30 Jun

3 Ways To Use Holidays To Grow Your Company’s Success

Posted in Social Media, Synergy Suggestions on 30.06.15 by John Meloche

Watermelon pieces arranged as bar chart. Fresh summer business concept..For most people, holidays mean days off of work. For business owners, however, holidays generally mean opportunities to promote their brands. In other words, entrepreneurs don’t generally take days off. And while the nation gets prepared for a day off from work during Canada Day tomorrow, many business owners will be using the day to grow their brands. This is a trend that is growing worldwide.

The South African-based My Digital Hand website communicates this, noting that the nation has 13 public holidays a year. While admitting that holidays can deprive certain businesses of sales, they shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as hindrances to business success. “The Public Holidays are superb for business, or marketing at the very least and South Africans generally don’t exploit the value unlike in America where every holiday is used for marketing and even the less official ones,” says the website.

Here are three ways to use holidays to grow your company’s success:

1. Offer holiday specials. Even if you plan on closing your doors on Canada Day – as most businesses will – you can certainly still celebrate the nation by offering special deals on your products and services throughout the week. This will help to circumvent the loss of sales you’ll encounter during the one day that your business is closed. As with every other holiday, it’s important to acknowledge Canada Day by doing something special to attract more customers.

On Entrepreneur.com, Starr Hall communicates this when discussing the end-of-year holiday season. “If you don’t provide a holiday special or offer…you are doing (your customers) – and your business – a grave disservice,” she writes, “Any product or service can be repackaged with a holiday offer or theme. Search online to see what other companies are offering; it might spark an idea or two for your business.”

2. Utilize social media. Your store’s doors may be closed during Canada Day, but your social media profiles should remain very active. Obviously, there is no scheduled downtime for social media use. So, it would be wise to keep active on Facebook and Twitter so that your customers are continually reminded about your brand, even when they can’t visit its physical location. This is especially important for companies that take advantage of e-commerce.

“Your website and your social media as well as other online assets are tools that need to be used and are often heavily underutilized,” insists My Digital Hand, “Your website needs to be alive, needs to be fresh and needs to be current. Your social media is the mouthpiece to give your website and business life and it goes beyond that by being part of the wider social dialogue. Sadly so many companies, large and small are missing out.”

3. Send holiday greetings. Whether it is through social media or direct emails, find a way to let your customers know that you haven’t forgotten about them. More importantly, offering genuine expressions of goodwill such as “Happy Canada Day!” can go a long way in giving customers very favourable impressions of you. Hall notes that many business owners mistakenly think that when offices are closed for holidays, most people are too busy to be bothered.

She sees such a perspective as a sign of laziness. “If you choose not to follow up with leads or customers because it’s a busy time of year, you’re making excuses,” Hall believes, “Although the holiday season is hectic for most, for some businesses it’s actually the slowest and the best time to pick up the phone and make a call for their business. If it’s not the holidays, it’ll be the New Year, or Spring break, then summer.”

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29 Jun

Summertime Promo Gifts Make For Great Impressions

Posted in Promotional Products on 29.06.15 by John Meloche

protour-logo-white-1024x1269With summer now officially in full swing, most people have the word “holidays” on their minds – and with good reason. School is out, making it the perfect time of year to take a vacation. Most Canadian business owners think with different mindsets, however. There really is no set-in-stone vacation time as work is never “out” the way that school is during the summer. Business owners are always working.

And that goes for the holidays, as well. Take, Canada Day, for example. This Wednesday, the entire nation will be enjoying a day off from work in order to celebration our country. And while many businesses will be closed for the day, it doesn’t necessarily mean that their owners will be taking the day off. Instead, many of them will be attending Canada Day events with their promotional products in tow.

It makes perfect sense to take advantage of statutory holidays by using them to promote your business. This is especially true for Canada Day as it’s the nation’s first official summer holiday. Outdoor events, celebrating the occasion, will be taking place all over the country. It should go without saying that attending any of these events in an effort to get the word out about your brand would be a good idea.

