One-A-Day Marketing Vitamins

Is your business growing, or are you on a plateau in need of a boost to move up? I know that I always tell you it is best to have a positioning statement and a plan. But sometimes, you just need something to get you off square one.

Below is my list of 20 marketing vitamins that you should choose from daily over the next month.

1. Consider starting a monthly e-newsletter. They are a great way to communicate with existing customers, and to remind them of other services you provide.

2. Call a customer at random just to thank him for the business he has given you.

3. Develop a signature for inclusion on every email and ensure that all employees are using it. Here's mine:

Get Bottom Line Communication Ideas at www.hoover-ink.com

Hoover ink PR, LLC.

Harry Hoover

Harry@hoover-ink.com

704-953-3406

4. Send hand-written thank you notes to customers or other people who have helped your business.

5. Call a former customer to find out why she left you.

6. If well educated business professionals are your target, consider becoming a sponsor on your local public radio station.

7. Give a speech. If you need help with public speaking, sign up for Zipline at www.tyboyd.com, the e-newsletter I do for Ty Boyd, one of America's top presentation coaches. Even better, take one of his courses.

8. Read a marketing book.

9. Write and place articles in ezines.

10. Ask a customer what you can do to help his business.

11. Distribute releases about newsworthy events.

12. Set up a marketing and advisory group consisting of people from outside your industry.

13. Consider setting up a local online web search advertising campaign. Check out ReachLocal, http://www.reachlocal.com/?aid=402.

14. Gather competitors' ads and literature to see what they are promoting, and how they are approaching their target market.

15. Offer free samples of your product or service.

16. Call some current clients and ask them why they hired you and how you could expand your business with them.

17. Get a college student who is in a communications program to do a summer internship for you. UNC-Chapel Hill has a very good internship program.

18. Join - and get involved in - a professional or civic group.

19. Write a letter to the editor or an Op-Ed piece to establish your expertise in an issue.

20. Hire me.

Harry Hoover is managing principal of Hoover ink PR, http://www.hoover-ink.com. He has 26 years of experience in crafting and delivering bottom line messages that ensure success for serious businesses like Brent Dees Financial Planning, Levolor, New World Mortgage, North Carolina Tourism, Ty Boyd Executive Learning Systems VELUX and Verbatim.

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/relations-pr--marketing-named/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B05DF95D5-E417-487B-949C-259D4EEEB627%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257214086ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNH4RK1qU1oraAmHCWzprZOxP3kzUwRelations PR amp; bMarketing/b Named Agency of Record for A Benefit To b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr25 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1TAMPA, Fla., Oct 13, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Relations PR amp; bMarketing/b today announced the addition of A Benefit To You, a new Geriatric Care b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sourcewire.com/releases/rel_display.php%3Frelid%3D42367%26hilite%3Dcid=1257188811ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNG_Odo_a3hRAfyuQe9K8VFQiuEDXAAlterian Content Management Puts Digital bMarketing/b Back into the b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSourceWire (press release),nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr48 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1This extension of the Alterian Integrated bMarketing/b Platform combines Alterian’s industry-leading multi-channel bmarketing/b analytics with Alterian Content b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/Aprimo/Kodak/prweb1457924.htmcid=1257188811ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNF7ZL2hgB0rxjuNoBiNDsN12matbQAprimo Enters into Alliance with Kodak to Extend its Offerings of b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrPR Web (press release)/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257188811hl=ennobrall 4 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/10/prweb1452714.htmcid=1257188801ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNGenIo2Nbt3cwYV-C3S7Y6pYMIAMQJupiter Systems Names Brady O. Bruce VP of bMarketing/b amp; Strategic b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;Brady Bruce brings proven business leadership, bmarketing/b and business development expertise to Jupiter,quot; said Eric Wogsberg, founder and CEO. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/4af41a1e-96e0-11dd-8cc4-000077b07658,dwp_uuid%3D02e16f4a-46f9-11da-b8e5-00000e2511c8.htmlcid=0ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNET8PLYbkHEtGz_bngScO1UQnRGwgbMarketing/b is ‘paralysed by facts’/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fFinancial Times,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr42 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Now, thanks to the internet and other advances, the opposite is true: many bmarketing/b departments have access to so many facts and figures that “analysis b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/10/prweb1427334.htmcid=1257188894ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNHviSu8lq2525zoxhlbs0SnzdpYaQPromomadeez Company a Promotional bMarketing/b Online Store Offers b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Promomadeez.com, and plans to be able to provide their superior promotional products to those looking for a cost effective approach towards bmarketing/b and b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081013.RSTRATEGYSOUTHCOTT13/TPStory/Businesscid=0ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNEsmakl0-8BsXJdNto1A_RGmIyCKgTurbulent times bring creative bmarketing/b opportunities/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fGlobe and Mail,nbsp;Canadanbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1BUDGET-CUTTING SCISSORS The first thing that people do when times get tough is cut their bmarketing/b budgets. At first blush, it makes sense to cut variable b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/10/prweb1450314.htmcid=1257188869ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNEDU8Bb7guDQQahCtt7VFKo6CBoHgbMarketing/b Calculator: Measuring and Managing Your Return on b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;Finally bmarketing/b investment has a consequence. An every day practical guideline for marketers and controllers. With this book effective bmarketing/b becomes b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php%3Ftp%3Don%26autono%3D47880cid=1257158860ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNFP7Onnlce4u24feErs8axaoHmUmAIpca Labs ties up with US company for drug manufacture, bmarketing/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBusiness Standard,nbsp;Indianbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Ipca Laboratories Ltd has has tied up with US-based Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc for manufacture and bmarketing/b of a drug in the American markets. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Market_Live/Market_Live/articleshow/3588818.cmscid=1257158860ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNGEEHtphYmTKRkGoeX2Oaf-ojAQPgMarket Live/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrEconomic Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257158860hl=ennobrall 10 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Corporate_Trends/ET_summit_to_explore_future_of_mobile_marketing/articleshow/3587654.cmscid=1257119574ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNFY9qW2DwKfFYw4DILVUm9UNQJOtAET summit to explore future of mobile bmarketing/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fEconomic Times,nbsp;Indianbsp;-/font nobr12 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Mobile bmarketing/b is on a steady rise in India as well, with the cell phone user base in the country at 300 million. However, given its nascence, b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.televisionpoint.com/news2008/newsfullstory.php%3Fid%3D1223901460cid=1257119574ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNGxyHytYkNmNEcaPzVermIsLHxFrgSMS 2.0 bmarketing/b is here to stay in India/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrTelevisionpoint.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257119574hl=ennobrall 2 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.clickz.com/3631138cid=1257073962ei=sx3zSKSJBo3W6gOH-qV3usg=AFQjCNHkXZSECP3FhB7zElKRyoBBMY6KngMobile bMarketing/b: 12 Tips for Planning Your Media/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fClickZ News,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Sean Carton, The ClickZ Network, Oct 13, 2008 In quot;Riding the Perfect Storm of Mobile bMarketing/b,quot; I made the case that we#39;re about to enter a new age of b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
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