03 May

3 Ways To Build Excitement Around Your Business

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Synergy Suggestions on 03.05.16 by John Meloche

A thermometer with the word Excitement, measuring the growing amount of anticipation for a special day or eventIn yesterday’s blog, we expressed our excitement over our hometown Toronto Raptors making it into the second round of the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2001. Their second round series against the Miami Heat kicks off tonight at the Air Canada Centre! As we mentioned yesterday, the Synergy Marketing Blog has a tendency to liken pro sports to everyday businesses. The comparisons can be made easily.

As a business owner, you’re no different than a coach. It’s your job to train and encourage your team to work together in order to produce optimum results. However, it’s also your job to get the general public excited about your brand. Giving customers reasons to support you is an integral part of any company’s success. And while you may not necessarily be welcoming fans the way the Raptors have, there are a number of ways you can build excitement around your business.

Here are three:

1. Create a marketing “hook” for your brand. It’s done in music all the time. A song’s chorus is often referred to as its “hook” for its ability to capture the attention of listeners through its repetitive nature. How can you hook people into your business the same way a catchy chorus of a song can intrigue a music lover? On Forbes.com, Jayson DeMers suggests that you come up with an attention-grabbing message.

“A marketing hook is simply a short message intended to capture attention and get people talking,” he explains, “Ideally, it will leave people wanting more. A creative hook can/should be any of the following: A short phrase that conveys your unique value proposition, a ‘slant’ or angle for your business: something that gets people talking to their friends, a catchy jingle, message or unique offer (or) an important benefit.”

2. Launch teasers. Hooks work for songs. Trailers work for movies. When a new film is about to be released, a trailer is generally the first and most popular way that fans will discover what it’s all about. Teasers are meant to intrigue audiences. By creating one for your business, you will be helping to build a buzz unlike that of your competitors. Consider ways to “tease” your audience into wanting to know more about your brand.

“Teasers, hints, sneak peaks…they can be called by many names,” says DeMers, “The point is that by sharing enticing details of an upcoming product or promotion, you pique interest and leave people wanting more. Build up anticipation by hinting at what’s to come. For instance, instead of simply posting a contest on social media, start hinting at it in the week or two prior. Leak out bits of information to give your followers a chance to anticipate what you have in store.”

3. Blog about your business. From the “practice what we preach” column comes the concept of blogging. As you’re likely aware, we post a new blog to our website each and every business day of the week – even holidays! We also include links to these blogs on our social media accounts. Why? They help to encourage online users to visit our website. Blogs let the general public know that much is happening with your business.

“Take advantage of your blog to generate excitement before, during, and after a launch,” advises Lauren Hooker on ElleAndCompanyDesign.com, “Share about the process, explain the benefits of your new brand/service/product/offering, and plant seeds about the launch long before you release more details. You could even create a blog series centered around it all by inviting your readers behind the scenes of what you’ve been working on to prepare for the launch.”

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we continue to list ways that you can build a bigger buzz for your brand.

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02 May

Raptors Make It To Second Round Of NBA Playoffs!

Posted in NBA, News on 02.05.16 by John Meloche

Baskeball isolated on a white background as a sports and fitness symbol of a team liesure activity playing with a leather ball dribbling and passing in competition tournaments.In the past, the Synergy Marketing Blog has happily commented on the successes of the professional sports teams that represent the city where we are headquartered. Our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Raptors have given us a lot to celebrate (and even more to complain about) over the years, and usually, we enjoy discussing our views. Firstly, we often relate the ups and downs of a pro sports team to that of a company’s staff.

There are many similarities, of course. The most important similarity being that teamwork is a necessity in order for any business with several employees to flourish. Secondly, we just happen to employ a fair number of sports fans, here at Synergy Marketing. And some of the more superstitious ones think that – just maybe – blogging about our favourite teams brings them bad luck.

We certainly hope that isn’t the case today as we’d like to return to our trend of celebrating Toronto’s teams by offering the Toronto Raptors (and all of their amazing fans) special congratulations for making it into the second round of the NBA Playoffs last night! With their 89-84 Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers at the Air Canada Centre, the Raptors have booked their ticket against the Miami Heat – a series that begins tomorrow.

In the 21 seasons that the Toronto Raptors have been playing in the NBA, this is, astonishingly, only the second time in franchise history that the Raps have made it into the second round of the playoffs. The first time took place an incredible 15 years ago. Most fans will remember that season as the one when Vince Carter put up a jump shot at the buzzer in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers. It was a shot that would miss and end the Raptors’ hopes of a championship.

