15 May

3 Ways To Express Genuine Gratitude To Your Staff

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 15.05.15 by John Meloche

Woman in red showing a business cardPromotional products can go a long way in thanking those who mean the most to your business. And, if you’ve been paying attention to the Synergy Marketing Blog this week, then you know that “those who mean the most to your business” include both your customers and your employees. In yesterday’s blog, we explored the various ways that food can be used as an exceptional way to thank the members of your staff.

As we intimated, you can’t go wrong with free food! Next to free gifts, food is arguably the best way to put smiles on faces. Of course, your employees can’t expect to be fed by you every single day. They do, however, deserve to be shown your appreciation for all of their hard work on a regular basis. So while offering treats is a great way to say “thank you”, there are a number of other practical ways you can express your gratitude.

Here are three ways to express genuine gratitude to your staff:

1. Get personal. No, we’re not suggesting that you become nosey and attempt to dig into everyone’s personal business. But showing a sense of genuine appreciation should be preceded by your display of genuine concern for those who work for you. How much do you know about your employees’ personal lives? Perhaps it’s time that you get to better know the people who make up your family away from your family.

“Ask your coworkers about their family, their hobby, their weekend or a special event they attended,” recommends Susan M. Heathfield on About.com, “Your genuine interest – as opposed to being nosey – causes people to feel valued and cared about.” Consider the fact that your staff members are people that you spend a great deal of time around. It only serves you and your company better to make them feel comfortable and welcomed in its working environment

2. Donate to a charity of their choice. Arguably, there’s no more satisfying a way to show your appreciation than to give back to those who need it the most. Donating to charity will always be seen as an extremely noble gesture. And there are many charities out there that are likely to be held dear by the members of your staff. A donation in the name of someone on your team or a member of his or her family is an excellent show of humanity, let alone an expression of thanks.

“Let employees know you’d like to make a donation in their name to a charity of their choice, either making a small donation available to each one or letting them vote on a charity to receive a more sizable gift,” insists Minda Zetlin on Inc.com, “Message: We care about what you care about.” This is a message that is bound to be heard loud and clear by your staff. Even if you select one charity on behalf of one person, the sentiment will be recognized throughout your team.

3. Give them a lift. In yesterday’s blog, we pointed out that one of the reasons that food is seen as such a great show of gratitude is because it saves people money. We all need to feed our bellies, so spending money on food is a necessity. Free meals help to both fill bellies and save cash. The same can be said about transportation. We all need to get to work somehow. And getting a ride to work instead of driving or taking transit is a great way to save money.

“If you’re in an urban area where employees take public transportation to work, look into subsidizing those expenses,” suggests Zetlin, “Many cities have special plans that save on your taxes while helping employees pay for their rides. Message: We appreciate you coming here every day.” Over and above the money saved, your gesture of picking someone up to bring him or her to work with you is simply a super nice thing to do!

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14 May

Using Food To Thank Your Employees

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 14.05.15 by John Meloche

Thank youAll week long, the Synergy Marketing Blog has been focused on the concept of thanking your customers. It comes natural to us to think of ways to show customers appreciation considering that we provide Canadian business owners with the best promo products in the business! Most often, our clients use their great promo gifts to reward their favourite customers for being loyal. It’s important to remember, however, that there other people who are important to your company and also deserve to be thanked.

Where would your company be without its employees? The members of your team are the oh-so essential parts of your business that makes it great. It’s just as important to show them your gratitude as it is to thank your customers. Of course, promo gifts are widely used to reward employees of all types of business. But, as you can imagine, there are a number of other ways to show your staff members how much they mean to you.

There is one particular way, however, that is wildly popular. It’s a method of saying “thank you” that will never go out of style. Food! Yes, filling the bellies of the people who mean the most to your business is a surefire way to not only express your appreciation for their hard work, but to keep them all very happy. Promo gifts are excellent. They always have been. But gifts that can be eaten will always go over well.

In nearly every scenario that one can think of when it comes to spreading goodwill, food is an ideal solution. For many, food is the equivalent of money. We all have to eat. And, therefore, we all have to spend money on food. But when you feed your employees, you’re doing a lot more than just saving them money. You’re nourishing them in a way that is sure to boost employee morale. As is often said, free food is good food!