As we’ve often championed in the past, promo gifts make for the ideal ways to make great first impressions on would-be customers. Especially when those gifts can be utilized during the specific time of year when they are given out, they are amazingly beneficial. Given that it’s the summertime, it would be wise to consider giving out gifts that can be used in the coming months. Our Flying Saucer is a great example.

The summer is a time when hitting the beach or the park for a game of Frisbee is a common occurrence. Our awesome Flying Saucers are the perfect 9-inches in diameter plastic discs for such games. Complete with your company’s name and logo on them, these Flying Saucers are among the best summer-based promotional gifts you can give out. But, of course, we do have others that you can choose from.

Our Aluminum Water Bottles are always popular choices during the summer. Naturally, this time of year brings about much warmer weather. Staying hydrated is an important part of beating the heat. With water bottles bearing your company’s name and logo, you stand the chance of having your company’s good image spread more widely all summer long. But, of course, our catalogue includes a whole lot more!

The golf fans in your client base are in luck. Synergy Marketing proudly boasts a unique set of golf-based promotional gifts for you to choose from. The summertime, of course, makes for the ideal time of year to give out these gifts. The Protour™ Executive Golf Clip is one of the most popular gifts in this category. It includes a golf spike wrench, divot tool, ball marker and a cigar cutter. And that’s not all!

It also comes in a waterproof case with a clear lid and interior form-fit mold for protection and easy identification. The Protour™ Executive Golf Clip easily clips to belts and other loops with its auto-close carabiner. For more information about any of our summertime promo gifts, please don’t hesitate to call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884! It’s time to take advantage of the summertime holidays!

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26 Jun

3 Ways Promo Gifts Have Proven Their Excellence

Posted in Promotional Products on 26.06.15 by John Meloche

img-tumbler-no-handle-logo-1024x1269In yesterday’s blog, we revisited the ever-so-popular topic of promotional gifts and their ability to attract more customers to your business than any other mode of advertising. The statistics speak for themselves. And, as we’ve mentioned in many blogs before, the statistics show that promotional products simply can’t be beat as top-choice advertising tools. Not to mention, they are amazingly affordable when compared to other, more traditional modes of advertising.

If you haven’t yet employed this advertising strategy, perhaps now would be a good time to see just how well it would serve you. For decades, promo gifts have been helping Canadian business owners grow their companies. They are widely heralded as excellent ways to advertise your brand – no matter what industry it belongs to. Wondering just how excellent they are? Well, wonder no more!

Here are three ways promo gifts have proven their excellence:

1. They work as excellent “thank yous”. All business owners should thank their customers. Without your customers, your company wouldn’t survive. Offering a free promo gift as a show of appreciation is a great way to keep a customer loyal. At Synergy Marketing, our many years of experience have proven to us that when customers receive free gifts, they are very appreciative. Showing your gratitude will always go a long way.

On Top7Business.com, Molly Mathis reminds us that your customers aren’t the only people who deserve to be thanked. “You didn’t get where you are all by yourself — your employees helped, which you know well,” she writes, “Give them a tangible thank you gift on their anniversary or your fiscal year-end anniversary. A picnic is wonderful and fun, but something small to take home with them is a real perk! And they will remain happily loyal just for such a small gesture.”

2. They make for excellent “interest sparkers”. Let’s suppose you’re at a trade show. While most of the other business owners are handing out their business cards, you’re handing out your promotional travel mugs. Those mugs are bound to be seen all over that trade show throughout the day. And when people inquire about where they came from, recipients will be directing those individuals to you!

Mathis explains how this strategy once worked for her. “I did a promotion for one of my customers that was not only inexpensive, but brought numerous potential clientele to their booth,” she reveals, “We did personalized Polaroid picture frames and took Polaroid pictures (with a flash) of the folks who came to the booth. The flash brought other onlookers who wanted to get a “keepsake” that was unique and meaningful to take home, too!”

3. They serve as excellent “loyalty builders”. We talk a lot about loyalty on our blog. Customer loyalty is arguably the most coveted result of any marketing strategy. When you have loyal customers, you don’t have to worry about advertising in order to attract new ones. Loyal customers tend to do that work for you. Mathis writes that you should go out of your way to commemorate the loyal customers who have been with you the longest.

