06 Apr

4 Steps To Making Freebies Work For You

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Synergy Suggestions on 06.04.16 by John Meloche

Free Computer Key In Green Showing Freebie and PromosAll week long, the Synergy Marketing Blog has been focused on the importance of giving things away for free. And why wouldn’t it be? At Synergy Marketing, we’re experts in the “giving things away for free” business. As you know, our promo gifts have long come in handy as marketing tools that help Canadian business owners grow the reach of their companies. But what steps are necessary in order to make freebies work for you?

Here are four:

1. Use freebies to reward loyalty. As most business owners know, marketing strategies should be centered on encouraging repeat business – not just one-time sales. Your objective should be to make people fans of your company. That way, they won’t just support your current marketing efforts, but will be enticed to continue visiting your place of business for years to come. On Top7Business.com, Kate Marsden champions this concept.

Firstly, she suggests that your marketing campaigns be launched with the help of freebies. “Use a free offer to launch a new product or service and get some positive PR going,” she recommends. Marsden also notes that, to keep customers coming back, you should use freebies to thank people for their support. “Use the free offer as an extra reward for loyal customers, especially at the points when you know customers are more likely to leave you,” she advises.

2. Make your offer a “freemium”. What’s a freemium, you ask? As Lee Polevoi explains on Intuit.com, this is when a company offers a basic service for free, but charges a fee for its premium features. He notes that customers that take advantage of such free offers are most often compelled to support the business either right away or in the future. This concept falls in line with the idea of letting people sample your goods to encourage them to buy.

“Freemium offers often involve giving away limited-use software, such as a social game (which costs nothing to download and play), and then charging a premium to unlock advanced features or to purchase related products or services,” Polevoi uses as an example, “Think about the ice-cream shop that invites you to sample its latest flavor on a tiny plastic spoon. Tasting that free sample is your first step toward placing an order, which may end up being two scoops instead of one.”

3. Turn your freebie into a trade-off. It’s true that the idea of giving away something for free shouldn’t necessarily come with any strings attached. But that doesn’t mean that your customers won’t be willing to offer you something in return for your generosity. Marsden recommends that you offer your free products and services to your happiest of customers in return for testimonials about your brand.

4. Use your freebies as contest prizes. Who doesn’t love an opportunity to win something? Contests are often great ways to elicit fun and excitement about your brand. Why not use use particular items as prizes for contests? By requesting people to sign up for your contest, you highly encourage increased visits from passers-by who may otherwise not have entered the doors of your store.

As you know, Synergy Marketing is only too happy to help you along with your freebie-giving ways. To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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05 Apr

2 Of The Easiest Freebies To Give Away To Your Customers

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Synergy Suggestions on 05.04.16 by John Meloche

Free wifi area sign on a latte coffee in a barIn our last blog, we revisited the concept of freebie marketing and explained that there are many advantages of using it to promote your business. As you know, Synergy Marketing provides the best promo products in the industry that can help you to use freebie marketing to your advantage. But there are many different ways to grow your business using the principle of giving things away for free.

Here are two of the easiest freebies to give away to your customers:

1. Wi-Fi. It is nearly impossible to find someone today who isn’t looking for some free Wi-Fi access. People regularly leave their homes, not only with their smartphones, but with their tablets and laptop computers as well. Coffee shops that offer free Wi-Fi are all the rage these days. They offer comfortable places for people to work and surf the internet for free. Naturally, they’re able to better sell their products to such individuals as a result.

“One of my favourite things about Starbucks, besides the coffee, is the free Wi-Fi that I enjoy while sipping my favourite cuppa,” admits Pratik Dholakiya on Entrepreneur.com, “More and more retailers jump onto the free Wi-Fi bandwagon with every passing day. Why wouldn’t they? By downloading a simple hotspot management software you can allow users inside your establishment to access your existing Wi-Fi for free, without trespassing on your secure data.”

