Create for Cash Blog - Creative Marketing

How to Put Together a Marketing Plan for Your Business

A marketing plan is like a roadmap for your business. It helps to identify markets and measures the effectiveness in getting new customers. They are more informal than business plans and are written for internal use. Before you put together a marketing plan for your business you have to understand the market you are involved in. Study where it’s been, where it’s going, and how you fit into it. I’ve personally never had a business plan for any of my businesses. I’ve only put together a marketing plan so I can hit the ground running and have a clear focus about where the business is going.

Marketing plan for your business

The one thing I’ve discovered with all of the businesses I’ve started is that the marketing plan will always change. With my first invention (the wrist water bottle) I thought I knew exactly what market I was going into. I invented it for runners, like myself, but I never imagined that the product would be sold in the alcohol industry, which is about 25% of my sales now.

You’ll want to know how companies before you have done business and whether you want to follow that strategy, or do something totally different. You need to factor in things such as the economy, technology, government regulations and the competition, because anything can change your business.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before you put together a marketing plan for your business.

Step 1: Define Your Business Goals

Every solid marketing plan starts with clear business objectives. Ask yourself:

What do I want to achieve in the next 6 to 12 months?
Do I want to increase sales? Build brand awareness? Enter a new market?

Your marketing goals should directly support your business goals. For example:

Business Goal: Increase revenue by 20%
Marketing Goal: Generate 1,000 qualified leads per quarter through digital campaigns

Step 2: Know Your Target Audience

Your marketing efforts will fall flat if you don’t know who you’re trying to reach. And trust me, that audience could easily change as you go along. I started out thinking my wrist water bottle was just for runners and the fitness industry. But through a little serendipity I found out that there were other even better markets out there. I sell most of them in the promotional products market now. And I also sell in the alcohol industry.

Create detailed buyer personas that include:

Demographics (age, gender, income, education)
Psychographics (values, beliefs, motivations)
Buying habits and preferred channels (social media, email, events)
Pain points and challenges your product or service solves

But keep your mind open to other possibilities, and always be searching for new markets.

Step 3: Conduct a SWOT Analysis

Understanding your current situation helps you build a more effective plan. Use the SWOT framework:

Strengths: What are you doing well? (e.g., strong personal brand, loyal audience)
Weaknesses: Where do you need improvement? (e.g., low social media presence)
Opportunities: What market trends can you leverage? (e.g., rising demand for women keynote speakers)
Threats: What could hurt your growth? (e.g., competitors with bigger ad budgets)

This analysis helps you stay grounded in reality and plan accordingly.

Step 4: Identify Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

What makes you different—and why should people care? Your USP is the foundation of your messaging. I speak on the topic of competitive advantage. You need to find out what yours is and differentiate yourself from the competition.

Ask yourself:

What problem do I solve that others don’t?
Why should a client choose me over the competition?

Example USP: “I’m one of the few female inventors and manufacturers in the speaking industry, delivering hands-on creativity and innovation strategies with real-world application.”

This clarity will guide all your marketing content, from website copy to social media posts. Coming up with a slogan would be helpful too.

Step 5: Choose Your Marketing Channels

Now it’s time to decide how you’ll reach your audience. Not every platform works for every business, so prioritize based on where your audience spends time.

Top marketing channels to consider:

Website: Your digital storefront. Invest in SEO and clear calls-to-action (CTAs).
Email marketing: Great for nurturing leads and retaining customers.
Social media: Ideal for engagement, visibility, and brand building.
Content marketing: Blog posts, white papers, and videos can establish authority and drive organic traffic.
Paid ads: Google Ads, Facebook, or LinkedIn can bring in fast, targeted traffic.
Speaking and events: Live appearances build credibility and generate leads.

Tip: Use a mix of inbound (content, SEO) and outbound (ads, cold email) marketing for balance.

Step 6: Develop a Budget

You don’t need a massive budget to market effectively. But you do need one. Allocate funds to each channel based on past performance and ROI expectations.

Example monthly breakdown:

Content marketing: $500
Email marketing tools: $100
Paid ads: $1,000
Graphic design & branding: $300
Social media management tools: $50

Be flexible, and adjust based on what’s working.

Step 7: Create a Marketing Calendar

Consistency is key in marketing. A calendar keeps you organized and accountable. Map out:

Blog post topics and publishing dates
Email newsletters
Social media posts
Promotions or product launches
Events and speaking engagements

Use tools like Trello, Asana, or Google Sheets to stay on track. Batch content creation when possible to save time. If you don’t do it regularly, believe me, you will forget.

Step 8: Track Metrics and Adjust

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Set up systems to track:

Website traffic (via Google Analytics)
Conversion rates
Email open/click rates
Social media engagement
Ad performance

Compare your results to your SMART goals. If something isn’t working, pivot. Marketing plans are living documents. Adjust them based on what the data tells you.

Step 9: Leverage Partnerships and Publicity

Look beyond your own channels. Strategic partnerships can amplify your reach:

Cross-promote with complementary brands
Pitch yourself to podcasts, media outlets, or blogs
Consider affiliate or referral programs

The goal is to tap into other people’s audiences to grow your own.

Step 10: Review Quarterly and Refine

A marketing plan is not set in stone. Set aside time quarterly to:

Review performance
Analyze what worked and what didn’t
Test new ideas or channels
Reallocate budget as needed

Successful marketers test, learn, and optimize continuously.

Final marketing plan for your business

Putting together a marketing plan might sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Break it down into manageable steps. From setting goals to choosing channels and tracking performance. You will create a roadmap for sustainable business growth.

Remember, marketing isn’t about being everywhere at once. It’s about showing up in the right places, with the right message, at the right time. When you do that consistently, the results will follow.

