April 24th, 2010 by admin
No comments »
Darrell Causey asked:
Christmas time is a wonderful time to create memories with family traditions and a great tradition is to host an annual Christmas bake off.
At our house everyone looks forward to the first week of Christmas vacation, when we go into baking mode and spend 3-4 days baking our favorite Christmas cookies and candies! This tradition began for us back when I was first married and my father would invite all of us over to the house for a weekend of marathon baking.
We spent hours talking and laughing as we baked and decorated dozens of different kinds of Christmas cookies while Dad made loaves of his famous holiday fruitcake. Dad’s fruitcake was unlike any fruitcake you had ever eaten and everyone liked it. Not only was Dad’s fruitcake totally different from others the secret to its success was that Dad soaked it in rum. There was a plethora of jokes about Dad’s fruitcake and how well our pastor enjoyed it.
Besides cookies and fruitcake someone would try their hand at making chocolates, caramel and suckers. Homemade candy is always a big hit with everyone. I always hold out for someone to make chocolate covered peanut butter balls, one of my favorites.
When we were all done we’d divide up the goodies and take them home to enjoy or hand out as gifts.
Since those bygone days Dad has passed away and all of the kids have scattered to the four corners of the U.S. but the tradition he started is carried on by each of us in our own families every holiday season. It’s a great time for us to have fun together and share Christmas memories.
April 23rd, 2010 by admin
No comments »
Ginger Marks asked:
Marketing has hit an all time high. The shopping frenzy has begun. With less than three months until the gift giving season is here every day wasted counts heavily towards your income potential for the year.
I cannot think of a better time to make use of your marketing dollars than to put your money where their mouths are. That is why when your customers insatiable appetite for a deal has been raised to an all time high, I ask you, why not take advantage of their desire by offering a taste of things to come.
You might assume that what I am suggesting only applies to you if you have a food oriented business. This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Businesses of all venues can make use of this “teaspoon” marketing style.
If you have been in business for any length of time at all I am sure you have received the card friendly catalogue with the sample card enclosed. So how do you turn this buying frenzy to your advantage? How about following the trend of the retail stores that offer you buy one get one free deals? Then there is always the free shipping offer that you could make. You might set it up as a minimum purchase required to make it worth your investment. I would classify those as samples too. I have even heard of service oriented businesses offering the first hour free. Now there’s one I can sink my teeth into. How about you?
If neither of those appeal to you why not try offering a before you buy choice? This is a win-win offer; better known as Risk Reversal in the marketing world. Are their people who have raised their hand in interest throughout the year? Maybe they contacted you, or even purchased a product or service, in the past; they might be good sources of new or repeat business? It has been proven that people who buy once are more likely to buy from you a second and third time if you merely market to them. The Boston’s Consultant Group states in their article Retailing Online: Coming of Age, “Retailers, on average, generated $7 in revenue for every dollar invested in acquisition and $25 for every dollar spent on retention, each nearly double the previous year’s averages of $4 and $13, respectively.” Now how can you not like those stats?
We all love contests and prizes. Do you know of an event that is accepting prize donations? Be the first to step up and give a little taste of your wares as a prize. Not only will the winner enjoy your gift but think of the free publicity! Haven’t heard of any? Start your own. If you need or want help, partner with another like-minded business owner and make it a joint venture. You have just doubled your exposure by marketing to each other’s lists.
There are many marketing techniques that fit into this category. No one marketing technique will work for everybody. Find the ones that fit your business and personality and utilize them again and again to ensure your business success. Every once in a while stretch your taste buds and try something just a bit different. Hey, you might just find something that works even better than a system you have used in the past.
These are just a sampling of how you can increase your bottom line with a few simple solutions. So before it’s too late get your holiday marketing plan set and in motion. Consider your customer; if you were trying to decide which product or service to use and one offered a sample or trial and the other didn’t what would you do? Think like your customers and your marketing results are sure to fill your plate.
April 20th, 2010 by admin
No comments »
Shawn Hill asked:
Don’t spend another holiday alone. Even though the holidays can be one of the lonliest times of the year you do not have to give in to sadness and frustration. Even if you dont have anyone right now does not mean that is the way you will wake up on Christmas morning or New Years. And the best part about getting someone this late in the year is that you dont even have to buy them a big present.
If you dont know how to get someone, I am going to share with you 3 places that you can go to find someone to heat up those cold nights.
1. The Store. You can shop for more than a nice present to put under the tree at the store. You can shop for someone to put into your bed. This is a great time of year to find sex at the store. Unfortnately they don’t have it in a particular aisle, but it is close. Just get your prop cart and walk around the stores. You will be amazed how much you can find out about someone by what they put in their cart.
Once you find someone that you like simply approach them and strike up a conversation. Ask about a good gift for your mother. This always wins big points. Tell them they look like they have good taste. Compliments are another big winner. From there get the phone number and move on to the next person.
2. The Clubs. Great place to meet a large number of people that probably dont have anyone else to spend the holidays with. Most people at a club have an understanding that you are not going to find a long term relationship here. The best that you will find is probably a good “friend”.
Remember it is a numbers game so dont get stuck talking to someone for too long. Also, dont go for the hottest. Time is not your friend. Get as many numbers as quickly as possible and sort through them later.
3. Online. Of course by far the best place to find holiday sex is online. You can meet people and you dont even have to get out into the cold. How much better does it get than that. Not only that, but you can meet people and you dont even have to be present. See someone you like and leave them a message. Then you check you messages later and you have just picked up someone and you were even there. Pretty nice!
Stop wasting time and Ky. Put up the batteries. Get some nice, warm and real this season. You can have the sex you want, but you have to have the courage to go and get it.
