03 Aug

3 Ways To Make Long Weekends Work To Build Your Brand

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Synergy Suggestions on 03.08.15 by John Meloche

img-terrain-water-bottle-logo-1024x1269Here’s hoping you’re having an excellent long weekend! And while the Synergy Marketing offices will be closed today in order to observe Simcoe Day, we just want to remind you that we will be open for business bright and early tomorrow morning (August 4th). Long weekends are loved all throughout the country. For most people, they represent an additional day off of work to spend time with family and friends.

To business owners, however, long weekends still entail a great deal of work. In many cases, the work involves ways to bring new customers through the doors. After all, most retailers like to keep their doors open in the hopes that everyone else, who is off work, may be interested in doing some shopping. As a result, it’s important to implement a few ways to intrigue such customers to visit you.

Here are three ways to make long weekends work to build your brand:

1. Attend summer festivals. This past Saturday was the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival Parade. Affectionately referred to as “Caribana” (its former official name) by most people, it’s an amazing display of costumes, music and food that often brings over a million people to the downtown Toronto area each year. Were you in attendance this year? A number of Synergy Marketing’s team attended, as they regularly do.

On ThoughtReach.com, Brian Morris advises that you attend such summer festivals in order to make an impression on the many visitors that you’ll end up meeting at these events. “Rent booth space at popular festivals your customers attend, then run a contest that collects contact information in return for a chance to win a prize,” he recommends, “Follow up with customers once the festival is over.”

2. Utilize the weather to create a new promotional campaign. One of the greatest aspects of the summertime is the wonderfully warm and sunny weather that usually comes with it. It not only encourages more people to come outside of their homes, but it offers business owners ample opportunities to spark new marketing campaigns. Morris writes that you should be using the hot weather to your advantage.

“Launch a fun campaign that gets customers to your location during the dog days of summer by offering a discount based on how high the temperature climbs,” he advises, “You’ll be able to land sales on days when customers would otherwise stay indoors. Of course, make sure your location is air-conditioned to keep them inside longer.” Morris also encourages business owners to give out promotional items that address hot weather needs.

3. Give out “hot weather” promotional gifts. Hot days give you the perfect opportunities to find new ways to please your customers. Obviously, people will be looking for ways to cool down. “Coolie cups, fans, water bottles and other promotional items are perfect for summer marketing,” Morris reminds us, “Give them away to anyone who enters your location on hot days.” Lucky for you, Synergy Marketing provides the best hot weather promotional gifts in the business!

Water bottles just so happen to be among our specialities. And we just so happened to add a new water bottle to our already-amazing line of products! The Terrain Water Bottle is a 750ml stainless steel water bottle with a handy drink spout. It’s is also BPA free. As our clients have long experienced, handing out water bottles to customers during the summer is an excellent way to grow and sustain a happy customer base. You can’t go wrong with this one!

To order the Terrain Water Bottle or any other promotional product of your choice, please call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884!

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20 Jul

3 Great Employee Morale-Boosting Ideas

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 20.07.15 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_12131179_s-2015Last week, we threw some ideas your way to help boost both employee morale and productivity at your company. In-office competitions – done the right way – can go long way in helping to lift the spirits of your workers. It’s really important to have a motivated staff. It’s long been known by business owners everywhere that a happy staff is a productive one. So other than injecting some friendly competitiveness in your office, what can you do to boost employee morale?

Here are three great ideas:

1. Flip things around. Monotony can be a killer. One of the easiest ways to drain your employees of any enthusiasm is to force them into the exact same routines day in and day out. Flipping things around a little bit will go a long way in making work interesting for your staff members. Even the slightest alterations to things like work schedules, office music and lunch breaks can serve to improve the mood in your workplace.

“When an employee comes in at the same time, to the same place, and does the same things in the same order every day, you can’t blame them for feeling bored or discouraged,” writes Jayson Demers of Inc.com, “Changing up the routine can have a dramatic effect on morale, even if the changes are temporary or subtle. Make alterations to the scenery around the office, or rotate your lunch break schedules, or take impromptu company breaks.”

