Category listing: March, 2009
MAKE A REFERRAL WEEK is finally here! This week, March 9-13, is the official launch of the small business stimulus concept of energizing our nationwide economy by making referrals. We all know that “referrals are like gold” – just about every small business loves to receive them! Later on in the week, we’ll talk about a counter-intuitive approach touted by John Jantsch, founder of Duct Tape Marketing, and instigator of “Make A Referral Week” (MARW).
We encourage you to step up your referral making this week and let this 5-day launch remind each one of us that while we love to GET referrals, we hold a much greater power in GIVING referrals. And under the powerful principle of reciprocal generosity, when you given tremendously, you will find that people want to refer their friends/customers to you! It is true: it is much better to GIVE than to RECEIVE! Someone incredibly generous himself once said that.
Join us tomorrow, Tuesday (March 10) at 11:30a, for our bi-weekly small business marketing workshop! Because we are celebrating MARW in Fort Worth, we are hosting a special luncheon where we will discuss the power of referral marketing as well as view a LIVE webinar on the subject of referrals. Joining Jantsch will be some powerhouse referral marketing experts, including the founder of BNI! If you know of anyone in BNI, please let them know about our luncheon. We’d love to have them join us! It’s only $10 and lunch is included!
More information on Tuesday’s Fort Worth small business marketing workshop on referrals!
To learn more about “Make A Referral Week” visit the site that is energizing many small businesses to make more referrals this week than ever before!
If you are on Twitter, be sure and tweet about the week using hashtag #marw09 !
(To read more, here’s our latest press release on the subject)
Friend and fellow Duct Tape Marketing Coach in Canada, Cidnee Stephen, offers a simple perspective on the importance of differentiation. When we look just like our competition, the only place our customers have to compare is on PRICE. And who wants to compete on that?!
YOU: “Well, they’re offering it for $25?….uh, we’ll knock $2 off.”
CUSTOMER: “I went back and they said they’d match your $23 and knock off a buck.”
YOU: “OK, we’ll how ’bout $20 and we’ll call it done.”
CUSTOMER: “Well, they said they’d go that low, too. Can you do a few dollars more and I’ll for sure go with you.”
YOU: “Hey, I want your business so let’s just do it for $17.50 and I’ll take your credit card now.”
CUSTOMER: “Great and I have this $2 off coupon you said you’d match from all competitors.”
YOU: “Anything to keep your business!”
Later….
YOU: “I made a sale for $15.50 today.”
ACCOUNTING: “Well the thing cost $15 to make. We made a profit of 2 whole quarters.“
YOU: “Oh, yeh…..
Just because naysayers are saying no one has money to spend, what it really means is that people are more selective in the value they receive. Differentiate yourself!
-Randy
GRAPEVINE LIBRARY WORKSHOP: As we continue our community education workshops at area public libraries, please join us on Tuesday, March 3 (7:00p) at the Grapevine Public Library . We’ll discuss using online tools such as social media (including Facebook and Twitter), blogging, and email marketing as part of a comprehensive marketing strategy. This workshop was well received at the NRH Library late last year. It is not necessary to register in advance and there is NO cost to this event.
**UPDATE**
I’m posting some things this afternoon that we’ll make reference to tonight at our Social Media workshop in Grapevine – won’t you join us? It’s at 7p at the Grapevine Library – and it’s FREE!
Network with Donny on Linkedin – Randy on Linkedin
Let’s be Friends! Donny on Facebook – Randy on Facebook
Follow us! – Donny on Twitter - Randy on Twitter
Need a resource that is perfect for managing your email lists? Email Marketing is the answer! Get your 15-day FREE trial now + a 7-day e-course on how to use email marketing!
Duct Tape Marketing founder, John Jantsch, was commissioned by Microsoft to develop a resource for how small businesses can use social media to increase profits, enhance your community and network of clients, and how you can significantly cut your advertising budget! Click on the image below to go to John’s blog and download the resource for FREE!
Speaking of Duct Tape Marketing, the DTM network of coaches have teamed with Palo Alto Software to create an afforable marketing plan software. This PC-based software will walk you through, step-by-step, in creating a marketing plan based entirely on the proven systematic marketing approach of Duct Tape Marketing.
Finally, don’t forget to further your ability to market your small business by attending our bi-weekly small business marketing workshop in North Fort Worth. Right now, the fee is only $10 and lunch is provided. Our group is growing – you can read online what others are saying about the meetup group.
