Tag Archives: Awareness

5 Powerful Ways to use QR codes

Having a business is not easy especially if you are in a place where there a lot of competition and you have low budget for advertising. Typically, businesses do not succeed much without customers and customers will not be aware that your business exists without promotion and advertising.

In the field of business management, you will obviously hear the term “QR codes” in many strategic planning for service and product promotion. If you are new in the field, you might be wondering what is a “QR Code” and what good can it do for your business.

QR codes (Quick Response codes) are two-dimensional codes that can be read by QR barcode readers on mobile devices. QR codes appear as black modules put into a specific order in a square – like model in a white background. QR codes contain information about your business in text or URL link.

The code is initially made to decode contents and provide INSTANT information about a certain product or service. Mobile phone users can scan QR codes and immediately be directed to your website, your coupon, your online video, or to a personal message from you – and many other options.

Quickly becoming popular in Japan a few years ago, QR codes were used to track parts of automobiles during manufacturing. However, due to the possibilities of the Internet, QR codes are now used to introduce new marketing strategies that provide additional customers and higher ROI to business owners.

Listed below are five examples of how to use QR codes effectively to help your business:

Social Platforms

  • Due to the popularity of social media, your QR codes can be attached to your web pages or social media profiles such as Facebook. That way, users can scan through the code and be directed to the information you want to get across.

Business Cards

  • You can have QR code added to your business card to direct customers to your business website or promotional offer. If you want them to simply be directed to your website, you can set-up the QR code to do so. If you want them to simply be provided with a promotional offer, you can set-up the QR code to do that as well.

Packaging Products

  • If your business involves sending packages to your customers, you can use QR codes to take customers to online guides and presentations about using your product. Or you can send them to a customer manual that will give them tips on using the product.

Press Releases

  • Online press releases are one of the best ways to gain online visibility for your business. However, this visibility is intensified with inclusion of QR codes in your press releases. After being intrigued to learn more about your business after reading your press release, the viewer can simply scan your QR code with their mobile device to be taken to your website for more information.

Include on All Printed Advertisements

  • QR codes are great for branding your business and creating awareness. You’ve probably noticed that more and more businesses are using QR codes on their flyers, postcards, billboards, t-shirts, coffee mugs… pretty much all of their marketing materials. The powerful idea behind this is that once the user scans the QR code, they can instantly gain access to whatever information you want them to have.

The possibilities are endless!

 

 

 

holiday-list-2018

Important Holidays to Keep an Eye On in 2018

For marketing professionals, the word ‘holiday’ is packed both with promise, and a sense of tension.

The potential for bigger and better sales, more customers, leads, and a general interest in your product increases exponentially if framed and promoted properly around the year’s many holidays. Now, cue every other marketer in the known universe blasting off email reminders and creating festive landing pages, and you have yourself a healthy dose of competition.

And how does one rise above the pack? While this is a subject that deserves its own article, trust in this: choose your holidays wisely. In the realm 24/7 social media engagement and activity, there is no shortage of holidays to capitalize on. Every day seems to celebrate something; whether it be hugs, entire countries, or pie. Your job is to filter out the holidays that are most relevant to your business, in order to ensure maximum levels of audience engagement.

Jan. 1st: New Years Day

The start date for grand resolutions, New Years Day (and the eve before) mark a time of hope and new beginnings. Take advantage of a day where most people are off work scrolling through newsfeeds and nursing a hangover.

Feb. 4: Super Bowl Sunday

While the actual date varies from year to year, the ceremonial ending of the NFL season takes place on the first Sunday of February. With coveted ad spots at the halftime shows averaging at $4-million for 30 seconds, it’s a great day to celebrate competition, and the strength and reach of good advertisements.

Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day

The annual day of buying things for those you love; Valentine’s Day is the ideal time to share a bit of sweet sentimentality. [Read our latest Valentine’s Day article] for in-depth information on how to make the most of this billion-dollar holiday.

Feb. 16: Chinese New Year

With approximately 1.3 billion consumers celebrating the New Year in February rather than January 1st, the Chinese New Year is an important holiday that tends to slip by unnoticed. Marked by themes of luck and celebration, the New Year takes place on a different day each year according to the new moon—which comes between 21st of January and the 20th of February.

Feb. 19: Family Day

Family Day is a statutory holiday occurring on a Monday in February. In the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Saskatchewan. In Alberta it is observed on the third Monday of February.

March 3: World Wildlife Day

The celebration of the world’s fauna is an excellent excuse to post a photo of a cute, cuddly, or ferocious member of an endangered or vulnerable species.

March 8: International Women’s Day

A day celebrating half of the world’s population, International Women’s day is the best time of the year to promote female inclusivity, gender equality, and fundamental human rights. And in a year marked by #MeeToo and a number of other revelations, the day’s importance should be emphasized.

March 17: St. Patrick’s Day

A celebration of Irish culture in all of its facets, St. Patrick’s Day has morphed into a celebration of fun, luck, festivities, and parades showered in all things green. Capitalize on the infectious fun.

April 1: Easter

One of the only religious holidays on our list, Easter is both a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus and a day famed for the Easter Bunny. And while the date varies from year to year, think chocolates, think fun, and think Spring sales.

May 13: Mother’s Day

Held on the second Sunday of May, Mother’s Day is a great opportunity to evoke feelings of warmth and kindness towards mothers, sisters, grandmothers, etc. as their significant others set out to buy flowers (specifically), and a bevy of other gifts.

May 21: Victoria Day

Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday preceding May 25, in honour of Queen Victoria’s birthday. The holiday has been observed in Canada since at least 1845, originally falling on Victoria’s actual birthday (24 May 1819).

June 17: Father’s Day

Celebrating dads, grandfathers, and brothers everywhere, the lead up to Father’s Day is lined with sales. Take advantage of a day championing togetherness and gift-giving.

July 1: Canada Day

Canada Day is the national day of Canada. A federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the Constitution Act, 1867 (then called the British North America Act, 1867), which united the three separate colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick into a single Dominion within the British Empire called Canada. Originally called Dominion Day, the holiday was renamed in 1982, the year the Canada Act was passed.

Sept.: Back to School

While the day varies for each academic level and school board between late August and early September, make sure to capitalize on the fact that everyone is buying brand new things to last a whole year of study.

Sept. 3: Labor Day

It’s the federal holiday that celebrates kicking back and doing as little work as possible. Keep the sales flowing since most will be spending their time at home and online.

Oct 8: Thanksgiving

Get your turkey feast on! As families gather together for a dinner celebrating the harvest and overeating in equal measure, make sure to promote feelings of community and friendship.

Oct. 31: Halloween

The spookiest of the holidays, Halloween is the day when little ghouls and goblins take to the streets for some well-earned trick-or-treating. With scary movies in the theaters, ghost stories told around the fire, and jack-o’-lanterns appearing on doorsteps everywhere, Halloween is a day for lots of laughs and plenty of scares.

Nov. 11: Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day (sometimes known informally as Poppy Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Following a tradition inaugurated by King George V in 1919, the day is also marked by war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November in most countries to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month”, in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. (“At the 11th hour” refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 am.) The First World War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.

Nov. 24: Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday® – a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. Please join in supporting your local small business by shopping at a small business.
First observed in the United States on November 27, 2010, it is a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big box retail and e-commerce stores respectively. By contrast, Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local.
The Twitter hashtag #SmallBusinessSaturday has existed since early 2010 and was used to promote small businesses on any Saturday (not solely that Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday).

Dec. 25: Christmas

With Christmas sales taking place throughout the month, the corporate-minded holiday celebrates all things warm, cozy, and jolly. Makes sure to promote that gift-giving spirit.

Dec. 26: Boxing Day

The day that sets off a week-long sales bonanza, Boxing Day is the last time of the year to liquidate stock and to cash in on those with Christmas gift money lining their pockets.

Important!

While the holidays you promote should depend on your line of business, take this handy guide and plug it into your marketing calendar. Don’t be left behind when sales opportunities arise. For an in-depth look at all possible holidays from around the world, head on over to Google Calendars, and make sure to save the dates for each of the holidays above.

