Archive for the ‘Advertising’ category

Need to Rustle Up More Marketing Ideas for July?

June 28th, 2011

If you are looking for non-food related days for marketing themes here are a few. I’ ve had a few requests so I found these days courtesy of Giftypedia.

I think you can do a lot with July 26th – National Cowboy Day! Giddy Yup into audacious marketing promotions.  Have a western themed sale. Maybe even have a horse shoe pitching contest. Make sure its safe!

July 13th Embrace Your Geekness Day sounds fun. Have a Geek costume contest and post the entries in your business and on your Facebook Fan Page. Have customers vote for the best costume and give a prize to the winner.

July 9th is Rock N Roll day. Have a rocker theme going on in your store and send out promotional materials with guitars and other rock images. Have a live rock band playing for the day. Free concert for your customers.

Sponsor a pet adoption event for a local shelter on July 31st, Mutt’s Day. Give away a basket of pet care items for people who adopt a mutt who needs a happy home.

1st Week:

July 1st – International Joke Day – Make sure they are clean jokes!
July 2nd – I Forgot Day – Umm, what was I supposed to buy? Send out sales flyers!
July 2nd – World UFO Day – Have an Area 51 theme going on!
July 3rd – Stay Out of the Sun Day – Hand out sunscreen, hats or beach umbrellas.

2nd Week:

July 4th – Country Music Day
July 4th – Sidewalk Egg Frying Day – I picture an egg frying contest for kids.
July 5th – Workaholics Day – Hmm, spa day needed for these people. Gift certificates.
July 6th – Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day
July 7th – Father Daughter Take a Walk Together Day – Create sweet memories.
July 7th – International Cherry Pit Spitting Day – Another customer contest opportunity.
July 8th – Video Games Day [Pacman tune running through my head!]
July 9th – Rock N Roll Day – Great day for 50′s Diners and nightclubs

3rd Week

July 10th – Don’t Step on a Bee Day [I did this as a child during a family BBQ at the lake. Ruined my day.]
July 10th – Teddy Bear Picnic Day – Toy stores can do a promotion for kids!
July 11th – Cheer Up the Lonely Day
July 12th – Simplicity Day
July 13th – Embrace Your Geekness Day
July 13th – Barbershop Music Appreciation Day
July 15th – Be a Dork Day
July 15th - I Love Horses Day – Are they still called Dude Ranches?
July 16th – National Personal Chef’s Day
July 16th – International Juggling Day – Gift for customers juggling set
July 16th – Toss Away the “Could Haves” and “Should Haves” Day (third Saturday in July)

4th Week:

July 18th – Chrysanthemum Day
July 18th – National Get Out of the Dog House Day (third Monday in July)
July 18th – National Hug Your Kids Day (third Monday in July)
July 20th – Ugly Truck Day - Have a photo contest. Like that ugly dog contest.
July 22nd – Hammock Day
July 23rd – Gorgeous Grandma Day
July 23rd – Hot Enough For Ya Day – Invite customers in to cool off and browse!
July 24th – National Drive-Thru Day
July 24th – National Tell an Old Joke Day – Have a contest for your customers.

5th Week:

July 25th – Day Out of Time Day
July 25th – Threading the Needle Day
July 25th – Culinarians Day
July 26th – National Cowboy Day [Song in my head “I want to be a cowboy and you can be my cowgirl...]
July 26th – All or Nothing Day
July 27th – Walk on Stilts Day – Hire a professional to walk on stilts outside your business!
July 28th – Accountants Day
July 28th – Beatrix Potter Day
July 31st – Mutt’s Day – Sponsor a pet adoption from a local shelter.
July 31st - International Dance Day – for Dance instructors!
July 31st – National Underwear Day – Make sure its clean!

If you like the non-food days for your marketing promotions leave a comment and I’ll do it again for the next month. Otherwise I’m sticking to food holidays. I love food.

Piece of Cake Marketing Ideas for June!

May 30th, 2011

 

June has several cake awareness days that will make for some delicious marketing promotions. June 1st is National Hazelnut Cake Day, June 6th is National Applesauce Cake Day, June 11th is National German Chocolate Cake Day and June 14th is National Strawberry ShortCAKE Day.

I’m thinking wineries could also use National Cheese Day on June 4th to encourage wine tasters to visit. And stores selling kitchen items can have a special promotion for people who feel less skilled in the kitchen with National Kitchen Klutzes of America on June 13th.

If you want a family orientated theme how about International Picnic Day on June 18th. Or there is June 17th National Eat Your Veggies Day to encourage families to eat healthy.

What can you come up with for your June Marketing promotions?

First Week:

June 1: National Hazelnut Cake Day

June 2: National Rocky Road Day

June 3: National Chocolate Macaroon Day

June 4: National Cheese Day

June 4: National Cognac Day

June 5: National Gingerbread Day

Second Week:

June 6: National Applesauce Cake Day

June 6: National Frozen Yogurt Day

June 7: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

June 8: National Jelly-filled Doughnut Day

June 9: National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day

June 10: National Herbs & Spices Day

June 10: National Black Cow Day

June 11: National German Chocolate Cake Day

June 12: Peanut Butter Cookie Day

Third Week:

June 13: National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day

June 14: National Strawberry Shortcake Day

June 15: National Lobster Day – Seafood restaurants do something fun!

June 16: National Fudge Day

June 17: National Apple Strudel Day

June 17: National Eat All Your Veggies Day – Nutritionists, chefs, restaurants!

June 18: National Cherry Tart Day

June 18: International Picnic Day

June 19: National Dry Martini Day – Have a 007 contest!

Fourth Week:

June 20: National Vanilla Milkshake Day – Have a retro 50′s theme sale!

June 21: National Peaches & Cream Day

June 22: National Chocolate Eclair Day – Delicious!

June 22: National Onion Rings Day

June 23: National Pecan Sandies Day

June 24: National Pralines Day

June 25: National Strawberry Parfait Day

June 25: National Catfish Day

June 26: National Chocolate Pudding Day

Fifth Week:

June 27: National Orange Blossom Day

June 28: National Tapioca Day

June 29: National Almond Buttercrunch Day

June 30: National Ice Cream Soda Day – Lots of fun for summer time!

Let me know if you use June 25th National Catfish Day in a Marketing promotion. I think it could work for the right business.

April Is A Marketing Picnic Of Ideas!

March 14th, 2011

April 23rd is National Picnic Day. Have a picnic themed promotion for your business. Send out Picnic baskets full of goodies to you top clients. Or have a picnic at your store if you cater to families and encourage them to bring their children.

April 1st has three different theme ideas to match any business. I like National Cherry Cheesecake Day…invite me to a tasting at your event.

There is even a healthy day for vegetarians: April 20th is National Lima Bean Respect Day. I loved them in my vegetable soup when I was a child.  Hmm, National Zucchini Bread day sounds like a tasty treat for you customers.

All of April has some really good days for marketing themes. Check out the rest below for five weeks full of outrageous advertising ideas. Use them in your Social Media, Direct Mail and Print and TV advertising promotions

Week 1 –

April 1 – April Fool’s Day – This sale is no joke…prices that can’t be beat.

April 1 – National Sourdough Bread Day

April 1 – International Edible Book Day – There’s even an International Edible Book Festival.

April 2 – National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day – Its peanut butter, jelly time!

April 3 – National Chocolate Mousse Day – Ummm, delicious.

Week 2 –

April 4 – National Cordon Bleu Day

April 5 – National Raisin & Spice Bar Day

April 6 – National Caramel Popcorn Day

April 7 – National Coffee Cake Day – Coffee shops can offer a special offer with a beverage.

April 8 – National Empanada Day

April 9 – National Chinese Almond Cookie Day

April 10 – National Cinnamon Crescent Day – Bakeries can do a promotion to bring in customers.

Week 3 –

April 11 – National Cheese Fondue Day

April 12 – National Licorice Day

April 13 – National Peach Cobbler Day – Have fans post recipes on your Fan Page wall.

April 14 – National Pecan Day

April 14 – National Hot Cross Bun Day

April 15 – National Glazed Spiral Ham Day

April 16 – National Eggs Benedict Day

April 16 – National Baked Ham with Pineapple Day

April 16 – National Day of the Mushroom

April 17 – National Cheeseball Day

Week 4 –

April 18 – National Animal Crackers Day – Monkeys and rabbits Loop the Loop

April 19 – National Garlic Day

April 19 – National Amaretto Day

April 20 – National Pineapple Upside-down Cake Day

April 20 – National Lima Bean Respect Day

April 21 – National Chocolate-Covered Cashews Day

April 22 – National Jelly Bean Day – Mail out jelly beans in a mailer.

April 23 – National Cherry Cheesecake Day

April 23 – National Picnic Day – Picnic themed sale for families.

