Here at BAKERY, Jaime and I always have our eyes and ears open for fantastic marketing ideas. Naturally, this one from our friend Martha at UNIFORM caught our eye. Martha sent an e-newsletter announcing the following details a few weeks ago:
“I’m really excited to tell you about a collaborative project I’ve been working on with photographer Jenifer Altman. Jenifer, who primarily uses Polaroid photography in her work, has photographed a special RED version of one of my gossamer scarves.
We are offering the scarf and an 8″ x 8″ print of her Polaroid photograph, along with a new year card with words of inspiration as a limited edition set. 20% of the sales from this set will be sent to the RED cross for their work in Haiti.”
Smart, right? Here’s the breakdown of why we love this idea:
1. Collaboration
Anything with the words “collaborate” involved are winners in our book. Partly because yes, we’re a collaboration, but also because it’s a smart way to reach other audiences rather than your own.
2. Social Responsibility
By donating 20% of sales to Haiti, there’s a level of social responsibility here that is a fantastic way to get people involved to rally toward a good cause. Not only is this good for the world in general, but it’s a great way of positioning your business as one that cares for the greater good.
3. Cross-Promo
It can be said that creatives run in creative circles, so by creating a partnership between an organic clothing label and a Polaroid photographer, you’ve got a formula for a stellar cross-promotional opportunity.
Why not take a cue from Martha and Jenifer and brainstorm ways to reach new audiences in your business? Good luck!
image credit: flickr, jereitman
“There is a difference between being arrogant about yourself as a person and being confident that your work has some value. The first is unattractive, the second is healthy and natural. Some people respond to the one as if it were the other. Don’t confuse them. Marketing is not bragging, and touting one’s wares is not evil. The baker in the medieval town square must holler ‘fresh rolls’ if he hopes to feed the townfolk.”
–Jeffrey Zeldman, Zeldman.com
Alternatively titled, “Why Alt Summit Totally Rocked.”
That's me, Joy of Oh Joy!, and Jaime (who is offering an inappropriate gesture because I made her dress up and pose for the camera and she hates that)
So. Jaime and I took a bit of a mini-trip to Salt Lake City last week, to meet and interact with a few of our favorite bloggers and inspirations behind BAKERY, Design Milk and Design for Mankind. While we ventured to the Altitude Design Summit to speak to our fellow peers re: the business of blogging, we ended up learning a thing or two ourselves (imagine that!)
See the list of speakers, and see more roundups and linkage at Apartment Therapy, Mint, Design Crush, Petit Elefant, and Mackin Ink.
Of course, we couldn’t wait to head home and share these tips with you, my dear bakers. The round-up?:
- “Nothing is handed to you. No one receives anything unless asked. Those people speaking at conferences? They’ve asked to be there. The bloggers receiving hot shot sponsors? Yep, they asked. They pitched, they asked, and they asked again.” — Maggie Mason, Mighty Girl (who also has the most luscious red hair in the entire world)
- And another gem from Maggie: “Use your blog as a marketing tool for what you really want to do.”
- Sponsored posts should be written by the sponsors like it’s ad space. And you should charge at least 3 times what you charge for ad space because of the value.
- “You must embrace the Twitter!!!” — OK, that was me who said that.
- Propose a trade with a couple of sponsors if you’re just starting to put ads on your site. It will make your site look like you already have established advertisers.
- “Great ads are like jewelry on your website” and “there is no good excuse for ugly” — Jean, NOTCOT
- People don’t hate ads, they hate irrelevant ones.
- Don’t pursue an idea just because you think it will be lucrative. Don’t blog with the intention of making money.
- “At our ad agency, websites are already considered ‘Old Media.’” — Jeroen Bours (he created the “Priceless” campaign for MasterCard
- Jaime learned that blogs are about being personal. She is starting to contemplate how she can be more personal in her business. Or, maybe it’s not about business at all, and more about pleasure.
We are already excited for next year. Will YOU be there?
This week is your last chance to sign up for the second BAKERY’s Half-Dozen: 6 Weeks to A Tastier Business, which will begin on Monday, February 1, 2010 (that’s next week!).
There are only a few spots left, so register now.
Then, stay tuned later this week for a recap of our exciting time in Salt Lake City at Altitude Design Summit. We’ll recap what we talked about, what we learned from our peers, and some great info from a few really influential and successful bloggers.
