31 Aug

Sharing Stories Of Success

Posted in Promotional Products on 31.08.12 by John Meloche

We have spoken a lot about word-of-mouth promotion this week. It’s hard to beat the type of advertising that comes as a result of someone – who doesn’t work for your company – choosing to speak highly of it to others. We can’t help it. We just love when our clients do that for us! And we certainly love it when they share their stories about doing so with us.

“I just had to tell my friends about you guys,” said one of our clients earlier this week, “They wanted to know where I got my water bottles from because they enjoyed them so much. Moreover, they liked the fact that my customers were getting something for free. They felt that it was a great way to generate greater interest in my store.”

“The thing is,” he continued, “I really enjoyed telling my friends about the new relationships I had developed because of the water bottles. They just so happen to be great conversation pieces. I suppose that most people feel that when they are being offered something for free, the person doing the gift-giving must be a nice guy!”

“I’m happy to report that I’m now getting a lot more customers ask for me by name when they walk into my store. It’s a great feeling. I’m developing stronger brand loyalty, increasing my sales and even making new friends. So how could I not tell my current friends about that? I love when my customers do the same thing for me.”

At Synergy Marketing, we provide the best promo products in the business. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Our clients will tell you themselves. We know this because of the phone calls we have received from new customers who tell us that they heard of us from a fellow business owner who has ordered our products.

Again, we can’t help it. We love phone calls like that! And we’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank any and all of our clients who have ever recommended our company to others. We trust that our promotional gifts are working wonders for your business. And we’re very happy that, as a result, it is working wonders for our business!

Give us a call at 1-877-748-9884 to discover how our promotional products can help your business to grow. We are firm believers that they will give you something to talk about. And even more importantly for you, they will give your customers reasons to talk about your business to others. Word-of-mouth promotion works! Let us show you how.

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30 Aug

Social Media Contests Boost Your Brand

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 30.08.12 by John Meloche

In yesterday’s blog, we took a look at a 60SecondMarketer.com article by Brittney Leigh Smith that explained how online contests could help you to generate more business. Contests are great ways to get people talking about your business. And as we discussed earlier this week, getting your business known through word-of-mouth promotion is one of the best ways to advertise.

It’s no secret that social networking websites are the way of the world these days. We’ve blogged many times about the importance of setting up and maintaining profiles on such sites as Facebook and Twitter. These pages help to keep you connected to your audience while allowing you the opportunity to build your brand through such advertising techniques as running an online contest.

Consider different strategies based on the level of consumer engagement. According to Smith, “the amount of work required by entrants varies by the type of contest you’re running. Filling out a form has low involvement from the consumer and can generate more participants, but at a lower quality. However, a video contest has a high level of consumer engagement that draws more substantial contestants as well as sharing potential.”

Consider this idea. Have your online fans film a 30-second video demonstrating the benefits of one of your products. In other words, you are asking them to put together their own commercials for you. This works in more ways than one. Firstly, you are developing an inventive method of free advertising. Secondly, you are engaging your audience in a unique way. It will help you to stand out.

Make use of the results that you acquire during the contest. Do not forget to take advantage of these videos as well as the other results of your contest. Smith writes that many business owners forget to make use of the contest results over the long haul. Think about all of the photos, essays, comments and videos that can be created thanks to your contest.

Can you not find a way to make use of them for years to come? Smith suggests that you create a photo or video gallery on your websites and social media pages. This will help to strengthen the relationship you have with your clients. It will also make your marketing campaigns feel a lot more authentic.

“The benefits of running social contests are clear,” writes Smith, “They creative a positive consumer association with your brand by offering tangible rewards for participation. Contests also have the potential to encourage brand advocacy by informing consumers of new products and services. They can certainly be an effective tool if carefully planned and handled appropriately.”

