Sunday, 11 May 2008
Brilliant Product Packaging - Carman's
 One of my favourite clients, Shirley, put me onto the Carman's range of muesli. Yes the products are great but what I love most are the packaging. Each package gives you a brilliant lesson in marketing.What makes it so great? With the muesli bars box you get the Carman's story - not a glossy hype version, but a warts and all story by Carolyn Creswell the Company Founder. There's drama as you hear about her losing her job when the business was to be sold, the love of her parents who gave her the inspiration to buy the business (for $1000), the early year challenges and the success of today (all in 3 paragraphs). You also read about the charity they support and what specifically Carman's do to support their charity. There's clear instructions to how to tell a friend, the product ingredients and where they are sourced from, a thank you to people who refer friends as well as information about their products and healthy eating for kids. Their company philosophy is front and centre of every package. On the porridge box you get a great story about Carolyn's Grandpa and how they took turns making porridge with him in the mornings. You also get some oat trivia as well as a recipe for an oat face pack as well as instructions for cooking (with a twist of humour) and offers of free bag seals. There's no photos, box design is quite basic but you do get to see the products in all their glory with a see-through cut out section. I can't tell you what's written on the Muesli range boxes (yet). It is sad I know but I will be buying the full range just to read what's on the boxes! Analysing all of this there are great ideas any business can learn from Carman's.
Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Putting your business into words PS: Happy Mother's Day to all the mums out their (and the carers who also take on the mum role). I hope you celebrate and enjoy your day. Labels: small business marketing ideas |
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Not all inventions make it big
 I was doing some research for a client and discovered this great story in an article by Thomas G Field Jr ... If a man can make a better mousetrap, though he builds his house in the woods the world will make a beaten path to his door. Attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson In the early part of the 20th Century, the Animal Trap Company of America sold a five cent mousetrap. For years, the president of the company, Chester M. Woolworth, had tried to improve it, and in 1928 he succeeded. Mr. Woolworth failed to look carefully at the way the average family used a mousetrap. The mousetrap was normally purchased by the husband who set the trap at night after the children were in bed . In the morning, the husband hurried off to work leaving the dead mouse in the trap. The housewife did not want a dead mouse around all day so she would pick up the trap and dispose of the mouse and the trap. When any small business creates a brilliant invention or new idea, it doesn't necessarily mean that it will be successful if they haven't taken into account the context in which the invention or idea is used. Always do your research on your clients, dig into their minds to find out why and how they buy from you and your opposition and get to know what is truly important to them. Selling is not about forcing a product that they don't need or want onto a customer.In my world view it is all about knowing what your customer needs and wants. If your product genuinely helps fill those needs and wants then your job is to show them how your product or service can fill their needs and wants in the best possible way. I look at it as if someone you cared about was struggling with a problem. If you knew a solution to their problem - wouldn't you want to share it with them? That to me is what selling with integrity is all about. So ... back to the mousetrap. Just because you have created a better mousetrap doesn't mean your customers want or need a better mousetrap. Before you leap off and try and sell something - stop and put yourself in your customers shoes first. Until next time Ingrid CliffHeart Harmony Labels: small business ideas, small business marketing ideas |
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Virtual book tours
 For those of you who are published authors, self published authors or going-to-be-one-day authors this idea is one to add to your kit bag - a virtual book tour. I was reading the Tonic Gifts blog when I came across two women doing virtual book tour. It is the same as a regular book-tour, but instead of physically visiting bookshops they are visiting blogs, websites and on-line stores. What a brilliant concept! Massive time and cost saving and a great example of leveraging the internet effectively for your small business. To check out the tour and see where Tara Spicer and Nicole Graham have been visiting check out the Virtual Book Tour. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business marketing ideas |
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Lessons from Tupperware
 Party Plans are a proven way to generate sales - they were the precursor to all of the Web 2.0 high tech strategies of forming networks and communities, taking recommendations from friends and just having fun.I am always fascinated when someone takes a proven concept and applies it to something totally left field. In the USA, a group has taken the Tupperware party concept and applied it to Tasers. For those of you who don't know Tasers (or stun guns) are a weapon that shoots electro-shocks to subdue a person. They are generally used by police and the military, but in the USA you can obtain a Taser for about $300 with minimal checks. Some enterprising business people now hold Taser parties - where women meet to discuss self-defence, swap recipes for the latest dips and shoot Tasers at dummies. Tasers now come in a range of women friendly colours and prints specifically for this market. ... and business is booming! Whatever you think of Tasers and their use - the idea of taking something that generally has not been seen in a party plan situation and trialling its sale is a great one. There are loads of opportunities for enterprising businesses - from mobility equipment, through to electric drills. Are there any products in your business that you could trial using the party plan concept? Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business ideas, small business marketing ideas |
