18 Nov

4 Ways To Encourage Visits From Holiday Shoppers

Posted in Small Business Advertising on 18.11.15 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_36600585_s-2015With the holiday shopping season now in full swing, business owners from all over Canada are finding ways to encourage more people to enter their stores. And, of course, that makes good sense. After all, there will be more shoppers looking to make purchases over the course of the next several weeks than at any other time of the year. Are you finding ways to take advantage of all of that foot traffic?

Here are four ways to encourage visits from holiday shoppers:

1. Give them a call. There’s nothing like reaching out personally to those who matter most to your business. Sure, you can go ahead and just assume that more customers will be entering the doors of your store over the next month and a half. But, you need to let your best supporters know that you’re thinking of them this holiday season. This will help to ensure that they think of you when considering where to make purchases in the coming weeks.

On EvanCarmichael.com, Melonie Boone champions this idea. “During this time of the year many people are planning and not just for the holidays,” she writes, “Since your competition thinks this is a slow time for business development, it is a great opportunity for you to connect with people on a more personal level. Pick up the phone and call someone who you want to continue a dialogue with. Staying relevant and top of mind is key.”

2. Advertise your company’s uniqueness. What makes your company different? What makes it stand out from the rest? These attributes need to be highlighted when you reach out to those who you wish to encourage visits from. People will be looking for bargains in the coming weeks. It’s important that you advertise, not just your competitive prices, but the facets of your business that bring greater value to the purchases consumers make from you.

On SterlingFunding.com, Karen Erdelac advises that you plug your brand’s competitive edge. “Every company needs to know their niche,” she insists, “Do you offer lower prices than your competitors? Are you located in an extremely convenient part of town? Do you guarantee a time limit for service? Make sure to lead with these flattering aspects when conversing with your customers. These days, they have lots of choices and you want them to think of your business first.”

3. Network at holiday events. You’re bound to be invited to holiday-themed parties if you haven’t been already. Take these opportunities to enjoy yourself, but also network with like-minded industry professionals. Every occasion when you get to meet other business owners provides you with chances to grow your own business. You never know what partnerships may result from attending a party.

“We are all out networking in some way shape or form, it is how I grow my business and can be a very successful tool if done strategically,” admits Boone, “There is nothing wrong with networking to have fun and meet new people but at the end of the day you want to build your business and you cannot have a networking strategy that is all after-hours wine & dines.”

4. Utilize your promo gifts. It’s widely known that we’re now fully entrenched in the season of giving. Don’t miss out on opportunities to be generous to those who matter most to your business. Provide your customers and employees with free promotional items that not only come in handy on a daily basis, but advertise your company as well. To order the best promo products in the business, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884!

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17 Nov

5 Ways To Boost Business This Holiday Season

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 17.11.14 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_14890107_xsWith all of that snow on the ground (it’s coming down now, here in Toronto where Synergy Marketing is headquartered), there’s no denying that winter is here! Never mind what the calendar says. One look outside will tell you that we don’t have to wait until the 21st of December for winter to start. The same can be said about the holiday season. In the business world, the holiday season has been well underway for weeks.

We don’t need the actual holidays to arrive before we start celebrating. To be more specific, as a business owner, you’re called upon to ensure that your company is well promoted throughout November and December. Sure, business is bound to pick up anyways. But with so much more competition during the busiest shopping time of the year, it’s important to better engage customers so that they choose you over the others.

So how do you do that? On TalentEvolution.com, Jared S. Smith writes that “the holidays are a busy time – not just for shoppers but also for businesses. For some companies, holiday sales can determine starting the New Year on a good or not-so-good note.” With that, he provides five solutions for business owners looking to market their companies strongly over the next few weeks. In today’s blog, we’ll analyze his tips.

1. Engage your customers on social media. There’s no surprise that social media is being heralded as a top choice way to communicate your company’s marketing plans. Smith insists that there’s no better time than now to get on Facebook and Twitter to share your warmest holiday wishes while asking questions that will inspire customer responses. The more you engage your friends and followers, the more attention your brand will receive.

2. Email customers to say “Seasons Greetings”. Speaking of engaging others, don’t forget to send out your holiday cards – digitally. These days, sending out personal emails is a perfectly acceptable way to showcase the personal touches you’re willing to add to your customer interactions. “Incorporate holiday images, themes, content or offers to your monthly newsletter,” suggests Smith, “Also, you can simply wish them well for the holiday season and New Year with a holiday e-card.”

3. Add to your SEO program. Evidently, Smith believes in the power of the internet. And, in this day and age, who doesn’t? “Develop content for your website that is holiday-based,” he recommends, “Offer shopping and gift ideas, safety tips or party information. Make it personal when possible, and use this chance to make your customers feel closer to your business.” This is where regular blogging will definitely help you. Trust us, we know!

4. Special offers draw in new customers. “Discounts and special offers encourage potential customers to take action,” says Smith, “When people realize there is only a short time to take advantage of such deals, they are more likely to act.” This is also the time of year when people are looking for the best bargains. With all of the extra spending they plan on doing, offering them chances to save money will attract a lot of interest your way.

5. Customers love freebies. Now where have you heard that before? At Synergy Marketing, we know all too well how important it is to offer customers free promotional gifts. “Investing in an array of promotional freebies is a terrific way to engage customers,” Smith agrees, “If funds are tight, offer a printable item such as a calendar after customers provide their email address.” As you know, Synergy Marketing offers the best promo products in the business!

