Facebook has over 150 million users, it is the number one social media network in the world. Facebook lets users create profiles, post status updates, pictures, and connect with friends.
Think of your Facebook network like an email or newsletter list. But don't use it to bombard your friends with pricing specials and sales pitches. The up side is that you have all the personal information people put on their Facebook pages and it can offer insight into their lives. Facebook gives you a snapshot into a prospect, and you can look into their profile. Something that may take numerous luncheons to get to know about someone you can learn in two minutes off their Facebook page.
Facebook offers professional and personal sides of social networking- which mean you can do things more casually on Facebook and get away with it. No more worrying about being all dressed up for the business meeting- you can network on your couch in your pajamas.
The last and most important point when dealing with Facebook is that people buy from their friends. People will buy from people they know and people they like, which is why Facebook is a great resource. So if you are not on Facebook yet, sign up today- it's free at www.Facebook.com.
Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Monday, June 1, 2009
Think you know how to work a trade show?
This will be a several part series that goes over the do's and don't of trade shows. Trade shows are a key to your business success, both attending a show as a guest and being an exhibitor is a must. You need to find out what shows are best for you to show off your product with a booth and which shows are better for you just to attend, the only way to know this is to actually go to the show and check it out- it's a bit of trial and error, but either way your presence there is necessary for your business to succeed.
The most important element of a trade show is to remember to sell- do not leave your sales shoes at the door- and do not be lazy!
But somehow most people tend to get lazy when attending a show- they expect people to walk up introduce themselves and throw money at them. Let me give you a big tip- THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN- you need to work a trade show, just like any other client. Sales reps die at trade shows all day long, so do not make that mistake. Selling in a booth is totally different from selling in the field. Most shows are not for selling, but for visits existing clients and qualifying new ones. Actually its more about generating leads, then actually selling anything.
But anyway you look at it- trade shows are full of bad sales techniques- so I am going to take a few parts and explain them to you and how to not fall into that category of what not to do.
The first DO NOT at a trade show and this is a biggie!
DO NOT sit in the booth!
This is the biggest no no! Usually the sitters are the people who were forced into coming and they are not the sales staff- either way there is no excuse for sitting in the booth. You should not even use your chairs- and in no way should you have your butt on the seat. Push your table back and stand in front of it- and invite people into your space- that way you can have a more intimate conversation with them that is out of the way of the other guests. The easiest way to invite people into your space is with a promotional product, and even better- something that is sparkly and will catch their eye. Even something basic as a pen, calling people over to you and saying "here is a pen" or "have a notepad" gets people to come over to you- do not be the booth that has promotional products sitting on the table- hand them out people! Come on don't be lazy- you are working the room. If someone is not a qualified lead- the give them your product and them them on their way- don't waste your time or theirs. If they are a qualified lead then you have a minute to get their card and give them yours. It's a win win situation, and now they also have a product with your name on it, and remember- people who receive a promotional product will remember your business longer.
The most important element of a trade show is to remember to sell- do not leave your sales shoes at the door- and do not be lazy!
But somehow most people tend to get lazy when attending a show- they expect people to walk up introduce themselves and throw money at them. Let me give you a big tip- THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN- you need to work a trade show, just like any other client. Sales reps die at trade shows all day long, so do not make that mistake. Selling in a booth is totally different from selling in the field. Most shows are not for selling, but for visits existing clients and qualifying new ones. Actually its more about generating leads, then actually selling anything.
But anyway you look at it- trade shows are full of bad sales techniques- so I am going to take a few parts and explain them to you and how to not fall into that category of what not to do.
The first DO NOT at a trade show and this is a biggie!
DO NOT sit in the booth!
This is the biggest no no! Usually the sitters are the people who were forced into coming and they are not the sales staff- either way there is no excuse for sitting in the booth. You should not even use your chairs- and in no way should you have your butt on the seat. Push your table back and stand in front of it- and invite people into your space- that way you can have a more intimate conversation with them that is out of the way of the other guests. The easiest way to invite people into your space is with a promotional product, and even better- something that is sparkly and will catch their eye. Even something basic as a pen, calling people over to you and saying "here is a pen" or "have a notepad" gets people to come over to you- do not be the booth that has promotional products sitting on the table- hand them out people! Come on don't be lazy- you are working the room. If someone is not a qualified lead- the give them your product and them them on their way- don't waste your time or theirs. If they are a qualified lead then you have a minute to get their card and give them yours. It's a win win situation, and now they also have a product with your name on it, and remember- people who receive a promotional product will remember your business longer.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Headed to a Trade show in 09- don't go alone!