That isn’t to say that the Raptors were considered favourites to win it all in 2001. But with a superstar like Vince Carter at the helm during that time, Toronto’s young NBA team seemed destined for a better outcome. Fast forward a decade and half later and our city is now home to a team that has dominated the Atlantic Division for the past three years. The best team, by way of a regular season record, in Raptors history, this year’s squad appears primed to achieve greatness.

There are many fans, however, who remain sceptical that the Raptors have what it takes to do much damage in the postseason. And it’s hard to blame them. After all, the Raptors have been ousted in the first round of the playoffs the past two seasons – seasons when they were favoured to beat their lower-seeded opponents. This year was no different. And yet the Raptors made things excruciatingly interesting during their series with the Pacers over the last week.

In one game they would dominate and in the next they would get dominated. They came back to win an incredible nail biter in Game 5, only to get blown out in Game 6. Prior to last night’s contest, the winner of Game 7 was anyone’s guess. Now, there is no guessing necessary. The Toronto Raptors are in the second round and still maintain home court advantage against the Heat as the #2 seeded team in the Eastern Conference.

Needless to say, there is a lot of excitement in Toronto right now. We’d also like to point out that the Toronto Maple Leafs have finally given fans something to cheer about as they won the first pick in this year’s NHL Draft Lottery. Here’s hoping that getting the #1 pick will be the beginning of a brand new era of dominance in Maple Leafs history. But in the meantime…Let’s Go Raptors!

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27 Apr

3 Ways To Rebuild Your Brand After A Fall

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 27.04.15 by John Meloche

Toolbox with tools. Skrewdriver, hammer, handsaw and wrenchReaders of the Synergy Marketing Blog know that our staff is comprised of many a sports fan. And since we’re headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, you can take a wild guess as to the sports teams that we most adamantly support. That being said, it should probably go without saying that there was on overwhelming sense of disappointment this morning as our sports-crazed staff members came in to work reeling from the four game sweep of their beloved Raptors in the NBA Playoffs.

It was bad enough that the Toronto Maple Leafs had such a horrible season that saw them miss the NHL Playoffs completely. But there were high hopes for our Atlantic Division-winning Toronto Raptors. Last night’s showdown with the Washington Wizards wasn’t even much of a contest. Our hometown Raps didn’t look like they were in it to win it from the beginning. And now, there is much talk of rebuilding the team for next season.

Such an unfortunate circumstance is not exclusive to sports teams. Canadian business owners often find themselves in situations where they feel that rebuilding is necessary. Obviously, it takes a lot of work. But it should be noted that hope should never be lost for a brighter future. There are just a number of important steps that should be taken to steer your company in a better direction.

Here are three ways to rebuild your brand after a fall:

1. Solidify your strongest relationships. It isn’t likely that the Raptors are going to have an entirely new line-up at the beginning of the next NBA season. Obviously, the team has some key players that will be important pieces of the puzzle to build around. If your business has experienced a fall of some kind, it’s important to remember the pieces of your puzzle that are still worth keeping.

“Get a clear picture of resources and strengths,” advises Claudette Rowley on Boston.com, “note everything that comes to mind, not matter how small it may seem.” Do you have strong relationships with your vendors? Is your brand well-recognized? Are your investors committed to you? These are a few questions that Rowley intimates that you should answer to know what strengths you can work with going forward in your rebuilding process.

2. Determine your opportunities. Clearly, the Raptors are going to need some new players with new attitudes when they get back on the court for a new season. Naturally, when your company experiences a downturn, there are also changes that need to be made. What are they exactly? It’s important to pinpoint the specific areas of concern before you go rearranging everything. Rebuilding will likely require a lot more than just new members of your team.

A “shift in your mindset” is necessary to change things for the better, says Rowley. Many business owners have turned missteps into learning opportunities to succeed in the past. “Sit your team down for a brainstorming session and ask the question: Now that we’ve lost that contract, what is available to us?” she recommends, “Make a list of every opportunity that comes to mind, whether it seems realistic or crazy. Sometimes what seems initially off-the-wall might be exactly what you need to rebuild.”

3. Commit to a new plan. Once you’ve done the appropriate amount of research to determine what your problem areas are so that you can correct them, it’s time to take a step in a new direction. Rowley insists that you specify who will spearhead the plan, who else needs to be involved and in what capacity, what action steps are required, what the deadlines are and who will be accountable to meet them.

At Synergy Marketing, we’d be happy to be a part of your rebuilding process. To effectively advertise your company at a low cost, call us to learn more about our amazing promotional products. We can be reached toll-free at 1-877-748-9884!

