Ginger Marks with DocUmeant - Topic: Effective Marketing Ideas for a Tough Economy!
[12:30:58 PM] Ginger Marks says: It's Networking 101 time again.
[12:31:24 PM] Ginger Marks says: Are you ready to share ideas today?
[12:32:34 PM] Larissa Glueck says: yes
[12:33:02 PM] Dreamcatcher Sandy says: morning
[12:33:13 PM] Ginger Marks says: good morning ladies
[12:33:21 PM] Larissa Glueck says: Hi Sandy, hi Ginger
[12:34:12 PM] Ginger Marks says: How has your week been? Any news?
[12:34:21 PM] Ginger Marks says: Anything you want to share?
[12:36:04 PM] Larissa Glueck says: I was busy finding skypecontacts back
[12:36:18 PM] Ginger Marks says: Hi Xarah
[12:37:02 PM] Xarah says: haven't (blush) read through last weeks ... it's wednesday already?
[12:37:16 PM] Larissa Glueck says: Hi Xarah
[12:37:27 PM] Larissa Glueck says: yes, it is really wendsday
[12:38:17 PM] Ginger Marks says: lol
[12:39:18 PM] Larissa Glueck says: The last two weeks were very strange
[12:39:25 PM] Ginger Marks says: how so?
[12:39:56 PM] Larissa Glueck says: I was up during night or till early morning
[12:40:03 PM] Larissa Glueck says: I got ideas than
[12:40:38 PM] Larissa Glueck says: so I am kind out of rhythm
[12:40:47 PM] Ginger Marks says: Understand
[12:40:59 PM] Ginger Marks says: I got up late so late start.
[12:41:02 PM] Larissa Glueck says: I now have a mixture between EST time and german time
[12:41:08 PM] Ginger Marks says: LOLOL
[12:41:43 PM] Larissa Glueck says: It is just hatrd if I have to get up early in the morning
[12:41:43 PM] Ginger Marks says: OK, so time to get started.
[12:41:48 PM] Larissa Glueck says: yes
[12:41:55 PM] Larissa Glueck says: so what is the topic?
[12:42:00 PM] Dreamcatcher Sandy says: like my hubby...LOL
[12:42:11 PM] Ginger Marks says: Open forum today, I think.
[12:42:15 PM] Ginger Marks says: Let me check, brb
[12:42:42 PM] Ginger Marks says: Ginger Marks with DocUmeant - Topic: Effective Marketing Ideas for a Tough Economy!
[12:42:43 PM] Dreamcatcher Sandy says: days and nights mixed up
[12:42:47 PM] Ginger Marks says: Oh dear!
[12:42:48 PM] Ginger Marks says: lolol
[12:43:03 PM] Ginger Marks says: OK, looks like I am the guest speaker today. LOL
[12:43:16 PM] Larissa Glueck says: (rofl)
[12:43:16 PM] Dreamcatcher Sandy says: hehe
[12:43:32 PM] Ginger Marks says: OK, Marketing ideas, I can do that! :D
[12:43:39 PM] Larissa Glueck says: Good
[12:44:01 PM] Ginger Marks says: Let me start with a question.
[12:44:29 PM] Ginger Marks says: How is the economy effecting your marketing?
[12:44:43 PM] Ginger Marks says: Have you pulled back? Or are you pressing on?
[12:45:05 PM] Dreamcatcher Sandy says: pressing on
[12:45:36 PM] Larissa Glueck says: Neither
[12:46:06 PM] Ginger Marks says: What are you doing to promote your products and services that you feel is working?
[12:46:16 PM] Ginger Marks says: Are you doing anything differently?
[12:46:30 PM] Ginger Marks says: Or using the same standard tools and ideas?
[12:47:25 PM] Larissa Glueck says: yes, I listen to others read their blogs, comment there or forward interesting information
[12:47:33 PM] Ginger Marks says: This economy is changing how we think and act in our business.
[12:47:56 PM] Ginger Marks says: It is being called the "New Economy."
[12:48:09 PM] Larissa Glueck says: I helped out in Radioshows and will start one together with another woman from April on each tuesday
[12:48:24 PM] Ginger Marks says: All great ideas Larissa.
[12:48:51 PM] Ginger Marks says: commenting on blogs is one of the best, but least taken advantage of marketing tools.
[12:48:55 PM] Larissa Glueck says: and I am currently working on blogposts and ebooks
[12:49:36 PM] Larissa Glueck says: The recordings from the radioshows I will collect and post too
[12:49:44 PM] Ginger Marks says: Much good is coming from the use of audio and video to market your business.
[12:49:51 PM] Larissa Glueck says: yes
[12:50:36 PM] Ginger Marks says: When you think about what you can do to capture the attention of your target market you must consider WHO your target market is.
[12:50:55 PM] Larissa Glueck says: yes sure
[12:51:15 PM] Ginger Marks says: Are you still marketing to everyone, or are you positioning yourself as the guru to a specific audience.
[12:51:40 PM] Dreamcatcher Sandy says: sorry my frieend needs consoling . her froend just passed away
[12:51:45 PM] Ginger Marks says: I know it is hard to let go of the thought that you need to market to everyone.
[12:51:57 PM] Ginger Marks says: give her our condolences Sandy.
[12:51:57 PM] Dreamcatcher Sandy says: ttl
[12:52:31 PM] Larissa Glueck says: ok bye Sandy
[12:52:33 PM] Ginger Marks says: You may or may not know, my background is in the medical field.
[12:52:52 PM] Ginger Marks says: I owned a successful multi-million dollar surgical facility for 23 years.
[12:53:06 PM] Larissa Glueck says: really?
[12:53:17 PM] Larissa Glueck says: Why did you changed?
[12:53:33 PM] Ginger Marks says: One thing that the medical field does that is very correct is to find a specialty and stick with it.
[12:53:44 PM] Ginger Marks says: A topic for another day, Larissa.
[12:53:50 PM] Larissa Glueck says: ok
[12:54:12 PM] Ginger Marks says: As you know specialists ask for, and get, higher pay.
[12:54:24 PM] Ginger Marks says: So, they do less work for more money.
[12:54:34 PM] Larissa Glueck says: I usally go for target clients
[12:54:54 PM] Larissa Glueck says: more fun in it and more money too
[12:55:15 PM] Ginger Marks says: So what we have to do is to uncover who our niche market it and market to only them. Get rid of the thought that you need to market to everybody!
[12:55:37 PM] Larissa Glueck says: yes
[12:56:26 PM] Ginger Marks says: If you haven't taken the time to sit down and really hone who your best client or customer is and what they look like, do it TODAY!
[12:56:29 PM] Larissa Glueck says: if a customer comes from another direction and matches to what I can deliver I take that person too
[12:57:32 PM] Ginger Marks says: yes, I am not saying you can't work with others not in your niche'. What I am saying is that you must not waste marketing dollars and time on trying to market to everyone.
[12:57:46 PM] Larissa Glueck says: I want to have happy customers
[12:57:47 PM] Ginger Marks says: If you get everyone, you have too much work to do.
[12:58:05 PM] Larissa Glueck says: yes
[12:58:36 PM] Larissa Glueck says: and if I market to everyone I can offer only mediocry work#
[12:58:53 PM] Larissa Glueck says: that is boring
[12:59:01 PM] Ginger Marks says: Any questions?
[12:59:12 PM] Larissa Glueck says: yes
[12:59:41 PM] Larissa Glueck says: I had a discussion yesterday about the lenght of sentences on blogs
[1:00:33 PM] Larissa Glueck says: What do you think is it clever to write complex sentences there with lots of ,,,,,?
[1:01:22 PM] Larissa Glueck says: I think shorter sentences are better as people are looking for easy to read information on blogs
[1:01:35 PM] Ginger Marks says: Depends on the blog topic and the audience.
[1:01:57 PM] Larissa Glueck says: also the academics which are used to complex sentences and write them in any text
[1:02:10 PM] Ginger Marks says: However, any good copy editor knows that it is better not to use run-on sentences.
[1:02:21 PM] Ginger Marks says: Keep them shorter, break them apart.
[1:02:41 PM] Xarah says: Hi everybody (wave) just quickly browsed through last week and signing up on bestlifedesign :)
[1:02:47 PM] Ginger Marks says: This is not a chat about copy editing though, so let's get back to the topic.
[1:02:54 PM] Ginger Marks says: Yeah!
