One of my passions is to help brainstorm creative ways for my clients to stand out and be remembered in a positive and unusual way. I even co-authored a book on the subject with Debbie Kickham, entitled Off the Wall Marketing Ideas (Adams Media 2000).
Nothing is more boring than being predictable. You may have received my Chinese New Year message recently - a favorite holiday of mine for reasons mentioned here, for personal reasons especially, but also because I can almost guarantee very few businesses are acknowledging this holiday. My second favorite holiday to celebrate or focus on is July 4th -- again for personal reasons first (my son was born on that day) and also because there are few firecrackers going off this time of year in business.
By doing the unexpected, you separate yourself from others and are remembered by prospects, clients and referral sources as being unique. The devil is in the details, people!
So, here are my do's and don'ts on ways to stand out and be remembered.
Do:
- Think of occasions that are unique to you and your client that you can celebrate with them (i.e. anniversary of doing business together, their birthday, personal events in their lives that you can easily put into a customer relationship management program, etc.).
Don't:
- Ever send a holiday card or gift in December. It's boring, people! Everyone who doesn't have an imagination is doing the same darn thing. Be different. Thanksgiving might be a better idea in early November as a kick-off to the holiday season and it's a perfect time to share your gratitude to them for the business they give you. Another Thanksgiving idea is to make a donation to a local food pantry or soup kitchen in their name. This is a great way to show you care about your client and also the world at large - even on a local level.
We all want to be remembered in the best light possible. Taking the time to think through how to stand out and be remembered is worth the time, energy and effort. Also, remember there's some magic in communicating with your ideal market three consecutive times. It works because it takes several impressions for people to know, like, trust, and refer you, so stay focused on a finite list and keep the communication flowing.