Amber Brockett, founder of Cowgirl Dirt has done an amazing job building her business using Facebook. Amber launched a Facebook Page for Cowgirl Dirt in early February 2010. Since then, Amber has grown the number of “likes” to well over 5,000. Amber testifies that nearly 90% of her sales come from Facebook. NINETY PERCENT!

Amber has a simple and straightforward trick for growing her business on Facebook: she offers limited time promotions like coupon codes or free shipping. She says, “These tactics definitely drive business because people love a deal.”

Here at the Results Revolution, we noticed right away that her fans were highly engaged and that her following has grown nearly 500 people since early May. That’s a pretty aggressive growth curve. A healthy Facebook Page has a LOT of customer interaction – comments and wall posts. This Page definitely has that – and it seems to be translating into a huge sales volume. We also love the “Shop Now” tab on their Page.

But we wonder… How much would sales increase if they used more photos and video on their Facebook Page?

What about you? What kind of results are you seeing from Facebook? What is working? What is NOT working? Post comments and let us know.

A myriad of practical marketing ideas from a budget-conscious, socially aware entrepreneur

Grace Bateman has a revolutionary small business story indeed. She’s not just transforming her business with extraordinary marketing, but she is transforming the lives of sixteen formerly impoverished Peruvian women (and counting) who now have fair wage jobs with potential for growth and development – all while working flexible hours and raising their families in Peru.

On yesterday’s show, Grace shared a myriad of marketing and business advice from her own experience. So much, in fact, that you will definitely be amazed by the examples and stories she tells in the video archive of this week’s ResultsRevTV show.

In the meantime, here are a few bite-sized pieces of advice from Grace that you can go apply in your own business this week:

1. Create beautiful, memorable packaging for your products AND save money! We think this tip applies whether you are a brick and mortar storefront or e-commerce business. How you package your product leaves a lasting impression on your customer. Grace uses a set of three ink STAMPS to create her customized packaging. (Each stamp cost less than $20.) With this inexpensive touch, Peru Paper cards move from a greeting card commodity to a package worthy of giving AS THE GIFT or a box worthy of being displayed on a desktop rather than stored away in a drawer. Now, that’s added marketing value!

2. Use the “Help a Reporter Out” service. Fondly known as HARO, this FREE service connects journalists with sources for stories. Everyone from the Wall Street Journal and the Today Show to local mommy blogs use HARO to find sources for upcoming articles, broadcast appearances, blog posts, e-books, published books, and more. Learn more about the service here.

Grace has, in just a few short months of using this service, been featured in numerous news outlets through her response to HARO queries. Using HARO’s Gift Bag query service, she even got her cards into a high profile swag bag at the Oscars earlier this month – a bag given to more than 40 A-List celebrities including Oprah, Morgan Freeman, Sandra Bullock, James Cameron and many more. All she had to do was respond to a query and donate a few cards. Grace would say that finding 15 minutes a day to read the daily HARO queries and respond when appropriate has paid big returns for her small business.

3. Turn publicity into more publicity. Once you get a taste of publicity, tell all of your local media that you are getting this attention. They might just give you more. Grace had a story done on her business at the local television news level because of her inclusion in the Oscar swag bag. But only because she told the news this was happening. She also uses media mentions to engage her existing audience by including links to these mentions in her weekly e-mail blast, posting relevant links on her active Facebook Page and archiving her press mentions on her web site.

4. Don’t be afraid of web site technology. Grace recommends having a web site or e-commerce site that you can update yourself almost entirely. Grace admits that she was a complete novice who was a bit afraid of this possibility just a few short months ago, and she now adds and deletes pages, products and all the related information, photos, etc. for her web site on a regular basis after just a couple of hours of training. She has full control which allows her to make quick decisions and upgrades from any Internet connection.

5. Pay attention to Search Engine Optimization. Grace explained that even the basic attention given to search engine optimization had paid big returns for her e-commerce web site in terms of increased search traffic in a very short period of time. Her web site software includes fill-in-the-blank fields for such items as meta tags, meta description, page title and more. Grace recommends taking 30 minutes with your web guy to understand what these words mean and how to update them for every page on your web site as a way to significantly increase search traffic. “I just work on my keywords page by page while I’m watching a football game or something,” Grace said.