April 24 – National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day

Week 5 –

April 25 – National Zucchini Bread Day

April 26 – National Pretzel Day – Offer customers big, warm pretzels. Yum!

April 27 – National Prime Rib Day

April 28 – National Blueberry Pie Day – Recipe contest for your customers.

April 29 – National Shrimp Scampi Day – Seafood restaurants, think up a promotion!

April 30 – National Oatmeal Cookie Day

April 30 – National Raisin Day

 

Is Being Relevant Only a Fantasy for Your Business?

February 12th, 2011

Dilbert.com

Have you made your business irrelevant online? Astonishingly enough I still hear on a daily basis, at least one business person say they are not interested in Facebook or other social media to promote their business online.  Apparently those business people want to stay invisible and irrelevant on a media platform that can brand their business on a global scale.

An associate mentioned to me that some people currently view social media for marketing and advertising like people back in the 1950’s viewed radio some new fad that wasn’t worth their making room in for in their marketing budget. Savvy business people who saw the value of radio back in the 1950’s used it too make their businesses more successful. Today savvy business people can use social media, especially Facebook to enhance awareness about their business to their target market on a huge scale for much less money than a radio ad in today’s media.  Social media is the present and the future.

Social media in unexplored territory for many and businesses need to know how to use social networking to promote their business.  Social media allows you to expand your online presence, build a social media fan base, interact with your customers and increase sales with social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and Blogs.

You can use it to tell your customers about your business, future products and services, promotional events, special sales and educational seminars. You can also build your business reputation as a leader in your field by sharing your expertise which helps to create loyal customers who turn into fans and tell their friends about your business.

Don’t just fantasize about being relevant get your social media marketing started today. Direct Marketing Rx is a social media management firm dedicated to marketing your business through social networks. If you need help we are here to meet your social media marketing needs. To keep in touch with customers and build brand awareness you need to get involved in social media. Contact us today we can help you.

Spring into Your March Marketing Promotions!

February 11th, 2011

People are blooming with the urge to shop when the sun comes out and flowers start growing. Lure them into you business with special offers using fun and outrageous themes.

Get people interacting with you on your Facebook page and Twitter. Have recipe contests.  Send out mailers with recipe cards attached and have customers post photos of their version of your recipe on your Facebook Wall.

Have a taste off at your business and have some local celebrities’ judge which of your customers had the best recipe. Take their photo with the winning dish and give them a gift certificate for your products or services.

If you run a restaurant and say a special day below that incorporates one of your dishes or desserts have a special discount on that specific day. Advertise it on you social media profile, your print, TV and radio ads. Get people excited to come in and taste that special dish.  National White Chocolate Cheesecake days sounds like a yummy way to get customers dining at your restaurant. Or Lobster Newburg Day or Baked Scallops Day or even National Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day.

There are plenty of ideas for non-food service businesses too.  Have a National Cheese Doodle Day promotion where you hand out snack sized bags to customers who come in to your business on March 5th.

Week 1 –

March 1 – National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day

March 1 – National Fruit Compote Day

March 2 – National Banana Cream Pie Day

March 3 – National Cold Cuts Day – Have cold cuts in a deli tray available for customers to enjoy while the shop your sale.

March 3 – National Mulled Wine Day

March 4 – National Poundcake Day

March 5 – National Cheese Doodle Day

March 6 – National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day

Week 2 –

March 7 – National Crown Roast of Pork Day

March 7 – National Cereal Day

March 8 – National Peanut Cluster Day

March 9 – National Crabmeat Day

March 10 – National Blueberry Popover Day

March 11 – National Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day – Invite your top clients over for a breakfast at your favorite restaurant

March 12 – National Baked Scallops Day – Great promotion idea for seafood restaurants.

March 13 – National Coconut Torte Day

Week 3 –

March 14 – National Potato Chip Day

March 15 – National Peanut Lovers Day

March 15 – National Pears Helene Day

March 16 – National Artichoke Heart Day

March 17 – National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day

March 18 – National Oatmeal Cookie Day – Bakery marketing idea.

March 19 – National Poultry Day

March 19 – National Chocolate Caramel Day

March 20 – National Ravioli Day – Italian restaurants can have a special offer.

Week 4 –

March 21 – National French Bread Day – I love fresh baked French Bread.

March 21 – National California Strawberry Day – The Santa Maria Strawberry Festival is  April 29th – May 1st.

March 22 – National Water Day – Donate to Water Project.

