Going Beyond Business as Usual This Holiday Season

Business expert and PictureItPostage spokesperson Barbara Corcoran joined TheMotherhood today to discuss ways to cut through the mail clutter during the holidays to reach current and prospective small business clients.  She was joined by a number of co-hosts, social media moms and small business owners, who all shared their collective wisdom!

Thanks to PictureItPostage for sponsoring the Talk and providing this special offer – use the coupon code MOTHERHOOD to get $4 off an order of custom stamps (offer expires Jan. 31, 2011) at http://pictureitpostage.com/!!  Your purchase will enter you to win a $500 prize!  (See entry rules below.)

Custom stamps happen to be an excellent way to brand your mailings and catch your recipients’ attention!  Read on for more great suggestions:

– Why to Send Holiday Mailers: It’s important to thank both clients, for their business throughout the year, and anyone who has worked for you.  People will appreciate your effort, and it’s a good way to remind them about your business – and sell your product!

– Get Started Now! Send holiday mailings and gifts during the Thanksgiving season – the week before or after.  People get fewer mailings during this time than they do around Christmas.

– Cut Through the Holiday Clutter: A lot of businesses send thank-yous and small gifts to customers during the holiday season.  To ensure your mailing gets noticed and opened, use vibrant colors and personalize each handwritten message.  Branding your envelope with a cute custom stamp, like the ones from PictureItPostage, is another great way to catch the eye!

– Tuck a Small Gift Into the Envelope: Items like magnets, pens, calendars or other small, useful items that are tastefully branded with your logo are a great way to keep your name in front of your customers all year round.

– Snail Mail is Best: Sending an electronic card to customers may seem easier and more economical, but it is less likely to be seen and appreciated.  Many such emails are deleted unopened or caught in spam filters.

– Showcase Your Product: If you are a photographer, send holiday photo cards, using your photos – and order photo postage to put on the envelope.  If you design personalized stationery, use your own work when you create your holiday mailings.  It is a built-in advertisement for what you do.

– Be Persistent: If your mailings don’t drum up the business you had hoped for the first, second or even third time, don’t give up! Keep trying new approaches until you find something that works for you and resonates with your customer base.

– Personalize, Personalize, Personalize: If you give nicer gifts to regular clients, be sure to get them something that acknowledges their interests. If someone likes flowers, send them bulbs directly from Holland. If someone adores their children, have a photo of them printed on a custom deck of playing cards – or give the gift of custom stamps from PictureItPostage at http://www.pictureitpostage.com !!

Another BIG thanks to PictureItPostage and our incredibly talented blogger co-hosts!!!  Don’t forget to use the coupon code and order your custom postage to make your holiday business mailings pop this season!!!

– Audrey, Mom Generations
– Candy, Mommypalooza
– Clarissa, Diary of a POSHpreneur
– Dawn, My Home Sweet Home Online
– Ellen, Mompreneurs Online
– Grace, Grace Hester Designs
– Jen, Next Kid Thing
– Jodi, Mom’s Favorite Stuff
– Kate, The Shopping Mama
– Melissa, Girlymama
– Mishelle, Secret Agent Mama
– Nicole, Momtrends
– Piera, Jolly Mom
– Stacey, Mama Law

PictureItPostage Giveaway with themotherhood.com
OFFICIAL RULES
1. PictureItPostage by DYMO Endicia™ is conducting a $500 prize giveaway. All PictureItPostage customers who enter code “MOTHERHOOD” upon checkout for purchases made on PictureItPostage.com from November 17, 2010 through December 15, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time will be entered to win one (1) $500 cash prize giveaway.
2. One (1) winner will be selected at random on December 20, 2010 by PictureItPostage by DYMO Endicia, or DYMO Endicia’s designee. Odds of winning will be determined by the total number of eligible entries received. Winner need not be present at drawing to win. Winner will be notified by phone or mail no later than December 31, 2010. Entry into contest constitutes entrant’s permission for Endicia to contact entrant for sales and marketing purposes.
3. The prize package consists of one (1) $500 cash prize.

4. Contest is open only to PictureItPostage by DYMO Endicia customers who are legal U.S. residents 21 years of age or older except employees of DYMO Endicia, its affiliates, subsidiaries, sales representatives, distributors, or advertising and promotion agencies and the immediate families and household members of each of the above. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited by law.
5. No prize substitutions allowed except that DYMO Endicia reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if an advertised prize becomes unavailable. All taxes on prizes are winner’s responsibility.
Sponsor: PictureItPostage by DYMO Endicia, a Newell Rubbermaid company, Palo Alto, CA

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62106