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February has a Bushel of Marketing Ideas!

February 6th, 2012

February is National Grapefruit Month!

Check out the food themed marketing ideas, healthy or decadent its up to you. I love Grapefruits so I like the idea of a Grapefruit Month marketing promotion. But my absolute favorite is Chocolate Month. Consider the possibilities.

February is:

 

Canned Food Month

Chocolate Month

Great American Pies Month

National Cherry Month

National Fiber Focus month

National Grapefruit Month

National Heart Healthy Month

National Hot Breakfast Month

National Snack Food Month

Potato Lover’s Month

National Sweet Potato Month.

 

Week long holidays for February are :

    • First week of February is Shape up with Pickles Time
    • Second week is the Great American Pizza Bake Celebration
    • Third week is Kraut and Frankfurter week
    • Fourth week is National Pancake Week.

       

If that is not enough celebrating for such a short month then check out the list below for the Daily Food Holidays.

 

February 1 – National Baked Alaska Day

February 2 – National Heavenly Hash Day

February 3 – National Carrot Cake Day

February 4 – National Homemade Soup Day

February 4 - National Stuffed Mushroom Day

February 5 – National Chocolate Fondue Day

February 6 – National Food Checkout Day

February 6 - National Nutella Day

February 7 – National Fettuccine Alfredo Day

February 8 – National Molasses Bar Day

February 9 – National Bagels and Lox Day

February 10 – National Cream Cheese Brownie Day

February 11 – National Peppermint Patty Day

February 11 - National Don’t Cry over Spilled Milk Day

February 12 – National Plum Pudding Day

February 13 – National Tortellini Day

February 14 – National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day

February 15 – National Gumdrop Day

February 16 – National Almond Day

February 17 – National Indian Pudding Day

February 18 – National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day

February 19 – National Chocolate Mint Day

February 20 – National Cherry Pie Day

February 21 – National Sticky Bun Day

February 22 – National Sweet Potato Day

February 22 - National Margarita Day

February 23- National Banana Bread Day

February 24 – National Tortilla Chip Day

February 25 – National Chocolate-Covered Peanuts Day

February 25 - National Clam Chowder Day

February 26 – National Pistachio Day

February 27 – National Chocolate Cake Day

February 27 - National Strawberry Day

February 28 – National Chocolate Souffle Day

February 29 (Leap Day) – National Surf and Turf Day

 

Let me know which ideas you use for your marketing and let me know in a comment!

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Kick Off January with Spicy Marketing Ideas!

December 27th, 2011

 

 

Get your 2012 Marketing started with a variety of savory Awareness Days. You can have direct mail, Facebook, Twitter and Google+ marketing promotions going on all during January. Check out January 16th Hot & Spicy International Food Day. Get your customers blood pumping for big sales.

 

1st Week:

January 1 – National Apple Gifting Day

January 2 – National Cream Puff Day [Yum, eating contest maybe?]

January 3 – National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day [My Mom loves these!]

January 4 – National Spaghetti Day

January 5 – National Whipped Cream Day

January 6 – National Shortbread Day

January 6 – National Bean Day

January 7 – National Tempura Day

January 7 – National Fruitcake Toss Day

 

2nd Week:

January 8 – National English Toffee Day

January 9 – National Apricot Day

January 10 – National Bittersweet Chocolate Day

January 11 – National Milk Day [Got marketing ideas?]

January 11 – National Hot Toddy Day

January 12 – National Marzipan Day

January 12 – National Curried Chicken Day

January 13 – National Peach Melba Day

January 14 – National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day [My favorite sandwich!]

 

3rd Week:

January 15 – National Strawberry Ice Cream Day

January 15 – National Fresh Squeezed Day

January 16 – National Fig Newton Day

January 16 – Hot & Spicy International Food Day

January 17 – National Hot Butter Rum Day

January 18 – National Peking Duck Day

January 19 – National Popcorn Day

January 20 – National Buttercrunch Day

January 20 – National Cheese Lover’s Day

January 20 – National Granola Bar Day

January 21 – National New England Clam Chowder Day

 

4th Week:

January 22 – National Blonde Brownie Day

January 23 – National Pie Day

January 23 – National Rhubarb Pie Day

January 24 – National Peanut Butter Day

January 25 – National Irish Coffee Day

January 26 – National Peanut Brittle Day

January 26 – National Pistachio Day

January 28 – National Blueberry Pancake Day

 

5th Week:

January 29 – National Corn Chip Day

January 30 – National Croissant Day

January 31 – National Brandy Alexander Day

 

Let me know which days you use and how the marketing promotions work out. Post your comments.

