Welcome to our blog. You will find company news, great marketing ideas, stories of successful promotions, helpful hints and hopefully we might even get your creative juices flowing for your own marketing campaigns.
Full Color Postcards For Inexpensive Marketing
For an inexpensive but effective marketing campaign think of postcards.
Due to the changes in printing; postcards are now an inexpensive marketing tool plus you save on postage.
Postcards are available in various sizes on a variety of paper weights. You can get a full color front and one color black back in quantities as low as 50 so don't let the quantity scare you off anymore.
A good rule of thumb is a contact will have to see your company info at least six times before they remember or recognize you so you might want to consider sending out a postcard with a different message every month for six to ten months to potential clients.
To gain even better exposure you might want to consider a postcard with a business card magnet attached. Then if your contact throws the postcard away they can keep the magnet with your contact info or product line on their desk or file cabinet where they will see it everyday. This is a little more expensive than a plain postcard but you will get bang for your buck.
Calendars
Calendars are a very effective marketing tool. There is a calendar for every budget. Calendars stay up ALL year long. Everyone has a spot for a calendar. You never know who will see your imprint on a calendar.
Letterhead & Envelopes for a Lasting Impression
Your company letterhead and envelope reflect your organization's image, personality and quality. You have the opportunity to express who you are through design elements and paper choices. Some things to keep in mind: How do you want to come across? (serious, fun) What content do you want to show? (address, web, logo, etc) What font best reflects your business? Ink Color? Use color to grab attention don't get lost on a desk somewhere(don't get too carried away if cost is an issue) Finish? (smooth or textured) Weight? Choose a nice heavy weight paper to convey quality. Paper Color?
Marketing in a Recession
Marketing in a recession is a must!
In a recession people either hunker down, hide their head in the sand, or become movers and shakers.
The ones that hunker down are concerned with just surviving the recession and stop marketing (it cost way too much) and everything else. They just wait it out hoping it will be over soon. Those that hide their head in the sand never acknowledging a recession continue to operate in the same manner they always have. They believe if you plod along everything will continue to be the same as in previous years. Well, they believe WRONG. Then we have the mover and shakers - they try out new business building ideas and see what is working for others during a recession. They not only continue to survive but they actually thrive and grow their business.
Which one are you? Which one would you like to be?
I hope you would like to be in the movers and shakers group. You market wisely and try to get the most for your advertising dollars. You network more and use your time wisely.
For creative, cost conscious ideas give us a call or stay tuned to our blog for further marketing ideas.
Positively Build Your Business
AD SPECIALTY PRODCUTS POSITIVELY BUILDS BUSINESS Low Cost ♦ Great Ideas ♦ Increase Name Recognition ♦ Build Customer Loyalty
Do you advertise with promotional products? If not you are missing a tremendous opportunity to grow your business.
In a 2004 survey, 71% of business travelers at a major airport reported they received a promotional product in the last 12 months. ♦ 33.7% had the item on their person ♦ 76.1% recalled the advertiser's name on the product ♦ 52% did business with the advertiser after receiving the promotional product ♦52.1% of those who did not do business with the advertiser reported that their impression was more favorable. Source PPAI Research 2004 Study by J. Market Research
Promote Your Business
There are numerous reasons to give something to an existing or potential client or customer:
♦ Branding - Reinforce your company's name and core benefit, such as a ruler with the phrase "How do we measure up?" ♦ Image-Building - Helps to reinforce the company's image and niche. ♦ Create A Positive Feeling - In most situations it is human nature to think well of someone who gives you a gift. ♦ New Product Announcements - Have a new product announce or promote it with promotional products. ♦ Reminder - A traditional and useful reason for giveaways is to help people remember the company's name and contact information. ♦ Build A List - Specialty products that are exchanged for names and e-mail addresses of prospects offer one of the best values for a company's advertising dollars. This gives the company a low-cost way to contact potential buyers over and over again.
Promotional Product Tips!
Tips for selecting the Promotional Product that is right for you!
Who is your target customer? What products would they use, need, or want? Are you targeting a specific age group? Will they see and use it often? Will it promote a positive image of your business? Do you want something they will use on their desk, home, or car?
Giveaways which do not have your company info on them offer no long-term marketing value.
Ad specialties which have a branding message offer more marketing potential than giveaways that do not have your imprint on them. A sand stone or leather coaster with your companies name, logo, or website can enhance your positioning strategy.
Products which offer an immediate benefit and provide company contact information are a valuable tool for both you and your client.
Overwhelmed by the large selection? Give us a call. All we need to know is your target audience (occupation, age range), amount you would like to spend, event date, and where you would like them to use the product ex. car, desk, home, tradeshow. Also let us know if there are any products that are definitely out. We will research and present to you a quality selection of promotional ideas created to your specifications.
Networking Through Others
Use your marketing time and dollars wisely. Market through other businesses giving both of you a positive marketing image. Ex. if you are a locksmith purchase a nice keychain with your company information on it give a supply to the realtors you work with. They can hand this to every homeowner at the time of closing. The homeowner receives a free gift from the realtor and if they want the locks on the house changed they have the locksmith's company information. This makes both the realtor and the locksmith look good.
