Marketing
Archived posts from this Category
Use customer service to battle online traders
Posted by MattE on 17 Dec 2011 | Tagged as: Business, consumer engagement, General, Marketing
I have been following some interesting discussions in several web forums about prices we pay in regular bricks and mortar stores compared to online and where the anti-online buying move and misrepresentation on both sides leaves the argument undecided.
Not surprisingly, methods to retain customers were raised, which of course raised the whole can of worms about pricing, how GST influences things so much, that items are cheaper to buy overseas, etc. Of course each of these factors has their merits and counter argument.
There were even proposals that traditional bricks and mortar stores needed to set up online versions of themselves – even to the extent that sales staff could be made redundant and stores operate merely as pick-up points. (Harvey Norman is moving to this is a very limited way – allowing online sales and in-store pickup.)
SMS – getting your offer out at the optimum time
Posted by MattE on 06 Nov 2011 | Tagged as: Communications, Marketing, SMS
While you know your does the best of any around, your store is competing with other store for customers, plus a whole raft of other similar product choices.
So how to get your offers in front of ready buyers?
We suggest SMS is an ideal method, regardless of whether you are an independent operator, a franchisee or a franchisor to distribute your offer direct to consumers, at just the right time – when they are wanting to buy – as a text message using SMS.
PM Training Concepts – why would I have an interest?
Posted by MattE on 21 Oct 2011 | Tagged as: Business, Communications, Marketing
Today I received an email touting the PM Training Concepts – PMI REP 3147 course.
The thing is despite it being personalised and having an unsubscribe link at the bottom, I have never subscribed to their list (the email used is never used to subscribe to anything – that is what Hotmail and Yahoo accounts are for).
So this means PM Training Concepts must be using trawling to build their lists. This is one black mark as spam.
Black mark two is the fact that the contents of the email did not explain fully what PMP is (there are some fleeting references to project management) – therefore it is not a legitimate business approach as is has no relevance to me.
How to sell more online
Posted by MattE on 17 Oct 2011 | Tagged as: Business, Marketing
The ease of shopping on the internet has seen a boom in ecommerce, to the frustration on bricks and mortar outlets. But are businesses their own worst enemy in creating wariness amongst customers?
Increasingly products that have struggled to sell due to customer’s concerns about sizing issues have started to sell well due to a dramatic shift in the way the etailers do business, specifically with returns of products that do not fit.
An example of an online etailer who has removed just about every barrier to shopping online for items where sizing may be an issue is StyleTread Shoes. In one deft swoop, they have turned online shoes sales on their head with their free delivery, 100 day return period, free return shipping and fast refund on returned items.
10 ideas to use SMS to drive customer interactions and boost relationship
Posted by MattE on 29 Aug 2011 | Tagged as: consumer engagement, Marketing, SMS
SMS is a a proven and cost effective way to communicate with your market and your customers in a way that will reach them. Here are nine ideas showing how SMS can be used to help drive traffic to your store, or used to enhance customer relations. Note the inclusion of the optout on all promotional messages.
If you would like to explore how SMS can be used in your business, feel free to call Matt on 0409 349 752 for an obligation-free chat. In many cases we can set up a free account for you to test your ideas!
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Use keywords for segmented SMS list building
Posted by MattE on 27 Aug 2011 | Tagged as: Marketing, SMS
The use of SMS in marketing is growing in Australia as small and large businesses come to grips with the effectiveness of SMS as a tool that can deliver a tight, focused message to a specific audience at a time of your choosing with an excellent ROI.
While there are lists that can be rented, there is no better list to market to than your own customers.
While many businesses record customer’s details, including mobile phone numbers, as part of the sales process, it is more difficult for high-turnover ‘cash-sale’ type businesses like butchers, take-way food outlets, clothing stores etc.
Increase your business sales using SMS
Posted by MattE on 08 Aug 2011 | Tagged as: Business, Marketing, SMS
Every business has more sales as one of their main priorities. Often increased sales are pursued with the same mindset as chasing new customers. In fact most businesses see the two as inseparable.
While new customers are great and many efforts to increase sales will bring new customers, communicating with existing customers is a prime way to market to an audience who has already experienced what you have to offer.
One of the best ways to communicate with your market is using SMS. While the costs compared to email are higher, statistics show that on average less than one-quarter of emails on any commercial nature are not opened.
List management essential for SMS marketing
Posted by MattE on 20 Jul 2011 | Tagged as: Business, Communications, Marketing, SMS
SMS is a proven marketing tool for businesses who have a need to deliver timely offers directly into the hands of their customers at a time of their choosing. It is also a marketing tool that allows rapid deployment enabling a savvy business to take advantage of many sorts of events to frame their offer.
The effectiveness of any SMS marketing is heavily influenced by the list being used. Use a poor list and your business could suffer more reputational harm than the benefits of the send.
The best SMS list is derived from your own business, through acquisition of numbers from customers at the point of sale, through sign-up promotions or other activities designed to capture opt-in registrations.
Producing ‘green’ products? Think about this…
Posted by MattE on 19 Jun 2011 | Tagged as: Business, Marketing
There is a push for green products – be it because it makes economic sense or because you want to tap into the market that thinks and wants green. So enters green marketing. So you come up with a great idea. BUT…Peter White, Procter & Gamble’s head of sustainability says….
“There are some people who will buy green because that’s one of their core consumer needs. Then there’s a mainstream that will behave in a sustainable way if you make it easy for them and don’t ask them to make compromises.”
This is an important concept to think about, especially when you hear how providing a green alternative, while a great idea, never captured the consumer’s commitment. Continue Reading»
Are SMS campaigns more effective than email as a marketing tool?
Posted by MattE on 15 Jun 2011 | Tagged as: Marketing, SMS
Here is an interesting discussion on mobile v email marketing. The opinions are US centric, but worth a read. An excerpt below:
Mark Brill, Mobile Strategist, Chair of DMA Mobil…
Mobile Strategist, Chair of DMA Mobile Council, CEO of Mobile Agency, Formation Mobile MarketingFirst of all, it depends on what you mean by effective. If you mean purely on response rates, then SMS has the greater potential to
generate much higher uplift than email. Here are a few reasons why SMS can be more effective:
