I’m often asked that if I had only one method of getting new customers, what would it be.

My answer is that it would be using endorsed mailings.

Endorsed mailings work for any business on a local level, global level, or via the internet.  It should be at the forefront of almost any set of marketing strategies.

The concept really is quite simple.  You want to look for a company that has the customers that you would also like as your customers.  Naturally, you won’t be going to a competitor for their list.  It will always be a non-competitor, even though I’ve worked out endorsements with competitors in rare situations.

That said, the endorsing company would send out a letter, on their letterhead, to their customers.  The letter would be addressed from the principal of the company, if possible.   Or an endorsement letter could be sent out as a cover letter with your sales letter or literature along with it.   You want the mailing to be done, using the endorser’s identity on the outside of the envelope.

Because the endorser is known by the customers being mailed, there’s almost a 100% chance that the mailing will be opened and read by the receiver.

Of course the one variable is the quality of the relationship the endorser has with his/her list of customers.

If your letter is done properly, approval of your business by another business, almost always builds an understanding in the prospect’s mind of honesty and believablility.

There are two requirements that must be met in order for an endorsement situation to work.

1. The customers of the endorser must need and want your product.

2. They must trust the endorser. 

You might look at your present vendors to find a good endorser.  Here are some examples:

1. A carpet retail store might look for a rug-shampoo and cleaning company.

2. A florist might consider wedding planners, caterers or bridal stores.

3. A bridal store could endorse a florist, a dry cleaner, decorator, or furniture store.

4. A CPA could endorse a lawyer.

5. A doctor could endorse a dentist, chiropractor or a veterinarian.

You get the idea, right?

Here are some phrasings I found effective when I sent out endorsements to my customers:

1. “I value you as a customer, and I want to share with you the benefits I’ve received from (whatever)”

2. Jimmy Smith of Smith and Company holds our relationship in very high esteem, and he felt you would want to know about our (whatever)”

3. “Because you are a very good customer of mine, I have arranged for you to get two free hours with this very talented financial planner.  I’m giving you this in appreciation for being my customer.”

I feel that # 3 here is one of the best ones to test.

Do you use endorsed mailings as part of your marketing strategy?  If so, have you been pleased with your results?  If not, what do you think has not worked?

Also, if you have not used endorsed mailings as part of your marketing strategy, why not?

Technorati Tags: endorsed mailings, get new customers, getting new customers, marketing strategy

I was recently reminded of Seth Godin’s book with the same title when I was looking at new cars the other day (the original title was: “All Marketers Are Liars”).  The salesman was very polite and talkative, which isn’t bad.  He started telling all kinds of stories, and when I asked him for further information and where I can find it, based on his story, he couldn’t give me the information.  

Seth says in his book, “When you find a story that works, live that story, make sure it is a true story, authentic, and subject to scrutiny”. 

This particular salesman had stories, but they were not authentic.  They were designed to get a sale only.  They weren’t the result of a story the company was committed to wholeheartedly and as a reason for being.

If a story can’t stand up to scrutiny, as in my experience, you lose a customer and a sale. Eventually it catches up to you. 
Seth gives an example in his book about a glass maker.

According to Georg Riedel’s message on the glass maker web site, “The delivery of a wine’s message, its bouquet and taste, depends on the form of the glass…”

Robert Parker, Jr, the king of wine reviewers, said, “The finest glasses for both technical and hedonistic purposes are those made by Riedel.  The effect of these glasses on fine wine is profound.  I cannot emphasize enough what a difference they make.”

Perhaps thousands of others are now believers.  “Millions of wine drinkers around the world have been persuaded that a $200 bottle of wine (or a cheap bottle of Two-Buck Chuck) tastes better when served in the proper Rieidel glass.”

But when the proper scientific tests were done that eliminated “any chance that the subject would know the shape of the glass, there is absolutely zero detectible difference between glasses.  A $1 glass and a $20 glass deliver exactly the same impact on the wine: none.”

The idea that the form of a glass makes a difference is the story.  They sell millions of dollars’ worth of glasses every year.  The resulting perception is that the glasses help you to enjoy your wine more than you did before drinking it in a Reidel Glass.

“Marketing apparently makes wine taste better.”  It seems that “an expensive glass and the story that goes with it, has more of an impact on the taste of wine than the oak casks it’s brewed in.  Georg Riedel makes your wine taste better by telling you a story.”

Very interesting lesson!

What story can you tell about your product or service?

But before you answer and rush off to create a story, you may want to get a copy of Seth’s book and read it.  There is much more to the story of creating a story…the most important being that it must be authentic.  But when you get this right, it is one of the most powerful things you can do for your business.

