Marketing 101 says that people do business with people they trust and have a relationship with. You’ve worked hard on building strong relationships with your clients through good service and quality products. It’s just as important to work on keeping it strong. This can be achieved by two simple words: “thank you.” Acquiring a new…

There are two constants in a business owner’s life: print isn’t dead and change is inevitable. Notepads, postcards, and flyers will likely be part of most businesses’ marketing efforts for years to come. And since time changes everything, even your business, your marketing materials should change too. Are your print pieces guilty of any of…

It’s already August and most schools will be in full session this month. Traditionally, many industries experience a serious lull in business during the summer months. People are on vacation, busy with family and outdoor activities, but data suggests that August is when shopping picks back up. And boy, does it! Back to school season…

So, you’re thinking about venturing into direct mail marketing? Great idea! Direct mail definitely works. According to the Direct Marketing Association’s Response Rate Report, direct mail gets 10 times the response rate of email marketing and 50 times the response rate of display advertising like newspapers or TV. Who knew? Here are a few simple…

Why do your customers do business with you over your competition? Don’t say prices. It’s all about how your customers feel about you. As Independence Day approaches, the question of how patriotic you appear to be makes a subconscious difference for many of your customers. But how do you communicate that you share their national…

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in the business. You’re painfully aware of how little people want to talk about your product: insurance. Death, disability, liability … pain and strain. Doom and gloom. Nobody wants to think about it, let alone talk about it. It’s no wonder you have to work so hard! The…

It’s pretty easy to tell if networking is doing you any good. Did you get leads from people you met at that luncheon or social club meeting or chamber event that turned into sales … or not? But what about all your OTHER marketing activities? This is where many small business owners sigh, throw up…

Local marketing firm Farmhouse Creative has expanded its staff with the addition of Amy Leffingwell as Project Manager. A Muncie native, Amy received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Ball State University.  Before joining Farmhouse Creative, Leffingwell worked in professional sales, media consulting and has extensive experience in creative writing and editing. She…

“I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve tried everything,” you say about your marketing. But have you? Really? Bet you haven’t tried these 10 amazing marketing ideas: Put your logo on a sandwich board, hang it on an adult male gorilla and walk the streets with it downtown at rush hour. Well, maybe a…