Happy New Year!  May 2013 be happy and prosperous!

The 8 Marketing Tips To Attracting A Never Ending Supply Of Dream Clients For Your Business

·         Know who your dream client actually is. Sounds obvious but few people have this part thought out. Most folk define their dream client by default as being - well, anyone who wants to pay me. Na-uh. Get clear.

·         Make a list of 20 -100 companies or people who would be your dream clients.

·         Brainstorm how you could create the dream experience for your clients. Put yourself in their shoes. If it was you writing them the check, instead of the other way around, what would be the absolute ultimate, rave worthy experience if anything was possible. Now you have your new gold standard.

·         Hold a focus group of your best clients. Take them out to dinner and ask them what you could better. You will be amazed at what they tell you and how much they appreciate you asking their opinion

·         Become a marketing nut. Marketing is the life blood of your business. Period. Remember that it's not the best company who wins, it's the best marketing. Make it your business to learn everything you can about real world marketing that has been tried, tested and proven in the battlegrounds of real life. Not crummy marketing theory that should work in principal but is unproven.

·         Create a monthly and weekly marketing plan for your business. Then implement it. Separate your marketing into 3 sections: 1) your lead generation, 2) what you do to convert a prospect into a paying customer, and 3) what you do to keep a customer so they buy from you again and again.

·         Make marketing your daily fix. Just like ordering your cup of coffee or having a lunch break. Spend a little time every single day working on your marketing. Don't make your marketing a series of sporadic, haphazard events that happen in reaction to cash flow issues or "when you get the time." Without marketing, you don't have a business. So put it at the top of your list.

·         Be remarkable at what you do. Give more than your clients expect. Follow up with them. Care about their success.

Blue Dog Marketing has a new client that uses flyers a lot in their business.  We've reviewed their flyers and have some great ideas to make them more effective.  I recently read an article on Ezinearticles.com that has some great ideas about the use of flyers for marketing your business.  Here's a link to the article:

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Things-You-Shouldnt-Do-When-Printing-Flyers&id=7432068

Remember to include a call-to-action on your flyer.  You want the recipient to do something....call you, buy your product, check out your website, make an appointment for your service...whatever it is, you want to include the call-to-action.

Merry Christmas to all our family, friends and clients! 

Converting Fans to Customers

Converting customers through social media doesn't have to be difficult.  We use Facebook to engage our audience.  When they "like" us, it's a virtual high-five.  They aren't a captive audience, so you must engage them in conversations and give them a call-to-action.  A call-to-action gives them a compelling reason to buy.  Drive your prospects to your Facebook page with promotions and compelling content which gives them the reason to convert to customers.

I read a great article on Ezinearticles.com, entitled "7 Elements of an Effective Marketing System" and I thought I'd share it with you. 

http://EzineArticles.com/7421994

Don't Be Pushy!

No one likes a hard sell.  So, when posting content about your business on Facebook, consider posting other relevant topics or ideas - anything that excites you.  If you're passionate, you'll attract followers.  Skip taboo topics (politics, religion), but share what ignites your passion.

If you're passionate about your business, talk about new ideas in your industry.  Post about what's happening in your community, what organizations you belong to, what charity events you participate in as a business. 

Also, post pictures of events, either community, charity or those happening in your establishment.  But keep your profile picture constant.  Your profile picture should remain the same for at least a year at a time.

Remain personable and friendly and your customers will be eager to see your next post.