Whether you’re launching a new product, growing your client base, or positioning yourself as a thought leader, a well-crafted marketing plan is your secret weapon. Start now, and you’ll be miles ahead of competitors still trying to figure it out as they go.

Remember, a marketing plan should be a living document that evolves along with your business and the market. Regularly revisit and update your plan to ensure it remains aligned with your goals and reflects the changing landscape of your industry. It will change many times during the life of your business.

Is Your Brand Consistent?

Brand consistency is important because there is a reason your customers chose you. If you’re constantly changing your brand you may lose the ones who are loyal to you. A good example of this is a restaurant near where I used to live. It was a cheesy, low budget coffee shop that had been around for decades. The waiters were an average age of around 70 and would joke around with you. The food was exactly what you’d expect at a low budget coffee shop. The prices were great and they baked their own bread and muffins. You knew what their brand was and they were packed all the time.

Then one day they sold the restaurant to a new owner. Immediately they did a whole remodel, changed the menu, and got rid of the long-time waiters. The new look was fancier, with a more European style. They stopped baking their own goods and the prices went way up. The menu was no longer coffee shop fare, but more French style. The waiters were dead serious and the food actually wasn’t as good.

So, in their attempt to “improve” they ended up chasing away the regular customers, who liked it the way it was. Every time I drove by, the parking lot was empty. They ended up closing down in a few months and bulldozing the lot for an apartment building. It was sad, as we saw it as losing a neighborhood icon that could have been around for decades more and brought joy to the regular customers.

Salad bar restaurant

The same thing happened with another restaurant in my neighborhood. It was a salad bar restaurant. You could get whatever you wanted in a salad bar and the food was fresh and quick. You got exactly what you expected every time you went in. There was plenty of space to eat there, but most people got it to go.

The owner decided to close briefly to remodel, which was nice but they had fewer spaces to eat and more fancy art, which no one cared about.

And instead of a salad bar, it was a fancier restaurant with much higher prices. It had been packed before with people from local offices who just wanted a quick and affordable lunch salad. Now it took much longer, the prices were higher, and the food wasn’t the same. No more lunch deals for busy people on the run. They wanted to upgrade, but they ruined the brand consistency they had. Their regular customers soon found other places to go on their lunch break that filled the need they wanted. They lost their loyal customers by doing away with their brand consistency.

Brand consistency

Having a consistent brand offers several significant benefits for businesses, large and small. Here are some key reasons why maintaining brand consistency is valuable:

Builds Brand Recognition

Consistency in branding helps create familiarity and recognition among consumers. When your brand elements (logo, colors, fonts, tagline, etc.) remain consistent across various touchpoints such as your website, social media, packaging, advertising, and customer interactions, it becomes easier for people to recognize and remember your brand. This increased recognition can lead to improved brand recall and customer loyalty.

Establishes Trust and Credibility

Consistency in branding portrays professionalism and reliability. When consumers encounter a consistent brand experience, it builds trust and credibility. They perceive consistent brands as more reliable and dependable, which can enhance their confidence in choosing and engaging with your products or services. It doesn’t matter if the brand is highbrow or lowbrow. Customers want what they want.

This is the reason chain restaurants do so well. When you’re on the road and you see a McDonald’s you know exactly what you’re going to get. They keep up the brand consistency from store to store.

Differentiates from Competitors

A consistent brand helps you stand out from competitors in a crowded marketplace. When you have a distinct and consistent brand identity, it becomes easier for consumers to differentiate your business from others. This differentiation can lead to a competitive advantage and help you attract and retain customers who resonate with your unique brand values and offerings.

Part of your competitive advantage is your brand consistency. Build a loyal following and they will stay with you.

Supports Brand Messaging

Consistency in branding ensures that your brand messaging is coherent and aligned across various marketing channels. When your brand voice, tone, and values are consistent, it strengthens the clarity and effectiveness of your communication. This consistency helps reinforce your brand’s key messages and creates a unified brand experience for your audience.

This helps your marketing and advertising as customers will instantly recognize your brand. You don’t have to spend as much money convincing them about who you are and what you have to offer.

Enhances Brand Recall and Loyalty

When customers consistently encounter your brand across different platforms and touchpoints, it increases their exposure to your messaging and reinforces their memory of your brand. This improved recall can result in higher brand loyalty, as customers are more likely to choose a brand they are familiar with and have positive associations with.

Supports Long-Term Brand Building

Consistency is essential for long-term brand building. By consistently delivering on your brand promise, you establish a strong brand reputation over time. Consistency builds trust and fosters relationships with customers, leading to brand advocacy, repeat purchases, and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.

Facilitates Scalability and Expansion

Consistent branding is particularly crucial when scaling your business or expanding into new markets. A consistent brand identity helps maintain coherence and recognition as you reach new audiences. It enables you to leverage the equity you have built in your brand and ensures a seamless transition as you expand your products or services.

In summary, brand consistency offers numerous advantages, including increased brand recognition, trust, differentiation, and customer loyalty. By maintaining a consistent brand experience across all touchpoints, businesses can create a strong and memorable brand presence, fostering long-term relationships with customers and supporting sustainable growth.

Why You Won’t Learn How to be an Entrepreneur in College

While a college education can provide valuable knowledge and skills, there are several reasons why it may not be the most effective way to learn how to be an entrepreneur in college. As an entrepreneur who never went to college and started multiple businesses on my own with no knowledge, money or mentorship, I can say that college would never have taught me what I learned first-hand. It also would have taken up 4 years of my time on top of tens of thousands of dollars of student loan debt. Instead, I just started with what I had and learned from trial and error.

