Sunday, November 21, 2010

Start a Birthday Club

There are many fun and interesting ways to market your small business and make your customers feel special at the same time. Happy customers are most likely to be return customers...sounds simple enough right? As a small business woman you already know that things are not always as simple as they sound, especially in these tough economic times. These are times to get creative in your marketing strategy. Try starting a Birthday Club for your customers.

A Birthday Club is a fun way to get your business noticed. You can put a form on your website to collect your customer's birthday information and inform them that they will receive something special on that day. Not only will it gain your visitor's interest but it will also help you build personal relationships with them by remembering their special day and giving them a treat. I remember years ago one of my friends told me about a birthday special at Fuddruckers restaurant in NYC...the birthday boy or girl got a free cake along with a song and dance from the waiters. It was a lot of fun and we actually took all of our friends there to celebrate their birthdays. It became one of our favorite places to eat and hang out. The Fuddrucker's birthday special gained them extra customers.

Ok so you don't have to literally put on a song and dance for your customers...unless you have a brick and mortar shop and don't mind doing it. LOL. Seriously though there are many things that you can offer for your Birthday Club depending on your business. If you sell items you can give away something for free...everyone loves something for free. But make sure that it is not cheap or chintzy, remember that word of mouth is a very powerful marketing tool and you definitely do not want people spreading the word that your gift is of poor quality. Even if it is free, make it special and if the person really likes it they will most likely become a repeat customer. If you sell candles or soap you can offer one of your products in the person's favorite fragrance or color. If you do not want to give something tangible away, give a special discount or coupon. If you have a service business, give them a nice discount or maybe even a special service for free. You can be as creative as you like in what you choose to offer. If people are happy with your special birthday gifts, your club and business will gain popularity as more people will want to join.

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