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Using Flickr Photos for your business
 Many businesses need photos for everything from websites, blogs and their marketing material. There are stacks of brilliant on-line photo libraries out there, as well as some huge photo repositories.One of the best known is Flickr.com - where photographers both professional and amateur load their photos for the world to seee. But don't just leap in and use the images on Flickr. Many of the photos have rules set by the photographer regarding their use. Trying to work out what you can use and how can be tricky. That's why this blog post by Working Solo is useful. It explains all of the Flickr rules simply and easily. If you are looking for photos and are keen to try some free shots on Flickr, read the post by Working Solo first before you copy anything from the site. Then you shouldn't go wrong! Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: flickr, small business marketing ideas |
Friday, 22 February 2008
Tad Hargrave - Brilliant Marketer
| You know I love to share brilliant businesses - this one has blown me out of the water. Tad Hargrave is a marketing consultant for hippies. I found him when I was checking out the latest research on psychographic marketing. Tad's You Tube videos on discovering your niche are great (even if you aren't a hippy) - and his PDF download on "Identifying your Niche" is some of the best work I have read on the topic. I am truly humbled by his work and admit I have also learnt things from reading his notes (and yes I wish I had written it!). I fully recommend you watch his series of You Tube videos and download his PDF. Take the time to work through his content and see the difference it will make to your business. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business marketing ideas |
Monday, 18 February 2008
Using the Net to Improve Your Business
| Do you want to grow your business and are interested in how the internet may be able to help you with low cost (or even better - free) marketing strategies? My good friend and colleague Donna-Marie Coggins and I will be running a Business Growth Session on "Using the Net to Improve your Business". Date: 3 March Time: 10-12noon Location: Chermside library Bookings essential In this session we will be sharing our top tips on how you can get the best marketing results from the internet (even if you don't yet have a website). These are simple strategies that almost everyone can put in place - and you don't have to be a geek to do them! Book now. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony |
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Just for fun
| Life is short and it is easy to get caught up in the day to day humdrum routine. You got to work, come home and not much changes. That's why I love the group called Improv Everywhere. They are US based and pull mass theatre improv pieces designed to bring chaos and joy to public places. I particularly love this piece of improv with over 200 people who suddenly freeze in place at Grand Central Station. Watch the reactions of people around them ... Now the scary part - there are chapters of Improv Everywhere springing up around the world. Even Brisbane has its own subgroup that has completed 2 smaller pieces of improv. So the next time you see 80 people enter your shop all dressed in the same uniform as your employees, or your suddenly have hundreds of mobile phones all go off at the same time in the theatre - you may be in the middle of something more interesting than just a coincidence. As an aside - think for a moment why these sort of things are expanding. People have a strong need to be part of something bigger, to belong, to have fun. How can your business capitalise on these needs in providing service to your customers? Could your work pull off its own piece of improv? These sort of things often attract media attention if they are feel good and harm none - so what could you do? Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business ideas, small business marketing ideas |
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Mika - remembering the niche markets
| Niche markets are everywhere. Filling a need for the niche, helping them do something better or easier or just making them feel good about themselves is great for business. One of the best most recent examples is Mika with his song "Big Girl (You are beautiful). Very catchy song celebrating curvy women. This song is sweeping the world - it is great for teenagers self esteem as well as any lady with a few extra pounds. In other words - an exceptional product targeted to the right niche. What can you do to meet the needs of your niche market? Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: marketing tips, mika, small business marketing ideas |
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Don't make these email marketing mistakes
| Hi again When businesses start out, they often want to use email to promote sales, publicise events or just keep in touch with clients. Fantastic - exactly what it is designed to do! But ... there are a few common mistakes newcomers to email marketing make.