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27 May

4 Easy Ways To Make An Impact In Your Community

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 27.05.14 by John Meloche

Pile of handsMake that seven in a row! Just in case you weren’t convinced by yesterday’s blog, the staff, here at Synergy Marketing, is pretty excited about the recent hot streak being enjoyed by our hometown Toronto Blue Jays. Not only are we big sports fans around here, but we always associate the success of sports teams with the success of businesses. After all, teams are businesses, right?

They have fan bases. They require supporters to spend their money on them in order for them to operate. And they represent a certain demographic. With the Blue Jays, Raptors and Maple Leafs all representing Toronto – the city where Synergy Marketing is headquartered – it only makes sense for us to support these teams. However, it also makes sense of us to draw parallels between our support and the support your business deserves from its community.

As a business owner, you possess the unique opportunity to capture the heart of “fans” from your local community. As Jesse Aaron writes on GetBusyMedia.com, “running a small business can be a challenge, but the best way to make an impact with your business is to first make an impact in the community you serve.” He goes on to provide some ways that you can get involved in your community in order to boost business.

1. Serve on a Community Board. Aaron writes that this is one of the best ways to become known in your community. He advises that you try to find a board that will suit the interests of both yourself and those who are most likely to support your business. These boards, he notes, are often full of influential people so “connecting with them will be beneficial, as they will lead you to the people who you are ultimately aiming to serve as customers.”

2. Volunteer. There is a lot of power in volunteering, insists Aaron. It shows that you are willing to give of your time and be part of something that is bigger than your business. “It makes you a team player,” he writes. Being a volunteer automatically puts you in a win-win situation. It shows your community your charitable side which goes a long way in building relationships. And it obviously shines a favourable light on your business!

3. Build Partnerships. Making connections with people in your community is a surefire way to get your business exposed on a broader scale. Aaron points out that if you are already on boards or volunteering, building partnerships is an easy feat. It’s practically inevitable that you’re going to meet new people and become better associated with them over time. Work out ways to help others so that they are willing to help you as well.

4. Donate. It’s not just your time that you should be donating in order to help your business succeed. Your donations don’t always have to be monetary either, Aaron points out. Perhaps you could donate your space so that large, local groups can meet. By supporting community organizations, you will not only gain favour in your community, but be recognized as one of the community’s leaders.

In tomorrow’s blog, we’ll continue to take a look at some more of Aaron’s ideas on how to get better involved in your community. It should go without saying that the more you get involved in your community, the more your community will support your business. And speaking of support, we’re looking forward to cheering on the Toronto Blue Jays in their next game tonight! And we’re looking forward to hearing from you as well.

Call Synergy Marketing to order your promotional gifts at 1-877-748-9884.

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06 May

5 Ways To Overcome A Business Defeat

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 06.05.14 by John Meloche

Businessman drawing road with arrow, another jumping over rockSo here we go again – another blog following another huge disappointment in the world of Toronto sports. Now, don’t get us wrong. We love our Toronto Raptors and are very proud of them. It’s not like they’re the Maple Leafs who completely tanked at the end of their season and didn’t even make the playoffs. No, the disappointment felt at the hands of the Raps comes in a totally different light.

They deserved better then they got. They should have experienced a better fate than to have lost to the Brooklyn Nets in Game 7 during the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. But such is life. It’s now time to pick up the pieces and move on. Hopefully, the experience will help all of the team’s young players to become stronger, more determined basketball players.

It’s this attitude that business owners must have when they experience bad spells with their own businesses. It happens. Not every day is going to be a great one. There will be moments in your career as an entrepreneur when things don’t go your way. And when those times come, it’s important to know that brighter days are ahead. It’s all about how you deal with the disappointment. Here are five tips on how to overcome defeat.

1. Be honest with yourself. Consider the true reason that things didn’t pan out for you and do your best not to point fingers. It’s easy to blame others. But what could you have done differently to have avoided your negative outcome? Be sure to make note of the some of the wrong turns you may have made so that you can correct them and not repeat them moving forward. Being honest with yourself about the problem is the first step to fixing it.

2. Be objective. Once you’ve admitted to your own mistakes, you can begin to learn from them. Consider some of the feedback that has been given to you in the past that you may not have taken. Seriously make note of the feedback you’re currently getting that may help you to find ways to remedy your situation. Allow for others to give you some insight about the problems your business is facing. Sometimes you just need a new perspective.

3. Don’t make excuses. If you’re willing to hear honest feedback about what you may have done wrong, it’s important to accept it. Again, finger pointing isn’t bound to solve anything. Admit what you’ve done wrong and work to correct it. Yes, this may mean having to let go of a certain employee who didn’t act in accordance with your company policies. But it was you who did the hiring. Take ownership, then take action.

