marketing + inspiration (on a budget)
Want to stand out from all the other boutique vendors?
It’s easy when you visually merchandise your “space” so that your products look more appealing to customers!
What does your frugal BFF suggest?
Find props and furniture (from home, thrift stores, estate sales, big box stores, etc.) that complement your products, yet will display your products well. I’d suggest looking for pieces that showcase some of your products at eye level. [Read more...]
(Bloggers: Laurie Turk “Tip Junkie” and Tana Nelson “Your Marketing BFF”)
This past year and a half of having a blog has been an amazing ride.
But these past few months I’ve been totally overwhelmed and wondering how I could find more hours in a day. How I could answer more questions and respond to even more emails? How I could help more small business owners when I don’t have enough time to help the one’s already lined up?
Guess what I did…I asked for help!
I was very fortunate to spend some quality one-on-one time with Laurie Turk a.k.a. the ‘Tip Junkie’ – a phenomenal blogger (with 118,000+ Facebook followers), smart business woman, loving mother and all-around great person.
Woodrow Wilson said, “We should not only use the brains we have, but all that we can borrow.”
So I borrowed Laurie’s brain to help me find solutions to Your Marketing BFF dilemmas!
Laurie gave me some excellent advice and I can’t wait to share some of the amazing changes that will take place on the blog soon…changes that will help more of you succeed and at a price a ten-year-old could afford! Yay!!!
Gearing up for a holiday boutique or tradeshow? Looking for a great, inexpensive way to display product for a show?
I saw this great mini gallery wall photo of tags by Beth of Home Stories A to Z and thought to myself, “This would be an excellent way to display a lot of lightweight products or product shots in a small amount of space!”
And guess what…
All it takes is:
Here’s a great way to stay organized and on top of your next project…Hope you enjoy these free “My Next Project” Sheets!
Drop me a line at tana@yourmarketingbff.com and we’ll email you all (4) 8.5 x 11 designs. [Read more...]
Within 1 minute of coaching a brand new client, I could tell that she was seriously stuck on SPIN CYCLE!
She was frustrated and with good reason.
She was:
Yes in deed. These are clear-cut-signs that you’re STUCK on Spin Cycle!
Are You Stuck on Spin Cycle?
Okay my friend. If your washing machine was stuck on spin cycle – you know, wringing and spinning your favorite designer jeans – would you CONTINUE TO LET IT RUN for hours, days, weeks, months or years? [Read more...]
I talk a lot to my clients about the importance of styling your photographs… in order to get AMAZING product shots, blog post photos, Pinterest photos, marketing materials, etc.
Trust me, great photos will attract people to your business and help it grow. And poor photos will turn off potential customers quicker than you can say Buh-Bye.
You know what I’m talking about – photos that are:
Dark,
Blurry,
Lifeless,
Distracting (have a picture of your product plus a 100 other things that shouldn’t be in the picture),
Taken with Aunt Thelma’s polaroid! Ick.
Instead, learn from a pro like Diane Cu. [Read more...]
Looking to grow your blog?
You have to engage your readers…by writing great blog posts!
Here are 5 tips that will help you:
1. Create a Great Title/Header.
Those few words at the beginning of your blog post can be the difference between your post being read (and spread by others) OR landing in your archives, barely noticed.
Post titles are typically a handful of words, but they are the most powerful words you’ll write. Most readers make a decision whether to read the rest of your post or move on to something better within 3 seconds. [Read more...]
(Brata Boutique :: Jennifer Cozad, Independent Scentsy Consultant)
Logos are an effective way to update or set the tone for your new brand. Sure, it’s only one piece of your marketing arsenal, but it’s a powerful “foundational” piece that sets the tone for your entire business!
How do you determine if you need a new logo? Look at your existing logo, and ask yourself the following 7 questions:
-Did you, a friend, or family member (who are not professional designers)design your logo?
-Does your logo reflect something you no longer do? (Meaning: Is there a big difference between what your business is now vs. what it was when your logo was originally created?)
-Does your logo MATCH you/your business? (Note: The personality of your biz should show through) [Read more...]
(Example of “When you get some publicity – make certain EVERYONE hears about it”)
MARKETING is more important than the MASTERY of (place your area of expertise here).
You can be the best consultant, designer, or soap maker, or have the best products in the world, but if you’re not good at getting the WORD out…And getting people to RESPOND, you will not succeed in your business.
Marketing gets the phone to ring and then you do your job from there.
Be seen as a RESOURCE
When someone perceives you as a VALUE to them, they will become your biggest fan and your largest source for referrals! [Read more...]
I’ve always been a sucker for beautiful packaging!
Shhhh… I’ve even been known to buy a product just for its packaging! And I’m not alone.
I get questions all the time from small business owners saying, “I think my industry is too full, how am I going to stand out from the crowd?”
Answer: Good packaging is one way to separate yourself…and increase your product sales.
Look at Lucia Soaps for an example of a biz that is in a crowded marketplace, but they’ve learned how to stand out. I LOVE THEIR PACKAGING.
Take a peak: [Read more...]
Tana Nelson
Your Marketing BFF – who tells you like it is! [Read More …]
