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Promotions and special events are great for brining in new customers and reminding past clients why they like your service. A successful promotion is a real boost to any business. Follow these steps to make sure your promotions are well planned and orderly.
1. Start a filing system.
Keep a file of all your past ads and direct mail pieces. Also keep a file of other companies’ ads and promotional materials that are innovative or clever. Use this as brainstorming material.
2. Keep performance records
Records of how all your past ads and direct mail performed are essential. This will allow you to find the best ones and reproduce them and give you hints on what new things might work. Also you can avoid making the same mistake twice. If an ad didn’t work the first time, there’s a good chance it won’t work a second time.
3. Have a plan
Don’t let your customers forget you. Have some kind of promotion at least every other month. Most retailers have promotions monthly. The most common reason why customers don’t come back is because they forget about the business. Promotions are key in creating a presence so you won’t be forgotten.
4. Get your staff in on it
Discuss your promotional plans with your staff. Get them involved and brainstorm with them. Put up a calendar outlining your promotional events so everyone knows what’s going on. The last thing you want is for your employee to tell a customer that they don’t know about the current promotion. If everyone is on the same page, things run much more smoothly.
5. Leave nothing to chance
Make your plans well in advance. Schedule enough personnel to handle increased business on promotion days. The more systemized your event is, the better.
6. Get your advertising done in advance
Plan out your direct mail and newspaper ads well in advance. Design your ads to build excitement. Sell the benefits of attending. Don’t forget to tell them What, Where, When, and Why. Use short deadlines, strong offers and guarantees that you can stick to.
7. The media = FREE ADVERTISING
Charity events are great for publicity. Do a donation drive. Give discounts to customers who donate items. Be sure to call the local media beforehand with a press release. You may get featured in the paper. Take your own photos and send them out with a follow-up press release.
8. Use direct mail
You need to have great headlines. Hook their attention with the benefits of attending your promotion. Make them fear the loss of missing out on your special event. Direct mail is affordable and will bring in business.
9. Make it fun
Your event doesn’t always have to be a sale. Get creative and come up with some fun ways to get people coming in. Make an event around an obscure holiday, or just pick a day for something fun like an ice cream social. If your event is successful, your customers will advertise for you through word of mouth.
10. Plan for success
Be ready for big results. If you promote your special events effectively, you may have lots of business in a short time. Be sure your products and supplies are well stocked. Do the work, do it right, then get ready for business!
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Mail Print's Blog | Innovation Delivered 
Nice tips.Promotion is an important marketing strategy to increase sales,acquire new customers and informthe market about your company’s products and services.
Comment by zuri November 16, 2009 @ 7:15 pm