Think about what else you may need later on - shopping carts, affiliate programs, whatever. You can put different solutions, but it is easier to find the solution that can grow with you as you grow. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony |
Saturday, 2 February 2008
Yes- another great idea - Playgrounds for pensioners
 OK - this one just forced me to post it (two in one day - a record). With the aging population out there, who said getting old had to be boring. Enter playgrounds for pensioners. Imagine creating specialist playground equipment so older people can laugh and have fun. Love this concept! When I was working with a pharmacy group, my favourite products were the jelly bean patterned walking frames and psychadelic walking sticks. Old doesn't mean dead - and the sooner companies realise the purchasing potential of creating fun functional products the older market the better. Until next time (really) Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business ideas, small business marketing ideas |
More Small Business Ideas
| Rather than just Twittering this site, it deserves a post all on its own. Here is a great t-shirt idea (and you thought everything t-shirts had been done). T-shirts that when you are within a few feet of someone else wearing the same t-shirt glows with hearts. To make it even better they recharge with hugs. http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hearts-lightup-with-a-hug Brilliant Valentines Day promo item and proof that you can always find a new twist on an old product. (Of course having a heart on it helps even more). Now - think about it in terms of its application to social networking, being part of a group, singles on the search. How could you take the concept and make it work for your business? Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business ideas, small business marketing ideas |
Friday, 1 February 2008
The secret of selling more
| If you want to know how to increase sales, this quote by Alan Cohen sums it up. Loving something because you sell it is not nearly as powerful as selling something because you love it. -- Alan Cohen Many businesses may start by selling something they love - as the years progress they become stale and begin to hate the product they sell. Sales start to drop as a result. Think about your own experience - do you buy from someone who is genuinely excited and passionate about their product, or someone who is filling in time? Do you still love your product? Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business marketing ideas |
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Great Aussie ideas
| I have just discovered a great blog - My New Shiny Shoes. It is an online shopping guide for Australian shoppers. It is great to see Australian companies happy to source local products. The post that particularly caught my eye were two enterprising companies that send Australian care packs to people o/s including Tim Tams, Polly Waffles, Milo and other goodies. It takes G'day LA to a whole new level! What about sending some Aussie gift baskets for your overseas clients or customers instead of the traditional boring ones for your next promotion or thank-you? It's funny how what is regular and mainstream to us can be interesting and novel to others. Have a look at your business through new eyes and see where you may be interesting to others (but boring to yourself). Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony |
Thursday, 17 January 2008
The impact of the internet on business
| Recently I was asked how the internet was forcing businesses to rethink their current business model. This is a massive topic - many businesses are not aware of the changes happening around them and continue to do business in the same old way. It is working for them after a fashion - but it is also limiting their future. But the internet is not just causing changes to business practices - it is also fundamentally changing management, marketing and leadership. The web and the rise of social media and Web 2.0 has meant a blurring between personal and business. Many of our business contacts are now "friends" on Facebook who mingle sometimes uncomfortably with our social friends. This has an impact on the workforce as managers try and manage the productivity of work vs. recreational interaction. The rise of the maven or star vs. company branding. With web 2.0 there is the rise of the cult hero - individuals gain a following, where their thoughts and opinions sway results. People follow people - not companies. It is now much harder to brand a company than it is to brand a leader. We saw this in the last election - with Kevin 07 vs. the Labor party reflecting the change in society. The total reversal of product development. In the past companies had a "great idea" then created a product before taking it to market to see if it will work. With Web 2.0 that is a recipe for disaster. Now you find a niche that is not being served effectively, test the market to see if people are willing to pay for a product in that niche by selling someone else's product and using free web media and gain proof of concept. Only once the test is proven with guaranteed results you then invest in product creation in your own right. Impact on traditional advertising - web "direct mail" is now a science, where every element is tested, results measured and tweaked for maximum return on investment. It is very easy to now prove ROI on a web advertising campaign. Traditional forms of advertising don't have similar speed and data availability so are losing out in terms of expenditure from savvy businesses. Information silos are busted wide open (think Wikis). The web has meant people value instant access to information (often in an organic way vs. a structured way). Businesses are struggling to keep pace with sharing information within and across parts of the business. Many knowledge management tools where they impose unnecessary structure are not stepping up to the mark in terms of useability. It is not uncommon for parts of businesses looking for info on the wider web because an internal silo will not share, only to find someone in that area had posted that info for all to see on a blog post etc. The use of social media such as You Tube as a major way to communicate. People are turning away from traditional TV, magazines and newspapers. More people use Facebook, Myspace and YouTube each day than Google! Even Oprah now streams via You Tube on the You Tube Oprah Channel - that is telling you something! I am an avid trend-watcher - every person I have worked with in the past knows that this is one of my areas of passion. Businesses need to be aware of trends building momentum and get on board before they are left behind. The good part is that small businesses are the best placed to capitalise on these latest trends. It doesn't cost a lot of money to reach the world with your niche product. You just need the desire, the knowledge or someone with the knowledge. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: small business ideas, small business marketing ideas, small business trends, social media, web 2.0 |
Monday, 14 January 2008
Marketing Tip - Low cost marketing ideas
| I am always on the look-out for great low-cost marketing ideas for small business and found these ideas on the Tall Poppy Blog. While they are written in the context of party planners getting bookings - the ideas are directly applicable for any small business wanting appointments or sales from clients. And the best and simplest idea ... simply ask for an appointment with every contact! Here's a link to the full post if you would like some more low cost ideas. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: marketing tips, small business ideas, small business marketing ideas |