6. Tell your story boldly. Grace told us of a time recently when she was upgraded to first class on a flight. The guy sitting next to her happened to be a Vice President from the Coca-Cola Corporation. She told the business’ story, and he ordered his Christmas cards from her.

Examples like this are endless for her business, but they can be for your business, too. The first step is to make sure that your products and services are outstanding. Then, with exceptional product or service in hand, tell your story…a lot. No one should be a greater advocate or hold more passion for your business than you, the owner. Tell your story one at a time. Tell your story in your marketing and packaging. Just don’t be afraid to tell your story from the heart. In marketing circles, this tactic is literally called “storytelling,” and it humanizes your business and will increase sales.

7. Use technology to your advantage. Don’t be afraid of it. In the case of Peru Paper Company, technology like Skype allows Grace to develop new products with her Peruvian employees, participate in weekly employee meetings, and handle routine business decisions with her Peruvian manager face to face…using a technology tool foreign to both she and the Peruvian employees not long ago. Whether your business has an international slant or not, Grace challenges you to consider how technology can save you time, money and make your life more efficient – and convenient. Don’t be afraid of technology; embrace the opportunities that it offers.

Want more?

How does Grace choose her employees in Peru? How does she manage an international team of “work from home moms” while keeping a business going at an efficient pace? What other media exposure has she received – and how did she get it? What are her plans for the future? See the full episode archive HERE and learn the answers to all of those questions and much more.

Grace Bateman is owner of Peru Paper Company, a locally owned and operated, independent e-commerce business and wholesale line of 100% post-consumer waste, recycled handmade paper and handmade greeting card line, created and made by formerly impoverished women in Peru. Grace started her business with $100 five years ago.

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This week I got a call from a past marketing client for whom I had created a strategic marketing plan about a year ago. This small business/retail client had lost momentum in recent months but had decided to pull that marketing plan out of the drawer. This particular client has a great experience to offer their customers, and their marketing plan is chocked full of great concrete ways to make that "feeling" that they sell a reality.

Their slogan gets right to the heart of their business: "A Fun Place to Shop." Their retail shop sells fun; customers walk out of their store with bags full of adorable children’s clothing, baby gifts and toys. And fun is a concrete reality in this small town retail business. And that fun draws folks from miles around to spend $1000s of dollars in this shop (that’s right – $1000s).

How? Everyday of the week, customers find big expensive, old-fashioned toys displayed around the store, over-the-top colorful and detailed hand painted decor, toys for kids of all ages to play with while shopping, an elaborate baby registry, fun music playing and employees who are openly having fun at their jobs. But there’s more…

There’s the events: tea parties for mothers and daughters, seasonal fashion shows for pre-teens, autograph signings and demos with college athletes, mom’s nights out, gift certificates or gift baskets from other local shops for mom when she spends at a certain level, birthday gifts for all the children, storytime with Santa, clowns, balloons, back to school parties, ice cream and lemonade stands…the list goes on and on. At least two times per month there is a major event with other fun scattered all around. It’s a surprise around every turn, and the shoppers love it. These high end infant and children’s clothes fly off the shelves.

You will notice that this small business doesn’t move merchandise with discount sales and complicated promotions. They sell full price by providing customers with a consistently fun experience. What are you selling?

This one’s for the girls (sorry guys) because it’s been one of those days. Truth be told – one of those weeks. You know the type. I’ve got one kid that’s sick (for the third time in six weeks), an infant who’s teething and a husband who, despite his overwhelming and wonderful support and help, is in the midst of his own "busy season" at work. And to top it all off – it hasn’t exactly been beautiful weather around here lately. No, I’m not venting, I’m making a marketing point. The thing is, my situation isn’t unusual.

There are millions of people out there who identify with my scenario. The stress, the kids, the schedule…the things that cause stress, frustration, exhaustion, and often, a disconnect with society, guilt over torn priorities…the list goes on and on.

My crisis is your opportunity. Sell me some sanity, some peace, some relaxation, rest, encouragement, convenience… If you’re selling those things – I’m buying. And so are millions like me.

Don’t sell me a spa treatment, a fast food burger, a frozen casserole, a ticket to a play, a book, or a medically correct pillow. Sell me an experience. Make me feel all those things that I need so badly to feel right now. Do that, and your sales will soar.

I’d pay a premium for some sanity about now…anyone?