He goes on to provide the results of a recent study that shows that stores offering free Wi-Fi have customers who spend a lot more time in their places of business. “Among stores that offer free Wi-Fi, 61 percent had customers spending longer periods of time in the store,” Dholakiya reveals, “Over half (50.1 percent) saw customers spend more money per visit compared to their pre-free Wi-Fi days.”

2. Store pickups. Online shopping continues to grow in popularity. It’s pretty hard to beat the convenience of having items delivered directly to your doorsteps. There are, however, those customers who would prefer to save themselves money on shipping costs by being able to pick up their orders from physical store locations. If you’re willing to offer free store pickups, it could greatly help you to boost sales via your online store.

“A huge reason for customers to prefer shopping at physical stores vis-à-vis online shopping is the added cost of shipping items to their doorstep,” says Dholakiya, “The compromise is for shoppers to order online but get their purchase at the store, without a delivery charge…While it’s understandable that users love free store pickups thanks to the savings on shipping costs, this is a gold mine for retailers.”

You may notice that these two particular freebies really don’t cost business owners any upfront fees. They are among the easiest things to give away for free, and this makes them two of the best. At Synergy Marketing, we excitedly advocate the use of promotional gifts as they have been proven to help business owners grow their companies. For decades, business owners have been telling their customers that they value their support by giving out branded promo products.

And we provide the best promo products in the business! Choose from pens, water bottles, key chains, knives, wine stoppers, USB chargers, rulers, markers, tools, flashlights and so much more! To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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04 Apr

Are You Taking Advantage Of Freebie Marketing?

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Synergy Suggestions on 04.04.16 by John Meloche

Freebie button, isolated over white, 3d renderAnd now something from the land of the obvious…people love getting things for free! And, although we’re quite aware that this is something you know already, it’s important to state that not enough business owners are putting this “no-brainer” piece of knowledge to good use. Don’t be afraid that you’ll be losing money if you give things away to your customers. Freebies have long proven to be great ways to grow a company!

As Pratik Dholakiya points out on Entrepreneur.com, “not all value-adds are a drain on your pocket.” And this is the way that freebies should be looked upon by business owners of all types. Giving away products or services for free is a great way to add value to your customer relationships. Not only does the gesture automatically inspire favourable attitudes towards your brand, but it also helps for people to become better associated with what you have to offer.

How does offering up a free sample of something you sell help your business? Clearly, it encourages your customer to use it at no cost to him or her. And worthwhile products are bound to be enjoyed and therefore, purchased in future. At Synergy Marketing, we highly advocate the giving away of free promotional gifts to boost the good names of the companies that give them out. They’ve long proven to enhance customer relationships and garner referrals.

Are you looking to grow your customer base? Okay, silly question we know. So here’s another question for you. Are you giving away freebies to your clients? If the answer is no, you may want to consider the various advantages to giving things away to the people who matter most to your business. On Intuit.com, Lee Polevoi explains that using freebies as a marketing strategy is a great way to boost your sales.

“Freebie marketing — whereby a business gives away goods or services to promote its brand and boost sales of related products or features — has proved wildly successful in attracting new customers and encouraging customer loyalty,” he writes, “Why? Customers and prospects don’t always understand the value of your offering until they’ve tried it.” Once they’ve tried it, it helps to establish trust with your brand.

How do freebies help to establish trust with your brand? This is best answered by Kate Marsden on Top7Business.com. “Freebies allow customers to build a level of trust with you; encourage people to sample products and services they may not otherwise buy; make customers feel that they are getting something extra; and let you to engage with customers in unusual ways to create hype, launch products and get customer quotes,” she emphatically lists.

As mentioned, Synergy Marketing advocates the concept of freebie marketing. We offer the best promotional products in the business to help Canadian business owners take advantage of its many benefits. For decades, promo gifts have been helping business owners grow their companies in the most cost-effective of ways. You can choose from pens, water bottles, wine stoppers, USB chargers, markers, tools, sunglasses, flashlights, key chains and so much more!

