Highly visible advertising & large areas for your company's logo & information make desk calendars a great way to advertise your business all year long.
Add a little color to your customer's desktop with calendar desk pads. At the same time, they offer your customers an effective way to organize their time & their appointments. With little effort, your clients can keep track of their schedules, deadlines, meetings & special engagements.
Six reasons why these make ideal promotional imprinted products:
1. They have a large imprint area & can show off more than your company name, logo & website. They have the room to display all your company information in a fun, colorful & creative way.
2. They are popular with just about everyone from professors & academic office staff to office personnel in any field......insurance, real estate, medical, accounting, automotive, to name just a few.
3. They are an ideal way for your company to be constantly noticed. This is a customized promotional item that will be used everyday. Your name will always be seen because they sit on the desktop, not in a desk drawer.
4. They are useful & needed. There's ample room to jot quick notes as well as the blocked off dates to write down important engagements & appointments.
5. They're economical. For only a few cents a day, your name & company's information will be in front of your client all day, visible all year.
6. They make nice appreciation gifts to your loyal customers. And they have a much longer life span than a box of candy.
Ok, so now I told you the reasons these make such good promotional wholesale products, you must be wondering why I'm talking about them in July. Believe it or not, this is the time to order them.
* You can take advantage of the early bird pricing.
* Calendar companies are in their busy season. You need to allow for the time it takes to get your desk pads printed & shipped.
* October is a good month to distribute them. The holidays are already in full bloom by then. So be the first. If you wait, your competitor will get to your customer before you do.
Remember desk calendar pads will keep your name in front of your clients on a daily basis all year long.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Advertising & Promotional Custom Products--Questions & Answers
I get questions all the time about promotional wholesale products & successful advertising campaigns. Here are a couple that were asked of me recently.
Why is someone always trying to sell me a .50 pen over a .25 pen? Why should I spend twice as much when they both do the same thing?
That's just it......they both don't do the same thing. The .25 pen will not write as well as the one that costs more & if it isn't going to write smooth, then it won't be used. The last thing you want is for it to be thrown in a desk drawer or worse yet, a waste paper basket. Then you've really wasted your money.
Also the pen, itself, will look cheaper than the one for .50 & again, people will reach for the more colorful, trendier one. The whole purpose of buying pens as promotional imprinted products is to get your name out among the public.
I'm not saying you need to buy the most expensive pen to get your message seen. Buy one that stands out so hopefully your company will be identified by it--in a positive way. It shouldn't blend with the dozens of others in that cup that holds pens. Besides writing smoothly, it should be comfortable to hold & the mechanism needs to be easy to use.
Anything with your name on it represents your company & who you are. That also goes for an ordinary pen that doesn't write well. Is that the message you want to give out? I'd rethink this, especially since your competition probably spent .50 on the pens he distributes.
Can social media co-exist with traditional marketing?
Definitely! Social media doesn't replace other forms of marketing, especially promotional custom products. They should work together. This is known as integrated marketing. But before you do anything, whether online or offline, there are four things you should define first:
1. Know & identify your brand. This takes a lot of thought & planning, but if you do it wisely you'll be more successful in your marketing venture.
2. Know your target audience. You'll waste your money if you're not reaching the people you need to reach. Learn who they are, where they are & what their needs are.
3. Know your budget. Don't get into a bind & not carry through with your marketing campaign because you ran out of money. Also don't start your campaign only to realize later you have to cut corners--you'll give out a different message than what your business is all about. That spells disaster.
4. Know your strategy. Make a detailed plan for your long term & short term goals regarding your marketing. Review it often to see if your goals are being met. If not, figure out what went wrong & set up a new agenda.
Do you have any questions you'd like answered? Send them to me & I'll be sure to post it in a future article. In the meantime, do everything you can to keep your company name & logo visible.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
Why is someone always trying to sell me a .50 pen over a .25 pen? Why should I spend twice as much when they both do the same thing?
That's just it......they both don't do the same thing. The .25 pen will not write as well as the one that costs more & if it isn't going to write smooth, then it won't be used. The last thing you want is for it to be thrown in a desk drawer or worse yet, a waste paper basket. Then you've really wasted your money.
Also the pen, itself, will look cheaper than the one for .50 & again, people will reach for the more colorful, trendier one. The whole purpose of buying pens as promotional imprinted products is to get your name out among the public.
I'm not saying you need to buy the most expensive pen to get your message seen. Buy one that stands out so hopefully your company will be identified by it--in a positive way. It shouldn't blend with the dozens of others in that cup that holds pens. Besides writing smoothly, it should be comfortable to hold & the mechanism needs to be easy to use.
Anything with your name on it represents your company & who you are. That also goes for an ordinary pen that doesn't write well. Is that the message you want to give out? I'd rethink this, especially since your competition probably spent .50 on the pens he distributes.
