The economy is down and so are sales. You’ve lost a couple of your largest customers; one closed shop and the other is significantly scaling back just to remain in business. You’ve relied on their steady stream of orders over the past 5 years to keep your own business flourishing. Now you’re barely bringing in enough to pay your office rent, equipment lease and vehicle payments. It’s the life of a consultant.
You can either shrivel up and join the forces in the supermarket parking lot wheeling grocery carts back and forth, or you can dig your heels in the ground and rethink your promotional strategy. Over the past several years you’ve become laid back in getting your name out there. You’ve relied too much on your current client/cash flow and not realistically looked down the road and planned backup strategies. Sure, you can regret and wish and dream that the present isn’t really happening, but it’s time to open up your eyes and clear your head. It’s time to press forward and develop a promotional strategy that will knock the shoe strings off your competition.
Looking through your contact list that you’ve developed over the past 5+ years, you’d be surprised which of those might just possibly turn into clients. Or, and this is something easily forgotten, which of those current contacts know others in their sphere of influence who they might refer you to. But in order to refresh your contacts of your presence & services, you need to make a smart second impression. This is easy to blow, and many marketing firms advise clients to make useless promotional maneuvers (stay cleer of the 50 cent pens) which further plunge themselves down into the valley of uselessness. Think smart. Think lasting.
A small bubble wrapped USPS mailing will prove far more effective than a blind email or even a glossy supersized postcard mailing piece. People open bubble wrapped envelopes. Inside it, include a simple letter (keep it very brief) introducing yourself and your services and mention that further information is available on the included complimentary 2 Gigabyte USB flash drive. Be sure to choose a smartly styled, quality flash drive that’s laser imprinted with your name or company logo. This will be one mailing that they won’t throw away (sure, the letter will be skimmed and garbage pailed).
The best thing about USB flash drive marketing is that it doesn’t have to stop here. Preload that baby with a small pop up screen that features your brand along with links to your website, latest whitepapers, digital glossy brochure, etc. Include a brief video too as well as helpful resources related to your business that they will read and which will help impress in their minds the level of authority you hold. With repetitive branding opportunities and a professional presentation, you’ve got a marketing machine that won’t stop working. Each time they plug that USB drive into their laptop, your name will be subtly imprinted deep within their brains. Play your cards right, and, someday, they’ll be calling you – hopefully not just for another free drive!
If you’re looking for a recommended custom flash drive company to partner with, check out CFgear.com. They’re family owned, based out of South Dakota, and they’ve got companies talking like crazy worldwide. Call them toll free at 1.800.371.1984.
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