Watch this fantastic Memorial Day video from our friends at Igniter Media!

This weekend is about honoring those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

• Teach your kids what this holiday is all about.
• Thank a veteran.
• Pray for our troops and the families of fallen soldiers.

Enjoy the video above and recommend it to your church or any other organization wanting to use video this weekend to honor our brave men and women in uniform.

Pay tribute this weekend!

-Randy & Donny Vaughn, The Marketing Twins

Take 20 minutes to listen to this RainToday podcast featuring John Jantsch, talking about referrals.

It’s been a great 2009 for us and we appreciate the relationship we have with all of you. We look forward to continuing our efforts in offering you value-added content in 2010 that can help your business, organization, personal branding efforts or even your ministry.

Here’s a fun video to watch as we close out 2009 and enter this magical holiday season. We are thankful for the birth of Jesus because of the “Amazing Grace” that He offers all of us. May you celebrate that gift and time with your family and friends in the weeks to come. Merry Christmas everyone!

LIVE EVENT:  Tuesday, July 28th, 1pm CST

Register for FREE! (click on image below)

The CFO of a mid-sized company was being let go due to mismanagement of the company’s funds. In his final hours at the company, the CFO made a last-ditch effort to earn the goodwill of some of the company’s customers. He called the managers of each of their three largest customers, and announced that 20% of their account balances had been forgiven, and the late fees waived.

A week later, the President of the company was informed by his Digital Marketing Director that each of their three largest customers had submitted thank-yous on the customer forum on the company website, had posted rave reviews about the company on www.b2breviews.com, and had written glowing comments on the company’s LinkedIn and Facebook pages. Moments later, the Senior Sales Manager reported that all of these same customers had substantially expanded their accounts with the company. And the HR Director revealed that the former CFO now had stellar recommendations on his LinkedIn profile from the managers of the three customers.

“Shrewd fellow,” commented the President. “Too bad his performance while he was here was not so wise.”

Some of you may recognize this story as an adaptation of one told by Jesus in Luke 16. Why was this dishonest CFO commended in the end? Because his final actions earned him the loyalty of his employer’s customers – and likely helped his employer as well. The CFO made good use of the principle of Reciprocation, one of the six Weapons of Influence identified by researcher Robert Cialdini.

The principle of Reciprocation says that people tend to repay kindnesses that have been shown to them, whether in business or in personal life. Part of this may stem from our unwillingness to seem ungrateful, or indebted, or a freeloader. But also, we simply prefer to do business with people who exhibit good customer service.

When I taste samples at a grocery store, I feel obligated to spend money there. When a waitress does an exceptional job at keeping my water glass refilled, I want to tip her more generously. When I get my oil changed and the mechanic notices that my tires are a little low, and puts some air in them for free, I am happier to continue to patronize that service shop.

What can your organization do to initiate reciprocation from your audience? Offer free samples? Give small gifts from time to time? Send “Happy Birthday” postcards on customers’ birthdays? Randomly award free shipping? Or simply go above and beyond in customer service?

A word of caution: the principle of Reciprocation should not be used manipulatively. If it is, your customers will catch on – and leave. But cultivate within your organization a genuine attitude of giving and serving, and you will see good returns.

For more ideas and tested examples of the principle of Reciprocation, read Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive by Goldstein, Martin, and Cialdini.

***

Haley Dilling is a freelance web designer and marketing consultant currently residing in Abilene, Texas.  For more information, please visit her site.

A Fort Worth suburb gets the national spotlight tonight on the Food Network, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives“. Hosted by Guy Fieri, this episode features “Funky Joints” all over America and the local Watauga favorite, Chef Point Cafe, gets the visit from Guy.

Congrats to husband/wife owners Paula Merrell and Chef Franson Nwaeze!

Check out their outstanding reviews from obviously loyal customers.
And hear about their watch party tonight – but you’re not attending because it’s been sold out for a long time!

Now if you are dead set on watching the NCAA basketball championship – at least DVR it!

Once again, the folks at GoVision (in nearby Keller, TX – just north of Fort Worth) are starring in the Inauguration of the President.  In addition to providing four high-resolution mobile video screens at today’s inauguration, GoVision also provided four jumbo screens for President George W. Bush’s second inaugural ceremony in 2005.

Check out the full story at Fort Worth Business Press (they also get credit for the picture above).

Congratulations guys on a high profile job on a very historic day!

“You’ll run into a burning building to save people you don’t even know and you’re just gonna let your own marriage burn to the ground.”

We’ll be interviewing Stephen LIVE, Noon CST.  You must register in order to obtain the call-in # and passcode, but it is FREE! Registration is limited and there are just over 50 spots remaining . . . people are registering daily and we expect more as the event gets closer.  Don’t miss the LIVE experience!

I’ll be on Twitter throughout the interview if you want to pose a question . . . not guarantees we’ll get to all of them, but worth a shot!  Use hashtag #DT-FIREPROOF in your tweets and you can see what questions others may be asking.

-Rnady

Happy New Year from The Marketing Twins at 1429 Creative!  

As the image shows, I think alot of people are glad to check 2008 off the list and move on!  Good riddance!  Now reports are running rampant these days about what 2009 will bring.  For the small business owner, times are challenging no doubt.  But the agility and innovation available to a small business far outweighs the bumbling blubber of corporate America.  This could be the year when more small businesses are started and the most explosive year for new entrepreneurs!  Are you in?

Here in Fort Worth, the FW Chamber EVP says we’re looking pretty good.  Stay tuned to over the next week to hear more about our review of 2008 and how the New Year 2009 can be the best year ever!

-Randy & Donny

Be sure and check our Upcoming Events for a calendar of our marketing coaching sessions and free workshops coming in 2009.

BONUS:   John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing shares a tip on making sure your site is current on its copyright information.

CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO OPEN AUDIO PLAYER: