Jo Cato Marketing

Scorching Tips To get your News Release Noticed

2008-06-30T16:36:00.000-07:00

Here are some basic tips to get your business noticed in the media on a snack-sized budget:

1. Your press release should sound like news, not like an ad. You need to make sure your news is newsworthy.

2. Keep your press release on one page in length. Truth is, most editors will only ready the headlind the the first one or two lines of your release.

3. You should only send your press release to the media related to the topic of your press release. Do not just send the press release to every reporter you find.

4. Your header, contact information and release date should be at the top of your press release.

5. Your headline and first few sentences should grab the reader's attention. Write like the news organiations you are targeting.

Bonus

Use active, not passive, voice. Verbs in the active voice bring your press release to life. Writing in this manner helps gurantee that your presss release will be read.

6 Effective Marketing Ideas to Win Sales During a Recission

2008-06-29T19:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Periwinkle Marketing - Small Business Survival Marketing Tips site. Our goal is to provide entrepreneurs with strategic marketing tips to grow your business.

Here is our first in a series of tips:

Six (6) effective and affordable marketing ideas that will help you win sales during a recession.

1. Follow-up on Old Leads

Bring out every old business card, brochure or any other lead that you may have and start calling your contacts.

You will need perseverance, because you might not strike gold in your first or even your second try. But keep on following those leads, since you don’t have anything to lose - and lots to gain if you can pull it off.

Take out any old inquiries that had not been converted into orders and follow up on every single one of them.

2. Take Extra Care Of Your Existing Clients - commonly called customer retention

Your existing clients are what keep your business running during lean times. You will need to take special care of them, since your competitors will no doubt have their eyes on your clients. Remember, they are also facing rough economic weather as well.
Keep in regular touch with all of your customers, even those that have only purchased from your business once. Tell them how you appreciate their support over such a trying period without mentioning the word 'recession'.

You can also reward them by offering them special discounts or gifts as a token of your appreciation. Let them know that you appreciate their business and their loyalty.

3. Take the Road Less Traveled To Find New Clients

If you have rigid views on taking in odd or small clients, then you should become more flexible. If you have not previously entertained clients with different needs, such as smaller orders or staggered deliveries, now is the time to do so.

Keep an open mind and bend your rules a little to accommodate them, since they could not only pull you out of the recession, but over time could bring in new clients.
The best part is that if their business grows quickly, then their order values could quickly come into your regular scope of business.

There is no financial harm in servicing smaller clients or those with special needs, as long as it doesn’t eat into your profits. You can start by taking a few trial orders before deciding if this route suits you or not.

4. Take the Road Less Traveled To Find New Clients

If you have rigid views on taking in odd or small clients, then you should become more flexible. If you have not previously entertained clients with different needs, such as smaller orders or staggered deliveries, now is the time to do so.

Keep an open mind and bend your rules a little to accommodate them, since they could not only pull you out of the recession, but over time could bring in new clients.
The best part is that if their business grows quickly, then their order values could quickly come into your regular scope of business.

There is no financial harm in servicing smaller clients or those with special needs, as long as it doesn’t eat into your profits. You can start by taking a few trial orders before deciding if this route suits you or not.

5. Increase Your Level of Service

In times when competitors are trying to undercut each other on price, let your service level be a notch higher than the others. Satisfied clients are sure to bring in new clients for your business.
Your clients should be convinced that they are getting much more than they were expecting.

You might have to bend over backwards to achieve this level of client satisfaction, but as long as you do not sprain your back, this move is sure to pay off.

Your staff should also be made to realize that the customer is truly King in these trying times - and it will also ensure their job security if they perform well in their jobs.

6. Give Your Clients Something More

If possible, provide additional services to your clients by providing them with additional warranty on your products and services. Offer on site service or telephone support. This will not drain your pocket to a large extent, but will go a long way in pleasing potential and existing clients.