On Inc.com, Minda Zetlin shares this sentiment. “One CEO I met tasked with turning around morale at a large company would actually stand in the company’s cafeteria once a month dishing out food to employees,” she reveals, “In a smaller company you can order in food and then you and other top leadership can wait on employees, bringing them their dishes and picking up afterward. Message: We’re all in this together.”

Susan M. Heathfield of About.com agrees, remarking that “almost everyone appreciates food.” She notes that, in some cases, business owners may want to go the extra mile to fill the bellies of their staff members. Special occasions are especially good times to go out to eat. “Take coworkers or staff to lunch for a birthday, a special occasion or for no reason at all. Let your guest pick the restaurant,” she recommends.

Of course, you’re not going to be expected to throw a party for every single birthday that takes place in your office. And you don’t always have to spend a lot of money on food just to show your staff members how much they are appreciated. Sometimes, the smallest gestures can have the biggest impacts. Heathfield writes that bringing in baked goods and other treats can often do the trick in adequately rewarding employees.

“Bring in bagels, doughnuts or another treat for staff and coworkers,” she suggests, “Offerings such as cookies or cupcakes, that you’ve baked personally, are a huge hit. (Have you tried baking cupcakes in ice cream cones? People love them.) Another hit? Bring chocolate – chocolate anything.” And while we’ve mentioned that food will always go over well as a great way to say “thank you”, don’t forget how great giving out promo gifts can be!

To order yours today, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884.

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13 May

3 “Outside The Box” Ways To Express Appreciation

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 13.05.15 by John Meloche

drawing idea pencil and light bulb concept creative and leadershThis week, the Synergy Marketing Blog is saying “thank you”. Not only is this popular expression of gratitude a theme in this week’s series of blogs, but it just so happens to be an important element of our company’s mission statement. Of course, we steadfastly endure to provide Canadian business owners with the best promo products in the business. But we strongly advocate that our products be used to thank customers nationwide.

As we’ve pointed out, over the past couple of days, saying “thank you” is an important part of any company’s mandate. Showing supportive customers that they are appreciated will play a huge role in securing loyal patronage for the long haul. At the end of the day, it’s simply the right thing to do. And, as we’ve been detailing, there are many different ways to do it! In today’s blog, we’ll explore some of the more unique ways to convey your gratitude.

Here are three “outside the box” ways to express appreciation:

1. Don’t sell to them! We did say that today’s suggestions would be “outside of the box”, didn’t we? The customers that support your company already enjoy doing business with you. As a result, you don’t have to rely on blatant advertising to keep them loyal. A genuine “thank you” is one that doesn’t necessarily have a call-to-action. In other words, you don’t always need to say “thank you” in a way that suggests that they buy more stuff. Offering discounts, for example.

According to Alexandra Kadlec on Care.com, you don’t want to sell to your customers 24/7. “Your customers don’t want to feel like you’re always trying to sell them something,” she writes, “Send a thanks by interacting in ways that don’t have a bottom line for your business.” Kadlec goes on to note that you can do this by sharing your personal side. Sending photos of yourself and your family as part of your holiday cards is one suggestion she gives.

2. Show appreciation to your worst customers. Yes, you read that right. It’s easy to thank your friendliest customers, the ones who recommend you to others and the ones who have been with you the longest. But you may have some work to do in order to secure the loyalty of those who have had negative interactions with your company. It’s important to not leave out the customers who may need some extra encouraging do business with you again.

On Entrepreneur.com, Kara Ohngren Prior insists that you thank your complaining customers. “Complaining customers are going out of their way to tell you why they’re dissatisfied,” she writes, “This generally means they still want to do business with you, assuming you’re able to fix the problem. When a customer complains, thank them first for their business, then explain how you will make things right and offer an exclusive coupon to be used on a future visit.”

3. Become their customer. Perhaps, there’s no better way to thank a customer than to become a customer of his or hers. Are your clients business owners themselves? If so, you may want to look further into their businesses to see if they can provide you with the products and services that suit your personal needs. Your patronage is likely to result in a long-lasting business relationship that benefits both companies.

Kadlec suggests that you take it one step further by advertising the companies of your clients using your social media accounts. “Recommend your company’s customers — individuals or businesses — online via LinkedIn or Facebook,” she suggests. She adds that highlighting your standout customers on your company website’s blog is also a great way to send heartfelt “thank yous” their way.

Don’t forget that handing out promo gifts is always a great way to say “thank you”! To order yours, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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12 May

3 More Ways To Show Your Customers Your Gratitude

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 12.05.15 by John Meloche

golf-towel-logo-1024x1269In yesterday’s blog, we explored the concept of saying “thank you” to your customers. Two simple words with such big impacts – this is one of the best ways that we’re able to describe them. As you know, Synergy Marketing provides Canadian business owners with the best promo products in the business. And, most often, they are used by our clients to say “thank you” to their customers. For decades, they have worked like charms!

People liked to be thanked. It’s as simple as that. And, for the record, people deserve to be thanked. When a person has done something nice for you, it is only right that you show that person your appreciation. This is of extreme importance to business owners everywhere. They know that when a customer chooses to work with or buy from a company over any other, it is more than just doing “something nice”. Therefore, a good “thank you” is always in order.

Here are three more ways to show your customers your gratitude:

1. Be their referral. Since our clients are business owners themselves, we know the value of a good referral. The more business we send the way of our clients, the more opportunities they have to grow. Of course, this very gesture can be the perfect way to thank the members of your client base who are also business owners. Your addition to the word-of-mouth promotion that helps to advertise their brand is one of the best possible ways to show your gratitude.

Kara Ohngren Prior of Entrepreneur.com completely agrees. “There may be no better way to thank your vendors than by sending more business their way,” she writes, “While such a direct referral is always appreciated, you also could go a step further and host a party for all your vendors and partners. Invite your suppliers, accountant, lawyer, investors and anyone else you do business with.”

2. Invite them to special occasions. Most people love just about any excuse to party. And your business should have plenty of good ones. Are you celebrating a milestone any time soon? Commemorating a business anniversary or even a birthday of a member of your staff is a great reason to hold an event that your customers can attend. Including them in your special event is a great way to show them that you value them as customers.

In fact, you may want to throw a party in their honour. “Celebrate customers who have been with you for a month or a year,” recommends Alexandra Kadlec on Care.com, “Pull from a classic and send flowers and chocolate. Or just let them know you appreciate their loyalty and business.” She goes on to suggest that you “have a party to celebrate the day your company started and invite your customers to share in the occasion.”

3. Offer a free gift. Certainly, it shouldn’t be any surprise to see this suggestion on a Synergy Marketing Blog list of tips. Free gifts work wonders! We’ve been proving that for years. And when your free gift is of high-quality, is useful and is practical, it will be kept for a very long time. Not to mention, it will greatly please its recipient. Needless to say, Synergy Marketing has a long list of great gifts to choose from.

“If you want to get the attention of vendors and clients, send a distinctive thank-you gift,” recommends Prior. One of her suggestions is a personalized golf towel. Not only is this gift a perfect suggestion for the upcoming summer, but it is also newly available from Synergy Marketing! Our micro fibre golf towels come in your choice of blue, green or grey and the price includes one location printing.

To order this or any other promotional product from Synergy Marketing, simply call us at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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11 May

3 Top Ways To Say “Thank You” To Customers

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 11.05.15 by John Meloche

Woman with card Thank YouAt Synergy Marketing, we believe in the age-old practice of saying “thank you”. They are two little words that have can have very big impacts when used correctly. To be honest, it’s hard to find a way to say “thank you” incorrectly. Perhaps, when used in sarcasm, expressing the phrase can be taken the wrong way. But, at any other time, they are the two kindest words that can come out of a person’s mouth.

Of course, simply saying the words is far from the only way to express gratitude. As business owners across Canada are very well aware, thanking customers via a long list of gestures is an important business practice. It pays – literally – to let customers know that their patronage is appreciated. And, at Synergy Marketing, we’re in the business of helping Canadian business owners thank their customers through our wonderful promotional products.

