The Power Of Promotional Imprinted Products

Promotional custom products work!!! When someone tells me he can't afford them, I tell him he can't afford not to invest in them. They are effective & reach out to a vast audience. They are also the most economical way to gain company recognition.  Sometimes it's the missing piece between you & your future customer. Customized promotional items are definitely a bridge between your business & the public.

Customer retention is one of the most important aspects of business. Making sure clients are happy with a brand is a key part to succeeding in a very competitive marketplace. The likelihood of business retention increases by 18 percent through the use of promotional imprinted products. Give out something with your name boldly displayed & your company will be visible day in & day out.

People want to feel appreciated & may be likely to return if they feel that the business cares. Using customized promotional items as an incentive is a great way to build relationships. The public appreciates a personal touch instead of being treated like faceless consumers on one end of transactions. Businesses can go the extra mile with these products & create a lasting bond with the people that come through their doors.

Here are the results of a survey conducted by the Advertising Specialties Institute (ASI) on the effectiveness of promotional imprinted products:

• 92% of the people questioned believe branded promotional merchandise increases company identity.
• 76% say they can name a brand or company/organization featured on a promotional product that's on their desk without having to look for confirmation.
• 52% purchased from companies that gave them branded promotional merchandise--that's over half.
• 83% would keep an item they were given rather than give it away.

Within the 92% of respondents who said promotional merchandise increases awareness:

• 83% would keep the items for themselves.
• 14% would pass it on to a collegue.
• 3% would give it to a family member.

As they say, the proof is in the pudding.

Interestingly, the survey also shows that more women than men are able to recall company names of promotional custom products that were given to them.

Top 3 reasons why people keep promotional items:

• Usefulness
• Value of the product--how valuable it is to them.
• Need for reference.

The survey also listed the top 10 items that people keep (in order of importance):

1. Apparel
2. Pens
3. Coffee Mugs
4. Post-It Notes
5. Note Pads
6. Drinkware (other than coffee mugs)
7. Shopping Bags
8. Mouse Pads
9. Calendar Desk Pads/ Calendars
10. Key Tags

With a few slight adjustments, this follows pretty close to what my customer ask for & purchase. I find pens are #1 while apparel is further down on the list. Insulated drinkware & sport bottles are more popular with my customers than coffee mugs. The key tags--that's surprising........those are not on my top 10 & haven't been for several years.

The top 10 that my customers want the most:

1. Pens
2. Note Pads/ Sticky Notes
3. Shopping & Tote Bags (all sizes & styles)
4. Drinkware (other than mugs)
5. Hand Sanitizers 
6. Lip Balm
7. Ceramic Coffee Mugs
8. Stress Items
9. Mouse Pads

And there's a tie for 10th:
          Desk Top Cell Phone Holders & Apparel

So the main question shouldn't be "why?", but "what". What promotional items should you buy that will benefit your customers & your company as well?  Good luck!

IT'S YOUR COMPANY........SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman

Electronic Accessories As Customized Promotional Gifts

Today electronics & accessories for the products are number 1 on people's wish lists. These are the gifts that are the most sought after. Looking for a gift that will make an impact......something that will make you stand out? If you choose an item for electronics then that's exactly what you'll do. Forget the gift card (do you really want your customer to know what you spent on him?), box of candy or the paper weight--leave those for your competition.

Wow your customers with one of these suggestions below. There's something for every budget & yet you can bet these won't be stashed away & forgotten by the new year.

Stylus pens are designed to be used on touch screens & paper. The delicate round, rubber tip will not scratch or harm the screen. The tips are different than the old stylus pens that were too sharp for today's touch screen devices. And, good news, the cost has come down.

The pens are activated by twist-action or cap-action & all stylus tips are safe to use with a smart phone, tablets & other touch screen devices.


Sleeves for laptops, iPads, Kindle Fires & other tablets are vital. It seems everyone has a laptop or a tablet, but not everybody has a cover to protect them. After the major investment, a lot of people overlook the alll-important sleeves thinking it's not necessary or it can wait until a later date.