2. Don’t ignore employee frustrations. Every company has employees that are unhappy about something. And we’re sorry to say, that includes yours! Not to worry. There’s a way to better things around your offices. Listen to the feedback of your team members and use it to improve your company’s policies. It could be as simple as having more toilet paper available in the restrooms! Ignoring employee frustrations will definitely hurt your team’s morale.

“Even with well-deserved compliments and concrete goals to work toward, it’s completely normal for your team members to experience moments of low team morale,” says Ashley Fidel on TheMuse.com, “Proactively find out from your team members why they’re feeling down and what you could do to better manage them. These conversations can be awkward at first, but they’re also a great way to get honest and helpful feedback.”

3. Acknowledge special achievements. You may be surprised to know just how far a “thank you” and a pat on the back can go. Employees love to be acknowledged for their hard work. And they deserve it! Alternatively, not acknowledging jobs well done can work to demotivate members of your team. Consider different ways that you can publicly show appreciation to the members of your staff who have made special achievements.

This tip is highly encouraged by Demers. “When one of your teams accomplishes their goals, congratulate them and thank them for their contributions,” he advises, “When an individual performs exceptionally well, congratulate him or her personally and publicly. Your goal should be to create an environment where people realize their work is appreciated.” And do you know the best way to show your appreciation?

Give your deserving employees gifts! At least, this is what we feel, here at Synergy Marketing. For many years, we have been proving that when employees receive promotional gifts from their bosses, it greatly helps to strengthen team spirit and overall morale in the office. We proudly offer a wide array of amazing promotional gifts for you to choose from. Simply give us a call at 1-877-748-9884 to order yours today!

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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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24 Mar

Promo Gifts Proven To Outperform Radio And TV Ads

Posted in Promotional Products on 24.03.15 by John Meloche

Tv and radio mediasIn yesterday’s blog, we unveiled a number of telling statistics about promotional products and their effectiveness worldwide. With Europe-based studies confirming that business owners are as successful using them out there as business owners are using them, here in Canada, it stands to reason to suggest that promotional products are the best ways to advertise small to medium-sized businesses. The bottom line is that they work!

The PSI website, reveals that the German Promotional Product Association (GWW) had the market research institute, DIMA conduct a study in January 2012. Its objective was to examine the advertising impact of 28 different promotional products. The study, which drew its results from over 2,000 respondents, overwhelmingly found that promo gifts were, indeed, more successful than radio and TV advertisements in conveying positive brand messaging.

The main reason is because promo gifts can be used continually. While radio and TV commercials come and go within a matter of seconds, promotional products have staying power. Because they each perform a function, they do more than simply remind recipients of the company that gave the gift out. They continually inspire positive feelings about the company by offering a usefulness that can be depended upon time after time.

According to PSI, the results of the survey show that people tend to use their promo gifts quite frequently. “On average, they are used once daily, thus enabling one advertising contact opportunity every day,” reports the site, “The test participants also remembered promotional products which they already had for five years and longer. Such ‘Advertising Touchrates’ can hardly be found for classic advertising methods such as TV, print media and radio.”

It’s important to consider how memorable your advertising method is. While commercials may have lasting impression due to their entertainment value, they don’t always work to actually sell the product or service being advertised. Promo products, on the other hand, help for people to better recall the advertiser. This was another finding of the survey conducted by DIMA, according to the PSI website.

“Promotional products also came out ahead in the ‘recall’ segment,” it reads, “more than 50 per cent of the test participants could remember the brand or company name. Analyses of other advertising media only resulted in a brand recall rate of 28 per cent for TV (source: ARF) or 25 to 38 per cent for radio (source: RMS).” Consider, as well, the cost-effectiveness of using promo gifts as an advertising choice.

Producing radio and television commercials can be incredibly costly. This is why we are all so used to seeing such ads from major corporations versus small businesses. Patrick Politze is the Director of the GWW. He stated as much when he said that “the advertising impact study shed light on the fact that promotional products are among the most cost-efficient forms of advertising. If the promotional product is applied properly, it is far superior to other forms of advertising with regard to central impact indicators such as recall, likeability or image transfer.”

