Imprinted Promotional Products | Custom Promotional Products

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2007-03-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

For wholesale promotional products and specials visit Wholesale Promotional Products

Imprinted Promotional Products in 3D?

2006-03-13T12:23:00.000-08:00

Imprinted Promotional Products in 3D?

View Your Logo In 3D On Imprinted Promotional Products

Did you know there are some distributors of custom imprinted promotional products that have the technology to select any promotional item and on their website and show you what your logo or promotional message looks like in real 3D?

This is exciting news for customers because it reduces the costly mistakes of ordering imprinted promotional products. Having the ability to see exactly what your logo and message looks like on promotional pens, calendars, shirts etc..lets you make any changes before you order say 500 pens and to have your logo in the wrong place or too small or too big or there's an error in spelling.

So next time your looking for imprinted promotional product idea's have your distributor send you a few virtual logo samples, they don't mind, it lets their art department get creative have something to do.

Another great advantage of viewing your logo or message in 3D on a imprinted promotional product is playing around with the promotional message. A small bank in New York came up with many promotional messages and couldn't decide on which one to use, so 4 idea's was sent off to have a virtual sample made up and of the 4 they selected the prefect promotional message. Actually the one message they wanted to use ended up being way to small of an imprint because it was way too long. But they did pick their running up "Where They Have Their Branches We Have Our Roots" was the promotional message used, thanks again to the imprinted promotional products virtual logo sample.

This service is usually free from your imprinted promotional products distributor and usually takes 15 minutes if you send them your logo artwork by email or if they already have it on file. If you don't have your logo artwork you can ask your printer for a copy on disk. Sometimes if you have a website with your logo on it the distributor can usually take your logo from you site.

About The Author:
Bob Johnson is a wholesale imprinted promotional products distributor with 3D virtual logo technology with clients from fortune 500 companies in Canada and the U.S.

Avoid Costly Imprinted Promotional Products Mistakes

2006-03-11T21:59:00.000-08:00

Avoid Costly Imprinted Promotional Products Mistakes

Most distributors of imprinted promotional products are good at what they do. You give them your logo and artwork and select a product that you want to have imprinted with your logo and a week or so later you have your finished promotional product ready to be given away to your customers.

However even the pro's make mistake's with imprinted promotional products. Lets look at the common mistakes that happens all the time:

1. Misscommunictation with the customer and distributor
You though you said red but actually ask for blue. You said blue but your distributor though you said red cause you where thinking of red. So double check on your imprinted promotional products before ordering them.

2. You selected a product to be imprinted with your logo off your distributors website or catalog but when the finished imprinted promotional product arrives its not at all what you thought it would look like. This happens more often then you think. You need to ask your distributor for a spec sample ( a finished product with your logo imprinted ) or use the Virtual Logo Sample

3. Color match. Again when your shown products of a catalog or website it may not be actual colors when the imprinted promotional product is done. The color may be lighter or darker then you wanted.

Now that you now the common mistakes when ordering imprinted promotional products, you can avoid "money down the drain" So lets say one of the above example's happens to you, what can you do?

Most promotional products distributor will refund your money back or "re-do" the job again at no cost. So don't be scared to tell your distributor what you really think of the finished imprinted product, after its your money and again they'll more then likely be happen to "re-do" the job at no cost.

Related Article On Promotional Products: The Hidden Over-Run Charge

Save $100 On Promotional Business Products

2006-03-08T23:00:00.000-08:00

Instantly Save $100 on Promotional Business Products

What are promotional business products? They are purely used in the world of business for promotional purposes. There are thousands and thousands of of promotional products you can have imprinted with your logo and promotional message to send to your clients, from mp3 players, sunglasses, mouse pads and the all mighty promotional pens.

Promotional business products if use wisely can help you increase profits, boost sales and referrals and build brand name recognition. Look around, search the web or this site you'll find articles and resources to many promotional business products and how to use them in your marketing mix!

Here's one key tip when ordering your promotional business products from a distributor: Demand that you don't want to pay an over-run charge! This can save you a good $100

Promotional Business Products: Over-Run Charges

2006-03-08T22:11:00.000-08:00

Over-Run Charge On Promotional Business Products

What's an over-run charge? In the promotional products business there an industry norm off (usually 5%, some have higher percentages up to 10%) when imprinting your logo on promotional business products.

For example: If you order say 500 promotional pens, all 500 pens will not be imprinted properly. Some pens will have low quality imprints and some may not show your logo at all. So your distributor has to imprint an additional 50 to 100 pens. Guess who gets billed for that? You do!

So next time your talking to your distributor ask them you don't want to be pay an over-run charge on your promotional business products order. If you order 500 promotional pens, only pay for 500 pens!

Just Say NO to over-run charges! Many promotional products distributors on this site will be more then happy to help you out and save you money!

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Wholesale Promotional Products Suppliers...

2006-03-07T23:22:00.000-08:00

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Imprinted Promotional Business Cards

2006-03-07T17:26:00.000-08:00

Imprinted Promotional Business Card Products

Don't forget about those handy little imprinted promotional products that "stick" around and cost pennies! Business cards magnets. Ask your promotional products distributor for the current 2006 sale price with 4 color process business cards.

How to use these little imprinted promotional products? Add them inside your out going mail or instead of handing out your normal business cards, give potential customers the imprinted promotional magent cards!

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Creative ways to use imprinted promotional products

2006-03-07T00:22:00.000-08:00

Creative ways to use imprinted promotional products

Having your logo imprinted on a promotional product can be rewarding to your future business and ensure brand loyalty from your customers. Keep in mind a couple of things that will help you achieve your marketing goal when choosing imprinted promotional products.

1. Should Be Useful
A imprinted product such as, promotional mugs or pens is used more often then a give away t-shirt.

2. Large enough imprint area for your logo or message

Now lets get creative with your imprinted promotional products...

1. You can use them as premiums - where customers who buy "X" amount of dollars get a free imprinted calculator (magazines are famous for this)

2. Use them as a limited time offer - First 100 customers who buy (whatever) gets a free imprinted promotional product (mp3 player, sunglasses etc..)

3. Use them for referrals - Imprinted promotional products have been proven to boost referrals from customers, send out a promotional letter letting customers know if they bring in a friend they get a free gift!

4. Use them to motivate and reward your staff - Let employee's know great performance will be rewarded, its up to you how you want to measure your staff's performance, it could be with most customers helped, most add on sales, most sales, etc... a great imprinted promotional product such as a dvd player would fit great for this type of promotion.

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Promotional Calendars...Works!

2006-03-02T15:32:00.000-08:00

How would your company like to obtain, long term advertising exposure for pennies?

Think of promotional calendars as year long communication program, which can provide 365 days of on going communication promotions to customers and prospects. This gives the small business owners the leverage to actually build brand loyalty through calendar advertising.

Look in your own office or house, I bet you'll find promotional calendars from various businesses like Saving and Loans, Banks, Auto Compaines, Sports Clubs, Schools etc..

5 Reasons Why You Should Use Promotional Calendars

Buyers respond to visual images and are more likely to remember a product or service if they can link it with words or pictures.
Color is more likely to catch their eye and hold their attention.
It's easy to create a unique calendar by incorporating corporate colors, a special pad design, one or more images, special effects such as bleed copy, shadows or ghost overprints, or date-block overprints.
The usefulness of the calendar to the end user can be increased by including information that is specific to the end user's industry. (i.e. a mileage chart for the trucking industry, a map illustrating selected areas for a distribution company, or a special services list for a health care institution.)
The additional cost of customization is offset by the increased effectiveness of the advertising products.

Even small businesses with a small budget can afford the power of branding and CPI (cost per impression) marketing!

Get the top 3 promotional products companies to bid for your next order...

Min 100 Pcs - $.89

$.89 on all quantities!

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Expires: 8/31/2006

Item# RWC-GS. 10.5" x 10". Opens to a full 20"

Send Blank Email To: promobidder@sendfree.com

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How Innovative Promotional Products Can Get Consumers Working For You

2006-02-27T09:12:00.000-08:00

How Innovative Promotional Products Can Get Consumers Working For You by Alan Roberts

There are more promotional products out there than you can shake a stick at so how do you choose the one thats right for you?

The key is to find a product that, whilst leaving a lasting impression, fits harmoniously with your company's profile - should you go for quirky and fun or conservative and practical. Many companies find the plethora of products available daunting to say the least and turn to standard promotional fare to save time.

This can be a big mistake. These items say alot about your business and the way you present yourself and are as important as any other form of advertising. The goal should be to find the best product available for the budget allowed - always bearing in mind that there are costs involved with distributing these products to consumers. In addition, try to choose products that are useful and liable to be seen often by your target audience.

Most important of all, though, is to distribute a product that gets the targeted consumer's attention, holds their attention and gets them working for you without even knowing it. In short - use a product that is worthy of being shown to others.

One of the most innovative promotional products falling into that category is the Flagpen and is a shining example of what can be acheived with a little lateral thinking.

The quirky ballpoint pen cunningly hides a full-colour, double-sided promotional information sheet within the barrel. The sheet is 180mm by 70mm, onto which an incredible amount of information can be printed - combining the two sides together you have almost the equivalent of a full-colour 1/3 page magazine advert coiled up inside the barrel of a pen!

The beauty of items like the Flagpen lies in the self-promotion of the product itself - it works for you!

When a potential client sees a print advert, they alone see it. When they receive an innovative promotional product, they show it to others because it is such a quirky, fascinating product. These items get kept for weeks, months, years and shown or seen by any number of people - almost all of which would not otherwise have been privy to your message.

For the same cost as a single print advertisment or flyer, you could hand out items like the Flagpen and reach a much larger audience. Each time the pen is used, your information is at their fingertips - whether a special offer, calendar, map, price list, timetable, fixture lists or any other information.

Of course its one thing to grab their attention but it's up to you to make the most of it. The message needs to be clear, concise and, above all, liable to impress the consumer enough to do business with you. Advertising and promotion is nothing without a return on the investment and a quirky, practical and interesting promotional product is consistently proven to reach a far wider audience than any print advertisement.