Technorati Tags: all marketers are liars, all marketers tell stories, business story, Georg Riedel, robert parker jr, Seth Godin

I’ve been posting many ideas and secrets that have helped to create more than 6 million customers over my career, and I’ve been encouraging you to make comments.  Some of you have commented and shared your experiences; many others haven’t.

Can you imagine if just 10% of the members share an idea or strategy that could help other members…just one idea?

Today’s economy is one that we haven’t seen before in our lifetimes, and if we group together to help one another, we can all survive this economic downturn.
 
Let’s do it together.  Let’s help one another.  What would happen if we gave one another just one idea in answer to any question we may have regarding growing our businesses or creating customers?  I’m sure that we have a wide range of expertise within this group that would make a difference in the growth of our companies.

I want to help everyone in this group grow their business and create more customers.  If you had the opportunity to ask just one question about finding a solution to one problem you are having in growing your business, or in creating customers, what would it be?

I am hoping that when you ask the question, you will receive dozens of possible solutions to your question from the group.   Post your question in the comment section below.

Technorati Tags: Business ideas, creating customers, customer acquisition

The following aren’t necessarily in the order of importance, but if all are implemented you can’t help but succeed.  Next to each To-Do is a link for more information:

1. Create Data Base of your clients.  You need all pertinent data like name, address, email, spouse’s name, birthday for them and their spouse, and whatever data you need.  I would also get the data of every family member.  http://www.kenvarga.com/news/a-method-to-collect-information-to-create-your-customer-database/

2. If possible, connect with your customer/clients weekly. 

3. Dominate your market by becoming the expert that everyone goes to when they need what you offer.  http://www.kenvarga.com/news/dominate-your-market/

4. Do Special Events.  IE:    "Give A Little And Get A Lot— how this simple principle can cause a crowd of people to market your business to the world!  http://www.aweber.com/b/1Bvci

5. If possible, do a 30-minute radio talk show in your local area.  In it, address the pain the listeners are in and how you are able to help them.  http://www.aweber.com/b/1LBOq

6. Each time a customer buys from you, put the transaction in your data base and have an employee call to thank the purchaser for being your customer.  Ask the customer: “Why do you purchase from us and not our competition.” They will give you information that you can use to create more customers. 

7. Create a Referral System where you bring your customer/client from being a customer to becoming an advocate of your business.  http://www.kenvarga.com/news/growing-through-referrals/

8. Make sure your advertising is responsive and measurable.  Create a free report.  http://www.aweber.com/b/1Q_wC

9. Upsell.  Create a package of your products and offer them to your customers as a package.  http://www.kenvarga.com/news/promotions-you-can-take-to-the-bank/

10. Inspect what you expect.  I used to call my own office to make sure my people answered the way they were taught.  http://www.kenvarga.com/news/inspect-what-you-expect/

Technorati Tags: database creation, dominate market, free report, measure advertising, referral system, special events, upsell

I’m writing this week about this topic because I recently visited my local Chamber of Commerce’s Expo, where about 200 businesses had booths and/or offered food in the food court. What a terrible experience. Not one…not one of the exhibitors had any mechanism to gather the information from a visitor.

Why would they need to do that? Because how can you contact or build rapport with a prospect if you never got them to give you their contact information.

All that was needed was to have a drawing for a prize where the visitors would fill out a card with their name and email address.

Trade Shows and Consumer Shows are one of the most abused and misused marketing tools in the world. The majority of exhibitors go into a show without any strategic plan. And if they do happen to have a mechanism to gather the visitor’s information, they do a terrible job of follow-up. Every time I go to a show, I’m just amazed watching the reps standing around in the booths looking brain-dead.

Here are some keys you should consider if exhibiting:

1. Create a detailed plan of what you want to accomplish and who you want to talk to.

2. Do some pre-show marketing in the local media. Target this to those “groups” of prospects you want to visit your booth.

3. Create a method of collecting and qualifying the leads.

4. Create a strategy for making immediate sales. No one ever asked me to buy when I stopped at their booths.

5. Create a plan for following up on the leads IMMEDIATELY after the show.

If you do one thing and one thing only, create a form to have whoever stops at your booth fill in their contact information. This way, you can communicate with them over the next few months.

Refer to my blog article at http://www.kenvarga.com/news/how-to-get-a-95-closing-ratio and read about what you should do to get a 95% closing rate. In order to accomplish this you need to communicate with them over the next 13 months at least 15 times.

Technorati Tags: acquire customers, consumer shows, expand business, grow business, long-term profit, quick profit, trade shows

Most small businesses are confused about their marketing message.  Some think that a slogan will suffice, some think that an ad about how great their company is will do, or that saying how long they have been in business will work.

