Selecting a Toll Free number?

Toll Free numbers have gone a long way; nowadays there are hundreds of toll free companies and resellers out there that provide the same basic features. Enhancements on telephone applications enabled toll free service to acquire most if not, all of the telephone applications inherent in landline services.

Consumers now look for quality of service provided by telecommunication companies with respect to appropriate pricing. The advancement of T1 lines and their corresponding circuits, colocation and cooperation between competing companies now allowed to consumer to call different networks which was just a dream 10 years ago. Now wireless phones, VoIP phones, enhanced landline, drives voice communication to its peak.

Analysts believe that wireless communication is going to take over as the main medium of mass media in the near future as wireless bandwidth becomes faster and more secure. Businesses are now trying to integrate as much of their well-invested telecommunication products to wireless and web based applications. Toll Free numbers are a staple for a successful business venture, proven again and again by many different experts, white papers, feasibility studies and old fashion experience. Technology convergence remains fast but what will happen to toll free numbers?

VoIP long distance companies are able to provide toll free service, which is nothing, more than a collect call forwarding service at a much cheaper price than most stand alone toll free providers. Consumers are still wary of using VoIP phone, which have major disadvantages such as calling emergency numbers like 911. Consumers believe that the lack of access to such important government service is not worth the price of reduced long distance cost.

Toll free numbers however, which are dependent on incoming rather than out going minutes are less affected by this and is able to fight and win on a service price war.

The minute cost of toll free numbers has been drastically reduced for the past few years but are they really cheaper? Toll free providers have found myriads of ways to increase profit by adding additional monthly service fees on top of your phone subscription, minimum monthly minutes, expiring pre paid minutes, and the biggest scam of all to win the price war is the multiple leg pricing scheme.

Toll Free numbers as explained before are call forwarding service, which effectively makes it 2 phone calls. The first call from the original caller to the toll free service provider, then another call from the toll free service provider to the service subscriber. This is a great opportunity to charge for more while legally advertising a cheaper price. This annoys consumers but found it difficult to change service provider or acquiring a new number. Vanity numbers are hard to find and takes a week to register. For most businesses the cost of changing service providers is very expensive on wasted time and opportunities

A lot of consumers don't know that their numbers are "portable" and can be used on any service provider assuming proper legal procedures have been done; this normally takes just as long as registering a new vanity number. There are people who also thought that Telco's such as AT&T have more numbers in their database for them to choose from, what they don't realize is that all toll free companies get their number availability from the same place.

Today even experienced toll free service subscriber still fall for tricks made by service provider to make money. The best advice for a good deal is the same as any other consumer advice, shop around, be thorough, and find great toll free service providers out there.

 

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Before you advertise, have you filled out your "Creative Strategy Form?"

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Before you advertise, have you filled out your "Creative Strategy Form?"

So you say you want a brochure? Or an ad? Or a radio spot? Okay, but...have you filled out your "Creative Strategy Form" first?

Welcome to another edition of Not Your Usual Marketing Tips from JDK Marketing Communications Management.

It's not just a matter of looking at a blank piece of paper - or screen - and saying to yourself, okay, I want a new brochure and here's how it will look: I'll put a picture here, put the logo there, and just write down whatever comes into my head and place it all on the inside...

So you say you want a brochure? Or an ad? Or a radio spot? Okay, but...have you filled out your "Creative Strategy Form" first?

Welcome to another edition of Not Your Usual Marketing Tips from JDK Marketing Communications Management.

It's not just a matter of looking at a blank piece of paper - or screen - and saying to yourself, okay, I want a new brochure and here's how it will look: I'll put a picture here, put the logo there, and just write down whatever comes into my head and place it all on the inside...

Not that that may not have a chance to succeed vis-à-vis what your competitors have floating out there in the marketplace. But the better chance is when initial thought and discipline goes into the recipe, you'll be cooking up something far more flavorful and nutritional...if nutrition be a metaphor here for substance and a meaningful message.