It's so important to protect & store these investments.  What a perfect gift for the holidays & what an ideal way to show off your company name & logo at the same time.

USB car chargers with dual ports are my new favorite promotional imprinted product. Stay in touch while you're on the go. You no longer will have to decide which devices gets charged first.

It's compatible with all USB charging cables including cell phones, MP players, tablets, GPS & digital cameras. A red, blue or forest green LED ring illuminates your logo in the dark.


Flash drives area as much a necessity as computers yet so many people don't have them. You can advertise in a flash by adding your logo to one of these.  It's up to you if you want to store your corporate information (a personal greeting from your staff, showing next years catalog, giving a virtual tour of your company's services) or if you want to leave it blank for your clients' data.

Save, store or share files on this easy to use device. It's a must for everyone. And if they already have one......it's one of those things where you can always use a second.

A portable mouse is something that most people won't buy for themselves but would like to receive. Are you unhappy with the mouse on your laptop? You're not the only one--a lot of people are. This fun mouse lights up when in use......your logo & outside trim will glow.

The mouse comes with a retractable cord that extends up to 30". It's slim profile & pouch make it easy to transport & store. Also great for travel.

 
Cell phone holders will make it easier to find your phone. Have you ever picked up a stack of papers from your desk, not realizing your mobile phone was right there & it goes flying across the room? Or you hear it ring, but can't find it? This desk top cell phone holder is the perfect solution.

This colorful phone holder has a gripper surface & if folds for easy storage or shipping. If you have customers out of your area, then this is an easy gift to get to them.

A travel case for cords & chargers is perfect for anyone who has plans for business trips or family vacations......whether they're going just a short distance or traveling abroad. This neoprene, lightweight case keeps all cords & chargers in one place & organized. It's compact & will fit in a carry-on or computer case.

Make it easier for your customer to stay connected while away with this ideal gift.

These customized promotional gifts are great in themselves & soemting that will be appreciated & used well after the holiday season. Want to make even a bigger impact? A mouse, flashdrives, USB car chargers, pens with a stylus or flashdrives & mouse pads are all available with LED lights that light up when the item is in use.  Your company name & logo will literally glow.

So whether you put your business name in lights or your logo on a gift that will last months--years, do it with style this season.  Good luck to you.

IT'S YOUR COMPANY........SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman

Customized Promotional Food Gifts For The Holidays

The holiday season is upon us. It comes earlier & earlier each year. In the past, it used to be the Friday after Thanksgiving that marked the season; but no longer........ads are on TV showing holiday bargains. Last week the HomeGoods store looked like it was December, not the week before Halloween. Christmas decorations were already replacing pumpkins & witches.

Big business is also getting on the holiday bandwagon & trying to up their sales by adding to what they already are marketing. Sometimes it works & sometimes it doesn't, as in the case of Pringles.

It's never good to stay stationery. Customers will move away from your product & gravitate to a competitor if you don't offer something new or give a new twist to the old. It will also expand your customer base if you expand your product line. Good examples of this are Colgate & Crest--they don't only sell fluoride toothpaste; but they have a wide variety of toothpastes & gels, whiteners & tooth brushes--something for everyone.  Pepsi doesn't just have regular Pepsi, but the shelves are filled with diet & flavored drinks. Johnson & Johnson used to be known for bandaids but now they've infiltrated the market with health & beauty products as well as food items.

And this is good as long as your new product has been tested, tested & retested before you market it. Oreo cookies has always had hits with their flavored fillings, especially their latest--Halloween themed candy corn. That produced one rave after another.

Pringles, on the other hand, hasn't been so lucky with their new seasonal flavors: Pumpkin Pie Spice, Chocolate Peppermint & Cinnamon & Sugar.  So far the reviews have not been great. One example is the Huffington Post which wrote that "all the flavors are a little weird with some venturing into downright disgusting."  Ouch!

