Win a Marketing Makeover!

Calling all boring websites, clip art logos and bland brochures:

Win a MARKETING MAKEOVER worth over $10,000.
You’re in business, and you know the way you’re perceived is important. And while you’re careful to leave your house looking polished, your brand looks like it’s wearing sweatpants.

If your marketing needs a face-lift, you should enter our contest.

13thirtyone Design and Inkwell Marketing are accepting applicants for a Marketing Makeover that includes:

• Website design (four pages)
• Website content (four pages)
• Logo design
• Tag line creation
• Stationary design (letterhead and envelopes)
• Brochure design
• Brochure content
• Press release

The value? Dollar-wise: over ten grand. Reality-wise: a heckofa lot more. (We can’t put an exact number on increased confidence, perceived professionalism, and infinite new clients.)

Even if you don’t win the package, you could come in second and get 50% off a marketing service of your choice.

Does this sound like a good deal? Cool. Before you apply, read our application requirements and fine print.

Application requirements:
1. You’ve been in business for two years or longer.
2. You have current marketing materials you use to woo prospects and win clients. You are not pleased with these pieces. These should include (but are not limited to) logo, website, tag line, etc.
3. You want your brand to work harder for you.
4. No whining: you are willing to allow two professionals do their job. Simply: you hand over creative control. (No worries, you’re not going to get something you hate. We take client input very seriously, but in this case the idea is to give a makeover. We need freedom to do this.)
5. Before you apply, please view our web sites for our styles: www.13thirtyone.com and www.inkwell-marketing.com. It’s important that you like our aesthetic and writing style before you sign-on. Sure, this is a chance to win something FREE, but it’s pointless unless you’re happy with it.

RULES AND REGULATIONS (Otherwise known as fine print.) PLEASE READ.

• All entries must be received by 11:59pm Eastern time, December 18, 2009.
• Only one entry is accepted per business.
• All fields on the application must be completed in order for entries to be accepted.
• By submitting the application form you certify the following statement "I certify that I am the author of the material I am submitting to 13thirtyone Design and Inkwell Marketing. 13thirtyone Design, Inkwell Marketing, and their licensees may reproduce, distribute, publish, display, edit, modify, create derivative works and otherwise use the material for any purpose in any form and on any media. I agree to indemnify 13thirtyone Design and Inkwell Marketing for all damages and expenses that may be incurred in connection with the material."
• A grand prize and first place winner will be selected.
• Winners will be announced January 22, 2010 on the 13thirtyone Design and Inkwell Marketing blogs and newsletters.
• Grand Prize winner will receive a professional marketing package provided by sponsors 13thirtyone Design and Inkwell Marketing. First place winner will receive 50% discount on desired marketing project.
• Prizes do not include printing costs, domain name fees, or hosting costs. Unfortunately, eCommerce sites are not included.

Does everything sound kosher?

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION.

Think you need a website? Consider this.

Marketing conclusions.

Ok, as you know I had my marketing brainstorm on Monday. One thing is crystal clear: I need to get my crap together!

I've heard that publicly announcing one's goals encourages them and motivates them to get them done quicker. So, I'm going to do just that.

Here's some marketing to-do tasks I identified during my "brainstorm":

1. Blog redesign: Wordpress or Squarespace? I dunno, still debating on that one.

2. More frequent blog posts

3. More participation and article posting on Biznik, LinkedIn, and Freelance Switch

4. Email newsletters: get em done! (Grr).

5. Perhaps a direct mail campaign. I'm debating on the logistics of this. It would definitely require me creating a mailing list.

What items are on your marketing to-do list? What things fall by the wayside, despite your best intentions? Share, please: misery loves company!

Marketing brainstorm.

Recently, I've been inundated with client projects (yay--I'm NOT complaining). But, because I've been focusing on these projects, my personal marketing plan has fallen by the wayside. I've neglected it--readers of this blog have probably noticed I've been posting less and less regularly. Thanks for sticking around, though--I appreciate you putting up with my crap.

So, to get back on track, my friend Angela (owner of 13thirtyone) and I are going to have a marketing brainstorm day at her office in Hudson. Her office is the perfect place for ideation: there's a whiteboard, large table, and huge windows perfect for zoning out (don't laugh, but some of my best ideas come when I daydream)! The whole day devoted to nothing but generating ideas, plans, and action steps.

I'm pretty excited about it. Plus, I'm hoping the result will be a blog-makeover (this standard blogger lay-out just isn't doing it for me anymore), some cool direct mail ideas, and perhaps more consistency in my email newsletters.

Here's my question, dear readers: do you find it difficult to manage your marketing plan when you're busy? How do you balance consistent marketing with client projects? Any tips or strategies? Do tell.

Tag Team Marketing: Three Ways to Cross-Market Your Business.

Today I had a meeting with an awesome Kick-Butt Business Coach, Amy. We met to discuss all the potential ways we can cross-promote our businesses.

You're probably wondering what a copywriter and a business coach have in common. On the surface, not a whole lot. But here's the thing: Amy does sessions on nailing down ideal clients. 

In case you don't know, if you want to write marketing content that turns prospects into clients, earns more sales, and helps your business grow, you need to write content for your audience. Your audience should be your ideal client.

As it turns out, it makes my job a whole lot easier when my clients know who they're trying to reach through their marketing. It seems that an individual who has just figured out who they should market to would need some marketing written. Working--or cross marketing--with Amy is a perfect fit. I can send her clients that need a bit more help nailing down their ideal client, and she can send me folks that need help writing marketing material after she's coached them. 

The moral? Find a professional you can cross-market with. Focus on the type of clients they attract--not their industry. That way, you won't rule anyone out and give yourself an excellent opportunity to grow your business. 

Here are a five ways to benefit from cross-marketing:

1. Share email lists. 

If you and your potential cross-marketing partner have similar client bases, advertise on the other's list. For instance, a graphic designer and writer might promote each other on their email newsletters or blog. Similar services with similar clients.

2. Do a Joint Mailing.

Direct mail can be expensive, but not if you can share the cost with a partner. If you send out a postcard or do a mailed promotion, partner up!

3. Have a workshop.

If you and a business acquaintance have industry expertise in slightly different areas, offer a workshop. For instance, an accountant and a financial advisor might prepare a tag-team presentation on preparing taxes on planning a yearly budget. If you do a workshop with another professional, you'll offer the audience more bang for their buck.

Really, the ideas for cross-promotion are endless. I hope this post gets your wheels turning.