More information on the amazing Flagpens can be found at www.flagpens.com.

About the Author

Alan Roberts is an entrepreneur based in the UK, US and Hungary.

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Promotional Giveaways: Gifts that People Fancy Receiving

2006-02-26T09:09:00.000-08:00

Giveaways: Gifts that People Fancy Receiving by Viojieley Gurrobat

The right kind of promotional product can mean the difference between gaining customers and actually losing them. As everyone loves receiving gifts, promotional giveaways are one of the best ways to foster loyalty and get the attention of potential customers or clients. Likewise, these promotional products can help create name recognition and create customer goodwill.

Promotional items such as mugs, pens, clothing, glasses and alarm clocks among others are often inscribed with your logo or messages that can create long lasting impression to anyone who would receive or see it. Company promotional giveaway options are endless ranging from serious to silly items. When choosing the right promotional item for your business, it is essential that you take into consideration what your customers often use. Say for instance, most of your customers spend most of their time behind a desk; hence, your giveaways can be pens, clocks, mugs, computer accessories or calendars. It is likewise important to think how many times your promotional material can be used by your customers.

Now that the holidays are near, it may be in your best interest to start thinking immediately of what to give to your customers as a holiday gift. When you have decided what to give out, you still have to take into account the color, design and quantity that you are going to produce. It is a given fact that color adds life and attractiveness to any material. That is why it is vital that you choose the right colors to your promotional item. But also make sure not to over do your colors. Just make it simply yet catchy as much as possible. You would not want your customers to have one look at it and decide to toss it in their drawers or cabinets.

When it comes to the design less is also more. Keep it simple as much as possible. Put only what is necessary such as your logo and the message that you want to say to your customers. Do not overcrowd your design as a disorganized product could discourage your customer from using it. Furthermore, it is important that you plan ahead. Give yourself enough time finish all the things you have to do before giving out your promotional giveaways. Avoid rushing as it could affect the production process and smooth transaction of your business.

And so, choosing the right giveaway for your customer is essential to a successful marketing strategy. Remember that giving some promotional products as a form of incentive to your customers can encourage them to continue doing business with you.

For comments and suggestions kindly visit Promotional Products

About the Author

Viojieley Gurrobat loves readings books in her spare time. She writes stories and poems about anything under the sun.

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Benefits of corporate gift giving can never be understated

2006-02-24T09:07:00.000-08:00

Benefits of corporate gift giving can never be understated by Stephen Ng

Why purchase corporate gifts? The benefits of corporate gift giving can never be understated! Highly successful businesses understand the importance of branding. To achieve that well sorted after branding, resources are poured into marketing, which will lead us to corporate gift giving!

Corporate gifts can be broadly categorized into internal and external branding. Internal branding can be achieved by acquiring gifts to be given to staffs within the company. This will help to foster the common identity to build that family spirit and morale which will increase productivity.

However I personally believe that external branding is by far the most important benefit of corporate gift giving between the two. Ultimately businesses are build around customers support. Therefore it is important to send signature corporate gift to customers to set your company apart and reinforce visual identity. Successful businesses are build on relationships that is base on the service that they provide more than the products they sell. It is this relationship that helps to seal the next project regardless of the price!

Personalized corporate gift, which can be made affordable, is used as a gentle reminder that your company still exists and re-established the business again! Whenever possible, promotional or seasonal corporate gift are best sent to thank customers for the business support.

Corporate gifts and souvenirs are also prudently employed to launch new company at trade show to create their branding and target any possible new clients.

Making gifts in the form of donation for non profit or charities is another option that people tend to over look. The donation is not only tax deductible but also good in promoting the existence of the company. With the recent natural disasters like Tsunami in India ocean and hurricane Katrina in the State, more companies are coming forth with this sort of donations. I am totally agreeable with the gesture since it a win-win situation for all.

With these, I hope to reinstate that the benefits of corporate gift giving is truly a MUST !

About the Author

For more great ideas on corporate gift giving solutions, visit http://www.corporate-gift-ideas-guide.com

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Please your potential buyers with Corporate Promotional Gifts

2006-02-22T09:05:00.000-08:00

Please your potential buyers with Corporate Promotional Gifts by Stephen Ng

Corporate promotional gifts are a terrific way for a company to attract potential customers. In fact, when it comes to the types of businesses that have to sell their products or services by exhibiting at trade shows or giving a sales pitch that no one really wants to listen to, promotional gifts are perfect. Essentially, it gives potential clients a little incentive to listen to your sales pitch instead of another company's. Also, when buyers from another business are sent to trade shows on their company's behalf, they aren't spending their own money. The result is that quite frequently the best promotional gift becomes the key selling point for a buyer.

What businesses that use gifts need to know is that the promotion is all about your potential buyer. The buyer is the person making the decision to purchase a product or service from your company, but it's the person and not necessarily the company he or she works for. That means that the corporate promotional gift needs to be geared towards that particular person. So, who is it?

Buyers! Knowing your potential buyer is the key to choosing corporate promotional gifts that really help you sell your product. These are some things you should know about your potential buyer in order to choose an ideal promotional gift:

1. What is his or her relationship to the company?If the buyer has no financial interest in his company (meaning he isn't an owner or shareholder), then it's likely he cares less about whether or not your product is better than your competitor's and more about what's in it for him. If that's the case, don't ignore this fact. You may not like it, but as the saying goes, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating." So choose corporate promotional gifts that these guys want or need.

2. What is the buyer looking for? It's important to know what your potential buyers are looking for in the products or services your company offers. Your gifts should focus on that. Whatever products or services your company offers, there are key features your clients will be looking at, and these are your clues for how to pick a gift that is truly effective. Remember that the features you're most proud of aren't necessarily the same features clients are most interested in, so cater to their needs when choosing corporate promotional gifts.

3. How high are the stakes? Ever wonder why time-share companies are always giving away free televisions to people who will listen to their pitch? Because they can afford to! In other words, your corporate promotional gifts need to be relative to the amount of money you want the buyer to spend. If you build homes, a free coupon to a restaurant might be a bit stingy as a gift, but free carpet throughout the house would be a deal-maker!

Corporate promotional gifts are excellent sales and marketing tools. Remember that. They convince potential customers to listen to you, and without that, your company is dead in the water. So, when choosing Sgifts, know your buyer well, and buy accordingly.

Other corporate promotional gifts that you might want to consider to promote your business.

About the Author

For more great ideas on corporate gift giving solutions, visit http://www.corporate-gift-ideas-guide.com

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Add Promotional Products to Your Advertising Arsenal

2006-02-20T08:44:00.000-08:00

Add Promotional Products to Your Advertising Arsenal by Spencer Steele

We all know that direct mail, magazine ads and online marketing are great ways to increase revenue and create awareness, but one form of advertising is often neglected and can be a secret sales boosting weapon for any small business. Promotional products are a great way to get your brand in front of prospective clients and keep them thinking of you frequently. Here are some reasons to use promotional items in your advertising arsenal.

Get People To Your Website - Promotional Items with your logo imprinted on them are great, but a promotional item with your company website on it is even better. Promotional pens, t-shirts, mints and calendars are items that have long time visibility and are perfect to help drive traffic your site.

Get Existing Customers to Buy From You More Often - Every time a customer buys from you, you should send them some promotional products as a follow-up. Having a promotional item of yours around will remind them to purchase from you more frequently.

Give Your Customers A Thank You - You should always thank loyal customers. You can express gratitude to customers that repeatedly by your products, customers or customers who buy your high-ticket items. If someone is spending hundreds of dollars with you, it's no big deal to spend a few bucks on promotional items to thank them. This let's customers know that you appreciate them and build a long lasting relationship between you.

Get an Edge On Your Competition - Chances are, your competition is not taking the extra time to show customers appreciation. This is where you step in and show that you are heads above them. Also, when someone receives a promotional item from you they are more likely to remember you over your competition.

About the Author

Spencer Steele is the owner of Bsleek.com (http://www.bsleek.com) - a site that specializes in quality promotional products at low prices. Bsleek also offers web hosting, website design, printing, email marketing solutions, CD Presentations and more. Some of Spencer's Favorite Sites: http://www.wittyshirts.com and http://www.daterade.com).

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Are promotional items right for your business? by Sara Chambers

2006-02-20T08:42:00.000-08:00

Are promotional items right for your business? by Sara Chambers

If you're a small business owner, then you know how difficult advertising can be. The most difficult decision is what to spend the money allocated toward marketing and advertising on. Do you spend money on a billboard or spring for some radio airtime? If so what kind of station most represents your target audience, soft adult contemporary or urban R&B? Should you buy some on screen time on cable TV perhaps? Drop big bucks on an infomercial or even the internet? What kind of advertisement do you produce? The choices are numerous and making the right one can mean big profits for your company. One of the key questions a business owner must ask oneself is how can you get the most bang for your advertising buck? The answer to that question is increasingly becoming the use of promotional items. Promotional items range from customized ink pens and Frisbees to personalized coffee mugs and t-shirts. One of the chief benefits of promotional items is the ability to specifically target your audience. Does you business cater to young men and women between the age of 18 and 25? Then hand out Frisbees with your company's logo on a college campus. Not only are you able to specify who you advertise to, but you can be assured that people will see your company's name and logo frequently.

The type of promotional product that you use will depend on your service. Are you a realtor? Consider small measuring tapes to hand out to people. But if you are a business that has products, the best promotional material you can possibly use is the product itself. Are you a small makeup company? The best promotional material you can use is sample products itself.

Another benefit of using promotional products is branding. For small business owners, independent contractors, and realtors branding is essential to advertising and marketing. The business becomes the logo and the logo becomes the business. The realtor is the face that is on the business card or the letterhead. Branding is that force that keeps your face fresh in the minds of people.

About the Author

Sara Chambers is a marketing consultant and an internet content manager for http://www.promotionalproductsweblog.com

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The 5 Hottest Items In Promotional Products In 2006!

2006-02-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

The 5 Hottest Items In Promotional Products In 2006! by Steven Schneidman

Promotional Products have grown into a 17 Billion Dollar Industry. Find out what's hot and how to benefit this year. Gone are the days when people think of Promotional products as gadgets or toys. Today people use these items for incentives, branding, product launches and public relations.

After attending the largest Promotional Product Show of the year in Las Vegas recently, I compiled a list of the 5 hottest items in my opinion that will do well this year.

1) Gift Cards, Ringtone Cards, Game Cards, Music Download Cards:

These can be inexpensive ways to show your customers you appreciate them. With IPOD's and MP3 players flying off the shelves, content becomes king. These people need to fill their product and giving them 3 or 5 free songs will certainly be appreciated. These cards can be used as well to sooth an unhappy customer. It's always easier to try to sooth an unhappy customer as opposed to finding a new one.

Gift Cards were the rage in 2005 and the trend will definitely continue in 2006. Today stores just advertise gift cards, they no longer advertise product. They let the customer decide what product they want. With 25% of all balance amounts never being claimed these cards have become a cash cow to those selling them. With quantities available at 1000, these cards are now available to every size business, no longer just the Walmarts and Costco's of the world. One of the most important benefits of gift cards is guaranteeing future sales in your store or business.

2)Apparel:

When people in promotional products used to think about apparel it was usually associated with cheap t-shirts. Today every manufacturer wants a piece of the pie. Corporate Apparel is a big business. Companies like Liz Claiborne, The Gap, Old Navy, Nike, Reebok, Ping, Ashworth, American Apparel and others are all involved. Todays products include t-shirts, pants, sweat pants, jackets, oxford shirts, hats, golf apparel, socks, and shoes.

3)Lanyards:

These things are everywhere. Once the domain of the trade show, lanyards have branched out into hundreds of industries. The quality of the material and printing has greatly improved over the years. Minimum quantities for special plastic designs from China have been reduced. Lanyards are found in Hospitals, Customer Service, Store Sales People to ordinary people who use them to hold their water bottle when they walk. With tens of different attachments available these items are become a necessity in many businesses.

4)USB Drives:

A few years ago these were seen as a novelty. Now they've become an essential as busy executives carry their files with them everywhere. Branding on these items is sure to be seen and appreciated hundred of times. A useful item that can also automatically send people to your web site. With different storage amounts available your sure to find ones in every price range.

5)Dog Tags:

These items have taken over from the awareness bracelet craze of the last few years. These items can be co-branded and even personalized with bar codes or consecutive numbers. This gives you the option to use them as raffle tickets, admission tickets or as incentives to drive people to your web site.

If I have one piece of advice to those thinking of using promotional products, it would be "IT DOESN'T COST MORE TO DO IT RIGHT!". One sloppy product can tarnish your image and reputation more than the pennies you've saved on an inferior item. The goal should be not to spend the least but to get the most for the money you've spent. If you have any questions or need any advice you can drop me an email. For ideas you can visit my site www.solutionsink4u.com with over 600,000 different items or just google promotional products. Good luck with your next project.

Steven Schneidman steve@solutionsink4u.com www.solutionsink4u.com

About the Author

Steven Schneidman has a B.A. in Psychology and an M.B.A. in finance. He has worked for a major Bank and taught in at a major Canadian University. Currently he runs a successful printing and promotional product company in Montreal Canada.

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Custom Promotional Hats | Define Your Image by James McDonald

2006-02-20T08:29:00.000-08:00

Custom Promotional Hats | Define Your Image by James McDonald

If you work in a professional setting and desire the competitive edge over your biggest rivals, consider purchasing custom promotional hats for your team. This custom headwear may give you the advantage you have been seeking, and set you apart from the competition. There are several key reasons why these products can promote your image, and leave a lasting impression in the minds of your customers.

One large effect of customizing hats and other attire with your personal logo is it will brand your company. What this means is associating your company with a particular logo, catchy phrase, or both. This gives the average consumer something to remember you by, so the next time they need a product you offer you will be first in their minds. Think about how often you have been affected by this, perhaps without knowing it. Have you ever seen the gecko on the Geico commercials? When looking for insurance it's hard not to think about that company.

By handing out custom promotional hats to employees and key customers, you will also maximize your company exposure. Everytime one of those individual is sporting your hat with your company logo, each person they meet will see it. And many of those people will ask about it, especially if it is tastefully designed. What a terrific way to spark conversation between the people marketing your company and its' products and those who may wish to buy them. This is a rather inexpensive way to advertise to potentially thousands of consumers who would normally be much more difficult to reach.

One thing that can bring team unity to any company is to have the employees rally around a common cause, or in this case a logo. Design the image by thinking about the deeper meanings of the shapes and colors, and be clear about it when introducing it to the team. Take it a step further and enlist the employees to design it themselves. Knowing that they had a direct hand in designing the future image of the company can be a powerful motivator for the workforce. They will be more enthusiastic when talking to others about it, explaining where the logo came from and what it specifically means.

Finally, you can show the creativity of your business by displaying the right logos on company correspondence. If done right, it will leave a lasting impression on anyone who views it and have them seek you out when looking for something in your product lines. Increasing awareness about your business should be a top priority, and one part of that is by using certain promotional products. These products can be displayed at trade shows, worn by employees, and displayed at company headquarters.

There is some strong research to suggest that these types of custom hats, shirts, and other items can help promote your product line at a relatively low cost. Your customers will have something to remember you by, leaving them with an avenue to seek you out again and again. And if done correctly, this is something that will continue to benefit you far into the future.

About the Author

James McDonald writes for Custom Baseball Caps which has information related to customizing hats with many fashions.

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Choosing Promotional Product To Sell Your Company

2006-02-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

Choosing Promotional Product To Sell Your Company by Sandy Baker

Promotional product is a type of marketing that can allow your business to take off. Many companies find that providing a product to the public about the service that they have to offer or the product that they are selling is important. Perhaps you have a new product that you want to get the word out about. Or, maybe you have just changed your name and want old and new customers to take note. The promotional product can help you with doing just that.

A promotional product can be virtually anything. When choosing one, you will need to consider the message, the budget and the overall cost of manufacturing/printing of it. Your largest determining factor will be finding the options that are within your budget. You can do this through any of the numerous websites that offer promotional products for you to choose from. But, that is not all of your cost. Oftentimes, printing is more as well as the cost of getting those products into the consumer's hands.

So, what can you use? You can use pretty much anything that you want to, really. For example, if you printed up and provide 100 associates with mugs that bared your logo on it, with a website or message, it would not be just those 100 people that would hear that message. It will be all individuals who see them carrying the mug to and from work, on the bus, or come in to see them at the office. It will be all those individuals who visit their homes or watch the game with them as they sip from their mug.

As you can see, the promotional product can be quite beneficial to you. Other products such as shirts and jackets can be even more powerful. But, it is wise to keep in mind that just because an individual sees the product that doesn't mean they will act on it. To get them to do this, you need to have a powerful marketing logo, slogan or design. The combination of these elements can do wonders for a company!

About the Author

For more information please see http://www.promotional-product-info.co.uk

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Promotional Advertising Specialty Pens

2006-02-20T06:39:00.000-08:00

Advertising Specialties are usually small but useful products that carry the name and logo of the company. These everyday products could be caps, coffee mugs, mouse pads or pens for that matter. Promotional Advertising Specialty Pens are gaining importance because pens are products used by everyone and for long durations of time. Promotional Advertising Specialty Pens have taken the advertising and brand recognition to the next level. Nowadays everyone wants to promote his or her company in a big way. For this they make use of all the available options so that maximum market could be captured and all at one go.

Promotional Advertising Specialty Pens have taken the world by storm due to the great brand recall. Everyone uses pens and if that promotional pen carries your brand logo then it enhances the brand association. These days, Advertising Specialty Pens come in various designs and price range depending upon the quality of the promotional pen. Usually these Advertising Specialty Pens are priced from $15 to $40 a set. Most of the companies are making full use of this by deriving the maximum benefits out of the competitive prices. While designing the Advertising Specialty Pens the aim of the marketers is to try and cater to everybody: clients, potential clients or corporate hotshots. These days, executive Advertising Specialty Pens and animal-shaped pens are becoming popular, as they both are very elegantly crafted and well-designed. They suit your pocket with such an ease and finesse that it’s bound to fetch you compliments.

These Promotional Advertising Specialty Pens generally come in various colors giving you a great range to choose from. They also help you to create a market at trade fairs, thereby attracting potential clients. So if your business is expanding and you want to capture the maximum market then make full use of these Advertising Specialty Pens to market your company to glory.

Advertising Specialties provides detailed information about advertising specialties, advertising specialty companies, advertising specialty distributors, advertising specialty manufacturers, and more. Advertising Specialties is the sister site of Outdoor Banner Stands.

Don't Forget to Search and Find Links To Promotional Products Specials and Deals on Promotional Products Marketing!

10 Secrets of Success in Business Event Marketing

2006-02-20T06:33:00.000-08:00

10 Secrets of Success in Business Event Marketing

Business marketers spend more than $20 billion annually on trade show marketing, and another $15 billion on proprietary corporate events, like client conferences and road shows. But most business marketers are unclear about what value they are getting from that investment.

The best value results from a combination of careful planning, dedication to measurement, and—above all—a strategic focus. First and foremost, you must consider the fundamental principles that drive successful business event marketing, which boil down to 10 essentials.

