Marketing Mavericks
The Marketing Maverick will be replaced with
the new Publicity Hound in April 2007!
A Marketing Maverick is a person who wants to learn how to grow their business through "out-of-the-box" marketing techniques. Every month Fred and Lyna will present a Marketing Maverick question. We are encouraging everyone to submit an answer to the question as well as submitting your own question. Anyone who submits an answer or a question will become a Marketing Maverick. In addition we will select the best answer and award that person a FREE 60 second ad on our show. Here is our current question . . .
New for 2007---Because our shows are taped up to 3 weeks ahead of airing, we realize that we need to allow time for all Maverick answers to be received and given a chance to win. Starting in January, we will announce the winner for each month 2 months later. The December winner will be announced in February, January winner in March,etc.
March 2007 Question
Bridgett in London writes:
We have recently started a community center for artists, entertainers and entrepreneurs. Our space fits 300 people at a time- a stage, workshop space and booths for venders. As a non profit, we have no problem getting media coverage for our events: yet we rely on volunteers and can't seem to keep them no matter how excited they are to help.
Any suggestions?
Give volunteers incentives and reward them with fun prizes- ex: teatime served by management
Jill, Eugene OR
Have a volunteer of the month and mention/profile them in your free monthly publicity and put their photo in center.
Bethany, Martha's Vineyard
February 2007 Question
Anna of Mars Hill writes:
I just bought a Bed and Breakfast and want to know how to get the biggest bang for my buck in advertising?
WINNER AND WINNING ANSWER FOR FEBRUARY 2007
John, Pagosa Springs
Look for a business that needs to bring people to your town. For example, a real estate developer who needs to house potential out of town buyers and executive employees has excellent potential. Draw up a deal with that business to be their "Home away from Home" for their business contacts.Not only will you have a steady income from this alliances, word of mouth advertising will spread rapidly resulting in very low advertising expenditures.
Here are some other answers we received in February:
Find out where people are coming from and target that market, for example, Florida.
Joe, MT
Hook up with a local attraction and see if you can do a package vacation for guests.
Bethany, Marthas Vineyard
January 2007 Question
Marcie in Minneapolis writes:
I am starting a business as an art coach and want to start giving workshops to artists on how to market themselves. How do I boost attendance at these?
WINNER AND WINNING ANSWER FOR JANUARY 2007
Noreen Hale
Contact local continuing education centers about offering your class through their program. Many high school students continue to practice their skills at facilities that offer these classes. For example: someone working on the fine art of ceramics might utilize the schools studio during a Tuesday night pottery session.
Here are some other answers we received in January:
Offer door prizes of free coaching
—Peter, Houston
Hold a free teaser intro seminar to get people interested.
—Jack, KS
December 2006 Question
I am an oil painter who is about to have my first art show in my town. Although the venue does regular advertising, how can I help bring a crowd to my event?
Meg,
Maryland
WINNER AND WINNING ANSWER FOR DECEMBER 2006
Scott Anthony
Fox's Pizza Punxsytawni
www.foxspizzapunxsy.com
For this time of year, I would team up with a local charity that is popular in your area, say Make-a-Wish. Donate one of your better works and use it as an auction piece at the art show with the proceeds going to the charity. Teaming with a popular group like that gives you credibility & it gives you access to their PR abilities. Something like this being charitable & your first art show should merit a press release in the local paper & on radio news. You should also be able to have a local rep of the charity present at the show to help promote the auction. Follow this up with a check presentation picture for the paper.
Here are some other answers we received in December:
Send out postcards with a portion of a picture on one side- on the other put- find which painting this is a part of and win a door prize. Then get small prizes from local businesses.
Bethany, MA
Take a painting to each hotspot/restaurant to be hung with announcement of event.
Jake, Orlando
Announce you will be auctioning a picture at the event for a charity that will help the downtown area.
Sandy, Boise
November 2006 Question
I own a small Ice Cream shop in Louisville, Kentucky. How can I market myself so people will come to my shop instead of Baskin Robbins and other competitors?