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29 Aug

Online Contests Can Create More Customers

Posted in Promotional Products, Synergy Suggestions on 29.08.12 by John Meloche

There are tons of ways to promote your business. But as we have been discussing in our past two blogs, the best possible way to generate more business is to encourage word-of-mouth promotion. It all comes down to being memorable. And to achieve that, you must be different. You must offer an experience that separates your company from all of its competitors.

At the end of yesterday’s blog, we detailed a story of one of our clients who runs monthly contests at his place of business. Utilizing our promotional pens to help him solicit contestants, our client has found that this advertising initiative has greatly helped to spread the word about his company. It’s no secret that contests are fun. Who doesn’t enjoy the opportunity to win something?

On 60SecondMarketer.com, Brittney Leigh Smith explains that running social media contests can be just as effective a strategy – not to mention cost-efficient. If you’re looking to grow your brand and increase your sales online, there are a few tips that you should follow. They will help you to make the most out of your contests.

Set a clearly defined goal that doesn’t involve simply increasing the number of your followers. When most people jump on Facebook and Twitter, they too often begin to focus on how many likes and followers they have respectively. This is what the average person seems to consider first. But consider that you are no average person. You’re a business owner!

Increasing revenue should be of greater concern than the numbers you have on your social networking pages. Smith writes that “contests can also be useful to conduct research or uncover a new consumer base. By offering a specific product as a prize, you can discern what target market draws the most interest.”

Choose the right prize that correlates with your end goal. Remember that once you’ve focused on your goal, it’s important to give away the right prize so that you achieve that goal. Let’s suppose your goal is to increase your customer base. You may want to set up a contest that involves a purchase as a means of entering.

She writes, however, that “if the goal of your contest is to increase your customer base, offering a shiny new iPad is probably not the best idea. However, if the goal is to boost user’s pictures on your page, then a new iPad could be an effective prize to attract contestants by choosing a winner based on the best submit.”

We’ll round out her list of tips in tomorrow’s blog.

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28 Aug

Give Your Customers Something To Talk About

Posted in Promotional Products, Synergy Suggestions on 28.08.12 by John Meloche

In yesterday’s blog, we voiced our opinion about the importance of word-of-mouth promotion. In a nutshell, there really isn’t a more important way to promote your business. Word-of-mouth promotion is arguably the best way to build your brand because it is a reflection of the customers themselves. Their stories about your company come from their experiences. So this is why it’s important to make their experiences so memorable.

Of course, the promo gifts offered by Synergy Marketing can play a big role in getting your company noticed through word-of-mouth. But there are other elements to making this type of advertising work for you. On MarketingMo.com, Roy H. Williams writes that you can’t just depend on your staff to trigger word-of-mouth marketing.

Exceptional customer service alone won’t do it. Williams notes that good service is already expected. It’s the bad service that people usually talk about. Of course, providing top-notch customer service will always be recommended. It often increases customer retention and certainly generates a lot of positive feedback.

The thing is, you must allow your customer to do the talking for you. “Don’t promise it in your ads,” writes Williams, “Although it’s tempting to promise the thing you’re counting on to trigger word-of-mouth, these promises will only eliminate the possibility of your customer becoming your ambassador.”

He continues by noting that customers do not generally repeat what businesses place in their ads. They often tell stories about what their experiences were like with a company. So what are some of the things you can do to make it so that your company will be talked about? Yesterday, we mentioned that you should think of making “newsworthy” experiences for your clients.

“I like running contests,” reported one of our clients, “When I started handing out promotional pens, I did so in such a way that I asked my customers to sign up for a contest that would give the winner over $100 in prizes from my store. After they signed, I told them to keep the pens! Most people were quite pleased and surprised by the gesture.”

“I now run the contest once a month, and continue to give out these pens. Why? Because I’ve noticed that the more pens I give out and the more contests I have, the more people come into my store. It’s clear to me that word-of-mouth promotion is definitely working in favour of my company. I’ve given my customers something to talk about.”

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27 Aug

Make Your Business Word-Of-Mouth Worthy

Posted in Promotional Products, Synergy Suggestions on 27.08.12 by John Meloche

You can never underestimate the power of promotion. As a business owner, promoting your business is such an important part of your everyday job. You can offer the public the best products and services in the world. But if no one knows they exist, how will they buy them? And if no one knows where to get them from, how will they be sold?

At Synergy Marketing, we know very well the importance of promoting your business. On a daily basis, our reps speak to business owners who are looking for new and inventive ways to grow the reach of their companies. And they want to do this without having to rely on a big budget. Our promotional products work wonders in that department.

At a fraction of the cost of traditional modes of advertising, our promo gifts help business owners to deliver that personal touch. We have often heard that the best possible type of promotion that a business can get is through word-of-mouth. And we couldn’t agree more. This is the key to promo gifts. When customers receive our gifts, they feel valued and appreciated.

This encourages them to not only keep coming back to the companies that gave them the gifts, but it also gives them reason to recommend those businesses to others. On MarketingMo.com, Roy H. Williams writes of the guidelines that business owners should consider when trying to generate word-of-mouth promotion.

He writes that it “is triggered when a customer experiences something far beyond what was expected. Slightly exceeding their expectations just won’t do it.” We often communicate to our clients that it is the experience – not the product – that makes a customer want to tell others about your brand.

Think about it. How interesting is a story about a great product? It’s a lot more common to have someone tell you about an occasion in his or her life that was of some unique interest or significance. Stories about the experiences are what counts. When a company does something special – that is, something that most other companies would never do – it gets reported.

Think of a news broadcast. You’re not going to hear every single newsworthy story in every show. There will never be enough time for it. So how can you make it so that your business becomes part of your customers’ “broadcasts”? When our clients hand out our promo gifts to their customers, they work to create stories because of how useful they are.

Pens are used daily. Key chains are used daily. Our gifts are part of your everyday life. And let’s be honest. Not all companies are prone to handing out gifts. So don’t be like everyone else. Be different. Be memorable. Be newsworthy! Make it so that your company may enjoy work-of-mouth promotion on a regular basis.

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24 Aug

Simple Ways To Showcase Your Greatness

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 24.08.12 by John Meloche

Sometimes we speak to business owners who make the claim that promoting a business is hard. Now, at Synergy Marketing, we do believe that promotional requires hard work. But it doesn’t actually have to be hard to do. All week long, we have been blogging about easy and cost-effective ways to promote your business. But it’s up to you to put your plan into action.

Jackie Purnell will likely agrees with us. On her website, she lists several ways that entrepreneurs can gain more exposure to increase their customer bases. And all of these tips are simple ones to follow. Sometimes, it is the small things that makes the biggest differences. You’ll see what we mean.

GREETING CARDS. Right? Purnell admits that “it’s an old fashioned tactic, but it still works. Greeting cards create enormous goodwill and keep your name in front of people, providing you do it right.” Doing it right means avoiding generic messages. Personalization is the way to go here.

“Remember birthdays, events, anniversaries, holidays or any other occasion that is important to your client,” writes Purnell. Our Holiday cards work especially well for this. Yes, it’s still the summer time. But it is never too early to consider getting these cards so that you are all prepared when the time comes.

CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS. Speaking of the holidays, you certainly don’t have to wait until the end of the year to get into the spirit. There are, of course, other holidays that you can celebrate. And by doing so, you can bring more attention to your business any time there is a special occasion.

Purnell suggests that you be different. How so? Maybe you can create your own holidays! Arrange special sales events around such things as “National Pickle Day or Cat Lovers Month.” Doing so may also help your business gain that special media coverage that we discussed earlier this week.

GIVEAWAYS. “Everybody loves a freebie,” writes Purnell. At Synergy Marketing, we highlight this fact on a daily basis. Of course, your promo gifts will help for your customers to remember you. But perhaps a free sample of your goods or services can help to showcase just how great your business is.

“You can base an entire promotional campaign around this,” says Purnell, “Look for complimentary items that you can offer in addition to your core products and services… Examine what would add value to your customers and give it to them for nothing…they’ll love you to death and word of mouth will spread like wildfire.”

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23 Aug

More Ways To Put Your Business Out There

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 23.08.12 by John Meloche

Publicity was a key theme in yesterday’s blog. At Synergy, we know that promotion is key. And sometimes that requires getting yourself publicity on radio and television. Now, that doesn’t mean you should be paying to run a commercial through either form of media. That will usually cost you and arm and a leg!

But as Janet Attard points out on BusinessKnowHow.com, it definitely helps if you can get the media to cover something special about you. Writing articles is a start. Getting them published can really help you to make your mark. But is there another way to take advantage of the media to promote your business?

Publicize your publicity. Writes Attard, “Whenever you do get publicity, get permission from the publisher to reprint the article containing the publicity. Make photocopies and mail the copies out with sales letters or any other literature you use to market your product or service. The publicity clips lend credibility to the claims you make for your products or services.”

Ask for work or leads. Now when all that great publicity starts bringing in those new customers, you will want to maximize the experience. Once again, this is an excellent opportunity for you to hand out your promotional gifts. Think of the great first impression they will make on your new customers.

Keeping in mind that you want your new clients to have had great experiences with your company, you may want to ask them to tell others about the experiences they had. That promo gift of yours will contain your business name and contact information, so it shouldn’t be hard for your customers to remember how to find you again.

Put videos of your product or service on YouTube. Earlier this week, we reiterated the importance of using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to market your company. YouTube is another great site that people tend to go to on a daily basis. “You can find just about everything on YouTube,” commented one of our staff members this morning.

So why shouldn’t people be able to find you on YouTube as well? As Attard suggests, perhaps you can make a video demonstrating the ways in which your product works. Maybe you can discuss how much your services can benefit your clients. Whatever you decide to film, make it fun and interesting and you are bound to get views.

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22 Aug

Finding A Personal Way To Publicize

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 22.08.12 by John Meloche

Online promotion can certainly work wonders. As we pointed out in yesterday’s blog, having a presence on the internet is pretty much integral to the success of any business in today’s marketplace. On BusinessKnowHow.com, Janet Attard points out a number of ways in which business owners can utilize the world wide web to their advantage.

That isn’t to say, however, that the internet is the sole way in which an entrepreneur can promote his or her business at a low cost. Some business owners actually rely too heavily on the internet to promote their businesses. They forget that personal connections must be made and efforts should be placed in making direct contact with customers.

Attend meetings of professional groups. Attard recommends that you never neglect the one-on-one meetings. Making yourself known at important business events and seminars will be a big way to bring attention to your company. They also represent perfect venues for you to hand out your promotional gifts.

Who do you think will make the bigger impression? The entrepreneur with the business card? Or the business owner with the promotional pen? The pen will be used every day. The card will be lost, thrown away or stuck in a pile of other cards. We know from experience that this happens time and time again.

Attard reminds us to really pay attention to the people you meet at these business events. “Don’t forget to ask what the people you speak with do, and to really listen to them,” she writes, “They’ll be flattered by your interest, and better remember you because of it.” And that’s the key, isn’t it? To be remembered is to effectively advertise yourself.

Look for something unusual about what you do, and publicize it. What a way to make a great impression! In addition to writing articles, as we suggested yesterday, you may want to demonstrate your expertise in the flesh. Is there a way you can have radio or television cover an event of yours that helps you to showcase what your business is all about?

Sometimes it can be a charity event. Maybe you could run a contest. No matter what you decide, consider what type of attraction you can make out of your business. The more interesting it is, the better. And the more publicity you attain because of it, the more customers you will end up getting in the long run.