Business events are a hybrid sales and marketing activity. They combine elements of selling, of lead generation, of public relations, of research, of brand awareness building, of account penetration, to name a few. In fact, among marketing activities, business events are about as close to sales as you can get. You might say they are akin to a sales call combined with an ad and a PR campaign. If you think of them as simply “sales” or simply “marketing,” you’ll lose some of the leverage available to you.
Business events must be an integral part of the marketing mix. Considered them within the larger context of the entire go-to-market strategy. When seen as mere tactics, something “we do every year because we always have,” they will quickly devolve from an investment into an expense. Marketers must consider the entire marketing mix—the annual program—and fit in the business event opportunity where it will drive the best result. In many cases, a business event is not the right lever to meet the business objective.
Targeting is everything. A great business event is only as great as the visitors it attracts, and their value to you as customers and prospects. At a trade show, a fabulous booth is useless in front of the wrong people. So, trade show selection deserves your attention and your discipline. When you plan your participation at a business event, design your activities to attract the real potential buyers and minimize the non-prospects. Be very clear about whom you want to meet, and what conversations you want to have.
Set clear, specific objectives. Plan—and fund—the metrics by which you will measure your results. This should go without saying, but business events have been managed with less than due diligence in this area. As a result, business events as a whole have developed an undeserved reputation for being “difficult to measure.” They are no more difficult than any other marketing activity. Events can, and must be, measured,
Don’t ask a business event to deliver on its weaknesses. Trade shows, for example, tend to be inefficient venues for generating awareness. They are an expensive way to build a mailing list. If those are your objectives, you will find other more compelling options in the business marketing toolkit. Neither are business events effective opportunities to keep up with Joneses. If your competitors at a show have fancier booths, a bigger footprint, or splashier sponsorships, you can congratulate yourself. You are probably driving better business results than they, with your focused, targeted, and measurable business event marketing activities.
The business event itself is only a few days in the midst of a larger, multi-month program. It’s the tip of the iceberg: it’s what you see, but it’s only a minor part of business event marketing. Some companies think that if they pull together a booth and show up at the trade show, they are all set. Keep in mind that you are conducting an end-to-end marketing campaign, with the business event itself as a part of the overall campaign.
Promote your business event. At a trade show, you cannot simply rely on show management to get you all the possible business opportunities at the show. Pre-show promotions are perhaps the greatest under-leveraged opportunity in trade show marketing today. This is where the right targets are identified, and attracted to meet with you face to face. For corporate events, promotions are required to drive attendance in the first place.
Capture and follow up on your business event contacts. Post-event is where the real revenue-driving business is done. At a trade show, go for the quality, versus the quantity of contacts. Lead capture and management is a process; it simply requires attention and diligence. If you don’t have a lead management process in place at your company, stop now. Go build one before you invest another dollar in business event marketing.
It’s all about people. If business events are an efficient face-to-face medium, then the leverage to be gained is in the people involved on both sides of the interaction. Success is about targeting the right audience and persuading them—and only them—to interact with you at the business event. It’s equally about selecting, training, and motivating a strong staff to interact with them.

The business event serves business goals. Don’t neglect the forest for the trees. Managing events is an extremely complicated activity, what with the glamorous exhibit and the fun hospitality on the one hand, and the rigors of the logistics and the myriad details on the other. But these activities are simply the trees—they are a means to an end. The forest lies in the business result and the planning that drives it. If you are paying attention to the trees alone, you miss the true power event marketing.

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Ruth P. Stevens consults on customer acquisition and retention marketing and teaches marketing to grad students at Columbia Business School. She is author of Trade Show and Event Marketing and The DMA Lead Generation HandbookReach her at ruth@ruthstevens.com

Don't Forget to Search and Find Links To Promotional Products Specials and Deals on Promotional Products Marketing!

Promotional Products Statistics

2006-02-20T06:13:00.000-08:00

Promotional Products Statistics

Results:

Total Promotional Product Sales 2004

Sales in Australia: $1.56 billion
(An increase of 35% from our last research)

Sales in New Zealand: $213 million
(An increase of 30% from our last research)

Reach:

71% of business travellers surveyed at an international airport recently reported having received a promotional product in the last 12 months. Moreover, 33.7% of this group had the item on their person.

Recall:

76.1% of the respondents could recall the advertisers name on the product they have received in the last 12 months

In comparison, 80% of participants answered yes to reading a newspaper or magazine in the last week but only 53.5% of them could recall the name of a single advertiser.

Source: Australian Promotional Products Association (APPA)

Build Your Business Through Brilliant Branding

2006-02-20T06:05:00.000-08:00

Build Your Business Through Brilliant Branding
by: Wendy Maynard

Branding is more than product recognition or a simple logo. It is the overall intellectual and emotional impression people have when they think of your company and its product. It is a strong and consistent message about the value of your business.

A memorable and trustworthy brand reinforces customer loyalty. It helps them remember that your business provides the perfect solution to their problems. Therefore, to succeed in branding you must understand your customers’ needs and issues.

Brand building is an ongoing business strategy that has an easy-to-measure cost in time, money, and effort. Its value, on the other hand, is harder to establish because it involves measuring emotional associations that may not immediately translate into revenue. Branding is an essential element of success, however, and it should be reinforced during times when business is booming and when sales are slower. You want customers and potential customers to maintain a positive association with your company and its services.

You control the messages you send out through marketing, advertising, customer service, and your Internet presence. Branding is a combination of everything your company uses to present itself. Here are a few key elements to analyze and enhance in your branding strategy:

Professionally designed marketing materials (logo, stationery, ads, and the like): These tell customers your company is strong, confident, and credible. Your marketing materials should reinforce your company's image and positioning over and over and over.
Consistency in advertising: Develop a tagline to succinctly describe your company - and use it! Develop a campaign that can provide different messages, but it recognizable as your brand.
Excellent customer service - always! Make sure your entire staff positively represents your business image.
A strong and professional website: It must be easy for viewers to navigate and understand. It should let visitors know what your company does and why they should care. Provide compelling, easy-to-understand, and interesting content. Make it easy for visitors to make purchases.
Differentiate your brand: Make sure your customers and potential customers understand why you are different from the competition. You want to establish a superior benefit with you target audience that encourages long-term loyalty.

Branding is not what you say about your company and products; it's about your customers' perception of your company and products. To strengthen your brand, make sure you can answer the following questions: What do you do that is different from anyone else? Why do you matter to your customers? If you can't answer these questions, you don't have an effective brand.

ACTION ITEM: Take a good look at your company and product/service strengths. Determine your primary strengths and benefits and then make sure your branding strategy (marketing materials, advertising, sales, customer services, logo, etc.) reinforces this. Simple, eh?

Take alook around our site, you'll find links and links to top promotional products website!

The Added Effectiveness of Promotional Products in Your Marketing Plan

2006-02-20T06:02:00.000-08:00

The Added Effectiveness of Promotional Products in Your Marketing Plan
by: Ethan Woods

Recently, I stopped by a new car wash in my town and while preparing to insert my six quarters into the machine to start the cleaning process, the owner came over to me and thanked me for stopping in. He also handed me a pen that had the name and address of the car wash imprinted on it.

The fact that the owner was going around passing out free promotional pens to patrons impressed me. I stop at car washes all the time and never get free stuff. In fact, if the cleaning wand removes most of the dirt and the spot-free rinse is actually spot-free, I'm pretty happy.

You may be thinking to yourself, That's a nice gesture, but is it really very effective as a marketing tool?

Absolutely.

Not only are promotional products effective marketing tools, but they can actually foster goodwill toward your company or organization and its salespeople or representatives.

In fact, a study conducted by Baylor University suggests that customers who receive a promotional product with a sales letter will view your company and its sales reps 52% more favorably than customers who receive a sales letter without a promotional product.

What's more, the study revealed that when compared to customers who did not receive a promotional product with their sales letter, customers who did receive a promotional product with their sales letter perceived the company's sales reps as being 16% to 34% more competent.

Did you catch that?

Despite the fact that none of the customers who received the sales letter and promotional product actually talked to or met with a sales rep, customers receiving the promotional product actually perceived the sales reps as being more competent.

With all the competition out there for your business to contend with, wouldn't it be great to have that kind of advantage over your competitors?

Promotional products can be an easy, affordable and profitable addition to your marketing plan.

For example, the carwash owner made an initial investment of about $1.30 for each of the pens he was passing out. The minimum amount of money I had to spend to wash my car was $1.50 (it took six quarters to start the washing process). Because no other carwash owner gave me a free pen, and because I was satisfied with the washing experience, I've returned to that particular carwash on five other occasions in the past three months. That's a minimum of $10.50 spent at the carwash $9.20 return on the carwash owners original $1.30 investment. Of course, I've spent much more than the minimum required to wash my car, so the return on investment is even greater.

Promotional products range in price from less than a dollar to several hundreds of dollars each, and there is virtually no end to the kinds of promotional products available.

You're already familiar with promotional items such as pens, calculators, and key rings, but did you know you can get TV remote controls, microwave popcorn, and even executive leather desk chairs with your logo and contact information printed on them?

Given the variety of promotional products available, there's no reason you couldn't find a product to fit your particular marketing need and budget. If you spend a little time searching, you will find a great price on a great promotional product that will significantly increase the effectiveness of your marketing plan generating sales and leads for your business.

10 Tips to Use Promotional Giveaways Effectively

2006-02-20T05:59:00.000-08:00

10 Tips to Use Giveaways Effectively
by: Susan Friedmann

Walk around any trade or consumer show and you will be able to collect a bag full of advertising specialties, or giveaway items all designed to promote. But look a little more closely. How many really do an effective job? How clearly do they get a message across? Is the message sufficiently visible? Is the giveaway useful or unique enough that you would want to keep and use it? All these questions, and more, need to be considered before jumping into the giveaway game.

Everyone enjoys receiving a gift, even if it is "just a little something." Gift giving creates a favorable impression. It can build goodwill, be an incentive, communicate a message and create awareness.

When thinking about advertising specialties for your next show, consider the following ten questions:

1. What do you want to achieve by giving away a premium item?

Your giveaway items should be designed to increase your memorability, communicate, motivate, promote or increase recognition. It is important not only that the message have an impact, but also the premium itself.

2. How will you select your premium item?

There is a multitude of different items you could consider as a premium. However, which one will best suit your purpose? To select the right item, you need to decide your objective. Do you want it to enhance a theme; convey a specific message or educate your target audience? A clear purpose should help make your selection process easier. A promotional specialist can also help you make an effective selection. Remember that your company image is reflected in whatever you choose to give away.

3. Whom do you want to receive your premium?

Having a clear objective for your premium item will also help you decide who should receive it. You may consider having different gifts for different types of visitors. You might have different quality gifts for your key customers, prospects and general passers by.

