Search
Related Links

 

 

Informative Articles

Can Three Words In Webster's Dictionary Be The Key To Customer Loyalty?
By Sean D'Souza Are you concerned about customer loyalty? Are your customers so loyal that they will stick with you through hell and high water? And if not, you really need to question how you can create a customer relationship that’s so gluey,...

Do You Know Where Your Brand Promise Is?
When I address business audiences, I often ask people to share their companies' brand promises. To my amazement, many don't have articulated promises at all. And those that do are often given to promises so fuzzy as to seem indistinguishable...

Selling on eBay
There are literally dozens of eBay ebooks on the market, which provide professional insight in starting an online business using eBay as your storefront. Some of the best selling eBay ebooks at Fizziebooks will help you start a profitable...

To Website or Not to Website?
Whether you should consider marketing online with a website To Website or Not to Website? Ask yourself, “What is the one critical thing we’ve done over the years to bring in the most new business?” Most of you will answer the exact same...

Your Knowledge Could Be Earning You A Fortune
Your Knowledge Could Be Earning You A Fortune Copyright 2002 - Super Profitable Marketing Are you a frustrated entrepreneur? You have the desire, enthusiasm, business skills and passion you will need to be a huge success, but there is one major...

 
Why Santa's Marketing Works Better Than Yours!

Santa Claus Inc. is well and profitable, right through recessions, depressions and just about any economic scenario. The reason why his marketing strategies work better than yours, is because he uses solid, dyed-in-the-wool psychology. He knows he doesn't have to use new fangled techniques, when his simple marketing has stood the test of time.

If you don't believe in Santa, you'd better change your mind, because the fat man from the north pole rocks on and you too can do the same if you stick to the basics. Find out if your product or service matches up by reading the article below.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle All the Way...

If you go to the heart of Santa's marketing, the one word you come away with is 'consistency'. Generation after generation have been exposed to one brand, one message, and the same powerful imagery. Just like Mercedes own the term 'luxury' and Volvo owns the term 'safety', Santa owns the word 'hope'. Every kid worth his Nintendo, hopes he's got enough points on the goodness scale to justify a mountain of gifts.

Yet, most companies get tired of their own brand. They chop, change and pour thousands (if not millions) of dollars into a bottomless pit of mindless change. Take a look at McDonald's advertising, for instance. McDonald's own the word family outing yet their ads have been straying down the teenager path.

Does it make sense to consistently occupy one niche? You bet it does! Families go out with their kids to McDonalds. These kids sprout into budget-conscious teenagers that hang out at McDonalds. They have kids and grandkids and guess where they all end up. At the big yellow 'M', that's where!

Santa doesn't waver. His customers are kids. Like several marketers, he might have been sorely tempted to enter the gift market. With bad advice, he would have tried to get to teenagers, adults and everyone. Can you see the magic still working? Even the tiniest of niches is huge and niches have a way of expanding by themselves.

At the end of the day, it's the consistency that takes the jingle all the way to the bank. Too many companies lose focus and give you seven reasons why you should buy from them. Santa sticks to one: Be a 'good' kid or you can keep hoping!

You Can Spot Him in the Middle of a Crowded Sky

Do you know anyone who comes to visit on a sleigh in the middle of the night? With reindeer and gifts? The reason why Santa stands out so vividly in our memories is because he's different. The postman does the same thing, but leaves without the flourish.

It's really important to work out how your marketing message differs. Santa's core marketing term is not built solely on consistent branding but also on a very hard-nosed differentiation. Too much communication out there fits in with what's safe. Customers have just one slot in their mind. You have to enter that slot at such an obtuse angle that they remember you for life.

Rose Richards runs Office Doctor. The term that set her apart from all the rest of the administration crowd is the term, Small business pain relief. Can you imagine your reaction when you hear something like that? The human mind is intensely curious and a marketing statement like that is pure bait. You want to know what pain relief she brings and how she goes about it-specially if you're the one in pain. That's only half the story. The construction of the message elevates her from simple number crunching to brain surgery and makes her unique.