For decades, promotional products have been saying “thank you” in incomparable ways. Handy, useful and practical gifts help to bring ease to people’s lives. Who can’t make use of a high-quality pen, key chain or flashlight? And those are only three of our most popular promotional items. While promo gifts are arguably the best way to thank your customers, it should be noted that there are many inexpensive ways to express gratitude.

Here are three top ways to say “thank you” to customers:

1. Handwritten notes. In the current digital era, receiving handwritten notes is a rarity. And this is what makes them so special. Taking the time to write out some words from the heart is a thoughtful gesture that won’t soon be forgotten. As Alexandra Kadlec puts it on Care.com, sending a thank you note is “a simple but thoughtful gesture that holds even more meaning in our era of quickie tweets, posts and likes.”

2. Send social media shout outs. While handwritten notes provide excellent personal touches to your customer interactions, it doesn’t mean that you should avoid the modern-day routes of using social media to thank your customers. Publicly acknowledging those who have supported your business will go a long way in keeping them loyal supporters of your brand. Who doesn’t like to be acknowledged in front of others?

As well, social media shouts outs help for you to take your gratitude one step further. “Thank customers by posting a coupon or secret code word on Facebook that gives your fans an exclusive deal,” advises Kara Ohngren Prior on Entrepreneur.com, “Mention a loyal customer on Twitter to publicly show your gratitude. Or perhaps even profile one of your best clients on your company blog, explaining why you appreciate them so much.”

3. Add free perks to the customer experience. Generally, a customer will visit your business because of the quality of the products and services it offers. Often, a customer will remain loyal to your business if the customer service is excellent. A great way to thank your loyal customers is to ensure that their experiences are enjoyable each and every time. Offer them little extras that help make each of their visits that much more enjoyable.

“If you regularly have customers visiting you, have coffee and treats readily available,” suggests Kadlec, “Or take it a step further and turn your office into a relaxing oasis that people enjoy visiting. Play soothing music or offer 5-minute neck massages.” This will create an atmosphere that people will like to be in. Not only will your free perks be a great way to thank your loyal customers, but they will work to entice new ones to visit you.

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we continue to explore inventive ways to show customers your gratitude. And don’t forget to call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 to order your promotional products to today!

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08 May

5 Of Our Best Summer-Themed Promotional Gifts

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 08.05.15 by John Meloche

img-flying-saucer-logo-v1-1024x1269For many years, Synergy Marketing has been offering Canadian business owners the opportunity to promote their brands in effective and cost-efficient ways. By today’s standards, promotional products are nothing new. But their power to elevate the statuses of the companies that use them continues to soar. This is why we’re so proud to offer the best promo products in the business! We know that the more successful we are at selling our products, the more successful our clients will be.

Over the past couple of days, we have been blogging about the concept of summertime advertising. And, in yesterday’s blog, we noted the importance of doing a little something extra for customers this summer. It’s all about giving them something memorable to talk about. In our experience, promo gifts have always done a great job in getting people talking favourably about the companies that handed them out.

With the summer quickly approaching, you may want to pay special consideration to the types of promo gifts you decide to hand out to your customers. As you may have guessed, Synergy Marketing is happy to announce that we have a number of fantastic summer-based promotional products for you to get your hands on.

Make this summer your most memorable one yet by handing out one or more of the following items. Here are five of our best summer-themed promotional gifts:

1. Flying Saucer. When you think of summer, you often picture the beach or a park, right? And when you picture a beach or a park, it’s just as easy to picture families and friends throwing around flying saucers to each other. Print your company name and logo on our 9” flying saucer and be the talk of the town this summer when your customers each receive one from you. Only $4.49 each, it’s one of the most inexpensively fun promo gifts you can give.

2. Golf Tee Set. With the summertime comes the need to participate in outdoor sports. And we’re willing to bet that you have a few fans of golf in your client base. For that reason, our special Golf section of promo gifts includes a number of items that have long histories of going over well. The Golf Tee Set, for example, is a great collection of 12 tees in a key chain carrying case. At only $3.00 a set, you can’t go wrong!

3. Foldable Water Bottle. With summer providing people with the added incentive to go outdoors more often, many are more liable to stick to their fitness routines. And you can’t workout without bottled water! Our new Foldable Water Bottles provide compact and convenient ways to carry your water along with you while exercising. At only $4.95 each, these bottles are great ways to grow your company’s reach this summer.

4. Cattleman’s Kitchen™ Maplewood Steak Knife Set. When you think summer, you often think of barbeques. And when you think of barbeques, you often think of steak. And when your most important customers think of steak this summer, make sure that they’re thinking of you as they use their new Maplewood Steak Knife Set! One of our most impressive high-end gifts at $39.95 each, this set is bound to make quite the impression.

5. Floating Key Chain. Summer is also a time for swimming. For many Canadians, jumping into an outdoor pool is something they’ve been thinking about all winter long. Have you ever lost a set of keys by forgetting to take them out of your trunks before making that big jump? Our new Floating Key Chain will make sure that no keys get lost this summer. At only $3.95, they’re a great summertime steal!

To get your hands on any of these sensational summertime promotional products, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884!

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07 May

3 More Ways To Secure A Hot Summer Of Sales

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 07.05.15 by John Meloche

Summer saleThe summer isn’t here just yet. We have approximately a month and a half to go before we can officially call it summertime. However, the plans to promote your business in a unique way for summer need to get underway now. The weather is already warming up across Canada. And most of us are already shedding the extra layers to enjoy the warmer days. With summer comes a renewed sense of enjoying the great outdoors. And this is great news for you!

As we discussed in yesterday’s blog, the summertime provides ample opportunities for you to welcome new customers into your store. With more people being encouraged to be outside, thanks to the warmer weather, you have more chances to draw their attention. Discounts, special offers and contests are three great ways to do just that. But there are some other ideas that may be better suited for your brand.

Here are three more ways to secure a hot summer of sales:

1. Get talking. It is often said that word of mouth promotion is the best kind that any business can receive. Arguably, it’s also the simplest form of marketing to secure. As you can imagine, the summertime can bring out the best in people. It’s a good idea to make use of those good moods. Get to know your customers so that they become better acquainted with you. They may end up being your biggest supporters as a result.

The more you get to know your customers, the more they will be encouraged to recommend you to others. VerticalResponse.com, in fact, encourages you to ask your customers to spread the word. “Don’t be afraid to ask your most satisfied customers to tell their friends, colleagues, or family members about your business,” says the site, “Consider offering them some exclusive service or benefits that they can brag about to their friends.”

2. Engage your community. Talking it up is also a great way to become a standout member of your community. And it’s hard to argue that respect in the community is a bad thing for your business. After all, who better than the people who live nearest to your store location to spread the good word about your brand? Staples.com insists that you bring your business to the community during the summertime.

“Small businesses can find numerous free or low-cost marketing opportunities in their communities,” encourages the website, “Summer event planners love when businesses agree to sponsor activities, and a donation usually gets you listed in event advertisements and programs. Try to add at least one booth to your summer marketing plan. Booth space is often available at 5K runs, park concerts and other warm-month venues.”

3. Be memorable. The summer is the season when fond memories are made. Admittedly, you will be competing with people who are planning vacations, trips to the beach and barbeques. So what can you do to give your customers memorable experiences? VerticalResponse.com recommends that you make things easy on them. You can do this by adding a little something extra to their shopping experiences.

“If you’re selling products by mail or in stores, consider including something memorable or noteworthy in the box or bag,” suggests the site, “It can be silly, inspirational, or whimsical, but it should remind them who you are and that you offer more than your competitors. Better yet, include two items and ask them to give one to a friend.” At Synergy Marketing, we have the perfect items for you to add to your packages!

To order our great promotional products, simply call us at 1-877-748-9884!

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06 May

3 Summertime Marketing Solutions

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 06.05.15 by John Meloche

Mother And Daughter Under Beach Umbrella Putting On Sun CreamWith May fully underway, a lot of people are getting pretty excited about the upcoming summertime. It’s a time of year when Canadians are only too happy to shed the extra layers and spend more time in the sun. As a business owner, this is just code word for “opportunity”. The more people who come out of their homes, the more chances you get to welcome them into your stores. So how can you provide them with added incentives to visit you?