To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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22 Feb

The Importance Of Establishing Your Brand’s Voice

Posted in Promotional Products, Small Business Advertising on 22.02.16 by John Meloche

business woman speak in megaphoneAll businesses give off certain impressions. And, quite obviously, business owners wish for those impressions to be favourable. The public opinion of a brand, however, is often determined by the brand’s “voice”.

What exactly is a brand’s voice? Well, consider the marketing campaigns of a fast food restaurant. Are they any different than those of a car manufacturer? Naturally, one type will tend to be upbeat and energetic, while the other is likely to be more direct and sophisticated.

What type of voice does your brand have? Often, it has a lot to do with the ways in which you word things. On Distilled.net, Harriet Cummings writes that your company’s voice isn’t just about what you say, but how you say it. She notes that the tone of a brand’s voice represents its personality and set of values. And this helps to determine how members of the buying public feel about the business.

“This encompasses not only the words you choose, but their order, rhythm and pace,” she informs, “Rather confusingly, when seen in the world of business and marketing, the phrase ‘tone of voice’ refers to written – rather than spoken – words. A company’s tone of voice will inform all of its written copy, including its website, social media messages, emails and packaging.”

So why does your brand need a voice? Well, consider the fact that you’re looking to stand out in a business world where there is a lot of competition. Being unique and interesting enough to draw attention to your brand and away from your competitors is what having a brand voice is all about. On QualityLogoProducts.com, Jenna Markowski explains the advantages of having a specific voice for your brand.

“There are countless benefits to giving your brand a distinct voice, the most important of which being that your brand voice sets your company apart from all of your competition,” she writes, “Your brand voice also helps you build trust with your customers and gives your customers a little peek at the humans that are behind your brand. Humanizing your brand and giving your brand a personality will make it easier for your audience to relate to you.”

How can promo items help to give your brand a unique voice? Markowski writes that your promo products should fit into your brand’s mission and values. For example, many of Synergy Marketing’s customers who are real estate agents tend to go with key chains as their promotional products of choice. It makes sense, right? Part of their jobs is to hand a new set of keys to their clients after their new homes are purchased.

At Synergy Marketing, we offer the best promo products in the business! To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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11 Feb

4 Other Ways To Promote Your Brand On The Cheap

Posted in Promotional Products, Small Business Advertising on 11.02.16 by John Meloche

Marketing and advertising cloud word 3d renderThis week, on the Synergy Marketing Blog, it’s been all about advertising. To be specific, low-cost advertising is the name of the game. Coming off a weekend when the most elaborate and expensive advertisements were getting a lot of attention – thank you Super Bowl 50! – we found it important to highlight the fact that not all business owners require big budgets in order to promote their brands.

Here are four other ways to promote your brand on the cheap:

1. Write an editorial-style ad for a local newspaper. Content marketing is huge these days. Maintaining a regularly-updated blog on your site helps to encourage online users to keep visiting your site. A blog helps you to showcase your expertise in your field, giving people stronger impressions of your reliable and trustworthy nature. On SmallTownMarketing.com, Tom Egelhoff suggests that you take things a step further by offering your expert advice to columns you submit to local newspapers.

“Try an editorial style ad,” he encourages, “These are ads that look like actual stories in the newspaper. They will have ‘advertisement’ at the top of the article. Develop a good headline, and 50% more people will read the article than would read an ad of the same size.” This will enable you to cleverly advertise your brand in a media source that generally charges a lot for standard ad space.

2. Give YouTube a go. In yesterday’s blog, we championed the cause for social media advertising. It wasn’t the first time, and it certainly won’t be the last. It’s free to use such platforms and Facebook and Twitter to advertise your business. But they don’t stand alone as social networking sites that allow business owners to market their brands. Online users just love to watch videos. So you may want to start up your own YouTube channel to upload your own.

