Cindy Tollen of El Paso, Texas writes:
“I am a one woman shop at SudznBubbles.com and I sell custom and novelty glycerine soap products, bath salts, body butter and lip balm—some of it around a food theme. You can buy a soap that looks like a piece of lucious peach pie, a cupcake or a cherry tart, for example.
“I need tips on how to market my products with a limited budget and little time. I sold my products in stores until the recession hit, now I sell mostly online or at trade shows. I need to know the best tool for marketing.
“I have a Facebook Fan Page but few fans. I blog, but can’t remember the last time I wrote something. I’m on Twitter but I don’t know what to tweet about.
“I have a Facebook Fan Page but few fans. I blog, but can’t remember the last time I wrote something. I’m on Twitter but I don’t know what to tweet about.
“Can your Hounds offer some smart marketing tips, tools or strategies that will help translate into sales? My target market is upscale women over 30.”
What an awesome product! I think you could reach a large number of customers through Twitter. The key is build relationships first on Twitter and your followers will help you build sales. I recommend following @TimeOutMom and @MomBizCoach who can help identify ways to use Twitter effectively. I would also recommend participating in a weekly Twitter chat called #gno. At 9pm Eastern on Tuesdays, search #gno on Twitter and you can get a flavor for who participates and what is discussed.
Good Luck!
Larua, super-specific tips like the ones you’ve offered here go a long way toward helping my Hounds build an effective social media strategy.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share these.
Yes, the products are great! You could have a lot of fun, and gain a ton of visibility, with a Twitter contest. You create a short tweet asking people to follow you AND retweet the message to be entered for a chance to win one of your products. Let them know that everyone who follows you by 6 pm that day will be entered in a drawing for one free product…then when you draw the winner, you can tweet that too, getting additional visibility. And if it goes well, repeat that once a week or so, until you have a robust group of followers. It’s a fun product and you’ll have a great time getting the word out!
Karen, this contest can be extended to Facebook Fan Pages, too.
First thing I did was go to your website where a welcome page has little value. Once you click through the welcome page — all you see is one picture and nothing else.
Before pursuing social media and marketing ideas — dump the welcome page and tweak the home page to instantly tell visitors what you sell along with a photo of a soap or two so they quickly see the product. The welcome page just adds time and a step that people don’t want.
You have charming products — don’t let the website welcome page turn people away before they get your story.
One more little nitpick you might want to fix — when you mouseover the navigation — the double lines confuse to the point where you’re not sure what’s selected.
Meryl, I discussed Cindy’s site with her and told her I was confused when I landed there because of the big piece of peach pie. I thought she sold bakery (as we say in the Midwest), particularly because the word “bakery” appeared along the side.
When I returned to the site the following day, I had to “click here to enter” which is cumbersome. Don’t make people jump through hoops to get to your home page.
These soaps are FABULOUS! I’ve already bookmarked the site. I especially like the baked goods and popsicles. Seems like a natural cross-marketing opportunity with event planners (think bridal and baby showers), women’s organizations and florists. The fact that these items are so unique and reasonably priced makes them a great giveaway item.
Sharon, Cindy told me she takes orders for wedding favors.
Getting in front of event planners is a great idea. Can’t you just picture peach pie, lemon meringue and cherry tart soaps as favors at the National Bakers Association convention?
Hello Cindy,
I applaud you on creating such fun and lovely products. I think that using Twitter each day to create an aura of delight by describing a different product each day, would truly entice people to place an order. You mentioned in your email to Joan that you make a luscious soap that is like a slice of peach pie. I would write something like, “I’ve just had a bath with Luscious Peach Pie soap & I feel simply divine. You can too!” Give prospective customers a sense of how they’ll feel using your products. I wish you the best of luck and I’m sure you’ll have it. Sending you a little Yoga Bling!
Acharya, you just mention something that jogged another idea.
Her products are sensual–they look, feel and smell beautiful. Cindy, communicate that in your writing, blog posts, and at your website. Try to get testimonials from women (or men) who use your products and explain to you how they look, feel and smell.
Thank you so much for all the great tips!! I love the twitter contest idea and will certainly take the website comments and look into it. You guys are great 🙂
My Hounds are happy they could help, Cindy.
Please return her periodically and check the other ideas that roll in.
Cindy, Very cute site but homepage could use a little more personalization, a little content id’ing you, your product and your mission. Just a large fonted “SOAP” would illeviate some of the confusion mentioned. Attractive colors and logo!
I’d love to see your blog. Posts don’t even have to be soap related. A personal blog with your creative ideas or posts about a new creation interspersed with other interests you may have or share with your readers (friends) goes a long way to promote your actual website. Just make sure to include links to any photos of your creations back to your site. For example, I’d love to know a little (w/o divulging any secrets) about how you make the soaps, the ingredients, what makes them different, how you got started, YOUR story. The side bars of your blog could include product info and direct links to the order form on your website. If you use effective tags to your posts you’ll be surprised how quickly you are recognized by the search engines. Catchy titles to the posts will lure readers in when doing a search on any tag you use effectively. Write about the weddings, showers or events you’ve worked and their success. This could also be included on your site with testimonials or comments from customers. Wish you success, Cindy.
Teri, I suggested that Cindy follow Marilee Tolen (no relation to her) who is the HomeSpaLady. Marilee has several websites. One of them is HomeSpaLady.com. The other is GreenTeawithMarilee.com.
She also has a wonderful newsletter in which she talks about things like essential oils and explains the history, how to use them in housekeeping, recipes, for relaxation, etc.
Thanks so much Teri! My blog addy is: http://bit.ly/bJw29m
I am loving all the feedback… Thanks so much Joan.
I would think that spas and high end gym facilities would be an ideal spot to attract the woman you want. Try to do as many radio interviews as possible as this is an unuaual topic and offer something for free (maybe a few tips on the use of your soaps) to get them to contact you. This would also make a great premium for organizations that are looking for unusual gifts to include with their offers.
What about trying to partner with a trade association for the spa industry? Or writing about her unusual soaps and how she makes them for a spa industry magazine?