Alpaca marketing does no good if you don't have targeted potential customers. Gathering names of people interested in alpacas is a very important step in marketing. Here are 12 ways to gather names.
1. If you advertise your alpaca business, people will call. When they call be sure and get their name, number, address, email, whether they plan on buying soon or not, and how they got your name.
2. Do you go to conventions or shows? Get other owners business cards. Don't forget about fellow alpaca owners in your alpaca marketing strategy.
3. Do you go to shows or craft fairs, etc.? Have a sign up sheet for people interested in alpacas to get more information mailed to them.
4. Do you have a physical place of business? Have a guest book for people to sign to get names for your alpaca marketing future.
5. Hang a flyer on bulletin boards with your phone number, offer to send information, and take their information when people call.
6. Put out surveys and make it optional for people to give their information. You'd be surprised how many people sign their names and address on optional appraisals. This can help your alpaca marketing in two ways. You get targeted information and feedback on how you are doing and what customers may be looking for.
7. Teach a class and keep the registration information. Or you could give a voluntary talk on something related to alpacas or their fiber and have a sign up sheet for anyone who wants to know more about alpacas.
8. Raffle off something made with lovely alpaca fleece and have people fill out a form with their information on it.
9. Keep a small notebook and a pen or pencil in a pocket or purse. Talk about what you do and when someone indicates they're interested, put their information in your notebook.
10. Place an ad in one of the local papers with a coupon for people to fill out to get more alpaca information.
11. Are you internet savvy? Go to some of the social networks like Furl, Digg, etc. and talk about your alpacas. When someone becomes interested, get their info (at least an email).
12. Do you have a website that you can use for alpaca marketing? Have a guest book for people to sign or give free information and have people sign in to receive that information. (Be sure you let them know you will not sell their information to anyone or they might opt out of signing in.)
Alpaca marketing requires a plan, but without a targeted market, you'll be wasting dollars and time. Gathering names will narrow the focus of who to target. Don't forget to find out how they found out about you so you know which alpaca marketing method is working for you.
Learn more about alpaca marketing at http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-marketing.html. Debby McCandless raises alpacas and uses the fleece to create unique hand made items. |