Still food products are the number 1 gift item for the holidays.  So while it's not my favorite--only because it's expendable & your company name could soon be forgotten--I suggest you don't give the ordinary stale tin of popcorn or generic tin of Danish butter cookies.  Stand out from everyone else & customize your food gifts. You don't have to reinvent the wheel & come up with a new flavor........just make sure your logo & company name are prominently displayed either on the container or the food item, itself. This will make you stand out.  You can give a promotional imprinted product as a gift as long as it's not what you've been handing out all year long.


In fact, you could have the best of both worlds by putting your food items in containers that will last & be used throughout the year; such as ceramic coffee mugs, novel desktop candy dispensers or candy jars. The important thing to remember when giving customized promotional food gifts is that your logo should be easily seen.  You will wow them with your originality & hopefully they'll remember you in the new year when your products or services will be needed.

When giving a food product as a gift, keep the flavor simple so it will appeal to all tastes. Stay away from pumpkin spice potato chips & stick with the regular & proven flavors--those that are still tasty & popular.  Impress them, instead, with your presentation. Creatively wrap it & make sure your logo is on the container or the chocolate bar.  Do it with pizzazz......that's impressive.

Looks like the door is open for the holiday season to begin & the frantic race is on! Wishing you a successful season.  Good luck to all of you!

IT'S YOUR COMPANY........SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman

Maximize The Effectiveness Of Promotional Custom Products

Offering custom corporate gifts & promotional imprinted products are great ways to build a relationship with your existing customers while also spreading word of your business to potential clients. After all everyone, everywhere loves getting something for free, so it's guaranteed to help your company grow, right? Well, not so fast. People may like customized promotional tote bags & custom coffee mugs, but those don't necessarily translate into instant sales. While these items are great selling & marketing tools, they need to stand out from the rest to be noticed & for you to be remembered when your services or products are needed.

Not surprisingly, your business isn't the first one to realize the marketing potential of advertising specialties, so you can bet that for every stress ball you hand out, there are a half dozen similar ones crowding that person's desk drawer. You need to show creativity to make sure that your products stand out from your competitors. To help you along the way, here are a few tips to maximize the effectiveness of your promotional custom products.

Bigger Is Better
While it might not be true in all cases, bigger is certainly better when it comes to marketing gifts. Why is this? Let's use personalized pens as an example. Sure, your logo & company name is right there on the side, but chances are that pen is surrounded by many more like it in a desk top coffee mug. You need to encourage that person to reach for YOUR pen. It will be easier to that if it's the fatter & taller one poking out of the group. Believe it or not, these 8" pens are as easy & comfortable to write with as their smaller cousins.

Eliminate The Ordinary
The most useful & popular promotional products are ones that everyone gives out because they've been proven over time that they work. So if you can't make it bigger, how can you make it stand out & not blend in with the others? Wow them with bright colors, change the shape......do whatever it takes to be different than your competition. A good example is a sports bottle. You see them everywhere now. People carry them wherever they go. But you see round ones--look at this six-sided bottle in bright jewel tones. Ask yourself what you'd rather receive as a token of appreciation.

Keep It Practical

Promotional gifts like mini rubber basketballs & hand-clappers are fun......for about 10 minutes until the person forgets about them forever. The most effective advertising is going to come items that people need & use on a regular basis--ones that are useful to them, so stick with the practical products. Custom & colorful note pads, ceramic coffee mugs & even letter openers come into play almost everyday. These, along with pens, are some of the best products to imprint your logo. Reusable shopping bags are the number one marketing item right now & they not only keep your name in front of your client but it's in public for potential customers to see......day after day all year long.

Do It For The Kids

There is one instance when you should consider ditching the practical route for a more fun option--children's toys. After all, if there's one group that loves free stuff more than any other, it's kids.  And the parents in your target audience will appreciate that you thought of their children. In fact, it's a good way to win them over. Stuffed animals, beach balls, coloring books, crayons, sidewalk chalk, hacky sacks, yo-yos, slinkies (remember those?), banks & the list goes on. These are all great & inexpensive gifts that the little ones are sure to love & that's bound to get the message to their parents also.

