30 Apr

4 Things To Consider When Advertising With Promo Gifts

Posted in Promotional Products on 30.04.15 by John Meloche

golfball-logo-black-1024x1269When advertising your company, it’s important to consider a number of factors. The first should be a clear understanding of what you’re looking to accomplish. Are you looking to boost your sales? Do you want to increase traffic to your store? Do want to expand your territorial reach? Many business owners would answer “yes” to all of these questions, but it’s important to have a particular focus when planning your advertising strategies.

Using promo gifts to boost business is nothing new, by the way. In fact, promo gifts have been in use for centuries! According to the Promotional Product Professionals of Canada, “the earliest imprinted promotional product was first introduced in 1789, when George Washington used commemorative buttons in his Presidential campaign. Different from the buttons used today, these commemorative buttons were sew-on; they featured the initials GW and the words ‘Long Live the President’.”

If promo gifts were good enough for the first President of the United States, how could they not be good enough to advertise your brand? “Advertising calendars and wooden specialties all date back to the mid 1800’s; however it wasn’t until the latter part of the 19th century that a large amount of promotional products were developed and marketed,” says PPPC.

But what are the best ways to use your promo products today? Here are 4 things to consider when advertising with promo gifts:

1. Consider who you are advertising to. It’s important to remember that different businesses often have different customer bases. That means that, in some cases, certain promotional gifts are just bound to work better than others. For example, if you own an automotive repair shop, you may be best served to hand out a gift that will suit the specific needs of the customers that come to you for your expertise and help.

Key chains come to mind. And, at Synergy Marketing, we also offer fire extinguishers and escape knives. For more information, check out our Automotive section! “Before selecting a promotional item, it is essential to consider the nature of the user, his profile, and lastly the occasion of the giveaway,” says WikiHow.com, “for example if your clients are not golf lovers it would be meaningless to gift them promotional golf accessories as company gifts.”

2. Consider the occasion. Then again, golf-related promo gifts are perfect for the golf lover in your customer base. WikiHow.com also reminds us that it’s important to consider certain occasions when handing out your gifts. “Suppose your company is going to sponsor a golf tournament then the best promotional items would be anything related to golf such as golf shirts, golf accessories, golf bags and so on,” reads the site. Check out our Golf section for more information!

3. Consider the competition. What are your competitors giving to their customers? Are they using promo gifts, at all? If so, which ones? It’s no different that learning about the products and services that they offer as well as the prices that you are competing with. Providing incentives for your client base to support you includes meeting their needs in ways that other companies are not. The same can be said for your promo gifts.

4. Consider what you want your promo gifts to say. “Decide in advance what you want to be imprinted on the selected promotional item. It can be the logo, slogan, tag line or simply the name of your company,” advises WikiHow.com. This is an extremely important step as the information printed on the promo gift should serve as an excellent reminder to its recipient of how to contact you in the future.

To get your hands on the best promo products in the business, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884!

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29 Apr

5 Popular Promotional Product Strategies

Posted in Promotional Products on 29.04.15 by John Meloche

img-highlighter-pen-1024x1269There are so many different ways that you could choose to advertise your small business. But, as the Synergy Marketing Blog has pointed out before, most traditional methods of advertising are too expensive and ineffective for small business owners to afford. As well, it bears repeating that small business owners actually have a particular advantage over bigger corporations when it comes to marketing their brands.

They have the unique opportunity to get to know their customers personally. This is the first reason that small business owners should utilize promotional products as part of their marketing strategies. Promo gifts have been proven to spark and develop new relationships that can last a long time. The customer relationship to a small business owner is important because many small businesses rely on repeat business from loyal clients.

Founded in 1956, the Promotional Product Professionals of Canada is a non-profit association that unifies suppliers and distributors of promotional gifts at tradeshows across the country. On their website, they reveal the most common ways for companies to use promo gifts to their advantage. In our experience, promo gifts are effective no matter what approach is used to distribute them. Nevertheless, this is worth looking into.

Here are five popular promotional product strategies:

1. Advertising specialties. By virtue of the very name “promotional product”, your gift is something that is meant to advertise. According to PPPC, ad specialties have three key elements. Your promo gifts can incorporate promotional messages. They can be placed on or with a useful item. Or they can be given with no strings attached. Either way, they serve to shed a favourable light on your brand.