Entrepreneur in college

Practical Experience:

Entrepreneurship is primarily learned through practical experience and real-world challenges. While colleges can offer theoretical knowledge and case studies, they often lack the hands-on experience of starting and running a business. Entrepreneurship requires learning from failures, adapting to market dynamics, and making quick decisions. These are better acquired through direct involvement in the business world.

I made a million mistakes when I started my first business, which was a cash-intensive manufacturing business based on my invention, the wrist water bottle.

Dynamic Nature of Entrepreneurship:

The entrepreneurial landscape is constantly evolving, with new technologies, market trends, and business models emerging rapidly. College curricula, on the other hand, can be slow to adapt to these changes. By the time a course is developed, approved, and taught, the information may already be outdated. Staying ahead as an entrepreneur often involves learning on the fly and staying updated with the latest trends, which can be difficult within the rigid structures of a college program.

Nothing beats learning on the job. There are so many things about running a business that you simply find out by doing them and making mistakes along the way.

Interdisciplinary Skills:

Successful entrepreneurship requires a wide range of skills, including marketing, finance, sales, networking, leadership, and problem-solving. While colleges typically offer specialized courses, they often lack an integrated curriculum that combines these interdisciplinary skills. Entrepreneurial success often comes from the ability to navigate different areas of business seamlessly. And this holistic perspective is challenging to develop solely through traditional college education.

When you start out as a solopreneur you learn how to do every job in your business. This will become valuable when you need to hire employees down the road to help you.

Networking Opportunities:

Building a strong network is crucial for entrepreneurs. College can provide opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals, professors, and guest speakers who may have entrepreneurial experience. However, networking within the college environment may be limited compared to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. Industry events, conferences, meetups, and startup communities offer a more diverse range of connections and potential mentors. This can be difficult to replicate within the confines of a college campus.

Some of my best networking has been at trade shows. I met a guy who got me into the promotional products industry at a really bad trade show, which would have been a disaster. But he completely turned my business into a very profitable one by introducing me to an industry I didn’t even know about. I also found my first manufacturer at a trade show, that ironically was also a disaster! Those are not the kinds of business connections you meet on a college campus.

Risk Aversion and Structure:

Colleges typically prioritize stability, conformity, and risk aversion. While these qualities may be suitable for some career paths, entrepreneurship often requires taking calculated risks, thinking outside the box, and challenging conventional wisdom. The structured environment of college may not foster the risk-taking mentality and creativity that entrepreneurs need to succeed.

I took a HUGE number of risks to start my business. And I worked 2 jobs for years to pay for it. Putting that money into a college education to be an entrepreneur would have been a waste of money. And I was able to get up and running while many of my peers were still reading books about business.

It’s worth noting that while college may not be the ideal route to learn how to be an entrepreneur, it can still offer valuable resources and opportunities, such as business courses, mentorship programs, and access to research and libraries. However, many successful entrepreneurs have found that hands-on experience, networking, and continuous self-education outside of formal education play a significant role in their journey.

How to Market Products Globally

For anyone who is a product entrepreneur the Internet has opened up a whole wide world of new customers who are anxious to buy your product. When I first started my business (swiggies, wrist water bottles) I never thought about selling internationally. It was overwhelming enough just selling my product in my own neighborhood. But now 90% of my business is international. The Internet has made international business more accessible for a small manufacturer, and easier to market your products globally. There are multiple ways to sell overseas with the click of a mouse.

How to market products globally

Being in the U.S. I always thought I’d manufacture my product in the U.S. But after trying it once and barely breaking even, I realized I would have to move my manufacturing to China, like most of the rest of the world. It took a few tries to find a good, honest factory, but I finally found the right one. (now I manufacture in 3 countries)

Find a middleman

Dealing with China has its own challenges, like the language barrier. This is why it’s a good idea to have someone there who can act as a middleman. Pay them a percentage. It’s worth it. They have a better understanding of the local culture and can help iron out any problems that arise. They will also be in a better position to negotiate prices for you.

Be aware of foreign holidays

I’ve found that there is a different sense of urgency there, so you want to make sure you allow plenty of time to get your merchandise. Don’t cut things too close. They also seem to have an awful lot of holidays, and some can last weeks, like Chinese New Year’s. So plan accordingly. You never know how many orders they have ahead of yours. Get your order in as early as possible to avoid delays.

Allow for time zone differences

Allow extra time for time zone differences. If you’re dealing with a distributor in South Africa and a factory in China, everyone will be in different time zones. You’ll always have a few days here and there arranging wire transfers and getting art work in. When banks are open in one country, they’re closed in another.

Factor in extra expenses

Factor in all extra expenses and adjust your prices so you don’t get the short end of the stick. I learned the hard way that an extra nickel is a lot of money when the order is 100,000 units. Make sure everything is discussed beforehand and you negotiate for the best pricing possible.

Don’t forget about taxes and duties

When quoting your customer’s prices take everything into account, like the taxes and duties they will have to pay once it gets to them and what kind of certifications you will need, if any, for their country. I always get 50% up front and 50% before they leave the port. Collecting money from a foreign country is a nightmare legal hassle. Make sure it’s all in your bank account before inventory leaves the port.

Use distributors

I’ve found the easiest way to sell internationally is through distributors. They buy in volume and basically run their own business. I just help them with marketing and publicity. They hire their own employees and do their own advertising.

A good way to get the word out about your product is by getting listed in online wholesale directories. There is also plenty of international PR that you can do to call attention to your brand.

There’s a great big world out there waiting to buy your products. They just need to know how to find you. And you need to know how to navigate the international waters.

