Free Tips for Marketing and Selling Children's Products

There are a lot of really smart people on Squidoo that have already created great lenses about SEO and marketing, and building your website traffic and ranking. These tips can supplement those ideas and make you a really well rounded business owner! (Smart, too!)

1. Do you have an e-commerce website? (of course you do!)
2. What is your page rank? Are you getting the traffic you need? Do you know what SEO is? If not, find out ASAP!
3. Have you listed your product on Google? Amazon? How can you make Zazzle work for you?
4. Join a health club. Not only good for your body, but also your business when someone asks you, "So what do you do?"
5. Send out a press release to your local newspapers and magazines. Include a print ready photo of your product and even a short article about something that you are an expert on that is related to your industry. You'll increase your chances of becoming published!
6. Find speaking opportunities.
7. Get a friend to host a sales party.
8. Send a postcard mailing.
9. Become an advocate for an issue related to your business.
10. Create a more playful image.
11. Make a sales call to a retail store you like.
12. Send a thank you note to someone and include your business card.
13. Create an unusual business card (make it plastic or fuzzy!)
14. Offer a free consultation to solve a common children's problem.
15. Create a niche.
16. Be a resource in your niche.
17. Improve your listening skills.
18. Promote in your town... as a LOCAL business!
19. Have a novel or unusual giveaway.
20. Advertise on a golf ball to dads with kids.
21. Create a specialty line within your existing product lines.
22. Give frequent flyer miles with a purchase.
23. Donate your time or services while promoting your product.
24. Change your voicemail message to something fun and interesting and MEMORABLE! (Obviously you are not answering at the moment, why restate the obviously boring?)
25. Give a gift with purchase.
26. Be an expert on something.
27. Scour your local business newspaper or magazine and send congratulations notes to people who are being promoted. Include your business card or brochure and offer a free sample.
28. Write a newsletter and send it out.
29. Trade and barter with other businesses for services or joint advertisement.
30. Volunteer within your industry. You will meet some great people, learn something about the industry and maybe even your own business.
31. Include a business card or brochure in every bill you pay. The clerk on the other end is a customer too.
32. Donate to charity.
33. Introduce yourself to your seat mate on the airplane.

Here is a thought... the media needs you! Newspapers, trade magazines, radio and television needs interesting content so that readers (listeners, watchers, whatever!) will need them. However, they don't have big budgets to spend on research. Many times they will (easily and lazily) take what is coming to them. So, make it easy on the media and get your business out there! Try these tips:
34. Write an article for a trade magazine, newspaper or online community. While this may bring in leads and traffic to your website, also make copies and give it out to your prospects and customer base to build credibility.
35. Write a letter to the editor. Is there a complaint out there about something related to your industry? (Like lead in children's toys?) Write a letter to the editor addressing this issue and also talk about how your business solved this problem.
36. Take a survey about something related to your product and write about it. You will generate prospects and contacts while you take the survey. Then, send out the survey to prospects and the media and build credibility and your sales!

What does your customer service say about your business? Do you have many repeat customers? Could you get more?
37. Has a customer made a recent purchase? Send a thank you card. (duh! but some many people forget this easy but important step) So, you don't want to spend money on postage? Send a free e-card.
38. Ask your customers for complaints and then... solve their problems! Customer who have a problem that you have taken care of are more loyal then any other customers (except maybe your mom!)
39. Offer a frequent buyer reward.
40. Donate a portion of the customer's purchase to charity or the environment.
41. Plant a tree with every purchase.
42. Ask your customer for a testimonial. Post testimonials on your website and/or send them out with your prospecting/sales information. Not only will you build credibility, but you may learn something about your business or competition the you didn't already know.

What about you? Of course you are spending a massive amount of time marketing and building your business, but don't forget your own growth. Continuously learning and keeping in mind strong and positive intentions can really 'make' your business.
43. Read a book every month (or week, if you are fast!) Read books about personal development, positive attitude and successful business leaders.
44. Listen to a CD in your car that focuses on personal development, or business development, or anything but more meaningless nonsense that is wasting your time.
45. Turn off the TV at night and research your next business step. Who is your next target market? Is your web page getting enough traffic? How can you improve your page rank on Google?
46. Make your customers and prospects laugh. Humor builds rapport. While you are working to build credibility (above) build some rapport too. Does your business have any personality? Can you add humor within the context of your business? Do you have an 'About Me' page that sparkles and adds human interest to your business.
47. How about sending out, or posting a list of your favorite kid's quotes? Kids say the darndest things and you will build rapport with customers if your business seems approachable (yet professional.)

OK, let's talk about the white elephant in the room.... Networking. Most people don't like it right? Networking is really important for every business, including yours. If you a real shy, then make it work for you. Start in a way that your shy personality can handle.
48. The new internet is all about social networking. Even if you are shy speaking to people in public, you can peck away at the keyboard, can't you?
49. Join an online group. Participate! Be sure to sign your postings professionally with your name, business name and website.
50. Can you write a blog related to you? your business? the industry you are in?
51. Join your local Chamber of Commerce event.
52. Join other networking clubs.
53. Join a civic organization.
54. Take a class, or how about Toastmasters?
55. Join a trade or professional association.
56. Join a hobby or social club and have some fun! Stick a business card in your back pocket, but don't be pushy.

Exhibiting at a trade show is a great way to meet people in your industry. Not only are you able to get the word out about your business to lots of buys very quickly, meeting other business owners and swapping tips and ideas can be a wonderful experience. Here are some of the bigger children's products related trade shows:

ABC Kids Expo

MOM2B Trade Show

Babytime Expo

Baby & Tween Celebration Los Angeles

Dallas Market Center Kids World

AmericasMart Atlanta

Vegas Kids at Las Vegas Market

The New York Toy & Trim Week

Toy Fair

Bubble Trade Show

Kids Today Conference

American Baby Faire

Annual Western States Toy & Hobby Show

Baby Celebration

ToyCon 2008

ENK Children's Club

Hiring a Sales Rep Market and Sell your products can be a great asset (and time saver!) Typically you pay them a commission every time they sell your product to their retail store customers. Its a great way to sell a lot of inventory as wholesale... fast! Here is how to get started finding Sales Reps:

Manufacturers Representative Profile Service
GreatRep
NMOA
RepHunter

Social networking with other parents and business owners is a great way to learn more about marketing and selling your children's related products business. You can lurk for a while until you feel comfortable (5 minutes!) and then dive right in! These groups are a great place to ask questions!

www.mompreneursonline.com

www.mominventors.com

www.millionairemom.com

www.mommymillionaire.ning.com

www.wahmaddictssocial.ning.com

Have you thought about hiring a PR firm?

Here is one that specializes in Small Businesses and Children's Products:

Orca Communications