RE: Promotional material

[chrise01]

Hi,

Can anybody give me advice on what sort of after-sales promotional material is best and gets a client to ring you back time and time again.

I've been contemplating getting "domed" stickers (as my logo is round and rather appropriate) detailing my website address (www.buzzageek.com.au) and a contact number. So whenever a new client comes on board, I'll send him such a sticker.

Do clients use and appreciate things like this? What are other examples of successful "freebies" that one can give a client on a limited budget?

Thanks,
Chris

[CarolP]

Sometimes I would get gifts with a business card. Mugs and magnets worked for me - they are always visible so I cant help be reminded. I would consume the gift but file away the business card for when I need help. Whatever gift you decide, give them a business card as well - you never know they will file it away but one day might call.

Cheers
Carol

[MarketingHQ]

Not sure what they cost but branded usb memory sticks are always handy and are generally kept close to a computer. I'd certainly prefer that to a mug or magnet if I was a new client.

[abacus]

I think promotional giveaways should be something related to your business.
You want something that people use while using your product.
eg: we sell secuirty doors , so EVERY door gets a keyring.

You are in computer repairs, so promo stuff might be mousepads , usb sticks or even branded cd/dvd's with your logo. (actually cd'/dvds are pretty good...send a couple of cd's and a letter reminded clients of the importance of regular back-ups)


Unrelated products we have found good are fridge magnets, pens and calendars.

[TizzBizz]

Originally Posted by abacus

I think promotional giveaways should be something related to your business.
You want something that people use while using your product.
eg: we sell secuirty doors , so EVERY door gets a keyring.

You are in computer repairs, so promo stuff might be mousepads , usb sticks or even branded cd/dvd's with your logo. (actually cd'/dvds are pretty good...send a couple of cd's and a letter reminded clients of the importance of regular back-ups)


Unrelated products we have found good are fridge magnets, pens and calendars.

I think abacus is spot on here Chris. Stick to your area of business, so as suggested by MarketingHQ a USB stick would be good as well, but I would probably go with mouse mats and other items the client will see as much as possible.

As for your stick idea, personally I don't think it would be a winner... as where are they going to put the sticker? if anywhere. On a personal level, if a business I used sent me a sticker it would probably be given to one of my kids to play with or binned.

Cheers,
Kristian

[AnaLucia]

What about a voucher with a discount for their next time that they come to you? I haven't done it with my clients, but I bought something online and I received one of these vouchers: I still have it and I am looking forward to use it... so by these clients remember you.

[BarefootMaternity]

I send out a DL size promotional flyer with all orders - it has my business details & pics on one side and a $20.00 gift voucher on the other. Each voucher has ID and Expiry field that can be stamped or written in - this is important so I can have a unique identifier and know where the sales are coming from (these same flyers are left in Drs offices, handed out at Expos, Markets etc). Vouchers that go out in orders generally have a 6 week validity (ones left in offices etc usually 12 months) so I hook the customer back in before their pregnancy is over.
One of the conditions of use for vouchers sent in orders is the customer must give feedback on the garments they have previously purchased - either via email or via the website. Its a win win situation as my customers are happy to save money and I get some really great constructive - and encouraging feedback. Some customers give the voucher away but at the end of the day, its another sale for me.
Having the voucher as part of my flyer also encourages other people who are not pregnant or breastfeeding to grab the flyer for someone who they know is.

[soliddata]

Hi Chris,

I used to run a business like yours, and I had a number of things that used to work in building relationships and referrals.

1. I had fridge magnets (for fridge etc), stickers (for the PC/Server) and support details cards with phone numbers etc (for the wall and desks) so they always remembered that we were the IT guys and they would call us;

2. I had travel coffee mugs which we used in a number of ways (all of which worked very well): give out when we do a free audit or first visit, give out as prizes at BNI meetings or during dance cards, send a couple to new business customers as a welcome pack, give out at seminars/lunches/trade shows in return for contact details.

3. I had vouchers (and still do in my online backup business, though slightly different) for 2xfree hours of support, a free audit, or similar free visit for them to a colleague. I send 5 of these vouchers a s a thank-you.

4. I then also sent them a hard-copy newsletter every month, and had a list of specials included which was generally gadget-type stuff that were almost impulse buys...

Hope that helps.

Kevin

[WAHE]

Chris,

I noticed on your website you do not have an email marketing list building option that gives you a powerful business tool. Here you can give your customers the option to sign-up for any special promotional deals you may have on any given month and it's a great way to build a good rapport with them.

For your type of business it's definitely a "must-have" marketing tool.

BTW, I have a successful automotive, industrial battery wholesale/retail business and one of my best marketing strategies, "believe it or not", was to buy a whole Pavlova for my best customers every now and then and they loved me for it.

[chrise01]

Hi,

Thank-you for the reply.

I agree with your comment completely, and I have created (yet to be released) web module to cater for this. It will get released in the next day or two.

RE: Pavlova - Good idea.. I will keep that in mind.

Thanks
Chris

Originally Posted by WAHE

Chris,

I noticed on your website you do not have an email marketing list building option that gives you a powerful business tool. Here you can give your customers the option to sign-up for any special promotional deals you may have on any given month and it's a great way to build a good rapport with them.

For your type of business it's definitely a "must-have" marketing tool.

BTW, I have a successful automotive, industrial battery wholesale/retail business and one of my best marketing strategies, "believe it or not", was to buy a whole Pavlova for my best customers every now and then and they loved me for it.