2. Premiums. This is a strategy that involves a little bit of give and take – so to speak. In other words, it can be placed in the “strings attached” category. PPPC provides the example of book stores giving out free bookmarks to those who buy books. You could also say that this strategy goes in the “giving a little extra” category as it adds value to the purchase. Largely, customers enjoy getting more for their money.

3. Incentives. Sometimes, promo gifts can be used as prizes. PPPC points out that promotional products can be offered as incentives “to produce a specific action”. This works wonders with your employees. Keep in mind that you don’t only have to use your gift to entice your customers to buy. They can also be used to reward the members of your staff who have reached certain targets and surpassed certain goals.

4. Rewards. Speaking of giving out rewards, PPPC notes that this is another business-boosting strategy that makes great use of promotional products. “Plaques, service pins, trophies, award jewellery and other gifts that signify,” reads the website. Again, feel free to reward both customers and employees alike. Using high-end promo gifts to show gratitude to your most loyal customers is a great way to keep them coming back and spreading the word about your business.

5. Business gifts. According to PPPC, this strategy signifies when promo gifts are “typically given by businesses to customers and employees, and occasionally, suppliers. In the context used here, business gifts are not extravagant gifts and trips. Gift giving reasons cited by companies are: To thank customers, to develop business, to recognize employee performance and longevity, because customers expect them, and others.”

To get your hands on the best promo products in the business, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884!

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28 Apr

6 Ways To Fix Your Mess Ups

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 28.04.15 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_35757625_xsRebuilding your brand after experiencing a fall of some kind requires a number of important steps. In yesterday’s blog, we outlined some of those steps, noting that, like sports teams, we often need to make changes to our businesses in order to enjoy future success. However, the new steps that you take will depend heavily on the type of “fall” that your business has experienced. Many fans of the Toronto Raptors feel that the team simply messed up. Have you?

On RepCapitalMedia.com, Mary Ellen Slayter reveals that when you mess up, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your business. Sure, it may lead to the end of some of your business relationships, but there are a number of important steps that can be taken to rebuild your brand after things have gone really badly. With the help of several business professionals, she reveals these steps.

Here are six ways to fix your mess ups:

1. Forget about it. In other words, don’t dwell on the past. Worrying about the mistake you made isn’t going to help for things to improve. Instead of dwelling on it, take action. Matthew Ackerson of Saber Blast says that you should “go start something new and ignore the haters. Just start somewhere. Start a new company, or a new project. You’re your own worst enemy in these type of situations.”

2. Own up to it. Okay, so you made a big mistake. While you shouldn’t dwell on it, you shouldn’t avoid taking the blame either. The best way to bounce back is to be honest about your mess up, says Amanda Aitken of The Girl’s Guide to Graphic Design. “Be an open book with your customers, clients and fans, and send out an email or other update about what happened and how the misstep was made,” she advises.

3. Don’t hide from it. Part of owning up to your mistake is continually showing up to remedy it. Shying away from your responsibilities won’t do you any favours with respect to your public perception. Although Lea Woodward of Inspiring Ventures understands that “it’s natural to want to hide away”, she recommends that you “do the opposite and keep showing up. Be better, be bigger, be bolder.”

4. Take advantage of it. It’s all about your mindset. If you look at your mess up as a learning opportunity, you may actually see the occurrence as a benefit. If it helps for your company to improve, it may just have been a blessing in disguise. Michael Tolkin of Merchant Exchange believes that a mistake can provide “an ideal opportunity to showcase your other strengths.” He insists that you “acknowledge the mistake, but focus on how you’ll take action to remedy it going forward.”

5. Make up for it. Speaking of mess ups providing opportunities, your ability to say “sorry” and willingness to make things better will really go a long way. Sometimes, the best way to satisfy customers is to show them what you’re willing to do when you mess something up. “If you are truly at fault, it is imperative that you admit the mistake immediately in order not to hurt your long-term reputation,” insists Patrick Curtis of WallStreetOasis.com.

