Spitfire Promotion Group Blog

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The Power of Ezines: Take it for a Test Drive.

Ready to start your own ezine? Great! There are plenty of great, affordable tools online to create professional looking ezines, so start writing to build those lucrative relationships. Another great tip; if you write an interesting, informational newsletter, people naturally pass it on to friends and colleagues. Let them help you create more leads!

But first, before you send out that initial ezine to hundreds if not thousands of potential readers, give it a test run. How do you know if your grid, fonts and copy are working together to convey your message? Do a quick 20 second test by finding somebody who hasn’t read the newsletter you’re working on. Hand it to them and ask them to read it. After 20 seconds take the newsletter back and ask, “What did you learn from that short read?” Their response shows you how readers will understand what you’re trying to say. If they aren’t communicating your major benefit back to you, you’ll need to make some changes.

We can help you succeed in any economy! Get started now at http://www.boostyourbottomline.com/fast_track/

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO INCLUDE OUR TIPS IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE OR BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp publish Boost, an ezine filled with red hot strategies to ignite business and personal success. To find out more, and to get your fr*ee Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Thursday, September 24, 2009

The Power of Ezines: Which Format to Use

After you have decided to give ezines a try, figure out what format will work best for you. When your reader opens your message, which newsletter format will they see: text, html or .pdf?

PDF formats are the least commonly used. They take more time to create, they must be popped up from a separate link to view, and to read your newsletter, recipients must have software such as Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on their computer.

The two most commonly used ezine formats are in text or HTML. The text ezine is the most commonly published. The advantage of this format is that other than writing, you do not require any special skill to use a Word or Notepad program. Although text ezines are a snap to create, they’re also a snap for your recipients to delete. They won’t stand out from your competition, they’ll look like every other text ezine, and they’re much more likely to end up in the trash.

HTML format, on the other hand, requires the sender to get more sophisticated, but it’s “prettier” in the eyes of the recipient. One great advantage HTML formats offers is that they allow you to track your readership by showing you how many people opened your ezine and how many emails were bounced back.

Figure out what format works best with your message. Go to http://www.boostyourbottomline.com/fast_track/

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO INCLUDE OUR TIPS IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE OR BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp publish Boost, an ezine filled with red hot strategies to ignite business and personal success. To find out more, and to get your fr*ee Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Drawing the Line between Brand Identity and Personal Identity

The poor economy has forced many brands to look inward, relying more on their employees to deliver brand promises and represent brand values during and outside of business hours. However, social networking sites are straining the employer/employee relationships as brand engagement conflicts with personal rights and freedom of speech. Employers are beginning to wonder if it is appropriate and acceptable for their employees to “friend” clients or “tweet” their praises on a competing brand, or if it’s just a “social” right and freedom of speech?

Think about it this way; shouldn’t every employee have and exercise the right to sample as many brands as they can? They are also consumers, and like every other consumer, can make their own choices. In the event that the brand they work for (yours) does have a stronger brand essence, presence and identity than others in the market, they will sing its’ praises. This would eventually translate to better employees, and employees who deliver your brand promise to customers.

In a world of instant response and constant online chatter, it’s important for brands to stay out in the open and not ‘hide’ from a competitor. It’s your responsibility to prove to your own employees why your brand has more standing power than the competition. Wouldn’t they be lying if they helped promise brand value if they themselves don’t believe in it?

Give your brand a boost – even in this economy! Get started now at http://www.boostyourbottomline.com/fast_track/

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Fast Track to Marketing Mastery. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Part 3: Getting Through the "Dip"

We’ve discussed several key tips in Part 1 and 2 of “Getting Through the Dip” to help you accomplish that big business project. Ready to grab the bull by the horns? Read on for a few more tips that will help get you over that hump:

Lean on someone. Talk to an experienced mentor or coach who can help you move beyond "the dip." Let your mentor help you refocus and chunk down the steps to reach your goal.

Learn to delegate. You can’t do it all. Learn to ask for help and learn to accept it. We’ve written several blogs in the past regarding virtual office assistants. They can offer a wide range of services – and because you are limited on your own office space, they also work from the comfort of their own home.

Affirm yourself. Truly successful people acknowledge and reward little successes along the way. Their attitude is positive and their “self-talk” is affirming and empowering. Adopt an affirming mindset and you are more than likely to get through the dip.

Get beyond the “dip” – even in this economy! Get started now at http://www.boostyourbottomline.com/fast_track/

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Fast Track to Marketing Mastery. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

October 1 Business-Building Workshop Slated at Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa

THOMPSONVILLE, Mich. — Experienced business owners, start-ups and their teams are invited to a one-day retreat at Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa to learn how to survive and thrive during a recession, where to focus marketing and sales efforts for the greatest impact, and quick fixes to reboot the business brain.

Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa is partnering with Holly George and Leslie Hamp, Certified Marketing Spitfires™ and co-founders of Boost Your Bottom Line, a strategic business and marketing company, to offer the one-day workshop on Thursday, October 1 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Hamp and George said they strive to take the mystery and frustration out of the sales and marketing process by showing participants, step by step, how to build powerful relationships that transcend economies and guarantee business growth. Participants will learn proven tactics they can implement the minute they leave the workshop.

Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. followed by a morning session to refocus business goals.

“Participants will tune into their big picture, discover the most important qualities needed for a success mindset, and identify ideal customers and how to connect with them,” George said. “They’ll also discover why they’re selling their products or services at only 1/4 of their potential and how to capture the remaining 3/4.”

Retreat time has been set aside from noon to 2 p.m. so that participants can experience the Crystal Spa, a walk in the Michigan Legacy Art Park, a personal training session, a work-out in the Peak Fitness Center, a round of golf on Crystal’s championship golf courses, or a delicious meal in the Thistle Pub & Grille.

Revisioning is the focus of the afternoon session as participants learn the 4 different hats an entrepreneur must wear, how to perform each role, and which to delegate and why. They’ll also learn how to create meaningful relationships with those they are meant to serve, and they’ll design a detailed Personal Connection Selling™ Blueprint with customized tactics tailored to their business.

“There’s nothing like a live event to catalyze change,” Hamp said. “When you want to achieve a higher level of business success, you need to surround yourself with successful people and learn proven techniques used by thousands of businesses. We like to tell participants that they’ll discover their inner marketing and sales guru and leave with a newfound level of sales confidence and inspiration to fuel their success.”

Those attending the workshop will receive a $25 gift certificate for services at Crystal Spa. In addition, attendees can reserve hotel accommodations from $89 by calling 1-800-968-7686.

“Crystal Mountain is the perfect setting to refocus, retreat, revision and restore,” George said, “and that’s exactly what most business owners need to become more focused and more successful.”

To find out more, listen to a preview call, and to register for the workshop with the Certified Marketing Spitfires, visit www.spitfireworkshop.com. For more information on Boost Your Bottom Line, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com. For more information about Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, visit, www.crystalmountain.com.

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Fast Track to Marketing Mastery. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Part 2: Getting Through the "Dip"

Get through the “dip” of burdensome projects that feel impossible to complete by envisioning the light at the end of the tunnel. Marketing expert Seth Godin asks readers of his new book to determine if the projects are worth the end result. If so, try to stick it out and barrel through to finish and skyrocket business success.

Here are a more tips to get through the ‘dip’:

Assess the dip. Lay out the project into several parts and determine the areas that have been the most difficult and daunting to accomplish. Draft a plan and have a goal to carry each one of them through.

Take one day at a time and focus on the task at hand. Don’t worry about everything else that needs to be done. When you feel overwhelmed, your time goes by even faster. Take a deep breath and concentrate on what you are doing rather than what else needs to get done. Try not multitask when getting over the dip, so set aside those less important items for later.

