Keeping In Touch with Your Customers

"I'm not a marketing person.  I don't ask myself questions.  
I go by instinct."   Karl Lagerfeld

Whether keeping in touch with friends or family, greeting cards remain an economical, fun, thoughtful way to do just that.  

That same philosophy makes an easy jump to our business world when we begin to look at our customers as our business-friends.   Not only can we say “hello” and remind our customers that we are there to help when needed or to wish them well on their birthday, but we can (and should!) use this handy keep-in-touch method as a vehicle to update our customers on everything from our monthly specials to a change in contact information.

Greeting cards are just one "marketing tool” that works.  Let's take a look at a few more marketing ideas that don't come with a hit-you-over-the-head club, but yet are super effective ways of making things happen!

I Like You ...  Social media really is the latest and greatest way to stay in touch and let your customers know what you're up to.  Offer a coupon to those who Like you on Facebook.  Don't forget to post often and encourage customers to visit your page for deals not offered anywhere else.  Placing cyber-coupons on your page makes it easy for customers to effortlessly "carry" your coupons, rather than clipping and cutting and arriving with a messy tangle.

You can take it with you ... Colorful bookmarks with your company name and address; recipe cards with your kitchen store hours; coloring sheets or squeaky new crayons for the little ones -- offer your customers something to take with them and you've struck marketing gold.  Now they are reminded of you each and every time they bake a pie or turn a page or are presented with another masterpiece from their child.  You've become part of their everyday world.

Don't Be Shy ...  Link your promotion to a public event.  Sponsor the local run/walk race and offer a free gift or discount from your storefront for all of those who participate.  Being seen in the community helps to show customers that you're not just the shop on the corner, but an integral part of the town.

There are many (many!) ways that we can market.  Choose the vehicle that seems right for you ... or stretch yourself a bit!  Reaching out to your customer as we would any friend will create long-lasting, profitable partnerships.  

"In the world of Internet Customer Service, it’s important to remember your competitor is only one mouse click away."   Doug Warner

... or a call away, a block away, an advertised sale away ...  

Although Mr. Warner may be referring to internet customer service the truth is that, whether we're clicking it or walking it, Main Street is bigger than ever.  Even savvy business owners can no longer be confident that their customers are captive audiences, as theirs' isn’t the only game in town.  Customer service is more important than ever.  It not only keeps one's customers coming back, but it's often the linchpin for drawing new customers through the door. 

Here are a few basic rules to not only draw new customers, but new-to-you customers!

To thine own self be true.  Bill Shakespeare must have owned a small book store!  Remember when all this began?  Remember your great idea, your enthusiasm for the products you carry or the service you provide?  Get back there!  Being true to your mission statement, true to your dream, will instantly provide a certain level of service that your customers will feel, respond to and (better yet) spread the word about.  Trite but true:  Your business is a clear reflection of who you are.  When people feel comfortable with you, they feel comfortable working with you.

Whatever you are, be a good one.  If you are the Mom and Pop diner with your storefront nestled between the florist and the hardware store, don't try to be the shiny new giant Starbucks down the street.  Know that there is a service you provide that can't be -- and isn't being -- duplicated by a competitor.  Know your niche and embrace it rather than putting your efforts into becoming something else.  Abe Lincoln's homespun wisdom seemed to work for him!

Would Macy's tell Gimble's ....?  Run your own race, but keep your eyes open.  When seeking to draw (and you should seek to draw!) clients who are unhappy with the service a competitor is offering, first take a look at what exactly that service is.  Do your research.  Pull some of your competitors' brochures.  Visit their web sites.  How are you the same and where do you differ?  How can you differ?  What client-base isn't being served?  Armed with your competitors' marketing strategies, it will be easier to see what's worked and what hasn't. 

Make new friends, but keep the old!  There is little that frustrates a long-time customer more than finding your storefront emblazoned with a banner offering special discounts to new customers.  Should you advertise to welcome them?  Absolutely!  That being said, you may want to herald in your campaign targeting new customers at the same time you offer a customer appreciation celebration.  Want a little more bang for your buck? -- run your customer appreciation week immediately prior to your welcoming-new-customer offers.  Your current customers will feel you thought of them first -- and your new customers are likely to have seen how you value your old customers, as well. 

