Nuts & Bolts

Seems like we were just getting through New Year’s weekend and now this week we turn our calendars to the second half of 2010. On July 1 we celebrate Second Half of the Year Day. It’s a holiday that passes without a champagne toast, but it could be important for your business. If you’re reviewing your revenue goals for the year and you’re coming up short, have no fear. Here are a few simple steps to generate some business.

Get direct with your customers.
Sometimes people need a little reminder that they should come see you. A well designed direct mail piece gives your customers and prospects a reason to stop by your business. A good call to action, such as a special offer, helps you track the success of your mailing and gives a higher probability for increased sales. Remember to segment and clean your lists to get the right messages to the right people for better success.

Put something in their in-box.
An e-mail marketing campaign can be deployed quickly and reach a large number of people, if you’ve been collecting e-mail addresses. Offer a special to drive people to your store or website. Remember, just because you can doesn’t always mean you should. Have an e-mail strategy that ensures you have something to offer every time you hit send.

Don’t forget your business card.
With every encounter there may be an opportunity. You never know when you’ll run into a future customer. Go to a networking event or two and try to drum up business the old fashioned way, face-to-face. Take along some business cards and maybe your direct mail piece to encourage business.

Socialize with your customers.
Do your Facebook and Twitter accounts need a little love? Many have jumped onto social networking sites, so it’s a perfect location to get your customer’s attention. Become active in that realm and you could build brand loyalty. Give them a reason to refer your business to their friends and colleagues to help spread your word.

Stop reading and get busy. Before you know it, we’ll be popping the corks for 2011.