How to Avoid Risk in Starting a Business

There is always a risk when you start a new business, but there are also many rewards to being a business owner and controlling your own destiny. Many people avoid starting their own businesses because of the risk. But you can start minimizing risk in small business by being prepared and knowing where the landmines are. You don’t have to be overly cautious, just know that a certain amount of risk is to be expected with a new venture. So, how do you avoid risk in starting a business?

Look into the future and try to predict what could possibly happen. You can’t predict everything, but cover as much as possible. There are a few things to consider before you open your doors for business.

How to avoid risk in starting a business

Get everything in writing

Even if you are working with your family or best friend, you need to have it in writing. This isn’t to say that they will turn on you, but it will help everyone sleep at night knowing it’s formal. Just the act of writing a contract and putting down on paper what you expect from the arrangement is helpful to clarify who does what. It avoids misunderstandings later. If you stand to lose a large amount of money in the future, then a contract is necessary.

Make sure you are properly insured

Anticipate what could go wrong and prepare accordingly. You at least need to have general liability insurance and product liability insurance if you sell a product. Disability insurance will cover part of your income should you lose the ability to work.

Set up the correct business entity from the beginning

Get the advice of a qualified attorney and accountant and do it right to start with. Use separate entities to protect your assets.

Manage cash flow

It’s easy to underestimate how much you will need. It seems like it will always keep coming in when times are good, but you need to prepare for downturns in the economy, the loss of a key customer, changes in technology or your industry or any other event that could cause your cash flow to dry up. Figure out how much money you have now and how much you would need to have coming in if anything changed. Have a backup plan and make sure to keep at least three to six months of money in the bank just in case you need it.

You can’t eliminate all risk, but if these things are in order you will at least have a good chance of minimizing risk in small business.

Cause Marketing for Small Business

Aligning your business with a social cause and cause marketing builds goodwill and improves your image. Corporate philanthropy isn’t a new idea. It’s been going on since the late 1880s when titans of business such as Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller gave large donations to charity. And some of our terminology isn’t new, either. The term ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ was officially first used in 1953 in the book “Social Responsibilities of the Businessman” by Howard Bowen.

Cause marketing for small business

Being a good corporate citizen (or a caring small business) is a smart move. Because a significant number of consumers will choose to do business with a company over a similarly priced competitor largely because of their involvement in certain social causes.

Cause marketing as competitive advantage

In fact, 70 percent of consumers say they’re willing to pay more for products and services from businesses that support worthwhile social causes, according to research from the PR firm Edelman. And more than half would even help promote them through social media. You can also use a social cause as your company’s competitive advantage. Ideally, you want customers to think about your brand whenever they think about the social cause. And if that cause is something they strongly support and believe in. Provide them good value, and you may have a loyal customer for life.

Competing with causes

Here are some companies who are using causes as a competitive advantage:

Duracell

It makes sense that a company that makes reliable batteries would support areas hit by floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Their social program is called Duracell PowerForward, which has trucks that can reach any U.S. destination within 24 hours. Duracell builds trust within communities by providing assistance in the face of events. Like the recent devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico. Now, when customers think of the Duracell, brand they think of them in a positive light. And they think of them as a durable battery.

Warby Parker

Warby Parker isn’t just known as a company that sells fashionable glasses in an innovative way. They’re also known as a company that gives back, thanks to their buy-a-pair / give-a-pair program. Working with their non-profit partner, Vision Spring, they give away glasses to people in developing countries.

Wells Fargo

Up to 1.5% of Wells Fargo’s revenue each year goes to charitable causes such as food banks and startup incubators. They also give 2 paid days each year for their employees to volunteer for charities.

TOMS

Like Warby Parker, TOMS shoe company is well known for their buy-a-pair / give-a-pair program. They also provide safe drinking water and medical treatments for people in third world countries.

Ben and Jerry’s

They’ve always incorporated a social cause into the culture of their business model. According to Ben Cohen, “Business has the responsibility to give back to its community”. He’s also used the phrase “caring capitalism” since the 1980’s. Like many companies today, Ben and Jerry’s started their own foundation which began with a commitment to give 7.5% of its annual pre-tax profits to community organizations across the US. Today, the foundation typically awards about 2.5 million dollars a year in grants. Do people buy Ben and Jerry’s because of their social causes? Or because they make really delicious ice cream? I’d imagine it’s both.

Seattle Kitchen

Seattle Kitchen is committed to giving something back to the community. And not just a little. According to owner Tom Douglas’s Seattle Kitchen website: “Tom has long maintained that, as food people, we need to feed people whether they can afford to eat in our restaurants or not. This principle has inspired his long-term leadership with organizations such as Share Our Strength and Food Lifeline, where Tom has dedicated over 30 years and millions of dollars towards ending hunger. Along with Tom, our family of coworkers also share in the priority towards giving back.

Volunteering

They do this by volunteering time and skillset to organizations such as Teen Feed, FareStart, Midsound Fisheries Enchancement Group, Mary’s Place and more. “We believe that a community is made richer by supporting the arts. We work closely with the Seattle Theater Group to help fund the programming at the Paramount and Moore theaters as well as music epicenters like KEXP and Seattle Opera. Our environmental work is focused on local wild salmon habitat preservation and raising awareness around the threat of Pebble Mine in Alaska.

The PCC Farmland Trust is another important beneficiary since without farmland, there is no food. Lastly, education and nutrition programs for K-12 public schools receive support from our teams. We continue to work closely with the Seattle Public School’s culinary programs and Career and Technical Education classes to inspire potential job paths within the restaurant industry.”

Charitable Agents

Charitable Agents is changing the real estate industry by donating a fixed commission to a charity of the pre-or-existing homeowner’s choice. Brothers David and Avi Tal founded MyAgentFinder.com back in 2011. It’s an online platform connecting home sellers with vetted real estate agents. Then they created “Charitable Agents” – something that sets those who participate apart from other realtors.