Can social media co-exist with traditional marketing?
Definitely! Social media doesn't replace other forms of marketing, especially promotional custom products. They should work together. This is known as integrated marketing. But before you do anything, whether online or offline, there are four things you should define first:
1. Know & identify your brand. This takes a lot of thought & planning, but if you do it wisely you'll be more successful in your marketing venture.
2. Know your target audience. You'll waste your money if you're not reaching the people you need to reach. Learn who they are, where they are & what their needs are.
3. Know your budget. Don't get into a bind & not carry through with your marketing campaign because you ran out of money. Also don't start your campaign only to realize later you have to cut corners--you'll give out a different message than what your business is all about. That spells disaster.
4. Know your strategy. Make a detailed plan for your long term & short term goals regarding your marketing. Review it often to see if your goals are being met. If not, figure out what went wrong & set up a new agenda.
Do you have any questions you'd like answered? Send them to me & I'll be sure to post it in a future article. In the meantime, do everything you can to keep your company name & logo visible.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
Monday, July 12, 2010
Customized Promotional Stress Relief Items
There seems to be no way to avoid it......stress is all around us & has become a part of our lives. Whether it's at home, at work, trying to juggle busy schedules or family or health issues, stress & tension is there.
Most of us live with it, but have also found outlets for it......the gym or another form of work-out, a favorite sport, hobbies, shopping, hanging out with friends. Yelling, hopefully not at someone but in the privacy of your car, can also be a release & some experts claim a pretty effective one at that.
Circumstances, uncomfortable situations & people are all triggers for the stress we feel. This is never more evident than in the work place. Offices are confined & don't have the space to work off steam when tension builds. Maybe you could get punching bag into your cubicle or do yoga during your lunch hour; but start yelling at the top of your voice from your desk & you might find yourself out of a job.
Bottom line, there really isn't an outlet for stress during the work day. Tension is one of the leading causes of decreased work productivity & absenteeism. There is a quick fix though & that's giving out stress relief items as your next promotional imprinted product. Putting your logo on one will not only keep your name visible but you could be associated with good health in the work place. Because the primary health issue in the office is stress, your customer will use these more than you think.
Customized promotional stress relief items are effective. The stress ball is the most popular for squeezing away anxieties. Picture an executive leaning back in his chair squeezing it while on the phone, a receptionist absently gripping it while reading something on the computer or a sales person throwing it around while on a short break. They provide a release for someone without taking up valuable work time or space.
Most important, they're good advertising for you. Stress relief items are often found sitting on a desk, book shelves or a computer monitor which means your company name is visible for everyone who walks by to see. They're fun promotional custom products & ones you can be creative with.
You can choose a style that best represents your business......globe, square cube, convertible, plane, tennis racket, golf club, computer mouse, molar, hard hat, stop sign, dollar sign, cell phone & every kind of sport ball, food & animal you can possibly think of.
Whatever shape you choose, stress relief items are novel & effective ways to put your name in font of your client or prospective customer.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
Most of us live with it, but have also found outlets for it......the gym or another form of work-out, a favorite sport, hobbies, shopping, hanging out with friends. Yelling, hopefully not at someone but in the privacy of your car, can also be a release & some experts claim a pretty effective one at that.
Circumstances, uncomfortable situations & people are all triggers for the stress we feel. This is never more evident than in the work place. Offices are confined & don't have the space to work off steam when tension builds. Maybe you could get punching bag into your cubicle or do yoga during your lunch hour; but start yelling at the top of your voice from your desk & you might find yourself out of a job.
Bottom line, there really isn't an outlet for stress during the work day. Tension is one of the leading causes of decreased work productivity & absenteeism. There is a quick fix though & that's giving out stress relief items as your next promotional imprinted product. Putting your logo on one will not only keep your name visible but you could be associated with good health in the work place. Because the primary health issue in the office is stress, your customer will use these more than you think.
Customized promotional stress relief items are effective. The stress ball is the most popular for squeezing away anxieties. Picture an executive leaning back in his chair squeezing it while on the phone, a receptionist absently gripping it while reading something on the computer or a sales person throwing it around while on a short break. They provide a release for someone without taking up valuable work time or space.
Most important, they're good advertising for you. Stress relief items are often found sitting on a desk, book shelves or a computer monitor which means your company name is visible for everyone who walks by to see. They're fun promotional custom products & ones you can be creative with.
You can choose a style that best represents your business......globe, square cube, convertible, plane, tennis racket, golf club, computer mouse, molar, hard hat, stop sign, dollar sign, cell phone & every kind of sport ball, food & animal you can possibly think of.