It’s time to come up with a new summer-based marketing strategy! For some businesses, the summer can actually be a slower time. With as many people going on vacation as there are walking the streets, in some locations, there may be less traffic than normal. No matter your business type, it will be important to let customers know that you are welcoming the new season with some special happenings with your brand.

Here are three summertime marketing solutions you may want to try:

1. Unveil a new marketing message. Even if what you have to offer has nothing to do with the warmest season of the year, there is still a way to acknowledge that it is here. Perhaps, launching a “Special Summer Discount Sale” is the way to go. It will help to get the word spread that your company has something interesting going on. And there are few things that intrigue customers more than the ability to save money while shopping.

Staples.com notes that there are some simple, yet effective ways to spread the word about your new summer promotion. “Many retailers use window paint or sidewalk chalk to capture consumer attention with seasonal drawings that include messages about discounts,” reads the website, “You can incorporate the same light-heartedness into your direct mail and email messages by leveraging whimsical images and text.”

2. Offer something unique. Summer gives you the opportunity to do things that you couldn’t do in the winter. For example, retailers are able to display many of their items outside as a way to lure visitors into their stores. Making small changes to make the lives of your customers easier during the summer is a great way to encourage more of them to visit you. On VerticalResponse.com, business owners are encouraged to “give people something to talk about.”

The site explains how a restaurant was able to boost sales one summer by doing something that no other restaurant was doing. It offered a “stroller valet” for customers with young children! “Word got out that not only could you enjoy a great meal there, but you could also bring your kids without worrying about inconveniencing other diners when deciding where to park the bulky stroller,” reveals the site.

3. Launch a contest. Contests are always fun. The prospect of winning always seems to intrigue even the most casual of shoppers. And the summertime is the perfect time to create a contest that is fun, engaging and exciting. At Synergy Marketing, we have long been offering our clients the ability to secure high-end promotional products that can be used as contest prizes. They have been working wonders for years!

“Host giveaways and contests to drive foot traffic or Internet interest,” recommends Staples.com, “You don’t have to offer a large prize to get people involved – a coffee shop might offer a daily chance to win a free drink for anyone who shares or likes the company’s Facebook page, for example. To get people inside your store, offer a larger giveaway for those who sign up in person.”

For more information on how you can get your hands on our great promotional products, simply call us at 1-877-748-9884!

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05 May

4 More Ways To Boost Your Blog’s Popularity

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 05.05.15 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_7162436_xsIn yesterday’s blog, we introduced the topic of building buzz for your company blog. This is something that we’ve been practicing for years. But we have to admit that we started promoting our blog a lot later than we started blogging. As a result, our blog wasn’t as popular, when it started, as it is now. Of course, there’s always a natural progression to how things pick up steam. But it’s important to remember that, in today’s digital world, a company’s online presence is everything.

As a result, it’s important to not just regularly add content to your website, but to promote the fact that the new content has been added. Yesterday, we pointed out that Synergy Marketing updates its Twitter and Facebook accounts each and every time a new blog is posted on our website. This has helped us to not only increase our awareness on social media, but it has helped for our blog to secure more readers as well.

Most importantly, the more people visit who our website because of our blog, the more often we are able to convert our website visitors into customers. Naturally, we do a lot of blogging about the benefits of using promotional products to advertise your brand. But our blog also incorporates a wide range of topics in order to keep things fresh and interesting. Variety is key. But, back to the point, promotion is imperative!

Being a promotional product company, you might expect us to say that. But you don’t have to take our word for it. On her website, social media strategist, Rebekah Radice offers up some sound solutions for how you can increase the popularity of your blog. Admittedly, she provides tips that we ourselves should take a look into as well. So join us in discovering new ways to build a buzz for your blog!

Here are four more ways to boost your blog’s popularity:

1. Go with Google+. Considering that Google is most commonly used as a search engine on the internet, it pays to use its services to make your company more easily accessible. “Not only is Google+ an excellent place to post your original content for increased SEO, it is also an important network to build relationships with those eager to +1 and share your content,” says Radice, “The possibility of ‘going viral’ is very real when Google+ is used properly.”