How about those companies that think it’s their mission statement and vision statement that is their marketing message.

It’s none of those.

Whenever I consult with a company, I ask them, “What is your marketing message,” and the above are most of the answers I receive.

However, your marketing message is what will grab your prospects’ attention.   It tells your prospects why they should trust you, why they should choose to do business with you rather than your competitors, and says how you can solve their problem.

That’s it in a nutshell.

It should “speak” to your prospect.  This is done by appealing to your prospect’s hot buttons and whatever will trigger an emotional reaction. You must research and find those hot buttons.

Here are three things you should do and explore when putting together your Marketing Message:

1. Identify the problems that your target market is having.  You must ask yourself the following question: “What problems are the members of my target market having and how do those problems make them feel?” Each target market, individually, has its own frustrations and pains. The secret to putting together a message that will make members of your market sit up and listen is to identify the problem and the pain they feel as a result of that problem. They don’t care about your company, or how great you are, or how long you’ve been in business.  Identifying their pain and suffering tells them that you understand and empathize with them.  Let them know that you care.

2. Present them with your solution to their problem.  Ask yourself the question.  “What is the solution that I have to offer my prospect?”  Present your solution as a “cure” for all of the pain and suffering they are going through as a result of this problem.  Put yourself in the situation of your customer.  Would you make a decision on purchasing something unless you feel an excruciating pain?  Now is the time to identify all the benefits of your solution.  Identify how those benefits will improve their lives and how great they will feel when you take that pain and anguish away.

3. Explain what makes you different from your competitors.  To start, ask your present customers the following question, “Why do you deal with me rather than with (your competitor’s name).

Once you know how you are different from your competitors, you need to communicate your differences.  Those differences need to have a perceived value in the mind of your prospect, so help them along in your message.  It needs to be something they care about.

Remember what I always say to myself when I do any shopping.  What’s in it for me?

Again, all of this starts with knowing the wants, problems, needs, and fears of your target market.  It ends with you putting together a message that speaks to those problems in a very compelling and believable way. 

Do the above 3 things and you will create an irresistible message that makes your prospect want to know more.

Technorati Tags: market fears, market message, market needs, market wants, marketing message, marketing messaging, target market

Here’s an experience I just had this week. I was reading my local newspaper, and an ad jumped out at me. It was for a Hair Salon. It stated: “Bring this Ad with you and your first visit is FREE.”

I set up an appointment and complimented the owner on her ad.

Here’s the interesting part—

When I was leaving, the girl that did my haircut gave me a small bag with a gift of a sample shampoo they probably got from their supplier, but also a small sample of the conditioner she used when she washed my hair. And in the bag was a “Thank You" letter from her.

Here’s what the letter said.

Hi
I just want to say it was a privilege to have the opportunity to treat you to one of my personalized haircuts and styles.

As a thank you, I am giving you 50% off your next haircut and style when you book your next haircut.

Please call and reserve your time with me, Elaine at Salon by the Sea, 732-282-1600.

My hours are Thurs 10-8 Fri 9-5, Sat 7-4.

Sincerely
Her name, address and the website

The reason I’m mentioning this is that you could massage this process to fit your own enterprise.

The thing is that I still paid for the haircut, because I’d feel bad if I didn’t. Plus, the salon owner now also has a new client because she gave me a great haircut and created a great “experience”. Could you do something similar and get similar results?

Let me know in the comments section below how you might use this concept in your enterprise.

Technorati Tags: free offer, grow business, growing a business, thank you letter

Stop for a moment and ask yourself this question. “What is the purpose of any Business?”

Most individuals would say, “To Make a Profit.” Personally, I feel that is the wrong answer. It’s part of the answer, but not the answer. Profits are a result or an outcome of what we do and they only tell us if our business strategy and execution are viable.

Peter Drucker stated that, “concentrating on the belief that creating profits as a purpose was not only wrong, it could very well be harmful. “ He felt that it causes a business to make bad decisions and lose sight of those things that delight customers. He also said, “There is only one valid definition of business purpose: to create a customer.”

The ultimate objective of a business is to satisfy customer needs and wants at a sustainable profit. The sustainable profit part is critical.

Customers are the ultimate asset for any profit making company. They really provide all of a company’s real value. Unfortunately, customers are one of the few aspects of a business that are not managed as an investment. We must always keep in mind that we must profitably provide a better solution for our customers than our competition.

There is an old saying, “A good salesman can sell anything once. The trick is getting them to buy again and again.” The reason I say this is because marketing gets translated most of the time into simply persuading someone to try something for the first time. Companies are constantly trying to change someone’s attitudes or behaviors.

Today’s customers buy competing products from multiple companies with seemingly no real loyalty. Therefore, the most important element in profits is designing ways to have your customers allocate a larger share of their wallets to you. In my Marketing Tips of the Week, and also this blog, I try to help you accomplish that.

So, in essence, the primary goal of marketing must be the creation of loyal, long-term customers out of first-time or occasional buyers. Accomplishing this requires a clear and precise understanding of what makes customers want to be loyal. Gathering and understanding customer needs is the job of marketing. Review the issues in my Marketing Tips of the Week that help you to accomplish this.

If you have any additional ideas to build loyalty, please comment.

Technorati Tags: business purpose, customer, customer creation, customer loyalty, Customer Retention, lifeling customers, profit, profits

At one of my recent talks, I was asked about the new social media websites and whether attendees should sign up, and how can they use the media to enhance their business. 

There are lots of opinions in the press about whether the social media work, or whether they are just time wasters.  Different people report different results. 

Remember, these media are only tools, and the only determinant as to whether you use them or not is whether they increase your bottom line.

Ignore the hype and focus instead on how to make them work for you as the tools they are.  Don’t drop everything else you are doing to pursue them, expecting they are going to make you wealthy overnight, as some claim.  They are not.

Dedicate a portion of your time and budget to learning how to implement them.  But make sure you don’t neglect what’s already working for you.  Just add these tools at a pace that compliments, rather than disrupts, what’s already working.

When you see these new media for what they really are… tools…not miracle workers, it becomes not a matter of whether or not you should use them.  Instead the question becomes how do you best use them to get the results you are after.

Don’t let fear of these new media, or lack of knowledge, stop you.  Begin by focusing on creating systems and processes which are easy to implement, and can be repeated over and over.  This is a great basis for eventually outsourcing the work, so you can put it on automatic pilot.

With social media you now have the potential to spread your message farther and wider than you could before.  Like any tool, you just have to learn how to use it to your advantage.

Besides blogging, your social media efforts should start with Facebook and/or Twitter.  Your profile on these media is an important way by which media users can find you.  So make sure you create a profile pertinent to your purpose for the page.  Use keywords that can help them find you.

Probably, the best possible scenario when using Facebook is to build a Fan Page for your business.  A fan page has a similar feel to your regular Facebook page, but it allows you to create a public profile so that you can share your business and products with Facebook users. You can find out more by going here: http://www.facebook.com/advertising/?pages

Here is a good example of a fan page: http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=mari+smith&init=quick#/marismith?ref=search&sid=1386575769.1132394570..1

If you’d like to learn more about Facebook and Twitter marketing, here is a good inexpensive resource: http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/?af=1081671
 
What are your thoughts or experiences with social media marketing?  Let me know in the comment box below.

Technorati Tags: Facebook, Social Media, Twitter

I’ve received a few emails asking me to give you more ideas of doing Successful Joint Ventures.

Remember, a Joint Venture involves two or more professionals or businesses, who have common prospects, or possibly complementary services.   These entities now join together for mutual marketing and sales, usually for specific prospects. 

They will work together to create joint marketing materials, joint sales calls, referring of prospects, joint direct mail, e-mail or advertising campaigns.  They might even combine their services, talents and assets to create a larger base of potential customers. 

When I had my Insurance Agency, I would do Joint Ventures with accountants, financial planners and various attorneys.  Each individual professional benefited from wider exposure, more referrals, and marketing that is more efficient.

I would venture to say that every professional and company has many opportunities to create joint Ventures.

Here’s an important part of a Joint Venture.  Both parties must assume responsibility for marketing the joint venture. A Joint Venture Partner who expects to ride the back of the other partner will quickly find themselves alone. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. When you form a Joint Venture,  your partner will define your company and will directly impact your sphere of influence and reputation.  Each Partner’s reputation “rubs off” on the other. So make sure that you take care when approaching someone as a Joint Venture Partner.  As the initiator, you have the advantage of choosing who you want to join forces with. Do Joint Ventures only with those partners that have the reputation you want for yourself and the market reach that you desire.

2. When you approach another business to become your Joint Venture partner, you will have to sell them on the idea that the partnership will be beneficial to them, not just for you.  They will have a real profit benefit. You must always be ready to give before you receive.

3. You must also be the one to assume the responsibility for the Joint Ventures success and you will have to do the vast majority of the work, at least at first.  You will be approaching individuals who may like the concept and want it to work, but they will also be skeptical.  You will have to carry the ball and show them that you are committed to the Joint Venture and that you will produce results for them.

If you follow thru, the Joint Venture will be an ongoing marketing strategy that will create more and more new customers for you and your business. 

Technorati Tags: joint venture secrets, joint ventures