Whatever shape you choose, stress relief items are novel & effective ways to put your name in font of your client or prospective customer.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Promotional Wholesale Products & Your Image As An Expert
There are so many blogs & articles written about company recognition & brand identity. In a previous blog, Will The Real Definition Of Branding Please Stand Up (May 2010), I tried to define what a brand is & how to obtain it.
After establishing your brand & revealing it to the public online & with offline advertising like catalogs, fliers & promotional imprinted products you need to make sure you, as a person, are also giving out the same message.
If you are an interior decorator & you've presented your company as daring, creative, out-of-the-ordinary......a business that pushes the envelope & comes up with astonishing results; you'll lose your customers if you, personally, come across as being traditional & playing it safe. Being someone who is not part of your branded image will give mixed messages. This is one of the worst things you can do to win over a customer.
First impressions can make it or break it for you. How many times have you heard that? I can't stress enough how true it is. Therefore, when you meet your client & hand him your business card & promotional custom products with your company name on them, make sure you, yourself, are part of that total picture you are trying to portray.
When you present yourself to clients as a representative of your company, it's important to show you are an expert in your field. Your expertise should be part of your brand.
Experts receive respect & have an edge over their competition. They're in a better position to attract loyalty from the consumer & interesting business opportunities.
Which of the following kinds of expert portraits work for your capabilities & your competitive marketplace?
* THE WHIZ--someone who has an unusual degree of skill & is able to accomplish tasks far more capably than others & usually with greater speed.
* THE BRAINIAC--someone with an unbelievable amount of knowledge at his or her command.
* THE SUCCESS--"I reached the mountaintop & now let me teach you how to do what I did."
* THE SAGE--someone who offers wise answers, effective advise & has a balanced range of perspectives.
* THE REBEL--someone people enjoy following because he or she reliably puts forward contrary, unpredictable ideas that make sense.
You can combine two of these types, but pursuing three or more of these kinds of qualities clouds how people understand your strengths & stretches your credibility.
When meeting that all-important client, put your best foot forward & foster your expert image--an image that fits your brand. Your image should be just as important to your brand identity as the customized promotional items you give out or the words describing your business in your mailings, your blogs & on your website.
Good luck the next time you meet your client. I hope this helps.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
After establishing your brand & revealing it to the public online & with offline advertising like catalogs, fliers & promotional imprinted products you need to make sure you, as a person, are also giving out the same message.
If you are an interior decorator & you've presented your company as daring, creative, out-of-the-ordinary......a business that pushes the envelope & comes up with astonishing results; you'll lose your customers if you, personally, come across as being traditional & playing it safe. Being someone who is not part of your branded image will give mixed messages. This is one of the worst things you can do to win over a customer.
First impressions can make it or break it for you. How many times have you heard that? I can't stress enough how true it is. Therefore, when you meet your client & hand him your business card & promotional custom products with your company name on them, make sure you, yourself, are part of that total picture you are trying to portray.
When you present yourself to clients as a representative of your company, it's important to show you are an expert in your field. Your expertise should be part of your brand.
Experts receive respect & have an edge over their competition. They're in a better position to attract loyalty from the consumer & interesting business opportunities.
Which of the following kinds of expert portraits work for your capabilities & your competitive marketplace?
* THE WHIZ--someone who has an unusual degree of skill & is able to accomplish tasks far more capably than others & usually with greater speed.
* THE BRAINIAC--someone with an unbelievable amount of knowledge at his or her command.
* THE SUCCESS--"I reached the mountaintop & now let me teach you how to do what I did."
* THE SAGE--someone who offers wise answers, effective advise & has a balanced range of perspectives.
* THE REBEL--someone people enjoy following because he or she reliably puts forward contrary, unpredictable ideas that make sense.
You can combine two of these types, but pursuing three or more of these kinds of qualities clouds how people understand your strengths & stretches your credibility.
When meeting that all-important client, put your best foot forward & foster your expert image--an image that fits your brand. Your image should be just as important to your brand identity as the customized promotional items you give out or the words describing your business in your mailings, your blogs & on your website.
Good luck the next time you meet your client. I hope this helps.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
Monday, June 21, 2010
Customized Promotional Products Will Get You Noticed!
Look around you. Everywhere there is an item with a company's logo & advertising message on it. It could be a paper cup from Burger King, a note pad for a car dealership or a baseball cap flashing the title of a TV show. Now look at the pen you're writing with......who's name is on it? It should be yours. If it was, think how visible your company would be all day--everyday.
Promotional imprinted products are powerful marketing tools that target your audience & potential customers who might be interested in the product or service you're offering. I explain just how important & effective they are in my first blog: Why Use Promotional Imprinted Products (March 2010).
Today every business is doing its best to attract the attention of customers by allocating advertising budgets. These budgets should include advertising specialties because they have the ability to keep your logo visible for years to come. They should not be considered an expense, but rather an investment since their goal is to increase your revenue.