According to their online press release: “After three years of growing its database of REALTORS and reaching over $100 million in real estate transactions, the two designed the Charitable Agents model to extend their tried-and-tested system into the realm of social responsibility. In a typical real estate transaction, real estate agents are paid a commission for representing either the buyer or the seller.

Charitable Agents’ network of more than 20,000 top-rated REALTORS, from all major domestic brokerages, have pledged to give 10% of their commission on a transaction to non-profit organizations affiliated with the site, as part of the agreement. With Charitable Agents, REALTORS go through the same process as they would with any lead-generation system. But with the added benefit of offering their clients the opportunity to donate funds to a specific charitable organization, following the close of any deal.”

Pride, Inc.

Businesses in Bismarck, North Dakota have gathered together for a charitable cause which helps the community and also promotes their businesses in a good light: Pride, Inc. Pride, Inc. provides quality services for adults and children with disabilities, and has helped thousands experience life to its fullest. In 2001 Pride started the Celebration of Trees event.

According to their website: “The trees are sponsored by local businesses and with the help of organizations that can connect us to members in the community. Such as: Burleigh and Morton County Social Services, Abused Adult Resource Center, Pride Youth Mentor Program, Bismarck- Mandan Public Schools, Community Action, Carrie’s Kids, Pride Manchester, and Make-A-Wish Foundation. The trees are donated to families who may not have a tree to decorate their home. All proceeds from the sponsorships of the Celebration of Trees are kept in the community. They’re used to help meet the needs of the individuals receiving services from Pride, Inc.”

Corporate social responsibility

Corporate social responsibility can help your business through customer and employee engagement. And by being a brand that your customers trust and remain loyal to. Even in the face of disruption.

Unique Holiday Promotions

christmas promotions — unique holiday promotions

From Black Friday to Christmas small businesses can count on a big percentage of their yearly sales. According to the National Retail Federation “holiday sales in November and December have averaged about 19 percent of annual retail sales over the last five years, but the figure can be higher for some retailers.” This is why it makes sense to try out some unique holiday promotions to boost those sales even more.

Here are some small business owners who created their own unique holiday promotions:

Unique holiday promotions

We created an online Easter Egg hunt on our website. It gave customers who visited our salon a 50% discount on in-store haircare products.

We wanted our store visitors to be aware of our website and encouraged them to visit a landing page with instructions. This page ultimately made them navigate through 4 different pages to find clues. On the last page, it contained a coupon code for them to use in-store.

It helped increase our online awareness and sparked in-store sales.

Shayy Patrese

https://www.hairbyshayypatreseinc.com/

One day only

I can still feel the essence of success with a unique holiday promotion at my clothing business. Last year, a few days before Christmas, I started a promotion for my customers only for one day. I tagged it as “Private sales day” just to make them feel unique. Allowing them to get the products from my store at a better price on a specific day.

To get the most influx, I launched it in the late afternoon by sharing it with the community. And tagged it with a short interval of time to create hype. The most important thing that I did to make it unique was to introduce a complimentary discount card with every purchase valid for the next five visits.

As the promotion started, I ran out of stock within a few hours and had to book orders of several clothing articles with the delivery option. Afterward, the discount card worked for 2 more months, creating a repeat business option. My revenue soared tremendously.

https://realpeoplesearch.com

The most unique holiday promotion that we used at our company was “Spin for Prizes”. We had a wheel that was filled with different prizes. The customer had to spin the wheel to determine their prize. Prizes included hot chocolate, popcorn, candy and some grand gifts like a Gift Certificate and Amazon vouchers.

Get creative with prizes

We had to get creative with the prizes, and we decided to get people involved in the campaign. We would ask them to upload a picture of themselves with their friends, and we would ask them to cover their faces. The spinning wheel contained prizes that cater to different age groups. Candy, popcorn, hot chocolate, bags of chips etc. We would also put different slogans on the wheel which they could spin for. We had phrases like:

“Spin for some extra holiday spirit.” “Spin for the best gifts.” And “Spin for your chance at a Grill and Grill’s Gift Certificate.”

We also came up with some interesting ways to get people spinning. Then we had a few staff members dressed up as Santa Claus. We would ask the people to vote on who would be Santa. It was a great hit, and it got people to spin more.

New Year’s resolution giveaway

New Year’s Resolution Giveaway Reach out to your clients, asking them to provide a quote on how you’ve helped them this past year, and how your product is going to help them meet their 2022 New Year’s resolution. For every client that participates, offer them something in return, like a valuable guide, resource or infographic. Use these testimonials in a social campaign, on your website, or to send to specific leads. Doing so can help boost your credibility and future sales.

Mystery Rebates From Santa The same idea can be used when putting together a promotion for your business. Instead of advertising a traditional rebate (like a $50 gift card after your purchase, for example) opt for a mystery rebate within a certain price range. Explain that one lucky customer will get the largest rebate — which will entice customers to take the chance and make a purchase. Use holiday imagery to advertise and make it seem like Santa is the one handing out the rebates. There’s a lot of options you can take to make the messaging fun and on-theme.

A Surprise Holiday Offer

To encourage more sales during the holiday season, offer a discount on an additional service if customers request a quote or sign up for your platform. Inversely, if your main product or solution is pricey, create an offering that’s significantly less and use it as a marketing tool.

An example of this approach would be to offer a free or low-costing webinar right before the holiday (surprise!) and then during that webinar, promote one of your service lines or product packages. This approach is more attractive because you aren’t asking for anything upfront and deterring people immediately with any overwhelming costs. Instead, you’re getting them engaged by way of an informative, surprise holiday offer (webinar), and using that opportunity to build trust with them, making them more inclined to consider taking you up on the real promotion at the end.

