Nature's Sunshine Products NSP Forum Index Nature's Sunshine Products NSP
For customer and distributor discussions of Nature's Sunshine Products. Not an official site of NSP.
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Promotional Money Advise

 
This forum is locked: you cannot post, reply to, or edit topics.   This topic is locked: you cannot edit posts or make replies.    Nature's Sunshine Products NSP Forum Index -> Business Building Archive
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
CombinedNSP
Site Admin


Joined: 13 Dec 2006
Posts: 1406
Location: Cleveland, OH

PostPosted: Dec Sun 17, 2006 1:25 pm    Post subject: Promotional Money Advise Reply with quote

Promotional Money Advise

The Top 10 Ways NOT to Spend Money in Promoting Your Business

So you want to draw new clients to your business, coaching practice or artistic project?
Then be prepared to spend a lot of money in marketing. At least $4.60! That is about 79 cents for a good pen (optional), $1.98 for a pack of typing paper, 33 cents for each stamp (optional), and about $1.50 for a pack of envelopes (again, optional), for a total cost of $4.60.
Ok, obviously my introduction bordered on sarcasm to capture your attention. Which it did; you're still reading. So what's my point? Effective writing can get attention. It can grab and hold a reader. And, it's an inexpensive way to get your audience's attention.
Here are 10 invaluable ways to write to reach prospects. . . .All within your $4.60 budget:

1. News releases:
If you host an event, offer a seminar, give free advice, write a book, or win an award, then announce it in a news release. Nineteen percent of the non-advertising space in the average local newspaper is filled with articles that started with a news release. Those releases may as well come from you. Write them in true journalistic style (inverted pyramid) with all the meaty information up front. And, be sure to use short, succinct sentences and paragraphs.

2. Articles:
Query the editors at a publication your prospects read to learn if they would be interested in an article about a topic you propose. If you opt not to accept pay, you generally can get a two-sentence (or more) biographical summary at the end. Many of my students at WriteDirections.com have found that articles help to build credibility, reputation and traffic flow to their business.

3. Fillers:
Every newspaper and newsletter needs fillers from time to time. In 25 words or less, practice writing pithy tidbits of advice or insight, or explain numbers and statistics from your field. Provide them to your local or trade publications and request that when they're used, your name and business is included.

4. Editorials:
If something is stirring in your community or industry that the editors of publications you read are writing about, contact them and let them know that you have a new or different perspective--or fresh information--on the topic. You might even be invited to write an editorial for them; but don't suggest it. Wait to be asked. Some editors will take offense at the assumption that you could do their work. Insulting an editor is not something you want to do. Meanwhile, put your energy into the other ideas on this list.

5. Letters to the Editor:
If you read an article that you think your prospects might have read too, write to the editor about it. Find an unusual aspect that the original author missed, counter his/her thinking, or suggest where readers might learn even more about the topic. You just might see your name and business in a future issue's Letters to the Editor section.

6. Personal letters:
Have you expressed your thanks in writing for your customers' patronage? Have you let prospects know that you enjoyed talking with them? If not, it's time to do so. Send them "heads-up" letters or "just to keep you informed" letters. They'll appreciate the extra effort. And, best of all, they'll feel as though they owe you something in return. Perhaps more business? Or a referral?

7. Booklets:
Write an informational piece for potential clients. If you give away free advice, clients will begin to develop a feeling of trust in working with you. Distribute them anywhere, anytime. Design them so that they're easy and inexpensive to mail; for example, in a standard size number #10 business envelope. Or, add a small fee for the booklet and you might even turn a profit.

8. Fact Sheets/backgrounders:
Prepare a fact sheet about your organization to distribute anytime someone asks for information. Include: what product/service you offer, who you serve, how you are different from the competition, the age and location of your business, who your clients are, and any impressive numbers and testimonials that you have. Provide these to clients, the news media, colleagues in your field; include them in press kits; hand them out at events.

9. Chronologies:
If you have impressive changes or growth to talk about regarding your company or within your industry, then describe it in a chronology in brief one-sentence paragraphs or bulleted items. You don't need to write much; let the information or the numbers from date to date make the point for you. Distribute them as you would item number 8 above, fact sheets/backgrounders.

10. Biographical sketch:
If you know that you're the right person for a job or task, then no doubt your resume can help prove it. Unfortunately, resumes have to be studied to be appreciated and must be perfectly formatted for the Web. You'll stand a better chance of getting someone interested in you initially if they can read a biographical sketch first. Then forward the resume if appropriate. Your biographical sketch should be similar to the format someone would use were they to introduce you as a speaker.

Last bit of advice?
To reach quality clients, write Top Ten lists like these and dispense your free advice. After all, look at the quality of the reader who just read this piece through to the end. And now you'll look to see who wrote this piece and, if I've given you enough good ideas, you might even visit my site to find out more. See how effective writing can be? And by the way, all this piece cost me was my time. I'm ahead $4.60.

Submitted by Debra Koontz Traverso, http://www.writedirections.com © 1997, 98, 99, by Coach U
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
This forum is locked: you cannot post, reply to, or edit topics.   This topic is locked: you cannot edit posts or make replies.    Nature's Sunshine Products NSP Forum Index -> Business Building Archive All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group