If you want differentiation you need look no further than the guiding light of Santa's sleigh-- Rudolph, with his shiny nose. Can you even remember the names of the rest of the eight reindeer?

One very important point, however, is that the marketing message isn't just different, but also customer-oriented. Rose takes the clutter out of administration and Rudolph provides a beacon for clearer navigation.

If you don't have a benefit for the customer, just being different is going to get you nowhere.

Give and You Shall Receive

How many of you are out there networking like crazy? Trying desperately to fill in your steadily depleting bank reserves? You want, want, want! Take a look at Santa's style.


He's into giving first. If you probe deep into your mind, you'll find the people you like best are those who have given you their time, their money or their knowledge. You trust them, and it's very hard to say no when they ask you for a favour in return.

The deepest core of human emotions is fear. Every single product or service, without exception, is sold on the basis of turgid fear. The only known antidote to fear is TRUST. When trusts struts upwards, fear banishes itself to penguin land. The more you pile up the trust, the more you can do business.

Wouldn't Santa be able to sell you just about anything? Would he be able to cross-sell and up-sell product? Santa could knock on your door next summer and you'd be more than happy to have him join your barbeque.

It's up to you to build up the trust one Lego block at a time. Identify your clients and see what you can give them. It could be information, time or even a chocolate covered scrumptious cookie. It's the old 'What's in it for me?' theory. If you can't find something calorie-ridden for their minds or bodies, they won't want to see you.

Play Santa. It works.

He Knows if You've Been Bad or Good...

Heck Santa knows his customers. He even knows when you are sleeping, or awake.

Then, there's you. Look at your biggest customer. What's her name? When is her birthday? Does she like Indian curries or


sushi? In curries can she handle hot or medium? What does she think about you? What doesn't she like?

You're guessing for sure. You can't be dead certain because you've been so busy looking at dollar signs that you've missed the plot completely.

The reason why Santa's marketing works is because he intimately knows your individual needs. If you want a drum kit, you get one. If you want a Barbie, you don't end up sulking with a xylophone.

Santa knows because he's interested in giving. To give, you have to know exactly what the receiver wants or your gift is not worth the packaging it's wrapped in.

Some people worry about invading personal privacy. Hogwash! When was the last time you got upset because a supplier turned up with a big chocolate cake (your favourite) for your birthday? or with rare stamps for your son (because he loves collecting stamps)?

Santa's invades our privacy gently and uses it to give, not to take. That's why we don't mind it. The tax department on the other hand, uses our information to take and therein lies the principal difference.

Once a Customer, Always a Customer

Santa Doesn't Lose Customers. Period.

One of the primary reasons why he's able to achieve this amazing feat is because he thinks of his customer's customer. His customer is the kid, who in a few years gets a little wiser about Santa and his customer's customer is the parent who has the amazing power to get their children to be nice not naughty, if only for a short while.

Since the concept works in their favour, they do all the advertising. Without TV, radio or the internet, Santa's message gets a grip on millions of kids around the planet. These kids grow up and the marvel of Santa is handed down through the generations.

While It's OK For Santa, How Would This Work In The Real World? Say, If You Sold Jeans.

Jeans West, a jean retailer, has several of the answers. I needed one pair, but Stephanie (the sales girl) sold me two--not by hassling me, but by gently reminding me I would get $20 off the second pair. Then, with my purchase, she gave me a gift voucher of $10, for my use or to pass on. They, also signed me up for a loyalty program that offered to give me a 10% discount if I purchased over $250 worth of product in the next 6 months.

This Is Effectively What Jeans West Did to Make Me a Permanent Customer.

Step 1: The sales person asked the right questions to find out my need.
Step 2: She up-sold the product giving me good value for money.
Step 3: A gift voucher with a validity date, ensured an additional purchase. Or even better, the chance for me to pass it on to another person thus 'creating a customer' for Jeans West.
Step 4: Tying my fickle consumer head into a loyalty scheme. They wanted me to stay with them forever.