Referral discounts can come in very handy while boosting the number of orders during the holiday season. By providing discounts to customers who refer and arrive through a friend’s referral you can grow your orders exponentially. Leverage marketing channels that aid referrals like Facebook and other social media to help spread the word about your discount.

Give to get. Sharing is caring. Offer a gift certificate or coupon for a dollar-off amount in all orders purchased during a certain period of time, which works best on Thanksgiving we suggest. That way buyers can buy a gift for their loved one, or get themselves a gift with the coupon after the holidays. Or many brands choose a social charity campaign to contribute to the community and give visitors a great cause to shop. A successful charitable giving campaign is not only about raising donations (although that is important), it’s also about building relationships and community ties. It’s the premise for you and your customers to give and to get.

Film an exciting and engaging Christmas video

With video, you may get a lot of exposure and even virality via organic reach or virality if your video is catchy enough. You and your organization deserve to be the subject of a holiday-themed film, but it doesn’t have to be (then you can use the video all year round). Show your customers that you are a caring and trustworthy firm by sharing it on social media, adding it to your “About” page, and including it in your signature line. Gaining customer confidence is an easy way to increase your conversion rate and your revenue.Kylie WiserFounder, Everblossom Co
https://everblossom.co

Christmas themed landing pages

Create Christmas-themed landing pages and seasonal content for your online business, as one suggestion I have for a unique holiday campaign. Getting a new client in today’s competitive retail industry is very challenging. Particularly during the Christmas season when tens of thousands of new businesses open every day. “How do we capture the attention of shoppers?” is the question. Making oneself unique is a terrific strategy to increase interaction by adorning your online business with seasonal themes or providing holiday content. Because most people start buying for the holidays before Thanksgiving, establishing your holiday theme should be planned ahead of time and started by early November. It’s your opportunity to launch all holiday-hot-sales products with fantastic bargains and excite clients, with a customized landing page for festive offerings.

Mike Chappell

Co-Founder & COO, FormsPal

https://formspal.com/

Free Christmas webinar

Developing a unique holiday promotions marketing strategy to attract customers, particularly during the upcoming Christmas season, is a tough challenge. We are occasionally inundated with ideas, yet it is difficult to act on them. What we normally do is create a Christmas free webinar. We give back by providing the opportunity to learn while also motivating them to work hard and achieve their objectives. We will undoubtedly surprise them with more than just a webinar at that time. But also with numerous wonderful offers such as raffles and instant games.

Kevin Joubin

VP Growth Marketing at Branded Research, Inc.

Website: https://gobranded.com/

What kind of unique holiday promotions will you create for your business?

Pros and Cons of a Business Plan

What are the pros and cons of a business plan? I asked a group of business owners and here are their answers:

Leisurehiking.com

I am a serial entrepreneur with both successes and failures under my belt. I have even lost 2 x million dollar companies, the last one due to Covid (travel industry). Entrepreneurship surely is a rollercoaster…

Here is my view on the pros and cons of a business plan:

As a serial entrepreneur, I can say that except for my first business, I have never done business plans. Despite the first and only business plan being both lacking and incomplete, I built the business from an investment of $3000 to almost $2 million over 6 years.

I identify with Mark Zuckerberg’s “Move fast and break things”. I believe that business plans are for the most part, a waste of time. Get going and take action, then course-correct. Having said that, I do believe that business plans have their place, especially in larger ventures. However, just because I don’t believe in business plans, does not mean that I am not analyzing before I start a new venture. Far from it. I research heavily! I simply do not spend time making elaborate business plans and use them as guiding documents for running my business.

Marketing plans, however, are a totally different story! I use Allen Dib’s 1-page marketing plan framework in my businesses.

Thomas Sorheim

Founder of Leisurehiking.com

Web: https://leisurehiking.com/

Mirrorcoop.com

I’m John Linden and I am an interior designer from Los Angeles(www.mirrorcoop.com). When I started my business 7 years ago, my partners and I developed a very detailed business plan. We projected revenue, expenses, cashflow. We looked at where we wanted to be in 3-5 years.

And we did it all on paper and used it as a road map for our progress.We hired an accountant to do projections and answer questions throughout the year. He was vital in making sure our projections were accurate – which helped us reach our goals or course-correct when we were off track.In the end, I’m glad I had a business plan!

It helped me make decisions and set goals all along the way – from finding investors to deciding whether each opportunity was worth pursuing or not. Today, I still refer back to it (even though things have changed so much since then). Now, I don’t know if a business plan is essential for every startup.

If you’re in the early stages of brainstorming an idea with a couple of friends/co-founders, maybe it’s not worth writing one up. But for those who are serious about getting your idea off the ground as a legitimate business – it might be worth giving it a shot.

Also, there are plenty of free templates online to help you get started. Don’t pay someone to write one for you – many times these plans will turn out very generic and non-specific! Write your own or ask people you know for feedback. You can also find templates at your local library.

I do remember one thing that helped me when writing my business plan: I wrote it from a customer’s perspective. Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years? What problem are you solving? How does your product/service make someone else’s life easier or better? If you can answer those questions, then the details about prices, revenue projections, etc.will fall into place.

John Linden – Designer

(424) 252-2359

www.mirrorcoop.com

Income.ca

“When I first started my company, one of the first things I did was create a business plan. Looking back, although making the business plan was time consuming and not always accurate, I believe the positive impact of the plan helped my business to become more successful. The business plan helped me to understand where to allocate my finances and which parts of the business would need more investment.

