Marketing Ideas!

Mary, the “NO SOLICITORS” sign that I see on just about every office door in America is just plain silly! Salespeople are an amazing source of spreading the gospel of YOUR company around THEIR territory. Invite their asses in! Be kind and good to them. Hardly anyone does this, so your gesture will make you unique, and trust me, these salespeople will tell the world that you and your company are where it’s at! They’re entering your spider web. TC gives himself up to 10 seconds, I repeat, 10 seconds, to turn any sales call, whether in person or on the phone or by email into a sales call for MY company. Check this out:

“My Company…TC speaking…how may I help you?”
“Is the owner of the business in?”
“Of course he’s in…in fact he’s hip to boot…what are you selling, bro?”
“Oh, this is not a sales call.”
“Why not, it should be, I love Sales…ya know, you need My Company to help you make more sales. Let me tell you how I can help you, mah man…”

I have had numerous salespeople tell others about my business after I sit and talk with them. It’s like getting more of your own salespeople, without expanding your payroll. Some have actually inquired about working at My Company themselves.

In fact, SOMEDAY I AM GOING TO HIRE THE PERSON WHO SELLS THE “NO SOLICITORS” SIGNS…SHE HAS GOT TO BE THE GREATEST SALESPERSON IN THE WORLD!

“NO SOLICITORS”. Bah, humbug. The signs should read: “SOLICIT AWAY, BABY, BECAUSE YOU’RE IN MY WORLD NOW..AND BRING SOME DONUTS FOR EVERYBODY HERE!”

Terry Chester writes for this blog every Tuesday. If you have a question for TC, you can reach him at terry@adbiz.com

Great pun, Michael! Ol’ P.T. Barnum stated “there is a sucker born everyminute” (or at least that’s what I read). This holds true for most people, because they DO indeed abandon their wisdom and get caught up in the peer pressure, keep-up-with-the-Jones’s, I don’t want to stand out, just tell me what I’m supposed to do next, “it’s the latest thing” syndrome. Marketers do take advantage of this, but good marketers are supposed to highlight and educate the unique selling points of their products, and with that information, allow the consumer to decide [in this case] which water they want to drink.

When the original water bottles came out, I thought they made an excellent weapon that could be used by runners to deter any bad people or dogs that attacked them. There’s a point no one has brought up (as far as I know). Hydrating the body is one of the key ingredients for good health, so carrying a bottle of water makes sense for busy people on the go. However, I know some folks who simply fill up their bottles with tap water and carry them around. In years past, there have been a lot of media hype about the safety of our drinking water, which makes sense (the more people we put on the Earth, the more muck we create….and muck flows downhill into our water supplies). “Warning, warning – better buy bottled water!”

Does the common consumer investigate the chemical composition of bottled versus tap water? Negatory. So, Michael, you have to hand it to the water bottle marketing people; it’s amazing how many of us actually buy bottled water. Incredible.

If I was marketing a new bottled water product, I’d probably use the same strategy and add in the zero calories/zero fat concept as well. I’m not so much amazed at bottled water people’s efforts to sell their product, but moreso at how quickly most people get on the bandwagon. It’s fascinating.

“Would anyone like a nice, cool glass of authentic, old-fashioned, tap water? I hear 2004 was a good year for tap water. There was slightest hint of muck, but that adds a certain something to the flavor. At my parties, we only serve the best…almost clean, slightly chlorinated, with a trace of fluoride…tap water. Sophisticated, stylish, casually elegant. Buy some today!”

If you have a question for TC (Terry Chester), you can email him at terry@adbiz.com or leave a comment below.