Santa's steps may vary, but in essence he ties you into a solid loyalty program that is near impossible to get off. It's 'customer get customer', rather than 'advertising get customer.' It's cheaper and it works!

In conclusion here are the main points why Santa's customers keeps coming back. These concepts may sound old, even trite, but have been proven time after time to work well. Test them against your company and brand to see where you can learn from the man from the North Pole.

1) Solid branding:
We're not talking lease here. Consistency is the key. This applies everywhere from networking meetings, advertising to any sort of communication that goes out. Keep hammering home the same unique message and put it up front. The weather changes all the time which is why we can't trust it.

If you must change, it's because your old message isn't doing a complete job. I changed our first baseline from 'Recession proof business principles' to 'Reactivating dormant business clients.'
The proposition was the same but the second line got 10 times the response.

2) Differentiation:
Santa knows he can be a courier with a difference. You, too, can create your own legend. Nike used Just Do It. Coke threw in the concept, Rum and Coke, indelibly burning the word classic into our consciousness. Sameness is in your mind. No matter how many brands exist on the market, your product has a fingerprint of its own. You just have to dig deep to find out.

3) Build trust by giving first.
Life is all about sowing, then reaping-but sowing comes first. If you don't give first, you will only get limited results. The more you stop thinking of yourself and focus on what the customer needs instead, the more you are trusted. Business is all about trust. If you don't have it, you're yesterday's soup.

4) Know your customer...
Like you know the hair on your head. Data collection and its optimum usage will get you right into their minds and keep you permanently rooted in. Every time they see you, they should think you are Santa coming to town.

5) Reactivate dormant clients
They are all volcanoes. Sitting there with the power to erupt mightily. Figure out who they are and how you can work in tandem with them. Forget your product or service. That's a given-- It has to be good. Find out the 'everything else' factor and you will keep them for life.

Like Santa does...

About the author:
Wouldn't you love to stumble upon a secret library of small business ideas? Find simple, yet electrifying ideas onmarketing strategy,psychological tactics and branding. Head down to http://www.psychotactics.comtoday and judge for yourself.



 

Brand - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The brand, and "branding" and brand equity have become increasingly important ... From the perspective of brand owners, branded products or services also ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
Branding - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Livestock branding, the marking of animals to indicate ownership; Human branding, ... Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branding" ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
AllAboutBranding.com : Home
Provides resources and opinions on branding. Includes brand development, management and communications.
www.allaboutbranding.com
 
brandchannel.com | branding resource produced by Interbrand | brands
An international online exchange and resource about brand marketing and branding.
www.brandchannel.com
 
Branding Company Corporate Branding Internet Brand Identity ...
Brand Identity Guru Inc. creates, develops and promotes powerful brands. Our clients enjoy an array of innovative, creative and powerful branding solutions ...
www.brandidentityguru.com
 
Branding Blog
Branding and positioning news and opinion.
www.brandingblog.com
 
Branding Asia
Free articles, news and columns on branding in Asia. Market research and Asian marketing.
www.brandingasia.com
 
Pages tagged with "branding" on del.icio.us
All items tagged branding ??? view popular ... industrie./design and branding consultant specialists./ · save this. by kittim to design branding graphic ...
del.icio.us
 
The Brand Called You
Big companies understand the importance of brands. Today, in the Age of the Individual, you have to be your own brand. Here's what it takes to be the CEO of ...
www.fastcompany.com
 
Branding: See what people are saying right now on Technorati
See all blog posts tagged with branding on Technorati.
www.technorati.com
 
Mozilla Branding
The purpose of this document is to describe mozilla.org's branding strategy during and after the release of what has generally been called Mozilla 1.4. ...
www.mozilla.org
 
What Brand Are You? A branding viral by The Design Conspiracy
What Brand Are You? has since been picked out as Site Of The Day by the likes of the Financial Times, Yahoo, USA Today and BBC News, and has received more ...
www.whatbrandareyou.com
 
Julie & Company: Affordable branding, web design, graphic design ...
Julie & Company creates stellar branding, integrated marketing, advertising, web design, web development, Flash, trade show booths - all at affordable ...
www.julieandcompany.com
 