4. How does your giveaway tie into your marketing theme?

Is there an item that naturally complements your marketing message? Have the message imprinted on the item and make sure that your company name, logo and phone number appear clearly. An important aspect of any gift is to remember who it was from long after the fact.

5. What is your budget?

The price range for premium items is enormous. Quality, quantity and special orders, all impact the price. Establish a budget as part of your exhibit marketing plan. Consider ordering the same item for several different shows. The greater the quantity of your order, the lower the individual unit price.

6. What must visitors do to qualify for a gift item?

There are several ways to use your premium effectively. For example, as a reward for visitors participating in a demonstration, presentation or contest; as a token of your appreciation when visitors have given you qualifying information about their specific needs; as a thank you for stopping at the booth. Avoid leaving items out for anyone to take. This diminishes value and has little or no memorability factor.

7. Will your giveaway directly help your future sales?

Consider handing out a discount coupon or a gift certificate that requires future contact with your company for redemption. Consider premiums that will help generate frequent visits to customers and prospects, such as calling you for free refills.

8. How does your premium item complement your exhibiting goals?

Premiums can be used to pre-qualify your prospects. One company uses playing cards. Prior to the show, they send "kings" to their key customers, "queens" to suppliers, "jacks" to new or hot prospects. They request that the cards are brought to the booth in exchange for a special gift. When the cards are presented, the booth staff already know certain information about the visitor. They can then act on their previous knowledge and use time with the visitor more productively.

9. How will you inform your target audience about you giveaway item?

A sufficiently novel or useful giveaway can actively help to draw prospects to your booth. So make sure your prospects know about it. Send a "tickler" invitation with details of the giveaway, or create a two-piece premium, sending one part out to key prospects prior to the show and telling them to collect the other half at your booth.

10. How will you measure the effectiveness of your premium?

Establish a tracking mechanism to measure the success of your giveaway. If it is a redemption item, code it so that you know it resulted from the show. Post-show follow-up could include a question about the premium - did visitors remember receiving it and how useful was the item. After the show, critique your giveaway with your exhibit team: Did it draw specific prospects to the booth? Was it eye-catching enough to persuade passers by to stop? Did your customers find it useful? Did it project the right corporate image?

There are plenty of exciting premiums for you to choose from so that you can avoid the usual pens, pencils and keychains. Make your premium work for you and it will be money well invested.

Publicize With Promotional Products

2006-02-20T05:53:00.000-08:00

Publicize With Promotional Products
Whether you're exhibiting at a trade show or sending out press packages, promotional products are a great branding tool.
October 15, 2001
By Mie-Yun Lee, BuyerZone.com
URL: http://www.Entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,293764,00.html

The power of "free" is undeniable.

For proof, go to any trade show. While you'll certainly see a lot of traffic at booths exhibiting the latest new products, there's inevitably even more traffic at those booths giving away the best free stuff.

More technically known as promotional marketing products, these items - clothing, alarm clocks, mugs, and the like - are emblazoned with your company's logo or message for long-lasting visibility. They can be a great tool to generate name recognition and create customer goodwill, often at very little cost.

In turn, promotional marketing products can help drive sales. In 1999 alone, businesses spent $13 billion on them; that's up from $5 billion in 1990.

Choosing the right item
Anything a logo can fit on is a suitable promotional product.

Backpacks and briefcases, badges and buttons, hats and t-shirts, mugs and glasses, Christmas ornaments and computer accessories, golf balls and tees, yo-yo's and stress balls, umbrellas and ice scrapers� the options are endless, ranging from serious and useful to tacky and silly.

With the menu you'll have to select from, it's worth spending time to make the right choice - one that will effectively get your company's name into the heads of potential customers. To make this choice, you'll likely end up poring through either a web-based or print catalog to pursue a vendor's offerings.

If you're a financial service that wants to build customer loyalty, for example, a good fit might be pocket-sized solar calculators.

Or if you're looking to attract repeat customers to your car repair shop, you may want to give away a tire pressure gauge imprinted with your logo and phone number.

And a big choice for computer-related businesses is mouse pads with a logo and url.

Considerations:

Once you've made a decision, the next steps are to determine

� Color
� Size
� Quantity

Most importantly, there's the logo. You'll need to send your logo with thorough instructions on how and where it should appear on the item.

Logos are typically accepted as graphic attachments via email, or on paper via snail mail.

Working with a vendor
There are many, many ad specialty vendors that can outfit you with pretty much anything you can imagine found on the Web and beyond.

Most vendors you'll encounter don't actually produce the goods themselves, but instead act as a broker, sourcing what you want from the manufacturers and managing the production process for you.

When working with your chosen vendor, pay special attention to the visual appearance and quality of your promotional marketing item. Samples should be readily available for you to inspect firsthand as you finalize your decision.

Also, make sure to request a "sewout," or a piece of material that shows exactly how your logo will look in actual size and color. This will prevent any last minute surprises; it may be jarring to see your logo drastically reduced on something tiny like a pen or key chain.

Pricing
Most companies that offer logo merchandise require a set-up fee (around $35) to prepare your artwork, as well as a minimum order (usually a few hundred for the smallest items, less for larger ones).

Pricing varies depending on quality and quantity; you could pay anywhere from $5-$20 per T-shirt, for example, depending on whether you go with brand names and how many you order.

And as with any bulk orders, your per-item price gets lower as your quantity rises.

Whatever you decide, make sure you're getting the most for your dollar while not resorting to shoddy materials. After all, whether it's a baseball cap or a Frisbee, the final product will represent a tangible symbol of your company's message. Make it one worth hanging onto.

Hot tips from the experts
Avoid rushing. If at all possible, give yourself at least 3 weeks from start to finish to ensure the smooth production of your promotional products.

Measure results. It's a good idea to implement some kind of tracking so you know how effective your promotional items are.

Promote from within. Giving employees logo-ed t-shirts or baseball caps can be a great way to increase external brand awareness while also building company loyalty.

Website Promotional Product

2006-02-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

Computer (BB33)

Insert shown is a pre-printed stock insert

Normal Production Time: Normal production time is five working days after art approval.
Rush Service: Rush service is our specialty. Add $45.00(v) and we'll get it to your destination when you need it - next day if necessary. Ask about our Miracle Team™
Freight: Ex Works/F.O.B. Indianapolis, IN. Rush charge does not include extra freight charges.
Approximate Shipping Weight: 4 lbs per 100
Minimum Quantity: 250 pieces per order, 100 pieces per shape and color
Less Than Minimum Charge: $25.00(v) imprinted; $12.00(v) unimprinted
Standard Packaging: Bulk, shipped in individual open-end sleeve bags; split shipments $3.00 each location
Set-Up Charge:
InkBend Standard™: $45.00(v) per imprint
Billboard™ Insert: $45.00(v) - includes full color both sides
Method of Imprinting:
Screen print or pad transfer
Billboard™ Insert: Digital press
Maximum Imprint Area: 3 in. x .625 in.
Imprint Colors: Red, white, black, navy, green, yellow, orange, silver, gold, purple (PMS colors available)
Additional Imprinting: Call customer service for details
Ink Color Change: $12.00(v) per change

With Pre-Printed Stock Billboard™ Insert

Quantity:	250	500	1000	2500
Price (USD):	1.53	1.51	1.47	1.40

With Billboard™ Insert (custom imprint)

Quantity:	250	500	1,000	2,500
Price (USD):	1.61	1.59	1.55	1.48

All invoices payable in USD. Prices valid until 12/31/06.

Imprnted Living Grass Hopper: Promotional Products

2006-02-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

Eight Simple Ways To Use Promotional Products Online

2006-02-19T11:22:00.000-08:00

Eight Simple Ways To Use Promotional Products Online...

With the increase competition on the Internet, it can be hard to find ways to make your company seem different from everyone else. One thing I believe Internet marketers are failing to utilize correctly is promotional products.

Promotion products are every day items that are printed with your company logo, slogan, web site address, or any other message you want to promote. The first thing that comes to most people's minds are printed t-shirts? but there are many other items you can use to make your company stand out from the crowd.

The following are eight simple ways you can use promotional products on the Internet.

Promote Your Company's Website

This is the first thing that comes to most people's minds when they think of how they should use promotional products. But some people over look this. Every item you choose to promote your business should include your web site address on it.

Find Promotional Items That Fit Your Niche

You can always find certain items that will compliment your type of business - items that you know your customers will use often! For Example: If you sell bicycles, it would be a good idea to include a free water bottle that has your logo on it every time someone purchases a bicycle. If you have an online drug store, you could give away pill organizers with your sites name and web address printed on them.

Free Contests and Drawings

A great way to get more people to sign up for your newsletter is to hold monthly, weekly, or daily contest drawings. The winner of the drawing would receive a promotional product with your URL on it. Since everyone loves to win stuff, more people would be willing to give you their email address. And if you make the product something that relates to your business, the people who sign up are more likely to be targeted.

Motivate Customer to Buy More

You can use promotional products to entice your customers to buy more products than they normally would have. How? By bundling multiple products a long with a promotional item. For example, instead of your customer buying 1 ebook, you also offer them a package deal of two ebooks and a free promotional item.

The promotional product can even be something related to the products you're bundling it with. If you're selling weight loss information, why not use a "step counter as a bonus? If you're selling cookbooks, offer an apron. There are hundreds of products that you can put your logo on? find one that compliments your products!

Reward Your Best Affiliates

Consider thanking your top affiliates by giving them a promotional product. This shows them that you truly appreciate the fact that they promote your products. You can send gifts to your affiliate partners when they reach a certain goal, or you can give gifts to your top affiliates during the holidays. By rewarding your affiliates, you build a stronger relationship with them. They will thank you by continuing to promote your business.

Thank Your Loyal Customers

Just like thanking your top affiliates, you should also consider thanking loyal customers. You can express gratitude to customers that repeatedly by your products, customers who buy your high-ticket items, or both! Promotional items remind your clients that the relationship you share with them is important to you.