“Do you have customers who you want to thank for being with you for ‘X’ amount of years, ‘X’ number of referrals, ‘X’ amount of items purchased from you, or money spent at your place of business?” she asks, “This would be a great thank you to them for helping your business to grow!” At Synergy Marketing, we have a wide variety of promotional gifts that can all serve as excellent ways to grow your customer loyalty.

Call us at 1-877-748-9884 today and ask about our travel mugs!

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25 Jun

3 Stats That May Sway Your Mindset About Promo Gifts

Posted in Promotional Products on 25.06.15 by John Meloche

img-multi-clr-led-logo-1024x1269Promotional products – what’s the big deal right? After all, they’re just regular, everyday items that aren’t all that much to make a fuss over. If this just happens to be your point of view, allow us to kindly inform you that you couldn’t be more wrong! Promotional products are among the world’s most inexpensive, yet effective ways to promote a business in the world. For decades, promo gifts have been proven to be excellent investments.

Perhaps, Ivan Widjaya of Noobpreneur.com puts it best when he says that “if you still think that giving promotional items is just a waste of money, think again.” There are countless reasons as to why promo gifts should be revered as top-choice marketing tools. Of course, your friends at Synergy Marketing are known for singing the praises of the promo product. So, in case you don’t want to take our word for it, perhaps some statistics will sway your mindset.

Here are three:

1. Promo products have been proven to stay on the minds of their recipients. What is more memorable: receiving a flashlight or a business card? Widjaya writes that a 2009 survey conducted by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) found that 94 percent of its respondents “could recall a promotional product they had received in the past two years and 89 percent still remember who the advertiser is in the promotional product.”

This speaks to the fact that promo gifts have staying power. Not only are they remembered, but they are kept. What use is a business card after a person’s number has been stored in a phone? They are often forgotten, lost or thrown out. Pens, flashlights and key chains are items that are incredibly useful on a day-to-day basis. Promo gifts are known for providing daily reminders of where to shop.

2. Promo products have been proven to stay with their recipients. As you may have guessed, PPAI revealed that people hang on to their promo gifts. In addition, recipients commented that they quite liked getting their gifts in the first place. After all, who doesn’t enjoy getting something for free? Getting free gifts is a big part of what makes customers enjoy their shopping experiences.

“83 percent of the survey respondents said that they enjoy receiving promo items, 48 percent would like to receive more giveaways and 69 percent keep the promo items,” Widjaya reveals, “This is grand news, as kept promo items mean your brand name or ad will be exposed well. What if your promotional item lands on a big company CEO’s desk who talks with many people in his/her office every day? Chances are, your brand name will get a nice attention, especially if your promotional item is out of the ordinary.”

3. Promo items are known to convert recipients into loyal customers. Nothing beats customer loyalty. A customer who continually supports your company is one that serves as advertising him or herself. Happy customers often tell others about their experiences. So the happier you make them, the better your chances are of other people hearing about how great you are. Not to mention, happy customers keep coming back!

Widjaya points out that promo gifts, in fact, have the ability to encourage shopping better than any other advertising source – including those that are known for being a lot more expensive! “Also from the same survey, 20.9 percent consumers made a purchase (converted) after receiving a giveaway – compare this to print ad’s 13.4 percent, TV commercial’s 7.1 percent and online ad’s 4.6 percent,” he reveals.

To order the best pens, flashlights, key chains or any other promo products for your business, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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24 Jun

6 Ways That Social Media Can Supersize Your Success

Posted in Social Media on 24.06.15 by John Meloche

Vector social media conceptIn yesterday’s blog, we discussed the importance of networking in the small business world. And, we’re not just talking about social networking. Of course, social media have seemingly taken over as the world’s favourite ways to communicate. So, it stands to reason that social media could take over as the world’s favourite ways to advertise too. As a reminder, face-to-face meetings are still pretty impossible to beat. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid social media.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite. No matter what type of business you run, it’s important to be active on the Facebooks and Twitters of the world. It costs nothing to start up your profiles. It simply takes some time and creativity to really take advantage of them. And, just in case you’re not aware, allow us to inform you that social media has helped to “supersize” the successes of many small businesses.