“Given that YouTube is the world’s second largest search engine, create a YouTube Channel and leverage proven video marketing tactics, like ‘how-to’ style video content and response videos to improve search visibility and potentially drive leads,” advises Ken Lyons on SearchEngineWatch.com. He highlights this tip as one of the many free ways a business owner can market his or her business.

3. Plan for rainy days. It’s always a good idea to have a bit of a financial cushion when it comes to your advertising budget. Different opportunities to advertise your brand may pop up without a moment’s notice and you’ll want to be in a position to take advantage of them. As well, unexpected emergencies may arise and you’ll need that extra dough to handle them. Egelhoff sheds some light on this reality.

“During the year put a small amount aside each month for emergencies,” he writes, “You never know when you’ll need to react quickly to whatever the competition is doing. You must be able to capitalize on breaking national events or news regarding your industry. If negative things happen in your industry you may need to respond quickly to make sure the right message is presented.”

4. Hand out promotional gifts. Of course, you can never forget about the almighty promo gift. Among the most effective and cost-conscious methods of growing your brand, promotional products are must-haves! To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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10 Feb

3 More Cost-Effective Ways To Market Your Company

Posted in Promotional Products, Small Business Advertising, Social Media on 10.02.16 by John Meloche

Marketing and advertising cloud word 3d renderFinding cost-effective ways to grow a business is a daily task of any small to medium sized business owner. In yesterday’s blog, we delivered a number of clever ways to pull off business marketing on the cheap. If you can’t afford the cost of a television commercial – not many entrepreneurs can – then the methods outlined in our blog are definitely worthwhile. And we have more for you today!

Here are three more cost-effective ways to market your company:

1. Donate to charity. Becoming an active member of your community is one of the best ways to advertise your company without spending a lot of money. In fact, it’s always a win-win to give back to those in need while highlighting the name of your business. Obviously, it leaves a very favourable impression on others when you position yourself as someone who cares about worthy causes.

“Spearhead an event, party, or conference for a cause you care about,” advises Microsoft, “That puts you in the position of getting to know lots of people and shows off your small-business leadership skills.” Naturally, these events can also be used to pass out your promotional gifts to those in attendance. Make your gifts part of your charitable donations to spread the good word about your brand.

Tom Egelhoff agrees that sponsoring a community event is a great idea. “A fun-run, golf tournament, or other event that will be well publicized in the community,” he writes on SmallTownMarketing.com, “Your name may not be prominently displayed but sometimes the positive exposure in the community will bring in new customers.”

2. Become more active online. If we’ve advised it once, we’ve advised it a million times – give or take – utilize the internet to grow your business! Not only does it cost you nothing to set up social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter, among others, but it does you a lot of good to interact with other social media users. Microsoft points out that there are many different ways that you can go online to promote your business.

The company refers to internet advertising as the “free sample” approach to bringing in business. “Research active email discussion lists and online bulletin boards that are relevant to your business and audience,” recommends their website, “Join several and start posting expert advice to solve problems or answer questions. You may need to keep this up for a bit. But the rewards come back in paying clients and referrals.”

3. Attend trade shows and conferences. These often fun, profile-boosting business events are excellent ways for you to meet new people – both like-minded business owners and potential new customers alike. Trade shows and conferences make for the ideal places for you to hand out promotional gifts bearing your company’s name and logo. Always great ways to make great impressions, your promo gifts will help to separate your brand from the rest of those in attendance.

To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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09 Feb

4 Cost-Conscious Ways To Advertise Your Small Business

Posted in Promotional Products, Small Business Advertising on 09.02.16 by John Meloche

A bullhorn megaphone covered with words describing advertising such as advertise, promotion, public relations, marketing, attention, audience, plug, buzz and many moreIn yesterday’s blog, we highlighted our favourite commercials from Sunday’s Super Bowl 50. We pointed out, however, that although we enjoy blogging about Super Bowl commercials every year, we recognize that TV ads are not viable marketing sources for our clients. After all, such commercials notoriously cost millions of dollars! At Synergy Marketing, our experience has proven that you don’t need such overblown budgets to effectively advertise a small business.

