We’re a small family business that specializes in international missionary/humanitarian/non-profit and adoption travel. I am the son of the owner. Dad started this business 15-20 years ago around our living room table.

We have contracts with some of the major airlines that allow us to do three things that are very special: 1. Discounted airfare, 2. Free changes and inexpensive refunds, 3. One-ways are half the price of round-trips and can originate overseas. Discounts are obviously very important to both of our niche customers. Changes and refunds are very nice for everyone, but primarily help our adoption customers who often have delays in the complicated overseas adoption legal processes and need to change their flights. The one-ways and overseas origination are nice for our adoption customers in bringing back the adopted children, but is the most helpful for our missionary and humanitarian/non-profit customers who have ex-pats living overseas and need either round-trips to the US and back to the foreign country or one-way tickets to somewhere overseas. Both of these types of tickets are normally 50%-100% more expensive without our contracts.

Word of mouth has been, by a large margin, the biggest driver of the company’s growth since it’s humble beginnings in our house. This word of mouth is driven by two primary factors: our fanatical customer service (This customer service has three primary tenets: 1. Dad and the General Manager, my uncle/dad’s brother, carry their cell phones with them 24/7 for emergency customer service, 2. The empathy factor: all of our employees are Christians who are passionate about helping the church and we have a number of former missionaries on staff who have lived and worked overseas. Also, for adoptions, we know the adoption process inside and out and can sympathize with the stress that adoptive parents are feeling, 3. The expertise factor: we specialize in these two niches, so we often help our customers craft their trips to avoid common pitfalls in both adoption and non-profit travel.) and the aforementioned benefits of our contracts. So word of mouth has been our only substantial growth engine.

Only within the last year or two have we started doing some display advertising in some Christian and missionary magazines.

The only other marketing efforts have been web-based and spearheaded by me. I’ve done a lot of SEO getting us to the #1 spot on Google (though we’ve recently slipped to #2) in the organic results for our highest-search-volume, highest-converting keyphrase. Also, we have extensive Google AdWords campaigns.

However, we’ve done next to zero direct mail (we did one highly targeted mailing to 50 or so organizations that were hand-selected and addressed) and no email marketing. I’ve been doing a lot of research lately into direct mail and email marketing, but we are still brand-new at this. I think it’s something we should do, however. I think it’s something that could be very effective for us. The reason that I think that this can be so effective is because most of the times that I talk with a brand-new customer, they had no idea that there was such a thing as a travel agency that specialized in missionary and humanitarian travel. The benefits of going with us over a regular travel agency or online/directly with the airline are so manifest, our problem is not persuading people to give us a try, but rather it’s simply getting the word out. Those that get the word convert in high percentages.

We’re clueless in the direct mail and email marketing fields (and inexperienced in display advertising). We have experience in web marketing, but we got that experience through lots of hard work experimenting without much financial outlay that wasn’t instantly measurable, justifiable, and adjustable. We don’t have that luxury with direct mail, email marketing, or display advertising. As a small company with a small marketing budget, we can’t afford to make the expensive experiments inherent with these types of marketing. We need experienced help to get some initial campaigns running that will have a decent likelihood of being a good investment. Will you help us?

I would like to point out that our conversion (which we define as a customer requesting a quote from us) rates from Google (both AdWords and organic) are around 30%. The high conversion rate of our business means that any direct mail, email, and display advertising campaigns will have the benefit of being directed toward large amounts of low-hanging fruit. The more successful the marketing campaign that you craft, the more glowing the video review and the greater likelihood that we will become long-time InfoGroup customers. Thus, you have an interest in picking this low-hanging fruit.

Will you pick this low-hanging fruit?

after working for a roofing company for several years, I decided to strike out on my own in a niche market, metal roofing. We have a great energy efficient product with lifetime warranties. There are metal roofing styles that imitate Clay Tile, Wood Shake and Slate. We have our own crews and never sub out any work to ensure quality control. I feel we have a good brand and a great reputation, but have always struggled in marketing. I have spent a ton of money on print marketing, promotional items and internet advertising. In anticipation of growth, we have acquired phone numbers in several different cities and states and have even been able to pull some work out of some of them, but it has been limited. I am in desperate need of guidance in the marketing department. I feel like I am pouring good money after bad.
I compare my advertising to Rogaine, I don’t know if it’s working or not, but I’m afraid to quit doing it.

One of the challenges we are having as an Actuarial Consulting & Employee Benefit Administration Firm is similar to what others are experiencing in the country. The economic status of the country in general, and the fact that there has been upheaval in investments. Would love to hear your ideas and receive some free marketing of our professional, knowledgeable and personal service oriented company. Thank you. Teresa

We are a small office & facility technology integration company that specializes in low voltage copper & fiber optic structural cabling systems along with a sundry of technology like telephone systems, paging systems, AV services, WiFi networks, card access and sound masking systems. We have grown the company since 2001 at a very slow percentage rate primarily based on market share and selective clientele. We now have 6 full time employees and a subcontractor base of approximatley 5 to 7 small companies augmenting our regional services. We always seem to be in ‘roller coaster’ mode. In other words, our sales are always up or down. We are looking for predictability of revenue and quality clientele understanding our value and expertise. Can you offer quantifiable recommendations?
we thank you and look forward to hearing from you soon!
Bud Eskew, RCDD
GEOCOM, Inc.
770-720-7877 Office
770-833-2031 Blackberry/Cellular

We actually just completed a video about our story for Elance, Check it out on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Qittle/104965188259?ref=ts

Thanks
Casey
http://www.Qittle.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD01nLCEeKE&feature=player_embedded

I am the Fund Development Director of a nonprofit agency in Charlotte NC, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Centers (CMSC). Our Mission is to enrich the lives of seniors through programs and services that will improve their health and wellness, decrease their loneliness and isolation and provide social, economic and educational opportunities that will enhance their quality of life. Our Vision is to strengthen the community by being the ultimate experience and resource for older adults.