Here's what I prescribe to my clients before we embark on the vehicle itself - whether it's a brochure, ad, radio/TV spot, billboard, even to an extent a logo design. They need to fill out a single sheet of paper, a questionnaire I call the "Creative Strategy Form."

Here's what it asks:

    How would you describe your product/service?
    What/who is your target audience?
    What are your business's (cosmetic) features - are you bigger, smaller, prettier, older, younger, in the city, in the suburbs, etc.?
    What are the benefits to your clients (as opposed to "features," what are the elements to your product/service that can actually help them)?
    Who is your competition?
    What do they have that you don't?
    What do YOU have that THEY don't?
    Do you have a "call to action," such as a coupon, a giveaway, a website?
    Do you have samples of marketing materials done by your competitors - or even in another industry - that you like, or particularly impresses you?
    If your audience could derive one main, focused (important word!) thought out of this piece, what would it be?

And there you have it. If you can answer these questions...or even if you can't, and it prompts you to think further about how to "explain" your business...you'll be that much more ahead of the game when it comes to developing your message, your theme, even your artwork that puts a graphic "face" on the materials.

And it certainly takes the guessing game out of how to fill that blank piece of paper, or screen.

As to how yours truly has helped clients recently "fill in the blanks," you're welcome to check out my website (www.jdkmarketing.biz [http://www.jdkmarketing.biz]), go to the Portfolio link, and note what was done just recently for the Matthews Family Chiropractic clinic, and the Larry Hale Insurance Agency.

Joel Kweskin is the principal behind JDK Marketing Communications Management.

He is a former Advertising Manager and Creative Director for Royal (& SunAlliance) Insurance, helping to earn several industry awards for excellence in advertising and marketing communications. During this period, he served as national Vice President of the Insurance Marketing Communications Association (IMCA) and was representative to the Association of National Advertisers (ANA).

He has been a copywriter for New York City and Charlotte advertising agencies; his writing skills embrace virtually all disciplines of marketing promotion and journalism.

Since 1996, through the emergence of his own company, Kweskin has offered consultation on marketing strategy and creative development and implementation for such diverse national, regional and local corporate names as BellSouth Mobility DCS (Verizon); Transamerica Reinsurance; Bristol-Myers Squibb; John Deere; Moissanite Jewelry; Pro-Med Emergency Care; Charlotte Housing Authority and Archadeck.

 

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Gorilla Marketing

A lot has been written about Guerrilla Marketing Strategies.

Does that mean putting on a monkey suit to attract attention? Of course not.

Or...maybe Yes.

Guerrilla Marketing has been championed in recent years by Jay Conrad Levinson, who's written a series of books on the subject. The name simply implies means by which you can implement marketing ideas through low-cost, non-traditional methods.

True story: when I was Advertising Manager at Royal Insurance, I received an unusual delivery one day. When I opened the box, inside was one of those plastic foot models you see in a shoe or department store. This "foot" was wearing a sneaker...and a note attached from a local ad agency which said, in essence, "Now that we've got our foot in the door...let's set up a meeting to discuss how the (name) Ad Agency can assist you and Royal Insurance in your marketing endeavors..."

Well, I thought it was brilliant, and invited the guy in post-haste. How can you not respond to something like that?

Here are some other ideas:

    Send one of those inexpensive "throw-away" cameras to a valued client or high-chance prospect with the message "Picture us together...(etc.)"
    Similarly, send one of those silly bottles (of candy) that typically are labeled "Stress Busters" or "Problem Solvers" and send that, along with an apt message that acknowledges the client's concerns...along with your ability to take care of it.
    Consider old-fashioned bartering; according to Rick Crandall, PhD, and marketing author, "Barter not only cuts your costs, but can also get you a beginning client base which can then provide further referrals and testimonials."

