When you commit to do business with a company, you know what you expect in return – a high quality product or service that is equal to or hopefully greater than the investment you make for that product or service.  This sounds simple, but there are many components to what you receive in return, not just the actual product or service.  It starts from the time you make your initial contact with the vendor and doesn’t end until you have received the last benefit from your purchase.  Most of what you receive will be easy to quantify, but many things during the relationship will be based on your experience and how important each component of the experience is to you and your company in particular.  Some companies purchase a product and are only worried about the price.  Other purchases have a great value placed on timeliness, customer service, warranty of the product and many other aspects.

When you do business with New LifeStyles, what should you expect, even before you decide to make a purchase?

Responsiveness – if you don’t reach your intended party, you should hear back from them within two hours, unless they are on the road.

Clarity – you should always expect to know exactly what you are receiving, all the components included and what the price is.  Timing of all advertising should be conveyed to you, as well as payment terms and materials needed from you.

Ease of business – we should be providing everything you need,  making the process a minimal time investment on your side

Information – whether its before, during or after your relationship with New LifeStyles, we can provide a number of statistics to help you make your decision, evalulate the performance of your investment or decide on continuing with us.

Solid Return – you should know what you expect from us and we will do everything we can to meet your expectations.  We don’t promise or guarantee results, but if we are not meeting your goals, we will do everything we can to raise our level of value, based on feedback we receive from you.  Sometimes, we will not be able to meet your standards, but we will do everything in our power to keep your business.

Quality Products – Our print publications, online products and tools and website design and development will be of the highest quality, utilizing years of industry experience

Customer Service – We realize that your business determine’s our success or failure.  You will find highly professional treatment during all aspects of your relationship with New LifeStyles.  Our employees have on average over ten years with the company and in the industry, so we know how to listen and meet your needs.

There are other things that we will bring to the table and other things that you expect from us that are not named here.  If New LifeStyles doesn’t meet your expectations in any of these areas, please let us know and we will do everything possible to rectify the current situation and exceed your expectations in the future.

Thanks as always for your business and partnership over the last 25 years!  Doug

If your community or senior-related business has been around awhile, you probably have an established set of marketing tools that have proven successful over the years.  This combination probably includes print options, community outreach, a web presence and perhaps some radio or TV.  With any investment, such as a home, there comes a time when you need to do some remodeling or adding on to the existing structure, especially as technology evolves.

A couple of things that we recommend are a mobile presence and maximizing your web site’s traffic.  If financially feasible, creating a mobile version of your site, or even adding an iphone app for your site is a great idea.  Today’s society is always on the go and often time demands immediate information.  Your existing site may not be user-friendly on the platform of mobile phones.  A mobile site or app can make your community or business’ information easy to access, getting the key points across to the user.  If you cannot afford these options, make sure you are listed with a company who has a search engine in a mobile or iphone app platform.  This is usually a very inexpensive or free option to make sure your company is receiving traffic from every source.  At New LifeStyles, our iPhone App just received a 2012 Silver Medal for New Products and Technology.  You can download it for free at the App Store.  Our web team can also create a mobile version of your site!

Having a web site is great.  It  provides real time data on your community or business at anytime during the day or night.  But, make sure you are using some form of Search Engine Optimization to guarantee solid traffic to your site.  Many companies are stopping at the building of the site and forgetting to maintain its presence on the web.  Its a great investment to maximize the value of your site.  New LifeStyles is among the many reputable companies that provide this service and we focus on the senior industry.

As always, make sure you are constantly updating your marketing programs to stay ahead of your competition!

There are many considerations when planning an ad campaign:

First, what are your goals? It is calls, visits or clicks, spreading a message, awareness or special offer? Set your goals & then decide how best to reach them.

Will you do a print campaign, billboards, TV, radio, online, direct mail, email, or a combination? All are viable options, depending on your goals. Don’t forget the studies showing you need 7 touches before a potential client will contact you! Use as many mediums as possible to present your message.

Speaking of, what is your message? Will it make people react and take the next step? Print it and have some people give you their feedback. More importantly, gauge their reaction as they read it. Does it have the “wow” factor? Does it promote your unique selling point? Does it contain a call to action? If you have a lot to say, offer to include an article/interview with the ad.

Once you decide on a message, you can start working on materials. It will be different for each medium, but needs to be tied together, have the same look and feel and the same message, so there is no confusion. Ads, whether print, online, or broadcast need to be simple! Don’t stuff it with text, people will tune out. Make your point & present the call to action. Why should they call, click or visit? Ads also need to be pleasing to the eyes/ear. Unless you are going for shock value, create an ad with pleasing colors, complimentary to your logo and pictures as well as the site/background where it will be printed or hosted. For audio, ask, “What will make them remember my message?” Consider landing pages for online campaigns. A simple web page with one offer/message from which you can gather information, track & not confuse the user. Try some test for email messages. Which gets more response?

Now you are ready for the easy part, ad placement. Always ask print & broadcast entities about including your ad online, as well.

You can’t & won’t know if you have a successful ad campaign unless you track it. Before the ads start, make sure you can track them. Will the online vendor track impressions, clicks & leads? Can you track them from your side as well to compare (again, consider a landing page, personalized URL, etc…)? How will you track print & broadcast ads? Did you use a specific URL &/or phone # or are you going to rely on someone to ask? The first is much more reliable due to human nature on both sides. Continue tracking past ad runs, as we see leads come from very old guides! You may want to ask if there is more than one referral (back to that 7 touch rule). And don’t forget to do some investigation on your own. Do you hear & see the ad/publication? When you search, do you find the site? Is your ad in a prominent spot?