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21 Aug

Online Promotion Works Wonders

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 21.08.12 by John Meloche

Promote! Promote! Promote! A very simple mantra, we think – but one to live by, nonetheless. In our business, we know that promotion is key to the success of any company. That should go without saying, right? After all, how else will you know about a business if it doesn’t promote itself? In yesterday’s blog, we went over a few reasons why our promo gifts work so well.

Our low-cost way of making lasting impressions with your customers has worked wonders for decades. But, naturally, there are many other ways to promote your business that can work in conjunction with the handing out of promo gifts. Yesterday, we mentioned that we are “promotional junkies”, here at Synergy. So let’s take that one step further, shall we?

Readers of the Synergy Marketing Blog are aware that there is no shortage of advice in our posts. And this week is no exception. On BusinessKnowHow.com, Janet Attard writes about a number of low-cost ways that you can promote your business. We’d like to revisit her article to impart some of her ideas to you with our very own spin added to them.

If you don’t have a website, get one set up. Attard’s advice couldn’t be any plainer. And neither could our add-on to this tip. If you’re not online, you practically don’t exist. In today’s marketplace, most customers research companies and their products on the internet before visiting an actual store location. Not having a website prevents potential customers the opportunity to virtually browse through your goods.

If you do have a website set up – and you certainly should by now – be sure to keep it regularly updated. The last thing you want is for customers to think that you have nothing new going on. An untouched website is as good as a store that is out of business. If it looks like there is nothing new happening, you will likely never see new customers.

Write an article that demonstrates your expertise in your field. A great way to make use of your website and social media pages is to blog. It’s an easy way to keep your profiles updated and it showcases your professionalism. Here’s your chance to show off a little bit and gain both favour and confidence from prospective clients.

As Attard notes, you should even try to get your articles published. She advises that you should “be sure your name, business name, phone number, and a reference to your product or service is included at the end of the article. If the editor can use the article you get your name in print, and possibly get your contact information printed for free, too.”

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20 Aug

Give Your Business The Gift Of Growth

Posted in Promotional Products on 20.08.12 by John Meloche

We’re promotional junkies here at Synergy Marketing. And we’re not afraid to admit it! Honestly, we get quite the kick out of helping business owners across Canada find new and inventive ways to boost their sales and increase their customer bases. For quite some time now, our promotional gifts have been helping business owners take their companies to new levels.

“They work wonders,” exclaimed one of our very happy clients, “It’s great to see the look on the faces of my customers when they are offered my free promo gifts. I know that they appreciate them. And I can tell by the number of times they return, and by the number of people they recommend my business to. Handing out promo gifts is a no-brainer. It’s the perfect way to market yourself”

Of course, the handing out of promo gifts is all part of a plan for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. This is done not only by the gifts themselves but the feelings they give to clients. The concept of value and appreciation goes a long way here. Thanking your customers is a major way to give them the sense that they should continue to do business with you.

Don’t forget that it is the experience you give the customer – not just your goods and services – that will keep them coming back. There are many elements that go into making a great customer experience. And they don’t have to cost you a bundle either! This is yet another reason why our promo gifts work so well for our clients.

“They’re so inexpensive,” explained another of our clients, “When you compare the cost of ordering promo gifts to the cost of standard advertising – you know, like television and radio ads, or print media – it’s way cheaper! Not to mention, promo gifts stay with the customers. Commercials come and go. It’s a cheaper and more effective way to go when you hand out promo gifts.”

At Synergy Marketing, we offer a wide array of promotional items – all useful, all practical, and all of high quality. You can choose from pens, mugs, water bottles, flashlights, key chains, knives, hats, sunglasses and so much more! Attaching your company name and logo to a great gift today is a sure bet.

But what is the best promo gift for your business? Naturally, every company is different and so are their client bases. Contact one of our experienced sales reps today at 1-877-748-9884 to discuss which promo gifts would work best for your business. You’ll be glad that you did. Save money on advertising and invest in a plan that provides long lasting results. That will be your best gift of all!

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