Investing in promotional wholesale products will be a long-term & wise decision. The cost of advertising on promotional items is remarkably low, yet the number of consumers exposed to your advertising message is exceptionally high. They can reach any & all targeted audiences you are going after.
The Advertising Specialty Institute conducted a survey & reported that people who receive promotional items keep them for an average of seven to nine months. This provides repeated & consistent exposure to your company. Have you given a bag to someone lately? Chances are, they'll use it more than ten times a month & your logo on that bag will be seen monthly by 1,038 people. That's just one bag......now multiply it by the number of bags you ordered & gave out in that one month.
Since your message is the medium, items with your name & logo on them will stay with your clients & potential customers. They will be within their sight as long as the promotional custom products are being used. Consumers will be reminded of you every time they write with a pen that has our name on it, drink from a coffee cup with your advertising message, hit a golf ball with your logo or drive behind a car with your website on the license plate frame. T-shirts & recyclable bags are walking billboards for your business.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!! Let your name stand out in front of the public at all times.
Ronni Sherman
Promotional imprinted products are powerful marketing tools that target your audience & potential customers who might be interested in the product or service you're offering. I explain just how important & effective they are in my first blog: Why Use Promotional Imprinted Products (March 2010).
Today every business is doing its best to attract the attention of customers by allocating advertising budgets. These budgets should include advertising specialties because they have the ability to keep your logo visible for years to come. They should not be considered an expense, but rather an investment since their goal is to increase your revenue.
Investing in promotional wholesale products will be a long-term & wise decision. The cost of advertising on promotional items is remarkably low, yet the number of consumers exposed to your advertising message is exceptionally high. They can reach any & all targeted audiences you are going after.
The Advertising Specialty Institute conducted a survey & reported that people who receive promotional items keep them for an average of seven to nine months. This provides repeated & consistent exposure to your company. Have you given a bag to someone lately? Chances are, they'll use it more than ten times a month & your logo on that bag will be seen monthly by 1,038 people. That's just one bag......now multiply it by the number of bags you ordered & gave out in that one month.
Since your message is the medium, items with your name & logo on them will stay with your clients & potential customers. They will be within their sight as long as the promotional custom products are being used. Consumers will be reminded of you every time they write with a pen that has our name on it, drink from a coffee cup with your advertising message, hit a golf ball with your logo or drive behind a car with your website on the license plate frame. T-shirts & recyclable bags are walking billboards for your business.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!! Let your name stand out in front of the public at all times.
Ronni Sherman
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Water Bottles--Hot Summer Promotional Imprinted Products
Summer is the perfect season to plan your promotional campaign. Because of the weather, people are more active. Daylight savings time makes it convenient for people to stay out longer & to go to more places than they do during the winter months. This also the time for family vacations. All of this helps in expanding your customer reach if you choose the right customized promotional item.
One of the best promotional imprinted products to give out at this time are water bottles. People plan their outings during summer vacations & prefer to carry water bottles wherever they travel......whether it's to a local beach, the gym or an excursion to a further destination.
Ok, I know what you're thinking......the ones that were made of soft white plastic & were stashed away in a forgotten place or rolled around the floor of your car. Not so--that water bottle is as out-of-date as a console TV. They've come along way in the last few years. Look around you when you're out in public or take note of what's being sold in the stores.
They're now available in various sizes, shapes, colors, patterns, materials & designs. They're generally transparent hard plastic bottles in brilliant colors that will make your logo & advertising message pop. Bio-degradable bottles as well as aluminum & stainless steel bottles are also very popular. The best thing about all of these......they no longer retain tastes or odors like the old fashioned white plastic ones did. And they're BPA free & eco-friendly.
Most companies either focus on other promotional events or run their own where they can hand out water bottles as useful advertising specialties. These events can include anything: grand openings, golf tournaments, team sponsorships, marathons, office functions & charity or political fund-raisers. They also make great thank you & customer appreciation gifts. One of my customers, a large new & used car dealership, leaves one in the cup holder every time a car is brought in for servicing.
Colors for these bottles are vibrant & they can go along with your company's color & logo. There's a large imprint area that allows space for your logo, company name & advertising message. In most cases, both sides of thee bottle can be imprinted for the same price.
Due to the various sizes & materials used, water bottles are one of the most versatile of all promotional custom products. For instance a sporting goods store that's celebrating a grand opening may give out large stainless steel bottles that carries sufficient water to keep someone hydrated. While a pediatrician or a toy manufacturer will probably hand out smaller brightly colored plastic bottles that would attract the kids. A company sponsoring a local soccer team may fore go their colors on a water bottle & give the players & their families bottles that are in the team colors--one side showing the team name & the other, the sponsor's information.
