Why I'm not yelling "Autobots Unite!" from my cube

Note: This blog has moved! For continued updates about small business marketing, visit my new blog Manizesto, or subscribe to the Manizesto feed.

Is it just me, or does it seem like Hasbro really missed out this holiday season by not positioning Transformers action figures as the must-have gift this season? Instead of flying off the shelves, I found myself wondering why I didn't see any Transformers toys in any of the toy stores I visited this year.

Movies that bring in more than $600 million just in ticket sales, like Transformers did, typically generate many more millions in promotional products also (Transformers toys). If Hasbro would have marketed them better, I probably would have Optimus Prime sitting on my work desk right now.

Lesson to small business owners: check your calendars for significant events that will help you sell your products or services better. For example, have a promotion to sell your nursing products on National Nurses Week. You'll be reaching out to and building trust with your target audience. Do it repeatedly and you'll find yourself developing long term relationships with your customers and increasing recurring revenue.

Want daily doses of small business marketing tips to help your company get ahead? Then subscribe to the Influentia blog.