It’s time to get in on the action! As mentioned, Synergy Marketing has a wide array of promotional products to choose from. Pens, key chains, knives, tools, flashlights, water bottles and so much more are all available. We’re especially proud of our new line of promo gifts. Be sure to ask one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales reps about them. Order the promotional product of your choice by calling us at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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10 Nov

5 Benefits To Handing Out Holiday Cards To Customers

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 10.11.14 by John Meloche

Xmas-CD-2011-160x160‘Tis the season to be merry! And if you’re a business owner, having this philosophy will do your company a great service in the coming weeks. You see, we’re officially now at the time of year when spreading holiday cheer is the norm. But more importantly, it can be quite a lucrative practice for you. Naturally, the increase in the number of shoppers coming your way will give your more opportunities to build stronger relationships.

And making sure to pass along warm holiday wishes is the ideal way to grow those connections. One way to achieve that is to hand out holiday greeting cards. It’s an age-old practice that hasn’t lost its lustre over the years. People appreciate kind gestures, especially during this time of year. So there’s no time like the present to hand out these “presents”. StudioMirageGreetings.com agrees and lists five benefits to handing out holiday cards to your customers.

1. It communicates your appreciation. The website states that giving customers Christmas cards is the perfect way to show how much you appreciate them. It lets them know that they are special. According to the site, “the holiday card will allow you to convey a personal message. Your clients will know that they are important to you and this will also help in maintaining customer loyalty.”

2. It strengthens relationships. As we mentioned before, your kind gesture of a holiday card will help to build the relationships you’ve been developing with your customers. No matter the business type, clients appreciate their interactions with companies over and above the actual products and services they pay for. As StudioMirageGreetings.com points out, the holiday season provides “a good opportunity to acknowledge your working relationship and extend a friendly gesture.”

3. It markets your business to new clients. As great as holiday cards work to grow the relationships you’ve already made, they work just as well in growing your client base. “They enable you to put your business name out there,” reads the website, “Sending cards to prospective clients shows them that you are willing to go the extra mile by taking the time to send them a personal greeting during the busy Christmas season.”

4. It provides a personal touch. There are many informal ways to express thanks. A holiday card is not one of them. This is especially true when you are thanking your employees. “Show your appreciation to employees and co-workers by giving them a greeting card with a personal message,” advises StudioMirageGreetings.com, “Acknowledgement of employee effort is good for morale and in maintaining good communication and work productivity.”

5. It helps you to stay organized. Admittedly, sending out holiday cards may take up a bit of your time. But considering how important a gesture it is and how much it can benefit your business, it’s certainly worth doing. Organizing your time this holiday season will be of paramount importance. “Stepping it up” to organize your time will hopefully become a practice that you carry on right into the new year.

At Synergy Marketing, we can do you one better than a traditional holiday card. We offer cards that come with wonderful holiday CDs! They make the perfect promotional giveaways during the holiday season. The CDs include 12 memorable holiday classics and the two different card designs are not dated so that can be used year after year! To place your order, give us a call at 1-877-748-9884!

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27 Oct

5 Tips To Ringing In A Lucrative Holiday Season

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 27.10.14 by John Meloche

Christmas tree ornaments on the clotheslineWell, we’re officially in the last week of October. And you know what that means. Halloween is almost here! But, for business owners all over Canada, it also means that the holiday season is just about to begin. Can you believe it’s that time of year already? Before you know it, shops of all kinds will be displaying Christmas colours and decorations in order to celebrate the holiday season. What will you be doing to celebrate?

More importantly than just celebrating are the ways in which you will be promoting your business during the holidays. Naturally, the upcoming season encourages more people to do a lot more shopping. So that means that you’ll have many new opportunities to welcome new customers into your store. How will you advertise to them? It’s important to not simply assume that business will pick up.

And even it does – which it will – it’s important to impress your customers in ways that will encourage them to return to your store long after the holidays are over. On SocialSolutionsCollective.com, Nancy Babcock writes that “with advance planning and a well-thought out fall marketing strategy you can position your business to ring in the holiday season with a minimum of stress and sleigh full of success.” Here are five tips.

1. Plan Your Strategy. “Begin with a thorough review of your holiday campaign from last year to determine what should be repeated, tweaked or avoided,” writes Babcock. Letting your client base know that your place of business has much to offer them during the holiday season is an important way to ensure that they walk through your doors. Consider offering special coupons for discounts or gifts with each purchase.

