If you really want a great gift idea, you need to check out this LEGO Jewelry website! The owner and designer is my wife’s Uncle, Damien Howard. This guy is incredibly creative. He started a business a few years ago creating Jewelry using only LEGOS. He designs earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Each piece is designed and created on the Eastern Shores of Maryland, by Damien himself. What a great business idea. Tell your friends and spread the word.
Take a look at what TORO has done with their Social Media Marketing (SMM) by spending time on their YouTube channel. Toro sells all sorts of lawn products. Boring eh? Well, they’ve made it not so boring by creating interesting videos that they feel will be well received. So far, they’ve had over 250,000 visitors watching their short clips. You won’t find a lot of promotional commercials. Instead you’ll see how Toro does “low budget” videos that shows their products in action. Consumers are tired of commercial, and TORO understands the power of Social Media. That is why they took “real life” footage and made believable clips. Great job TORO!
Painters, Remodelers, Service companies? You call can do the same. Just be yourself. Start a blog. Get a Flip Camera or use a Smartphone and start recording some video. If your content and videos are good…people will watch and read.
The Numbers If you think that people don’t use the Internet to find a great painting company, think again. In 2009, over 1.3 million people used Google, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to find a company to paint their houses and offices.
So, What? What does this mean to you? It means that if you’re not online, you’re leaving several thousands of dollars on the table. Just to be clear: by “online”, I don’t mean just “having a website”. Who doesn’t have one of those these days, anyway? What I mean is:
You’re on the first page of Google when people search for “painting company” in your local area.
You earn the trust of your community through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and community.
You have a website created by marketers and web designers (as opposed to web designers alone).
How You Can Use the Internet to Market Your Painting Company These are some great ideas to use the Internet to generate dozens of hot leads every month.
Less Is More Make sure your website is clean, organized and easy to navigate.
Give Something Away for Free Have a freebie for prospects who aren’t ready to be sold yet. Not every website visitor will become a client. Some are just “looking around”. Give them something for free, such as a free guide on how to choose the perfect painting company (be completely unbiased) or a presentation featuring some “before and after’s” from your previous clients. This will result in two things: 1) You’ll build trust with your prospects by giving them something of value for free and 2) You’ll get your prospect email address in exchange for the freebie. This will allow you to follow up with them after they leave your site.
Use Testimonials Your prospects will always have some reservations about working with you the first time they visit your site. When you meet prospects in person, it’s really easy to overcome their objections. But, when it comes to your website, the best way to overcome objections is to show your prospects that other people just like them had the same reservations they now have, decided to trust your company and now they couldn’t be happier they did. Try to get video testimonials if possible. Otherwise, just a few sentences on why exactly your clients love working with you will be great.
Have a Blog Write great home improvement articles and post them to your blog at least every other week. Share this content with your community using Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Also, add a “Share” button to your site so your visitors can share your content with their friends with just one click.
Increase Your Reach The more people you reach with your content, the more clients you’ll get. Be proactive about getting more qualified prospects on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Be First on Google When you search for something on Google, do you click on the first results Google shows you or you go to the 7th page to see the results there? Of course you click on the first results! That’s what your prospects do too when they search for a painting company in your area. So, you need to be on the first page of Google (preferably at the very top of it).
The Million-Dollar Question Every day, hundreds of prospects are using the Internet to find a painting company in your area. Are they finding you or your competitors?
How many times have you sat on an airplane and listened to the safety message that typically sounds like this, “Blah blah blah?” One words crosses my mind, “boring.” Companies are always marketing…remember that! When you have a boring old safety talk, that is marketing. How you greet a client, write a blog, paint a house, remodel a kitchen, it is all marketing. So how do you make your marketing different? Be creative! Very creative if possible. Air New Zealand has done just that. They wanted their customers to have a more pleasant experience when it came time for the boring old safety talk.
Watch the video below and keep thinking how you can do something remarkable that will make your customers come back to you and tell their friends.
Below is a recent article by the Wall Street Journal entitled “Author to Bypass Publisher for Fans.” This is a must read article. Traditional marketing has never seen so much change the last 1-2 years thanks to the online and social networking communities such as Facebook, Twitter, and many others. Social networking sites have made inbound marketing popular! Now “fans” and “customers” get to decide what they like . A consumer can follow who they want, when they want and even comment and share info in seconds. Seth Godin has a cult following. His fans tell him what they want, and he realized it is time to take action. Read the full article of Author to Bypass Publisher for Fans and consider how your business can do something similar.
Riemann Painting, located in Cranbrook British Columbia recently did a major identity and brand change. Most of the work they have done over the 25+ years has been strictly word of mouth and building strong relationships with builders, facility engineers and homeowners. They did not really have a brand. When I talked to Kim Wasylowich, owner of Riemann Painting, late last fall, Kim said he was open for a change. He wanted to start from scratch. He wanted a completely new and different look, but he also wanted to make sure he was targeting a number of different groups of people: commercial, industrial and residential. He has painters that work on all three types of properties.
We talked to the Graphic Designer and asked him to get his creative juices flowing. We wanted to create something that really popped. The idea was to have lots of color and yet be so different, people would remember the look. We would then follow up with a creative tagline that promoted the message that is simply this: Riemann paints. Anything and Everything. Period.
We came up with a number of different ideas from simple to eye catching. We ended up deciding on a Chameleon lizard. A Chameleon adapts and changes color when it is either frightened or to help camouflage itself in different surroundings. It can have lots of brilliant colors or it can be a solid color, depending on the environment. So we thought the Chameleon image/brand would portray what Riemann does very well. We also thought it would be memorable. Most folks, when they see a bright lizard for a painting company will do a double look. Also the final tagline that stuck was, “Painting in Any Environment.”
