by Kirby Hasseman
We have all been to the small business that has been burned too many times. They have a new handwritten sign, it seems, for each customer infraction. The signs range from “No shoes. No Shirt. No Service” to announcing to the world that they “no longer accept checks.” Some small businesses get a bit carried away until their wall is papered with things their customer is not allowed to do for fear of tasing! As an entrepreneur myself, I understand. You sometimes get tired of being taken advantage of, and you want to make sure people know it.
But it’s important to be conscious of the message we are truly sending.
Especially now, as companies, stores and restaurants get ready to open to the public again, it’s important to consider the question “What message are you sending?” As business owners, we have been anxious about getting back open again. We might be frightened what will happen if we can’t get back to business. But we must remember that part of our audience is scared too. They are wondering if it’s safe to go back out…and you need to consider what message you are sending to them!
Is It Safe To Come in?
If a customer decides to come back to your business, are you showing them that you are ready? Do you have information displayed that explains how you are going to keep them safe? Do you have signs on the wall or stickers on the floor that discuss the idea of staying 6 feet apart? You might be thinking “They already know that,” and you would be right. But subconsciously (at the very least) they might be asking if you know it. Have the correct protocols in place show them that you do. That is the reason I think masks matter. I talk about that here.
Do They Really Want Me In?
Now is also a great time to look at your entrances and behind the counter of your businesses. Is everything necessary? Does your signage look welcoming? Does it look like I really want business to come in the door? We all have seen our businesses so many times that we stop seeing what it looks like. Now is the perfect time to look at it with fresh eyes. This is a chance to treat customers as if they are coming for the first time. What do you want them to see?
I am excited to get “back to work” as a country. I am sure you are too.. Now we just need to ensure we are doing it right…so we can keep everyone safe and working! If you enjoyed this, please check out our blog page for more content. And now is a great time to brush up on your marketing skills. Sign up for our (FREE) 5 Day Marketing Course here.
by Kirby Hasseman
It’s a crazy time to try and market your business. On the one hand, you don’t want to be seen as insensitive or tone deaf to the current health and economic challenges that are facing the country. On the other hand…payroll. Your organization still has bills to pay. And when this is over, you want to have a business to market!
Madison Avenue has decided the best way to do this is to let everyone know that “we are all in this together” (even though we have been ordered NOT to be together). They remind you that these are “unprecedented times,” and we should not worry because no one is touching our pizza after it leaves the oven! What? I wasn’t worried about that…until now!
And while it’s tough to know exactly what to do and say during these “unprecedented times,” I think we are over thinking it. It’s time to get back to basics with your marketing. Here are a few quick tips on how to market your organization now…and always.
Decide WHO Your Customer Is
One of the biggest challenges I see with companies is when they try to market to everyone. Not only is that impossible (and expensive) it makes for boring marketing. If you identify exactly who your target is, you can create compelling marketing and content that resonates with them. In addition, you find that your message does not need to be everywhere. It needs to be where your perfect customer is…and there only.
Explain What Problem You Are Solving
Every good business was created to solve a problem. The lemonade stand was created to quench your neighbor’s thirst on a hot day. The pizza shop was started because people are hungry (and don’t want to cook for themselves). Whatever the problem is that your organization solves, make sure you let your customers and prospects know. So many times we are concerned that we might be “overly salesy” and we make our prospects guess what we do. Don’t do that. Make sure it’s clear what you have to offer.
Add Value Where You Can
Once you let your customers and prospects know what you have to offer, it’s a good time to add value. I still believe that the Give First Economy is in full swing. You have an opportunity to be generous here. Help your prospects. Give them information to help them solve their problem. Not only will it establish you as the expert in the field, but it will build integrity and trust with your audience.
Cover Your Branding Foundation
This is a good time to look at your marketing and make sure the foundations are covered. Is your website up to date? Do you have flyers, brochures, and print materials that tell your story (consistently with your website). Does your team look like a team? Once you have created that ideal customer, you need to make sure you are showing up the right way to them, all the time. If you need some help with this, please reach out to us and we can help.
Make Your Offer
If you have identified your customer, explained the problem that you solve, and have added value, then please don’t forget to make an offer. It doesn’t have to be over the top. You don’t have to be in their face. As a matter of fact, if you have take the other steps, it would be weird if you did NOT ask for the business! This is not the time to “get the digits” from your prospect and NOT make the call! Make your offer and give them a chance to do business with you.
It’s a great time to get back to basics with your marketing…and these are some ideas to get you started. If you want to dig deeper, feel free to sign up for our (FREE) 5 Day Marketing Course here. Oh…and make sure you never miss out on our content. Head to our blog page now and see what you have missed.
by Kirby Hasseman
I am not a doctor and I don’t play one on TV. I am also not a nurse and do not have any medical training. And while, to my uneducated mind, the idea that masks can help to stop the spread of a virus makes sense, I am not going to wander outside of my lane here. There will be no fancy graphs. And there will be no links to articles that support my theory. God knows we can find plenty from either side on every argument nowadays. Nope…this is from your friendly neighborhood marketing guy. This is my simple take on the Real Reason Mask Matter.
I was on a shopping trip recently when I discovered this. I was with my wife and we went into two different Big Box stores (of course they were Big Box stores…that is what was open). In the interest of transparency, she and I were wearing masks. The first store we went into felt strange. Almost no one was wearing a mask. We were the outsiders and we got some funny looks. Kids were running around the aisles like it was a normal Tuesday night. To be candid, I was uncomfortable. Amy and I looked for what we needed, and when we couldn’t quickly find it, we left.
