Even when times are good, it makes sense to get the most out of what you are spending on marketing and advertising. In more challenging times, extra sales can make the difference between prospering and struggling…even going under.

In this article, you’ll discover 5 proven and straightforward ways to boost your sales…without having to spend a single extra cent on advertising…or having to make radical changes to what you are already doing.

Here’s the first one… [Read more…]

A warm welcome to the “Looking Ahead” feature where we consider the coming month…

…and the events, occasions, anniversaries and holidays that smart direct response marketers can use as the foundation for event-driven marketing promotions in a marketing calendar for September 2019.

After the lull of the last month or so…

…it’s a time of a change of seasons. The September Equinox falls on September 23 at 07.50 UT (that’s 08.50 UK time…check for your particular location).

It’s Autumn in the north and Spring in the south…

…and these can be used as broad themes for a promotion.

Tied in with these, in the northern hemisphere it’s “Back to School” or “Back to Work” and the start of the run-in to the end of the year.

In the southern hemisphere, “Spring Time” or “Spring Cleaning” can be used as a theme.

Looking at some specific occasions… [Read more…]

Welcome to this month’s “Looking Ahead” feature. Here we’ll review events, occasions, holidays and anniversaries that you can use to build your event-driven marketing calendar for August 2019.

There are no major holidays this month. In the northern hemisphere it’s the dog days of summer. In the south it’s the last blast of winter. These “seasonal” themes are available to you if there’s nothing else that’s suitable.

August is also a “Back To School” month for many northern hemisphere countries…

…and remember major sporting events such as the US Open Tennis (starts 26 August) and the start of the football (soccer) season in the UK (Premier League starts the weekend of August 9-11).

It’s also “Elvis Week”, August 9-17. Elvis Presley moved on to the “great gig in the sky” 41 years ago on 16 August, 1977.

Other events… [Read more…]

The Rolling Stones have released a couple of albums recently…

…a new compilation album “Honk”…

…and a live set “Bridges to Bremen” from a gig in 1998.

Now, it would be completely understandable if your reaction is “Does the world really need another compilation or live album from the Rolling Stones?”

After all, there are already plenty to choose from. UNCUT magazine’s “Rolling Stones – Ultimate Collector’s Edition” lists 29 different compilations along with a selection of 20 live sets from the many that are available.

Well…based on what matters most to marketers…sales…the answer is…

Time for our regular look ahead…this time at the month of July 2019. Let’s take a look at the coming month for events, occasions, holidays and anniversaries that can form the basis for a marketing campaign or promotion and that you can use to create a marketing calendar for July 2019.

Two big themes or ideas.

First, now that we are in the second half of the year. July 1 is sometimes referred to as “Second Half Of The Year Day”.

As with any milestones like this, it’s an opportunity to give people a bit of a jolt and get them to review their goals and plans for the year.

Of course, if they are off-track a little you might well be able to help them get back on track!

Secondly, it’s Summer (in the northern hemisphere)…

…but the depths of Winter if you’re in the southern hemisphere.

In the USA July 4 is the great national occasion “Independence Day”. This theme of independence is very much a universal ideal and so can be used pretty much in any country. The idea of “personal independence” can be the basis for a promotion in many different markets. It’s worth keeping in mind that one of the primary reasons people go into business for themselves is the desire for freedom and independence.

Taking a look at some specific occasions… [Read more…]