6. Learn to avoid it. Now that you’ve messed up and learned how to bounce back, it’s important that you don’t make the same mistake again. A true understanding of your faults is found in knowing how to eliminate them from reoccurring. “Just be honest and take ownership for your part in the mistake,” says Pete Chatmon of Double7 Images. That way, you will ensure that you won’t mess up in the same way again.

By the way, don’t make the mistake of not ordering any promotional products from Synergy Marketing to advertise your business. Call us today at 1-877-748-9884!

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27 Apr

3 Ways To Rebuild Your Brand After A Fall

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 27.04.15 by John Meloche

Toolbox with tools. Skrewdriver, hammer, handsaw and wrenchReaders of the Synergy Marketing Blog know that our staff is comprised of many a sports fan. And since we’re headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, you can take a wild guess as to the sports teams that we most adamantly support. That being said, it should probably go without saying that there was on overwhelming sense of disappointment this morning as our sports-crazed staff members came in to work reeling from the four game sweep of their beloved Raptors in the NBA Playoffs.

It was bad enough that the Toronto Maple Leafs had such a horrible season that saw them miss the NHL Playoffs completely. But there were high hopes for our Atlantic Division-winning Toronto Raptors. Last night’s showdown with the Washington Wizards wasn’t even much of a contest. Our hometown Raps didn’t look like they were in it to win it from the beginning. And now, there is much talk of rebuilding the team for next season.

Such an unfortunate circumstance is not exclusive to sports teams. Canadian business owners often find themselves in situations where they feel that rebuilding is necessary. Obviously, it takes a lot of work. But it should be noted that hope should never be lost for a brighter future. There are just a number of important steps that should be taken to steer your company in a better direction.

Here are three ways to rebuild your brand after a fall:

1. Solidify your strongest relationships. It isn’t likely that the Raptors are going to have an entirely new line-up at the beginning of the next NBA season. Obviously, the team has some key players that will be important pieces of the puzzle to build around. If your business has experienced a fall of some kind, it’s important to remember the pieces of your puzzle that are still worth keeping.

“Get a clear picture of resources and strengths,” advises Claudette Rowley on Boston.com, “note everything that comes to mind, not matter how small it may seem.” Do you have strong relationships with your vendors? Is your brand well-recognized? Are your investors committed to you? These are a few questions that Rowley intimates that you should answer to know what strengths you can work with going forward in your rebuilding process.

2. Determine your opportunities. Clearly, the Raptors are going to need some new players with new attitudes when they get back on the court for a new season. Naturally, when your company experiences a downturn, there are also changes that need to be made. What are they exactly? It’s important to pinpoint the specific areas of concern before you go rearranging everything. Rebuilding will likely require a lot more than just new members of your team.

A “shift in your mindset” is necessary to change things for the better, says Rowley. Many business owners have turned missteps into learning opportunities to succeed in the past. “Sit your team down for a brainstorming session and ask the question: Now that we’ve lost that contract, what is available to us?” she recommends, “Make a list of every opportunity that comes to mind, whether it seems realistic or crazy. Sometimes what seems initially off-the-wall might be exactly what you need to rebuild.”

3. Commit to a new plan. Once you’ve done the appropriate amount of research to determine what your problem areas are so that you can correct them, it’s time to take a step in a new direction. Rowley insists that you specify who will spearhead the plan, who else needs to be involved and in what capacity, what action steps are required, what the deadlines are and who will be accountable to meet them.

At Synergy Marketing, we’d be happy to be a part of your rebuilding process. To effectively advertise your company at a low cost, call us to learn more about our amazing promotional products. We can be reached toll-free at 1-877-748-9884!

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24 Apr

4 Creative Ways To Use Your Promotional Gifts

Posted in Promotional Products on 24.04.15 by John Meloche

bling-pen-large-logo-group-rev-1024x1269Promo gifts are great. They help business owners advertise their companies in very cost-efficient and effective ways. Readers of the Synergy Marketing Blog are very well aware of the many benefits that promo gifts provide. Just yesterday, we unveiled some statistics that found Canada to be the second highest user of promo gifts in the whole world! Evidently, Canadian entrepreneurs know the value of a good promo gift.

At Synergy Marketing, we’ve learned that it’s not just the high quality of our gifts that do the trick. We often discuss, with our clients, the many different marketing strategies that they can use to give their promo gifts more power. For example, they can hold contests using the promo gifts as prizes. This doesn’t just make use of promo gifts as regular gifts. It positions the business to attract new customers through a fun and interactive method.

On Nebs.ca, it is noted that there are many interesting and effective ways to utilize promotional products. “Try to pick a time that ties in with something directly related to your business – like an anniversary, open house, or the launch of a new product or service,” advises the website. Tying in your giveaway to something “bigger” is a great way to generate more interest in your brand.

Here are four creative ways to use your promotional gifts:

1. To reinforce early orders and early payments. Promo gifts are often used as ways of saying “thank you”. In this case, Nebs.ca is highlighting the importance of showing appreciation to those who can be relied upon to own up to their end of the bargain. “For instance, send a pen to customers who consistently pay once a bill arrives,” recommends the website. It never hurts to give thanks.

Check out our pens HERE!

2. To thank customers for their business. Speaking of giving thanks, there’s no reason to not offer it to each of your customers just for doing business with you. It’s a nice gesture that can go a long way. Especially because promo gifts are useful, the gesture will be received as one that adds great value to the interaction. “For example, bicycle dealers may want to give out free water bottles with the purchase of every bicycle and auto repair shops may include floor mats with every service job,” suggests Nebs.ca.

3. To support community events, sport teams and educational programs. Giving back to the community is always a good idea. “Instead of giving money to your town’s summer festival for instance, try donating Frisbee® Discs imprinted with your logo,” advises Nebs.ca, “Or donate balloons to the high school graduation ceremonies as a way of showing your company’s pride in students’ accomplishments.”

4. To recognize employees for their hard work and length of service to your company. Boosting employee morale should be a part of your everyday tasks. Your company is only as strong as the people you have hired to represent it. “Remember, employees who feel good about your company may do a better job with customers,” says the website. It’s just as important to thank your staff members as it is to thank your customers.

“Used creatively, promotional products can help differentiate your company from the competition, build relationships with current customers, and attract new business,” reads Nebs.ca, “They can also create feelings of goodwill and encourage the word-of-mouth your company relies on for new business.” To get your hands on some excellent promotional products for your business, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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23 Apr

Statistics Show That Canadians Love Promo Gifts

Posted in Promotional Products on 23.04.15 by John Meloche

ear-muffs-logo-1024x1269For many years, Synergy Marketing has prided itself on offering Canadian business owners the chance to get their hands on the best promo products in the business. Our blog has extensively detailed the many benefits that our clients receive when they utilize promo gifts as major parts of their advertising strategies. Among the benefits are increased sales, larger customer bases, referrals and enhanced customer loyalty.

But you don’t just have to take our word for it. According to Heidi Thorne, who writes for the Corporate Meetings Network, promotional products are “hot” in Canada. She notes that a 2012 Global Advertising Specialties Impressions Study found some very interesting facts about Canadian business owners and their use of promo gifts to grow their brands. The survey was conducted in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

48 per cent of Canadians own promotional pens. We’ve often said that pens are considered our “go-to” promo gifts. Even in our current world of smartphones, laptops and tablets, there is still much use for these age-old writing utensils. And evidently, Canadian business owners are well aware that it’s a good idea to stick their business names and logos on pens, since they are so handy and regularly used.

Check out our awesome line of pens HERE!

Thorne writes that with nearly half of our nation owning promo pens, we are just about even with other countries “such as the United States at 50 per cent and France at 46 per cent. Only Great Britain had more (56 per cent).” As far as Thorne is concerned, “with worldwide promo pen use still being quite high, I think it will take at least another generation or two to see this figure drop more dramatically. But with pens and writing instruments requiring no power or batteries, they still will be a functional choice going forward for conferences and meetings.”

Canadians have the second highest use of promotional products worldwide. According to Thorne, we are “bested only by the United States by a less than one per cent difference.” In fact, Vancouver and Toronto place second and third place respectively, behind Los Angeles as the top cities in the world to use promotional products. Yes, this is a worldwide statistic! Canadian business owners have clearly found that promo products are well worth it.