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Posted in Advertising, Business, Direct Marketing, Direct Response, marketing, Sales, social media

If You Doubt Social Media Works then Read this Post!

September 18th, 2011

Social Media works. My toughest client, my hairstylist, was hard to convince to set up a Facebook Fan Page. She ended up leaving the salon she was at unexpectedly and didn’t have access to the computer database of her clientele. Trying to get the word out the offline way was not having any success. It was urgent to let her clients know the location of her new salon so they would keep coming to her. As the days went by her clients were being snapped up by her competition. And of course her old salon wasn’t going to tell her clients about her new location.

I set up the Facebook Page and started posting to the Wall. I shared her hairstylist Page with my Facebook Friends and Fans. One day a comment appears on a Page I created asking if the hairstylist I mentioned was the one that worked at the salon he was used to. He was very happy to find out it was the hairstylist he was used to having cut his hair.

Check out the post he put on her Fan Page in the screen shot below:

You can use social media to keep track of your fans and let them keep track of you. Using your Fan Page you can let your client know of changes in location, venues, hours and more. By keeping your customers informed you don’t have to worry about your competitors snapping them up.

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September is Chock Full of Marketing Ideas!

August 19th, 2011

You’re in the right place if you need ideas for promoting your business in September. First off, September is National Biscuit Month. I’m picturing a contest on Facebook and having people post photos of what they like eating with their biscuits. Let fans choose which are the best looking photos. Or have people send in recipes and post a few recipes in your newsletter. Then have people comment on which biscuit recipe they tried and why they enjoyed it.

September 6th is National Coffee Ice Cream Day. I think that would work great for ice cream shops, coffee shops, coffee roasters and even restaurants. Come up with specialty coffee ice cream flavors. September 29th is National Coffee Day so you can have to great promotions going on during the month. Maybe even have a Foursquare check-in promotion of a free coffee or coffee ice cream. Let me know what you do and how it turns out.

Bakeries need to be aware of National Cream-Filled Donut Day on September 14th. Get crowds clambering for a cream-filled donut! National TV Dinner on September 10th could work for weight loss programs using special frozen dinner meals.

And if you want to promote healthy eating September 7th is National Acorn Squash Day.

 

First Week:

September 1 – National Cherry Popover Day

September 2 – National Blueberry Popsicle Day

September 3 – National Welsh Rarebit Day [Hmm, not sure, what would you do with it?]

Second Week:

September 4 – National Macadamia Nut Day [Do a mailer with packets of nuts.]

September 5 – National Cheese Pizza Day [Invite your customers over for lunch]

September 6 – National Coffee Ice Cream Day

September 7 – National Acorn Squash Day

September 8 – National Date-Nut Bread Day [Promote a Date Night for customers!]

September 9 – National Weinerschnitzel Day

September 10 – National TV Dinner Day

Third Week:

September 11 – National Hot Cross Bun Day

September 12 – National Chocolate Milkshake Day [Great for a 50's Diner]

September 13 – National Peanut Day

September 14 – National Cream-Filled Donut Day

September 14 – National Eat a Hoagie Day [Have an open house with mini Hoagies!]

September 15 – National Creme de Menthe Day

September 15 – National Linguini Day [Great for restaurants!]

September 16 – National Cinnamon-Raisin Bread Day [Promote a baking contest.]

September 17 – National Apple Dumpling Day

Fourth Week:

September 18 – National Cheeseburger Day [Last Barbecue before it gets too cold?]

September 19 – National Butterscotch Pudding Day

September 20 – National Punch Day [Offer cups of punch to guests.]

September 21 – National Pecan Cookie Day10

September 22 – National Ice Cream Cone Day

September 23 – National White Chocolate Day [Send boxes to your top clients]

September 24 – National Cherries Jubilee Day

Fifth Week:

September 25 – National Crab Meat Newburg Day

September 26 – National Pancake Day [Breakfast with key clients?]

September 27 – National Chocolate Milk Day [Kid friendly day – what will you do with it?]

September 27 – National Corned Beef Hash Day

September 28 – National Strawberry Cream Pie Day

September 28 – National Drink Beer Day [Works great for sports bars and nightclubs.]

September 29 – National Coffee Day [Coffee shops and Roasters pay attention!]

September 30 – National Mulled Cider Day

Now you have 30 days worth of outrageous marketing ideas for September. Which days will you use and how? Be sure to leave a comment and let me know.

 

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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

 

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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.

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Social Media Helps You Find Out What Your Customers Want

December 15th, 2010

Have you been wondering why you should bother using Twitter or Facebook as part of your marketing plan?  Social networking incorporates the following aspects of human nature:

  • People like to be involved
  • People like to be appreciated
  • People like to share their knowledge and experiences

Social networking is about building relationships – on a wide scale.

You can use social media to find out what motivates your customers to buy from your business over your competitors.

Your fans will let you know in real time what works and doesn’t work about your business. I have personally used Facebook and Twitter to resolve customer service issues I was having with companies. I was to the point of not even using the business ever again when I decided to post my dissatisfaction on the company’s Facebook page and Twitter profile.

I got quick responses when my previous phone calls and emails hadn’t worked and I’m still doing business with those companies. You can be the business owner known for a quick response to customer service issues. People will know you care about their needs and continuing business relationship not just making a quick buck.

Using social media is a great market research tool to understand what your customer wants:

  • Posting questions for your customers to answer. People love to participate and give their opinions on a variety of topics.  It’s amazing how many people will share their knowledge and expertise if you only ask by posting a question on Facebook or Twitter.
  • Use surveys and polls. There are third party applications you can use and many are free or low cost. Are you curious to know why certain products or services sell more than others? Wondering if a new product or service you’re considering offering will even sell? Create a survey or poll and post it on Facebook and tweet a link to it on Twitter.
  • Ask people what they like and don’t like about your products. You may find out how to improve what they are already buying so they will buy more often and referring their friends.  Maybe they want more flexibility in service or more choices in colors or sizes in products you sell.  Making a few small adjustments could increase sales without investing a lot of money in a new product or service that wouldn’t appeal to your customer base.
  • Show customer appreciation by providing rewards for their participation. Give a discount or coupon for a free treat/sample when they come into your business or make an online purchase as the reward for completing the survey, poll or answering the questions you posted.
  • Reward them for doing something they already wanted to do. Some times offering a reward for clicking LIKE on your Facebook Fan Page can be rewarded. After I clicked LIKE on a local business Fan Page they provided a 20% off discount coupon for me to print. I wasn’t expecting it and planned to LIKE their Fan page regardless. But now that I have the coupon I’m ready to go spend some money at the store I wasn’t planning on spending at all.  How’s that for motivating your customers to spend money?

Using social media to market your business is a vital way to connect with your customers.

Use social networking to show our customers you appreciate them and want their feedback so you can keep improving your business to fit their needs.  It’s also an effective platform to share your expertise and let people know why your business has the best services or products to fit their needs.  Use your Facebook Fan Page or Twitter profile to be the online gathering place for prospects looking for what you have to offer.

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Don’t Fritter Away Your Marketing Opportunites!

November 27th, 2010

December has a kettle full of special days cook up more business.  Not surprisingly it’s National Fruit Cake Month!  And also National Egg Nog Month. Invite your customers to an event and serve fruit cake and Egg Nog.

Another idea is to offer a tropical themed event to get people’s minds of the cold winter chill with National Roast Pig Day on December 18th or National Fried Shrimp Day on December 20th.

I’m having visions of a Cotton Candy machine so you can hand out the fluffy treat to your clients and their children with December 7th being National Cotton Candy Day.  And so the vegan oriented don’t feel left out there is National Eat a Red Apple Day and National Kiwi Fruit Day.

Week 1

December 1 National Eat a Red Apple Day – Healthy promotions!
December 2 National Fritters Day
December 3 National Apple Pie Day
December 4 National Cookie Day – Love baking cookies in winter.
December 5 National Sachertorte Day (It’s a chocolate cake!)
December 6 National Microwave Oven Day - Can’t live without mine!
December 7 National Cotton Candy Day – Love it!

Week 2

December 8 National Chocolate Brownie Day
December 9 National Pastry Day
December 10 Celebrate National Fruit Cake Month
December 11 National Noodle Ring Day
December 12 National Cocoa Day
December 13 National Ice Cream Day
December 14 National Bouillabaisse Day

Week 3

December 15 National Cupcake Day
December 16 National Chocolate Covered Anything Day – My kind of day!
December 17 National Maple Syrup Day
December 18 National Roast Pig Day – Have a winter Luau! Get customers inside your business.
December 19 National Hard Candy Day – Send out a mailer with hard candy attached.
December 20 National Fried Shrimp Day
December 21 National Kiwi Fruit Day

Week 4

December 22 National Date Nut Bread Day
December 23 National Pfeffernuesse Day
December 24 National Egg Nog Day
December 25 National Pumpkin Pie Day
December 26 National Candy Cane Day – Love peppermint flavors!
December 27 National Fruit Cake Day
December 28 National Chocolate Candy Day

Week 5

December 29 National Pepper Pot Day – Send out pepper grinders to good clients.
December 30 National Bicarbonate of Soda Day – For all the overeating going on and over spending. Soothe your clients’ tummies!
December 31 Celebrate National Egg Nog Month

Leave a comment about which days you use to promote your business. Don’t forget to tweet about your special day promotions and post on Facebook!