Here are four cost-conscious ways to advertise your small business:

1. Stop marketing to unprofitable customers. This tip may seem a bit harsh, but it’s an important step to take if you wish to boost your profits. It is well known that it costs business owners a lot less to market their brands to their happy customers than it is to advertise in efforts to attract new ones. However, if you have customers who simply don’t generate a lot of money for your business, you may want to focus your energies elsewhere.

Microsoft insists upon this example of tough love. “If this idea makes you gasp, think harder,” they insist on their website, “You’re falling for the fallacy of increasing sales instead of boosting profits. If you stop marketing to unprofitable customers, you have more time and resources for customers who actually grow your business…Take a detailed look at your customer profitability data and then direct premium services and marketing to customers who count.”

2. Split advertising costs with the people who sell to you. If there’s a way to partner up with colleagues in order to bring down advertising costs, then go for it! On SmallTownMarketing.com, Tom Egelhoff recommends it. “Vendors and manufactures are always looking for exposure,” he advises, “Let people know you carry their products and have the vendor pick up part of the ad cost.”

3. Send e-newsletters as well as traditional letters. Synergy Marketing recently introduced its Insider E-Flyer Program. Our objective is to provide our clients with up-to-date information about all of the latest additions to our promotional product catalogue among other news about our business. Sending out e-newsletters typically costs you nothing but your time. Microsoft champions this marketing strategy along with sending traditional mail.

“Most businesses have harnessed the power of e-newsletters—and you definitely should be sending out one, too,” encourages their website, “It’s very cost-effective. But because email marketing is now nearly ubiquitous, you can quickly stand out by occasionally sending personal, surface-mail letters to customers and prospects. Just make sure the letter delivers something customers want to read.”

4. Trade in your business cards for promotional gifts. We suppose that there will always be a need for business cards. But, at the end of the day, they are not likely to be kept for very long by those you hand them to. In contrast, promo gifts are well-known for sticking around. Because they are most often lightweight, handy, useful and compact, promo gifts have the ability to advertise your brand for years to come. Recipients very rarely toss them away they way they do business cards.

“Most business cards are tossed within hours of a meeting,” says Microsoft, “Instead of having your card tossed, create one that recipients actually will use—say, a good-looking notepad with your contact info and tagline on every page.” At Synergy Marketing, we not only provide great promotional notepads and notebooks, but a wide array of promotional products that aren’t at all that likely to be discarded after they’re received.

To place your order for the cost-conscious promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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04 Feb

6 More Small Business Advertising Solutions

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 04.02.15 by John Meloche

825a298a-cab2-41a3-9046-b91a9c5bfba8In yesterday’s blog, we revisited the topic of small business advertising. For the most part, our clients are small business owners who know that there isn’t always room in the budget to go all out with major marketing campaigns. In other words, advertising during the annual Super Bowl is out of the question. But, as we mentioned, such elaborate campaigns aren’t necessary for the small business owner. Direct communication with customers is the key.

On EvolutionCP.com, Jeffrey Kadlic explains that there are a number of ways that small business owners can advertise their brands without having to go over budget. In fact, many of his methods can be implemented free of charge! In today’s blog, we’ll continue to take a look at his list of ideas. At Synergy Marketing, we’re all about helping to promote small businesses. Here are six more great ideas for how.

1. Be active on social media. Yesterday, we highlighted the importance of blogging. The point must be underlined by stating that the use of Facebook and Twitter should practically be a mandatory part of your daily routine. It’s certainly a part of ours. “Social media is not only a way of marketing your small business for free,” says Kadlic, “it’s also a way to engage with existing customers while building relationships with new ones.”