Guerrilla marketing is as far-reaching and all-inclusive as you want it to be. It doesn't have to be "wild" or inconsistent with your business or industry. It just has to be different. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, the worst sin one can commit is to be dull.

So start to think outside the box. And inside, and alongside, and near side and far side...

Joel Kweskin is the principal behind JDK Marketing Communications Management.

He is a former Advertising Manager and Creative Director for Royal (& SunAlliance) Insurance, helping to earn several industry awards for excellence in advertising and marketing communications. During this period, he served as national Vice President of the Insurance Marketing Communications Association (IMCA) and was representative to the Association of National Advertisers (ANA).

He has been a copywriter for New York City and Charlotte advertising agencies; his writing skills embrace virtually all disciplines of marketing promotion and journalism.

Since 1996, through the emergence of his own company, Kweskin has offered consultation on marketing strategy and creative development and implementation for such diverse national, regional and local corporate names as BellSouth Mobility DCS (Verizon); Transamerica Reinsurance; Bristol-Myers Squibb; John Deere; Moissanite Jewelry; Pro-Med Emergency Care; Charlotte Housing Authority and Archadeck.

Kweskin has also displayed his skills on both the publication stage and the theatrical stage: he co-authored articles for National Lampoon magazine and co-scripted a comedy revue off-Broadway in New York City.

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How To Remember Names

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How To Remember Names

You are in the grocery store, pushing your cart around the corner when WHAM! You run into that woman with the big blue eyes. You met her at that local meeting or perhaps some business lunch. Either way, you remember that face. but what is her name? Before your mind can get any further than that thought, she smiles and says, "Hi Joe, how are you?" Now you are really trapped. She remembers your name!!

During my years as a professional memory trainer, I can not tell you how many variations of this story I have heard. The truth is most people have trouble remembering names. This is because our memories are not designed to learn names through verbal cues. Our memory works through image, action, and emotion.

Here are my six steps to never forgetting a name again:

1) Create Facial Files

When you meet a person for the first time, pick out something striking about their facial appearance. Perhaps it is their nose, large forehead, or lips. It is important that when picking out these features you stay away from hair (of any kind) or glasses because all of these can change over time.

2) Introduction: Stop and listen

Do not think about what you are going to say. Too often, we meet someone and immediately transition into another conversation. Next time you meet someone try these techniques:

    Pay attention
    Repeat their name back to them three times. Don't overdo it.

3) Turn Names into Pictures

This converts the name into an image, which is the language of your memory. For instance when you meet Barbara think of a barbed wire fence. Attaching a picture to a name is simple and because you will run into so many people with the same names, you will need fewer images than you think.

4) Take the Picture and Glue the Image of the Name to the Person's Face or Upper Body

This will sink it into your memory. For instance, if you pictured barbed wire for Barbara, now picture her wrapped in barbed wire. This links the image to an action, and that is the language of your mind. Make the picture vivid and the action memorable.

5) Tie the First and Second Name Together

Use a chain of visualization when you need to remember both. Just make sure you keep them in the correct order.

6) Review

This step is dependent on how long you want to remember the name. You do not need to do this with every person. However, if you want to remember something long term, review it in one hour, one day, and one week.

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How To Remember Names

A Writing Exercise That Increases Awareness And Description Skills

A Writing Exercise That Increases Awareness And Description Skills

Practice attaching words to feelings requires time to do. Without a system that helps you monitor that time, the minutes or hours could feel unproductive. With the right exercise, you can then use that time wisely, as well as save you time and frustration.

Learning to apply the right words to our six senses is a top ingredient to the mixture of writing. Its language brings the reader into the story. All of us easily know how we feel, or what we're seeing (okay, most of the time), what we're hearing, smelling, tasting, and sensing, and can usually explain it in 50 words if pushed to do it. But, how do you describe it in one or two words without the pushing?

Also, by beginning with good material, the remaining part of the writing process becomes easier. This exercise will help you improve your beginning.