Forty Media - Web Design, Web Development, Branding, Great Websites
a professional web design agency based in Phoenix, Arizona.
www.fortymedia.com
 
Branding - Yahoo! Small Business
Find information to help grow your online business with business plans, Thomas Register, news articles and more.
smallbusiness.yahoo.com
 
Lexicon
Lexicon Branding appears on KTVU News; Lexicon Branding creates Ridgeline for Honda, Viiv for Intel, and GameTap for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. ...
www.lexicon-branding.com
 
Branding and Usability
We're finding that a site's usability can dramatically affect branding. ... There are two basic techniques for branding: direct experience and indirect ...
www.uie.com
 
iMedia Connection: Research & Metrics - Branding
Majority of marketers feel branding opportunities -- online and offline -- aren't ... IAB case studies prove real-world power of online in branding mix. ...
www.imediaconnection.com
 
Small Business Marketing And Branding
Small business marketing and branding advice and how-to guides for small business owners. Learn how to start and grow your own successful business.
smallbusinessbranding.com
 
Beyond Branding
Beyond Branding, published in hardcover in 2003 and paperback in 2005, presents innovative business models for the survival of 21st century organizations.
www.beyond-branding.com
 
 

 

Content Menu
  • 10 powerful networking tips using business cards

  • 1 800 get rich can toll free 800 number domains pay off

  • 42 killer domain secrets exposed

  • 4 steps to unleashing profits in your online business

  • 5 secrets to beating your competitors everytime

  • 6 steps to laying out your competitive strategy

  • 7 steps to highly relevant search engine friendly and people useful web site content

  • 7 ways to profit from other peoples products

  • achievers interview with stupidman

  • adult add a disorder or a secret of success

  • advertising and pr

  • advertising on a budget part 2 thinking small

  • affiliate marketing promoting your own web presents

  • an aspirin or an autoresponder

  • are cyber criminals phishing your identity from your computer

  • are you an entrepreneur whos not afraid to think outside the box and make some money

  • are you brand worthy

  • aspiring webmasters want to know what makes a website grow

  • attract your dream customer

  • benefits of corporate gift giving can never be understated

  • beyond ebooks 10 powerful alternative infoproduct formats part 1 of 2

  • be a web site reviewer

  • be unique and build a brand

  • blogs podcasting and rss ecommerce impact

  • blogs podcasting and rss how will these technologies affect ecommerce

  • book summary the brand called you

  • branding and internal communication

  • branding and marketing

  • branding basics

  • branding do you stand out from the crowd

  • branding fiasco better be who you say you are

  • branding for profits

  • branding its more than just your usp

  • branding more than just a statement a memory scar

  • branding your business

  • branding your business to make more money

  • branding you are the brand

  • brand big deliver a great experience

  • brand moie make your mark with a personal brand

  • brand smart its about the relationship not the transaction

  • brand your business

  • brand your consulting brilliance

  • brand your consulting business

  • building your brand

  • business branding

  • business exit strategy

  • buyer beware business opportunity scams abound

  • buzz marketing marketing to non marketable customer

  • can i advertise my site with a 150 monthly budget

  • can three words in websters dictionary be the key to customer loyalty

  • can you convert your marketing into a religion

  • career warfare a book summary

  • check cashing the future is now

  • choose the right format for your ebooks

  • committing to and succeeding with your new years resolutions

  • communicate your brand

  • company logo design tips for success

  • company logo watches the 30 times a day reminder of your business

  • corporate blogging 7 best practices

  • corporate promotional gifts the fridge magnet is dead long live the computer desktop

