Marketing Buzz 7/01
Promoting your business through community concierge services and cheap publicity
URL:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2001/july/41268.html
At Your Service
Sheri Britt-Rogers spends most of her days bringing new
customers to the businesses in her community. That's because
the 31-year-old owner of Pressed For Time Concierge Service in
Columbia, South Carolina, is paid to attend to various requests and
errands on behalf of her corporate and individual clients. From
transporting pets to the veterinarian to arranging for flower
delivery, hair appointments and housecleaning, Britt-Rogers is a
one-woman directory of local firms.
Letting concierge services know about your business is an
effective way to promote the venue's product or service, agrees
Sara-ann Kasner, president of the National Concierge Association.
The key is in delivering more than the concierge or the customer
expects.
"I stake my reputation as a professional concierge on
quality and presentation," says Kasner. If the customer
isn't happy with your company, that reflects poorly on the
concierge.
Kasner says the number of companies and office buildings that
turn to concierge services to help employees save time is growing.
How do you find and woo these hired shoppers? Look online or in
your local phone book. Try local business groups or concierge
associations. Send information in the form of brochures or samples.
And, finally, set up meetings with company decision-makers.
According to Kasner, concierges continually try to enhance their
services by researching vendors who meet high standards.
On the Cheap
Want fast publicity without paying top dollar? Check out these
options:
PR to go: With help from
GetMediaCoverage.com,
you can attract more than 30,000 media contacts worldwide. The
site's experts will put together a winning press release about
your company, product or service and distribute it to your target
market. Prices start at $350.
Gifted thrift: Why bother
creating a unique ad campaign when you can recycle one that already
works? Go to Admine.com to
customize existing print or broadcast ads-for about a third less
than it would cost you to develop one from scratch.
Easy does it: Check out
Creative Workshop from Cardinal Brands to create
brochures, business cards, newsletters and more by using hundreds
of graphic elements. Requires Windows 95 or higher, 32MB RAM and a
CD-ROM drive. Street price: $30.
-Peter Kooiman
Gwen Moran is president of Moran Marketing Associates and
founder of BoostYourBiz.com.
Contact Sources
Copyright ©
2009 Entrepreneur Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy