This comment was one of many I received today, but I wanted to share this one with you.
Brian Myer wrote: " After 1 of your posts I made a concerted effort to launch a Facebook page. With the help of my wife, I am sitting at over 600 friends in just over 2 weeks. I am seeing the opportunity and immediacy of this vehicle. Now I need to follow thru or continue as you say. Good info.
Brian,
Legacy Lanes
Monticello, Ia.
May 2, 2010 6:57 PM
I think its so cool when my subscribers work on some of the information I distribute. Brian and his wife actively created a facebook page and after two weeks, just 2 weeks, he has over 600 friends. Now as he says, "he has to follow thru".
We want Brian to follow thru by building strong relationships with his friends, telling them about all the good things his center does for the community and how he is active in his hometown.
From there he can talk about his fund raisers, his team building bowling parties, post testimonials and you tube videos and then start to talk about how his open play programs are designed for companies, families or couples or whomever. Build your strategy Brian, then think "continuance". Thank you for your comments.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Continuance
i put up a facebook page, TheKaploeMarketingGroup.com, and have had some interesting experiences. Within 3 days I had 40 friends and within a week I had 69 friends. It was pretty quick. I am sure I could get more friends if I decided to do some "internet marketing" For one, I could put up a facebook ad and establish a budget of how much I want to spend. You can too for your facebook page. Just go to www.facebook.com/ads
Or i could do some back link programming by going to "noblesamurai.com" There is a whole process that will help you to optimize your site and it is relatively easy to follow.
All these tools are out there for your use and all it takes is a little initiative and a little patience. Hey, this stuff isn't rocket science, but sometimes it feels like you are learning a new language. Don't worry. You'll get the language down. After that it is a question of "continuance."
Continuance is your ability to:
1. Define what your Internet marketing goals are and then systematically going about how to do that on a continuing basis
2. Make certain that you always have something new to say or report or promote or, better yet, information you want to impart to your customer that build a relationship with him.
3. Continually learning new ways to link to your customer. This takes reading, study and a curiosity to make it happen. Sure, you can hire someone to do this, but you'll be continually out of the loop and won't learn anything new. and what if your computer guru gets hit by a bus? where are you the?
4. Fight the urge to not do anything; to chalk it up to "i don't understand it, so why bother"?
Continuance is the key.
Remember, its the journey, not the destination that makes the ride meaningful.
Or i could do some back link programming by going to "noblesamurai.com" There is a whole process that will help you to optimize your site and it is relatively easy to follow.
All these tools are out there for your use and all it takes is a little initiative and a little patience. Hey, this stuff isn't rocket science, but sometimes it feels like you are learning a new language. Don't worry. You'll get the language down. After that it is a question of "continuance."
Continuance is your ability to:
1. Define what your Internet marketing goals are and then systematically going about how to do that on a continuing basis
2. Make certain that you always have something new to say or report or promote or, better yet, information you want to impart to your customer that build a relationship with him.
3. Continually learning new ways to link to your customer. This takes reading, study and a curiosity to make it happen. Sure, you can hire someone to do this, but you'll be continually out of the loop and won't learn anything new. and what if your computer guru gets hit by a bus? where are you the?
4. Fight the urge to not do anything; to chalk it up to "i don't understand it, so why bother"?
Continuance is the key.
Remember, its the journey, not the destination that makes the ride meaningful.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
How to Sell Anybody Anything
Here are four rules for selling your product; whether its bowling, billiards, swimming pools or soda
1.Be different and then make sure you can prove it. If you offer something that everyone else does at a cheaper price, your competitors will probably meet or go under your price, at least for the short term. Being different doesn't mean being the cheapest guy on the block.
2.People can spot a fake from a mile away. Don't oversell yourself. People know when it's too good to be true and when it's real. If you over promise and under deliver, you now have a foot with a bullet in it. Under promise and over deliver.
3. Go above and beyond. You would no doubt be surprised to find out how many of your competitors do less than what the customer expects. In fact, they probably do nothing. Have a sense of professionalism; understand your customer better than the other guys. By understanding their expectations, you can set a benchmark and then learn how to exceed it.
4. Do more research. When was the last time you asked your customers and perspective customers what they really want or at least offered them a choice of different options from which to provide you feedback. If you haven't, then you are dealing with hearsay information and that's always dangerous.
So be safe... and go sell something.
1.Be different and then make sure you can prove it. If you offer something that everyone else does at a cheaper price, your competitors will probably meet or go under your price, at least for the short term. Being different doesn't mean being the cheapest guy on the block.
2.People can spot a fake from a mile away. Don't oversell yourself. People know when it's too good to be true and when it's real. If you over promise and under deliver, you now have a foot with a bullet in it. Under promise and over deliver.
3. Go above and beyond. You would no doubt be surprised to find out how many of your competitors do less than what the customer expects. In fact, they probably do nothing. Have a sense of professionalism; understand your customer better than the other guys. By understanding their expectations, you can set a benchmark and then learn how to exceed it.
4. Do more research. When was the last time you asked your customers and perspective customers what they really want or at least offered them a choice of different options from which to provide you feedback. If you haven't, then you are dealing with hearsay information and that's always dangerous.
So be safe... and go sell something.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Tell a Good Story
Marketers are supposed to be good story tellers, but rarely do they use their acumen to tell a story to the customer. Instead they stand on the hoods of cars and scream, "best value, best price." This version is just one of the stories that marketers can tell, but it is rarely the most effective for the audience you are trying to target.
Think about the 21 to 34 year old single market. Or for that matter, the 13 to 20 yr old market. Is best price, best value the best story you can tell? Why not tell a story of people who bowled at the center. Maybe its the local football hero, basketball jock, scholarship winner, president of company X or a media personality?
Telling people about "look who is bowling with us" gives your center an aura of "coolness" and is yet another version of the stories you can tell.
Or you can tell the story of the fund raiser you ran and how it saved someone's life or at least was able to help support a specific cause. People like to know that the people they do business with, or are considering doing business with, have a sense of community and a sense of moral fortitude. Now isn't that a good story to tell, especially if one of your customers tell it.
This is the kind of stuff to put on your facebook page; to send to your fans or to email to people. No, it doesn't directly sell, but it sure as heck establishes credibility of your business as a "good place" to go. And that's something that is much harder to prove in print, radio or TV.
Now start, "once upon a time...."
Think about the 21 to 34 year old single market. Or for that matter, the 13 to 20 yr old market. Is best price, best value the best story you can tell? Why not tell a story of people who bowled at the center. Maybe its the local football hero, basketball jock, scholarship winner, president of company X or a media personality?
Telling people about "look who is bowling with us" gives your center an aura of "coolness" and is yet another version of the stories you can tell.
Or you can tell the story of the fund raiser you ran and how it saved someone's life or at least was able to help support a specific cause. People like to know that the people they do business with, or are considering doing business with, have a sense of community and a sense of moral fortitude. Now isn't that a good story to tell, especially if one of your customers tell it.
This is the kind of stuff to put on your facebook page; to send to your fans or to email to people. No, it doesn't directly sell, but it sure as heck establishes credibility of your business as a "good place" to go. And that's something that is much harder to prove in print, radio or TV.
Now start, "once upon a time...."
Sunday, April 11, 2010
10 Ways to Build Open Play Summer Business
So, there you are building summer leagues by talking to your existing winter bowlers. Maybe even talking to your open play bowlers? And calling last year's summer bowlers?
Good, good, good.
But have you developed an outside sales strategy to talk to companies, retail stores, day care centers, camps, YMCA's, Parks and Recs. as well as non profit groups and associations to develop business?
What could you sell them?
1. Special one time events, for either team building or company parties
2. Indoor picnics
3. Fund raisers
4. A "company" league of their own - 6 weeks, 6 weeks!
5. After work party package (2 hours of bowling, shoe rentals, pizza (or hamburgers,
chicken wings, or appetizers and beer or cocktails for up to 5 people for X$$$
6. Rainy days R Us programs for camps
7. Teen Nights
8. Field trips for day care centers
9. "Who gives a shift programs" (for those that quit work at midnight or 8am and are
hungry and thirsty...package it up!)
10. Family Reunions or Family Picnics
Go to your data base, your chamber of commerce and create offers to these people. Here are some ideas to get you started thinking.
1. Free party offers, buy two parties, get one free
2. Save $100 on your offcie Christmas party in December when you have a party at
Happy Lanes in July
3. Get $10 of FREE bowling for everyone who attends the next party. Valid on your
next visit
4. Bring 10 people bowling and 5 bowl free
But here is the real secret.
Analyze your market.
Which two of the ten potential products above can you and your staff do WELL?
Pick two to do well.
OK, OK, then pick One!
Good, good, good.
But have you developed an outside sales strategy to talk to companies, retail stores, day care centers, camps, YMCA's, Parks and Recs. as well as non profit groups and associations to develop business?
What could you sell them?
1. Special one time events, for either team building or company parties
2. Indoor picnics
3. Fund raisers
4. A "company" league of their own - 6 weeks, 6 weeks!
5. After work party package (2 hours of bowling, shoe rentals, pizza (or hamburgers,
chicken wings, or appetizers and beer or cocktails for up to 5 people for X$$$
6. Rainy days R Us programs for camps
7. Teen Nights
8. Field trips for day care centers
9. "Who gives a shift programs" (for those that quit work at midnight or 8am and are
hungry and thirsty...package it up!)
10. Family Reunions or Family Picnics
Go to your data base, your chamber of commerce and create offers to these people. Here are some ideas to get you started thinking.
1. Free party offers, buy two parties, get one free
2. Save $100 on your offcie Christmas party in December when you have a party at
Happy Lanes in July
3. Get $10 of FREE bowling for everyone who attends the next party. Valid on your
next visit
4. Bring 10 people bowling and 5 bowl free
But here is the real secret.
Analyze your market.
Which two of the ten potential products above can you and your staff do WELL?
Pick two to do well.
OK, OK, then pick One!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Apple I Pad and Bowling
Apple sold 300,000 I Pads over the past weekend. This neat little device lets you read books, play games, read newspapers, do computer work, surf the web, email, look up maps, store a calendar, take notes, place a you tube video, and watch movies. I am sure I left a few features out, but you get the idea. All this in a book size tablet that's about nine inches by 5 inches.
With this new high tech device, many people will be clamoring for it. In fact, your bowling center could give one away and reap the benefits of an increased data base, more lineage and hopefully more profit...especially as we push into the warmer months.
Set up an email campaign that offers an I Pad as 1st place prize to anybody who comes into the center and bowls during your cosmic bowling or weekday night bowling event. Entries must be completely filled out including email; employees and family members re not eligible and only 1 I Pad will be given out after 30 days. You can include other prizes as well like I Tunes gift cards for $25, $10 and $5.
Point is use your existing data base. If you can segment it against an under 35 audience all the better. Maybe even place a facebook ad (go back and re read my blog on how to set it up) You can do this for as little as $50 a day for a couple of days a week for 4 weeks. (use keywords like electronics, apple computers, I Pads, web, etc.
Yes the I Pad is $499, but that's a small price to pay to be the coolest bowling center in town. Just ask my daughter and her boyfriend. They're "20 somethings" and it was their brainstorm.
With this new high tech device, many people will be clamoring for it. In fact, your bowling center could give one away and reap the benefits of an increased data base, more lineage and hopefully more profit...especially as we push into the warmer months.
Set up an email campaign that offers an I Pad as 1st place prize to anybody who comes into the center and bowls during your cosmic bowling or weekday night bowling event. Entries must be completely filled out including email; employees and family members re not eligible and only 1 I Pad will be given out after 30 days. You can include other prizes as well like I Tunes gift cards for $25, $10 and $5.
Point is use your existing data base. If you can segment it against an under 35 audience all the better. Maybe even place a facebook ad (go back and re read my blog on how to set it up) You can do this for as little as $50 a day for a couple of days a week for 4 weeks. (use keywords like electronics, apple computers, I Pads, web, etc.
Yes the I Pad is $499, but that's a small price to pay to be the coolest bowling center in town. Just ask my daughter and her boyfriend. They're "20 somethings" and it was their brainstorm.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
12 Skills A New Hire Must Have
If I was Mr. BPAA, I would make sure every proprietor, every manager, every assistant, every cook, every chef and bottle washer, every mechanic, every porter, every bartender and waitress knew enough about the Internet to be able to offer you suggestions and ideas on how to build your business or retain existing customers. I don't care what position they have. In this economic environment, it is every employee's responsibility to help build new business and help to retain exisitng customers. Every employee would be certified by the BPAA and would have to know how to:
1.Download music
2.Put up a video
3.Post a blog
4.Set up and use his facebook page
5.Edit a web page
6.Be fluent in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point
7.Use Twitter to promote the owner’s business
8.Create a Facebook ad
9.Send text messages
10.Know how to use photo shop to edit pictures
11.Write a grammatically correct sentence
12. Give great customer service consistently
Imagine if you found someone like this, do you think teaching her bowling would be difficult. Heck No.
This "Millennium Generation" was born and built for microchips. Their need for connectivity and for getting answers when they want it is paramount. Being connected is not an option for them. It is a way of life. (“Thank You Google”). Anyone this age who does not have these skills must immediately take classes to get up to speed.
Just don’t hire them until they have completed and passed their course work!
So if you feel like you're barely hanging on to the caboose of the technology train, go back and take some classes. Just because your son or daughter knows this stuff cold doesn’t mean that you can sit on the sidelines and “let them do it.”
Its a brave new technological world out there.
Go get into the game.
1.Download music
2.Put up a video
3.Post a blog
4.Set up and use his facebook page
5.Edit a web page
6.Be fluent in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point
7.Use Twitter to promote the owner’s business
8.Create a Facebook ad
9.Send text messages
10.Know how to use photo shop to edit pictures
11.Write a grammatically correct sentence
12. Give great customer service consistently
Imagine if you found someone like this, do you think teaching her bowling would be difficult. Heck No.
This "Millennium Generation" was born and built for microchips. Their need for connectivity and for getting answers when they want it is paramount. Being connected is not an option for them. It is a way of life. (“Thank You Google”). Anyone this age who does not have these skills must immediately take classes to get up to speed.
Just don’t hire them until they have completed and passed their course work!
So if you feel like you're barely hanging on to the caboose of the technology train, go back and take some classes. Just because your son or daughter knows this stuff cold doesn’t mean that you can sit on the sidelines and “let them do it.”
Its a brave new technological world out there.
Go get into the game.
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