As far as the summer season is concerned, giving away promotional water bottles is the perfect item for any business in any industry since they're so adaptable. The main thing to remember is water bottles travel & wherever someone carries them, they are carrying your logo & message. This makes them a great marketing tool to connect you with your clients & prospective customers.
If anyone has any other ideas about imprinted promotional wholesale products to give out during the summer months, please let me know. In the meantime, I hope this helps you decide on a practical yet fun promotional item for your next marketing campaign.
Good luck!
IT'S YOUR BUSINESS......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Building Customer Loyalty
Now that you've defined your brand & have begun a marketing campaign using all that's available in your budget, including online & offline advertising & promotional wholesale products; how do you retain your existing customers? What can you do to keep their loyalty so they don't wander over to your competition?
Here are the main constituents of customer loyalty:
1. CUSTOMER'S LOGICAL & EMOTIONAL REACTION TO YOUR PRODUCT: Your target audience has to feel rationally & emotionally connected to your product or service. Before you get your name out among the public you should know who you're targeting & what they're needs are. Also be familiar with their buying habits in the past. Above all, make sure your marketing is going out to the faction of the public you want to receive your advertising message. Your message must be consistent. Bottom line, if they can't relate to you, they'll go to your competition.
2. GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CUSTOMER: Once your product or service has been used by your customer, you should focus on establishing & maintaining a beneficial relationship with them so they continue to come back to you. This is done through online & offline advertising & marketing: emails, direct mailings, phone calls, personal sales calls & promotional imprinted products. And most importantly, the quality of what you offer & the quality of your customer service.
3. OFFER PRODUCT EXTENSIONS: If possible, introduce an extension of your line to keep your customers' loyalty or to draw in new clientele. For example, Crest offers more than their basic fluoride toothpaste with a whitening solution. They expanded their products to include toothpaste specifically for night time use, mint flavored dental floss & whitening strips, to name just a few. To grow & bypass your competition, you need to find ways to expand your targeted audience & keep your old customers interested.
4. SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE: Some customers will remain loyal to you if you support a social, environmental or communal cause that is advantageous to the public. For example, Wilson Sporting Goods have pink tennis balls & rackets with the pink ribbon to support breast cancer awareness & when those items are purchased a percentage of the profits go to that cause. Most pharmacies & grocery stores offer non-woven recyclable bags for their promotional custom products to promote an eco-friendly environment.
5. AVAILABILITY OF YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE: Don't advertise what you can't deliver. As I stated in a previous blog: Will The Real Definition Of Branding Please Stand Up, your brand is your promise & not having your product available can drive your client to your competition. Sometimes it's out of your control. In that case make sure you have a rain check on hand & that this in not an ongoing issue. Above all both your services & product need to be what you advertised them to be--don't oversell them.
6. CONFORM TO THE LATEST TREND: Don't be a dinosaur & think if it worked last year, it will work this year. That line of thinking spells disaster. Be educated about your product. Stay up to date & learn all there is about your specialized field.
7. OPTIONS USED AS LURES: A consumer gets a host of benefits from a new company trying to lure him over to their business. Many of them are hard to ignore. Hopefully you've already won their loyalty, but many times it's hard to resist lower prices & special offers. Rather than concentrating on discounted deals for the new client, it's also beneficial to reward your long-standing customers with discounts & promotions for their loyalty.
No doubt you will always face stiff competition. I hope this helps you to stay ahead of the game.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
Here are the main constituents of customer loyalty:
1. CUSTOMER'S LOGICAL & EMOTIONAL REACTION TO YOUR PRODUCT: Your target audience has to feel rationally & emotionally connected to your product or service. Before you get your name out among the public you should know who you're targeting & what they're needs are. Also be familiar with their buying habits in the past. Above all, make sure your marketing is going out to the faction of the public you want to receive your advertising message. Your message must be consistent. Bottom line, if they can't relate to you, they'll go to your competition.
2. GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CUSTOMER: Once your product or service has been used by your customer, you should focus on establishing & maintaining a beneficial relationship with them so they continue to come back to you. This is done through online & offline advertising & marketing: emails, direct mailings, phone calls, personal sales calls & promotional imprinted products. And most importantly, the quality of what you offer & the quality of your customer service.
3. OFFER PRODUCT EXTENSIONS: If possible, introduce an extension of your line to keep your customers' loyalty or to draw in new clientele. For example, Crest offers more than their basic fluoride toothpaste with a whitening solution. They expanded their products to include toothpaste specifically for night time use, mint flavored dental floss & whitening strips, to name just a few. To grow & bypass your competition, you need to find ways to expand your targeted audience & keep your old customers interested.
4. SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE: Some customers will remain loyal to you if you support a social, environmental or communal cause that is advantageous to the public. For example, Wilson Sporting Goods have pink tennis balls & rackets with the pink ribbon to support breast cancer awareness & when those items are purchased a percentage of the profits go to that cause. Most pharmacies & grocery stores offer non-woven recyclable bags for their promotional custom products to promote an eco-friendly environment.
5. AVAILABILITY OF YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE: Don't advertise what you can't deliver. As I stated in a previous blog: Will The Real Definition Of Branding Please Stand Up, your brand is your promise & not having your product available can drive your client to your competition. Sometimes it's out of your control. In that case make sure you have a rain check on hand & that this in not an ongoing issue. Above all both your services & product need to be what you advertised them to be--don't oversell them.
6. CONFORM TO THE LATEST TREND: Don't be a dinosaur & think if it worked last year, it will work this year. That line of thinking spells disaster. Be educated about your product. Stay up to date & learn all there is about your specialized field.
7. OPTIONS USED AS LURES: A consumer gets a host of benefits from a new company trying to lure him over to their business. Many of them are hard to ignore. Hopefully you've already won their loyalty, but many times it's hard to resist lower prices & special offers. Rather than concentrating on discounted deals for the new client, it's also beneficial to reward your long-standing customers with discounts & promotions for their loyalty.
No doubt you will always face stiff competition. I hope this helps you to stay ahead of the game.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Make Room For Your Message On Promotional Wholesale Products
To be successful today, it's important to have brand recognition. If a potential customer recognizes your company name, they are most likely to choose your business when they need your product or services.
Once you've defined your brand, you need to keep your company's name in the public's view at all times. The best way to do this is with promotional imprinted products.
One of the most used of all promotional items are pens. They're inexpensive, yet effective because they go from hand-to-hand like a dollar bill & carry your logo to places you won't go. The one & only disadvantage: very limited space for your advertising message. And in most cases, this is rarely a drawback.
Yet, for those times when you need the extra space there are many customized promotional products that have a large imprint area & can show off more than your company name & website. These items can display your logo & all your company information in a fun & creative way. They have the room to do it.
1. Note Pads & Sticky Notes: The benefits of having your name on these are limitless as they are used everyday, everywhere by everyone. You can take up every inch of the paper to advertise by using a phantom image in the center.
2. Drinkware: Whether it's acrylic sports bottles, insulated travel tumblers, stainless steel water bottles or ceramic coffee mugs--these offer a large imprint area, usually on both sides. They are carried around everywhere which means where your customer goes, so does your logo.
3. Mouse Pads: Nearly everyone uses a computer daily in the office or at home. Your customers will see your information all the time & so will the people around them.
4. Recyclable Grocery & Tote Bags: Let your customers advertise for you while they shop. As they're toting your company name around you're giving out two messages......your own about your business & that you care about the environment.
5. Beach Balls: Have your company name & logo bounce along the beaches & around swimming pools. Wherever people gather this summer for outdoor fun, let your name be seen.
6. T-Shirts: This is a walking billboard for your business. It is right up there with the pen & is just as popular. Think about it......as you look around you, no matter where you are--how many blank t-shirts do you see? Very few, right? Almost all of them show a logo or display an advertising message.
There are many more promotional custom products with large areas for your advertising message......coolers, towels, blankets, umbrellas......the list goes on. I hope I've given you effective ideas of how to display your logo & company name along with information about your business.
One more thing--make it colorful, make it fun, make your message pop!
IT'S YOUR BUSINESS......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
Friday, May 28, 2010
Color Psychology & Your Customized Promotional Items
Look at your logo & text......your website, your printed materials & promotional imprinted products. Why did you pick the colors you chose for your company image?
Colors become a facet of your brand. They set the emotional tone & play a big part in how people react to your company. Many times it's more subconscious than conscious, but nevertheless colors make an impact.
Listed below, alphabetically, are both positive & negative aspects of the most common colors:
BLACK: sophistication, formality, intelligence, sexuality, power, jeopardy, unhappiness, evil, death, mourning. (A dynamic color that runs to both extremes of the emotional spectrum--from the very positive to the extreme negative).
BLUE: masculinity, calmness, serenity, peace, tranquility, security, balance, orderliness, durability, loyalty, sadness, & aloofness. (One of the most popular colors across the board, but also the least appetizing of all colors & rarely appears naturally in food except for blueberries & some plums).
BROWN: earthiness, strength, quality, reliability, comfort, warmth, security, natural & organic, convention, sadness, depression, isolation, erosion, decay & peril. (The earthiness of this color can bring about positive & negative feelings depending on how it's depicted. It can represent life or death. Individual reactions to this color varies widely).