Create a cohesive environment to guarantee success. Design your environment to shape the thoughts and behaviors you desire, and surround yourself with people who support you along the way. Avoid negative people or those who try to sabotage your efforts. Your work space also affects your success. Does it give off a good ambiance? Do you feel organized and energized in the space?

Get beyond the “dip” – even in this economy! Get started now at http://www.boostyourbottomline.com/fast_track/

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Fast Track to Marketing Mastery. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Getting Through the "Dip"

Does this sound familiar? You made a commitment to tackle a big project for your business. Maybe it's rebranding your business, creating a new website, or launching a PR campaign. At first, you're on fire. Then, a phenomenon defined by marketing expert Seth Godin occurs. It's called the “dip." What started as an "I'm excited about this and ready to pull out all the stops to make it happen," suddenly feels nearly impossible.

Here are a few tips to get through the ‘dip’:

Keep your eye on your original intention. If the idea was strong and felt right when you started out, then it's likely still right today. Don't lose your vision just because you're into what may be the tedium involved in the implementation phase. It’s just a ‘dip’, not a dead end – so try to push through.

Track your progress. Try not to get discouraged if you happen to “fall off the wagon” a few times. Stay focused and map out your plan of action and stick with it. You will begin to feel confident when you can schedule time on your daily calendar to complete several actions per day, 5 days/week. And - you will catapult further and faster by tracking your progress and checking off pieces of the project.

Get beyond the “dip” – even in this economy! Get started now at http://www.boostyourbottomline.com/fast_track/

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Fast Track to Marketing Mastery. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Big Results for Local Fundraiser

Well, the event is over and the numbers are in. Around 500 people attended the fundraiser, www.davidsparade.com, raising $25,000 for artist David Genszler and his family.

We had 3 front page stories, two TV features and mass word of mouth both in person and through viral marketing. We were able to reach our $25,000 goal and take pride in the community response. That's a good PR campaign. The key: messages that inspired participation and donations, a news angle that appealed to print and broadcast media, and lots of personal, one-on-one connection and follow-up.

It's not rocket science to conduct a successful campaign, but there are definite steps that guarantee success. It's all detailed in our Fast Track to Marketing Mastery. Find out more now at http://www.boostyourbottomline.com/fast_track/

Here's to lots of media attention and BIG results. Happy Marketing.

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO INCLUDE OUR TIPS IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE OR BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp publish Boost, an ezine filled with red hot strategies to ignite business and personal success. To find out more, and to get your fr*ee Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

The Power of Ezines: First Impressions

How do you get your recipient to actually open your newsletter without sending it to their trash or spam folder? You’ll want to make sure your email address used to send the newsletters is consistent. This will avoid your newsletter automatically ending up in a spam folder. Additionally, your customers will become familiar with your communications and treat you as a trusted sender.

Ensure that your brand, name, and address appear on the ‘from’ portion of the email and keep it simple; you want to make sure your ‘from’ fits on one line and appears in its’ entirety. Next, focus on the subject line of your ezine. You’ll want to create a subject line that sparks the reader’s curiosity. Your subject line is the second most compelling reason your email gets opened. It’s part of the first impression readers receive and can be the deciding factor whether they open it or not. Use only “power” words and keep it under 30-40 characters including spaces. Remember, you only have 5-7 words to draw the reader in.

Some additional tips: avoid using all caps and punctuations, as this often leads to your message going straight to spam. Lastly, when you proofread your newsletter, don’t leave out the subject line. Your well-written ezine could go directly to the trash bin if a word in the subject line is misspelled.

We can hold your hand and help you figure out where to start! Visit http://www.boostyourbottomline.com/fast_track/

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO INCLUDE OUR TIPS IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE OR BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp publish Boost, an ezine filled with red hot strategies to ignite business and personal success. To find out more, and to get your fr*ee Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com