The name of your business is important–it’s one of the first things potential customers know about it. And having unique names for each of your products and services can be a powerful selling tool. One way to make yourself and your business attractive is to have something exclusive and enticing, promising benefits. Good names for your business, products and services can do that. Good names market for you.

Do you have a hard time coming up with names? Perhaps you called your business ABC Enterprises, because you just couldn’t think of anything else. What does that name say about you and what you do? Nothing. Nada. Zip. It doesn’t tell customers why they would want to do business with you, because they have no idea what it is that you do, or who you do it for.

Here’s my favorite way to come up with a name. I call it "Idea Storming." OK, I just did it to you. Marketing with a name, that is. "Idea Storming" is a name I came up with to describe one of my services. Brainstorming has been done to death. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt from the seminar. Idea Storming puts a slight twist on it. You recognize the concept, but it has a different name, and it ties to my Idea Lady identity. Not a spectacular example, but see how it works?

Anyway, I help my clients to Idea Storm, but here’s how you can do it on your own. Get a piece of paper and a pen. Write down every word or phrase you can think of to describe your business. What do you do? Who are your clients? What results do you get for them? What words would your clients use to describe what you do? How would they describe the feeling they got doing business with you? Why is your business better than others?

Once you’ve got a nice, long list, keep going. Get out your thesaurus (or use the one in your word processor) to come up with words with meanings similar to what you wrote down. Scan books and magazine articles for words and phrases that jump off the page at you. Talk to friends and associates, and get them to Idea Storm with you.

Now, take your list and start combining the words and phrases. Take this word and add it to that one. Use this phrase, but substitute that word. Take pieces of two words and make a brand new word.

I’ve used this method to come up with lots of names and titles over the last few years. This is how I created names such as The Idea Lady, Solo-preneuring, and many more.

Another great benefit of Idea Storming is that even the words and phrases you don’t use in your name can be used in a slogan, on your business cards, in sales letters, in brochures and in other marketing materials.

This technique is simple. But it really works.

Copyright Cathy Stucker. As the Idea Lady, Cathy Stucker can help you attract customers and make yourself famous with inexpensive and free marketing ideas. Get free tips, articles and more at http://www.IdeaLady.com/.

One of the ways people get to know you is by the identity you project. Your company name, the way you present yourself, your business card and brochure, where you work, and other ways you conduct your business create an image that gives your customers information about you.

Pricing is a part of your image, too. Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of underpricing. They believe that the only way to attract customers is to have the lowest possible price. But this attitude can damage your business.

First of all, when you underprice you won’t be adequately compensated for your time. You must be able to make enough money to pay your bills and grow your business, or you won’t be in business very long.

Ironically, underpricing can actually result in getting fewer customers, not more. Think about this from the customer’s perspective. Let’s say you are looking for someone to do a job for you. You contact five companies, and get prices of $4000, $2700, $2500, $2400, and $1000. Which one would you select?

Assuming that the quotes are all based on the same specifications, most people would immediately eliminate the $4000 quote as being way out of line; however, they would also be suspicious of the $1000 quote. Why is it so much less than the others? Do they use substandard materials? Are their workers less skilled? Will they do a poor job–if they do the job at all?

Price isn’t the only factor people consider when making a purchase. You might choose the $2700 quote because you decide the price is reasonable, and someone from the company called you back quickly. You get a good feeling from their responsiveness, and decide they may be worth a few dollars more than the lowest bidder.

Some markets are more price sensitive than others, and there is probably a price point you can’t exceed for your product or service. But coming in far below the "going rate" can be just as harmful to your business as overpricing.

Copyright Cathy Stucker. As the Idea Lady, Cathy Stucker can help you attract customers and make yourself famous with inexpensive and free marketing ideas. Get free tips, articles and more at http://www.IdeaLady.com/.

When building a business as a brand it’s important to avoid a myopic view and consider another important aspect of the business game as well– investing. After any amount of toil and hard work to create a valuable product, service or company the big game is when you go public– when money-minded people want more, they want a piece of your brand pie.

For many entrepreneurs who are just starting out or are flying solo for any amount of years, it’s often inconceivable that anyone would want a piece of their business in the future when they are struggling to grow now. For those who find themselves in this implausible thought or for those who believe in the ‘brass ring’ of going public there are four things you should consider now that will enable that kind of big future.

On a recent flight from Los Angeles to Orlando I experienced a flight of fancy beyond anything I have ever felt before. When I booked through Delta airlines, I was issued a ticket on a company I had not heard of before called Song. I thought it odd but nothing beyond that. That all changed from the moment I got to the gate.

Waiting for the plane to board, I sensed a light buzz flowing through people at the gate. They were actually thrilled to be waiting. I thought that happy gas had been pumped into just this section because across from us was another group on another airline waiting to board who were not feeling the same thing. Then the pre-boarding began.

A male Latin voice came over the intercom and began the boarding with… a joke– a different experience. He then went on to announce the boarding procedure with so much joy that I couldn’t wait to get in line. I wasn’t even in a hurry to get on the plane. When I got to the door, the woman taking my ticket greeted me as if I arrived at her home for a party– a very different experience.

I walked on the plane and heard upbeat music, saw the colorful comfortable seats, and was greeted by fashionably dressed flight-attendants by the time I sat down, the first thing I said to Nanci, a perky brunette from Atlanta, was "How can I invest in Song?" The plane hadn’t even taken off yet!

When working with entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes, I often stress the need to create a brand experience for the customer from every point of contact. Never was this point hit home so beautifully… and so fun.

Let’s breakdown my desire to invest in this company just from just a single contact in four points of connection we humans can relate to:

One, most airlines are scrambling to cover losses and willing to slash prices to get people flying again– Delta included. As they scramble to react, new airlines were capturing market share with lower price points. With Song, Delta made the decision to expand rather than dilute Delta’s existing brand and value proposition. They needed to go in another direction and create something completely different to join the battle. Now I wasn’t here too observe this personally, but it seems to me they responded like a nimble entrepreneur eyeing a market opportunity, not a giant digging in. To make big advances, bold steps are needed.

Two, from the very beginning they had me emotionally. From the moment I was at the gate through when I stepped off the plane they touched me. I got to choose from a menu of great food and I got to choose my entertainment– the music selection was better than a record store. I felt so good I didn’t even think I was in the air. No emotional detail was spared. They nailed it big time. It was all planned down to the detail. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the Captain came on and introduced Cirque du Soleil (the famed performers from Canada) would be performing soon. They had me from… the joke. Create and experience I’ll buy more than a ticket.

Three, they were able to make this emotional impact on me because the airline itself came from a deep place of belief. After the unfortunate events of September 11th, the airline industry was reeling. Delta employees knew they had to do something to capture the hearts of flyers or cutbacks and layoffs were on the horizon. They believed they had to deliver an exceptional service never before experienced at a price that the public would pay. No more doing business as usual, they had to create something that they personally would want to experience. They took the big business of flight and made it deeply personal. They were able to get me emotionally because of their deep belief.

Four, as a smart investor I knew that if Song was able to keep up this level of experience for their customers in a dependable fashion that it would indeed become "the airline of choice" for me. I also knew there are lots of me’s in the world. At this rate of experience, it would be no time at all before they expanded their routes and create a powerful brand presence in the marketplace. A smart investor knows to follow their own instincts and invest in more than just the numbers– what they experience as valuable– what they believe in.

And all of this was woven together with the CEO’s passion of music, hence the name. This was by far the best branded experience I have ever witnessed… no… experienced!

If investors look at businesses from this viewpoint, then shouldn’t you as a business owner do the same?

Whether you are a small business owner or a new entrepreneur develop your brand by focusing on "experience," doing so will undoubtedly put your business closer to your customer AND closer to the investment pie. And you will also enjoy the journey!

Unfortunately, Song is not public… yet. I’m first in line.

Kim A. Castle, Co-founder BrandU™, Co-Author of Why BrandU: Big Business Success No Matter Your Size, and BrandU™ Bible, the only step-by-step workbook for developing your business as a brand.

www.whybrandu.com

© 2004 Castle Montone, Limited Reprinted with Permission

Kim Castle successfully helps hundreds of small business owners grow their businesses and is co-author of the 150+ page BrandU Bible, the only step-by-step workbook that gives entrepreneurs the tools to develop their business as a brand and the upcoming Why BrandU: Big Business Success No Matter Your Size.

Kim Castle’s motto is “Whether your market is the globe or your zip code, you have the power to communicate your business as a brand. You just haven’t been shown how… until now.”

…or Is My Brand Working?

To measure the impact and effectiveness of marketing and branding on the bottom line alone is a mistake. There are far too many facets of the success equation. It is easy to lose enthusiasm and focus if there are no intermediate benchmarks of success for activities that will ultimately affect the bottom line.

The value of reputation, relationships, brand awareness and consumer attitudes related to your business, are impossible to measure just on financial return.

A thorough evaluation of where your business is now and the identification of the most important next goal is a good place to start.

Other measures of ROI are:

-number of leads generated

-total sales revenue generated

-change in awareness of your brand – attention form the media

-change in market share

-change in buying pattern re products, days etc.

-change in intent to buy

-increase in incremental sales revenue

-customer retention

Look for ways to track your progress keeping the end in mind. It is all about prioritizing and being able to identify and sort the factors that are crucial to your success, from the insignifcant details it’s so easy to get caught up in.

It may feel more productive to be doing, but it is actually more constructive to be planning. The odds of achieving marketing success increase exponentially if you are aware of what has succeeded and failed in the past. 80 to 90% of effort is well spent on identification, planning and determining the success metrics, with the balance on execution and assessment.

The owner of a successful business or product is often reported as saying, “It seemed to develop a life of it’s own and just take off.” It could be a lucky break but often it’s the result of years of experience and thought finally put into action.

Nancy Fraser is the President of Nota Bene Consulting a marketing and advertising firm that encourages their clients to "First Ponder, Then Dare". Sign up for the free ezine at http://www.notable-marketing.com

Parades happen in every big city and many small towns. They are fun, relaxing and most people are there because they really want to be. Parades are a wonderful marketing tool if you know what to do! I recommend being a part of your local town parades. For most local home towns, it only takes a convertible and some decorations. The biggest parade in my home town is the Rose Parade because I grew up in Pasadena. There are not too many locals in that parade, but the little know Doo-Dah Parade is FULL of locals and locals watching it. When people like a particular float or group, they throw soft tortillas at them. Most local parades are covered by the local cable company.

As you pass by the announcers will give your information on television. If you are in the parade, you can increase your face-name recognition. If you judge the parade, you name and business will be announced to the crowd. Parades allow you to give out promotional items to the crowd. Parades also allow you to show off contest winners. If your business held a contest, get a convertible and the contest winners and get into the parade! Most parades are very low cost or free to participate in.

I love a parade because it can also get you interviews by local television, magazine and radio stations. Find out what is going on in your town. You usually have to sign up about 2 months in advance but if you just heard about something at the last minute, try and get in. I have seen people get into parades the morning of the sign up. But early sign up means, everyone will have your name and number. Publicity means being creative! Parades allow you to promote your business or website and support the community at the same time.

Copyright 2005

Dr. Letitia S. Wright, D.C. is a Stevie Award Finalist for 2004 and the host of The Wright Place™ TV Show. She interviews top entrepreneurs to find out the best current strategies. To Subscribe to the newsletter and get the report Five Fast Ways to Get on TV email : info1080-89555@autocontactor.com

In a recent article, I shared five of my top 10 favorite tricks for promoting your business without spending much (or any) money. Several readers wrote and said they enjoyed the first five tips, so I’m hoping the next five will be just as helpful.

There’s nothing like getting valuable exposure and new clients for your business without spending a dime (or perhaps spending just a few). Here are five more of my favorite tips for doing just that.

1. Submit an article to a business magazine or newsletter. Chances are there are lots of publications out there that are geared to your target audience. For instance, I receive numerous publications about marketing, communications, and running a business. These types of business publications are almost always looking for articles and information that will be valuable to their readers. And most of them welcome articles that are submitted by experts in the field (i.e., people like you). If you’re not already, familiarize yourself with the publications that your target audience reads, such as those published by trade associations or your local business newspaper (many are found at www.bizjournals.com). Then start pitching articles — not only will you get exposure in front of those who read the publication, but you can send copies of your article to clients and prospects. (For specific tips about how to write publishable business articles, see the August 2004 issue of my newsletter, "Marketing Tips from The WriteShop." It’s available at www.writeshoponline.com/newsletter_writeshop.shtml.)

2. Advertise in local, low-cost venues. If your business is local or focused in a specific community, don’t waste your time and money with advertising that reaches audiences much larger than your target. For instance, advertising in a large metropolitan newspaper is unnecessary if your target audience is actually located in two or three suburbs of the metropolis. Instead, consider low-cost advertising venues, such as high school football programs, alternative newspapers or community newsletters. They’ll be more tailored to your target audience and will be much easier on your budget.

3. Keep in touch with customers via e-mail. Convenient, easy and virtually fr*e, e-mail offers powerful marketing opportunities. If you don’t already, start collecting customers’ e-mail addresses (with their permission, of course). Sending e-mails too frequently can annoy your customers and be counterproductive, so don’t take advantage of the medium — but using it wisely can be an effective, inexpensive way to keep in touch. Clients will usually be glad to hear from you, especially if you’re using e-mail to send information that is valuable to them, such as announcements of special events, discount offers, helpful newsletters, or articles that interest them.

4. Network, network, network. We’ve all heard that it’s not what you know that matters; it’s who you know. Simply getting to know people is possibly the least expensive and most valuable activity you can undertake to help promote your business. If your business is local, attend networking events in your community, many of which are cheap or even fr*e. (Check your newspaper’s business section for listings.) And don’t be stingy with your network — when you have two acquaintances who could do business together, introduce them to each other. When you share your contacts, you simply broaden your network and others will be more likely to introduce their own contacts to you.

5. Ask for referrals. We all love to get referrals, because they often bring business — or at least interested prospects — with little, if any, effort from us. But referrals are few and far between if you simply wait around for them. Instead, those who really want to succeed in building word-of-mouth business must develop a referral system. When you’ve pleased a client, don’t be afraid to ask for referrals. You’ll get more success if you explain clearly what type of clients you’re looking for. And when clients refer you to their friends or contacts, be sure to thank them appropriately. For instance, one of my clients, a carpet cleaning company, asks every customer to refer their friends and neighbors. When those friends turn out to be clients, the company sends the referrer a coupon, which is redeemable for cleaning services or cash. That way, everybody wins — the new customer, the old customer, and of course, the carpet cleaning company.

Copyright 2004 Nancy Jackson

About The Author

Nancy Jackson of The WriteShop helps companies better market their products and services with powerful communications including newsletters, articles, Web content, brochures and custom publications. Subscribe to her free monthly newsletter at www.writeshoponline.com or e-mail info@writeshoponline.com for a free quote for marketing communications services.

Sometimes, new entrepreneurs are in such a rush to get started at their businesses that they jump right into working with customers without giving much thought to their BUSINESS NAME. “I’ll just do business under my own name for a while, until I find something I like.” While it seems easy at the time, you might want to re-think the plan to change business names down the road. You will find that, as your professional recognition and customer base grow, people have started to IDENTIFY you with the name of your company. A name change in mid-stream can be costly and confusing.

First, you will lose ground in the marketing arena — it takes time and effort to build up BRAND RECOGNITION, and that time is lost when you change names. You may also lose customers to the competition — what are they to think when they go looking for “Joe’s Mobile Car Wash” in the yellow pages and you’ve changed your name to “Fast and Easy Auto Detailing?” They might think that you’ve gone out of business and it’s time to find someone else to clean their cards. And finally, changing names can cause you increased PAPERWORK and EXPENSE — changing your bank accounts, credit cards, marketing materials, incorporation documents, DBA registration, etc. So why not get it right the first time? Here are some suggestions for choosing a business name that will serve you well for years to come.

IS IT MEMORABLE?

When people hear the name of your company, will they be able to REMEMBER it 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 3 hours, or a week later? When they decide to hunt you up on the web or in the phone book, will they be able to easily recall your business name? It doesn’t matter if you are choosing a fictitious business name or using your own — the same rules apply. Your name should be UNIQUE enough that it will stick in a potential customer’s mind — “Smith’s Gym” isn’t going to be nearly as easy to remember as “Work That Body.”

You also want to stay away from names that are likely to be CONFUSED with another company. You may think it’s a cute idea to come up with a name that closely resembles (without exactly copying) another company’s name. But calling your personal coaching company “Joys-R-Us” is confusing, unoriginal, and likely to bring about a lawsuit! And beware of phrases or ACRONYMS that are overused in your profession. You wouldn’t believe how many Professional Organizers use some combination of words that spell out SOS (usually “Someone’s Organizing Solutions”). Your company will stand out more if your name is truly unique.

IS IT EASY TO SPELL?

However, the next question is “when they do recall it, is it easy enough to spell that they can immediately find your listing?” You want to stay away from challenging spellings and pronunciations. Calling your restaurant “Phine Phoods” is just asking for trouble — how is your customer going to know to look under “p” instead of “f” in the phone book? And if your last name is Piccalopoupoulis, you may be better off creating a fictitious business name. A good rule of thumb to follow is to pay attention to what happens when you tell other people your name — if you are always having to SPELL or PRONOUNCE it slowly, it will be hard for people remember and find later on.

This is particularly important if you are planning to turn your business name into a DOMAIN name. Websites with long or hard-to-spell names get overlooked during standard searches. And try to avoid having to include a hyphen or underscore in your name to make it appropriate for the web. Short, snappy, easy-to-remember names work best in the translation from brick-and-mortar to internet.

DOES IT DESCRIBE YOUR COMPANY?

Will customers learn something specific, unique, or descriptive about your business, just from hearing the name? Will they get a feel for WHAT you provide or HOW you provide it? Many individual service providers try to sound like high-end firms by using some derivative of their first and last name for their company identity – “Joanna Carrol and Associates,” or “JC Consulting,” or “Carroll and Company.” But what does that really tell a potential customer about your company? I don’t know if you are an insurance agent or an attorney or a professional organizer. Include something in your name that describes your product or service — “JC Graphic Design” — so customers aren’t left WONDERING what type of business you have.

You can also include some information about those special CHARACTERISTICS that make your business DIFFERENT from the competition. Okay — so you’ve told me that you are a printer. Why should I hire you instead of the printer down the street? You might be faster, cheaper, provide better quality, have more experience, offer a higher-end product, or provide more services than the other guy. If it’s appropriate and pertinent, include one or two of those traits — “JC Full-Service Graphic Design” — in your name.

DOES IT LIMIT YOU?

If you are joining an industry that allows for “branching out,” be careful about giving your company a name that traps you in a very small service area. For example, a company that starts out putting in tile floors — but has plans to expand into vinyl, hardwood, and carpeting down the road — wouldn’t want a name like “TileMasters.” Something more along the lines of “FloorMasters” will give the company the FLEXIBILITY they need to grow and change later on.

And if you have intentions of ever expanding your service area, you need to be careful about a GEOGRAPHICALLY limiting business name. “Hair Over Atlanta” isn’t going to work as well when you open locations in Seattle and Los Angeles and New York. Be sure to check the US Patent And Trademark Office’s online database (http://tess.uspto.gov) to make sure your name is available for national use before you start printing it on your cards.

You also have to stop and think about whether naming your company after yourself — “Bob’s Bar and Grill” — will limit you in a different way. If you have ever read “The E-Myth” by Michael Gerber, you know that having customers identify your business as an EXTENSION of you brings about its own special pitfalls. You become indispensable to the company — people get used to seeing Bob behind the counter every night and that’s what makes it “Bob’s” — the business can’t run without you. And if you ever decide that you want to take a break, let someone else run the place on your behalf, or sell the company, you will run into a roadblock. Quite often, what seems like a great way to PERSONALIZE your business ends up turning it into a stone around your neck.

This business is your baby, your investment in the future, and you will have it with you (hopefully) for a long time. Don’t short-change your business by skipping out on one of the most important steps you will take during start-up — selecting just the right name.

Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com — a web-based one-stop shop offering everything that you need to get organized at home or at work. At OnlineOrganizing.com, you may get a referral to an organizer near you, shop for the latest organizing products, get tons of free tips, and even learn how to become a professional organizer or build your existing organizing business. And if you would like to read more articles about organizing your life or building your business, get a free subscription to the "Get Organized" and "Organized For A Living" newsletters. Please visit http://www.OnlineOrganizing.com or contact Ramona directly at ramona@onlineorganizing.com for more information.

What many may consider the most important part of advertising is writing an effective ad. The information provided in a classified ad may be the deciding factor if it is successful or a, "bomb". In addition, there are three important angles to consider when writing business advertisements.

Choosing the angle of your advertising may vary depending on what is offered. Writing a business Ad is not much different than writing an essay, with the exception of a literary work. Here are three well known angles to utilize when constructing a business advertisement.

Expressive Advertisements

An expressive advertisement is very personal. Expressive ads may be a good idea for a small business wanting to utilize a personal approach. Think of writing an excerpt of the day in a journal. As the writer of the advertisement, express personal feelings, thoughts, or opinions related to the offerings. For example, a Business Opportunity may be advertised as, "I made over $100,000.00 in one year. I cannot believe how easy it was". This eliminates the need to use examples or testimonials, as the author becomes the example.

Persuasive Advertisements

A persuasive advertisement is used to convince the reader or change their opinion. To be successful with a persuasive ad, the writer needs to have a firm, direct, and clear point. The goal is to evoke a reaction that causes the reader to have the same point-of-view.

A common form of advertising, using a Persuasive approach, is the Governments, "Register to Vote," advertisements. They generally are direct and to the point. They provide a concise reason why the reader should register to vote, "Make your voice heard". By pointing out a simple benefit, they are achieving the task of persuasion.

Informative Advertisements

Informative advertisements provide detailed information. They explain all the details of a product or service. When constructing such an advertisement, the author should demonstrate observations, ideas, facts, statistics, or research data.

This is becoming common on the internet, as consumers are noticeably, “information hungry”. Consumers want to know what they are buying. In addition, this is a wise choice if consumers cannot physically see the item for sale.

An example of Informative Advertising is an Auto Manufactures advertisement for their vehicles (Not Dealerships). They generally print large advertisements that inform readers of the Vehicles Engine Horsepower, Torque, Maintenance Schedule, Improvements from prior models, available colors, Wheelbase, seating, trunk size, etc… All the information is based on facts and research. It allows consumers to compare their vehicles to similar Models, prior to taking a test drive.

With some thought and planning, an advertiser can present their information with an angle that sells. It takes monitoring, trial and error, and careful construction. Clearly indicate the next step by including a call to action. If the audience does not recognize an ordering process, it is likely the advertisement will not produce results.

Michael Medeiros is an Entrepreneur with a background in Business and Advertising and the founder of Mjmls.

Online Classifieds, Website Directory; (www.mjmls.com)

When we initially started our businesses, we had to decide how we were going to market ourselves. Kind of an obvious statement - every business has to do that. But, we had an added challenge. We were new to the area. So, our goal was to get to know as many people as possible.

We did that by becoming "promiscuous networkers". We attended and joined any and every association we could afford. This was GREAT for meeting people. After a few months, we could walk into a room and just about everyone would recognize us. They knew us as the Johnsons, that young couple in business.

But, it wasn’t so great for actually getting business. They remembered us, but often didn’t have a *clue* about the services we offered. You see, we had missed a key part to networking, and all forms of marketing for that matter. We hadn’t defined our market and therefore weren’t attending events where our market was likely to be. Had we done that, people would have remembered us AND our services.

If you’re a Micro-Business owner, you are the face of your business. People also may recognize you as soon as you walk into a room. After that, they should make an automatic connection to your services or products. Now, people seem to know us as "press release girl" and "database guy". Even though we offer other services, these are very good connections in our eyes.

What is the automatic connection that comes to mind when people see you? Is this the connection that you want? If not, what can you change to make sure that others know you for your services or products?

Leila Johnson co-owns Data-Scribe(tm), along with her husband, Brett. The New Mexico-based firm provides database, writing, and software training services to Micro-Businesses and government agencies. To get more tips like this, visit their E-Library or sign up for their Micro-Business Gazette at http://www.datascribe.biz

Many groups like the Chamber of Commerce, ASB at the local high school, etc. will ask if their members can get a discount if they shop in your store or use your service. Of course, the answer top these groups should be a high-energy YES! They will then make a discount booklet for their members with your company listed, this is excellent and promotes good will for your business.

The more membership booklets and coupon books your small business can be in the better your business will do. Get in all the free ones and any, which distribute to 10,000 or more people for under $50.00 or at least under the ratio of $100.00 per 20,000 units delivered. Watch for scams. Tell them ‘you can have one half the payment now and one half when you show me the coupon book,’ if you have reason to be suspicious. Make sure the organization is a known name you’ve heard of or seen around town. We have had only a few problems with these coupon books being scams in the three decades we have been in business. Membership booklets on the other hand as a whole have brought us in countless scores of new clientele. It also has help us maintain our image as community based businesses.

Coupon companies which mail out coupons for a fee are also generally good although every once in a while a no-name company with a fast talking sales man will come in the door so we recommend the same half now and half later deal with them if you are unsure. There are many well-known and established names in the coupon mailer world. Good names to work with include: Valley Shopper; Penny Saver; Value Ads; Coupon Clipper; Money Mailer; Green Sheets; Coupons ‘N More of …; Neighborhood Mail Box Values; Val Pak; Coupon Cash Saver; United Coupons; Homesteader; Super Coups.

Wow! Lots of junk mail. Too bad these things work so well! Many businesses send out coupons because they work so well, just make sure when those new customers come in that they are retained as steady customers, you want to make sure above all that the customers fall in love with the great products and great service and not just the discounted coupons coming into their mail boxes.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/