we have a seasonal service business offering 15-20 different
services with lots of competition.
we are pretty well established but our clientel is shrinking for
several reasons.
1. people move
2.competitors are marketing 12 months a year and we just
wait for the phone to ring or call our best customers when we
run out of work
3. once a customer says no once either as a customer or
a prospect he is off the list.
4. we dont ask for referrals to family, friends , or neighbors
and
5. we just assume everyone knows what services we offer
and never offer them a list or incentive to contact us NOW.
I could go on but i will get to the point.
we do have a list of all customers that wrote checks for’
the last 3 seasons and are getting emails for them and
planning to set up an effective website that will generate
emails from existing and potential customers that visit
the site ..CAN WE USE AN EMAIL SERVICE TO HANDLE
OUR EMAILS EFFECTIVELY OR SHOULD WE DO IT IN
HOUSE??
December 29th, 2008 at 2:02 am
It looks like you do little marketing, and assuming you have no experience - I’d suggest that you use an external company.
If using email marketing, i’d suggest:
A - a quarterly newsletter giving your recipients advice, it must have your branding so that they remember you. Offer articles of advice that are of use to them - this way they’ll remember you.
Its a good method of reminding customers that you are there and still exist.
Closer to the time you make the sales, send promotional emails. How about a personal email to recommend friends, and an incentive to do so (an ipod etc)
Good luck - and use an external company.