Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

You could also share information with parents by speaking at PTA meetings re: treasuring childhood memories. 

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Deborah Crimes
Lessons From Abroad,
A Language Institute for Young Minds
301-390-5559
www.lessonsfromabroad.com

Thanks for your suggestions Karen and Deborah

I`m not sure if either of you have any ideas on the best way to approach institutions like schools, hospital/health, day care etc? Cause for normal businesses, we could offer referral bonuses for anyone they refer to us. Though for institutions, we could offer give aways or donations. Or have you seen any approaches which can catch their attention and stand out from all the other businesses wanting some exposure?

Ace, I actually do have some "loose" experience with the medical community (I`m not a medical professional, but I have med pros and med groups as clients). I can tell you that offering any type of bonus or referral to medical groups is a hairy situation, and in many cases it is actually illegal for them to accept freebies.

The best way to approach hospitals, health centers, etc. is to prepare an awesome proposal that outlines all the benefits you will be providing to their clients/patients. Remember to go heavy on the benefits as opposed to the features. If you really play up the fact that you are offering an extremely valuable service to their clients, they are sure to take notice. After all, they are in the service profession and their goal is to serve their patients.

A great tactic to use to get your proposal read is to send it Fed Ex or Express Mail. That will help it stand out from the oodles of regular mail these people get every day. Creating stand out proposals can get rather expensive, and as a start up I know it`s important for you to keep your expenses down. Try to work with things you already have.

Why not make your proposal look like a Scrapbook and send it Fed Ex? One "picture" in the Scrapbook could be an outline of the benefits, another "picture" could be customer testimonials, another picture could be samples of your work, etc. This will help your proposal stand out AND provide samples of your work at the same time.

Hope this helps!

P.S. I did notice that you are in Australia (my DREAM vacation!!!!!), and my "medical experience" applies to the states. It may be perfectly legal for you to offer freebies to medical personnel down under.

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Karen Scharf, Small Business Marketing Consultant

Hi Ace,

For schools, I find that the PTA is always more receptive to ideas than going through administration.  You could approach them with a scrapbooking fundraiser concept.  PTA`s are always looking to raise funds for the school and this would be something different than the normal -- pizza, gift wrap, bake sale, etc. 

For daycares, you`ll have to tackle them one by one unless they are a national organization (here we have Children`s World, Bright Horizons, etc).  I would approach them in the same manner, as a fundraiser or see if they will let you leave information for the parents either in the front of the center, posted on their parent board, or in each child`s mailbox.

Deborah

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Deborah Crimes
Lessons From Abroad,
A Language Institute for Young Minds
301-390-5559
www.lessonsfromabroad.com

Cold Calling the region to test your response rate then gauge if it is worth further investment of your time.

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8687 Research Drive, Suite 200
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"Local Internet Marketing"

Call 1.800.890.8940

http://www.egumball.com

Offer a discount for multiple books. Three families. Five families. Ten families. You could find yourself quite busy!

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