Once you have results you can start tweaking. Which media/ad is bringing in more results? What is the cost per action? Are you getting unexpected publicity/traffic/other from a campaign? Tweak your ad type, creative, placement and message until you achieve your goals! 

Expectations: Do You Have Them?

The Pulse of Your Community

How Do You Get Your Message Out – Content Marketing – Part 5: Broadcasting Your Content

Do you discuss T.E.A.M. with your senior living team?

Jan/Feb edition of Leading Age Magazine

January/February Edition of Senior Living Executive

Thank you for your positive feedback on our free client webinars in 2011!  To continue on that path, we will continue to offer quarterly educational webinars to our clients, starting this month with:  “Opening Relationships” with your prospects vs. “Closing Sales”- Your new approach to successful new client development

New LifeStyles clients are invited to participate in this free marketing webinar presented by Rick Hunsicker, a nationally recognized expert in senior living sales and marketing, about a new approach to sales in senior living.

You will gain insight into a different approach with your prospective new clients, family members and professional referral sources, that moves you away from closing sales, and leads you and your customer toward building strong, long term business relationships.

Rick will present examples of what you should say in the early and later stages of your presentations to your prospects and referral sources to help you gain more and stronger relationships that ultimately results in more sales and referrals. 

Join us on January 26

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/529526334

Title: “Opening Relationships” with your prospects vs. “Closing Sales”- Your new approach to successful new client development Date: Thursday, January 26, 2012 Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Central Time After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server   Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

We will continue the webinars in April with “How to Stop the #1 Leak in Your Sales and Marketing this Year” with Mona Hilton. In July, Reece Franklin will present “The Perfect Pitch Piece” and in October Patty Cisco will cover the current state of affairs and how to market despite them.

If you have missed any of the webinars in 2011, you can watch them on your schedule at http://www.newlifestyles.com/clients/webinars

As always, thank you to our clients! we hope you find these webinars helpful. Please send us your feedback on other topics you would like to see covered.

Welcome to 2012!  From all of us at New LifeStyles, we wish you a healthy and prosperous New Year!  Hopefully, this will be a great year for your community or business and the senior living and care industry as a whole.  There are plenty of challenges to be faced, but also plenty of great people to face them.

The New Year is a great time for companies to take inventory of their operations and see what changes need to be made in 2012.  Here are a few suggestions from a marketing perspective:

-          Are your marketing materials up to date and “fresh”?   Take a look at your brochures, ad materials, etc. and see if they represent your message.

-          Is your web site still current?  Is it inviting to visitors and showing off your assets in a clear, easy to find manner.  Are you using a company to optimize your site’s search engine results and linking with companies that can bring you better traffic.

-          Is your marketing team united in their approach?  Are they armed with the needed knowledge and materials?   Are they getting across the key selling points of your community or service in a succinct, clear manner?

-          Is the drive-up appeal of your community still appealing?  Is some fresh paint and new flowers or plants needed?

New LifeStyles can help you by redesigning materials for our publications, reviewing your web site, providing cost effective SEO services and many other ways, just give us a call!

January is the space reservation deadline for the following markets:

• Fresno/Bakersfield – one of our fastest growing guides.
• Arizona – many quality assisted living and independent living choices in both the Phoenix area and in Tucson, already a number of new advertisers for 2012!
• Denver – demand is high in Denver for all levels of care including dementia care and home care
• Maryland/DC/No. Virginia – Distribution and online traffic is extremely high in this population dense market

New copies of our guide should be arriving for the following markets:

-          Houston

-          Fort Worth/Tarrant County

-          San Diego

-          Central and Eastern Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)

For more information, contact us immediately!

To get the latest information on our web design division, friend New LifeStyles on Facebook , connect with us on LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter.

Thanks for spending some time with our blog.  Call us!  We will be an effective part of your marketing campaign.

 Doug

On-page and Off-Page SEO: Is Searchability on Your Radar?

10 Powerful Senior Living Statistics

Who Should Be on Your Social Media Team?

10 Digital Trends to Look for in 2012

We will start blogging again on Jan.4  Until then, Happy Holidays!

We have historically seen a lull in traffic to our site during the holiday season, and we have heard the same from many advertisers. Rather it’s due to families not wanting to place a loved one in a “home” during the holidays, they are too busy with other things to think about it, or they just don’t want to move until after the New Year, once it warms up, etc… There are many reasons.

Do you see a drop in inquiries and tours this time of the year? If so, what do you do to make the most use of the time?

Your residents/clients, their families, and your community are a great source of referrals, so take the time this holiday season to thank them & make sure they are having their needs and wishes met!

• Host a holiday party for your residents/clients & their families (seniors always love to see their family).
• Take time to talk to each senior to make sure they are happy with your service, see if there is anything you could do to go that extra step. And maybe even find out something they want and pass it on to a family member. They will appreciate the help!
• Host a lunch for your referral sources. A nice free lunch is a great way to say thank you!
• Do you have some residents with time on their hands? Can they wrap gifts? If so, offer a free gift wrap service to your local community &/or resident families (you can always set a limit on packages), or charge a small fee to donate to a good cause. I know I would use this service! Just be organized for the event!
• Switch things up! If the school or church choir usually comes to you, ask about going to them. Give your residents another reason to get dressed up in their holiday best and go on an outing!

There are many fresh ideas to show your appreciation during the holidays! Find one & make the most of it!

P.S. Don’t forget to video these events and post them on your site & You Tube! If you don’t have a channel, send them to us & we will post it for you!

Happy Holidays!