Don't Be A Dinosaur

There are many marketing products that used be extremely effective in the promotional field, like key tags & magnets. They have outlived their use & if you continue to give these out, you can be sure that they will most likely end up in the waste paper basket. Keep up with the times & make sure what you hand out is useful & will be used on a regular basis. Just because it worked in the past doesn't mean it will work now. The whole point is for your company name & logo to be seen so you will be remembered. Mouse pads, cubicle pins, sticky note pads & cell phone holders are some items that keep up with the times.

So the next time you hand out your promotional custom products, think how yours can make an impact & stand out from the others. What can you do so your customers will want to use what they get from you over what they get elsewhere? Good luck!

IT'S YOUR COMPANY........SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman

Specialty Coffee Promotional Custom Products

It's fall......the leaves are already starting to turn, the weather is cooler, night time football games at high schools & universities. All this brings to mind piping hot drinks. There's nothing like a roaring fire, a soft afghan & a hot cup of coffee or tea to take the chill out of the early morning or late evening air.

Consider this: according to annual industry reports, 150 million people in the US (that's half the population) enjoy tea, coffee & specialty coffee drinks. What does this mean for you? Adding a jolt of joe to your promotional imprinted products could open new grounds for success.

Iced teas & iced coffee are being replaced by hot tea, coffee, cocoa & cider laced with cinnamon. Make sure when your client reaches for his favorite drink, your logo & company name are in front of him all the time.

Now is the time to consider gifts for your loyal customers & your employees. Coffee related customized promotional gifts are available to fit any budget.

They say a picture is worth 1000 words, so scroll down & see the wide array of options available to you.

Ceramic coffee mugs: make sure your mug doesn't blend in with all the others & ends up at the back of a shelf in a dark cupboard.

A modern chrome & ceramic mug.

Mug with eye-catching graphics like these paint drips.

Mug with a handy, removable spoon.

Stunning black gloss mug with a colored rim.

Insulated tumblers & mugs: take the ordinary out of the usual & wow your customers with shape & color.

Stainless steel with a leatherette accent for a rich look.

Italian design with stainless steel interior & acrylic outer shell.

Acrylic & stainless tumbler with a modern touch.

Acrylic travel tumbler with a black grip & a one of a kind design.

Individual drink packets: don't give an empty mug......load it with goodies. These can be purchased individually or with a mug. All are imprinted with your logo & name.

1.5 oz package of fresh roasted coffee brews one pot (10 -12 cups).

Packet of rich hot chocolate fills 1 mug--just add water.

Each packet contains 4 flavors of individually wrapped tea

Yummy apple cider packet fills one mug.

Other fun items: go for the unusual & put your logo on these accessories.

No more cold coffee or tea. This mug warmer plugs into your computer or any USB outlet.

Genuine leather coaster with white stitiching.

Lid with a coffee bean decor to keep beverages hot or to keep from spilling.

As you can see, there are a lot of options. Promotional custom products are important for your image whether you're handing them out on a daily basis or using them as gifts. A word of caution: if you're giving these as gifts, do not give the same promotional items you use all year for marketing. You won't get the response you were expecting.

Hope these pictures give you some new ideas for your next marketing campaign or as gifts for your customers.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman

Promotional Halloween Bags Promote Your Business & Safety

It's always a great thing when your business can promote both child safety & your company at the same time.  It's easy to do with customized promotional Halloween trick or treat bags. Many trick or treat bags have safety tips printed on stock designs. Add your custom logo & you'll help promote Halloween safety to both kids & parents while promoting your business. You can choose from a variety of bags & a wide range of colors. They're available in plastic, non-woven & a reflective metallic plastic--which adds even more safety because of the reflectiveness of the bag material.