Currently, CMSC has three locations in Mecklenburg County, NC and provides health and wellness programs to a fourth facility which belongs to the Char-Meck Park and Recreation Department.

One of our Senior Centers, the North Mecklenburg Center, is in danger of being closed due to a $66,000 cut in United Way funding this year. Our Board and staff have launched an emergency campaign “SOS – Save our Seniors” in the North area.

The 2000 Census shows that 10, 246 individuals over the age of 65 live in the Cornelius, Huntersville and Davidson area. Since opening in 2005, the North Mecklenburg Senior Center has provided a wide range of programs and services to more than 1,000 of these older adults.

The North Meck Center serves as a focal point for delivering a wide range of programs and services designed specifically to promote the physical, mental and emotional well being of older adults otherwise not available in the northern part of Mecklenburg County. From classes designed to improve balance, to health fair screenings, to luncheons and other programs that provide opportunities for seniors to socialize with people with similar interests.

Unfortunately, funding cuts from United Way and other sources have put the future of the North Meck Senior Center in jeopardy. In fact, the Center will be forced to close if new sources of funding cannot be found to help meet the cost of keeping the Center open.

In response to the situation, the CMSC Board, in conjunction with community leaders and constituents of the Center, has launched an emergency “Save Our Seniors” Campaign to generate new support that will keep the North Meck Senior Center operating this year and into the future.

The success of this effort depends upon community recognition of the need and the willingness of area individuals and businesses to support the Center through both large and small gifts. In addition, a variety of community fundraising activities are planned by volunteers at the Center and at several locations throughout Mecklenburg County.

If InfoGROUP would like to offer us help in reaching our $66K goal, we would certainly be very grateful!

Thank you,
Pat LeNeave

Stimulus shimulus, I haven’t seen the recession! But I’ll always take free marketing advice. We’ve seen steady growth, broken sales records since March with a launch of a new Anti-Inflamation product. With the public finding out how bad NSAIDS are our product is flying. One can see the power of our business model at http://www.just14minutes.com (that’s how long it takes) or learn about our breakthru product at http://www.4nopal.com or about all our products at http://www.modifyhealth.com or learn about what makes our company tick at http://www.modifywealth.com

Like I said, business is good, and I’m willing to assist others in their health or wealth any day and any improvement on my marketing techniques will mean I get to help more folks feel better, live longer and get out of the recession sooner!!

peace and blessings,

wil

oh….just saw the next article….fundraising….we can help with that!!!@Wil

During these tough economic times, the need to reach out to loved-ones doesn’t go away, it’s quite the contrary. So as gift-givers scour the proverbial shelves for something that’s quality, different, fun…but fits their pocketbook, our bet is, if folks find Sock Grams, they’ll find a great gift solution.

A Sock Gram is exactly what it sounds like: a gift-wrapped package containing a card, personal greeting, pair of crazy, fun, novelty socks and an added treat, delivered right to the recipient’s mailbox. The adult Sock Grams include a packet of foot balm and the children’s Sock Grams include a packet of stickers.

What are our marketing challenges? There are so many! We’ve been in business just shy of 2 years, so we’re still trying to determine the optimal PR and advertising venues. We’re trying to find the most efficient ways to communicate the Sock Grams value proposition. We need help with the basics and would be thrilled with any help and direction you could lend.

If you’re ever faced with trying to find the right gift, remember Sock Grams is a resourceful, innovative way to send personal greetings and lasting smiles that won’t break the bank.

Thanks for the chance at this giveaway.

June 24,2004 I became a real estate agent with the dream and goal of starting a family based real estate team. June 27th 2004 while my wife and I were going to meet a broker to ride motorcycles and discuss how to make the leap into real estate we were struck by a drunk driver at 11:30am that Sunday Morning. I crushed my face leaving me with 30 screws and 5 plates in my face, severe damage to my knee, and a brain injury. My wife suffered a broken nose, collar bone, shoulder blade, 4 ribs and a punctured lung. Forced to start my career while a patient at a brain injury rehab failure was not an option, especially after the driver committed suicide leaving us to pick up the pieces. Not only did we bigin to become successful we became a top producer in our office, then the market crashed. Everything that worked before began to not work and we were forced back to the drawing board. That is when the idea of combining my passions and dreams came to life and I became Atlantas exclusive bicycle real estate agent. Keep in mind at one point I was expected to never ride a bicycle again. This year we will focus on helping people achieve the dream of being a homeowner, while they help me achieve the dream of becoming an Ironman (2.4 mile run, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run)
We are the clean, green way to buy a home and we allow people to experience the roads thier children will be playing next to because this is what we believe in.
Our experience thus far has been very interesting. At first we expected the PR side to be a challenge but once people heard about our innovative idea that they would flock to the experience. But it was quite the opposite, PR came from everywhere, we were in the local paper, interviewed by FOX, 11 Alive and came close to “The Today Show” but to actually get people out riding and buying homes became the real challenge.