| Driving traffic to your website is easy when you | | | | Look for news stories or a huge national crisis you |
| take advantage of certain times and dates on the | | | | can take advantage of. This is not unethical. When 9 |
| calendar. Although this is seasonal marketing, it can | | | | 11 happened, I was one of the first to market |
| build a large following. | | | | t-shirts with God Bless America and the American |
| When I realized the capabilities of specific dates and | | | | flag on them. People needed to feel patriotic and I |
| activities to promote, I was a t-shirt designer making | | | | made a good living at it. People want things like that |
| Christian apparel. I had a particular t-shirt with Praying | | | | and it makes them feel better. I feel more like a |
| hands that said, "Did You Pray Today". National | | | | Proud American when I wear my flag shirt. Don't |
| Prayer Month was coming up and I decided to use | | | | underestimate the power of a tragedy to bring |
| that to boost sales. The results was staggering. I | | | | people together. The world needs people like us to |
| simply asked folks, "Being National Prayer Month, I | | | | introduce a way to make individuals feel better about |
| thought you might buy a Prayer t-shirt from me. | | | | them. When this is implemented, you are essentially |
| They only cost $10.00, and part of the proceeds go | | | | taking a tragedy and producing something good from |
| to charity." Don't use the charity part unless you | | | | it. You are making the best out of a worst-case |
| actually give to charity. For each t-shirt I sold, I | | | | scenario. |
| donated one dollar of that to my local fire | | | | If you're a writer like I am, use Literature Awareness |
| department. Arranging proceeds to go to charity is a | | | | Month, and other great events to boost sales for |
| huge selling point. More people will buy knowing | | | | your project. This is an untapped resource every |
| proceeds will benefit the community. | | | | person in business needs to be aware of. If you're a |
| The first rule in using a specific activity or time is | | | | web designer, use Own Your Own Website Month, |
| letting people know that it's National whatever. If | | | | or something; anything that boosts sales as long as |
| there isn't an activity or time to take advantage of, | | | | it's legal, moral, and ethical. Realize that ethics involves |
| find one or invent one yourself. Create your own | | | | treating people with respect and you are simply |
| holiday. National Be Nice To Your Neighbor Month, or | | | | showing them a way to obtain something that they |
| day, or week, can boost sales tremendously, | | | | might want. |
| depending on what it is your selling and the approach | | | | Profits are all around us. Salesmen are not the |
| you use. | | | | enemy, for without salesmen, we wouldn't have the |
| Another event that can generate sales is a tragedy. | | | | things we enjoy now. |