Compelling
Communications, Inc.

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Monthly Marketing and Customer Services Ideas
from June Van Klaveren, Compelling Communications, Inc. -- May, 2004

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In This Issue

Humor

Case Study

Links

Market When
You're Busy!

How's your business? Busier than ever? How's your marketing? Slower than usual because it's your company's busiest time of year?

Even though you're busy, it's important to market NOW to eliminate the peaks and valleys of business. You may feel you don't have time to produce the marketing activities needed.

The Result - decreased business next month or next quarter.

The Solution - Sit down with your calendar and mark the months you plan to promote your business. Marketing on a regular basis is VITAL to keeping your pipeline full.

Review your past marketing activities. What worked? What didn't? Plan to repeat the successful activities. Want a new idea? Search the internet for ideas that you can adapt to your own needs.

Don't have time to do it yourself? Call a professional for help. (Isn't that what you encourage your customers to do?) Happy Marketing!

Just for Grins

Here are some signs and notices written in English that were discovered throughout the world.

In a Bucharest hotel lobby:
The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.

In a Leipzig elevator:
Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up.

In a Belgrade hotel elevator:
To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going alphabetically by national order.

In a Paris hotel elevator:
Please leave your values at the front desk.

In a hotel in Athens:
Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 A.M. daily.

Quote

"Positive anything is better than negative nothing." Elbert Hubbard

Want to see what else we do?
Go to www.compelcom.com

Want to see other new projects from Compelling Communications?

Promotional Postcard for Earth & Wheel Pottery
Paul's Pest Control Brochur

Take Our Poll

Let us know what you think about The Edge Up newsletter. Click here and complete our mini poll. Thanks for your feedback!

Book Review

Bang by Linda Kaplan Thaler

The world of marketing has always seemed like it was full of magic. Where do these ad wizards come up with stuff? According to Linda Kaplan Thaler, CEO, and Robin Koval, CMO, of the group behind ads like “a Kodak moment” and "AFLAC," great advertising campaigns come from a “Big Bang.” A Big Bang is an idea that often stems from an “apparently random event…but is often so outrageous that it bucks conventional wisdom and steals the spotlight," say Kaplan Thaler and Koval. So why does your business need a Big Bang? The authors go on to say that:

“A Big Bang is designed to make a brand explode onto the marketplace virtually overnight…it cuts through the clutter and gets people to sit up and take notice…because in a sea of sameness, an idea that is too different, too polarizing, and too illogical will not go unnoticed…They force you to have a point of view about them…They are the six-hundred-pound gorilla in the room.”

Since people see over three thousand messages everyday, it is important to be different enough to get your message through. The key is to break convention and “embrace the idea that the most illogical course of action is of the most logical thing to do.”

If you are using AOL, wish to purchase this book, but cannot see the link, click here to go to the online newsletter..

Great Links

FirstBackUp.com This is a great alternative to onsite computer backups. It enables you to backup your PC to a remote site, is very affordable and includes terrific customer service.

Shutterfly.com This is a digital photo processing site. Great pricing, service and product.

Get your copy of The Edge Up TODAY!

For more information or to order your copy of The Edge Up by June Van Klaveren, click here. Many companies report that they are using each chapter as the basis for customer service training.

Case Study

Challenge: Darlene Smith, owner of Smith Exterminating near Houston, needed a professional piece to provide to a realtor. The realtor's program involved giving free pest control service to all his new home buyer customers. He requested a feature/benefit flyer from Darlene.

Solution: Using the company's colors of red & black, we were able to write, design, print and ship flyers in under 10 days to meet the Realtor's deadline.

If you wish to no longer receive The Edge Up newsletter, simply reply to this message with the word “Cancel” in the subject line. If you know of others who would like to receive The Edge Up newsletter, please forward this copy so they can subscribe. If you change your email address, please let us know! ©2003 June Van Klaveren. "The Edge Up” newsletter is published by Compelling Communications. As publisher, we disclaim any liability for the use of any information contained herein.


