You won't succeed without an Opt-in Mailing List!

Hey, you've got to make sure that you register anyone who comes to your site by posting an opt-in form. This is a form that is generated by the company you use to store email addresses.

I can suggest http://www.topica.com This is the service we've been using for quite awhile. Before that we used http://www.constantcontact.com and before that http://www.imakenews.com They're all good, but right now we feel the most comfortable with Topica.

Go to any of these sites and read up on what they offer. They will also have an area that will tell you why creating an opt-in mailing list is critical to your online success. Opt-in mailing lists are permission based lists, so that a subscriber can automatically unsubscribe whenever.

We've been sending out newsletters through our opt-in list for nearly 10 years and wouldn't know what we'd do without one.

Examples of Pen marketing, branding, pricing and advertising

Here's a listing of the sites that I've been responsible for in terms of branding, pricing, marketing and advertising:
http://www.platinumpen.com
http://www.penkeeper.com
http://www.spwpens.com
http://www.platinumpenstore.com

Pen Marketing 101

If you look or sound like your competition you have a serious problem. The internet has made it possible for anyone to open an online store and sell to prospects all over the world.

When you decide to purchase a product to resell, maybe you should first do a search of the product to see how many people are selling the same thing already.

It's not advisable to sell everything that your competiton does. Sure, you can say you have excellent customer service and great pricing, but your competition is saying the same thing.

Look for products that others don't have. Be unique with what you sell, and what you offer. Be unique in the way you present your products as well.

Don't forget to maintain quality customer care, workmanship in what you sell, and excellent pricing. That's very important for your success.

Be different, and be more successful!

Platinum Pen Branding

When we launched the U.S. division of Platinum Pen, Ltd., Tokyo, in the summer of 1997, we had to create branding from the ground up.

That's right. When we received the inventory catalog from Platinum Pen Tokyo, all of the writing instruments were numbered. They weren't named, and all of the copy was in Japanese language.

Once we launched our website, we began loading all of the pictures of everything we wanted to carry and distribute in the U.S.

There were a lot of sleepless nights tossing and turning coming up with a name for each product. Once the names were decided upon, we then had to write the advertising copy to correspond with the name of the pen. We also had to set all retail pricing for the U.S. maket. Wow, what an undertaking. Especially when you're up agains Pilot, Pentel, Dixon Ticonderoga, and others.

I'll get more in depth at another time on how we came up with names and what names got us into lawsuits. In the meantime if you'd like to see what we did from scratch please go to the Platinum Pen Website Here.

New Pen Company Launch

Yes, just when you thought there were enough pen companies and pen manufacturers in the world, another one pops up!

www.spwpens.com

Now, for me to say this is a very unique pen company would be an understatment. Why? Because Its my creation.

What's new and different about this pen company? Quality workmanship on all products plus unbelievable pricing.

This is a special promo we're running right now.

Marketing Writing Instruments

The best way to market a writing instrument is to be totally different in your marketing than your competiton.

Very easy to out market your competiton. Do everything before your competition and make sure your sales and marketing pieces are compelling and include a sense of urgency.

It is very easy to be successfull marketing pens, pencils, markers, and other writing instruments. Just offer your prospects innovative pricing, added value specials, and unique packaging.

Watch what happens.

Sheep Never Win

How many times do you see the "Sheep" mentality in our society? What is a "sheep"? it is someone who's a follower, someone who doesn't think on their own, someone who has no creativity, someone who never gets ahead in life.

Don't be a "sheep" Be a "sheep hearder". Or someone who acts rather than reacts. It's easier to follow than lead, but where does it get you? The same place as the person or group that you followed. And that's not usually a good thing.

Try to stay one step of the heard by always thinking about ways to one-up the heard. Ways to stay ahead of the competition. The crazier the better.

Here's a good example of the "sheep" mentality: During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the media panicked the public into believing that there would be a severe gas shortage. The public freaked out and everyone headed for the gas pumps at the same time of day. Long lines, absurd prices, and a bunch of freaked out commuters.

Think before you follow. If someone had thought about it, they would have figured out that even if we were never going to have access to gas in America that a full tank wouldn't have put us over the top. If the nation is out of gas, then we're all screwed.

Of course, the next day, the price of gas dropped, and there was plenty of gas to go around throughout our great country.

Another example of "sheepish" behaviour: Ever been to a supermarket after a weather report forcasting severe weather? Noticed what people are buying? Bread and milk. How bizarre is that? If people were actually thinking that would be the last thing on a grocery list. The entire idea of thinking that the masses believe that they will survive a catastrophie by stocking up on bread and milk is totally random.

Think for yourself, don't let the media or a group of peoplle guide you into looking like a moron in front of your peers. Be creative and think on your feet.