Help a Student Win $1,000 - Monday, November 16, 2009

I'm excited to be directing the marketing campaign for the Community College Baccalaureate Association. This is my seventh year promoting this worthwhile and beneficial project for the CCBA. Students enrolled in a community college write a 400-500 word essay on "Why obtaining a four year degree on my community college campus is (or would be) important to me."

The winner will receive $1,000, an all expense paid trip to the 10th Annual CCBA Conference in Baltimore from March 26-28, and $1,000 will be awarded to the Student Government Association of the winner's college. The scholarship prize is provided by Community College Week.

The Community College Baccalaureate Association strives to promote better access to the baccalaureate degree on community college campuses, and to serve as a resource for information on various models for accomplishing this purpose. The Annual Student Essay Contest is open to any student currently enrolled in a community college, including institutions in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.

The deadline for entries is February 5, 2010. We're working hard to get the word out with the help of CCBA members associated with community colleges. Please pass this info on to students you may know. Details and contest rules can be found at the CCBA website: www.accbd.org. One thousand dollars in this economy can go a long way to help pay for college expenses!

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Street Corner Sign Guys - Monday, November 9, 2009

We've all seen the street corner sign guys and wondered if this type of advertising works. Well it does, and according to a recent article in Entrepreneur Magazine, lots of companies are using this type of marketing tactic.

Using "human directionals", as they are called in the advertising world, has morphed into high energy antics guaranteed to draw a crowd. New companies such as AArrow Advertising are ready and willing to take advantage of our love of a good laugh. Its arrow-wielding humans are equal parts clown, athlete and actor. For six hours at a stretch or more, they spin and throw their arrow-shaped signs like batons, strum them like guitars, paddle them like canoes, ride them like horses--anything to grab the attention of passersby.

Liberty Tax Service, a new competitor to established behemoths like H&R Block, not only hired a human directional to dress up like the Statue of Liberty, but added AArrow Advertising employees for a lively sidewalk show. Especially in warm climes, such as Florida and Southern California, this guerilla marketing technique has evolved into a profitable form of street performance.

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- Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Horizontal Marketing

Creating alliances is a good rule of thumb and a way to increase your market share. As an example, a car dealership in Wisconsin teamed up with a real estate agent and advertised, "Buy a House, Get a Free Electric Car." The ad drew a great deal of attention and the dealership reported a noticeable increase in foot traffic at his business.

Partnering with a company that shares your target market saves you time and money. Many business owners have learned the value of what is called "horizontal marketing": when two businesses with different products but similar clientele join marketing efforts. Its a smart way to increase your customer base without increasing your marketing budget.

I found this idea to be full of possibilities for small business owners and thought I would pass it on to you . . . it might spark your next successful marketing project.

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