Create a Competitive Advantage

Because of increased competition, it's getting tougher than ever to compete online. You can use promotional items as a way to show your customers that you are different than your competitors. Instead of appearing as "just another company", you can demonstrate that you are unique. When someone receives a promotional item from you they are more likely to remember you over your competition.

Promote a New Product

If you are launching a new product, you can capture your audience attention and publicize it by using promotional items. At the very least, you should send a promotional item to your top customers when a new product comes out. You might also want to consider sending items to your top affiliates too if you have a new product they can promote for you.

My goal is to get you to think of new ways to use promotional products. I hope you will implement some of the ideas I have laid out here and also brain storm different ways to use them. If used correctly, these little trinkets can help you say ahead of your competitors!

Nathan Allen is the creator of http://www.AvonPrinting.com - which is a huge resource for the printing industry

A Promotional Products Experiment

2006-02-19T09:49:00.000-08:00

A Promotional Products Experiment...

Astute business peopleseek methods to enhance brand image –– Promotional Products meet the challenge! An experiment conducted by Georgia Southern University shows that recipients of promotional products have a significantly more positive image of a company than consumers who do not receive promotional products.

Brand Image:
The impressions consumers have of a company extend well
beyond the product or service the firm provides. Brand image
is a mental image that reflects the way a brand is perceived,
including all the identifying elements, the product or company
personality, and the emotions and associations evoked in the
consumer’s mind.

Objective:
The study was designed to determine the impact promotional
products have on recipients and its long-term effects.

Methodology:
This study was conducted by Georgia Southern University
using an experimental design. The participants, who were
students at the university, were divided into two groups. After
completing a pre-test, the experimental group received an
imprinted promotional product that reflected the company’s
image. The control group received nothing. A post-test survey,
conducted approximately a month later, asked questions to
determine the groups’ image of the company. The results
of this study are based on a sample size of 647 completed
pre-test surveys and 538 completed post-test surveys. For
the study, the researchers selected, as the test company,
a restaurant located in a college town a few miles from a
university campus.

Overall Image
Promotional product recipients held a more positive
image of the company than the non-recipients. On a
scale of 1 to 7 with 7 representing a positive image,
both groups were above the neutral score of 4 for
four out of five categories. Although the differences
are within a similar range in the figure below, they
are statistically significant.

Perception Of The Business
The group receiving the promotional product had a
more positive image as evidenced in their comments
about the company than the non-recipient control
group. The difference was statistically significant.

Likelihood Of Recommending The Business
The group receiving the promotional product was
significantly more likely to recommend the business
to others than the group that received nothing.

In A Nutshell:
Promotional Products have a positive impact on
brand image. Specifically, when comparing people
who receive a promotional product from a company
with others who do not, this research shows that
people who receive a promotional product have a
significantly more positive opinion about a business
through:
• More positive overall image
• More positive perception of the business
• Higher likelihood of recommending the business
• Higher likelihood of patronization

ROI
The study did not set out to specifically measure
ROI. However, after the study, the business
reported:
• 10 - 15% increase in sales
• 5 - 10% increase in new customer group (students)
• Opening a second location on the university campus

Corporate Gifts: Taking Advantage of Time

2006-02-19T08:41:00.000-08:00

Taking Advantage of Time

What are clocks good for? Well, there's the obvious…telling time. Playing a key role in most business days, they keep us on schedule for meetings, let us know how many hours to bill our clients and remind us when to head home. Since most people check the time approximately 10 times a day, imprinted clocks provide an excellent means to promote your company name, products, or services.

The beauty of a clock as a promotional item or as an award is that it's displayed for years, maximizing your company's exposure. Clocks are prominently displayed on an office wall, a desk, or in a lobby. Furthermore, clocks are one of the most functional items you can customize, and are increasingly available in interesting, creative styles.

Examples include house-shaped clocks used by realtors; world time clocks for the hotel/travel industry; vault-like clocks for banks; and CD clocks or both music and computer-related promotions. They're also great for companies with products consumed on a schedule, such as medicines or food.

A timely clock theme that's gaining popularity is a focus on the turn of the century. Millennium countdown clocks are becoming more abundant, as are clever messages with a time twist. Functional desk clocks that hold business cards or photos are very popular. Travel alarm clocks are quite handy and clock/calculator combinations can be used by just about anyone.

From simple to executive quality, we can help find the right clock to fit our promotional needs.

Promotional Product Spotlight: Cosmic Promotions

2006-02-19T08:36:00.000-08:00

Product Spotlight: Cosmic Promotions

Perhaps the most stunning promotional product image of the 20th century is the blue-green orb of Earth floating above the gray lunar horizon against the velvet blackness of space. It's also pretty dramatic sitting on a stack of papers sitting on a cluttered desk. That's what many marketers are discovering about a new group of "cosmic" promotional products gifts and reminders - globes, maps, star charts, and all kinds of celestial things that serve some useful purpose like telling time or temperature, weighting paper or just looking cool.

Here are just some of the promotional products and corporate gifts that tell your customers you're environmentally sensitive, offer expanded international services, and "making a world of changes"- you get the idea:

* The Earth chime - a colorful globe that fits in your hand and makes soothing chime sounds as it rolls from palm to palm or across your desk.
* The Hug-a-planet is a large, soft globe that can be custom decorated and serve as a whimsical pillow - a great gift but less-than-precise navigational tool.
* Traditional desktop globes are great for illustrating a company's global vision.
* A Telescope, moon phase clock, or trip planning CD-ROM are popular gifts just about anyone would appreciate.
* Effective tie-in slogans include: "A World of Thanks", "World-Wide Sales","The World is Yours" and "We Bring the World to You".

If there's a lesson in this growing demand for cosmic gifts, it may be that as the world gets smaller and more vulnerable it earns a special place in out hearts...and on our desk.

Promotional Products: Direct Mail Strategies

2006-02-19T08:28:00.000-08:00

Direct Mail Strategies...Make Your Message Stand Out

Here's a test: Given the choice, which would you open first - an ordinary flat envelope or one with a noticeable bulge?

If you picked the bulkier envelope, you're not alone. A research study at Baylor University found that when a promotional product was added to a direct mail piece, response rates rose as much as 75%!

Adding a dimensional product such as a magnet or bookmark pen to your mailing is just one way to get noticed. Another strategy is printing on both sides of the envelope since there's a 50% chance the mail will sit face down on a table or a desk. One psychology publication grabbed attention and new subscribers with the phrase, "Do you close the bathroom door even if you're the only one at home?" on the flip side of their mailer.

No matter how artfully designed your direct mail piece, the only thing that matters is the response. Some of the most successful marketers rely on tried-and-true-techniques to help ensure a strong response.

Consider these suggestions:

Mail Three Times - Try a mailing blitz; three mailings in 10 days. For most companies, the third mailing captures the best response.

Get Help - It sounds elementary but mistakes do happen. All it takes is one misspelled word, name, or address to spoil your promotion. Let a friend, spouse, or co-worker proofread your letter. Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression!

Make an Incredible Offer - It's hard to beat a free offer for increasing response rates. Try to offer prospects something free with no strings attached. While it may cost a little, the payoff might be the beginning of a long-term client relationship.

A creative delivery approach can turn a good promotion into a great one. A leasing company promoted the grand opening of a new office building with plastic boomerangs during a local parade. Their address was printed on the top of the boomerang while pertinent details were featured on the bottom. Another firm used logo'd sports drink bottles as the mailer, stuffed with a packet of drink mix and a message inside.

Need creative ideas for your next direct mail promotion? Give us a call!

The Real Power of Promotional Products

2006-02-01T22:43:00.000-08:00

The Real Power of Promotional Products

In today's ultra-competitive environment, what trait do successful companies share? They use integrated marketing to enhance relationships with customers and employees. One of the most cost-effective tools for building rapport is with promotional products.

The value of promotional products is in their ability to carry a message to a well-defined audience. Because the products are useful and appreciated by the recipients, they are retained and used, repeating the imprinted message many times without added cost to the advertiser.

For years, promotional products were viewed primarily as a tool for enhancing goodwill. Now we know they do much more. Recent studies show "Ad Specialties" are an effective means for increasing repeat business, improving direct mail responses, and stimulating customer referrals.

Southern Methodist University conducted a study on the role promotional products play in gaining repeat customers. The school tracked the activity of 300 new customers at two dry cleaners over an eight-month period. All of the customers received a welcome letter, one-third also received a $5 coupon, and one-third received a $5 promotional product. After eight months, the customers who received promotional products spent 27% more than those who received coupons, and 139% more than those who only received a welcome letter.

Maybe that's why corporations used a record-breaking $11.9 billion worth of promotional products last year!

Six Tips for Creating a Successful Promotional Products Campaign

2006-02-01T22:38:00.000-08:00

Six Tips for Creating a Successful Promotional Products Campaign

1. Define a specific objective. Whether the goal is to increase trade show traffic or boost sales, the first step is to clarify the purpose of the program.

2. Determine a workable distribution plan to the target audience. Distribution of a promotional product is as important as the item itself. Research shows that a carefully executed distribution plan significantly increases the effectiveness of promotional products..

3. Create a central theme. Linking a recognizable logo and color to all aspects of a campaign, from promotional products to sales sheets to product packaging, helps create an instantly recognizable image.

4. Develop a message to support the theme. Supporting a campaign's theme with a message helps to solidify a company's name, service, or products in the target audience's mind. For example, a bank wanting to promote its small business services posed the question, "Are you tired of being treated like a small fish?" and sent fish-related products to its prospects along with promotional literature.

5. Select a product that bears a natural relationship to your profession or communications theme. One company developed a magic motif for a conference at Disney World. Attendees received magic-related products to tie in with the theme "experience the magic at Disney."

6. Don't pick an item based solely on uniqueness, price, or perceived value. Don't fall prey to the latest trends for fads. The most effective promotional products are used in a cohesive, well-planned campaign.