If you are planning on having a booth at any type of trade show or mixer this year, do not go it alone, be sure to bring along some promotional products to hand out to show goers.
This is very simple mathematical formula- 72% of show goers remembered the name of the company that gave them a promotional product, as compared to only 28.4% of people who could remember a company that did not give them a promotional product. Now that is a lot of people that are forgetting your company name. Think about it, you pay the money to rent the booth, you spend your time at the event, talking to lots of people, don't you want them to remember you if you spent a lot of time and money to be there to get your company name out to potential customers.
Now if you have the time prior to a trade show or mixer, and there is a select group that you are going after trying to get business from you can send a pre show mailer, inviting them to the show and to your booth (maybe even send an admission ticket)also remember to include a promotional product this will increase the likelihood that they will stop by your booth at the show.
We have discussed in other blog entries that the great thing about promotional products is that are relatively inexpensive, however in a trade show event giving out promotional products of greater value have been linked to generating more sales leads. So its a good idea to spend a little more on promotional products for trade shows.
Trade shows and mixers are a great tool for getting your name out there and meeting new people I would suggest doing one trade show or mixer a quarter. Check with your local chamber of commerce and your local chapter of Better Busienss Bureau to see what events are going on in your town.
This is very simple mathematical formula- 72% of show goers remembered the name of the company that gave them a promotional product, as compared to only 28.4% of people who could remember a company that did not give them a promotional product. Now that is a lot of people that are forgetting your company name. Think about it, you pay the money to rent the booth, you spend your time at the event, talking to lots of people, don't you want them to remember you if you spent a lot of time and money to be there to get your company name out to potential customers.
Now if you have the time prior to a trade show or mixer, and there is a select group that you are going after trying to get business from you can send a pre show mailer, inviting them to the show and to your booth (maybe even send an admission ticket)also remember to include a promotional product this will increase the likelihood that they will stop by your booth at the show.
We have discussed in other blog entries that the great thing about promotional products is that are relatively inexpensive, however in a trade show event giving out promotional products of greater value have been linked to generating more sales leads. So its a good idea to spend a little more on promotional products for trade shows.
Trade shows and mixers are a great tool for getting your name out there and meeting new people I would suggest doing one trade show or mixer a quarter. Check with your local chamber of commerce and your local chapter of Better Busienss Bureau to see what events are going on in your town.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Advertising To Get Noticed December 31, 2008
"Advertising is the very essence of democracy. An election goes on every minute of the business day across the counters of hundreds and thousands of stores and shops where the customers state their preferences and determine which manufacturer and which product shall be the leader today, and which shall lead tomorrow."- Bruce Barton
Friday, December 26, 2008
Advertising To Get Noticed December 26, 2008
"What really decides consumers to buy or not to buy is the content of your advertising, not its form."- David Ogilvy
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Advertising to get noticed December 25, 2008
"The death of advertising? I think that's in the book of Revelation. It's the day when people everywhere become satisfied with their weight, their hair, their skin, their wardrobe, and their aroma."- Jef I. Richards
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Advertising To Get Noticed December 24, 2008
"The business that considers itself immune to the necessity for advertising sooner or later finds itself immune to business."- Derby Brown
Monday, December 22, 2008
Clothing Makes the Person
You see them everywhere...imprinted t-shirts, hats,aprons,jackets, sweat shirts and sweat pants and all with a creative design. Think about every shop or restaurant you go into and start looking at the employees, most of them are wearing some sort of item with the company logo on it. Its a way of the company branding themselves as well as protraying a professional appearence, it also makes the employees look unified. It's also a great idea to give your clients items to wear that has your logo on it. Either something as simple as a hat or T shirt will keep your clients wearing them long after you give them away and giving other people the opportunity to see your logo, it's like having your customers advertise for you, for FREE, and we all LOVE free!
So think about for your next promotional campaign. Wearable apparel is one of the most popular types of promotional product. Think about different types of apparel, like jackets or even footwear to really make your message stand out from the crowd.
So think about for your next promotional campaign. Wearable apparel is one of the most popular types of promotional product. Think about different types of apparel, like jackets or even footwear to really make your message stand out from the crowd.
Advertising To Get Noticed December 22, 2008
"In our factory, we make lipstick. In our advertising, we sell hope."- Peter Nivio Zarlenga
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Choosing Promotional Products that Fit Your Business
Thousands of promotional products exist, from the commonly known pens, mugs, calendars, t-shirts, and key chains, to ones you might not have even thought of, such as candy wrappers, tools, coasters, or sports equipment. Along with each selection of promotional products also exists choice of colors or design at various quantities and pricing. Using your marketing plan, you should be able to easily choose products that will fit your identified marketing opportunities whether it is a trade show or a special occasion as well as how many products you need and how much you can afford to spend per item.
It's important to know what your end goal is when ordering promotional products. If your goal is to get people back into your store, then you need to give them an item that will require them to come into the store, or maybe send a coupon that they redeem in the store for a promotional item. For example a car dealership could send out keys asking customers to come into the store to see if their key starts the engine to a brand new car. Or maybe a coupon is sent out and the first 1000 customers that come into the store get a free T shirt or some other product.
If the goal is just get your name out there then you want to give out something that people are going to use on a daily basis so they see your company name every day.
Choose products that are appropriate for your industry as well as something your audience would enjoy. A pizza place that is looking for something to hand out to customers would do best with handing out a magnet with their contact info on it, because those magnets will go on people's refrigerators, and when they get home and are hungry and don't feel like cooking they be looking at the refrigerator and call the first number they see. Its about thinking who your target audience is. Imprinting your selected promotional product with your message or logo will be a powerful marketing tool in the hands of your potential customers.
Be sure to work with a professional promotional products consultant, because they have the knowledge and the information to help you pick the best products for your business and your audience.
It's important to know what your end goal is when ordering promotional products. If your goal is to get people back into your store, then you need to give them an item that will require them to come into the store, or maybe send a coupon that they redeem in the store for a promotional item. For example a car dealership could send out keys asking customers to come into the store to see if their key starts the engine to a brand new car. Or maybe a coupon is sent out and the first 1000 customers that come into the store get a free T shirt or some other product.
If the goal is just get your name out there then you want to give out something that people are going to use on a daily basis so they see your company name every day.
Choose products that are appropriate for your industry as well as something your audience would enjoy. A pizza place that is looking for something to hand out to customers would do best with handing out a magnet with their contact info on it, because those magnets will go on people's refrigerators, and when they get home and are hungry and don't feel like cooking they be looking at the refrigerator and call the first number they see. Its about thinking who your target audience is. Imprinting your selected promotional product with your message or logo will be a powerful marketing tool in the hands of your potential customers.
Be sure to work with a professional promotional products consultant, because they have the knowledge and the information to help you pick the best products for your business and your audience.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Advertising to get noticed December 19, 2008
"Good advertising does not just circulate information. It penetrates the public mind with desires and beliefs."- Leo Burnett
Thursday, December 18, 2008
7 ways to keep your business moving forward!
Here are 7 tips on how to keep your business moving and shaking and most importantly growing with promotional products!
1. Make your business card work for you long after you leave, by putting your info on a pen. You company message will be used and seen for many each and every day. Pens are an inexpensive and effective way to get your name out there.
2. Be Generous! Remember to give two of everything, one for your customer and one for them to give to a friend. Magnets or calenders work great for this, because they are both useful and inexpensive.
3. Thank your customers. Give them a gift that they can use everyday that is nice. A keychain or nice ballpoint pen in a nice gift box works great for this. Its a great way to say Thank you for doing business with us and we cannot wait to work with you again!
4. Remind customers to reorder. Place a calculator at near the bottom of their box of items so as they are running out, they will find a calculator with your contact info on it and they will remember to reorder, because they can use the calcultor to figure out how much stuff they need to reorder. Also keep track of how often they need new products. If you know a company goes through 500 pens in 3 months, then contact them after 2 months and start reminding them to reorder so they are never out of promotional products.
5. Prompt Action. Offer a coupon for a discount, and put an expiration date on it. People want to use coupons before they expire.
6. Create traffic. Offer a free gift with purchase. If you have a store, put a sign in the window.
7. Increase company awareness with wearable products. Hats, T shirts, and jackets are walking billboards. Wear your logo at the next lunch or networking event that you attend. Not only are you branding your self, but you are showing your customers what you do. You can make walking billboards for your customers as well. Also it shows loyalty in your company and product, you are proud of what you do.
1. Make your business card work for you long after you leave, by putting your info on a pen. You company message will be used and seen for many each and every day. Pens are an inexpensive and effective way to get your name out there.
2. Be Generous! Remember to give two of everything, one for your customer and one for them to give to a friend. Magnets or calenders work great for this, because they are both useful and inexpensive.
3. Thank your customers. Give them a gift that they can use everyday that is nice. A keychain or nice ballpoint pen in a nice gift box works great for this. Its a great way to say Thank you for doing business with us and we cannot wait to work with you again!
4. Remind customers to reorder. Place a calculator at near the bottom of their box of items so as they are running out, they will find a calculator with your contact info on it and they will remember to reorder, because they can use the calcultor to figure out how much stuff they need to reorder. Also keep track of how often they need new products. If you know a company goes through 500 pens in 3 months, then contact them after 2 months and start reminding them to reorder so they are never out of promotional products.
5. Prompt Action. Offer a coupon for a discount, and put an expiration date on it. People want to use coupons before they expire.
6. Create traffic. Offer a free gift with purchase. If you have a store, put a sign in the window.
7. Increase company awareness with wearable products. Hats, T shirts, and jackets are walking billboards. Wear your logo at the next lunch or networking event that you attend. Not only are you branding your self, but you are showing your customers what you do. You can make walking billboards for your customers as well. Also it shows loyalty in your company and product, you are proud of what you do.
Advertising to get noticed December 18, 2008
"Advertising: the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it."- Stephen Leacock
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Advertising to Get Noticed December 17, 2008
"The most truthful part of a newspaper is the advertisements."- Thomas Jefferson
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
How to know if a product is cost effective
As it has been discussed promotional products are a great way to advertise while not spending a lot of money. Promotional proucts are the most cost effective way to advertise to your business and services to potenital customers as well as show your appreciate to your current clients.
Just to give you an idea of how much more cost-effective a quality business gift can be, here are a few examples, along with some actual math to demonstrate the concept of "cost per impression," or CPI. The cost of the product, divided by the average number of days recipients tend to use the gifts will yield the cost per impression.
Cost of Product ÷ Average # of Days in Use = COST PER IMPRESSION
The average cost of a custom printed pen, for instance, is $3 when you buy a few hundred. The average number of days the pens are in use is about 60, $3 divided by 60is just five cents per impression. So the average cost of reminding your customers, prospects and employees what a great company you run is just 5 cents. Compare that to a TV commercial or a yellow page ad in the phone book. Its a no brainer, spend your dollars on promotional product and you will get a tremendous value for your promotional dollar.
Just to give you an idea of how much more cost-effective a quality business gift can be, here are a few examples, along with some actual math to demonstrate the concept of "cost per impression," or CPI. The cost of the product, divided by the average number of days recipients tend to use the gifts will yield the cost per impression.
Cost of Product ÷ Average # of Days in Use = COST PER IMPRESSION
The average cost of a custom printed pen, for instance, is $3 when you buy a few hundred. The average number of days the pens are in use is about 60, $3 divided by 60is just five cents per impression. So the average cost of reminding your customers, prospects and employees what a great company you run is just 5 cents. Compare that to a TV commercial or a yellow page ad in the phone book. Its a no brainer, spend your dollars on promotional product and you will get a tremendous value for your promotional dollar.
