April 27, 2010
Printing: Yesterday & Today
Copy Machines aren’t antiques yet. Don’t look down on the lowly copy machine. Creating type by hand didn’t give way to typesetting machines such as the Linotype until the late 1880’s. Prior to the1960’s to get a large number of copies of a document required that you have it commercially printed — or use lots of carbon paper (you do remember carbon paper, right?) when first creating the document. Then came Chester Carlson and the birth of xerography. Xerox™ became synonymous with photocopies, making it faster, easier, and more economical than ever to make duplicates of any type of document. Photo-mechanical composition and laser technology advances in printing came rapidly, but not until the late 20th century.
April 16, 2010
Referrals – The Ultimate Tool
Everyone knows that referrals are the best form of marketing for prospective clients. You will do business with far more referred prospects than any other kind. Any referral has high expectations with it. It’s both the referring party and your reputation on display. It sets the bar on how you act, say or do.
While there are different types of referrals. customer referrals may be the best type of referral because they can speak of their own experiences. Other types of referrals can come from many other sources such as employees, friends, neighbors, vendors, business partners and even competitors. Written testimonials can be a great referral marketing tool.
There are things you can do to stimulate referrals. Yet, most people rely on the “prayer” method: they just hope someone will refer them. You can do better by following any one of the following ideas:
• Join a leads or networking group. One way to get referrals is to find a group of people who have an interest in your success. The basic rules of leads groups is that everyone has to bring a lead for the others in the group to each meeting. To avoid conflict of interest, only one person in each type of business/industry can join. Beware, if you don’t bring leads consistently or miss several meetings, the group will make room for someone more productive.
• Ask friends, clients or people you meet either socially or through business for referrals. While they may not necessarily need your services or product, they may know someone who does. Be sure to give them business cards and/or brochures to give out.
• Testimonies are King!!! Once again a client compliments you on a great job you’ve done for them. Rather than just leaving it with a thank you, ask you client if they would be willing to write a testimony for you. This great piece of marketing can be placed anywhere: brochures, websites, direct marketing, etc. Surveys show many purchases are made based on a written testimony.
• Send membership club or frequent buyer members a thank you letter for their continued business. Include a complementary onetime use club card and application so the club member can pass it on to a friend. This approach makes it easy for people to pass on information and receive a freebie.
• Referral bribes work! Offer customers a free item or discounted service if they refer someone. Send a gift certificate for a free introductory offer to your current customers to pass out to friends.
Always remember, whenever the outcome of a referral is successful, it is important to send a thank you and/or a gift to your client for referring a new client. They are more than likely to send more referrals your way.
Aloha Print and Copy ALWAYS appreciates referrals. If you or someone you know may benefit from our products and services, please let us know by calling (770) 642-1642 or email us at alohaprintcopy@juno.com
Aloha Print & Copy 