Wholesale Promotional Products

2006-01-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

Secret Source Revealed: Wholesale Promotional Products

I've been in this industry for over 9 years now and I'm currently "semi-retired" taking care of personal issue's and the like. The promotional products industry is huge with the average order costing a customer from $700 from any of the promotional products distributors in your area.

Most promotional products distributors will operate on a 40% to 50% profit margins, but there is a handful of distributors that only operate on a 10% profit margin (and that's the closest you'll get to wholesale promotional products in this industry.

The bad news, most of these "wholesale" promotional products distributors end up raising their prices to full or worse yet going out of business! Not because of their razor thin profit margins but because of complaints from the Promotional Products Associating International (a non-profit organization) and because of some business law about "competitive pricing" being accused of trying to run competitors out of business by massively under-cutting their prices....

I'm about to reveal a handfull of wholesale promotional products distirbutor its a small list but will allow the end-user (customers) to order imprinted promotional products at a very very deep discount. To view the list click here

Don't Forget to Search and Find Links To Promotional Products Specials and Deals on Promotional Products Marketing!

5 Tips To Roll Customers Your Way With Promotional Items

2006-01-20T08:50:00.000-08:00

5 Tips To Roll Customers Your Way With Promotional Items by Cindy Carrera

Hopefully, you've had a few promotional items that have been total failures, ones that you thought were totally fabulous but turned out to be complete flops.

What, you're asking, I'm hoping you've had some failures in the promotional items area? What kind of person am I, anyway?

I'm a person who wants you to have some experience being sold promotional items and products that never work so you won't be taken by them again, but are, instead, ready to break the mold and hit it big with your promotions.

Which also happens to be chief tip number one! Break away from the promotional item pack, and be a leader instead! I love pens, but the truth is, I have at least a hundred right now with different company names on them, and if yours is one of them, I most likely couldn't find it to call you if I searched all day and night. And I'm no different from everyone else out there. But if I had, say, a notepad handy with your name and address on it, well, that I could definitely put my hands on-which means I would be able to call you!

So the very first tip is to do something different with your promotional items that's different. And as for tip number two, that would be to deliver your promotional items in a different way. For instance, instead of mailing 1,000 whatnots, have 300 or so hand delivered. I can guarantee that hand delivering promotional items will earn you enough business so that you can afford to hand deliver the next 300 and so on.

Now, the third tip is to let the professionals handle it. And I don't mean promotional item manufacturers and bulk distributors. I mean hire some real advertising and marketing people at a real advertising agency to advise you and develop your promotions and promotional ideas for you. Yes, you'll spend a little more money upfront, but you'll have a promotion where all the pieces and parts work together to get your message and call to action across to your customers-which means your customers will be more likely to call you rather than the other guy.

And that's tip number four. Remember that there is more to an effective promotion than handing out one item. There are pieces and parts to it. It takes a consumer an average of six to seven times of seeing and/or hearing your promotional message before they "get" it and take action of any kind-even saying no thank you. No, it's not because your target audience is stupid: it's because they're constantly being bombarded with marketing promotions from all sorts of businesses.

Which brings us to tip number five. Know your target audience. If your promotion is for teens and young adults, for example, don't give them refrigerator magnets-they don't usually have refrigerators! At least not of their own yet. Give them a cool key chain or CD holder, or even better, a CD instead.

No matter how wonderful and unique a promotional item is, if it's given to the wrong target audience that has no use for it, they will have no use for you.

About the Author

Cindy Carrera has dominated the art of giving promotional gifts. Learn the secret to choosing dazzling tradeshow giveaways that will knock their socks off!

Don't Forget to Search and Find Links To Promotional Products Specials and Deals on Promotional Products Marketing!

Dramatically Increase Qualified Leads With Qualified Promotional Gifts

2006-01-20T08:48:00.000-08:00

Dramatically Increase Qualified Leads With Qualified Promotional Gifts by Cindy Carrera

Are you sitting at your desk, scratching your head and wondering why you just spent a gazillion dollars on a marketing promotion that brought you exactly zero return on your investment? Do you still have boxes and boxes of those pens you thought would have your phone ringing off the hook, sitting in your storage room or warehouse, lonely because no one wants to take them home?

Don't freak out. There may not be a lot you can do about past promotional products that ended up losing or even costing you money, but you can guarantee that you never again lose money on promotional items that fail miserably.

How? Well, see, it's all the idea behind the promotional item. Many business owners make the mistake of thinking if they stick their logo on a cheap or even very nice pen or magnet, their bottom lines will instantly rise.

It takes more than that for promotional items to work. It takes some thought and planning on your part for them to stand a fighting chance in this extremely cluttered marketing and advertising arena. Yep, it takes knowing two things: 1) What message do you want the promotional item to convey, and 2) What action do you want the customer to take.

Unless you know these two things and work them clearly into your promotional items, even the cleverest promotional product will fail. People may get a nice pen or refrigerator magnet, or even something unique, from you, but unless it has a message and spurs your clients to take action of some kind, the pen will get stuck in a drawer or lost, and the magnet will get stuck on the refrigerator and forgotten until it's needed to stick up a grocery list.

Pens and magnets are great for branding your company, but they rarely make anyone want to use a company's services. At best, in an emergency, because your number just happens to be on their desk or refrigerator, you'll get a call-and a sale.

That's because other than presenting your logo, name, address and phone number, they don't have a clear message. The promotional item may even say you're the best widget maker in the USA, but so do a zillion other pens and magnets and notepads out there. But they don't give anyone a reason to use your company's product or service. And even your promotional ideas have to connect to your customers' needs for them to take action of any kind. People need a reason or benefit to make them take action.

So get your message and call to action clear in your mind, then choose a promotional item that gets those two things across to your customers-and you'll have promotional items that are hands-down winners every time.

About the Author

Cindy Carrera has dominated the art of giving promotional gifts. Learn the secret to choosing dazzling tradeshow giveaways that will knock their socks off!

Don't Forget to Search and Find Links To Promotional Products Specials and Deals on Promotional Products Marketing!

Our Link Exchange

2006-01-19T11:56:00.000-08:00

Please use this page to view all our link resources. If you are interested in linking with us, please see all the information below. Thank you!

If you would like to add your website link (related to promotional products) please contact stacy101@gmail.com

Our Link Info is:
URL: http://promotional-products101.blogspot.com
Page Tittle: Promotional Products | Corporate Gifts
Site Info: Learn how to select and use promotional products in your marketing, money saving tips and the hidden prices to watch our for when ordering promotional products

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Put your message and logo on a wide variety of products. Promotional Products are designed to both increase awareness and increase business. We custom imprint Mugs, Pens, Golf Items, Buttons, Clocks, Magnets, Watches, Key Chains, Letter Openers, Balloons, Mouse Pads, and more.

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Are Promotional Gifts a Waste of Money?

2006-01-15T08:59:00.000-08:00

Are Promotional Gifts a Waste of Money? by Derek Gardner

Why spend money on promotional gifts in the first place? Well, promotional gifts are an effective way to attract new clients to your firm or company. Believe me, the benefits are very rewarding. For example if you are giving a sales pitch to a group of potential clients; if they beforehand have received a promotional gift then they are more responsive to your attempt for a sale. Now, there are both internal gifts and external gifts. Internal gifts are for staff in your company; and external gifts are for people outside your company. Internal gifts can do wonders for moral and loyalty, but when it comes to gaining clients and additional business, the external gifts are a must.

What kind of promotional gift should you buy? When talking about external gifts, you should focus on your potential new client or more accurate the person that you have to deal with. The buyer is not always the owner of the company he or she represents. That person has an agenda for dealing with you. Find out what it is. Why is he or she interested in your company, and what benefit can he or she gain from doing business with you? What products or features are they looking for? Choose a gift that fits his or hers agenda. Knowing your buyer is the key to picking the right promotional gift.

How expensive a promotional gift should you get? Your company gifts should be relative in value to your expected profit from your new clients. For example: if you build houses, then a pen would be of to little value compared to what profit a new client would payoff. Free floors or carpet in the house would be a better choice; and for a potential new client it would be of huge value.

Final word on promotional gifts. I think the benefits for you are reflected in this article. Choose your gifts wisely, and cash in on the impact it will have for your business.

About the Author

Huge amount of promotional gift information on this website - go check for your self at: http://www.promotionalgifts.infostairs.com

Don't Forget to Search and Find Links To Promotional Products Specials and Deals on Promotional Products Marketing!

Promotional Products Don't Work, Unless You Do This...

2006-01-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

Promotional Products Don't Work, Unless You Do This... by Cindy Carrera

Promoting your business is hard work! You have the aching head and feet to prove it. And if you're like most business owners, you're tired tired tired of purchasing promotional products that get little to no results.

That's because you haven't done the most important thing first: plan. Yes, purchasing promotional products takes more than skimming through a mail order catalog or clicking to a promotion product site and placing an order. You need to put some time and thought in to what and how you plan to use the promotional product.

You need to ask questions like what's the basic idea of this promotion. What results do I want? What IS the promotion exactly? Who's it for, youngsters or oldsters? Where do they live? If I received this promotional product, would I use it or toss it?

Which is probably the single most important aspect of promotional items that marketers totally fail to consider. If they wouldn't use that cheap pen or soda can themselves, why would they think their customers would use them?

So never, ever underestimate your customer-even if that customer or person who will be using your promotional product is a child or teenager. In fact, you can pretty much count on the fact that unless you do some serious planning for your promotion, any promotional item or product you give away will be taken home and given to the kids.

That's why it's essential to plan your promotional product purchases around a central idea, much like you would for an advertising campaign. And that means knowing if there's a need for your promotional product. It isn't likely that people are beating down your door to get a notepad or refrigerator magnet from you.

If people don't want it or can't use it, a promotional product isn't worth very much to them. The reverse is true too. If the promotional product doesn't directly relate to your business and give people a reason to buy your product or use your services, then it isn't going to do your bottom line any good at all. Worse, the money you spend on it is pretty much wasted.

So pull together your top people and have a brainstorming session for good promotional product ideas. Find out what your customers really want-and more importantly, what you mean to accomplish with your promotional product. This ensures you'll have dynamite promotional products that get you the results you want every time.

