickers to your customers, you should probably stick to die-cut stickers, even if you are sending more than one. Yes, a sticker sheet would be more efficient if you are sending out a few stickers to each customer, but the fact is that die-cut stickers look more professional. The last thing you want to do is to make your customers think you’re cheap. So, investing in die-cut stickers is definitely more beneficial to your reputation in the long run. Plus, if you sent multiple die-cut stickers, your customers can also hand them out to friends and family, further promoting your brand. If you take the sticker sheet route, this would be a lot more difficult for your customers to do, meaning you’d be missing out on a valuable promotional opportunity. Remember, you want to make it as easy as possible for your customers to be your advocates and recommend you to their friends and family, so send them die-cut stickers. Promotional Stickers If you will be putting up promotional stickers in your area, or at an event, you’ll probably want to go with sticker sheets. Once again, it saves time as peeling them off is much easier. Furthermore, it’s a lot easier to transport 500 stickers, for example, when they are still attached to a sheet, than when they are loose. There’s also less of a chance of losing them because it’s easier to notice a whole sheet flying off than it is a 2”x2” sticker. Consider the Design When deciding between die-cut stickers and sticker sheets, you also have to take into account the design. If it’s a very delicate design with lots of “bits” sticking out, a contour die-cut sticker might not be the best option because it’s easier for those areas to get damaged. For example, if you have a ribbon waving in the wind, it’s more likely to get bent or even torn off, despite the additional strength the backing material provides. However, when the same sticker is on a sheet, it won’t be exposed so there’s less of a chance of accidents happening. Don’t Forget Your Budget Budget is certainly a consideration, despite how cost-effective stickers are in general. So, if you are sending out multiple stickers to your customers, you might opt for a sticker sheet as it will be slightly cheaper. However, remember that you’ll be missing out on a great opportunity to increase brand awareness because your customers won’t be able to hand out stickers to other people. Plus, there’s also the risk that you’ll seem cheap. It’s often a better idea to get fewer die-cut stickers than opting for sticker sheets when trying to make your customers feel special. Die-cut stickers and sticker sheets are both popular options, but the approach you choose really depends on your circumstances and how those stickers will be used. In some cases, a die-cut sticker is mandatory if you want to put your best foot forward and really impress your customers. In other situations, like when you have 300 packages of your homemade cookies to brand, you want to go for sticker sheets to make your life easier.
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