Safety is such a huge issue on Halloween, I'm listing some tips to keep your kids safe while trick or treating:

1. An adult should be with your child at all times.
2. Only trick or treat in neighborhoods you deem safe--neighborhoods you know.
3. Plan a trick or treat route in advance.
4. Go in a larger group--for both safety & visibility.
5. Have each child wear or carry something lit such as a glow stick, flashlight or reflective clothing.
6. Don't carry dangerous props such as metal knives or swords.  Use plastic or flexible props.
7. Keep your dog at home if he is nervous around crowds, a barker or biter.
8. Trick or treat during the times when most people are out trick or treating.
9. Check your child's candy before letting them eat it.
10. Don't let your children wear masks or costumes that obstruct their vision.
11. Use crosswalks when crossing streets & major intersections.
12. Make sure your child's costume isn't too long so they don't trip  & fall.
13. Don't go inside people's houses to get the treats.  Stay on the porches.
14. Only trick or treat at houses that are well lit & have a porch light on.

All parents of trick or treating age children look for Halloween bags or other containers for their kids' candy. With the expense of costumes (they now cost as much as an outfit or more) & the accessories, most parents will appreciate receiving these as a gift. These bags are inexpensive & are great to give out in mass quantities for branding & marketing exposure. They are the perfect promotional imprinted product. The bags you give to your clients & prospective customers will end up in the hands of their children or the children of their friends.

In light of Halloween coming up at the end of this month, I have listed some ideas to use trick or treat bags to help market your business.  All ideas won't apply to your company, but many of them will.

1. Use Halloween bags as a retail shopping bag when your customers purchase small merchandise.
2. If you have a medical practice with children as patients, make sure they get the bags--maybe with some stickers inside.
3. Realtors can hang them on neighborhood doors in place of the usual door hangers.
4. If you provide written quotes or estimates to your clients, insert the printed quote in the Halloween bag when you deliver the estimate to them.
5. For photographers, deliver your client's printed photos in a trick or treat bag.
6. Give out quantities of your bags printed with your logo to businesses to pass out to kids that come in.
7. Give out the bags to non-profit organizations that deal with children.
8. Give out your bags at conventions that take place in October.
9. If your company provides samples of products, put them in the trick or treat bags & hand them out.
10. Have a display at your place of business with a sign saying FREE--TAKE ONE--& give out to your customers who have children.
11. Insert brochures, business cards & other literature about your business in the bags & pass out around neighborhoods or businesses.
12. Pass out enough Halloween bags to schools to give out to each student. The child will bring the bag home & that will market your business to parents.

Customized promotional Halloween bags are an inexpensive way to be noticed & remembered.

Keeping the kids (& adults) safe while trick or treating on Halloween should be a top priority for everyone.  Have a happy & safe Halloween.

IT'S YOUR COMPANY........SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman

Promotional Custom Products That Have An Impact

Do you want to give a promotional imprinted product that will wow your customers? That will make you stand out from your competition? That will attract attention from people passing by?

Think outside the box--beyond the notepad, letter opener or stress ball. What customized promotional item will make an impact with your customers? What marketing product will display your logo so it will be noticed & remembered?

This is also the beginning of October & time to start thinking about holiday gifts whether for your customers or for your employees. Give a gift that they will be sure to use & that is different from your competitors. Stay away from food items--they're expendable. Give something that will make you stand out & that they will use all year long. Keep your logo visible.

Promotional custom products that light up do just that, but here are a few other ideas. These are newer items on the market that are not only innovative, but very useful.

AUTOMATIC HAND SOAP DISPENSER
High tech & common sense come together for everyday safety. This stainless steel dispenser has a 16 oz capacity for soap or lotion. It's touch free sensor prevents mess & germs by automatically dispensing the liquid. You've seen it advertised on TV, now see it with your logo. This is sure to be a hit with everyone. It's something that belongs in every home & office.


