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10 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer from copyblogger originally appeared on Direct Marketing Rx on June 16, 2012.

April 26th is National Pretzel Day

Spring is here and so are 30 more days of yummy marketing ideas. I’m liking April 18th National Animal Crackers Day. Send your clients a box of animal crackers as part of a marketing promotion. I’m thinking of a recipe contest for April 23rd National Cherry Cheesecake Day. Let me know what you come up with and I’ll share it on this blog.

1st Week

April 1 – National Sourdough Bread Day
April 1 – International Edible Book Day – [I'd like to read and eat an edible book!]
April 2 – National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day – Its peanut butter jelly time!
April 3 – National Chocolate Mousse Day
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

2nd Week:

April 8 – National Empanada Day
April 9 – National Chinese Almond Cookie Day
April 10 – National Cinnamon Crescent Day
April 11 – National Cheese Fondue Day
April 12 – National Licorice Day
April 13 – National Peach Cobbler Day
April 14 – National Pecan Day
April 14 – National Hot Cross Bun Day

3rd Week:

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
April 18 – National Animal Crackers Day – I’m thinking of a Shirley Temple look-a-like contest!
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

4th Week:

April 22 – National Jelly Bean Day
April 23 – National Cherry Cheesecake Day
April 23 – National Picnic Day – Make it a family day for your customers.
April 24 – National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day
April 25 – National Zucchini Bread Day
April 26 – National Pretzel Day [I love pretzels!] – I’m thinking Sports Bars can use it in a promotion.
April 27 – National Prime Rib Day – Yum! Treat your best clients to dinner.
April 28 – National Blueberry Pie Day
April 29 – National Shrimp Scampi Day
April 30 – National Oatmeal Cookie Day
April 30 – National Raisin Day

Which of these days will you use to get your customers buying?

Its Time to Spring Into Your April Marketing! originally appeared on Direct Marketing Rx on April 2, 2012.

There’s a tasty marketing idea for each of March’s 31 days. Some days have a few extra. What can you come up to spring into your March marketing? I like Potato Chip Day on March 14th. Have customers post photos of crazy looking chips on your Facebook Page or Pinterest, Twitter or Flicker.

Being a California gal March 21st as California Strawberry Day sounds like a fun marketing promotion. Have a recipe contest with your customers.

What promotional ideas can you come up with for March with the days below? Let me know in a comment. I’d love to hear about your plans.

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
March 3 – National Mulled Wine Day

Week 2

March 4 – National Poundcake Day
March 5 – National Cheese Doodle Day
March 6 – National Frozen Food Day
March 6 – White Chocolate Cheesecake Day
March 7 – National Crown Roast of Pork Day
March 7 – National Cereal Day
March 8 – National Peanut Cluster Day
March 9 – National Crabmeat Day – My Mom loves crabmeat!
March 10 – National Blueberry Popover Day

Week 3

March 11 – National Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day
March 12 – National Baked Scallops Day
March 13 – National Coconut Torte Day
March 14 – National Potato Chip Day
March 15 – National Peanut Lovers Day
March 15 – National Pears Helene Day
March 16 – National Artichoke Heart Day – I’d like to see a marketing campaign – Ideas?
March 17 – National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day

Week 4

March 18 – National Oatmeal Cookie Day
March 19 – National Poultry Day
March 19 – National Chocolate Caramel Day – Oh, I’m thinking of Sees Candy!
March 20 – National Ravioli Day
March 21 – National French Bread Day – I love it with butter! Yummy!
March 21 – National California Strawberry Day
March 22 – National Water Day – Stay healthy, what other ideas?
March 23 – National Chip and Dip Day
March 23 – National Melba Toast Day
March 24 – National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day

Week 5

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
March 28 – National Black Forest Cake Day – Check out Madonna Inn’s version! Delicious!
March 29 – National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day
March 30 – National Turkey Neck Soup Day
March 31 – National Clams on the Half Shell Day
March 31 – National Tater Day

Spring Into Your March Marketing with these Savory Days! originally appeared on Direct Marketing Rx on March 1, 2012.

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22 Ways to Create Compelling Content from Copyblogger originally appeared on Direct Marketing Rx on February 25, 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!

February has a Bushel of Marketing Ideas! originally appeared on Direct Marketing Rx on February 6, 2012.

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 16^th Hot & Spicy International Food Day. Get your customers blood pumping for big sales.

1^st 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

2^nd 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!]

3^rd 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

4^th 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

5^th 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.

Kick Off January with Spicy Marketing Ideas! originally appeared on Direct Marketing Rx on December 27, 2011.