21 per cent of all Canadians own a promotional hat. Throne estimates that, maybe due to the cold, promo hats are more popular in Canada than they are in the United States where 16 per cent of the population own them. She admits that “while hats are an iffy choice these days, especially for corporate meetings, they are more likely to be appreciated at Canadian events.” At Synergy Marketing, we feel we can actually do better than traditional hats.

Our brand new Wrap Around Earmuffs are made of soft fleece fabric and are water resistant, and seam sealed to keep out moisture and wind. The muffs come with adjustable clicks for proper fitting and can be collapsed for easy storage. The price includes printing on both the left and right sides of earmuffs. And while winter is now over, these muffs would make for excellent investments for the winter to come at the end of the year.

“Canadians are very receptive to receiving promotional products and have a high likelihood of retaining them, giving your organization and your events greater exposure over the long haul,” writes Thorne, “So definitely add them to your meetings and events marketing mix.” With that, you should definitely call Synergy Marketing to order the promotional product of your choice. Dial 1-877-748-9884 today!

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22 Apr

3 Ways To Provide Incomparable Customer Service

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 22.04.15 by John Meloche

customer satisfactionOver the past couple of days, the Synergy Marketing Blog has been highlighting some effective ways to prioritize your customers so that they know how much they mean to your business. By analyzing tips provided by Raphael Caixeta on SixRevisions.com, our blogs have underlined some of the most important ways to run a successful business. To reiterate, it’s not all about offering great products and services.

It’s about creating unforgettable customer experiences! At Synergy Marketing, we work hard to practice what we preach. We’re steadfastly confident in the quality and effectiveness of our fantastic promotional products. But it’s the friendly and knowledgeable customer service that we provide that helps us to outshine our competitors. There are a number of ways that we have been successful in doing this.

Here are three ways to provide incomparable customer service:

1. Remember that patience is a virtue. Sure, it may sound like a cliché. But that doesn’t make it an untrue statement in the business world. It’s easy to get impatient considering how much work you likely have on your plate each day. But consider how busy your customers may be. They too, have time that deserves to be valued. And they often want things done quickly. However, when they are making demands that may agitate you, it’s very important to not show your agitation.

Keeping a cool head is key. “I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve exhausted my patience on my clients,” admits Caixeta , “But I’ve never actually showed them my agitation. If you feel like the client is overstepping their boundaries, let them know in a cordial and professional manner. You just don’t want to start yelling and cursing at the people you make a living off of. Maintain professionalism at all times.”

2. Remember that you’re never too old to learn. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is an idiom that most of us know pretty well. The thing is that it is complete nonsense! To reiterate, you’re never too old to learn. And to be specific, you’re never too knowledgeable to learn new things about your industry. True experts in their fields keep abreast of all of the new developments going on in their marketplace. Your customers need to trust that you are continually on top of things.

“You are a paid expert,” Caixeta reminds you, “Someone is giving you their hard-earned money to do something they believe you have a high level of mastery of. You need to keep yourself up-to-date with the profession and always be ready to answer questions your client needs to know. If you exhibit signs that you don’t know your craft inside out, you risk the chance of ruining your professional reputation.”

3. Remember that you are a customer too. Perhaps, the easiest ways to provide incomparable customer service is to recall your own experiences as a customer. Ask yourself how you would like a situation handled if the roles were reversed. Would your brand of customer service suffice if you were the customer being serviced? Caixeta insists, that when dealing with your customers, you “put yourself in their shoes”.

“If you were in their shoes and were being treated the way you’re treating them, would you enjoy that experience?” he asks, “If so, you’re doing a good job. If not, you probably want to get a little better. It’s important to constantly evaluate the way you communicate with others. Our profession is heavily reliant on communication skills.” At Synergy Marketing, we’d love for you to experience our brand of incomparable customer service. Call us at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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21 Apr

3 Ways To Show Customers You Care About Their Business

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 21.04.15 by John Meloche

Business man with smiley facesGenerally, most companies brag about their customer service. They insist that their brand of service sets them apart from their competition. But how many of them mean it? We’ve all had experiences with businesses that practice customer service in a less than savoury way. How many times have you encountered a customer service rep that was rude, standoffish or disinterested? Too many to count, right?