It is during tough times that you need to alter your marketing strategy to survive to sell another day. The above marketing strategies are not very costly to implement, but can pay you rich dividends - both during and after the recession.

On The Move Radio Show

2008-05-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

Smart, savvy marketer Jo Cato knows her stuff. Listen to "On the Move" radio show as Jo Cato and her guests share their success stories. On The Move is entertaining and very informative.

A new show is posted every week.

Blueprint to Marketing Success Workshop

2008-05-10T23:41:00.000-07:00

Free marketing workshop

When: 5/25/08

Time: 9:30 - 2:00pm

Where: Texas Station, Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV 89031

Contact: Jamie Barrett - 1 866-606-BUZZ(2899)

Jo Tells All About Starting a Publishing and Marketing Business....She Chronicles the Challenges and Pitfalls of Starting a Business...

2008-04-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

………Later Achieving Success!

Thank you so much for visiting my website to learn about me and my business. This is an exciting time for small business owners and visiting my website is taking the first step to achieving business success.

This website was developed to assist business owners with marketing tips to help with the succes of their business.

ABOUT ME

So, how does an immigrant from Jamaica, become a leading authority for marketing to small and credit challenged businesses? (www.80score.com)

You can read the whole story in my book, (to be released November) Failure is not an Option – A Journey to Success Story, but here’s the abbreviated version.

I migrated to the United States in the early ‘80’s where New York became my home for two years. After seeing a Las Vegas Convention Authority Tourism Ad on television, I was captivated and convinced my new career was to become a showgirl. I sold everything I had and used the money to purchase a one way ticket to Las Vegas. I was convinced that I was the next showgirl on the strip. The airline made an error on my ticket and I was upgraded to travel first-class, I was convinced my entertainment career was in the stars; the ticket error was not a mistake I traveled to Las Vegas like a “High Roller” and in “Fine Style” this is defiantly a prelude to great things.

That was the only “Style” I experienced for a while. Upon my arrival to Las Vegas, I had to come to the realization “Vegas was not ready for me” In a nutshell; I never got hired as a showgirl. With no Plan B, I took a job as a Social Engineer (A Maid). Running low and funds and too proud to call home I made the shelter my home at nights. Within a few weeks, I saved up enough money and got my own apartment. My fortune changed after a trip to the local telephone company to arrange for phone service……. They were hiring there; I made my grand entrance into the telecommunications industry.

During my tenure, I held various sales, management, and marketing positions that came with being promoted seven times.

In 2001, I had the opportunity to purchase my own business; how difficult it could be? I dived in head first armed with money from the sale of an investment property. Reality Check….. My partner and I were in for a rude awaking? We soon learned operating and owing your own business was not as easy as the so called expert made it out to be.

Determined to succeed, I attended several seminars, workshops and purchased every self help marketing books I could get my hand on! To my dismay, after combing through the pages, they were only theories and no real life proven strategy to benefit my business….

As the story continues, I had to learn by doing, with the money invested gone, I struggled to make payroll, pay my creditors, on the verge of loosing the place I called home for 6 years, challenges with customers who did not pay their bills and making every effort to keep my business above water.

I thought, I was successful, working in the corporate world; I planned many marketing and sales campaigns and received numerous awards and accolades too many to list, what was wrong with replicating the same success for my business? I had to step back; dig deep and wide within my years of corporate experience and figure out what’s the next step.

JACKPOT

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to this whole story is that I found a MENTOR, we will call her Ms. Jay, finally, a strategy that worked with PROVEN RESULTS. I was impressed by her challenges and the tools she used to be successful. I joined her mentoring group and absorbed her teachings like a sponge; within 6 months I utilized her coaching along with my corporate experience to turn my business around; the next step was to develop my own unique incredible “RAZOR SHARP” marketing strategy that I continue to use in my business, it changed my life and changed the way the way I approached my business. I was able to implement the strategies and effectively MARKET and SELL my way to success.

Learn more about us at periwinklemarketing.com and the services we offer to help your business acheive success.