Marketing and Networking
October 6th, 2008
It has been one week since Head 2 Toe opened for business and it has been a great week. We have made our first few sales and we are getting a lot of interest. When selling to therapists, teachers and parents, it is all about seeing the product or knowing someone who has seen it or used themselves before they feel comfortable about buying from a “new” company. This is why I have been concentrating on networking with the right people to get the word out. As I mentioned in my previous blog, I have reached out to organizations that have a mailing list that would help drive business to my website. I have found a few groups that will be testing my products and they will be sending out their feedback to their contacts. I had a great accomplishment this week, I contacted the Dan Marino Center in Miami, FL about testing my products. Dan Marino, the great former Miami Dolphin quarterback, founded the center after his son was diagnosed with autism. The Dan Marino Center has a great reputation around the country for the therapy services children receive there. They have agreed to work with Head 2 Toe Publications! I am thrilled to be working with them.
This weekend I have concentrated on my marketing campaigns to drive more business to my website. I have created campaigns using Yahoo! Adwords and Google Adwords. The greatest website to help create email marketing campaigns has been Constant Contact. it stores your email address list and makes it so easy to send out your campaigns and it gives you reports of how many people visited your site through the email. Great information! I am glad Scott Smigler sent me to that website.
Tomorrow morning I am speaking with Cathy Greenburg as a follow up conversation about how to have a happy company. I can’t wait to hear what she says about my inventory I took. My goal is that I keep calm and focused every day so that Head 2 Toe grows and moves in the right direction. It is so important for me to work well with Amy so that she continues to feel a part of the company even though she lives far away from the action. Good communication is essential for Amy and I to work together. I have to be clear about my expectations from her as well as she has to be honest about her responsibilities. Thankfully Amy and I are friends but we are also committed to make this company grow. As I told Amy, Head 2 Toe is not about me or Amy. It is about serving God first by providing products that will help children reach their full potential. Our happiness is true joy because we are helping others.
The last two weeks I have been using Head 2 Toe’s first product, Vocab U Grab Farm Kit. I thought it was bad to brag on myself but others have told me that I should share my results since I am still a practicing speech therapist. I work with children ages 0-3 years through the week and I thought this was a great time for me to see how our first product actually worked. I must say that I have been shocked by the great results. I had a Down’s Syndrome little boy, imitate his first words and an autistic boy imitate his first words. I am not saying that this is a miracle product, but Vocab U Grab provides components that start where the child’s developmental skills start. I have also had almost 2 year olds say the names of animals and the animal sounds, while the parents sit in shock that they spoke. Children are matching the animals to the pictures and then they recognize the animals in the book. It is so great to see the progression they make. The best thing is that I have 2 year old that sit for 45 minutes playing with all components of Vocab U Grab. Yes, they are playing but they are learning! If you would like to read more about Vocab U Grab, check out www.head2toepub.com. We are offering 15% off and free shipping until Oct.15. Coupon code is h2t15.
I don’t like bragging on my company but I am a believer in how the product works. There is so much you can do with it. I told Amy a few months ago when we were deciding which product to develop, I said, “Amy, I believe in what it teaches and it will be a product that will reach more children than just focusing on a certain skill.” The great idea goes to Amy and together we were able to create a fun learning tool for children with and without special needs. We hope you like it!!
Let me know your thoughts.
Karla