Advertising to get Noticed December 16, 2008
"Advertising is the ability to sense, interpret...to put the very heart throbs of a business into type, paper and ink."- Leo Burnett
Monday, December 15, 2008
The top ten list- Professionally Personalized style
So we have learned that promotional products are all around us, and in these hard economic times most companies and business professionals immediately think the best way to save money is to cut down on their advertising. Unfortunately, the have it all wrong! Everyone spends money to advertise when they are busy and making lots of money, but no one keeps advertising through the rocky times to keep business coming in. The great thing about promotional products is that there are so many different items in so many different price ranges, that there is something for every one's budget.
People always ask me who my biggest clients are, and who I do the most business with, the answer to that is that everyone is a potential client, anyone who is looking to get their name out there can utilize promotional products.
But there is the top ten list of the industries who buy the most promotional products:
1. Education
2. Financial Services
3. Health Care
4. Non profit Organizations
5. Construction
6. Government
7. Trade/Professional Associations
8. Real Estate
9. Automotive
10. Professional Services (legal, accounting, etc.)
If you industry is not on this list that does not mean that you should not order promotional products- there is a place for promotional products in every business, so don't let your business be left out in the cold.
People always ask me who my biggest clients are, and who I do the most business with, the answer to that is that everyone is a potential client, anyone who is looking to get their name out there can utilize promotional products.
But there is the top ten list of the industries who buy the most promotional products:
1. Education
2. Financial Services
3. Health Care
4. Non profit Organizations
5. Construction
6. Government
7. Trade/Professional Associations
8. Real Estate
9. Automotive
10. Professional Services (legal, accounting, etc.)
If you industry is not on this list that does not mean that you should not order promotional products- there is a place for promotional products in every business, so don't let your business be left out in the cold.
Advertising to get noticed December 15, 2008
"Advertising is the principal reason why the business man has come to inherit the earth."- James Randolph Adams
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Advertising to Get Noticed December 14, 2008
"The man who stops advertising to save money is like the man who stops the clock to save time."-Thomas Jefferson
Do people actually use promotional products?
Everyone one has promotional products sitting on their desk, or in their purse, or in their house. Promotional products are all around us, the next time you pick up a pen, look at it, I guarantee it will have a company's name or logo on it.
Promotional products have been proven to be the most successful type of advertising, even more successful then TV ads, or billboard advertisements.
73% of people who had a promotional product said they used it at least once a week, and of that 73% 45% of people used their promotional product once a day, and over half of all people who have promotional products will keep that product for at least a year. A year! That is a long time, that is your company logo in front of your potential customers for 365 days. Where else can you get that kind of exposure for the price that a promotional products costs?
The key to making sure that your audience holds onto your promotional product is making sure that it is a useful product. If your audience is bankers or loan officers, give them something that they would use in their jobs everyday, calculators, pens, highlighters, or calenders. It would not make sense to give them a Frisbee, because they are not going to use that on a everyday basis, its going to get stuck in a drawer, you want it on their desk where they can see your info and use it everyday and think about how they should call your company for their needs. Because they don't have to go online or look in a phone book for a phone number they next time they need the service you provide, all they have to do is look at their pen, or their calender, or their calculator and pick up the phone and call you.
So order your promotional products, you do not have to spend a lot of money- just get a useful product for your target audience and get it into their hands.
Visit us at http://www.professionallypersonalized.com/
Promotional products have been proven to be the most successful type of advertising, even more successful then TV ads, or billboard advertisements.
73% of people who had a promotional product said they used it at least once a week, and of that 73% 45% of people used their promotional product once a day, and over half of all people who have promotional products will keep that product for at least a year. A year! That is a long time, that is your company logo in front of your potential customers for 365 days. Where else can you get that kind of exposure for the price that a promotional products costs?
The key to making sure that your audience holds onto your promotional product is making sure that it is a useful product. If your audience is bankers or loan officers, give them something that they would use in their jobs everyday, calculators, pens, highlighters, or calenders. It would not make sense to give them a Frisbee, because they are not going to use that on a everyday basis, its going to get stuck in a drawer, you want it on their desk where they can see your info and use it everyday and think about how they should call your company for their needs. Because they don't have to go online or look in a phone book for a phone number they next time they need the service you provide, all they have to do is look at their pen, or their calender, or their calculator and pick up the phone and call you.
So order your promotional products, you do not have to spend a lot of money- just get a useful product for your target audience and get it into their hands.
Visit us at http://www.professionallypersonalized.com/
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