Revisiting the core of your business -- who you are -- is the fastest route to becoming who you want to be and will provide invaluable insights into how to get there.

The Cordial Greetings Team encourages you to take your lead from the budding trees and flowers around you  -- make this be the spring your business blooms brightly!

Taking Back Your Schedule

"Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year – and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!" A.Robbins

Whether you are the Jim in Jim's Plumbing and Heating or the Verna in Flowers by Verna; whether your small business is operated out of a rented space with its own water cooler or a home office/back-bedroom, for the small business owner time is a precious commodity.  The busier you get -- and that is the idea after all! -- the more precious your time becomes.

As your business grows you will no doubt find yourself being tugged and pulled in what may feel like a million directions.  At the end of the day, you may feel as though you've spent your time chasing your tail rather than making the progress necessary to stay on top.   You are likely to arrive home exhausted and wanting the name and number of the inventor of the phrase Work Life Balance.  And it's only Tuesday.

While few of us may be able to "master" time, most of us can leash it a bit!  Here are a few observations and suggestions to help you do just that:

Tail Chaser:  "To do two things at once is to do neither."    Publius Syrus.  

Good old Publius was right: multi-tasking doesn't work.  Well, at least not the way we've been encouraged to do it for decades.   Often we feel that if we can do two things at once then we have used our time so much more effectively.  We have cheated the clock!  Too soon, what we find is that it is much more likely we've cheated our customer out of the attention they deserve and ourselves out of the pride that comes from knowing our name is attached to something really first quality.  

Solution:  Go ahead and love your multi-tasking, but do it in blocks of time.  There's a difference between multi-tasking and doing two things at once!    Spend the first or last 15 minutes of your day reviewing the priority list you've prepared the evening before.  Become familiar with when you had planned to start and end each task -- and do it!  Yes, even if you just need five more minutes ...!  Learning to take control of your time -- rather than the other way around -- will make you more effective than you may imagine.

Tail Chaser:   "Um."

Solution:  You may be surprised how many hours of your business life are spent "hemming and hawing" when you already really know your answer.   Taking a deep breath and telling a vendor "No" the first time will save you the many interruptions that will come from their calls when they are simply looking for that decisive "Yes or No"!

Tail Chaser:  "Oh -- do we want to talk about ...?"

Solution:  To meet without an agenda is an enormous taker of your time!  Choose a start time for your meeting -- but choose a logical duration (and stick to it!) as well.  The experts tell us that meandering meetings are one of the biggest time drainers.   Be smart about scheduling -- you want to be certain to leave enough time between meetings to actually do something productive.  A fifteen minute break will likely only give you a five-free-minute window -- enough time to do nothing!

Tail Chaser:  "I'll just finish this one thing  and head home ..."

Solution:  Stop "working" 30-minutes before you leave for the day.  Take those minutes and organize your desk (ugh! , but a messy desk is a huge time waster), and spend a few moments reorganizing your thoughts.  Reviewing the day.  Making notes as you go for tomorrow.   Prioritize the next day's tasks and leave your schedule book open on your desk or print out your to-do list so that it's the first thing that you see when you arrive in the morning.   Scrambling takes not only time, but drains energy!  Having things ready to go first thing will give you a calm first-look as your day begins. 

These are just a few observations and solutions that we have identified -- we could go on and on listing those Tail Chasers -- and know that we all have our own to add to this list, as well. 

The Cordial Team welcomes you to share your Chasers and solutions and will continue to blog about ways to ... leash!

Social Media for Small Businesses

"When you give everyone a voice and give people power, the system usually ends up in a really good place." -- Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and Facebook Founder

Main Street just got bigger.  Much bigger.  No longer is your small business limited to geography.  Now your muffins that sell-out on Sunday mornings can sell-out every day of the week with the help of social media. 