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Posted in Advertising, Business, Direct Marketing, Direct Response, social media, Uncategorized

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Bake Up Tasty Marketing for November

November 8th, 2010

November has a cornucopia of special days to use for your marketing promotions. Don’t call me a sourpuss but I’m liking National Pickle Day on November 14th! Or make your whole month healthy with November being National Vegan month. I’m partial to all the dessert days with my killer sweet tooth. How about you? Which days will you use to promote your business?

Celebrate National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month

Week 1

November 1 National Vinegar Day
November 2 National Deviled Egg Day
November 3 National Sandwich Day
November 4 National Candy Day – Everyday is candy day for me!
November 5 National Doughnut Day
November 6 National Nachos Day
November 7 National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

Week 2

November 8 Celebrate National Raisin Bread Day
November 9 Celebrate National Vegan Month
November 10 National Vanilla Cupcake Day – I have an easy frosting recipe!
November 11 National Sundae Day
November 12 National Chicken Soup for the Soul Day
November 13 National Indian Pudding Day
November 14 National Pickle Day – Love crunchy dill pickles!

Week 3

November 15 National Raisin Bran Cereal Day
November 17 National Homemade Bread Day – I have a great beer bread recipe.
November 18 Celebrate National Georgia Pecan Month
November 19 Celebrate National Pepper Month
November 20 National Peanut Butter Fudge Day
November 21 National Gingerbread Day – Have a Gingerbread house contest.

Week 4

November 22 National Cashew Day – Tasty nut. Mail small bags to your clients!
November 23 National Eat a Cranberry Day – I like cranberry juice and dressing!
November 24 National Sardines Day
November 25 National Parfait Day
November 26 National Cake Day
November 27 National Bavarian Cream Pie Day
November 28 National French Toast Day

Week 5

November 29 National Lemon Cream Pie Day
November 30 National Mousse Day

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Harness Your October Marketing Promotions for Big Sales!

September 26th, 2010

Use your marketing promotions to celebrate:

National Chili Month
National Apple Month
National Popcorn Popping Month
National Pretzel Month
National Seafood Month
National Pork Month

There are food choices for every type of business. Make your promotions healthy fun or guilty pleasures! I’m thinking Chili Cook Offs or have your customers create recipes for apple desserts and use Facebook and Twitter to promote the events.

Pretzels are easily shipped and you can mail them out to prospects with recipes for chocolate dipped pretzels.

October being National Pork Month sounds like its time for a Luau for your customers. Or have a clam bake or shrimp cocktail available for a customer appreciation day.

Let me know what you decide to do for your October marketing promotions.

Week 1

October 1 World Vegetarian Day – All healthy businesses can do something on this day!
October 2 National Fried Scallops Day
October 3 National Caramel Custard Day

Week 2

October 4 National Taco Day
October 5 National Apple Betty Day
October 6 National Noodle Day
October 7 National Frappe Day
October 8 Celebrate National Chili Month
October 9 Celebrate National Apple Month
October 10 National Angel Food Cake Day

Week 3

October 11 World Egg Day
October 12 Celebrate National Popcorn Popping Month
October 13 National Yorkshire Pudding Day
October 14 Celebrate National Pretzel Month – Love ‘em! Send bags to your clients
October 15 National Chicken Cacciatore Day
October 16 Celebrate National Seafood Month
October 17 National Pasta Day

Week 4

October 18 National Chocolate Cupcake Day – Sprinkles strawberry cupcakes and strawberry frosting is fabulous! Bake some for you best clients.
October 19 National Seafood Bisque Day
October 20 Celebrate National Pork Month
October 21 National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day
October 22 National Nut Day – Send your clients packages of nut mixes.
October 23 National Boston Cream Pie Day
October 24 National Bologna Day

Week 5

October 25 National Greasy Foods Day
October 26 National Mincemeat Pie Day
October 27 National Potato Day
October 28 National Chocolate Day – Gotta love this one! Send boxes of chocolate out to show your client’s you appreciate them.
October 29 National Oatmeal Day
October 30 National Candy Corn Day
October 31 National Candy Apple Day – Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory has yummy ones in a variety of flavors.

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