The best part about this brand project was Kim and his staff love it. This is the first step in their branding: the creating of the brand. Now we are in the process of promoting the brand to Riemann’s target audience. The new website is also live, but is more targeted to the residential audience. Riemann will be adding commercial and industrial sections in the coming weeks.
If you have never heard of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, you don’t know what you are missing. When you are done reading this blog entry, make sure you put it on your to-do list to research the nearest restaurant and take the family out.
Red Robin has a unique Brand. They has done something that many companies have not! They wrote down their core values and made it their brand identity. They’ve made their core values the life blood of their organization. In fact, you when you visit a Red Robin restaurant, the core values are embroidered on the sleeves of each employee’s uniform. The core values are: Honor, Integrity, Continually Seeking Knowledge and Having Fun. Most companies have a mission statement and many even have core values. But, do they practice these values and let each customer experience the difference? Red Robin does. Two specific ways Red Robin makes their brand engrained in the minds of their customers is by having very friendly staff members (Having Fun) and something they call Unbridled Act® (Integrity/Honor). The Unbridled Act® is a program they’ve developed where they practice random acts of kindness to their customers and the community. Everyone working at Red Robin knows and understand the company core values and practices them on and off hours!
When I first heard about the unique brand and core values of Red Robin, I decided to take some friends out and experience Red Robin for myself. I visited one of the San Diego locations. After the meal was over and I was looking over my final bill, I noticed the server accidentally charged me for an extra beverage. I did not want to make a big deal but thought I should let him know. The next thing I know, a manager came to my table, apologized for the mistake and gave me two free meals the next time I came to Red Robin. I was blown away! I came back with my wife a few months later and used the “free meal” coupons. That too was an amazing experience. It is a little uncomfortable for me to eat out for free, but Red Robin did not make me feel this way. They basically said, “Order anything you’d like…anything…even dessert. It is on us!” I’ve never forgotten my experience.
One final thing, not just anyone can work at Red Robin. They run a tight ship. They are looking for fun people! Their hiring experience is one of the best I’ve ever heard of. Instead of me telling you about it here, ask one of the servers what it was like to go through the hiring process.
The brand of Red Robin is very noticeable to customers whether or not they’ve seen the core values on the uniforms. When people think of Red Robin, I’m sure they all have the same conclusions, “Good Food. Amazing Service. Unlimited Refills on Fries & Most Drinks (bottomless). Just a Fun Place to Eat Out!
I get asked by contractors almost weekly if there truly is value in Social Networking, especially Linkedin. A short answer is, “Yes! Depending on how one uses Social Networking.” I’ve seen a lot of contractors that use it as a way to promote their services instead of creating good value and content. Social Networking sites should be used to connect with like minded people or businesses. It is also used to get to know potential clients, in a non “sales” approach: just down to earth. Linkedin is a very powerful networking tool, and most of the features are free.
If your marketing budgets are struggling right now, you have to network and prospect more. Linkedin Groups is a great way to build your connects and credibility. Make sure you watch this Linkedin Groups video and begin following some of their advice.
Steps to Success Using Linkedin Groups
Research some local and nationwide groups that best fit your industry and target audience. For example, a remodeling contractor in Chicago may want to join a community/local historical society group. A landscaper may want to join a garden club group. Get the idea?
Turn on email alerts. You can get email alerts “as they happen” daily or weekly reports.
Begin scanning through and reading some of the discussions in these groups
Start commenting, asking questions and sharing your knowledge without trying to sell your product or service. This will allow people to get to know you and your company without you having to push why you are an expert in your industry.
Once you are part of a group and participating, start to connect with the members. You don’t need an invitation. Add them to your network!
Finally, start your own discussions and even your own group!
If you use Linkedin Groups properly, you will see your connections group and will likely get a few leads/prospects when the time is right. Let them come to you, not you hunting them down.
If you really want a great gift idea, you need to check out this LEGO Jewelry website! The owner and designer is my wife’s Uncle, Damien Howard. This guy is incredibly creative. He started a business a few years ago creating Jewelry using only LEGOS. He designs earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Each piece is designed and created on the Eastern Shores of Maryland, by Damien himself. What a great business idea. Tell your friends and spread the word.
Take a look at what TORO has done with their Social Media Marketing (SMM) by spending time on their 
Guest Blogger: Zeke Camusio, founder of 
Riemann Painting, located in Cranbrook British Columbia recently did a major identity and brand change. Most of the work they have done over the 25+ years has been strictly word of mouth and building strong relationships with builders, facility engineers and homeowners. They did not really have a brand. When I talked to Kim Wasylowich, owner of Riemann Painting, late last fall, Kim said he was open for a change. He wanted to start from scratch. He wanted a completely new and different look, but he also wanted to make sure he was targeting a number of different groups of people: commercial, industrial and residential. He has painters that work on all three types of properties.
If you have never heard of 
I get asked by contractors almost weekly if there truly is value in Social Networking, especially Linkedin. A short answer is, “Yes! Depending on how one uses Social Networking.” I’ve seen a lot of contractors that use it as a way to promote their services instead of creating good value and content. Social Networking sites should be used to connect with like minded people or businesses. It is also used to get to know potential clients, in a non “sales” approach: just down to earth. Linkedin is a very powerful networking tool, and most of the features are free.