[1:03:13 PM] Ginger Marks says: I am glad to see that the archives are being used. :D
[1:04:01 PM] Ginger Marks says: OK, another thing I have learned over the years is that it is less costly to market to existing clients/customers than to try to gain a new one.
[1:04:27 PM] Ginger Marks says: So what we need to do is target those who have used our services before.
[1:04:41 PM] Ginger Marks says: This can be done in many different ways.
[1:05:18 PM] Xarah says: i'm into Ning groups lately
[1:05:21 PM] Ginger Marks says: You can even spend a little extra time trying to figure out who your preimum clients/customers are.
[1:05:47 PM] Ginger Marks says: Give them a call just to thank them for doing business with you in the past.
[1:06:05 PM] Ginger Marks says: This kind of mimics what we spoke on last week.
[1:06:07 PM] Xarah to Sandy (hug)
[1:06:09 PM] Ginger Marks says: Does it not?
[1:06:49 PM] Xarah says: how can you become an expert if you are an affiliate?
[1:07:15 PM] Xarah says: my target is everybody: everybody loves chocolate :D
[1:07:49 PM] Larissa Glueck says: Not everybody loves chocolate
[1:07:51 PM] Ginger Marks says: Xarah, no, not everybody love chocolate
[1:07:55 PM] Ginger Marks says: some are alergic
[1:08:33 PM] Ginger Marks says: however, would it not be better to target those who are concerned about their health.
[1:08:47 PM] Ginger Marks says: or maybe those who love only expensive chocolate?
[1:08:59 PM] Larissa Glueck says: yes
[1:09:18 PM] Ginger Marks says: Are they not more apt to purchase your product than say the mom with 10 kids?
[1:09:39 PM] Ginger Marks says: hone your market, Xarah
[1:09:43 PM] Xarah says: they are not alergic to the chocolate but to the ingredients some put in their chocolates ;)
[1:09:43 PM] Larissa Glueck says: I think lots of men.
[1:09:57 PM] Larissa Glueck says: love chocolate
[1:10:12 PM] Xarah says: true, health and ppl who don't mind spending money
[1:10:30 PM] Larissa Glueck says: they usally refuse to buy it
[1:10:45 PM] Larissa Glueck says: they are often the first who eat it
[1:10:50 PM] Ginger Marks says: Now, you have a niche. Begin to think like they do. What makes them buy?
[1:11:04 PM] Xarah says: their sweet tooth?
[1:11:09 PM] Ginger Marks says: LOL
[1:11:17 PM] Ginger Marks says: think past that Xarah.
[1:11:35 PM] Ginger Marks says: What motivates them?
[1:12:03 PM] Xarah says: they want quality, they don't want the cheep stuff, they want to set them selves apart from the cheep stuff
[1:12:34 PM] Ginger Marks says: How can you answer that desire? What is your USP (Unique Selling Proposition)
[1:12:36 PM] Xarah says: they read in the newspaper that dark chocolate is healthy, oh, that's the other niche, hu?
[1:12:55 PM] Xarah says: buy our chocolate it's the most expensive and the best quality you can get
[1:13:01 PM] Ginger Marks says: Why should they buy your product rather than someone elses?
[1:13:22 PM] Ginger Marks says: Figure that out.
[1:13:33 PM] Xarah says: here?
[1:13:58 PM] Ginger Marks says: Then offer them justification, or what we call
[1:14:04 PM] Ginger Marks says: value proposition.
[1:14:11 PM] Ginger Marks says: No, when you have time.
[1:14:23 PM] Ginger Marks says: Make your offer irresistible.
[1:14:25 PM] Xarah says: ok
[1:15:00 PM] Ginger Marks says: Never forget to extend a real and tangable offer.
[1:15:18 PM] Ginger Marks says: Many times we talk about our product or service and never make an offer.
[1:15:34 PM] Ginger Marks says: How many times can you think that you have done that yourself?
[1:16:03 PM] Ginger Marks says: I don't mean when you first meet someone. I am talking about when you are sharing about what you do.
[1:16:30 PM] Ginger Marks says: After you build your relationship and have gained their trust.
[1:17:44 PM] Ginger Marks says: However, you see, if you are speaking with a customer who has used your services before you don't have to convince them, you just have to let them know you have something they "must" learn about that will help them in this way or that.
[1:18:15 PM] Ginger Marks says: Have you thought about maybe extending a money back guarantee?