The statistics?  They are mind-numbing when one considers the potential!  In his recent marketing blog, Pedro Hernandez noted Bone Suckin' Sauce -- a BBQ sauce business -- increased its sales by 83% when they began posting on Facebook in earnest.  Sam's Chowder House increased both their monthly gross revenues and monthly reservations by 19% when they committed to social media promotions.

Love it ... or not s'much! ... Twitter, Facebook, InstaGram (along with whatever new platform rolls out today!) are probably here to stay.  Cordial Greetings wants to help you take advantage of the endless potential social media offers for promoting your business.  

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Don't think local.  The world is now your oyster, as the saying goes.  Are your birthday cupcakes famous in Peoria?   Well, they have birthdays in Jacksonville, too!  Why not run an easy contest for the cupcake that travels the farthest?   Send two dozen of your can't-live-without-once-you-try-them cookies to the client who orders each month from the greatest distance!

Okay: Go ahead and think local.  Want to increase foot traffic?  Offer on-line in-store coupons for those customers lucky enough to live nearby.  Monday not exactly your busiest day at the floral shop?  Facebook a special that offers a free flower each Monday morning.  Guaranteed that, when the time comes for that pricey arrangement, it will be your threshold they cross!

Post post post ... post post. Then post some more.  Studies have shown that social media followers are just that -- followers!  They will check your site, friend you, read your blogs, watch for your posts and special offers -- and keep watching!   You may be surprised to find how often your blogs are visited and your on-line coupons used.   The trick is consistency.  Our social media-ites are nothing if not consistent!  Once you begin your online campaign -- keep it up!

Coupons ... they're not just for clipping anymore.  Last month we blogged about coupons accessible with our smart phones.  Instant savings -- literally! -- that can be Googled while a customer is waiting for her oil change.  These types of sales offers, promoted on Facebook and Twitter as well as your business site, are invaluable -- instant -- and always appreciated tools.

We could go on and on with the many ways that small businesses can benefit from the social media age, but here's the rule of thumb: it's about building relationships.  When we share  our ideas and offers with clients and prospective clients, we  help them find out what our business is all about -- and who we are. 

For decades, the Cordial Greetings Team has been doing just that!  With our collection of real-world products and now with the introduction of our Mobile Landing Pages, Cordial's experts are ready to help your business ... go social!

As always, we would love to hear your comments and suggestions! 

Mobile Marketing for Small Businesses

" An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator...these are NOT three separate devices! And we are calling it iPhone! Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone. And here it is." -- Steve Jobs


Whether you are team iPhone, Android or Windows, you are utilizing a digital device. Technology --friend or foe... or both!-- is with us to stay. As the world --our client base -- grows increasingly comfortable with hand-held devices, as business owners we would be remiss, at best, not to take advantage of this new, innovative marketing tool and means of reaching our customers. According to Neilson, the iPhone itself grew at a rate of ten times faster than that of America Online.


Jamie Turner, the founder of The 60 Second Marketer, offers some amazing, insightful statistics:

• While it take an average of 26 hours for a person to report their wallet lost, it takes less than 68 minutes to report their phone missing.


• In some countries, there are actually more cell phones than there are people-- and there are more mobile phones on the planet than there are televisions! 


• CTIA tells us that 90 minutes is the average response time to an email .... while it's 90 seconds for a text message.


• The Mobile Marketing Association Asia reported in 2011 that while the technology world could boast that out of 6.8 billion people on the planet, 5.1 billion own a cell phone.... the dental industry didn't fair as well: Only 4.2 billion have a toothbrush.

As fun as these stats are to read-- and sometimes as shocking-- more to the point are these findings:

• 97% of all U.S. citizens have their mobile devices within their reach 24/7. ( Morgan Stanley)


• 70% of all mobile searches result in an action within one hour of the initial search. ( Mobile Marketer)


• Coupons delivered to mobile phones get 10 x's the redemption rate of traditional coupons.( Borrell Associates )

The challenge for the small business owner had understandably been where to begin with what can be a daunting task and  can require resources that aren't readily available. The answer is Cordial Greetings. We are known for our business-owner friendly approach to keeping in touch with your customers. We now offer a simple approach to offering a mobile marketing white-page and implementing a branded mobile landing page for your business.

