18 replies to this topic

[MalibuSurfrider]

It's a wierd thread title, I know...

Hannibal Lecter would tell you that "We begin by coveting what we see every day."

I'd like to know what product a prospective customer covets. And then I want to send them that product for free.

I'm doing a self promotion that calls them to action, by enticing the prospect with a free item (budget is $2 per). It will have to be mailed. So this FREE item, has to be something that people desperately want.

What do people want? Do they wants pens, mugs, calenders? I suspect they do, but just a little. I want to know what they really want.

This is a long way of asking, what do you think is a great self promotional product that people really, really want.

Thanks Friends!

[Tigerpaw]

Chris...
In my view, except for when a customer asks for a specific, must-have- item, part of my work is to 'create a need'.

This may include 'educating' them on the Features, Advantages and Benefits (FAB) of using our products.

To simply hope to find "something that people desperately want" is taking a 'shot in the dark.' I can only imagine if someone "desperately wants" something, they quite likely have it.

-- More to the point, were it myself, I'd target my self-promotion item to something I want the customer to have. That 'something' would be something they'd use daily.

Consider calendars.

Everyone I know uses at least one calendar everyday.

Very truly.. Tom

[3Koi Maui]

Hi Chris,

I'd say that what people covet most is time. Ask them what they want when they are feeling stressed, working late, stuck in traffic, or seriously ill, and you'll get the same answer. Time.

More money? Sure, but because it buys you more time along with more things. And the things are no good unless you have time to enjoy them.

How can you give someone time?

OK, putting on the sales hat, you give them time when you take care of your customers projects quickly, efficiently, and professionally. You do all the work they don't have to do, and they have more time to use as they wish.

Sure, they pay for your work and your involvement, but you can point out that they already crave more time (why take on more work), that you take care of a dozen (or a hundred) details that they don't need to learn and execute, and that it is one of those jobs that they can easily hand off without feeling like they are endangering their own careers. Hire you to do this project instead of hiring a temp who will be in the office and going after their job!

Give your customers a gift with a time theme, and be sure to explain why. Whether it's a wrist watch for great customers, or a notepad with time related art for potential customers, keep the same theme.

Then, when you land a sale, at the end of the project, along with the invoice, send them a little summary of how much time you saved them, and follow up with a call or visit with that same info. Grocery stores use a similar tactic when they have their checkout clerks read you the bottom of your receipt, which they now do because no one was reading it themselves. "Thank you Ms. Cocallas, you saved 37 dollars and 16 cents today!"

I go home glad that I bought 10 cans of garbanzo beans.

They'll be glad they have 10 more hours to spend with their kids, watch movies, surf, or even do more work.

[kristiy]

Great idea! I was trying to decide the same thing- like what to do for a self-promo that would get attention, though I was thinking more along the lines of "what will they "notice" that they are "noticing" everyday? I was thinking of something to put my business card in or something for their desk- but the whole "time" concept is a great idea- has me putting my thinking cap on for sure! THanks!

[MalibuSurfrider]

Isa,

That is a brilliant, inspiring idea! Thank You!

Much Aloha,
Chris

[LOGO emPower]

Why not include a ROI calculation with each invoice?

Show customers the potential return on their investment.

Something like the following can be added to each invoice:
1. Your ad buy today is calculated to yield "$XXX" in future sales.
2. Your ad buy today is calculated to add "XXX" new customers.
See the ROI Calculation below...

There are several ROI Calculators you can select from in the market.

[3Koi Maui]

Gee, you're very welcome; thank you for the compliments!

[MalibuSurfrider]

Quote

Chris...
In my view, except for when a customer asks for a specific, must-have- item, part of my work is to 'create a need'.

This may include 'educating' them on the Features, Advantages and Benefits (FAB) of using our products.

To simply hope to find "something that people desperately want" is taking a 'shot in the dark.' I can only imagine if someone "desperately wants" something, they quite likely have it.

-- More to the point, were it myself, I'd target my self-promotion item to something I want the customer to have. That 'something' would be something they'd use daily.

Consider calendars.

