Success only runs one direction....
Many are the unexpected notes I find in the mailbox each day that put a smile on my face.
This was not one of them.
For the record, I am nowhere near “a certain age” yet. I am, however, going to give my postal carrier permission to start screening my mail.
Damn.
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This week’s email included an interesting item from Open Table, the convenient restaurant booking site. Not surprisingly, diners are thinning out as budgets grow snug, which inspired them to launch the “Appetite Simulus Plan,” a price fix program running five days, mid-November, in several cities across the country.
The lineup is fairly eclectic, offering something for everyone. Prices for the special three course meals run $24 for lunch or $35 for dinner, regardless of location. Better yet, diners booking through Open Table receive double the usual points for booking the special, as many times as they like.
This is a good example of cross promotion. The restaurant gets business. Open Table gets business. Customers get a good deal, with enough selection to make it fun. Win/win/win.
Look around at the businesses who neighbor your own. Look at those across town. Consider those that naturally connect by product type, or by customer base. Think of a creative way to work together beyond the norm. (Note: If you’re in the wedding industry, be sure to consider which elements of the event are booked before yours, so you aren’t connecting to customers too late in the timeline.)
Don’t limit yourself to holiday fare only; now’s the time to be planning your 2009 marketing strategy too.
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Nine hours in a car gives you a lot of time to sample local radio stations, most of which offered pretty predictable fare over the weekend. From Minnesota to Nebraska, contemporary to country, very little surprised me-—with the exception of two spots on KRGI FM in Grand Island:
Ingenuity Award
A 30-second spot paid for by the local Chamber of Commerce touts the many ways Grand Island is not being negatively impacted by the current economic slow down. From a rock-bottom foreclosure rate to a growing employment rate, this statistic-loaded PSA serves as an impressive way to bolster continued cash flow while comforting nervous concerns.
“Aren’t I Special” Award
KRGI’s own 15 or 20-second spot, boasting (and I’m quoting as closely as possible here) they’re “ranked number one among listeners who said they like this station best.” Hmm. One would certainly hope so. Being ranked number two by that crowd would be pretty depressing.
I certainly don’t suggest mimicking the second option, but the first…? Why not roll out a campaign of your own, listing ten ways life continues to be stable, happy, and secure in your store in spite of the real world willies? Use them as bag stuffers…create a big window banner…send out an email newsletter with them…just get the good word out.
Better yet, turn it into a top ten list (a la Letterman style) building up to the number one reason life is good at Anderson’s Card Shop: We like it here…and you will too.
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A little reminder aimed at those for whom subtlety has no meaning:
If you don’t vote, you can’t bitch. Period.
Sorry ‘bout the language, but having seen Canada clock in at a dismal 59.1% voter turnout, I’m pretty fired up about pushing folks out the door and into the booth.
Now….GO.
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