Loyalty Program for a Jazz Band

Thanks in advance for reading this article. I appreciate your interest and hope you get a few good ideas. I'd love to hear what you liked. Please write me a little COMMENT below. Start a conversation. Tell me what you think, and I'll reply. Promise.
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Loyalty Program?  Jazz Band?  Sure, that little plastic card works well for an airline, hotel, or auto rental company, but can I market my company — or you market yours — with an organized incentive effort?

What shall I call it?  “Frequent Wedding Discount”?  Shall we tell everyone “Please join our Loyalty Program.  Use our little rewards card whenever you book my band.  You’ll save 20% every time you get married.”?  Hmmm… I don’t think so!

But shall I send this message to a professional wedding planner, or an entertainment agency, or a secretary who plans frequent receptions for her company?  OK, getting warmer.  Keep reading.

On Facebook, I recently posted a Networking Tip: “Everyone you meet is a friend, colleague, or client, and often all three, so begin your relationship right. Follow up your first meeting with a hand-written note”.   I consider this a specific example of a more general rule.  “People like to do business with people they like.”

Does this apply to you, too?  I recently wrote about doing business networking with friends and growing my business through friends of friends.  I’m always finding more advice for Networking — online, in books, seminars — everywhere!  A friend of mine, Larry Brauner, recently posted an excellent list of 22 of his favorite networking tips.  It’s all about getting to like people, and getting people to like me.

In my opinion, the nature of my business calls for face-to-face relationships with people.  We’re not a nation-wide supermarket chain, selling everything to everybody.  Nor a regional clothing store, nor even a neighborhood mom-and-pop pizza shop.  Are you?

So for me, using a formal loyalty program seems wrong.  Too impersonal.  Much better to informally nourish my friendships with everyone I meet, especially professional colleagues.  Sooner or later, I’ll be a client of theirs, and they are potentially clients of mine.

Here we are entertaining at a lovely Easter Sunday Brunch last month.  We’re on the bandstand, way in the back.  See my bass?  First photo, an hour before we began playing.  Second, 2 hours later.  My iPhone gets lots of use these days.  I met lots of people that afternoon, and I’m sure to see a number of them again before long.

How do I manage this?  Whether I’m selling a service, a product, or an idea, I’ve followed several steps:

• First, get a clear idea of who I am and what I’m offering,
• Next, develop a clear idea of who I market to and what they want,
• Next, develop ideas of what to say, and how to present them,
• Next, use all the appropriate methods: face-to-face (on the job, coffee dates, meetings, networking events), telephone, email, snailmail, website, advertising, and social media channels.  Can you add to this list?
• Next, follow up, follow up, follow up.
• Finally, go back to step 1 and repeat.

Bottom line:  I’m deciding that a formal Loyalty Program doesn’t suit my business, though it might be ideal for you.  Either way, my simple list of marketing steps can save you time and effort.

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The Magnolia Jazz Band entertains regularly at weddings and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you’re ever nearby, you’ll love catching us in action, seeing and hearing us create a great mood.  In the meantime, please join our Facebook “fans”, and you’ll get reminders for our public events.

Thanks for reading this article. I appreciate your interest and hope you get a few good ideas here. Got one or two? I'd love to hear what you liked. Please write me a little COMMENT below. Start a conversation -- I'll reply. Promise.

By the way, does a friend need help selecting wedding or party music? Do them a favor: EMAIL this article, or SHARE it on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google+.

And if you find my blog useful, please LIKE it, TWEET it, and SUBSCRIBE for more ideas. Use those cute little icons below.

Meanwhile, the Magnolia Jazz Band entertains at weddings and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. If you are ever nearby, you’ll love catching us in action, seeing and hearing us create a great mood.

How can I help you? Call 408-245-9120 or use Robbie@MagnoliaJazz.com. Planning a celebration? Ask about our availability.

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