Everyone I know uses at least one calendar everyday.

Very truly.. Tom

Tom, I like the FAB principle. That's a very good place to start in thinking about any marketing project. Thanks for that.

I think you missed the point about this self promotion. Very specifically, it's a call to action. If they do "X", then they will recieve "Y". So the "Y" has to be valuable enough for them to do "X".

I might like them to have my calendar for branding purposes, but if they don't really want a calendar, they won't take the action I need them to take. So the question starts with what people want, at the core needs level: time, money, sex, security, adventure, etc..

The question is how to satisfy that "core need" with a self promotional product.

[LOGO emPower]

Chris, the one thing I think most of us covet is our family. Perhaps look for a promotional item that reminds customers that Family always is first or most important in our lives.

Consider a car visor photo frame or an adhesive photo frame that can be applied to laptops, notebooks, inside briefcases, etc.

[MalibuSurfrider]

Awesome suggestion Scott. Maybe a desk photo frame with digital clock...

[Tom Aufman]

LOGO emPower said:

Chris, the one thing I think most of us covet is our family. Perhaps look for a promotional item that reminds customers that Family always is first or most important in our lives.

Consider a car visor photo frame or an adhesive photo frame that can be applied to laptops, notebooks, inside briefcases, etc.

Scott,
We all like to project that image but, Does family Really come first?
People are a selfish lot and # 1 always comes first. Keep that in mind in your interviews..Never tell it to your prospect, But keep it in mind...tea

[Tom Aufman]

aapromotions said:

Not sure I like to "project" that image as you say. I actually like to make it known that my family comes first.

Just 'ol Al's thought for the day

Allen,
When I first was made aware of what we want to do comes first was in a course of Time Management. Family obligations was second. The whole idea was to be able to succeed using time management as a primary tool.
The whole idea is to be good to yourself so you can be better take care of your family.

Bottom line is that if the family isn't happy, We aren't too proud of ourselves. ....Somethine like the Chicken or the Egg. ... tea

[3Koi Maui]

Just to be a stickler, perhaps "covet" isn't the word we want to use in this context. Check the definition.

cov‧et  [kuhv-it]
â??verb (used with object) 1.to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others: to covet another's property. 2.to wish for, esp. eagerly: He won the prize they all coveted. â??verb (used without object) 3.to have an inordinate or wrongful desire.

Two out of three definitions have to do with wrongfully. And, if you go with definition #2, then the family answer doesn't really work. Family is a priority, or of importance to us, or something we enjoy. We don't wish for it eagerly unless we don't have it. Covet usually implies we don't have it already.

We might want more time with our family, or more things for our family, or better health and a good future for our family.

Desire is closer to what Chris seems to be defining, or maybe crave, or value.

de‧sire  [di-zahyuhr]
verb, -sired, -sir‧ing, noun

â??verb (used with object) 1.to wish or long for; crave; want. 2.to express a wish to obtain; ask for; request: The mayor desires your presence at the next meeting. â??noun 3.a longing or craving, as for something that brings satisfaction or enjoyment: a desire for fame. 4.an expressed wish; request. 5.something desired. 6.sexual appetite or a sexual urge.

crave  [kreyv]
verb, craved, crav‧ing.

â??verb (used with object) 1.to long for; want greatly; desire eagerly: to crave sweets; to crave affection. 2.to require; need: a problem craving prompt attention. 3.to ask earnestly for (something); beg for. 4.to ask (a person) earnestly for something or to do something. â??verb (used without object) 5.to beg or plead (usually fol. by for).

[3Koi Maui]

aapromotions said:

Isa, you make me want to go biblical for a moment. Isn't there some admonition against coveting the neighbors hot looking wife......or something like that?

There is indeed! But there doesn't seem to be one about coveting thy neighbor's stud muffin husband...

[epromo]

How about sending them the calendar and then if they set up for an appointment they get a digital picture frame (Leeds has a nice one).
I think this holds digital pictures so they can be viewed on someones desk and you can change the pictures.
http://www.leedsworl...tnumber=1650-88

Leeds has a great self promo plan

Mike