2. Pick up on Pinterest. “Take advantage of this unique magazine-style visual powerhouse to share your content with an image optimized for maximum pinning,” insists Radice, noting that there are a number of ways to create a “perfect” Pinterest image. To get more pins in your image, she advises that you do not include a human face, use a plain white background, include the colour red in it somewhere and try to go with a portrait style photo.

3. Link it to LinkedIn. This social media profile is extremely popular amongst entrepreneurs. According to Radice, “you can share your latest article to your LinkedIn profile, plus any group you manage or belong to that allows you to share your own content. Many groups on LinkedIn, Facebook and Google_ frown on ‘link dropping’ so make sure to read the group rules before making that mistake.”

4. Utilize YouTube. If it’s one thing that people seem to love using the internet for, it’s watching videos. Can you somehow turn your blog post into a video? Radice notes that blogs that contain lists of tips – and, as you can tell, we have many ourselves! – are perfect for video blogs. “Take one tip and share it in a quick 15-30 second video,” she suggests, “Then direct viewers to your site for further information on the subject.”

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04 May

2 Big Ways To Build A Buzz For Your Blog

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 04.05.15 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_6501329_xsAt Synergy Marketing, we have been maintaining a daily blog for quite some time now. In fact, it’s been nearly six years since we posted our first blog and we’ve been keeping up with our commitment to add a new blog each and every business day of the week since then. Considering that, we’d argue that our company website contains the most informative content of any promotional products business out there!

And we’re quite proud of that feat. The Synergy Marketing Blog is chock-full of incredibly useful information for business owners of all types. Our blogs have ranged from championing the use of promotional products to finding creative ways to utilize the internet. It’s never short on helpful advice, but we even throw some current event pieces in there now and again. However, there is one thing about our blog that has truly helped us to grow our online reach.

And that would be the way that we promote it. To be honest, we learned this the hard way. For the first couple of years, we didn’t utilize our social media profiles as much as we do now and our blog wasn’t so popular. You see, posting content to your website is a great idea. But it’s important to get the word out about it. After all, who’s going to read your blog if no one knows that it exists? As a result, we make sure to stay on top of promoting each and every blog post.

“Writing your latest blog post and hitting publish is just the beginning when it comes to growing your subscription base,” writes social media strategist, Rebekah Radice, “If you truly want to gain the attention of your target audience (and Google), then you will need to spend time promoting your content in multiple locations.” On her website, she lists a number of tips to help business owners to promote their latest blog posts.

Here are two big ways to build a buzz for your blog:

1. Take to tweeting. Every blog post on the Synergy Marketing Blog receives no less than two tweets on our official Twitter account. Firstly, we have it set up so that there is always an automatic notification on Twitter that our new blog post has been made live. Secondly, our Twitter account administrator will then go about engaging our audience via a question that our blog post answers. Of course, a link to the blog is always in each tweet.

Interestingly, it seems as if we were taking Radice’s advice without even realizing it. “Post your article to Twitter and then schedule several additional tweets to go out over the course of the week,” she recommends, “To make the most of this strategy, put a new spin on these tweets by changing up your original article title. This allows you to A/B test which verbiage performs and which falls flat.”

2. Follow through on Facebook. What we do on Twitter, we also do on Facebook. This popilar social media site generally encourages discussion by allowing friends and fans to post comments of their own underneath your posts. As well, the posts also encourage “likes”, which help you to determine how much people are interested in what you’ve posted. Each day, we post a link to our blog on our Facebook page along with an audience-engaging question that the blog answers.

It looks like we follow yet another tip that Radice provides! “Make it a habit of posting your article to Facebook with a newly created graphic and a quick and simple status update relevant to your blog on your Facebook page,” she advises, “Don’t forget to provide a link to discussed articles. At the same time, place eye-catching advertisements on Facebook to further promote your new articles.”

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we unveil a few more great ways to build buzz for your blog. And don’t forget to call us directly at 1-877-748-9884 to order your promotional products!

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