About the Author

Cindy Carrera has dominated the art of giving promotional gifts. Learn the secret to picking dazzling corporate holiday gifts and be sure to be remembered.

Don't Forget to Search and Find Links To Promotional Products Specials and Deals on Promotional Products Marketing!

What Are Promotional Products

2006-01-10T09:24:00.000-08:00

What Are Promotional Products by PPAI and Arleen Harry

Promotional products - usually imprinted with a company's name, logo or message - include useful or decorative articles of merchandise that are utilized in marketing and communication programs. Items used to promote a product, service or company program, including advertising specialties, premiums, incentives, business gifts, awards, prizes, commemoratives and other imprinted or decorated items.

1. Imprinted products that are distributed free are called advertising specialties. 2. Imprinted items given as an incentive for a specific action are known as premiums. 3. Business gifts, awards and commemoratives are also considered promotional products. B: The value of Promotional Products is in their ability to carry a message to a well-defined audience. Because the products are useful to and appreciated by the recipients, they are retained and used. Advantages of Using Promotional Products. . Flexible . Tangible and long-lasting . Impact easily measured . Higher perceived value . Complements targeted marketing . Complements other advertising media Promotional Products foster customer goodwill toward a company and its salespeople. Visit http://www.garrettspecialties.com for more information.

About the Author

Garrett Specialties promptly delivers strategic, creative solutions for each of our client's promotional merchandise needs. Garrett Specialties offers over 750,000 promotional items imprinted with your company logo or message. Our sales representatives are highly trained and experienced professionals in the promotional products industry since 1991.

Don't Forget to Search and Find Links To Promotional Products Specials and Deals on Promotional Products Marketing!

Silicone Wristbands: Fad, Fashion, or Mainstay?

2006-01-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

Silicone Wristbands: Fad, Fashion, or Mainstay? by Clark A. Swihart

Awareness Bracelet Craze

Ever since Lance Armstrong started the silicone wristband craze with the release of his yellow "LIVESTRONG" wristbands, millions of people worldwide have discovered a new and effective method of supporting their favorite causes. Today, there is almost every color imaginable to be found on these ubiquitous silicone bracelets; each one performing their part in raising awareness for a multitude of diseases and causes. What does the future hold for this latest fad to take our society (and a plethora of others worldwide) by storm?

Fashionable Fad

Although silicone wristbands have become incredibly popular, it is exceptionally difficult to argue that they are the height of fashion. Even with the cachet factor, it is essential to remember that they are made of rubber. Very few consumers are choosing to wear their awareness bracelets to the ball or senior prom. However, this does not translate into these wristbands as being "unfashionable" either. Indeed, silicone wristbands have become a "fashionable fad." A fad, by definition, is a "short-lived fashion...something that is embraced very enthusiastically for a short time, especially by many people." Undoubtedly, many people have enthusiastically embraced silicone bracelets. But, just how short-lived is this awareness bracelet craze?

From Fad to Mainstay

Simple market analysis reveals to us a dichotomy in the silicone wristband industry. Retail sales are beginning to lag, yet manufacturers are producing silicone bracelets in record quantities, with no end in sight. How is this possible? Simple. The fad is fading but a new, effective, and inexpensive mainstay has taken its place - the custom silicone wristband. Silicone bracelets have already proven themselves effective for fundraising. Now, their fully customized cousins are proving even more effective at targeting a variety of smaller causes, and they are making a dramatic push into corporate promotions and trade shows. Custom silicone wristbands are being adopted by small non-profit organization, large corporations, and everything in between as a powerful tool for spreading their message, promoting their brand, and announcing new products or even entirely new businesses. Is the key chain a fad? Is the coffee mug, pen, calendar, mouse pad, or T-shirt a fad? No, these items are here to stay. Custom silicone wristbands are here to stay as well. Customized bracelets are more than just a simple promotional or fundraising item. They are walking billboards. Human nature dictates that we share anything that we have received free with practically everyone we meet. If we have purchased a custom silicone wristband to support our local sports team, church youth group, or favorite small charity, human nature often dictates that we share this good deed as well.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that custom silicone wristbands can and will be used by all types of organizations large and small. They are an inexpensive and incredibly effective marketing tool that puts an exciting twist on word-of-mouth advertising and viral marketing. Organizations are beginning to realize that an investment of mere pennies per wristband has the potential to reach dozens of prospective customers with each fully customized bracelet introduced into their target market. In addition, local schools, churches, and small non-profit organizations recognize the benefits of bolstering school spirit or spreading their message while raising funds at the same time. So, if you are looking for the silicone bracelet fad to fade any time soon, look again. Custom silicone wristbands are not only here to stay, you can expect to see even more of them as everyone from small local churches to huge corporate conglomerates jump on board. With the possible combinations of colors, messages, designs, and even sizes being infinite, creative minds everywhere will be looking to harness the power of the custom silicone wristband.

About the Author

Clark A. Swihart is CEO and founder of The Awristocrat - www.theawristocrat.com, an on-line store specializing in the manufacture and distribution of Custom Silicone Wristbands at phenomenally low prices. He can be reached at clark@theawristocrat.com

Don't Forget to Search and Find Links To Promotional Products Specials and Deals on Promotional Products Marketing!

The Top Ten Reasons Companies in Montreal Canada Use Promotional Products!

2006-01-10T09:01:00.000-08:00

The Top Ten Reasons Companies in Montreal Canada Use Promotional Products! by Steven Schneidman

Let's face it the busines world we live in today is extremely competitive and those who sit back and do business the way they always did it are sure to perish. Think back to the general store. Every year you knew approximately how much you were going to make. A good year mean't 10 or 15% over expectations and a bad year meant 10 or 15% under expectations. The extra profit would mean you were able to purchase a luxury item. The slight loss mean't you cut back on a luxury item.

Today the world has changed. You earn more but the word savings is a word few know anything about. To compete today you always need to be on the consumers mind in a positive progressive way. Look at well established companies like Kodak and Bell. There monopoly days are over and they are looking for new ways to do business. Having a great product today is not enough. It must be advertised and marketed to the right consumer group, in the right way, at the right time. This brings me to the topic of Promotional Products.

Not to long ago when one mentioned promotional products you thought of a gadget or a pen with a company's name on it. Today this same field incorporates practically every product you can think of. The Gap, Banana Republic, American Apparel, Sony, Coach, Sharper Image, American Express, Seiko, Movado, Nike, Calloway, and Liz Claiborne are all companies who buy booths in trade shows for the promotional product industry. Why are they there? They know that this industry includes corporate gifts, incentive programs and give aways and is a multi-million dollar industry and they would like to get their piece of the pie.

Think of any item, and you can brand it with your logo. Think I'm kidding, look at my web site, www.solutionsink4u.com. There are over 600,000 items to brand with many more not even in my data base yet. The numbers grow every day.

Here are the top ten uses for promotional products:

1) Business Gifts - Gifts to foster customer goodwill and retention. 2)Tradeshows - Trade show traffic generation. Watch how many more people go over to a booth when you are giving something away for free. it really doesn't matter what but the better the gift the more lasting positive feeling you tend to get. 3)Brand Awareness - Promotion of brand awareness and brand loyalty. 4)Employee Relations and Events - Morale and motivation, corporate/employee events, employee orientation, corporate identity, employee referal programs. 5)Public Relations - Corporate involvement with community, fundraising, sponsorship, school programs, media relations, corporate image. 6)Dealer/Distributor Programs - Dealer incentives, co-op programs, company stores. 7)New Customer/Account Generation - New Customer or account generation rewards. 8)Not-For-Profit Programs - Not-For-Profit use for fundraising, public awareness campaigns (health,environment,public safety,etc.). 9)Customer Referral - Customer referral incentive programs. 10)New Product/Service Introduction - New product or service introduction.

Today smart companies are allocating a greater proportion of their marketing budgets to promotional products. This is due to it's effectiveness. Promotional Products can be a cost effective and personal way to leave a great impression on one person. Word of mouth or exposure by this person can exponentially grow the positive results.

Need help with your next campaign give me a call at (Montreal, Canada) 514-337-2238, drop me an email at steve@solutionsink4u.com or visit my site for great original ideas at www.solutionsink4u.com. Here's hoping your next campaign or launch keeps your company on the road to success.

Steven Schneidman Solutions Ink

About the Author

Steven Schneidman runs a successful printing and promotional product company in Montreal Canada. He has an MBA and has worked as a finance professor at a Canadian University and has worked for the head office of a top Canadian Bank.

Don't Forget to Search and Find Links To Promotional Products Specials and Deals on Promotional Products Marketing!

BIC Promotional Pens

2005-03-12T15:53:00.000-08:00

BIC Promotional Pens

Click Stick with Rubber Grip

Check out the lastest imprinted promotional product deal from BIC, leader of promotional pens and advertising specialty pens. Ask your distributor for current special prices which should range between $0.90 to $1.10 for 300 custom imprinted pens.

Imprinted Promotional Product Catalog...

2005-03-11T14:39:00.000-08:00

Apparel, Caps, and Hats (11877)
Apparel - Athletic, Apparel - Bed & Bath , ...

Automotive Accessories (8720)
Air Fresheners, Alarms & Protective Devices, ...

Awards and Recognition (20254)
Acrylic Awards, Alumni Items, Award Certificates, ...

Backpacks, Bags, and Totes (6168)
Backpacks, Bag Accessories, Bags - Club/Travel, ...

Badges, Buttons, Magnets, and Stickers (7427)
Badge Accessories, Badge Holders, ...

Business, Desktop, and Office (33848)
Address Books, Advertisements, ...

Calendars (2849)
Calendar Accessories, Calendar Pads, ...

Clocks and Watches (5769)
Alarm Clocks, Analog Clocks, Analog Watches, ...

Computer Accessories (2714)
CD-ROMs, Computer Accessories, ...

Diaries, Journals, and Notepads (3019)
Diaries - Desk, Diaries - Pocket, ...

Drinkware (10114)
Barware, Beverage Accessories, ...

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