  • corporation buys texas town

  • cosmetic toiletries global outsourcing private label manufacturing

  • create viral traffic with brandable ebooks

  • creating an irresistible brand

  • creating a landing page campaign 7 things to avoid

  • creating a space of your own

  • creating value with streaming video content

  • creative people presenting seminars to bump up sales

  • credit cards

  • cultivating the trust factor

  • debunking the myth that search engines bring in the most traffic

  • determining the best web site for your business

  • developing your school brand

  • does your e newsletter or e zine pass the so what test

  • donald trump

  • dont dare brand your business because you may lose

  • dont punish yourself doing type x business

  • don t punish yourself doing type x business

  • do i really need to write articles for e zines

  • do you know where your brand promise is

  • do you make these 7 mistakes in your business

  • dreambiznews

  • ebay buys shopping com boon or bust to online merchants

  • effective advertising

  • ethical finance who benefits from our spending

  • executive resumes 101

  • finding your niche what do you want to be known for

  • franchise resolution in 2005

  • fundamental strategic marketing mistakes to avoids

  • future business leaders of america fbla

  • getting to know the search engine superstar

  • get branded part i

  • get branded part ii

  • get out of your head to improve your business

  • gifts that carry a marketing message

  • global market in the cyber worldgo and get it

  • greasing the path to success finding the confidence to step up to key moments

  • growing your company in todays chaotic market

  • growing your company in today s chaotic market

  • hang tag or swing ticket manufacturers

  • hardcore sales vs the relationship part iii tips and techniques for relationship selling

  • hardcore sales vs the relationship part ii building a relationship with your prospect

  • harness the power of the personal touch

  • has your design firm run amuck with your web site

  • have you forked your fishs tail

  • have you forked your fish s tail

  • hire the right marketing company

  • hologram to protect your business

  • homelanddefensestocks com acquires premier homeland security web portal twotigersonline and the national homeland security knowledgebase

  • home based business opportunity secrets of success in home based business opportunity exposed

  • how can job fairs help your company

  • how coaches find clients online

  • how important is vaule of brand to the consumer company

  • how the brain learns

  • how to become an expert in your niche business

  • how to brand your home based web business

  • how to build and manage a winning brand

  • how to build a business website

  • how to calculate the lifetime value of a client

  • how to choose an affiliate program that will make you money

  • how to commit brand suicide

  • how to create your own 24 7 little sales machines in 5 simple steps

  • how to double your profits peters way

  • how to get customers to flock to your home based business

  • how to get massive sales by increasing your brand

  • how to get more people at your site

  • how to get your contact details across when the organisers wont let you

  • how to maintain a steady cash flow

  • how to start a new business

  • how to start your own business

  • how will your visitors remember you and your business brand yourself from the crowd

  • image and branding advertising­kget over it or go broke

  • importance of branding whats in a name

  • im talking but is anyone listening

  • increase your leads with search engine and lead optimization strategies

  • increase your page rank through seo

  • index

  • industry pro interview branding turning your customers into evangelists

  • inexpensive ways to promote your business part 1

  • innovation makes leaders

  • internet marketing

  • interview with michael murray autoresponder basics

  • in the beginning

  • is a work at home business right for you

  • is nature a marketing guru

  • is network marketing easy

  • is your ad killing your brand

  • is your logo helping or hurting your business

  • its one thing for people to buy your product or service but its another for them to tattoo your logo on their biceps

  • i have nothing to say overcoming the fear of writing

  • key ingredients for starting a catering business

  • know who you are and your brand will follow

  • learn how to make money with reprint rights marketing

  • lessons from the olympics for your business

  • lessons from the power brands

  • lets just get to the bottom of this hill mr frodo

  • list building through cooperative partnerships

  • little know method will make you more sales

  • logo design and branding points to remember

  • loosing my virginity

  • make mine to grow building your solo business to outgrow you

  • make money buying from ebay

  • make your mark by building your reputation

  • make your own brand

  • managing your brand

  • marketing revolution with blogs and rss

  • marketing the government for profit

  • million dollar idea maker

  • minding your own business

  • mona lisa your branding

  • more than just a logo creating your companys corporate identity

  • move over mcdonalds sumosalad expands into uae

  • new content for your website

  • new job tips starting a new job next week

  • new uniforms could be the gold charm for the golden arches

  • new years resolutions and branding

  • no time for ezine

  • one minute feedback

  • on branding

  • part i sales how revolting part i sales how revolting

  • pharmaceutical branding

  • preparing your business for january

  • presenting seminars to bump up sales

  • push button publishing product review

  • quick tactics to brand your business and make more sales

  • raising your rates can increase your business

  • rating the ebook compilers

  • reality branding are you taking advantage of the 40 year social pendulum

  • real estate post card marketing million dollar mailings

  • resources for staying current of it advancements for online business owners

  • road kill mentality why employers arent calling you

  • rotator

  • running your own casino

  • search engine optimization custom graphics and logo creation and newsletter campaigning

