Everybody’s budget is seemingly tight or is it that we’re too doubtful to spend marketing dollars? So we sit “tight” and don’t spend anything?
And that’s just wrong.
I see too many P& L statements of centers doing $1 million or even $2 million and they spend less than $2,000; most of it on publications, chamber of commerce memberships, etc.
But real marketing? Uh, uh. Just imagine if they doubled their budget from $2,000 to $4,000? Why that would be a whole 4/10s of 1 percent!!! Good gracious!!!
So with so many digital tools available, how do you know where to start?
Well according to Constant Contact, an email marketing company, email returns $38 for every $1 spent. Now considering that they’re a seller of email marketing software, let’s cut that in half and then cut it again. That still is a return of $9.50 for every $1 spent
Here are just 4 of the Many Tactics I Implement for My Clients
- Craft An Elevator Pitch. The average adult has an attention span of 6 to 8 seconds. That’s all I have to grab my client’s customers’ attention. What can I say to get their attention in those 8 seconds and then in less than a minute tell them why I do what I do and why they should buy from my client? So invest your time to craft a killer pitch and use it all the time,
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- Here’s a short example for birthday parties: “Happy Lanes guarantees happy memories for you and your child, May we make your child’s birthday party a memory he or she will never forget. We do all the work and you and your child will have all the fun, etc. etc. etc.
- Become A Part Of The Community. With 80 million millenniums out there, (1 out of 3 adults in this country) you have to capture this segment and they react well to companies that are involved in the community. Think of companies like “Bombas” socks that give away one pair of socks to homeless people for every pair you buy. Their socks start at $36 for a three pack and, yeah, they’re blowing the doors off of their sales numbers. You have an opportunity to promote your “Kids Bowl Free” participation in the area by TELLING people what you are doing for kids all summer long which will result in a lot more sales than you can count.
- Cross Promotions. When was the last time you did any cross promotions with merchants in your area? You can use coupons, fliers, reciprocal website links, social media platforms or bundle your promotions together; this gives you an opportunity to expand your customer base because you will reach new people
- Create a ”Buzz”. There are lots of free public relations sites out there that will painlessly guide you through the maze of PR and how best to reach some influencers in your community. If you’re a single center operator, you don’t need to hire a professional firm, just dig into the free sites. Here’s just one example:
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- Answering questions on HARO – HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is a service that connects reporters and bloggers with influencers who can act as sources for new blog posts and articles. Each day, you will receive an email digest with questions that reporters need help answering, categorized by subject. Scan through the digests to find potential opportunities, craft a response, and send it to the writer in need. In most cases, your quote will be incorporated into an article with your name, title, company, and a link back to your website.
If you need any help in this area or have any questions about the four previous crucial tactics for marketing success, Please call me any time: 516-359-4874
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