Truly setting your company apart from others in the customer service department requires some attention to detail. As we pointed out in yesterday’s blog, it often means that you’ll have to go over and above the call of duty for your customers. It’s important to let them know that you truly care about their business. On SixRevisions.com, Raphael Caixeta offers up some advice on how you can pull this off.

Here are three ways to show customers you care about their business:

1. Listen up! You know all about your products and services. As the owner of your business, it is likely that few people, if any, can describe their benefits as well as you can. Your knowledge base about your brand, however, doesn’t mean that you automatically know how to address the needs of each and every one of your clients. It is incredibly important to listen attentively to their needs and concerns.

That way, you’ll be able to satisfy each of their unique requirements the first time around. “It’s important to listen to what your clients are communicating to you,” insists Caixeta, “Understand what they are saying and ask for clarifications on things that might be ambiguous. Clients might be unfamiliar with certain terminologies in our profession, and what you think they mean might be different to what they actually mean.”

2. Stick to your word. Trust is everything. It doesn’t matter what type of relationship we’re talking about. If you can’t be trusted, the relationship can’t last. Be sure to honour your word each and every time you give it. One surefire way to lose a customer is to make a promise that you can’t keep. It is highly unlikely that you’ll be able to regain trust once it has been lost. Make being dependable a huge highlight of working with your business.

“If you say you’re going to do something, make sure you do it,” advises Caixeta, “It’s part of being a professional. If you need more time on something, you should let them know as soon as possible, not after you’ve already missed the deadline. Honouring your commitments is very important.” Remember that good news spreads. A trustworthy business is often one that gets highly recommended.

3. Own up to it. Okay, so maybe you were unable to complete a project on time when you promised that you would. Perhaps an item didn’t get delivered to the right address. Maybe poor listening lead to you being unable to stick to your word. Uh oh! Not adhering to the first two tips listed in today’s blog is bound to land you in some hot water, right? Well, if you’re able to fess up and fix the mistakes you’ve admitted to making, you may still have a chance to prove to your customers that you care about their business.

“If you did something that didn’t end up working, you should repair it,” writes Caixeta, “A quick way to lose a client forever is not admitting that you are at fault and not fixing your own mistakes. You should always strive for a high-quality output; it shows that you have a high level of standards in your craftsmanship.” Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we complete our look at this very important topic.

And, as always, Synergy Marketing can be reached at 1-877-748-9884 to discuss providing your company with the best promo products in the business!

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20 Apr

3 Ways To Show Customers That They Are High Priorities

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 20.04.15 by John Meloche

SatisfactionCustomers are always looking for a good deal. But you may be surprised to know that a “good deal” isn’t always about the money being paid for a product or a service. True value comes by way of a great customer experience. Many consumers place great emphasis on their customer service experiences when it comes to the factors that make them continually support certain companies. In fact, many would agree to pay more for products as long as they are getting great service.

Being an excellent customer service provider takes work. It’s important to put in a concerted effort on a daily basis to make customers happy. “The way your customers feel towards you is important,” writes Raphael Caixeta on SixRevisions.com, “The more you show you care about them, the more they’ll likely want to continue working with you. With that in mind, providing good customer service to your clients should naturally be a major priority in your day-to-day schedule.”

Here are three ways to show customers that they are high priorities:

1. Don’t keep them waiting. Is there anything more annoying than having to wait in a long line-up? Perhaps, even worse, is sitting on hold, for what feels like forever, waiting for a live customer service representative to pick up the phone. In fact, what likely tops the lists of nuisances is leaving a message for a company representative only to have it ignored for days or not returned at all. When customers feel like they don’t matter, they get understandably agitated.

It’s important, not only to respond to your clients, but to respond to them quickly. “Speed is everything, especially when a client is requesting something that’s time-sensitive,” insists Caixeta, “Try to reply to your clients as soon as you can. Procrastinating on a response to a client’s email, phone call or voicemail doesn’t help anyone; you’re going to have to reply eventually, so why not do it as soon as possible?”