2. Send out those e-mails. Clearly, your use of the internet plays a big role in your company’s success. “The art of e-mail campaigns can be difficult, but they’re a tried and true method of inviting a previous customer back to your site or business,” he continues, “Additionally, e-mail lists for various industries are also available, providing companies like yours with a directory of consumers who have purchased products or services similar to those you offer in the past.”

3. Be sure to keep in touch. When a new shopper comes into your store to make a purchase, you are given a great opportunity to secure a loyal customer. It’s important to take measures to encourage that person’s return. “Never let a customer make a transaction without finding some way of attracting them back for repeat business,” Kadlic insists, “This can include getting their e-mail address, business or home address, or phone number.”

4. Become a public speaker. You’re the face of your company. People should also get to know that face along with its voice. Who better to speak about your company than you? “Seek out opportunities to share your knowledge with both students and entrepreneurs like yourself,” advises Kadlic, “There are a number of organizations looking for subject-matter experts covering topics you are knowledgeable in. Not only can you help educate others, it also positions you as a credible expert in your field.”

5. Make use of printed marketing material. Although Kadlic champions the use of brochures, product data sheets, business cards, company fact sheets and press kits in an effort to market your brand, we believe strongly in the promo product. Our useful and handy promo gifts come complete with your company name and logo on them. Our experiences tells us that there’s is no better way to both impress and stay on the minds of your customers than to hand out these amazing free gifts.

6. Brand everything you have! To reiterate the effectiveness and importance of handing out promo gifts, Kadlic writes that “business cards and marketing collateral makes perfect sense, but so does putting your company logo and messaging on pens, t-shirts, letterheads, mugs, and other items that are not only useful to those receiving them, but consistently keep you in their line of sight.”

Learn more about the great promo gifts offered by Synergy Marketing by calling us at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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03 Feb

5 Ideal Ideas For Growing Your Small Business

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 03.02.15 by John Meloche

Growing green businessIn yesterday’s blog, we commented upon some of the more interesting Super Bowl commercials that were broadcast during the big game this year. This is a topic that we tackle (pun intended) every year as the Super Bowl broadcast is known as the biggest annual advertising opportunity for a wide variety of companies. Clearly, however, we’re talking about some pretty big brands. Considering that 30-second slots command millions of dollars from advertisers, they’re not exactly made for the small business owner.

Of course, there are many other ways for small business owners to promote their brands. In fact, we often argue that small business owners have certain advantages over their big-named counterparts. As a small business owner, you have the opportunity to interact with your customers on a more personal basis. And it’s your personal interactions with them that help to grow your company’s reputation and secure their loyalty.

So what are those ways that small business owners can grow their relationships? On EvolutionCP.com, Jeffrey Kadlic writes that there are a number of methods that actually cost entrepreneurs nothing to implement. Whether you’re looking to jumpstart a new business or grow the one you’ve been running for years, his ideas are certainly worth considering. Here are five of his best.

1. Write a press release. No one knows your business better than you do. There are certainly worse ways to communicate your brand’s mission statement than to email your subscribers on a regular basis. “Believe it or not, press releases are still useful in generating buzz around your business, and can be a cost-effective way of informing consumers and other businesses on what makes your company stand out in its field,” writes Kadlic.

2. Participate in community outreach. There is arguably no better way to encourage the members of your community to support your brand than to give them your personal time and generosity. In some cases, sponsorships can help to promote your business for many months on end. As explained by Kadlic, “sponsoring a little league football or baseball team, volunteering at charity events, or openly contributing to a non-profit not only shows you’re a business who’s engaged locally, it adds to your overall value as an organization.”

3. Don’t forget to network. Even in this social media-crazed world, there are few things more effective than getting out there to meet people face-to-face. Especially when those people live in the area where your business is located, taking the time to popularize yourself among others can go a really long way. “Spend some time getting to know others in your area of influence, even if they are competitors,” advises Kadlic.