Here are some great days for you to get your customers all stirred up in December. Let me know which days you use and how it turns out.

1^st week

December 1 – National Pie Day

December 2 – National Fritters Day

December 3 – National Apple Pie Day

December 4 – National Cookie Day – Woohoo cookies! I love baking.

December 5 – National Sacher Torte Day

December 6 – National Gazpacho Day

December 6 – Microwave Oven Day

December 7 – National Cotton Candy Day – Weird that its in December but fun!

December 8 – National Chocolate Brownie Day – Let’s get baking

December 9 – National Pastry Day

December 10 – National Lager Day

2^nd week:

December 11 – National Noodle -Ring Day

December 12 – National Ambrosia Day

December 13 – National Cocoa Day – Warm drinks for everyone!

December 14 – National Bouillabaisse Day

December 15 – National Cupcake Day – Have a baking contest.

December 16 – National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

December 17 – National Maple Syrup Day

3^rd week:

December 18 – National Roast Suckling Pig Day

December 19 – National Hard Candy Day – Always good for fresh breath and dry throats.

December 20 – National Fried Shrimp Day

December 20 – National Sangria Day – Drink up.

December 21 – Kiwi Fruit Day

December 22 – National Date Nut Bread Day

December 23 – National Pfeffernusse Day

December 24 – National Eggnog Day

4^th week:

December 25 -National Pumpkin Pie Day

December 26 – National Candy Cane Day – I love peppermint!

December 27 – National Fruitcake Day

December 28 – National Chocolate Candy Day – Another day for chocolate. Yay!

December 29 – National Pepper Pot Day

December 30 – National Bicarbonate of Soda Day – For all that over eating.

December 31 – National Champagne Day

Bake Up Some Scrumptious Marketing Promotions in December! originally appeared on Direct Marketing Rx on December 1, 2011.

Do you remember that sitcom Cheers about the some regular bar goers and their favorite bar? Whenever a certain guy came in everyone hollered his name. “Norm!” He came in so often the staff and customers all knew him by name. Even the show’s theme song was about going to a place where everybody knew your name was was glad you came.

If you’re wondering what all this is about I’ll explain. When you use Social Media for your business you can extend what I call the “Norm” Factor online. You can great customers who post regularly on your Facebook wall. Thank your customers for positive reviews and testimonials. You can even use Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare to have special offers available for your social network. By offering your customers a personal touch through Social Media they can get the “Norm” factor feeling anytime not only when they visit your business in person.

Here are four tips to creating your own “Norm” factor using Social Media

• Start conversations:

Sam the bartender would ask Norm and the other regulars about their day when they came in for a drink and they would tell him. He would listen attentively and over time they all became good friends. The customers knew Sam the bartender really cared and that’s why they kept coming back to his bar instead of buying their drinks elsewhere.

Social Media like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn allows you to chat one on one with clients/fans and at the same time share the conversation with hundreds or thousands of interested parties who want to see how much you care about your customers needs.

Ask questions and find out what your fans really need or want. Then give it to them.

• Listen to the conversation:

You can listen to your customers and provide advice and solutions using social media just like the bartender on the show offers patrons advice. And just as the bartender knows the drinks of his regulars you can know what products and services your regulars like and let them know of upcoming improvements or discounts.

I know when I go to my favorite gas station the employees are happy to see me and ask me about my day. They notice if I haven’t been by in a while. I let them know I’ve been out of town. Same thing happens at my credit union and my favorite restaurant. Something similar happens on Facebook and Twitter and LinkedInwhen I post comments about businesses I like or have an interest in.

• Encourage brand loyalty:

You can reward frequent customers in a variety of ways while keeping them interested in your postings. Post tips on and have a Customer of the Day or Week. Encourage them to share their stories. Have contests and let your customers post photos showing how much they enjoy your products. When a rival bar would compete against Cheers Sam the bartender would rally his regular customers to help him win. The customers were happy to support their favorite bar and did whatever they could to show they loyalty.

• Get personal:

Let prospective customers see that you would provide the “Norm” factor online and in person. Your customers aren’t numbers they are people you are happy to serve and you want to get to know them by name. You can be more personable by sharing your community activity on social media. Let you customers know about your favorite non-profits, share your employees of the month, post snippets of info about your hobbies or pets to keep it personal. Share the same stuff you would talk about face-to-face but on a wide scale. Everyone knew the bartender was a former baseball player and loved sports. They also new about his beloved car which I think was a Corvette. Let your customers know about you and give your business personality.

