Open Your Box

So, if you open your standard box of crayons today, what do you see?  I can tell you what you rarely see – the basic eight primary colors of yesterday.  Did you know that there are 120 beautifully unique crayon colors?  I know, right! That’s 1-2-0 and they range in colors from your standard red, yellow and blue to cerulean, burnt sienna and macaroni & cheese.  No, I didn’t make up that last one!   Not only do crayons now come in a myriad of vibrant colors, the wrapper boasts not only the name of the color, but in some cases, that name in three different languages. 

So, what am I saying? Well, its simple, really.  Be open.  It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut with our marketing efforts.  Many think marketing and immediately go buy a domain name and set up a website, print out brochures, or buy a cold list and send out hundreds of direct mail pieces.  *Sidenote: speaking of direct mail, people are more likely to open it if it’s personally addressed to them and not lasered on so get out your black fountain pen. *  In today’s internet age, small businesses must be willing to dive into the world of social media marketing (SMM) as well if you are to reach the people you truly want to reach with a message that’s clear and concise and says who you are.  And because getting started on sites like Twitter and Facebook are at no cost to you, it’s a great way to get the word out and save money during the infancy stage of your business.

Intimidated by social media or a little afraid?  That’s ok and normal.  There are some crazies out there so do exercise caution.  There are controls in place on many of the sites and blocking a crazy person is totally acceptable. Don’t put personal information out there.  Keep it professional and business content only. Overall, SMM does have a place in your overall marketing strategy but it does not replace some of the more traditional components.  If you are unsure on how to start, contact someone who has done it well.

***Support local businesses:  Logo My Logo.  Owner:  Shawn Thompson  www.2logomylogo.com