4. Keep a regularly updated blog. Talk about taking our own advice, right? Writing daily blogs has worked wonders for growing our reach online. They also help to showcase our extreme knowledge of our industry. As Kadlic affirms, “You’re likely an authority on the items and services you sell, so share your expertise with the public by writing a weekly blog post detailing the finer points of your small business. You can even expand your reach by writing on subjects you’re passionate about but don’t directly relate to your company.”

5. Provide discounts and giveaways. If there’s anything that customers love more than getting items at discounted rates, it’s getting them for free! “There are fewer ways to generate interest from consumers who are still on the fence about purchasing your products or service than offering considerable discounts or giveaways on your website and social media pages,” informs Kadlic. We couldn’t agree more!

This is what makes promotional products so effective. Learn more about the great promo gifts offered by Synergy Marketing by calling us at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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19 Nov

5 Steps To Securing Super Holiday Sales

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 19.11.14 by John Meloche

Christmas ShoppingThe malls are already filled with shoppers looking for holiday gifts. And they’re only bound to get even more crowded. Remember, we’re still in November. In the coming weeks, things are going to get busier than ever! And that goes for your business too. Don’t think that, because you’re a small business owner, you can’t cash in big during the holiday shopping season. Holiday sales are on the rise.

At least, this is what Julie Gordon writes on Inc.com. “This year, holiday sales are predicted to rise 4.1 percent compared with 2013,” reveals Gordon, “But with only 26 days between Black Friday and Christmas, valuable shopping time will be at a premium. The National Retail Federation is also forecasting that 2014 e-commerce holiday sales will see a 9 to 12 percent uptick, so any delay in preparing for this year’s–or next year’s–holiday shopping season could quickly cause lost sales.”

So don’t delay. There is still over a month to go until Christmas, but that doesn’t mean that you have any time to waste in the “holiday business marketing” department. “Small-business owners wishing to grow both their sales and customer base during the most critical part of the retail calendar must plan ahead and avoid scattered marketing tactics,” says Gordon. And with that, she offers five steps to boost your company’s sales this holiday season.

1. Develop your holiday strategy early. And, by early, we mean that if you haven’t gotten started yet, make today the day you get things going! Beginning your marketing strategy off the top of next week is the latest you should begin. Gordon advises that you engage your customers as much as possible. You can do this through making special offers as a well as other incentives to draw in first-time customers.

2. Prepare your business and staff. Naturally, the whole team has to be on board. It’s important for the entire energy of your business to be holiday-focused. This will come in very handy in the customer service department. Gordon notes that you can “help ease your customers’ anxiety by emphasizing exceptional customer service. This may mean specific training sessions for your current staff or adding temporary help to meet a holiday rush.”

3. Thank and retain existing customers. If it’s one thing we know, here at Synergy Marketing, it’s that customers really appreciate it when they are shown appreciation. Gordon agrees. She writes that there are some simple, yet effective ways to thank your customers that will encourage them to support you during the holidays. They include personalized email messages, invites to customer-appreciation activities and mentions on social media.

4. Attract new customers. What small business owner doesn’t want to secure new customers? During the holiday season, you will be given more opportunities than normal to meet and retain new customers. “It is always important to reach new customers using multiple avenues,” affirms Gordon, “This includes announcing special discounts and promotions via local newspaper ads, holiday circulars, and even postcards.”

5. Monitor results. It’s integral to your company’s success that you get a good handle on what you’ve accomplished so that you can learn from your missteps. This will help to develop your new strategies for the future. “Compare the weekly sales results for the current and previous years, both in-store and online,” advises Gordon, “If there are differences, determine what accounted for them. Jot down a few new ideas for the coming year (but don’t wait six months to do so).”

And never forget to hand out your promotional gifts throughout the holidays! Order yours today by calling Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884.

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