Marketing For Power Packed Business Growth

Yes, we're galloping towards the dress rehearsal for the Bollywood Mikado at the Royal Northern College of Music.

My previous post about the Bollywood Mikado explains all about it, what it is, where it is and why you should go. And no it's not just because of the attractive girls. Or even the dashing men. It's going to be FUN with a capital F!

Thanks to Mark at Simply Networking for putting  a mention in his newsletter.

Also thanks to Rob for his post at his Artisan Marketing Communications blog where Rob suggests we forget Big Brother winner Shilpa and think of me as the star. Nice thought Rob - thanks! No pressure there then, even if I'm only in the chorus.

The only slight hiccup in rehearsal was finding that our set had grown so enormous that we had to act in a very small space, like a keyhole.

Cue one despairing director.  Fortunately with the goodwill and hard work of our vast army of talented crew we got the set back to normal (for Bollywood) proportions.

I've decided that we need to do something to celebrate Valentine's day here on Marketing For Power Packed Growth.

So I'm going to run a short poem contest (no epics please)  where the words blog, marketing and customer must be used.

You've got until 14th February to get your entry in.

I'm doing a press release for the competition and another for the winner. So if free publicity intrigues and excites you pitch in now and get writing that poem.

The rules are short and  sweet:

1) No offensive language or subjects

2) My decision as to the winner and runner-up is final

3) The poem should be no shorter than 20 words and no longer than 150

4) The words blog, marketing and customer must be used in the poem and not just in the title.

5) Entry means you'll let me publish the poem (with your name) on this blog and elsewhere.

6) The prize is 3 hours of business coaching worth £750.

7) The poem (not as an attachment) should be emailed to me at poem (AT) acornservice.com by 23:55 on 13th February 2007 London time.

So get writing and good luck.

And I don't mean re-enacting the 1929 Valentine Day massacre against Bugs Moran's gang by Al Capone. I mean YOU making an offer your customers can't refuse.

Before you contact your current and previous customers to wish them a Happy Valentine's day, think about it.

What can you offer your customers that links in with the day and also is a bit of fun. So I don't mean the cliche of 12 roses at a discount price.

Think what effect do people want when they give flowers on Valentines?

They're letting people know they're special and thought about. So you should offer them something that shows you've thought about them and maybe also the people your customers are thinking of at Valentine's day.

For the dating agencies, what about those who don't have anyone for Valentine's day?

For the garage, maybe give people a voucher for a special Valentine's car valeting for the one they love. When they service a car near Valentine's put in two heart shaped chocolates with a simple message thanking the customer for their custom.

Eating out is a big thing at Valentines, but how many restaurants capture the details of people who come to their restaurant? First to encourage them back next Valentines, second to encourage them to return during the year.

Also think about the other special days in the calendar. Like Mother's day, Father's day

The offer you can give to customers is only limited by your imagination.

I've made a micro-post about The Coolest Guy On The Planet on the SEO Copywriter King blog.