Watch that Ego #thinkbigthursday
#thinkbigthursday is our day to dream for something bigger than what we’ve got! So we’re gathering advice from people who have done more, gone farther, and we’re thinking big!
Blog
5 Ways to Promote on Facebook Without Being “Overly Promotional” via PostPlanner
5 Ways to Promote on Facebook Without Being “Overly Promotional” via PostPlanner
Fantastic article to help give you some ideas about using Facebook to promote without crossing the line into “really annoying page that I need to unfollow” territory.
Facebook marketers need actionable tips to keep getting exposure in the news feed while converting fans into loyal customers.
5 Ways to Promote on Facebook Without Being “Overly Promotional” via PostPlanner
Startup Marketing Basics: Zero Budget Marketing
Starting a business can be daunting – and so many people start their business by bootstrapping their operations – or starting with as little as possible in investments and loans. The problem is, because they start with nothing – and their budget is next to nothing – they often neglect marketing – and it can cost them dearly.
I do not advocate operating with a Zero Budget when it comes to marketing. I think you HAVE to put a little cash in to get anything out.
However – let me give you some ideas for ways to get some leverage when your cashflow is low.
1. Distribute Flyers, Brochures, and Business Cards.
I know – those things cost money – but many times – people have printed them up – and then left them sitting in a drawer! Go hand them out!
Where can you find people who need your service or product? If you are a business that serves other businesses – just go door to door -and drop them off, letting them know you are available to help with whatever your services you provide! (Look out for “No Soliciting” signs – it doesn’t mean you can’t drop it off – but it might mean you need to approach things differently!)
2. Follow up on your old leads!
Did you have someone that expressed interest – but then the communication ball got dropped? Just go through your phone log, email, or facebook messages to locate the people that were interested, but changed their mind, or didn’t pursue you!
3. Send a press release!
This takes some creativity – to find an event that is newsworthy – and it’s easier in small towns than large ones – but newspaper/radio coverage is some of the best free advertising you can get! If you are a startup – sometimes newspapers will offer a free article announcing your new business. (Of course – they want to try to sell you advertising – and it might just be worth it!)
4. Social Media
Facebook is starting to limit the visibility of your posts unless you pay for advertising – but social posting is still a good way to start connecting!
5. Think outside the box!
Do something outrageous, or creative, or DIFFERENT that gets people to notice you! Car dealers tie balloons on their cars – so that you notice them when you drive by. What can YOU do to get someone’s attention? Dress up in a monkey suit? Offer free samples to people walking by on the street? Make a pot of chili and bring it during lunch break to that client you are trying to land?
If you want some more ideas about “Zero Budget Marketing” – let me encouarge you to check out “Free Advertising Secrets” – a series of blogs I did in 2014. http://hatchermedia.net/tag/free-advertising/
Tune in Next Week for Startup Marketing Basics: Part 2 Which Marketing Should you Pay For?
How Logos are Done – this video shows the whole process! I love it!
This video is fantastic. Please forgive any language he might use – but this is what logo design looks like. I use similar methods – and I’d love to help you out. Let me know what you need! mail@joshhatcher.com
Aaron Draplin Takes On a Logo Design Challenge from lynda.com on Vimeo.
Most logos aren’t designed in fifteen minutes, but most designers aren’t Aaron Draplin. Aaron’s a Portland fixture by way of the Midwest, the owner of Draplin Design Co., and an advocate of “blue collar” design: design that works. Here he takes our logo design challenge, creating a dozen iterations of a logo for a fictional construction company. Not inspired? Just wait. Watch as he sketches, brings his ideas into Illustrator, and tests and tunes the different iterations. The logos Aaron creates prove design can elevate any company or brand. Along the way, he provides tips for freelancing, finding inspiration, and providing clients context for logos that won’t just live in PDFs.
Why Design Matters: It’s worth paying someone
I know I might sound a bit self serving in saying this – since I make my living from people who pay me to do graphic design.
I’m okay with that.
But I want to point out that I’ve seen so many people who think they want to save some cash and do it themselves – and they’ve just made a mess.
Designers like myself have worked for years to learn the ropes… to learn what works… to learn what looks good… to stay current on trends… to know the software…
Sure, you could do it yourself – as you could attempt to do your own plumbing yourself!
But from my experience of doing my own plumbing – many hours later – covered in poo – I still needed to call a professional to come in and take care of it.
Jon Acuff has a great blog posts you should read about Paying Designers.
http://acuff.me/2014/04/906/
How Do Shark Tank Entrepreneurs Build Their Websites? via Entrepreneur Magazine
How Do Shark Tank Entrepreneurs Build Their Websites? via Entrepreneur Magazine
I’m a huge fan of Shark Tank – it’s a lot of fun as a show – though I hate the idea of selling off massive shares of my business to someone I hardly know – the model for seeking venture capitalists could work for some things.
I will say – I do have experience building websites that can handle the traffic after a major television appearance – much like the Shark Tank folks.. (See http://www.justinwilloughby.com )
If you are going to build a business, you are going to have to build a website. So, where do you start? How do you even begin?
If you aren’t going to build your own website one line of code at a time — engineers get paid top dollar to do this — then you are going to need a content management system, or “CMS” for short. That’s a computer application that allows you to operate a website without necessarily having to be an engineer. You use CMS to publish and edit online content.
Why Design Matters: The Medium is the Message
From Wikipedia: “The medium is the message” is a phrase coined by Marshall McLuhan meaning that the form of a medium embeds itself in the message, creating a symbiotic relationship by which the medium influences how the message is perceived.
The truth about your message – is that in communicating it – the communication itself IS the message to the person hearing it.
When I worked at Adelphia Long Distance – I frequently would get frustrated with phone calls that came through to our office. We were not supposed to take support calls, but because it was a different product than our sales reps were used to selling, and the customer care reps were poorly trained on support. So – while getting paid less than our customer care reps and our sales people, we were operating as second level support. That frustration sometimes bled through. I remember a manager telling me- it doesn’t matter what you think is true – or what IS true – to the person on the other end of the phone – PERCEPTION IS REALITY.
What your target perceives about your message is more important than the message itself.
You’ve got to keep this in mind. If your marketing is designed poorly, then your potential customer will see that – and it will affect their opinion of your service or product.
Stay tuned next week for Why Design Matters: It’s Worth Paying Someone
Don’t want to miss it? Subscribe to get the latest post in your inbox!