2. Use Facebook. Is there ever a bad time to use Facebook to promote your business? We think not. Babcock suggests that you begin your holiday campaign via social media by offering “exclusive holiday discounts or insider sales for your followers. “Announce upcoming specials and offers; add eye-catching images along with your status,” she continues, “Ask your customers to post a review and analyze their engagement and interaction to your product or service.”

3. Use Twitter. You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone recommending Facebook who doesn’t recommend Twitter as well. This awesome and incredibly popular social networking platform offers many unique opportunities to spread the word about your company’s holiday promotions. “Host tweet chats for target market areas. Use a tag to invite your local followers to tweet parties and discuss gift ideas with your target audience,” suggests Babcock.

4. Use Pinterest. Evidently, Babcock strongly believes in the power of social media. Who doesn’t, right? Pinterest is another great promotional tool, she reminds us. “Pinterest has new contest guidelines,” she informs, “If you host a holiday contest, make sure that your contest rules are clearly posted on your board or profile and that you follow the updated Pinterest Brand Guidelines. Pinterest wants people to pin based on inspiration and creativity.”

5. Use E-mail. Tried and true emailing is still an effective method for informing your customers about your store’s special deals and holiday events. Babcock encourages you to draft email newsletters to offer your client base compelling content that will draw more of their interest to you. “Strategically create subject lines with captivating ‘calls to action’ so your email stands out amidst the deluge of the competitions,” she advises.

And hey, don’t forget to give out those amazing promotional gifts of yours! Be sure to place your order for them by calling Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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22 Oct

5 More Cost-Conscious Ways To Market Your Small Business

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 22.10.14 by John Meloche

business touching  with statistics graphIn yesterday’s blog, we revisited the topic of marketing your small business on a small budget. After all, that’s often what it means to have a small business, right? Not every business owner in the world is working with piles of cash that can be thrown at their marketing campaigns. And there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, small business owners have unique opportunities to develop stronger relationships with their customers.

That’s because, unlike major corporations, small businesses have owners that often work on the front lines. They get to meet their customers directly and develop relationships that can last long into the future. At Synergy Marketing, we know just how impactful our promotional gifts can be in this entire process. More than just conversation starters, our promo gifts help to grow relationships that often begin with signs of generosity.

Naturally, when a gift is given, it’s a sign of generosity that isn’t soon forgotten. Just as beneficial to business owners is the fact that our promo gifts are relatively cheap when compared to traditional modes of advertising. But as Susan Solovic points out on ConstantContact.com, there are many other cost-effective marketing strategies that can work wonders for the small business owner. In today’s blog, we’ll take a look at the second half of her list of ideas.

1. Create buzz. With the advent of social media, creating buzz can be a lot easier than it used to be. But that doesn’t mean you should just stick to tweeting and posting comments on Facebook. It requires making your business newsworthy. That way, you can get others to tweet and post comments about you. More importantly, you may want to send press releases to members of the media to see if you can get some coverage in popular local publications.

2. Ask for referrals. “Don’t be shy about asking for customer referrals,” insists Solovic, “The majority of people say they are willing to provide a referral if asked, but very few take the initiative to do it on their own. Referrals make it easier to get in the door with new customers. If you aren’t asking for them, you are missing opportunities.” Our experience has shown that promo gifts have long been great ways to inspire referrals from customers.

3. Build relationships. This is one of the overall themes of small business marketing. It goes a lot further than just selling products. It’s all about developing relationships to grow a loyal customer base. Not to mention, “it is a lot less expensive to keep a customer than it is to get a new one,” Solovic reminds us, “That’s why establishing strong relationships with your customer base is crucial. One of the ways you can do that is by launching an email campaign.”

4. Offer coupons. As mentioned, people love getting things for free. But they also certainly appreciate getting items at discounted rates. When you save your customers money, you ensure that you have happy customers. In addition, “coupons are a good way for many businesses to attract new customers. Research shows that people will go out of their way to use a coupon, proving that this method is successful in expanding your customer base,” writes Solovic.

5. Give it away. It all comes down to freebies again, doesn’t it? And you don’t have to take our word for it. As Solovic explains, “if someone has the opportunity to experience your product or service, chances are they will want to purchase more. Don’t be afraid to give someone a free trial or a sample. In today’s economy, people are more comfortable purchasing something they have been able to experience first.”