  • search your soul the psychology of a search engine

  • selling on ebay

  • setting up your dream home office space

  • setting yourself up for internet success

  • seven smart marketing strategies every business should use

  • shattering the branding myths

  • signage for your business

  • six questions to ask before committing to business web site

  • small business and branding why and how

  • so youre thinking of having your own website

  • start doing online business using b2b portals in six steps

  • stop is your business missing its mark et

  • stop is your business missing it s mark et

  • storytelling for high concept and high touch

  • strategies of successful market offers

  • strategies to increase expression of interest conversion

  • stuck with a zero marketing budget for client gifts

  • swot analysis

  • ten basic steps for building a web site that works

  • text vs pictures shedding light on the debate

  • the 12 reasons why most ads fall flat on their face costing you a fortune instead of making you the money you deserve

  • the 4cs of branding

  • the 5ws of world class customer service training

  • the 5 ws of world class customer service training

  • the 7 deaths of a salesman

  • the advantages of rss websites

  • the arrival of the founder of modern day advertising

  • the art of self branding

  • the art of upselling three tips to generate more sales effortlessly and 3 ways people blow it

  • the branded customer experience we never say no

  • the choice between yes and yes a psychological revelation

  • the expert advantage why it pays to establish yourself as an expert

  • the goldmine known as private label rights

  • the hidden traffic strategy that skyrockets your profits

  • the importance of branding can it really make a difference

  • the incredible image 8 steps to put your business best foot forward

  • the microsoft brand

  • the million dollar idea maker

  • the newbies guide to profiting online part 5

  • the other 80 20 principle insights on selling to women

  • the power of a self brand

  • the power of small business branding through private labeling

  • the power of why a psychological revelation

  • the power of why your psychological ally to marketing success

  • the relationship between colour sales

  • the revolt of the poor the demise of intellectual property

  • the super brand marlboro

  • the top 10 questions for socially responsible leaders

  • the true facts about mlm and downline builders

  • thoughtleading the art of separating yourself from the pack

  • tips for business websites

  • top 10 business e mail basics

  • top 7 tips for new businesses

  • top end alignment

  • top inventory keeping secrets

  • top ten ways to communicate work effectively

  • to website or not to website

  • transform your image and accelerate your success

  • turn your marketing pieces into marketing masterpieces with these five design techniques

  • understanding the different methods of offline promotion

  • using seminars to bump up sales

  • viral marketing techniques every web site should be using

  • walmart and the rules

  • want more money and less stress

  • want more money less stress

  • want more money less stress set some boundaries

  • website design tips by san diego internet marketing professionals

  • web strategy and powerful persuasive writing

  • what does she have that i dont

  • what is the purpose of corporate gifts

  • what part do commodities play in the market and in our shopping

  • when do you stop marketing to customers

  • which web business model is right for you

  • why are customers so indecisive

  • why branding is vital for your home business success

  • why does a business fail and what can you do to stop it

  • why free agent thinking is good for your company

  • why free business cards just dont cut it

  • why is my restaurant not full every monday night

  • why radio advertising could be the best thing you ever did for your business

  • why santas marketing works better than yours

  • why you need to have your prices upfront

  • writing a basic web design proposal

  • your assumptions about job descriptions can harm you

  • your knowledge could be earning you a fortune

  • your website on my forehead

  • you dont have time to sit and wonder when the traffic will come

  • you never have a second chance to make a first impression position your company wisely

  • you quit your job and started up your own business now how do you make it work