We left that store and headed to the next Big Box solution. But this one felt different. Even as we walked in I noticed that employees were wearing masks. As a matter of fact, once inside I realized that all of the employees had masks on. The vibe in the store seemed more calm. So Amy and I went through the store, found what we needed, and finished the shopping mission. And this leads me to the real reason masks matter.
Masks Matter Because They Put Your Customers At Ease
As consumers, when we head out to find necessities, most of us are on edge. We look at nearly everyone with judgement. Can they cause me harm? Are they doing what they should be? I talk about it in a vlog here. It’s natural. But if I am worried about whether or not I am safe, there is one important thing I am NOT doing…shopping. If your organization does not make me feel safe, then I (as a consumer) will not want to stay there. If I must, I will either leave before I get what I need, or I will get only what I need…and get out.
On the other hand, if I feel safe, I will take the time to find what I need. I might even find a few more things. Your team wearing masks sends a signal that you care for your team and for your customers. So while I believe masks provide another level of protection from the virus, my medical opinion is not in question. The real reason that masks matter is because of your customers.
Make sure you never miss an update. You can find all of our content on our blog page here. Oh…and if you do want to look at some products that you might need to open up safely, you can head to a shop we created here.
by Kirby Hasseman
It’s time for Episode 38 of the He Said She Said Podcast with Hasseman Marketing! This podcast is designed to give an inside look at being married and being entrepreneurs and the projects we are working on and the challenges we are facing! We talk about business, family, community and more. So listen in and let us know what you think!
On this episode we talk about…
Trending Topic
This week Kirby and Amy talk about how life has changed during this crazy time. It’s a reality and how we deal with it is important. Do you just get sucked into all of the negativity or are you intentional? Can you do something fun? Here is a quick video they did for Formal Night at the Hasseman House. Silly…but it’s useful to make it fun! What ideas do you have to keep it fun and intentional?
Weekly Whirlwind
This week in the Weekly Whirlwind Amy gives a quick update on what she is doing to keep the building project rolling forward. We even have a video if you want to catch up here. Kirby gives an update on content, and jumping through the hoops of trying to find funding.
Lesson In Life
This week in the “lesson in life” Kirby and Amy talk about the importance of purpose. Now more than ever, it’s important to maintain some purpose each day. This does not have to be a “life’s purpose” but can just be a reason to get out of bed each day. Again…be intentional. What does that look like?
Shout Outs
Each week we want to give a shout out to an organization or an individual doing good work. This week Amy leads the way talking about the heroes on the frontline of this crisis…in Healthcare! Special thank you to all of those who are working SO hard to keep us safe. Thank you!
So that’s a wrap! Thanks for listening to Episode 38 of the He Said She Said Podcast! Any feedback will be welcome as we try to provide you value! If you want to subscribe you can do that where you normally get podcasts…or you can head here to follow on Soundcloud.
Thanks so much for listening! If you have any topics you want Kirby and Amy to cover, please comment and let us know! Oh…and if you like this content, check out this page where you can find all of the content we create!
One final thing…we have created a 5 Day Marketing Course you can take for FREE. There is no catch. Learn more about it here.
by Kirby Hasseman
As I thought about what I could share in today’s blog, I continually asked myself a simple question. “During this uneasy time, what does everyone need to read? What do we need to hear?” As I sat there thinking about it, I wondered the same for myself. What do I need to hear? Though I don’t have a definitive answer, and I don’t have a magic pill to make us all feel better, three things came to mind. These are the things I long for each day. I want these three things every day…but certainly now.
I want something to motivate me.
I need something to make me laugh.
I long for something to inspire me.
While we certainly try to create content that hits each of these marks sometimes, my goal today is to do all three!
Motivate Me
We find ourselves in a new world where it’s hard to know what to do next. Sure, we can work from home. But are we really creating value? Plus, working in this new normal seems so much harder (for some). But during this strange and uncomfortable time, we have the ability to be pro-active in ways we might not have been able to do at the office. Now is a great time to get after it, when your competitors are not. You can come out of this stronger, if you are willing to get uncomfortable now.
And if that is not enough, how about Rocky Balboa giving a motivational speech? Here you go!
Make Me Laugh
The good news, I think, is there is plenty on the internet that can make you smile. The challenge is to find that content while avoiding the negativity. It can be a daunting challenge to say the least. (Hence this post). Even in trying times we can maintain our sense of humor. As a matter of fact, it’s more important than ever. With that in mind, feel free to watch this fun video of my daughter trying to teach me a basic “jazz combo” she was teaching her dance students online. It’s so silly…and that is the point.
Oh…and more silly is coming soon…so feel free to subscribe to the Youtube channel if you like that one!
Inspire Me
Despite the fact that the Coronavirus has been a crazy time, there has been countless stories that inspire me. The best ones, I think, are the most simple. After the silliness over toilet paper, I hear plenty of stories of neighbors helping neighbors with groceries, or work around their house. Most of us have seen social media posts about young people helping seniors with things that needed done. But the best way to inspire is to act. Please be on the look out for ways to help in your area. If you want to feel inspired, today is a great day to DO SOMETHING inspiring.
That might mean you need to help a neighbor. It might be as simple as sending a note. Or it might be sharing an inspiring story in the comments. Let’s help to spread that inspiration today. We can all use a splash of it!
The goal was to motivate, make you life (or at least smile), and inspire. I hope you found a little of each in this post. More importantly, I hope you ARE a little of each this week.
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