[1:18:19 PM] Xarah says: true, have to go through my customer list
[1:18:24 PM] Ginger Marks says: Perhaps that is what would make them buy.
[1:18:40 PM] Xarah says: are you talking to me or is this general?
[1:18:53 PM] Ginger Marks says: In general.
[1:19:02 PM] Ginger Marks says: This is the topic today.
[1:19:09 PM] Ginger Marks says: Ginger Marks with DocUmeant - Topic: Effective Marketing Ideas for a Tough Economy!
[1:19:31 PM] Xarah says: ok, because the money back guarantee doesn't always work :) but it's an idea that i guess a lot of ppl forget
[1:20:46 PM] Xarah says: effective marketing ideas: be helpful, if you find an article that is of interest for a client, send it to them
[1:20:58 PM] Ginger Marks says: Here's one idea for those who are willing to step out on a limb.
[1:21:30 PM] Ginger Marks says: YES! Xarah! That is a great way to let your existing BEST customers know you are thinking about them!
[1:21:40 PM] Ginger Marks says: I think we touched on that last week.
[1:22:27 PM] Ginger Marks says: Are you ready for this idea? This is one that non-profits have used and are using to get increased donations.
[1:22:47 PM] Ginger Marks says: And it is working for them, why not give it a try in your business, with just a little twist.
[1:23:26 PM] Ginger Marks says: Send them a $5 check! Tell them they can cash it or use it for twice the value for a product or service.
[1:23:54 PM] Ginger Marks says: I know that can be a bit scary to do, buy it works for the charities, why can't it work for you?
[1:24:15 PM] Ginger Marks says: Start with only your very best clients/customers if you are a little leary.
[1:24:35 PM] Ginger Marks says: I told you this one would be for the brave.
[1:24:37 PM] Ginger Marks says: ;D
[1:25:18 PM] Ginger Marks says: That idea being a bit out of the box is a good place to end our conversation.
[1:25:38 PM] Ginger Marks says: Time is fleeting.
[1:25:47 PM] Ginger Marks says: We have about five minutes.
[1:25:53 PM] Ginger Marks says: Are there any questions?
[1:26:39 PM] Ginger Marks says: OK, no questions then let's do our Bust-A-Link
[1:26:55 PM] Xarah says: instead of a check can i use a Gutschein? we don't have checks here :)
[1:26:58 PM] Ginger Marks says: And remember next week is Open Forum.
[1:27:20 PM] Ginger Marks says: You could use real money?
[1:27:44 PM] Ginger Marks says: Whatever works. You get the idea.
[1:27:46 PM] Xarah says: no, 5 Franks are hard coins, it would have to be 10 frank bill
[1:28:09 PM] Xarah says: yes, i do, it sure makes me think
[1:28:37 PM] Ginger Marks says: Well, good then.
[1:28:44 PM] Ginger Marks says: I have done my job.
[1:29:00 PM] *** Jerrilynn Thomas left this chat
***
[1:29:12 PM] Xarah says: But-a-Link:
Healthy chocolate for the gourmet and health concious:
www.XarahRecommends.com/healthychocolate
Happy Birthday? Happy Birthday!
www.xarahrecommends.com/birthdayclub
[1:29:26 PM] Xarah says: oops, that should have been bust :)
[1:30:21 PM] Ginger Marks says: Marketing is about thinking how you can entice others to use your products or services. Banners, buttons, branding pieces like stationary etc. All are items we need to use. That is what DocUmeant Designs provides.
[1:30:32 PM] Ginger Marks says: http://www.DocUmeantDesigns.com
[1:30:40 PM] Ginger Marks says: We Make YOU Look GOOD!
[1:31:01 PM] Ginger Marks says: Well, it is now 1:30 our hour is up.
[1:31:07 PM] Ginger Marks says: Thanks for joining me today.
[1:31:15 PM] Xarah says: thank you Ginger!
[1:31:18 PM] Ginger Marks says: See you next week. Same time.
[1:31:25 PM] Ginger Marks says: You're very welcome Xarah!
[1:31:42 PM] Ginger Marks says: Have a WINning Week!
[1:34:19 PM] Xarah says: (handshake) (hug)
[1:34:43 PM] Larissa Glueck says: Have a winning Week.
[1:35:32 PM] Xarah says: you too