This is a simple exercise that you can do anywhere, anytime, in a space of minutes or longer. You can practice Monday mornings in the garden, the doctor's waiting room, or in the lunchroom. It can last as long as a television commercial (oops those aren't short any longer), or you more aggressively with a devoted 30-minutes a day. Whatever length of time or place you have, it will always improve your skill.

You will want to sit while completing this exercise.

Okay, let's start with the most difficult spot, your supplies -- paper and your writing instruments. Landscape, portrait, small, or regular size sheet of paper doesn't matter. I define what paper size to use by the amount of time available and my location. If I'm mobile, I use my small journal. If I'm at my desk or at home, I use a regular size paper. Sometimes lines, sometimes not. Sometimes the exercise flows over to two or three sheets. Don't limit the experience by paper size. Have fun with the recording tools as well. Experimentation is the key to our curiosity. And, curiosity is the foundation of a writer.

Draw a circle on the page and place your name in the center. Large, small, in color, black, or blue, again it doesn't matter. Use whatever flips your pancakes at that moment. In other words, whatever feels good at the time.

Your objective is to describe your five senses, six if you have that gift, with words. Write the words that express that sense in the space inside the circle randomly around your name.

Here is how you would use this exercise to increase environment awareness and description. Write your words in the location on the paper relevant to the direction it appears. For example: I'm sitting outside my office on a 9th floor balcony at the moment, I hear a heavy humming from the tires on the wet pavement below and birds chirping above me to the right. I would place the words for the tires on the bottom left and the chirping on the upper right on my page.

Here are nine prompts to help you expand your experience.
* Write words describing your atmosphere--the quality of
air.
* What are the clouds doing? Can you see animals in their
shapes?
* The temperature of your location.
* The source of light and its quality.
* Where are people standing or sitting?
* Shadows, are they're any? Where and how do they fall?
* Predominant colors, wall colors, wallpaper, molding, chair
railing, textured ceiling.
* What do you smell? Using comparisons are a great way to
relate to your reader. The air feels like just getting out
of the fogged shower stall.
* Are there other people around you? How do they smell,
their clothes, their shoes? Guess at what they might do for
a living. Are they dressed like someone on their way to
work, doesn't work, a mom, dad, baker, or what?

After you are comfortable describing your environment, spice the exercise up another notch. Compare your descriptive words to something else. For example: The room you are sitting in feels like a sauna with my clothes on.

Continue spicing up the exercise to increase your awareness and descriptive powers--use people and objects. Since you are most familiar with yourself, begin there.

After practicing on the most familiar subject, yourself, create a list of other familiar people in your life. Then sort the list from most familiar to least. Continue down the list. Somewhere during these lists and practice sessions, you will begin to feel comfortable with your skill.

You can continue taking the exercise to another level. This time you are ready to expand your awareness and adaptation to words. Visit the local mall; sit in the food court for smorgasbord of new enriching thoughts-to-words experiences.

Here are 11 prompts to help you expand your levels:
* Describe what you are wearing.
* How does your body feel?
* What are your hands doing?
* How does your throat feel?
* How are you holding your mouth?
* Eye movement
* Breathing
* How do you feel in general, in detail?
* Name your mood. Does it have a flavor and color?
* Describe your feelings with reference to music. A certain
song or type of music.
* How does your hair smell, clothes, the chair you're
sitting on, the book you're reading?

Be patient with yourself while practicing. This exercise isn't the easiest to complete, however, it is the most effective. Even if you aren't a writer, this exercise will help you triple your awareness skills in a short time period1. This exercise also helps police officers, speakers, judges, attorneys, or anyone else that uses their awareness skills to see and put it into words. This is also a NLP--neurolinguistics programming skill--for those aware of this process.

Related Articles :

Selecting a Toll Free number?

Before you advertise, have you filled out your "Creative Strategy Form?"

Gorilla Marketing

How To Remember Names

A Writing Exercise That Increases Awareness And Description Skills