Call us to order yours at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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05 Nov

5 Budget-Friendly Holiday Marketing Strategies

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 05.11.14 by John Meloche

Red price tags on white 2For the past couple of days, the Synergy Marketing Blog has been dedicated to ways to make your holiday season the most successful one that it has ever been. There are, of course, numerous ways that you can make this happen. And that means that our blog will be paying a lot of attention to this concept in the coming weeks. As always, we enjoy providing as much information as possible to help Canadian businesses owners succeed.

That’s what it means to be in the business of marketing. Sure, we offer our clients the best promo products in the business. But our daily blogs also serve as excellent reminders about the ways in which we can promote your businesses to your best abilities. And as we’ve been saying all week, the holiday season is the best time to go heavy on business promotion. What better time of year to make the most of your marketing efforts?

This train of thought is also communicated by Katie Murray in a post found on the U.S. Small Business Administration Blog when she points out that “the holiday season is quickly approaching, and the time is now to make sure you get the most of your marketing efforts to help secure sales success in the coming months.” She goes on to provide some cost-effective ideas to help get you going. Here are five.

1. Social Media Contests. As usual, social networking is a major part of the type of business advertising advice doled out these days. Murray suggests that you use your Facebook and Twitter profiles to hold contests that will engage your customers. Come up with some simple rules and be sure to incorporate a clever hashtag to get people talking about your contest so that they get involved. It’s a great way to “drum up excitement”, she insists.

2. Holiday Help. You can use social media for things other than contests, of course. Just as our blogs seek to do, your daily social media posts can offer great advice during a time of year that is stressful for a lot of people. It’s all about making the lives of your customers easier, says Murray. Be sure to discuss ways that your business can alleviate the pressures of holiday shopping among other stresses. Don’t forget to use those helpful hashtags!

3. Email. And, by the way, social media profiles aren’t the only ways you can utilize the internet to get your holiday marketing strategies off and in full swing. Murray encourages us not to forget that “email remains inexpensive and easy to implement when it comes to maintaining contact with existing customers.” Be sure to use email only with those you have already done business with, so as to not put people off by what they may perceive as spam, she warns.

4. Extra Appeal for Your Loyal Customers. The holidays are a great time to get your loyal customers to feel special. Murray writes that making the effort to offer them special offers, sneak previews, free shipping or secret sales can help them to provide you with repeat business and referrals. The holiday shopping season is bound to bring more customers to your store to begin with. Why not encourage them to come back well into the new year?

5. Special Events or Open Houses. “Make your small business stand out by hosting an open house or special event at your store or restaurant,” writes Murray, “Use it to showcase holiday season gifts, menus and merchandise so customers can get a glimpse of your seasonal goods in advance. Pair the browsing with light refreshments – a mug of hot cocoa or a glass of cider – to get people in the holiday spirit.”

And don’t forget to get your hands on the perfect holiday promo gifts. Call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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06 Dec

Boosting Your Brand With Holiday Promotions

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 06.12.13 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_31650277_xsIt’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And with the big day just a few short weeks away, your customers will be on the hunt for the perfect gifts. Do you offer them? In many ways, you do. No matter what you sell, there is a customer out there who wants it. Obviously, for that customer to walk through your doors to get it, he or she must be encouraged.

Your encouragement comes through the form of a solid marketing strategy. And on HuffingtonPost.com, Kristy L. Campbell offers tips that she believes will make the “perfect holiday promotion”. The Synergy Marketing Blog has been discussing this list for the past few days. We’ve found that although the tips are simple, they can be highly effective.

In today’s blog, we will conclude our look at this list of tips. Here’s hoping our blogs have helped you to think of some new ways to promote your brand this holiday season. With an increase in the number of shoppers you’ll have the chance to promote to, you’re bound to form new relationships. And these relationships are bound to boost your business.

Light the way with email. As much as social media has supposedly taken over, it has not knocked off the power of email. Email is still a great way to “nurture relationships with old and new customers,” says Campbell, “Segment your email list to send targeted and relevant promotions. Invite online and offline customers to opt in to your list for special deals and early notifications.”

Your emailing list can be utilized well into the new year, especially if you’re able to increase the number of people on it. Don’t be afraid to ask for your holiday shopping customers to sign up to your newsletter. Let them know that it will provide them with many benefits, and be sure to stick to your word. There’s nothing wrong with providing exclusive discounts every now and again.

Promotional products. Our exclusive addition to Campbell’s list of tips is one that we couldn’t do without. All year round, Synergy Marketing specializes in providing business owners with methods of business promotion that are both cost-conscious and highly effective. Promo gifts have worked wonders for decades. Any business owner who has used them to promote his or her business knows this.

And since this is the season of giving, there is no better time of year to hand out your gifts to your customers. Make a personal impression that is bound to last for many years to come. This will be especially important over the next couple of weeks. And you can make great impressions with the gifts Synergy Marketing has to offer, whether you’d like to invest in holiday-themed gifts or those that are useful all year round.

It’s a simple as calling 1-877-748-9884. Speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales reps today. They are experts at coming up with the perfect gift to promote your business. With so many to choose from, you may need assistance in getting the one that will work best for your brand. From our Synergy Marketing family to yours, have a very happy holiday season!

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