13 low/no cost ways to increase your sales in 30 days
DESCRIPTION
Sales and marketing tips for visual communications, apparel decorating, and awards & engraving professionals. Other small business owners and entrepreneurs will also benefit from concepts presented. Whether you’re just starting out or been in business for years, take advantage of these ideas to boost your sales and heighten professional awareness of your company.TRANSCRIPT
Knocking the marketing ball out of the park and ensuring your business
is a thriving success
Sales and marketing tips for visual communications, apparel decorating, and
awards & engraving professionals
13 Ways to Increase your Sales in 30 Days
NBMNetwork.com
Why this presentation?
• Small Business owner= your target customer
• Our needs: sign, banners, staff uniforms, menus…• And we had NO IDEA where to go!
• Shoestring budget: $10,000 in our pockets• We HAD to generate sales and do it quickly!
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You envision this:
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In reality:
Just because you build it doesn’t mean customers will come!
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#1: Be an Active Part of Your Community
• Join your local Chamber of Commerce• Join a local business group / meet up• Sit on a non-profit board • Go to your organization’s mixers and network! Meet other
business professionals and carry business cards.• Consider volunteering for an office. And brand yourself with
each report update you give: “Sarah Frazier, The NBM Network, reporting on our monthly financials….”
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#2 Share your Knowledge
• Help other business owners become promotional experts using your products/services• Give a free seminar at a local library
• Libraries will often help promote your event• Invite your business connections• Post on social media
• Connect with your local SBA chapter, offer your presentation
• When you educate your target customer, you move from vendor to trusted partner!
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#3 Start Monthly Turnkey Promotional Programs
• Make it easy for your customer to order• Create a schedule for them: specials planned, upcoming sales• Employee recognitions
• Don’t forget about Team T-Shirts• Team building / team sports• Product launches
• Create an excuse: we’re running banners for AutoNation, would you like us to put something on press for you, too?
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#4. Partner with other Businesses
Think outside the box…who is likely to buy your products and services?
• Did you know: in 2011, Americans spent $61.4 billion on their pets• Why not create a customizable item for Fido’s owner to display with pride?• Work with local pet store to set up a table; consider donating a percentage of sales to a local
animal shelter (and be sure to promote that!)
• The other emotional/financial soft spot: KIDS!• Connect with local youth sports organizations• Think player (photo) buttons, parent/booster T-shirts, mugs, lanyards, etc.!
• Commercial Real Estate Brokers: trade your services for inside knowledge of new lease signers
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#5. Create something organic and sell it at a Farmer’s market
• Be creative: screen printed organic T’s• Engraved herb jars• Unique veggie/fruit plaques
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#6. Create an event for HR professionals
• HR managers often have budgets for:• Corporate apparel• Awards & recognition programs• Office improvements/decorating
• Hold an open house at your shop
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#7. Advertise in school and home owners association newsletters
• Low cost• Fewer ads• You are positioned as the friendly community
provider!
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#8. Hold a community design contest
• Promote it at schools, seek media coverage, ask a local TV personality to help you judge winners• Prize= winning design will be printed/sold at your shop for 6
months• Publicity from media can be huge!
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#9. Bundle your products
• Target new businesses with “Marketing in a Box” offers• Tip: target independent restaurants!
• If you are a sign shop:• Coming soon banner, grand opening banner, stand up banners, illuminated 12 x 4
cabinet sign. Total Value: $7840; New business special: $6300
• If you are a promotional product shop:• 500 Logoed magnets, 500 Logoed key chains, 500 Logoed thank you notes, 500
Logoed customer loyalty cards. A $295 value; New Business special: $199 Added value: 500 business cards FREE when you order by 2/1/14!
• Decorated apparel:• 50 Staff shirts, 10 Manager polo shirts, 15 aprons, 50 baseball hats.
Total value: $1200; New business special: $995
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#10. Stay hungry for information and connected to your industry
• HUNDREDS of business tips, see what others are doing• Free/LIMITED subscription: issues selected by the publisher• COMPLETE subscription: ALL monthly issues, special issues, bonus reports.
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#11. Ask Questions, Talk to Other Industry Experts
• Talk with Exhibitors- they love to share their knowledge!• Attend classes – they are FREE and would cost hundreds of
dollars otherwise• Plan to attend every year, explore your options, see what’s
new
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#12. Tap into the power of The NBM Network
• NEW! Valuable business resource
• FREE to access: NBMNetwork.com
• 3 main components to site
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NBMNetwork.com –Product Guide
Fully searchable way to locate products- new items, specific items, overstock inventory
• By Category type• By Location• By Brand
Research products, options and availability
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NBMNetwork.com – Product Guide
• Once you find the product you like, click on the product name to see product details
• To contact the seller, click on the seller name
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NBMNetwork.com – Product Guide
• You’ll be prompted to login or create a new account
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NBMNetwork.com – Product Guide• Type a message to
the seller to inquire about product availability, pricing, etc.
• Don’t see exactly what you want? Contact the seller of a like item!
• Shop on YOUR schedule, 24/7!
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NBMNetwork.com – Contract Services
• Search for new work- keep your staff busy during slow production times
• Post work – outsource jobs during busy times or for services you don’t offer vs. sending customers away
• Sign up to receive email when new listings are posted with your target search criteria
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NBMNetwork.com – Contract Services
• Bid on projects of interest to you
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NBMNetwork.com – Contract Services
• Create a listing $10/30 days
• Expand your services virtually
• Receive bids on your project, you choose who does the work
• Identify new potential partners
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NBMNetwork.com – Tips & How-tos
• Loaded with videos, white papers and tips posted by suppliers, manufacturers and your peers
• Learn new techniques, how to use equipment, product applications
• Find solutions to production challenges
• Business tips to help you avoid costly mistakes
• Much to see, learn, discover!
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NBMNetwork.com – Tips & How-tos
• Search by category
• Receive email alerts
• Tag your favorites
• Add comments
• Best of all, all tips are FREE to access and post!
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Bookmark it and make it part of your business day:
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#13. Be creative…and share what’s working!
• Share design creations on Facebook and with LinkedIn groups
• Submit to magazine editors: Sign & Digital Graphics, Printwear, Awards & Engraving
• Post your insights, success stories, or horror tales on Tips & How-tos on NBMNetwork.com
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Thank you!
• NBMNetwork All Star caps and mouse pads• Special subscription promotion• Have a great show!
My contact information:Sarah W. Frazier, Director of Marketing, [email protected] with me on LinkedIn!