Welcome back to Part 3 of our 10-part blog series where you get 100 marketing tips and ideas for your business.
In this instalment, the 10 ideas all involve adding the human touch to your marketing.
In a world where faceless technology and cold-as-ice AI are everywhere we look, adding some personality to your interactions with clients is sure to be a breath of fresh air- making your business stand out from the crowd.
1.Cold call
Start each day by following up on new leads or making several cold calls. It’s always good to keep your marketing on track and investigate any new opportunities that come your way. If you can get chatting to potential leads on the phone you can instantly let your personality shine and build a rapport. This can work far quicker than repetitive cold emails.
2.Make friends with influential bloggers
There’s a wealth of new media out there, so research and find influential bloggers to make friends with. Get them to write a review about your business, product or service. This can take some time and effort but is sure to pay off dividends and get you seen.
3.Teach your expertise
Organise some talks, classes or workshops based on your expertise. Great with social media? You’d be surprised how many people still can’t get their heads around Twitter. By teaching others and positioning yourself as an expert in your field, you could find your students become your clients.
- Send thank you cards
When did you last put pen to paper or send a card/ letter in the post? Show your customers that you value them by sending thank you cards whenever you’ve completed a job. They’ll be sure to remember you for it adds that extra touch and goes beyond what most businesses are prepared to do.
- Reward repeat business
Won some more work from an existing client? Reward them through your very own loyalty strategy. How you reward them is up to you. Perhaps you could offer a discount or extra service. Encourage loyalty from your customers by being loyal to them.
- Add personality to your social media accounts
People don’t want to talk to brands and logos, they want to talk to people. They want to buy from people too. Add a photo of a real person to your social media accounts and don’t always shout about your business. Add personality to your brand and help people to warm to you.
- Add an ‘About’ page to your website
People want to know who they’re dealing with before hiring a new business. Make sure your website has a decent ‘About’ page, describing everything about who you are, your skills and experience and your business values. Remember, your website should build trust and an About page helps do just that. Remember not to make it too stuffy or corporate sounding by adding some fun or interesting information about yourself!
- Create a funny 404 Page
404 Pages are those web pages that tell your web visitors that the ‘page they were looking for can not be found’. Make your own 404 Page funny and it could turn viral as people talk about it and share it with their friends.
- Set up a referral programme
Do you have lots of suppliers and associates you regularly work with? Set up a special referral scheme that thanks them for any referrals they send your way. The reward could be anything from a percentage of the work’s value to a £50 shopping voucher. This can even expand to rewarding existing customers for bringing you new ones.
- Become an expert spokesperson
Journalists are always after industry experts to add a little something to their news reports. Contact your local TV, radio and newspapers to put yourself forward as a willing spokesperson and expert in your own business field. Be prepared to be available for any interviews that might come up and do some media training so you’re ready to go.
- Create a press kit
Pull together some background information about yourself and your business, ready to send out to any journalists. Have a ‘press’ section on your website where, media can easily find out more about you and contact you.
Finally,
These tips will help to make your business feel approachable and trustworthy—key ingredients for long-lasting client relationships. By adding a human touch you can make your business more relatable and memorable, with a view to build genuine connections with potential clients and supporters.