Here are six ways how:

1. Announcing giveaways. Quite obviously, Synergy Marketing is in the promotional giveaways game. But using social media to promote the fact that your company is offering customers something for free is a great way to get a big buzz going for your brand. “Give away your product or promotional item on Twitter,” suggests entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz on his website, “Ask a question about a product on your website or blog. The first person to answer wins.”

2. Finding and following your clients. It’s important to remember that social media networking is all about interacting. You can’t just expect people to follow you and like and comment on your posts if you’re not doing the same. “Identify your ideal clients and find them on Twitter,” advises Michalowicz, “Then start following them! Spend weeks listening to them; you’ll be amazed what they will tell you about their concerns…It’s a great way to get open honest market research.”

3. Posting links to your blogs. This one definitely goes into the “practice what you preach” section of today’s blog. Each and every day, we post links to our blogs on Facebook and Twitter. Michalowicz recommends that you do the same. “Post links to your articles educating people in your niche market,” he writes, “At the bottom of the article have links to your products & services.”

4. Keeping up with regular interactions. To reiterate, the entire premise behind social media marketing is to interact with friends and followers. It’s definitely a “talk with” and not a “talk at” type of affair. CopyBlogger.com makes this clear when they write that “serious online marketers know that in order to harness the power of social media you need to incorporate a deliberate mixture of listening to your audience, sharing your relevant message (and) enabling others to share your relevant message.”

5. Making links on LinkedIn. For those who don’t know, LinkedIn is a social media platform that specializes in making connections between business owners. It certainly is worth getting your own profile in order to help you interact with other entrepreneurs. “Join as many Linked-In groups as you can that are related to what you sell and post a question or tip on a regular basis,” Michalowicz highly recommends.

6. Playing up the “that’s what friends are for” card. Obviously, social media sites are havens for sharing stories, photos and videos between friends. Michalowicz suggests you take advantage of that. “Your Facebook friends can be your greatest free marketing tools so enlist their help!” he insists, “In Facebook, use the NOTES application to create a special, limited-time ‘friends and family’ promotion…tag all your friends and ask them to pass along your exclusive deal to their own friends.”

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23 Jun

Remembering Why Networking Is So Important

Posted in Small Business Advertising on 23.06.15 by John Meloche

hand pressing Social networkThe massive rise of social media over the past decade has made the term “social networking” a household phrase. But it isn’t like people only started to network once smartphones and computers became top-choice communication methods. Arguably, we have all been “social networking” for centuries. The more you interact with others, the more you are networking…socially!

Doing so without the use of an electronic device, however, is incredibly beneficial for small business owners. It’s very important to get out and meet people. No matter your line of work, you can’t simply rely on social media, your company website and other internet sources to grow the reach of your business. Of course, those avenues will always help. But you simply can’t beat the age old face-to-face meeting.

Meeting someone in person allows you to develop a relationship that is impossible to spark online. Your personable, yet professional demeanour can make impressions that are a lot more meaningful than an online post or email. Therefore, it’s important to attend trade shows and other events where your business contemporaries are bound to be. Remember that the first face-to-face meeting is only the beginning of your networking regimen. Don’t forget to follow up!

“After networking events, make sure to stay connected with those that you meet,” writes Rishi Chowdhury of BusinessInsider.com, “Take a look at the business cards you received and email those people about what you spoke about while it is still fresh in your mind.” He goes on to note that those who feel that they have too much on their plates to attend such events should see them as part of the work that will benefit their businesses.

“You may feel you are too busy to attend these events, but they act as a nice break from being stuck in front of a computer,” Chowdhury writes, “And sometimes they can count as being at work because you are inevitably spreading the name of your business across an audience that can add value to your business—and it’s a great chance to learn something and get ideas. You will see the value in forming and maintaining a strong contact base, which will serve you well for years to come.”

On his website, entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz states that you should never stop growing your network. One way to do that, he writes, is to simply ask those who you network with to introduce you to other people that they network with. “Ask your best, most powerful, most influential friends or business associates to introduce you to the five people they think you should meet to expand your business,” he suggests.