March 23 – National Chip and Dip Day

March 23 – National Melba Toast Day

March 24 – National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day

March 25 – National Lobster Newburg Day

March 25 – National Pecan Day

March 26 – National Waffle Day

March 26 – National Nougat Day

March 27 – National Spanish Paella Day

Week 5 –

March 28 – National Black Forest Cake Day – I’m thinking of the Madonna Inn Bakery! Yum!

March 29 – National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day

March 30 – National Turkey Neck Soup Day – How about a recipe contests?

March 31 – National Clams on the Half Shell Day – Another seafood restaurant promotional idea.

March 31 – National Tater Day

Be sure to leave a comment about which day you used in your March Marketing promotions. I’m eager to hear how you used outrageous advertising to bring in sales.

An Old School Way to Get the Word Out About Your Social Networks

February 2nd, 2011

Do you have your social media contact info on your business cards?  I have them on mine. Give your customers more than one way to connect with you beyond traditional phone number, address, email and website. I have my twitter and Facebook Profile links listed on my business card. You really need to incorporate you business cards into your social media.

I was reading a blog post by Mike Capuzzi of Copy Doodles about “How to Get More Out of Your Business Card Layouts.” He mentions 7 secrets to get more use out of your business cards to market your business.  I use secret #3 Double the Power of my card by making them double sided. Check mine out below:

I like to use full color and extra thick card stock although Mike Capuzzi’s  post encourages using non-traditional materials.

If you want to read about all 7 secrets check out the original article  here: How to Get More Out of Your Business Card Layouts.

Want Some Quick Facts about YouTube? [Infographic]

January 24th, 2011

Wondering if YouTube is a good platform for your business?  It depends on the demographics of your target market. Check out the infographic below for a few facts about YouTube.

Facts About YouTube
Via: OnlineSchools.org

Social Media is more than just Facebook and Twitter. If you have videos you think would appeal to your target market its time for you to set up a YouTube account and create a channel for your business.

History of Social Networking

January 22nd, 2011

Check out this infographic on the history of Social Networking. It goes as far back as 1971. Amazing.

The History of Social Networking
Via: Online Schools

Are you ready to promote you business using social networking? Direct Marketing Rx can help you get started.

How Can You Use a Twitter Party to Promote Your Business?

January 20th, 2011

Michael Port held a Twitter Party today to promote the release of the second edition of his book “Book Yourself Solid”.  He sent it out as an invitation to his Facebook friends so I  decided to participate.  I went to the link that showed the rules on how to participate. I signed up along with a 141 other people.  I made my tweets and I won a signed copy of the new book! Check out the screen print with my name listed under winners.

How would you use a Twitter Party to promote your business?  One way is to get people interested in winning free tickets to an event. And those who don’t win may end up buying tickets to the event. Or promote a book or new product launch.  What other ways can you think of using a Twitter Party to get more clients?

Check Out the Winners of Social Media Examiner’s Top 10 Social Media Blogs for 2011

January 20th, 2011

Social Media Examiner posted this list of winners of their second annual contest. Are any of these blogs on your RSS Reader feed?

1. Brian Solis: The grand master of social media, Brian is one of the web’s leading social media evangelists and his blog is required reading for businesses.
2. TopRank: This popular blog, the brainchild of Lee Odden, provides exceptional social media advice and should be one of your daily destinations.
3. Convince & Convert: Jay Baer’s Convince & Convert provides outstanding content for businesses seeking to embrace social media. This is the second year Jay has made our list.
4. Six Pixels of Separation: Mitch Joel offers consistent and thought-provoking content delivered with personality.
5. Social Media Explorer: This blog, from Jason Falls, provides excellent perspective on the current state of social media and should be a regular stop for serious social media marketers. This is the second year Jason has made our list.
6. Brand Builder: For businesses looking to dive deep into social media discussion, check out Olivier Blanchard’s rich insights. This is the second year Olivier has made our list.
7. Spin Sucks: Gini Dietrich’s blog takes a look at social media from a PR perspective. Check her site out!
8. Danny Brown: Danny Brown’s blog examines the human side of social media with rich content and insights.
9. The Anti-Social Media: For something completely unique, check out Jay Dolan’s satirical blog on the state of social media.
10. BrandSavant: This unique blog from Tom Webster combines a great intellect with with common sense, giving it an edge.

I’ve only just started checking them out myself. You can see the original posting of the contest results at Social Media Examiner’s Blog.

Switch to our mobile site