GREEN: nature, tranquility, soothing, restful, growth, health, cheer, wealth, good luck, fertility sexuality & jealousy. (It's the easiest on the eyes. Also it's very sexual--even M&M candy uses the green to send sexual messages. Guests waiting to appear on a TV show wait in the "green" room to relax because the color is calming).
ORANGE: energetic, excitement, electric, fun, enthusiasm, ambition, flamboyancy, edgy, aggressive, blatant & vulgar. (This sparks more controversy than any other color--people either love it or hate it. It's also one of the most unattractive colors to the eye).
PINK: femininity, love, romance, calmness & hope
PURPLE: royalty, wealth, spirituality, majestic, exotic, unity & wisdom.
RED: energetic, electric, deep, strong, dramatic, intense, emotional, excitement, warmth, comfort, love, romance, eroticism, forewarning, untamed & anger. (The most energetic of all colors & evokes more emotions than any other color. It's attention getting......screams: "here I am!").
WHITE: purity, innocence, contemporary, precision, spaciousness, cold, bland, sterile, emptiness.
YELLOW: cheerful, uplifting, sunny, nature, exiting, optimistic, energetic, frustration, & anger. (While it's depicted to be a happy color, it isn't always so. Ironically babies tend to cry more in yellow rooms & people are most likely to lose their tempers in yellow rooms).
What is your initial reaction to these colors? Do you change your mind after you think about it & associate with what's familiar to you?
Using the color brown as an example, notice how one color can arouse different emotional & rational feelings. When it's used in marketing for chocolate candy, coffee, an architectural firm or a clothing store it can bring about a nurturing sense of comfort, warmth, safety, quality, durability & tradition. Yet, if it's used in marketing in the dental field, a person may feel emptiness, decay, a vast chasm, sadness, loneliness.
Think of a photo or advertisement using the very same shade of brown......a khaki swede couch seems soft, comfortable & secure. A man in a khaki army uniform brings to mind earthiness, ruggedness, rigidity & possibly a sense of danger.
This is not written in stone & as you can see there are many variables that can sway you to one color over another. After reading this, it may help you understand why you prefer certain colors to others.
Do the colors you choose represent your business the way you want to be identified?
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IF OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
Listed below, alphabetically, are both positive & negative aspects of the most common colors:
BLACK: sophistication, formality, intelligence, sexuality, power, jeopardy, unhappiness, evil, death, mourning. (A dynamic color that runs to both extremes of the emotional spectrum--from the very positive to the extreme negative).
BLUE: masculinity, calmness, serenity, peace, tranquility, security, balance, orderliness, durability, loyalty, sadness, & aloofness. (One of the most popular colors across the board, but also the least appetizing of all colors & rarely appears naturally in food except for blueberries & some plums).
BROWN: earthiness, strength, quality, reliability, comfort, warmth, security, natural & organic, convention, sadness, depression, isolation, erosion, decay & peril. (The earthiness of this color can bring about positive & negative feelings depending on how it's depicted. It can represent life or death. Individual reactions to this color varies widely).
GREEN: nature, tranquility, soothing, restful, growth, health, cheer, wealth, good luck, fertility sexuality & jealousy. (It's the easiest on the eyes. Also it's very sexual--even M&M candy uses the green to send sexual messages. Guests waiting to appear on a TV show wait in the "green" room to relax because the color is calming).
ORANGE: energetic, excitement, electric, fun, enthusiasm, ambition, flamboyancy, edgy, aggressive, blatant & vulgar. (This sparks more controversy than any other color--people either love it or hate it. It's also one of the most unattractive colors to the eye).
PINK: femininity, love, romance, calmness & hope
PURPLE: royalty, wealth, spirituality, majestic, exotic, unity & wisdom.
RED: energetic, electric, deep, strong, dramatic, intense, emotional, excitement, warmth, comfort, love, romance, eroticism, forewarning, untamed & anger. (The most energetic of all colors & evokes more emotions than any other color. It's attention getting......screams: "here I am!").
WHITE: purity, innocence, contemporary, precision, spaciousness, cold, bland, sterile, emptiness.
YELLOW: cheerful, uplifting, sunny, nature, exiting, optimistic, energetic, frustration, & anger. (While it's depicted to be a happy color, it isn't always so. Ironically babies tend to cry more in yellow rooms & people are most likely to lose their tempers in yellow rooms).
What is your initial reaction to these colors? Do you change your mind after you think about it & associate with what's familiar to you?
Using the color brown as an example, notice how one color can arouse different emotional & rational feelings. When it's used in marketing for chocolate candy, coffee, an architectural firm or a clothing store it can bring about a nurturing sense of comfort, warmth, safety, quality, durability & tradition. Yet, if it's used in marketing in the dental field, a person may feel emptiness, decay, a vast chasm, sadness, loneliness.