Bob F.
WINNER AND WINNING ANSWER FOR NOVEMBER 2006
Richard Sullivan
www.lostcolonyentertainment.com
Have a monthly story time for school kids and have a contest where they do artwork to put on the walls with an ice cream theme.
Here are some other answers we received in November:
Network and build relationships
Dave, NC
Put a play corner in the shop so kids can play and moms can socialize.
Tammy, KS
Have discount days, e.g., Date Nite — ladies get free ice cream.
John, TX
Have a town Iice Cream Day with the Mayor cutting ribbon, an artist doing ice sculpture, and make sure press comes.
Jerry, AL
October 2006 Question:
I am a carpenter and have lots of scrap wood left over from all my jobs. I have tons of it. How can I turn this into revenue? I really hate to burn it.
Tom,
New York
WINNER AND WINNING ANSWER FOR OCTOBER 2006
Joe Huligar from New York
www.huligar.com
Make backs for plaques and sell to trophy shops.
Here are some other answers we received in October:
Make kids trains and toys & sell at shows.
Jane, TX
Contact local artists to see if they can use some for artwork.
Troy, Michign
Make biz cards cards by engraving and give out to generate more biz.
Jon, WA.
Turn into sawdust and sell as filler.
Mark, NY
September 2006 Question:
I make dog clothing such as coats and sweaters. I am looking for other people who do the same. How do I go about finding others in the same business to network with? I also want promotion ideas.
Donna,
Ormond Beach FL
WINNER AND WINNING ANSWER FOR SEPTEMBER 2006
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Krista Brooks from New Mexico
www.retropets.com
Volunteer for an adoption center and arrange to sell coats there. Also, try to get press coverage at the event.
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Here are some other answers we received in September:
I would go to all the pet shops in my area and put some of the coats there on consignment.
—Lydia, Del Ray
How about going to a popular flea market?
—Andy, Winston , NC
Try to get an article in Sky Mall magazine about your business.
—Mary, Michigan
Get a list of all the dog shows and go to them to sell the coats.
—Brian, Denver
August 2006 Question:
I am in a band in Tennessee that plays southern rock. There is a club here that we've been trying to get into for some time now, but they only seem to rotate certain bands over and over. Any out-of-the-box ideas to help us get the club's attention would be appreciated.
WINNER AND WINNING ANSWER FOR AUGUST 2006
Patricia Trauth from Florida
How about throwing a charity benefit and offering to play for FREE. Try contacting any charity event that you know is supported by the establishment. This might take some research.
Here is the "runner up" answer we received for the August question:
I would have the band contact the band that is playing there now and try to get on as an opener band or offer to fill in for them when they can't make it.
—Bob, Los Angeles
July 2006 Question:
My husband just got transferred and I find myself in a new city. I am a wallpaper hanger but need flexible hours because I have children. I want to be my own boss. The city I am moving to is very competitive and there are hundreds of established wallpaper hangers here. How can I get some jobs there amongst all the competition?
WINNER AND WINNING ANSWER FOR JULY 2006
Donna Koger from North Carolina
Teach do-it-yourselves in their homes how to hang wallpaper and you may find that not only do you get referrals, but many of the homeowners won't feel like completing the work so you may get more jobs.
Here are some other answers we received in June:
Have her put flyers on cars in mall parking lots, etc. This worked for me in my painting business.
—John LV
I would make up business cards and go to all the paint stores and stores that sell wallpaper.
—Betty, San Diego
The wallpaper hanger should contact the Parade of Homes in Salt Lake and volunteer her time to wallpaper a room. She would be allowed to keep her card there and it would generate some jobs for her.
—Ann in San Francisco
Do you have an idea we haven't mentioned? We'd love to hear it .
Write us at marketing maverick@aol.com and we'll mention it—along with your web site—on our Marketing Mavericks page.
Fred and Lyna also write a weekly newspaper column. If you are interested in their column, please send an email to:
info@growingyourbusiness.net
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