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5 SMS Text Message Marketing Mistakes

Mobile Marketing is by far the newest addition to interactive advertising.  From the term “Mobile” itself, it obviously refers to the utilization mobile devices as a way to reach to people in marketing communications. This marketing strategy benefits many businesses by allowing them to capitalize on the different ways billions of people are using cell phones today.

However, many businesses are not using mobile marketing to its full capabilities to really increase profits and ROI.

If you are looking to build a massive list of customers who will buy from you over and over again, here are a few SMS Text Message Marketing mistakes you should avoid:

Mistake # 1:

No Call to Action

  • No matter how great your business is, you are still missing out on opportunities to get new customers if your mobile promotions do not include a call to action. Make people aware of your mobile presence on all of your marketing materials. Most importantly, tell people to join your mobile list to receive cool free gifts and future promotional offers. If you don’t tell them to join, most won’t.

Mistake # 2:

No Customer Reward for Registering

  • Another effective marketing strategy is to offer sign-up bonuses. Customers will be encouraged to join your mobile list if they receive an immediate reward. For instance, if you are fast food chain, you may offer “FREE MEAL worth $ 5” as a sign-up bonus. The customer would have to present your text message offer on their next visit in order to redeem it.

Mistake # 3:

Sending Out Too Many Offers

  • Though sending offers frequently can be exciting and may get your customers’ attention, it is annoying which may lead to some customers unsubscribing from your list. Also, sending offers frequently can have a negative impact as it does not give customers thrills on what they miss. Text offers sent weekly or twice a month is more effective because customers are given time to see the advantages of the offers and will look forward to future ones.

Mistake # 4:

No Customer-Retention Incentives

  • Customers are likely stay on a mobile list if they are given “freebies” and nice discounts every once in a while. Don’t make all of your messages an attempt to sell something. Instead, make your list some nice offers that will make them happy as well as keep a steady flow of income coming into your business. Some examples of effective customer rewards programs would be “FREE STUFF,” “50% OFF,” and “BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE.”

Mistake # 5

No Referral System in Place

  • Of course, people tend to share and talk with their friends and family members about any nice offers they’ve received. When your customers are satisfied by your products or services, they will likely recommend it to a friend or family member. So, you can make this process very easy for them by implementing a mobile “Refer a friend” program. Give your “referring” customers a nice reward for referring others and watch your list and ROI quickly grow.

5 SMS Text Message Marketing Etiquette Tips

Millions of people use mobile phones for communication ever day. In fact, more people are using text messaging than phone calls via their mobile devices.

Mobile phones are one of the most essential gadgets and a necessity to most people – especially in line of business. Because of that, marketing strategies involving mobile promotion have been utilized by many businesses to reach out to potential customers – including SMS text message marketing.

However, in order for SMS text marketing to be effective, you have to be careful about how you use it.   Similar to other marketing strategies, mobile marketing also needs to be thoroughly planned out in order to get the best return on your investment. The way you use SMS text marketing in your business greatly impacts the outcome of your goals.   

Your etiquette and creativity in mobile promotion of your business affects the amount of attention you will get from people. The response you get from people depends on how well you present your products and services to them.

The following are a few SMS Text Message Marketing etiquette tips that will help:

  1. Be straightforward

  • Beating around the bush of what you are trying to say will confuse people, which means they won’t comprehend your message. Be clear about your message. If you want them to take some type of action, tell them exactly what you want them to do and there’s a better chance of them actually doing it.

  1. Use proper language

  • Language is one most important aspects of effective communication. Do not use offensive and foul words in relaying SMS promotion. Choose your words carefully.

  1. Be honest

  • Don’t use exaggerated claims or out-right “untruths” when using SMS text message marketing. The last thing you want is a bad reputation for your business so keep your text messages 100% honest.

  1. Be polite and courteous

  • One way of getting customers is through courtesy and politeness. When people are pleased with the way you interact with them via text messaging, they will stay on your list a lot longer. If they sense one bit of rudeness, they won’t hesitate to opt-out of your list.

  1. Provide free information

  • Don’t constantly send text messages about promotional offers. Every now and then, send your list some free tips that they would find useful. You’d be surprised at the level of customer-loyalty that is created just by giving out free information regarding your industry.