By knowing what I needed to achieve before I could begin making a profit, this made the high initial financial investment seem less painful, because I had a goal I was aiming for and a clear way to achieve this goal. The business plan also helped me to focus on my target audience more efficiently. I was able to shape the business and advertising in a way that made it more appealing to my core demographic. If I could go back in time, I would definitely still create a business plan. I believe it has played an integral role in the success of my company.”

Randy Charach

https://INCOME.ca

GreenPal – Uber for Lawn Care

Our business just surpassed $20 million a year and annual revenue.

I remember the first year we got started eight years ago my two cofounders and I spent three months writing our business plan.

Writing a business plan in futile yet indispensable exercise. The excise is a forcing function to cause you to really understand if you really want to proceed with the business endeavor.

However, no business plan survives first touch with actual customers.

Its important to organize your thoughts, and your plan of attack, however, much of what is assumed and forecasted in a business plan for a new start-up are just placeholders and hypothesis.

My advice to start up entrepreneurs is to spend less time planning, and more time building something to get into the market place to begin testing assumptions.

Bryan Clayton / CEO
bryan@yourgreenpal.com / 6154974175 (M)

GreenPal
1-866-798-4485 (O)
1312 5th Avenue N Nashville, TN 37208
http://www.yourgreenpal.com

Resinartsupply.com

I bootstrapped my e-commerce business in early 2019 without a business plan growing 100% year over year to $1 million in revenue. Not having a business plan or investors allowed us to adapt and bring products to market faster than our competitors. WhileI don’t think a formal business plan is necessary when capital isn’t being raised it is still vital for entrepreneurs to understand their value proposition, potential market share, and margins to ensure there are sufficient demand and profit for their product or service.

Amazon listing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0826KNT8W

Website: ResinArtSupply.com

Founder, ResinArt

Levi Parker

660-265-9803

Digital Harvest

I have a successful digital marketing company today and made a comfortable living with my previous two ventures.

I have never used a business plan and believe they are a waste of time. Several business plans were written in both my undergrad and graduate programs, and most of what goes into them is completely made up. The only real important part of a business plan is the marketing plan which details how you will bring your product/service to market, position it, price it, etc.

Companies live and die on sales, and marketing is responsible for bringing in the prospects to sell. It doesn’t matter what your projections are for revenue, or what the SWOT analysis says about your company/industry unless you’re able to generate sales.

Once you start generating sales, all the other plans go out the window because nothing teaches you what you need to know to operate your business like real-world experience.

Avram Gonzales
Chief Strategist, Digital Harvest

P (505) 365-1545

E avram@digitalharvest.io

W https://DigitalHarvest.io/

Viva Flavor

I run an online food and drink business that I launched in 2019. I’m very much in favor of producing a business plan, even if you’re bootstrapping the entire operation and aren’t seeking outside funding.

When you launch your first startup in particular, the post-launch excitement can quickly give way to self-doubt. The benefit of a business plan is that it gives you a personal contract of sorts that you can refer back to. You know what the business objectives for success are, and you’ve assigned hard numbers to your output goals.

Having this sort of “emotionally neutral” reference point is a powerful tool when the early days enthusiasm runs out. If you haven’t met those targets, you haven’t earned the justification to doubt the viability of the business.

Bio: John Bedford is the founder of Viva Flavor, a site dedicated to helping amateur cooks explore the world of food and drink.

Name: John Bedford
Title: Founder
Company: Viva Flavor
URL: https://vivaflavor.com

SportzPoint

Being a startup, my business needs lots of business plans. However, here are the pros and cons of a business plan.

The Pros of a business plans –

It provides us with a overview of what my business should or might look like in near future.
Business plans outlines the work we need to do make something happen.
It also provides us with a list of things that we should cut out from our business.
A long term business plan also gives us a roadmap to future of our business plans.

The Cons of a business plans-

Time consuming. Sometime while planning for the future we tend to lose our focus on the present.
Having static business plans gives us no options to overcome they failure, if there is any.
Sometimes, business plans makes us stay within a roadmap, which hinders our will to think out of the box.

The Conclusion: With all the cons, I still think having a plan is important. Though, being flexible with the plan is the most important thing. Going with the need of the hour is what a startup needs. Moreover, if we waste too much of time planning something, it might be an issue for a small business to flourish. It can also cause some financial criticalities too.

So, I rather think about small plans and small goals. I try to tick them off, then move on with another target or goal. This gives me more time to focus on current things. Also I only try to achieve the goals which will have a long term impact on my business.

Koushik Biswas,

Founder,

SportzPoint.com

Certain Pay

My mentors have both said this about the pros and cons of a business plan:

Pros:

Allows you to think creatively
Allows you to create a plan
Forces you to map out your attack
Gives validity to your cause
Helps you and investors see the big picture

Cons:

No one will read it

Lol, that’s the long and short of it. Most investors don’t care about a business plan. They care about the team they’re investing in and want to know they have a plan. The ProForma is more important, and if it’s formula-based and the entrepreneur/team can think “big picture” in unison, it allows them to pivot faster given unpredictable variables.

adamniec.phonesites.com

Adam Niec

Co-Founder

Certain Pay

My Digital Business Card

When it comes to the pros and cons of a business plan, entrepreneurs have different ideas about whether they work or not. What do you think?

How a Fulfillment Company Can Increase Your Sales

Any small business owner who sells products and has bootstrapped their business probably started out shipping their products themselves. If you’ve done this you know that means buying shipping products like boxes and envelopes, packing items yourself, driving to the post office, and then standing in a long line to ship them. You also have to fill out paperwork for customs if you’re shipping to other countries, and sometimes other paperwork is involved. A fulfillment company can do all that for you and more. A fulfillment company can increase your sales.