4. Be clear about the problem. Is it as bad as you think it is? How big a setback have you encountered? One of the most important things you can do to help restore the good image of your brand is not to panic. You’ll need a cool, calm and collected mindset to move forward in the right direction. Don’t think you need to clean up messes that haven’t actually been made. Be focused on the heart of the matter in order to adequately repair it.

5. Keep your eyes on the prize. It’s important to never lose hope. Things may have taken a turn for the worse, but it doesn’t mean that your original vision for your brand can’t still be realized. Focus on the things that you’ve done right and rekindle the memories you had of your aspirations when your business first started. Take on new tasks that will restore your confidence and stay focused on your goals to succeed.

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we continue to provide tips on how to get your brand back on track following a bad spell.

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05 May

Toronto Heartbroken Over Raptors Loss

Posted in News on 05.05.14 by John Meloche

BasketballWe were so close. Just one point away. One last shot. We almost did it. And then…heartbreak. The dying seconds of yesterday’s Game 7 matchup between our beloved Toronto Raptors and the Brooklyn Nets had many Torontonians doing just that…dying. Reminiscent of Vince Carter missing his final shot against the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2001 NBA Playoffs, Kyle Lowry’s last attempt was not to be.

This was different though. The City of Toronto rallied around the Raptors like never before. This was officially the best Toronto Raptors team in history, having amassed a franchise-high win total of 48 during the regular season. Capturing the Atlantic Division title for just the second time in franchise history was yet another reason this year felt special.

Yes, even more special than the Vince Carter days when the man dubbed “Air Canada” was supposedly on top of the basketball world. This season’s Raptors team was made up of no one particular superstar, but instead of a group of young men with a huge amount of heart. Battling through each game as underdogs, the Raptors raised eyebrows and surprised a lot of people throughout the season.

Especially after General Manager, Masai Ujiri traded who was deemed the team superstar in Rudy Gay away to the Sacramento Kings earlier in the season, many fans assumed the Raptors were set to “tank”. Perhaps finishing poorly, some thought, would help the team land a great draft pick. Maybe even scoring Canada’s own Andrew Wiggins would be the ticket to securing a strong playoff run in the future, many thought.

But that was not to be. Instead, the entire Raptors squad became a collective group of superstars finishing the season ranked the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference. And yet still, true respect throughout the NBA had not yet been gained. The Brooklyn Nets, in fact, reportedly “tanked” in their own last few regular season games in an effort to draw the #6 seed, pitting them against the Raptors.

Apparently, the Nets felt they had a better shot against the Atlantic Division Champions than against the Chicago Bulls – who, by the way, were ousted in five games by the Washington Wizards during these very playoffs. The Raptors, however, battled with the Nets through a full seven game series, even taking a 3-2 series lead after Game 5. The entire City of Toronto, it seemed, felt a series win was destined.

This was especially conveyed by what became known as “Jurassic Park”. Generally known as “Maple Leaf Square” – a place where Toronto Maple Leafs fans meet in front of the Air Canada Centre to cheer on the Buds during their games – the area became a sea of red and white-clad Raptors fans for each and every playoff game the home team played. The large group of fans became the talk of the NBA over the past couple of weeks.

“It was amazing,” reported one of our own Synergy team members, who was a proud member of Jurassic Park, “There were about 10,000 of us for the final game. The energy among all the Raptors fans is something I’ll never forget. We’re truly the best fans in the league.” In addition, using the hashtag #WeTheNorth on social media, Toronto basketball fans truly showed their passion and dedication to their team.

Here’s hoping next year, we’ll be able to cheer longer into the postseason. On behalf of the entire staff here at Synergy Marketing, we’d like to congratulate the Toronto Raptors on their best season ever. And we’d like to acknowledge our glorious hometown of Toronto and all of the amazing fans who proved that we are home to the greatest sports fans in the world!

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16 Apr

4 Steps To Take During The Rebuilding Process

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 16.04.14 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_13443360_xsStill reeling from the dismal ending to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ season last week, the staff here at Synergy Marketing is looking more forward than ever to the Toronto Raptors’ playoff run. And can you blame us? The Leafs have appeared in the playoffs just once in the past decade. And the Raps are back in the postseason for the first time since 2008.

The Toronto Blue Jays – well, you know that story. They haven’t been a playoff team since the back-to-back World Series Championships of 1992 and 1993. Those were the days. And while we could reminisce all day long about our sports teams claiming top spots in their respective sports, it should serve as a reminder that we can’t all win all the time. This is especially true when your business is experiencing a slow period.

