You get them from newspapers, magazines, direct mail, online and eletters. Coupons are everywhere and are offered on just about every product and service, from groceries to new car purchases. But do they work? Well, the short answer is yes, they absolutely work. A recent consumer poll says that 96% of respondents say they clip, print and save coupons; 51% said they redeem almost all of the coupons they save. That’s huge. Should your business integrate coupons into your marketing plan? It might be worth testing.

Networking has taken an interesting turn from a fairly loose, non-regimented and independent means of building business contacts to a highly controlled business in its own right. Weeky meetings, dues, requirements for “qualified” referrals…all designed to increase sales and drive resutls. Do networking groups really work? My experience is limited—I’ve tried a few meetings with a couple of groups and while the people were all nice, personally it wasn’t for me.

Maybe I’m more of a traditional networker, less structure is good for me. Involvement with community organizations, business associations and getting to know my business neighbors really does work best for me. I allocate time and money to it, support efforts that I find rewarding, reach out to learn more about other businesses and I always look for opportunities to share information about our company. The message here is to try both and see which you like. Maybe it’ll be a combination. No matter which, find a way to network and do it. Doing nothing is not an option when your mission is marketing your business.

Last week the New York Times, a venerable institution to say the least, released their new, updated web site. It’s fresher, more contemporary, easier to read and follows many of the web laws that we believe in, like readable font size, appropriate spacing and distribution of information. It was a big deal in newspaper web site world and they got a lot of attention from the industry for making bold choices. Maybe it’s time for your company to follow their lead and evaluate your web site, logo, printed materials, and other marketing materials to see if the image you are distributing still reflects the brand you have become.

Take time to look at what your best, most direct competitors are doing. Look through trade magazines, even fashion magazines to see what design and color trends are emerging, what grabs your attention or makes you curious to learn more about a company. Talk with clients and associates and ask for honest feedback about your marketing tools…maybe it’s time to update your image a bit, too.

Last week the New York Times, a venerable institution to say the least, released their new, updated web site. It’s fresher, more contemporary, easier to read and follows many of the web laws that we believe in, like readable font size, appropriate spacing and distribution of information. It was a big deal in newspaper web site world and they got a lot of attention from the industry for making bold choices. Maybe it’s time for your company to follow their lead and evaluate your web site, logo, printed materials, and other marketing materials to see if the image you are distributing still reflects the brand you have become.

Take time to look at what your best, most direct competitors are doing. Look through trade magazines, even fashion magazines to see what design and color trends are emerging, what grabs your attention or makes you curious to learn more about a company. Talk with clients and associates and ask for honest feedback about your marketing tools…maybe it’s time to update your image a bit, too.

There’s lots of buzz about WOM marketing (Word of Mouth) and how companies large and small can utilize it in their marketing campaigns. Couple of thoughts here. First, and I know this seems obvious, but be sure you have a product, service or customer experience worth bragging about. Next, check the temperature of your employees. Employees that are red hot, enthusiastic supporters of your company can’t help but tell friends about the great services and products you offer, and that’s a fabulous word of mouth starting point. Most WOM marketing is not spontaneous, it’s developed by companies to support a marketing strategy that is already in place, so look at your advertising and see where an alliance between traditional marketing and WOM can be forged. And most importantly, be patient…WOM is not instantaneous. It takes time for the message to move around a community let alone the world!

Marketing is about connecting you to your clients. A very affordable and personal way to do that is to recognize your clients successes and accomplishments. When you see a customer’s name in print in a newspaper or a magazine, clip it and send it along with a handwritten note recognizing their achievement or effort. Everyone loves to get personal mail, especially when it’s a kind gesture, not a business related action. So send a note today offering congratulations— you’ll really make someone’s day.

Take advantage of local events and organizations like the Chamber of Commerce to get your name out. Membership fees are usually affordable and access to other members is unlimited. Networking through local groups helps lend credibility to new businesses and may make you the community expert in your field.

Business cards are the most affordable marketing collateral piece you’ll ever have, so be sure yours presents an accurate and professional image. Poorly designed or printed cards may tell potential clients that details are just not that important to you or your company. Changed your business contact information? Get your card corrected immediately…nothing screams tacky and amateur like crossed out information and handwritten corrections.

Sampling is a fabulous way to entice customers to try just a little now and buy more later. Grocery stores are famous for demo’ing new products and who hasn’t been spritzed at least once by an overzealous department store fragrance salesperson. The reason stores spend the time and money on sampling is because it works! Car dealers love to get you in the seat for a test drive. Free consultation works for dentists, hair stylists, business coaches, fitness centers, even marketing firms! Nearly every product and service can be sampled, you just have to be creative in your approach.

Galvanize: To stir to action or feeling: egg on, excite, foment, goad, impel, incite, inflame, inspire, instigate, motivate, move, pique, prick, prod, prompt, propel, provoke, set off, spur, stimulate, touch off, trigger, work up.

Galvanize. That’s what we want to do this year with our blog—egg on, instigate, maybe even inspire you to think about marketing your business and improving sales in different ways. Because successful marketing yields greater sales revenue, it’s counterproductive to treat them as separate business initiatives. So, to trigger thoughts about promoting your own business, maybe even spur your sales efforts, we’ll be offering a weekly marketing and sales message on the Trusty and Company blog. Every Monday we’ll post another idea or tip, some that you may have already used, some that are new to you. Maybe one will light the fuse to new ideas for driving business. Check it out and feel free to share ideas that have worked for you.