B2B Marketing Pieces

Interesting idea....

I put together a promo for a BNI group

I got paid per bni member

Now another (rival) group, not bni wants something similar

I also got a couple bni clients - without paying for a membership LOL - I visit as a guest

Mike,

How've you been?

Just about anything done, in the way of ad projects can (and should)
include businesses as recipients. Not only is the biz owner a consumer
of a host of products and services, for the biz and himself, but the
employees will buy, as well.

For example, with car detailing, something you're familiar with. I've taught
a couple of people who needed to raise cash to take a flyer around to the
businesses in the community. They got jobs fast.

A smarter move though, would have been to sell ad space on that same detailing flyer.

They would have been paid for distributing their flyer to the businesses in the area.

And the services that you mentioned, "web guy, seo guy,commercial cleaning company, printer and janitorial company, all could have been advertisers. So could the dentist, real estate office, attorney, salon, chiropractor
and others that they detailed cars for.

10 ads around the outside of the flyer, even at $50 each, would have given them a fast $500.

The detailing jobs would have been gravy.

I'm doing well Ron, thanks for asking. As well as can be expected, considering I just lost my family while leaving what was basically a cult that I grew up in. But that's a subject for another thread, although I cut my teeth in learning how to talk to people in that religion. (How's that for dropping a bomb in the middle of something totally unrelated, lol.) I hope that you're doing way better than I.

Speaking of cults, there's that whole BNI thing that Freebiequeen mentioned. Everyone that ever tried to recruit me into one of those had all the markings of a cult in their approach.

Love the idea of advertising on the flyer. I had no problem going to businesses and getting in to all types with my detailing services. I was hustling back then and single minded in my focus, but something as simple as utilizing my hustle door to door could have benefited other companies as well while I was out there.

Anyone else out there know of anything that goes to businesses that promotes many b2b services at a time? It seems like there's got to be something out there, but it seems to me like most businesses are promoting themselves one to one, even as I did with my detailing business years ago.

I love these threads where I get to put my thinking cap on!!

First things first... Let me guess, this "cult" (I'm 99% sure which one) you left, and lost your family to, claims they are very family oriented? But, since you no longer believe "their" ways you got excommunicated. So much for the all loving family.

Whelp, I'm glad you're out! :-)

Ok-ok, back to B2B marketing.

What if you have some kind of marketing newsletter you send to businesses for free and advertise co-op businesses.

And, you could make the newsletters specific. So, you're not going to have a commercial bread company advertise to a dentist. But... you could have a commercial bread company, fire service company, pest control company, HVAC company, etc. advertise to a restaurant. Those are all services they need.

I'm curious to hear what y'all think too.

You may want to check out Bob Ross' M3 program. He has an interesting twist on ways various businesses can get together for promotion.

I hear ya bout the cult aspect of BNI (and hey I am from Pittsburgh where "that" jw started...so yes I knew peeps in it..in fact some 2nd cousins were always trying to get my parents involved)....i also think BNI works for people for a bit and maybe better for some things that others....

the one good thing about it is that they all were together, pitched, signed up - paid - well not all of them but the program filled fast....the "honchos" of the group got the newbies to take action

might work with other networking groups too
hang in there

One good thing about active BNI groups is that they really are in it wholeheartedly. They sell out for that stuff and really do generate leads. Of course, some people bring garbage leads because of the pressure to have something to contribute, but you do have a group of people that are sincere in their desire to participate and help. They're looking for something actively, so they're basically raising their hand and showing that they're willing to get involved and that they are actively pursuing more business.

I will tell you that BNI started my marketing education. I turned around a failing computer repair business about 5 yrs ago and BNI played a big part in the turn around.

I'm going to skip over the cult side topic and jump right into the main point.

I have worked in many different industries and they all have publications/magazines/newsletters. I am still receiving Vending Times(vending machines), Target(direct marketing), and a few other industry mags. They are free all you have to do is fill out info about your business and they set you up. They need the numbers to charge the ad rates they want.

A few yrs ago I managed apartment complexes and was a member of the local apartment association. They had a monthly newsletter and sold adds to vendor members. We they stopped sending it out, I asked why. the answer was that they did not have the time to sell ads to cover the cost. I thought of asking them if I could publish it for them if they would let me sell the ads, but I did not have the time to take on the project.

Some other ideas I have had along this theme are:
1. welcome wagon for new businesses. Get the list of new business permits in an area and do a monthly mailing to them. Same content each month... Welcome to the business community...here are some resources for your new business...ads,ads,ads!!!

2.insert an offer in the welcome wagon to subscribe to a small biz magazine(free of course) and send it out monthly or quarterly. Trade ads to an accountant, business lawyer, banker, ect for some content and sell ads.

there were others but i'm drawing a blank right now. Hope this helps