Use your social media to make your business the place everyone wants to go because you care enough to know their names!

Social Media – Where Your Customers Know Your Name and You’re Glad They Came! originally appeared on Direct Marketing Rx on November 21, 2011.

Mix up some zesty November Marketing promotions Check out the variety of food awareness days below if you are scrambling for marketing themes for November. Let me know how your promotions turn out. Leave a comment.

First Week:

November 1 – National Deep Fried Clams Day

November 1 – National Vinegar Day

November 2 – National Deviled Egg Day

November 3 – National Sandwich Day

November 4 – National Candy Day -Yummy

November 5 – National Doughnut Day

Second Week:

November 6 – National Nachos Day

November 7 – National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

November 8 – National Cappuccino Day

November 8 – National Scrapple Day

November 9 – National Cook Something Bold & Pungent Day

November 10 – Vanilla Cupcake Day

November 11 – National Sundae Day

November 12 – Pizza with Everything Except Anchovies Day

November 12 – Chicken Soup for the Soul Day

Third Week:

November 13 – National Indian Pudding Day

November 14 – National Guacamole Day

November 14 – National Pickle Day – Love pickles!

November 15 – National Spicy Hermit Cookie Day

November 15 – National Raisin Bran Cereal Day

November 15 – National Bundt Cake Day

November 16 – National Fast Food Day

November 17 – National Baklava Day

November 17 – Homemade Bread Day – Have customers share recipes on your Facebook Page

November 18 – National Vichyssoise Day

November 19 – Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day

Fourth Week:

November 20 – National Peanut Butter Fudge Day

November 20 – Noveau Beaujolais Day

November 21 – National Gingerbread Day

November 22 – National Cashew Day

November 23 – National Espresso Day

November 23 – National Eat a Cranberry Day

November 24 – National Sardines Day

November 25 – National Parfait Day

November 26 – National Cake Day

Fifth Week:

November 27 – National Bavarian Cream Pie Day

November 28 – National French Toast Day

November 29 – National Chocolates Day

November 29 – National Lemon Crème Pie Day

November 30 – National Mousse Day

Its Not too Late for Zesty Marketing for November! originally appeared on Direct Marketing Rx on November 3, 2011.

Looking for Marketing Promotion Ideas for October? Check out the wide variety of days. Healthy ideas, not so healthy and fun food day ideas. October 22^nd is National Nut day. What kind of nutty ideas can you come up with for your Marketing promotions?

First Week:

October 1 – World Vegetarian Day – Have customers share recipes on Facebook

October 1 – National Homemade Cookies Day [I love baking cookies!]

October 2 – National Fried Scallops Day

October 3 – National Caramel Custard Day

October 4 – National Taco Day

October 4 – National Vodka Day – Great promotion for Night Clubs, Sports Bars and Restaurants

October 5 – National Apple Betty Day

October 6 – National Noodle Day

October 7 – National Frappe Day

Second Week:

October 8 – National Fluffernutter Day

October 9 – National Dessert Day – Have people post their Favs!

October 9 – National Moldy Cheese Day

October 10 – National Angel Food Cake Day

October 11 – National Sausage Pizza Day

October 11 – World Egg Day

October 12 – National Gumbo Day

October 13 – National Yorkshire Pudding Day

October 14 – National Chocolate-Covered Insects Day – EWWW!

October 15 – National Mushroom Day

October 15 – National Chicken Cacciatore Day

October 15 – National Roast Pheasant Day

Third Week:

October 16 – World Food Day – Promote a feed the hungry food drive!

October 16 – National Liqueur Day

October 17 – National Pasta Day

October 18 – National Chocolate Cupcake Day

October 19 – National Seafood Bisque Day

October 20 – National Brandied Fruit Day

October 21 – National Apple Day

October 21 – National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day

October 21 – National Caramel Apple Day – Yum! Have them for your customers!

October 22 – National Nut Day

Fourth Week:

October 23 – National Boston Cream Pie Day

October 24 – National Bologna Day

October 24 – Good and Plenty Day

October 25 – National Greasy Foods Day

October 26 – National Mincemeat Pie Day

October 26 – National Pretzel Day – Do a mailer with mini bags of pretzels.

October 26 – National Pumpkin Day

October 27 – National Potato Day

October 28 – National Chocolate Day – Here’s my favorite day!

October 29 – National Oatmeal Day

October 30 – National Candy Corn Day

October 31 – National Candy Apple Day

October has a Cornucopia of Marketing Ideas! originally appeared on Direct Marketing Rx on October 2, 2011.