Marketing for profit

What is marketing? Is it the yellow pages, not really. Yellow pages are advertising, and so are wall signs, pylon signs or any type of sign or ad.

Marketing is getting the right message to the right people through the right media.

We learn marketing from the people who sell advertising. You know it is true. Their job is to find out how much you spend on advertising and then get it.

Do you want to make money with your marketing? Then you must figure out how to get the right message to the right people through the right media. Otherwise, we are not ‘marketing’. We are ‘blowing money’ on ‘hit and miss’
advertising—which is exactly what 99% of ALL small businesses do!!!

One way is through a well planned sign plan. Either wall signs or pylon signs on your property.

Proper marketing is the only part of your business that creates income for your business. No customers, no work, no money. The more that customers know about you, the more work, the more money. It is that simple.

The hard part is figuring out what method works. Yellow pages? TV? Newspapers? Signs?

All are important parts of the marketing plan. If you have a building with a road in front of it, remember, the best way to get a client to come into your store is when they are right in front of it.

If you need clients from different parts of the Twin cities, then gear your marketing to those media that will reach them.

I like to test and measure before committing large sums of money on advertising. The other thing I like to do is to market in a variety of ways. I go to networking groups, community groups, vehicle lettering, road signs as well as other print media. My thinking is if you have customers coming in from multiple sources, then you won’t have any problems if one of them stops working.

I also like the web. I am beginning to think that this internet thing is not going away.

good signing

The Sign Guy is the owner of Signs by RSG located in Ramsey, Mn. He and his brother (The sign dude) are 4th generation sign makers and can be reached at 763.753.7571

Trade show displays

Trade show season is upon us. Are you ready?

In Minnesota, we have several opportunities for trade shows. Have you started to think about your trade show signage and marketing ideas?

Not only do you have the main sign display, you also have the SWAG. What is SWAG? You know, Stuff We All Get. Those give away items that draw people to your booth allowing you to engage them in conversation.

Pens, jackets, key chains, the list is endless.

How are you going to engage those attendees? You need to attract them with your signage, and you need to draw them in with your swag, and the swag needs to be kept and used.

Let us help you design a trade show campaign that will bring you sales, dollars, clients, leads or whatever your looking for.

good signing

The Sign Guy is the owner of Signs by RSG located in Ramsey, Mn. He and his brother (The sign dude) are 4th generation sign makers and can be reached at 763.753.7571

Signs are Marketing #2

Marketing ideas for your business

Marketing your business means money. Money is not evil. It buys us the things we need. With a little extra money, you can be benevolent. Helping others is a great use of money. But you have to get some first. That is where the success of your business comes in. In my earlier blog, I wrote about just a few ideas. Today we will look at some other creative ideas.

Planes, trains and automobiles (also trucks & vans)
Put a sign on anything that moves that you own. If you have 1 car or a fleet of trucks, GET YOUR NAME ON IT! A vehicle sign is easy and cheap advertising. An owner of a company in Elk River, MN was receiving calls the same day that we put vinyl lettering on his van. It works.

Wrapping a vehicle with signs are just added visibility for your company. Bus billboards, signs inside and outside of the mass transit system or light rail in your city.

Networking:
Not a sign, but another great way to market your business. I belong to an organization called BNI Minnesota and it brings in multiple thousands of dollars annually for my business. It is based on the premise that each person knows well about 250 people. (the average number that shows up to your wedding or funeral) You get to know people in your chapter and the next thing you know, they will refer to you the people in their contact list. I started getting referrals almost immediately.

We could go on about the many ways to promote your business, such as: balloons, banners, portable signs, flags, sidewalk signs, yard signs, window lettering the list can go on forever.

In this market, you need to keep your name in front of your customers. If you have to cut, do it somewhere else. Signs and advertising is the one expense that can make you money.

good signing

The Sign Guy is the owner of Signs by RSG located in Ramsey, Mn. He and his brother (The sign dude) are 4th generation sign makers and can be reached at 763.753.7571

Signs are Marketing

A Minnesota business needs to be marketed, and signs are just one part.

There are several ways to market your business, whether your in Minneapolis, Coon Rapids, Edina or anywhere in Minnesota. Let us talk about some of the most obvious ones.

On site marketing – Wall signs, banners, pylon signs:
Signs on your building or property are the most obvious ways your clients will find you. If you have a retail business where you rely on walk in business, the building sign is the most vital part of your marketing plan. Many business find a great location with high traffic, then shoot themselves in the foot by not putting up a well designed, lit wall or pylon sign.

Point of Sale signs:
Point of purchase signs, the sign people see when they are in your store promoting a special product, are often under used. Think about this, why does Target, WalMart or any other major retail outlet have in store displays? Because they sell more stuff. The next time your in one of those places look around and see all of the signs, then notice how they’re being used.

Promotional products:
Not typically called a sign, but promotional products like pens, t-shirts, golf balls, all emblazoned with your company name, are like mini signs. A business card is important, but they get thrown away all to quickly. Promotional products allow your name to be in front of potential clients much longer. More about this in a future blog.

Thank you Cards:
Again, not thought of as a sign, but saying thank you to your clients is a must. Don’t buy just any card, get them printed with your company name. My company uses SendOut Cards. This has been one of the easiest ways to keep a client. You would be amazed at the results. For about $1.50, I can send out a printed card from my computer, with my company logo and my signature to any or all of my clients. I can even create campains and let the program do it auotmatically.

Your customer then receives a hand written card in the mail. Beleive me, they get opened and read.

This is just the tip of the ice berg. Next week I will share with you some other ideas that we know will help your business in these tough economic times.

good signing

The Sign Guy is the owner of Signs by RSG located in Ramsey, Mn. He and his brother (The sign dude) are 4th generation sign makers and can be reached at 763.753.7571

Lit Signs work!

Does a lit sign really help, or would a non lit wall sign work?

We answer this question every day with another questions; When will your clients be coming by your store?

If the answer is at night, then a lit sign is the way to go. If the answer is during the day, then yes, you may ignore the thousands of potential clients who drive by your store at night and get a non lit sign.

Do you see my point. A well designed lit wall sign or pylon sign works for you 24 hours a day and is seen by your most likely clients. THE ONES DRIVING RIGHT PAST YOUR DOOR (usually on their way to your competition)

In Minnesota, we have an added challenge, and that is night comes earlier and lasts longer during the winter months. So, your Minnesota Signs should be lit to give you the maximum benefit.

Your sign works for you and literally could only cost just penny’s a day. This is by for the cheapest and most effective form of advertising.

good signing

Minnesota trade show displays

Effective Trade show displays

During a trade show the number one priority is to get yourself noticed.  Banners and literature racks are popular forms of displays used at trade shows. These displays are great forms of advertising because they are easy to set up and easily customized, whatever the trade show may be.  Displays can be purchased online and from signs by RSG.  Bigger displays will get you noticed more but most people don’t want to spend a large amount of money on a huge display.  Also, the space available at a trade show is often limited so effectively using the space is key.

For people who are looking for an easy display a complete Kit, which can contain everything from a small display rack to a large banner, could be the answer.  A display kit can be customized to the customers needs and comes in an easy to handle box that can be unpacked at any trade show.

One other important thing to think about when preparing a trade show display is keeping a stock of promotional items as giveaways.  These small pens, magnets, mug holders, calenders, ect. are great forms of advertising and very simple.  The promotional items are essentially business cards except that they aren’t shoved into a pocket or trash can but rather are used.  A pen with your logo and website can go a long way.