Looking for some great gifts to give away? Call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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20 Aug

6 Steps To Conducting Business Meetings The Right Way

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 20.08.14 by John Meloche

Mixed group in business meetingRunning a successful business requires the cooperation of several people. In some cases, that may only be two people. And in others, it requires the unification of a large group. No matter the size of your business, teamwork is an imperative part of making it grow and prosper well into the future. And how can you ensure that all of your staff members are on the right page? It’s important to conduct business meetings the right way.

Now, this may seem like an easy task. And it may also seem like a no-brainer piece of advice. All business owners know how to hold business meetings, right? But are they holding them in a way that promotes productivity and efficiency? On Chron.com, Louise Balle writes that “sometimes a meeting isn’t productive due to the lack of well-established rules.” She goes on to offer a number of steps to help guarantee a worthwhile outcome.

1. Start on time. A lot of business meetings get off to an unproductive start simply because they do not start on time. Balle insists that you call your meeting to order at its scheduled start time regardless if people are running late or not. Latecomers, she says, will simply have to catch up during or after the completion of the meeting. This will encourage everyone to show up on time. Those who consistently do not will require some feedback about their tardiness.

2. End on time. Sticking to a schedule is important. Remember that all meeting participants have jobs to do and keeping them in meetings longer than expected can inhibit their plans to meet deadlines on projects that they are working on. Keeping your meetings within specific times will help you to address all of your concerns effectively. “If you can’t cover all of the points within the allotted time, move it to the agenda of the very next meeting,” suggests Balle.

3. Take minutes. It’s important to be able to recall the points made at your meetings. This will be the best way to follow up with your team to ensure that they are following suit on the various plans that you’ve set forth. Having a record of what was discussed will keep you on track. “Ask a secretary or other meeting participant to take minutes at every business meeting so that everyone will recall what was discussed and decisions made,” advises Balle.

4. Pass out a written meeting agenda. To clarify the direction of your meeting, each participant should receive literature covering the major points to be covered. Balle writes that it should also cover how long each point will be discussed during the meeting while allowing time for discussion about these points. As well, she notes that the minutes from the last meeting should be handed out as well. This will keep everyone in the loop about the company’s progress.

5. Introduce guests before the meeting begins. Sometimes your meetings will call for a guest speaker. You may know some industry experts who you’ve had the opportunity to meet over the course of your career. Perhaps, you could hire a motivational speaker who is an expert at boosting employee morale. Don’t leave your speaker or your meeting participants hanging. Start the meeting off with a proper introduction.

6. Summarize the purpose of the meeting. Balle suggests that when the meeting begins, you inform your staff about the various points you plan on covering. You’ll notice that her tips insist upon being very thorough and forthright with your employees. Ensuring that everyone knows what will be discussed is an important step in getting the meeting off on the right foot. Then begin with the first item on the agenda, she advises.

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we unveil some more tips on how to conduct the perfect business meeting!

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05 Aug

6 Great “Back To School” Marketing Ideas

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 05.08.14 by John Meloche

Three schoolboys isolated on white backgroundOkay, it’s time to finally admit it. While most of us are still telling ourselves that “there is still plenty of summer left, the “back to school” season is officially upon us. At this time, next month, the kids will be headed back into class and that means that parents will need to prepare starting now – if they haven’t already. As a business owner, that also means that you have yet another opportunity to take advantage of an important time of year.

Are there ways that you can create “back to school” promotions to encourage more customers to visit your store this month? Of course, there is! And on Ntent.com, Patricia Garcia writes that “whether you are selling clothing, school supplies, or dorm furniture, there are lots of ways you can attract school shoppers to your business and take advantage of this busy shopping season.” Here are five “back to school” marketing ideas she shares, and one of our own!

1. Think outside the box. Not all business types are considered those that are necessary for school supplies. So if you’re an owner of one of those businesses, consider a creative approach to attracting new customers in the coming weeks. Garcia suggests tying in a “healthy school lunch ideas” promotion for those in the food industry or special discounts for parents and teachers at hair salons, gyms and spas.

2. Put yourself in your consumer’s shoes. Are you a parent? Hey, you know what it’s like to be a student, don’t you? Consider the needs of your audience and how to best address them. It’s important to understand their mindset, says Garcia. “This is a busy time for your consumers as they are rushing to get everything they need before school starts so it is important to communicate budget, quality, and ease of shopping in your promotions,” she writes.