Of course, once you meet those contacts, you can’t just give them a simple phone call. Michalowicz recommends that you take things a step further. “Take each of the contacts out for coffee and get to know them,” he advises, “Discuss your plans and future goals, tell them about why your business is special and ask for their advice. You will be amazed at how these new contacts will pay off ten-fold with recommendations to you for new business and innovative ideas you hadn’t thought of.”

Michalowicz goes on to insist that you “network your networks”. He writes that there is “power in numbers”. And the best way to increase the size of your network is to offer help to others. That way, you don’t come off as someone whose sole interest is to send shameless, company-promoting spam. “If you help them first (by adding value to their life/business), they’ll help you later,” he encourages.

At Synergy Marketing, we have the perfect tools to help with your networking practices. Give us a call at 1-877-748-9884 to order some great promotional products for your business today!

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22 Jun

3 Ways To Celebrate “Business Owner’s Day”

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Social Media on 22.06.15 by John Meloche

Portrait of a happy mature salesperson standing in front of electrical wire spool with arms crossed in hardware storeHere’s hoping you had an excellent Father’s Day! Speaking of which, as a business owner, doesn’t it sometimes feel like you’re a parent? Even if you don’t have kids, the responsibilities that you have towards your company pretty much put you in the position of caregiver. It’s your job to nurture your business so that it grows healthily. With that said, perhaps there should be a Business Owner’s Day to celebrate! There it is. We’ve decided. That’s today!

Happy Business Owner’s Day! Now, how do you plan on celebrating? Like most business owners, you’re probably thinking about ways to grow your company as you read this. Therefore, the best way to celebrate Business Owner’s Day is to find ways to grow your brand. As always, the Synergy Marketing Blog is your useful source of information, tips and tidbits.

So in celebration of you today, here are three ways to celebrate your business:

1. Step up your social media game. If you think you’ve seen this tip on our blog before, you’re not wrong. However, it bears repeating that social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have pretty much become mandatory in today’s business world. Keep in mind that it’s important to actually socialize on social media, and not just advertise. Yes, this may sound like a tedious task – but history has proven that it will pay off.

On his website, entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz writes that using social media is one of the best marketing strategies for small business owners. “Social media is about connecting with the people in your niche: customers, potential customers, people who are interested in what you do, or who share similar interests and circles or hubs with you,” he writes, “It’s about building relationships and networking, not selling, although that does come as a result.”

2. Start up a loyalty program. Another tip that you’ve likely read on our blog in the past is that you should market to your current customers before you attempt to attract new ones. By showing your appreciation to the people who already support you, you put yourself in a position to secure long-lasting loyalty. Setting up a loyalty program can go a long way in making sure that your customers continue coming to you over your competition.

“Small retailers use frequency card or loyalty programs to build store traffic and visit frequency,” reports Rick Suttle on Chron.com, “The objective is to reward customers according to how much they purchase…Create a display that apprises shoppers about your frequency program. Keep applications near the display for customers to fill out. Have people fill out their name, address and email. Issue customers a card that will keep track of their purchases.”

3. Share your expertise with the world. Part of celebrating yourself and your accomplishments as a business owner is sharing what you’ve learned with others. If you can help others to learn from you, it will go a long way in securing a strong reputation. Keep in mind that many people prefer to buy products from companies they trust – not just companies who sell things that they like. Proving that you’re an expert in your field is bound to help grow your customer base.

Michalowicz certainly advocates for this advertising strategy. “Let the public know what you’re an expert at and use that to boost your credibility and value,” he advises, “Publish tips, share your expertise through public speaking, even try pitching the media…make it super easy for people to associate you and your business with excellence and expertise in your field.” Even though we just made it up, here’s hoping you enjoy an excellent “Business Owner’s Day”!

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19 Jun

3 Ways Business Owners Can Take Worry-Free Vacations

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 19.06.15 by John Meloche

Young Business Man Relaxing on Tropical BeachThis coming Sunday has the unique distinction of being both Father’s Day and the official start to summer. Clearly, there will be plenty to celebrate. As a business owner, you may even want to consider planning your own summer vacation. And while this suggestion may sound unrealistic, considering how busy business owners usually are, it can be a big help to your brand. In our past couple of blogs, we have been outlining how it can be a productive decision for a business owner to take a vacation.