MEDIA STORAGE CASE
As more & more people invest in electronics such as iPads, Kindles & other tablets it is important to have the right media storage cases to store & protect them. As portable electronics grow in popularity, companies should consider using promotional padded tablet sleeves to promote their brand. Whether a person uses their iPad in a coffee shop or at a trade show, people pay attention to the devise & the case they store it in. Consumers are intrigued by tablets & ebooks & the accessories that come with them. With all eyes on electronics, get creative with brand awareness by jumping on the portable electronics  bandwagon. Customized promotional media storage cases could be the marketing factor you need to be seen.

CORD & CHARGER ACCESSORY CASE
Winter vacation time is almost here & even if you don't have plans, many of your customers will be traveling. Whether they go by plane, car or boat......whether they go to a busy city, a tropical island or ski in the mountains......whether they travel in the U.S. or abroad, they will most likely take their smart phone, laptop, iPad, Kindle or another tablet. And a host of chargers & cords so they can stay connected even when on vacation. This light-weight neoprene computer travel accessory case can store cords & chargers. How convenient to arrive at your destination with all your cords & charges securely in one place. It's ideal for travel & probably has the same priority as luggage on wheels.

COMBINATION BALLPOINT & STYLUS PEN

Yes, I just got through saying don't give out the same old marketing item to make an impact. And for sure, don't give the same .50 pen you've been handing out all year as your holiday gift this year. This is not the impression you want to leave with your client. But a pen is not just a pen. This stylish twist-action with a soft touch stylus is to be used on smart phones, iPads, Kindle Fires & other tablets & touch screen devices. The delicate, round, rubber tip will not scratch or harm the screens. Even with all the technology, everyone still uses a pen daily & almost everybody has a smart phone & a tablet of some kind so this combination is a natural.

CRYSTAL PAPER WEIGHT
Not everything has to fit in the world of technology.  As long as it's something the recipient wants, it will be used & appreciated. How about this crystal paper weight with a modern, swirling inner design? It's functional but also a work of art that be proudly displayed anywhere. Each piece is hand-made. The color, size & inner design will vary between each paper weight. It's also available with a blue inner design. This is definitely thinking outside of the box & will make a huge impression on your client. It isn't your typical tin of stale popcorn or box of candy that will be gone in a day.  I'm willing to bet they won't get two of these.  Your company will surely be remembered throughout the year.

CERAMIC COFFEE MUG
This is a popular gift, as well as a functional one.  Just make sure when you give this, you do it with flare so it's not just another coffee mug to be stored in the back of a cupboard. Find one that is unique & will stand out & not look like the mug from the neighborhood pancake house. The one I'm featuring is a brightly colored ceramic mug with a stainless steel square base. This is not your average mug & it will draw attention to your company. Don't give an empty customized promotional mug. Fill it with wrapped candy or individual servings of coffee, hot cocoa or tea bags along with snack packs of cookies of trail mix. Be creative........make sure your mug stands out from all the rest. It should be seen daily on a desk top, not hidden on a dark shelf.

So whether you are giving a holiday gift or handing out a promotional imprinted product, think how you can differ from everyone else & make an impression that's as unique as you are. Do it with pizzazz........with flare........with creativity.

IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman

Protect Your Image--Stay True To Your Brand

So some people ask, "What is branding?" Steering clear of any cattle, branding in business simply means the identity of a company or product.

A well known example would be Kleenex. Kleenex has done such a great job of branding that many people don't say "I need a tissue," but they say, "I need a Kleenex." Kleenex is the name of the product, but it is now interchangeable with they type of product it is.


 A top priority for any company should be to create a unique branded image & protect that image at all times. This means anytime you print business cards, brochures, promotional custom products, produce videos, post on social media or do any other form of marketing, you should stay consistent with your brand. You have many competitors, both locally & online, that offer the exact same service or product; so you need to differ from them & be unique. You need to make an impact & be remembered. It's more important now than ever before that you stand out.

June 19, 2012, I wrote an article stating four rules for successful branding & company identity. Are you ready for three more?  These have to do with keeping your brand consistent so it well be easily recognized.