3. Promote your business across a variety of channels. As Garcia points out, modern technology allows you to advertise your company in a variety of ways. It’s important to make use of all the outlets that you can to promote your latest “back to school” specials. They include “your website, mobile site, social media accounts, email promotions, and any form of online or local advertising,” she reminds us.

4. Show support for local schools and causes. Is there a better way to boost your “back to school” specials than to have actual schools support it? One way to achieve this is for you to show your support to your local schools. “Create a promotion for your products or services and have a portion of the proceeds be donated to a local school,” suggests Garcia, “You can also partner with schools to sponsor school-related events or fundraisers.”

5. Hold a “Last Chance” Sale. “With all the hustle and bustle and rush to be prepared for when classes start, parents are on the lookout for the quickest solution to their problems, at the best price,” writes Garcia, “’Last chance’ sales mirror this sense of urgency by offering last-minute discounts on quality products to draw customers in.” This will encourage customers who may have been putting off making their purchases to buy from you with a greater sense of urgency.

6. Hand out school-themed promotional gifts. At Synergy Marketing, we believe that all marketing strategies work better when promotional gifts are involved. For your “back to school” promotion, hand out some great gifts that can be used in the classroom. Rulers, markers, tape measures and mouse pads are just a few of our favourite ideas. And we have the best ones around! To place an order, simply call us at 1-877-748-9884.

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04 Aug

Summer Festivals Are Perfect For Promo Gift Giving

Posted in Promotional Products on 04.08.14 by John Meloche

Young couple applaudingIs there any time of year that is more fun than the summertime? In the City of Toronto this past weekend, there were so many different festivals taking place, that it was hard to not enjoy yourself! The great weather only added to the excitement as events such as the Toronto Caribbean Carnival and Scarborough Ribfest, among others, brought out hundreds of thousands of people to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells.

We’re hoping that the rest of Canada has had as much fun as Toronto has in recent days. The party only continues as today’s Civic Holiday has given us all an extra day off of work to take in more of the festivals that our cities have to offer. Jambana continues from yesterday just north of Toronto in Markham, Ontario while Ribfest concludes in Scarborough. Of course, there are many other events taking place throughout the city that people can enjoy.

Today’s blog, however, isn’t all about celebrating our city and the many great festivities that make it a great place to be during the summer. It’s a message to business owners to remember that when people are out having fun, they present perfect opportunities to make new friends. And by making new friends, we mean gaining new customers! But how can you do that if you’re joining them in all that fun?

Promotional gifts. “Promo gifts are great for the summertime festivals,” reported one of our awesome clients just last week, “People are in great moods already so it makes it a lot easier to approach them to say ‘hello’. I tend to make a bit of small talk and then hand them a promotional pen and I find it goes over very well. I always find that I increase the number of visitors to my store by doing this each summer.”

Another way to make your promotional gifts work for you at these festivals is to become a sponsor of them. Naturally, when you put a little bit of money into being a festival sponsor, you will have the name of your brand promoted heavily both before and at the actual event. When the event arrives, your presence will be well recognized. Use this opportunity to meet with locals and have them leave with something special to remember you by.

“There’s no question that promo gifts work better than business cards,” stated our client, “They make people smile right way, I find. And that’s because they know that the gifts are actually valuable. I see other business owners passing out flyers, but by the end of the night, they’re all over the ground. I know that my promo gifts are going home with the people that I gave them too. It’s a much better idea for businesses to give out promo gifts.”

So what special event do you plan on attending today? If you’re headed over to a festival without your promo gifts, you’re surely losing out on a great opportunity to grow your customer base. Who doesn’t like getting something for free? And what better chance will you have to give a wide range of people awesome reminders about where to shop if they are in need of your goods and services?

Don’t leave home empty handed again! And at the next summer festival you attend, be sure to have its visitors not leave empty handed either. Synergy Marketing offers a wide range of promo gifts including pens, Frisbees, water bottles, key chains, sunglasses, flashlights and so much more. Getting your hands on the perfect promo gift for your business is as simple as giving us a call at 1-877-748-9884!

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