In yesterday’s blog, we listed a number of ways that business owners can rebound from bad times and rebuild their businesses. But there is an extremely important task in particular to accomplish when building back your brand. And that’s regaining a positive perception in the eyes of your customers. As sports fans, we’re skeptical to believe that our teams are truly going to rebound from bad seasons. So how do your clients truly feel?

On Results-Driven.com, John Marshall writes that it’s important to realize that you must work hard to build good relationships with your numerous customers. If you’ve had difficulties with your business, you may not realize just how much they have impacted your customers’ view of your brand. There are a number of steps you’ll have to take to repair the damage. Marshall advises that you answer a few questions to take those steps.

Have you had any customer service issues recently that have caused some friction? The importance of great customer service cannot be understated. Poor customer service has damaged many a company’s reputation, hurting sales in a great way. Perhaps it’s not your goods or services that are causing the downward spiral with your business. Assess your customer service regimen to see if significant changes are necessary.

Are some of your customers losing confidence in you? Have you noticed that your regular customers aren’t so regular anymore? Look into reasons that they may no longer be visiting you. It’s possible that they may have moved on to one of your competitors. It’s imperative that you figure out why. Regaining the confidence of your customers will take some digging. Make your efforts strong ones.

Have some of your customers lost confidence in your team? Perhaps your problems have come as a result of your staff members. It’s important that you don’t go around pointing fingers. Look deeper into the interactions that have taken place between your employees and your customers. Have any complaints been registered? Again, doing your research to get to the heart of the matter is key.

Have you discussed this confidence issue at any of your recent team meetings? There just might be no better way to figure out what may be happening with your staff members than to address them directly. Request total transparency and give them the confidence to speak freely. After all, you’re all in this together. Making things better for the business makes things better for everyone.

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31 Mar

Detailing An Exciting Time For Toronto Sports

Posted in News on 31.03.14 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_38268603_xsIt’s a very interesting time in the world of Toronto sports. Being headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Synergy Marketing plays host to many a sports fan of the Raptors, Maple Leafs and Blue Jays. So a healthy number of our staff members are pretty enthusiastic about the chances that our city’s professional sports teams have in making waves this year. Well, some of the teams anyway.

The Raptors of the NBA have officially clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2008. Currently leading the Atlantic Division, the Raptors are poised to take third spot in the Eastern Conference overall. This is quite a feat for a team that traded supposed-superstar Rudy Gay earlier in the season in what some deemed to be an effort to “tank” or purposely do poorly to secure a top draft pick in the offseason.

“It’s amazing,” commented one of our team members right after the Raptors clinched their spot last week, “People may not expect the Raps to do much in the postseason, but this young team has a lot of promise. They’re so much better since the (Rudy Gay) trade because they’re really playing like a team now. You can tell they’re having fun out there. They will be fun to watch.”

The Maple Leafs of the NHL are arguably Toronto’s most beloved team. As a result, they also happen to be the most disappointing. The Leafs are currently on an eight game slide. Those eight losses in a row have pretty much secured the team a spot outside of the playoff race. Currently battling for the final wild card spot that would see them enter the playoffs, the Leafs sit four points behind the Detroit Red Wings who hold that spot. Things don’t look so good.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said our rep, “Especially after the what happened in the playoffs last year (with the Leafs losing in Game 7 of the opening round after taking a three goal lead into the third period), you would think that the Leafs were going to really make a go of it this year. It seemed like a playoff berth was a sure thing. This losing streak has ruined everything. It really hurts as a fan.”

The Blue Jays of MLB, however, start a brand new season today with high hopes. Getting underway at 4 p.m. EST in Tampa Bay, the Blue Jays will kick off a season that many believe can’t possibly be worse than last year. With a number of highly touted offseason moves being made before last year’s season, the Jays were heralded as a World Series contender. That, of course, was not to be so.

Instead, the Blue Jays finished the season dead last in the American League East, leaving many a Toronto baseball fan dismayed. This offseason was a completely different story. Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos pretty much stuck to his guns, bringing last season’s roster back to the field for another try. One significant change was made behind the plate, however.

The underachieving J.P. Arencibia is out and Dioner Navarro is in. And as Brendan Kennedy writes in The Toronto Star, Navarro is looking for a “rebirth” in Toronto. Jays fans are certainly hoping that a “rebirth”, of sorts, takes place on the field this year. After all, on paper, the team looks stellar. Perhaps, without the heavy expectations that were placed on the club last year, they will perform at a higher level this year.

Welcome back Major League Baseball! Here’s hoping the Jays have an amazing comeback year, the Raptors have an exciting playoff run and the Leafs find a way to mend the hearts of Toronto sports fans soon!

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