There is a method to the madness, of course. While many business owners aren’t able to fully relax the entire time that they are away from the office, it’s important to relax the body and mind so that a return to work with a recharged and rejuvenated spirit can take place. As we’ve pointed out over the past couple of days, leaving someone you can trust in charge while you’re away will greatly help to alleviate any stress that comes with the decision to take a vacation.

There are, of course, a few other details to go over. Here are three ways for business owners to take worry-free vacations:

1. Find a suitable second-in-command. Yesterday’s blog ended with a comment about trust. Trusting one of your employees (most likely, one with a management position) to assume your role while you’re away is an important task. You’ll want to be sure that you can get in touch with that person at any time and that he or she can be trusted to keep things running smoothly while you’re away.

“Identify a ‘Number Two’ in your office, if you haven’t already, and begin grooming that person to run the show while you are away,” advises Brian Barquilla on Entrepreneur.com, “ It doesn’t have to be a promotion or come with a title, it’s just someone you trust that has your back. If you normally have the final word in your office, start asking your Number Two what they would do in that situation, and gain confidence on how they might run the business in your absence.”

2. Make communicating easy. While you don’t want to be checking your emails and voicemails every hour on the hour, you may want to set aside some time to check the various messages that have been left for you. Get in touch with the person who you’ve left in charge to make sure that he or she is returning the most important calls. Also, to keep things smooth, it’s wise to inform your callers that you’re away.

“Set ‘out of office’ messages on e-mail and voicemail,” advises Anya Petersen-Frey on NRtoday.com, “Perhaps set aside an hour each day to check in but leave return date information and a contact person, if applicable, on your message. Do not use your technology (phone, laptop, etc.) for work except during a short specified time period each day during your vacation.” If you’re like most people, you won’t be able to put your phone down if you keep it on you during your trip.

3. Try not to stress the small stuff. Okay, so it is possible that things may not go exactly how you’d like them to while you’re out of the office and on vacation. It’s important not to worry unnecessarily. In fact, the opportunity for your staff members to make mistakes and then learn from them may greatly benefit your business in the long run. It is often said that the best way to learn is to make mistakes.

Barquilla certainly agrees that allowing your staff members to become empowered by their mistakes can go a long way. “It’s likely that some mistakes will be made, but don’t sweat it,” he reassures, “It’s part of the delegation and leadership-development process. I have a rule in my office: If you are going to make a mistake, be sure it is an aggressive one and not a mistake due to inaction.”

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18 Jun

Helping Business Owners To Redefine Vacationing

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 18.06.15 by John Meloche

Business technology and tropical vacationDo business owners ever truly go on vacation? Sure, they can pack their bags, jump on planes and spend time on beaches. But do they ever really stop working? Business owners have their businesses on their minds all of the time. It’s just something that comes with the position. Most can’t help it. But, as we pointed out in yesterday’s blog, business owners need vacations just like everybody else!

And, in fact, taking a vacation can be an important part of a sound advertising strategy. As we mentioned yesterday, vacations can provide busy business owners with the breaks they need to recharge and rejuvenate. Sometimes, getting overwhelmed with the various tasks that are assumed by the owner of a company can hurt a business. It can be hard to concentrate. You can get stressed out. You can simply become exhausted.

“Polls show that less than half of small business owners are likely to take an entire week off for a vacation,” reveals Anya Petersen-Frey on NRtoday.com, “Yet, most business owners work longer hours than others and have a great deal of responsibility. Ironically, most entrepreneurs will agree that taking time away from work is actually good for their productivity, but the fear of missing something or the company ‘falling apart’ keeps them close to home.”

Vacations, however, are necessary for the hard-working entrepreneur. Nicole Fallon of Business News Daily writes that business owners need to learn how to redefine the “vacation”. She notes that no business owner can ever fully unplug themselves from the world of work. Often, they’ll have to call in to check up on their businesses. After all, making sure that things are running smoothly is the job of a business owner. No one else will ever care as much.

