Friday's 5 Marketing Shorts and Sweets

Had just about all the heavy reading you can handle this week? Here are 5 short and sweet bits of marketing fun, renewal and inspiration that won't weigh you down!

Give your customers something "for luck" that brings luck back to you
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Sometimes you come across a story that both warms your heart and gets your creative marketing juices flowing, this one does both. Can you give your customers something for luck that comes back to you? This story proves you can.


Chart of the Day: What people are (really) up to on Facebook
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Facebook users spend most of their time in the News Feed, the river of information about your friends, and comparatively very little (just 10%) using apps according to a comScore report on how people use Facebook.


I think I'm in love: ThinkNear instead of groupon to bring in customers during slow hours
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I’ve passed along many articles noting the pitfalls and talking about the high cost of participating in daily deal sites like groupon and livingsocial. As with any other “problem” it’s usually just a matter of time until someone "builds a better mousetrap," and ThinkNear.com just might be it.

ThinkNear sends offers to customers and prospects only redeemable during your slow hours. What’s more, instead of taking anywhere from 25-50% (or more) of the cut, they charge a flat monthly fee for participation. I think I’m in love! Thanks to Springwise.com for putting this one on the radar.


Want to be more productive? Eat these foods
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It takes real energy to negotiate crunch numbers and exercise willpower.
What you eat impacts your ability to do all these things. Decision-making and "effortful control of thoughts" are impaired if you're either working on an empty stomach or are eating the wrong foods, with too much fat and sugar.
We compiled a list of foods from Psychology Today and other sources that will improve the way you think and work.


Can signage help service workers get more tips?
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So this type of tip jar and handwritten signage might not be the thing for your service-based business, but it bears consideration. How do you communicate your policy and preferences on gratuities to your customers? How could you better communicate with customers in order to help them understand the purpose of tips in your business and reinforce the 'tip etiquette' you want within your business to both employees and customers?


Don't miss Monday's e-mail newsletter which will be packed with original content as well as some great articles to help you become a better leader, bring in new business and build a bigger role for your business in the lives of your clients. [Click here] to subscribe to my free e-mail newsletter.

Elizabeth Kraus – 12monthsofmarketing.com
365 Days of Marketing is available on amazon.com in book and digital formats.