Warehousing inventory

Another thing a bootstrapping entrepreneur with a product knows about is warehousing inventory. Ask anyone who’s done it and you’ll hear stories about boxes being stacking in living rooms, offices, basements, and closets. I can tell you from experience that it takes up a lot of space. There was one room that I couldn’t even walk in for months. This is one of the things product entrepreneurs complain about, even ones with lots of space in the basement.

Fulfillment company can increase your sales

But at some point your time will be worth more and it will make sense to start using a fulfillment company to do your shipping and warehousing. If you find the right fulfillment company it will actually reduce your warehousing and processing costs and free up your time to do other things, like marketing and sales. They understand shipping and can use the best, most efficient ways to ship. They also get discounts from shipping companies because they ship in large volume. This is less expensive than having to get your employees to do the shipping for you.

A good fulfillment company will provide you with references and won’t have any hidden charges when they give you a quote. Give them as many details as you can about your shipping habits and how you expect your business to grow. They should be able to grow with your company and be flexible. They will be able to make suggestions about the best ways to ship and expand your business. It’s a lot like being a partner with your business, so you want to make sure you choose the right one.

Another important thing to think about when deciding on a fulfillment company is their location. You want to find one that is centrally located to make shipping more efficient. If you will be shipping to Canada it’s important to find a fulfillment company that’s located closer to the border.

Here is an entrepreneur who has improved their business by using a fulfillment company:

My name is Calloway Cook and I’m the President of Illuminate Labs. Here’s our experience with our fulfillment company Shipmonk:

We’ve Gotten Great Service From Shipmonk

We signed up with Shipmonk when we first launched our products about a year ago. Initially, we decided to partner with them because their price points were very reasonable. We’ve been pleasantly surprised with how great their customer service is. I can always get someone on live chat or the phone to resolve any order or wholesale issues.

I’d recommend Shipmonk to any other eCommerce entrepreneurs. I’m not financially incentivized to refer companies to them; we’ve just gotten great service at a great price point.

Calloway Cook

President

Illuminate Labs

No matter who you choose, do your homework before making a decision. But once you are set up with a good fulfillment partner, you’ll see that it will make your life easier in the long run.

When Natural Disaster Disrupts Your Business

When natural disaster disrupts business

Business owners prepare for all kinds of problems. A natural disaster that disrupts your business is one you don’t always think of. But they do happen. And when they do they can be quite devastating. Natural disasters include wildfires, floods, tornados, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, blizzards or volcanoes.

It happens quickly

Natural disasters can disrupt a business and leave a business owner in a state of shock because they happen so quickly.

Many businesses hit by natural disaster never reopen

A large business may have the cash to weather a storm (no pun intended), but small businesses are usually crushed when their livelihood is suddenly pulled out from under them. The Dept. of Labor estimates that around 40% of businesses hit by a natural disaster will never reopen.

Capital becomes a problem when there’s no income coming in, but things have to be fixed. Limited capital means less money for daily operating expenses.

Disrupted supply chains

Disrupted supply chains affect a business. Bridges can collapse, roads become impassable, and airports can close down. Cell towers and power stations can also be down, which affects communication. Damaged equipment and buildings also cause problems.

Natural disaster business stories

On May 22, 2011 disaster struck Joplin, MO. Nate Stokes, Visiting Angels franchise owner could never have imagined how much his business and livelihood would be disrupted. The tornado destroyed his cars and office. Several of his employees either had to quit or weren’t able to work. And many of his clients lost their homes.

Between his local church and Visiting Angels he was able to have an office to work out of and a car to drive. But the disruption took quite a while to turn itself around. Within about a year he was back to his pre-disaster business.

Hurricane Sandy

It was Hurricane Sandy that wreaked havoc on Madelaine Chocolates, a Rockaway Beach favorite. It took CEO Jorge Farber over five weeks just to be able to get in and access the damage. All of his equipment was four feet under water. The disaster happened right before their peak season and destroyed their seasonal inventory. A little over a year later he was able to get almost half of his employees back, but the recovery was painfully slow.

Woolsey fire

Rhonda Rees tells her story of the Woolsey fire:

“Late in the evening of November 8, 2018 I received a recorded call that changed my life — and the lives of my neighbors over at the Seminole Springs mobile home park in Agoura Hills, CA. Authorities asked us to evacuate, and get to safety. The Woolsey fire was making its way toward our area.

Since my car was in the shop, I phoned a neighbor and took what I could. This amounted to a week’s worth of clothes, toiletries, and a few important papers. That’s all. I honestly expected to return to my home within days.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. Instead my house/office along with 110 others burned to the ground. I lost everything. This included my office equipment and supplies, precious family heirlooms, photos, dishes, collectibles and other things. The good news is all the residents, elderly, children, families and pets made it out of the mobile home park safely.

Half of the homes in our park are okay, although some have suffered fire damage, and our lake is wrecked with dying fish. The place was also contaminated for awhile.

Lessons learned

Since then I have learned so many important lessons. I saw that both the community and business groups reached out to us in our “time of need”. A Woman’s organization the Women’s Economic Ventures WEV paid my business a small grant, and I attended one of their seminars to help us get back on our feet.

I have been in charge of my firm for many years, so naturally when this disaster struck — and I lost everything, I’ve had to be really creative. I resumed working, and had been doing so from 20 (hotels and people’s homes) before I finally moved into my new office/home.

Now I have a very thriving business. More work than I know what to do with.

Rhonda Rees – Award-winning public relations expert, author, speaker and advocate

www.rhondareespr.com.

If you live in a disaster-prone area you should already have a disaster plan in place. But natural disasters could happen anywhere. Even if you don’t live in CA, which is often hit with earthquakes and wildfires, or in Tornado Alley, or in hurricane zones, you still need to prepare for floods, fires, draughts, or anything else Mother Nature may throw at you.