DISQUS

Cathy Stucker · 1 year ago

Great story and example, John. In addition to the benefits you mention, there is another: In the process of blogging about the work they are doing for the customer, they are also promoting the customer.

I am a big advocate for including your customers in your marketing. Talk them up, link to them, make others aware of them. The recognition makes the customers feel important, and it gives them one more reason to love you! ;o)

John Jantsch · 1 year ago

@Cathy - that is so very true - I wonder how many of those customers also show off their sign in progress and effectively act as referral machines?

J.D. Iles · 1 year ago

John

Wanted to thank you for talking about us. This kind of word-of-mouth really helps to get the word out about what we are trying to do.

We really are trying to do something different here at Lincoln Sign Company. I don't know of many companies that allow their customers to watch the progress of a custom product like a sign being made. We want to engage our customers, educate them, and give them a get story to tell.

We are going to be starting to do "exit interviews" with our customers who have had signs features on the blog, and see what they "took away" for the experience. I will try to blog about that in the next few months.

FYI: I will be doing a post about the "Memory Boxes" we do for each sign very soon

Thanks again,

J.D. Iles
lincolnsign@gmail.com

JudyAnn Lorenz · 1 year ago

Customer experience is a built-in blog theme/topic that is especially resistant to writers' block. Great idea.

Nicaragua Surfing · 1 year ago

Just goes to show you how powerful good content is :)

Joseph T. Dager · 1 year ago

I guess the old days are over? Keeping your customer updated during the production process is part of your marketing strategy! I like it.

I think Cathy hit on a great point. The promotion of your customer is your best strategic weapon. I try to involve my customers in most of my own marketing. It is my best promotional strategy and kills 2 birds with one stone. And besides that, who would want to leave their best PR person?

PIa Vergara · 1 year ago

John,

Thanks for your example. Lincoln Sign Company's communications strategy via blogging hits all the right notes for a successful marketing formula.

1. Creative: I haven't witnessed a company make use of blogs to "design" customer experience like they do. Totally innovative and new to me.
2. Customer-oriented: Process is truly interactive. The focus remains on meeting the customers' needs + giving them a little something extra.
3. Effective relationship-building tool: It elevates the relationship into a partnership. Instills a sense of loyalty in the customer.
4. Added benefit: Great take away. Not only do they get customized signs, customers also have great stories to tell.

This certainly turned the light bulb on in my mind. Great post.

Pierre Fregeau · 1 year ago

What the business community in this Country needs right now are more success stories like this one. Small business owners are the backbone of our economy and they are hurting. Many of them are unaware and/or confused by all this Web 2.0 marketing. They just don't know where to start.

Lincoln Sign are doing a great job at not only featuring their craftsmanship but also their customers.

This post is an inspiration and a must for all small business owners

Kris · 1 year ago

Very refreshing to read about a 'traditional' business that is embracing digital technology. It's a great story to share with other small businesses who have a hard time adapting to using the Internet as a marketing tactic or technique. Unfortunately the majority still think website marketing is putting their brochure online.


(PS I love their slogan "Signs Never Sleep".)

J.D. Iles · 1 year ago

I just want to thank everyone for all of the kind words. Yes, we are trying to do something very new and there are days where it can be very exciting, and there can be other days where it can be very lonely.

The biggest thing I am working to do right now is get the word out and make sure we are out there and in the "blogosphere's consciousness". Please feel free, if any of you are interested in mentioning us on any of your blogs, feel free. Additionally, if any of you need any additional information, please feel free to get in touch.

Currently we get about 4500 page views a month, and for us to make a real impact and we are looking to make that much, much higher.

ZaggedEdge · 1 year ago

While it is great to blog customer stories, they are sometimes hard to believe.

Nothing replaces good old fashion WOM...or maybe a link to the customers blog?

devx · 1 year ago

Very inspiring. I run a somewhat similar business (Lighted Mobile Billboards for cars) and I was thinking of implementing something similar to what you guys are doing.

DavidCastroFlorida · 1 year ago

They got it! B2B blogging 101 for SMB. Dynamic content loved by the bots and spiders. AND inbound links for from customer posts loved by Google page rank algorithms. The pure benefit of B2B blogs, IMHO.

Shannon Cherry · 1 year ago

Great example! Customer relations is very important! I have my own blog site, www.blogger.com/cherrycommunications to help build relations.

Mobile Billboards · 5 months ago

Thank you for sharing your story. It's such a good idea for marketing strategy, and it's very helpful for my report. I came up with a new idea!!

club penguine cheats · 4 months ago

I don't know of many companies that allow their customers to watch the progress of a custom product like a sign being made. We want to engage our customers, educate them, and give them a get story to tell.