Use this as a checklist to make sure you are staying true to your branding when doing your marketing:

Always use your logo. Think about how many people know the McDonald's arches. Better yet, think about how many people DON'T know what the McDonald's arches represent. While you may be a small company & your logo won't be recognized nationwide or worldwide, it will be recognized within your local business region if you brand it properly. Don't skew the proportions of your logo & don't change the colors. If you have a multi-color logo, sometimes you have to print in one color & that is okay, but stick to one of your colors. The ultimate goal is for people to be able to recognize your logo without having the business name printed below it.  That's successful branding!

Stay true to your company colors. Most companies have certain colors used with their logo & their marketing theme, which is great. Whenever possible, always use the color combination on your customized promotional items, when printing your logo on paper such as a newsletter or with your presence online. This consistency of color branding reinforces your brand.

There are some exceptions to this: sometimes it's wise to go with colors other than your own if you're distributing promotional imprinted products at a political rally, school function or sport events. Then it might be wise to use their colors with your logo prominently displayed.

There is a new school of thought which I have doubts about: following a trendy new color........orange is an example. Orange is just not for Halloween anymore. You may have seen a lot more clothing in 2012 from the orange color family.  Same with promotional products. Sometimes with your business, you have to go with the "in" fashion & capitalize on that even if you don't personally follow the crowd. When giving out your promotions, if you give people what they want, including the "in" colors, they will use your promotional custom products more, giving your company more marketing exposure. To decide if you should stick to your company colors or go with a trendy color, depends largely on your target audience, the group you're appealing to.

In both these instances where it could be necessary to stray from your colors, it's more important than ever to have your logo & tagline vividly displayed for your company identity.

Develop a tagline. It should highlight why your company is different from competitors or be catchy & represent the mood of your business. Always use your tagline on any printed product or material. Let it become part of your logo......part of your image.

Overall, the main theme to remember in branding is consistency. Always keep a uniform look & make sure your employees understand this as well so your branding comes across consistent in all forms of communication. Over the long term, your branding will pay off big time & your company will have a much better recognition with not only your current clients, but also with potential customers who have yet to use your products or services.

Stand out from everyone else. Let your image scream out: "Remember me! I'm here!"
IT'S YOUR COMPANY........SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman

Building Customer Loyalty

How do you retain your existing customers? What can you do to keep their loyalty so they don't wander over to your competition? These two questions seem to plaque everyone who's in business today--whether he's a CEO of a large corporation or an owner of a small neighborhood store.

The thought seems to be that repeat business happens naturally if you're good at what you do. To a certain extent that's true, but not entirely. Why not implement tactics that boost the likelihood of repeat purchases?

Here are the main constituents of customer loyalty:

1. CUSTOMER'S LOGICAL & EMOTIONAL REACTION TO YOUR BRAND: 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 their needs are. Also, be familiar with their buying habits. If they can't relate to you, they'll go to your competition. It is important your brand is defined & consistent......that the message you're sending is what your customers want. Above all, make sure your marketing campaign is going out to the fraction of the public you want to receive your advertising message.  Do your homework before you distribute your promotional custom products or place your ad in the neighborhood circular.

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, follow-up phone calls, personal sales calls & of course, promotional imprinted products. And just as important, the quality of what you offer & the quality of your customer service. How well did you keep the promise you made to your client? This is the essence of their loyalty.

3. OFFER PRODUCT EXTENSIONS: If possible, introduce an extension of your line to keep your customer's loyalty or to draw in new clientele. For example, Crest toothpaste offers more than their basic fluoride toothpaste with a whitening solution. They expanded their line to include Crest Pro-Health gel, toothpaste specifically for night time or children & dental whitening strips. To grow & bypass your competition, you need to find ways to expand your targeted audience.

4. SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE: Some consumers will remain loyal to you if you support a social, environmental or communal cause that is advantageous to the public. For example, KFC offers pink buckets & Wilson Sports Equipment has pink tennis balls & rackets with the pink ribbon--all to support breast cancer awareness. Most pharmacies & grocery stores use non-woven bags for their promotional custom products to promote an eco-friendly environment.