Think of a photo or advertisement using the very same shade of brown......a khaki swede couch seems soft, comfortable & secure. A man in a khaki army uniform brings to mind earthiness, ruggedness, rigidity & possibly a sense of danger.
This is not written in stone & as you can see there are many variables that can sway you to one color over another. After reading this, it may help you understand why you prefer certain colors to others.
Do the colors you choose represent your business the way you want to be identified?
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IF OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Logos & Fonts As Part Of Your Branded Identity
Branding encompasses everything that has to do with your company's image. Logos, colors & fonts used are components that make up only a part of the entire branded identity but it's a very important part.
Whether you are using your logo on packaging, printed material, promotional custom products or online; it is most often the first point of contact with your company's brand. If it creates an initial image that is inconsistent with your brand identity, then it starts off the branding experience by sending mixed signals. And you don't want that!
The most common & safest route to go when creating a logo is to use both images: your logo (ideogram) & your company name (logotype). Many national & international corporations use only ideograms as their logo, but if you're not one of those large, well-known entities then using just an ideogram will not bring you recognition. To be identified by the public, it's important that your company name be part of your logo.
Your logo is one of the most important parts of your company's identity since it's used to aid & promote instant public recognition. Because of this it's counterproductive to frequently redesign logos. In other words, once you display it as part of your identity, think of it as being carved in stone.
Three examples are:
1. BANK GOTHIC depicts action or sci-fi movies but works against the food or restaurant industry.
2. ITC AVANT GARDE is a fashion industry standard but is not appropriate for banking or financial institutions.
3. TRAJAN PRO is a font influenced by the style of ancient romans' chiseled writings, yet the clarity of this font also makes it work well with modern printed materials. Law firms & universities use this but it would have a negative impact on packaging for baby products.
A font, alone, can act as your logo without a design or shape if you choose a type style that stands out & represents you. You then have to use it consistently as you would an ideogram. Make sure it's part of your signature at the bottom of your emails & that you use it on all mailings, advertising & on the promotional imprinted products you give out.
Type is everywhere so be certain your choice ties in psychologically with your service or product & your goals.
Whatever you do, don't rush into picking a font & designing your logo because once it's out there for everyone to see, it tells the public who you are. It's introducing you to people you can't possibly meet in person so you need to put your best foot forward in this arena just as you would if you were to personally meet them face-to-face.
Look at other company's fonts & logos & see if you feel it accurately represents them. What does their logo tell you about their business? It may help you decide what to choose for your own & what to stay away from.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
LOGOS
Your logo is the first impression, of not just who you are, but how reliable your company is. Logos are a representation of your entire business......it's products, it's philosophies & it's mantra. All of that has to fit into one simple design.Whether you are using your logo on packaging, printed material, promotional custom products or online; it is most often the first point of contact with your company's brand. If it creates an initial image that is inconsistent with your brand identity, then it starts off the branding experience by sending mixed signals. And you don't want that!
The most common & safest route to go when creating a logo is to use both images: your logo (ideogram) & your company name (logotype). Many national & international corporations use only ideograms as their logo, but if you're not one of those large, well-known entities then using just an ideogram will not bring you recognition. To be identified by the public, it's important that your company name be part of your logo.
Your logo is one of the most important parts of your company's identity since it's used to aid & promote instant public recognition. Because of this it's counterproductive to frequently redesign logos. In other words, once you display it as part of your identity, think of it as being carved in stone.
TYPOGRAPHY
Fonts are as important to your business image as color & your logo. Many typefaces already represent certain industries, & by using them, a company who's part of that industry shows they're trustworthy & values long-standing tradition.Three examples are:
1. BANK GOTHIC depicts action or sci-fi movies but works against the food or restaurant industry.
2. ITC AVANT GARDE is a fashion industry standard but is not appropriate for banking or financial institutions.
3. TRAJAN PRO is a font influenced by the style of ancient romans' chiseled writings, yet the clarity of this font also makes it work well with modern printed materials. Law firms & universities use this but it would have a negative impact on packaging for baby products.
A font, alone, can act as your logo without a design or shape if you choose a type style that stands out & represents you. You then have to use it consistently as you would an ideogram. Make sure it's part of your signature at the bottom of your emails & that you use it on all mailings, advertising & on the promotional imprinted products you give out.
Type is everywhere so be certain your choice ties in psychologically with your service or product & your goals.
Whatever you do, don't rush into picking a font & designing your logo because once it's out there for everyone to see, it tells the public who you are. It's introducing you to people you can't possibly meet in person so you need to put your best foot forward in this arena just as you would if you were to personally meet them face-to-face.
Look at other company's fonts & logos & see if you feel it accurately represents them. What does their logo tell you about their business? It may help you decide what to choose for your own & what to stay away from.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman
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