2. Keep them in-the-know. Some business owners, who are reasonably busy, choose not to reply to messages until they have the time to resolve the problems listed by the customers who left them. This is a mistake. The least you could do is contact your clients to let them know that you’ve received their messages and that they will be receiving your attention very shortly. Customers like to be updated about the statuses of their situations.

“Status updates give clients reinforcements that they’re involved in the project,” informs Caixeta, “If you’re experiencing trouble with something, let them know right away. It shows that you’re keeping them in the loop and that you have things under control. If it’s something major, communicating your concern right away allows clients to plan for possible delays in the project’s completion.”

3. Go over and above the call of duty for them. Sometimes, simply doing what you promised your customers is not enough. This is especially true if you’ve been keeping them waiting for significant amounts of time. Remember that customer satisfaction often lies in the interactions they have with you – even more than your products and services themselves. So what if they’ve had a less-than-pleasant experience that was out of your hands to control?

Sometimes, you just have to go that extra mile, Caixeta insists. “If a client asks for you to do something that truly won’t cost you a lot in time and income, you have the option of going the extra mile and doing it for them,” he outlines, “Not only will this result in an indebted and happy client, it can also go a long way in terms of keeping yourself in their radar for future projects.” Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we continue to explore this subject.

And never forget that Synergy Marketing can be reached at 1-877-748-9884 to discuss providing your company with the best promo products in the business!

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17 Apr

3 More Ways To Impress Your Customer Base

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 17.04.15 by John Meloche

Happy group of shopping womenYou’re in business to make money. That much is obvious. But you can’t make money unless you have customers to support your brand. Therefore, your line of thinking should change just a little bit. You’re in business to make customers happy. That’s the way you should think! If you’re working to improve the lives of those who do business with you, your business is bound to succeed. And naturally, making money will be the result.

What are the best ways to make customers happy? In yesterday’s blog, we took a look at a few ways that included being accessible over the phone, personalizing your product packaging and giving away freebies. With some insight from Rob Carpenter of Evergage.com, we detailed some effective ways that you can improve the customer experience at your business. In today’s blog, we’ll continue to analyze his excellent advice.

Here are three more ways to impress your customer base:

1. Anticipate problems that may arise. No one is saying that you need to be psychic. But you know your business better than anyone, don’t you? And you should certainly know your customers. Knowing what problems may arise in the future is a great way to have a solution ready well in advance. This will go a long way in making your customers happy, as you will be seen as a quick problem-solver. Obviously, that makes your business look good.

“By staying one step ahead of the customer, not only are you able to proactively solve problems and create a seamless customer experience, you are able to plan your customer outreach and personalize it,” says Carpenter, “Being proactive allows you to remain in control at all times of the user’s brand experience.” As mentioned, no one knows your business better than you do. So no one should be able to fix problems quicker than the person who knows it best.

2. Publicly praise your customers. As mentioned in yesterday’s blog, we live in a tech-savvy, internet-crazed world. And although people still enjoy speaking with live representatives over the phone, they also vastly enjoy communicating via social media. It’s important for your business to be represented through social media profiles and for your accounts to be very active. Carpenter actually insists that you “make people famous”!

He advises business owners to highlight their favourite customers through their social media pages, such as Facebook and Twitter. You can also use your website and its blog to praise your favourite clients. “Most people love to be publicly recognized, and giving a user a moment in the limelight is a powerful way to turn them into a brand ambassador and life-long customer,” writes Carpenter, “For your other users, it demonstrates a customer-focused attitude and goes a long way towards creating a sense of community, which can be appealing to new users.”

3. Make online purchasing easy. Do you have repeat customers? All successful businesses enjoy the ability to rely on customers who have shown their loyalty. Carpenter writes that you should have your website encourage repeat orders by making the online purchasing experience very easy. You can do this by making it so that information about previous purchases automatically pops up when a returning visitor is making an online purchase.

“When a user comes to your website, make it easy for them to build on past experiences by highlighting previous purchases or interactions,” he advises, “As a user, when your preferences and past actions are remembered by the site, not only is your experience easier, it also makes you feel valued and appreciated.” At Synergy Marketing, we greatly value and appreciate our customers. And we’d like to make you one today!

Give us a call at 1-877-748-9884 to discuss branding our promo gifts with your company logo!

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