5. AVAILABILITY OF YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE: Don't advertise what you don't have--not having your product available can drive your clientele to your to your competition. Obviously, not having it available is sometimes out of your control. I then strongly suggest that you have a rain check or some other special offer on hand to keep your customer close to your side. Above all, do not let this be an ongoing issue.

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 by constantly reading & learning all there is about your specialized field.

7. KEEP YOUR COMPANY NAME VISIBLE AT ALL TIMES: Don't fade from their memory. Customized promotional gifts such as pens, note pads, letter openers, recycled bags or drinkware......whatever relates to your field or to your target audience should be given out constantly. They'll appreciate what you give them & will be reminded of you when they need your services or products. Promotional items outlast any other form of advertising & is the most subtle & less intrusive of all advertising.

8. AVAILABLE 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 only concentrating on special offers for the new client, it's extremely beneficial to reward your long-standing customers with discounts & promotions for their loyalty. If you offer incentives only to potential customers, you may lose your older, loyal ones. In other words you're trading a new client for an old one. Your business won't grow that way & whose to say that the new one won't roam to your competition once a better reward is offered. This is such an important point: acknowledge your long-standing customers!

My pet peeve is when large nationwide companies like Time Warner or AT&T offer great incentives to get new customers but don't pass anything on to the clients they already have. An example: Time Warner is offering $150 Target gift card to people who sign up now, but not to the ones that have previously signed with them. I feel Time Warner is taking my business for granted & are hoping I'm satisfied with their not-so-perfect performance that I won't look into AT&T or Dish TV.......they are so wrong.

If I didn't have to wait a week for a service call or if they weren't constantly shutting down their service for updates, maybe I'd stick with them......with or without an incentive. It's not just one variable that creates customer loyalty, it's many.

One last thing: don't forget to smile or to say "thank you". Both of those go a long way.

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

Take The Stress Out Of Your Promotions

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 prevalent.

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 effect one at that.

Circumstances, uncomfortable situations & people are all triggers for the stress we feel. This is never more true than in the work place. Offices are confined & don't have the space to work off steam when tension builds. Maybe you could get a 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 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.

Stress relievers are a fun & inexpensive way to keep your business name in someone's view. They are cute, funny, useful & people really like them.

Happy Wobbler--imprint on the back.

Customized promotional stress relief items are effective. They can be used any number of ways from customer appreciation & trade shows to holiday gifts. People love to sit them on their computers which is good, because their primary purpose (other than promoting your business name) is to stretch & relax the muscles of the wrist, hand & forearm which can become stiff & irritated from extended computer use.



There also some that talk or have a magnet on top to hold paper clips. These become more of a novelty item to decorate the desk & no longer have the original use of relieving tension......unless you want to hear "thank you" or a hearty laugh every time you squeeze it. Frankly, I think that could add to the stress--not only yours, but your co-workers also.

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.

Here are some unique ways that stress items have been used:
1. AFLAC salesmen give out stress relievers in the shape of the famous duck.

2. A company selling pre-owned European cars advertises "low stress, hassle-free experience" on  VW Bug shaped stress relievers.

3. Businesses mostly opt to imprint stress relievers that actually relate to their fields, such as a dollar sign for a bank or a shopping cart for a supermarket; but occasionally you'll see some creativity.......like an apple for a doctor's office or a snail for a post office.

You can choose a style that best represents your business......globe, convertible, plane, tennis or golf ball, computer mouse, molar, house, hard hat, stop sign, judge's gavel, nurses & doctors, limo, cell phone & every kind of food & animal you can possibly think of. Or go with the season  or special event. For September, October, November & December any shape that represents the holidays will set the mood for good times to come.

Whatever shape you choose stress relief items are novel & effective ways to put your name in front of your client or prospective customer. These promotional custom products will help relieve the recipient's tension & energize your advertising efforts.

Build your brand while providing fun stress relief.
IT'S YOUR COMPANY........SHOW IT OFF!!!
Ronni Sherman