Compelling Communications, Inc. To receive this eletter every month, click here	Monthly Marketing and Customer Services Ideas from June Van Klaveren, Compelling Communications, Inc. -- May, 2004 You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to it. If you choose not to receive this free monthly newsletter, simple send an to that effect. If you have trouble viewing this newsletter through your AOL email client, click here to go to the online link to this newsletter
In This Issue Humor Case Study Links	Market When You're Busy! How's your business? Busier than ever? How's your marketing? Slower than usual because it's your company's busiest time of year? Even though you're busy, it's important to market NOW to eliminate the peaks and valleys of business. You may feel you don't have time to produce the marketing activities needed. The Result - decreased business next month or next quarter. The Solution - Sit down with your calendar and mark the months you plan to promote your business. Marketing on a regular basis is VITAL to keeping your pipeline full. Review your past marketing activities. What worked? What didn't? Plan to repeat the successful activities. Want a new idea? Search the internet for ideas that you can adapt to your own needs. Don't have time to do it yourself? Call a professional for help. (Isn't that what you encourage your customers to do?) Happy Marketing! Just for Grins Here are some signs and notices written in English that were discovered throughout the world. In a Bucharest hotel lobby: The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable. In a Leipzig elevator: Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up. In a Belgrade hotel elevator: To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going alphabetically by national order. In a Paris hotel elevator: Please leave your values at the front desk. In a hotel in Athens: Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 A.M. daily. Quote "Positive anything is better than negative nothing." Elbert Hubbard Want to see what else we do? Go to www.compelcom.com Want to see other new projects from Compelling Communications? Promotional Postcard for Earth & Wheel Pottery Paul's Pest Control Brochur	Take Our Poll Let us know what you think about *The Edge Up* newsletter. Click here and complete our mini poll. Thanks for your feedback! Book Review Bang by Linda Kaplan Thaler The world of marketing has always seemed like it was full of magic. Where do these ad wizards come up with stuff? According to Linda Kaplan Thaler, CEO, and Robin Koval, CMO, of the group behind ads like “a Kodak moment” and "AFLAC," great advertising campaigns come from a “Big Bang.” A Big Bang is an idea that often stems from an “apparently random event…but is often so outrageous that it bucks conventional wisdom and steals the spotlight," say Kaplan Thaler and Koval. So why does your business need a Big Bang? The authors go on to say that: “A Big Bang is designed to make a brand explode onto the marketplace virtually overnight…it cuts through the clutter and gets people to sit up and take notice…because in a sea of sameness, an idea that is too different, too polarizing, and too illogical will not go unnoticed…They force you to have a point of view about them…They are the six-hundred-pound gorilla in the room.” Since people see over three thousand messages everyday, it is important to be different enough to get your message through. The key is to break convention and “embrace the idea that the most illogical course of action is of the most logical thing to do.” If you are using AOL, wish to purchase this book, but cannot see the link, click here to go to the online newsletter.. Great Links FirstBackUp.com This is a great alternative to onsite computer backups. It enables you to backup your PC to a remote site, is very affordable and includes terrific customer service. Shutterfly.com This is a digital photo processing site. Great pricing, service and product. Get your copy of The Edge Up TODAY! For more information or to order your copy of The Edge Up by June Van Klaveren, click here. Many companies report that they are using each chapter as the basis for customer service training.
	Case Study Challenge: Darlene Smith, owner of Smith Exterminating near Houston, needed a professional piece to provide to a realtor. The realtor's program involved giving free pest control service to all his new home buyer customers. He requested a feature/benefit flyer from Darlene. Solution: Using the company's colors of red & black, we were able to write, design, print and ship flyers in under 10 days to meet the Realtor's deadline.
	Contact us at 800-779-0067 or If you wish to no longer receive The Edge Up newsletter, simply reply to this message with the word “Cancel” in the subject line. If you know of others who would like to receive The Edge Up newsletter, please forward this copy so they can subscribe. If you change your email address, please let us know! ©2003 June Van Klaveren. "The Edge Up” newsletter is published by Compelling Communications. As publisher, we disclaim any liability for the use of any information contained herein.

In This Issue

Bang by Linda Kaplan Thaler