Fallon does point out, however, that business owners do have to take some time to relax. Working throughout a vacation completely defeats the purpose of taking one in the first place. “Some business owners feel that, even if they do plan a trip, they’ll need to work the entire time,” she writes, “While you may have to make the occasional call or email during your time away, you should also be able to disconnect and enjoy your vacation.”

She advises that you don’t call in constantly, but instead touch base now and again with someone who you have left in charge. Designating someone to fill your role while you are away is crucial. Your entire staff should know who to turn to when they are in need of assistance or direction. “It can be anyone who knows the business well, but make sure that your other employees know to contact this person in an emergency,” Fallon advises.

Trust plays a big role here. Without it, you won’t ever be able to truly relax and enjoy your vacation. Hopefully, your hiring skills will pay off while you are away. Do you have the right staff members available to do the job while you’re on your trip? “It takes a lot of trust to let your staff run the business without you, but having the right people on board will make this much easier,” says Fallon.

Not surprisingly, Petersen-Frey agrees. “Give your staff, if any, specific instructions on process and the conditions which would require contact with you,” she recommends, “Work closely with any staff to ensure activities vital to the business can be completed. If you are the owner and only employee, give plenty of advance notice to customers that you will be unavailable for a specified time period.”

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we outline some ways that business can take worry-free vacations. And, as always, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 for information about our great promo products!

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17 Jun

3 Ways To Get Your Summer Off To A Sweet Start

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 17.06.15 by John Meloche

Happy business man running and jumping to the sea throwing away formal clothesSummer is coming! As of this Sunday, the summer season will officially be here. Depending on the type of business owner you are, that is either good or bad news. In many cases, it’s good news because you get the opportunity to welcome a slew of new customers who will be coming outside of their homes more often. In other scenarios, it’s bad news because your brand tends to experience slower sales during the time of year when people are busy vacationing.

One thing is for sure, however. The summertime gives you the opportunity to promote your business in a different way. Consider the fact that most people really enjoy the summer. Is there a way that you can advertise your company’s special summer sales, discounts or events? Using this very popular season as a theme to get customers interested in your brand can’t hurt.

Here are three ways to get your summer off to a sweet start:

1. Take a vacation. It may sound like a strange piece of advice considering that taking a break is the complete opposite of working to create a new advertising strategy. But perhaps your long-needed break will serve as part of the strategy. Sometimes, you need to get re-energized. De-stressing and then re-beginning your job can serve as a great way to rejuvenate your efforts. Maybe it’s best you take your vacation before everyone else does anyway!

“As a small business owner, it can seem almost impossible to take time away from work,” admits Nicole Fallon of Business News Daily, “You may think that you can’t afford to go on vacation when you’re in charge of your company’s day-to-day operations, but to protect your own well-being, you really can’t afford not to… The good news is, more small business owners are realizing that a temporary break is essential to their physical, mental and emotional health.”

2. Discover your impact. Okay, so let’s say you do go ahead and take that vacation. Who will be in charge in your absence? Will your business still be able to function? On her website, Grace Marshall writes that it’s important to find out how much of your business relies directly on your efforts. “Does everything stop in your business as soon as you do?” she asks, “Or do your business activities create momentum?”

“The more momentum you can create in your business, the more choice and flexibility you have about when you put the work in, to keep your business going and generating income,” she asserts. Of course, it’s important to have a competent staff taking over while you’re away. “It takes a lot of trust to let your staff run the business without you, but having the right people on board will make this much easier,” writes Fallon.

3. Plan ahead. Often, the summer months put added stress on business owners. This is especially true for those with families. After all, the kids are out of school and your responsibilities as both a parent and a business owner can sometimes become overwhelming. Marshall writes that the “more your reactionary your work is, potentially the higher the stress levels can be when you’re also reacting to children and family commitments.”

Therefore, it’s important to have specific plans set in place so that you’re able to manage any surprise circumstances. “If you have to leap into action as soon as the phone rings, what happens if at that moment, you’ve got a baby screaming, children fighting, or you’re literally in the middle of a rollercoaster ride?” Marshall asks, “At the same time, if your business operates to a strict schedule, how does that work with having your children off school?”

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we work to help business owners redefine what it is to take a vacation. And, as always, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 for information about our great promo products!

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