Still sound complicated? Visit www.CordialGreetings.com to see our product or view our super- easy- to- understand video and quickly learn how simple it is to move your business into the mobile age.

Providing your business information to your existing or soon-to be customers in this way opens up an entirely new base for your business and it's cheap, easy and hands free! ( No pun intended) 

Learn more by contacting a Cordial Greetings' mobile marketing expert at 1-800-257-8276.

We can't wait to help you put your business on the path to making the right "call"!

Out with the Old.... in with the New!

Just as we are reminded that it's time for our clocks to "Spring Ahead!," it's a great time to spring ahead with our own business plan, as well.

Rather than waiting for the rush of the holiday season, take advantage of Cordial Greetings' best prices on items specifically designed to help you grow your business by growing your relationships. The only way, the experts tell us, that really works.

What better way to tell your customers that they are in your thoughts each day than the gift of a Cordial Greetings' calendar? Economical and versatile, Cordials' team has created a design to suit everyone.

Florists, for example, love our Garden Splendor - brimming with an array of seasonal favorites.

Your coastal bed- and -breakfast guests will be delighted- and reminded to book ahead- when they receive our Lighthouses 2014 calendar.

Whether you choose Historic Landmarks or Wonders of the World, you'll score points sending these beautiful photos to the travelers or travel- dreamers on your list.

Who doesn't love to commiserate and have a laugh? Murphy's Law shows your clients we are all in this together!

Non-profits and church groups can easily encourage benefactors or congregation members with our Inspirations or Christian Reflections desk or wall calendars.

Don't forget friends and family! Planning a class or family reunion in 2014? Wedding? Graduation? What a great way to remind family and friends that 2014 will truly be a special year.

Whatever your reason, Cordial's calendars offer the appropriate style, illustrations and send the perfect message.

So, on March 10th, turn those clocks forward with anticipation- and let Cordial Greetings 2014 calendars help you spring ahead!

Our Cordial Greetings team welcomes your questions, comments and suggestions!

Promote via Presidents' Day!

                              George, Abe and ... You!

Although George Washington officially blew out his candles on February 22nd-- just a few days behind Abraham Lincoln on February 12th-- it wasn't until 1971 that Congress officially declared that Presidents' Day would be celebrated as a Federal Holiday the third Monday of each February. This year, Presidents' Day falls on the 18th.

Whether or not you indulge in a slice of cherry pie to celebrate George or chop an extra log or two for the fire in remembrance of Abe, this day surely reminds us of the strong, intelligent and brave men and women who have helped put the freedoms we enjoy each day into place.

Cordial Greetings line of patriotic cards and calendars can be a wonderful reminder of just that to your clients and friends-- as well as serving as a shout-out from you!

Take advantage of Cordial's early bird special pricing and select either the Patriotic Pride or Colors of America holiday card. With the American flag cleverly incorporated into the design, whether your taste is elegant or casual-fun, Cordial Greetings has got you covered.


Maybe you want to share your sentiments 365-days a year? With Cordial's variety of calendar styles there is something for everyone.

Card to Calendar styles combine the best of both worlds-- the sophistication of a greeting card sharing a holiday message and the practicality of a 12-month calendar presented in a tri-fold card.

Need something economical and practical--something to keep your name, address and phone number in front of your clients' eyes? Cordial's economy calendar line has been the perennial go-to collection for the smart business owners looking to give an everyday reminder on their clients' desks.

Self-adhesive styles declare your patriotism with the image of the waving Stars and Stripes. Magnetic economy calendars offer the bold colors and vivid image of our flag--and 2014 adds a touch of gold, displaying the year.

Whatever your taste, style or budget, Cordial Greetings Patriotic Collection has a card or calendar that will surely be the perfect fit.

This February, Cordial Greetings salutes our customers with great ideas, great products and great prices to help make your business reach the stars (and stripes)!